Dozens of incredible treks could easily have been included on this list. The world is, after all, filled with adventure, from the towering peaks of the mighty Andes to the empty deserts of the Taklamakan, from the sun-swept plains of east Africa to snow- and ice-carpeted stretches of the Antarctic. We could have added a trek across Borneo, or a jaunt through the medieval forests of central or northern Europe, or a few months on the Appalachian Trail. That being said, we stand by our choices. These are the best--the best--the world has to offer, and we believe there is something here for everyone. Thus, o wandering wanderers, we give you the TOP 7 THOUSAND-MILE TREKS... CAPE JERVIS { NOTE: Be sure to check the trail's availability, since bushfires are common and can lead to closure of large sections of the trail. } This particular Top 7 list will kick off Down Under--with a trek FROM CAPE JERVIS TO THE PARACHILNA GORGE, SOUTH AUSTRALIA. The way is marked--known as the Heysen Trail--and the hardy hiker will find that it offers a wide range of vistas and landscape types. From the gorge, one heads right through Flinders Ranges National Park, then on south almost to the coastline, past the Spencer Gulf and the Gulf of St. Vincent, skirting the Aussie metroplis of Adelaide, and finally ends up at Cape Jervis, a neck of land jutting out into the sea. Though the trail's length is actually a couple hundred miles shy of the thousand-mile mark, we figured it nevertheless merited a place on this hallowed countdown. PERFECTION LOOK OUT FOR + Bears + Horses + Wolves + Sasquatch For something a little more marked and mapped out, we suggest the incredible PACIFIC NORTHWEST TRAIL, USA--from Cape Alava, on the northern coasts of Washington, across Washington, Idaho, and into Montana, ending in the middle of Glacier National Park. Along the way the intrepid traveler will marvel at the majestic Pacific Ocean, ascend the Cascades, wander in the Pasayten Wilderness, and skirt the Canadian border all the way past the Whitefish Range and into Glacier (that includes seven National Forests and three National Parks). In short, you'll trek all the way from the ocean to the Continental Divide--a 1,200-mile adventure through some of the most scenic country anywhere. If it's a touch of Europe you crave, plan now for a 1,300-mile romp through the backcountry of Spain, Andorra, and France, FROM TARIFA, SPAIN TO THE BORDER OF SWITZERLAND. Tarifa is Spain's most southerly point--and from here the adventurous journeyer treks through the mountains of Andalucia, all the way up the east side of Spain, through the scenic Pyrenees through Andorra, and across the French countryside through Vercors, Grenoble, Chartreuse, and Culoz. Finally, you'll arrive at the border of that most panoramic of Very Small Countries: Switzerland--a great place to kick back in the shadows of some of the world's great peaks and relax after a serious overland traverse. THE PYRENEES SAHARA If mountains don't do it for you, how about a giant, continent-sized desert? The 1,000-mile trek FROM NOUAKCHOTT, MAURITANIA TO TIMBUKTU, MALI meets this single, all-encompassing criterion. Flanked by high, wind-swept dunes and stretches of vegetation-free sand as far as the eye can see, this may appear to be a hike into oblivion--and that it will be if it is undertaken lightly. The truth is, however, that this singular trek will take the sun-soaked wanderer up and over mountain, down and through gorge and canyon, and along the coast of inland lake and sea. Keep your eyes peeled for roaming bandits, rogue units of some rebel militia, swarms of locust, and the occasional snake and/or scorpion. ARGENTINA'S GLACIER NATIONAL PARK For those seeking something a little cooler, try trekking FROM SAN CARLOS DE BARILOCHE TO RIO GALLEGOS, ARGENTINA. In the process, the wandering wanderer will traverse a thousand miles through some of the most forbidding and stunning mountain vistas on the planet, including the amazing Los Glaciares National Park, home to jagged-teethed black-rocked summits partly covered by brilliant-white snow and pervaded by that crisp cool air that bespeaks a pristine environment. This is a rugged journey to say the least, leading the traveler into the very depths of pure Patagonia. LEH For a trip that requires being able to think on your feet, rely on your own preparation for the most part, and often breathe in air at elevations above 12,000 feet, try an unorthodox trek FROM JAMMU THROUGH SRINAGAR AND LEH TO SHIMLA, INDIA. The headstrong traveler will first ascend into Kashmir, finally reaching the green Vale punctuated by Srinagar itself. The city offers numerous day hikes within the area, though a few leisurely evenings on a houseboat might be good for the the trekker at this point--for he/she is about to embark on the most treacherous part of his/her adventure! From here, one turns east, marching over some of the tallest passes in the world through the desolate mountain wastelands of Ladakh, through Leh ("Little Tibet"), then on to the supply town of Keylong. From here, instead of turning south to Manali, the adventure-seeker will loop eastward, through the Spiti Valley and around to the erstwhile summer capital of the British Raj: Shimla. As far as 1,000-mile treks go, this one's hard to beat. { JUNGLE CREATURES: + Flying fox + Aye-aye + Lemur + Sifaka + Nile Crocodile + Fossa + Tenrec + Indri } FURRY FRIEND Let's face it: the #1 thousand-mile hike on this list must offer the ultimate trekking experience--with a combination of real unadulterated adventure, a touch of the unknown, a hint of danger, and a setting as wild as any on the planet. Thus, we dub A NORTH-SOUTH FULL TRAVERSE OF MADAGASCAR as the best the world has to offer for the hard-core hiker. Beginning just north of Antseranana, the traveler hugs the coast for most of the trail until reaching Feonoarivo, at which point he/she heads inland (that's right!) about 80 miles before turning south again. For hundreds of miles, the trek is now a jungle one--until about 50 miles south of Ivato, when the wanderer head back to the beaches by trekking east again, then south with the coastline. A thousand miles from its starting point, the trek ends near Faux-Cap. This hike has it all, and we therefore confidently insert it here, at very the pinnacle of The List of all lists.