Packing essentials for a walking holiday in Europe

Have you just booked an exciting hiking holiday with your family, friends, or other half? Wherever that may be, the packing list remains fairly similar, depending on the season of course. Villanovo has made a packing list for you, to ensure you don’t forget anything at home, and have an incredible time!

>>>The most beautiful hikes to do in Corsica

• Waterproof outers: This varies on the location of your hike and the season, for example if you are going on a hike in the French Alps in the summer, you are less likely to need waterproof clothing though you should not rule it out as the weather is unpredictable!
• Walking footwear: It is imperative to choose footwear which suits the terrain and conditions, as some hikes may have rockier paths than others. We also recommend to wear them before leaving for your holiday, to make sure that you break them in otherwise you will have blisters, which won’t be comfortable.
• Accessories: Hats, gloves and warmers may be of good use while you are walking. Sometimes the winds at the top of the mountains can be very powerful and cold.
• Water bottle: Do not forget to pack a water bottle to stay hydrated throughout your hike!
• Portable charger: As we tend to use our phones more than ever, you will likely be using it as a map during your hike, unless you are old school and prefer using a real map and a compass! Even then, it is important to have enough battery life on your phone to take photos of the breathtaking mountain top views or simply to be able to reach someone quickly via call or text message in case of an emergency.
• Sun cream: If you do not wish to come back as red as a tomato, be sure to protect your skin with sun cream, no matter your location or season, the sun is strongest in high altitudes.
• Small first aid kit: Sometimes it is not very simple to reach help in an emergency situation, therefore packing a small first aid kit may be useful. You may also want to add blister packets in the first aid kit, there is nothing worse than having to walk with blisters!
• Binoculars: While on a hike, one has the opportunity to witness spectacular views. In order not to miss out on anything, pack some binoculars.