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Introductory hiking vacations

A choice of introductory walking vacations from specialist operators. You do not need previous experience for these trips, but you do need to be in reasonably good health. If you enjoy walking, and will be able to walk for 4-5 hours per day then these trips will be for you. See our full walking vacation classification.

Introductory hiking vacations
Walking in Andalucia, Spain
Week's walking tour in the beautiful Axarquia, from £649 (8 days) ex flights
Croatia national parks hiking vacation
Walking vacation in Croatia's beautiful national parks., from US $750 - US $980 (8 days) ex flights
Amalfi Coast walking vacation, Italy
Walk in lemon groves and hillside villages, from US $1440 (8 days) ex flights
Walking holidays in Spain
A walker's paradise, from €560 - €850 (8 days) ex flights
Catalonia self guided walking vacations, Spain
Self-guided walking vacations in Catalonia, from £359 - £606 (4 days) ex flights
Bibbulmun Track walking vacation in Western Australia
Western Australia's longest walking trail, from AU $950 - AU $1795 (5 days) ex flights
Self guided walking vacation in France
Idyllic walking in France with great food, wine and bonhomie, from €749 - €832 (7 days) ex flights
Sardinia walking vacation, Italy
Superb daywalks amid rich and charming scenery, from US $1540 - US $1580 (8 days) ex flights
Camino de Santiago walking vacations, self guided
Soulful walk along the Portuguese Way in Spain, from €680 (9 days) ex flights
Walking vacation in Alicante
Guided & self guided tailormade walking tours, from £425 (7 days) ex flights
Walking in Kent, self guided walks, England
Walk from Canterbury discovering rural Kent, from £636 (7 days) ex flights
Walking in Andalucia, Spain
The olive groves and rugged hills of Andalucia, from US $1400 (8 days) ex flights
Cyclades sailing & walking vacation in Greece
Combine a sailing & hiking adventure around the Cyclades, from €670 - €720 (7 days) ex flights
Self guided walking tours in Andalucia, Spain
Walking tours ideal for people keen to walk independently, from £425 (7 days) ex flights
Hadrians Wall walking tours, England
Discovering the history and heritage of Hadrians Wall, from £475 - £799 (6 days) ex flights
Walking vacation in Greece
A week's walking, from US $1190 - US $1230 (8 days) ex flights
Walking vacations in Scotland
Walking in the Cairngorm National Park, from £204 - £732 (3 days) ex flights
Croatian coast walking tours, self guided
Self guided walking tour on the sunny Croatian coast, from €460 - €615 (8 days) ex flights
Carpathian Mountains conservation & culture vacation
Wolves, bears & sightseeing, from US $1400 (8 days) ex flights
Nepal trek with Chitwan National Park safari
Trek in Kathmandu valley & Chitwan, from US $849 (14 days) ex flights
Mongolia trekking vacations
Mongolia spectacular trekking trip at the Khangai Mountains, from US $2133 - US $2404 (14 days) ex flights
Pilgrims Way self guided walking tour, England
Enjoy the historic and beautiful Kent countryside, from £529 (6 days) ex flights
Self guided walking vacation in the Algarve
Independent walking vacations, from €490 - €680 (8 days) ex flights
Self guided walking vacations in Scotland
Self guided walks on Scotland’s classic treks, from £240 (4 days) ex flights

239 reviews for Introductory hiking vacations4 star overall rating

These full and frank independent Introductory hiking vacations reviews are from travelers who have booked directly through responsibletravel.com. They are not edited by us or any of the companies we work with. Find the real story, from real travelers below.

