Western Europe Strenuous Tours & Trip Packages

Western Europe Strenuous Tours & Trips

944 Western Europe trips. Tours from 214 tour companies. 1,658 reviews. 4.7/5 avg rating.

82 trips exactly matchall of the the filters you selected.
My selections:
Strenuous
Ireland Bike Tours
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2/5 Disappointing
29 reviews
Group Tour
Lodging level
Premium - 4 star
Physical level
Strenuous
Trip pace
Balanced schedule

Visits

Connemara, Galway

Highlights

  • Ride through Lisdoonvarna and out to the spectacular Cliffs of Moher
  • Ferry out to the famous Aran Islands where we vist the ancient fort of Dun Aengus and ride along the rugged coastline
  • Ride along Killary Harbor and in the valleys of the Maamturk Mountains
  • Ride to Cleggan, then along the ocean and famous Skye Road
  • Enjoy a beautiful ride along Ballynahinch River

Themes

Cycling & Biking, National Parks, Nature & Wildlife

What travelers are saying

"The bikes we specified and what we got were grossly inappropriate for both tours. These people are very deceptive. Never have we experienced such deception in our 17 different foreign tours and all 50 States. Run away from these people."

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Vintage era voyages along the Norwegian coast
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4/5 Great
29 reviews
Small Ship Cruise
Lodging level
Standard - 3 star
Physical level
Strenuous
Trip pace
Flexible schedule

Visits

Bergen, Shetland Islands

Highlights

  • Explore by kayak, and come even closer to nature
  • Expert guides will accompany you
  • Enjoy a tranquil tour at your own pace

Themes

Cultural, Small Ship Cruise

What travelers are saying

"This company is unbelievable. Firstly I get a cancellation of the Falklands, South Georgia and Antarctica trip. The compensation in comparison to a like for like trip was peanuts and the increase was 1000s more! Then I read numerous customers are getting switched onto trips without paying the difference. I ring them again and they promise to swop me for no extra charge. This was agreed with their team leader. I waited until getting a cabin on Fram without getting too excited but sure enough we were swopped and I was so excited and looking forward to the trip of a lifetime. Yesterday I got a devastating email saying ‘i am reaching out to you since regardless of his statement that we will be able to price match you, this request was denied by our Revenue department and we are not able to honour the price match.’ After speaking to this new team leader she had very little to say, no excuse or justification just she was sorry. There is no way we can afford the 1000s extra they are asking for the same trip. We are now left heartbroken for a second time. This company has no care or consideration for its customers and I for one will not use them again and I will tell anyone who will listen how shocking they are!"

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New Corsica: Hiking the Island of Beauty
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4.8/5 Excellent
64 reviews
Small Group Tour
Lodging level
Standard - 3 star
Physical level
Strenuous
Trip pace
Balanced schedule

Highlights

  • Hike on the GR20 to Lac de Nino without camping – Sleep in comfort!
  • Discover ancient villages accessible only by foot or by water!
  • Enjoy the local culinary delights, including a visit to a family-run cheese farm!

