3 Ways to Experience Adventure and Culture in Europe

Europe packs a punch. Western Europe, for instance, squeezes nine different countries into an area the size of Texas and Oklahoma, which means you can hear French, German, and Italian all while exploring the same mountain range. You can have brioche and espresso for breakfast in Italy, catch a train and have tapas for dinner in Spain. Dip your toes in the Mediterranean one day and summit a granite peak in the Alps the next. If you’re looking for an adventure that’s culturally rich, Europe needs to be on your bucket list. You could wander around Europe on your own, hoping you luck into the best experiences, or you could take a trip with EF Adventures, a tour operator with more than 40 guided trips across 25 countries that blend adventures like hiking, cycling, and multi-adventure activities (like kayaking, surfing, and yoga) with curated cultural experiences that deliver a memorable impact.

“Adventure is more meaningful when you understand the people and stories behind the landscapes,” says Lael Kassis, vice president of market innovation and development with EF Adventures. “Activity opens travelers up; culture fills them up. By pairing the two, a bike ride becomes a look into local life, and a shared meal becomes a connection point—not just a reward after a long day. That balance is what makes our trips truly transformative.”

Ready to see the impact for yourself? Here are three ways to experience Europe’s signature adventure and culture with EF Adventures.

Hiking and Walking

Swiss, Italian, and French Alps

From $6,399 per person for 12 days.

Follow in the footsteps of mountaineering legends as you hike beneath Europe’s most iconic peaks, from stunning views of the 14,692-foot Matterhorn to the trails that circumnavigate Mont Blanc on this romp through the Alps. The journey begins on the banks of Lake Geneva, where you’ll stroll narrow streets lined with the homes of local winegrowers and enjoy an educational wine tasting. You’ll learn how the grapes are grown on the edge of the lake before trekking to Matterhorn base camp. Enjoy the car-free town of Switzerland’s Zermatt, and travel by funicular, gondola, and train as you shuttle to hike alpine trails that meander past ice-blue lakes. On your way to Italy, you’ll stop at the St. Bernard Pass to learn about the centuries-long tradition of breeding the great mountain dog. The trip reaches a crescendo with a section hike of the world-famous Tour du Mont Blanc Trail, which passes through three different countries.

Biking

Catalonia and Costa Brava

From $5,739 per person for 10 days.

Cycling is ingrained in Spanish culture, and this 10-day itinerary puts you in the thick of the action with daily rides along the Mediterranean coast, past historic cathedrals—like the 15th-century Girona Cathedral (considered an architectural masterpiece for its mix of Romanesque, Baroque, and Gothic styles)—and down cobblestone streets where small cafés make for natural rest stops. Highlights include tackling the 2,000-foot Els Angels climb, ending at a church with views of the valley below; and pedaling from the largest natural lake in Spain through the Gateway to the Pyrenees, an iconic road climb up Mar de Deu del Mont that features hairpin switchbacks and sections of 10 percent gradient. Don’t worry, EF’s experienced tour directors will guide you on every turn, and there will be a day of rest in Cadaqués, the coastal town that inspired painter Salvador Dalí.

Multi-Adventure

Algarve and Alentejo

From $4,059 per person for 9 days.

Kayaking through caves, hiking along craggy coasts, pedaling through pastoral valleys—Portugal is a multisport dream that serves adventure with a side of Mediterranean zest (think olive oil tasting and candy-colored palaces). Portugal’s terrain is an enticing mix of towering mountains, working farmland, and cliff-lined coast, all underscored by ancient fortifications and vibrant fishing villages where seafaring men and women still rely on the Atlantic’s bounty. On this adventure, you’ll lounge on golden beaches hidden between cliffs, sip wine in fishing villages, hike past historic lighthouses on a slice of the 140-mile-long Fishermen’s Trail, and maybe even learn to surf. This trip to Portugal packs a lifetime’s worth of bucket-list experiences into a single week.

EF Adventures is a culturally immersive, educational adventure tour operator offering 40-plus guided trips across 25 countries. Backed by 30 years of EF World Journeys’ global expertise, it combines active travel—like hiking, cycling, kayaking, ziplining, and many other adventure activities—with meaningful learning experiences that deepen travelers’ understanding of the people and places they visit. For more information, visit efadventures.com.