Hiking

There's no need for an extreme training regime to join one of our hikes. With numerous routes of different distances and gradients to choose from, you are free to take on as much of a challenge as you are ready for. We will say that, no matter what trail you choose, a good base level of fitness is highly beneficial.

If you are looking to do your first multi-day hike, Tour du Mont Blanc is always a popular pick. Mt. Toubkal is also a good option if you want to challenge yourself to a more manageable summit trek. You don't need prior experience to do these treks but you should work on your fitness in the build-up to the tour.

Hiking boots offer ideal ankle support for trekking, particularly on steep and rocky mountain trails. However, these days you get some fantastic trail running shoes that work well for long hikes. Whatever your choice is, do a few practice hikes in your shoes before you take on a multi-day trek.

The guides on these tours are great at leading mixed groups and maintaining the right pace to accommodate everybody, you will not be left behind! With bigger groups, there is often more than one guide which means it can be an option for the group to split.

Each trekking route is affected differently by the seasons. Some places, like the Sahara, offer consistent and fairly predictable weather. In other regions, especially mountainous areas, you may experience 4 seasons in one day! The key is to pack layers and prepare for all types of weather. You will find specific information on packing lists in the FAQs for each hike.

In general, children from 16 years upwards can join our group hiking tours. If your kids are a little longer, it may still be possible but we will need to check with the guide first. We can also help you arrange a private group to trek with your kids (at your own pace).

If you are looking for an adventurous team-building activity or corporate retreat, look no further. Most of our tour operators are able to run private groups. If need a specific date or have something a little different in mind, just ask.

Most good travel insurance will cover trekking activities. Please check the Ts&Cs of your policy before setting off. For some treks, you will need more specific coverage. This includes but is not limited to trekking above 5000m altitudes and situations where you may need helicopter rescue (e.g. Everest base camp).

Depending on the area and time of year, you may need equipment for trekking. For example, if you ascend Toubkal in winter, you will likely need crampons (depending on how much snow is on the summit). For most tours where there is a gear requirement for a section of the trail (e.g. via ferrata on Mt. Triglav), you will be provided with the equipment.