9 Inn-to-Inn Hiking Tour Companies You Will Love
- Updated: 04/10/2024
- Janice
Imagine spending your vacation walking through beautiful landscapes with scenic vistas and crossing winding trails that pass through off-the-beaten-path villages and towns. All the while knowing a warm bed, a hot shower, and hospitable innkeepers serving a delicious meal await you at the end of each day.
If you are a nature enthusiast who loves to hike and walk while traveling but does not want to carry heavy gear, consider taking an inn-to-inn hiking vacation. These multi-day trekking trips offer the perfect slow-travel adventure.
They allow you to experience the beauty of nature without sacrificing comfort. You get to explore the best of the outdoors with only a day pack, the comforts of appealing lodging, and the convenience of someone else transferring your heavy luggage.
Whether you are a seasoned hiker or new to the outdoor scene, these vacations cater to all skill levels. Plus, they provide an excellent way to experience new destinations in depth. We have traveled this way repeatedly and loved each of our experiences.
Table Of Contents
About Inn-to-Inn Hiking Vacations: Why You Should Go
Inn-to-inn walking offers an immersive way to explore small scenic regions. This trip style provides many benefits, such as those shared below.
Inn-to-inn walking allows you to immerse yourself in the beauty of your surroundings. Unlike other forms of travel, where you might quickly pass through, walking helps you to take in every detail. Picture yourself strolling through natural landscapes dotted with lovely villages as you discover incredible views, breathe in fresh air, and hear the rustle of leaves above as a breeze passes. It is a slow-travel sensory experience.
Walking vacations also provide a slower pace of travel, giving you time to appreciate the unique feel of each destination. As you continue from one village and inn to the next, you will have the opportunity to explore new places, interact with locals, and discover unexpected finds. Whether you stumble upon an art gallery housed in a historic building or a quaint café whose aroma of baked goods pulls you in, these unplanned experiences will add depth and richness to your journey.
Additionally, this trip style provides a unique sense of adventure. Each day brings new routes. Whether hiking through dense forests, crossing mountain streams, or strolling through a small town, there is always something new to explore.
Lastly, inn-to-inn hiking provides an almost meditative connection with nature. You will have time to reflect and reconnect as you hike. The rhythm of walking helps you leave behind daily stress and be in the moment. It is a chance to slow down, appreciate your surroundings, and find a sense of tranquility that is tougher to duplicate at home.
Self-Guided Vs. Guided Inn-to-Inn Hiking Trips
When planning an inn-to-inn hiking vacation, choose between guided or self-guided trips. Additionally, you can book an inn-to-inn hiking vacation through a tour company or arrange a trip yourself. Each trip type has its advantages and considerations.
Self-guided trips offer more flexibility and independence. Even with an itinerary provided by a tour company—you can set your own pace, explore at your leisure, and make spontaneous detours. Self-guided trips also tend to be more budget-friendly, as they do not require subsidizing the expense of a guide. Costs usually cover lodging, several meals, hiking itineraries and recommendations, and luggage transfers, as needed.
Book these trips with a tour company for any in-season start date or, depending on the trip, for a set day of the week. You can book a trip as a solo traveler, a couple, or as part of a group—dependent on lodging availability.
Or you can arrange an inn-to-inn hiking trip on your own. Find hiker-friendly inns that will transport your bags to the next destination. Or move around less frequently. Stay in one or a limited number of locations, using select inns as a base to explore surrounding areas.
Sign up for my monthly Discovery Newsletter & get a free Trip Budget Calculator!
For self-guided walking trips, I recommend bringing along a hiking GPS device. Or download an online hiking app to your phone to help you navigate. My preferred app for hiking in the US and abroad is AllTrails.
I recommend subscribing to its annual AllTrails+ membership so you can download offline maps to GPS-locate and record your progress as you hike. Doing this will help you stay on the right trail, avoid unnecessary detours, allow for backtracking, and be a deterrent against getting lost.
Alternatively, guided trips provide the benefit of having an experienced leader who is familiar with the trails and the area. Your guide can offer valuable insights, point out interesting landmarks, and manage logistics throughout the journey.
