I have spent enough time in Europe’s famous places. At peak season, I know how they feel. I have also spent time in its quieter corners. There, I know which version of a trip I would rather take home. Wilderness Travel just added three small-group walking trips for 2027. In fact, they suit the second kind of traveler. That traveler would rather hike a Welsh ridge. Or eat their way along Spain’s northern coast. Or ferry between Sicily and Malta. All beat queuing for another famous landmark. The three trips run in May, June, and October 2027. Prices run from $8,495 to $8,995 per person. That price assumes double occupancy. Each trip pairs a specialist trip leader with local guides. Ground transport, baggage handling, and most meals come with each trip. If you have already checked off Europe’s greatest hits, these three fill in the rest of the map.
The hard one: hiking Wales end to end
Ultimate Snowdonia: Hiking in Wales is the trip for people who want their walking holiday to feel like an achievement. Wilderness Travel rates it Level 5, strenuous. In Wilderness Travel’s grading, that means about 9 miles a day. It also means gaining and losing 3,000 or more feet of elevation on several days. The walking is on uneven surfaces. Long descents are hard on the knees. There are no alternative hiking options on this one. So everyone needs to be able to keep up with the group. That is the honest warning. It is also the appeal.
The route works through Eryri. That is the Welsh name for Snowdonia National Park. It starts in the walled town of Conwy. Conwy has its 13th century castle. Then it moves into the high country. There is the Carneddau Traverse, a high plateau where wild ponies roam. There is also the ridge route across the Glyder Mountains. Day 4 is the centerpiece. It is the ascent of Yr Wyddfa, Mount Snowdon. At 3,560 feet, it is the highest summit in Wales. The route goes up the Miners’ Track. It comes down the Llanberis Path. It is a 10 mile day with 7.5 hours on foot.
Days on the trail
The next day slows down on purpose. It offers a stroll from Dolbadarn Castle to a Celtic roundhouse for Welsh storytelling. The Welsh prince Llywelyn the Great built Dolbadarn Castle in the early 13th century. Later days add Cnicht, the Welsh Matterhorn. They also add the summit ridge of Cadair Idris. Moel Famau, an ancient place of worship, comes too. A morning visit to Wrexham’s football club comes next. It is the one from the Welcome to Wrexham series. Then come a final two nights at the Ruthin Castle Hotel and Spa.
The trip also leans into the culture between hikes. Wales packs in more castles per square mile than anywhere else. Welsh is one of Europe’s oldest living languages. Snowdonia itself served as the training ground for Sir Edmund Hillary’s 1953 Everest expedition. On the food side, expect local lamb and vegetable stews. Also expect regional cheeses and Glamorgan vegetarian sausage. Fresh fish and cockles come from the coast. Sugar-dusted Welsh cakes come with tea. The trip lasts ten days. Its price starts at $8,695. The next departure runs May 16 to 25, 2027. Simone Simpson leads it. She taught outdoor education in the Snowdonia mountains for 13 years.
The tasty one: Spain’s northern coast on foot
Treasures of Spain’s Northern Coast is the easiest walking of the three. To my eye, it is the best entry point for a first guided walking trip. Wilderness Travel rates it Level 2, easier. That means 2 to 3 miles a day. It also means up to 5 hours on your feet. The terrain is easy to moderate, with well-marked paths. This is a cultural journey first and a hike second. The itinerary reads like a food lover’s map. It covers a Spain most visitors skip.
It starts in Bilbao with the Guggenheim Museum. Dinner there is at a Michelin-starred restaurant. Then it moves to the Altamira Caves. People call them the Sistine Chapel of prehistoric art. Next come the cobbled lanes of Santillana del Mar. In Gijon, the group walks the beach. It visits Roman sites, including the thermal baths of Campo Valdes. It also tastes traditional Asturian sidra. That is the local cider. Servers pour it theatrically from a height.
From Oviedo to Santiago
Oviedo is the Asturian capital. It is a lively university town and foodie hub. The El Camino pilgrim trail runs right through town from the Gothic cathedral. A low-tide walk among the massive arches of Praia das Catedrais comes next. Then comes a stop in the medieval fishing town of Viveiro. The port city of A Coruna follows. It is home to a Roman-era lighthouse. That lighthouse is still standing and active. These stops lead to the finish in Santiago de Compostela. There, the group stays at the historic 5-star Parador de Santiago. It is one of the oldest hotels in the world. It stands next to the cathedral that holds the remains of St. James.
One practical note is worth knowing before you book. Lunch lands around 1 pm. Dinner most often lands at 8 pm. That is simply how Spain eats. The trip lasts eight days. Its price starts at $8,995. Departures run June 9 to 16 and September 15 to 22, 2027. Wilderness Travel flags this one as a Limited Edition adventure. That means a trip it has never run before. Or one it offers only every few years. So it may not be back for a while.
