What do the difficulty ratings mean?

Every trip is given a difficulty rating to help you decide if it's right for you.

All our trips are designed as active adventures, taking place in guided small groups within a diverse range of environments, with different levels of activity each day. The difficulty rating is there to help you choose the trip that’s right for you. 

Our four levels of increasing difficulty: Easy, Moderate, Challenging & Tough, take into account key factors such as the duration and intensity of activities each day, and the altitude, terrain and the environment they take place in. These are external factors that will apply equally to all participants, rather than personal factors like age or gender, which we don’t include in our difficulty rating system.

It’s up to each individual to personally assess the itinerary and decide whether it’s a good fit for them.

Whilst we provide a rating system based on objective external factors, difficulty is also a matter of personal perspective, and what might feel manageable for one person may be more difficult for another. Your own fitness, past experience and personal preferences all play into how difficult you perceive a trip to be. Choosing the right difficulty level matters, not just for your safety and the smooth running of the group and activities, but to make sure you get the most out of your adventure.

Easy: Level 1 of 4

Designed for all those who love adventure! Whether you’re dipping your toes into active adventure travel for the first time or just fancy a more relaxed pace on your next trip, our Easy adventures strike the perfect balance. They’re all about getting outdoors, having fun, and sharing the experience with a group of like-minded people.

Typically each day will involve 3-4 hours of activity, whether that’s short hikes on good trails, e-bike adventures through rolling hills, relaxing yoga sessions, paddling down rivers on a SUP and much more, all at a pace suitable for everyone in the group and with plenty of rest breaks to soak up the scenery and catch your breath.

While previous experience is not required, we recommend incorporating some light physical activity into your routine in the weeks leading up to your trip. This will help you feel even more confident and ready to embrace every moment of your adventure. 

View all of our Easy rated trips

Moderate: Level 2 of 4

Our Moderate trips are perfect for active people who want to take their favourite outdoor pursuits to new places or to try something fresh. They’re designed to push you a little more than our Easy collection, offering that unbeatable feeling of achievement as a part of a group.

Expect multiple days with 4-6 hours of activity, requiring a more consistent effort in varied, sometimes rugged terrain. Think hiking 1,000m up and down a mountain carrying a daypack, cycling 60km a day on hilly roads, or scrambling through river canyons leaping into crystal-clear pools along the way.

Previous experience of the included activities is recommended, but not essential, and some pre-trip preparation or training may be required. Having an “adventure mindset” is important.

View all of our Moderate rated trips

Challenging: Level 3 of 4

Take on a challenge! Our Challenging trips are for those who want to push their limits, test their resilience, and embrace the demands of the outdoors. Whether you're looking to take your adventures up a notch or working towards an even bigger goal in the future, these trips offer a serious dose of personal growth - all in a supportive, like-minded group.

Expect back-to-back days of 6-8 hours of activity, sometimes more, usually in wild and remote locations, and often with a specific focus or target to achieve. You could be tackling iconic trekking routes in high mountains ranges, embarking on multi-activity coast-to-coast adventures, summer mountaineering, rafting down rapids, or traversing deserts, jungles and frozen landscapes by bike and on foot. 

Generally prior experience is required for these trips, though you don’t need to be an expert in everything - just a keen adventurer ready to put in the effort. Preparation and physical training are key to making sure you’re ready to take on whatever the trip throws at you.

View all of our Challenging trips

Tough: Level 4 of 4

The ultimate test. Our Tough adventures are the pinnacle of our difficulty scale - designed for those who want to push their limits and take on some of the biggest adventures out there. Often set in extreme environments or technical mountain terrain with added factors like high altitude and cold conditions, these trips are built for experienced adventurers who thrive on long, physically arduous days in remote and technically demanding terrain. If you're ready to test your limits, this is where you’ll find out what you're truly capable of.

You’ll be moving for 8-10 hours a day, sometimes more, across steep, rugged, and technical ground that demands constant focus. Think winter mountaineering on a 5,000m peak, climbing over sea cliffs, or hiking across glaciers and fields of broken rock. Endurance, stamina and durability are important physical attributes to ensure you are able to complete the full itinerary. Mental resilience and a strong sense of motivation are equally as important.

Previous experience of the included activities is essential, as is adequate preparation and physical training in the lead-up to the trip, tailored specifically to the demands of the itinerary. These adventures may also require specific equipment and the skills to use them, and undergoing a training course prior to the trip is likely to be beneficial. During the trip, your guide(s) will also provide support and guidance on the use of any necessary equipment.

View all of our Tough trips