The Natural Adventure

08/12/2024

"Biking along the Danube was easy and fun. There are many places to stop along the route to sample local food, wine or beer. There were opportunities along the bike route to stop and tour a castle or an abbey. The scenery was beautiful and the things to see along the route were interesting, ranging from sunflower fields to quaint villages. The staff on the boat provided informational briefings before each ride, and the route was easy to follow. The group split up quickly upon departing the boat so it didn't feel like you were biking in a group. The boat accommodations and meals were nice. The trip was a great value for the cost, and such an easy way to travel with meals, accommodations, and entertainment arranged for you." - Dale from USA

We love that Dale and his cycling companions were wearing blue jerseys for their bike and boat holiday along the Danube. Of course the Danube’s not really blue, but got this nickname from Strass’ famous waltz, dedicated to this magnificent river. Given Dale’s five-star review of their holiday, it looks like they were dancing on air along their tour between Passau and Budapest, with stops at Vienna and Bratislava along the way. Thanks Dale, and look forward to helping you and your crew find your next adventure.

For more details on this holiday, follow this link: https://bit.ly/49oIpdy
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06/12/2024

Spain is vast, varied and perfect for those with a voracious appetite for food, wine and adventure of course. It’s also one of those countries that you think you know, and then another region appears on the map and you think ‘where?’, closely followed by ‘wow, that looks wonderful’. And Spain really is wonderful. It tops our list of most popular destinations year after year. And because Spain promises such a tapas of cultural treats, our in-house Spaniards and Hispanophiles aren’t short of tips for travelling in Spain.

For more information, see our latest blog: https://bit.ly/41momua
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It’s vast, varied and perfect if you’ve a voracious appetite for food, wine and adventure. Read our tips for travelling in Spain.

04/12/2024

"We loved walking the Kerry Way! We had huge diversity in the weather and the panorama changed significantly too, making it super interesting. It was such a relief to have our luggage picked up each morning and delivered to the next town and this went really smoothly. The accommodation on the whole was excellent and the hosts very friendly and welcoming. The booking process was easy and communication comprehensive. We are already planning next year!" - Meekstar from Western Australia

From Western Australia to the west of Ireland is a long way, but this five-star review and happy hiker photos looks like it was worth it. Our adventurous Aussie took on Ireland’s iconic Kerry Way through the heart of Killarney National Park. This is a colossal and sometimes challenging 210km long-distance walking trail that usually takes 12 days to complete, but this customer explored its hiking highlights over eight days instead. Whichever way you take, the national park and Kerry’s emeralds shine brightly, be it at Killarney’s lakes, on the rich boglands and sandy beaches, or as the sun rises over Macgillycuddy's Reeks. We look forward to supporting you on your next adventure, Meekstar.

For more info, follow the link: https://bit.ly/3CRpyeJ
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03/12/2024

The Danube just seems to keep going on and on and on, through a colossal 10 countries in fact, creating centres for four national capitals. It is the longest river in the EU at 2,850km, and it has the most superb collection of cycling trails, which you get to explore on our bike and boat or cycling holidays. If you want to get to grips with how widespread it is, here are its names in several different languages: Dunăre în Romanian, Donau in German, Dunaj in Slovakian, Duna in Hungarian, and Dunav in Serbian or Bulgarian.

You can also read our latest River Danube guide, here: https://bit.ly/4eVzmSw
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Our Danube travel guide takes you along the longest river in Europe, with four national capitals en route. Perfect for boating and biking.

29/11/2024

"Our trip was the six day one, with four days walking, two of which were half days. Accommodation excellent. Transfers, including luggage transfers seamless. Mountains spectacular. We walked in the first half of July, so it was very hot. We added additional travel in Albania afterwards, which worked well. Albanian hospitality was super." Alison from Saddleworth, UK

As much as we love a feast of photos to accompany our five-star reviews, sometimes it only takes one to capture a colossal adventure. And walking in the Accursed Mountains in Albania is a natural adventure with bells on. This photo captures Alison and her trekking companion’s descent into Theth, which takes place on day four of this six day walking holiday. This is also known as the Grand Crossing, when you are accompanied by a local guide and a horse to carry your luggage, as you trek from the mountain village of Valbona to Theth, a 15km journey that takes you across Valbona Pass (1,811m). If you want a short but sublime hit of fine trekking terrain, this is one for you.

