Inn-to-Inn Trail Atlas

Where you sleepB&Bs, inns and hotels, with luggage transfer standard.

NotesScotland's first long-distance route, from Milngavie on the edge of Glasgow along Loch Lomond and across Rannoch Moor to Fort William, below Ben Nevis.

Last confirmedOctober 2026

Meeting other hikers: CrowdedCrowded from late April to September. Nearly everyone walks south to north at a similar pace, so you see the same faces daily. May is the peak.

About the walker figurePeople completing all 96 miles. At least as many again walk sections or day stages. Published estimate (2025). Source

Where you sleepB&Bs, pubs and farmhouses, with luggage transfer standard.

NotesIrish Sea to North Sea through the Lake District, Yorkshire Dales and North York Moors. Became an official National Trail in March 2026 with new waymarks. The St Bees start is diverted after cliff falls. Beds are scarce in a few villages, so book early.

Last confirmedOctober 2026

Meeting other hikers: SociableAlmost everyone walks west to east over two weeks and stays in small villages, so you share guesthouses and pubs with the same group night after night. Numbers may rise now it is a National Trail.

About the walker figurePeople walking the full length, from government figures quoted by the councils. About 10,000 a year including partial walkers. Published estimate (2025). Source 1 · Source 2

Where you sleepB&Bs and hotels along Loch Ness.

NotesStarts in Fort William, where the West Highland Way ends, and follows Loch Ness to Inverness. The optional high route adds views.

Last confirmedOctober 2026

Meeting other hikers: SociableMost walk southwest to northeast and meet again in Fort Augustus and Drumnadrochit. Quiet compared with the West Highland Way, and shared with cyclists and canoeists.

About the walker figurePeople completing the whole route, with about 30,000 total users. The latest published figure, based on data from around 2012. Published estimate (around 2012). Source

Where you sleepB&Bs and small hotels.

NotesStarts in Drymen on the West Highland Way and heads into Perthshire past Loch Tay to Pitlochry. Quieter and more pastoral.

Last confirmedOctober 2026

Meeting other hikers: OccasionalMost walk west to east, so you may keep seeing the same small handful of walkers. The Killin to Aberfeldy stretch has long quiet hours.

About the walker figurePeople completing the whole route, from data around 2012. Probably higher now that around 19 companies sell it. Published estimate (around 2012). Source

Where you sleepB&Bs and inns in whisky villages.

NotesFollows the River Spey from the Moray coast into the Cairngorms, past many distilleries.

Last confirmedOctober 2026

Meeting other hikers: OccasionalA few through-walkers most days, mixed with cyclists, distillery visitors and local walkers. Lodgings serve general tourists, so fewer walker-only evenings.

About the walker figurePeople completing the whole route, with about 52,750 total users. Data from around 2012. Published estimate (around 2012). Source

Where you sleepB&Bs and inns.

NotesA pilgrim route from Melrose Abbey to Holy Island. The finale crosses tidal sands, so plan around the tide tables.

Last confirmedOctober 2026

Meeting other hikers: SociableOn a short walk where most go west to east, you meet the same walkers and pilgrim groups in small villages. Holy Island is packed with day-trippers at low tide.

About the walker figurePeople completing the whole route. Data from around 2012. Published estimate (around 2012). Source

Where you sleepB&Bs, inns and farmhouses.

NotesCoast to coast along the Roman frontier. The central section over the crags is the most scenic and the hilliest.

Last confirmedOctober 2026

Meeting other hikers: SociableYou see other through-walkers every day and share the few lodgings in the central section. Day visitors crowd Housesteads to Steel Rigg in summer.

About the walker figurePeople walking the whole path. Over a million people visit the Wall itself each year. Published estimate (about 2023). Source

Where you sleepVillage inns and B&Bs.

NotesChipping Campden to Bath through honey-stone villages. Many short, steep climbs on and off the escarpment.

Last confirmedOctober 2026

Meeting other hikers: OccasionalPlenty of day walkers around Broadway, Painswick and Bath, but only a few through-walkers each day. Most go north to south.

