ON FOOT · SELF-GUIDED TOURS

The 4 Best Self-Guided Tours Worldwide

4 hikes  ·  from $40 a head

Every trip has one free day too few. These 4 self-guided tours earn the slot, priced and timed so you can decide over breakfast and still make the trailhead.

Queen Charlotte Track: Cruise & Self-Guided Hike from Picton - Ship Cove and the longer 17-kilometer walk
Guided, Guided Day Hikes, Hiking Tours, New Zealand Hiking Tours, Self-Guided Tours, Tour Reviews

Queen Charlotte Track: Cruise & Self-Guided Hike from Picton

1.Queen Charlotte Track: Cruise & Self-Guided Hike from Picton

★★★★★★★★★★4.8 · 383 reviews · 8h 30m · from $66Our pick

Cruise with Beachcomber Cruises from Picton through the Marlborough Sounds, with skipper commentary and possible dolphin sightings. Choose a 12.7-kilometer walk from Furneaux Lodge to Punga Cove or a 17-kilometer route from Ship Cove to Furneaux Lodge. Allow a full day and bring food, water, rain gear, and sturdy shoes.

“Information on the ferry trip over was great. We learned so much about the local environment and the issues being faces. It made our hike so much more meaningful.”

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PR1 Sunrise Pico do Arieiro Self-Guided Hiking Transfer - Finding the Stairway to Heaven
Funchal Hiking Tours, Guided, Guided Day Hikes, Guided Day Hikes in Portugal, Hiking Tours, Morning, Portugal Hiking Tours, Self-Guided Tours, Sunrise Hikes, Sunrise Hikes in Portugal, Tour Reviews

PR1 Sunrise Pico do Arieiro Self-Guided Hiking Transfer

2.PR1 Sunrise Pico do Arieiro Self-Guided Hiking Transfer

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 299 reviews · 8 hours (approx.) · from $39Cheapest way up

Start before dawn with pickup in Funchal or Caniço, then watch sunrise from Pico do Arieiro before hiking at your own pace. Drivers such as Pedro, Filipe, and Adriana explain the route and trail changes. The transfer group is capped at eight, and pickup follows at Funchal Ecological Park.

“Fabulous trip, early start but you get a great spot for the sunrise. And the stars are amazing such a clear view of the sky. Great conditions so saw the sunrise above the clouds , amazing view. Take layers as it’s quite cool early on in the morning got to the top at 0615 and the sunrise was 0735 so take a few snacks and a drink. I wore trainers and was fine the trail is very dry so trainers were fine. I do a lot of hikes in the Lake District, so it wasn’t difficult just a lot of downhill on the PR3 section on dusty paths. The PR1…”

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Self guided Hike Trail to Nature Walk & Waterfall - Manoa Falls, movie scenery, and changing water levels
Guided, Guided Day Hikes, Guided Day Hikes in the USA, Hiking Tours, Honolulu Hiking Tours, Nature Walks, Self-Guided Tours, Tour Reviews, USA Hiking Tours, Waterfall Hikes, Waterfall Hikes in the USA

Self guided Hike Trail to Nature Walk & Waterfall

3.Self guided Hike Trail to Nature Walk & Waterfall

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 283 reviews · 3 hours (approx.) · from $79

Leave Waikiki for a guided Manoa Falls hike through Oahu’s rainy Rainbow Valley. Guides such as Robert, Arlaine, and Hema explain local plants, history, and movie locations. Expect muddy, slippery sections, a 150-foot waterfall, and a possible stop at Puʻu ʻUalakaʻa State Park for sweeping views of Honolulu.

“Will was a wonderful tour guide. He had so many stories and history to share. He was so prepared with water, walking sticks and even mosquito spray. Beautiful hike to a waterfall !”

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Volcanic Valley Self Guided Walking and Hiking at Waimangu - Frying Pan Lake and the first major sights
Guided, Hiking Tours, New Zealand Hiking Tours, Self-Guided Tours, Tour Reviews

Volcanic Valley Self Guided Walking and Hiking at Waimangu

4.Volcanic Valley Self Guided Walking and Hiking at Waimangu

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 248 reviews · from $46

Explore Waimangu Volcanic Valley independently with a printed Wanderer Guide and optional free app. Follow trails past Frying Pan Lake, Inferno Crater Lake, steaming vents, native bush, and Lake Rotomahana. Choose a shorter walk or continue farther, then use the internal shuttle bus back uphill. Allow about two hours, more if you take your time.

“A magnificent self-guided walk to learn more about the history of the place and enjoy those wonderful landscapes so characteristic of the area. Without a doubt totally recommended.”

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Other ways to spend the day on foot

Mountain & Summit Hikes129Volcano Hikes97Waterfall Hikes60Guided Day Hikes93Glacier Hikes51National Park Hikes42
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Water and rock

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Trees and trails

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