The Natural Adventure

06/04/2025

"Very enjoyable holiday. Great walking, nice accommodation, very friendly and helpful hosts at both locations. Well organised, transfers to walks all worked well. Second trip with The Natural Adventure and would book another holiday with them." - Niki from Chepstow

Nice one Niki and wow, those photos really show off the beauty of Bulgaria. They’ve perfectly captured peak Pirins and the Rila Lakes at their most ravishing. We’re so grateful for feedback and photography like this, because sometimes it’s hard to show keen hikers just how alpine-like Bulgaria really is. And it really is. Niki took on an eight day, self-guided itinerary here, which took them up to some of the ranges’ highest peaks, including Mount Vihren (2,914m) and Mount Musala (2,925m).

Bulgaria. Mind. Blown.

For more info on this tour, follow the link: https://bit.ly/42tLKWE
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04/04/2025

Maybe it’s time to reclaim the term eastern bloc, and shout about its beauty rather than its complex history. It’s been 35 years since it collapsed, after all. And yet there's still a bit of a block about the former bloc. Poland’s Tatras and the Zywiecki Beskid Mountains, in the western Carpathians, are just two examples of the exquisite eastern promise that awaits, where you have an endless collection of natural nirvanas and national parks to explore. Our five best hikes in Poland are day trips that are part of longer adventures where you will see that, when it comes to hiking, sometimes east is best.

For more info, see our new blog at the link below.
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Our five best hikes in Poland are just some of our top day trips in a wide array of trekking terrain and national parks.

02/04/2025

"This cycling trip was extremely well organised and everything went according to plan. The Natural Adventure do provide great support and the accommodation was absolutely fantastic. Our luggage was always at the accommodation when we arrived." - Coraleen from New Zealand

As you can see from this review and photos, our Cycling in Puglia holiday combines ancient architecture with an Adriatic adventure. Over eight days, these Kiwi companions cycled from the UNESCO town of Alberobello through the wine region of Locorotondo, and then clung to the coast all the way to Gallipoli. If you like to combine swimming with cycling, history with gastronomy, Puglia is iconic. Check out this tour at the link: https://bit.ly/4289uOQ
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30/03/2025

The Via Francigena is an ancient pilgrimage route that opens up the sacred heart of Italy’s much worshipped interior. Originally, it was a route taken by the ecclesiastical elite between Canterbury, Rome and the sacred town of Santa Maria di Leuca. Today, it’s broken into various segments within Italy, the longest being between the magnificent walled city of Lucca and Rome, walkable over 22 days. There is an adventurous array of other segments to saunter along, such as the foothills of the Alps or to Agrigento in Sicily.

For more information on how, where and when to walk the Via Francigena, see our latest blog, in the link below.
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Read about how, where and when to walk the Via Francigena pilgrimage route, with segments in Piedmont, Tuscany, Sicily and more.

28/03/2025

"We had done this hike nine years ago and enjoyed it as much or more than last time. Last time we carried our bags and had no reserved rooms or GPS. The hike was just as beautiful but we were nine years older." - Canadian from Canada

We agree that some things are so good, you need to do them twice, and the Rota Vicentina in Portugal is definitely one where it’s worth ordering a double. Portugal is also still one of those European countries that hasn’t totally transformed in a decade, and so it’s not surprising to us that our Canadian chums still found it to be just as beautiful as they did nine years ago. The Rota Vicentina is a 400km colossal web of natural trails that are divided between the Caminho Histórico or Historical Way and the Trilho dos Pescadores Fishermen’s Trail. This 11 day adventure combines the best sections of both and, as you can see from the photos, there are plenty of sandy, swimming and shell-filled spots along the way.

