Trekking Grades
Our walking and trekking trips are designed to be accessible to all who are in good health and enjoy the outdoors, but fitness levels are important and you should consider carefully which trip is right for you. Our grading system is there to help you choose a trip appropriate to your ability and requirements. For harder trips the correct preparation can vastly enhance your enjoyment; stamina building aerobic activities such as regular cycling, swimming, jogging and walking beforehand will make a noticeable difference.
There is no need to worry about not walking fast enough or holding back the group. All you need to focus on is your ability to complete the route. Everyone has his or her own comfortable pace and we always strive to accommodate this. All Walking & Trekking holidays present physical demands, so expect to feel some tiredness even after a ‘leisurely’, A-grade, day’s walking. Grades are only a guide.
How we grade our Walking & Trekking.
When grading a trip the following factors are considered:
- Length of trek and walking day
- Trail conditions underfoot
- Level of porterage and support
- Average altitude, maximum altitude and average
- Gain/loss per day
- Likely prevailing weather conditions and
- Temperature range
- Remoteness of local services and general level of comfort
Leisurely (Grade A)
Experience is not necessary; anyone fit and healthy enough to complete a weekend walk can manage a Leisurely, A-grade departure.
LENGTH OF
|
CONDITIONS
|
ALTITUDE |
WEATHER &
|
REMOTENESS &
|
| Short, often optional walks of between four and five hours duration |
Good, well maintained paths or tracks |
Low altitude, with little daily variation |
Generally good with no extremes |
Comfortable with easy access to local amenities |
Moderate (Grade B)
Again, no experience is necessary; those who take weekend hill walks should manage a B-grade trek; good health and reasonable fitness are important. These Moderately graded departures are either fairly easy medium-duration walks or harder, shorter walks.
LENGTH OF
|
CONDITIONS
|
ALTITUDE |
WEATHER &
|
REMOTENESS &
|
| Occasional longer/harder days – average five to seven hours duration |
Generally good paths, but some rocky terrain |
Generally no extremes of altitude or ascent/descent. Max ascent approx. 800m No |
No real extremes | Mainly good facilities, with access to local amenities |
Challenging (Grade C)
Fitness is important and you may have to improve yours before departure. Most treks at this grade compare to extended walking in mountainous terrain, but usually at significantly higher altitudes; climate and remoteness can also play a part. Previous trekking experience is desirable, but not vital if you are confident of your physical condition.
LENGTH OF
|
CONDITIONS
|
ALTITUDE |
WEATHER &
|
REMOTENESS &
|
| Six to eight hours with occasional longer days on peaks or passes |
Expect some difficult terrain underfoot, including loose scree |
Some trips may reach high altitudes, with occasional significant daily ascents. Average max. 1000m |
Expect some extremes of hot/cold, and changeable weather patterns |
Possibly remote areas with basic facilities on some nights |
Tough (Grade D)
Those experienced in trekking for a number of consecutive days , will understand how tough treks at this grade can be – stamina is essential, as walking days are long. We recommend previous trekking experience, preferably at altitude; you need complete confidence in your physical condition and the ability to trek for many days over difficult terrain.
LENGTH OF
|
CONDITIONS
|
ALTITUDE |
WEATHER &
|
REMOTENESS &
|
| Long, hard days of around seven or eight hours (or longer) duration |
Difficult terrain including snow or scrambling sections – you may need ice axe and crampons |
Expect extremes of altitude, and long days of ascent/ decent. A number of days over 1000m ascent |
Be prepared – expect the unexpected! |
Remote, wild environments with few facilities, perhaps for extended periods. Be prepared to rough it! |
Tough + (Grade E)
An E grade tour combines all the elements of our D Grade, tough itineraries, but adds extra difficulties such as tricky river crossings, very high or difficult passes, glaciers or peaks that require basic climbing skills. Often specialist equipment, like ice axes and crampons will be needed and you must have experience of them.
LENGTH OF
|
CONDITIONS
|
ALTITUDE |
WEATHER &
|
REMOTENESS &
|
| Numerous long hard days with early starts |
Technical terrain – ice, snow or rock |
Our biggest and most technical trips – sometimes reaching over 6000m! |
Real extremes of cold can be expected for prolonged periods at high altitude |
Remote itineraries well away from any amenity Six |
Split and Optional Grades
In order to provide a more accurate grading system, where a trip falls between two grades we use an intermediate or split grade, for example A/B. Occasionally, there are optional ascents available en route, in this case the optional grade is indicated in brackets, for example Grade C (climb E). Clearly, conditions may differ from region-to-region or month-to-month and as such the information given on these pages is designed to act as a guide only.