St. Paul Trail

While the Lycian and Carian trails hug the coast, the St. Paul Trail heads directly inland, plunging straight up into the strenuous, magnificent limestone peaks of the Taurus Mountains. Stretching 500 kilometers from the ancient Roman ruins of Perge (near Antalya) all the way north to Yalvaç near Lake Eğirdir, the route roughly follows the missionary path of St. Paul the Apostle. It is arguably Turkey’s wildest long-distance trail. Hikers are immediately confronted with severe elevation gains, navigating staggering river canyons (like Köprülü), dense pine and cedar forests, and remote, traditional stone-house villages built into the mountain sides. You will walk on the absolute best-preserved ancient Roman roads in the world, some perfectly paved for miles into the wilderness.

One of the most gruelling single-day summits in Central America. You'll grind from sea-level farmland to a 1610 m crater rim on Isla de Ometepe, passing through lush jungle, slogging up a muddy spine and finally scrambling across loose scree. Leave at dawn — most hikers need a full 10–11 hours. On clear days the payoff is a cloud-wisped crater rim and vistas stretching to Mombacho Volcano far to the north.