These legendary walking trails encompass eye-popping scenery and inspiring stories for those who conquer them.
1. Annapurna Circuit, Nepal
206 kilometres; three weeks to hike
Starting in Besisahar and ending in Pokhara this strenuous hike through the Annapurna Ranges, home to some of the highest peaks in the world, is the Holy Grail of treks.
It runs through ever-changing scenery from lush green foothills to stark, rugged landscapes, some of the deepest gorges on Earth to soaring snow-capped mountains.
Hikers need several days to acclimatise, so stopping at teahouses in small villages along the way is imperative.
Annapurna is the Holy Grail of treks.
2. Pacific Crest Trail, USA and Canada
4265 kilometres; 4–6 months to hike
Made famous by Cheryl Strayed’s memoir Wild and the resulting film, the Pacific Crest Trail stretches from Mannering Park in British Colombia to Campo in California.
This epic undertaking takes in lush forests, volcanoes, lakes and deserts, with hikers camping along the way.
The Pacific Crest Trail takes 4-6 months to complete.
3. Kokoda Track, Papua New Guinea
96 kilometres; 8–10 days to hike
Hiking the Kokoda Track is a bucket-list item for many Aussies and can be a challenging and emotional journey.
Not much has changed since those Australian soldiers fought the Japanese Army here in 1942, with trenches and rusted weapons still found along the way.
The track snakes through thick green vegetation, deep dark gorges, steep valleys and rugged mountains from Kokoda to Owers’ Corner.
4. Milford Track, New Zealand
53 kilometres; four days to hike
While a much shorter trek than others listed here, the Milford Track was once described as the ‘finest walk in the world’ in 1908 by poet Blanche Edith Baughan.
It is its scenery that renders it epic. Starting at Lake Te Anau and ending at Milford Sound, the track passes pristine lakes, mountain peaks, deep valleys, thundering waterfalls and ancient glaciers.
It can only be walked in one direction; each day’s distance ranges from five to 18 kilometres with a number of lodges to stay in along the way.
The Milford Track was once described as the ‘finest walk in the world’.
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5. Camino de Santiago, Spain and France
780 kilometres; 30–35 days to hike
Also known as the Way of St James, this ancient Catholic pilgrimage is 1000 years old and follows a trail from St-Jean-Pied-de-Port in south-west France to Santiago de Compostela in north-west Spain.
The trail runs across the Pyrenees, through large cities such as Pamplona and Leon, and via medieval towns and villages.
This ancient Catholic pilgrimage is 1000 years old!
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Wellbeing means different things to different travellers. Here’s how to pick a hotel that gets it right for you.
The best wellness holidays aren’t necessarily spent wrapped in a spa robe. Sometimes they’re found around a dinner table in Cambodia, on a hiking trail in New Zealand or after finally beating jet lag on the other side of the world. The hotel you choose is what makes them happen.
1. Easy access to good food
Taste delicious meals at Novotel Bangkok Sukhumvit 20.
One of the quickest ways to derail healthy habits on holiday is to spend half of it working out where to eat instead of digging into the culture around you. Thankfully, Novotel has done much of the hard work already, with chefs building menus that lean into the flavours, ingredients and traditions of each destination.
In Sihanoukville, Cambodia, Korkor soup – often dubbed ‘Cambodian ratatouille’ – sits alongside raw blue crab dressed with lime and chilli, best enjoyed with views across the Gulf of Thailand.
In the lovingly chaotic city of Bangkok, the presence of food cranks up the sociability. At Novotel Bangkok Sukhumvit 20, you can settle in with mango sticky rice and stranger-turned-friends beside the pool at Sky on 20 rooftop bar, or bring them along to tackle river prawns and stir-fried crab with holy basil at the buzzing Crab Paradise Dinner Buffet.
Then Novotel Dubai Al Barsha welcomes you with a laidback twist on the level of indulgence the Middle Eastern city is best known for up on Deck Se7en. Looking towards Burj Al Arab, the rooftop lounge has everything from Mediterranean-style dishes like seabass ceviche to Italian prosecco sundowners.
