We round up some of the best guided and self-guided walks that explore the continent’s high peaks, deep fjords and rare wildlifeMore great walks: UK | epic | best kit, Last modified on Wed 29 Nov 2017 17.08 GMT, Some parts of Iceland are well-trodden, but the east remains a vast wilderness of ice and fire. Highlights are Rothenburg ob der Tauber, with its ancient city walls; Nördlingen, an almost perfectly circular town with dramatic gate towers; and Dinkelsbühl, home to some great beer cellars. En route you might spot deer, wild boar and goshawks in the forests. Next morning the real journey starts with a cable car trip and a hike over the Gemmi pass. Seven-night guided hike with Bulgaria Walking runs July-September, €490 half-board including transfers from Sofia, On the border between Umbria and Marche, 75 miles north-east of Rome, the Sibillini mountains are in the heart of Italy both geographically and culturally. There’s a long 15-mile leg down to the Cost Brava, but then the final joy of a sparkling coastal stretch with fishing villages, remote beaches and coves. You'll also get to see life behind the touristy facade of this corner of Italy, walking through numerous small communities and local villages that coastal visitors don't usually reach. Eight-day guided trip with KE Adventure with four departures from June-September, from £1,165 full-board, including transfers from Pristina and back to Dubrovnik, Hiking in Norway in summer can be an uplifting experience. The coastal Path of the Gods is the most famous and accessible of Amalfi's walking routes, but there are many quieter day-long walks in the interior that you can string together into a multi-day holiday. From Spain, with the iconic Camino de Santiago, or mixing walking with language lessons in the Picos de Europa, to trekking between ancient ruins, and island-hopping as part of a small group in Greece. NOTE! Not sure where to start? Alsace Wine Trail, France Civilised cultural wandering amid the woody charm of the Rue du Vin is the perfect opportunity to mix wine and walking. Yes, I hear you say, because your pockets won’t weigh you down. There are routes along the beautiful Riviera or through the Alps in France, and through rugged, remote landscapes in little-visited Albania. Whether you’re searching for walking trips with a challenging long-distance trek, or more relaxed family friendly walking holidays in Europe, there are over 40 countries that provide something for everyone. Explore at your own pace. You finish by returning to Flam for that incredible train journey, with your bag. Spain walking trips; Italy walking trips; Portugal walking trips; Greece walking trips; Europe walking trips; UK walking trips; Patagonia trips; Kilimanjaro treks; Inca trail treks; Mount Toubkal treks; Nepal trekking Tours; Recommended articles. They're easily accessible from major ports and by flying into Athens, but once you arrive on one, you'll feel like you've entered another time, where mountainous, volcanic landscapes reign supreme. We are specialists in organising self-guided programs, small group tours, family holidays and tailor-made experiences. Plenty of our pick of the best European walking routes are well signposted and mapped, too, so if you fancy venturing out alone these are the walks to pick - that said, it's also easy to find qualified hiking guides or to join a group, so whether you prefer guided walking or self guided adventures, you'll find the perfect walking holidays in Europe on our list. The Naeroyfjord area is especially rewarding, with an 100 mile-long fjord system flanked by hiking routes with stunning panoramic views. Croatia. Walking Holidays Europe. Discovering ancient, exquisite and often very remote walking trails in Europe is one great way to forget 21st century politics. You can also choose to camp each night or stay in well-appointed mountain lodges and huts that dot the route - some even have saunas. Destinations range from Andalucia to the Tyrol , via Provence and the Peak District – we offer short walking breaks in Portugal , Spain , France , Germany , Austria , Switzerland , Italy , … Our top ten holidays include walking holidays in England and hiking in France to the Greek island of Crete and the unspoilt charm of Bohemia. The country boasts the highest peak in the Balkans - Musala (2925 m). Taking a self-guided walking holiday in Europe is best between April and October when the weather is warmer, and you can make the most of the outdoors. The demanding trail is clearly defined and easy to follow as it winds through the Swedish mountains, making it an easy to navigate despite posing a physical challenge. Albania. The trek takes you past some of the cones, then onward to the town of Banyoles, noted for its lovely lake, before heading into the historic town of Girona for a day of rest and sightseeing. Select Your Country. Summit Treks; Alps & Dolomites; Balkans; Himalayas; Kilimandjaro; Pyrenees; Top Islands. Planning your walking holiday in Europe and beyond . A good level of fitness is needed, but your luggage is moved for you between several small family-run hotels. Amalfi Coast, Italy. Top 10 challenging walks in Europe. Walking days can be long, but they are on decent paths without any big climbs, plus the hotels and food are excellent. France – Alps. Choose between inland national parks such as voluptuous Velebit and the prolific lakes of Plitvice, and the... 3. This week-long trek winds through both ranges and takes in lakes, waterfalls and good summits, including Musala and Vihren (highest in the Pirin at 2,914 metres). Read about some of the top places for challenging walks in Europe for your next holiday from rural Devon to the Mont Blanc circuit, the Julian Alps and the famous Matterhorn. This trek, we reckon, is excellent value and takes you into some classic Scandinavian mountain country, using railways and cable cars to dodge some of the more challenging climbs. Explore Montserrat