'Can't beat the diversity': One of the world's best hiking spots is just a short flight away
Updated . First published
Throwing on a backpack and lacing up your hiking boots is a popular activity around the world.
And whether you call it hiking, trail walking, tramping, rambling or simply walking, the pleasures are universal.
Fresh air, exercise and usually breathtaking views come with it.
Here are the best places in the world to go hiking.
Colorado, USA
Colorado is one of the best hiking destinations in the world, with world-class trails that are easy to get to and navigate.
Expect jagged peaks and clear alpine lakes, which are covered with snow in the winter.
The best places to hike in Colorado: Rocky Mountain National Park for alpine scenery, Maroon Bells near Aspen for iconic views, and the Blue Lakes Trail near Ouray for turquoise waters.
South Island, New Zealand
You can't beat the diversity here.
Within a single region, you can move from ancient rainforests and golden beaches to soaring Southern Alps and deep fjords.
Best place to hike in New Zealand: The trail to Roy's Peak for the best view of Lake Wanaka.
The Pyrenees, France & Spain
This region offers a wilder, sunnier alternative to the Alps.
On the border between France and Spain, you'll find massive limestone walls, glacial basins, and unique architecture and culture.
The best places to hike in the Pyrenees: Cirque de Gavarnie and Ordesa National Park.
Kauai, Hawaii, USA
This island is called The Garden Isle for a reason.
The hiking here follows narrow ridges overlooking the Pacific Ocean, weaving through lush rainforests and deep red-rock canyons.
Best places to hike on Kauai in Hawaii: The Kalalau Trail along the Nāpali Coast and Waimea Canyon.
The Drakensberg, South Africa
This region offers some of the most dramatic "edge-of-the-world" views in Africa, where you'll also find ancient rock art.
Best places to hike in South Africa: The Amphitheatre, Tugela Falls (the world's second-tallest), and Cathedral Peak.
The Julian Alps, Slovenia
A hidden gem of Europe. It has the beauty of the Swiss Alps but with a more rugged, more laid-back feel and emerald-green rivers that are almost impossibly clear.
Best places to hike in Slovenia: Lake Bohinj and the Soča Valley.
The Andes, Peru
The home of the bucket-list Inca Trail.
In this region, you'll find yourself walking along stone paths laid by the Incas, surrounded by steep, jungle-clad mountains.
Best places to hike in Peru: The Classic Inca Trail, Salkantay Trek, and the colourful Rainbow Mountain (Vinicunca).
Southern Highlands, Iceland
There's so much to see here, and all of it looks out of this world.
One day you're walking through neon-green moss and black volcanic deserts, and the next you're crossing glacial rivers and passing steaming geothermal vents.
Best places to hike in Iceland: The Laugavegur Trail and Skógafoss waterfall.
The Highlands, Scotland
This is the place for moody, misty hikes. The landscape is an endless of rolling green and purple heather, dotted with "munros" (peaks over 3,000 feet) and deep lochs.
Best hikes in the Scottish Highlands: Anywhere on the Isle of Skye, and Ben Nevis (the UK's highest peak).