Guided trips may be ideal for solo travelers who are uncomfortable hiking alone. Or for walkers who prefer to have a professional lead their hikes. Book these trips through tour companies for specific dates. The trips are typically limited to a set group size and cost anywhere from 50% to 200%+ more than self-guided options, depending on the company and the destination.
How an Inn-to-Inn Hiking Trip Works
While on an inn-to-inn walking trip, you will wake each day, eat a plentiful breakfast provided by your lodging, and step out to explore a new trail. Carry only a day pack filled with water, snacks, and lunch, often supplied by your innkeepers.
Depending on your trip, at the end of each day, you may return to the same inn that evening. Or continue to new accommodation where your luggage, if transferred for you, is waiting along with a clean room, a hot shower, and a hearty meal. At your inns—expect to enjoy warm hospitality, comfortable accommodations, and delicious and often homemade local cuisine.
If you booked your inn-to-inn hiking trip through a tour company, expect your tour provider to supply your hiking route notes, maps, and, in some cases, navigation equipment, like a hiking GPS. On guided trips, your leader will likely supply this information and equipment or take care of it for you.
Where to Go on an Inn-to-Inn Hiking Vacation
There are countless international destinations to choose from for inn-to-inn hiking trips. Though—thanks in part to an expansive network of well-maintained and marked paths, this style of multi-day trekking has been popular in Europe for years.
In addition to well-known routes like the Camino de Santiago in Spain, an ancient pilgrimage trail dotted with inns and guesthouses spanning over 500 miles (805 km), and the Coast-to-Coast Walk in England, a nearly 200-mile (313 km) trail connecting the west coast on the Irish Sea to the east coast on the North Sea, find many more experiences on less iconic and shorter walks.
Find beautiful routes in tucked-away places like the Haute Provence region in Southern France. This area is where we experienced our first inn-to-inn hiking adventure with Sherpa Expeditions, now Walkers Britain, long before we had kids.
On our inn-to-inn hiking trip in Haute Provence, we walked anywhere from 6 to 12 miles a day (approximately 10 to 20 km), stayed at historic French country inns, and dined on hearty Provencal cuisine.
Our hikes took us along fragrant lavender fields, through olive orchards, and up and down rolling hills connecting one compact French village to another. We loved everything about this trip, from its slow pace through the beautiful French countryside to our lovely lodging to the sense of discovery and exploration we experienced anew each day.
Since then, and enamored with the trip style, we have repeated inn-to-inn hiking vacations in several places like the Alpujarras region of southern Spain, the Green Mountains of Vermont, and the alpine villages and pathways in the Bernese Oberland in Switzerland. We either booked these trips through tour companies or arranged them ourselves.
Choosing the Right Inn-to-Inn Hiking Tour Company: 9 Recommendations
If you prefer to outsource your planning and rely on the expertise of a tour company, choose from any of the nine established and highly regarded providers below. For most trips, inn-to-inn hiking tour providers offer pre-planned itineraries, lodging, meals, and luggage transportation between inns. Additionally, and beneficially, these companies often have established long-term relationships with the inns along the trail.
Walkers Britain
Website: https://www.walkersbritain.co.uk/
Trip Styles: Self-guided and guided walking and cycling vacations for all skill levels.
Destinations: The UK and 15+ countries in continental Europe.
Formerly Sherpa Expeditions, Walkers Britain is part of a consortium of active hiking, biking, and service tour companies called The World Expeditions Travel Group, which offers guided and self-guided outdoor adventures throughout the world, including Asia, the Middle East, Australasia, and North & South America. We booked their self-guided Haute Provence trip.
Macs Adventure
Website: https://www.macsadventure.com/
Trip Styles: Guided and self-guided walking and cycling vacations, including pilgrimages, drive and hike, and rail and hike adventures for all skill levels.
Destinations: The UK, 15+ countries in continental Europe, Japan, New Zealand, the US, and Canada.
Choose from trip types like “Slower Adventures,” “Cultural Journeys,” or “Classic Routes” to suit your preference and skill. And from a deep selection of off-the-beaten-path destinations in the UK and Europe. We loved their self-guided Bernese Oberland trip.