About the walker figureNo published count of people completing the route. Estimated from its popularity with walking-holiday companies. Rough estimate.

Where you sleepVillage B&Bs and pubs, often a short walk or taxi off the ridge.

NotesWinchester to Eastbourne along chalk ridges, finishing over the Seven Sisters cliffs.

Last confirmedOctober 2026

Meeting other hikers: SociableYou see other long-distance walkers and many mountain bikers daily. Evenings are quieter because lodgings are spread across villages below the Downs.

About the walker figureWalkers covering the full length, plus about 10,000 cyclists. Day use near London is very heavy. Published estimate (2019). Source

Where you sleepB&Bs and coastal inns.

NotesCliffs, coves and seabirds, with constant climbs in and out of bays.

Last confirmedOctober 2026

Meeting other hikers: OccasionalDay walkers are thick near Tenby, Stackpole and St Davids, but through-walkers are few. The northern end can be empty for hours.

About the walker figureNo published count of completers. The path logs about a million user-days a year, almost all day walkers. Rough estimate. Source

Where you sleepB&Bs, inns and harbour hotels.

NotesEngland's longest National Trail. Cornwall's north coast or the Jurassic Coast make classic one- or two-week sections. Relentless short, steep climbs.

Last confirmedOctober 2026

Meeting other hikers: OccasionalVery few one-trip walkers, but plenty of section walkers, mostly heading anticlockwise, and heavy day use at beauty spots in summer.

About the walker figurePeople walking all 630 miles in one go; no published count. The path draws 8 to 9 million visits a year, and many people walk week-long sections. Rough estimate. Source

Where you sleepB&Bs and inns, with a few long, remote stages that need a taxi pickup.

NotesBritain's first National Trail, from Edale to Kirk Yetholm. Boggy moorland and long days. Crosses the Coast to Coast at Keld.

Last confirmedOctober 2026

Meeting other hikers: OccasionalBusy with day walkers at Kinder, Malham and Pen-y-ghent, but north of Hadrian's Wall whole days can pass without another walker.

About the walker figureAn old figure still quoted for people walking all or large parts of the route. Strict end-to-end walkers are far fewer. Published estimate (2025). Source

Where you sleepB&Bs and border-town inns.

NotesFollows an eighth-century earthwork along the Welsh border. The middle section is a rollercoaster of steep hills.

Last confirmedOctober 2026

Meeting other hikers: SolitaryMost walk south to north, but the middle hill sections can be empty for long stretches. Expect to meet only a few other through-walkers.

About the walker figureNo published count. Estimated below the Cleveland Way, which gets similar coverage. Rough estimate.

Where you sleepB&Bs and seaside inns.

NotesA horseshoe over the North York Moors, then down the coast past Whitby and Robin Hood's Bay.

Last confirmedOctober 2026

Meeting other hikers: OccasionalThe moorland half can feel empty, while Whitby and Robin Hood's Bay are crowded with day-trippers in summer.

About the walker figurePeople completing the whole route, from the trail officer. About 350,000 other visits a year. Published estimate (current). Source

Where you sleepB&Bs, some off-route with host pickups.

NotesIreland's first waymarked trail, starting on the edge of Dublin and crossing the Wicklow Mountains.

Last confirmedOctober 2026

Meeting other hikers: OccasionalGlendalough and the Dublin Mountains are busy with day walkers; the south is quiet. One July walker met only about six other full-route walkers.

About the walker figureAn upper bound from counts on the quieter southern half. The northern sections see up to 24,000 users, mostly day walkers. Published estimate (2006). Source

Where you sleepB&Bs and village pubs.

NotesLoops the Iveragh Peninsula from Killarney. The walkers' version of the Ring of Kerry.

Last confirmedOctober 2026

Meeting other hikers: OccasionalBusy near Killarney and in July and August, but walkers report hours without meeting anyone on the hardest stages.

About the walker figureNo published count. An order-of-magnitude estimate from trip reports and operators. Rough estimate.

Where you sleepB&Bs and guesthouses.

NotesLoops the Dingle Peninsula with long beach walks and one big climb over the shoulder of Mount Brandon.

