We research and interpret the trail to give you the finest walking holidays in the Alps, Scandinavia and the UK. We call this the Exploratory system.
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Alpine Exploratory is a system of knowledge on the best mountain trekking in our areas, giving clients superb holidays based on this exploration. Our ongoing mission is to explore and interpret the Alps and the mountainous areas of the UK. We are systematic about our exploration and the result is a thoroughly human service that interprets trekking trails for our experienced clients. We run everyth
ing from our office in Edinburgh. We place great importance on a friendly and positive approach to organising our holidays. We are proud of our emphasis on knowledge of our routes, making regular research trips and writing our own detailed routecards describing each trek. Please contact us any time to discuss a trip.
The Kerry Way is our first walking holiday in Ireland! A circular trail around the Iveragh Peninsula, the lush green scenery and views onto the lakes and surrounding hills makes the trek one to remember! Enjoy Irish hospitality in B&Bs and guesthouses along the way. County Kerry's Irish motto, “Comhar, Cabhair, Cairdeas” translates to “Cooperation, Help, Friendship” and we hope you'll find plenty of this on your holiday!
Bruce and his group had a great time exploring the West Highland Way! They had some great blue skies!
The West Highland Way runs for 152km (95 miles) from just North of Scotland's largest city, Glasgow, to Fort William which is the hub of the Western Highlands.
Hike beside Loch Lomond into the heart of the Scottish Highlands and finish at the foot of Britain's highest mountain Ben Nevis (1,344m). On the way is the famous crossing of Rannoch Moor to Kings House and the head of Glen Coe.
Have you had a great trip with us? We'd love to hear back from you!
I recently returned to Wales, where I am from, to complete a section of the beautiful Snowdonia Way. Passing through atmospheric valleys, golden mossy forests and quaint villages - this trail was a delight to walk! It was great to hear the Welsh language being spoken amongst the friendly locals, who were incredibly welcoming and keen to hear about my walk through the national park. For anyone interested in visiting a scenic and culturally rich corner of the UK, I would highly recommend a trip on the Snowdonia Way!
The Snowdonia Way goes through the unique countryside of the Eyri National Park in North Wales. Dramatic mountain scenery, quiet rivers, and atmospheric forests, charaterises the route. The inspiring views of the the mountains of Eryri provide a wonderful backdrop to this trail, making it a superb week long hike!
We walk every step of the Snowdonia Way, using buses on a few nights to reach accommodation where options on the trail are not possible. We also offer flexible itineraries, ranging from 6 to 10 days and we would be happy to book additional nights along the way to allow for rest days, local exploration or to climb the highest peak in Wales, Yr Wyddfa (Snowdon). Please just ask us for details or see our link in bio 🥾⛰
Who has the Alta Via 1 on their bucket list 🙋♀️The Alta Via 1 is one of our most popular hikes and it's not hard to see why! Contact us now for booking in 2024 🥾
Our ongoing mission is to explore and interpret the Alps and the mountainous areas of Norway and the UK. We are systematic about our exploration and the result is a thoroughly human service that interprets trekking trails for our experienced clients.
If you have any questions, pop us a message!
We're getting ready to go for the start of our TMB summer trips, are you booked on?
Norway stands out as a country for hiking; the Jotunheimen is a gem among the nation's National Parks. It’s the highest in its mountains; it contains Norway's highest peak, Galdhopiggen (2,469m); and it's the most popular for walkers. We cross high plateaus, walk under imposing peaks, and traverse deep valleys running with streams, rivers and waterfalls. In a single day, hikers see glaciers, sweeping valleys, flourishing meadows, and Nordic forests.
The Swiss Via Alpina (previously known as the Alpine Pass Route) is a majestic hike stretching across the width of the country, from Sargans in the East to Montreux, on the shores of Lake Geneva, in the West. This traverse of a substantial part of the Alps shows rural Switzerland in its full glory: high mountain panoramas plus villages from the famous to the pastoral.
Let's keep the mountains beautiful!
Alpine Exploratory is keen to promote considerate and common-sense responsible travel policies in order that we can all enjoy stunning mountain landscapes in future.
The Hebridean Way crosses the chain of ten islands off the West Coast of Scotland, from Vatersay on Barra to Stornoway on the Isle of Lewis. Our Hebridean Way Highlights trip allows you to discover the best sections of the full walk in just one week! Hike along the flowering machair coast and sandy beaches and cross over wild moors and empty peatlands as you venture North.
Why not choose us for your honeymoon? We loved seeing the pictures for Evan and Caroline who chose Alpine Exploratory for their honeymoon - opting to hike the Haute Route!
Our Julian Alps Hut-to-Hut hike gives you the opportunity to explore the higher reaches of one of the oldest National Parks in Europe: the Triglav National Park. The unique limestone karst landscape makes for a dynamic and jaw-dropping 5-stage hike, taking in the best views Slovenia has to offer.
