The 10 best hiking holidays
WILL HIDE laces up his boots to discover the ten best hiking holidays in Europe…
1DISCOVER THE MYSTERIES OF THE ACCURSED MOUNTAINS
This seven-night holiday in September is for those who are on their own or have a partner who is not into hiking. Scenery includes the mysterious-sounding Accursed Mountains and the Theth Waterfall, while the delicious food has Italian and Turkish influences. Solos Holidays (solosholidays. co.uk) offers a seven-night break from £1,225pp, including flights from Gatwick, accommodation with meals, and guides.
2BEAR NECESSITIESSSITIES I N SLOVAKIAA
This eight-day holiday in the Tatras Mountains ns meanders through nature reserves usually y off-limits to the public as you track bears, wolves and deer in their natural habitat. It is led by an experienced park ranger and group p size is kept to eight people. Walks Worldwide (walksworldwide. com) offers this trip in May and October from £1,300pp (two sharing) including accommodation, some meals and flights from Luton.
3MUNCH YOUR WAY THROUGH THE ALPS
If there’s one thing better than walking all day in glorious Alpine scenery, it’s knowing that at the end, gourmet food awaits. On this seven-night trip to the Ecrins National Park, accommodation has been picked for its great cuisine. Undiscovered Mountains (undiscoveredmountains. com) has this sevennight holiday from £1,107pp (two sharing) including half-board accommodation and guides. Flights are extra.
4HIKING UNDER THE MIDNIGHT SUN? NORWAY!
Hiking high above the Arctic Circle in the Lyngen Alps lets you escape the crowds. After leaving Tromso you’ll be based in a luxury lodge, so after walking through the remote Reisa Canyon you can return each night to a soft mattress and hot shower. Best Served Scandinavia (best-served.co.uk) offers this four-night break from £1,725pp (two sharing) including flights from Gatwick, accommodation with most meals, and guides.
5HUNT FOR TRUFFLES I N PEACEFUL PIEDMONT
If your idea of a hiking holiday includes pausing for a five-course lunch, then this week in Italy is for you. It’s based partly in an old farmhouse near Saluzzo, and the rest of the week in a small hotel with a pool surrounded by vineyards. Travel Trave in October and you can hunt for
truffles, too. Hedonistic Hedon Hiking (hedonistichiking. (hed com) com has a seven-night sev trip from fro £2,590pp (two (tw sharing) including in accommodation, ac all meals, and transfers. Flights Fligh are extra.
6A A STSTROLL IN SARDINIA S
The rugged terrain along the shores of eastern Sardinia can be tough going at times. But the rewards − breathtaking scenery, gorgeous beaches and wild boar stew – make it worthwhile. Some guides are former shepherds. Dolomite Mountains (dolomite mountains. com) offers this sixnight holiday from £1,335pp (two sharing) with accommodation, meals, and guides. Flights extra.
7LIGHT UP THE WAY I N GALICIA
This corner of north-west Spain is not well known to Brits. But the Camino dos Faros (Lighthouse Way) will take you through fishing villages, along cliff paths s and isolated coves, before finishing at Cape Finisterre. You’ll feast on n glorious local food and wine along the way. On Foot Holidays (onfootholidays.co.uk) offers this seven-night trip in late spring or autumn from £660pp (two sharing) including accommodation, some meals, luggage transfers and route information. Flights are extra.
8FROM MEADOWS TO MARKET TOWNS
Fly to Innsbruck in Austria, then cross by train into the German-speaking part of north Italy to hike in the spectacular Dolomites. Walk through meadows, vineyards and apple orchards, and pause for a cappuccino in quaint market towns such as Bolzano and Merano. Bspoke (bspoketours.com) offers this six-night, self-guided holiday between May and October from £505pp (two sharing) including B&B accommodation. Flights are extra.
9SEE THE MOST FAMOUS TRAIL I N THE WORLD
Few people have time to walk all of the 500-mile Camino de Santiago, the most famous hiking trail in the world, so tackling a more manageable chunk, such as a section of the Camino Frances, makes sense. Camino Ways (caminoways.com) has seven-night guided hikes from £670pp (two sharing) including half-board accommodation, luggage transfer, and airport transfers. Flights are extra.
10TAKE A PEEK AT THE PYRENEES
This six-night holiday gets you off the beaten path in southern France, staying in mountain refuges, immersing yourself in nature and tasting food with its French and Basque influences. Adventure Creators (adventure creators.com) offers this trip from June to September from £875pp (based on four sharing), with accommodation, most meals, guides, and transfers from Toulouse. Flights are extra.