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Three Faces of Green Spain

Asturias, Burgos & the Basque Country

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Asturias
Three Faces of Green Spain

Explore the majestic mountains, spectacular canyons and rugged coastal scenery of northern Spain on this self-guided, three-centre walking holiday, with hire car included. Enjoy a choice of walks through contrasting landscapes and stay in accommodation of great character and atmosphere.

Three Faces of Green Spain. 9 nights

+44 (0)1653 617001

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Three Faces of Green Spain. 9 nights

+44 (0)1653 617001

Call now

Jump to...
Overview
Gallery
Itinerary
Where you stay
Extend your stay
Prices & travel
Reviews
FAQs / Tips

Holiday information

- Holiday type
  
  Walking
- Grades 1, 2 & 3
  
  Take your pick of our suggested routes, depending on how energetic you're feeling.
  
  Flexible: easy, moderate & challenging options
- Terrain
  
  Hills, cliffs, lakes, gorges
- Nights
  
  9
- Accommodation
  
  One rural inn; one 2-star hotel; one 3-star hotel
- Meals
  
  Breakfast every day, 6 dinners
- Price (excluding flights)
  
  From £1045pp
- Travel options
  
  Car hire is included. We can also arrange flights – see ‘Prices & Travel’. Alternatively, please contact us about travelling by ferry from the UK to Santander.
- Start
  
  Any day
- When you can travel
  - J
  - F
  - M
  - A
  - M
  - J
  - J
  - A
  - S
  - O
  - N
  - D
  The season for this holiday is:
  01 April 2021 - 31 October 2021
  01 April 2022 - 31 October 2022

A walking holiday in northern Spain

Northern Spain possesses a haunting beauty. Soft spring rains water the mountains, carving out steep-sided, tree-clad valleys which plummet to the sea. Your journey begins in Asturias, where apple orchards and alpine pastures lie sandwiched between the majestic Picos de Europa and a dramatic but easily accessible coastline. This is a region of natural bounty, of lush grasslands, deciduous woodland and rich rural traditions; of sharp ciders, piquant cheeses and of some of the freshest seafood that you will ever taste.

Further east, in the little-known Zamanzas Valley in Burgos Province, are the headwaters of the mighty Ebro which, as it begins its epic journey to the Mediterranean, cuts a maze of sheer, honey-coloured canyons through the plateau. The hidden valleys and villages are astonishingly tranquil, the only sounds the mellifluous birdsong and, of course, the river. Beyond this stretch the vibrant lands of the Basques, a proud and progressive people keen to share their unique culture and glorious food. A string of lively fishing ports line the rugged coast, supplying Europe’s highest concentration of Michelin-starred restaurants. Here, as in Asturias and the Zamanzas Valley, we have found some memorable and varied walking, as well as some truly special guesthouses, each reflecting the spirit of these three distinct corners.

Book with confidence

We are accepting bookings for our holidays to Spain. Our flexible booking arrangements, commitment to safety and financial protection mean that you can book with confidence.

What we’re doing so you can book and travel with confidence >
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Gallery

The spectacular Cares Gorge

The beach at Getaria

The lush, green landscape of Burgos

Breathtaking views from Posada del Valle, Collía

Incredible Flysch formations on the coastline

The coastal town of Zumaia

Itinerary

The key to Inntravel holidays is flexibility. You can start on the day of your choice, and are free to add extra nights.

The average maximum daytime temperatures and monthly rainfall relate to the nearest weather station and are intended as a guide only.

The proximity of mountains and sea means that the weather can change quite quickly. Sea mists are fairly common, particularly in the morning, but don't tend to linger long.

Average temperatures and rainfall

	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec
°C	11	13	13	16	19	22	25	24	24	20	15	12
mm	123	102	95	121	90	63	52	81	71	107	142	129

Arrival

Arrival in Collía

Arrival in Collía

Night 1: at Hotel Posada del Valle (the first of three nights here).

As your first night’s accommodation is on the day of travel, Day 1 is your first day of walking.
Days 1-2

Choice of walks from Collía: 5.5km to 22km

Choice of walks from Collía: 5.5km to 22km

The choice of walks is as wide as the scenery they explore – choose from lakeside paths, walks via authentic Asturian villages or trails through lunar landscapes of limestone crags. Many of the routes can be combined with visits to caves with prehistoric rock paintings, to pretty fishing villages, or to some of the pre-Romanesque churches which together have been designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Covadonga Lakes circuit (grade 1): 5.5km, 2hrs
This is an easy circuit underfoot that enters the heart of the Picos from where you explore the shores of two glacial lakes. The drive up to the lakes is spectacular, first passing the sanctuary of Our Lady of Covadonga, and then the lovely viewing point of the Mirador de Reina over the Picos.