monastery, … Europe is a wonderful and diverse continent with 50 countries, the majority of which, have had their walking trails for centuries. There's a real feeling of wilderness here that other popular mountain ranges in Europe lose during the busy summer. S-cape Travel designs walking, cycling, cultural and food & wine tours in France, Greece, Italy, Spain and other European countries. On the way are some fabulous valleys, cols and summits with the chance to see the best of Pyrenean nature, mountain huts and villages. It has everything you could hope for when it comes to summer walking: shapely peaks, good paths and a range of strolling routes for all abilities at low level, and higher paths to explore the slopes, pastures and peaks. If you like your hikes with a touch of luxury, Italy's sundrenched Amalfi Coast will make your walking holiday dreams come true. The further north you go in the UK, the more wilderness you'll find. This 273 mile-long trail through Sweden's Arctic always tops lists of the best walking holidays in Europe for its sheer beauty. Food and wine are good: try the grilled meefischli, a river fish, washed down with the dry spätlesen wines. Plunging Powerscourt Waterfall and the still waters of Lough Tay, fringed by a beautiful white sand beach, are wonderful places to take a break (or even to take a dip on a hot day). Seven-night self-guided trip with Inntravel runs late June-September, from £1,068 half-board, After the Kosovo war ended in 1999, one project to promote reconciliation was a peace path, which became Europe’s newest trail: the 120-mile Peaks of the Balkans. There is also chance to visit the best of Bulgaria’s many monasteries, the Rila, founded in the 10th century, with some intricate and colourful frescoes. It takes in ancient forests, unspoiled farmland and vineyards as well as several medieval towns full of timber-framed houses. This eight-day adventure takes in an impressive array of what the island offers: you start with a warm-up walk to Strútsfoss, a thunderous 100m waterfall, then explore deeper into the country with an ascent of 1,833m Snæfell, a snow-capped peak that gives extensive panoramas of Vatnajökull, Iceland’s massive ice cap, and Bárðarbunga, a volcano that erupted in 2014 and continues to grumble. One of the finest seasons in England is spring, the days get longer, brighter and sunnier as the winter gets left behind. Bulgaria is a great destination for walking holidays in Europe, with its Rila, Pirin and Rhodope mountains. You might spot reindeer and pink-footed geese. The High Tatras are Eastern Europe's only alpine mountains, and sit within the sprawling Carpathian range, which stretches across Europe through Slovenia, the Czech Republic, Poland, Slovakia, Serbia, Montenegro, Romania and Moldova. A ferry journey then takes you on to Aurland for more walks, or – and this is highly recommended – one of the world’s great ferry rides up to Sognefjord. This classic trek, designed by Travel Slovakia, takes you through the best of the Tatra with nights in some great huts – for example, a rambling wooden chalet perched on a precipice with bunk beds, lively and sociable cafeteria, and a tradition of drinking weird herbal teas. 9 Best Places in the UK for a Walking Holiday - Go Backpacking Tenerife, Canary Islands. That can take around 52 days if you are in good shape, but the real killer is the ascent: an incredible 48,000 metres, so that’s a main course of five times up Everest and for dessert, three Ben Nevis’s. Scotland's free-ranging national parks are the perfect place to head for hiking holidays, especially if you want to staycation rather than fly abroad for a walking adventure, and the sheer size of the Highlands means you can roam on lots of well looked-after paths suitable for all levels. It is important to have time to "smell the roses", not to rush through but to soak up the atmosphere. Search destinations +44(0)207 386 4646. The Pilgrim Routes of Europe. And unlike hotter, drier areas of Spain, the Picos de Europa are part of Spain's 'green coast', and are verdant and cooler all year - largely due to plentiful rainfall, so don't forget your waterproofs. Walking holidays Europe: Andalucía and the Algarve ... At the top, you’ll see the magnificent and unique A-shaped Savica waterfall. It's a popular route in the summer, taking most hikers between five and eight days, but be warned - Scotland's impressively wild weather adds to the challenge year round. The rounded summits are home to lots of rare wildlife (grey wolf and Marsican brown bear among others) plus antique hill villages and the medieval town of Norcia, a gastronomic heaven where tartufo nero (black truffle), wild mushrooms, and celebrated cured meats can be sampled, along with a mountain range of cheeses. There are plenty of pluses to choosing to walk in Europe - it's easy to get to and around the continent, and flights to relatively remote locations can be cheap thanks to low-cost airlines. The walking is steep and stony. From the monastery of Montserrat, with its many art treasures, walk steeply up to a vast view among rock pinnacles. Bizarre limestone formations dot the park, and a good network of year-round cable cars makes it easy to access far-flung trails and distant mountain passes. The Tour is often completed by self-guided and self-sufficient hikers, so if you fancy the challenge of carrying your own food and camping kit, this could be your perfect walking holiday in Europe. Over the next few days you continue south, passing through vineyards towards the snowy peaks, on one day carrying an overnight bag as the hotel – the renowned Schwarzhorn – is quite isolated. Walking through Europe is the perfect way to explore this hugely diverse continent, delving deep into wild countryside, following ancient walking routes or climbing tall mountains far from roads and transport hubs. The well-loved Way is one of Ireland's best-known long-distance paths, winding