Find out more by following the link: https://bit.ly/3LF7LZN
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27/11/2024

"Had a fantastic hike on the TMB trail. Everything went smoothly. We were picked up at every location required and our luggage was transferred as promised. Would definitely recommend." - Meg from Australia

A mega review from Meg in Australia, who took on the Tour du Mont Blanc (TMB) with her trekking companion on a 12 day itinerary, starting and ending in Chamonix. They signed up for ‘comfort’ version of the trip which, unlike Meg’s five-star review, doesn’t mean you stay in five-star hotels, but it does mean that you have your own room in a traditional mountain hotel, and don’t have nights in mountain huts. We add in a few more transfers so that you can get back on the trail easily after a good night’s sleep, but you still get to explore the trail in full. Many highlights of which you can see in Meg’s photos, from magnificent Mont Blanc views to marmots, chamois to Chamonix. The TMB is a five-star trekking treat.

The Tour du Mont Blanc books up quickly, so dive in now for ‘25. For more info, follow this link: https://bit.ly/48xJwpm
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24/11/2024

"My husband and I did the self-guided, Slovenian eight day hike and had a wonderful experience. The Natural Adventure did an excellent job organising the itinerary and transfers between destinations. The accommodation at each location was always clean, comfortable and run by very welcoming and helpful hosts. Every day the hike took us through beautiful locations with breathtaking scenery from mountains, through forests and lakes. It surpassed all expectations. We would definitely book another similar style trip to discover new beautiful locations with The Natural Adventure again." - Mege D. from Sydney, Australia

Mege from Sydney is mega in our books. Not only for her kind words and five-star review, but also for these mega photos. Slovenia’s mountains are also mega and, on this eight day walking tour, you get to take on aspects of not just one range, but three: the Karawanken, Kamnik and Julian Alps. No wonder these keen hikers are happy. These are some mega-moments and we look forward to finding you more in future.

For more information on this adventure, head on over to this link: https://bit.ly/3qFnLDN
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22/11/2024

Ireland is one of those countries that many people think they know, but actually there are so many aspects of this small island that escape their notice. From understanding the political situation to aspects of the language, our tips for travelling in Ireland cover a wide gamut of all things Gaelic. We give you a heads up about some Irish clichés that won’t get Irish eyes smiling if you say them, but the one thing you do need to know is that Irish eyes are always smiling when they welcome you to their country. Failte, the Irish word for welcome, is part of their DNA.

To find out more of our top tips for visiting Ireland, see our blog: https://bit.ly/4eDSvbx
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Read our top tips for travelling in Ireland, from cultural to political, food, flora, fauna and how to get there without flying.

20/11/2024

"The 12 hiking days are all great and the two side trips in Kosovo and Montenegro were highlights. Smooth luggage transfers and excellent local support when we had questions. Plenty of food for vegetarians. In June all of the wild flowers are out - stunning." - Ian M from Sydney

Looks like Ian from Sydney and his walking companion are buzzing about the Balkans, having taken on our two week, self-guided Peaks of the Balkans tour, with a few exquisite extensions. The Peaks of the Balkans is a long-distance hiking trail traversing the western Balkan countries on a circuit encompassing heritage highlights (and highlands) of Albania, Kosovo and Montenegro.

In these photos, our customers have caught their top moments of elevation elation. Ian is looking delighted with his trek to Mount Taljanka (2,056m) in Montenegro. And his travel companion also has that Balkan beam that we recognise, as she follows the descent down to the village of Theth in Albania’s Theth National Park. This is a superb trek through the craggiest part of the Accursed Mountains, which was a forbidden zone during the Communist era, and one where you feel totally free as a bird nowadays.