Last confirmedOctober 2026

Meeting other hikers: OccasionalSome walkers most days, more around Dingle town and Inch. July and August are peak; spring and autumn are quieter.

About the walker figureNo published count. Estimated by comparison with the Kerry Way. Rough estimate.

Where you sleepAlbergues, pensiones and hotels in nearly every village.

NotesThe most walked Camino, from Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Port over the Pyrenees and across northern Spain through Pamplona, Burgos and León. The Primitivo joins it at Melide and the Norte at Arzúa.

Last confirmedOctober 2026

Meeting other hikers: CrowdedThe last 100 km from Sarria is packed from May to October, with September now the peak. Before Sarria it is sociable rather than crowded.

About the walker figurePilgrims registering in Santiago after walking at least the last 100 km (62 miles). About two-thirds of them started in Sarria. Official count (2025). Source

Where you sleepAlbergues, guesthouses and hotels.

NotesThe most popular Camino after the Francés. From Porto, choose the inland Central route (about 150 miles) or the Coastal route (about 175 miles). Starting in Lisbon roughly doubles it.

Last confirmedOctober 2026

Meeting other hikers: CrowdedCrowded from Tui and from Vigo and Baiona, where most people start, between April and October. Porto to the border is sociable rather than crowded.

About the walker figureCentral route 100,815 plus Coastal route 89,512, counting pilgrims who walked at least the last 100 km. Up about 18% again in 2026. Official count (2025). Source

Where you sleepAlbergues and small hotels.

NotesShort route from the port of Ferrol. Long enough to earn the Compostela, so it fits a one-week trip.

Last confirmedOctober 2026

Meeting other hikers: SociableEveryone starts at the same point on a short route, with many Spanish groups. Close to crowded in July and August; quiet in winter.

About the walker figurePilgrims registering in Santiago, nearly all of whom started in Ferrol. Official count (2025). Source

Where you sleepAlbergues and coastal hotels.

NotesThe epilogue from Santiago to the Atlantic at Cape Finisterre, with an extension to Muxía. A natural add-on to any Camino.

Last confirmedOctober 2026

Meeting other hikers: SociableOther walkers every day and shared albergues, but far less dense than the Francés finale. Busiest June to September.

About the walker figureCertificates issued in Fisterra to people who walked out from Santiago, plus 17,201 in Muxía. Many walk to both, so the counts overlap. Official count (2024). Source

Where you sleepAlbergues and hostales, with long gaps between towns in Extremadura.

NotesSeville to Santiago along an old Roman road. Very hot in summer and sparse in places, so spring is the season.

Last confirmedOctober 2026

Meeting other hikers: SolitarySouth of Salamanca you usually walk alone all day and meet the same handful of pilgrims in the evening. Summer heat almost empties it.

About the walker figurePilgrims registering in Santiago from this route. Many walked only from Ourense, so far fewer walk the whole way from Seville. Official count (2025). Source

Where you sleepHotels in towns; several stages end away from beds, so walkers use daily taxis.

NotesA full loop of Menorca on an old coastal bridle path past coves and lighthouses.

Last confirmedOctober 2026

Meeting other hikers: OccasionalOnly a few long-distance walkers. Stretches near coves and resorts are busy with beachgoers in summer; the remote north and south are quiet.

About the walker figureNo published count; trail counters were only announced in late 2024. Rough estimate.

Where you sleepGuesthouses and small hotels in coastal villages.

NotesThe Fishermen's Trail runs about 141 miles along clifftops from São Torpes to Lagos. The classic stretch is Porto Covo to Odeceixe in four days. Soft sand makes the miles feel longer. The inland Historical Way adds another network of about 163 miles.

Last confirmedOctober 2026

Meeting other hikers: SociableFrom March to May and in September and October you see other walkers all day on the classic stretch. Lodging is in private guesthouses, so evenings are less communal than a Camino.

About the walker figureNo published count. A low-confidence estimate from the number of operators and guesthouses on the route. Rough estimate.

Where you sleepGîtes, guesthouses and village hotels.

