Walking Holidays

Setting off across grassy foothills or through verdant summer valleys on foot is simply the most wonderful way fully to appreciate the natural beauty of our Lakes & Mountains resorts.

Snow-capped peaks glint up above, lakes sparkle below, and traditionally picturesque villages cling to the slopes in the distance, while tumbling mountain streams, bird-song and distant cowbells provide the sound-track to the day.

Small wonder then, that so many of you return to the lure of the Alps year after year with us, choosing precisely the style of walking holiday, whether taxing or relaxing, that you please.

See our walking holidays online >

Walking in your own time

Possibly the simplest way of stretching the legs is to explore local trails independently, from gentle strolls to all day hikes. Options are outlined in all resort introductions, such as lift passes up to the higher trails in many Austrian resorts and the availability of pre-bookable maps.

Walking Maps - Available to Purchase for £6.95.

A good quality walking map of the local area is crucial for independent hikers. We are delighted to be offering top quality local professional walking maps to over 40 of our most popular walking destinations.

Further good news is that these maps will be posted to you at home well in advance of your departure date, so you can have all the pleasure of planning ahead and looking forward to your chosen walking highlights.

Please note these are good quality local walking maps, not 'walking guides', and may not include descriptions of the walks in English.

Walking maps are available in the following Countries and Resorts:

Italy: Lake Trasimeno, Selva. Slovenia: Kranjska Gora, Lake Bled, Lake Bohinj, Bovec. Austria: Alpbach, Ellmau, Filzmoos, Fuschl, Igls, Ischgl /Galtür, Kaprun, Kitzbühel, Lech, Mayrhofen, Obergurgl, Pertisau / Lake Achensee, Saalbach & Hinterglemm, Seefeld, Söll, St. Anton, St. Gilgen, St. Johann, St. Wolfgang, Westendorf, The Wildschönau Valley: Niederau-Oberau-Auffach, Zell am See, Neustift, St Johann, Walking in the Wilder Kaiser. Switzerland: Davos, Grindelwald, Interlaken, Kandersteg, Klosters, Merligen, Mürren, Saas-Fee, Wengen, Wilderswil, Zermatt. France: Belle Plagne, Chamonix & Les Houches, Morzine

Inghams Guided Wanderwalks

Exclusive to Inghams, this is a pre-bookable guided walking programme of 2-3 varied walks per week, guided by your Inghams Rep or a qualified English-speaking mountaineering guide , in many of our selected resorts across Europe and Canada.

Suitable for all levels, these walks vary in duration and difficulty, ranging from one to five hours, and will show you the best views, flora and fauna of the mountains - a great way to explore the area and get to know your Rep and fellow guests.

There is no pressure whatsoever to join in, but the walks are generally well subscribed, so you can simply pay a registration fee at the time of booking to safeguard your place, or, space permitting, arrange with your Rep on arrival in resort. See the resort pages for further details and descriptions of the walks in each area.
We aim to provide walks suitable for all levels during the week, and for extra guidance, routes are graded as follows:- 

Key to Grades

Easy: Gentle walks with some uphill sections. 

Moderate: Pleasant rambles, mostly on well marked paths, over varied terrain, and usually with more uphill/downhill than easy walks. Minimum age 14 years. 

Slightly Challenging: More demanding hikes over varied terrain, sometimes at altitude, and where trails may be less defined in parts, so reasonable health and fitness is required. Minimum age 14 years. 

Hotel Guided Walks

Many of our hotels offer their own weekly programmes of guided walks with professional guides, often exclusively for Inghams guests, and completely free of charge - look out in individual hotel descriptions.

Walking in Austria

Austria is a walker’s paradise, with hundreds of miles of well marked trails through some of the most pristine natural environments in Europe. From the high mountain trails of the Tyrolean Oberland in the West, to the more gentle terrain of central Tyrol, and the hills around Austria’s ‘Lake District’, there is something for everybody. Choose from guided walks run by Inghams, your hotel, or the tourist office, or simply take a map and explore yourself. Paths are well sign posted and with the easy use of cable-cars and gondolas to help you reach the tops of the mountains, you can relax and enjoy the views and the descents. So grab your walking boots and get back to nature! Drink in the pure mountain air, watch the wildlife and photograph the stunning scenery – you will feel invigorated and fulfilled at the end of every day.

