What Is a Walking Holiday Really Like? A Week on the Costa Blanca

The group stayed at the 4-star Diamante Beach Hotel, close to the beach and promenade, with pools, a spa, a restaurant and a bar. It's a comfortable base to come back to after a day out.

Calpe itself is a lovely town for your free days. It has beautiful beaches, a marina, plenty of restaurants and an old town to wander, all overlooked by the famous Peñón de Ifach.

Here is what Marie said about her time in Costa Blanca with us:

I’ve always had a soft spot for the Costa Blanca. I lived here for a while, so coming back felt a little like returning to somewhere familiar. But this time I was seeing a very different side of the region – on foot.

I’d been invited to join an Involved Holidays walking week in Calpe, and although I knew the basic idea before I arrived, I don’t think I fully appreciated just how good the concept is until I experienced it for myself.

It’s not a walking holiday where you spend every day marching from breakfast until dinner. And it’s not a traditional group holiday where every minute of your time is planned for you either.

Instead, it sits somewhere in between – and that, for me, is what makes it so appealing.

The week was based around three organised walking days, with an optional day trip to Valencia, while the remaining time was yours to spend as you pleased. There was plenty of opportunity to explore, relax, go for a swim, enjoy the hotel or simply do your own thing.

You get the benefits of travelling with a group, without feeling that you have to be with the group all the time.

Three walks, three different experiences

The walking was very much at the heart of the week, and I loved the fact that the three walks weren’t simply variations on the same route.

We had different scenery, different landscapes and different experiences along the way, which meant each day felt like a new part of the Costa Blanca.

And while I’m used to exploring destinations, this was my first time experiencing this part of Spain through organised walking routes. It was a lovely way to discover places I probably wouldn’t have found by simply hiring a car or following a standard sightseeing itinerary.

The walks were also at an easy, manageable pace. You’re there to enjoy the scenery, take photographs, chat to people and experience the destination – not to see how quickly you can get to the end.

That makes a big difference.

There was time to stop, look around and enjoy where we were. And because everyone was there for the same reason, conversation came very naturally.

Our first was Serra d’Oltà, a circular walk of around six miles, taking us through pinewoods and across the more open landscape, with some wonderful coastal and mountain views. There was around 340 metres of ascent and descent, so this was definitely more than a stroll, but there was no sense that we were racing anywhere.

We stopped along the way to take in the views and visited the little hermitage of St Francis before eventually making our way back towards the bus and an afternoon of free time.

Then came Coll de Rates, which was a step up in terms of the challenge. There were some proper climbs, but reaching the top made it all worthwhile. Coll de Rates sits at around 627 metres above sea level and has been used as an old route through the mountains for centuries – and, historically, it was a place frequented by bandits.

Today, thankfully, the only thing we had to worry about was getting to the top! And what a reward it was. We stopped at the restaurant at the top for lunch, sitting outside and taking in the incredible landscape around us. From up there, you can see across the mountains and valleys and out towards the Mediterranean, with views stretching along both sides of the coast. It was one of those moments when you just sit back with your lunch and think, this is why we came.

The climb certainly got the legs working, and this was the day when I was particularly grateful for our guide, José.

José was brilliant throughout the week. He knew the routes, kept an eye on everyone and, just as importantly, knew when we needed a bit of encouragement – or a laugh.

And he was great fun, too. Halfway up, with the sun beating down and the temperatures climbing, we stopped for a much-needed breather – and José promptly came out with a song and his mouth organ! It was completely unexpected but had us all smiling as we cooled down and caught our breath.

There was plenty of banter along the way, which made a difference on the more challenging sections. The climbs certainly got the legs working, but there was never a feeling that we were competing with each other or trying to keep up with the fastest walker.

And importantly, there was a bus available for the harder section of the route, so anyone who didn’t fancy tackling that particular walk could take the easier option. I thought this was a really good touch. It meant the more challenging walk was accessible to the whole group without anyone feeling they had to push themselves beyond what they were comfortable with.

For me, that summed up the approach perfectly: there was a bit of challenge if you wanted it, but there was no pressure to prove anything.

And when we finally reached the top, the views felt very well earned.

Our third walk took us to Guadalest, and this was another completely different experience. This time, the walk was more of a mix of lakeside paths and road walking, winding around the reservoir with the mountains rising up around us.

The scenery was spectacular. The reservoir itself is a beautiful turquoise-blue colour, and every turn seemed to give us another view across the water and the dramatic mountains beyond. It was one of those walks where you keep stopping to look around – not because you need a rest, but because the landscape is so lovely you want to take it all in.

It was a more relaxed walk than Coll de Rates, with plenty of time to enjoy the views and chat as we made our way around the lake. And then came another lovely part of the day.

Once we had finished the walk, the bus met us and took us up into Guadalest, one of the Costa Blanca’s most beautiful hilltop towns. Perched high above the valley, it has narrow streets, historic buildings and spectacular views stretching across the surrounding countryside and reservoir.

We had time to wander around at our own pace, browse the little shops, take in the views and, if we fancied it, stop for a spot of lunch.

Again, I loved that combination. We had spent the morning walking through some stunning scenery but then had the chance to explore somewhere completely different and enjoy the atmosphere of Guadalest before heading back to Calpe.

The group – without the pressure

One of the things I hadn’t fully appreciated before going was how naturally social the week would be.

There can sometimes be a perception that joining a group holiday means giving up your independence.

This didn’t feel like that at all.

There was a really nice mix of people, and because you’re walking together, there’s an easy way to get to know people without the slightly awkward feeling of having to make conversation with strangers around a dinner table.

You naturally fall into conversation as you walk.

And then, when you’ve finished for the day, you’re free to do whatever you want.

