Hiking Tours with Great Mountain Scenery

For hikers who want a taste of iconic alpine landscapes without extreme difficulty, we recommend:

• The Bernese Oberland - Cable cars allow you to choose daily difficulty and we offer two In Style tours with upgraded accommodation for a special treat
• Italian Alps - Hiking the Aosta Valley - Gentler alpine terrain with Italian charm
• Glacier Express Rail & Hike - an Iconic train journey + your choice of alpine hikes

These "Easy to Moderate" activity level trips mean more alpine scenery with less challenge. Perfect options for an Alpine Getaway with enough free time to experience true Alpine culture and village life.

These Moderate to ‘Moderate to Strenuous’ tours are perfect for avid hikers, experienced in some steep ascents and descents, but are newer to high alpine hiking and want to 'dip their toe' in the experience.

• Kitzbühel Alpine Trail - The KAT. Enjoy quiet Austrian trails, foodie highlights and ‘In Comfort’ hotels
• Via Francigena Stage 1 - This Pilgrimage includes 2 nights in the Swiss Alps, then progresses to lower altitude mountain & Italian valley hiking
• Across the Swiss Alps: Klosters to Tirano - Inn to Inn hiking from Switzerland to Italy with beautiful alpine village stays. Hikes can be shortened/skipped using public transport if needed.
• Italian Alps - Walking at the Foot of the Matterhorn - Classic alpine meadows and rolling ridges with views of the Matterhorn
• Mountains & Lakes of the Julian Alps - Alpine hiking, Slavic culture, crystal clear waters of Lake Bohinj & famous Lake Bled 
• Walking in the Bavarian Alps - Mix of alpine, lake, gorge & valley hiking from Oberammergau in Germany to Ehrwald, Austria 
• Bavarian Alps: Hiking the Salt Trail - Beautiful hikes with panoramic views of the Alps

These are also great training trips before signing up for the more challenging high alpine hikes such as the Tour du Mont Blanc and Alta Via 1.

While not technically alpine, these tours at a variety of activity levels offer spectacular mountain experiences. Some also include Alpine views in the distance. 

• Austria's Complete Lech River Trail - Hike Austria to Germany with an alpine/mountain backdrop and river scenery. Great for solo travelers with options to visit fairytale castle Neuschwanstein and the area's thermal baths
• Germany's King Ludwig Way - Walk through Bavarian villages, fairytale castles, dense forests and Ammerschlucht gorge - Bavaria’s ‘Grand Canyon’
• Switzerland's Lucerne Lakes and Mountains - Enjoy lake and mountain hiking with panoramic alpine views in the distance. Experience the historic city of Lucerne, a cable car to Mt Rigi summit, and famous cog rail to Mt Pilatus. Named one of TravelPulse’s 2026 Best Alpine Places for Couples.
• Norway's Walking the Sognefjord - Experience iconic hiking through the Sognefjord – the “King of Fjords” with dramatic mountain scenery, waterfalls, scenic boat rides and a legendary rail journey
• Norway's Walking the Hardangerfjord - Stay in fjord villages with iconic hikes - alpine lakes, monk steps and waterfalls. Travel by scenic ferry and rail.
• Austria's Walking the Salzburg Lakes - Discover Crystal-clear lakes, meadows and wild rivers surrounded by dramatic mountains. Picture quintessential ‘Sound of Music’ locations.
• Spain's Walking in the Picos de Europa - Hike the Picos de Europa National Park with green mountains. Envision Dolomites-like limestone mountains. Enjoy Spanish culture & cuisine
• Spain's Picos de Europa to the Coast - Select easier Picos mountain hiking with views of the coast of Green Spain. Enjoy the famous high cable car and Ruta del Cares (gorge) hike.

When you talk with our specialists, we’ll help you think about:
Type of scenery – glacier views, rolling hills, fjords, lakes, wild moors or vineyards with mountain backdrops
Daily distance and ascent – do you prefer gentle valley paths or are you happy with climbs?
Trip style – hut-to-hut adventure or more comfortable inn-to-inn hiking Europe style?
Season – when you want to travel, and where conditions and views are best at that time
Culture and food – beer halls and castles, Italian piazzas, Swiss lakeside towns, or Gaelic-speaking Highlands

Do I need to be a very experienced hiker to enjoy these tours?
Not necessarily. Several of our routes are suitable for reasonably fit first-timers who are comfortable hiking for several hours a day on varied but non-technical terrain. Tell us your experience and we’ll suggest itineraries that match.

Are luggage transfers included?
Yes. On almost all tours, luggage transfers are included so you only carry a daypack while hiking. On some hut-to-hut trips, there's no road access to the huts. On these days, you will carry what you need for the overnight hut stay(s). In the meantime, your main luggage will be moved and waiting for you at your next hotel on the tour. 

What’s the best time of year for mountain scenery hiking tours?
In Europe, late spring through early fall is typically best, with early and late season offering quieter trails and at times more variation in the weather. For Scotland and the Lake District, May–June and September are especially popular. New Zealand and parts of the Southern Hemisphere flip the seasons.

Can I add rest days or upgrade accommodations?
In many locations, yes. You can build in rest days for extra lake time, spa visits or cultural events and choose higher-comfort options on selected routes.

Fully guided group tours:
- Higher per-person cost, but include a guide, traveling with strangers and a very set schedule
- Fixed departure dates, strictly timed itinerary, and group pace
- Less planning, but less flexibility day to day

Self-guided mountain scenery hiking tours:
 Usually better value, especially for couples and small groups
 You choose your dates, daily pace and who you travel with
 Each morning on tour, you can move at your pace - stop for an early cafe lunch, visit a museum, chat with a stranger passing by. Your schedule is your own. 
 Routes, accommodations and luggage transfers all organized in advance
 Our team supports you in the background, with 24/7 on-trip assistance

If you’re looking for all-inclusive feeling mountain hiking packages for beginners, our easier to moderate itineraries are ideal. They’re not guided groups, but they are fully planned:

• Pre-booked accommodations with breakfast
• Luggage transfers between accommodation - so you just hike with your daypack
• Route notes, GPX tracks and local travel tips in our award-winning app
• Access to our team 24/7 if you need help during your trip

Trips like Heart of the Lake District, King Ludwig Way, Lucerne Lakes and Mountains, and Glacier Express Rail & Hike, and Walking the Salzburg Lakes work well for newer hikers who still want impressive mountain scenery.