Themes

Hiking & Walking, National Parks, Nature & Wildlife

What travelers are saying

"First, let me say our tour guide Tomomi S. is hands down THE best tour guide I’ve ever had - knowledgeable, fun and made great efforts to ensure that we were comfortable and happy (MTSobek tour guides are independent contractors. Tomomi also works for other Adventure/Tour companies) Secondly, Japan is beautiful, clean and the Japanese people are very welcoming. The hiking in the national parks was amazing. It could have been a truly five-star experience if MtSobek had not cut corners so egregiously. The website said (at the time) group tours are 5-22 people. The tour gets canceled if the minimum is not met. When I paid there were TWO other people booked-a mother and daughter duo. Shortly before our departure date I called to see if the tour would be cancelled. I wanted my money back but Mt Sobek was “pleased to say that the trip would not be canceled”. In other words, I could not get a refund. At the last minute a guy named Matt signed up so there were four of us. Five days into the trip Matt left and took a train back to Tokyo. I said to him “You realize Mt Sobek is not going to refund you”. He said, “I don’t care, Mt Sobek scammed us.” With tax, the tour costs $11,645 for 13 nights. For that price there is an expectation that the accommodations Mt Sobek chooses would be decent and clean. We all fully expected a ‘traditional Japanese experience’ which often means no private bath and 8 out of the 13 nights we slept on futon mats on the floor. However, Mt Sobek consistently booked us in the cheapest Ryokans (hotels) in each area in which we travelled. Most of these hotels were unclean and very out-dated. One Ryokan they booked us in was listed on a hotel website for $40 USD/night when there were much nicer accommodations nearby for $100 USD/night. (The Japanese yen is way down, the luxury Park Hotel in Tokyo was $200 USD/night. A comparable hotel would have been about $800/night in Austin.). We were the only people staying in several hotels that accomadated many more people. The most egregious example of MtSobek’s booking the cheapest rooms is when we were booked at a large traditional ski lodge at the base of a spectacular mountain. It was beautiful on the website but had two very different wings. One wing was modern, clean and beautiful with simple beds. The other wing was very old (similar to a cheap Motel 6 that had not been updated since the 1970’s). The carpet and bathrooms were disgusting and like many of the Ryocans where we stayed the futon mats seemed as though they had not been cleaned In 30 years. Only after our tour guide checked us in did we realize we had been booked in the cheap rooms. I asked Tomo why. Immediately someone from MtSobek reached out to me and said, “gosh, I’m sorry you did not realize you were going to have a traditional Japanese experience”. Really? “Traditional” experience depends upon one’s budget. In the US, “traditional” to some people may be the Marriott, a Motel 6 or the Four Seasons Hotels. We were paying for a Marriott experience and received the one-star Motel 6 experience. Upon arrival in Tokyo I expected to be met at the airport by a driver (as many tour companies do). However, several days before our arrival dates in Tokyo, MtSobek sent an email telling us how to locate taking a city bus from the bustling Tokyo airport. That is interesting if you do not speak Japanese. MtSobek cleverly uses great photography and elaborate descriptions of the national parks and the hiking while using terms like “traditional Japanese experience with tatami-mat sleeping” to disguise sub-standard accommodations. At one point we were looking on-line at the very hotel where we were staying and did not even recognize it from the website pictures. The hiking was amazing. The group size was disappointing with just the three of us. I would absolutely recommend a hiking tour through Japan, just not with MtSobek."

Trip dates & details
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Hiking the Haute Route—Mont Blanc to the Matterhorn
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4.8/5 Excellent
64 reviews
Small Group Tour
Lodging level
Standard - 3 star
Physical level
Strenuous
Trip pace
Balanced schedule

Visits

Chamonix , Matterhorn

Highlights

  • Trek the challenging, renowned and less-travelled Haute Route with the Alps specialists (since 1970!)
  • Traverse ten high passes in ten days for incomparable eye-popping views, including the famous Matterhorn—a trekker’s paradise
  • Superb leaders, local hospitality, and shared accomplishment make this an MTS classic

