Welcome to Walkopedia, our interactive directory of the world’s best walks and hikes.
- To have as close to a complete collection of the world’s great walks and hikes as can be achieved, within the next 10 years. This requires daunting levels of research - and walking - and help from walk lovers like you. So, please give us your suggestions and comments.
- To give you good travel writing about, and pictures of, the best walks and hikes and some walk-related fun and competitions.
- To give you good information and links, to help you plan an expedition.
THE WORLD'S 100 BEST WALKS: as walked and selected by William Mackesy
William Mackesy is on a long quest to identify the world’s 100 best walks. He is tackling and assessing all the walks himself, and has so far done more than a third of the likely best walks (listed on our about page). His descriptions of these walks will be appearing on this website.
Identifying the best walks requires a system as well as stamina: but what are the essential ingredients of a great walk? Outstanding beauty is not sufficient on its own (there are thousands of beautiful walks). It is some special charisma, often combined with a natural wonder or literary or historical association, which propels a walk into the highest ranks. Adjustments are needed for miseries such as crowding and altitude.
William has developed a grading system that balances between these varied factors. See our walks assessment system.
These are merely the results of William’s research to date. Our preliminary ranking will be revised for further candidates and adjusted markings. You can help to develop the final, definitive, list. Your suggestions for candidates, and comments on walks on the list, will be very welcome.
See our provisional list of the world’s 100 best walks, with ratings.
Click here to see William’s personal favourites walks.
CONTRIBUTE
You can join our community and help to develop the final, definitive, Top 100 list and a full collection of the world’s best walks and hikes. Your suggestions for candidates, and comments on walks on this website, will be very welcome. You can:
- recommend a walk, or submit your own description of a favourite walk;
- suggest additions or changes to an existing walk description and our walks assessments, including your tips, tales and photos; and
- give us other feedback or comments.
Go to our community page to see more on the Walkopedia project, including the ideas of other walk lovers.
FUN AND COMPETITIONS
Walking and hiking websites can be a bit earnest; see our fun page for the antidote!
And see our competitions, with prizes on offer for the best writing and contributions.
Planning an expedition
What you will need to do and take with you, including an extensive check and packing list.
Links to useful websites
We are developing useful information (on travel, equipment, books, maps and so on) to help you plan your own expedition.
Let us know about further useful websites and we’ll add them.
(Walk-specific information can be found on the individual walk pages.)
Walk updates
If you would like to receive an occasional update with new walks or information, then click here to register
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Countries with highest concentration of the world's best walks
| Country | No. in Top 100 | % of all walks | ||
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| China | 11 |
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| Nepal | 7 |
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| France | 6 |
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| India | 6 |
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| USA | 6 |
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| Peru | 6 |
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| Spain | 6 |
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| Italy | 5 |
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| UK | 5 |
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| Norway | 4 |
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THE WORLD'S 10 BEST WALKS
- Mount Kailash Kora, China
- Inca Trails, Peru
- Grand Canyon, USA
- Alta Via No. 1, Italy
- Torajaland, Indonesia
- Via Ferratas, Italy
- Huangshan, China
- Annapurna Massif, Nepal
- Ganden and Tsurphu Koras, China
- Around Yangshuo, Guilin, China
WALK OF THE MONTH
Lake Mansarovar, Tibet, China
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Beautiful sacred lake high in West Tibet.
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Place of pilgrimage for Buddhists and Hindus.
- Superb scenery, including views of 7,694m Gurla Mandhata and the fabled Mt Kailash.
- The altitude here can have severe effects: be prepared.
WALKOPEDIA NEWS
- July 2008: 240 walks in Walkopedia
- June 2008: A trio of amazing walks done in northern Greece - the Pindos/Vikos Circuit, Meteora and Mt Olympus.
- May 2008: 200th walk in Walkopedia
- April 2008: well over 8,000 page visits in March, our first month
- Article on our project in Intelligent Life Magazine, March 2008.
LATEST WALK
Pindos/Vikos Circuit, Greece
- Follow old mule tracks on a magnificent horseshoe in the rugged Pindos Mountains of northern Greece.
- Walk through the spectacular Vikos Gorge, claimed to be the steepest in the world, with its pristine forests and varied wildlife; then ascend to the highlands and take in a peak or two.
- Superb scenery limestone cliffs, spires and gorges and a cracked alpine plateau.
- Enjoy gorgeous wildflowers in May and June. Take in the Beloi viewpoint, with its amazing views down the Vikos Gorge, and the spectacular mule track of the Vradeto steps.
- Stay in traditional villages of ancient stone houses, absorbing the remarkable history, architecture and culture of the Zagoria region.
SOME QUESTIONS FOR YOU
- Cinque Terre in Italy - what do you think? Any good pictures? Any tales or tips?
- What is your favourite walk, and why? How would it rate using our system?
- Cézanne's Mt. St. Victoire; Is there a great walk on it or with views of it?
- Anyone have photos of the Diamond Mountains in North Korea?
