Why choose an active Self-Guided trip over doing it yourself?

So, you’re an independent traveler? What exactly does that mean? 

A quick search for the definition of the term ‘independent traveller’ on the online Macmillan Dictionary defines it as “travel in which you organize things yourself, rather than using a company who will arrange flights, hotels etc’. 

For certain trips, like a quick visit to see family or friends, that maybe well justified. But, if you’re seeking out a more active and unique experience to cherish and share around the dinner table with friends or family, will you end up talking about what went right, or what went wrong? 

Thanks to the internet the boom in DIY in just about anything has become the rage. Fixing holes in the gyprock, growing your own tomatoes, learning to play the guitar. 

But is the overall saving worth sacrificing the overall experience, not to mention the time taken to co-ordinate a 1-2 week walking holiday? And, do you actually save any money at all? 

Travel styles are constantly changing and we find more people seeking out value for experience rather than value for money. The boom of self-guided hiking and cycling trips makes a lot of sense for those that like the feel of independent travel but the benefits of an organized trip. 

Whether you are a first timer or an experienced active traveller, self-guided walking or cycling trips offer a multitude of advantages. Apart from the obvious reasons, like moving at your own pace and being the masters of your own travel destiny, there is also:|

1. Convenience – you save A LOT of screen time not scouring the internet researching ideas and reading reviews.
2. Competitive pricing – travel organizations can get a better price than an online aggregator ever will thanks to their volume. Full stop.
3. Luggage transfers – having your luggage transferred for you each day, rather than lugging it yourself, is a major plus!
4. Booking accommodations - Ever tried to book a B&B in a small town on the internet? This can be quite a hassle if English is not the hotel manager’s first language (many people have French as a first language in Canada) and you need to search for alternatives
5. Up-to-date and well thought out route notes and maps - these get updated more often than a guide book does and they always benefit from local insights and knowledge.

Then, there’s the overall quality of experience.

If something goes wrong on your trip when traveling by yourself, who are you going to call? Self-guided trips offer 24 hour local emergency contacts, which can be the difference between you getting back on the trail in a matter of hours, or aborting the trip completely. Then there’s that ‘survival mode’ feeling that hangs over your head when you’re going solo. 

Rather than thinking and worrying about trip logistics all day, isn’t it worth treating yourself to a vacation where someone else takes on this thankless task, so you can focus on all the amazing reasons you came to the destination in the first place?

We don’t doubt that independent travel doesn’t have its place. But when seeking out the paths less traveled in more popular parts of the world an active self-guided vacation offers the flexibility and freedom of independent travel and benefits of an organized tour.