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Heading out in May: what to book

What to book, and when, for a trip in May 2027

1 travel package3 agency permits5 permit lotteries6 bookings3 lotteries2 registrations1 hut

Updated · Checked

Next opening 2 days Pacific Crest Trail, November 4

In short

21 trails and races for a trip in May: hikes in their best season, and races held that month. Next opening: Pacific Crest Trail, November 4, 2026. Also: 5 come back every month, 1 on a rolling window, 5 can be booked all year.

Edge colour: type of opening Lotteries and ballotsFixed-date bookingsQuota permits and tour operatorsHuts

Upcoming openings soonest first

August 2026

  1. 1Aug.Sat.
    Great Wall MarathonTravel package registration opens, closes April 15Tianjin, China · Marathons and halve · Travel package
    Openpress

November 2026

  1. 1Nov.Sun.
    Inca TrailSales open for the trail permitPeru · Hike · Agency permit
    Openestimated
  2. 1Nov.Sun.
    Phantom RanchLottery opens for the beds at the lodge on the canyon floor, closes November 25, then every monthGrand Canyon, United States · Hike · Permit lottery
    Openestimated
  3. 1Nov.Sun.
    The SubwayLottery opens for the canyon permit, closes November 25, then every monthZion, United States · Hike · Permit lottery
    Open
  4. 1Nov.Sun.
    The WaveLottery opens for the area permit, closes November 30, then every monthArizona, United States · Hike · Permit lottery
    Open
  5. 4Nov.Wed.
    Pacific Crest TrailFirst wave of permits opens, at 10:30 a.m., Los Angeles timeUnited States · Hike · Booking
    in 2 dayspress
  6. 16Nov.Mon.
    Grand Canyon backcountryLottery opens for the overnight permit, closes December 1, then every monthArizona, United States · Hike · Permit lottery
    in 14 days

December 2026

  1. 1Dec.Tue.
    HallasanBooking opens for the summit access slot, then every monthJeju, South Korea · Hike · Booking
    in 29 dayspress

January 2027

  1. 1Jan.Fri.
    Angels LandingLottery opens for the permit for the final stretch, closes January 20Zion, United States · Hike · Permit lottery
    in 60 daysestimated
  2. 5Jan.Tue.
    Brooklyn Half MarathonLottery opens, closes January 18New York, United States · Marathons and halve · Lottery
    in 64 daysestimated

February 2027

  1. 1Feb.Mon.
    Havasupai FallsBooking opens for the campground or lodge, at 8:00 a.m., Phoenix timeArizona, United States · Hike · Booking
    in 91 daysestimated

May 2027

  1. 12MayWed.
    Copenhagen MarathonLottery opens, at 10:00 a.m., Copenhagen time, closes June 2Copenhagen, Denmark · Marathons and halve · Lottery
    in 191 daysestimated
  2. 23MaySun.
    GöteborgsvarvetRegistration opensGothenburg, Sweden · Marathons and halve · Registration
    in 202 daysestimated

June 2027

  1. 9JuneWed.
    Cape Town MarathonLottery opens, closes June 23Cape Town, South Africa · Marathons and halve · Lottery
    in 219 daysestimated

September 2027

  1. 1Sept.Wed.
    Prague MarathonRegistration opensPrague, Czechia · Marathons and halve · Registration
    in 303 daysestimated

Rolling windows the date depends on your start date

  1. 90days
    Kalalau TrailFor a start in May 2027: booking opens between January 31 and March 2, 2027, depending on your dateKauai, United States · rolling window, 90 days before your start date

All year round no single opening date

  1. ∞all year
    Caminito del ReyBookable all year, no single opening dateSpain · Hike · Booking
  2. ∞all year
    Everest Base CampBookable all year, no single opening dateNepal · Hike · Agency permit
  3. ∞all year
    Kumano KodoBookable all year, no single opening dateJapan · Hike · Huts
  4. ∞all year
    Machu Picchu and Huayna PicchuBookable all year, no single opening datePeru · Hike · Booking
  5. ∞all year
    Mount KinabaluBookable all year, no single opening dateMalaysia · Hike · Agency permit

Don't miss an opening

Add every opening on this page to your calendar: your phone reminds you 1 week before and the day before each one.

Frequently asked questions

What should you book for a trip in May?

Great Wall Marathon: travel package registration opens on August 1, 2026; Inca Trail: sales open for the trail permit on November 1, 2026; Phantom Ranch: lottery opens for the beds at the lodge on the canyon floor on November 1, 2026; The Subway: lottery opens for the canyon permit on November 1, 2026; The Wave: lottery opens for the area permit on November 1, 2026; Pacific Crest Trail: first wave of permits opens on November 4, 2026; Grand Canyon backcountry: lottery opens for the overnight permit on November 16, 2026; Hallasan: booking opens for the summit access slot on December 1, 2026; Angels Landing: lottery opens for the permit for the final stretch on January 1, 2027; Brooklyn Half Marathon: lottery opens on January 5, 2027; Havasupai Falls: booking opens for the campground or lodge on February 1, 2027; Copenhagen Marathon: lottery opens on May 12, 2027; Göteborgsvarvet: registration opens on May 23, 2027; Cape Town Marathon: lottery opens on June 9, 2027; Prague Marathon: registration opens on September 1, 2027; Caminito del Rey: all year; Everest Base Camp: all year; Kalalau Trail: 90 days before your start date; Kumano Kodo: all year; Machu Picchu and Huayna Picchu: all year; Mount Kinabalu: all year.

What is the next opening?

Pacific Crest Trail: first wave of permits opens on Wednesday, November 4, 2026.

Which ones use a lottery?

Phantom Ranch; The Subway; The Wave; Grand Canyon backcountry; Angels Landing; Brooklyn Half Marathon; Copenhagen Marathon; Cape Town Marathon.

Which ones can be booked all year?

Caminito del Rey; Everest Base Camp; Kumano Kodo; Machu Picchu and Huayna Picchu; Mount Kinabalu.

What is a rolling window?

Booking opens a set number of days before each start date: Kalalau Trail: 90 days.

See also

Heading out in April: what to book25 trails and racesHeading out in June: what to book22 trails and racesWhat opens in MayEvery opening this month
Sources and checks. Each date comes from its guide, which gives its source and how reliable it is. “Estimated”: worked out from previous years, to be confirmed. “Press”: announced by the specialist press. Months for a trip: the trail's best season, or the month of the race. Page updated on November 2, 2026.