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Each journey may begin with a single step, but some require a few more steps than others. These are our walking and trekking trips. Here’s the idea: we provide you with expert trail guides, accommodation and porters (where necessary); you bring your legs and a sense of adventure. From the frosted peak of Kilimanjaro and Patagonia’s windswept trails to a more sedate stroll through the rice fields of Vietnam, there’s a calf-stretching trip to suit every level of fitness and expertise. All you have to do is put one foot in front of the other.

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Walking vs trekking

Walking

If conquering mountain peaks and fighting the elements sounds a tad extreme for what is, essentially, a holiday – never fear. We’ve got a range of walking trips designed to stretch the legs without making them feel like they’re about to fall off. Hike the grasslands of northern Thailand, wander through rice paddies in Mai Chau or amble along Turkey’s famous Lycian Way. It’s a simple recipe: fresh air, the wild outdoors and not a basecamp in sight.

Trekking

When does a walk become a trek? Probably somewhere between your first yak sighting and that moment when you realise all this mist is made of clouds. Our trekking trips cover some of the most famous routes on the planet – Kilimanjaro, Annapurna, Basecamp, the Inca Trail – but that doesn’t put them out of reach for the eager novice. All you need is a sturdy pair of boots, a bit of pre-trip training and the best guides in the business. That’s where we come in.

Popular walks and treks

Machu Picchu

Kilimanjaro Trek

Mount Toubkal

Everest Base Camp

Annapurna Circuit

All our walking and trekking trips

Trip Name Days From AUD
Turkey - Hike, Bike & Kayak

12

$1,720

Kilimanjaro: Marangu Route

8

$3,149

Hilltribe Experience

5

$580

Patagonia Wilderness

15

$5,238

Thailand: Hike, Bike & Kayak

12

$2,225

Everest Base Camp

15

$1,763

Annapurna Sanctuary

16

$1,495

Inca Trail

8

$1,533

Nepal Family Holiday with Teenagers

11

$2,165

Borneo : Hike, Bike & Kayak

9

$2,520

Inca Trail Express

7

$1,132

Kilimanjaro & Serengeti Adventure

15

$5,868

Serengeti & Kilimanjaro

15

$5,945

New Zealand Adventure Northbound (ex Christchurch)

22

$7,390

Galapagos Island Hopping

8

$2,584

Chiang Mai Adventure

4

$505

Mount Toubkal Trek

7

$730

Sapa Adventure

5

$410

Galapagos & Inca Trail Adventure

17

$5,987

Trekking the Appalachian Trail

9

$2,925

Highlights & Gems of Patagonia

14

$5,450

Reef to Rock Overland

7

$1,390

Cycle Peru with Inca Trail (Machu Picchu & the Sacred Valley)

11

$2,995

Croatia: Hike, Bike & Kayak

8

$1,985

Trek Jordan

8

$1,740

Everest Base Camp & Gokyo Lakes

19

$2,370

Tamang Heritage & Langtang Valley Trek

15

$1,495

Inca Trail Family Holiday with teenagers

14

$3,745

Amalfi Coast: Hike, Boat & Kayak

8

$2,355

Cinque Terre: Hike, Bike & Kayak

8

$2,380

Italian Lakes: Hike, Bike & Kayak

8

$3,165

South Africa Expedition: Kruger Walking Safari

7

$2,990

Madagascar: Hike & Bike

14

$3,865

Broome to Perth Overland

10

$1,945

Kilimanjaro: Machame Route

9

$4,660

Kilimanjaro: Rongai Route

8

$3,950

Djibouti's Footsteps of the Afar

11

$3,847

Everest in Full Picture

5

$1,280

Safari to Kilimanjaro - Machame Route

16

$6,955

Kangaroo Island Adventure

2

$490

Choquequirao trek to Machu Picchu

13

$2,470

Walking Annapurna

5

$480

Peru Essentials

21

$2,864

Annapurna Explorer

16

$1,619

Best of Galapagos

10

$3,745

Patagonia Trekking

10

$4,685

The Kokoda Track

11

$4,695

Inside-Out Kathmandu

4

$495

Northern Vietnam Adventure

10

$1,210

Argentina Expedition: Aconcagua Base & Mt Bonete

10

$3,412

Argentina Expedition: Trek Mendoza & the Valley of Tears

8

$2,735

Essential info

On all of our hikes, your accommodation is pre-booked and your luggage is transferred from one point to the next. All you have to carry is a daypack that contains water, any snacks or gadgets you may want and a few layers to keep you dry and warm. This means you get to enjoy the best of hiking without any of the hassles.

We offer an extensive range of both small group and self-guided walking itineraries all over the world that cover everything from one-day hikes through to itineraries spanning 37 days. Armed with route notes and maps, self-guided walks allow you to explore at your own pace and are perfect for those wanting more independence. Or, if you want to concentrate more on the scenery, join a small group and explore with new friends. All your accommodation will be pre-booked, and your main luggage will be transferred between properties – so all you have to do is strap on your daypack and enjoy the walk!

We have walks ranging from relatively easy to rather challenging. But no matter what degree of difficulty or distance you choose to walk, we recommend that you have a reasonable level of fitness to ensure that you get the most out of your walk or hike. Try to commit to some type of physical training program around six weeks before you depart. Here are some suggestions: Long walks: go on some long walks of 3-6 hours duration before you leave, wearing the boots you’re taking and carrying a small backpack to get comfortable with carrying your gear for long stretches. Aerobic exercise: running, distance cycling and the various aerobic classes offered at gyms (like pump, spin, zumba and circuit classes) all help to give you fitness and stamina. Strength training: doing body weight training like pushups, squats, dips, lunges, etc. helps to build up your muscle strength, which is needed for the steady climb up a mountain if you’re embarking on this type of hike (bootcamp sessions are perfect for this type of training).

You’ll need a comfortable daypack to walk with during the day and another piece of luggage (preferably not too large) for the rest of your gear to be transported or carried by porters or Sherpa (this depends on the walking trip you choose). Sturdy, good quality and well-fitted hiking shoes will make the difference between a great trip and terrible time – make sure you break them in before you go to minimise blisters. For some tips and ideas about what to take, check out Intrepid’s Ultimate Packing List – you won’t need half of what’s mentioned but things like wet-weather gear, a hat, layers of clothing, head torch, bandaids for blisters, water bottle and sunscreen are essential.

On some of our hikes you will encounter high altitudes. When climbing above 2,800 metres (9,200 feet), it is common for travellers to experience some adverse health effects due to the altitude, regardless of your age, gender and fitness. It even happened to Sir Edmund Hillary!

There’s no real way to tell how your body will react to the rigours of altitude trekking, so it is important that you monitor your condition and discuss any prevailing symptoms with your guide. If you have any pre-existing conditions that could be exacerbated by high altitudes, be sure to get them checked out by a doctor before you leave.

But above all, try not to worry, most of our travellers shake off the effects of altitude pretty quickly and enjoy a safe and rewarding trek.

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