Take the Time to Explore on a Longer Walking Holiday

Journey further: the beauty of a longer walking holiday

Whether following the Camino trail in Northern Spain or taking in magnificent views on an Alpine mountain trek in Switzerland, Europe offers plenty of incredible opportunities for longer walks and extended walking holidays. Explore 10-days or longer walking holidays with Inntravel. Discover hidden trails, local cultures, and sustainable travel across Europe. Adventure at your own pace.

If you have more time for your walking holiday, extending your stay offers fantastic opportunities to discover some of the world’s breathtaking views, whilst giving yourself the chance to really get to know your destination.

Here’s what our longer walking itineraries offer and what to expect when you book with Inntravel – plus a couple of our favourite route recommendations for inspiration.

 

Why book a longer walking holiday with Inntravel?

Longer walking holidays offer the freedom to explore at your own pace and discover more of your destination’s beautiful landscapes. With more time at your disposal, it’s easier to step off-the-beaten-track and onto the road less travelled, where you can experience your surroundings at their most authentic.

Whether you’re looking for a challenging, multi-day hike or a more leisurely, self-guided itinerary with multiple options each day, our range of longer walking holidays offers something for every type of walker. For those looking for something a little different, our 10-day Camino de Santiago walk along the Portuguese route strikes the perfect balance between longer walks and time to relax – plus a unique sense of camaraderie with the millions of pilgrims who have made the journey before you.

As passionate walkers, we’ve trodden every step of our itineraries across the UK and Europe ourselves. We combine this with 40 years of local knowledge to create holidays that offer both fantastic walking and plenty of opportunity to get to know the culture of your destination. Alongside breathtaking walking routes, we provide detailed sightseeing notes, book locally-owned accommodation and point you towards authentic food options.

Our team is happy to personalise your chosen itinerary, offer a restaurant recommendation or two and suggest which sightseeing spots might fit best with your interests.

Our favourite longer walking holidays

Portuguese Camino de Santiago, The Old Way

Since around the 9th century CE, pilgrims have been making their way through northern Spain to the tomb of James the Apostle in the city of Santiago de Compostela. Today, people walk for myriad reasons – spiritual, cultural, sporting, or simply for the camaraderie of joining millions of people before then.

With many routes available, this Camino walk takes you along the quieter Portuguese Way, including the Variante Espiritual, which features a unique river boat journey and is the only water-based pilgrim route in Europe. Beginning in picturesque Tui, you’ll walk just over 100km to Santiago de Compostela, discovering charming riverside villages, the magnificent city of Pontevedra and the rolling vineyards of the Rías Baixas region en-route.

> Walk This Way

The Azores: an Island-Hopping Experience

Discover the remote Azores on a self-guided walking holiday that covers three different islands (or even four, if you choose our optional extension). Situated 800 miles off the coast of Portugal, this hidden volcanic paradise was once the bridge between the Old and New worlds for ships crossing the Atlantic Ocean.

With included car hire and transfers between the islands, you’re free to discover a range of routes. Take in views over picturesque São Jorge’s fertile plains and towering mountains, relax in Horta’s handsome harbour on the island of Faial and enjoy an abundance of ancient laurel forest, tropical plants, crater lakes, hot springs and mist-shrouded peaks on São Miguel.

> Walk This Way

Swiss Alps - From the Eiger to the Matterhorn

The route between Switzerland’s two most famous peaks contains some of the most breathtaking walking routes in the Alps. As you journey towards the distinctive, Toblerone shaped silhouette of the Matterhorn, you’ll cross the lunar landscapes of the high peaks and descend into fertile, colourful Alpine meadows, resting overnight in tucked-away wooden mountain villages.

Covering over 150km and at points ascending to heights of more than 3,000m, this is an exhilarating and rewarding walk for experienced hikers. Whilst tough in some parts, your effort over 14 days pays off with incredible views across Alpine glaciers and perhaps a sighting or two of whistling marmots on the ground and birds of prey overhead.

> Walk This Way

What to expect on inntravel's walking holidays

Accommodation

We offer many different types of accommodation on our longer walking holidays, all offering a great night’s sleep and a warm welcome. Where available, we’ll offer accommodation with pool or spa facilities ideal for a little rest and relaxation after long days exploring.

From traditional guesthouses to luxury boutique hotels, we work with accommodation that offers a glimpse into the culture of your destination. We look for locally-owned hotels with friendly hosts, accommodation in renovated historic buildings and attached restaurants that make the most of locally-grown, seasonal produce.

