1. Scenic Trails of Madeira
The intriguing culture and natural beauty of Madeira make it a hiking hotspot. It's perfect to explore, with crystal clear waters, dramatic landscapes and unique flora and fauna. On this self-guided itinerary, your journey will take you across mountain ranges, coastal paths, and farmland. You start by following the Levadas dos Maroços, as the narrow water channel zigzags through agricultural land to Machico, and end your holiday with a trek along part of the famous Caminho Real, passing ruins and quaint villages en route to Arco de São Jorge.
2. France: GR10 - Section 1
Hike a section of the famous GR10 route, taking you from the Pays Basque in Basque Country to the lively coastal town of Hendaye on the Atlantic Ocean over seven days on this self-guided holiday. This part of the GR10 route, in particular, hosts unique landscapes with the first part of your journey being nestled in the Pyrénées-Atlantiques, reaching altitudes as high as 1,100 metres. During the walk, you’ll come across charming villages such as Sare, Ainhoa, and St Jean Pied de Port, and have opportunities to sample the local gastronomy, culture, and architecture.
3. Walking on the Azores
Visit two of the most beautiful islands in Portugal’s secret paradise on this self-guided holiday, the Azores. Starting in São Miguel, you explore lagoons, ancient volcanic craters, and the three caldera lakes known as Lagos das Furnas, where you’ll find mini-geysers and hot springs. After flying over to Santa Maria, known as the ‘Island of Sun’, you can enjoy spectacular views of cliffs and hillsides plunging into the ocean and find respite from the sun in heavily wooded areas. You’ll climb the island’s highest peak at 587 metres for views of the whole island and, on clear days, you’ll see São Miguel in the distance.
4. Ancient Trails of Japan
Starting our journey in Tokyo, our guided group soon leaves the metropolis behind and hike up Mount Kintoki to take in the finest views of Mount Fuji in the distance and continue to travel through the sacred Togakushi mountains. After exploring the picture-perfect Kamikochi, we follow the ancient Kumanokodo Pilgrimage Route and visit Matsumoto Castle. Our next destination is the former capital of Kyoto, one of Japan’s most exquisite cities, and includes a visit to the Fushimi-inari Shrine. We will mostly be staying in traditional ryokans (inns) which provide an opportunity to sample local food and be immersed in Japanese culture.
5. Italy: Walking Trails of Puglia
Starting from Ostuni, this group walking holiday is a lovely introduction to the southernmost region of Puglia, taking in the history, nature, and cuisine of the region. During the holiday, we trek to the Coastal Dunes Natural Park, small family-run farms, the Megalithic Garden of Puglia, and the beautiful bay of Porto Badisco before finishing at Le Orte Beach where we can relax or swim in the quiet waters. The walks on this tour are relatively easy with plenty of time allowed to cover the distances. There are also opportunities to stop for sightseeing and points of interest.
6. The Corfu Trail - 8 Day
Starting in Aspprokavos, on the southern edge of Corfu, you walk along inland tracks and cobbled paths, through ancient olive groves, forests, and alongside rivers on this self-guided adventure. You enjoy views of mountains and the sea from the coastal tracks and ridges, with plenty of opportunities for a refreshing dip in the Mediterranean Sea. As you travel through small villages, you pass monasteries, manor houses, and many quayside tavernas, all with authentic Corfu charm. On day seven, you arrive in Liapades, an ancient village full of lovely old mansion houses, before continuing downhill to the beach.
7. Albania: Accursed Mountains
Walk to the wild north of Albania and discover one of Europe’s last great adventures. On this group holiday, we explore the remote Thethi National Park and the people who live there, on a trip inspired by Robert Carver’s book “The Accursed Mountains”. Our first trek of the holiday is through the woods to the meadows of Grykat e Hapta in the Valbona National Park, part of the Albanian Alps. Along the way, we visit Thethi, a mountain village that has been declared a protected Historic Centre and is probably the most characteristic and traditional village of the region. From Thethi, we trek to the heart of the Accursed Mountains and the Peja Pass. From the pass, there are breathtaking views across the entire Thethi Valley as well as to the peaks that lie within Montenegro.
8. Jordan: Dana to Petra Trek
Walk the trails best known to the local Bedouins as we cross the deserts and mountains of Jordan to the glorious ruins of Petra. We trek through rugged desert landscapes, crossing the ‘hamada’ desert (a high rocky plateau) and climbing to the stunning mountains and escarpments above the Great Rift Valley before arriving in Petra via the Nabathean route. Throughout the group holiday, we camp in the tranquillity of the remote desert beneath the stars in the true Bedouin style, with local cooks providing amazing food. Our trip ends with a night near the Dead Sea with time to relax and soak after the challenging trek.
9. Hiking in the Pindos Mountains
This unique group tour offers a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to walk and explore the ‘Spine of Greece’. Venturing out from Pades Village, we cover three of Greece’s highest peaks, along with beautiful valleys and gorges, taking in the incredible landscapes as we hike We also discover remote villages, such as Papingo, meet the locals who live there and spot the wildlife and endemic flora and fauna. There will also be opportunities for wild swimming during the Vikos Gorge hike and the walks in the Zagori. Our walking holiday comes to an end as we reach the ‘dragon lake’ of Gistova, a remnant of the ice age, set against the backdrop of the alpine meadows.
10. Highlights of Patagonia
Explore southern Patagonia’s mountains, glaciers, dense forests, and wildlife in the way it is seen best - on foot. On this group walking holiday, we take in the highlights of the region, including walking in the shadows of the Fitz Roy and Cerro Torre granite needles, the towering peaks of Torres del Paine National Park, and isolated Tierra del Fuego. The trip begins with sightseeing in Buenos Aires before transferring to Chalten, a colourful mountain village overlooking Los Glaciares National Park to begin our trek which ends with a scenic walk around the Tierra del Fuego National Park.
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