At the other end of the scale, in the hills that surround the Novotel Bali Ubud Resort, calm comes from nature. At Siralada restaurant, Balinese traditions shape the menu while thunder rumbles over the surrounding jungle – proving the setting is as nourishing as the food itself.
While at Novotel Nha Trang, chef Kieu Thi My Hanh and her team showcase Vietnam’s knack for balancing freshness, texture and fragrant herbs. Pho remains a favourite, while seafood salad with pomelo and mango brings those flavours together in one bright dish.
It’s all an approach backed by partnerships with expert food creators such as Alfie Steiner, whose plant-forward recipes prove healthy food should never taste plain.
2. Better sleep options
Sleep deeply with Novotel.
There are few travel experiences more disappointing than arriving in a new country, determined to seize the day, only to fall asleep fully clothed by 3pm.
For Australian travellers, jet lag is often an unavoidable part of the journey. That’s one reason Novotel runs sleep-focused initiatives that help guests adjust quickly without compromising on health. We’re talking partnerships with Sydney-based sleep specialist Olivia Arezzolo, known for her advice on everything from better sleep habits to beating jet lag, alongside features like pillow menus, in-room yoga content and tailored sleep guidance.
The sooner you’re operating on local time, the sooner you can get back to more pressing matters – like deciding which spa treatment to book.
3. More ways to move
Stay at Novotel Queenstown Lakeside and explore local hiking trails. (Credit: GettyI mages/ naruedom)
Every place in the world has its own way of getting you moving: whether that’s hiking up ice-bitten mountains before a sauna or gentle stretching by the pool before a facial. From fitness centres to spas, Novotel recognises that wellbeing rarely looks the same.
At Novotel Queenstown Lakeside, activity is inescapable. Here, hiking trails, ski fields, bungee jumps, and white-water rafting have made the region famous. The hotel’s location on the shores of Lake Wakatipu means less time spent organising yourself and more time out there experiencing them. To top it all off, you can book a private hot tub for the evening before heading back into the wilderness tomorrow.
Bali, of course, takes a softer approach. At Novotel Bali Ubud Resort or Novotel Bali Nusa Dua, movement is less about conquering a mountain and more about a dance class between the tropical gardens and lagoon pools. Afterwards, the spa takes over, with traditional treatments like a Lulur body scrub: a combination of rice, turmeric, sandalwood, ginger and jasmine that’ll soothe muscles already relaxed by the Balinese heat.
4. Better connections
Kids will love a stay at Novotel Sharm El Sheikh.
One of the best things about travel is that it gives your family stories you’ll be telling for years. Novotel helps create them with activities that bring everyone together, whether that’s trying something new, learning a local skill, or simply spending more time together.
Go for a distinctly Thai twist at Novotel Phuket Vintage Park, where many of the family activities draw on local culture. Kids can try everything from beginner Thai boxing and language lessons to umbrella painting and – a pastime beloved by children the world over – pool foam parties. Everyone is welcome to join in, whether that’s getting splashed, covered in paint, or simply watching their children discover a new side of Thailand during the dedicated Family & Kids Day.
A different adventure awaits at Novotel Sharm El Sheikh. Kids could be perfectly content with discos, drawing classes and new holiday friends, but the Red Sea has other ideas. Sitting on the edge of Naama Bay, days here might involve snorkelling colourful reefs, taking a boat trip to Ras Mohammed National Park or heading into the desert by quad bike or camel for a Bedouin-style dinner beneath the stars.
Everyone’s idea of wellness looks a little different. With more than 600 hotels across 65 countries, Novotel gives guests the freedom to choose the destination that suits them best. Whether that’s a beachside escape in Phuket, an alpine expedition in Queenstown or a city break in Bangkok, there’s a good chance a Novotel isn’t far away.
All that’s left? Choosing your version of wellbeing.