Walking is the big draw for many of our guests coming to Austria who return time and time again to experience the purity of the nature and the easy access to the most unpoilt parts of this beautiful country.

To save you time planning on arrival, New for Summer 2013 we have greatly expanded the walking descriptions on all resort pages and we have listed our favourite and most popular walks - many of which come recommended by our resort Reps, who know the areas the best!

High Alpine Areas | For rugged and dramatic mountain trails, remote sparkling lakes, spectacular ridge walks, snowfields and glaciers, we recommend:

Ischgl & Galtür, Obergurgl, Neustift (Stubai Glacier), Lech, St Anton, Kaprun, Mayrhofen

Lower Alpine Areas | For rolling hills, verdant valleys, meadows and pastureland I Most resorts offer this idyllic rural scenery, but special mentions go to:

Alpbach, Filzmoos, Seefeld & Leutasch, Saalbach-Hinterglemm, Söll, Ellmau, Westendorf, The Wildschönau Valley: Niederau-Oberau-Auffach.

Short Walks | For panoramic viewing points accessible by lift, gentle paths and lake-side strolls try:

St Wolfgang, St. Gilgen, Zell am See, The Wildschönau Valley: Niederau-Oberau-Auffach, Neustift, Seefeld.

Alpine Flora & Fauna
Nature lovers are well catered for wherever they go in Austria. In the early part of the summer the meadows are awash with wild flowers, and higher up it is easy to find alpine roses, gentians and orchids on the side of trails. Remember, the higher you climb, the later the flowers will be in bloom! There is ample opportunity to spot wildlife, including marmots, chamoix, ptmigan and ibex.

Getting Around
There are good networks of chairlifts, gondolas and cable-cars in most villages which transport hikers to viewpoints and peaks in the summer months. In many resorts there are special walkers’ buses which stop at the start and end points of walks. Please note that some lifts only open mid June-mid September.

Resort Cards & Walkers’ Lift Passes
(Pre-bookable)
In most resorts a resort card or walkers’ lift pass can be purchased (in some resorts it is given Free - see below), which include unlimited use of lifts and walker’s buses, as well as Free or discounted entrance to local attractions. Prices and inclusions vary across resorts. See individual resort pages for details.

Resort Cards Free

All cable-cars, gondolas and walkers’ buses are Free to guests in the following resorts:

• Ischgl & Galtür - Silvretta Card (New for 2013)
• Lech - Summer Active Card
• Albpach - Alpbachtal Seenland Card
• Saalbach-Hinterglemm - Joker Card
• Söll/Ellmau/Westendorf (buses & cable-cars only)
• Zell Am See & Kaprun (selected hotels only)
• St. Anton (Hotel Post only)

Nordic Walking

Nordic walking is an excellent way to keep fit and is much like a summer version of cross-country skiing. Nordic Walkers use poles similar to ski poles to work the upper body and for extra speed. Some hotels and tourist offices offer Free Nordic pole hire, guided walks and instruction.

We recommend:

• Ellmau
• Filzmoos
• Hinterglemm
• Ischgl & Galtür
• Neustift
• Seefeld
• St. Anton

Mountain Hut Overnight Stays

A special way to experience the serenity and beauty of the mountains is to stay overnight at a remote (warmly furnished) mountain hut, high above the village. A guided walk to the hut, followed by a traditional Tyrolean supper and a hearty breakfast the next morning, are offered
Free of charge to guests at the following hotels:

• Edelweiss & Gurgl Obergurgl - ‘Ramol Hut’ at 3,000m

• Alpenhotel Fernau Neustift - ‘Dresdener Alm’

Walking in the Wilder Kaiser

New Inghams Walk Holiday

Explore one of Austria’s prettiest walking areas on this single-centre walking holiday from your base in Söll or Ellmau, with an expert mountain guide and a small group of like-minded Inghams guests! For further information, click here.

Hidden Chamonix Photographic Walks

Following the success of her recent photo exhibition 'Interiors, Artist Workshops and Gardens', you can now join Teresa Kaufman on a series of walks in the Chamonix Valley to discover the inspiration for her work.

There is a choice of walks every week which last approximately 2-2½ hours looking for original views and perspectives of traditional mountain architecture and artifacts, and you will also meet several characters including artisans, gardeners, artists and chefs. Take time to observe, admire and photograph the quaint hamlets of the valley. These walks however are not just for photographers but for anyone wanting to discover a little bit of hidden Chamonix.

