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All Holiday Types

Active Holidays

Hiking, cycling, climbing and more: the best destinations for sporty travellers and nature lovers who want to stay active on holiday.

Where is the best place for an active holiday?

Top destinations for an active holiday are the Tyrolean Alps and the Dolomites for hiking and climbing, Mallorca for cycling, Norway for spectacular hikes, the Camino de Santiago for long-distance walkers and Nepal for trekking. Beginners do well with day hikes in the Alps; experienced travellers can try hut-to-hut tours or high-altitude treks.

Why is an active holiday more restful than lazing around?

It sounds paradoxical, but exercise is more restorative than doing nothing. Those who hike, cycle or climb on holiday come back more relaxed and energized than from a pure beach holiday. The body moves, the mind clears, and nature provides the best reset button.

Active holidays don't mean pushing yourself to the limit. They mean experiencing the world in the most intense way: reaching the summit and letting your gaze sweep across the valley. Rolling through vineyards on a bike. Swimming in a mountain lake that you hiked to reach.

Whether it's Alpine hiking, the Camino de Santiago, a road cycling tour in Mallorca or trekking in Nepal – this guide shows you the best destinations for active travellers and gives you tips for planning and equipment.

Which destinations are best for an active holiday?

From Alpine peaks to Himalayan trekking – these destinations get you moving.

Martin Zangerl / Unsplash

Tyrolean Alps

Austria

The ultimate paradise for hiking and climbing: Over 24,000 km of marked hiking trails, via ferratas for every level, and more than 500 managed mountain huts. Tyrol offers everything from family hikes to high alpine tours.

Best Time: June to OctoberBudget: $$Travel: approx. 3-5 hours drive from Munich

Highlights:

Adlerweg – 413 km across Tyrol

Via Ferrata Innsbruck Nordkette

E5 Long-Distance Hiking Trail Oberstdorf-Meran

Mountain biking trails in Söll and Leogang

Martin Zangerl / Unsplash

Tina Kempka / Unsplash

Camino de Santiago

Spain / France

The most famous long-distance hiking trail in the world: 800 km from Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Port to Santiago de Compostela. The Camino is much more than a hike – it is a journey to oneself. Pilgrim hostels make it surprisingly affordable.

Best Time: April to June, September to OctoberBudget: $Travel: approx. 2 hours to Bilbao/Biarritz

Highlights:

800 km Camino Frances (classic route)

Pilgrim hostels (Albergues) from €5

Cathedral of Santiago de Compostela

Meet pilgrims from all over the world

Tina Kempka / Unsplash

Hans-Joachim Kaiser / Unsplash

Norway

Scandinavia

Fjords, glacier hikes, midnight sun and some of the most spectacular hiking trails in the world. Norway offers outdoor experiences that are unparalleled in Europe – Trolltunga and Preikestolen are absolute bucket-list destinations.

Best Time: June to SeptemberBudget: $$$Travel: approx. 2.5 hours from Germany

Highlights:

Trolltunga hike (Tongue Rock)

Preikestolen (Pulpit Rock)

Lofoten – hiking and kayaking

Jostedalsbreen glacier hike

Hans-Joachim Kaiser / Unsplash

Austin Farrington / Unsplash

Mallorca

Spain

Europe's most popular cycling destination: The Serra de Tramuntana offers challenging mountain roads for road cyclists, while the flatlands are perfect for leisurely cycling. Even professionals train here in spring.

Best Time: March to May, September to NovemberBudget: $$Travel: approx. 2 hours from Germany

Highlights:

Serra de Tramuntana by road bike

Sa Calobra – legendary ascent

Bike rentals and organised tours

Combination: cycling + beach

Austin Farrington / Unsplash

Toomas Tartes / Unsplash

Nepal

South Asia

The trekking paradise for advanced hikers: Annapurna Circuit, Everest Base Camp Trek and Langtang Valley offer some of the best trekking routes in the world. Plus, affordable tea house accommodations and the friendliest people.

Best Time: October to November, March to AprilBudget: $Travel: approx. 10 hours from Germany

Highlights:

Annapurna Circuit (160 km in 12-21 days)

Everest Base Camp Trek

Tea house trekking (no tents needed)

Pokhara – Nepal's outdoor capital

Toomas Tartes / Unsplash

Sven / Unsplash

Dolomites

South Tyrol, Italy

UNESCO World Natural Heritage with the most spectacular rock formations in the Alps. The Dolomites offer via ferratas, long-distance hiking trails, mountain biking trails and skiing in winter. Plus, South Tyrolean cuisine in the mountain huts.

Best Time: June to OctoberBudget: $$Travel: approx. 4 hours drive from Munich

Highlights:

Three Peaks Circuit

Alta Via 1 Long-Distance Hiking Trail

Via ferratas at Rosengarten

Mountain biking on the Alpe di Siusi

Sven / Unsplash

How do the active holiday destinations compare?

The 6 destinations differ mainly in budget, travel time and best season, for example Tyrolean Alps (Jun–Oct), Camino de Santiago (Apr–Oct) and Norway (Jun–Sep). The table compares all values side by side.

