How is your trip rated: Difficulty, Comfort, Independence

Note to E-bikers: E-bikers should follow the same training recommendations for their tour but on their e-bike. E-bikes are pedal-assist and cycling fitness is required to manage hills and battery life. Please consult with your travel advisor if you are not cycling regularly.

Level 1: All Ages
These are the easiest trips available and we don’t have many in this category. This rating could be a good fit for a family with young children, however some level 2 trips can be modified for families with kids.

• Terrain: Typically flat, with no notable hills or steep gradients.
• Cycling Distance: 20 km or less per day
• Hiking Distance: Less than 3 hours and under 8 km per day
• Required Fitness: These tours can be completed by persons that exercise regularly by elevating the heart rate over sustained periods of time. Any number of exercises such as running, swimming, stairmaster, etc., meet this requirement. The best training of course, is cycling or walking (depending on your tour type) and you should work in these activities no less than 2-3 times per week.

Level 2: Moderate
These are available to most people of some experience and average fitness who are working out regularly.

• Terrain: Rolling countryside, occasional hills, possible short gradients of low percents but with lower mileage. 
• Cycling Distance: 20-45 km per day
• Hiking Distance: Up to 12 km or 3-5 hours per day
• Required Fitness: As in level 1, you should be working out regularly. Cyclists should be out 2-3 times per week striving for at least 1-2 hours in the saddle (or more on weekends,) and riding 15-30 miles per ride. Walkers/hikers should be out for at least 2-3 hours at least 2 times per week.
• E-bikes: E-bikes are pedal-assist and cycling fitness is required to manage hills and battery life. Please consult with your travel advisor if you are not cycling regularly.

Level 3: Fit 
These are available to those cycling regularly.

• Terrain: more consistent rolling countryside, some notable hills in each stage, and with longer distance rides or hikes mixed into the route.
• Cycling Distance: 45-60+ km per day
• Hiking Distance: 12-20+ km & 4-6 hours per day
• Required Fitness: Travelers pursuing a tour at this level should be cycling at least 80-100 miles per week, including hill climbing and/or combining other workout activities. Walkers/hikers should be out for at least 3 hours, at least 2 times per week, carrying a small backpack with water.
• E-bikes: E-bikes are pedal-assist and cycling fitness is required to manage hills and battery life. Please consult with your travel advisor if you are not cycling regularly.

Level 4: Challenging*  
These trips are for stronger cyclists and walkers.

• Terrain: Rolling to hilly countryside with notable grades and consistently long days in the saddle. Trips like this may not have the same degree of difficulty each day, allowing for some rest in between.
• Cycling Distance: 50-70+ km per day, with notable elevation gain riding
• Hiking Distance: 5-6+ hours, 15-20+ km per day, with notable elevation gain over rocky or uneven terrain
• Required Fitness: Travelers pursuing a tour at this level should be cycling 150+ miles per week with hills and sustained climbs or higher heart rate pace. Walkers/hikers should be training with packs and long distance hikes between 18-22 km, more than 1 time per week.

Level 5: Extreme* 
These are the most challenging trips we offer and for experienced and strong travelers only.

• Terrain: Include technical aspects of hiking and riding, often on unusual or uneven surfaces.
• Cycling Distance: Road tours could go 100+ km per day or include famous and difficult climbs like Alpe d’Huez in France.
• Hiking Distance: High mountain routes where elevation can be impactful. Treks on these tours can be above 10,000 ft or 3,000 meters. This is not mountaineering however.
• Required Fitness: Cyclists should be riding 10-12 hours per week with sustained climbing and descending as part of the ride. Walkers and hikers need to be covering 20+ km per day at higher elevations and carrying packs of 22 lbs and higher (10k).

1. Distance of the ride or walk/hike, which will determine how long to spend each day.
2. Amount of elevation gain (hill climbing) and gradient with the climb(s) on either the ride or the hike.
3. Surface conditions of roads & trails:This factor can directly impact a rating, as our bicycle tours are usually on paved routes but not always. Mountain bike tours have levels of technical skill involved and obstacles and trail conditions make them more challenging. Hiking/walking trails are assessed for any technical aspects as well as gradient. If some unforeseen event like heavy rain should occur, this can change trail/surface conditions; but this is not factored.

Other Potential Factors: Independent of our rating are other factors that can influence how hard or how easy you find the tour such as weather, the load you add to your backpack/bicycle (if you stuff packs with bottles of wine for example!) how you dress, and how you use the equipment. Here are a few examples of potentially influential independent factors:

• Weather: heat, cold, rain, and wind will all have an effect on your ride or hike and extremes of each will make it more difficult.
• Load: carrying excessive weight obviously makes more work for you. We always transfer luggage, so this refers only to what you take in a day pack or in panniers.
• Dress: layering, using appropriate and lightweight clothing, proper sun protection, and good footwear make your rides or hikes easier and more comfortable for you.
• Equipment: this factor is primarily related to cycling, but knowing how to shift, when to shift, and how to maintain your bike will make rides easier for you as well.

