LIDOfit - Our Favorite Hikes in Europe
The temperatures are slowly starting to warm up, and draw us outside.
As the sun starts to shine brighter, and restrictions are lifting, we have selected our four favorite hikes in Europe for you to try out.
Gorges du Verdon, France
The Gorges du Verdon is the biggest canyon in Europe, and is in Provence, in South-Eastern France. It offers activities for every taste, from hiking, to swimming, to rafting. It stretches over 100km, so there are plenty of paths and different levels of difficulty to pick from. Children from the age of 4 can definitely manage some of these, but for the child-free amongst you there are a lot of far more challenging treks to go on. You could easily spend a week here and never be bored! There are a number of guides who are also able to plan your days for you and take you around to the most beautiful spots. Don’t forget to visit the beautiful villages dotted along the way too!
Cinque Terre, Italy
For a long time, these five villages in Liguria were only accessible by the sea. Now part of the UNESCO heritage sites, you can move between the villages on a train, or better yet on foot. The Sentiero Azzurro is 11km in total, which takes you on beautiful paths along the coast. You can never get bored of the views, and then also get the greatest satisfaction when the village you are walking to finally comes into sight around a bend! Beautiful vineyards and orchards cling to the terraces, and the villages are all beautifully colored. You can definitely do this with kids, if you break it up over a few days. Beware though that some of the hikes can be very steep, and feel a little arduous, particularly on a hot day. Be prepared with plenty of water!
The Heights of Château-d'Œx , Switzerland
Out and about with your little ones in Switzerland? In the Swiss Alps, many routes are easily accessible and suitable for the whole family, including this one-and-a-half-hours-hike through the village of Château-d'Œx and its extraordinary landscapes.
A 5km-walk taking you from the village of Château-d'Œx, through a small forest, a river, and the Bettens farm, where the children will be happy to be greeted by the cows in the pasture. Enjoy the panoramic views of this charming village, and don't forget to stop off at Maison de l'Etambeau on the way, to check out one their latest temporary exhibition.
The Col de Bavella, Corsica
Corsica is a famous hiking destination, mostly because of the very challenging GR20 track, crossing the mountains of the island. There are, however, other tracks that are much easier to complete as a family. Only one-and-a-half hour from Bonifacio, The Col de Bavella, is considered one of the most scenic regions of Corsica.
Located in the heart of the Regional Natural Park of Corsica, there are many expeditions in the mountains of Bavella such as "le trou de la Bombe"or the walk to the "refuge de Paliri", a rather accessible, four-hour hike (round trip) with a 400m drop.
