The last section of the Swiss Via Francigena, the Camino route from Canterbury to Rome, from Lake Geneva, through the valleys of the Valais to the Great St Bernard Pass. From Canterbury in England to Rome in Italy, the 1900km "Francigena Way" dates back to the 11th century when pilgrims travelled across Europe on foot to visit the site of Martyrdom of St Peter and St Paul in Rome. With the modernisation of Europe and the shifting of borders the route became obsolete, until a recent revival of the pilgrimage making it one of the most exciting pilgrimage trails in Europe today. The last stage in Switzerland begins on Lake Geneva, takes in the UNESCO-listed vineyards of Lavaux, the Rhone Valley and finally crosses the magnificent Swiss Alps leading to the historical Great St Bernard Pass. This section of the Francigena pilgrimage route will wow you with its spectacular views, delicious local cuisine and fascinating history.
Note: Due to the weather and altitude this walk is only possible during the summer months.
Walking tours
Tour Type
Private Tour
Accommodation
Hotel
Age Range
18-99 yrs
Operated in
english
Destinations
Lausanne, Great St Bernard Pass
Lausanne, Great St Bernard Pass, Vevey, Aigle, Saint Maurice, Martigny, Orsières, Bourg St Pierre
What an amazing Holliday we have had. Fresh back from a 6 day hiking holiday in Gran Canaria and absolutely buzzing from the experience.
Our group was mixed ability and Rosie and Ben were excellent at attending to the different needs of the group. Everything was so well planned, taking all of the hassle out and leaving us to thoroughly enjoy the breathtaking views and absorb the Canarian culture.
Rosie and Ben were fabulous guides and even more fabulous companions, giving us loads of laughs, lots of culture, a wealth of geological and botanical knowledge, and above all, a blossoming friendship.
It is honestly the best holiday I have ever had and I’m now planning another bespoke trip for my family with this tour operator. Can’t wait.
Walking tours
Tour Type
Group Tour
Accommodation
Hotel, Resort
Age Range
18-99 yrs
Operated in
english, german
Destinations
Gran Canaria, Agaete, Tamadaba
Gran Canaria, Agaete, Tamadaba, Tejeda, Fataga, Santa Lucia, Roque Nublo, Aguimes
A+++ we had such a wonderful time hiking on Crete. The mix of land and sea are spectacular, the people of Crete are so warm and welcoming. Highly recommend.
My itinerary was well planned and I think the experience was of good value for money. The variety of accommodations were welcoming and clean. I especially liked the GPX/GPS files on the daily routes. The communications were impeccable. My only request is that the trip package be provided a month prior to the start of the walk. I usually travel to the starting point about a week prior to the commencement of the walk to get over jet lag, etc.
Walking tours
Tour Type
Private Tour
Accommodation
Hotel, Guest House
Age Range
18-99 yrs
Operated in
english
Destinations
Val de Loire, Chenonceau, Montba
Val de Loire, Chenonceau, Montbazon, Azay-le-Rideau, Chinon, Fontevraud
A rewarding walk from the mountains of inland Corsica to the rose coloured Calanques of Piana high above the sea. A veritable mountain in the sea, Corsica is the most geographically diverse of the Mediterranean Islands. It offers such a variety of landscapes from snow topped mountain peaks to fine sandy beaches. Age old paths link the high mountain plains with their shepherd huts through to the picturesque Mediterranean Coast. This itinerary starts in the central valley and crosses the Grand Randonnee 20 (GR20), the challenging long-distance route running most of the length of Corsica. On foot you'll discover scented pine forests and the pretty mountain village of Evisa, known for its chestnuts, and explore the deep Spelunca Gorge. From Porto you can explore the unique jumble of rose granite pinnacles including the famous Calanques of Piana before visiting Corsica's capital Ajaccio, birthplace of Napoleon.
Walking tours
Tour Type
Private Tour
Accommodation
Hotel, Lodge, Hut
Age Range
18-99 yrs
Operated in
english
Destinations
Corsica, Calacuccia Lake, Col De
Corsica, Calacuccia Lake, Col De Verghio, Evisa, Porto, France, Ajaccio
Would highly recommend this trip. It provides great variety in scenery, beginning in the very hilly area around the base of Mt Olympus; down into lovely valleys and then stunning coastal scenery. We found the written directions to be excellent while the red and white track markers gave us lots of help as well. We were very impressed with Mehmet who kept in contact with us at the end of each day.
This trip took us through a sparsely populated area of France, where we saw few people, but saw plenty of old buildings and walked along roman roads through the mountains.
The food and accommodation was excellent and we met some interesting people.
Highlights for us, were the Verdon Gorge and walking along the roman road that climbs through the mountains.
We completed this walk in August, when the temperature was 33 degrees, hot for walking. However, we will return again in the Spring or Autumn.
Walking tours
Tour Type
Private Tour
Accommodation
Hotel
Age Range
18-99 yrs
Operated in
english
Destinations
Provence, St Andre-les-Alpes, Ca
Provence, St Andre-les-Alpes, Castellane, Rougon, La Palud-sur-Verdon, Moustiers, Riez
Everyone in the Explore office was knowledgeable and helpful - they went above and beyond to give details of the trip and discuss its suitability and logistics. And a great bonus - the phone was answered quickly without endless waiting.
I had been apprehensive about my ability to walk quite so far for the full 6 days, but it was perfectly paced and plenty of time for coffee and lunch stops. The scenery was varied and the villages delightful.
The highlight of the trip was having our guide, Spiros, who spoke great English, was passionate about his island and the trail, hugely knowledgable about the local flora and fauna, and on top of all that, funny and kind and intent on ensuring that everyone had a great time.
Walking toursBeachMountains
Tour Type
Small Group TourSmall group tours usually have 8-12 participants and maximum up to 18 travelers
Discover the magic of Paris and Barcelona on the “Paris, Lourdes and Barcelona” tour, an 8-day guided city sightseeing trip beginning in France’s capital and ending in Spain’s cultural heart. Seniors can look forward to a thoughtfully paced itinerary, with all accommodations, transport, and meals provided.
What makes this trip stand out is the seamless transition between two of Europe’s most beloved cities, allowing you to enjoy their distinct flavors and sights at a comfortable, senior-friendly tempo.
City sightseeingWalking tours
Tour Type
Group Tour
Accommodation
Hotel
Age Range
15-99 yrs
Operated in
english
Destinations
Paris, Barcelona, Tours, Lourdes
Paris, Barcelona, Tours, Lourdes, Andorra La Vella
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
A stunning walk around Lake Como. Lake Como is a gorgeous blue watery ribbon carved between the adjacent mountains - for a length of 46km - during the last ice age by powerful glaciers. It has an average depth of 154m but at its deepest dives to 410m. It branches into two legs at a junction between the attractive villages of Bellagio, Varenna and Menaggio on opposing lakeshores. At the end of the western limb of the lake is the attractive city of Como, which is the starting point of this walking tour. The area was no secret to the Romans who once built villas along its length, and many of the wealthy came to retire by the lake. Many of these villas have admirable gardens which benefit from the mild climate induced by the stabilising presence of 22.5km³ of lake water and are able to include tropical as well as temperate plants. With the advent of resort-type tourism from Victorian times, hotels were built for wealthy European and American tourists who promenaded around the lakeshore and into the surrounding hills. You too can discover the attractions and beauty of the area with a unique selection of walks, ferry crossings and variety of hotel locations.