Our Trip Difficulty Rating
To consider the ratings, please bear in mind that even a trip marked 'easy' entails some hours of walking every day, although no hiking and no elevation gain.
All our trips are active holidays, and you should be able to walk/stroll at least for 2-3 hours consecutively (of course with rest stops for a snack, lunch, taking photos, and stopping for things to see on the way....we are not in a race, after all)
Easy walking on well-marked trails, mostly 2-4 hours of daily walking.
City-tours of up to 3 hours, two days of 5-6 hours of walking .
No real elevation gain to speak of.
Example:
D-Day Beaches of Normandy
Moderate walking on well-marked trails, mostly 2-4 hours of daily walking.
City tours of up to 3 hours, up to two days of 5-6 hours of walking with some elevation gain.
Moderate sea kayaking, snorkeling and fishing.
Participants have to be able to swim, and feel comfortable in a sea-kayak.
Example:
Country Walks in Provence
Sea-kayaking and hiking in Baja California, Mexico
Moderate to difficult walking on well marked trails, some steeper sections, both up and down.
500m (1500ft) maximum elevation in the Alps on most days, 1-2 days can be up to 1000m (3300ft) elevation gain per day.
Some narrow, rocky trails. Some scree slopes. Some trails are a bit more rugged, due to the regional geography. 3-6 hours of daily walking. Day-pack only.
Examples:
Coastal Walks in Crete
Chamonix Trails (difficulty can vary with the ability of our clients)
Ultimate Slovenia, the Julian Alps
The Scottish Highlands
US National Parks
Difficult walking on some well-marked trails, but also some cross-country hiking.
Scree slopes, some boulder-hopping, minimal ridge-walking with minimum exposure.
6-7 hours of daily walking, consecutively for 6-11 days.
1200m (3600ft) maximum elevation gain per day.
Day-pack and occasionally overnight pack.
Maximum altitude in the Alps of 3,000m (10,000ft), in the Himalay of 5600m (16,800ft)
Examples:
Tour du Mont Blanc
The Great Dolomites Traverse
Three Base Camp - Trek, Tibet
Annapurna Sanctuary, Nepal
Annapurna Circuit, Nepal
Chamonix: Hut to hut
The Bernese Oberland Hut Trek
Very strenuous walking on unmarked trails with mostly cross-country hiking.
Scree slopes, some scrambling, steep sections, both up and down.
High probability of snow. Ridge walking with some exposure.
Walking can be up to 10 hours a day, depending on conditions.
Consecutive walking for a minimum of 6 days, 1500m (5500ft) maximum
elevation gain per day. Day-packs and larger.
Maximum altitude in the Himalaya 5600m (17000ft).
Maximum altitude in the Alps: 3200m (10500ft).
Examples:
Tour de Monte Rosa
Tour des Ruans
The Kanghsung Valley, Tibet
Everest Base Camp - High Passes of the Khumbu
