interNATIONAL PARKtours - Group Walking Tours to National Parks and Natural places in Australia and Overseas. Enjoy walking tours and holidays with experienced andknowledgeable guides.

Discover the hospitality and beauty of rural Japan, exploring Lake Biwa and the mountains and villages of central Honshu. Along with natural wonders, experience village life, Japanese hot springs, regional cuisine, traditional arts and craft. This is an intimate and experiential tour of central Japan that allows you to fully immerse in the culture and get to know the local people.

After arriving on the legendary bullet train from Tokyo, the gardens and temples of Kyoto are your starting point. To the north east is Lake Biwa, where traditional fishing techniques are still practiced and local farmers harvest soba (buckwheat). In the mountains of Gifu prefecture, the famous Shirakawa-go villages are a World Heritage site. Over 100 large farm houses are built in a special architectural style designed for large households and to survive severe snowy weather.

Further south, walk trails that link the “post villages” along the ancient Nakasendo Highway, a trading route that linked Kyoto to Edo (present day Tokyo). In the mountain villages, meet the local people and enjoy country hospitality while the peach flowers bloom. A visit to Mt. Fuji makes for an impressive finale before the tour ends in Asakusa, Tokyo.

The Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia is a feast of geographic and historical delights. South west of the capital of Skopje, Mavrovo National Park is home to Macedonia’s highest peaks. Walks reveal the Bistra Mountains, alpine wildflowers, sheep-farming and local village life.

On the southern border, World Heritage listed Lake Ohrid is one of the world’s oldest lakes and the town is the cradle of Macedonian and Slavic orthodox religion and culture. Lakeside and mountain villages are the focus of walks in Galicica National Park, between Lake Ohrid and neighbouring Lake Prespa. To the east, Pelister National Park features clear vistas and granite formations from the glacial past. Near the town of Prilep, we hike up to Treskavec Monastery nestled into the rocky landscape. From our base in Strumica we visit local wineries, waterfalls and enjoy traditional food in village houses.

Hikes in East Macedonia’s “Switzerland” explore pristine native forests and peaceful mountain villages. The few visitors to this area can witness traditional dance, music and costumes. On the border of Bulgaria, you can help prepare lunch at a local farm which produces organic cheeses, wheat, fruit and vegetables. This tour can be preceded by two weeks in Greece.

Morocco has long been the inspiration for adventurers with its ancient culture, diverse landscapes and exotic cuisine. Marrakech, the starting point for our tour, has waylaid desert caravans since the 11th century, as visitors succumb to the charms of Gnaoua music and hammams (traditional Moroccan spas).

A highlight of the tour is three nights at Kasbah du Toubkal. Beneath the highest peak in North Africa, the kasbah is perched on an outcrop above the village of Imlil. Enjoy day hikes in the High Atlas and experience the local Berber culture on village and oasis valley walks.

In the high Atlas plateau we stay in Ouarzazate, an area which has featured in many international movies over the last 50 years. Near the oasis town of Tineghir, we walk through Todra Gorge (10m wide and 300m deep in places) then Dades Gorge, known as Morocco’s Grand Canyon. From Erfoud we travel to a desert village to witness sunset over the Erg Chebbi dunes, the highest in Morocco.

To the south near Azrou, short walks in the Middle Atlas Mountains feature giant oak, cork and cedar forests (complete with resident monkeys).  In Fez, one of Morocco’s four imperial cities, the walled medina quarter is the world’s largest contiguous car free medieval city. The tour ends in Casablanca.

Join our early autumn journey through central and northern Greece. Travel from Athens to the Sporades islands; from the mountains of Pelion to the mythical “homes of the gods” of Delphi and Mt Olympus. By day, enjoy gorge, valley and coastal hikes and in the evening, local food and comfortable accommodation.

