We think a walking vacation is truly the best way to immerse yourself in the culture and everyday life of your chosen destination. It’s how you get to know the locals, explore off-the-beaten-path hideaways and stumble upon the best memories of your trip. That’s why Classic Journeys handcrafts the world’s best walking tours—to immerse you into the history and culture of the places you visit.
What is a walking vacation?
We don’t rate our walking vacations according to difficulty because we design them all to be very easygoing. You won’t hike or trek from destination to destination, and we’re not trying to cover long distances on foot. Instead, you’ll meander through city streets or take a countryside stroll. The only gear you need is a water bottle, camera, jacket and the right pair of shoes.
Plan on spending part of each morning and afternoon with your feet on the ground, getting up close to the region’s culture and natural history. Your walks might include a village tour, a seaside stroll, or a local guide’s favorite path through an oasis, vineyard, or red rock canyon. Because your group averages just 8-10 guests, your footprint is small. And since your Classic Journeys guide knows all the locals, you can take your time and blend in with the world around you.
You’ll get the opportunity to pad gently over the golden sand that lines the crescent-shaped beach at Costa Rica’s Manuel Antonio Park and let the warm, blue waters of the Pacific lap against your toes. Or stroll through the sandstone spires of Bryce Canyon and splash in the refreshing streambeds of Zion’s Narrows slot gorge.
If you’d prefer, you can ride a train to Machu Picchu’s summit, but if you choose to make the 8-mile walk at 7:45 a.m., you might literally have your feet on the ground and your head in the clouds before the sun burns off the morning dew along this stretch of the Inca Trail.
Boots, even light hiking ones, are made for walking frozen glaciers like the ones you’ll find on New Zealand’s South Island, Alaska’s Kenai Peninsula, and the Canadian Rockies.
Walking is one of the best ways to immerse yourself in a local culture. When you’re on foot, the world can’t slide past you faster than you can absorb it. If all of this sounds like a great way to explore, you’re in good company. Forbes magazine loves this way of traveling, too, and has called our Tuscany & the Cinque Terre and Morocco tours their “Luxury Walking Favorites”.
