Europe Adventure Tours

Yes! Europe is one of our favorite places in the world for active travel. In a remarkably concentrated area, you can trek beneath the glaciers of Mont Blanc, hike among the limestone spires of the Dolomites, walk ancient pilgrimage routes across Spain, kayak Norway’s fjords, and explore remote mountain villages in the Balkans. Europe’s centuries-old network of trails, mountain huts, and charming villages means you can hike all day through wild country and still end most evenings with a hot shower, regional cuisine, and a glass of local wine.

We’ve been leading adventures in the Alps for more than 50 years, and today our Europe collection includes more than 40 guided hiking, multi-adventure, and cultural discovery trips in more than 20 countries.

Learn more: Europe Hiking & Trekking Tours

It depends on the experience you’re interested in. These are the regions our guests return to again and again:

The Alps: Europe’s iconic high-mountain treks, including the Tour du Mont Blanc through France, Italy, and Switzerland, the Haute Route from Chamonix to Zermatt, and the Eiger to Matterhorn Trek.
The Dolomites: Dramatic limestone towers, rifugio stays, and Italian-Ladin culture in northern Italy.
The Mediterranean: Coastal trails, island hikes, and sea kayaking on the Amalfi Coast, Cinque Terre, Corsica, Madeira, Croatia’s Adriatic coast, and the Greek islands.
Britain and Ireland: England’s Coast to Coast, the Lake District and Snowdonia, Scotland’s Western Isles, and Ireland from north to south.
Northern Europe: Hiking and kayaking among Norway’s fjords and mountains, and Iceland’s glaciers, volcanoes, and waterfalls.
The Balkans and Eastern Europe: The Via Dinarica, Slovenia’s Julian Alps, and Romania’s Via Transilvanica, for travelers who want to get off the beaten path.

For a cultural journey on foot, the Camino de Santiago is hard to beat.

Our multi-adventure trips combine two or more activities, such as hiking, sea kayaking, rafting and boat excursions, so you experience a destination from multiple perspectives. They’re a great fit for active travelers who enjoy variety.

A few of our favorites:

Croatia Zagreb to Split Multi-Adventure: Seven days including waterfalls at Plitvice Lakes, canyon hiking in Paklenica National Park, sea kayaking on the Adriatic, and rafting the Cetina River.
Slovenia, Croatia & Montenegro Grand Traverse: A 14-day journey from Lake Bled and Triglav National Park to the Dalmatian coast and Dubrovnik, with summit hikes and Adriatic paddling along the way.
Norway Mountains & Fjords Multi-Adventure: Nine days with hiking in Jotunheimen National Park and kayaking near Geirangerfjord.
Greece Tinos, Naxos & Santorini Multi-Adventure: An eight-day combination of village-to-village hikes, a climb of Mount Zas on Naxos, and paddling beneath Santorini’s volcanic cliffs.

Learn more: Europe Multi-Adventure Tours

Yes! Our cultural discovery trips pair moderate walks and hikes with the history, cuisine, and local traditions that make Europe so rewarding. On our 12-day Turkey Istanbul, Cappadocia & the Coast trip, you’ll explore Byzantine and Ottoman Istanbul, Cappadocia’s underground cities and valleys, and ancient Lycian sites along the Mediterranean. Our Croatia, Slovenia & Italy Village to Village Walking trip blends hilltop towns, truffle hunting, and Lake Bled with more relaxed days on trail.

If you’d like to end each day in style, our premier lodging trips feature four- and five-star hotels, exceptional dining and our expert local guides. Options include Spain & Morocco with Premier Lodging, a Level 2 journey from the Alhambra in Granada to the medina of Fes, as well as Dolomites Hiking with Premier Lodging and Chamonix & Courmayeur Hiking with Premier Lodging.

Learn more: Europe Cultural Discovery Tours

Europe’s main season for active travel runs from May through October, but the more specific ideal timing varies by region:

High Alps and Dolomites: Late June to mid-September. This is when mountain huts are open and high passes are typically clear of snow. July and August are the busiest months; September brings crisp air and increased solitude.
Mediterranean (Spain, Portugal, Italy’s coast, Croatia, Greece): Spring (April–June) and fall (September–October), when temperatures are comfortable for hiking, paddling, and exploring historic towns. The summer months (July-August) can be very hot.
Iceland, Norway, and Scotland: June through August, when the weather is most pleasant and the days are up to 24 hours long.
The Camino de Santiago: Our departures run in spring and fall, when the weather in northern Spain is ideal for long days of walking.

Because the most popular trips fill early, we recommend booking summer Alpine trips well in advance.

Our Europe trips range from Level 2 village-to-village walks to Level 5 high-mountain treks, so we offer trips for a broad range of fitness levels. Our multi-adventure trips mix hiking with kayaking, rafting, and other activities, while our cultural discovery and premier lodging trips generally fall at the gentler end of the scale. Every MT Sobek trip is rated on our 1 to 5 activity scale, (1 is the easiest, 5 is the most demanding) and each itinerary details daily mileage, elevation gain, and quality of terrain.

For example, our Tour du Mont Blanc is a Level 4 trek with 10 consecutive hiking days of 6 to 7 hours, roughly 8 to 12 miles a day, and up to 4,200 feet of elevation gain and loss. The Alps Haute Route is one of our Level 5 trips, designed for expert trekkers in excellent physical condition.

Whatever level you choose, we strongly recommend training with multiple hiking days per week, plenty of hills or stairs, and wearing the hiking shoes or boots you plan to wear on the trip. Your Adventure Coordinator can help you match the right trip to your abilities.

Absolutely. Most of our scheduled Europe trips can also be booked as a private departure for your family or friends on the dates you choose, with your own guide and the same carefully planned itineraries.

We also offer several private-only itineraries, including Dolomites Cortina d’Ampezzo Private Hiking, France Mont Blanc Hiking Private Adventure and Treasures of Sicily Walking with Premier Lodging. These trips take the guess-work out of planning, while still providing the benefits of traveling with your own group.

If you have something else in mind, such as a family reunion, milestone celebration, or a route that combines several countries, our Custom Team can design a Europe adventure around your interests, level of fitness, and travel dates.

Absolutely. Many of our guests travel solo, and small groups of typically 16 or fewer make it easy to connect with like-minded travelers. It’s common for guests who meet on an MT Sobek trip to become long-term friends.

If you’d like your own room, most trips offer a limited number of private rooms for a single supplement. If you’re comfortable sharing, our Single-Share Program will try to match you with a same-gender roommate. Book at least 96 days before departure and we charge 50% of the single supplement, which we refund if we find you a match.

Learn more: Frequently Asked Questions

For most of our Europe destinations, US citizens do not need a visa for tourist stays of up to 90 days within any 180-day period in the Schengen Area, which includes most EU countries plus Switzerland, Norway, and Iceland. Your passport should be valid for at least three months beyond your departure date from the Schengen Area, and the US State Department recommends six months.

A few changes are worth knowing about. The EU’s Entry/Exit System (EES) now registers travelers’ fingerprints and a photo at the border on their first visit. The EU also plans to require ETIAS, an online travel authorization for visa-exempt visitors, and has said it will announce the start date several months before launch. For trips to England, Scotland or Wales, US citizens need a UK Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) purchased online before departure. Rules differ for countries outside the Schengen Area, such as Ireland and parts of the Balkans.

Entry requirements can change, so please check travel.state.gov before you travel. We’ll also send country-specific guidance before your trip.