As a veteran of both motor-coach and independent-driving vacations in Europe, I've often returned home feeling culturally enriched but athletically deprived. Bus tours entail too much sitting and watching the scenery go by. Renting a car allows for getting out and about in the countryside where, theoretically, I can hike at will. But as anyone who has taken a fly-drive trip knows, you always seems to be rushing to get to the next town, and, besides, leaving the vehicle unattended provokes fears about theft, particularly when all your luggage is in the trunk. Plus, there's the disadvantage of language barriers along the route. And, it's nice to have a guide who has an insider's knowledge of the destination.
What I've really wanted was a guided adventure with the accent on walking -- preferably in rural locales. Now, that quest has been answered with the emergence of group excursions throughout Europe run by tour operators who cater to active travelers. Demand from younger, more athletic vacationers has increased so much over the past several years that most major international outfitters have added European walking and/or hiking trips to their catalogs. Even usually staid companies with mainly older clientele have begun offering walking trips -- albeit of an exceedingly gentle nature, with motorized shuttle usually an option on any given day.