Walking holidays in Spain
Everything about this vacation was excellent, and exceeded expectations. The walking was varied, the guide/s were knowledgeable and supportive, the food was simply wonderful, and my walking companions were friends by the end of the week. (more)
From €560 - €850 excluding flights
Vegetarian vacations in France
A wonderfully calming and tranquil vacation rather than an "exciting" one. Should also mention the great hospitality shown by our hosts, delicious home cooked food and generous introductions to local wines and brandies! A lovely relaxing time.  (more)
From €749 - €880 excluding flights
Walking in Andalucia, Spain
The most memorable part was stopping for lunch on top of hills with amazing views and the homegrown oranges... Top, really enjoyed, excellent value, very well organised, great fun and wonderful people. Also loved accommodation.  (more)
From £649 excluding flights
Pilgrims Way self guided walking tour, England
We were blessed with consistently clear, sunny almost 80-degree weather. And the small towns where we stayed overnight were charming and still very rural, but with nice accommodations and pubs. We have never been on a walking vacation of this duration, and it's by far the best form of locomotion.  (more)
From £529 excluding flights
Amalfi Coast walking vacation, Italy
The views on the Amalfi coast can not be captured in pictures, it is so beautiful. The walks we took each day were challenging and took us to areas not seen by tourists. It was spectacular...The whole itinerary was planned well and went off without a hitch. Really a great vacation.  (more)
From US $1440 excluding flights
Catalonia self guided walking vacations, Spain
Really wonderful! It exceeded my expectations. Steve could not have been more helpful in coordinating and supporting us in this vacation. We loved the places we stayed, enjoyed the people and small towns. The food was excellent. The hikes we great. I felt like we really got to see the country and small communities. (more)
From £359 - £606 excluding flights
Self guided walking vacation in Sardinia
The best memories I take away from this vacation are of the gorgeous springtime Sardinian scenery, eating enormous home-cooked meals at the agricoturismos and of the all-round kindness and generosity of everybody we met.  (more)
From £710 excluding flights
Catalonia walking & food tour, Spain
The stunning coastal scenery and the obvious care taken by Alan and Vivian in choosing the routes and accommodation. (more)
From €795 excluding flights
Annapurna trekking vacations, Nepal
The most memorable part of my vacation: waking up on trek and looking out of my tent at the Annapurnas with the rising sun catching the peaks and the truly charming and helpful Nepalese people.  (more)
From US $1960 excluding flights
Elaphite Islands & Dubrovnik walking tours in Croatia
Most interesting people very proud of their country, enjoyed the whole visit, have encouraged my friends to head to Croatia. (more)
From €680 excluding flights
Self guided walking vacation in France
The hospitality of our hosts was the most memorable part. 10 out of 10. (more)
From €749 - €832 excluding flights
Scotland walking vacations
Everything about this trip was great, but memories of the magnificent mountain scenery I'm sure will stay with me forever. (more)
From £725 excluding flights
Short break walking vacations in Andalucia, Spain
Seeing a Golden Eagle for the first time....Excellent. Well organised, relaxed and friendly. (more)
From £399 excluding flights
Self guided walking vacation in the Algarve
One of the most satisfying I have been on. I was never over tired. There were no travel problems. The organizers / drivers were friendly and relaxed.  (more)
From €490 - €680 excluding flights
Nepal trek with Chitwan National Park safari
Riding an elephant at 6.30am on Xmas day through the Chitwan jungle and spotting the one horned rhino is hard to beat. I can still see the breathtaking views on our trek round the Kathmandu valley that were constantly changing. (more)
From US $849 excluding flights
Camino de Santiago walking vacations, self guided
Although this was our third time walking the Camino Santiago de Compostella. It was still as fantastic spiritual experience as our first. I do not think that there is a walk like it. (more)
From €680 excluding flights
Walking in Kent, self guided walks, England
Walking through the Kent apple orchards was the most memorable part. (more)
From £636 excluding flights
Sardinia walking vacation, Italy
Despite having a mobility problem, I managed 3 out of 4 walks. They were amazing and Rudy was invaluable to give me the confidence to carry on even on some quite hard terrain. The hotel turned out to be experts in gluten free cooking and so the other perfect half was the ability to eat enough food to fuel the walking.  (more)
From US $1540 - US $1580 excluding flights
Bibbulmun Track walking vacation in Western Australia
Our guide, Dave, was extremely knowledgeable about every aspect of the the countrside - birds, plants, weather, history - he helped us enjoy the spectacular lanscape.  (more)
From AU $950 - AU $1795 excluding flights
Tailormade trekking in Annapurna region
The jungle tour in Chitwan’s national park was fantastic. We enjoyed elephant rides through the jungle, came close to wild rhinoceros and crocodiles and learned about the local wild life, plants and culture. The accommodation was second to none. (more)
From £500 - £1500 excluding flights

