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Top Tips

Getting Fit for Hiking

Submitted by HedonisticHiking on 6 Mar 2024

First-time guests are often worried that they will not be as fit as others in the group, so we recommend a little preparation to help to dispel those fears. As we now have a couple months to go until the start of our European season, it is time to get focussed and start your exercise regime!

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Is your hiking gear sustainable?

Submitted by HedonisticHiking on 7 Feb 2024

We can all try harder to be conscious consumers, taking time to investigate the products we are purchasing, and keeping items for as long as possible. Choosing your hiking gear should be just the same and we can all help to maintain the health of the planet.
 

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First Impressions of Hedonistic Hiking

Submitted by HedonisticHiking on 29 Nov 2023

Following on from last month's interview with a Hedonistic Hiker with 20 tours under his belt, this month we talked to Cathy Samson who completed her first tour in September 2023.

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Celebrating the Saints

Submitted by HedonisticHiking on 28 Nov 2023

Every town in Italy has a patron saint and each one has a day in the year dedicated to its celebration, known locally as the "Festa del Santo Patrono."  Festivities may also include live music, dancing, fireworks, historical costumes and food showcasing local specialities. All the generations take part and families come together for these special events.

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Three Gardens to see in Spring

Submitted by HedonisticHiking on 6 Nov 2023

May and June in Europe are two of the best months to see gardens in full bloom.  Many tours include visits to gardens, and others offer time to visit under your own steam.  Here are three of our favourites.

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Ten of the Best Smaller Museums in Italy

Submitted by HedonisticHiking on 9 Aug 2023

Jackie's latest guest article for Sixty & Me looks at ten of Hedonistic Hiking's favourite smaller museums and attractions in Italy, which are just a little off the beaten track. These hidden pint-sized gems don’t have the size and grandeur of the country’s big hitters, but they’re a great way to step straight into the local culture and history!

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A plea to pack light!

Submitted by HedonisticHiking on 7 Aug 2023

As you are starting to think about what you need to join our hiking trips in September and October, we hope you will take note of our plea to travel light!

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Best Hiking Accessories

Submitted by HedonisticHiking on 8 Jun 2023

Find out more about our top tips for hiking accessories to bring on our tours.  Having the right headgear, socks, waterproof layers or poles will make a big difference to your overall comfort and enjoyment of the hike.

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Walking with Poles

Submitted by HedonisticHiking on 4 May 2023

Is it helpful to walk with poles?  Is it better to use one or two, and which are the best ones to choose?  We are great fans of hiking poles and always advise hikers to walk with them. Here are some of our top tips for buying them and getting the most out of them.

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Brush up your Italian language skills

Submitted by HedonisticHiking on 14 Apr 2023

If you're heading out to hike with us in 2023 year in Italy, and feel like brushing up on your Italian language skills, then watching TV can really help!  There are lots of techniques to help you - whether you're a beginner or have been learning the language for while.

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Pilates for Hiking - New Year Special Offer!

Submitted by HedonisticHiking on 4 Jan 2023

Pilates can really help to prepare you for hiking. It can give you a spring in your step, help your strength and mobility and keep you enjoying the great outdoors for longer! We've a fantastic new year on-line offer from Jackie's own Pilates teacher.

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Let's talk about train travel

Submitted by HedonisticHiking on 10 Aug 2022

At Hedonistic Hiking we are starting to think more and more about train travel within Europe. If you're making plans for travel in 2023, and you'll be visiting more than one country, then take a moment to think about letting trains take the strain of your journey.

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Five Favourite Tipples!

Submitted by HedonisticHiking on 5 Jul 2022

With the Italians being such expert winegrowers, it is no surprise that they also produce many delicious Aperitifs and Digestifs, blending age-old, closely-guarded secret recipes of herbs, roots and spices which are loved the world over. We've picked five of our favourites and thought about some of the best places to enjoy them.

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Feast your eyes on a good book

Submitted by HedonisticHiking on 2 Mar 2022

There is no doubt that reading a book set in the country where you are travelling helps to bring the place to life.  At HH we're always on the look out for books set in the regions where we run our tours and like to share our ideas from time to time.

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Sharing our European Travel Experience

Submitted by HedonisticHiking on 11 Feb 2022

We've just returned from 3 months in Europe and were pleased to see life returning to normal. There is no substitute for genuine experience so, if you are still a little unsure about venturing overseas in 2022, here is what we learnt from our journey about what it takes to travel safely this year.

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Three Exhibitions for 2022

Submitted by HedonisticHiking on 15 Jan 2022

Calling all art lovers!  If you have plans to be in Italy in 2022, here are three upcoming art exhibitions you may like to see!

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Balancing strength and mobility

Submitted by HedonisticHiking on 15 Oct 2021

Anne Heuperman has been teaching Pilates to Jackie in Bright for many years and Jackie swears by the exercises for maintaining core strength and flexible movement. If you are looking for ways to work on your strength, balance and mobility before a walking holiday, then start right here!

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Inspiring walkers of all ages

Submitted by HedonisticHiking on 6 Sep 2021

Whilst walking recently with a friend in Rutland, close to the Hedonistic Hiking UK office, we learnt the story of a highly decorated local war hero, with connections to Australia, who has completed a walking challenge in support of The Soldiers’ Charity.

