Walking Holidays in Europe: Explore Scenic Trails and Ancient Paths
Europe is home to some of the most captivating landscapes in the whole world, from truly natural attractions to ancient structures, and there’s no better way to explore them than a walking holiday. Why? it’s a great way to immerse in a country’s culture while being active and staying healthy.
The biggest draw about this is that Europe offers a plethora of walking holidays, where scenic trails meet with rich history and local culture, from the iconic Camino de Santiago in Spain to the Fisherman’s Trail in Portugal, Europe’s diverse landscapes have something for everyone!
It doesn’t matter if you’re an avid hiker or just an urban walker, these destinations promise unforgettable experiences. Let’s lace up our boots and explore the best walking holidays across the continent.
What’s a Walking Holiday?
A walking holiday is not a marathon, it’s not about ticking off miles on a fitness tracker, a walking holiday is about immersing yourself in the soul of a place. Imagine leaving behind the rush of cars, buses, and trains, and instead, exploring through rolling hills, ancient forests, and charming villages.
For example, let’s say you want to go on a walking holiday to Greece, but instead of just spending each day sitting on the beach you start walking, exploring its town, and finding stunning landscapes.
It’s a vacation where walking is the main transportation option, and you’ll likely stay in different accommodations each night, which adds a lot to the experience.
Choosing the Right Destination
By now you must be wondering where to go. Essentially, you can do a walking holiday in different ways but the most popular is by hitting Europe’s popular long-distance trails, from Scotland’s West Highland Way to England’s Cotswold Way, there’s a trail for every wanderer.
But before you pack your backpack, consider your preferences, and make sure everything is ready. Most walking holidays need to be well planned since you will be walking for days. Nowadays you can find tour companies that are tailored specifically for walking holidays like Orbis Ways, and they take care of most stuff for you.
Popular Long-Distance Hikes for a Walking Holiday
There are several popular long-distance hikes in Europe, that’s why it’s the best place to go for a walking holiday. Here are the best ones:
- Camino de Santiago (Spain): The ancient pilgrimage route to Santiago de Compostela, a spiritual and physical journey. There are different ways to do it, and lasts anything from 45 days to 10 days.
- Tour du Mont Blanc (France, Italy, Switzerland): Circumnavigate Mont Blanc, Europe’s highest peak. 165 kilometers of Alpine vistas, charming villages, and hearty meals await. It usually takes 10-11 days to complete,
- Hadrian’s Wall Path (England): Here you’ll follow the footsteps of Roman soldiers along Hadrian’s Wall. The trail is 135 km long and takes 5 to 8 days to complete.
- Cinque Terre (Italy): Rather than just one trail here you will find a connection of cliffside trails that take you through colorful villages overlooking the Ligurian Sea.
Packing Essentials
Now, packing is the most crucial part of any holiday but it’s even more important for a walking holiday, you don’t want to miss anything while walking but don’t want to carry a lot of stuff either.
Make sure you invest in a good pair of sturdy shoes, and a backpack that can survive the wear and tear of a walking holiday. Also, make sure the shoes are comfy, try walking shoes or hiking boots but try them a lot before your journey.
A good waterproof jacket or raincoat is a good option too! A refillable water bottle and first-aid kit are a must too.
Those are your main items, make sure to pack them.
Safety Tips
- Follow trail markers.
- Stay hydrated.
- Know emergency numbers.
- Listen to your body.
