We are thrilled to announce that UK based Sherpa Expeditions recently joined forces with UTracks to become the newest company within the World Expeditions group. Combined with UTracks' diverse range of active European holidays this has expanded our range to over 300 active itineraries covering more than 25 European countries; from Iceland to Malta and from Ireland to Cyprus.

Since 1973, UK based Sherpa Expeditions has been a leader in self guided and escorted European hiking and cycling holidays. The company offers a range of self guided inn to inn walking & cycling tours, escorted walks as well as Walker's Britain, a pioneering collection of over 20 British walking tours which include the Coast to Coast Trail and Hadrian’s Wall Trail.

Sherpa has refined self guided holidays to an art.  Over many years their leaders, local representatives and clients have all contributed to the detailed trail notes provided to walkers and cyclists, making them the definitive guide to the areas they visit, which includes 16 iconic European walking destinations such as France, Spain, Italy, Cyprus and much more.

In anticipation for a busy year of travel to the UK thanks to the Olympics, three of their most iconic British walking trips are already available online; A Week in the Cotswolds, Coast to Dales and the Hadrian’s Wall Trail.

Stay tuned for more information in coming newsletters or learn as it happens on our Facebook or Twitter pages.

Ok, so you don’t need a guide to understand why the Amalfi Coast is considered one of Europe’s most beautiful stretches of coastline. On your first glance of the terraced hillsides full of vineyards, citrus and olive groves that are dotted with white washed houses right down to where they meet the rich blue seas below, the raw natural beauty of this 50km length of the Sorrentine Peninsula is glaringly obvious.

However to experience this magical coastline from the sea and to get away from the busier sites which serve as a magnet to both the rich and backpackers alike, a guide is essential – as is a boat. Enter our new Amalfi Coast Walk & Sail.

Travelling aboard a traditional gulet will provide you with many unique vantage points of this magical part of the Mediterranean. Spoilt by your local crew onboard, who will prepare delicious local dishes, your guide will enrich your time ashore as you visit iconic local destinations to enjoy walks at Mount Vesuvius and the fascinating buried city of Pompeii as well as the enchanting natural beauty of Capri. Of course, you’ll also have time to admire the many famous Amalfi coastal villages such as Sorrento, Positana, Ravella and the namesake – Amalfi.

Next available departures: 05 May and 30 June. Hurry - places are limited.

View all Guided Walks in Italy.

Foodies simply must join Teresa Parker on our Food Lovers Pilgrimage Santiago de Compostela tour to sample the culinary and walking highlights along the original Compostela Trail, Camino Primitivo, in the mouth-watering Asturias region in Spain.

Training as a chef in Barcelona as well as a 25-year love affair with Spanish food will ensure Teresa is well placed to share her insights into the mouth-watering local culinary scene on this tour, which includes visits to Michelin star restaurants and cooking demonstrations.

The itinerary has been meticulously designed to include the very best ingredients of the region. Visit the Frank Gehry designed Guggenheim Museum before travelling by bus to Pamplona and then Leon and beyond, where you’ll enjoy walks along the original route from Oviedo.

This palatable path to Santiago departs 1 September, and places are already filling fast.

If you can’t make September, but are tempted by the itinerary, take a look at our Best of the Compostela Trail Spain guided walking tour which follows a similar itinerary without the direct culinary focus. Next available departures are 21 April and 16 June.

View all Guided Walks in Spain.

Steeped in history and mythology, a guided walk along Ireland’s Dingle Peninsula with an experienced local makes alot of sense. Situated on the west coast, the rugged beauty of the terrain found along the Dingle Way will always work its magic on any walker.

However few know the full – if any – stories behind the variety of archaeological monuments that are found here and it is much easier to be impressed by the heritage, which dates back to prehistoric times through to the Early Christian period to the Middle Ages, when interpreted by a local guide.

Our 8-day Dingle Peninsula Guided Walk recently featured in the Sun Herald. It’s a brilliant account of life on the trail and also showcases just how much fun a guide can make your trip. Here's a snippet;

"It's a holiday, not a route march," John reminds us, "so you can decide how much walking you want to do during the week. Any time you've had enough, I'll arrange for the leprechauns to pick us up."

Tours depart between April and September. Read the full article. 

View all Guided Walks in Ireland.

Our newest itinerary to our already extensive range of walks in the Mont Blanc region, the Mont Blanc Rambler has been specifically designed to provide a more relaxed pace itinerary for those who wish to stop more often to really savour the gorgeous mountain vistas the region is so famous for.

Walking through three countries in one week - France, Switzerland and Italy – your bilingual guide will ensure everything runs smoothly as you cross borders on foot and travel from comfortable gite to comfortable refuge, organising for your gear to be carried by the support mules!

En-route your guide will always be on hand to clarify the names of the beautiful peaks or attractive alpine flowers that capture your imagination. They’ll also source local ingredients to ensure your picnic lunches each day are as much of a highlight as the surrounding views.

If you’ve always been tempted to walk in the Mont Blanc region but were just a little nervous about walking too quickly or on your own check out the new Mont Blanc Rambler, which departs every Sunday from 24 June to 09 September.

View all Guided Walks in France.

No one knows Tuscany better than a local. And with so much to see and do in this famous region of Italy you want to make sure you don’t miss anything – our guide will make sure you don’t.

Our Classic Tuscany Guided Walk is a  sensational itinerary travelling between the two most important Tuscan cities, Florence and Siena. Your guide will escort from you from the Piazza della Signoria to Piazza del Campo and help you to discover the region on foot, introduce you to the locals, allow you to experience the slower pace of life and help you understand the long history of wine making.

The walk itself travels through the celebrated Chianti wine region, a delightful area to stroll through thanks to the rolling vine covered hills, medieval villages such as Colle Val d' Elsa, a lovely medieval village and our base for most of the trip, and the ever present olive groves. Your guide will interprets the significance of the your walk along the Francigena way to San Gimignano, a town dominated by its magnificent towers and show you the hidden corners of Volterra, famous for its alabaster handicrafts.

Galleries, museums, markets and travelling with likeminded souls – everything about this tour has classic written all over it.

Next available departures: 19 May and 09 June.

View our full range of Guided Walks.

How do I get to Niederdorf? Where is Niederdorf?!! How does a self-guided holiday work? Can I bring the kids?

You’ve got questions on Europe, our experts have answers. Reserve your place at one of our free UTracks information evenings to learn more about what’s on offer in 2011. Our Europe experts will answer questions you haven’t even thought of yet so book your place(s) now as seating is limited. Book now onto one of the following shows:

• Perth: 01 March
• Sydney: 07 March & 12 April
• Melbourne: 29 March

Answer: Niederdorf is in the Italian Dolomites and the starting point of our Via Ferrate Guided Walk.