Our Walking vacations in Europe
One of the things we love most about our Europe walking vacations is that many of our partners work with organisations that protect existing paths, and seek to reopen often long-forgotten routes. These trails were once walked by Roman troops, Greek shepherds and ancient pilgrims, and are soon to be discovered anew by small groups of avid hikers, or those who prefer the freedom of a self guided trek. Something else we love: from the Carpathians of Romania to the levadas of Madeira and Croatia’s Dalmatian coast, you’ll stay in locally owned accommodations in out-of-the-way areas whose hosts love to welcome hungry walkers.
Our top European walking vacations
Amalfi Coast walking vacation, Italy
From
US $1949 to US $2479
8 days
ex flights
Walk in lemon groves and hillside villages
Small group2022: 20 Aug, 27 Aug, 3 Sep, 10 Sep, 8 Oct, 5 Nov, 12 Nov, 19 Nov, 31 Dec, 2023: 11 Feb, 18 Feb, 25 Feb, 4 Mar, 11 Mar, 18 Mar, 25 Mar, 1 Apr, 8 Apr, 15 Apr, 3 Jun, 10 Jun, 17 Jun, 24 Jun, 1 Jul, 8 Jul, 15 Jul, 22 Jul, 29 Jul, 5 Aug, 12 Aug, 19 Aug, 26 Aug, 2 Sep, 9 Sep, 16 Sep, 23 Sep, 30 Sep, 7 Oct, 14 Oct, 21 Oct, 28 Oct, 4 Nov, 11 Nov, 18 Nov, 23 Dec, 30 Dec
Spanish course & hiking vacation, Picos de Europa, Spain
From
€719 to €837
7 days
ex flights
Spanish classes + stunning hikes in Picos de Europa
Small group2022: 15 Aug, 22 Aug, 29 Aug, 5 Sep, 12 Sep, 19 Sep, 26 Sep, 3 Oct, 10 Oct, 17 Oct, 24 Oct
Las Alpujarras hiking vacation, Spain
From
€1295 to €1395
8 days
ex flights
Guided walking vacation, Andalucia, with writer Chris Stewart
Small group2022: 17 Sep, 15 Oct, 2023: 15 Apr, 13 May, 23 Sep, 21 Oct
North Cyprus walking vacation
From
US $1249 to US $1599
8 days
ex flights
Varied walks amid rugged scenery and superb archaeology
Small group2022: 17 Sep, 24 Sep, 1 Oct, 5 Nov, 19 Nov, 22 Dec, 29 Dec, 2023: 21 Jan, 4 Feb, 18 Feb, 4 Mar, 11 Mar, 18 Mar, 1 Apr, 15 Apr, 29 Apr, 6 May, 20 May, 16 Sep, 23 Sep, 30 Sep, 14 Oct, 4 Nov, 18 Nov, 23 Dec, 30 Dec
Catalonia self guided walking vacations, Spain
From
€749 to €845
8 days
ex flights
Self-guided walking vacations in Catalonia
Tailor made
Cyclades walking vacations in Greece
From
US $2249 to US $2399
8 days
ex flights
A gently active vacation in the Cyclades
Small group2022: 2 Oct, 9 Oct, 23 Oct, 2023: 19 Mar, 2 Apr, 16 Apr, 7 May, 14 May, 4 Jun, 18 Jun, 3 Sep, 17 Sep, 1 Oct, 8 Oct, 15 Oct, 22 Oct
Madeira walking vacation
From
US $1030 to US $1660
8 days
ex flights
Small group walking tour of Madeira
Small group2022: 17 Sep, 24 Sep, 15 Oct, 22 Oct, 29 Oct, 5 Nov, 12 Nov, 20 Dec, 27 Dec, 2023: 11 Feb, 4 Mar, 18 Mar, 1 Apr, 8 Apr, 15 Apr, 13 May, 27 May, 10 Jun, 17 Jun, 24 Jun, 1 Jul, 8 Jul, 5 Aug, 2 Sep, 9 Sep, 16 Sep, 30 Sep, 7 Oct, 14 Oct, 21 Oct, 28 Oct, 4 Nov
Small group walking vacation in Croatia
From
US $1679 to US $2399
8 days
ex flights
Idyllic walks through some of Europe's finest scenery
Small group2022: 27 Aug, 3 Sep, 17 Sep, 1 Oct, 2023: 6 May, 13 May, 20 May, 27 May, 10 Jun, 17 Jun, 1 Jul, 26 Aug, 2 Sep, 9 Sep, 16 Sep, 30 Sep
Mont Blanc vacation, Tour du Mont Blanc
From
US $1999 to US $2399
8 days
ex flights
The best of the Tour du Mont Blanc
Small group2022: 20 Aug, 27 Aug, 3 Sep, 17 Sep, 24 Sep, 1 Oct, 8 Oct, 2023: 20 May, 27 May, 3 Jun, 10 Jun, 17 Jun, 24 Jun, 1 Jul, 8 Jul, 15 Jul, 22 Jul, 29 Jul, 5 Aug, 12 Aug, 19 Aug, 26 Aug, 2 Sep, 9 Sep, 16 Sep, 23 Sep, 30 Sep, 7 Oct
More about our walking vacations in Europe