The Cares Gorge (grade 2): up to 22km, 7.5hrs
The Cares Gorge (40mins by car) is one of the National Park’s ‘must-sees’. Also known as the Divine Gorge, it is surrounded by towering, craggy limestone peaks. A broad path has been carved out of the mountainside, an extraordinary feat of engineering. At first it remains high above the river, but the further you walk along the gorge, the closer you get to the water. If you walk all the way to Caín, the gorge opens up to reveal an unrivalled view of the jagged peaks at the heart of the Park. You return along the same route.

Asturias village trail (grade 2): 15km, 5hrs
This is a stunning walk, direct from the door, taking you into the heart of rural Asturias – through working farms, along verdant river valleys, and past authentic villages with many examples of the Asturian raised granary or hórreo – with a short but pretty train ride in the middle, between the villages of Arriondas and Sevares.

Mirador del Fito (grade 2-3): 10km, 3.5hrs; longer option: 14km, 6hrs
The magnificent Fito Viewpoint, reached by taxi, is the starting point for this scenic walk. Enjoy the panorama of coast and mountains before setting off across the flanks of three small peaks of the Sueve Sierra, enjoying views of the Picos de Europa and of the coast between Llanes and Gijón. You have the option of extending the route by climbing to the summit of Pico Pienzu (1,159 metres), a challenging ascent that is rewarded with another breathtaking panorama. If you are lucky, you may spot wild Asturcon ponies as you walk, but if not the sweeping views more than compensate.

Lake Ercina to the Refugio de Ario (grade 3): 13km, 6hrs
This is an excellent walk which takes you into the heart of the Picos de Europa. The waymarked path takes you rapidly away from the touristy areas around the lakes into the isolated heart of the mountains. At first you climb up to a meadow dotted with stone cabins once used by shepherds during the transhumance to summer pastures. From here a more demanding ascent draws you into a lunar landscape of limestone crags and pavements to finally reach a mountain refuge nestling in an elevated rocky bowl.

Around Collía
Day 3

Collía to Barrio La Cuesta: 180km, 2.5hrs

Collía to Barrio La Cuesta: 180km, 2.5hrs

Today you head east, to the little-known Zamanzas Valley in Burgos Province. We suggest a scenic driving route through the foothills of the Picos de Europa, with the option of visiting the Altamira Caves en route. Your base for the next three nights is the Molino del Canto, set on the banks of the Ebro.
Days 4-5

Choice of walks from Barrio La Cuesta: 4.5km to 17.5km

Choice of walks from Barrio La Cuesta: 4.5km to 17.5km

The mill’s restful atmosphere could easily lull you into inactivity, but it is well worth venturing out of the gorge to explore. We suggest a number of great walking routes during your stay here, accessed either from the door or by a short drive.

Guided bird-watching walks
Your host, Xavier, is a very enthusiastic and experienced birdwatcher and we thoroughly recommend joining him on a bird-watching excursion, on which you may get to see dipper, kingfisher, golden eagle, chough and griffon and Egyptian vultures. He knows the English names of hundreds of bird species and can identify most by their song. With supplied binoculars or monoscope, Xavier will guarantee you see a good cross-section of the birds that live in these hills and valleys.

Orbaneja loop - shorter option (grade 1-2): 4.5km, 1.5hrs; longer option (grade 2): 15.5km, 5hrs
This walk begins in the wonderfully pretty village of Orbaneja del Castillo, with a spectacular waterfall cascading through the centre of the village, and fantastic tall, castle-like rock formations all around (hence its name). Take ancient drovers’ trails to climb from the village up to high, flat pastures and moorland, where you encounter unique chozos (shepherds’ huts) and threshing floors. From here, there are great views over the winding River Ebro. While a short walk drops back down to the village again, our recommended longer option takes you through woods and pastures to descend to the nearby village of Villaescusa, from where you follow the wooded slopes of the River Ebro back to Orbaneja.

