Our Best Lake and Mountain Holidays in 2025

Must-visit lake and mountain destinations

Scenic lakeside strolls. Beautiful sunsets over jagged mountain peaks, reflected in mirror-like waters. The ‘catch of the day’ at local restaurants, accompanied by fresh, locally sourced ingredients and a glass or two of the local tipple.

Whether a traditional British walking holiday in the Lakes or a glamorous Lake Garda holiday, it’s easy to see why holidaying on the waterfront feels so invigorating.

An Inntravel lakeside holiday combines gentle walking routes offering the most breathtaking viewpoints over the surrounding countryside, secluded locations away from busy tourist spots and insights into local culture. We use our insider knowledge to offer a deeper understanding as your destination as a whole – allowing you to appreciate the beautiful landscape so much more.

Here’s what to expect on an Inntravel’s lake and mountain holidays, plus some of our favourite

 

Why book a lakes walking holiday with Inntravel?

A good lakeside walking holiday should offer stunning views across the water and plenty of scenic trails. A great lakeside walking holiday should go beyond this, to give you a more in-depth understanding of your destination, its people and its culture.

Across all our lake and mountain holidays, we combine routes across some of the UK and Europe’s most breathtaking landscapes with over 40 years of local knowledge. Alongside scenic routes that lead you to quiet, authentic parts of your destination off the beaten tourist path, we provide detailed sightseeing notes, book locally-owned accommodation (often in historic converted buildings) and point you towards authentic food options.

Whether you’re looking for a leisurely, relaxed walking holiday or something a little more challenging, our range of itineraries offers plenty of options. From classic British walking holidays in the Lakes and Scotland to glamorous Alpine and Italian Lakes holidays, our itineraries combine fantastic walking options with genuine insights into local culture.

We’ve walked every step of our itineraries, and we’re always happy to offer recommendations or to personalise our holidays to suit your own preferences. If you’d like to linger somewhere for an extra night or two, perhaps to enjoy a couple more lakeside trails or relax by the waterfront, our team can arrange it for you.


 

3 of our favourite lakes walking holidays

Gargnano: the Quiet Side of Lake Garda

One of our most popular Italian Lakes holidays, this single-centre retreat on the shores of Lake Garda offers idyllic leisurely walking options and plenty of time to explore the vast, shifting shorelines of one of Italy’s most picturesque, and most glamorous, destinations.

Your base for the duration of your stay is Gargnano, a secluded town on Lake Garda’s quieter western shore that’s perfectly connected for both walking and sightseeing. More peaceful than its neighbours but no less fascinating to explore, you’ll discover historic villas, elegant churches and twisting medieval passageways as you wander down to Gargnano’s pretty harbour – where a chilled sundowner, or perhaps a gentle boat ride to one of the lake’s other shores, awaits.

> Walk This Way

Lake District Walking: Windemere to Grasmere

If you’re looking for a walking holiday in the Lakes that takes in some of the region’s most scenic spots, this itinerary could be the perfect option. Beginning with time to explore the area surrounding majestic Lake Windermere, you’ll walk to Consiton, then to Grasmere, taking in some of this treasured national park’s most iconic scenery en-route.

One of the great joys of Lake District holidays is knocking a Wainwright or two off your list – this holiday offers the chance to bag the Old Man of Coniston, Helm Crag and Baystones for those who keep track. You’ll also have the opportunity to learn more about the artists inspired by the area, with visits to Beatrix Potter’s Dove Cottage and Wordsworth’s beloved Grasmere, “the loveliest spot that man hath found.”

> Walk This Way

Lake Bled, Bohinj & The Julian Alps

Tucked under the towering peaks of Slovenia’s Julian Alps, the crystal waters of Lakes Bled and Bohinj shimmer with enchanting, mirror-like reflections. This particular part of the Alps offers some of the most beautiful mountain scenery on the continent – an ideal landscape to explore on foot, as you make your way from Kranjska Gora to Bled.

Whilst the surrounding landscapes are dramatic, they can be accessed by a network of easygoing trails, making this holiday ideal for newcomers to lake and mountain holidays and those looking for a more leisurely paced walking holiday.

> Walk This Way

 

What to expect on Inntravel's walking holidays

Accommodation

We offer a range of accommodation on our lakeside walking holidays, from cosy, traditional country inns and guesthouses on our Lake District holidays to luxurious chalets and boutique hotels on our Swiss and Italian lakes holidays.

