EXPEDITION DIFFICULTY LEVEL

All of our expeditions are open to adventurers without previous trekking experience. Whether you want a relaxed walking tour or to push your limits with a high-altitude multi-day trek, our activity level scale indicates the expected level of fitness for each expedition.

It is important to note that various factors that go into assigning a difficulty level to our trips. Those include altitude, whether it’s self-supported (carrying your own pack), the difficulty of the terrain, the climate, and the length of time and number of miles on the trail.

• level 1 - Very Easy

  • These expeditions do not have significant fitness requirements. No hiking is required; however, if you have specific accessibility needs, please reach out in advance of your travel as conditions in other countries may vary considerably.

• Level 2 - Easy

  • These expeditions may include walking or a short hike but the duration is limited and you are not likely to carry any equipment yourself.

• level 3 - Moderate

  • These expeditions require an average level of fitness and the ability to hike over variable terrain. These are great first treks. Typical days may require 5+ miles over 5+ hours of hiking.

• level 4 - Challenging

  • These expeditions require above average physical fitness. Treks may reach high altitudes and require high levels of physical exertion. No technical skills are required and first-time trekkers are welcome with sufficient preparation. Participants should carefully review the mileage and terrain information and contact our team with any questions prior to travel. Typical days may require 8+ miles over 6+ hours of hiking. Some expeditions include significant elevation and weather changes.

• level 5 - Demanding

  • These expeditions require excellent physical fitness. Treks include longer days, greater elevation gain, and more challenging terrain at higher altitude. Participants should expect high levels of physical exertion at times. Travelers joining these expeditions should be in good physical shape and should expect to hike all day. Typical days may require 10+ miles over 8+ hours of hiking. Expeditions will likely include significant elevation and weather changes.

Want to see some examples? Use this blog post as a resource to understand our rating system. 

Activity key