Season Updates
In the weeks before a season start, we update our Routecards based on our recces. We are looking for changes to the trail such as landslips over Winter, changes in the routing of the path (newly-made stretches or adoption of different local paths), changes in local bus routes, and the incidence of snow. This last factor, snow, is crucial on our Alpine routes where late Spring snow falls can make cols risky to cross. An example is the Tour du Mont Blanc, where each year we make our explorations in mid-late June. Where changes are substantial, or the route has some considerations to impart, we post or email a Season Update sheet to clients before their trip.
We print as we go: instead of running a job lot, or buying guidebooks, we print our notes and Routecards just before posting each info pack. This means that our ongoing updates make it into each pack as the season progresses. A lot of our time during Spring and Summer is spent making sure the important changes are communicated to the right groups at the right time.
Trade knowledge
Our clients benefit from a network of intelligence in the trade. We are plugged into the talk of the British Association of International Mountain Leaders, leaders swapping notes to benefit colleagues and clients. Our hotels keep us in the loop locally.
Trekkers' notes
We see ourselves as at the meeting point of accommodation, leaders and clients. Our clients are frequently kind enough to give us detailed notes about their trips: trail updates and opinions. All of these sources feed into our info packs.
Now considered one of Scotland’s finest multi-day walks, the Affric Kintail Way is still somewhat of an insider tip. Officially opened in 2015, the 4-stage trek crosses from Drumnadrochit, by famous Loch Ness, to Kintail where it ends near Loch Duich on the water front. The 44 miles in between are packed with some of the most stunning and remote scenery the Highlands have to offer to those on a trail. At this level of remoteness we should keep our eyes open for ospreys, otters and red deer.
Our Bernese Oberland trip is the central section of the whole route, offering a week-long trip of diverse hiking, surrounded by world-class mountain vistas, green grassy meadows and open horizons. We stay in classic rural Swiss towns, such as Grindelwald in the shadow of the Eiger and the car-free villages of Wengen and Murren nestled into the hillside.
Have you been practising your navigation skills?
Ever wondered what it was like to stay inside a cabin in the Swedish wilderness?
Set with your own space on a bunk bed, and provisions in each shop, these cabins are sufficient for your hiking trip!
Why not take a look on our website and check out our Kungsleden trip!
Our summer season has officially started, we look forward to hearing about your trips this summer, don't forget to send us all of your pictures and feedback from the trips.
Alpine Exploratory is a system of knowledge on the best mountain trekking in our areas, giving clients superb holidays based on this exploration.
We run everything from our office in Edinburgh, UK. We place great importance on a friendly and positive approach to organising our holidays.
In Alpine Exploratory's Edinburgh office are Lucy, Steph, Nicky, Ben, Rob, Evie, Amy and Simon. Together the eight of us are your contacts for your 2024 trip.
Check out our website for a more in depth bio of each of us!
Rob writes:
"A few weeks ago I set off on the ferry to walk the Northern part of the Hebridean Way. I'd never visited these remote Scottish Islands before and had a wonderful week of pristine beaches, remote moorland and sea views. The peaceful isolation of the islands makes them an incredibly memorable place to visit, and I can see why the trail is so popular with our clients!"
Our summer season for 2024 starts today - who's hiking the Hebridean Way with us this year??
Just one week now until the Alpine Exploratory hiking season begins. Who's excited for a terrific summer? 🙋 Where are you going this summer? 🌎
TMB Ladders!
The penultimate stage on the Tour du Mont Blanc includes one of the most anticipated sections - steep ladders built into the hillside! These iconic fixtures along the trail certainly add an extra thrill to the journey 💪
⛰ Standing tall at the heart of the Alps the Matterhorn's distinctive pyramid shape has challenged climbers for centuries. Did you know it straddles the border between Switzerland and Italy, offering breath-taking views from both sides. A true natural wonder at 4,478 meters above sea level. Views of the Matterhorn are a highlight of the final stages on the
Looking to hike the Tour du Mont Blanc this summer? We have a self-guided trip for 2 people available from 3 to 15 September. Get in touch if you want more details!
As we approach mid-April our recce season for our UK and Ireland trips are now in full swing! Every year we walk our routes to update our notes and knowledge of the routes. This Spring our office team our busy checking out our UK and Irish routes in advance of our season beginning in May.
🥾 Rob is walking the Hebridean Way
🥾 Nicky will be heading to the Lake District
🥾 Ben will be on the Snowdonia Way
🥾 Lucy will walk the Affric-Kintail Way
🥾 Steph will be walking the Kerry Way
🥾 and Evie will be visiting the West Highland Way
soaking up the mountain air ⛰
Slovenia's Triglav National Park is one of our favourite parts of the Alps and it seems like our clients agree...
