Have you ever arrived at your holiday hotel late at night, sweaty and weary after travelling, feeling discombobulated and just hoping that the coffee is good in the morning? Then you wake up in the morning and open your curtains, to have your breath taken away. It’s a child on Christmas morning moment, a gift of gorgeousness, and if you’re at the coast, a sight for shore eyes. We’ve asked our team of adventure specialists to come up with their favourite wake-up spots while hiking or cycling on one of our natural adventures. Sometimes they are our starting points, and others may be mid-trail. The latter are perfect for when you might be starting to flag, and a timely morning boost beckons just beyond the blackout blind.
Villa Alquézar, Sierra de Guara, Spain
Sierra de Guara Natural Park in Aragón is an exquisite escape, walking between remote villages in a limestone landscape that is perfectly poised between the Pyrenees and the Ebro Valley. Our CEO, Yana Tudzharova has chosen it as her favourite wake-up spot from her recent adventures. For more information, this walking holiday also features in our blog, Best hikes in Spain.
“One of my favourite wake-up spots was on the first morning of my Sierra de Guara trek in Aragón. I stayed at Villa Alquézar, a charming, family-run hotel with views over the canyon and medieval hilltop village. Alquézar itself feels timeless – stone houses, winding lanes and a peaceful atmosphere that draws you in from the moment you arrive. It was my first day of walking, and I was genuinely excited to finally experience this spectacular and lesser-known side of Spain. The day ended perfectly with a bottle of local draft beer on the same balcony.”
Rifugio Maison Vieille, Val Veny, Italy
Jenna Bewsher is our Destination Manager for Tour du Mont Blanc walking holidays. She knows the massif like the back of her hand and, with every morning a winner on the TMB, it’s amazing she picked a favourite wake-up spot. But Jenna didn’t hesitate in choosing a winner though.
“There is a refuge in Val Veny, where the wake-up views are just mind-blowing. It’s called Rifugio Maison Vieille, and it’s on the Italian side of Mont Blanc along the TMB. I always think that this side of Mount Blanc is more wild and rugged and looks spectacular. On the French side it’s very forested, with clean lines of snow and glaciers, which are also wonderful, but I love the ruggedness in Italy. Also, it was one of those places where we got that perfect mountain mist, and I love to start walking before that clears, which it usually does by about 09.30. That way, you catch those beams of light pouring through the mist as you start your walk.”
Sconser Lodge, Isle of Skye, Scotland
Sconser Lodge is one of the accommodation options on our Isle of Skye Trail holiday and, if you can get in early to guarantee a booking it’s worth it, according to our Destination Manager, Gregor Stewart.
“Sconser Lodge is a stunning old building right on the shore, with views out to the Isle of Rasaay, where you can watch the ferry come to and fro throughout the day. There’s also a chance of spotting otters. It’s a peaceful little corner of the island, away from many tourists, and just up the road from Sligachan, which is where we meet you to transfer you to the lodge (10mins drive). The hosts are incredible, offering the best Highland hospitality, with incredible dinners in their bar. They have a great whisky and beer selection, after which a good old sing-song is likely to break out. There’s also a hearty breakfast to tuck into in the morning, while looking over the bay and breathing the fresh sea air. It really is something else. And as a Scottish man, I can definitely say that this wake-up spot is hard to beat.”
Valldemossa, Mallorca, Spain
Catherine Mack, our in-house travel writer and content manager, has chosen Valldemossa in the mountains of Mallorca, for her favourite wake-up spot on a walking holiday. Please note that the hotel where she stayed, and photographed below, is an upgrade from our standard hotel. But the views are all priceless in Valldemossa, no matter where you stay. She’s written more about this holiday in a blog, Full disclosure (and exposure) on hiking in Mallorca.
“We were lucky enough to spend the first two nights of our walking holiday in Valldemossa, and it really did surpass all expectations. Every view is to die for, the cobbled streets are packed with bougie boutiques, and the traditional stone architecture feels more Tuscan than Mallorcan. It’s one of those places, when you open your hotel shutters, you’re rendered speechless by the magnificence of the mountains. They were closed when we arrived at the hotel, and I’m sure they do that on purpose just so that you can have that breathtaking ‘reveal’ moment. I recommend arriving one day early just to have 24h to take it all in.”
Auberge du Point Sublime, Verdon Gorge, France
Our Marketing Coordinator, Benjamin Jones-Gerrard, has a nomadic lifestyle, living full time in a self-built campervan with his partner and two dogs, while he travels around Europe in search of the very best adventure destinations. So for him to find a favourite wake-up spot is no mean feat. This auberge in Verdon Gorge was a veritable winner though, where you stay on days two and three of this trekking holiday and days three and four of this shorter break.
“One of my favourite wake-up spots was at Auberge du Point Sublime in the Verdon Gorge. It was the second day of our hike, so I was already intimately aware of the beautiful scenery but, as I stepped outside of our room, I was immediately greeted by towering cliffs emerging from the bluest water I have ever seen. We hiked the Martel Trail, which was challenging in parts but absolutely worth it for the incredible views and dramatic scenery. It was one of those rare mornings that felt both peaceful and completely awe-inspiring.”
