How busy do you like your trails?

It’s an established pattern in travel that people go where they have heard of, where their family, friends and neighbours may have also recommended, leading to not just travel trends but also a funnelling of ever-increasing numbers of people to the same spots. We are all familiar with the most well-known examples: Santorini, Venice, Barcelona and Phuket have all become synonymous with overcrowding from mass tourism. The advent of low-cost flights was mirrored by the parallel rise of social media and its echo chamber tendency to magnify the pressures on what were already well-established tourist hotspots.

Tourism boards have to varying degrees have also been responsible for this pattern: wanting to lure ever more visitors to their destinations (the core reason for their existence after all) while simultaneously attempting to promote lesser-travelled regions, away from their established hot spots. It would seem, in many cases, they have not been very successful at all: that tendency for people to go towards what they know of and what’s on their bucket list is a hard trend to overcome! 

Over here in Adventure Travel and in the world of walking, we are not free from this effect either. We have seen numbers increasing every year on the most popular trails like the Tour du Mont Blanc, the Nakasendo Way and Spain’s Camino Frances, to name a few. While that can be a problem for us as trip operators trying to secure accommodation with ever more competition, whether it is for our travellers is arguably a question of personal tastes.

For one person, craving solitude out in nature may be at the very heart of their motivation for hiking, while for another, the camaraderie along the Camino trail is what makes the experience, and a trail devoid of other hikers may be a disheartening experience (and with solo hikers make them feel less safe). There is probably a happy medium in most cases, where we genuinely enjoy a bit of company along the trail and in the evenings, but we don’t want to jostle amongst a constant throng of hikers on a crowded trail. On the Camino, having your accommodation pre-booked is definitely an advantage as it lets you choose your own start time each day. Without a booking, many pilgrims rush each morning to reach the albergues before they fill up, which can mean starting very early and walking longer than planned. With your stay secured, you can set your own pace and avoid the morning scramble.

And we are finding this is not a static picture, that the experience does change from year to year. Yesterday’s off-the-beaten-path gem of discovery can quickly become today’s in-demand and busy trail. Japan is a good case in point: when we first started walking trips in Japan over 20 years ago, it was decidedly a very niche destination and not at all asked for by my clients at that time. Fast forward to today, and practically everyone I meet seems to express a desire to travel in Japan – and go hiking!

So am I suggesting you shouldn’t go? No, I’m not, but I am suggesting being selective and having clarity around the type of experiences you really want. When we started promoting the Kumano Kodo in 2013 no one here in Australia was aware of that trip and we were the first to promote it – if you wanted the current equivalent of that, I’d suggest the Michinoku Coastal Trail today. Ultimately, it depends on which trail suits your ability and personal preferences – but it’s worth having a chat with our specialists first to find out about different trails that might be better suited to you rather than just going off the advice of ‘Sue and Bob across the road’ who did that particular trail back in 2018. A lot might have changed since then and their tastes may not in reality be the same as yours.

At RAW Travel, we have always tried to strike the right balance between promoting what people are interested in and asking for, and introducing people to new trails/destinations that we believe can serve the same desires. As overcrowding in tourism and climate change become more of an issue and talking point, we aim to shine more of a spotlight on this and provide alternatives so people can make better informed choices. 

Ultimately, you may still want to walk the Tour du Mont Blanc because it really is one of the world’s most spectacular hikes – but we want you to be fully informed of what to expect if you go there during the busiest months. So, to that end, we will not shy away from honest discussion and feature more information on our webpages and in our materials about how many people to expect on the trails and when, and also feature similar alternatives to consider. Our goal is always for you to have the best possible experience and be your trusted advisors along that journey. 

If you’d like to walk the road less travelled – literally – check out our suggestions below. 

Swap the Nakasendo Way or Kumano Kodo for the Michinoku Coastal Trail

Why it’s a good alternative…

For those looking to escape the crowds, Japan’s Michinoku Coastal Trail offers a more remote and off-the-beaten-track experience. This little-known trail, also called the Tohoku Pacific Coast Nature Trail, opened in 2019 and follows the rugged Sanriku coastline in northern Japan. It’s a region rich in natural beauty – think dramatic cliffs, quiet beaches and lush forests. The trail was created to help revitalise coastal communities in the wake of the 2011 earthquake and tsunami, encouraging tourism and breathing new life into the region. Today, many of the villages have been rebuilt, and hikers are warmly welcomed by locals. Visitor centres along the way offer great resources and make for handy rest stops. Our RAW Travellers love the remote coastal landscapes, fresh seafood and tsunami history woven into the experience.

