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For all its urbanization, dense transportation network, and population centers, there are still some splendid walking and hiking vacations to be had in Europe. In fact, there is no better way to see the scenic and natural wonders of Europe than on foot. Hiking and walking tours can be found in every European country. But since our home is in the Alps, we are clearly partial to the great hiking and walking options that are available in the Swiss, French, and Italian Alps. Here are our top picks—the best walking tours in Europe:
The Tour du Mont Blanc (TMB) is the classic alpine trek circling Western Europe’s highest peak. There is no shortage of stunning alpine scenery on the TMB. It combines inspiring mountain scenery with cultural vibrancy in the alpine regions of France, Switzerland, and Italy, where you can experience their distinct yet intertwined cultures. No wonder it's the most popular trek in Europe.
It’s a challenging route, to be sure, but you can hike the entire route with just a light daypack on either a guided or self-guided trip. The route skirts some of the most impressive glaciers in the Alps. You’ll wind your way through deep-cut canyons, and pass characterful alpine villages. Every day offers spectacular scenery and extraordinary mountain landscapes.
Bernese Oberland Traverse (Bernese Alps, Switzerland)Once you’ve experienced this highly-favored route from the Jungfrau region to Kandersteg, Adelboden, and Lenk, you’ll see why it’s referred to as “The Filet of the Swiss Alps.” The Bernese Oberland Traverse is the perfect trip for experienced Jungfrau or Haute Route hikers looking for hidden treasures and exciting new surprises.
You’ll be treated to spectacular scenery in remote alpine valleys. As you traverse this rugged region, you have daily encounters with plunging waterfalls, crystalline lakes, towering cliffs, and bucolic villages in the heart of the Swiss Alps. Accommodations range from simple mountain lodges, to charming chalet-style inns and 4-star hotels. You’ll cross alpine passes and high alpine meadows with commanding views.
You’ll escape the tourist trail and relax in car-free villages and remote alpine hamlets.
The Chamonix-Zermatt Haute Route is the classic across the Swiss Alps starting in Chamonix at the base of Mont Blanc, Western Europe's Highest Peak, and concluding in Zermatt at the base of the Matterhorn, the world's most recognizable and stunningly beautiful peak. It’s also known as the Hiker’s Haute Route, the Walker’s Haute Route, or just the Haute Route. The route was pioneered in 1861 by members of the British Alpine Club.
The Haute Route is a challenging trek that dishes out spectacular scenery in every step. Each day is defined by ascending historic and formidable mountain passes. You'll walk in flowered meadows, hike near massive glaciers, gaze at icefalls, and ring glistening lakes. You'll hike the Haute Route through fir forests into picturesque villages where traditional inns await with delicious meals and cozy comforts.
The Jungfrau region is, quite simply, one of the most beautiful places on earth, and a Jungfrau hiking tour is the vacation of a lifetime. It's a glistening mountain landscape with colliding glaciers, lush alpine meadows, moist forest trails, and hundreds of dazzling waterfalls. Each year, millions of tourists come to the Jungfrau Region, but on some of these untrammeled trails you artfully avoid the tourist throngs.
You'll see all the iconic sites like the north face of the Eiger, Lauterbrunnen Valley, Trümmelbach Falls, and the Jungfraujoch, but you'll also discover spectacular scenery in lesser-known areas like Obersteinberg, the Rosenlaui Valley, the Grindelwald Glaciers and a traverse from Bussalp to First. Hiking in the Jungfrau is full of unexpected delights.
The towering peaks and pinnacles of the Italian Dolomites are widely regarded as some of the most stunningly beautiful mountains in the world. But the spectacular rock formations are just the beginning. Add emerald lakes, deep-cut glacial valleys, and verdant alpine meadows to the mix and the scenic beauty becomes overwhelming.
With the great hiking in the Dolomites also comes the scenic wonders, the rich cultural and linguistic heritage, and the history encompassed in two world wars. Accommodations range from exquisite hotels to simple but charming mountain rifugios with spectacular settings and a high standard of comfort.