Themes

Hiking & Walking, National Parks, Nature & Wildlife

What travelers are saying

"First, let me say our tour guide Tomomi S. is hands down THE best tour guide I’ve ever had - knowledgeable, fun and made great efforts to ensure that we were comfortable and happy (MTSobek tour guides are independent contractors. Tomomi also works for other Adventure/Tour companies) Secondly, Japan is beautiful, clean and the Japanese people are very welcoming. The hiking in the national parks was amazing. It could have been a truly five-star experience if MtSobek had not cut corners so egregiously. The website said (at the time) group tours are 5-22 people. The tour gets canceled if the minimum is not met. When I paid there were TWO other people booked-a mother and daughter duo. Shortly before our departure date I called to see if the tour would be cancelled. I wanted my money back but Mt Sobek was “pleased to say that the trip would not be canceled”. In other words, I could not get a refund. At the last minute a guy named Matt signed up so there were four of us. Five days into the trip Matt left and took a train back to Tokyo. I said to him “You realize Mt Sobek is not going to refund you”. He said, “I don’t care, Mt Sobek scammed us.” With tax, the tour costs $11,645 for 13 nights. For that price there is an expectation that the accommodations Mt Sobek chooses would be decent and clean. We all fully expected a ‘traditional Japanese experience’ which often means no private bath and 8 out of the 13 nights we slept on futon mats on the floor. However, Mt Sobek consistently booked us in the cheapest Ryokans (hotels) in each area in which we travelled. Most of these hotels were unclean and very out-dated. One Ryokan they booked us in was listed on a hotel website for $40 USD/night when there were much nicer accommodations nearby for $100 USD/night. (The Japanese yen is way down, the luxury Park Hotel in Tokyo was $200 USD/night. A comparable hotel would have been about $800/night in Austin.). We were the only people staying in several hotels that accomadated many more people. The most egregious example of MtSobek’s booking the cheapest rooms is when we were booked at a large traditional ski lodge at the base of a spectacular mountain. It was beautiful on the website but had two very different wings. One wing was modern, clean and beautiful with simple beds. The other wing was very old (similar to a cheap Motel 6 that had not been updated since the 1970’s). The carpet and bathrooms were disgusting and like many of the Ryocans where we stayed the futon mats seemed as though they had not been cleaned In 30 years. Only after our tour guide checked us in did we realize we had been booked in the cheap rooms. I asked Tomo why. Immediately someone from MtSobek reached out to me and said, “gosh, I’m sorry you did not realize you were going to have a traditional Japanese experience”. Really? “Traditional” experience depends upon one’s budget. In the US, “traditional” to some people may be the Marriott, a Motel 6 or the Four Seasons Hotels. We were paying for a Marriott experience and received the one-star Motel 6 experience. Upon arrival in Tokyo I expected to be met at the airport by a driver (as many tour companies do). However, several days before our arrival dates in Tokyo, MtSobek sent an email telling us how to locate taking a city bus from the bustling Tokyo airport. That is interesting if you do not speak Japanese. MtSobek cleverly uses great photography and elaborate descriptions of the national parks and the hiking while using terms like “traditional Japanese experience with tatami-mat sleeping” to disguise sub-standard accommodations. At one point we were looking on-line at the very hotel where we were staying and did not even recognize it from the website pictures. The hiking was amazing. The group size was disappointing with just the three of us. I would absolutely recommend a hiking tour through Japan, just not with MtSobek."

Trip dates & details
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Luxury Tour of the Basque Country
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5/5 Excellent
49 reviews
Private Guided
Lodging level
Premium - 4 star
Physical level
Strenuous
Trip pace
Flexible schedule

Highlights

  • Walk through the medieval cobbled roads
  • Enjoy dining experience in Michelin starred restaurants
  • Enjoy the thrill of ascending and descending the coast line
  • Enjoy the hilly rides inBideia

Themes

Culinary & Wine, Cultural, Cycling & Biking

What travelers are saying

"Xavier provided us with quality bikes for a day out in the Basque Country, perfectly adjusted to our fit and pedal types, and delivered direct to our apartment. He also gave us details of a stunning route over the mountains into Spain. There is no shop, but response to emails is very quick so we were sorted in no time. We'll be back."

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In the Basque Country
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5/5 Excellent
49 reviews
Small Group Tour
Lodging level
Standard - 3 star
Physical level
Strenuous
Trip pace
Balanced schedule

Visits

Basque Country

Highlights

  • Biarritz
  • Gernika
  • Getaria

Themes

Culinary & Wine, Cultural, Cycling & Biking, Photography

What travelers are saying

"Xavier provided us with quality bikes for a day out in the Basque Country, perfectly adjusted to our fit and pedal types, and delivered direct to our apartment. He also gave us details of a stunning route over the mountains into Spain. There is no shop, but response to emails is very quick so we were sorted in no time. We'll be back."

