Imagine a cozy remote hiking lodge situated in a beautiful location where you can hike different paths each day and return for a hearty meal and comfy bed each night. A place where you only unpack once and you’re surrounded by others who enjoy the same outdoor activities. Sounds lovely, right? We think so, and so do a lot of walking holiday companies. If you want to book through a company, read our Finding a Center-based Walking Holiday. If you want to go rogue and book something fabulous on your own, keep reading.
Favorite Hiking Lodges Around the World
Finding a good hiking lodge to centrally base yourself for multi-day hikes isn’t always easy, especially if you want something off the beaten path and on a budget. Hiking lodges promoted by travel agents and magazines often come with higher price tags and luxury resort amenities, but there are some amazing inns that often get overlooked. These are just a sampling that represent what we consider to be a moderate price range ($100-300/night). For cheaper alternatives, you can find quality hostels or homestays near most of these lodges.
Argentina: Hostería El Pilar
This beautifully designed inn at the base of El Chaltén in De las Vueltas river valley is #1 on our “must visit” hiking lodges. El Pilar is an ideal choice for those who want center-based hiking in Patagonia. It’s surrounded by nature, away from town and the trails are at your doorstep. With no WiFi or TV, this is a true hiking retreat that will cost about $290/night (USD). For something in town that’s more affordable, we also like Kaulem Hostería.
Chile: Casa Chueca Lodge
Located in Talca in Chile’s wine region at the base of the Andes Mountains, this lodge is strategically based for a variety of hikes. The owners are German/Austrian expats who settled in Chile in 1993 and have written guidebooks on the region and created the website/app TrekkingChile. They are a perfect choice to guide you in choosing Chilean hikes.
China: Huangshan Beihai Hotel
It’s work to get here but we think a hotel in the clouds where you can hike the famous Yellow Mountains of China is worth the trek. This historic hotel is owned by the local tourism agency and offers luxury views with affordable prices (for western budgets). For good details on hiking this mountain and getting there, read this article by Rachel Meets China.
France: Les Perelles
This bed and breakfast is located in the Regional Nature Park of the Bauges Mountains, in the Haute Savoie region. It’s a modern design amidst old villages and some of the most stunning landscape France has to offer. It’s one of the highly rated inns on Gites de France, where you’ll find a wealth of inns equally as beautiful as this one.
Mauritius: Otentic Eco Tent Experience
Don’t let the word tent scare you, this safari tent community boasts a glamping experience with private bathrooms, savory meals and support services for hiking, biking, kayaking and paddle-boarding. When you need rest, beautiful beaches and fishing villages are nearby. Owned and operated by local women, this is one of those authentic communal experiences that will change the way you think about travel.
Morocco: Kasbah du Toubkal
One of the more luxurious options on this list but we had to include it because this is one of the premier trekking lodges in Africa. Once you see the photos and all of the amazing support services and guided packages they offer to hikers, you’ll want to book a walking holiday here and include a visit to Marrakech which is only about 37 miles (60km) away.
New Zealand: Shakespeare House
Located in Te Anau in Fiordland National Park, this is the longest running bed and breakfast in town and its run by locals. Easy walks to town and epic treks such as the Milford Track, Routeburn and Kepler Track are accessible from here. The innkeepers can help you select self-guided routes or book one of their multi-day hiking packages.
Portugal: Quinta Colina Flora
This Portuguese inn has it all! It’s perfectly situated next to Sintra National Park and close to beautiful beaches and the historic town of Sintra. There are only 5 guest rooms, breakfast is provided, and guests have access to a shared kitchen, bicycles and hiking maps. They call themselves a “refuge for slow travelers.” Hmmm…this one might tie for #1, Argentina may have to wait.
Spain: Pyrenean Experience
This is one of our favorite inns for a center-based walking holiday because you don’t need a car during your trip. Exquisite food and delightful walks are available from this central location in the Spanish Pyrenees. Find a full review of this inn here on our site.
Sweden: Årrenjarka Mountain Lodge
This cozy family-friendly resort is located above the Arctic Circle in the Swedish Lapland, known for its secluded mountain wilderness with glaciers, wetlands and old growth forests. The diverse terrain provides a multitude of outdoor options, including hiking in the summer and snowshoe trails in the winter. Take your pick from lodge rooms, rustic cabins and campsites and end each day with locally sourced meals at the lodge restaurant. We found this lodge through Vaolo, a collaborative directory of conscientious travel experiences.
United States: Lodge at Stehekin
We’re totally biased on this one because the North Cascades is our favorite hiking region in the US, but honestly, it’s hard to find a better location for center-based hiking than Stehekin. Getting here is part of the adventure, as you have to hike or take a boat to access the lodge. Once there you have your pick of 40 different trailheads, watersports and various lodging options. Just make sure to plan ahead, this place is favored by Seattle residents who flock to Lake Chelan any chance they get.
