Hiking Under The Sun or In The Rain

*This is a guest post

You’re on a hiking holiday and it is raining five days out of seven? Then why did you stay in the UK? Southern Europe is not only good for a beach holiday or a culinary retreat, you can also go for a good hike. In this blog post, we present you with the best hiking tours under the Mediterranean sun.

Camino

The Camino is mainly understood as the Camino Francés, the high medieval traffic artery of northern Spain, which leads from the Pyrenees to the tomb of Saint James and connects the royal towns of Jaca, Pamplona, Estella, Burgos, and León. However, the Camino begins in many corners of Europe, including the UK. If you like, as a pilgrim you can be on the Santiago de Compostela route for months on end. However, if you want to have some warranty of sunshine, it is best to do the Camino Frances or the Camino Portugues from Portugal. 

Greece

Greece offers a complex and varied landscape. From the rugged beauty of the mountains in the north to the crystal clear beaches in the south, this country has an option for every taste. Conquer Mount Olympus, the home of the Greek Gods, or go hiking in Crete and discover the other Greece. Or better yet, do both! From north to south, hiking in Greece is always an exciting adventure. The best thing? Sunshine is guaranteed!

The GR20 on Corsica

Sunshine, certainly on Corsica. The Corsica GR20 is a footpath that crosses the whole island and runs roughly from north to south. The outdoor writer Paddy Dillon described the GR20 as “one of the most beautiful hiking trails in the world”. The entire trail is about 180 km long, has 39000 feet, and is well marked along the way. It is considered to be the most difficult of all the Grande-Randonnée routes and consists of two parts: the northern part, between Calenzana and Vizzavona, and the southern part, between Vizzavona and Conca. For most hikers, the route takes about 15 days.

Sicily

With its volcanic islands, rugged coastlines, and beautiful blue-green waters, Sicily offers some of the most dramatic coastal landscapes on earth, along with a choice of beautiful trails. Whether you’re looking for a one-day hike or an entire holiday, you’ll find it here. To avoid heat, crowds, and high prices, come in spring or early autumn. 

Alta Via 1

You would rather do something more extreme? The Alta Via 1 is a hiking trail through the Italian Dolomites, covering 74 miles from Dobbiaco in the north to Belluno in the south. The highest point reached by the standard route is 9000 feet and the altitude gain on the route is about 22.000 feet. Hikers always go with an Alta Via 1 Map and usually take 10 days to complete the trek.