2025 Readers' Choice Awards: Best destination for walking holidays

Winner: New Zealand

Why you love it…

Glacier-carved valleys, movie-set landscapes and copious trails with inspiring vistas around every bend… need we say more? New Zealand is home to 11 Great Walks and thousands of other pristine tracks, along with 13 magnificent national parks. The Tongariro Northern Circuit, Routeburn Track, Hooker Valley Track and Blue Pools Track are just a few of the standout walks.

Hot tip…

For overnight walks, book your mountain huts and campsites far in advance (they fill up uber fast) via the Department of Conservation, which manages a network of 950 huts.

Runners-up

Spain

From the iconic Camino de Santiago pilgrimage to the Cares Gorge day hike in Picos de Europa National Park, Spain is teeming with wonderful walking tracks, both short and multi-day.

Italy

The Bel Paese brims with diverse, dreamy landscapes. Tackle the Dolomites’ Tre Cime di Lavaredo loop for alpine bliss, or marvel at cinematic sea cliffs along the Amalfi Coast’s Path of the Gods.

Japan

Discover quiet forests, roaring rivers and ancient Buddhist pilgrimage trails such as the Kumano Kodo during a guided or independent walking adventure.

Scotland

Best known for its West Highland Way walk, Scotland abounds in enchanting hiking journeys that pass rolling highlands, mystical lochs and rugged coastline.

For all the winners and runners-up, visit our 2025 Readers’ Choice hub.