Trekking holiday grades
Our trekking holidays have been graded leisurely, moderate or strenuous depending on their difficulty. Trekking can be a very personal experience - one man's stroll can be another's expedition. Please do not bite off more than you can chew! It is important that you choose the correct grade for your capabilities so please read the detailed trip notes to check if the tour is right for you. If you have any concerns please do discuss this with our knowledgeable sales team who are trekking experts. On our more strenuous treks we will require you to complete a fitness questionnaire.
Leisurely
This is the 'easiest' of our trekking adventures. A moderate level of fitness is required and a flexible, open-minded approach is essential. You may be hiking up to 6 hours a day.
Moderate
You are likely to cover between 6 and 15 kilometres per day, over steep, hilly terrain, on usually well-defined trails. You will probably be walking for up to 6 hours per day with plenty of ascents and descents. Outside Europe, treks will often involve multi-day walking for up to 2 weeks and altitudes may exceed 3000 metres. A good level of fitness is required.
Strenuous
Physical preparation is essential as you may be walking for 7 hours per day or longer for up to 2 weeks. You are likely to cover between 8 and 15 kilometres each day with tough ascents and descents, at times on minor trails. Altitudes will often exceed 4000 metres with some days spent trekking above 5000 metres.
Note
Please note that the grading system is not a straightforward measure of how far you are walking. Rather it is an overall indication of how tough it will be and it takes into account the number of hours trekking, altitude gain/ loss and trail conditions (rough track, steep
uphill etc.) and usual temperatures. So even though a trek is graded Leisurely it does not mean you will never feel tired! Similarly, inexperienced trekkers need not necessarily avoid treks graded Strenuous.
For more information on trekking holidays from Imaginative Traveller, why not read what our resident trekking guru has to say about trek grades, trekking preparation and the best treks in the world. Visit the Trekking Holidays section here