Hills & Villages (grade 2): 11km, 3hrs
From the door of El Molino, this pleasant walk meanders through the local villages, initially up the hill to Aylanes, via a ruined chapel, which sits below cliffs inhabited by Egyptian and Griffon vultures. From the village, you head down through woodland to Gallejones, and along the valley to Villanueva-Rampalay. After admiring the high-arching medieval bridge, you follow the river all the way back to the hotel, with plenty of birdwatching opportunities en route.

The Pesquera de Ebro canyon (grade 2): 17.5km, 5.5hrs
One of our favourite walks, this shows you almost everything that the canyons offer, beginning with a lovely drive to the nearby village of Pesquera and the start of the walk. The outbound walk takes you through the quiet villages, small fields and atmospheric woodland of the high plateau, with regular views down into the spectacular canyon winding below. After refreshments in the riverside village of Valdelateja, you follow the river in the heart of the canyon all the way back to Pesquera, while vultures soar above.

Around Barrio La Cuesta - bridge at Valdeteja

Around Barrio La Cuesta - Orbaneja loop walk
Day 6

Barrio La Cuesta to Getaria: 185km, 3hrs

Barrio La Cuesta to Getaria: 185km, 3hrs

Leaving El Molino del Canto, you drive north-east, to the coastal village of Getaria and the Hotel Saiaz Getaria in the Basque Country. The quickest route is to take the motorway from Bilbao, but you may prefer to drive along the north coast instead (6hrs).
Days 7-8

Choice of walks from Getaria: 7km to 14.5km

Choice of walks from Getaria: 7km to 14.5km

Our suggested walks give you a taste of the region’s high green hills and vineyards, but the real drama is on the coast, where grassy slopes rise up to meet multi-coloured cliffs that plunge precipitously to the sea. The coast here is characterised by 'flysch' lines – layers of coloured sedimentary rock, sandstone and shale dating from the mid-cretaceous period (c.145 to 66 million years ago) which have then been turned 90° through tectonic activity, and are now visible as long parallel lines of rock running down sheer cliffs and straight out to sea. The Getaria-to-Zumaia walk starts from the door, but the others are accessed by hire car.

San Sebastián 'Town Trail' & walk to San Pedro (grade 1): 7km, 2hrs
Take the train to San Sebastián (pay locally) and follow our 'Town Trail', taking in the port, riverside, old town and pintxos bars. You can also enjoy a walk over the headland past a lighthouse on your way to the nearby fishing village of San Pedro.

Elorriaga circuit (grade 1-2): 11.5km, 3.5hrs
This walk explores the open green countryside inland from Zumaia, with good views over the port and town, as you make your way to the remote village of Elorriaga, where you can enjoy refreshments in the small taverna (closed Wednesdays). Here, you swing back along the coast via a number of fabulous viewpoints of the unique rock formations, following part of the Zumaia to Deba walk (below) in reverse.

Getaria to Zumaia (grade 1-2): 12km, 4.5hrs
This out-and-back walk to the west, directly from the hotel, takes you through a hamlet with a hermitage and an abandoned pilgrims' inn, which were used for centuries on the Santiago de Compostela pilgrims’ route. Spend time exploring the delightful harbour of Zumaia and having lunch – or even enjoying a boat trip, perhaps – before returning through hillside vineyards and farmland.

Zumaia to Deba (grade 2): 14.5km, 5hrs
This is a truly wonderful walk, full of extraordinary coastal scenery, secluded farms and a remote hermitage. You drive to Zumaia railway station, then set out along clifftops with flysch lines on the beach below, ascending then descending from one dramatic bay to the next. The highlight comes with your arrival at Sakoneta Bay, a truly remarkable place and well worth time spent lingering over your picnic and simply taking in the views – the flysch lines here are fabulous. Walking partly on the Camino de Santiago you reach the town of Deba, dropping down from a hill-top hermitage which boasts views in both directions along the coast, in time for a well-earned drink before catching the train back to Zumaia (pay locally).

Around Getaria - Flysch cliffs at Sakoneta

Looking down on Getaria

Accommodation

Such is the charm of the accommodation that it is as important a feature of the holiday as the scenery and the walking. Indeed, these are very special places where you can be sure of a welcoming atmosphere and excellent service.

Extra nights recommended

With more time in Collia, you can take advantage of all the walking possibilities in the area.

