Walking Tours Built for How You Actually Want to Travel
You’re not looking for a bus tour with a microphone. You’re not looking for a cruise that docks for four hours and calls it a destination. You want to walk through a place, meet people, eat the food, hear the stories — and do it at a pace that lets you enjoy it. That’s exactly what we do.
Walking Adventures International has been designing small-group walking tours for active adults since 1989. Two guides on every trip. Every group kept intentionally small. Destinations on all 7 continents. And more than half the people on any given tour have traveled with us before — which tells you something about the experience.
Browse 2026 AdventuresYou’re Not Too Old for This
Built for Active Adults — Not Extreme Athletes
This is the concern we hear most often: Can I actually do this?
The answer, for the vast majority of active adults over 50, is yes. WAI tours are not mountaineering expeditions. They’re curated travel experiences where walking is the primary way you explore a destination — through villages, along coastlines, across historic city centers, through national parks, and along country lanes.
Walk distances typically range from 2 to 7 miles per day, and the pace is about 2 miles per hour — steady and relaxed, with stops for commentary from your guide, photos, and rest breaks. Many walks are done in shorter segments throughout the day rather than one continuous stretch.
Every tour is rated for difficulty using our Adventure Pace system, so you can choose a trip that matches your fitness level before you book. And on any given day, every walk is optional. If you’d rather take a morning off, your guides will help you rejoin the group at the next stop.
You don’t need to be a hiker. You need to be someone who enjoys walking and is willing to prepare — which usually means walking regularly at home in the weeks before your trip.
What Makes WAI Different
Not a Tour Mill. Not a Bus Tour. Something Better.
There are plenty of companies selling group tours for seniors. Here’s what sets WAI apart:
Two WAI guides on every trip. Most tour companies send one guide. We send two — plus local national guides on international tours. One guide leads the walk, one stays at the back so no one falls behind unnoticed.
Every tour is designed from scratch. We don’t repackage itineraries from other companies. Our guides walk the routes, visit the hotels, and plan the stops before you ever set foot there.
Groups are kept intentionally small. Every group is capped — not expanded when demand rises. If a tour fills up, we open a second departure rather than squeeze in more people.
More than half the travelers on any given tour have been with us before. That’s not a marketing claim — it’s a reality that shapes the experience. You’re joining a community of curious, warm people who welcome newcomers immediately.
A fresh destination roster every year. WAI doesn’t run the same tours on repeat. Our travelers vote with refundable Early Bird deposits on where they want to go next, and we build the schedule around those preferences.
Solo Travelers Welcome
You Don’t Need a Travel Partner
Many of our travelers come on their own — and they’re always glad they did. The small group size and shared walking experience have a way of accelerating friendships. People who meet on Day 1 are walking together like old friends by Day 3.
If you’re traveling solo and would prefer not to pay a single supplement, WAI offers a roommate matching service — we’ll pair you with another solo traveler of the same gender. Many travelers have formed lasting friendships this way.
The group dynamic is one of the most commented-on aspects of a WAI trip. When more than half the group are repeat travelers, there’s a built-in warmth and welcoming culture that makes solo travelers feel at home immediately.
What a WAI Trip Actually Looks Like
A Day on Tour
A typical morning starts with breakfast at the hotel, then the group boards the motorcoach to the day’s walk starting point. Your guides will have shared the plan the night before — what the walk involves, how far, what to bring, and what options are available if you’d like a lighter day.
The walk itself might follow a coastal trail, wind through a medieval village, cross a national park, or take you through the historic center of a city. Walks are broken into segments — 4 km here, 5 km there — with stops in between for your guide’s commentary, local culture, and time to breathe.
Afternoons might bring a second walk, a cultural visit, a boat ride, or free time to explore on your own. Evenings are a mix of group dinners and independent evenings in town — your guides always share their restaurant picks.
Not every day is a walking day. Tours blend walking with motorcoach sightseeing, museum stops, cultural experiences, and down time.
Your luggage moves by motorcoach between hotels. You only carry a daypack on walks.
Where We Go
All 7 Continents. A Different Roster Every Year.
From the Azores to Antarctica, Egypt to Ireland, New Zealand to Route 66 — WAI has been leading walking tours on every continent since 1989. The destination roster changes every year based on traveler interest, and each tour is a one-of-a-kind itinerary built specifically for that season.
Current and upcoming destinations include Europe, Africa, Asia, South America, North America, the South Pacific, and beyond. Some tours are closer to home — Smoky Mountains fall foliage, Utah’s national parks, the San Juan Islands. Others take you further — the Nile, the Dolomites, the fjords of Norway.
Every destination page includes the full itinerary, walk ratings, what’s included, pricing, and dates — so you can see exactly what to expect before you decide.
What’s Included
We Handle the Details. You Enjoy the Walk.
Every WAI tour includes:
- Hand-picked hotel accommodations (double occupancy; single supplement available)
- Private motorcoach transportation throughout the tour
- Two experienced WAI guides
- Local national guides on international tours
- All planned excursions and admission fees
- Many meals (the specific meal plan is listed on each tour page)
- Daily walk guidance with options for every pace
- Luggage transport between hotels
- Pre-trip planning guidance including recommended flights and a trusted travel agent referral
Not included: International airfare (unless specifically noted), travel insurance (strongly recommended), meals not listed as included, personal expenses.
Pricing varies by destination and duration — typically ranging from around $2,000 for shorter domestic tours to $8,500+ for extended international adventures. Full pricing is listed on every tour page.
Read our FAQ for details on booking, payment, and cancellation →
What Travelers Say
“My first concern was whether I’d be able to do the hiking — mainly the uphill challenges. I was tired on the long hauls, but I made it. I especially appreciated the option to choose a shorter walk when I needed to. And when I stumbled a couple of times on an uphill stretch, our guide was right there.”
“I’ve traveled with WAI six times now. Every trip is different, but the quality never changes. They take care of everything so you can just enjoy the experience. I’ve already booked my seventh.”
“The scenery was spectacular, the food was incredible, and the hotels were charming. But what made this trip unforgettable was the people — both the guides and the other travelers. We laughed every day.”
Ready to Start?
Three Steps to Your Next Adventure
Choose your adventure
Browse destinations, check dates, and find the walking level that fits you. Every tour page has the full itinerary, ratings, and pricing.
Register with a deposit
Reserve your spot and we handle the rest — hotels, guides, transportation, daily walks, cultural experiences.
Show up and walk
Touch down, meet your guides and fellow travelers, and take your first steps together.
Have questions? Call 360.260.9393 (Mon–Fri, 7–10am Pacific)
or email fun@walkingadventures.com