NotesRetraces Robert Louis Stevenson's 1878 walk with a donkey through the Cévennes. Donkey hire is still an option.

Last confirmedOctober 2026

Meeting other hikers: SociableMost walk north to south on the same stages and share the same gîtes and dinners. Few day-hiker crowds.

About the walker figureWalkers on the trail each year, from the trail association. Not all walk the full route. Published estimate (2024). Source

Where you sleepRefuges and valley hotels. A mostly private-room itinerary is possible.

NotesThe refuge wardens' official booking platform set 15 October 2026 as the day bookings for summer 2027 opened, and some refuges fill soon after. In September 2026, local authorities agreed in principle that from spring 2027 anyone walking the French section in one go must book a refuge, hotel, campsite or approved bivouac area for every night, and that luggage transfers would carry only trekking bags, at set times. The final rules hadn't been published by October 2026. Roughly 33,000 feet of climbing in all.

Last confirmedOctober 2026

Meeting other hikers: CrowdedSome sections log up to 1,000 people a day in July and August. About two-thirds walk anticlockwise. September is noticeably quieter.

About the walker figure73,000 to 78,000 multi-day walkers in summer 2025 from a trail-counter study, including section walkers. A local mayor put 2026 at about 90,000. Published estimate (2025). Source

Where you sleepVillage hotels plus a few high huts with dorms.

NotesChamonix to Zermatt beneath the Matterhorn. Harder than the TMB, with more high passes.

Last confirmedOctober 2026

Meeting other hikers: SociableNearly everyone walks Chamonix to Zermatt, so you meet the same people daily and share huts. The first days overlap the busy TMB.

About the walker figureNo published count. Estimated from hut sizes and season length. Rough estimate.

Where you sleepA hotel or guesthouse in a village every night.

NotesThe Engelberg to Gsteig stretch passes the Eiger and crosses passes such as Grosse Scheidegg and Hohtürli. Trains and cable cars let you shorten a day when you want.

Last confirmedOctober 2026

Meeting other hikers: OccasionalYou meet other through-walkers on the high passes, and crowds of day trippers at Kleine Scheidegg, Mürren and Grindelwald in July and August.

About the walker figureNo published count. A few hundred to 2,000 walk the whole Swiss route; the Bernese Oberland stages see the most. Rough estimate.

Where you sleepHigh mountain huts and valley hotels. Some huts have limited showers.

NotesCircles the Monte Rosa massif from Zermatt and Saas-Fee into Italy's Aosta valleys.

Last confirmedOctober 2026

Meeting other hikers: OccasionalYou can go a full day seeing only a handful of people. Day hikers gather around Zermatt and Saas-Fee.

About the walker figureNo published count. Consistently described as far quieter than the TMB. Rough estimate.

Where you sleepRifugi, many with private rooms. Showers can be short or token-operated.

NotesLago di Braies to Belluno, rifugio to rifugio, with the best hut food in the Alps. Book rifugi early.

Last confirmedOctober 2026

Meeting other hikers: CrowdedIn July and August most walk north to south and the same people fill the same rifugi each night. Day crowds at Lago di Braies and Lagazuoi. Sociable in September.

About the walker figureNo published count. Estimated from rifugio sizes and how fast they sell out. Rough estimate.

Where you sleepRifugi, some with private rooms.

NotesBrixen to Feltre. Tougher and more exposed than Alta Via 1, with via ferrata sections that need a harness.

Last confirmedOctober 2026

Meeting other hikers: SociableThe northern rifugi fill months ahead and day hikers are everywhere; the southern half is close to solitary.

About the walker figureNo published count. Longer and harder than Alta Via 1, with less booking pressure. Rough estimate.

Where you sleepPilgrim hostels, agriturismi and hotels.

NotesThe pilgrim road to Rome. The full route from Canterbury is about 1,200 miles; most people walk from Lucca through San Gimignano and Siena. The last 62 miles earn the Testimonium certificate.

Last confirmedOctober 2026

Meeting other hikers: SociableSociable in Tuscany and northern Lazio in spring and autumn, with September the peak. Quieter on the Po plain and the Apennine crossing.

