Trip Grades: Walking

Leisurely

If you are fit and healthy, and enjoy taking a weekend walk then you can manage this grading. The trails in the mountains are seldom flat so do expect a reasonable amount of ascent and descent. This can mean a climb of 300-500m (984-1640ft) and the same on descent. You will normally walk for 3 to 4 hours a day. The maximum altitude on these trips is unlikely to exceed 2000m (6560ft). This altitude is only likely when we have taken a cable car to higher ground to being our walk. The emphasis is on enjoying the mountains, but with minimum effort.

Moderate

Designed to be suitable for most walkers in good health who exercise regularly. These walking holidays are predominantly on good paths and at an altitude of between 1000m (3280ft) and 2000m (6560ft). We would expect you to have had some experience of walking in the mountains. You should be prepared to deal with hiking in bad weather if necessary. Expect to walk for between 4-6 hours per day and with ascent and descents of up to 800m (2624ft) per day.

INTERMEDIATE

Suitable for those of you who consider yourself ‘hill-walkers’, these trips involve longer days at an altitude of up to 2800m (9184ft) on good paths and tracks. A good level of fitness is required as these treks can involve considerable amounts of ascent and descent and the occasional difficult day on rougher paths. There may be an occasional day with ascents/descents of up to 1350m (4428ft). We would expect you to have previous experience of walking on consecutive days in the mountains, and have experience of hiking in bad weather. Expect to walk 5-7 hours per day. 

ADVANCED

These holidays are physically challenging and are suitable for regular hill-walkers who are used to extended days. These treks can involve difficult and demanding days on rough and sometimes loose terrain, as well as crossing passes that are at an altitude of up to 3100m (10,168ft). There may also be sections of path where the trail is good but exposed, however, these sections will be short. There may be the occasional day with ascents/descents of up to 1800m (5904ft). A good level of fitness and previous trekking experience is essential. You need to be able to deal with bad weather when necessary. Expect to be walking 6-7 hours per day with the occasional longer day. 

EXPERT

Our toughest trips are those we deem to be ‘challenging’. By this we mean challenging physically and mentally. You need a high level of fitness, considerable previous experience of multi day walking trips, and a good attitude. You should enjoy walking for full days and be prepared to cope with regular ascents/descents of between 1300-1800m (4264-5904ft), and crossing passes at up to 3500m (11,480ft). You need to be able to deal with bad weather and to be able to look after your self in terms of being too cold, too hot, too wet, too tired. You do not need to be an athlete or a super hero, but you do need to know what it is like to walk all day to get to where you are going. You should be able to cope with rough and loose terrain, and deal with exposed sections of paths, and occasional sections of cabling or ladders to assist on steep ground. Expect to walk for up to 9 hours a day.