Destination	Budget	Travel	Season	Type
Tyrolean Alps	$$	3-5h drive	Jun–Oct	Hiking & Climbing
Camino de Santiago	$	2h flight	Apr–Oct	Long-Distance Hiking
Norway	$$$	2.5h flight	Jun–Sep	Fjords & Trekking
Mallorca	$$	2h flight	Mar–Nov	Road Cycling
Nepal	$	10h flight	Oct–Nov	High-Altitude Trekking
Dolomites	$$	4h drive	Jun–Oct	Via Ferratas & MTB

What tips help on an active holiday?

These 10 tips help most, above all: Honestly assess your fitness level, Start early, arrive early and Reserve mountain huts. The details for each point follow below.

Honestly assess your fitness level

Don’t overestimate yourself when choosing a route. It’s better to enjoy an easier tour than to have to abandon a difficult one. Hiking portals like Komoot show difficulty levels.

Start early, arrive early

In the mountains, thunderstorms often develop in the afternoon. Start day hikes early (7-8 am) and plan to be back by 2-3 pm.

Reserve mountain huts

Popular huts are often fully booked weeks in advance during peak season. Reserve online through the Alpine Club websites.

Layers instead of a thick jacket

The layering principle is invaluable in the outdoors: base layer (merino), insulation layer (fleece/down), weather layer (hardshell). This way, you are prepared for any weather.

Most underestimate trekking poles

Light trekking poles can relieve the knees by up to 25%. Especially downhill and with a backpack, this makes a huge difference.

Book local guides

A local guide knows the best paths, the dangers, and the stories of the region. For via ferratas and high tours, this is often even mandatory.

Use Komoot and Outdooractive

The best apps for route planning and navigation. Save routes offline, GPS tracking and community reviews help with planning.

Don’t underestimate nutrition

Plan for about 0.5 litres of water per hour of hiking. Energy bars, nuts and dried fruit are the best snacks for on the go.

Mosquito and tick protection

In many hiking areas (especially Scandinavia), mosquitoes are a concern. Pack a head net and DEET-containing spray. Check for ticks after hikes.

Alpine Club membership

For €60-70/year, you get mountain rescue insurance, hut discounts (50%) and access to courses. It pays off from the second night in a hut.

Which tools help you plan?

3 free HolidayGenie tools help you plan: Budget Calculator, Packing List and Holiday Finder. They run directly in your browser and complement the destination tips on this page.

Budget Calculator

Calculate your travel budget

Packing List

Create your packing list

Holiday Finder

Find your perfect destination

Frequently asked questions

Which destinations are best for an active holiday?

Top active holiday destinations include the Tyrolean Alps with more than 24,000 km of marked hiking trails, Norway with spectacular hikes such as Trolltunga and Preikestolen, and Mallorca as Europe’s most popular cycling destination. The 800 km Camino de Santiago is ideal for long-distance walkers, while the Dolomites in South Tyrol offer via ferratas and mountain biking. For experienced trekkers, Nepal with the Annapurna Circuit and Everest Base Camp Trek is a dream destination.

What types of active holidays are there?

The most popular forms are hiking holidays in the Alps or on long-distance trails, cycling trips in Mallorca or along European cycle routes, climbing and via ferratas in the Dolomites, trekking in Nepal or Patagonia, and water sports such as kayaking, surfing or white-water rafting. Mountain biking, ski touring in winter and multi-day hut-to-hut tours are also in high demand. Guided group trips with professional guides are ideal for beginners.

Is an active holiday suitable for families with children?

Absolutely, there are plenty of family-friendly options. Tyrol and the Dolomites have easy hiking trails with playgrounds and adventure stations designed for children. Bike rides on flat paths along rivers such as the Danube or Elbe cycle routes are manageable even for younger children. It is important to adapt routes to the children’s age and fitness, plan enough breaks and make hikes playful.

What fitness level do you need for an active holiday?

That depends heavily on the activity. Easy day hikes in the Alps or leisurely bike rides in Mallorca are doable for anyone with normal basic fitness. Long-distance trails like the Camino de Santiago require stamina for 20–25 km of walking a day. High-altitude trekking in Nepal or demanding via ferratas require good physical condition and ideally some training beforehand. As a rule: it is better to enjoy an easier tour than to abandon one that is too hard.

How much does an active holiday cost?

An active holiday can be surprisingly cheap. On the Camino de Santiago, pilgrim hostels from 5 euros a night and self-catering cost only 20–30 euros a day. Hut hikes in the Alps cost 40–70 euros a day with an Alpine Club membership. A cycling week in Mallorca with bike hire and hotel starts at around 600 euros. Trekking in Nepal is very affordable at 30–50 euros a day including guide and teahouses. The main costs are usually equipment and travel, not the stay itself.

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Which other holiday types might suit you?

If you like Active Holidays, you may also enjoy Abenteuerurlaub, Winterurlaub and Nachhaltiges Reisen. For every holiday type we show the best destinations with travel season, budget and insider tips.

Toomas Tartes / Unsplash

Adventure Holidays

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Winter Holidays

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