Anyone joining our Tuscan tours from August to October, with a plan to spend time in Siena, has a rare opportunity to see the stunning marble mosaic floors in the city's famous cathedral. Most of the year this beautiful floor is covered with protective layers,...
Often when we are visiting major cities at the start or end of our tours, we draw on the knowledge of licensed guides who can truly bring the city to life, or help us to focus on a particular building or artwork. We have worked with a number of...
We all know that mixing together the right travel ingredients produces a magical trip, but exploring two countries in one holiday makes for a double helping of enjoyment. This year we have two tours which offer exactly this combination of cultures:...
For us at Hedonistic Hiking, Abruzzo is one of the most appealing regions of Italy because of its wild mountains and wonderfully resourceful people. Its sparsley populated landscape makes hiking in this area a real pleasure, with spell-binding views,...
Our Austria and the Dolomites tour explores the delightful Tyrol landscape of both Austria and Italy, and we cross the border between the two on foot. The historical Tyrol region today encompasses the far western side of Austria and the northern...
Jackie's latest Blog for the Sixty & Me US website takes a look at the region of Friuli in North East Italy and uncovers details of our tour from Slovenia's capital Ljubljana to Venice. This is an area of Italy which is less well-known than...
Bright is one of the most charming country towns in Victoria's High Country and is the gateway to the snow villages up at Falls Creek, Hotham and Dinner Plain. It sits on the banks of the beautiful Ovens River and has a rich gold-rush history....
National Parks are a natural home for us here at Hedonistic Hiking. We are drawn to the unspoilt wild landscapes, the fascinating flora and fauna and the interesting history of these protected areas. Here we take a look at three of our favourites. Parco...
You may think that finding a tourist-free region of Italy is improbable, or even impossible. Think again. The Abruzzo, situated to the east of Rome, is one of the country’s true hidden gems. Gloriously green and bordered by the long sandy Adriatic coast, this is...
Last month saw the 200th anniversary of the death of Napoleon Bonaparte: Emperor of France, arguably one of the most able military leaders in history, and famous resident of the island of Elba which we visit on our Lucca, Volterra and Elba tour. Born...
The one thing you probably do know about Tuscany is that it’s one of the most visited regions in Italy, topped only by the Veneto, and also one of incredible beauty. Most visitors leave with memories of art-filled cities and medieval hilltop villages, and of...
Our new tours in the Grampians in central Victoria start and finish in the town of Ballarat, a destination well worth exploring for a day or two at the start or end of the trip. With its renowned wineries and exciting restaurant scene, Ballarat is now an established...
The Etruscan people occupied an area of Central Italy referred to as Etruria predominantly in the 7th and 6th centuries BC. The region broadly covered modern day Tuscany, the west of Umbria and the north of Lazio and archaeological finds have been unearthed...
When we are hiking in Italy we are spoilt for choice when it comes to UNESCO World Heritage sites, as Italy has over 50, and almost all of our tours have visits to one of these cultural highlights. So we are more than excited to now have a UNESCO World...
When we research our tours, we usually head off the beaten tracks and design routes which will take us where no other hikers are to be found. Occasionally however, we connect to some of Europe's greatest hiking trails and experience just small sections of...
Travelling on foot gives you time to stop and explore the natural world and a number of our walks give us the chance to learn more about the earth's precious resources. Knowing what's underfoot can bring a whole new dimension to a hike, and often these natural riches...
Walking next to water is endlessly fascinating. Rivers shape the landscape, affect the fortunes of those who live in their valleys and give life to a huge array of flora and fauna. Many of our tours include hikes which trace the course of well-known rivers...
At Hedonistic Hiking we continue to reminisce about many of our best-loved places in Europe and we are looking forward to being back there in 2021! Walking by water, whether it be the sea, a fast-flowing river or a perfectly still lake provides the...
For those of us for whom hiking in Italy is a dream activity, there is good news on the far horizon! The Italian Ministry of the Environment and the Italian Alpine Club have joined forces to collaborate on the creation of the Path of the Parks - known...
One of the things we love most about Italy is its regional diversity. Flit between any of the regions and you’ll encounter a fascinating variety in food, language and customs. Not surprisingly, this is most pronounced in the border regions, such as the Alto Adige,...