Top 10 unusual walking holidays

Unearth ancient Orcadian and Norse history during a walking tour of Scotland’s Orkney Islands. Teeming with world-famous archaeological sites, you’ll explore Skara Brae, one of the finest Stone Age settlements in Europe, as well as the Brough of Deerness. You’ll also spot beautiful birdlife as you explore stunning landscapes on foot.

Journey around the vast ethereal shores of Lake Issyk Kul in the shadow of the mighty Tien Shan mountains. The saline waters gently lap the shoreline and, despite the sub-zero air temperatures in winter, they never freeze. From ancient petroglyph rock carvings and the skilled eagle hunters of Djety-Oguz valley to the old Russian military outpost of Karakol city, this is a hiking trip that goes way beyond the typical tourist trails. 

With every step along the ancient pilgrimage trail of Kumano Kodo, feel the stress and worries of modern life melt away as you embrace the Japanese practice of forest bathing in this serene natural world. Giant camphor trees soar towards the sky, and sweeping views of the Hatenashi Mountain Range reveal emerald-green hillsides and silvery clouds of swirling mist hanging in the valleys. 

Trek into the remote Simien Mountains of northern Ethiopia for a walking experience like no other. Keep a look out for native Gelada monkey and Simien fox as you traverse a criss-cross maze of dusty trails, pass rocky plateaus, climb towering peaks and clamber through deep gorges towards the foot of Ethiopia's highest peak, Ras Dashen. 

Step back in time as you trek through Georgia's Svaneti region. Grassy meadows cloak the hillsides, and mighty glaciers slide down the valleys toward inky-blue lakes and rivers, while oxen plough the fields. Home to remote indigenous communities, spend the night with a local Svan family in the colourful mountain village of Ushguli to learn about their unique lifestyle and see how they still honour age-old traditions, even today.