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Fast Art Talks with Freya

Submitted by HedonisticHiking on 13 Jul 2021

Friend to Hedonistic Hiking, art historian and Florence-based private tour guide, Freya is launching a new series of her Fast Art talks starting in October 2021.

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Emperor Nero: Monster or Myth?

Submitted by HedonisticHiking on 30 Jun 2021

This year, London's British Museum is staging an exhibition entitled Nero - The Man behind the Myth.  Was he a monster or has history misrepresented his 15 years as Emperor of Rome?

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How will travel look post-Covid?

Submitted by HedonisticHiking on 4 Oct 2020

The regional tourist body Visit Victoria has been recently tracking consumer sentiment in both interstate and intrastate travel markets.  The philosophy behind our tours in Europe and Australia really resonates with the key words which came back from the responses.

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Escape to Italy

Submitted by HedonisticHiking on 10 Aug 2020

As Hedonistic Hikers we don't usually spend too much time in front of our screens but, finding ourselves once again locked down, we've started to escape by watching some of our favourite films!

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Three of the Best Virtual Museum Tours

Submitted by HedonisticHiking on 8 Apr 2020

As we come to terms with the fact that we won't be travelling overseas for the forseeable future, we are all becoming expert armchair travellers. To feed our desire for cultural experiences and to help us while away the hours at home Italy's museums have been fantastic at opening up their galleries to the world by offering some excellent virtual tours of their priceless collections.

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How to enrich your life through travel

Submitted by HedonisticHiking on 29 Jan 2020

Jackie's latest guest article for Sixty & Me looks at how travel can enrich your life through new experiences as well as new friendships.

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Are you a walking enthusiast?

Submitted by HedonisticHiking on 11 Jan 2020

The third installment of Hedonistic Hiking's Blog contributions to the US Sixty & Me online magazine offers six tips on enjoying walking holidays if you are over 60.

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The best activity holidays for the over 50s

Submitted by HedonisticHiking on 10 Jul 2019

If you’re one of the many over-50’s recognising that a holiday spent lying on a beach and soaking up the sun no longer holds the appeal of 30 years ago, the chances are you’re considering more active pursuits.

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Holidays in Italy for the body and brain

Submitted by HedonisticHiking on 30 Apr 2019

At Hedonistic Hiking, the simple fact is that we’d rather be walking than doing almost anything else (although enjoying good food and wine comes a close second!).  So what is it about walking that inspires so many people?  We look at some of the benefits of hiking, trekking or just gentle rambling.

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5 reasons to visit Italy in autumn

Submitted by HedonisticHiking on 10 Apr 2019

Anyone who has been on one of our gastronomic walking holidays in Italy will know that they are planned with military precision! In fact the timing of the tour itself is also a big consideration – we want you to experience each region at its finest and also enjoy the best seasonal food!

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Choose the right hike for you

Submitted by HedonisticHiking on 14 Mar 2019

If you’re toying with the idea of a walking holiday, whether in Italy or elsewhere in Europe, the important thing is to pick a tour that’s right for you. With mountains, lakes and a good scattering of national parks, there are plenty of hiking holidays in Italy to choose from, aimed at walkers of varying ability levels and offering many different experiences.

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Hot Spots & Hidden Gems

Submitted by HedonisticHiking on 22 Jan 2019

Many of our guests, particularly those who travel from Australia or the US, ask us for advice on extending their holiday in Italy and we’re only too happy to share our experiences when it comes to our favourite towns and walks of Italy. Read on for some of our personal favourites.

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Five best views in Italy

Five of the most beautiful views in Italy

Submitted by HedonisticHiking on 17 Oct 2018

Step out on a walking holiday in Europe and you can be sure of seeing sights and landscapes that remain out of the reach of many holidaymakers. In Italy, these veer from dramatic mountain backdrops and rural vineyard vistas to the magnificent seascapes that stretch along the coast.

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The best hiking holidays in Italy for solo travellers

The best holidays in Italy for solo travellers

Submitted by HedonisticHiking on 8 Aug 2018

The number of people taking a solo holiday each year continues to rise. While many of these are taking once-in-a-lifetime adventure tours, special interest trips such as solo walking holidays are fast becoming a popular option. The simple fact is that if your friends or partner don’t share the same interests, it makes sense to holiday with people who do! 

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The Best Time to Hike in Italy

Submitted by HedonisticHiking on 14 Jun 2018

One of the questions that pops up repeatedly from our guests is when is the best time to go walking in Italy.  The answer is not straightforward ...

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Italy's Best Hiking Routes

Submitted by HedonisticHiking on 13 May 2018

One of the questions that crops up time after time is which is the best region in Italy for walking. Not surprisingly, there’s no simple answer...

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Your holiday checklist

Submitted by HedonisticHiking on 17 Apr 2018

With Spring well on track in Europe and our first tour just a few weeks away, it’s time to start thinking about getting organised for your holiday. Although you don’t need to think about finding accommodation or booking car hire on a Hedonistic Hiking tour, it’s still a good idea to start planning early for peace of mind in the final run-up to your trip. Here are our top ten suggestions for a stress-free break.

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