The tour company handles the logistics of getting your luggage from Point A to Point B, selects the best neighborhood restaurants, and books the coziest inns for your overnights. But the walker also has to step forward, too, by selecting an appropriate level of exertion and perhaps doing some training before the trip. Ambassadair tries to clearly label each trip with its Adventure Rating, so you know if it s soft adventure, medium, or hard, says Deeds. Your ankles move differently and your boots wear differently when you re on uneven terrain. Although each trip is individual, a walking tour might require two hours of walking on a light day, six on a strenuous one.
Deeds notes that there are differences in walking, hiking, and trekking trips.
On walking trips, she says, There s usually not a lot of up and down, and you can wear tennis shoes. You need enough stamina to walk several hours at a stretch, but you usually don t need training unless you re a real couch potato. A hiking trip usually adds some hours and off-pavement walking to the excursion. You need hiking boots, and you need to be in a little better shape for the terrain, which is often uneven and hilly. You ll need some training unless you exercise and walk regularly, recommends Deeds, who works out an hour each day, either walking, doing yoga, or lifting weights in the gym.