Why go on a self-guided walking holiday?
Author : Lara Ehmler
28th May 2025
At Collett’s, we have been planning walking holidays in the Alps since 1997. It is unquestionably the best way to explore Europe’s most spectacular mountain destinations. Self-guided walking holidays are perfect for independently-minded walkers, who prefer doing things at their own pace, defining their own itineraries and truly immersing themselves in local culture.
But why go on a self-guided walking holiday? Read on to discover the benefits of our self-guided walking holiday and learn more about the tried and tested Collett’s approach.
What is a Collett’s self-guided walking holiday?
In simple terms, instead of joining a group led by a guide, during a Collett’s self-guided walking holiday you do the navigating. But this does not mean we leave you to your own devices. A Collett’s centre-based self-guided walking holiday comes with a Walk Pack, containing a comprehensive Holiday Handbook, along with a meticulously researched selection of tried & tested routes, from the easy and idyllic, to the hard and challenging. The one thing these walks have in common is that they are truly unforgettable, such is the wealth of breath-taking scenery. Moreover, in addition to your personal Walk Pack, for complete confidence and reassurance, we provide you with access to our GPS smartphone navigation App – plus daily access to our dedicated Walks Team, whose local knowledge and enthusiasm for the destination will ensure you a succession of awe-inspiring hikes.
Also, on our centre-based walking holidays in the Dolomites, Swiss Alps and Austrian Alps you have the option to arrive and depart on the dates of your choice, staying for as long as you wish. But not all our walking holidays in Europe are centre-based…
Our different types of self-guided walking holidays
At Collett’s, we specialise in providing self-guided walking holidays for all abilities in Europe’s best hiking destinations. Our main focus is on mountains, but we also feature destinations, which are coastal or hilly – or both! I refer to our walking holidays in Tuscany, Portugal and the south coast of France. Either way, our three self-guided walking holiday types are as follows:
- Our Centre-based holidays – stay in fabulous hotel accommodation in a mountain village, from which walks radiate in all directions. Spend your stay exploring your heavenly surroundings, choosing your walks daily from your own personal Walk Pack, which contains comprehensive route notes for approximately 20 walks to suit all levels of fitness, plus a 1:25000 topographical map and a Holiday Handbook. You also have daily access to our resident Walks Team, who are here to ensure you get the very best from your Walk Pack.
- Our Village-to-Village holidays – walk point-to-point between charming villages, whilst we take care of transferring your luggage to your next overnight stop. Whether you prefer a gentle route along Portugal’s Atlantic Coast, or a mountainous traverse of Corsica, or a high alpine trek in Switzerland, these holidays combine a sense of adventure with comfortable accommodation in traditional villages.
- Our Hut-to-Hut holidays – walk point-to-point high up in the Dolomites and stay in traditional mountain huts, many of which are increasingly comfortable. Whilst time on the mountain is extensive, these holidays are not exclusively designed for experienced walkers. We cater for different walking abilities, from the more moderate-grade Grand Tour of the Alta Badia to the demanding Alta Via 2, with much in between.
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How do self-guided walking holidays work?
With Collett’s, the process is wonderfully simple: You do the walking, we do the rest!
What we do:
- All accommodation arrangements: Relax in carefully selected, authentic, family-run hotels with fabulous local cuisine and genuinely warm hospitality.
- Transport & Luggage Transfer: Depending on your holiday, we provide airport transfer services and take care of transporting your luggage between overnight stops.
- Memorable Walks & Walk Notes: We provide you with detailed printed Walk Notes that include a selection of tried & tested, winning routes for all fitness levels, 1:25,000 local map, and a holiday handbook.
- GPS files + App Navigation: In addition to your printed Walk Notes, you will receive access to our GPS Smartphone App to further support your navigation.
- Our Walks Team: During our centre-based holidays, we invite you to join us at Office Hour each early evening, an opportunity to ask questions to our local Walks Team and plan your days over a sociable aperitif with us and other guests.
What you do:
- You head on memorable walks amidst stunning mountain scenery at your own pace.
- You stay in wonderful places in good accommodation with warm hospitality and exceptional cuisine.
- You walk at your own pace – and, by the way, non-walking, lazy days are fine by us on our centre-based holidays, should you need a relaxing break from the walking! Simply ask the Walks Team for ideas and information on how to indulge in a lazy day – or visit a local place of interest.
