Collection · 13 trails in this catalog
Iconic bucket-list treks
The world-famous treks in our catalog — with sourced distances, not the rounded figures you’ll see elsewhere. This is not a complete world ranking, and the order is catalog membership, not a score.
Members are only trails we hold. Lengths are live from each record: OSM 2-D where we have a relation, schematic pin-to-pin where we do not — those schematic figures are not walking distances. Permit status is public-level only (required / none / unverified). Cost and booking stay behind the login gate on each trail page.
France · loop
Tour du Mont Blanc
OSM 166 km · Verified
osm:relation:9678362 · 2026-08-24 · osmStandard TMB non-technical; high variants harder · SAC T2–T3 (mapped — no official SAC grade) · YDS 1
Season: Mid-Jun–mid-Sep (refuges progressive)
What listicles get wrong: Listicles often round this loop to 170 km. This record’s OSM 2-D length is 166 km — labelled OSM, not a brochure figure.
No permit listed
France · point-to-point
GR20
OSM 183.6 km · Verified
osm:relation:12484370 · 2026-08-24 · osmPNRC: one of Europe's most difficult; N très technique · SAC T2–T4 (mapped — no official SAC grade) · YDS 1
Season: Refuge season 16 May–4 Oct 2026; practical late Jun–Sep
No permit listed
Italy · point-to-point
Alta Via 1
OSM 118 km · Verified
osm:relation:177743 · 2026-08-24 · osmCicerone/CAI: Grade 2 / E (optional Marmol VF = EEA) · SAC T2–T3 (mapped — no official SAC grade) · YDS 1
Season: Mid-Jun–late Sep (huts open, snow clear)
Permit unverified
Nepal · out-and-back
Everest Base Camp Trek
42.9 km · schematic — not walking distance*
curated (schematic village line: Lukla–Phakding–Namche–Tengboche–Dingboche–Lobuche–Gorak Shep–EBC) · 2026-08-24 · editorial · provisionalSAC T2 · YDS 1
Season: Spring Mar–May and autumn Sep–Nov; avoid monsoon Jun–Aug
What listicles get wrong: The length on this record is a curated schematic pin line, not a walking distance. Public-level permits: Sagarmatha NP entry + Khumbu Pasang Lhamu RM Trek-Card; TIMS contested. Cost stays behind the login gate.
Permit required: Sagarmatha NP entry + Khumbu Pasang Lhamu RM Trek-Card; TIMS contested
Iceland · point-to-point
Laugavegur
OSM 52.8 km*
osm:relation:1225037 · 2026-08-24 · osm · provisionalFÍ: moderate–challenging (no official SAC) · SAC T2 (mapped — no official SAC grade) · YDS 1
Season: Huts open ~25 Jun–15 Sep (snow/road dependent)
Permit unverified
New Zealand · loop
Kepler Track
OSM 61.6 km*
osm:relation:1385141 · 2026-08-24 · osm · provisionalDOC: Great Walk / Intermediate · SAC T2 (mapped — no official SAC grade) · YDS 1
Season: Great Walks season 27 Oct 2026–30 Apr 2027; winter = alpine skills
Permit required: DOC Great Walk hut/campsite booking
New Zealand · loop
Tongariro Northern Circuit
OSM 44.2 km · Verified
osm:relation:173345 · 2026-08-24 · osmDOC: Great Walk (in season) · SAC T2 (mapped — no official SAC grade) · YDS 1
Season: Great Walks season 23 Oct 2026–30 Apr 2027; off-season 1 May–22 Oct = not a Great Walk, alpine skills
Permit required: DOC Great Walk hut/campsite booking
Japan · point-to-point
Kumano Kodo — Nakahechi (Takijiri to Hongū)
OSM 35.9 km*
osm:relation:17094646 · 2026-08-24 · osm · provisionalTanabe City: grade 4 of 5 · SAC T2 (mapped — no official SAC grade) · YDS 1
Season: Year-round; spring & autumn best; avoid rainy season mid-Jun–mid-Jul
What listicles get wrong: This record is the Takijiri→Hongū section (35.9 km), not the whole Kumano Kodo pilgrimage. We do not quote a whole-route figure.