For more information on the tour, follow the link: https://bit.ly/4c5tDty
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26/03/2025

"This was our second walking trip booked with The Natural Adventure. The app was super easy to follow each step of the way. Our accommodations were entirely satisfactory. We especially loved the old-fashioned EuroPalace in Monfalcone. The walk itself was highlighted by the castle in Duino, views of the coast and towns below, coming across two donkeys who loved getting their ears scratched and a herd of wild goats who we startled while over the border in Slovenia. We look forward to booking another adventure with The Natural Adventure!" - Shewest from San Francisco

The Friuli Venezia Giulia is one of our lesser-known regions for rambling in Italy and yet, like its famous wine, Prosecco, it sparkles, uplifts and is a perfect way to celebrate Italy’s wide array of cultural and natural heritage. Here at adventure central, we’re celebrating this five-star review and effervescent images shared all the way from our San Fran fans. On this five day foray, which is accessible by train by the way, you walk between the coastal town of Monfalcone and the Gulf of Trieste on a journey through this region that borders Austria, Slovenia and the Adriatic Sea. With plenty of places to raise a glass of local bubbles to say ‘saluti’ along the way.

For more information, pop over to the tour page by following this link: https://bit.ly/4hEkB82
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23/03/2025

"This is our third time booking with The Natural Adventure and once again we are so pleased with the experience from start to finish." - Happy Biker from Canada

Happy bikers and happy team members here at adventure central too, with five-star reviews like this one. Our Canadian cyclists’ faces say it all really, as they explore the Danube Cycle Path, an iconic trail that takes you through eight countries. Although these folks took on the 250km section between Passau, on the German-Austrian border, and Vienna. This is the perfect path to waltz along on wheels, with the Danube’s dramatic Schlögener Loop, vineyards and ancient monasteries along the way. The Wachau Valley, where our adventurers are raising a glass, is wine central and, from the looks of things, and quoting their own words, they look very pleased with the experience indeed!

To find your happy biking place on the Danube, ride on over to this link: https://bit.ly/3FdSsa7
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21/03/2025

The Camino de Santiago must be the most famous long-distance walking trail in the world and also one of the most ancient. Consequently, you could probably fill Santiago de Compostela Cathedral to the brim with all the tips that are out there in the ether. So much so that it can become overwhelming. There are some who are prone to sermonising on how it should be done, and others who just gently encourage you to do it your way. These Camino de Santiago tips are led by our team members who have tried and tested the camino and who won’t lecture or lay down any camino laws. They’ll just be there to support you when you need it.

For more information, follow the path to the link below.
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Our top Camino de Santiago tips from team members who’ve tried, tested, trekked and treasured their time on the world-famous trail.

19/03/2025

"We were attracted to this hiking adventure because it combined hiking and visiting two countries high on our bucket list. I was in good hiking shape, so the ups and downs were relatively moderate. Trails were well marked and the provided map made route finding quite easy. Travelling in October we encountered a few other hikers. We liked the many changes of scenery... Pastureland, hillside villages, spectacular gorges, suspension bridges, deep forest and farm animals. The Natural Adventure team made all lodging reservations and baggage transfers flawlessly. Each lodging choice was easy to find and all featured their own unique brand of hospitality." - Craig from USA

Holy cow, Spluga is splendid! And in October, this 70km trail from Thusis in Switzerland to Chiavanna in Italy is coming down with cattle. As Craig and his walking companion discovered and kindly shared in their five-star review, autumn is the season when the cattle is brought down to lower pastures, and it’s also a wonderful season to take on the Via Spluga. Temperatures are cooling, but the trails are emptying along the Splügen Pass (2,115m), through the Via Mala, Roffla and Cardinello Gorges and in the picture-perfect Valchiavenna.

For more information, saunter over to Spluga by following the link: https://bit.ly/46jHclt
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16/03/2025

Most people understand the concept of a travel ick. If you don’t know the ‘ick’ expression, it refers to behaviour that grates on us, bugs us and is hard to overlook. Being made to stand in a cold stairwell after going through boarding, because the plane hasn’t actually arrived is one of mine. Another is travelling solo as a woman and having the same 100ml liquid rule as men, then being tempted to ask a male stranger to stick my serums into their near-empty bag. Our team is here to help iron out the icks as much as possible. Some of them we can’t change, sadly, and others we can influence in tiny ways. See if any of these ring the ick bell.

