| Paul Scott Mower once said, "There is nothing like | | | | This walk involves considerable climbing (at altitudes |
| walking to get the feel of a country..." If you've ever | | | | up to 14,000 feet), especially during the first half of |
| contemplated going abroad to find your next trail, | | | | the trail, and takes about 4 days. |
| here are 3 classic hikes to consider. | | | | Most trips start at the 88km mark (also known as |
| New Zealand's Milford Track: The best known "track" | | | | (Qoriwayrachina) on the Cuzco to Machu Picchu rail |
| through New Zealand's beautiful fjords, this 32.9 miles | | | | line. Due to over-use (and abuse), the Peru's |
| (53 km) easy 4-day hike, starts at Glade Wharf | | | | government no longer allows independent hikers on |
| (Lake Te Anau), winds over Mackinnon Pass and | | | | the trail. You are now required to go with a licensed |
| ends at Sandfly Point (Milford Sound). The scenery | | | | tour operator and reservations need to be filed with |
| includes rainforests, alpine meadows and waterfalls at | | | | the government 30 days before your arrival. |
| every turn, including the worlds third highest, the | | | | China's Great Wall: Hiking sections of China's Great |
| 3-leap Sutherland Falls. With its ethereal, dream-like | | | | Wall is a fantastic way to see and experience some |
| scenery, some have described this hike akin to | | | | of China's most significant and best-known sites. For |
| "walking through a Lord of the Rings movie." | | | | centuries, the 4,163 mile long wall served several |
| Milford track is highly regulated for tourism and | | | | dynasties as an efficient military defense. Now, with a |
| restricted to a one-way route during summer season. | | | | history spanning over 2,000 years, many of the |
| All hikers (independent or guided) are required | | | | Great Wall's sections are in ruins or have completely |
| complete the track in 3 nights/ 4 days and stay in | | | | disappeared. Still, depending on where you start your |
| the designated commune-styled huts along the way. | | | | trek, you'll pass through rugged mountain scenery, |
| Day-specific reservations and trail permits are | | | | areas of unforgiving desert and glimpse traditional |
| required | | | | Chinese culture in a way most tourists will never |
| Peru's Inca Trail: This 30 mile trail attract hikers from | | | | experience. |
| all over the world seeking to walk the ancient, | | | | Unless you have a friend in China that can round up |
| ruin-studded path to the sacred site of Machu Picchu. | | | | all the difficult to obtain, but necessary permits, you'll |
| The trail meanders over high passes, offering | | | | need to hire a guide or tour company that specializes |
| breathtaking views of glaciated mountains and lush | | | | in hiking sections of the wall. Many Chinese tour |
| green valleys of cloud forest. Along the trail, you'll | | | | companies include wall hiking in combination with other |
| pass early Inca stonework and abandoned outposts | | | | sightseeing tours or offer the opportunity to hike |
| and villages until you reach the trail's end at Machu | | | | several sections over the course of a few days or |
| Picchu. There you'll pass into the sacred site through | | | | weeks. In any case, each step along this ancient |
| the Sun Gate, just as the Incas did centuries ago. | | | | monument will be a hike back through China's history. |