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Best Long-Distance Hikes in Flanders

We track 100 routes that match this search in Flanders. They average 57.2 km and 1,258 m (4,127 ft) of ascent, with the longest running to 483 km.

That is 11 percent of the 939 routes we map in Flanders. They run noticeably longer than average for the area, 57.2 km against 12.5 km, so budget more daylight than a typical outing here. The climbing is steeper too: 1,258 m (4,127 ft) on average versus 276 m (906 ft) across the wider area.

Multi-day paths, normally walked in stages, with the accommodation and waymarking to support them. The mix is broad: 38 are rated easy and 42 are hard or harder, so there is something here whether you have two hours or a full day.

Trails

Easy

GR 579 Liaison Jesus-Eik

Nationaal Park Brabantse Wouden · Flanders

Distance
1.5 km
/ 1.0 mi
Elevation gain
34 m
Typical duration
22 min
  • Waymarked route
  • Long-distance path
Expert

National Park Trail (hoofdtraject)

Hoge Kempen National Park · Flanders

Distance
109 km
/ 67.5 mi
Elevation gain
2,389 m
Typical duration
29 hr
  • Mountain
  • Waymarked route
  • Long-distance path
Expert

Via Limburgica

Flanders · Belgium

Distance
142 km
/ 88.2 mi
Elevation gain
3,121 m
Typical duration
38 hr
  • Mountain
  • Waymarked route
  • Long-distance path
Expert

Via Monastica

Flanders · Belgium

Distance
224 km
/ 139 mi
Elevation gain
4,922 m
Typical duration
60 hr
  • Mountain
  • Waymarked route
  • Long-distance path
Expert

Via Tenera

Flanders · Belgium

Distance
235 km
/ 146 mi
Elevation gain
5,180 m
Typical duration
63 hr
  • Mountain
  • Waymarked route
  • Long-distance path
Expert

GR 12 Variant West

Flanders · Belgium

Distance
59.0 km
/ 36.6 mi
Elevation gain
1,297 m
Typical duration
15 hr
  • Mountain
  • Waymarked route
  • Long-distance path
Expert

GR 122 Scheldeland

Flanders · Belgium

Distance
169 km
/ 105 mi
Elevation gain
3,709 m
Typical duration
45 hr
  • Mountain
  • Waymarked route
  • Long-distance path
Expert

GR 126 Brussegem - Mariekerke

Flanders · Belgium

Distance
33.0 km
/ 20.5 mi
Elevation gain
727 m
Typical duration
8 hr 31 min
  • Mountain
  • Waymarked route
  • Long-distance path
Expert

GR 5 Belgium, Flanders North

Flanders · Belgium

Distance
64.8 km
/ 40.3 mi
Elevation gain
1,426 m
Typical duration
17 hr
  • Mountain
  • Waymarked route
  • Long-distance path
Expert

GR 5 Belgium, Flanders South

Flanders · Belgium

Distance
195 km
/ 121 mi
Elevation gain
4,295 m
Typical duration
52 hr
  • Mountain
  • Waymarked route
  • Long-distance path
Expert

GR 561 Kempen - Maaspad

Flanders · Belgium

Distance
224 km
/ 139 mi
Elevation gain
4,935 m
Typical duration
60 hr
  • Mountain
  • Waymarked route
  • Long-distance path
Expert

GR 564

Flanders · Belgium

Distance
168 km
/ 104 mi
Elevation gain
3,694 m
Typical duration
45 hr
  • Mountain
  • Waymarked route
  • Long-distance path
Expert

GR 565 Sniederspad

Flanders · Belgium

Distance
99.1 km
/ 61.6 mi
Elevation gain
2,180 m
Typical duration
26 hr
  • Mountain
  • Waymarked route
  • Long-distance path
Expert

GRT-BVW 24 Mélin - Aubechies

Flanders · Belgium

Distance
165 km
/ 103 mi
Elevation gain
3,630 m
Typical duration
44 hr
  • Mountain
  • Waymarked route
  • Long-distance path
Hard

E2 West Sectie GR 5A - GR 565

Flanders · Belgium

Distance
21.3 km
/ 13.2 mi
Elevation gain
468 m
Typical duration
5 hr 19 min
  • Waymarked route
  • Long-distance path
Expert

