7 Best Bucket List Hikes for Solo Female Travellers

By Mila Whitman

Hiking solo is good for the soul and offers an incredible sense of freedom!

If you are a solo female traveller looking for something easy, a trail to do in a group or a real solo challenge, there is something for everyone!

We start with an awesome trek in Peru, the famous Inca Trail to Machu Picchu.

Machu Picchu Lost City in the Clouds 1585468296 37032
Machu Picchu – Lost City in the Clouds

 

Contents

THE INCA TRAIL IN PERU

The Inca Trail is the most popular trek to the famous historical site. It’s a 45km, 4-day long trek that takes you through breathtaking forests and to some of the most incredible Incan ruins.

You’ll be reaching an altitude of around 4200m, so make sure you have a good understanding of altitude sickness. The trail is fairly challenging but if you have a good fitness level, you can make it.

Book your permit at least 6 months in advance. Tour operators get everything organized for you making planning your trip easier. If you are wary of travelling alone for the first time then this is the trail I recommend for you.

 

MOUNT KILIMANJARO (RONGAI ROUTE) IN TANZANIA

Kilimanjaro from the foothills 1585468364 37095
View of Kilimanjaro from the foothills

 

Mount Kilimanjaro, Africa’s highest mountain, is an awesome trek for solo female travellers!

I suggest the Rongai Route for those who love wildlife. On the trail, you’ll have a chance to see some of Africa’s incredible animals like elephants, buffalo and plenty of antelope.

It’s a 7-day trek with one of those days being spent in Mwenzi Tarn to acclimatize. The Northern side of Kilimanjaro experiences less rain making for some exceptional views!

It is also one of the quieter trails and must be accompanied by a guide and porters, or you can opt to join an organized group tour.

Consider booking your Kilimanjaro experience from June to December for the best weather, but it’s possible to climb the mountain at any time of the year.

 

TORRES DEL PAINE IN ARGENTINA

The Torres Del Paine trek is becoming more popular amongst hiking enthusiasts. Located in the Torres Del Paine National Park in Chile, this trail is for those travellers who love nature.

Torres Del Paine National Park 1585468517 26197
Torres Del Paine National Park – Image by Pixabay

 

The trek is 130kms and takes around 9 days to complete. It’s very well signposted and has plenty of ranger stations and water points along the route, making it a good trek for those entry-level solo female hikers!

Summer from December to March is peak season and it is very busy on the trail, but this is when you’ll have the best weather conditions. I recommend doing the trail in Fall, from March to June. The route is quieter, the landscapes are full of vibrant colors and views are breath-taking which makes dealing with the windy weather worth every step.

There are shorter routes in Torres Del Paine for the less adventurous trekkers. Either way, the views are incredible, the ancient forests are humbling, and the lakes are pristine. This is one for the list for sure!

 

EVEREST BASE CAMP IN NEPAL

Hiking the EBC Trek Crossing Cho La Pass 1585468445 16845
Hiking the EBC Trek – Crossing Cho La Pass

 

I’m sure you’ve heard of Mount Everest and the trek to Everest Base Camp. This trek is for the solo female traveller who is looking for a real challenge, both mentally and physically.

Trekking to Everest Base Camp takes you to an exceptional height of 5,300m above sea level! It is highly important to have prior experience trekking at high altitude, and have a very good understanding of the risks and symptoms of altitude sickness.

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Hire a porter and hike independently or use a local tour operator for guided tour groups to the Everest Base Camp. If you are planning on taking on this challenge, definitely book for September to November, or March to May when the weather is dry and warm.

 

GOKYO LAKES TREK IN NEPAL

Gokyo Lakes from Gokyo Ri 1585468635 59641
Gokyo Lakes from Gokyo Ri – Image by Pixabay

 

One trek that I am greatly fond of is the Gokyo Lakes Trek in Nepal. The emerald lakes are a beautiful sight and the trail offers amazing views of Lhoste, Makalu and the peaks of the famous Mount Everest.

An alternative trek to the classic Everest trek, but with all the highlights, and the bonus of getting to see the stunning Gokyo Lakes. The trail has fewer visitors than the EBC Trek and is a circular route, meaning no backtracking like with the EBC trek.