For more information, follow this link to the tour details: https://bit.ly/40NIJ3c
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17/11/2024

Remote cycling holidays in Europe are sometimes hard to find because, by their very nature, they often go under the radar. Which is a good thing of course. As proponents of slow, sustainable travel in regions, where tourism is not only a necessity but also quality in terms of adventurous experiences, we’re honoured to bring our cycling enthusiasts off the beaten path. These include some of Europe’s lesser-known mountain regions, such as the Peneda in Portugal, Norway’s Jotunheimen range or the Baba Mountain massif in Greece’s Macedonia. And, for something really far out, Finland’s Karelia region has some colossal cross-country challenges.

For more information, read our latest blog by following this link: https://bit.ly/48HNX2n
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Remote cycling holidays in Europe can be hard to find because, by their very nature, they often go under the radar. Here are our favourites.

15/11/2024

"We loved our walking holiday. It was so well planned, with baggage transfers and taxi drop-offs all happening exactly as planned. The small hotels chosen were all really great. The actual walk was stunning and we loved the route guides and notes for the walk each day. This is an amazing coastline and it was not busy, which we also appreciated. Cannot praise Hannah and Ben and all the staff at The Natural Adventure enough. It was a wonderful trip and we would all be pleased to book again." - Ali from Scotland

Thanks Ali from Scotland for this fabulous Faros and Finisterre review. We also love the fact that you are travelling with Scotland’s magnificent Saltire flag. As Scots, Ali and travel companions know what magnificent coastlines are all about, and so for them to give this Camino dos Faros (The Way of the Lighthouses) tour a five-star review is praise indeed.

To find out more about this spectacular, and lesser-known camino, see a link to the tour page, follow the link to the tour page: https://bit.ly/4fEAw5C
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13/11/2024

"We've just returned home from completing the Jotunheimen and Besseggen Ridge hike. It was awesome. The terrain was at times difficult, at times hugely scenic and always enjoyable. We were challenged at some points but it was always doable. The organisation of the trip was great and everything worked smoothly. We had our luggage transferred between lodgings which was handy and we just carried our day packs." - Jules from Australia

The title of this five-star review from Jules was ‘an awesome hiking experience’. We think she’s a pretty awesome Aussie too for sharing these awesome photos. If ever the word ‘awe’ could be applied to a place, in fact, it’s the Jotunheimen Mountains in Norway. If you were to use it as an acronym, AWE would stand for Adventurous, Wanderlust, Exquisite. In fact, we’re pretty in N-awe-way.

For more details of this eight day, self-guided walking holiday, see our tour page, by following this awsome link: https://bit.ly/48IVzBu
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08/11/2024

The Peloponnese Peninsula extends from Greece’s mainland like an elegant, outstretched hand. The wrist is the Corinth Canal, its fingers are a collection of pretty peninsulas, the veins are an array of mountain-fed streams and rivers, and the muscles are rippling mountain ranges. The Peloponnese is also bedecked with ancient jewels, from monasteries or the ancient city of Mycenae. As well as the Menalon Trail, an ancient mule trail that has connected monasteries and villages since the 16th century. And which is where our walking trails on the Peloponnese Peninsula are focused. Take our hand and we’ll guide you through it.

Or read our blog with more details: https://bit.ly/3UFx4PU
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Check out our in-depth guide to the Peloponnese Peninsula in Greece and, in particular, the community-led and sustainable Menalon Trail.

06/11/2024

"We loved this adventure. The stunning views of the gorge, the rural villages, the chestnut forests, the monasteries - every day was something new and interesting. The distance was just about right for our group." - Kehecla from Virginia, USA

Isn’t Galicia gorgeous? Thanks to this five-star review from our Virginian voyager, and their fabulous photos, you can see just how stunning this region of Spain really is. From the gorges of the Sil and Miño Rivers, to the ancient monasteries that pepper the landscapes, as well as its own Galician culture, cuisine and cordiality, experience Spain at some of its most luscious.

