People often ask – how hard are your trips? Well, the answer isn’t black or white.
Let us explain.
We’ve designed Parallel trips to appeal to those who really enjoy a bit of sweat on the brow as part of their international experience. We rate our trips by “Challenge Level” on a scale of 1-10 because most of our itineraries fall somewhere in the middle. We’ve sought out some of the most beautiful trails in the world, with the goal of giving you a real hike, rather than a cutesy “nature trail” experience that takes about 20 minutes.
On a Parallel Trip, you can expect:
- To hike between five and ten miles (12-16 km) on every hiking day of your trip, with a median length of about seven miles per hiking day
- The terrain may be demanding in places with some steep ascents and descents.
- To feel accomplished at the end of each day, but not exhausted.
If you are moderately fit, do a bit of pre-trip training, and (most importantly) enjoy hiking, we’re confident you’ll do just fine on a Parallel trip.
Tell me more about these levels!
If we had a Level 1 trip (and we don’t!) – think: a relaxed walk through a scenic village or coastal path with plenty of café stops and lounging by the pool. The walking would be:
- Flat terrain, short distances (1–3 km)
- Minimal elevation gain
- Suitable for all fitness levels
If we had a Level 10 (and we don’t!) – Think: full-on expedition: alpine trekking, multi-hour climbs, and remote trails with few bail-out options. Oxygen masks, climbing guides, SOS devices.
- Long distances (20+ km/day), steep ascents and descents
- Rugged terrain, possibly technical sections
- Demands strong endurance and mental grit
Where Parallel Thrives – Level 4-6 (and we do!) – Think: spending 4-6 hours of your day outside walking, maybe a stop at a trailside cafe for a mid-hike cappuccino, working your way up a hill or two to earn your picnic lunch with a view, enjoying some solitude or a trail chat with your travel companions, and, very likely, a cold beer waiting at the end.
This is the sweet spot for most Parallel trips. Challenging enough to feel earned, but not so extreme you won’t want to do it all again tomorrow.
- Daily hikes range from 5-10 miles (8 – 15 km) on established trails
- Moderate elevation (300 – 800m gain)
- Independent hiking – your facilitator will be available if needed, but you will not be following a guide – meaning you get to hike at your own pace
- Trails may be rocky, hilly, sandy, or uneven.
- No technical hiking requiring specialized gear
- You’ll sweat, you’ll smile, and you’ll sleep well
Of course everyone’s threshold for challenge is subjective, but we feel confident our trips are suitable for most ability levels.
What if I don’t want to hike everyday or what if I want to cut my hike short?
This is important! One of our primary values at Parallel is independence – and with that the fact that this is your trip and you are welcome to “choose your challenge.”
As such, skipping a hike or catching a ride for a portion is always an option. There are any number of reasons why you may want to take a day off of the trail, skip an uphill, or ask for a pickup along the way. Each day of hiking, on all of our itineraries, offers numerous pick-up opportunities. Your facilitators will always provide contact information and check in with each guest at the start of each day to gauge how you are feeling about the hike.
If you asked us to rank our trips by level of trail difficulty (from “easiest” to “hardest”) we would say:
- We can’t. It’s like asking a parent to pick a favorite kid. Indeed, each of our itineraries offers different challenges and the best way to get a sense of which one is right for you is to talk to us. BUT – see the note above – if you, friend, are moderately fit, do a bit of pre-trip walking, and enjoy spending your day outdoors, we are confident Parallel will be a good fit for you.