Check out our excellent Bernese Oberland walking experience here. We heavily augmented Macs walking route suggestions with input from our innkeepers and by referencing AllTrails.
Responsible Travel
Website: https://www.responsibletravel.com/holidays/walking
Trip Styles: Find a wide selection of international trips ranging from traditional vacation getaways to volunteering and vegan and vegetarian travel, including guided and self-guided walking holidays.
Destinations: 100+ countries.
This sustainable travel tour company, which focuses on minimizing the environmental impact of its trips and supporting local populations, offers small-group and self-guided walking holidays to more places than you dreamed possible. Also, depending on the trip, its pricing is often the most affordable. For example, see the cost of this 6-day walking holiday in Andalucia, Spain, staying at one place and using it as a base to explore the region.
HF Holidays
Website: https://www.hfholidays.co.uk/
Trip Styles: Guided and self-guided walks, including family holidays, island hopping, and walking with sightseeing.
Destinations: Guided walks throughout the world—including Europe, Asia, Africa, the Middle East, Australasia, and the Americas, with extensive coverage in the UK. Over 100+ self-guided trips exclusively in the UK.
HF Holidays is a cooperative with 40,000+ members who are part-owners and is one of the UK’s largest companies offering walking holidays. Options for trips include guided walking adventures all over the world. Or affordable self-guided walking trips varying in duration from two to seven days throughout the UK countryside with stays at full-service country homes owned and operated by HF Holidays.
Ryder Walker
Website: https://ryderwalker.com/
Trip Styles: Guided and self-guided walking and trekking adventures from easy-going to challenging.
Destinations: Self-guided trips to 10+ European countries and the US, guided trips to 15+ European countries, the US, Morocco, Bhutan, India, Nepal, Peru, and Argentina.
Based in Telluride, Colorado, Ryder Walker books international trekking and walking tours, including private and custom trips for individuals and groups. Book a trip with Ryder Walker to experience more attentive service and upgraded lodging. Pricing for self-guided getaways is in line with tour companies offering higher-end accommodation. Expect to pay nearly double for guided small group trips versus self-guided.
Country Walkers
Website: https://www.countrywalkers.com/
Trip Styles: Guided and self-guided walking vacations which vary in difficulty from easy to challenging.
Destinations: Nearly 20 European countries, Israel, Morocco, the US, Canada, Argentina, Chile & Peru.
This company started 40 years ago in a barn in Vermont (US) and today embraces a strong focus on sustainable travel. It exclusively specializes its tour offerings on guided and self-guided international walking adventures. Expect more premium pricing and upgraded lodging versus other tour providers.
Inn Walking
Website: https://www.innwalking.com/
Trips Styles: Self-guided walking holidays in Europe.
Destinations: 20+ European countries.
This tour company exclusively focuses on self-guided walking trips, like high mountain trails and wine walks in Europe, among other options. Expect to find more affordable trips that allow travelers to choose from middle-class lodging with private showers and baths to more affordable guest houses with shared showers and toilets.
The Natural Adventure
Website: https://www.thenaturaladventure.com/
Trip Styles: Offering self-guided and guided walking, cycling, and summit treks.
Destinations: 30+ European destinations, plus trips to Asia, the Middle East, Africa, and South America.
One of the newer inn-to-inn walking adventure tour providers, The Natural Adventure, founded in 2009, offers a wide selection of trips rated from easy to strenuous to international destinations. This company helps travelers keep costs down by choosing basic accommodation with shared facilities (e.g., shower, bath) or staying in more comfort with finer accommodations with ample amenities and higher prices.
World Expeditions
Website: https://worldexpeditions.com/
Trip Styles: Global outdoor adventures from polar cruises to mountaineering, including guided and self-guided trekking and walking for moderate to challenging treks.
Destinations: Nepal, Japan, Chile, Australia, and New Zealand.
In the same travel group as Walkers Britain, World Expeditions offers walking adventures to international destinations. Select its “Comfort” trips, not the “Packed Tent” trips, to get closer to the inn-to-inn experience.
