As the season of longer days and brighter sunshine approaches, spring emerges as the perfect time to lace up hiking boots and embark on a walking adventure. While the UK offers excellent trails, 2026 presents an ideal opportunity to explore further afield across Europe. Walking holidays provide a unique way to immerse yourself in a destination, combining physical activity with breathtaking scenery. According to travel operator Explore, interest in active holidays has surged by 29 percent this year, with walking holidays specifically increasing by 52 percent since before the Covid pandemic.
Best Europe Walking Holidays for 2026
1. Dolomites and Lake Garda, Italy
Among HF Holidays' new offerings for 2026 is a seven-night guided walking trip in Northern Italy's UNESCO-listed Adamello Brenta Natural Park. This experience allows you to choose from two different walks each day, guided by experts. Options range from serene lakeside strolls along turquoise waters and olive groves to more challenging mountain hikes amidst rugged limestone peaks.
Accommodation is at the small, family-run Hotel Regina Elena in Caderzone Terme village, a central base for exploration. The scenic route includes the famous Five Lakes, Nardis Waterfalls, Genova Valley, and a day trip to Lake Garda's western shore. This package costs £1,479 per person on a half-board basis, including flights, baggage, transfers, and guided walks.
2. Lefkas and Meganisi, Greece
Head to the Greek Islands of Lefkas and Meganisi for raw natural beauty, featuring olive groves, waterfalls, quiet mountain trails, and traditional villages with cobbled streets leading to stone houses and local tavernas. This Sunvil walking holiday offers jaw-dropping views without the crowds of over-touristed destinations.
Lefkas is renowned for its dramatic white cliffs, while Meganisi boasts hidden beaches, clear waters, and authentic laidback charm. May is an ideal time to hike before summer temperatures soar. Trails vary from easy strolls to moderately challenging hikes, taking you off-road and beyond typical guidebook routes. Departing May 24, 2026, this trip costs £1,466 per person, including flights, luggage, accommodation, and transfers.
3. Sierra Nevada, Spain
Spain's largest mountain range, Sierra Nevada in Andalusia, offers immense diversity for exploration. This new three-day weekend trip from Ramble Worldwide for 2026 is based in the picturesque town of Lanjarón, known for its fresh spring water and tranquil squares.
An expert local guide leads hikes through the national park's rugged landscape, deep gorges, white-washed villages, and epic vistas, including a stretch of the GR7 trail part of the E4 European walking route. The Sierra Nevada Weekend Adventure starts from £476 for three nights, including hotel accommodation, local transport, and guiding services.
4. Slovenia
This eight-day walking holiday by Explore in Triglav National Park showcases natural wonders, big vistas, and traditional farming villages. It covers the Julian Alps, Lake Bohinj (Slovenia's largest glacial lake), and Savica Waterfall in the Komarca Gorge.
Accommodation is at the family-run Art Kristal Hotel on Lake Bohinj, offering mountain and countryside views. Hikes are graded as 'leisurely' or 'moderate,' requiring four to seven hours of walking on five days with a tour leader, so a good fitness level is recommended. The trip starts at £1,795, excluding flights.
5. Connemara National Park and Aran Islands, Ireland
Follow new trails at Connemara National Park and Ireland's west coast with this six-day Walkers' Britain and Europe trip. Connemara National Park, undergoing a major expansion, will increase in size by over 12 percent and double its walking trail network.
The journey begins in Galway City, known for lively pubs and traditional music, before heading to the remote Aran Islands to walk to the ancient Black Fort and Dun Aonghasa, a 3,000-year-old prehistoric fortress. Hikers then return to the mainland to explore Connemara's Western Way and a pilgrim trail through Maumturk Mountain, visiting Leenane village on Ireland's only fjord. Trips depart from April to October, starting at £990 per person.
