Grand Paradiso national park , italy
The European Alps are perfect for all sorts of alpine adventures, particularly hiking and trekking. After the winter snow melts, a vast network of huts, trails and breathtaking terrain is left for us to enjoy, with glaciated peaks and rocky needles towering above. The combination of natural beauty and excellent infrastructure is a hiker’s paradise.
There are many different options for those who want to experience trekking in the Alps, from easy day hikes to more taxing multi-day treks. You may want to test yourself by completing one of the many “classic routes” the Alps have to offer, in French known as Grandes Randonnées (GR). These GRs use a mix of alpine huts and valley hotels or gîtes, and include such well-known treks as the Tour du Mont Blanc and the Haute Route (Chamonix to Zermatt). A more relaxed option, which can also serve as an intro to hiking in the Alps, is to be based out of a single alpine valley, tackling day hikes and returning to the same hotel each evening.
Foothills of Mount Olympus, Greece
Many people associate Greece with sun, sea, and islands, as well as culture and history of course. However, 80% of this beautiful country is covered by mountains, making it the third most mountainous country in Europe, with endless tracks and trails for us to discover. And for those who like their hikes with some beaches or ancient history on the side, there are plenty of options for that too.
If you are a keen hiker, or simply someone who wants to explore Greece off the beaten track, there is a huge choice of multi-day treks from Northern Greece to the southern Mani Peninsula, as well as across the famous Greek islands. Even those with just a few hours to spare can enjoy the Greek mountains - Athens is surrounded by hills, and what better way to end a holiday of sun bathing and moussaka eating, than with a day-long ramble in peaceful forests on the doorstep of this hectic European capital. .