Food and Drink

Enjoying well-loved local delicacies in their most authentic form, or discovering new, less-well known favourites, is one of the highlights of any trip away. That’s why we make food and drink such a central part of all Inntravel holidays.

On itineraries with meals included, you can rest assured that we’ve chosen your hotel or restaurant for its renowned menu of local specialties and use of fresh local ingredients. Where meals aren’t included, we’re always happy to point you in the direction of some good food and drink spots.

Some of our itineraries offer dedicated gastronomic experiences – for example, on our Portuguese Camino trail, a tour and tasting at a local Albariño winery is included, with an optional local farmhouse lunch.

Support

At Inntravel, we take care of all of this for you so you’re free to enjoy the beauty of your surroundings without worrying about logistics. We’ll provide detailed walking notes for each day, book your transport and accommodation and transfer your luggage from hotel to hotel as you walk. All you’ll need each day is a rucksack for layers, water and food.

If you have any concerns at all whilst you’re on holiday, or if something hasn’t quite gone to plan, you’ll be able to call our 24/7 customer support line.
 

Preparing For Your Inntravel Walking Holiday

What Should I Pack?

Below, we’ve outlined a capsule wardrobe for seven days’ worth of walking. If you’re going for longer, make sure to scale up accordingly (with our included luggage transfer service, there’s no need to worry about weight). You should also take into account the weather at your destination, though wherever you go, waterproofs and sturdy walking shoes are a must.

Shoes: 1 pair walking boots and 1 pair evening shoes
Tops: 3 base layers, 2 mid layers, 1 sweater (that also works for evening), 2 evening shirts/tops
Trousers: 2 walking pairs and 1 or 2 evening pairs
Outer layers: 1 jacket and 1 set of waterproofs
Accessories: hat, gloves, scarf or neck gaiter, sunglasses, rucksack, walking poles, GPS device or compass

Need more detail on the type of clothes to pack? Check out our comprehensive guide to packing for a walking holiday.

How Fit Do I Need to Be?

Our range of walking holidays offers itineraries covering a range of difficulty levels. Whilst some of our longer walks are more challenging and suited to experienced walkers, this is by no means the case for all our longer walking holidays. There are plenty of more leisurely itineraries that will suit those of average fitness.

Ultimately, how fit you need to be will depend on your own body’s capabilities and the demands of the itinerary you choose. This is why we grade all of our walking holidays on a difficulty scale of 1 to 3. To make sure your itinerary is right for you, it’s important to check the difficulty grading online or in our brochures.

Review our walking grades and what they mean.

If you pick a holiday that matches your current fitness level, keep doing what you’re doing. If you’re keen to challenge yourself with a more difficult walking holiday, it’s a good idea to leave enough time to get up to speed before you travel.

 

Longer Walking Holiday - Frequently Asked Questions

What is a longer walking holiday with Inntravel?
Inntravel’s longer walking holidays usually last 10 days or more. This is the perfect amount of time to explore off-the-beaten-path destinations, gain a deeper understanding of local culture and see more of your destination, at a relaxed pace.

What destinations are available for longer walking holidays?
Inntravel offers longer walking holidays across Europe. Some of our most popular routes include island hopping in the remote Azores, trekking from the Eiger to the iconic Matterhorn in the Swiss Alps and our 10-day Camino walk along the quiet and scenic Portuguese route.

What level of fitness is required for a longer walking holiday?
Our longer itineraries offer varying levels of difficulty. Some routes are suitable for more experienced walkers, whereas others are achievable for those with average fitness. You can use our walking grades to choose an itinerary that’s right for you, and minimise your risk of injury or fatigue by getting regular walking in beforehand.

What accommodations can I expect on a longer Inntravel walking holiday?
We offer many different types of accommodation on our longer walks, from cosy guesthouses to boutique hotels. All of our accommodation is chosen based on the quality of its rooms, its unique character and the warmth of its welcome. We prioritise locally-owned accommodation that has a positive impact on local communities.

How can I reduce my carbon footprint during a longer walking holiday?
Walking is an inherently sustainable way to travel – and we reduce the carbon footprint of our holidays further by relying on local public transport where possible. We prioritise locally-owned restaurants and hotels that source ingredients from the surrounding area to both reduce emissions and support rural economies.