Nights 1-3
La Posada del Valle
Collía
Your host is the enthusiastic Nigel Burch, an Englishman whose knowledge of his adopted region and its footpaths is unrivalled. Nigel has created a charming small hotel from this hundred-year-old farmhouse and built up a loyal Spanish clientele for the restaurant, too, which uses mainly local ingredients, including vegetables and a rare breed of indigenous lamb produced on the hotel’s own award-winning organic farm.
The bedrooms, like the lounge and dining room, offer outstanding views of the surrounding countryside. Terraces surrounded by ornamental plants where you can sit outside and admire the views complete the picture.

Meal arrangements: dinner & breakfast
Extra nights recommended

Enjoy extra walking, great birdwatching and superb hospitablity at El Molino del Canto.

Nights 4-6
Molino del Canto
Barriolacuesta
- rural inn
Lovingly converted from a miller’s house, this delightful small hotel – a true rural retreat set in extensive grounds – nestles by the River Ebro in a steep-sided valley in which the only sounds are the water and the birds (‘canto’ means song). The six pretty bedrooms are all on two levels, with a sitting area downstairs and a bedroom and bathroom on a mezzanine floor. Your hosts are Javier and Valvanera, who couldn’t have chosen a better spot to live a life more in tune with nature. Breakfast is a different spread of homemade cakes, quiches and egg dishes every day, while dinner is a three-course meal with a vegetarian option for each course. Javier is a keen birdwatcher and organises outings on which he’ll help you identify the birds you spot along the way.

Meal arrangements: dinner & breakfast
Extra nights recommended

Add extra nights in Getaria to enjoy the lovely coastal location, as well as further walking.

Nights 7-9
Hotel Saiaz Getaria
Getaria
Saiaz Getaria is a beautiful hotel housed in a converted 15th-century town house, with modern, stylish renovations. Furnished with antiques, the rooms are all spacious and include original features of the historic building. The hotel is set in the old town on a narrow cobbled street which leads to the harbour of what is one of the oldest towns of the Basque coast. The small windows of the older traditional rooms overlook the cobbled street, while the more modern rooms have larger windows overlooking the bay. There is a terrace on the seaward side, enabling you to relax over breakfast to the sound of the waves. There is a small bar and cafeteria and stylish lounges with terrace on which to unwind. As your stay is on a bed-and-breakfast basis, you are free to stroll into town for dinner.

Meal arrangements: breakfast only

Extend your stay

City Add-On

Oviedo City Add-On

Capital of Asturias

2 nights, from £126pp

A stay in this old university city, where elegant palaces surround the Gothic cathedral, serves as a great contrast to a walking holiday in Green Spain.

View details
City Add-On

Santander City Add-On

Gateway to northern Spain

2 nights, from £128pp

Discover historic Santander, an enticing combination of beaches and tapas bars, and a port linking Castile-Leon with the New World for centuries.

View details

Prices & travel options

All prices are in £ sterling (GBP). If you'd like to see what they equate to in your currency, use the converter. For general information on pricing, see the 'your holiday price explained' page.

Currency converter

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NB: this should be used as a guide only. Fluctuations in exchange rates could result in significant variation by the time you come to pay.

Prices (£ per person based on 2 sharing)

Walk price

9 nights: 01 April 2021 - 31 October 2021 & 01 April 2022 - 31 October 2022

Start any day | End by latest date(s) shown above

Starting	Price	Single room
1 Apr - 23 May 2021	£1045	£380
24 May - 30 Jun 2021	£1150	£425
1 Jul - 23 Aug 2021	£1195	£430
24 Aug - 22 Sep 2021	£1150	£425
23 - 30 Sep 2021	£1120	£395
1 - 22 Oct 2021	£1045	£380
1 Apr - 23 May 2022	£1095	£400
24 May - 30 Jun 2022	£1195	£450
1 Jul - 23 Aug 2022	£1245	£455
24 Aug - 22 Sep 2022	£1195	£450
23 - 30 Sep 2022	£1170	£415
1 - 22 Oct 2022	£1095	£400
3rd & 4th person discount	-£75
Single traveller supplement	£75

Includes accommodation, meals and services integral to the holiday as described, plus walking notes and maps, but no travel from the UK, nor any connecting travel from the airport unless stated below.

Price includes: 9 days' category B car hire (eg Seat Ibiza or similar with manual transmission)

Drive time between the airport and the hotel: Bilbao out 2h30/home 1h, Asturias (Oviedo) out 1h20/home 4h, Santander out 1h45/home 2h

We can also offer a self-drive option featuring Brittany Ferries from the UK; please contact us for details and prices

Book your flights through us and we'll find the best route and times to suit you. Please contact us to find out more about our flight booking service. We can also book connecting travel - see below.