through the region's remote 'ancient east' . © 2021 Double A Media. You could hike forever here, but if you only explore one corner of this region, make it the … Our top walking holidays in Europe are all about variety. Things can get busy in high season, but even in August, the huts always seem to find room for everyone. In Italy you might … Our short walking breaks are 4-night versions of some of our most popular week-long European walking holidays. Watch our walking holidays video. From there, it winds up through remote villages to the 2,272 m Jelenak pass, where you cross into Montenegro before heading into Albania’s Accursed mountains, famed once for their impregnability but now more for stunning views. Watch out for lammergeier vultures, griffons and golden eagles. Top Regions. Perhaps the most celebrated of these is the Pilgrimage Route of St. James, often referred to as the Camino, which begins in France at Le Puy en Velay and finishes in Galicia in northwest Spain, at Santiago de Compostela. Holidays in Europe Whether you are looking for a quick wellness break or a longer fitness holiday, European holidays have everything you need to ensure your time off is well spent. So it’s very much business as usual. For sheer variety, our walking holidays in Europe are hard to beat. The official network of paths includes 30 short routes, two long routes and four high mountain routes, with varying degrees of difficulty - the only problem is picking which ones to squeeze in to your walking holiday. The entire area is a protected biosphere, home to wildlife including wolves, lynx and wild boar, and hundreds of pristine lakes dot the mountains, many of which make a good focus point for a single day or multi-day hike. Top 10 easy walking holidays in Europe 1. Europe is home to a host of demanding and long-distance walks. This trek starts in the Bernese Oberland with a seven-mile leg-stretcher to the Kanderfirn glacier. Walk 1: Heart of the Cotswolds. Walk the glorious coast of Croatia, island hop its archipelagic highlights or head inland to its secret... 3. Of course, the weather can never be accurately predicted months in advance, but there are some comforting averages that give people the confidence to book a trip. Montserrat, Catalonia, Spain. Whatever your interests we can arrange your ideal hiking holiday in Europe. From north to south, the fantastic regions in northern Germany, central Germany, in the foothills of the Alps and in the Bavarian Alps offer hiking routes for every energy level. The highlight is undoubtedly the walk through Néouvielle national reserve, a section of footpath revered by hillwalkers. You need to be fit and ready for this trek, though - expect 10,000 metres of cumulative descent and ascent. Slovakia. Before the longer days give way to colder nights and the summer sunshine is swapped for a chillier climate, why not embark on one of these walking holidays in Europe? If you continue without changing your settings, we'll assume that you are happy to receive all cookies from this website. This six-day circular walk takes you through the best of the sights both natural and human, with plenty of chance to explore historical and culinary traditions. All walking holidays » Top Walking Destinations. Eight-day guided trip with Discover the World departs 13 July and 27 July, from £1,833 full board including flights (from Gatwick or £300 credit), Moving from hut to mountain hut through scenery that is vertiginously beautiful is something you might associate with the Alps. Want to tick off an iconic European walking route this summer? Jul 21, 2016 - Looking for your next walking trip? You can also choose to travel by train, bus or car, which are more eco-friendly options than hopping on a plane. This eight-day slice of the best action covers the stretch between the spa towns of Cauterets and Bagnères-de-Luchon (so plenty of chance to ease aching muscles at the end). Stay in picture-perfect whitewashed towns overlooking the Mediterranean - and then leave the summer visitors behind to follow trails into the hills, with wonderful views of terraces of vineyards, orchards and lemon groves. Eight-day self-guided trek with Walks Worldwide runs June-September, from £879 half-board, Germany has many well-established walking trails, a strong hiking culture, too, and some choice locations – such as this classic stretch along the Bavarian border in the heart of the country. See more ideas about walking holiday, trip, holidays in europe. Seven-day self-guided walk with Macs Adventure runs April-October, from £600 B&B, including luggage transfers and support line, Home to vineyards, snowy peaks and the Matterhorn, the Valais is one of Switzerland’s top walking destinations. Albania is a corner of Europe that’s been overlooked, but walkers should beat a path to this still emerging... 2. If you pick just one group of Greek islands to discover by foot, make it the Cyclades in the middle of the Aegean Sea. The best walking holidays in Iceland are to be found around the Landmannalaugar area in the Fjallabak Nature Reserve in the Highlands of Iceland, where trails wind past the country's famous hot springs, geysers and flowing streams. Watch out for the herds of reindeer who roam the landscape here. Your luggage now enjoys the spectacular train ride down to Flam while you walk the equally spectacular footpath down, spending a night in the pension there. Europe's diversity and abundance of national parks and famed walking trails make choosing just one country for a walking holiday difficult, but we've rounded up some of the best walking landscapes in the world, let alone in Europe, to tempt you, from mountainous regions to remote islands and everything in between. The Gemmi pass starts in the Zillertal Alps lets you experience the mountains in traditional style,..., Spain a guide family-run hotels trail through Sweden 's Arctic always tops of. 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