With Europe opening up, many of you have indicated you want to go on an active trip. Here
are 25 of the best hiking trips in Europe, both self-guided itineraries and guided small-group tours.
Portugal - Madeira
The subtropical island of Madeira, a piece of Portugal far out in the Atlantic Ocean, offers dramatic scenery, black sand beaches, volcanic craters and gushing mountain streams. Hiking along the levada irrigation channels is a unique experience, allowing you to access the rugged interior.
Guided - 8 days from CA$1,745
Portugal - The Azores
The remote archipelago of the Azores, part of Portugal but situated in the middle of the Atlantic, is a wonderful playground of volcanic origin. Crater lakes, caverns and thermal springs dot the islands, while the craggy coastline hides picturesque fishing villages. Adventure activities such as hiking and canyoning are the order of the day. Whales are numerous in the many marine reserves while on land a network of natural parks and biospheres protects the unspoiled environment. This tour has you discover 4 of the most interesting islands on foot.
Guided - 8 days from CA$3,199
Spain - Andalucia
In the south of Spain, in the heart of the Andalusian countryside, amid olive groves and picturesque farmland, lies your cortijo, a converted farmhouse, your base for a week of walking. Explore the rugged hills and limestone peaks of the Sierra de Grazalema and walk the famous El Chorro Gorge on the Caminito del Rey. A sure highlight of the trip will be your visit to beautiful Seville.
Guided - 8 days from CA$1,995
Spain - Camino de Santiago
The Camino de Santiago is a network of trails of which the trail running from the south of France through the north of Spain (the Camino Frances) is by far the most famous and popular. The entire pilgrimage takes about 40 days but for those who are short on time, we offer a guided "Best of the Camino" option. In just under two weeks we take you and your fellow pilgrims and hikers along the most scenic portions of the trail, all the while staying in comfort. Best of all - you do not have to carry your own bag as we will transfer it for you.
Guided - 14 days from CA$4,290
Self-Guided - 11 days from CA$3,149
Spain - Picos de Europa
Dramatic limestone peaks and green valleys make up the mountain range in Spain known as the Picos de Europa. It is a tranquil area made for walking and many bird and animal species thrive in this inaccessible wilderness. Discover all this from your centrally located family-run hotel offering stunning views of the highest mountains in the area. Two levels of hikes, moderate and challenging, are offered on alternating dates.
Guided - 8 days from CA$1,895
France, Switzerland, Italy - Mont Blanc
The Mont Blanc Circuit in France, Italy and Switzerland is one of Europe's most famous hiking trails. We have several different hiking trips allowing you to enjoy the scenery to the max. Indulge in amazing alpine views of glacial lakes and mountain vistas while each night you sleep in a comfortable bed and enjoy a great meal.
Guided - 8 days from CA$2,099
Self-Guided - 12 days from CA$3,349
Switzerland - Bernese Oberland
Beneath the peaks of Jungfrau, Eiger and Monch, in Switzerland's Bernese Oberland, are some of the Swiss Alps most scenic hiking trails. Based in Kandersteg we hike the best of them, using cable cars to get us at altitude, and walk among towering cliffs and soaring peaks, glacial valleys and flower-strewn alpine meadows.
Guided - 8 days from CA$3,045
Self-Guided 8 days from CA$2,179
Switzerland - Mont Blanc to Matterhorn
Our Haute Route passes beneath 10 or the 12 highest mountains in the Alps, from Mont Blanc near Chamonix in France to Matterhorn near Zermatt in Switzerland. Spectacular mountain views, stunning valleys and pretty glacial lakes are all around on this fantastic trek through the Alps.
Guided - 15 days from CA$3,895
Italy - Chianti in Tuscany
It is the classical Tuscan view of poppy fields and stately cypress trees leading you into a vista of town walls and fortified towers high up on a hill. Enter the town and wander its cobblestones streets, visit its galleries and shops and sit down for a gourmet meal. On this one-week hiking trip you will discover pretty towns, the renaissance cities of Siena and Florence and sample several varieties of Chianti wines. This is La Dolce Vita, Tuscan style.
Guided - 8 days from CA$1,895
Italy - Dolomites
Craggy peaks towering up to the sky, where wooden farmhouses dot the orchard-clad valleys, where hiking trails lead you from mountain huts to spa resorts to glorious vistas. These are the Dolomites, part Austrian, part Italian, with a culture all its own. Hike around the famous Tre Cime, through alpine meadows and along limestone escarpments. En-route, don't forget to stop for a treat in one of the chalets and in the evening, your hotel has excellent spa facilities to sooth those sore muscles!
