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
Discover a land of medieval chateau, ancient monasteries, vineyards and charming villages. A great trip for food and wine buffs, with walking that is gentle to start with and progressing to moderate grade as the week unfolds. Burgundy's natural riches and its complex history bear testimony to its fine heritage. It is a beautiful and fertile land where farmers, foresters, and above all wine growers skills have nurtured the landscape for more than a thousand years. The reputation of Burgundy's cuisine has travelled the world and the very word Burgundy is synonymous with the finest wines. Burgundy is a multifaceted landscape just waiting to be explored, and, as elsewhere in France, the best way to savour it, is to explore on foot its peaceful lanes and byways. Travellers will discover a fabled land of mediaeval chateaux, ancient monasteries and fragrant breezes where the art of living is pursued to near perfection at a gentle unhurried pace. Beaune is the hub of Burgundy’s wine industry, at the heart of a cluster of prestigious vineyards such as the Cote d’Or, Cote de Beaune and Cote de Nuits and is the obvious place to start our trip. The first walking day is just 3 hours on foot to Meursault; a gentle start allowing time to visit the sights in Beaune and sample some wine in the village of Pommard on route. Don’t miss the imposing mansion of the Dukes of Burgundy, the basilica of Notre Dame and the most famous of all the sights in Beaune, the steep pitched patterned roofs of the Hotel Dieu. A circular walk to Saint Romain includes a ruined chateau and a 12th century church as well as some beautiful scenery and a great restaurant for lunch. A steady climb from Meursault, to join the ‘Grande Randonnee’ paths, takes in mature oak forests before descending to the village and stunning chateau of La Rochepot, unfortunately closed at the present time. From there you will be walking on to Nolay, a village of fine mediaeval buildings, narrow streets and half-timbered houses. The second half of the week is a little more taxing and involves walking an average of just over 18km per day and ascents of about 500m climbing onto the escarpment and hilltops for glorious views as far as the Alps. There is still time however to enjoy the delights of Rully, the ancient Chateau of Montaigu, the produce of the Cotes Chalonnaises and many more sleepy hamlets and villages. The landscape is a mix of vineyards on the lower slopes, woodlands on the edge of the plateau, and pastures and arable land above 380m on the plateau. Conditions underfoot are good with many of the tracks through the vineyards surfaced even though there is little or no traffic; lightweight boots are all you will need.
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
Explore the Caucasus Mountains and the surrounding sites on this fantastic one-day tour of the beautiful Kazbegi region. See the Church of the Holy Trinity and other remarkable cultural sites in a breathtaking natural landscape.
The tour takes you to Ananuri, a historic castle complex consisting of two medieval towers, two churches and defensive walls. After exploring the area, you'll be driven to Gudauri, where you can enjoy the stunning panoramic view over the Caucasus Mountains. Continue your journey in the direction of Kazbegi city. From Kazbegi, we'll head out to visit the famous Gergeti Trinity Church. Enjoy the splendid surroundings and a little exercise on an 8-kilometre hike to the church. Or, for an extra cost, you have the option to be driven to the site in a four-wheel-drive vehicle. Afterwards, we will depart for Tbilisi.
Walking from inn to inn was epic and it was really nice to end in Dublin. The logistics were seamless. My only criticism is that one of the days was spent walking through a large clear cut area, which was interesting but not especially beautiful.
Walking tours
Tour Type
Private Tour
Accommodation
Guest House
Age Range
18-99 yrs
Operated in
english
Destinations
Dublin, Rathdrum, Tinahely, Moyn
Dublin, Rathdrum, Tinahely, Moyne, Glenmalure, Glendalough, Enniskerry, Marlay Park
An exhilarating pilgrimage walk through northern Spain to the tomb of St James in Santiago de Compostela. This stage of the Camino pilgrimage route offers a fine balance of walks in spectacular natural settings with visits to inspiring cultural sites including the magnificent cathedral city of Leon. En route there are numerous reminders of the pilgrims past who travelled the route including crosses, statues and grain silos. In the valley of Ponferrada, O Cebreiro welcomes you to the gates of Galicia and leads you to the fabled Santiago de Compostela. Longer 17 and 18 day versions are also available.
Walking tours
Tour Type
Private Tour
Accommodation
Hotel
Age Range
18-99 yrs
Operated in
english
Destinations
Santiago De Compostela, Leon, Ru
Santiago De Compostela, Leon, Rua, Villadangos Del Paramo, Portomarín, Palas De Rei, Arzúa
Our visit to Crete was definitely our Top 3 Hiking Tours (Mt Blanc and Portugal are runners up). The people are wonderful the food amazing. Fantastic routes and weather .
The trip was well organized and every detail taken care of. The lodging arrangements were all fine - some excellent, some less so but were the best available. It was very easy to contact the local agent whenever we had questions. I would certainly travel with them again.
Walking tours
Tour Type
Private Tour
Accommodation
Hotel, Guest House
Age Range
18-99 yrs
Operated in
english
Destinations
Aire-sur-l'Adour, Saint-Jean-Pie
Aire-sur-l'Adour, Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Port, The Way of St. James, Aire Sur L'adour, St Jean Pied De Port, Miramont-Sensacq, Fichous-Riumayou, Arthez-de-Béarn, Sauvelade, Aroue, Saint-Palais, Ostabat-Asme
This trip was fast paced, very active and jam packed but stunningly beautiful! I am not sure what i was expecting from Crete but it wasn't this, this was even better! We got to swim in crystal clear waters, hike the famous Samaria Gorge, as well as visit archaeological sites, it had a bit of everything.
Trekking and HikingBeach
Tour Type
Small Group TourSmall group tours usually have 8-12 participants and maximum up to 18 travelers
The hotels were great and well located. The hiking was challenging. The navigation worked well most of the time. Andros was a beautiful place and well worth visiting.
Recommend staying in Rafina the first night and taking the ferry the following morning. Otherwise it is a very long travel day.