About the walker figureCertificates issued in Rome for walking at least the last 100 km. 2025 was a Jubilee year; 2024 saw about 6,000. Official count (2025). Source

Where you sleepAgriturismi and village hotels.

NotesBologna to Florence across the Apennines on Roman and Etruscan tracks. Popular with Italians, so book weekends early.

Last confirmedOctober 2026

Meeting other hikers: SociableNearly everyone walks Bologna to Florence in 5 or 6 stages, so you see the same groups in every lodging. Italian holiday weekends bring the biggest peaks.

About the walker figureWalkers on the route, from the Florence city council. Up from 8,000 in 2017. Published estimate (2025). Source

Where you sleepConvent guesthouses, agriturismi and hotels.

NotesFlorence to Rome through Tuscany and Umbria via La Verna and Assisi. The La Verna to Assisi stretch makes a strong one-week-plus trip.

Last confirmedOctober 2026

Meeting other hikers: OccasionalIn spring and autumn you meet a few walkers most days, often the same few. The Assisi to Rome half is quieter.

About the walker figureWalkers and cyclists registering at the pilgrim desk in Assisi after arriving on this route, from either direction. Official count (2024). Source

Where you sleepHotels and rooms in every village.

NotesShort but spectacular. The coastal path is crowded and some sections need a paid Cinque Terre Card. The higher paths above the villages are quieter.

Last confirmedOctober 2026

Meeting other hikers: CrowdedA day-tripper path more than a long-distance one, jammed from mid-morning to late afternoon. Walk before 8am or late in the day.

About the walker figureTickets sold for the short Via dell'Amore section alone, almost all day trippers. No count for the whole path. Official count (2025). Source

Where you sleepAn inn, pension or hotel at the end of every stage.

NotesFrom the foot of the Grossglockner to the Adriatic at Muggia in 43 stages. The Soča Valley stages are a highlight.

Last confirmedOctober 2026

Meeting other hikers: OccasionalWalkers are spread over 43 stages, mostly on week-long packages. Day hikers gather at the Grossglockner and the Carinthian lakes.

About the walker figureMulti-day hikers, mostly on week-long sections, with about 100,000 overnight stays, from the Carinthia tourism board. Published estimate (2023). Source

Where you sleepGuesthouses, B&Bs and hotels; no hut nights on the main loop.

NotesA deliberately low-level loop around Mount Triglav through Bled, Bohinj and the Soča Valley.

Last confirmedOctober 2026

Meeting other hikers: OccasionalCompany is easy to find in peak season, but much of it is day visitors around Bled and Bohinj. Quieter after early September.

About the walker figureNo published count. The trail opened in 2019 and many walk only sections. Rough estimate.

Where you sleepMountain huts and valley inns.

NotesCrosses Tyrol from St Johann to St Anton. Many stages end at huts; valley alternatives exist for some.

Last confirmedOctober 2026

Meeting other hikers: OccasionalHuts are busy with hut-to-hut walkers and day hikers in July and August, but full-route walkers are few and spread out.

About the walker figureNo published count. Mostly section walkers; only a few hundred walk all 33 stages. Rough estimate.

Where you sleepGuesthouses and small hotels.

NotesLoops the sandstone towers of Saxon Switzerland near Dresden. Short stages with many stairs and ladders.

Last confirmedOctober 2026

Meeting other hikers: SociableIn spring and autumn you share stages and guesthouses with other multi-day walkers. Huge day-trip crowds at the Bastei on weekends.

About the walker figureNo published count. Heavily sold as packages with luggage transfer. Rough estimate.

Where you sleepWine-village inns and hotels.

NotesWiesbaden to Bonn above the Rhine through vineyards and past castles. Lots of up and down between river and ridge.

Last confirmedOctober 2026

Meeting other hikers: OccasionalMostly day and weekend walkers near the Loreley, Rüdesheim and Koblenz, with few through-walkers.

About the walker figureNo published count. Most people walk single day stages. Rough estimate.

Where you sleepBlack Forest inns and guesthouses.

NotesPforzheim to Basel through the Black Forest. Germany's oldest long-distance trail.