For more details of this eight day, self-guided walking holiday, follow this link: https://bit.ly/3U4E9dw
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03/11/2024

It’s amazing that so many of us have to ask ‘where are the Carpathathians?’ given that they are one of the major mountain ranges in Europe, covering nearly 1,500km. Just for context, the Alps stretch across 1,200km and the Pyrenees extend for 491km, so the Carpathians really are colossal. And if you thought that the Alps was the largest range in Europe, the Urals and the Scandinavian Mountains will quickly rise up to contest that fact. But the Carpathians are the royalty of ranges in south-central Europe in the shape of a natural scythe that slices through some of the continent’s wildest landscapes.

For more information, see our latest blog: https://bit.ly/3NG6xye
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It’s amazing that many of us have to ask ‘where are the Carpathathians?’ as they’re more extensive than the Alps. Read our detailed guide.

30/10/2024

"This is our third trip with The Natural Adventure and we absolutely loved Slovenia. It was everything we could have wanted with alpine meadows and beautiful scenery. All the accommodation was great. The hikes were fantastic, quite demanding for our age group and we struggled to make the times, but we like to look at the flora and fauna so that delays us." - Birdie from Cotswolds

Sometimes it just takes one photo to sum things up. Especially in Slovenia, where the Julian Alps are a sheer joy for hikers. Thank you Birdie for the five-star review and also for bringing up the issue of ‘struggling to make the times’. Because we’re all for people taking their time. Time is one of the most valuable aspects of a holiday. Taking time out from everyday concerns. Or finding the right time to fully enjoy a new adventure. And in places like these, you get to enjoy the most important thing in the world. You time.

Take your time to check out Birdie’s beautiful journey, by following this link: https://bit.ly/3qFnLDN
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25/10/2024

"Thoroughly enjoyable hike and everything went to plan. Each day was different and the scenery magnificent. The accommodation was first class and local restaurants were excellent. If you have the energy, then I would highly recommend a hike up to Mount Astrakas from the refuge before you head down." - Ian M from Sydney

You can’t get much further off the beaten path than the Pindos Mountains in Greece, as you can see from our happy chappy customer, Ian’s photos, who came all the way from Australia for these beauties. We are so grateful for his five-star review, but the real praise goes to nature on this trip, and the protection proffered by Vikos-Aoös National Park. You will barely meet another soul on these walking trails through rural villages, crossing the ancient stone bridges of Zagori and heading up to the UNESCO mountain top monasteries of Meteora. As we’re pretty sure Ian did, you will wonder how on earth you can have these spectacles all to yourselves.

If you crave wide open spaces like these, take a look at the tour by following this link: https://bit.ly/4f3OAW8
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20/10/2024

"Thoroughly enjoyed our hiking from Gambassi Terme to Siena, averaging 10-12 miles per day. Enjoyed beautiful rolling landscapes as we hiked by day, fabulous accommodations with pools and locally-grown delicious Tuscan meals each evening. The company transported our luggage to the next stop each morning and created a terrific itinerary winding along the Via Francigena through San Gimignano, Monteriggioni and ending in Siena. Looking forward to booking another walking adventure with The Natural Adventure soon!" - Diane from Baltimore

Five-stars Francigena is what we should call this one really, thanks to Diane’s fab review of our Italian walking holiday. The Via Francigena is an ancient pilgrimage route that opens up the sacred heart of Italy’s much worshipped interior. This section takes you through Northern Tuscany, starting in the medieval town of Lucca, and with many more medieval marvels en route, finishing in the splendid city of Siena. A pilgrimage for some, a chill pill for others, when it comes to diving into Tuscany, it looks like it ticked all the boxes for Diane and her travel companions.

For more information on our Via Francigena tour, follow this link: https://bit.ly/3NPopqU
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