The walks are along small roads and country paths so good walking shoes and appropriate clothing is required. The walks costs £13 per person and can be booked through your Inghams Rep in resort.

The walks may change from week to week, but below is a sample of the types of walks offered:

• Sunny Gardens Facing Mont Blanc in Chamonix, meeting gardeners including a tour with a well known chef of his vegetable garden.

• Perspective, Passageways and Fine Cuisine in Chamonix, discovering little known areas, parks and courtyards and a chance to see a well known chef at work.

• Craftsmen, Gardens and Traditional Architecture in Vallorcine, discovering the ancient traditions of this village and even meeting wood working craftsman.

• Coupeau, Les Houches, Golden Rays in the Afternoon, an exceptional location where the sun lingers, ideal for sunset photography.

• Servoz, a beautiful village, visiting chef and artists.

Walking in France: Chamonix

Tourist Office Walks

Village tourist offices also often run free guided walking programmes, open to all visitors in resort. See resort descriptions for details.
We recommend the 'Dolomites Discovery' walking programme in Selva, Italy.

See all our walking holidays online >

Cycling Holidays

Exploring on two wheels

Stay active and energetic on holiday as astounding scenery unfolds before your eyes. When you trace the curve of a gently lapping lake or the contours of rolling hills by bicycle, you have the freedom to venture further afield around your chosen resort. Better still, you do so at a pace that suits you, while still feeling very much connected to the incredible places you discover along the way.

At Your Own Speed

The vast majority of resorts we've brought you in this brochure are perfect for exploring in the saddle, many criss-crossed with scenic, clearly marked tracks that may lead through nature-rich woods, across flower-decked pastures or alongside mirrored lakes. Many resorts also entice the more adventurous out onto miles of mountain bike trails, ranging from the easy-going to the truly challenging. 

Inghams Guided Cycling

If you join us in the Austrian hamlet of Leutasch, you can also set off on a one of our exclusive two-hour guided cycle tours. Led by a representative with excellent local knowledge, various rides offer the chance to meet fellow Inghams guests as you pedal past pine-lined lakes, cattle-dotted pastures and imposing mountain peaks. 

Easy Rider

It couldn't be simpler to get started, as bicycle hire is widely available in hotels and shops around the resorts. Some of our hotels offer free cycle hire, and a few even arrange a weekly programme of guided cycling for guests. Look out for details on the individual resort pages.

Free Bike Hire

A great way to get out and about and explore the stunning scenery on your doorstep. Many hotels offer Free bike hire for guests, ranging from touring bikes to mountain bikes for riding the trails! See also our E-Bike programme in Austria.

Lakes & Mountains Holidays Days Out 

Inghams Excursions

There is a life-time’s worth of places to explore in every one of our chosen countries. From the major must-do sights to smaller hidden gems, by joining one of our coach excursions you get a feel for the country you are visiting and make the most of your time away. We will show you festivals, natural wonders, history and culture, and your Inghams Rep will be on hand to share their knowledge and make every day out run smoothly.

We have compiled an enticing range of excursions in each destination. Some excursions can be booked in advance when you confirm your holiday and others can be purchased in resort from your resort representative. Details and prices of all our excursions are shown on the resort pages.

If you haven't taken advantage already, you can arrange your excursions prior to your arrival in resort. Many people prefer to pre-book prior to departure from the UK, enabling them to arrive in resort with minimal organisation required. In addition, if you pre-book more than 4 weeks prior to departure, adding excursions to your booking is free (or £15 if within 4 weeks prior to departure).

Inghams Plus – Sightseeing Savings

Free Excursions

Take advantage of our special offers in Switzerland and Canada where we include a Free excursion or activity for Inghams guests. Look out for trips such as cable cars, sightseeing tours and boat trips on resort pages. 

Half-Price Swiss Travel

The fantastic and scenic Swiss transport network makes exploring independently by bus, rail, boat, cable car or mountain railway a pleasure. We include a half-price card entitling you to 50% discounts on a range of day trips from many of our Swiss resorts.

Save up to 10% in Austria

The more you see, the more value you get in Austria! With such a selection of excursion options in Austria, you can take advantage of this extra value.
• Pre-book 3 excursions and save 10%   • Pre-book 2 excursions and save 5%