Last confirmedOctober 2026

Meeting other hikers: OccasionalYou meet some through-walkers heading south. Day crowds gather on the Feldberg and Belchen.

About the walker figureNo published count. Widely sold as packages. Rough estimate.

Where you sleepBavarian village inns.

NotesLake Starnberg to Füssen through Bavarian villages and monasteries, finishing near Neuschwanstein.

Last confirmedOctober 2026

Meeting other hikers: SolitaryWhole days can pass without another long-distance walker, until the tourist crowds at Neuschwanstein at the end.

About the walker figureNo published count. Rough estimate.

Where you sleepFamily guesthouses every night; simple, usually shared bathrooms.

NotesA loop through the Accursed Mountains. Cross-border permits need arranging about a month ahead, usually through a local agency.

Last confirmedOctober 2026

Meeting other hikers: SociableIn July and August you share guesthouses in Theth, Valbona and Doberdol with other trekkers. September is quieter.

About the walker figureNo published count, including for border permits. Growing fast since about 2020. Rough estimate.

Where you sleepVillage pensions on most stages; some remote stretches need camping or transfers.

NotesFethiye to Antalya past Lycian ruins and turquoise bays. Self-guided operators pre-book pensions on the best sections. Too hot in summer.

Last confirmedOctober 2026

Meeting other hikers: OccasionalWestern stretches fill with section walkers in spring and autumn; the eastern and higher sections can give whole days alone.

About the walker figureMulti-day trekkers, mostly on sections, from a guide site. Only a few hundred are thought to walk the whole route. Published estimate (recent). Source

Where you sleepFamily guesthouses in villages.

NotesGuesthouse to guesthouse past medieval tower houses below the Caucasus. Short, so pair it with Tbilisi and wine country.

Last confirmedOctober 2026

Meeting other hikers: SociableAlmost everyone walks the same four stages and ends up in the same guesthouses, so shared dinners are normal. August is close to crowded.

About the walker figureNo official count. Based on guides' reports of 100 to 150 starters a day in high summer. Rough estimate.

Where you sleepPilgrim hostels, farm stays and hotels, with some long gaps.

NotesOslo to Nidaros Cathedral in Trondheim. Scandinavia's answer to the Camino, with far fewer walkers.

Last confirmedOctober 2026

Meeting other hikers: SolitaryWhole days can pass without meeting another long-distance walker. You meet a few at pilgrim lodgings; numbers peak in late July.

About the walker figurePilgrims registered on arrival in Trondheim, all routes combined. Around 2,500 walk long stretches, since many never reach the end. Official count (2025). Source

Where you sleepBunk dorms in huts; paid showers at every hut except Hrafntinnusker.

NotesLandmannalaugar to Þórsmörk through rhyolite mountains and black lava fields. Hut beds book out early in the year.

Last confirmedOctober 2026

Meeting other hikers: CrowdedA short season, huts that sell out and a steady stream of walkers going the same way. Early September is noticeably quieter.

About the walker figureNo official count. Up to 100,000 hike some part of it, including day hikers at each end. Rough estimate. Source

Where you sleepRyokan and minshuku with hot-spring baths and multi-course dinners.

NotesThe Nakahechi route through forested mountains to the Kumano shrines. Twinned with the Camino, so walking both earns Dual Pilgrim status. Many steep stone steps.

Last confirmedOctober 2026

Meeting other hikers: SociableInns are few and small, so in spring and autumn you keep meeting the same walkers at Takahara, Chikatsuyu and Hongu.

About the walker figureNo published count of walkers. About 5,700 people a year now register as Dual Pilgrims after walking both the Kumano Kodo and a Camino. Rough estimate. Source

Where you sleepRyokan and minshuku in preserved post towns.

NotesThe old Edo-era highway between post towns in the Kiso Valley, such as Magome and Tsumago. Usually walked as an inn-to-inn tour; pairs well with the Kumano Kodo.

Last confirmedOctober 2026

Meeting other hikers: CrowdedMagome to Tsumago is busy all day, averaging over 200 walkers. Other Kiso Valley sections are much quieter.

