The 6 Best Half-Day Treks

1.Half-Day Mount Etna Morning Trek

★★★★★★★★★★4.9 · 504 reviews · 6.5 hours · from $106Our pick

Travel from Taormina to Etna at 2,000 meters, hike extinct craters with guides such as Tony, Roberto, or Ricardo, enter a lava cave, then enjoy sandwiches, wine, dessert, and almond wine at a local winery. Boots, jackets, poles, and winter snowshoes are included.

“We thought that Toni was an excellent guide, extremely informative and enthusiastic....he had real passion for volcanos and the environment. A very clever and kind man who was willing to answer any questions. Would definitely recommend this tour.”

Check availability →Read our full review

2.Khao Sok: Private Waterfalls and Wildlife Half-Day Trek

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 337 reviews · 4 hours · from $48Best value

Spend four hours in Khao Sok National Park with a private or small-group guide such as Aek, June, Diamond, or Big Boy. Walk rainforest trails, search for monkeys, gibbons, snakes, spiders, and insects, then swim or rest at Bang Hua Raet and Wing Hin waterfalls.

“June and I did a trip together and she was pointing out lots of wildlife that other guides were missing She is very knowledgeable and she made the experience very enjoyable”

Check availability →Read our full review

3.Llama Trek (Half-day) – Kaikoura Bay, Beaches & Seal Colony

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 157 reviews · from $154Top rated

Kevin leads this small-group, three-and-a-half-hour trek along Kaikōura Bay, beaches, boardwalks, and the peninsula coast. You handle your own llama, learn how these gentle animals think, spot New Zealand fur seals at Ohau Point, and finish with a free hot or cold drink and cake.

“Trekking with the llamas was such a surprisingly fun and exotic experience! Kevin, our guide, was extremely knowledgeable and informative. Our interaction with our llama was wonderful! I’m sold on those big soulful eyes, fluffy fuRead more”

Check availability →Read our full review

4.Half-Day Vatnajökull National Park Glacier Hike

★★★★★★★★★★4.9 · 120 reviews · 4 hours · from $158

Meet your English-speaking guide at Freysnes, ride a 4x4 into the glacier valley, then spend about three hours climbing Falljökull with crampons and an ice axe. Guides such as Damian and Sophia have been praised for clear explanations, photo help, and a friendly pace.

“Genial, fuimos en una minibus Mercedes 4x4 hasta la lengua del glaciar, nos facilitaron botas de montaña ya que llevábamos deportivas, la excursión muy bonita, aunque es subida con los crampones, fue nuestra primera vez y lo llevamos bien, la guia iba haciendo paradas para explicarnos y coger aire. Estuvimos un poco más del tiempo . Es total éramos un grupo de 7 personas. Habla inglesa.”

Check availability →Read our full review

5.Demanding Glacier Hike and Ice Cave Half-Day Tour from Skaftafell

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 84 reviews · from $225

From Skaftafell, a private bus carries you to Falljökull for about four hours on crampons, crossing crevassed ice and entering a natural ice cave. Certified guides such as Magnus, Brooke, August, and Fi lead small groups of up to eight. This is a serious hike, not a gentle glacier walk.

“When they say demanding... This ended up being about 4.5 miles of hiking on the glacier. That may not seem like a strenuous hike but being on a glacier is entirely different. Having to stomp crampons into the ice with each step adds quitRead more”

Check availability →Read our full review

6.Half-Day Montserrat Monastery and Mountain Hike

★★★★★★★★★★4.9 · 5 reviews · 6 hours · from $93

Spend six hours exploring Montserrat with a professional guide, traveling by private van from Barcelona, visiting La Moreneta, and hiking through the Nature Park. The small group is capped at eight, with poles, water, admission, and accident insurance included.

“Impresionante lugar y fabuloso guía! Muy buena combinación!! Lo recomiendo totalmente y lo volvería a hacer con ellos!!”

Check availability →Read our full review