For more information, see our blog, What gives you the travel ick in travel? https://bit.ly/41kY9ut
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Most people get the concept of a travel ick. If not, it refers to behaviour that bugs us and is hard to overlook. Here are our top icks.

14/03/2025

"Everything about this tour exceeded my expectations - the lodging, the meals, the detailed instructions on taking the buses at the end of each day. The hike itself was more challenging than I expected and I was very happy it was! Each day was a different terrain and a different experience. I loved all of it!" - Ellen from Texas

There are some serious Texan smiles here of our five-star happy hikers Ellen and friends taking on some of the Dolomites’ most terrific trails. That first one at Lake Braies is on the first hiking day on this seven day, self-guided walking holiday, and it sets the tone for the rest of the trekking really. From here, the hikes continue through the likes of Fanes-Sennes-Prags Nature Park, to Cortina d’Ampezzo and along the Dolomieu Panoramic Trail. We love that in the final shot, those warming herbal teas are soon swapped for beers, with more grins to illustrate that Ellen meant what she said. She loved all of it.

For more information, see the tour link: https://bit.ly/4i774qu
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12/03/2025

"The organisation of the tour itself was faultless. The accommodation was excellent and our luggage departed and arrived with no problem. The camino was great, taking us through some very remote areas, and the accommodation was occasionally the only place around but provided good food and hospitality. One of the highlights was walking along the beach at Longeisterra on the way into Fisterra plus visiting the Faro. We had a fantastic sunset there and a gorgeous meal." - Grade from Bristol

This is a top Grade review, with our customer giving a firm five stars for Finisterre. Not as well known as some of the caminos, this is the last lap for many pilgrims who choose to head to the ‘end of the world’, which is how Finisterre translates. The full name is the Camino Finisterre-Muxía or Fisterra in Galician, and it’s an official part of the Camino de Santiago, still marked by the iconic golden scallop shell. Some people finish in Cape Finisterre, but the itinerary chosen by Grade continues along the coast to the fishing village of Muxía, covering 120km of forests, wild seascapes and remote landscapes.

For more details, follow the scallop to the tour link: https://bit.ly/3QKTywE
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09/03/2025

"Sifnos is perfect for a walking holiday. Paths are very well marked, with stunning mountain and coastal views, passing through traditional villages. The accommodation was excellent with a combination of port and mountain locations. Recommended restaurants providing typical Sifnos cuisine were much appreciated. Information provided was very thorough and any issues were very quickly resolved. We would highly recommend this holiday and are looking forward to the next one!" - Whippets from Brighton

If the Greek Islands are calling you this year, then this five-star review of our walking holiday on Sifnos may sway you towards the Cyclades. Just three hours from Athens, with transfers to the port and ferry crossing included, you are quickly transported to another world. Based in the divinely beautiful Artemonas for the first four nights, they walked through terraced hills, alongside mountain streams and to remote beaches, with the highest point, Profitis Ilias, 680m overlooking them along the way. The last two nights are in the coastal idyll of Kamares for some beach time. With an option to follow an ancient donkey trail that connects Kamares with Apollonia, the island capital, taking in a 420m pass. Looks like they didn’t pass.

To find out more about where the whippets went wandering, see the tour page by following the link: https://bit.ly/4ikKvOM
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07/03/2025

In a world where speed is of the essence, taking things slowly can almost be seen as eccentricity. We want faster phones, we go speed dating, we use AI to speed up our writing and then speed read everything. We crave fast food, fall for fast fashion and do speedy online shopping for just about everything. So, by the time we get to our holidays we want nothing more than to slow down. It’s hardly surprising, however, that many of us arrive and are unable to do so. This concept of slowing down is very much part of the slow travel movement, although there’s a lot more to it than that. So take ten, find some zen, and start to think slow rather than FOMO.

