Adventure Travel - Walking

Typical Walking Connection Small Group, Independent and Private Adventures are geared to accommodate walkers and hikers of most interests and abilities. We want you to set your own walking pace. Each destination we travel to presents many unique opportunities for walking. The primary goal is to provide guests with an interpretive experience, opportunities to interact with local people, and to explore, see and experience each destination at a relaxed pace.

 

For ALL trips we strongly recommend rugged walking shoes with a deep tread sole made for uneven surfaces. Though ankle supportive boots are preferred, lower cut hiking shoes or trail runners are usually sufficient. Smooth bottom tennis or walking shoes, sandals (including sports sandals) are NOT appropriate for our trips.

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Each trip may include a combination of our activity level classifications. Prior to each day's activity, your hosts and guides will describe the planned activities of the day and point out the various options that may be available. Generally speaking, if you walk regularly, can comfortably go a moderate pace walking 3-5 miles at a time, and are prepared to spend 5-6 hours a day being active, then most moderate and moderate to challenging adventures are perfect for you.

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That said, here are the Walking Connection classifications defined:

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Moderate - Planned Serendipity. 

• Each day usually consists of 3-5 hours of activities most centered around walking over various terrains. 

• The terrain includes city streets, village cobblestone walkways, well-worn countryside paths with uphill and downhill components.

• Achieving a specific destination (point A to B) is not usually the goal and generally, there is a support vehicle or alternative transportation available.

• Other activities may include a river float, smooth water kayaking, or horseback riding.

• Your day pack will include a liter of water, snacks, rain jacket, sunscreen, personal items, and a camera.

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Moderate to Challenging - Love To Move While I Learn.

The majority of Walking Connection Small Group Adventures fall into this category.

• Each day consists of 4 – 6 hours of activities centered around walking, hiking, or trekking. 

• May include all aspects of the Moderate level walks but are usually longer. 

• May involve crossing rougher terrain, long and steep inclines, and descents, and higher elevations.

• Walking in more remote areas where greater agility and higher fitness level is helpful, although there is usually a support vehicle or alternative transportation nearby.

• Other activities may include stream crossing, narrow trails with sharper drops, walking on a glacier or into and out of a canyon

• Your day pack will include two or more liters of water, snacks or lunch, extra socks, extra layers, rain protection, sunscreen, personal items, and a camera.

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Challenging - Let's Do This!

• Each day consists of 6 or more hours of activities centered around walking, hiking, or trekking. 

• May include all aspects of our other walks but are longer and more difficult.

• May involve crossing rougher terrain, a boulder field, long and steep inclines, and descents, and maybe at higher elevations

• Though there are alternative transportation and options available at the beginning of a mountainous hike, these treks are in more remote areas where greater self-reliability, agility, and a higher fitness level is required. 

• Other activities may include stream crossing, narrow trails with sharper drops, walking on a glacier or into and out of a canyon

• Your day pack will include three or more liters of water, snacks or lunch, extra socks, extra layers, rain protection, sunscreen, personal items, and a camera

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Summit - the peak or bust!

• Most adventures include porters or may be hut-to-hut, inn-to-inn where you will have to move your personal items yourself.

• Each day consists of 6 - 8 or more hours of activities centered around walking, hiking, or trekking. 

• May involve crossing rougher terrain, a boulder field, long and steep inclines, and descents and are at higher elevations.

• Though there are alternative transportation and options available at the beginning of a mountainous hike, these treks are in more remote areas where greater self-reliability, agility, and a higher fitness level is required.

• Other activities may include stream crossing, narrow trails with sharper drops, walking on a glacier or into and out of a canyon.

• Your day-pack will include three or more liters of water, snacks or lunch, extra socks, extra layers, rain protection, sunscreen, personal items, and a camera.

 

For each adventure, we urge you to contact us with any questions or concerns you may have about preparing physically and mentally for your adventure. We want you to be confident with each step you take. You never have to worry whether you are holding up the group or if they are going to slow you down.

 

Throughout your preparation, we are available to chat and can help you with setting the right expectations for yourself and those around you. Safety is our highest priority. It is a shared responsibility, yours and ours, and we will do everything within our power to make certain your adventure is fun, comfortable, and above all else, safe. This begins with you selecting the right adventure and then preparing for it correctly. We'll help you every step of the way.

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