About the walker figureWalkers counted on the Magome to Tsumago section, a record, nearly all doing it as a day walk. Multi-day walkers number a few thousand. Official count (2025 fiscal year). Source

Where you sleepMinshuku, ryokan, business hotels and temple lodgings.

NotesA loop of 88 temples around Shikoku island, with a lot of road walking. Many people walk it in sections over several trips.

Last confirmedOctober 2026

Meeting other hikers: OccasionalIn spring you see a few walking pilgrims most days and leapfrog them between lodgings, while temples are busy with bus pilgrims.

About the walker figureA widely repeated estimate; accurate counts aren't kept. 100,000 or more pilgrims go round by bus, car or taxi. Published estimate. Source

Where you sleepPremium lodges with private bathrooms up to about 13,000 feet; basic teahouses above.

NotesAltitude, not distance, is the challenge: base camp sits at about 17,600 feet. Some luxury itineraries return by helicopter.

Last confirmedOctober 2026

Meeting other hikers: CrowdedAbout 1,000 people a day enter the park in peak season. Trails are busy with trekkers, porters and yaks, and teahouses fill.

About the walker figureNo count of people reaching base camp. The national park logs roughly 56,000 entries a year across all Everest treks. Rough estimate. Source

Where you sleepTeahouses with private rooms; hot showers usually available, sometimes for a fee.

NotesCrosses the 17,769-foot Thorong La pass. New roads have changed the lower sections; trail variants avoid most of them. Distance depends on where you start.

Last confirmedOctober 2026

Meeting other hikers: SociableNearly everyone walks counterclockwise and bunches up in Manang and below the pass, where lodges are full in October.

About the walker figureForeign trekkers crossing the Thorong La pass, the best stand-in for completing the circuit. Official count (2025 to 2026 fiscal year). Source

Where you sleepHotels, lodges and homestays on day sections; remote multi-day stretches use tented camps with hot showers.

NotesA 16th-century route from Haa to Trashigang, reopened in 2022. Bhutan requires a licensed guide. Western sections let you sleep in hotels or lodges every night.

Last confirmedOctober 2026

Meeting other hikers: SolitaryYou walk with your own guide; other foreign hikers are rare outside a few short sections, and most people you meet are villagers.

About the walker figureNo published count. A guide is mandatory and Bhutan keeps visitor numbers deliberately low. Rough estimate.

Where you sleepPrivate lodges with hot showers on the guided walk. The independent version uses bunk huts without showers.

NotesThrough Fiordland over Mackinnon Pass to Milford Sound. Guided places sell out far ahead.

Last confirmedOctober 2026

Meeting other hikers: SociableThe track is one-way. Each day's group shares the same huts every night, with the guided group moving alongside in its own lodges.

About the walker figureIndependent walkers, from hut bookings, which sell out. A similar number walk guided; that figure isn't published. Estimate from official data (2023 to 2024). Source

Where you sleepPrivate lodges on the guided walk.

NotesAn alpine crossing between Mount Aspiring and Fiordland national parks. Combines well with the Milford Track.

Last confirmedOctober 2026

Meeting other hikers: CrowdedFrom December to March people walk both ways, day walkers are heavy at both ends and huts are full. Sociable in November and April.

About the walker figureIndependent overnight walkers, estimated from hut and campsite bookings. Day walkers and guided walkers come on top. Estimate from official data (2023 to 2024). Source

Where you sleepLodges and resorts, with water taxis carrying your bags between them.

NotesRidges and bays of the Marlborough Sounds. Pairs nicely with Marlborough wine country.

Last confirmedOctober 2026

Meeting other hikers: SociableNine in ten head south from Ship Cove on similar plans and share lodges. Busiest December to February.

About the walker figurePeople walking or biking the entire track, from the Department of Conservation. Published estimate (2017). Source

Where you sleepPrivate beachfront lodges on guided or lodge-based walks.

NotesGolden beaches and tidal crossings. Gentle by New Zealand standards.

Last confirmedOctober 2026

Meeting other hikers: CrowdedNew Zealand's busiest Great Walk, with walkers going both ways, day walkers, kayakers and water taxis. Much quieter May to September.