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Across the Pyrenees
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5/5 Excellent
49 reviews
Small Group Tour
Lodging level
Standard - 3 star
Physical level
Strenuous
Trip pace
Balanced schedule

Highlights

  • Climb the mythical Tourmalet and the Aubisque (among many others…), some legendary climbs of the Tour de France
  • Eat and stay in typical french restaurant & hotels

Themes

Cultural, Cycling & Biking

What travelers are saying

"Xavier provided us with quality bikes for a day out in the Basque Country, perfectly adjusted to our fit and pedal types, and delivered direct to our apartment. He also gave us details of a stunning route over the mountains into Spain. There is no shop, but response to emails is very quick so we were sorted in no time. We'll be back."

Trip dates & details
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South Coast Exploration
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4.7/5 Excellent
100+ reviews
Group Tour
Lodging level
Standard - 3 star
Physical level
Strenuous
Trip pace
Balanced schedule

Visits

Reykjavík, Vatnajökull National Park

Highlights

  • Get excited seeing Jökulsárlón Glacier Lagoon
  • Visit famous Skaftafell National Park
  • Cherish your moments at Arctic Birch and Waterfalls
  • Enjoy the contrast in green hills and waterfalls

Themes

Hiking & Walking, National Parks, Nature & Wildlife

What travelers are saying

"Our guide Brook to us out on a 5hr glacier/ice cave tour on a rare good weather day. He was an excellent guide who focused on our safety and knowledge of the terrain we were exploring. You knew he was well experienced and loved what he was doing. Would book with Iceland Guides again!"

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82 trips exactly matchall of the the filters you selected.
My selections:
Strenuous

Western Europe Reviews & Ratings

4.7/5  Excellent
1,658  Reviews
See all Western Europe tour reviews
Excellent
1,287
Great
275
Average
39
Disappointing
11
Terrible
14
A

Anonymous

Oct 2018

Provided byExodus Travels

Great mix of walking, sightseeing & relaxing!

I've been on several Exodus trips and this was definitely up there as one of my favourites. All three islands were beautiful and very different from each other, t...

A

Anonymous

Oct 2018

Provided byExodus Travels

Waliking on the Greek Islands

Excellent Guide, Scenery and organisation. Some of hotels were not of a reasonable standard. The walk along the Caldera, Santorini. Excellent knowledge, very well...

A

Anonymous

Oct 2018

Provided byExodus Travels

Walking in the Greek Islands

This was a trip that stimulated all the senses, from the wonderful colours of the wildflowers on the walks and the blues and whites of the pristine villages we pas...

A

Anonymous

Oct 2018

Provided byExodus Travels

Vigorous.

I rarely give ten out of ten, but this came close. The sun shone every day, I slepped well and didn't put on weight. The walks were just right, leisurely as it sai...

A

Anonymous

Oct 2018

Provided byExodus Travels

Greek Island Wanderer

A well balanced trip that gives a taste of 3 contrasting islands. Travelling in April proved to be an ideal opportunity to see a different side to Greece - quieter...

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Western Europe Tour Selection Trips

  • Here are some actionable travel tips to make the most of your Western Europe tour:

    With so many incredible cities and landmarks in Western Europe, prioritize your must-see destinations to ensure you see all the highlights.
  • Western Europe's cobblestone streets and narrow sidewalks can be challenging with heavy luggage, so pack light and opt for versatile clothing suitable for different weather conditions.
  • Take advantage of Europe's efficient public transportation system, including trains and buses, to easily travel between cities and countries.
  • Invest in a portable Wi-Fi device or ensure your phone plan includes international data to stay connected and access maps, translation apps, and travel information on the go.
  • Western Europe is renowned for its culinary delights, so be sure to sample local dishes and delicacies at authentic cafes, restaurants, and markets.
  • While English is widely spoken in Western Europe, learning basic phrases in the local language shows respect and can enhance cultural immersion.
  • Respect local customs and traditions, such as dress codes for religious sites and dining etiquette, to ensure a positive and respectful travel experience.
  • While it's essential to have a rough itinerary, staying flexible allows you to embrace spontaneous adventures and seize unexpected opportunities.
  • Western Europe can be expensive, so set a budget and prioritize your spending on experiences that matter most to you, whether it's museum visits, guided tours, or dining experiences.
  • Be vigilant of your surroundings, especially in crowded tourist areas, and keep your belongings secure to avoid theft or pickpocketing incidents.

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