how we review
We look at all tour companies, big and small, who offer multi-day self-guided walking holidays or hiking trips that will appeal to independent travelers.
Just like any great travel guide, the value is in the details and how easy it is to sort through the many options to get to what YOU want.
We’ve done that work for you.
You’re welcome.
For each company you will find the following details...
Type of Walking Holiday Tour Operator
Local
tour operators owned and based in the region where their walking holidays are offered; some are contracted by larger companies
Small
tour operators offering a limited selection of routes focused on specific regions or types of walking holidays
Large
tour operators offering a wide variety of walking holidays in different countries, often contracting trip services from local operators
Types of Walking Holidays
Self-guided
independent travel
Guided
small group travel or hiking with private guide
DIY
do it yourself travel
Cost of Trip
Our pricing key is based on the average cost for a 7-day self-guided walking holiday, per person with double occupancy. Large tour companies often offer a wide variety of pricing so we try to note that in the review.
Wallet Friendly
-
less than $1,000 per person
Mid Range
-
$1,000-3,000 per person
Luxury
-
more than $3,000 per person
Special Categories
There are walking holidays with different types of lodging and trips designed for specific interests. While we can’t cover them all, we do highlight companies that offer the following:
- inn to inn hiking or hut to hut
- center-based hiking
- trekking (advanced hiking expeditions)
- pilgrimage routes
- culinary
- kid-friendly
- trains
- self-drive
- solo-friendly
- easy walks
- multi-activity (multi-sport)
Destinations
To the best of our ability we include every country in which the company provides self-guided walking holidays. Companies focused on guided holidays will include a broader range of countries, so look for those when you want countries not listed here on our site.
Special Ratings
Search in SPECIAL CATEGORIES to find companies that have earned one of these badges
Local Choice
local operators with the best prices and selections for their specific area, country or region
Search Star
sites with excellent search filters that are easy to navigate, offer quick search results and important details on daily walks, lodging, pricing and transportation
Trusted Walks
companies that we have personally vetted through sponsored trips, personal travel or partnerships; sponsored trips do not equal a Trusted Walk rating and must meet our standards
Basic Standards
Our basic standards are simple but if we discover a company consistently failing to meet these, that company is removed from our site. We believe every walking holiday company should provide:
- Detailed walking routes that are easy to understand
- Lodging that is clean, comfortable and within walking distance to food
- On site support during the trip, either in person or by phone
- Clear instructions on how to get from airport/train station to starting point of trip
- Good customer service and timely responses to questions
- Responsible tourism committed to making the places they visit better for people who live there and for those who will visit for years to come
Kudos to companies that also offer links to actual lodging, walking notes that include elevation gains and trail conditions, and suggestions on places to eat — we give you special compliments in your reviews. And if a company ever decides to list public toilets or “safe places to pee” in their trip packets, you’ll win our first Potty Star. We’re not kidding, this is serious business and we know women who have not tried walking holidays for this reason alone.
Great choice for...
We end every company review with a “great choice for” recommendation because we believe there’s a walker for every walking company. We’re your matchmaker, so let us match.
