The terminology of walking, hiking and trekking is both convoluted and confusing, whilst also developing at a rapid pace. Hiking in particular is a newer term, although we would generally say that hiking and walking holidays are nearly identical so great care needs to be taken when trying to interpret the difference between them. But what, in this modern world, is the difference?

Walking Holidays:

Leisurely Exploration with Scenic Views

A walking holiday typically involves leisurely strolls through picturesque landscapes, charming towns, and culturally rich regions. These holidays focus on enjoyment, relaxation, and experiencing the beauty of nature or local heritage at a comfortable pace. Whether you’re wandering through vineyards in France, exploring coastal paths of the Cape Verde Islands, or meandering through the foothills of Uzbekistan, walking holidays are more about soaking in the surroundings than covering long distances.

What to Expect on a Walking Holiday:

Intensity: Grade 1 to 3. Walking holidays are ideal for people of all fitness levels, including those looking for a gentler activity.

Daily Duration: Expect to walk around 2 to 5 hours per day at a leisurely pace, with ample breaks for sightseeing, photography, and exploring the local culture.

Terrain: Mostly well-marked, easy-to-follow paths and trails. The routes often include flat areas with slight inclines (ascending up to 400m a day), making them suitable for everyone, from beginners to seasoned travellers.

Hiking Holidays:

A Moderate Challenge with Stunning Natural Beauty

Hiking holidays turn up the intensity slightly from walking holidays, but they still maintain a focus on enjoying nature and the thrill of exploration. Hikes typically take place in more rugged environments such as national parks, mountain ranges, and forests. While you’ll still appreciate the beauty of the landscapes, there’s often more emphasis on reaching specific landmarks or summits.

What to Expect on a Hiking Holiday:

Intensity: Grade 4 to 6. Hiking holidays are generally suitable for people with a reasonable level of fitness and a love of the outdoors.

Daily Duration: Hikes usually last between 4 to 8 hours per day, depending on the terrain and route.

Terrain: Varied terrain, from forested trails to rocky paths and mountain ascents of up to around 1000m a day and to an altitude of between 3000 and 4500m.

Trekking Holidays:

Challenging Adventures to remote valleys

Trekking holidays are often, but not always, the most challenging and adventurous of the three. These trips often involve multi-day treks into remote areas, such as the high mountains of the Himalayas, the Andes, or Alps. Trekking holidays are more about endurance and reaching a key target such as Everest Base Camp, or completing a challenge such as the Tour du Mont Blanc.

What to Expect on a Trekking Holiday:

Intensity: Grade 7 to 12. Trekking holidays requires good physical fitness, stamina, and sometimes experience in handling challenging outdoor conditions.

Daily Duration: Treks can range from 5 to 10 hours of walking per day, depending on the route, altitude, and weather conditions.

Terrain: Treks often take you through remote, rugged, and often mountainous regions. You may cross rivers, ascend steep passes, and deal with changing weather conditions.

Conclusion: Blurred Definitions

Walking holidays – a gentile days activities along well marked paths on easy terrain of up to 400 metres lasting 3 to 5 hours.

Hiking holidays – more challenging days over uneven mountainous terrain gaining up to around 1000m a day to a max altitude of 4500m.

Trekking holidays – most typically long distance paths covering multiple days, often into remote areas and high altitudes.

Not to entirely contradict all of the above, but there is a huge amount of cross over between walks, hike and treks. This blog is more of a guide to give an idea of what the general differences are between different types of holidays but expect some cross over of grade difficulty and/or terrain. If you have any questions about whether a walking, hiking or trekking holiday is best for you then contact our office for more information.