At its peak the Qhapaq Ñan (Great Incan Road) stretched from Argentina to Colombia and incorporated a staggering 25,000 miles of roads and trails. The network fed into two main arteries, one following a coastal route; the other traversing the mighty Andes. Without the Qhapaq Ñan and its incredible rope bridges, the Inca empire would never have reached the heights it did. While some sections like the Inca trail are huge tourist attractions, other parts of the network are virtually unheard of.

The PCT will need little introduction to North American readers, so I will be brief. The trail spans 2,659mi from the Canadian border in the North to the Mexican border in the South, and follows the spines of the Sierra Nevada and Cascade mountain ranges. Conceived in 1932 by Clinton Churchill Clarke, it is one of the younger trails on this list, but it has rapidly established a name for itself as one of the world’s greatest hikes. It has a special significance to all at SA Expeditions, and our founders have spent many a weekend taking in its majestic beauty.

This 750-mile pilgrimage across Japan incorporates visits to 88 sacred temples and dates back to the 9th century AD. Large numbers of henro (pilgrims) still complete the journey, although many use modern means of transport instead of walking. Pilgrims wear white clothing and sedge hats and carry walking sticks. Interestingly there is no requirement to complete the pilgrimage in order; and doing it in reverse order is considered especially lucky!

The Great Wall of China is the collective name for the more than 13,000 miles of ramifications which run in an East-West direction along the northern border of China. The first sections were built as early as the 7th century BC (!) but very little remains of these extremely old constructions. The Great Wall as we know it dates back to the Ming dynasty and measures about 4000 miles. Hiking on the wall itself can be an extremely rewarding experience, especially in the more remote sections.

Formally established in the year 2000, the Via Alpina incorporates historic Alpine trails in eight different European countries. Comprising 342 stages, with a total length of 3100 miles and an altitude range of 0 – 10,000 feet, the Via Alpina is an unparalleled way to experience Europe’s wilder side. But it also offers fascinating insights in the cultural heritage of some of the world’s oldest civilizations.