walking holiday types
Self-guided Walking Holidays
You and your companions travel independently but everything is provided for you, including:
- Lodging
- Breakfast and sometimes other meals
- Walking routes with detailed notes
- Luggage transfers (from lodging to lodging)
- Transportation during the trip (some offer it from airport as well)
Pros:
- Cheaper than guided trips
- You set the pace and what time you want to start and end your day
- Doesn’t require you to be sociable or make conversation
- Easier to pee on the trail when walking solo (yes, we went there)
Cons:
- Harder to get unique cultural experiences
- Less opportunity for social interaction or meeting new people
Guided Walking Holidays
You and your companions travel with a guide. This usually involves a small group but some companies offer private guides. Some destinations require a guide, either for the entire trip or certain trails, which is why we include guided as one of our search categories even though it’s not our focus.
Pros:
- Best way to get inside knowledge and unique cultural experiences
- Worry-free trip with experienced guides who can handle anything
- Chance to meet new people
- Gives you access to areas of the world that may be difficult to navigate for foreign or inexperienced travelers
Cons:
- More expensive than self-guided or DIY
- Requires you to be sociable and make conversation
- Schedules and activities are set by the guide
DIY Walking Holidays
You plan everything and book your own lodging, but these websites bring all the info together for you to do that. Companies or websites offering DIY walking trips provide:
- Trail notes (though not as detailed)
- Recommended lodging
- Luggage transport
Pros:
- Often the cheapest option but not always; depends on how good you are at selecting budget lodging and finding cheap transportation
- You have total control over the trip, making it easy to alter plans and customize everything to your exact needs
- Fun and challenging for those who love mapping your own routes
Cons:
- Very time-consuming so you’d better love trip planning
- More likely to miss out on local culture and knowledge when you go rogue, at least going into the trip — what you learn during the trip is entirely up to you