Room upgrades & extra nights

Room upgrades (£ per person per night)

La Posada del Valle, Collía
Larger: 01 Apr - 31 Oct 2021	£8
Larger: 01 Apr - 31 Oct 2022	£10

Hotel Saiaz Getaria, Getaria
Junior suite with sea view: 01 Apr - 31 Oct 2021	£45
Junior suite with sea view: 01 Apr - 31 Oct 2022	£48
Sea view: 01 Apr - 31 Oct 2021	£12
Sea view: 01 Apr - 31 Oct 2022	£12
Superior with sea view: 01 Apr - 31 Oct 2021	£32
Superior with sea view: 01 Apr - 31 Oct 2022	£34

Extra nights (£ per person per night) in a double or single room

Extra night prices include an extra day's car hire

La Posada del Valle, Collía (with dinner)	Double room	Single room
01 Apr - 30 Jun 2021	£100	£128
01 Jul - 15 Sep 2021	£112	£142
16 Sep - 31 Oct 2021	£100	£128
01 Apr - 30 Jun 2022	£105	£135
01 Jul - 15 Sep 2022	£118	£150
16 Sep - 31 Oct 2022	£105	£135

Molino del Canto, Barriolacuesta (with dinner)	Double room	Single room
01 Apr - 31 Oct 2021	£110	£146
01 Apr - 31 Oct 2022	£116	£154

Hotel Saiaz Getaria, Getaria (B&B)	Double room	Single room
01 Apr - 17 Apr 2021	£72	£122
18 Apr - 01 May 2021	£85	£145
02 May - 31 May 2021	£72	£122
01 Jun - 30 Sep 2021	£85	£145
01 Oct - 31 Oct 2021	£72	£122
01 Apr - 17 Apr 2022	£76	£130
18 Apr - 01 May 2022	£90	£152
02 May - 31 May 2022	£76	£130
01 Jun - 30 Sep 2022	£90	£152
01 Oct - 31 Oct 2022	£76	£130

Flight options

RECOMMENDED AIRPORT(S):
Bilbao, Asturias (Oviedo) or Santander
As an alternative to flying, we can arrange ferry travel from Portsmouth or Plymouth to Santander

Travelling from the UK

Travelling from outside the UK

If you are flying from outside Europe, you may need to fly to an airport not listed here. To discuss onward connecting travel to the start of your holiday, please contact us.

Outward route	Airline
Bristol - Bilbao	easyJet

Outward route	Airline
Edinburgh - Bilbao (via Amsterdam Schiphol)	KLM
Edinburgh - Santander	Ryanair

Outward route	Airline
Gatwick - Asturias (Oviedo)	Vueling
Gatwick - Bilbao	British Airways, easyJet, Vueling

Outward route	Airline
Heathrow - Asturias (Oviedo) via Madrid	Iberia
Heathrow - Bilbao	British Airways, Iberia, Vueling
Heathrow - Bilbao (via Madrid)	Iberia

Outward route	Airline
Stansted - Santander	Ryanair

Outward route	Airline
Manchester - Asturias (Oviedo) (via Madrid)	Iberia
Manchester - Bilbao	easyJet
Manchester - Bilbao (via Barcelona)	Iberia
Manchester - Bilbao (via Heathrow)	Iberia
Manchester - Oviedo (via Lisbon)	TAP Air Portugal

Travelling from outside the UK

If you are flying from outside Europe, you may need to fly to an airport not listed here. To discuss onward connecting travel to the start of your holiday, please contact us.

This list of flight options should be used as a guide only, and you should check each airline’s website for current routes, frequency and schedules. Not all flights operate daily, and may not run for the entire season. You should also heed the latest flight arrival time and earliest flight departure time stated in the connecting travel section, as it may not be possible to arrange connecting travel outside these times. Please do not book your flights until we have confirmed your accommodation to you. Alternatively, our expert reservations team will be happy to offer advice and to make flight bookings for you for any of the options listed above except those operated by Ryanair. We charge £35 per person for our flight booking service (£60 for India and Nepal). Your flights are then covered by our package-booking conditions, which give you greater protection in the event of delay or cancellation, as well as providing ATOL cover.