After meeting in the Plaka, the historical centre of Athens, we travel to Delphi, site of the ancient Oracle and the Sanctuary of Apollo. The green forested mountains of Pelion are our focus for walks on cobbled paths and trails, still used by villagers transporting their produce to market. Staying on the island of Alonissos in the Green Sporades, we walk between villages and along the coastline with views over the National Marine Park. To the north-west, the World Heritage listed Meteora monasteries are an impressive sight, built on natural sandstone pillars from the 11^th century onwards.

Litohoro is our base to explore the base of Mt Olympus including the canyon of Enipea and the Dion archaeological site dedicated to Zeus. Our finishing point is Thessaloniki, Greece’s second largest city with a 3000 year Roman, Byzantine and Ottoman history.

The Tyrolean Alps straddling western Austria and Northern Italy offer prime walking opportunities and cultural immersion. This 20 day tour features day walks around the mountains of Innsbruck, the dramatic formations of the Italian Dolomites, the Karwendel Alpine Reserve near Hall in Tirol.

Starting in Innsbruck, we stroll along the Zirbenweg at 2000m in a nature reserve above town. Across the Italian border we visit the Ice Man Museum in Bolzano before settling in for three nights in the Val Gardena section of the Dolomites. Walks in this area give us views of several 2500-3000m peaks, including Sciliar, Sassolungo and Sella. Our second base is further east in the village of Moos, Sesto where day walks lead to the Italian / Austrian border or below the spectacular peaks of the Drei Zinnen and Zwoelferkofel.

Crossing back into Austria, we experience the Salt Mines and Wolfs Gorge near the town of Hall. A fitting finale will be three days in the Karwendel Alpine Reserve, part of the Northern Limestone Alps. We stay in two comfortable mountain huts as we walk through the mountains in the central Karwendel range. Our tour ends with two nights in Hall, close to Innsbruck and public transport to airports.

Explore two of Europe’s lesser known jewels – the spectacular coastline and national parks of Croatia and the mountains, lakes and villages of Slovenia. Highlights of this exciting tour include majestic snow-covered mountains, turquoise lakes, picturesque valleys and wildflowers.

The World Heritage Listed city of Dubrovnik is the perfect meeting point. A short distance west, the island of Mljet is your base for two days. Enjoy the island’s quiet beaches, native forests and unique salt lakes. Back on the mainland, Split has the ancient Diocletian’s Palace and further north, Paklenica and Krka National Parks stretch from the Adriatic coast inland to deep canyons and spring-fed creeks. World Heritage Listed Plitvice National Park has a network of boardwalks, serene aqua-coloured lakes and waterfalls. Entering Slovenia, we enjoy meadow and pine forest walks in the serene valley of Logarska Dolina.

From Lake Bohinj we explore glacial lakes and the limestone mountains of Triglav National Park. An optional overnight hike allows keen hikers to walk from Lake Bohiny to the Soca Trail. Our final walks explore the emerald-coloured river and gorges on the Soca Trail. The tour ends in the city of romance, Venice Italy.

Link this tour with Amalfi to Umbria to enchance your European travels

Captain Cook described it as paradise. Convicts in its infamous penal colony would have disagreed. Paradise returned to Norfolk Island with the arrival of the ‘Bounty’ mutineer descendants and their South Pacific wives. These days, residents and visitors revel in the history and charm of this subtropical island 2½ hours flight from Sydney or Brisbane. Developed by creative locals in association with EcoEscapes and IPT’s guide, Barry Davies, this is a week of Norfolk’s gentle walks, great food, history and meeting the locals.

Naturalist, Margaret Christian will lead walks to explore forests of ancient Norfolk Pines, palms and massive tree ferns. More than 40 endemic plant and bird species are protected in the island’s national park and reserves. Other walks lead to island viewpoints and follow coastal cliffs. Share in the Islanders' heritage on excursions with John Christian and cultural shows with Donald Christian.

Enjoy dinners in private homes, local produce and traditional Tahitian cuisine. Historian, Arthur Evans, will bring Norfolk’s colourful history alive. There’s also the option to cruise to nearby Phillip Island and hike to the top, past huge colonies of nesting seabirds.