Some hikes are beautiful, some are challenging, and some change you. Hiking the Lost Valley in Glencoe, deep in the Scottish Highlands, was the closest I’ve ever come to sacred—a place where awe waits in the silence, the cliffs, and the fog.

Looking for a family-friendly hike in Switzerland? This trail from Gutschalp to Mürren in the Lauterbrunnen Valley offers sweeping views of the Eiger, Mönch, and Jungfrau, plus a cable car ride to Allmendhubel where kids can play at one of the best alpine playgrounds in Europe. It’s the perfect mix of adventure and slow travel for families exploring the Swiss Alps.

As part of a study abroad course on stress and happiness, we set out to hike Crete’s Samaria Gorge—ten rocky miles with twenty students, most of whom had never hiked before. None of us were fully prepared for how challenging it would be—or how powerful. What began as a physical test became a lesson in resilience, connection, and presence—one that taught us more than any classroom ever could.