For more information, see our latest blog, What we mean by slow travel.
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In a world where speed is of the essence and incorporated into so many aspects of our lives, slow travel is a tonic. And a life-affirming one.

05/03/2025

“Everything about our trip was wonderful. Dealing with The Natural Adventure was very easy and they communicated to us very quickly when we had questions or when we wanted to add extra accommodation in Fort William. We will travel with them again. The walk itself was fabulous. The scenery and terrain changed as you moved north along the way. From the undulating forested terrain along the banks of Loch Lomond to the open, barren, rugged, and beautiful Rannoch Moor near Kingshouse." - Andrew, Australia

Looks like Andrew found the pot of gold at the end of the Scottish rainbow, and we also feel like we struck gold with this five-star review of our walking holiday on the West Highland Way. Andrew is one of many Australians who have travelled to the Highlands and been completely won over by its greatness. Walking 154km between Milngavie, just north of Glasgow up to Fort William on the shores of Loch Linnhe, with Ben Nevis waiting to greet you on the final stretch, Andrew was right to book that extra day to process the journey he had undertaken. It’s a lot. But it always hits the spot.

For more information, follow the link: https://bit.ly/4h2equ3
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02/03/2025

If you ask most people who haven’t been there before, ‘what are the first three things that you associate with Scotland?’, they usually say Highlands, castles and rain. They’re not wrong, of course, Scotland’s not short of all three of those. However, there’s an intangible joy to exploring Scotland that you don’t really get until you go there. It’s a slow burner sort of a place, which is why we love our long-distance trails there. They give you time to soak it all in, get a little bit soaked but also feel inundated by Scotland’s unique culture and natural beauty. In order to keep the clichés at bay, here are our quick tips for travelling in Scotland, from our in-house Scottish clan.

For more Scottish tips, see our bonny blog. https://bit.ly/4guJ8Mc
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Top tips for travelling in Scotland from our in-house Scottish clan. With advice on whisky to wildlife, roaming to swimming.

28/02/2025

"We had an amazing experience climbing Kilimanjaro! Our guides were very knowledgeable and experienced, able to skillfully guide us to the breathtaking top! I highly recommend this route and company!" - Julie from Calgary

Brava Julie for conquering Kili and also for sharing this fantastic five-star review. Trekking Kilimanjaro, the highest mountain in Africa, is one of the ultimate hiking experiences. Julie travelled on our privately-guided trek to Kilimanjaro’s summit, or Uhuru as it’s known locally, at 5,895m. There are several routes to the top, and Julie opted for the popular Machame Route. This one is considered one of the best for acclimatisation, as it allows you to walk high and sleep low every day. It’s also called the Whiskey Route, and we certainly hope that Julie raised a dram in celebration, once she came back down.

For more Kilimanjaro details, follow the link to the tour: https://bit.ly/3TI3F7G
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26/02/2025

"What a fantastic trip! We have fallen in love with Cape Verde's islands. From start to finish everything was planned out and worked well. Santo Antão is definitely a hikers’ paradise and we enjoyed every moment. We couldn't believe the care taken in choosing the walks we did as each was so totally different and the scenery just kept getting better and more dramatic." - Adele, from the UK.

Thanks to Adele for this five-star review of her adventure in the Cape Verde Islands, where it looks as if she saw a lot more than five stars in those deliciously dark skies. This tropical Atlantic archipelago was once described by Charles Darwin as a “glory of tropical vegetation”, and Adele’s photos show that it lives up to his observation. Santo Antão, for example, is a landscape of volcanoes and deep, fruit-filled valleys. And Fogo is peak Cape Verde, as you can see on a guided hike up Mount Pico (2,892m).

If you want to experience the same beauty as Adele, “when the evening shadows and the stars appear…”, we’ll sing more of Cape Verde’s praises by following the link: https://bit.ly/4aXbayL
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