About the walker figureOvernight walkers and kayakers, estimated from hut and campsite bookings. About 200,000 visit the park, mostly as day trips. Estimate from official data (2023 to 2024). Source

Where you sleepPrivate huts with twin rooms and hot showers, the only showers on the track.

NotesCradle Mountain to Lake St Clair through alpine moorland and rainforest, with three-course dinners each night.

Last confirmedOctober 2026

Meeting other hikers: SociableEveryone walks north to south in daily start groups, so you share huts with the same people for six nights.

About the walker figureIndependent and guided walkers, from the Tasmanian government. Published estimate (2025). Source

Where you sleepPrivate lodges on the guided walk.

NotesClifftop walking on the Tasman Peninsula past some of Australia's tallest sea cliffs.

Last confirmedOctober 2026

Meeting other hikers: SociableUp to 48 people start together each day, walk the same way and share the same cabins each night.

About the walker figureMulti-day walkers, from park figures. Capacity is about 22,600 a year. Published estimate (2023 to 2024). Source

Where you sleepTrail campsites only; lodge-based walks shuttle you to beds each night.

NotesApollo Bay to the Twelve Apostles along wild coast.

Last confirmedOctober 2026

Meeting other hikers: SociableDesigned one-way over eight days, and campgrounds sell out on spring and autumn weekends. Closer to occasional midweek and in winter.

About the walker figureNo published count. Estimated from campground capacity plus supported trips. Rough estimate.

Where you sleepSelf-guided packages use nearby lodges with daily transfers.

NotesLighthouse to lighthouse along the Margaret River coast, with wineries close by.

Last confirmedOctober 2026

Meeting other hikers: OccasionalMost walk north to south on their own schedules, so you meet a few walkers a day plus day walkers near beaches and lighthouses.

About the walker figureNo published count; there are no permits or bookings. Rough estimate.

Where you sleepPrivate mountain lodges with hot tubs.

NotesThe no-camping way to walk to Machu Picchu, crossing a pass at about 15,000 feet. A gentler Lares lodge route also exists.

Last confirmedOctober 2026

Meeting other hikers: SociableAgency groups start daily on the same route and Humantay Lake is busy with day-trippers, though lodge guests mostly see only their own group.

About the walker figureMulti-day trekkers on the Salkantay route, mostly camping groups; no published count. The lodge trek takes perhaps 500 to 2,000 guests. Rough estimate.

Where you sleepRefugios, mostly dorms with a few private rooms or cabins.

NotesPatagonia's classic: Base Torres, the French Valley and Grey Glacier. Wind is the main hazard, and refugio beds book out months ahead.

Last confirmedOctober 2026

Meeting other hikers: CrowdedFrom December to February W hikers going both ways mix with day-hike crowds at Base Torres and Grey, and refugios are full.

About the walker figureNo published count of W hikers. The park logged 367,426 visits in 2024, mostly day visitors. Rough estimate. Source

Where you sleepHomestays, family lodges and cabins; a night or two may be platform camping.

NotesCaribbean to Pacific through rainforest, coffee country and an Indigenous territory where a local guide is required. Waymarking between stages is patchy, so most people walk with a guide.

Last confirmedOctober 2026

Meeting other hikers: SolitaryWhole days can pass without another long-distance walker. Homestays give you local company rather than fellow hikers.

About the walker figureForeign hikers, plus about 8,000 Costa Ricans who mostly walk single stages, from the association that runs the trail. Published estimate (2024). Source

Where you sleepOff-grid eco-lodges with bunkrooms, hot showers and cooked meals.

NotesOne of the few US hut-to-hut systems with hot showers. For 2026 to 2027, hut-to-hut stays run in winter on skis or snowshoes; summer is whole-hut group rentals only, and Grand Falls Hut is closed.

Last confirmedOctober 2026

Meeting other hikers: OccasionalThe trails are quiet. On winter weekends you share the huts and meals with other guests.

About the walker figureNo published count. Estimated from the capacity of the three operating huts. Rough estimate.