The Ring of Kerry is one of the most beautiful parts of Ireland and doing a walking trip is one of the best ways to see it. This trip gets you well away from the tour coaches that take over the roads of this area and you will see a different side of the country you might not experience even if driving it yourself. The 6 days of walking takes in most of the Kerry Way and the tracks take you through national parks, farmland and along coastal paths. Staying at B&Bs in little towns, this trip gives you a taste of true Irish hospitality.
Really lovely hike through Switzerland with lots of options to customize the trail from easy to hard. Hotels were good with comfortable beds and pretty good breakfasts.
Enjoy the best of Cyprus' stunning Akamas Peninsula during the winter months. Winter in Cyprus is generally mild, especially the western part where the walks on this hiking holiday are concentrated. The walks are mostly in the Akamas Peninsula National Park and in the adjacent “Laona” plateau area, at around 600m, with its small traditional villages. some of the walks end at the coast. In late winter and early spring, from February onwards, peaking in March, the Akamas blooms with a profusion of wildflowers. You can find many types of orchids and there are indigenous species of tulip that you may discover near the coast. Bird life can also be interesting as migrants start to return to mainland Europe.
Cyprus is an island of natural beauty in a region with an abundance of ancient and modern civilisations and cultures. Its mineral wealth was well known in ancient times: the island gave its name to the element copper (Cu). Away from the cosmopolitan towns and beach resorts you will walk through large areas of natural, unspoilt countryside. Woodland, orange orchards and vineyards are interspersed with tranquil, timeless villages on this hiking holiday. The Cypriot people extend a warm and friendly welcome and their hospitality will add greatly to the enjoyment of this winter walking tour.
Discover the Tuscan countryside and culture on this 8-day self-guided walking tour. Through the extensive footpath network of the area, roughly following the traces of the Via Francigena, one of Europe’s most important ‘highways’ in medieval times, you walk from village to village and experience a full immersion in the world-famous Tuscan landscape. The tour is perfect as an introduction to the region and a great choice for people who love museums, galleries and Gothic and Romanesque architecture. You have plenty of time to visit attractions on most of the days.
You will also have time to visit all the beautiful medieval villages and historic towns along the Via Francigena: starting from beautiful Lucca, you’ll pass through Fucecchio, San Miniato, Gambassi Terme, the stunning San Gimignano with its medieval skyscrapers and Monteriggioni, admired by Dante in his Divine Comedy. An optional detour can bring you to beautiful Colle Val d’Elsa and the tour ends in Siena, arguably the most perfectly preserved medieval town in Tuscany. This tour threads together some of the most attractive towns and villages in Tuscany in an eloquent procession.
However, the emphasis of the tour is to enjoy the countryside, the rolling vineyards, the poppies in spring and the wild cyclamen in autumn. The area north of Siena is an amazing landscape of rolling hills, alternating vineyards and forests, while cypresses line the way leading to the distant farmhouses. Walking here is an unforgettable experience and many of the views have barely changed for hundreds of years.
Accommodation and some meals are included. You spend a night in one of the best agriturismos in Tuscany, and the final night in the heart of Siena, in one of the most characteristic little hotels.
This is a moderately easy tour which is suitable for those who have some experience of walking and a good general physical condition.
Trekking and Hiking
Tour Type
Private Tour
Accommodation
Hotel, Hostel
Age Range
18-99 yrs
Operated in
English
Destinations
Siena, Tuscany, Lucca, Altopasci
Siena, Tuscany, Lucca, Altopascio, San Miniato Alto, Gambassi Terme, San Gimignano, Monteriggioni
Follow the final stretch of the iconic Camino de Santiago over 8 days, beginning in Sarria and ending in the historic cathedral city of Santiago de Compostela. You’ll walk 100km through forests, stone villages, and quiet trails. Pilgrims on this route receive the official Compostela certificate upon arrival. Accommodations and daily breakfasts are included, with luggage transfers to lighten the journey. This walk blends scenic beauty with cultural depth, making it perfect for a meaningful yet active holiday.
Walking tours
Tour Type
Private Tour
Accommodation
Hotel
Age Range
18-99 yrs
Operated in
english
Destinations
Santiago De Compostela, Sarria
Santiago De Compostela, Sarria, Portomarín, Palas De Rei, Melide, Arzúa, Rua
Our guide Benny was everything I have come to expect from an Explore Guide. Genuine, enthusiastic, interested and interesting. All questions were answered; about our itinerary, the island, our hotels, recommendations for restaurants, food (including allergies/intolerances), drinks, customs, flora and fauna. Benny's knowledge of his homeland is encyclopaedic. I had been to Madeira many times before, and of course the island has changed, whilst maintaining it's essential qualities that I have long treasured. For my husband David, it was his very first visit. Luckily for me, he fell in love with the place too, and we are already trying to fit in a return visit asap.
I was suffering from injuries to both achilles tendons and had thought I would be unable to take part in any of the walks, but decided we would still go on the holiday anyway and make the very best of things. I rang the Explore office about a week beforehand to fill them in and asked them to pass on the information to our guide. I was delighted to find at our initial meeting that Benny had indeed been advised about our situation. Having discussed things with Benny, we gave it a go, and loved the walks that we did. We had a few days off to allow recovery on the days between the walks we did. The walks were stunning in terms of locations. The terrain was very varied, the variety of flora and fauna was better than expected, given the time of year.
The three hotels in which we stayed were in excellent locations, they were spotlessly clean, the staff were very friendly and helpful. The last hotel, in Funchal was a little "tired" but the staff have explained that this year they are undergoing an extensive program of refurbishment to the public areas and to the rooms. Again, I stress, we had NO complaints. We actually stayed there a few additional days after the end of the tour, and thoroughly enjoyed our stay.
I would not hesitate to recommend our guide Benny, this tour, and Explore Holidays in general. Five star ratings from us both!
Walking tours
Tour Type
Small Group TourSmall group tours usually have 8-12 participants and maximum up to 18 travelers
Accommodation
Hotel, Lodge
Age Range
16-99 yrs
Operated in
english
Destinations
Funchal, Santana, Porto da Cruz
Funchal, Santana, Porto da Cruz, Faja Do Penedo, Rabaçal, Pico, Madeira
23% OFF TODAY
This deal is valid for limited time. Book now to reserve your seats.
Accommodation excellent, but could be a little less hotel chain like.
Itinerary is busy and days should start earlier to avoid late meal time.
Guide very knowledgeable and caring about customers but could better pace the hikes, not easy as the group had very different walking speed.
Walking tours
Tour Type
Small Group TourSmall group tours usually have 8-12 participants and maximum up to 18 travelers
Accommodation
Hotel, Resort, Guest House
Age Range
16-79 yrs
Operated in
english
Destinations
Vilnius, Tallinn, Lahemaa Nation
Vilnius, Tallinn, Lahemaa National Park, Cesis, Gauja National Park, Kemeri National Park, Curonian Spit National Park
22% OFF TODAY
This deal is valid for limited time. Book now to reserve your seats.
We just finished an amazing 7 day walking tour of Romeand the Amalfi Coast with the tour operator. It was Sept. 8th, a perfect time to go. Our fabulous tour guide Satva Esposito, was so knowledgeable on the history and biology of every area we toured on the trip. We never would have seen or done so much had we been on our own. The private and public transportations we used were excellent and perfectly timed. We had an absolutely fabulous and exciting trip.
Walking tours
Tour Type
Small Group TourSmall group tours usually have 8-12 participants and maximum up to 18 travelers
