Best way to walk Europe?

I would highly, highly recommend against signing up for any "packages" and instead just walk on your own. You can easily research on various "package itineraries" and then just tailor them into something for yourself. Once you have an itinerary of sorts — you can either make hostel reservations ahead of time — or better yet — so long as you aren't going at peak season — just leave everything open so you can have maximum flexibility to camp and/or stay at hostels completely at your own pace and descretion.

Sure, with a group, you can develop camaraderie and fast friendship — but cocooned within a group, you will miss out on a lot of spontaneous interactions with locals.

Finally, the most important thing to remember is to travel/hike light. Many (such as myself) can walk all day without feeling the weight when it is kept at around 25lbs or less. Packing everything for up to a week (but just 2 liters of water at a time) — I can easily fit everything into my carry-on size backpack. When flying, the only two things I check in are: Swiss Army knife and trekking poles. I put these in a postal cardboard tube. Carrying on your pack saves you time, hassle, as well as the risk of damage or loss.

Hi Jane

There are a couple of articles on BPL about long distance walking in Europe. I wrote one about
3 months in France and there is another one about walking in the Pyrenees.

You can do the LOT without a tent if you want. There are very well-developed tracks all over the place, with Refuges, Gites and little hotels in little towns. That’s how the Europeans do it all the time. You can also tent it, and my wife and I have done that for many years.

My recommendation is that you go to the Cicerone web site and buy a few of their Guide Books, and read them. They cover all Europe (and more), and give both track details and accommodation options. The French FFRP also have Guide Books for France, but they are in French of course.

Commercial tours may suit some, but do remember they are run as a profit-making exercise, and cost big dollars. You don’t need them, not in Europe.

Cheers

Thanks guys! I'll start working on those suggestions.