If you’ve already visited our Start Here page then you know that a walking holiday is a vacation in which the primary activity is walking. Similar to backpacking or day hiking, walking holidays are popular in the UK and Europe (which is why the term “holiday” is more often used). Americans are more likely to call this form of travel a walking vacation. In the US, we tend to view walking as a form of exercise or short-term activity revolving around some type of theme (food tours, ghost tours, historic homes, you get the idea). I rarely meet someone who wakes up and says “I feel like walking 12 miles today, think I’ll just walk out my door for a stroll.” And yet, that is exactly what walking holiday enthusiasts do. The act of walking itself is not only enjoyable, it becomes the preferred method of travel.
“I think I cannot preserve my health and spirits unless I spend four hours a day at least—and it is commonly more than that—sauntering through the woods and fields absolutely free from all worldly engagements.” ~ Henry David Thoreau
Walking holidays often mean a trip where you walk from town to town and sleep in local inns. These are called inn-to-inn but they aren’t the only type. Walking holidays have increased in popularity recently and we are now seeing trips that combine walking with special themes, such as Volcano Walking with Mandala Tours or Cooking and Walking in Spain with Aragon Active. There are walking tour companies focused solely on accommodations like We Love Small Hotels in Portugal. There are die-hard walking holiday fans such as Walkabout California who devote their time to creating new routes.
Walking holidays are for everyone
Unlike hiking, which usually requires a certain level of fitness and desire for wilderness, walking holidays exist for a broader audience. Leisure walkers, day hikers and backpackers will all find walking holidays that fit their needs. Leisure walkers should look for trips that are center-based, self-drive or combine trains with daily walking excursions. Day hikers should look at inn-to-inn hiking or any of the options mentioned for leisure walkers. Backpackers should seek trekking itineraries, as these will be in more remote locations and offer the most challenging trails.
Reasons you might like walking holidays
I want to return from vacation feeling healthier and happier
Walking is one of the most prescribed forms of exercise, both for its physical and mental health benefits. You can pay exorbitant fees for yoga classes and massage therapy at a wellness resort, or you can spend all day stretching your muscles and soaking up Vitamin D for half the cost. You can also eat more than a salad because you’ll be walking off those calories.
I want to experience something new
Relying on your feet instead of a car or train is a new experience for most, and it’s something that everyone should try at least once. We were motivated to try our first walking holiday after an illness left Clare temporarily unable to walk. If you don’t already appreciate your ability to walk, this type of travel will open your eyes to the gift of two working legs!
I want to hike outdoors but don’t want to sleep in a tent
This is certainly one of the most appealing attributes of a walking holiday. Knowing you have comfortable lodging and a meal waiting at the end of the path each day makes it much easier to enjoy the walk.
I want to see beautiful places that I can’t see by car
There are some amazing viewpoints accessible by road but they pale in comparison to what you see once you leave the road behind. Plus, nature isn’t meant to be enjoyed via quick road stops or a click of the camera. It’s meant to be absorbed slowly and with all your senses. Artists, writers and nature enthusiasts have always understood this.
I want to feel like a local
Most walking holidays traverse through towns and include local inns and local dining experiences. If you spend your entire trip in the woods, you miss the chance of seeing new people and how they live.
I want to recharge
Long walks, especially over the course of several days, are perfect for sparking creative thought or working through a problem in your head. It’s why pilgrimage routes and long distance trails are so appealing.
I want quality time with a loved one
When you want conversation free of distraction, walking holidays are a great choice. No one has to concentrate on driving and it’s difficult to walk while looking at your phone.
I want a hiking vacation without having to plan or research
Backpackers and day hikers know how much work is involved to research the best trails and how to plan a trip around them, not to mention sleeping arrangements and food. Imagine a trip where you get to independently walk all day for several days and all you have to do is follow written or GPS directions. Everything is planned for you, including the lodging and food.
I want epic long-distance trails
With walking vacations you only have to carry water, lunch and a snack. This allows you to walk longer distances each day. It also gives you more freedom while roaming. Popular pilgrim routes such as the Camino de Santiago or hut-to-hut trips in the Alps are good options for this and they are most definitely epic hikes.
Why we choose walking holidays over backpacking
Ultimately what led us to seeking our first walking holiday was the fact that Clare physically could not carry a backpack. She also requires rest days and never knows when she’ll have a rheumatoid arthritis flareup, so comfortable lodging each night is a necessity. All of the above mentioned reasons also apply to us, but the physical discomforts of backpacking are the primary reason we will always choose walking vacations instead of backpacking.
