Welcome to Walkopedia, our interactive directory of the world’s best walks and hikes.

LATEST: First Story Charity 2012 competition results

See the results of our 2012 childrens' writing competition for the excellent charity First Story at http://www.walkopedia.net/fun-competitions/first-story-writing-competition.asp

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We are in the process of developing information on a huge selection of worldwide walks, so bear with us until this site reaches its full glory....but, in the meantime, do let us know of any favourite walk or trek that you think should be introduced to the world.

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Walkopedia Magazine:

View the Spring 2013 edition: Mustang in Nepal – the world's second-best walk?
View the Winter 2012 edition: Christmas 2012: Amazing Cappadocia.
View the Summer 2012 edition: Lycian Way, Humla in Nepal and Lebanon's Q'adesha Valley.
View other past editions, including the world's best walk and much more

Subscribe for our Walkopedia online Magazine and enter our £300 draw:

£100 each for three lucky winners!

Subscribe now: register as a new member and confirm that you do want to receive a Walkopedia magazine/newsletter, and you will be automatically entered for our cash prize draw.

See the rules of the competition

Huangshan, China

Our aims are:

To have as close to a complete collection of the world’s great walks and hikes as can be achieved, by 2020. 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.

Help Walkopedia

If you enjoy and value our site, please help us (at no cost to you) by buying your books, maps and other needs through our Amazon link.

And by telling friends about our site.

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 40% of the likely Top 100 (listed on our about page). His descriptions of these walks will be appearing on this website.

Alta Via 1 Dolomites

His planned book on these walks is provisionally titled "Fat Man Walking: a Good Wheeze". But, as he is 50 and his knees are in decline, he suspects the project will involve lowered sights at some point.

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 historical or artistic association, which propels a walk into the highest ranks. Adjustments are needed for miseries such as crowding and altitude. See our walks assessment system, which we have developed to balance between these varied factors.

Kilimanjaro at dawn from Mt Meru

See our provisional list of the world’s 100 best walks, with ratings. These preliminary rankings 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.

Click here to see William’s personal favourites walks.

Responsible Travel...

... matters, a lot. How you travel will make a real difference – for better or worse. PLEASE consider this when making plans. Read more

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

WALKOPEDIA TRAVEL WRITING AND PHOTOGRAPHY COMPETITIONS

Results are out for our 2011 competitions for:

The best travel writing about a walk or hike, including junior prizes.
The best photographs taken on a walk or hike, including junior prizes.

See the full results on our Competition Results 2011 page.

Lake Manasarovar,Tibet

Subscribe for our Walkopedia online Magazine and enter our £300 draw.
See the rules of the competition

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.)

Walkopedia Magazine

The first edition of our beautiful and intriguing online magazine appears in January 09. Click here to receive free copies... it won't take long! Subscribe for our Walkopedia online Magazine and enter our £300 draw

Tell a friend about Walkopedia

Enter details to tell a friend:

Countries with highest concentration of the world's best walks

Country

No. in Top 100

% of all walks

China

Nepal

Peru

Spain

USA

11%

France

India

Italy

Norway

648

NUMBER OF WALKS CURRENTLY IN WALKOPEDIA

CHARITY WALKS!

We are planning to feature good charity walks from around the world. Let us know of any charity walks you would like us to feature!

THE WORLD'S 10 BEST WALKS

(Walkopedia's provisional rating)

WALK OF THE MONTH

Wind River Mountains, NW: Wind River Mts, USA

A huge variety of walking in Wyoming's fabulous Wind River Mountains. Includes the classic Highline Trail, the Cirque of the Towers and the Titcomb Basin.

Superb scenery - the usual but not predictable peaks, cliffs, lakes, rivers and forests. Carved by immense glacial forces. Totally pristine wilderness, with a wide selection of Rockies wildlife.

This is tough walking in high, remote mountains, on which you will have to be self-sufficient and where altitude can cause problems. Come prepared.

Any photos and comments welcome!

Further information

WALKOPEDIA NEWS

Feb 2013: over 625 walks on Walkopedia, Off to check out Myanmar treks in March
Any suggestions or ideas or experiences?
Jan 2013: winter magazine
Featuring Cappadocia in Turkey, Wind River Mountains and much more
November 2012: our 600th walk loaded!
June 2012: featured in Brummell magazine
Brummell magazine, "the little black book for the City", features Walkopedia and its origins: see http://issuu.com/showmedia/docs/vip4-brum_june12_single-62376/25 at page 25
March 2012: travel writing and photo competition results
We have had some brilliant entries, and selecting the winners was a real problem.

Click to view more

LATEST WALK

Grand Teton National Park, NW: Grand Teton NP,USA

The dramatically jagged peaks of the Grand Tetons, America's youngest mountain range, dominate the Grand Teton National Park, their majesty reflected in mirror-like lakes.

The stark contrast between the flat valley-plain of Jackson Hole and its encircling mountains is spectacular, attracting almost 4 million annual visitors.

With more than 250 miles of trails, the Park offers many different and wonderful hikes. The best known and longest hike is the Teton Crest Trail: a challenging walk through the entirety of the Teton Range, with magnificent views.

Some of these are difficult walks in serious mountains: come prepared.