The Collett’s Experience: What makes a supported self-guided walking holiday with Collett’s different?
Author : Lara Ehmler
30th April 2026
Collett’s Mountain Holidays has been planning walking holidays in the Alps since 1997. Today, we are one of the UK’s genuine specialists for a range of walking holidays: guided, self-guided, point-to-point etc. Our mission is to provide treasured opportunities for hikers to explore Europe’s most beautiful walking destinations, whatever their level of fitness.
This article focuses on our centre-based, supported, self-guided walking holidays in Austria, Italy and Switzerland, on which walkers enjoy immense flexibility day to day, whilst putting together a succession of unforgettable walks, designed to keep them in their comfort zone. Our reputation was built on these semi-organised walking holidays, each of which unfolds in truly majestic mountain landscapes. It is a holiday that boasts choice at every turn: arriving and departing on the dates of your choice, staying for as long as you wish; choosing day to day the walk that takes your fancy and suits your level of fitness; opting for 2*, 3* or 4* accommodation in delightfully authentic hotels, handpicked by us.
At the heart of these adventures are two key components. Firstly, the presence of a Collett’s Walks Team, available daily to share local knowledge and help you plan your days. Secondly, your own personal Collett’s Walk Pack, containing a comprehensive Holiday Handbook, 21 winning walks (7 x Easy/Idyllic, 7 x Moderate Classics, 7 x Challenging Treks), a good 1:25,000 walking map, and access to our smartphone app for easy navigation. Read on to discover more..
What is the Collett’s experience?
The Collett’s experience effectively blends an independent walking holiday with optional day-to-day guidance on hand. It addresses the question many walkers wrestle with: how do we walk independently in the mountains without taking on the stress of planning, logistics, and navigation? Here are 4 answers to this question, each one a good reason to book with Collett’s:
- Unforgettable walks for every ability: Every walk in your Collett’s Walk Pack has been researched, documented and regularly assessed by us. Whether you seek out challenging high trails or gentle strolls in wildflower-strewn meadows, our centre-based destinations have been selected to satisfy every level of fitness.
- Handpicked accommodation: Comfortable, characterful, authentic hotels, which are genuinely family-run, carefully chosen and truly delightful. Expect good food, warm hospitality, attractive locations and plenty of comfort. Also, some have exquisite health spas and pools, ideal for soothing muscles after an active day.
- With you every step: From the moment you enquire, we are here to help. Whether you are communicating with Dee or Pete at the booking stage, or chatting with our Walks Team on your destination, we are with you every step of the way.
- Mountain holiday specialists since 1997: We are an independent family-run business with 30 years of creating memorable holidays. Book with confidence – ABTA protected.
How does a Collett’s self-guided hiking holiday work?
Our classic centre-based walking holidays are built around one simple idea: you stay in carefully handpicked accommodation, located somewhere majestic and mountainous, with outstanding access to the tracks and trails that accommodate the walks that define your holiday. Quite simply, day after day, you venture out to explore your sublime surroundings on walks of your choice, all at your own pace. We call these holidays ‘centre-based’ and they are available in the Italian Dolomites, Tuscany, Austrian Alps, and Swiss Alps.
Each day, you choose from your personal Collett’s Walk Pack a hike that takes your fancy. Flexibility is the key to these holidays. Simply do just as you wish from one day to the next, whether you opt for a carefree meander amidst pastures and woodland at low level, or venture higher up to the rocky reaches above the treeline on dramatic high trails. Lazy days (or non-walking days) are fine by us and if you want to rest your legs on a certain day, our Walks Team can offer you plenty of ideas for something memorable, over and above some fabulous proposals in your Holiday Handbook.
Discover Our Centre-Based Holidays
Your Walk Pack & Navigation App
The popularity of our centre-based holidays is based on the ability of independent-minded walkers to self-guide at their leisure, whilst having the daily support of an enthusiastic and knowledgeable team – plus the stimulating content of our comprehensive Walk Pack.
Your Walk Pack includes:
- Winning Walks – tried and tested, across a range of fitness levels
- A detailed 1:25000 area map
- A comprehensive Handbook covering your destination, local walks, travel advice and much more.
- A Navigation App – with our mobile navigation App you can follow your chosen route on your smartphone in real time.
The physical notes combine with digital navigation to make for plain-sailing days out in remarkable landscapes. Every hike is checked annually by us and we are constantly reviewing the quality of our walks. Our reputation for providing the very best walking options within each destination is hard-earned, but worth every step.
The Collett’s Walks Team: Daily Support & Local Knowledge
From us lot in our UK Office, to the enthusiastic members of our Walks Teams in each of our centre-based destinations we pride ourselves on enhancing your booking and holiday experience at every stage. This is done through our attention-to-detail, our local knowledge and a dedicated focus on the success of your stay. From the moment you make your initial holiday enquiry, right through to the end of an unforgettable holiday, we are here to help, support and inform.
In our destinations, whilst careful not to interfere, help and advice is always at hand, either every early evening at ‘Office Hour’ or simply by contacting our Walks Team by phone or text.
Meet our Austrian Walks Team
The Collett’s Office Hour
Office Hour has become a Collett’s institution over many years. Optional and informal, it is a chance for you and other guests to meet up with our friendly Walks Team to plan your days. Over maps, Walk Notes and a relaxing pre-dinner drink, guests share stories about their walks and ask questions to help them get the next day sorted.
You will surely admire the infectious enthusiasm our Walks Team has for certain walks, which are personal favourites, sharing their knowledge in a way that no guide book can. Moreover, there is a safety dimension to their role, informing guests of changes in condition on certain routes, or perhaps a weather warning of some sort. They also enjoy recommending mountain huts (known locally as ‘rifugios’ in Italy, ‘alms’ in Austria and ‘hutte’ in Switzerland) in case you are seeking out a good lunch-stop with amazing views.
Office Hour is also where friendships form. Our guests Neil and Heather, who stayed with us in the Dolomites, met another couple during Office Hour. The following morning, all four of them set off together on the challenging Pinnacles Walk, a route they might not have chosen if venturing out on their own. But it is a walk of stunning panoramas across the Alta Badia, a visit to the sparkling waters of Lake Boe, and several close encounters with comical marmots.
Read the full story
Handpicked Accommodation
Our carefully-selected hotels are more than a place to sleep. After an inspirational mountain walk, they provide comfort, relaxation and fabulous food, no doubt well-earned! At Collett’s, we understand the importance of authentic hospitality, attention-to-detail and the essential mix of feeling ‘at home’ yet simultaneously enjoying that sense of self-indulgence. Over the years, we have made great friendships with the families that provide our accommodation and this has positive repercussions for our guests.
In a nutshell, our hotels offer authentic alpine character, warm hospitality, excellent food, and beautiful bedrooms. Also, depending on which one you opt for, you are likely to enjoy the relaxation and/or invigoration of stunning health spa. Ultimately, the common denominator for all our accommodation is a location that serves as an ideal springboard for venturing out on walks and exploring your sublime surroundings.
Read more about the exceptional experience of our guests Elaine & David at the Hotel Sonnenspitze in the Austrian Alps.
Read The ReviewReady to experience it for yourself?
A Collett’s self-guided walking holiday is, at its heart, a very simple thing: brilliant tried & tested walks, in extraordinary mountain destinations, with expert support whenever you need it and complete independence when you don’t.
