Take a Hike

Would you be interested in an ecologically sound pastime that's mostly free of charge, adventurous and helps you lose kilos in the process? Then get your boots on. Hiking may smack of church camps or high school geography clubs, but vistas like that of Canada's Kootenay Lake Forest, can be just the thing for restoring the jaded traveler's sense of wonder. Here are four other sensational hiking destinations.

THE TYROL, AUSTRIA: Hiking in the Austrian Alps leaves you spoiled for choice. There are 600 peaks topping the 3,000-m mark, 15,000 km of trails and hundreds of farmhouses and taverns for rest and relaxation (read flagons of beer and plates of hearty grub). A favorite spot for meals and overnight accommodation is the Gruttenhütte, reached after a thrilling trek up the Wilder Kaiser. Read more at austria-tourism.at

MAUI, HAWAII: The 43 km of trails through Maui's Haleakala National Park nps.gov/hale may [an error occurred while processing this directive] seem a modest distance to experienced trekkers, but the varied and dramatic landscape will awe even the most seasoned veteran.

From the volcanic Haleakala crater and the lush Oheo Gulch to inviting pools, bamboo forests and the gorgeous 122-m Waimoku Falls, this is one to savor, step by stunning step.

KHAO YAI, THAILAND: One of Asia's largest untouched monsoon forests and designated as a World Heritage site, Khao Yai National Park www.dnp.go.th covers over 2,000 sq km and is populated with bears, tigers and elephants. Trails take between several hours to three days to complete and offer splendid wildlife encounters. Guides are advised.

NEW SOUTH WALES, AUSTRALIA: The view of the Pacific Ocean from the 1,500-m Point Lookout platform, is just one of the joys awaiting hikers in New England National Park www.nationalparks.nsw.gov.au — an ecological wonderland of soaring cliffs and World Heritage rainforest. If time is limited, the 2.5-km Eagle's Nest circuit, along the edge of a sheer drop, offers adrenaline in a jiffy.