Walking Tours: Explore the World on Foot

Some people like to take vacations where they do nothing but sit on the beach (or at the pool) with a drink in their hand.  I am not one of those people.  That’s not to say that I don’t appreciate a little R&R (especially if there’s a beach and a good book involved).  But I’m the kind of person who can’t sit for too long.  I get bored.  I like to get out and explore.  I love a good adventure.  And, of course, I love to walk.  So no matter where we choose to go on vacation, there’s a pretty good chance that you’ll catch me sharing pictures of us walking somewhere.  I’m always finding ways to sneak in extra steps on vacation (here are a few of my tips).

But if you love to walk as much as I do—and you want to go beyond just the occasional walk down the beach or stroll around the hotel—you can step up your vacation walking by booking a walking vacation.

What is a walking vacation?  It’s where you spend a good portion of your vacation exploring on foot.  I’m not talking about hiking the Appalachian Trail or some other mountainous path with all of your supplies strapped to your back, before unrolling your pack and sleeping somewhere out in nature (though, if that’s your style, go for it, you hardcore adventure lover, you!).  Instead, you’re visiting different towns and trekking through the countryside, day after day—and, when you finish the day’s walk, you’ll find your bags waiting for you, along with a tasty meal and a real bed. 

There are people who plan these kinds of trips on their own—who choose the setting, plan their itinerary, and arrange for their bags to be transferred to their daily destinations.  But there are a number of different travel companies that do all of that work for you.  Some offer no-frills adventures, while others offer high-end accommodations.  Some provide all of the itineraries and set you free on self-guided tours, while others provide guides for private or group tours.  Some require a lot of walking, while some keep things easy.  Whatever you’re looking for, there’s most likely a company that offers it.

To introduce you to just some of the walking vacation options out there, here’s a look at some of the trips on my own walking vacation wishlist.

NOTE: I’ve included approximate costs for each trip, based on published pricing at the time this post was published.  For most, some meals and travel to and from the meet-up point are additional.  For exact pricing, see the company’s website or contact them directly.

Iceland Walking Tour

Company: Backroads

I’ve always wanted to visit Iceland, and I absolutely love the idea of seeing it on foot.  Backroads offers a number of different options for walking tours of Iceland—from easygoing to more hiking, from women-only to family-friendly.  These tours will take you on all kinds of adventures—from witnessing the Northern Lights and hiking glaciers to ziplining and rafting adventures—all before settling in for fine dining and luxury accommodations.

The website doesn’t offer detailed information about the distance traveled on foot, but with so many different options, it seems like it wouldn’t be hard to find one that fits anyone’s preferences.  Of course, if your preference is travel on a budget, though, that might be harder to find here—since these start at $6,500 per person, not including travel to and from Iceland.

Camels on the Beach Family Morocco Holiday

Company: KE Adventure

This family-friendly adventure explores Moroccan towns and beaches and local cuisine while trekking from hotels to campsites to guesthouses.  The KE Adventure site offers a somewhat detailed itinerary, which shows the day’s activities, as well as amount of time spent walking each day—which could be up to five hours.

I love that this one seems a little more authentic—and though I’m definitely not a fan of camping, I’d be willing to camp for one night to be able to experience the food and scenery and culture of Morocco while walking.  And, as an added bonus, the prices for this less luxurious trip aren’t quite as steep—starting at around $1,000 per person.

Hiking & Island Hopping—Ireland’s West Coast

Company: Wilderness Ireland

Ever since I was a college kid doing an independent study on linguistics, I’ve dreamed of visiting the Emerald Isle—and if I can spend a week walking through the national parks and along the cliffs and exploring the islands, even better.

This small-group guided tour travels through villages and stops in pubs throughout the week, traveling distances up to seven miles per day. 

Wilderness Ireland offers a variety of options—from private travel to luxury excursions to self-guided tours—but this small-group guided tour costs around $3,000 per person.

Tuscany Walking and Wine

Company: Explore!

When I think of the perfect girls’ trip with my walking buddies, I’m pretty sure this is it.  Eight days in the Tuscan countryside, exploring hills and vineyards and sampling the wines along the way from Pisa to Florence.  Daily walks cover a moderate 6-8 miles per day.

Cost starts at around $2,550 per person.

Oslo to Bergen: Rail & Hike

Company: Macs Adventure

Norway is another country that’s been on my wish list for many, many years.  And what better way to experience the stunning mountains and fjords than by taking it all in on foot?  This adventure spends some time traveling by train and other days walking from one inn to the next.

Walks here can be up to 13 miles, so you’ll want to be sure to train before you go. 

This 10-day journey costs around $3,900 per person.

Utah: Bryce & Zion Canyons

Company: Country Walkers

While there are all kinds of amazing places around the world to explore on foot, there are plenty right here in the States, too!  Admittedly, you won’t be doing a whole lot of walking on this tour—distances top out at just five miles—but you’ll be exploring some breathtaking scenery in these two national parks.  And since all of the walks take place in these two parks, you’ll only have to change accommodations once.

Prices for this tour start around $4,400 per person.

Amsterdam to Arnhem Walking Tour

Company: Freewheeling Adventures

This may be the last trip on my list, but it’s at the very top of my wish list.  The Netherlands holds a very important place in my heart—not just because my ancestry lies there but also because my husband and I spent a whole lot of time there during the early years of our marriage, when he worked for a Dutch company.  I loved exploring the towns and markets and museums then, and I would absolutely love returning for a walk through the countryside.

The Netherlands may be an incredibly flat country, but this tour is no joke—with daily distances up to around 25km (or around 15 miles).  But it’s sure to be one fabulous journey.

You can choose either the guided or self-guided tour, with prices starting around CDN$3,000 per person.

These options offer just a sampling of the amazing walking tours available—so be sure to check out the different companies and their websites (and request a catalog or two) for more walking possibilities.

If you were to go on a walking tour, where would you want to go?