Frequently Asked Questions

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We have provided answers to many of the common questions about our trips below. If you have a question that isn't covered here, please contact us.

What is a self-guided trip?

Our wide range of self-guided itineraries across the USA and Canada have been designed to afford you as much freedom as possible to explore what interests you, at your own pace. We take care of the logistics: we supply you with lodgings in charming inns and B&B’s, mountain huts, and 2, 3 and 4-star hotels chosen for their location and local flavour; we provide route maps and information about sites you can visit; we generally include daily breakfast, packed lunches during remote hikes, and often dinner; we organise for your luggage to be transferred daily; and, if cycling, we supply rental bikes – typically modern 21-speed bicycles, with the option to upgrade to electric-assisted (ebike) models.

What should I expect on a guided trip?

When you choose one of our guided trips, you’ll enjoy the company of an expert guide and a small group of like-minded travelling companions from around the world. The group size ranges from 4 to 12 participants depending on your chosen trip. Travelling in the safety and camaraderie of a small group is a great way to explore the North American wilderness. To sweeten the experience, our guides will do most of the camp set up/take down and all of the cooking for you. In fact, we’ve made arrangements on our backpacking trips to include food drops and/or additional support, allowing you to enjoy the stunning surroundings without the burden of carrying a lot of heavy camp equipment and group food.

How fit do I have to be?

Fitness is an important aspect of our trips, with each itinerary carefully-graded for ease of selecting the trip that best suits you. Detailed information, including suggested pre-trip training, can be found in the trip notes and pre-departure information. We recommend that you familiarise yourself with the physical requirements of your trip and speak to our staff if you have any questions. View our trip grading system for more detail as to how we grade the activity levels on our adventures and the suggested physical preparation.

Can I organise my own private trip?

If the specified departure dates are not suitable, or if you would like to vary the itinerary, we would be happy to develop a program to suit your travel interests. We regularly organise tailor-made holidays for families, groups of friends, schools and charities. Learn more about planning your own private group departure.

What is the accommodation like?

We have carefully selected a range of charming inns, guest houses, bed and breakfasts, and hotels, based on their charismatic nature and the fact that they epitomise the region in which you are travelling. Most smaller properties are family-run, so expect a healthy dose of local charm and insights while you're there. When on wilderness hikes, expect to stay in rustic cabins (dorm style) or in tents.

What is the camping like on camping based trips?

To capture the essence of your journey we have, wherever possible, selected campsites where we can enjoy the wilderness away from busy public campsites. Provincial and National Parks in Canada come with plenty of regulations in order to protect our precious ecosystems. All tents are provided on a twin share basis and solo group members will be matched up with same-sex tentmates, keeping our environmental footprint small and also reducing individual pack weight. If space is not an issue at campsites, we may be able to provide single tents for those who prefer not to share.

What about the food?

Our trips generally include daily breakfast and many may also include lunch or dinner - please refer to the specific inclusions on the trip page of your chosen itinerary or download our detailed trip notes. We introduce you to restaurants that feature local flavours and traditional specialties unique to the region. Food is an integral part of any active travel experience - the many culinary delights are yours to savour. Where possible, we are able to cater to most dietary requirements, provided you let us know in advance.

Are tips included in my trip price?

Tips and gratuities are not included in the trip cost, unless listed under the trip-specific inclusions. Tipping is customary in the USA and Canada but is a completely personal thing. Guidelines are provided in our pre-departure information upon booking.

What is included in my trip?

It is our aim to ensure that we incorporate as many inclusions as possible in your trip to minimise any out of pocket expenses while you are away. It is important that you refer to our trips notes for the exact inclusions. On most trips, all meals and arrangements are included from the start of the trip right through until the end.

Do you have family friendly trips?

Each family is unique in their interests, abilities, and composition. Many of our self-guided tours are appropriate for families with up to two or three children who are physically active and are experienced with the outdoors. Child discounts are listed, where this is possible given the exact tour itinerary and are generally based on a maximum of 2 children sharing a room with 2 full paying adults. Our guided, small group adventures are typically geared toward adult travellers, but we sometimes make exceptions for mature, exceptional children (12 and older) who are accompanied by an adult. Bottom line: Please ask! If our advertised itineraries and pricing do not suit your family, we are happy to customize a tour just for you.

Can I bring my own bike?

You are welcome to bring your own bike, if you are up for the challenge of transporting it to your tour destination. If you choose to bring your own bike, be sure you notify us well in advance of your trip and we will let you know if any discounts are possible for that specific tour. We do recommend using the bicycles that are included in the tour package as they are good quality bicycles suited for the terrain on which you will be cycling. The majority of our bicycle rentals are replaced each season and we are always sure to tune them up between uses, so you can feel confident in their performance.

I’m a solo traveller, can I join a self-guided tour?

On a number of our self-guided tours, transfer services are shared so you will meet others along the way and need only pay the cost of covering single room accommodations. On select self-guided tours which operate using private transfer services, we offer Solo Friendly departures; Solo travellers can sign up on these departure dates and we will match them up with other solo travellers. And, for those who are happy to go it alone, there is an option to pay a solo traveller supplement for private transfer services and accommodation throughout. Please check the trip notes or ask one of our agents for more details.

How about solos on group/guided tours?

Group tours are perfect for solo travellers looking to join like-minded individuals, meet people from around the world, and benefit from the safety and expertise of our local guides. On many of our group tours, there is no forced single supplement for those willing to share accommodations with other same-sex solo travellers. Please check the pricing details on our detailed trip notes to verify if a single supplement is applicable, or if one is available on your desired tour.

What do I get once I book?

You will receive a pre-departure kit via email which includes your trip notes, pre-departure information document (PDI) and any other trip specific information. The PDI is a useful resource that includes region-specific information and more details regarding trip logistics, a recommended gear list, and advice for preparing physically for your adventure. Closer to departure, you will receive final documents which will provide more specifics such as meeting points and times, and contact information. On self-guided trips, we will also provide maps and a custom information package specific to your adventure. These will either be sent to you prior to departure or will be waiting for you at destination.