Lace up your boots. UK Google searches for the term “walking holiday” have increased by 60% year-on-year as more travellers discover the joys of immersive, slower travel.
And a walking holiday could be one of the most rewarding ways to experience Europe’s most popular places this autumn - both for you and the destinations you’re visiting.
Is walking the answer to overtourism?
“Overtourism isn't just about numbers - it's about concentration,” says walking holiday specialist and Greek resident Annie Antonatou. Her trips include the island of Santorini, Greece’s busiest cruise port outside Athens. She says walking holidays here provide a more balanced style of tourism than the cruise ships can offer.
“Rather than concentrating visitors in famous viewpoints during peak hours, walkers disperse across villages, trails and lesser-known islands.”
