Growing awareness of the mental and physical benefits of gentle exercise has been a factor in boosting the popularity of walking holidays.
Part of the reason is also down to interest in slow travel and people seeking meaningful connections with their surroundings. They’re also an option for environmentally conscious clients interested in sustainable tourism.
To coincide with National Walking Month in May, let’s “ramble on” about some of the specialist tour operators that provide options for clients interested in walking holidays, as well as a destination with new hiking routes.
Rambling in the Lake District
Ramble Worldwide is offering free taster walks in England and Scotland in August, to celebrate the company’s 80th anniversary.
Local experts will guide gentle hikes of up to four hours in duration in East Sussex, Hertfordshire, the Lake District, Norfolk, Warwickshire and the Yorkshire Dales. Likewise, guided hikes will take place in Bath, Canterbury, Durham, Glasgow and London.
2026 marks 75 years since the establishment of the Peak District, Lake District, Snowdonia (now Eryri) and Dartmoor National Parks. On holidays based at Hassness House in Buttermere, Ramble Worldwide is offering to 20% off holidays throughout the year that are booked in May.
Book it with: Ramble Worldwide, whose holiday options include a four-night Yoga and Lake District Walking Holiday, including full-board, three moderate walks followed by one-hour yoga sessions and two evening wellness sessions.
Ready to get involved?
Involved Holidays is offering agents 10% off bookings made until May 31 on 2026 and 2027 departures. The company’s relaxed walking getaways are aimed at solo travellers, couples and private groups.
Agents must quote the code ‘MAY10’ at the time of booking and the 10% savings will be applied automatically. The savings are available on more than 40 itineraries, including a seven-night Walking in Sicily holiday, priced from £1,530pp.
The Involved Holidays training portal has hints and tips to help convert enquiries into bookings. The training introduces the Involved Holidays brand and product offering, including top-selling itineraries and a portfolio of destination options. It also has information about the operator’s ideal demographic and how best to sell to them.
Book it with: Europe is having a moment, as are the Balkans. Involved Holidays‘ Walking in the Beautiful Balkans is an eight-day trip taking in capital city Tirana; Berat, a UNESCO World Heritage site; the Narta Lagoon and the Shushica valley. Priced from £1,449pp.
Time for an exodus
Exodus Adventure Travels has new offerings in Andorra, Greece, Italy and Spain. The options available are tailored for a range of fitness levels.
“Across our portfolio we have seen continuing growth in demand for walking holidays on the continent in the last year, hence the addition of new tours to our portfolio. May and September are the most popular months given the more temperate weather conditions, particularly across the more in-demand destinations which include Italy, Spain, France, Greece and Portugal,” said Brendan Phelan, Director of Sales at Exodus Adventure Travels.
Book it with: Exodus, whose seven-night Hike Corsica’s Mountains and Coast holiday is priced from £2,499pp, excluding international flights, and has departures from May. The route embraces sections of the GR20 hiking trail, remote coastal paths, sandy coves and paths along limestone cliffs.
Call into Calvià
In the southwest of Mallorca, Calvià has unveiled a new network of hiking trails. They encourage holidaymakers to explore the island beyond its coastline.
The first phase introduced 21.6 km of four signposted trails around the Galatzó public estate in the foothills of the Serra de Tramuntana mountain range. It is part of an initiative to position Calvià as a year-round destination that appeals to travellers seeking immersive outdoor experiences.
The trails vary in difficulty and length from the easy Font de Sa Cometa trail, which measures 3.4 km, to the easy-to-moderate rated Sa Vinya trail (6.5 km). The routes explore the farmland, offering insights into rural life and traditions.
Find out more: The Visit Calvia website has more information on the Galatzó estate.
Country houses as bases for walks
HF Holidays is Britain’s only co-operative walking tour operator. B Corp-certified, it was established in 1913 and owns and manages 16 historic country houses across the UK.
In March, HF Holidays reopened Dolserau Hall in Eryri National Park (formerly Snowdonia). That followed a renovation as part of a six-year, £10.5 million investment programme across properties to improve front-of-house experiences.
The company offers both guided and self-guided walking holidays, including options for solo and women travellers
Discover more: HF Holidays‘ women’s-only Yorkshire Three Peaks Challenge conquers Yorkshire’s three highest mountains over two days and is priced from £579pp for theee nights.
