“You are the best little travel company out there!” 

~ Alice Abrams, Massachusetts

Next Step is unique in the walking tour field. We are not a big company. We are Dave and Donna Johnson, two travelers who are committed to providing quality, care, fun and adventure in European travel. Together, we have designed all of Next Step’s walking trips, and we personally lead them, too. We don’t cover the entire world or even all of Europe—simply the areas we have lived in, know and love.
 

For more than 20 years, we have been offering inspiring itineraries that include:

~ Exhilarating walks through lovely, unspoiled locales

~ Unique, luxurious and historic accommodations

~ Delicious meals in Michelin-star restaurants, bustling bistros, rustic farmhouses, secluded Alpine huts and even the homes of our personal friends

~ Ample opportunities to enjoy each region’s finest wines

~ Authentic, engaging activities including demos of pasta-making; Umbrian ceramic production; ancient methods of linen, candle and paper production; and even hands-on cooking with a Cordon Bleu chef

~ Visits to medieval castles; remote islands; wine cellars of renowned producers; village markets; archeological treasures; prehistoric caves; and historic monuments and chateaus—often with the insight of local expert guides

~ Walks supplemented by private boats and taxis, horse-drawn carriages, trains, ferries, cable cars and chairlifts so you can decide exactly how active you want to be on any given day

~ The option to enjoy spa pampering including massage, sauna, hot tub or pool

~ The assurance that all logistics and details are taken care of, leaving you to enjoy your day worry-free

~ Plenty of leisure time for pursuing independent interests, people watching or just relaxing

Our small groups are usually made up of between 8 to 12 people, and are limited to 14 maximum. Whether travelers join one of our regularly scheduled tours, or choose to customize a trip for friends or family, we ensure that each traveler will have an engaging and inspiring experience while walking, wining and dining on a Next Step trip!

Like other tour companies, Next Step offers extensive local knowledge, specialized tours, expert guides and insider access to places and cultural activities that aren’t available to the general public.

Unlike other tour companies that pack your day with activities, rushing you from one museum to the next, Next Step focuses on the simple pleasure of walking.

Not biking, not rock climbing, not bungee jumping—just the serene pace of a walk, feeling the sunlight on your face, taking in the sights, sounds and smells of the surrounding countryside—all of your senses engaged.

The Joy of Finding Your Own Pace

So many of Europe’s loveliest destinations are ideal for exploration on foot, and the pleasures of this type of travel are only enhanced by each area’s cuisine and wines.

On a Next Step trip, you travel at a pace that is perfect for intimate discovery. You work up a great appetite and are richly rewarded at meals. And, as so many of our guests have pointed out, you can easily indulge all week long and not gain a pound!

Truly Insider Knowledge

When crafting our walking tours, we start with an area we love and explore from there. Every place unfolds in its own special way. Guidebooks can be helpful, but the natural resources of any given area are its people. Ask the locals what restaurants they recommend. Chat with restaurant owners about places to stay. Chat with the innkeepers about interesting things to do. Some of the best experiences come from getting lost and asking the way. It takes a lot of time, but when the trip is ready, we have friends all over the place!

Though other tour companies are active in many of the same areas that Next Step is, you will almost never see them. That’s because each trip is the fruit our personal experience and preferences. A majority of our guests return—roughly 85% of them—because they trust us to reveal each area’s most unspoiled and magical elements. 

The Ultimate in Personal Service

We will be with you for your entire journey, from first inquiries on the phone until melancholy goodbyes at the end of your trip. Your journey will never be led by a subcontracted guide who is only spending the summer in Europe. We are your guides, and we are at your complete disposal to make sure that you experience the trip of a lifetime. This is one of many details that distinguishes Next Step from other tour companies—and ultimately why we have come to know so many of you as friends.

A Well-Rounded Experience

At Next Step, guests enjoy a dynamic experience on each of our walking tours. You may visit a beer garden one day and eat in a sophisticated restaurant the next. You may stay in a 5-star hotel one night and visit a rustic fishing village the following morning. The aim is to sample the variety of experiences that a region has to offer in order to gain an authentic sense of an area’s identity.

Walking slows down the pace of travel so that your experience is much more deep and vivid. This is true at home as well as in new explorations. If you walk a route that you have driven even hundreds of times, you’ll see so many things that escaped you before: specific homes, architectural details, quirky shops—it’s amazing. You might make better time if you jumped on the subway or the bus, but you would miss out on the distinct character of each neighborhood and the connective cultural tissue that binds them together.

Walking in a small group has a lovely variety to it. You can stroll alone, appreciating every natural detail of your environment. Or you can share it with your partner or friends. You will hear new stories from your fellow travelers and guides. It is an ever-changing dynamic.

Who Is Dave?

“[Dave] was able to completely engage my son, discussing anything from ancient history, current Italian politics or Will Ferrell movies.”

~ Scott Thompson, California

Born and raised in Oregon, Dave first fell in love with Europe as a student. Improvised stops on his Eurail pass made clear that there were an abundance of undiscovered and unspoiled locales. These adventures ultimately led him to a study of three languages, to work experiences in Paris, Frankfurt, Munich and to Chiavenna, Italy.

Dave loves to travel and walk, but his passion lies in sharing the extensive knowledge and rich experiences that he’s gained over the years. He absolutely thrives on guiding guests through the carefully crafted itineraries that he and Donna have created for Next Step.

Who Is Donna?

“Donna always makes us feel like we are the very best guests she’ll ever encounter.”

 ~ Eleanor Laney, California

Donna was born into an extended Italian American family in Brooklyn—and she still has the Brooklyn accent to prove it! After a successful career on Wall Street, she left New York to marry Dave and join him in leading walking tours in Europe.

The Italian traditions of family, laughter and festive cuisine run in her blood—and so does the art of hospitality. As the “detail person” of Next Step, Donna not only takes care of your every need—she anticipates them. (Who bought new hiking shoes for the trip and now has blisters? Donna has the band-aids that everyone else forgot to bring.) Her warmth, thoughtfulness and excellent care combine perfectly with her passion and enthusiasm for walking and travel.

How Did Dave & Donna Meet?

Dave and Donna met along the trails of Switzerland and something immediately clicked. After a week, Dave asked her if she wanted to spend some time in Chiavenna, Italy. The following week, she asked Dave if he wanted to spend some time in New York. Their first date lasted a month, and the journey that began there continues to this day.