Walking and cycling holidays

Explore the mountainous landscapes, quaint villages and pretty coastlines of Europe at your own pace with our walking holidays and cycling holidays. Meander through undulating hillsides on foot or two wheels and soak up the best scenery in Europe.

Choose from our selection of attractive destinations available with European walking holidays. Stroll alongside the crystal-clear waters of Lake Garda or freewheel around the peaceful lakes and Alpine meadows during a cycling holiday in Kaprun.

Walking and cycling holidays are simple to organise and require little preparation. Take adequate clothing and equipment and seek the guidance of our experienced Crystal reps for any advice to ensure your holiday is a challenging and fulfilling experience.

Take a walk with us

Few things are as invigorating as a walk through the beautiful scenery of the lakes and mountains. Whether it’s a gentle stroll along the lakeside or a more demanding hike, you can get help planning your own route, take a guided walk or even enjoy a longer, guided walking tour.

We’re here to guide you

When a resort is particularly suited for walkers that’s where you’ll find our walking escorts. These keen, experienced walkers can give you the low-down on the best local routes and organise walks of varying distances.

Resorts with walking escorts:

• Austira - Kitzbühel, Söll, St. Wolfgang, Zell am See
• Italy – Selva
• Slovenia – Bovec, Kranjska Gora
• Spain – Las Alpujarras
• Switzerland – Wengen, Zermatt
  

In these resorts our walking service includes:

• Introductory walks
• Ideas for the best walks
• Full itineraries
• Top tips
• Recommended places for lunch and views.

Ideal walking bases

Most of the resorts on this website will make ideal walking bases, but the ones here and those with with walking escorts are particularly suitable for hikers:

• Austria – Alpbach, Ellmau, Lech,Kitzbühel, Mayrhofen, Neustift, Niederau, Obergurgl, Saalbach, Scheffau, Schladming, Seefeld, Sõll, St Johann
• Germany – Königssee, Ruhpolding, Bischofswiesen
• Italy – Selva
• Slovenia - Bovec, Kranjska Gora
• Switzerland – Kandersteg

And remember to keep it safe

It’s better to be safe than sorry. So please avoid walking alone, tell people which route you’re taking and when you can be expected back.

Take a tour

Keen to put a bit more effort into your walk? Then why not try our Eagle's Way Walk or Tirolean Walk in Austria. These well planned, guided walks are suitable for anyone with a good level of fitness.

NEW for 2009 - Walking week programme

We are pleased to offer walking weeks in selected Austrian resorts. Join your dedicated walking escort to discover the best of the area. Available in the following resorts on selected dates:-

Kitzbühel - 16/05-05/06 and 29/08-11/09
Mayrhofen - 04/07-24/07 and 12/09-25/09

Zell am See - 13/06-26/0 and 01/08-21/08

Numbers are limited so pre-book your place for £10.
Further information on the walking week programme can be found on the individual resort pages.

Making sure everything runs smoothly

You don’t need a lot of equipment for an enjoyable walk. Our advice, take the following:

• Comfortable walking shoes • Several pairs of

thick socks • Clothing that can cope with varying

weather conditions • Water bottle • Sunglasses and

sunscreen • Binoculars for those unexpected views

• Passport sized photos for lift passes • Hiking poles

• Insect repellent • A small rucksack

Pre-bookable walking maps

You now have the chance to order a walking map for your resort before you go. Your map will be delivered to your home ready for you to take away on your walking holiday. Please remember to quote the code from the resort page of the map that you wish to order.