What is included

9 nights
6 dinners
9 breakfasts
route notes and maps
GPS navigation
9 days’ category B car hire

Reviews

If you've experienced this holiday first hand, why not write a review?

We are keen for as many customers as possible to review their holiday. To make it easier to do so, we include a specific review section on our post-holiday questionnaire, and this is what we publish here, unedited. Read our full review policy >

Ms M Cordell

USA

21 September 2019

If future clients want to take advantage of any of the prehistoric caves in Asturias, please suggest that they make reservations ahead of time. They book up quickly, even in what we thought was the off-season. We particularly enjoyed the small inns on this holiday. The meals in both Collia and Barriolacuesta were fantastic! Molino del Canto was such a special experience. We found Javier, Valvanera, and Carlota to be warm and welcoming, with good alternative hiking suggestions. The birding tour there is an absolute must! Getaria is an absolutely walkable and interesting town, especially the trail to the lighthouse. We ended up going to San Sebastian on a rainy day - and it was totally worth the visit as there were a number of very worthwhile sights. Most of the hikes had no facilities (or public restrooms) nearby. Be prepared!
Ms C Charlton

North Shields

01 September 2019

This is an excellent holiday. The first hotel is very well run with excellent food and the owner is an experienced walker who can provide details of additional walks in the area as well as tips on the walks in the Inntravel pack. The second hotel is wonderful in a truly undiscovered and beautiful area, again the owner is very knowledgable about walks in the area. From the third hotel it is possible to visit San Sebastian which is a lovely city, we found it easy to get there by a direct bus service which runs every 30 mins (rather than by train as suggested in the pack as that involves driving to the next town).
Mr P Laurence

Leeds

30 August 2019

We had a stunning holiday experiencing the Three Faces of Green Spain in early September. We had warm sunshine for most of the trip and were able to do almost all of the walks suggested, each one of which was enjoyable in contrasting ways. Real variety of scenery and excellent food and accommodation in all three locations. As usual, the walking notes were exemplary, and the booking arrangements very smooth.

FAQs

If you have any questions relating to this or any other Inntravel holiday, our friendly travel experts will be happy to help. You might also find our General FAQs section helpful.

What happens if my plans change due to Covid-19?

If your holiday plans go awry because of Coronavirus, rest assured that we’ll do right by you. Since the start of the pandemic, our flexible booking policy and prompt issuing of refunds to customers who prefer not to defer their holiday have earned us high praise in the national press.
Will Covid-19 impact my holiday experience?

We sincerely hope that your holiday experience will be as enjoyable as it would have been before the pandemic – walking holidays are ideal in these times of social distancing, and we’re not operating holidays if the key highlights can no longer be delivered – but, naturally, there will be some changes to ensure your and other people’s safety, not least taking tests before and after your holiday for many destinations.
Your holiday experience: what to expect >
Safety measures being taken by hoteliers & others >
Entry requirements for non-UK destinations & for re-entering the UK >
How do self-guided walking holidays work?

We’ll send you route notes and maps 2-3 weeks before your holiday. The route notes not only contain directions to get from hotel to hotel, but also include practical information about places of interest and eateries along each route, plus cultural information about the area. If/when you are moving between hotels, you leave your luggage in reception as you leave, and it will be transferred ahead to your next accommodation, meaning that all you need to take with you are a camera, sun cream, drinks, food and waterproofs.

For more detailed information, see our walking holidays in Europe page.
Do you provide GPS navigation?

Yes, prior to going on holiday you will be able to download GPX tracks so that you can follow your route on your smartphone or dedicated GPS device if you wish. It’s entirely up to you whether or not you use them – our detailed, step-by-step route notes remain the principal means of guiding you from A to B – but we provide them as a secondary means of navigation for additional reassurance when walking.
Can I book my flights through Inntravel, and what’s the advantage of doing this?

We can book a wide range of routes from the UK with a variety of airlines (but not, currently, with Ryanair). As well as being more convenient for you to book all elements of your holiday together, it also means that we’ll accept liability for your travel arrangements, so if things go wrong, such as the airline going bust, we’ll make suitable alternative arrangements for you. For Europe, there’s a £35 booking fee per person (£15 for children aged 2-11). For India and Nepal, the booking fee is £60 per person. More information on flights >
I’d like to travel all the way from the UK by rail. Can you arrange this?

