South America walking & trekking tours

Trips from 1 January 2023 onwards

From 1 January 2023, Intrepid will no longer require travelers to provide proof of vaccination against COVID-19 (excluding all Polar trips and select adventure cruises).

However, we continue to strongly recommend that all Intrepid travelers and leaders get vaccinated to protect themselves and others.

Specific proof of testing or vaccination may still be required by your destination or airline. Please ensure you check travel and entry requirements carefully.

Invest in a good-quality set of hiking boots, preferably water resistant ones with plenty of support and ventilation. Wear them in the months leading up to the trek to wear them in and avoid blisters.

Next, buy some dedicated hiking socks (usually a nylon/wool blend) that will keep out the moisture. Wear two pairs while walking to further reduce the chance of blisters.

Generally, it's a good idea to ensure you have the following essentials:

• Comfortable walking shoes (make sure they're broken in if you buy a new pair!)

• Backpack/day bag

• Leggings, shorts or hiking pants

• T-shirts

• A loose, long-sleeved shirt

• Sweater or sweatshirt

• Sunhat

• Sunscreen

• Head torch

• Retractable walking poles

• Reusable water bottle

We have walks ranging from relatively easy to challenging. But no matter what degree of difficulty or distance you choose to walk, we recommend that you have a reasonable fitness level to ensure you get the most out of your walk or hike. Commit to a physical training program around six weeks before you depart. Here are some suggestions:

• Long walks: the best way to prepare for a long walk is… by going on long walks. Simple, huh? Start small and build up to the length of your trek You should be able to walk comfortably for at least 4-6 hours before you leave. Load up your backpack and try to mimic the conditions of your trek by walking on different terrain. 
• Aerobic exercise: running, distance cycling and the various aerobic classes offered at gyms (like pump, spin, zumba and circuit classes) all help to give you fitness and stamina.
• Strength training: doing body weight training like pushups, squats, dips, lunges, etc. helps to build up your muscle strength, which is needed for the steady climb up a mountain if you’re embarking on this type of hike (bootcamp sessions are perfect for this type of training).

We include accommodation as per the itinerary, as well as transportation to and from trailheads and to all other included activities (note: this transportation is often public as that's the way we like to travel). We also include ALL hiking permits. On top of that, we provide our highly qualified and experienced leaders to guide you throughout the trip.

We predominantly provide two styles of walking & trekking holidays: 

• Center-based – this style of holiday spends all (or majority) of time in the center of the action. Think Chamonix in the French Alps, Dobbiaco in the Dolomites or a rustic hotel in Yosemite Valley. Enjoy the comfort of the same room every day (as well as only unpacking once) and a selection of the best restaurants and other attractions in the neighborhood. All you have to do is sit back and relax as we pick the best combination of walks available, either directly from the foot of your accommodation or just a short transfer away (often a public bus or train). To put it bluntly – you'll be fairly comfortable while experiencing the best walks and hikes going 'round.

• Point-to-point – this style of vacation makes you walk from one place to the other pretty much every day. However, we do throw in a rest day every now and then, depending on the region and the amount of hiking we need to cover on a daily basis. On point-to-point trips, you'll start in A and finish in B. Think about the Inca Trail, the Mount Everest Base Camp trek, the Hadrian’s Wall hike or the Mont Blanc Circuit. In most cases, we'll transfer your main luggage across to the next destination, so all you need to carry is the essentials (water, sun protection, waterproofs, extra layers, snacks and a camera). 

On some of our hikes, you will encounter high altitudes. When climbing above 9,200 feet, it is common for travelers to experience some adverse health effects due to the altitude, regardless of age, gender and fitness. It even happened to Sir Edmund Hillary!

There’s no real way to tell how your body will react to the rigors of altitude trekking, so it is important that you monitor your condition and discuss any prevailing symptoms with your guide. If you have any pre-existing conditions that could be exacerbated by high altitudes, be sure to get them checked out by a doctor before you leave.

But above all, try not to worry, most of our travelers shake off the effects of altitude pretty quickly and enjoy a safe and rewarding trek.

Absolutely! In fact, most of our customers are solo travelers. One thing to note if you're traveling solo is that you'll share a room with another solo traveler of the same sex. If you would prefer to have your own room, please speak to your booking agent as we're often able to accommodate this at an extra fee. 

The maximum group size is 12 people on the majority of walking & trekking trips, however, some itineraries may go up to 16 people. But, on average, there are 7-10 people on each departure. 

Most of our walking trips are in the Intrepid Original style, meaning we stay in small, authentic 2 to 3-star hotels and use public transport where possible. All breakfasts, as well as some dinners and lunches depending on the travel destination, are also included.

However, some trips to more remote destinations like the Himalayas or Kilimanjaro are in the Intrepid Basix style. We stay in either local guesthouses (or so-called teahouses in the Himalayas) or we camp. We often use private transfers on these trips too, as public transport options may not be available.

Camping can be quite comfortable with spacious tents, clean water, and, where possible, a toilet tent set up. But we also want to make the experience as authentic as possible, so you can always opt to camp under the stars.

We're committed to making travel widely accessible, regardless of ability or disability. That’s why we do our best to help as many people see the world as possible, regardless of any physical or mental limitations they might have. However, we’re always happy to talk to travelers with disabilities and see if we can help guide them toward the most suitable itinerary for their needs and, where possible, make reasonable adjustments to our itineraries.