Mountain Walking Holidays Across the UK and Europe

The mountains are calling

The mysterious, looming peaks of mountain ranges around the world have long held a powerful draw for travellers – whether for the challenge of reaching the peak, the beauty of the surrounding countryside or a combination of both.

How better to enjoy the beauty of these landscapes than on a mountain walking holiday with Inntravel?

Travelling on your own two feet, you’ll experience some of the continent’s most incredible mountain walks, safe in the knowledge that we’ve walked each step to make sure you’re getting the most incredible viewpoints and feeling a real sense of achievement when you reach the peak.

That’s not all, however. We aim to take you beyond a surface-level appreciation of your destination so that you gain a deeper understanding of local food, history and culture. Here’s how we do that.

 

Why choose an Inntravel mountain walking holiday?

Inntravel’s itineraries cover some of the finest mountain walking in the UK and Europe. From the idyllic Alpine meadows and wooden villages of the Dolomites to the crags and pueblos blancos that pepper the Andalucian countryside, our holidays offer plenty of variety for mountain lovers.

Our mountain walks are designed to offer more active walkers a real sense of achievement on completion, whilst promoting a more in-depth understanding of the destination you’re exploring. If you’re looking for an active holiday, but love to immerse yourself in local culture when you travel, our holidays offer the perfect combination.

This means you’ll enjoy the crisp air, outstanding scenery and sense of accomplishment mountain walking offers, whilst staying in local-owned, family run accommodation, sampling regional cuisine at its most authentic and taking in sights that others miss thanks to our detailed walking and sightseeing notes.

We’ve walked every step of our itineraries, so we’re always happy to offer recommendations or to personalise our holidays to suit your preferences. If you’d like to add extra nights before, after or during your itinerary – perhaps to relax after a particularly challenging route, or enjoy a few more trails somewhere especially scenic – we’ll do everything we can to make that happen.

 

Our favourite mountain holidays in the UK and Europe

The Leutasch Valley

A little west of Innsbruck, the idyllic Leutasch Valley nestles under the dramatic peaks of the Wetterstein chain. This is a land of deep greens and blues; of colourful Alpine meadows, crisp skies and crystal waters. Our routes showcase the best of the scenery, with both mountain and lower valley walks – and there’s even the option to walk across the border to Germany.

On this moderate hotel-to-hotel itinerary, you’ll make your way through the valley’s chocolate-box villages, staying in traditional, family-run hotels that all boast pool, sauna and spa facilities. A hearty Tyrolean welcome awaits at each, with warming plates of regional cuisine each night after a day’s lengthy exploration.

> Walk This Way

The Dolomites Three Peaks

The Dolomites’ distinctive peaks form the backdrop for this breathtaking route through the Italian Tyrol. You’ll spend your holiday making your way through the emerald Pusteria Valley, stopping at the typical Tyrolean villages that line the River Rienza. A traditionally warm welcome awaits at each of our traditional hotels.

All routes are well signposted on good paths, taking you past crystal Alpine lakes and into the heart of the Three Peaks region. Here, unforgettable views await, with mesmerising panoramas across the peaks of the Sesto and Braies Dolomites to the south and the thickly-forested Alpine ridges to the north.

> Walk This Way

White Towns & Rugged Mountains

Covering the southern tip of Spain, Andalucia offers walkers some of the country’s most fascinating landscapes. On this route, meandering from pueblo blanco (traditional white village) to pueblo blanco you’re unlikely to see many others at all, save the occasional Bonelli’s eagle or griffon vulture circling ahead.

Your backdrop for the route is the incredible Grazalema Natural Park. This is Andalucia at its wildest and most beautiful – jagged limestone crags break up green, fertile valleys and forests of ancient oak. With plenty of ascents and descents, the walking is challenging yet rewarding, with paths that snake up mountain passes to reveal views for miles, over crag after crag.

> Walk This Way

What to expect on Inntravel's walking holidays

Accommodation

We offer a range of accommodation on our mountain holidays, including cosy village bed and breakfasts, traditional Alpine chalet hotels and luxurious boutique hotels. Your type of accommodation often depends on choice in your location, though we do offer upgrades in some instances.

Wherever you stay, you’ll benefit from exceedingly comfortable rooms, a hearty welcome and high-quality amenities after your day of mountain walking. To reinvigorate your muscles after hours on the trails, we offer accommodation with pool or spa access where possible.

We’ve spent decades building relationships with locally-owned hotels that impact the community positively and proudly showcase the best of the region. Enjoy a chat with your friendly hosts, sample menus filled with locally-sourced (in some cases homegrown) ingredients, and gaze over phenomenal views, perhaps with a sundowner in hand.

