Italy walking tours

Italy is known for its unparalleled mix of wonderful landscapes, rich cultural history, fabulous food and wine and of course for its friendly and outgoing people.

In the north, the Italian Alps are every bit as magnificent as their French, Swiss and Austrian counterparts, with year-round snow covering and impressive glaciers running off their flanks. Treks in the Mont Blanc (or in Italian ‘Monte Bianco’) region usually include days in Italy as well as France and Switzerland.

If you’re looking for challenging treks in the high mountains there are numerous choices in the Italian Alps, including the spectacular, pale silver Dolomites in the north-east. Famous for their craggy limestone cliffs and spires, which make them arguably the most spectacular string of mountain peaks in Europe, the Dolomites attract walkers, trekkers and climbers from all over the world.

The Amalfi Coast
On Italy’s celebrated Amalfi Coast, just south of Naples and the looming presence of Mount Vesuvius, you can walk through some of the most sublime coastal landscapes anywhere in the Mediterranean. With its near vertical cliffs, neatly terraced slopes, and picturesque villages impossibly located on the ridges and folds of the hills, the Amalfi Coast is superb for hiking. 

You can explore a network of ancient paths and stairways criss-crossing this landscape from village to village, through vineyards, lemon orchards and chestnut groves. Amongst these classic walks the renowned ‘Path of the Gods’, with its breathtaking views over the whole Sorrento peninsula, has been called one of the most picturesque hiking trails in the whole of Italy.

Tuscany
One of Italy’s finest regions for walking and trekking is Tuscany, whose open landscapes, gently undulating hills, Renaissance cities and impossibly beautiful medieval hill-top villages are famous the world over. In the less-visited hills of northern Tuscany lies a hidden gem, the Garfagnana Valley, whose green meadows, forested hills and undiscovered villages offer some of the best hiking in the region. 

From here you can walk up onto the high ridges and peaks of the Apennines and the Alpi Apuane, with quite breathtaking views out across the patchwork of fields and forest lying below. Further south in Tuscany there are beautiful walks through the classic rolling hills and vineyards of the Chianti region, along cypress lined avenues with centuries-old farmsteads and villages perched on the surrounding hills. 

Sicily
The focus for most walkers and trekkers in Sicily are the volcanoes. However there is so much else to enjoy too, including the rich history, the food and wine, the traditional and largely unspoilt towns and villages and the Sicilian people themselves: warm, outgoing and welcoming. You can hike up Mount Etna, Europe’s highest volcano at 3330 metres, following little known trails to avoid the sightseeing crowds. You can also climb Vulcano, with its beautiful views across the Tyrrhenian Sea, and Stromboli - one of the world’s most active volcanoes. Stromboli is one of the very few places on earth where you can see live eruptions in relative safety. You will be accompanied by a specialist guide.  

When is the best time to go to Italy?
The best time for a walking holiday in Italy is spring or autumn, outside of the hottest summer months. You'll also miss the crowds travelling outside of peak season, when trails and towns are quieter. The months of December - February can be cold and wet, so best avoided for a walking trip. 

How challenging are Explore's walking tours to Italy?
Our walking tours in Italy are graded according to difficulty, and range from Leisurely to Moderate-to-Challenging; whether you're an occasional walker or a dedicated trekker, you'll find holidays to suit you in Italy. As with all our walking trips, we advise doing some walking ahead of your trip - how much will depend on the grade of your trip. Read our blog on how to prepare for a walking trip here. 

What is the accommodation like in Italy?
From agriturismos (farm-stay accommodation) to small locally-owned hotels, we use accommodation that is well located close to the best sights and walks of each region.

Can I travel solo on an Italian walking and trekking trip? 
All of our small group walking holidays are perfect for solo travellers, and you'll usually find that around half of any group is travelling solo.  Our trips to Italy have been designed with solo travellers in mind, and you can be sure that you'll meet like-minded travellers and share once-in-a-lifetime experiences.