Trip Grading and Suitability

We have six levels of grading for our trips: Easy, Gentle, Moderate, Demanding, Strenuous and Challenging.

Our trips have been graded based on four factors:

1) Walking times 2) Altitude 3) Terrain 4) Remoteness

For further detailed information to help you choose the right trip please download Trip Dossiers from our website that has day by day itinerary including walking times, altitudes and description of what to expect.

Easy

Suitability: most people in good health.

1) Walking times: transport by private vehicle with driver to various places of interest then sightseeing on foot at each location.

2) Altitude: usually less than 3,000m.

3) Terrain: sightseeing in cities and some optional day walks on well-travelled trails.

4) Remoteness: hotel and road based tour.

Gentle

Suitability: most people in good health who take regular exercise.

1) Walking times: average 4 to 6 hours walking per day for up to 8 days often including one or two rest days.

2) Altitude: up to 4,000m.

3) Terrain: for most of time following well-travelled trails through villages, there will be some daily ascent and descent.

4) Remoteness: usually not too remote and often there is a reasonable level of infrastructure such as lodge accommodation and cell/ mobile phone reception.

Moderate

Suitability: a good choice for most hill walkers, reasonable level of fitness required.

1) Walking times: average 5 to 7 hours walking per day for up to 14 days usually with some rest days included.

2) Altitude: up to 5,000m.

3) Terrain: for most of time following well-travelled trails, there will be daily ascent and descent.

4) Remoteness: usually not too remote and often there is a reasonable level of infrastructure such as lodge accommodation and cell/ mobile phone reception.

Demanding

Suitability:  a good choice for regular hill walkers, high level of fitness required.

1) Walking times: average 6 to 8 hours walking per day (with several longer days up to 12 hours) for up to 14 days with some rest days included.

2) Altitude: up to 5,500m.

3) Terrain: for some of the time following well-travelled trails although also likely to encounter rough and rocky sections. There may be significant amount of ascent and descent.

4) Remoteness: often in more remote areas and normally a longer distance from nearest road and facilities available in a city.

Strenuous

Suitability: a good choice for regular long distance hill walkers, very high level of fitness required. These trips may involve mountaineering and glacial travel.

1) Walking times: average 6 to 8 hours walking per day (with several longer days up to 12 hours) for up to 28 days with some rest days included.

2) Altitude: up to 5,500m.

3) Terrain: for some of the time following well-travelled trails although also likely to encounter rough and rocky conditions possibly with exposed sections. May involve steep ascent and descent over mountain passes that could be snow covered.

4) Remoteness: usually in more remote areas and likely to be a long distance from nearest road and facilities available in a city.

Challenging

Suitability: a good choice for regular, long distance hill walkers. A very high level of fitness would be required for our toughest treks and expeditions. Previous trekking experience at high altitude is preferable although not mandatory given sufficient experience, preparation and training. These trips may involve mountaineering and glacial travel.

1) Walking times: average 7 to 9 hours walking per day (with several longer days up to 15 hours) for up to 28 days with some rest days included.

2) Altitude: up to 7,000m.

3) Terrain: you will experience a wide variety of mountain terrain from reasonable trails to crossing technical mountaineering passes and climbing to summits sometimes including use of fixed ropes.

4) Remoteness:  usually in more remote areas and likely to be a long distance from the nearest road and facilities available in a city.

Conditions and weather will vary year to year but our trip gradings should give you an idea of what to expect. It is important everyone booked onto our trips should be open to new situations and ready to be flexible for any changes often involved with adventure travel.