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Swap Spain’s Camino Francés for the Camino del Norte

Why it’s a good alternative…

The Camino del Norte is one of the lesser-walked routes to Santiago – and that’s part of its charm. Stretching 817km through the dramatic northern coast of Spain, it winds through the ever-changing landscapes of Basque Country, Cantabria, Asturias and Galicia. Expect rugged cliffs, sweeping sea views, misty forests and lush green hills. It’s more physically demanding than the popular Francés route, but rewards you with quieter trails, a stronger sense of solitude and a deeply reflective journey. While the section between San Sebastián and Bilbao is the most popular, much of the route offers long, peaceful days with just enough fellow pilgrims. Pilgrim services do exist but are more spread out – which only adds to the Norte’s off-the-beaten-path feel. Our RAW Travellers love the rhythm of this route – days of coastal beauty, moments of silence, and the satisfaction that comes from choosing a Camino that’s a little more rugged and a lot less travelled. Our new 10-day San Sebastián to Bilbao Slow Walk is a great entry point for hikers looking to dip their toe into a less-travelled route.

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• If you fancy a medium-length Camino, also consider the Camino Primitivo.

Swap the Tour du Mont Blanc for Slovenia’s Julian Alps

Why it’s a good alternative…

With its jagged mountains, turquoise rivers, lush forests and wine regions, Slovenia is a premium hiking destination. From the alpine serenity of Lake Bled to Mediterranean sunsets on the Adriatic, this is an itinerary rich in natural wonders, cultural treasures, and unforgettable food and wine experiences. One of the best things about this destination is that it’s blissfully uncrowded. You’re likely to meet locals on the mountain trails and only a sprinkle of foreign visitors. The Julian Alps provide dramatic alpine scenery with a quieter, less commercial feel. Our RAW Travellers are consistently surprised and delighted to find it’s so untouristed – they love the wonderful sense of space and solitude. With its own international airport it’s easy to reach from Australia an it’s surprisingly easy for English speakers to travel in. Get your friends together and go!

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Swap Wainwright’s Coast to Coast for Hadrian’s Wall Path

Why it’s a good alternative…

As England’s Coast to Coast Path grows in popularity – especially with its upgrade to National Trail status, Hadrian’s Wall Path deserves a closer look. This walk offers a unique blend of ancient Roman ruins, wild open landscapes and peaceful solitude. You’ll walk for miles past sweeping moorlands, sheep-dotted fields and dramatic escarpments, often with only a handful of fellow hikers in sight. There’s something deeply reflective about it – the wide skies, the rolling countryside, the feeling of walking through time. The central section surprises many of our RAW Travellers. It’s more rugged and remote than they expect, with crags and milecastles perched along the ridgeline – a dramatic contrast to the gentle green paths elsewhere. And when the day’s walk is done? You’ll find warm, welcoming pubs geared towards walkers, full of character and comfort.

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Swap Tuscany’s Via Francigena for Piedmont

Why it’s a good alternative…

If you’re looking to escape the crowds and discover a more authentic side of Italy, Piedmont delivers in spades. Unlike the well-trodden paths of Tuscany’s Via Francigena, Piedmont remains blissfully under explored. Here, you’ll walk through quiet villages, serene forest trails and vineyard-cloaked hills without jostling for space. The landscapes are diverse and peaceful, with the Alps never far from view. It’s also a food lover’s dream – think world-famous truffles, rich cheeses and bold red wines like Barolo and Barbaresco. With fewer tourists and a more down-to-earth feel, Piedmont gives you space to slow down, reflect and soak up the rhythm of rural Italian life. It’s Italy, unplugged – and all the better for it.

• New trip coming soon!

Swap Spain’s Camino de Santiago for St Olav’s Way in Norway

Why it’s a good alternative…

Scandinavia’s medieval pilgrim trail has a much lower profile than Spain’s famous Camino de Santiago. St Olav’s is the world’s northernmost pilgrimage route. It is quiet and untamed. The trail weaves through Norway’s countryside, past lakes, forests and fjord valleys – all the way to the magnificent Nidaros Cathedral in Trondheim where King Olav II is buried. The appeal is its serenity. The landscapes are vast and Nordic, with long summer days and crisp northern air. It’s easy to find the peace that many walkers seek. Norwegian culture and history from the Viking Age and the Middle Ages are also draw cards. The route is well-marked and supported by a growing community of pilgrims and hosts.

• New trip coming soon!

By considering these alternative trails, you’re making a smart, conscious travel choice – one that helps ease pressure on overburdened places and supports local communities more sustainably.