You’ll have the opportunity to summit Gokyo Ri, over 5,000m above sea level, which is where you will find those stunning views of the surrounding peaks. The trek takes 16 days to complete and I find the best time to go is either from March to May or September to November.

This trek also requires you to take the precarious flight into Lukla from Kathmandu, so keep this in mind when booking your trip.

 

KALALAU TRAIL IN HAWAII

Hawaii! What a magical place with some truly epic hiking opportunities.

Kalalau Trail on the Napali Coast 1585468583 30430
Kalalau Trail on the Napali Coast – Image by Pixabay

 

The Kalalau Trail follows the beautiful Na Pali Coast, takes 2 days to complete and is 36kms long. The most popular trail in Kauai begins at Ke’e Beach and taking you to the secluded gem of Kalalau Beach. I highly suggest camping overnight. The peace and serenity is something you probably won’t find elsewhere.

There are very high cliffs dropping down to the Pacific Ocean, and unpredictable streams along the way. I only recommend this trail if you have previous hiking experience.

Some top tips for this trail, don’t leave any valuables in your car, inform people of your intention to go on the Kalalau Trail and do not attempt if any rain is predicted.

Don’t let the warnings prevent you from hiking the Kalalau Trail. If you have experience hiking solo, you won’t regret taking on this challenge. It is possibly the most beautiful hike in the world!

 

CHADAR TREK IN INDIA

India, a cultural paradise! The Chadar Trek takes you on a remote and unusual adventure into the Zanskar region of India.

Flowing Zanskar River in India 1585468696 39479
Flowing Zanskar River in India – Image by Pixabay

 

You’ll be walking over the frozen Zanskar River and sleeping riverside in tents. It gets absolutely freezing at night as temperatures get to below -20 degrees, so be warned.

This is one of the toughest treks in India. It is very cold and icy, and you’ll need to prepare for the high altitude. You will need to have prior trekking experience to take on this challenge.

January and February is the best time to hike the Chadar Trek. It’s peak winter season so the river is frozen and is thick enough to walk on. The route is not operational at any other time of year.

Surrounded by beautiful snow-capped peaks, this is one for the bucket list!

 

So there you have some fabulous bucket list Hikes for Solo Female Travellers!

Travelling solo is a truly rewarding experience. I recommend attempting it at least once in your life. Any of these top trails for solo female hikers will offer an exceptional hiking experience that you’ll not soon forget!

 

Blogger and Guest Author at

Mila is a new mom and outdoor enthusiast! She has experienced some of the best hiking trails in over 50 countries! She wanted to share her passion for hiking with others and created Mountain IQ along with her husband Mark, with a goal to become the best information portal for mountain enthusiasts on the web. If she isn’t working on her blog, she is outdoors experiencing nature with her family!

28 thoughts on “7 Best Bucket List Hikes for Solo Female Travellers

  • May 20, 2020 at 11:50 am
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    All these places look amazing! I’ve hiked in Hawaii and it was just a fantastic experience. I’ve done a few solo hikes in my time (and will absolutely do more). It’s really an unique adventure that I highly recommend to others. I can’t wait to get back to hiking again 🙂 Be safe, happy & healthy!

    Reply
  • May 18, 2020 at 2:14 pm
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    These all look lovely, I would love to visit Peru sometime soon, it always looks so magical on photos. But all the other places you mentioned look amazing.

    Reply
  • May 8, 2020 at 6:50 am
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    The Everest Base Camp has always been a dream of mine but, as you wrote, it’s a tough challenge and I’ve never adequately prepared for it. The Kalalau Trail in Hawaii looks really beautiful, too, and the views are fantastic! Thanks for all these great solo trek ideas 😀

    Reply
  • May 7, 2020 at 7:00 pm
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    Wow so many lovely places for sure. I would love to travel to any of these right now xx

    Reply
  • May 7, 2020 at 6:23 pm
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    i would like to try hiking, never done it before. these places are absolutely beautiful.

    Reply
  • May 7, 2020 at 5:59 pm
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    Kilamarjona and Everest have been on my list for years! Maybe one day.