Best walking vacations in Europe
Well, this is a tough one to narrow down! There are 51 European countries, each with its own waymarked wonders and hiking highlights. Many need no introduction, but there are also lots of lesser-known beauties that we consider the best walking vacations in Europe. Albania, where you can have remote trails almost entirely to yourself. France’s Mercantour National Park, where kids will love walking alongside a friendly donkey that carries their packs. And Romania’s Carpathian Mountains, a land of folklore, wolves and rural idylls where you can walk at any time of year, strapping on snowshoes in the winter.
Easy walking vacations in Europe
Not everyone wants to climb Mont Blanc or push themselves on a taxing pilgrimage trail. There’s much to be said for slowing things down, which is why we’ve put together some of our favourite easy walking vacations in Europe. Think Tuscany, where the hillsides are interspersed with shady olive groves and vineyards where you can dally with a little tasting. Or the Cyclades Islands in Greece – an easygoing mix of hikes between Classical sites and stylish sailing from one bay to the next. They’re vacations ideal for those wanting to gently break themselves in without compromising on the scenery.
Challenging walking vacations in Europe
Our challenging walking vacations in Europe often involve long ascents, exposed paths and rough terrain, but your stamina and aching muscles are rewarded with truly spectacular views. They range from the gruelling Mont Blanc Circuit (three countries, eight days and six mountain passes) to Slovenia’s best-kept secret, the Julian Alps, where you’ll tackle an easy via ferrata and hike from hut to hut. And for those with plentiful experience in high altitude walking, we recommend Corsica’s GR20, one of the demanding long-distance routes in Europe where you’ll need a head for heights and the surefootedness of a mountain goat.
Classic walking vacations in Europe
Don’t expect to have the trail to yourself on any of our classic walking vacations in Europe, but do expect to quickly understand what gives them such popular appeal. They include Spain’s epic Camino de Santiago, one of the world’s oldest pilgrimage walks that comes with several different routes. The two-week Pilgrim’s Way in England is equally historic and has daily opportunities for a hearty pub lunch to keep you going. And if you really fancy escaping civilisation for a while, try hiking Norway’s magnificent national parks, with ice-capped mountains, fjords and glaciers your backdrop for the obligatory ‘made it!’ selfie.
Family walking vacations in Europe
The trick to coaxing your kids on a family walking vacation in Europe is to sugar-coat it a little. So you’re not just going for a week of walking in France; you’re going to be walking with your own personal donkey. On Italy’s bejewelled Amalfi Coast, there is the promise of a beach at the end of every day’s trek. In Romania’s Carpathian Mountains there is the promise of tracking wolves in the woods and visiting vampire castles. And Montenegro walking vacations also mean wild swimming and waterfalls. Our expert travel partners curate walking itineraries designed expressly for littler legs to enjoy.
[Best walking vacations in Europe: junko]
[Easy walks: Ken Mayer]
[Challenging walks: pxhere]
[Classic walks: Mikael Leppa]
[Family walking vacations: Delpixel]