Food and Drink

Tasting local specialty dishes is one of the highlights of travelling, and on a mountain walking holiday, you’ll need to fuel well and keep your energy levels up to keep exploring. That’s why we make sure you eat well on all our holidays, whether meals are included in your itinerary or not.

Where meals are included, we take every opportunity to showcase local food and drink. We opt for hotels and restaurants that pride themselves on their authentic regional cuisine, cooked with locally sourced ingredients. You’ll experience both well-known specialties at their most authentic and lesser-known dishes, waiting to become your new favourite meal.

Where meals aren’t included in your itinerary, we’re always happy to use our local knowledge to recommend a restaurant or two, so you won’t miss out!

Support

Planning a mountain walking holiday without expert help can seem daunting. At Inntravel, we take care of all of that for you. You’ll get mapped out scenic routes with detailed notes for each day of your holiday, so you’re guaranteed to enjoy the landscape at its finest. We’ll also take care of any luggage transfers – all you need each day is a day rucksack for water, layers and snacks.





 

Preparing for your Inntravel mountain walking holiday

What Should I Pack?

The list below outlines a few items that are vital for any mountain walking holiday, wherever you’re going.

Use this as a starting point and adapt to your trip based on where you’re going and how long for. Don’t forget to take seasonal changes in weather into account. Whilst mountain walking in Europe can offer pleasant, sunnier temperatures, the same cannot be said for early spring.

Similarly, higher altitudes can remain chilly even at the height of summer, so warm, lightweight layers are essential wherever you travel.

Shoes: 1 pair walking boots and 1 pair evening shoes
Tops: 3 base layers, 2 mid layers, 1 sweater (that also works for evening), 2 evening shirts/tops
Trousers: 2 walking pairs and 1 or 2 evening pairs
Outer layers: 1 jacket and 1 set of waterproofs
Accessories: hat, gloves, scarf or neck gaiter, sunglasses, rucksack, walking poles, GPS device or compass

Need more detail on the type of clothes to pack? Check out our comprehensive guide to packing for a walking holiday.

How Fit Do I Need to Be?

Inntravel’s mountain walking holidays are generally designed for more active walkers. Our more moderate itineraries offer shorter routes and more rest days, and are generally a good match for those of average fitness looking for routes that are challenging yet achievable.

Our challenging itineraries offer longer routes over tough mountain terrain, and may require familiarity with using compasses or GPS tools to navigate. These are designed for experienced walkers looking for exhilarating routes that challenge and reward in equal measure.

To help you assess which holiday is right for your current level of fitness, we categorise all our walking holidays using a 1-3 grading scale. This allows you to get an idea of what each of our itineraries is like – you can find this information on each itinerary’s webpage.

Most of our mountain holidays fall within grades 2-3. Because you’ll be travelling over mountain terrain with extended ascents and descents, we recommend planning some regular walks in the run-up to your holiday – this is the perfect opportunity to discover the trails around your local area!

Check our walking grades and what they mean.

What makes Inntravel's mountain walking holidays unique?
Our carefully planned mountain holidays showcase breathtaking walking routes offering unforgettable views with insights into local culture. Our itineraries are flexible and self-guided, so you’re free to explore your destination at your own pace and sightsee based on your own interests.

What destinations are available for mountain walking holidays?
Our itineraries cover some of the best mountain walking in the UK and Europe. Some of our most popular destinations include the iconic peaks of the Italian Dolomites, the gleaming white villages and limestone crags of the Andalucian countryside and the idyllic valleys of the Austrian Tyrol.

What level of fitness is required for Inntravel's mountain walking holidays?
Our mountain holidays will suit anyone moderately active and above. Most itineraries involve longer walks of 4+ hours across varied terrain, with some ascent and descent – so we’d recommend a reasonable level of fitness before embarking on your holiday.

What type of support does Inntravel provide during my mountain walking holiday?
We’re with you every step of the way! In advance of your holiday, we’ll make sure you receive detailed walking notes for every route on your itinerary. During your holiday, we offer luggage transfers and a 24/7 customer support line, so you can enjoy your time away without worry.

How should I prepare for a mountain walking holiday with Inntravel?
Our mountain walks cover varied terrain and sometimes take in longer ascents. Walking regularly in the run-up to your mountain holiday will help reduce fatigue, prevent injury and ensure you’re in the best shape possible to enjoy those mountain views. Try incorporating a brisk walk into your daily routine, and perhaps take the opportunity to explore some local hiking spots at weekends.