Streek-GR Kust

Flanders · Belgium

Distance
104 km
/ 64.4 mi
Elevation gain
2,280 m
Typical duration
27 hr
  • Coastal
  • Mountain
  • Waymarked route
Easy

GR 12 Connection GR 512

Flanders · Belgium

Distance
5.6 km
/ 3.5 mi
Elevation gain
123 m
Typical duration
1 hr 21 min
  • Waymarked route
  • Long-distance path
Easy

GR 122 Variant Zottegem

Flanders · Belgium

Distance
3.4 km
/ 2.1 mi
Elevation gain
76 m
Typical duration
50 min
  • Waymarked route
  • Long-distance path
Moderate

GR 128 Variant Gent-Destelbergen

Flanders · Belgium

Distance
9.6 km
/ 5.9 mi
Elevation gain
211 m
Typical duration
2 hr 19 min
  • Waymarked route
  • Long-distance path
Moderate

GR 128 Variant Leuven

Flanders · Belgium

Distance
11.2 km
/ 6.9 mi
Elevation gain
245 m
Typical duration
2 hr 41 min
  • Waymarked route
  • Long-distance path
Hard

GR 128 Variant Sint-Truiden

Flanders · Belgium

Distance
16.8 km
/ 10.4 mi
Elevation gain
370 m
Typical duration
4 hr 7 min
  • Waymarked route
  • Long-distance path
Moderate

GR 128 Variant Tongeren

Flanders · Belgium

Distance
12.9 km
/ 8.0 mi
Elevation gain
283 m
Typical duration
3 hr 6 min
  • Waymarked route
  • Long-distance path
Easy

GR 5 Aanlooproute Genk

Flanders · Belgium

Distance
1.7 km
/ 1.0 mi
Elevation gain
37 m
Typical duration
24 min
  • Waymarked route
  • Long-distance path
Easy

GR 5 Aanlooproute Heide

Flanders · Belgium

Distance
1.1 km
/ 0.7 mi
Elevation gain
25 m
Typical duration
17 min
  • Waymarked route
  • Long-distance path
Easy

GR 5 Variant Demerbroeken

Flanders · Belgium

Distance
6.1 km
/ 3.8 mi
Elevation gain
133 m
Typical duration
1 hr 28 min
  • Waymarked route
  • Long-distance path
Moderate

GR 5 Variant door Hasselt

Flanders · Belgium

Distance
13.8 km
/ 8.6 mi
Elevation gain
303 m
Typical duration
3 hr 20 min
  • Waymarked route
  • Long-distance path
Easy

GR 512 Brabantse Heuvelroute

Flanders · Belgium

Distance
0.6 km
/ 0.3 mi
Elevation gain
12 m
Typical duration
8 min
  • Waymarked route
  • Long-distance path

The shortlist, side by side

The ten highest scoring routes on this page, so you can compare effort before opening any of them.

Distance, ascent, walking time and difficulty for the top routes
RouteDistanceAscentTimeDifficultyBest season
GR 512 Brabantse Heuvelroute Variant Bivakzone MeerdaalwoudNationaal Park Brabantse Wouden4.7 km102 m1 hr 7 minEasyApril to October
GR 579 Liaison Jesus-EikNationaal Park Brabantse Wouden1.5 km34 m22 minEasyApril to October
National Park Trail (hoofdtraject)Hoge Kempen National Park109 km2,389 m29 hrExpertApril to October
European long distance path E9 - B-NLFlanders37.8 km831 m9 hr 48 minExpertApril to October
Via LimburgicaFlanders142 km3,121 m38 hrExpertApril to October
Via MonasticaFlanders224 km4,922 m60 hrExpertApril to October
Via TeneraFlanders235 km5,180 m63 hrExpertApril to October
GR 12 Variant WestFlanders59.0 km1,297 m15 hrExpertApril to October
GR 122 ScheldelandFlanders169 km3,709 m45 hrExpertApril to October
GR 126 Brussegem - MariekerkeFlanders33.0 km727 m8 hr 31 minExpertApril to October

If you only have time for one, start with GR 512 Brabantse Heuvelroute Variant Bivakzone Meerdaalwoud, GR 579 Liaison Jesus-Eik, National Park Trail (hoofdtraject). Those are the routes people come back to. Every route on this page links through to a full guide with the map, elevation profile, seasonal advice and what to bring.

Frequently asked questions

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