"Europe does hiking well. From Alpine classics to coastal trails, these are the best hiking and trekking tours in Europe - defined by bold landscapes, expert local guides and routes chosen for their challenge, character and reward. It’s time to go beyond the climb, and into cloud nine."
Europe is built for hiking. But the best hiking and trekking tours in Europe aren’t just about where you walk. They’re about how it feels when everything clicks. The rhythm of the day. The group finding its stride. The moment a climb turns into camaraderie.
That’s where our expert local guides make all the difference. They know the terrain. They know the weather. And they know when a trail deserves your full attention.
So, here are some of Europe’s finest hiking and trekking adventures. Routes with real character. Landscapes that earn their reputation. And experiences that go well beyond the map.
1.Mont Blanc Highlights
Where: France, Switzerland and Italy
Highlights: Classic high-alpine walking, glacier views, panoramic mountain passes and contrasting landscapes across three countries.
Activity Level: 3 out of 7 – Moderate
This classic circuit loops around Western Europe’s highest peak, linking high passes, glacier views and contrasting alpine valleys across France, Italy and Switzerland.
Our Mont Blanc Highlights tour focuses on the most rewarding stages, while preserving the sense of journey that defines the route.
You walk beneath hanging glaciers above Chamonix, climb to panoramic passes such as the Col de Balme, and head into Italy for superb views above Val Ferret, including the high traverse by the Bonatti refuge before descending towards Courmayeur. Switzerland follows with greener valleys, long traverses and traditional mountain villages that bring a softer contrast to the high terrain.
Daily walks typically last 5–7 hours, with sustained ascents and descents on well-established mountain paths. En route, you stay chalet-based, travel light, and hike with expert leaders who manage pacing and conditions, so you can focus on the walking and the incredible views that come with it.
Highlights: Dramatic coastal paths, terraced hillsides, cliff-top views and historic villages overlooking the Mediterranean.
Activity Level: 3 out of 7 – Moderate
If you’re keen to explore cliffside villages such as Positano and Amalfi, while doing justice to the region’s food along the way, the Amalfi Coast delivers.
Daily hikes take you to the wide-open views from the summit of Monte Tre Calli, along mule tracks, cobbled lanes and ancient footpaths descending towards Amalfi, and up onto the vast crater of Mount Vesuvius.
The route also includes the legendary Path of the Gods, widely considered one of the finest coastal walks in the world, and hard to argue with once you’re on it.
With over 20 years’ experience guiding this itinerary, Exodus brings a deep local understanding to every stage of the walk, from quieter trail timings to well-chosen lunch stops. You also stay at the long-standing, family-run Hotel Due Torri in the peaceful village of Bomerano, a welcome contrast to the bustle below, and an excellent place to put your feet up at the end of the day.
Highlights: Atlantic cliff walking along the Rota Vicentina, long sandy beaches, rugged headlands, whitewashed villages and the dramatic finish at Cabo de São Vicente.
Activity Level: 2 out of 7 – Easy & Moderate
This tour explores some of the finest sections of the Rota Vicentina, Portugal’s long-distance coastal trail network, along the wild southwestern edge of the country.
The adventure starts in Monchique, a hillside spa town and an easy place to settle into the week. From there, walking unfolds along quiet cliff paths where the Atlantic tends to steal the show.
Hikes bring you to Odeceixe, where a long sandy beach curves neatly between steep cliffs, and onward towards Vale da Telha, with paths winding above foaming surf and wide, exposed headlands. The terrain is varied but never technical, combining sandy tracks, coastal paths and gentle ascents.
You’ll stay in three authentic Algarve communities—Monchique, Aljezur and Sagres—each with its own rhythm: Aljezur’s relaxed cafés and traditional fare, Sagres’ maritime history and sweeping ocean panoramas, and villages where the day’s catch is served simply and superbly. The walk finishes at Cabo de São Vicente, the most southwestern point of mainland Europe, where the land ends and the horizon takes over.
Highlights: High-alpine walking around Tre Cime di Lavaredo, historic First World War trails, dramatic mountain passes, and a four-star family-run hotel with excellent regional food and a wellness center.
Activity Level: 3 out of 7 – Moderate or 5 out of 7 – Challenging
The Dolomites were made for walking—and they don’t hide it.
Jagged limestone peaks rise straight from green valleys, while high plateaus and historic paths offer walking that’s as varied as it is memorable.
This tour explores the Sexten and Cortina Dolomites, beginning with walks around the emerald waters of Lago di Braies, before heading higher to the iconic Tre Cime di Lavaredo, across the open plateau of Monte Piana, and along classic routes shaped by the region’s First World War history.
Former military roads and open-air museums trace a time when this landscape formed the frontline between Italy and the Austro-Hungarian Empire—history written directly into the rock.
Your base for the week is the four-star Hotel Adler in the Tyrolean village of Villabassa, set within 400-year-old walls and run by a local family who take food seriously.
Expect hearty South Tyrolean dishes, Italian classics done properly, and the welcome addition of a wellness center for tired legs.
The tour runs at both moderate and challenging levels, with longer days and greater elevation gain on the tougher departures—whichever you choose, the scenery doesn’t compromise.
Highlights: Plitvice Lakes National Park, Adriatic island walking on Krk and Cres, the Lungomare coastal walk, historic towns and local tastings along the way.
Activity Level: 3 out of 7 – Moderate
This tour pairs Croatia’s inland wilderness with its island-studded Adriatic coast, offering a varied walking experience that moves comfortably between forested lakes and open shoreline.
This tour pairs Croatia’s inland wilderness with its island-studded Adriatic coast, offering a varied walking experience that moves comfortably between forested lakes and open shoreline.
You start in Zagreb, including time for a nature walk in Maksimir Park, before heading south to the cascading waterfalls and wooden boardwalks of Plitvice Lakes National Park, where paths weave between jade-colored lakes, limestone cliffs and dense woodland.
From here, the focus shifts to the Adriatic, with walks on Krk and Cres, where stone-lined trails pass through olive groves, climb gently above the sea and often finish in historic harbor towns. There’s also a wine and cheese tasting in Vrbnik, and a standout section of the celebrated Lungomare coastal walk for those wide-open sea views.
You can expect 4–6 hours of walking most days, with moderate ascents and plenty of variety underfoot.
From high-alpine classics to coastal trails that earn their views, Europe rewards those who explore it on foot.
