Starting this Christmas Eve, Rome will open its gates to millions of pilgrims for the 2025 Jubilee Year of Hope. This special event, occurring usually only every 25 years, will mark a year of pilgrimage and reflection. It is expected to bring more visitors than ever...
Jackie's latest guest article for US online magazine Sixty & Me looks at reasons to visit Italy in its autumn season. First of all the colours of the changing trees are a big draw, along with the flavours of the seasonal ingredients which are being harvested and...
British couple David and Rosanne Hughes have reached the fantastic milestone this year of completing 10 tours with Hedonistic Hiking. Annabel spoke to them about their experiences with us and what tours they have their eyes on for the future. How did you first...
Writers Who Walk Following on from this month's Blog about Pilgrim Paths, I started to think about writers who have found, through walking, resolution to issues in their lives which seemed at the outset insurmountable. The inspirational on-foot journey's...
Jackie's latest guest article for US online magazine Sixty & Me looks at the benefits of a mountain holiday over a beach break. If you're searching for inspirational views, silence and tranquillity and lots of fresh air, then you too might be an orophile...
The key message for anyone joining a Hedonistic Hiking tour is "less is more"! If you have travelled with us before, you will be aware that we transport you in two 9-seater minivans with limited luggage space. We can happily accommodate medium-sized...
We work on our fitness all year round in preparation for our seasons of hiking and we always encourage our guests to start getting fit well before the tours start. The benefits are manifold and lead to an increased level of enjoyment and a reduced risk of...
We're all more aware than ever of our carbon footprint, and much has been written about the contribution that clothing manufacturers can make to the planet's health. As we gear up for our 2024 season you might be thinking about sorting your hiking kit, so here are...
Cathy Samson and her husband Paul took their first Hedonistic Hiking steps in the Italian Lakes in September 2023. In contrast to last month's interview with Chris Bell, who completed his 20th tour in 2023, we caught up with Cathy this month to check out the highs and...
Every town in Italy has a patron saint and each one has a day in the year dedicated to its celebration, known locally as the "Festa del Santo Patrono". Stumbling across one of these saints days unwittingly can have two outcomes. You might find it...
Palazzo Pfanner - Lucca Lucca is one of Tuscany's gems, encircled by impressive Renaissance walls, and is the first stop on our Lucca, Volterra and Elba tour which runs in May. We have a little stroll around the 4 km walls as we arrive into the town, and...
Jackie's latest guest article for Sixty & Me looks at ten of Hedonistic Hiking's favourite smaller museums and attractions in Italy, which are just a little off the beaten track. These hidden pint-sized gems don’t have the size and grandeur of...
As you are starting to think about what you need to join our trips in September and October, we hope you will take note of our plea to pack light! As you will know, we travel in two nine-seater minibuses and, when we are a full group, that means 18 people travelling...
When you are joining a walking holiday for the first time you will doubtless think about well-fitting walking boots, and comfortable walking trousers/shorts and shirts. We have lots of helpful information on our Kit Page about what to wear and how best to...
First-time hikers with Hedonistic Hiking often ask about the use of poles. Whilst this is a very personal decision, we ourselves always use them and would highly recommend them to our groups.. However, like wearing in a new pair of boots, you will benefit from a...
If you're heading out to hike with us this year in Italy, and feel like brushing up on your Italian language skills, then watching TV can really help! As well as listening to the spoken language, watching a film or mini series gives a good insight into Italian society...
At Hedonistic Hiking we are starting to think more and more about train travel within Europe. If you're beginning to make plans for travel in 2023, and you'll be visiting more than one country, then take a moment to consider letting the trains take the strain. Train...
With the Italians being such expert winegrowers, it is no surprise that they also produce many delicious Aperitifs and Digestifs, blending age-old, closely-guarded secret recipes of herbs, roots and spices which are loved the world over. We've...
Anne Heuperman has been teaching Pilates to Jackie in Bright for many years and Jackie swears by the exercises for maintaining core strength and flexible movement. Starting to think about getting fit again for hiking, we asked Anne for help in preparing a range of...
Even if you know very little of ancient Rome, Nero is probably one of the Emperors that you have heard something about. Described as a tyrannical monster by the historians who came after him, he stands accused of horrific murders, incest, setting fire to...