    Reply
  • May 7, 2020 at 2:01 pm
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    The Mt. Kilimanjaro hike and the one to the base camp of Mt. Everest would be thrilling. I hope I can still be able to make it there before my knees become weak from old age.

    Reply
  • May 6, 2020 at 11:28 pm
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    Wow! This is quite a list. The views look beautiful. Hikers would really love this. Let’s hope the current situation ends soon.

    Reply
  • May 6, 2020 at 8:29 pm
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    Wow these are some scenic hikes! We did a few hikes in Hawaii 2 years ago and it’s the BEST way to see the islands.

    Reply
  • May 6, 2020 at 5:35 pm
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    So many hikes to do, so little time! Kilimanjaro and Torres del Paine have been calling my name for a while now – hopefully, I’ll get the chance to complete them someday. The Chadar Trek looks gorgeous too, may just have to add that to my bucket list…

    Reply
  • May 6, 2020 at 4:03 pm
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    These are few of amazing bucket list hikes! All treks have gorgeous landscape and looks picturesque. My bucket list is Machhu Pichhu Peru, other treks looks bit difficult for me. I loved the idea of shorter route of Torres del Paine, would like to hike it.

    Reply
  • May 6, 2020 at 1:43 pm
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    I can’t wait to get back out and hiking again once this is all over! Wow how stunning do all of these trails look! If I had to pick a favorite I would say chadar looks beautiful! I’ll be adding them all my my bucket list though!

    Reply
  • May 6, 2020 at 8:37 am
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    What a fabulous list. The only one that didn’t pique my interest was the Kilimanjaros one .. but the other countries have literally all been on my list for so long now. Just one question though, is the Torres Del Paine trek in Chile or Argentina?

    Reply
  • May 6, 2020 at 8:36 am
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    I can’t wait to get back outdoors and go hiking again! I’m due to head out to Menorca later in the year and there’s an amazing path that goes around the whole island, I’ve walked parts of it in the past and I really hope I get to go out and do some more (COVID dependent of course!).

    Reply
  • May 6, 2020 at 8:35 am
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    hi
    well, you do have listed some of the lovelies treks to be undertaken. I loved each trek recommendation that you spoke of, I myself am a trekker and could relate to the beauty of these treks. And yes treks in the Himalayas are definitely special.Kudos to you.

    Reply
    • May 6, 2020 at 10:28 am
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      These are some really awesome trek recommendations. Each looks so picturesque but so different from each either. If I am asked to choose three of these they would be Gokyo Lakes Trek in Nepal with great views of emerald lakes and Lhoste, Makalu and the peaks of the famous Mount Everest. Next would be Kalalau trail in Hawaii followed by Chadar trek. Very refreshing views.

      Reply
  • May 5, 2020 at 7:20 pm
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    Wow, 9 days for the Torres Del Paine hike! Now that’s what I call a nice long hike. I had no idea about Lukla airport being the scariest airport, you’ve prompted me to google pictures and WOW it’s tiny for sure.

    Reply
  • May 5, 2020 at 6:28 pm
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    I love hiking and this seems to be like the ultimate list for sure!

    Reply
  • May 5, 2020 at 3:29 pm
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    These all sound amazing. They look absolutely gorgeous. I’ll definitely have add some of these onto my travel list. Thanks, for sharing.

    Reply
  • May 1, 2020 at 1:28 pm
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    I once hiked the Waimanu Valley trail on the big island. I dream of going back. Hiking is one of my “happy places”.

    Reply
  • May 1, 2020 at 1:08 pm
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    These all sound like beautiful areas. I am nervous to hike on my own but a lot of people I know still hike alone and they love it

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  • May 1, 2020 at 12:00 pm
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    These all sound like incredible hikes!! I can’t wait to travel again

    Reply
  • May 1, 2020 at 5:58 am
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    This is a great article and I would love to do some of these hikes’

    Reply
  • May 1, 2020 at 5:37 am
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    I want to go to all of these!!!! Thank you for giving me total travel envy 😉

    Reply
  • May 1, 2020 at 5:34 am
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    I would absolutely love to go hiking in Argentina!

    Reply
  • May 1, 2020 at 2:19 am
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    Ooh this looks super cool! I’ll have to add these to my bucket list!

    Reply

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