Reading Maps and the Roadbooks: On cycling tours, you will find plenty of road signs and indications to keep you on course, and roads are easily identified on maps. Reading maps is a skill and anyone unfamiliar with how to orient a map in the field should do what is necessary to learn before coming on a trip.

Navigation and Independence Rating Guide: To give you another  ranking system to gauge yourself before booking a trip, we rate the level of support and we rate navigational skills necessary to help you decide about your skill level. Here are some brief descriptions of what each level means:

Level 1 [Most support – Easiest]: Fully guided and supported tours with both vehicle assistance and activity support by certified, professional guides. You should have basic map reading skills so you can have some independence.

Level 2 [Partial support – more self sufficiency]: Vehicle supported but activities are mostly self-regulated so that it requires more advanced map reading skills and GPS device skill are highly recommended.

Level 3 [Self guided with personal welcome and telephone support]: You will ride, hike, and complete activities on your own and at your own speed. Advanced GPS skills are recommended via smart phone app or your personal device; you must be comfortable using a provided GPS.

Level 4 [Self guided with telephone support only]: No orientation, but telephone support available as needed during the daytime. GPS navigation skills are required; you are expected to know how to manage GPX files and devices, upload and set up navigation on own, problem solve skills and be self sufficient with maps, orientation, and technology.

Level 5 [Self guided – No support]: GPS navigation skills are required. You are expected to know how to manage GPX files and devices, upload and set up navigation on own. Problem solving skills and self sufficiency with maps, orientation, and technology, are all necessary.

Independence with navigation is important, as well as basic bike mechanics. Nobody should ever come on a self guided bike tour with no prior knowledge of fixing a flat tire. Only on a guided tour can you expect help with a flat but even then, you should know this so that you can keep going without delay.

On hiking tours, it is even more important to know how to orient with a map, as you will have fewer sign postings to rely upon. Hiking tours mostly follow GR routes which are marked trails, often paved, but are often in remote areas. Hikers need to be able to read maps much better than cyclists and be able to recognize symbols, path lines, and direction. Anyone uncomfortable with map orientation, and basic orienteering, or their own GPS with our routes pre-loaded, should not come on a hiking tour without someone who is familiar with these techniques.

We are here to help you but in the end, you will be the one out there on the road/trail and the more prepared you are mentally as well as physically, the more fun and better memories you will have! You should be an independent person, capable of reading a map, interpreting directions, and taking charge of your planning. Use this tour as an excuse to increase your conditioning, fitness and navigation skills! Take the time to read everything we send to you as well as do your own research. Preparation is part of the fun in travel – don’t let it go unattended!

Comfort Level Rating

Finally – how can we rate a tour for comfort level?  Primarily, through the lodging you choose from our list of available options.  There are some standards around hotel quality ratings and there are also several ratings out there! Lots of opinions too!  This aspect of your trip is usually the most costly part but by far, NOT the only thing included in your trip. Too much can be said about hotel quality; so we stick to generally accepted hotel ratings by stars.

Lodging with Star Ratings:  these can be guest houses, country inns, B&B’s, refuges; many things.  We do occasionally use places without a standardized quality rating, if we think it to be exceptional. We always choose quality, which comes in the form of: charming local hosts, beautiful location, amazing food, historical building, and more.  This sometimes means a sacrifice of something such as air conditioning or elevator, in exchange for a property overflowing with charm and delight.

1 star hotels – we never use these!

2 star hotels – on occasion, very rare, never a chain hotel, and only if it’s the best solution to be in an amazing locale.

3 star hotel – our ‘go to’ standard; we typically price trips here and upgrade from this point.  We do try to choose the best options that work with us in many ways – for cyclists and bike storage rooms, a tasty and substantial breakfast, friendly English speaking staff, quiet or ideal locations, good quality rooms with proper beds for westerners.  Booking terms and many other operational questions have to be answered as well.  Sometimes a hotel won’t work, even if its the best choice . For example, in high season, a place may demand a minimum of 3 nights per stay.

4 star hotel – usually 4 star hotels are the top hotels.  More and more of the exceptional 4 stars have now moved up to 5 stars.  Typically our Upgrade version is going to include 4 star hotels. All of the amenities of a deluxe hotel can be expected.

5 star hotel – best of the best, usually very expensive and not always flexible for adventure travelers.  We do use them when it makes sense but rarely do we include these in our trip prices. They can be requested and we are happy to book them for you on your request!

What else might contribute to your comfort level?

1.  Be ok traveling abroad.  The more experience you have, the easier and more comfortable you will be.
2.  Learn some language phrases in advance, to help you get by easier.
3. Train in advance, your body needs to be prepared.
4. Know how to read maps, use devices, and orient yourself in unfamiliar territory.
5. Have a good attitude – people will want to help you so it helps to be kind, flexible, and appreciative!

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