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The first question most of us ask is "what is a walking holiday?" No worries, that's why we created this site.
Do you love to walk? Do you want to experience new places on foot?
If so, you are amongst friends and this site is the perfect place to start! At Trips to Walkabout we are obsessed with walking, whether it’s leisurely walks through a park or hiking up a mountain. We’re obviously not alone, as there are TONS of companies offering walking holidays, trekking expeditions, guided hikes and more. This is where we fit in.
What we do / How we help
We review walking holiday companies and organize them in a way that’s easy to search according to your needs and interests. We go beyond the first page Google results and look for small tour operators that are hard to find. We haunt Instagram and Facebook, looking for high quality local groups who don’t have the budget for a fancy website. We research local and international travel associations to see who is certified and actively participating in good sustainable practices. Companies do not pay us to appear on this site, WE CHOOSE. This way your options aren’t limited and you can trust the integrity of our reviews.
We focus on local and small walking tour companies
Our primary focus is on companies or tour operators that offer options for independent travelers who prefer flexibility in their daily walks. This often means self-guided walking holidays, meaning you travel on your own without a group. Some destinations are best experienced with a guide, however, so we also cover small companies offering guided tours (private or small group) that meet our high standards. Whether self-guided or guided, we pay special attention to companies that are locally-owned and operated or small companies that specialize in specific regions or travel styles. We feel it is always best to book directly with your tour operator whenever possible.
What is a walking holiday?
Simply put, it’s a vacation focused primarily on walking. It’s very popular in the United Kingdom and Europe, which is why we call it holiday instead of vacation. Walking holidays often mean a trip where you walk from town to town and sleep in local inns or small hotels. There are usually places to stop along the walk to eat, places to shop and to rest. You might walk along a beach, through mountains, pastures, forests or medieval villages.
Walking holidays combine all the things I love most: walking amidst beautiful scenery, staying in local inns or quirky places and taking time to experience new food and people.
How is a walking holiday different from hiking or trekking?
It’s not that different, except that hiking in America usually means getting away from civilization and heading into the woods while the European model of walking holiday highlights small towns and rural countryside. Trekking means longer hikes, often for more advanced hikers and backpackers, and the lodging usually involves basecamps or rugged mountain huts. Some companies offer luxurious basecamps so don’t assume every trekking expedition is “roughing it.”
types of walking holidays
You and your companions travel independently but everything is provided for you, including:
- Lodging
- Breakfast and sometimes other meals
- Walking routes with detailed notes
- Luggage transfers (from lodging to lodging)
- Transportation during the trip (some offer it from airport as well)
You and your companions travel with a guide. This usually involves a small group but some companies offer private guides. Some destinations require a guide, either for the entire trip or certain trails, which is why we include guided as one of our search categories even though it’s not our focus.
You plan everything and book your own lodging, but you have help. Companies offering DIY walking trips provide trail notes, recommended lodging, luggage transport, and more (depending on the company).
You walk from town to town each day, staying at different inns each night. Here’s how this is different from backpacking:
- Tour company transports your luggage each day so you only have to carry a small daypack during your walks
- Lodging is often a local inn, carefully selected to provide an authentic experience and comfortable night’s rest
- They almost always include breakfast
- Your walk will be a mix of town and countryside, depending on the destination. Some routes are entirely wilderness and include hostels or rustic mountain huts. These are usually called HUT TO HUT WALKING
You stay in one place and walk different routes each day. These are the easiest trips to DIY (Do It Yourself). These types of trips are also called:
- centre-based
- single-center or single-centre
- lodge-based or inn-based
Find the right walking holiday
This site is designed to make this as easy as possible. If you have a country in mind, you can Browse by Country using our interactive map. Want to see if a walking holiday company has a good review? Use the magnifying glass in upper right corner to search this site by name or Browse by Company Reviews. If you have no clue, our Get Inspired blog is a good place for ideas and guidance. We think the best way to match a walking holiday with your needs is with our Find My Tour Company advanced search (see bottom of this page). This allows you to narrow your search to companies offering the type of travel you prefer. If you don’t know what all of these options are, you’ll find more details at Trip Types and How We Review.
What to bring on a walking holiday
The beauty of booking a walking holiday through a good company is they provide you with an extensive list of what to pack and how to prepare. It also depends on your personal preferences destination but here’s our standard list:
- Hiking boots or shoes (should be waterproof or water resistant)
- Daypack — small backpack with hydration pack or room for large water thermos. Clare hikes with the Thule Vital hydration pack and Eric favors the Osprey Manta 24 but use whatever is comfortable.
- Washcloth (for UK and Europe) — we prefer these reusable compressed towels because they don’t fall apart like disposable towels
- Trekking poles (personal preference) — we rarely use them because we pack light but some companies may provide this if you ask
- Medications for common ailments
- Moleskin and blister band-aids
- Wool hiking socks that fit well (Clare hikes with Injinji toe sock liners to prevent toe blisters)
- Extra shoelaces
- Trail snacks (if traveling somewhere that we can’t procure)
FIND MY TOUR COMPANY TODAY
Search tip: when you find a company you like, bookmark it! Look for the blue ribbon on right side of your screen.