"Really pleased with the trip. Whole adventure was magical. Such a variety of scenery. Rewarded daily with new vistas, achievements and a hearty meal at the hut. It was beyond my expectations." Alpine Exploratory client Jo
"Great advice and guidance, very detailed materials and a beautiful route. Great experience for a first multi-day hike. Will try another one soon!" Alpine Exploratory client Thomas
"This region of the Julian Alps is spectacular and probably not as busy as other countries. We would definitely go back and revisit." Alpine Exploratory client Chris
Now taking bookings for 2024 🥾⛰🌲
Alpine Exploratory began life in July 2005. We registered the company, made the website live, and placed a first advert in Trail magazine. This point came after 6 months of traveling for Simon and the steady evolution of the idea. Our clients headed out to the Julian Alps for our first trip! This was followed by the Tour du Mont Blanc - our most popular route.
We've come a long way since...heading in to this summer we'll be a team of 8! Simon, Lucy, Steph, Nicky, Rob, Evie, Ben and Amy will be organising this summers trips covering 16 different routes across the Alps, Scandinavia, the UK and Ireland.
We look forward to a busy summer out the trails 🥾💪⛰
Edinburgh
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Enjoying Christmas in Edinburgh, have you visited the markets this year? #edinburgh #edinburghchristmas #christmasmarkets #edinburghlife #edinburghlive #christmasdecor #christmasinedinburgh #thisisedinburgh
Explore the stunning landscapes of the Austrian Tyrol one step at a time ⛰️🔥 Epic trails, breathtaking views, and a whole lot of adventure! #tyroltrek #mountainmagic #mountainmood #tirol #austria #alps #austrianadventures #visitaustria
Our Tour of the Vanoise trip is a spectacular high-level route in the French Alps, encompassing the main valleys and mountain passes of the Vanoise National Park. Our 11-stage trip follows the Tour des Glaciers de la Vanoise route in the South, as well as our additional Northern sections. The trail runs along sections of the GR5 and the GR55 long distance routes to create its own circuit. Located between the Mont Blanc and the Ecrin Massifs, the Vanoise national park is home to 107 peaks over 3,000m, providing the mountain back-drop to this trip. Our 11-stage tour will take you on an immersive journey through Alpine meadows, past glistening lakes and over the rocky terrain of high mountain passes surrounded by snow-capped peaks and glaciers. This combination of environments, cosy huts, delicious food and varying stage lengths makes for a great walking holiday. Our 11-stage tour stays in 7 traditional mountain huts, adding a remote mountain feel to your trip. 📍 Tour of the Vanoise 📹 @themountaindietitian #alpineflowers #mountainflowers #meadow #alpinemeadow #alpenglow #alpen #alps #thealps #floraalpina #alpinelife #hikethealps #hikinglife #guidedhikingholiday #alpineviews #hiking #nature #mountains #adventure #naturephotography #hikingadventures #outdoors #alpineexploratory #explore #mountain #outdoor #wandern #getoutside #tourofthevanoise
2021 hiking holidays are just around the corner and we're excited to start booking your next trip! We realise booking a holiday right now may seem a little scary, so let us reassure you. We are offering additional flexibility for all 2021 bookings with free postponements up to 8 weeks before your trip, no questions asked! We hope to see you back on the trails soon!
Not just a boat lover's paradise ⚓️! The Great Glen Way is a relaxed hike along the picturesque Caledonian Canal, taking in some of Scotland's most iconic sights such as Loch Ness or the scenic ruins of Urquhart Castle. Follow us on our journey - and make sure to keep an eye out for Nessie 🌊🐉🌊 ➡️ bit.ly/2TpqgFS
The Lake District National Park has it all: Rocky peaks, charming valleys and tranquil spots🌳 🌄 - and most importantly a warm welcome and comfy bed waiting for you at the end of the day 🛏☕️! Our Lake District Tour takes in the very best of it ➡️ bit.ly/2vT15mS
Scottish Heritage, breathtaking scenery and magnificent landscapes - set out on your own West Highland Way adventure with us. Unforgettable travel memories guaranteed 🌄! Curious? This is what we recommend ➡️ bit.ly/2uPlk4X
Join us for a wee wander along the Coast to Coast Trail 🌊🥾🌊 - a spectacular route across the Lake District National Park, Yorkshire Dales and North York Moors! Get ready to experience England at its Best ➡️ bit.ly/3bwFT6n
A not so peaceful snack break at Alpage de Bovine on the Bovine route from Champex to Trient
Adlerweg
Good morning from the Erfurter Hütte Adlerweg / Eagle's Way - Tirol
Schleier waterfall Adlerweg / Eagle's Way - Tirol
At Refuge de la Flégère
Another great day on the Tour du Mont Blanc. Near Refugio Bonatti
Alpine Exploratory is a system of knowledge on the best mountain trekking in our areas, giving clients superb holidays based on this exploration. Our ongoing mission is to explore and interpret the Alps and the mountainous areas of the UK. We are systematic about our exploration and the result is a thoroughly human service that interprets trekking trails for our experienced clients. We call this the Exploratory system. We run everything from our office in Edinburgh. We place great importance on a friendly and positive approach to organising our holidays. We place great emphasis on knowledge of our routes, making regular research trips and writing our own detailed routecards describing each trek. We are based in Edinburgh. Please contact us any time to discuss a trip.
The Edinburgh Address/Adore Scotland
Thistle Street
