Holidays in Europe are usually associated with comfortable hotels, entertainment and an extensive cultural program. And this time we decided to go off the usual “paths” and tell you what interesting Europe has in store for those who can’t sit in the city.
Trekking tour across Europe is a great option that will provide vivid impressions and will please the beauty of wild and not very wild nature, and at the same time will let you relax. For this it is not necessary to be a sportsman, because trekking in Europe is available to almost any tourist. And our mini cheat sheet will help you to choose the best route:
Sentiero Azzurro (Azure Trail), Cinque Terre, Italy
Perhaps one of the easiest and most comfortable routes, which is suitable even for tourists with children: all the way along the “civilized” coast, if you get tired (or if the children get tired), at any time you can take a train to return home.
The length of the route is 12 kilometers, the start is in the town of Riomaggiore, the finish is in Monterosso. The Azure Trail winds along the coastline, crossing towns and villages such as Riomaggiore, Manarola, Corniglia, Vernazza and Monterosso al Mare. There are some ups and downs along the way, but the path is very simple and it is manageable by anyone with a little training. The route is also good because you can stop in each of the towns along the way for as long as you want to explore more, or you can walk away from the main route and go up the slopes to be in silence.
You can walk Sentiero Azzurro at any time of year, but we would recommend fall or, at most, spring – minimal tourists and not as hot as summer.
Hint: the hardest part of the trail is at Monterosso, so it makes sense to save your strength for the “final throw” at the end of the trail. You can also split the hike into two stages and take a breather in Cornilla, which is right in the middle of the trail.
You can get to the starting point of the trip – Riomaggiore – from Milan, Bologna, Florence and other nearest Italian cities by train.
Grand Randonne (GR 20), Corsica, France
This trek will be more difficult than the previous one, if only because of its length (180 km, divided into 15 segments of 4-8 hours each).
It is best to go here either in June or in September. Firstly, the influx of trekkers is much lower than in July and August. True, there are fewer hotels at this time, too. Secondly – comfortable weather conditions, thanks to which even the beginners can feel on a route quite confidently. But from October to May the weather conditions worsen. In winter it is snowy, and even in May on the passes the abundance of snow is not uncommon, which requires certain skills from travelers. In addition, not all passes are safe, so hiking is advisable to have some experience.
The route begins in Calenzana, in the north of the island, 12 km from the town of Calvi, and in Conca (in the south). You can go all the way in any direction, but it would be easier to do it from south to north. If you are not going to walk the whole route, there are numerous exits all along the trail, so that you can find the best length of the journey for you. Alternatively, like many European tourists, you can walk only halfway to Visavona, and from there continue your journey around the island by train.
The route Leygavegur (Fimmvurduhauls Pass), iceland
The whole crossing in both directions is 80 kilometers long. There are lodges along the entire route where travelers can rest (they are open from late June to mid-September). Well, for those who do not want to pass it all, there is a reduced version: to pass 20-25 miles through the pass Fimmvyurduhauls, go through Toorsmerk park and finish the way at the waterfall Skaugafoss. It will take you one day to do it all.
Note: although the trail is quite far from big cities, there are regular buses from Reykjavik to the start of the trail, Landmannalaugar Hut.
The Way of St. James/The Road of the French Kings, Spain
This road is very well equipped with everything travelers need, and there are regular rest houses along the way where you can stay overnight and have a snack. However, for unprepared beginners the route can be quite difficult. Therefore, many people do not pass the entire route to begin with, but “join” the stream of pilgrims on one of its sections or choose one of the shortened routes. The most popular is the Way of the French Kings/The French Way, which begins in Saint-Jean-Pierre-de-Port, passes through the Pyrenees and leads to Galicia (Spain) with stops in Leon and Pamplona.
The best time to hike is spring and autumn, when the heat goes down and there are a lot less people on the route.
On a side note: if you are going to travel this route not just as a tourist, but for religious reasons, you need to get a pilgrim passport, which will allow you to pay less for lodging and food on the road. This can be done at the starting point of the route in a special office for pilgrims.
Southwest Coast Trail (UK)
Exploring the Foggy Albion is best done here, as this route offers some of the most beautiful scenery in Britain.
The road runs from Minehead in Somerset to Poole Harbour in Dorset, and is 1,016 kilometers long in all. The trail runs entirely around the southwest coast of Britain, passing through the westernmost point of the island, and connecting the towns of Minehead and Poole. The route also crosses the county of Cornwall, where you can admire the colorful scenery. Most of the route follows the coast, with occasional inland sections.
Travellers should keep in mind the main feature of the route – the coves. You will meet them one by one on the way and as a result constant differences in elevation – frequent ascents and descents may cause knee pain (especially for unprepared hikers). So we advise to be equipped with painkillers just in case. And of course we have the notorious English weather: changeable, with frequent rains and strong winds. So a raincoat, warm clothes and a windproof jacket will be very useful.
Mont Blanc Tour (Italy, Switzerland, France)
This hike is universal in that it passes through the territory of three countries at once: Italy, France and Switzerland. Only here you will have the opportunity to enjoy views of the highest mountain chain in Europe with glaciers, cliffs, green pastures and steppes.
The hike around Mont Blanc starts in Valle d’Aosta and on the way you will go down to Lake Combal, through high mountain pastures with stunning views, to Lake Checrouit and further, to the valley floor, to Dolonne and Courmayeur.
The best time to go to Mont Blanc is from June 15 to mid-September. Of course, you can do it earlier or later, but keep in mind that then almost all the mountain shelters may be closed, and do not forget about the unpredictability of the weather.
The traditional route begins and ends at Les Houches, its length is about 170 kilometers, and the passage takes 7-11 days. Get to Les Houches will have to drive, as the commune is quite distant from major cities.
The Tatras, Slovakia
The Tatras are a great choice for those who are still gaining experience in hiking tours. Here you can easily find a simple and scenic route that will make you feel like a real adventurer.
For example, in the High Tatras, go to the beautiful glacial lake Zelene Pleso, which is a three-hour walk from Tatranská Lomnica. The route is very easy, but at the same time you will be able to enjoy the beautiful nature and walk through the forest to your heart’s content. And if you have enough energy, continue the route further, to the mountain Jagnácý Štít (2229 meters). Near the lake there is a camping site where you can rest and eat, which is especially convenient if you go into nature with children.
The Lesser Tatras are not worth ignoring either. Choose the Janoškovy Lazy trail, which is near the town of Těrchová. The trails are well-marked and well-organized, and the longest and most difficult hike will not take more than 3 hours. So feel free to go there with kids. We recommend that you take something to eat with you, because you will only be able to eat before the hike, at the foot, and in Terhov.