Whichever type of accommodation you’re staying in, we guarantee high-quality rooms and amenities, a comfortable night’s sleep and a warm, genuine welcome awaits. A little pampering and relaxation never goes amiss on holiday, so where possible we offer accommodation with pool or spa access.  

Our long-term relationships with a number of locally-owned hotels and guesthouses offer opportunities to see places in a new light, whether by chatting to your friendly local hosts, sampling locally-sourced meals or simply enjoying fabulous views over your surroundings, watching the sun go down after a successful day’s exploring.

Food and Drink

From freshly caught freshwater fish to local meats, cheeses and legumes cultivated in the surrounding countryside, our lake holidays offer the chance to sample authentic regional cuisine and perhaps find your new favourite dish.

We take every opportunity to showcase local food and drinks on our lakeside itineraries. Where meals are included with your holiday, we choose accommodation and restaurants with a reputation for locally-sourced, seasonal ingredients and menus showcasing regional specialties. You’ll enjoy well-loved dishes at their most authentic, whilst discovering some lesser known, but no less delicious, local staples.  

If meals aren’t included in your itinerary, we’re always happy to use our local knowledge to recommend a restaurant or two, so you won’t miss out!

Support

As a walking holiday provider, we walk all our routes to make sure we give you the most relevant and useful information in advance of your holiday, and when you’re out there.

We’ll book any accommodation and transport you need in advance, taking your preferences into account and ensuring that you’re comfortable throughout your stay. We’ll also provide detailed notes for all of our suggested walking routes and take care of any luggage transfers – all you need each day is a small rucksack with space for water, food and layers.

When you’re on holiday, you’ll always have a friendly voice at the end of the line thanks to our 24/7 customer support line.


 

Preparing For Your Inntravel Walking Holiday

What Should I Pack?

There are a few things which are vital to pack on any walking holiday, wherever you’re going and however long for.

Use this capsule walking wardrobe as a starting point and adjust based on the length of your trip and the expected weather at your destination. The list below is based on a week’s worth of walking – you may wish to pack more leisure clothes on a gentler itinerary.

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?

Inntravel’s range of lakeside walking holidays offers something for everyone. Our more leisurely itineraries are perfect for those new to walking holidays, or for those looking for shorter strolls with longer rest periods between. Our more challenging lakeside itineraries require a moderate level of fitness

To help you assess which holiday is right for your current level of fitness, we categorise all our walking holidays using a 1-3 grading scale. This allows you to get an idea of what each of our itineraries is like – you can find this information on each itinerary’s webpage.

Check our walking grades and what they mean.

Most of our lake walking holidays fall within grades 1 to 2. This means that it’s unlikely you’ll need to follow a strict training regime to enjoy them.


 

 

Lake and Mountain Holidays - Frequently Asked Questions

What makes an Inntravel lake walking holiday unique?
Inntravel’s lake walking holidays combine breathtaking scenery, personalised itineraries and in-depth knowledge of your destination to offer insights into local culture. You’ll discover delicious regional cuisine, stay in friendly, locally-run accommodation in historic buildings and experience some of Europe’s most memorable views, all on one trip.

Which destinations does Inntravel offer for lake walking holidays?
Inntravel offers a range of lake walking itineraries across the UK and Europe. From well-loved, quintessentially British walking holidays in the Lake District to breathtaking Lake Garda holidays and stays in Slovenia’s Julian Alps, each itinerary combines natural beauty with insights into the culture of your destination.

How should I prepare for an Inntravel lake walking holiday?
The level of fitness you need for our lake walking holidays varies with each itinerary – but as most of our lake and mountain holidays are suitable for casual walkers, it’s unlikely you’ll need to train extensively. Make sure you pack clothing suitable for the climate of your destination, although wherever you go a set of waterproofs and a pair of sturdy hiking shoes are a must.

What are the top lake destinations Inntravel offers for walking holidays?
Some of our most popular itineraries include our Italian lakes holidays, trips to Slovenia’s stunning Julian Alps and, of course, Lake District holidays in the UK. Each location offers unique walks, breathtaking landscapes, and a blend of cultural and culinary experiences.

What can I expect from a lake walking holiday?
You can expect unforgettable scenery, with enchanting lakeside views and routes that take in some of Europe’s most exhilarating viewpoints. We combine our walks with personalised itineraries that offer a deeper understanding of your destination’s culture, through locally-owned accommodation, sightseeing suggestions and chances to enjoy local food and wine.