Why the Alps are now Europe’s top destination for hikers and cyclists this summer

Ready to escape the August heat? Europe’s best destinations for an active ‘coolcation’ this summer have been revealed in new research from sports travel insurance provider SportsCover Direct, with France’s Mont Blanc region taking first place, beating Scandinavian hotspots that routinely dominate for coolcations(1).

As Europe endures another summer of record breaking temperatures, searches for ‘coolcations’ have risen 74% year-on-year, with 65% of holidaymakers now saying they’d rather avoid travelling during the hottest time of year(2).

But, rather than giving up on summer travel altogether, many are simply choosing to visit somewhere cooler instead, and for a growing number, it’s not just about swapping sunloungers for shade, but staying active outdoors, favouring locations perfect for walking, hiking and cycling adventures over scenic beach breaks.
Revealed: The top 10 destinations for an active coolcation(3)

SportsCover Direct analysed 30 of Europe’s most popular adventure destinations, ranking each on average summer temperature and humidity, hiking and cycling trail density, and travel time from the UK, to reveal the ultimate ranking of Europe’s best active coolcations for this year.

Why the Alps are beating the Nordics this summer

Despite this summer’s focus on Nordic coolcations, the Alps dominate the rankings, claiming four of Europe’s top 10 active coolcation destinations, including France’s Mont Blanc region (1st), Austrian Tyrol (5th), Hohe Tauern National Park (8th), and Switzerland’s Valais (9th).

Google searches for “Alpine summer” are up 222% worldwide year-on-year, with its trail access and comfortable travel time making the Alps hard to beat(4).

Mont Blanc’s hub of Chamonix has 217 hiking and cycling trails per 100km², making it among the densest adventure networks of any destination analysed, and is reachable from London in under three hours via Geneva. Austrian Tyrol offers a similarly strong trail density (178 per 100km²) with an almost identical travel time of 170 minutes.

By contrast, only two Nordic destinations made the top 10, Sweden’s Åre & Jämtland Mountains in second place, and Norway’s Lofoten Islands in seventh. The Lofoten Islands may offer dramatic scenery, but reaching them takes over nine hours door-to-door from London (543 minutes) once flights and onward travel are factored in, more than three times longer than Mont Blanc.

Nordic destinations also run consistently more humid than their Alpine counterparts, with Lofoten averaging 82% humidity in August compared to Mont Blanc and Valais at 74%, making similar temperatures feel less comfortable in reality.

You don’t need a passport for some of Europe’s best coolcations

The UK and Ireland also came out as top contenders for a coolcation this summer, with the Scottish Highlands ranking third overall, Eryri (Snowdonia) National Park placing fourth and Connemara, Ireland placing 10th.

Both the Scottish Highlands and Snowdonia benefit from a rare combination of comfortable temperatures, dense trail networks and unbeatable accessibility. The Scottish Highlands recorded an average August temperature of 13.6°C alongside 211 hiking and cycling trails per 100km² and, with no flight required, they can be reached from London in as little as 177 minutes, faster than almost every other destination in the top 10. Snowdonia offers an even higher trail density at 228 per 100km², rivalling the Alps’ best connected hubs.

Active coolcation case study: “I wanted a holiday where I didn’t have to plan around the heat”

In June this year, Theodora Taylor Franks, Co-chair of the AITO Sustainable Tourism Committee and General Manager at Fleewinter(5), travelled to Svalbard and the Arctic pack ice on a small ship expedition. She comments:

“I love a beach holiday, and will continue to enjoy them, but this year, I wanted a holiday where I could make the most of every day, being active, exploring somewhere new, and not having to adjust my plans because of high temperatures.”

“It was one of the best holidays I’ve ever had! What surprised me most was how much time we were able to spend exploring on foot, climbing mountains, swimming, and experiencing the landscapes and wildlife at close quarters.”

She adds: “I also chose to visit Florence in February and March, outside its traditional peak season. I had a completely different experience from my partner, who visited friends there during the previous summer. I definitely enjoyed fewer crowds, cooler temperatures and more space to appreciate the city.”

It’s a shift reflected across the industry, with research showing 54% of UK travellers are now concerned about overtourism at peak destinations and peak times, with many open to changing how and when they travel as a result(6).

Theodora comments: “The coolcation trend is less about abandoning traditional destinations and more about matching the destination and season more carefully to the experience travellers want.

“Travellers understand that summer heat is unlikely to be an isolated occurrence, so they are thinking more carefully about temperature, seasonality and what they actually want to do while away.

“An additional upside of the trend is that encouraging people to travel at different times of year can reduce pressure on destinations that usually experience intense summer peaks, while providing local businesses with a steadier, more reliable income throughout the year.

“However, simply redirecting large numbers of visitors elsewhere is not a complete solution. Cooler and more remote destinations can also be environmentally sensitive. Tourism must be carefully managed, with appropriate visitor numbers, responsible operators and meaningful benefits for local communities.

“From a holidaymaker perspective, If you choose somewhere colder, try not to spend the holiday comparing it with the beach break you might have taken! The point is to enjoy everything about the very different landscape, climate and season that coolcations make possible.”

Chris Trotman, Head of Sales & Underwriting at SportsCover Direct comments on the research(7):

“What our research shows is that an active coolcation doesn’t mean compromising. Some of the best hiking and cycling in Europe is found in destinations that are cooler, quieter and, in many cases, easier to reach than the Mediterranean hotspots people more traditionally frequent in summer.

“Destinations like the Scottish Highlands and Snowdonia ranked so highly not just because of the weather, but because travellers can be out on the trails within a few hours of leaving home, rather than losing a day of their trip to travel. That’s a real shift in how people are planning active holidays, showing that they’re prioritising time spent doing the activity itself, not just reaching a beautiful location. Cover for hiking (+44%) and trekking & mountaineering (+69%) has grown steadily over recent years, which also tells us this isn’t a fleeting trend(8).

“Whether you’re heading to the Highlands, the Alps or venturing further afield, it’s important to make sure your travel insurance actually covers the activities you’re planning. Standard travel insurance often doesn’t cover specialist hiking, cycling or mountaineering activities, which is particularly crucial when you’re at a high altitude, off marked trails, or on multi-day routes.”