Vacation Reviews

We invite every traveler who books a vacation via us to send in a review. Because we don't run the vacations they're completely independent and unedited... remember to read between the lines though, as two people on the same vacation can have different views!

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Unedited reviews from other travelers

5 stars
I am reborn! Simply the best vacation I have ever been on
4 stars
Some great stories to tell the grandchildren. Would recommend to a friend
3 stars
Very enjoyable
2 stars
It was OK
1 star
A bit disappointing really

Walking vacation classifications

We organise our walking vacations by difficulty & the number of hours you walk each day to help you find the right walking vacation for your level of fitness.

Introductory walking
You do not need previous experience for these trips, but you do need to be in reasonably good health. If you enjoy walking, and will be able to walk for 4-5 hours per day then these trips will be for you. Although these trips are not at higher altitudes, and will have time for rest, remember that the walks will not be flat and that you'll enjoy them even more if you've built up a little stamina!
Moderate walking
If you have walked in the hills at home and are reasonably fit you will enjoy these trips, which will typically involve 5-8 hours walking per day. These trips might involve a day or two of harder and steeper walking, but generally walking conditions will be good.
Strenuous walking
Fitness is important for these trips, and you'll need to improve your stamina before you depart. You should expect to walk in mountainous terrain, usually at significantly higher altitudes than at home, for between 6 to 8 hours per day. You will either have trekked before, or be confident of your fitness.
Very challenging trekking
We recommend previous experience of trekking. You will need to be fit, have very good stamina, and be confident that you can to trek for many days without a break. You will be able to cope with difficult underfoot terrain such as scree, snow or difficult paths on steep mountainsides. Extremes of altitude and weather may also be encountered and walking days can be from 6 to 9 hours.
High altitude trekking
If you want to get away from it all and up into some of the highest and most spectacular mountain ranges in the world then here are some awesome treks for you! As you will be at altitude you will need to be in good health, and have good stamina and fitness for those uphill days. You should expect some long days, cold temperatures, high altitudes, and some tough terrain in simply spectacular scenery.
Climbing
A choice of climbing vacations from specialist operators. For these trips we recommend previous climbing experience, preferably at altitude or the confidence to learn as you go. You will need to be fit, have very good stamina, and be confident that you can climb in demanding conditions.
Wilderness trekking
We've selected these treks for you based on their remoteness and beauty. If you prefer to enjoy the solitude of the mountains away from too many other people then these treks are for you. You'll need a reasonable level of fitness and you will enjoy walking, but these trips are more about enjoying the surroundings than searching out really tough treks.
Walking safari
There is no better way of really experiencing wildife and wildlife habitats than getting out on foot to see and track game. Your safety will be paramount and you will be accompanied by expert guides. It might involve anything from a 3-4 hour walk from camp, to a mobile safari over several days moving from camp to camp. You'll will simply need to be able to walk for 3-4 hours.
Self guided walking
If you prefer to avoid groups and guides, or want create your own group, then a self guided walk is for you. No previous experience is needed.
Charity treks
Charity treks are ideal for people who don’t only want to travel responsibly, but also want to give that little bit extra and help contribute towards a favourite charity. All of our charity treks are either run by charities, or contribute a significant proportion of the cost of the vacation to a good cause.
Summer walking
Want to enjoy the fields, meadows and mountains in the summer sunshine? No previous experience required, just an enjoyment of walking and the outdoors.
Winter walking
Are you looking to get away during the winter months to enjoy an invigorating winter walk? No previous experience required, just an enjoyment of walking and the outdoors.
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