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Paths of the AlpsThe best walking
The Alps are immensely rewarding to discover on foot. Every twist of the path reveals new views – a glittering lake, snow-capped peaks stretching far into the distance, an idyllic village nestling in a lush valley – and it is impossible not to be both inspired and humbled by the grandeur of the breathtaking scenery. Each season is special. While early summer is a popular time because of the spectacular displays of wild flowers in the meadows, autumn is preferred by many because of the clarity of the light and the tranquillity that descends on the mountains after the pleasant bustle that the plentiful warm sunshine brings at the height of summer. And it is so easy to get right into the heart of the mountains. Extensive networks of well-maintained and well-waymarked paths give you endless possibilities for walking, and flexibility, too – choose the shorter or the longer route to your destination depending on how energetic you are feeling. If the rewarding routes, breathtaking scenery and flower-filled meadows are not enough, you walk safe in the knowledge that at the end of the day you are going to be able to relax at a comfortable hotel – the majority of our Alpine hotels have three or four stars, with those in Austria, Switzerland and Italy offering especially high standards of comfort and cooking.
We have holidays for all levels, from keen walkers to those who want to appreciate the scenery with the minimum of exertion. At the lower end of the scale, our Lakes & Mountains walk in Austria offers relaxed walking in dramatic scenery, using cable cars to avoid any steep ascents. The next level up includes our Lake Lucerne walk, which explores the mountains that surround Switzerland’s most beautiful lake, combining thrilling journeys by cable car, train and boat with rewarding – and very varied – walks. Our Lake Geneva to Lake Neuchâtel walk will appeal to anyone looking for plentiful but not overly demanding walking – unlike most of our holidays, you move from hotel to hotel every day and are rewarded with far-reaching views that stretch towards mighty peaks such as Mont Blanc. If you like a particularly high standard of accommodation, opt for our Leutasch Valley walk in the Tyrol. For very different scenery, choose the Alps to the Mediterranean walk. As its name suggests, it leads from the Alpes Maritimes to the Riviera, rewarding you with a real sense of journey and varied, contrasting scenery.
Finally, if you are not sure of your level, or want to be able to decide how much walking you do each day, choose one of our discovery holidays (we offer one in the Bernese Oberland and another in the Tyrol) or one of our flexible walks. Flexible holidays offer you the choice of a grade 2 or a grade 3 route each day, and include the High Dolomites, Bernese Oberland, Towards the Matterhorn and Villages of the Engadine walks. For a particularly high standard of hotels, choose the High Dolomites in Italy or the Villages of the Engadine. The latter explores the idyllic Engadine, a secret region in eastern Switzerland dotted with fairy-tale villages, with the chance to walk in Switzerland’s only national park. The choice is wide, but whichever you choose, you will enjoy wonderful walking and breathtaking views. For further advice about which holiday to choose, please email us.  |
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We offer walking holidays in twelve Alpine regions of France, Switzerland,
Italy and Austria: the Alpes Maritimes, Chablais Alps, Lake Lucerne, Bernese
Oberland, Engadine, Jura, Valais, Dolomites, Tyrol, Salzburg Lakes, Salzburgerland
and Savoie. Which one is best suited to you depends largely on
the level and amount of walking you are looking for, but you should also
consider other factors such as the standard of hotels. 
The most challenging of our selection, our grade 2-3 and 3 walks, are
for keen, fit walkers, with thrilling routes right into the heart of the
mountains and over panoramic high passes. Choose the