Nestled within the picturesque landscape of Greece lies the enchanting villages of Zagori, a best-kept secret known for their remarkable traditional architecture.  While Greece boasts 19 UNESCO-protected sites, Zagori Villages (or Zagorochoria) stand out as the country's first 'cultural property' from the contemporary era, offering a unique blend of history, incredible gorges and modern allure. (The previous 18 all date to ancient or Byzantine times.)  The Zagori Villages had been mostly abandoned until the 1980s, however, in recent decades they have been beautifully ..read more

Embrace the beauty of the Yorkshire Dales, where tradition, history, and nature converge in a breathtaking tapestry waiting to be discovered. Established in 1969, the Dales Way stands as a testament to England's rich tapestry of landscapes, stretching 78 miles from the quaint town of Ilkley in West Yorkshire to the picturesque Bowness-on-Windermere in Cumbria.  This iconic route traverses the heart of the Yorkshire Dales National Park and the gentle foothills of southern Lakeland, revealing English highland beauty. You can choose from the 8-day itinerary to walk the full trail or the exte ..read more

Changes are on the horizon for travellers planning a European getaway in 2025. The European Union (EU) is set to implement a new travel authorisation system, similar to the American ESTA, affecting visitors from non-EU countries.  If you're from Australia, New Zealand, the US, Canada, or the UK, here's what you need to know before embarking on your European adventure.  What you need to know about the new ETIAS Travel Authorisation What is an ETIAS Travel Authorisation? Proposed by the European Commission in November 2016, ETIAS stands for European Travel Information and Authoris ..read more

I wish I could remember how I first learned about self-guided walking holidays. The year was 2000. I was 26 years old, and my fiancé was 27. We had recently moved from Chicago to New York City for him to start his ER medical residency and for me to work as a strategy manager at a fashion dot-com start-up within a larger company.  We were working gruelling hours. Our first chance to take a vacation was in the early fall of that year. Since both of us were avid hikers – and I was a Francophile planning the trip – I somehow stumbled upon a self-guided walking holiday through Haute Provence ..read more

I, who had never been to Ireland before, was travelling with my partner, Josh, who had been to certain areas of Ireland with friends in the past. We enjoyed our time in Dublin very much, but our experience hiking in Wicklow County in September is a memory we will hold very dear.  Here are some reasons to walk the Wicklow Way. 1. Photos don’t do it justice  Before going to Ireland, I often thought people exaggerated how green Ireland truly is. Within minutes, I began to understand that photos barely do the beautiful landscapes any justice.  Walking the Wicklow Way, every day was ..read more

As the beloved TV series "All Creatures Great and Small" graces screens across the world, including Australia and the USA, now is the ideal time to experience the magic that inspired it.  The James Herriot Way, a 50-mile (80km) circular trail winding through the enchanting Yorkshire Dales, invites you to a world beyond your screen. This picturesque route, affectionately known as 'the best short long-distance walk in the UK,' unveils the English countryside that once captivated the real-life rural vet, James Herriot.  Born in Sunderland in 1916, James Herriot's books featured sto ..read more

Dubbed 'One of the World’s Great Walks', the fame of England's Coast to Coast is simply a testament to the unequivocal character of the UK’s natural wonders, quaint towns, historic sites and, of course, its people. While this wilder side of England with its hills – small in stature as they are when compared to the likes of the Himalayas or the Swiss Alps, it still offers endless spades of beauty and charm along its 190-plus miles trail. Exploring three of the UK’s national parks, the route boasts spectacular mountain scenes, rugged moors, rolling h ..read more

The countdown is on until the biggest sporting event kicks off in Paris in 2024, where visitors from all across the globe join in the celebrations of the Summer Olympics. Whether you're already getting Olympic fever or want to visit France before even more crowds arrive, here's a quick guide on the nine best active breaks across the Channel. Vermillion Coast    With an average of 300 days of sunshine each year, the dramatic coastline where the Pyrenees tumble to the Mediterranean can be enjoyed almost all year.  Expect stunning mountainscapes, sea views ..read more

Michael and I met the old-fashioned way... Tinder.  It was the holiday season of 2019. We spent our first few months getting to know each other and figuring out one another in the early months of 2020. Then, as we all know, COVID struck.  Michael is an emergency room nurse, so there was a lot of uncertainty about how we were to continue dating. Getting into the outdoors and hiking in the Tahoe backyard came to be a middle ground, embarking on day hikes to accomplish the Tahoe Rim Trail and to have a strong relationship.  Between the pandemic, wildfires in Northern Californi ..read more

Already planning on where to go next? We love that! We always say you need to get in early to avoid missing out. And this rings especially true when staying in the secluded and remote places we take you, where accommodation options can often be limited.  But if you combine that with a list of savings AND the chance to lock in your active holiday at 2023 prices, it'll make you want to get organised – fast. Why you should book early: save, save, save! By booking your walk or cycling trip now, you are more likely to lock it in at 2023 prices. If a minor price in ..read more