If you aspire to the more challenging hikes of the Alps, Dolomites and Pyrenees, yet you are just at the start of your mountain walking dreams, we have some great ideas for you.

Walk in the foothills

Carcassonne & Cathar Trails: The walking holiday starts with two easier walks and then builds a little to take you on longer walks of up to 18km. You will remain in the foothills of the Pyrenees so you can enjoy the magnificent scenery of the Pyrenean peaks but in a more comfortable zone of lower level walking. The holiday is filed with historical interest and intrigue, too, and visits the spectacular city of Carcassonne. See Carcassonne & Cathar Trails.

Ride higher

Pyrenees National Park: A walking holiday in the Pyrenees National Park offers an easier going holiday in this beautiful part of Europe. The day’s hikes are never more than 12km and, brilliantly, some are assisted by a ride in a cable car. That means you can reach higher locations but without a challenging uphill hike. You’ll see many natural highlights including lakes, waterfalls, peaks, flower-strewn meadows and dramatic cliffs, as well as visiting the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Cirque du Gavarnie.

Let the train take the strain

A new collection of Bernese Oberland walking trips allows you to choose the distance you would like to walk in the Swiss Alps each day thanks to various mountain transport options, including the train, bus, cable car or funicular. These holidays, such as:

• The seven-night Best of the Bernese Oberland and Best of the Bernese Oberland in Style
• The four-night Highlights of the Bernese Oberland and Highlights of the Bernese Oberland in Style

take you to the very heart of a landscape made famous by name such as the Eiger, Mönch and Jungfrau yet without the challenging hiking.

Views from the valley

Bavaria & The Leutasch Valley: Enjoy mountain views from beautiful valley trails. The holiday includes day hikes that are never more than 15km on easier going valley trails but always with fabulous high-level views. Leutasch Valley is a stunning place to walk with abundant wild flowers, green pastures and spectacular views towards Germany’s highest mountain, Zugspitze. See Bavaria & The Leutasch Valley

GR10 in comfort

The GR 10 is the French GR walking trail that runs the length of the Pyrenees Mountains. It’s famed for its fantastic views and challenging ascents. If you walk the GR10 as a multiday hike you will need to stay overnight in mountain refuges and huts. However, this GR10 Discovery In Comfort holiday offers the chance to enjoy some of the route but with accommodation in comfortable hotels and shorter walking days. There are options on some days to reduce the height climbed. The trip will give you a taster for walking the GR 10 proper.

More down than up

The Dolomites to Lake Garda: Walk in the breath-taking Dolomite mountains in Italy with a total overall descent that is greater the ascent. There is also a choice of walks on some days and generally less walking distance than on other high altitude walking tours. The Dolomites to Lake Garda trip also combines classic hut-to-hut hikes in the Dolomites with relaxed walking at Lake Garda.