Curious about what our guests think of our centre-based holidays? Read Heather & Neil’s review of their first Collett’s holiday in the Dolomites.
Read The ReviewFAQ – Answering your self-guided walking holiday questions
Here are some of the most commonly asked questions about our self-guided walking holidays.
Is a self-guided walking holiday suitable for beginners?
Absolutely. One of the biggest benefits of a Collett’s self-guided walking holiday is that you can choose walks that correspond directly with your fitness level and experience. That said, it is highly recommended that you know how to read a map, understand contour lines, gen up on essential mountain safety procedures, and choose walks with the weather (and your fitness) in mind.
At Collett’s, our local Walks Team can help you select walks that are appropriate for your experience and fitness level. Many of our routes offer gentler options that still deliver incredible scenery and a rewarding day out. And with our Walk Notes and GPS navigation, even first-timers can feel confident navigating the trails. We have also written a series of blogs about beginner-friendly walks in Austria and the Dolomites to whet your appetite and make effective plans for a successful trip.
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Are self-guided walking holidays more budget-friendly?
In most cases, yes, as guides themselves do not come cheaply. At Collett’s we have selected our centre-based destinations and most of our point-to-point holidays so that there is minimal need for rental cars or taxi transfers. During our Switzerland walking holiday, you’ll receive a complimentary Mountain Pass, which provides you with access to local buses, mountain trains and cable cars. This has considerable value and literally saves you hundreds of pounds. The same goes for our Dolomites centre-based holiday and also our holidays in the Austrian Alps, where Guest Passes provide complimentary bus transport, chairlifts and cable cars, so that walkers get to and from trailheads quickly, cheaply and seamlessly.
Where are the best self-guided walking holiday locations?
Europe is blessed with an incredible variety of walking landscapes in its mountainous regions, and Collett’s operates in some of the most breath-taking of these. Here are a few of our favourites:
- The Italian Dolomites & Tre Cime: We have been coming to the Dolomites for almost 30 years and we still looking forward to it every year! Whether you head on our signature centre-based holiday, our newest twin-centre Tre Cime holiday or a more adventurous hut-to-hut trek, this UNESCO World Heritage Site with its dramatic limestone peaks, colourful wildflower meadows, fascinating gastronomy, and authentic mountain hospitality will not disappoint.
- The Austrian Alps: Our centre-based holiday in the Austrian Alps is based in Ehrwald, an area largely undiscovered by UK walkers. Expect well-marked trails, picture-perfect alpine scenery, and delightful huts serving delicious strudel.
- The Swiss Alps: With a northern Italian climate, the Engadin Valley is where the Swiss come to hike! You can expect glistening lakes, towering peaks and traditional alpine hospitality.
- Tuscany Hill Walking: Our self-guided walking holidays in the gorgeous Val d’Orcia, combine memorable walks with an abundance of culture, medieval architecture, exquisite cuisine and world-celebrated vineyards.
Discover more walking holiday destination across Europe in our recent blog.
8 Best Walking Holidays in EuropeWhen is the best time to go on a self-guided walking holiday?
Where the Alps and Pyrenees are concerned, we recommend the period June to September, as mountain walking is typically very weather dependent, unless you are highly experienced. However, if you are looking for walking holidays in Portugal, Corsica, Tuscany, or Andalucia, then Spring and Autumn are generally perfect, as the mid summer months can get too hot for hiking. Our coastal walking holidays in France and Portugal offer the advantage of easy-access swimming, which arguably opens up the high summer months, but as a rule nobody really wants to do day walks in temperatures that exceed 25 degrees. Either way, if you prefer the milder climate and smaller crowds of spring or autumn, our village-to-village walking holidays in Spain Portugal, & Corsica are defintely worth serious consideration.
Still not sure? Our founder Tom has written a selection of guides on the best time to go walking in the Dolomites, Austrian Alps and Swiss Alps.
Ready to try a self-guided walking holiday?
At Collett’s, we pride ourselves in providing memorable walking holidays amidst Europe’s most spectacular mountain scenery – no matter your fitness level! Explore our range of self-guided walking holidays or contact our friendly team to start planning your next adventure.
