There’s a lot of talk these days about historic trails and long-distance walking routes. But what is the real reason behind their growing popularity?
Historic routes are ancient pilgrimage routes, trade roads, and cultural itineraries, often dating back to Roman or medieval times, now rediscovered and appreciated as an authentic form of slow and sustainable travel.
Their success is built on simple but powerful foundations: they are traveled on foot or by bicycle, immersed in the landscape; they offer an escape from mass tourism and a direct connection with history, culture, and local traditions; they allow people to move at their own pace, guided by curiosity and instinct. They can be interrupted and resumed over time, without pressure or deadlines. And they also represent a valuable opportunity for local communities and municipalities to preserve and promote their cultural heritage.
Those who choose a historic route — alone or with others — choose a genuine journey: outdoor activity, time to reflect, space to observe, and the chance to truly savor each experience. In an increasingly artificial world, walking becomes a necessary pause.
Alpmagic with its International Mountain Leaders organizes small groups to explore some of the world’s most famous historic routes together, and we also design tailor-made itineraries to match your interests, pace, and expectations — giving you the right balance of guidance and freedom.
Historic Routes: What they are and how they work
The historic routes we offer follow the ancient routes once traveled by pilgrims, merchants, and wayfarers. Among the most iconic are the Camino de Santiago, the Via Francigena, the Via degli Dei, the Via degli Abati, the Via del Sale, the Sentiero del Viandante along Lake Como, the Cammino Grande di Celestino, the Via Spluga, the Cammino delle Terre Mutate, the Dante Trail, and the Alta Via dei Re.
These are multi-day hiking itineraries, generally without technical difficulties, ideal for people who enjoy walking with a backpack, observing the landscape, and fully immersing themselves in the surrounding environment. Some routes, such as the Via Francigena or the Camino de Santiago, are particularly long. For this reason, we offer different participation options: the complete itinerary, selected sections to be completed over time, or carefully chosen stages featuring the most scenic and meaningful stretches.
Our itineraries are organized into two or more consecutive daily stages. Each day typically includes a morning departure, lunch along the route, afternoon arrival at the destination, dinner, and overnight stay.
Accommodation varies depending on the itinerary and may include pilgrim hostels, convents, monasteries, hotels, farm stays, bed & breakfasts, hostels, and mountain huts. We also offer selected itineraries for those who wish to experience the journey while camping in tents.
Our trips are designed for groups of approximately 9–12 participants. During the planning phase, we strive to create groups that are as compatible as possible, ensuring an enjoyable, harmonious, and rewarding experience for everyone.
What we offer
We design the itinerary and provide:
- the complete trek program
- the certified International Mountain Leader who will accompany the group
- reservations for overnight accommodations, as well as any lunches and/or dinners included in the itinerary
- reservations for additional services when needed to bypass less interesting sections of the route, such as buses, shuttles, or transfers
What you need to join
Joining our historic routes hikes requires only a few simple things:
- some familiarity with walking and hiking, depending on the length and difficulty of the itinerary
- good overall health (no medical certificate is required)
- appropriate equipment, clearly described in the trip information sheet
- the pleasure of sharing the experience with others and, when needed, helping one another along the way
How to join
To participate in one of our hikes, you should:
- read the trip description carefully
- make sure you have all the required equipment
- click “REGISTER” and complete the registration form
- pay the participation fee
- inform us of any relevant health-related considerations
What happens next
Once we receive your registration form:
- we will send confirmation of your participation
- you will be contacted by the International Mountain Leader leading the group
- you will receive informational material to help you prepare for the trip
- we will contact you regarding travel arrangements to the starting point of the itinerary