Where to Find Local Inn-to-Inn Hiking Tour Providers
Often, well-known walking and hiking destinations have a host of local companies and small mom-and-pop providers that specialize in self-guided walking trips in the area. The owners tend to live nearby, have deep and intimate knowledge of the destination, and know the innkeepers well.
Find a local tour operator by searching terms like “inn-to-inn hiking (or walking) tour in [your destination]” or “self-guided hiking (or walking) tour in [your destinations].”
For example, when we wanted to book an inn-to-inn walking trip in the Green Mountains of Vermont, by using search terms like those above, we discovered two local providers—Vermont Inn to Inn Walking and Inn to Inn. Since Inn to Inn offered more flexible start dates and hiking options for our trip, we booked with them.
5 Tips for Choosing the Right Inn-to-Inn Hiking Tour Company & Trip
Here are five helpful tips that will help select the best inn-to-inn hiking tour company and trip for you.
- Look at the reputation, experience, and customer reviews of the tour company you are considering. Choose providers with a record of delivering high-quality trips and excellent customer service.
- Consider the support and guidance the hiking tour company will provide. Do they offer detailed route notes, trail maps, GPS navigation, or guided hikes? These services can be invaluable if you are new to hiking or unfamiliar with the area.
- Research the destination and the trails you plan to hike. Look for information on trail conditions and elevation changes. Doing this will help you gauge the difficulty and determine if the route fits your skill level.
- Consider how many days do you want to spend hiking and how long you have to travel. Are you looking for a short getaway or a lengthier adventure? Do you need a flexible start date? Knowing these things will help you narrow down your trip options and providers.
- Review the lodging options. Look at the accommodation each trip offers. What amenities do they include? Are you looking for a rustic experience or a more luxurious one? Do you prefer inns with on-site restaurants or lodging near local dining options?
How to Book Your Own Inn-to-Inn Hiking Trip
When you want to replicate an inn-to-inn hiking trip by planning your own—run Internet searches using terms like “hiking lodges near [your destination]” or “hiker-friendly inns near [your destination].” These inns will provide services and support that will help you make the most of your outdoor exploration.
Alternatively, pick your destination, then search for hiking routes that surround it using an app like AllTrails. When you identify your hikes, search for centralized lodging that fits your needs and budget—in the middle of them all. For example, we planned a trip this way for our spring break family visit to the tiny Mediterranean island of Gozo in Malta.
I found a centrally located small boutique hotel within easy reach of several promising hikes and booked a stay. Our outstanding inn included a generous breakfast and a knowledgeable innkeeper who helped us shape our walking plan each day. We never drove more than 15 minutes in our rental car to any one of several unexpectedly stunning walks.
Alternatively, if you want to explore Europe on an inn-to-inn hiking adventure and prefer to book it yourself, I recommend reading Explore Europe on Foot: Your Complete Guide to Planning a Cultural Hiking Adventure.
This book will provide background on the best routes to choose, share helpful information for planning your trip, and offer more recommendations for tour companies to outsource your planning. In addition to getting ideas for European destinations, you will learn that you can turn nearly any vacation into a hiking one.
What to Pack for an Inn-to-Inn Hiking Trip
Packing for an inn-to-inn hiking vacation is like packing for any other trip. However, you want to ensure you include all the hiking gear, accessories, and clothing items you will need for the terrain you plan to tackle and all types of weather.
Here are some essential items to pack:
- Hiking boots or shoes: Choose footwear that provides support and traction for various terrains. My preferred low-top hiking shoe is from Oboz.
- Performance clothing: Bring moisture-wicking and breathable materials to keep you cool and dry. US-based retailers Athleta and KÜHL are my two favorite high-quality travel and fitness apparel brands I wear with everyday clothing items.
- Daypack: Select a lightweight backpack for carrying essentials such as water, snacks, and extra layers. I like the packs from Northface and use the Borealis Commuter Laptop bag which is great for travel and day hiking.
- Water bottle(s) or a Hydration Pack: Stay hydrated on the trail by bringing reusable water bottles like these. Or a hydration pack also from CamelBak.
- Rain gear: Pack a waterproof jacket and pants—essential for staying dry in the rain.