Permit unverified
Portugal · point-to-point
Fishermen's Trail
OSM 222.1 km · Verified
osm:relation:20810605 · 2026-08-24 · osmRota Vicentina: medium / somewhat difficult · SAC T1–T2 (mapped — no official SAC grade) · YDS 1
Season: Sep–Jun; avoid peak summer heat
What listicles get wrong: Listicles often quote 227 km and a 70% sand split. This record’s OSM 2-D length is 222.1 km. We do not publish a sand-percentage figure.
No permit listed
Switzerland · point-to-point
Walker's Haute Route
122.6 km · schematic — not walking distance*
curated:schematic · 2026-08-25 · editorial · provisionalSAC T3 (mapped — no official SAC grade) · YDS 2
Season: unverified
No permit listed
Peru · point-to-point
Inca Trail (Classic 4-day)
OSM 36 km*
osm:relation:15703494 · 2026-08-25 · osm · provisionalSAC T2 · YDS 1
Season: Closed all February (SERNANP maintenance); otherwise unverified
Permit required: Red de Caminos Inka permit (authorized agency)
New Zealand · point-to-point
Milford Track
OSM 53.6 km*
osm:relation:1385121 · 2026-08-25 · osm · provisionalDOC: Great Walk / Easier tramping track (in season) · SAC T2 (mapped — no official SAC grade) · YDS 1
Season: Great Walks season 1 Nov 2026–30 Apr 2027; winter = alpine skills
Permit required: DOC Great Walk hut booking
Chile · traverse
Torres del Paine W Trek
80 km*
seed:approx · 2026-01-01 · editorial · provisionalSAC T2 · YDS 1
Season: Nov-Mar (austral summer)
Permit required: CONAF park entry + campsite bookings
Why the Camino isn’t here
Camino Francés (Sarria→Santiago) is not here yet: OSM had no single clean relation and no clean Sarria boundary to clip, so this desk hard-stopped rather than stitch a line. See How long is the trail?.
Also in this desk: Collections · How long is the trail? · Hut-to-hut booking · Permit & season calendar · New Zealand Great Walks hub · Nepal trekking permits · Peru Inca Trail permits.
Questions
Which of these needs a permit?
Tour du Mont Blanc: no trail permit is listed on this record. GR20: no trail permit is listed on this record. Alta Via 1: permit status is unverified on this record. Everest Base Camp Trek: a permit is required (Sagarmatha NP entry + Khumbu Pasang Lhamu RM Trek-Card; TIMS contested). Cost and booking stay behind the login gate on each trail page. Laugavegur: permit status is unverified on this record. Kepler Track: a permit is required (DOC Great Walk hut/campsite booking). Cost and booking stay behind the login gate on each trail page. Tongariro Northern Circuit: a permit is required (DOC Great Walk hut/campsite booking). Cost and booking stay behind the login gate on each trail page. Kumano Kodo — Nakahechi (Takijiri to Hongū): permit status is unverified on this record. Fishermen's Trail: no trail permit is listed on this record. Walker's Haute Route: no trail permit is listed on this record. Inca Trail (Classic 4-day): a permit is required (Red de Caminos Inka permit (authorized agency)). Cost and booking stay behind the login gate on each trail page. Milford Track: a permit is required (DOC Great Walk hut booking). Cost and booking stay behind the login gate on each trail page. Torres del Paine W Trek: a permit is required (CONAF park entry + campsite bookings). Cost and booking stay behind the login gate on each trail page. This page does not quote fees.
Why isn't the Camino here?
Camino Francés (Sarria→Santiago) is not here yet: OSM had no single clean relation and no clean Sarria boundary to clip, so this desk hard-stopped rather than stitch a line. See /guides/how-long-is-the-trail.