Absolutely! We are experts in tailored rail travel. Making use of sleeper trains or stopovers in cities along the route, we can get you from London to virtually anywhere in mainland Europe. We can even make arrangements to Mallorca, Sicily and Norway with a combination of ferries and rail. Please contact Abi and Lizzie to discuss your plans.
Can you book travel arrangements for customers from outside the UK?

We can’t book flights that originate outside the UK, but if you wanted to book your own flights to London (or elsewhere in the UK), we can make all onward travel arrangements (including flights) from there. Alternatively, if you are booking your own flights to an airport in continental Europe that’s appropriate for your holiday, we can book onward rail travel and/or taxis. More information about how we can tailor holidays for customers outside the UK >
I’m travelling alone. Is there anything I need to know?

Since our holidays are self-guided, we recommend calling us for a chat about your plans before making a booking, especially if it’s the first time you’ve booked with us.
The price panel shows the supplement for a single room and also the single traveller charge (this covers (luggage) transfers and other costs which are usually shared between two people).
How do I make a booking?

Once you’ve decided on your exact itinerary (our travel experts will be happy to offer advice), you need to provide us with your party’s details, either by phone or via our booking form. At this point we also ask you to pay a deposit so that we can secure a room for you immediately on confirming availability with the hotel(s). If it turns out that we can’t secure the accommodation for the holiday you’ve requested, or offer an acceptable alternative, we’ll refund your deposit promptly and in full. After booking your accommodation and other key elements, we'll then book your travel (or you can do so if you’re making your own arrangements) and send you a Booking Confirmation and Invoice.

More information about the booking process >
Information about accommodation, general practicalities and more >
Booking conditions >
Do I need travel insurance?

Yes, it’s something we insist on, even for holidays in the UK. The vast majority of holidays go smoothly, but when things go wrong, it can be expensive to put them right. Buying a new pair of walking boots after your suitcase is stolen mightn’t seem so bad, but the bill for being airlifted down from a mountain with a broken leg or flown home while still recovering from an illness or accident can cost tens of thousands of pounds.

You don’t have to take out our recommended travel insurance policy (if you live outside the UK you’ll definitely need to make your own arrangements, as the policy is only for UK residents), but you do need to make sure that you’re covered for medical emergencies – including falling ill with Covid-19 while on holiday – and repatriation. We also recommend that you are covered for other eventualities, such as cancellation and loss of luggage and passports.

We'll ask you for the details of your policy (insurer, policy number and medical emergency phone number) so that we can help out if the worst happens while you are on holiday. It's up to you, though, to check that your policy covers the activities you'll be doing on holiday and that it is adequate for your own individual needs; we don't check alternative policies.
Do I need a visa or anything health-related for Spain?

It is your responsibility to ensure you are in possession of the correct travel documents, with the correct validity. If you’re a UK citizen, you need a full British passport to travel to Spain, but not a visa. If you are a citizen of another country, you’ll need to check requirements with the national embassy or your own consulate.

Current information regarding vaccinations and travel health advice for UK citizens can be found through the Travel Health Pro website. You must make sure you have adequate insurance cover for illness, accidents and repatriation (see the insurance question). You should also apply for a Global Health Insurance Card (GHIC) if your EHIC has expired (if you have a still-valid EHIC, you can use this until it expires).
What else do I need to know about travelling to Spain?

(Castilian) Spanish is one of several official languages; in Catalonia, for example, Catalan has equal status. The currency is the Euro. Spanish time is GMT/UTC + 1. It uses Daylight Saving Time, so in summer is on BST + 1.
How does Brexit affect travel to Europe?

For information on the practicalities of travel now that the UK is no longer part of the European Union, visit www.gov.uk/visit-eu-switzerland-norway-iceland-liechtenstein.

At Inntravel we work in close partnership with our hoteliers, taxi drivers and other local suppliers to provide our self-guided holidays directly to you. We are entirely confident that you will continue to receive the usual warm welcome from them, regardless of what is happening in the European political sphere.
Where can I find general travel advice?

The UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) provides up-to-date, country-by-country travel advice, as well as information on security, local laws, passports and visas for UK citizens.
If you live outside the UK, see our essential travel information page for a list of relevant websites.
Is this holiday suitable for children?

You are the best judge of your child’s/children’s capabilities. We are happy to take bookings for families of older children/teenagers if they walk regularly, love the outdoors and are comfortable with the distances and ascent/descent involved. Please note that the bedrooms at most of the accommodation we use will normally only sleep a maximum of 3 people, and sometimes only 2.