A Walking/Hiking Vacation Primer

Grand Canyon Hiking Photo Gallery

advertisement

You know you like hiking, or a long stroll through the countryside, but how to build a vacation around it? There are several decisions to make.

A walking or hiking trip is relatively easy to manage on your own, so doing-it-yourself can be a good option. You'll save money and have total flexibility. On the other hand, you'll have to do all the route planning and hotel reservations yourself. And shifting your base camp becomes a significant chore; you'll need to schlep all your stuff or arrange for it to be sent to your day's destination. And in case of blisters or injury, well, you're on your own. Outfitted group tours, on the other hand, are hassle-free and allow you to walk without heavy backpacks. A guide leads the way, so you won't get lost. The downside is higher cost, fixed schedules and being thrown in with a group of strangers. Many travelers, however, consider the group experience to be a plus. Your call.

One of the great virtues of a walking vacation is that you can take one virtually anywhere in the world. Unlike most other activities, there's no requirement for a river, mountain, ocean, snow, or even particularly good weather. That said, you'll still want to choose a place that suits your style and energy level. The main things to consider are scenery, climate, culture, language, and terrain. But don't be afraid to pick a destination on a whim; the delight of the unexpected is one of travel's greatest rewards. Consider the number and condition of trails, availability of hotels or campgrounds, logistical support (are there villages every few miles, or are you way out in the boondocks?) and help in case of an emergency. Even if you're traveling on your own, check to see if outfitters run trips in that area; they know from long experience where the best hiking spots are.

Level of luxury
You can choose among an infinite variety of accommodations, from a five-star chateau in the Loire Valley to a flapping tent in Patagonia. In many cases, outfitters charge wildly divergent prices for similar routes in the same general area, but with different accommodations for different budgets. Are you going primarily for the hiking experience itself, or are food, wine, and charming accommodations part of the attraction?

Level of difficulty
Getting in over your head physically can quickly turn a trip into a nightmare. Know how far you can walk comfortably in a day and take careful note of the hilliness of the terrain, which can drastically increase the difficulty. Ask the operator about the degree of difficulty of your trip; many explicitly rate their trips as easy, moderate, or challenging. If in doubt, be conservative.

How many days?
Two weeks used to be the standard for group hiking trips, but outfitters, catering to busy people who can only take a week off, are offering more trips of 10 days or less. Also, with daily costs ranging up to $400, trips are shorter by financial necessity.

What will it cost?
Walking trips are typically more expensive in Europe than in other parts of the world, partly because the cost of living in general is high and partly because upscale accommodations--castles and the like--are sought by many travelers as part of the European experience. A fully outfitted European walking trip from a big tour company will cost anywhere from $175 to $400-plus per day. Self-guided trips cost 10-40 percent less.

If you insist on staying in that 15th-century chateau, even a do-it-yourself walking trip will run $400 a day. But with budget accommodations, the do-it-yourself European hiker can get by on $50-$100 per day by staying in campgrounds or basic pensiones. But don't forget the added cost of transporting your luggage from place to place if you decide to switch your base camp.

The rest of the world, fortunately, has much cheaper possibilities. Outfitted hikes tend to run in the range of $100-$200 per day. Do-it-yourselfers can slash that significantly, however; walking is free, after all, so your trip costs will be whatever it takes to house and feed you--a figure that will vary wildly according to your desires and the destination you choose.

What about equipment?
One of the great things about a walking/hiking vacation is that virtually no special equipment is required. Essentially, a pair of comfortable shoes is the only absolute necessity.

Don't obsess over footwear. Some people spend hundreds of dollars on Gore-Tex hiking boots, but for the moderate walks over maintained trails that you'll do on most of these vacations, any pair of well broken-in, comfortable shoes--like the ones you wear for long walks around home--will do just fine. (A Himalayan trekking guide we know walks hundreds of miles a year in flip-flops.) If you do buy new boots for the trip, make sure they're well broken in. Most people wear a sun hat of some sort (baseball cap, straw hat, etc.). You'll also need a lightweight day pack or fanny pack for your water, camera, snacks, and sweater. Try to find one with waist and chest straps. Some people use trekking poles--ski poles with soft rubber tips--to help with balance and take some load off the legs. But on moderate terrain, they're usually more trouble than they're worth.

As for clothing, pick loose, lightweight quick-drying synthetic materials. For cooler weather, polar fleece is the greatest invention since woolly mammoth fur.