- Toiletries: Bring travel-sized toiletries for your stay at the inns.
- First aid kit: Have basic first aid supplies and medicines you may need in case of injury or accident.
- Extra layers: Bring additional layers to stay warm depending on the season and expected forecast.
To further simplify your packing and the getting-out-the-door stage of your vacation—pair this high-level list with the comprehensive and printable packing list I use for every trip. It details a complete packing list, including a medical kit in “Pack Faster & Better With This Universal Printable Packing List“.
For more trip prep, check out my 25 expert packing tips and close-the-house checklist.
Takeaways
Inn-to-inn hiking vacations offer an unforgettable way to travel for active outdoor lovers. These trips allow you to immerse yourself in nature, challenge yourself physically, and enjoy the comforts of unique and often locally-owned independent lodging full of character and charm.
Given so many options and destinations, you can easily find a beautiful place to walk and explore that meets your skill, comfort, and interest. So, lace up your boots, prepare to breathe in the fresh air, and look forward to enjoying an extraordinary trip that will please all your senses and create memories for a lifetime.
Related Reading
For travelers who love to hike and travel, check out my related articles on favorite outdoor destinations, plus get helpful tips to prep for your trip.
- You Will Love Spending 7 Days in the Bernese Oberland (Switzerland)
- Discover the Best Way to See Vermont: Inn-to-Inn Walking
- The Ultimate Gozo Itinerary: 4 Days Exploring In the Spring (Malta)
- The Best Of Glacier NP: An Action-Packed 4-Day Itinerary
- A 7-Day Dog-Friendly Hiking & Dining Guide for Asheville, NC (US)
- What to Do in Asheville, NC: A 4-Day Insider Friend Getaway Guide (US)
- How to Make the Most of a Week in Acadia National Park (Maine, US)
- 25 Expert Packing Tips to Help You Travel Better
Additional Trip Planning Resources
To further help you with travel planning, I share my go-to resources for every trip below.
Google Flights. My first research stop for affordable flights for every trip. Learn why here.
Google Hotels. Use its “Where to stay” button to discover the best neighborhoods to base your visit.
Booking.com. For hotel and rental bookings, I appreciate its flexible cancellation, candid user reviews, discounts, loyalty program, and easy-to-use interface.
Viator, Get Your Guide, & Airbnb Experiences. Quickly find and book highly-rated tours and activities on these sites.
Google Travel Things to Do & Google Maps. Find more things to do in your destination on Google Travel, then record where you want to visit on a custom Google Maps list.
AllTrails. Love to hike? Me too. I religiously use AllTrails to discover hiking and biking trails and download its offline maps to manage my hikes.
Guide Along. 5-star self-guided audio tours that are GPS-compatible for US road trips and national parks. We loved the Glacier National Park tour.
Insure My Trip. I never travel internationally without trip insurance. Learn why here. My preferred place to shop and compare policies is InsureMyTrip.com.
Plus, check out the 15 travel apps I use on trips, my preferred guidebooks, and my free customizable travel itinerary template, downloadable in four file formats.
About the author: Janice Moskoff is a travel writer and blogger who loves hiking, exploring the world, and reading. She writes to inspire travel-loving families, adult friends, and couples on her blog, Gather and Go Travel. Check out her bio, learn how she became a blogger, and discover how to work with her. Sign up for her monthly Discovery Newsletter to get her latest travel recommendations and how-to’s.
Love to travel? Sign up for my monthly Gather & Go Travel Discovery Newsletter and get a free trip budget calculator.
Affiliate Disclosure: Some of the links on this page may be affiliate links, and at no additional cost to you, I earn a commission if you make a purchase. I only recommend products and companies I use. And the income goes to keeping the site community-supported and ads minimal.
Welcome to Gather and Go Travel, a blog inspiring families, adult friends, and couples to explore US and international destinations and to get outdoors. I am Janice, an experienced traveler to over 50 countries and a travel writer, book lover, and blogger. Learn more about me, read our story, and how to work with me.
Instagram...
love this info?
And receive our FREE Budget Trip Calculator.