Perast, Montenegro
Our Balkan Destination Manager, Katya Panchenkova’s knowledge, love of nature and of course travel are top notch. She’s chosen Perast in Montenegro as her wake-up wonder, especially as she’s a keen swimmer. Perast is a small, ancient town on the shores of the Bay of Kotor, where morning coffee at a traditional konoba makes your wake-up complete. You spend four nights in Perast on this walking holiday in Montenegro, and two on this Montenegro-Croatia combi, but it features on many of our Montenegro tours, and it’s a small country so you can always add it on as an extension.
“I am addicted to hiking and I really love to combine it with some swimming. So one of my favourite wake-up spots is the tiny town of Perast in Montenegro. The morning tranquillity of the sleepy streets, gently swaying fishing boats and mirror-like Boka Kotorska Bay give me a peace of mind that we miss so much in everyday busy life.”
Imlil, High Atlas Mountains, Morocco
Having adventurers on our team from all over the UK and Europe is important for us at The Natural Adventure. That’s because our company culture is driven by adventurers who have their own unique insight into places they know inside out. Neringa Rackauskaite, our Marketing Director, is one such person. She is Lithuanian, although her love of kite surfing has brought her to live in Essaouira in Morocco. She wakes up to the waves every day, but it’s the views across Imlil and the Atlas Mountains that have really stolen her heart. In particular before she started her successful ascent of Mount Toubkal, as Imlil is gateway to the eponymous national park.
“I love staying in the Imlil area overnight. The tranquility of the village and gorgeous mountain views help me to lose all the stress brought from the city and connect with nature. It’s also a perfect place to rest after the acclimatisation walk in the Atlas mountains and adapt before tackling Mount Toubkal. The hospitality of the local people is unmatchable. Prepare for lots of tea and food (perfect for carbloading!).”
Hotel Bringué, El Serrat, Andorra
Claudia Ollé Hurtado, one of our Adventure Operations Specialists, took on our new hiking holiday in Andorra recently, a small country with the prettiest collection of pics, as they’re called locally. In fact, they have 65 stellar summits over 2,000m, making it a microstate with mega proportions. She stayed at Hotel Bringué on the second and third nights of her trip where, when she opened the curtains, it was like opening the most adventurous of Andorra’s box.
“This particular hotel is located in El Serrat, one of the most beautiful places in the Ordino Valley. You have fantastic views of the valley from the room, lounge, spa and restaurant terrace. El Serrat is gateway to the high mountains and Sorteny Valley Natural Park. This is a place where you experience nature in its purest state. It’s also the starting point for hiking to Sorteny Hut and Estanyó Lake, La Serrera Peak, Angonella Lakes, or the popular Iron Route. From June, when summer arrives in Andorra, the restaurant also opens its terrace grill, surrounded by valley views and the gentle murmur of the Valira River.“
Belvedere del Lago hotel in Montefiascone, Italy
Luca Catarinicchia is our Adventure Travel Product Specialist for Italy and so we’ve no idea how he can choose just one room with a view to remember. However, as his most recent travels have taken him to Umbria, where we have a collection of new tours, it’s Lake Bolsena that’s winning the belissima ratings right now. And, in particular, the Belvedere del Lago hotel in Montefiascone, where you stay on day four of this Lake Bolsena tour.
“This family-owned B&B is part of a 800m2 villa overlooking Valle Perlata (Pearled Valley, so called because the dew makes it shine in the early morning) and Lake Bolsena.) The interiors have a strong 70s vibe with plenty of designer furniture. But it’s the outside that really shines here, with terraces that offer breathtaking views over Lake Bolsena and the Apennines beyond. All helped by the fact that Montefiascone is located at 590m above sea level. Cherry on top, breakfast is served in your suite or on your terrace, so you can enjoy your cappuccino and some colossal views.”
Seehotel Huber, Salzkammergut, Austria
Our co-founder, Peter Duncan, recently ventured to the Salzkammergut Lake District in Austria to celebrate a big birthday. He shared his stories of salt, strudel and the Sound of Music while walking there and, in particular, how the trip got off to a great start at Seehotel Huber. You can read more about the trip itself in this blog and this specific hotel features as an upgrade in these two holidays.
“Our first night and day was at a lovely hotel by Wolfgangsee called Seehotel Huber where the mother of the family-run hotel greeted the guests, her son cooked the meals and her daughter, who was wearing traditional Austrian clothing, served our delicious dinner. The view from this hotel definitely set the tone for the rest of the trip. Later, we walked around Wolfgangsee on a glorious sunlit day, taking time to dangle our feet in the cool waters.”
These are just a few snapshots of our team’s favourite wake-up spots, and with over 700 tours, we have a lot more to choose from. Please note that not all the accommodations mentioned above are the default choice on our tours, as some are upgrades. However, as with all our tours, don’t hesitate to ask our adventure specialists, and ask us for a wake-up call to suit!
Related tours
Walking in Sierra de Guara
Walking the Isle of Skye Trail
Walking in Mallorca
Verdon Gorge Trek: Europe’s Grand Canyon
Walking in Southern Montenegro
Walking in Montenegro and Croatia’s Islands
Hiking in Andorra
Walking in Umbria and Lazio: Orvieto and Lake Bolsena
