Challenging grade fitness guide

What fitness level do I need for a Challenging walking holiday?
A high fitness level and previous trekking experience are essential. You should be ready to hike for multiple consecutive days over difficult ground.

How does a Challenging walk feel?
These days feel like an intense mountain expedition, requiring mental determination and physical endurance as you conquer steep ascents day after day.

You’ll enjoy this if you can:

• Walk and hike for 7–8 hours for several consecutive days.
• Climb up to 1,000m / 3,281 feet in a single day.
• Handle steep, rocky, or loose terrain.
• Manage a step count of 48,000 to 50,000 steps per day.

How far do you walk each day on a Challenging walking holiday?
Each of our walking trips is different, but on a typical Challenging-grade trip, you’ll take around 48,000 to 50,000 steps each day. You can see a breakdown of daily distances and any elevation on each tour’s trip page.

What should I expect from a Challenging-grade walk? While each route is different, here’s what you can generally expect from a Challenging-grade walk:

• Terrain: Steep, rocky, and loose terrain.
• Pace: Prolonged, steady movement over 7–8 hours daily.
• Elevation: Up to 1,000m / 3,281 feet of ascent per day.
• Weather: Exposed mountain conditions requiring full preparedness.

How should I prepare for a Challenging walking holiday? Training should start several months in advance with a focus on endurance. Here’s what we recommend:

• Long hikes most weekends (5–7 hours).
• Midweek cardio sessions (running, cycling, stair machine).
• Strength training 2–3 times weekly.
• Train with a daypack and practice uneven terrain walking.