The history-packed one: Malta and southern Sicily
Exploring Malta and Southern Sicily packs two Mediterranean island histories into a single 10 day trip. It sits in the middle on effort at Level 3, moderate. An average hiking day is about 4 miles and 3 hours. However, no day gains more than 1,500 feet. It starts in Sicily’s southeastern Val di Noto. That is a region of late Baroque hilltop towns and rolling vineyards. Stays include a countryside eco-resort. Then comes a historic palazzo in Ragusa Ibla. Ragusa Ibla is a UNESCO World Heritage city.
The Sicily hikes go through limestone canyons with emerald swimming holes. They pass prehistoric necropolises and ancient churches. They run along low cliffs above clear water. Two stops tell you what kind of trip this is. One is Cava Carosello, a canyon with freshwater plunge pools. It also holds thousand-year-old tanneries and water mills carved into the rock. The other is Modica, home to Antica Dolceria Bonajuto. That is Sicily’s oldest chocolate factory. The Bonajuto family has made chocolate in small batches for more than 150 years.
Crossing to Malta
The group crosses to Malta by ferry. That ride takes about an hour and 45 minutes. The second half moves at a different pace. It covers the ancient walled capital of Mdina. Adjacent Rabat brings its Roman ruins. Coastal walks run above turquoise water. The fishing village of Marsaxlokk brings colorfully painted wooden boats. A day on the smaller islands of Comino and Gozo follows. That day includes the Blue Lagoon and Gozo’s ancient citadel. The final two nights are in Valletta. Valletta is the smallest capital city in Europe. Its Baroque streets hold St. John’s Co-Cathedral and its two Caravaggios.
The food follows the same two-island logic. On one side are Sicilian granita, artisan cheeses, and olives. Citrus, capers, and fresh seafood are there too. On the other side are Malta’s pastizzi and fenek. Pastizzi is a savory street food pastry. Fenek is a rustic stewed rabbit dish. Rabbit is the most popular meat in Malta. The trip lasts ten days. Its price starts at $8,495. The next departure runs October 21 to 30, 2027. Gabriele Mastrilli leads it.
How the three stack up
Reading the three itineraries side by side helps with the choice. It mostly comes down to how hard you want to walk. It also comes down to what you want to eat and see between walks.
For price per day, Malta and southern Sicily is the best value. It runs about $850 a day. Snowdonia lands at about $870 a day. Spain’s northern coast is the priciest at about $1,124 a day. That makes sense once you see the hotel list. For example, a 5-star parador in Santiago is doing real work in that price. So is a Michelin-starred dinner in Bilbao.
For effort, the ladder runs cleanly from Spain at Level 2. It moves to Malta and Sicily at Level 3. Then it reaches Snowdonia at Level 5. So there is a genuine entry point in the same announcement. There is also a genuine challenge.
For timing, the three departures spread across the year. Wales runs in May. Spain runs in June and again in September. Malta and Sicily run in October. So the announcement is really a full 2027 walking calendar. It is not a single season.
What’s included
All three include expert trip leaders and local guides. They also include accommodations and ground transportation. In addition, baggage handling comes with the trip too. Activities and entrance fees come as listed. Most meals come with a glass of wine or beer with dinner.
Booking terms are the same across the three. A $600 deposit comes due at reservation. The balance comes due 90 days before departure. Cancellation is free up to 91 days out.
If you are choosing between them, pick Spain for the gentlest introduction. Pick Malta and Sicily for the most history per mile. Pick Snowdonia only if you already hike mountains and want a challenge.
If you have already checked off Europe’s greatest hits, these three fill in the rest of the map. They do it on foot, with someone local leading the way. Dinner already waits when the walking is done. That is a specific kind of vacation. It is not for everyone. But for the traveler who would rather earn the view than queue for it, it is hard to beat.
Full details on all three departures are on Wilderness Travel’s new trips page.
VIEW THE TRIPS ON WILDERNESS TRAVEL
Questions People Ask About Wilderness Travel’s New European Adventures
Which Wilderness Travel trip is best for a first timer?
Start with Treasures of Spain’s Northern Coast. It is the shortest of the three at 8 days. At Level 2, it is the easiest, with 2 to 3 miles of walking a day. It is also the most cultural. It centers on food and historic towns. Santiago’s Camino finish ends the trip. Big elevation days stay out of it. It is also a Limited Edition departure. So it may not repeat.
What does the deposit and cancellation policy look like?
All three trips take a $600 deposit at booking. The balance comes due 90 days before departure. Cancellation is free up to 91 days before departure. Then it costs 25 percent of the trip price from 61 to 90 days out. It costs 50 percent from 46 to 60 days out. It costs 100 percent within 45 days of departure.
When should I book one of these 2027 departures?
Earlier is better. Wilderness Travel says the earlier you book, the more choice you will have. Small-group departures fill on a first-come basis. The Spain trip deserves the most urgency. Its Limited Edition status means it may not return for a while.