That balance really works.

You can spend time with the group, have dinner together, share stories about the day and enjoy the social side of the holiday – but you can also head off on your own, meet up with friends, relax by the pool or explore Calpe.

For anyone who likes the idea of solo travel but doesn’t necessarily want to spend an entire holiday completely alone, I think this is a particularly interesting concept.

You have company when you want it, but independence when you need it.

And then there was Calpe

Having lived on the Costa Blanca, I already knew I liked this part of Spain. But Calpe made a brilliant base for the week.

There’s the iconic Peñón de Ifach, the beach, the old town, restaurants and bars, and plenty of places to simply sit and watch the world go by.

And because the walking programme doesn’t fill every day, you actually have time to enjoy the place you’re staying in.

That sounds obvious, but it’s something that can easily get lost on a more traditional touring holiday.

You can visit somewhere beautiful and barely see it because you’re always getting on the coach to the next destination.

Here, Calpe became part of the holiday rather than simply somewhere to sleep between excursions.

I made the most of the free time to explore, enjoy the sunshine and, of course, get in the sea – because it would have been rude not to!

A day in Valencia – if you fancy it

There was also the option to join an organised day trip to Valencia, which was available at an additional cost.

I really liked having the choice.

If you wanted another day out and the chance to see more of the region, it was there. If you’d rather have a lazy day in Calpe, go to the beach or simply enjoy some free time, you could do that instead.

We opted to go to Valencia, and it was a great addition to the week.

Having already spent several days exploring the mountains and smaller towns around the Costa Blanca, it was lovely to have a change of scene and spend some time in the city.

There was plenty to see, from the historic centre and beautiful architecture to the lively streets and squares, and we had time to explore rather than simply being whisked from one sight to another.

But once again, it was the little touches that made the day.

José arranged a restaurant for us at the end of the day so that we could sit down together and enjoy a proper traditional Valencian paella.

And what better place to eat paella than Valencia itself?

It was another opportunity to experience something local rather than simply visiting as tourists, and it rounded off the day beautifully.

Sitting down together, talking about everything we had seen and enjoying a long, relaxed meal was exactly the sort of experience that makes a group holiday feel special.

It also highlighted something I had come to appreciate throughout the week: having someone like José with you adds a real depth to the experience. He knows the area, knows the places worth visiting and, just as importantly, knows how to bring people together.

The Valencia trip was an extra, but it didn’t feel like something bolted on to the itinerary. It fitted perfectly with the rest of the week – another opportunity to explore, with the freedom to decide whether you wanted to take it.

The clever bit is what isn’t included

I think that may actually be the thing I appreciated most about the Involved Holidays concept.

It’s what isn’t planned that makes the holiday work so well.

Three days of walking give the week structure. The optional Valencia trip gives you another opportunity to explore. But then there are those free days where you can decide what you want to do.

Want to relax? You can.

Want to explore? You can.

Want to spend the day with the group? You can.

Want to do your own thing? Absolutely.

It feels like a holiday rather than a timetable.

And although the walks are the main focus, you don’t have to be a hardened walker to enjoy the experience. There are some more challenging sections, but the pace is comfortable, there’s no pressure to keep up with anyone else and you have an experienced guide looking after the group.

That, for me, is the sweet spot.

You get enough walking to feel that you’ve really experienced the destination, without coming home feeling as though you need another holiday to recover.

Would I do it again?

Yes – and that probably tells you more than anything else.

I went into the week curious to see whether a walking holiday would suit me. I came away thinking that this is actually a really clever way to travel.

You get to explore a destination in a way that feels active and rewarding, but without feeling like you’ve signed up for a fitness challenge.

You meet people, but you still have your own space.

You have organised days, but plenty of freedom.

You have a guide who knows the area, keeps everyone together, entertains you along the way and gives you a much greater understanding of the places you’re visiting.

And you get to stay somewhere long enough to actually enjoy the destination rather than simply passing through it.

That combination is difficult to get right, but I think Involved Holidays has.

And Costa Blanca is just one example. Involved has walking holidays in destinations across Europe and further afield, following the same idea – organised walks, a comfortable base, time to explore independently and optional excursions.

It’s a concept I can see working particularly well for anyone who likes the idea of an active holiday but doesn’t want every waking minute planned.

For me, coming back to the Costa Blanca was already going to be special. Discovering it through these walks made it even more enjoyable.

And perhaps the best thing about the week was that it never really felt like I was being taken around a destination.

I felt as though I was experiencing it.

At my own pace, with good company when I wanted it, a bit of a challenge when I wanted that too, and plenty of freedom when I didn’t.

That’s a pretty good way to spend a week in Spain.

Not Calpe? The same formula elsewhere

We run walking holidays across Europe, all with the same formula: great walks, local experiences and free time to enjoy the destination your own way. As Marie said, "you could swap the Costa Blanca for somewhere completely different and still have that same balance - walk, explore, relax and enjoy."

Frequently asked questions

How many walks are included?
Three organised walking days, plus two free days and an optional excursion to Valencia.

How hard are the walks?
They vary. Serra d'Oltà follows woodland and forestry tracks. Coll de Rates is a steady, challenging climb, with a minibus option for the final section. The Guadalest Reservoir walk is just over six miles with around 230m of ascent and descent.

Is it suitable for solo travellers?
Yes. Several people on Marie's trip were travelling solo, and she found "there's no sense of anyone being on their own."

Is there a guide?
Yes. A local guide walks with the group and lets everyone go at their own pace.

Where do you stay?
At the 4-star Diamante Beach Hotel in Calpe, close to the beach and promenade.

Ready to find out for yourself?

"I've really enjoyed this week, and I would absolutely do it again," said Marie.