Guided - 8 days from CA$1,999
Self-Guided - 8 days from CA$2,379
Italy - Cinque Terre
Cliffs plunging into the sea, colourful villages clinging to the mountain side, walking trails wending their way through walled farmyards down to the sea. The Cinque Terre is one of Italy's most famous and most picturesque areas. This trip has you explore the best hiking trails of the Cinque Terre and neighbouring Portofino.
Guided - 8 days from CA$2,095
Italy - Amalfi
Steep mountains rising from the turquoise Mediterranean, slopes covered in lemon groves, white-washed villages lining deep valleys where they meet the ocean. Explore covered alleys leading to hidden courtyards and sit down for a glass of wine or some gelato. Follow ancient footpaths and stairs up the hills to hamlets tucked away in forest-covered hills. Hike up to a vantage point and marvel at the views over this, the Amalfi Coast. This is one of the best coastal hikes in Italy.
Guided - 8 days from CA$1,899
Self-Guided - 8 days from CA$1,799
Slovenia
Tiny Alpine Slovenia offers great scenery amidst which you will find incredible walks and hikes. Pretty landscapes dotted with small churches and quaint villages share the country with amazing mountainscapes. Hike to waterfalls in the Martuljek Gorge, indulge in an abundance of alpine fauna and flora in the Karavanke Mountains, visit Lake Bled, walk the shores of Lake Bohinj and hike the stunning Pokljuka Plateau.
Guided - 8 days from CA$1,999
Croatia - Dalmatian Coast
Endless Roman ruins, romantic Venetian towns and Byzantine churches. Sun-bleached hills descending to cobalt blue seas, which in turn straddle a coast dotted with picturesque isles. Inland meanwhile, limestone caverns, river canyons, splendid waterfalls and picturesque lakes will leave you dazzled. This walking trip along Croatia's Dalmatian coast shows you the best of it all, including Dubrovnik, the stunning viewpoints and villages of the island of Brac, Diocletian’s Roman Palace in Split, the waterfalls of Krka National Park, and the limestone cliffs, caves and canyons of Paklenica NP.
Guided - 8 days from CA$1,899
Romania - Saxon Transylvania
Transylvania is one of Romania's least disturbed regions, an area of ancient Saxon villages, medieval towns and castles and abundant wildlife. On this trip you will discover all of these on walks through the mountains, forests, canyons and farmland.
Guided - 8 days from CA$1,999
Greece - Island hopping
Discover the valleys, olive and citrus groves and Venetian town and market of beautiful Naxos, before taking a ferry to Santorini with its spectacular views. Walk the Cliff Trail along the island's caldera and soak up the atmosphere at pretty Oia. Finally, explore Paros with its Byzantine cathedral and walk an ancient trail to the island's east coast. All the while, enjoy the great food and hospitality Greece is known for. Guided - 8 days from CA$2,199
United Kingdom - Coast to Coast Trail
Crossing England west to east near its narrowest point, the just over 300 kilometre Coast to Coast Path is one of the world's classic treks. It leads through the dramatic scenery of three distinct national parks: Lake District, Yorkshire Dales and the North York Moors.
From St. Bees on the Irish Sea to Robin Hood's Bay on the North Sea you will walk through a variety of landscapes featuring dry stone walls, endless moors, steep hills and mountains and some very charming villages each with their own pub. Stupendous views are the order of the day on this classic English trek.
Guided - 15 days from CA$3,190
Ireland - The Kerry Way
The Ring of Kerry, on Ireland's Iveragh Peninsula, is one of country's most famous sightseeing circuits - and with good reason as it offers spectacular views of beautiful sea and landscapes. The Kerry Way follows a series of hiking trails and farm tracks around the Ring of Kerry, allowing you to access out-of-the-way moors, stunning mountain scenery and forgotten villages. This self-guided holiday along the Ring of Kerry offers you a selection of the best hikes and walks in this part of the Emerald Isle.
Self-Guided - 8 days from CA$2,249
Iceland - Laugavegur
East of Iceland's capital Reykjavik, glaciers, mountains in every colour of the rainbow and ancient forests overlook swirling rivers, soothing hot springs, incredible lava flows and deep gorges. Fantastical rock formations rise up out of carpets of Arctic flowers and brilliantly coloured moss. The Laugavegurinn hiking trail connects Þórsmörk with Landmannalaugar and this trip adds a hike to the famous waterfall at Skogar.
Guided - 7 days from CA$4,590
Norway - Fjordland
Northwest of the Norwegian capital of Oslo, sheer rock walls rise a kilometre up into the sky, farms hang onto impossibly narrow strips of land, while waterfalls tumble down its cliffs. This is Norway's heartland, where Nigardsbreen glacier, the mountains of Jotunheim, lush valleys and three national parks are all within easy striking distance. Explore this spectacular area on foot, allowing you to discover tranquil spots and incredible viewpoints, away from the crowds.
Guided - 8 days from CA$4,679