Most recently updated June 9th, 2022
Estimated Reading Time: 6.8 minutes
So you want to plan a hiking trip.
Great! Like any other event outside of your normal daily routine – hosting a party, having a night out, or even creating a special meal – it starts with planning and research.
Don’t know where to start? I’ll help.
Let’s begin by figuring out what your perfect trip would look like….
First, Plan Your Trip Basics:
- How much time do you have?
- When can you go?
- Where do you want to go?
- Who is going on the trip?
- How much money can you spend?
Sometimes these basic parameters can help define each other. Is one or other of them firm and unchangeable?
Say, you have a specific place you want to go or a certain budget. You start with the parameter that cannot change and work from there.
Let’s look deeper at what to consider within each parameter.
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Go to the G Adventures site and find your trip!
You can read also about other G Adventure trips on my Adventures for You page.
HOW MUCH FREE TIME DO YOU HAVE?
Most people have a limited amount of time to devote to a recreational trip. Some are limited by available time off work, time their kids can be away from school, or both.
If you have 4 days or less available, see if you can position your days off adjacent to a weekend or a 1-day holiday like July 4 or President’s Day to stretch your vacation.
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If you have at least one full work week (Monday-Friday) to take off, you can also stretch it by adding weekend days before and after the trip.
Generally, the shorter your time off the closer to home you should vacation, in order to minimize your travel time.
For instance, if you only have three days, you wouldn’t choose to visit a place that takes 28 hours of travel time to reach.
If possible, especially when children are involved, I also like to leave at least a half day between returning home and going back to work/school to normalize and do the usual prep for the week before diving back in.
TRAVEL OFF-SEASON
Peak travel times revolve around school holidays (for families), and work holidays and more pleasant seasonal weather. If at all possible, you should avoid travelling during those times when everyone else does.
Resorts and national parks recommend visiting during the so-called “shoulder” seasons, when weather is still pretty good, but the crowds are not as high. Chances are the prices will be lower during off and slightly off season, too.
Bonnie Caton at Great Escape Publishing has a good chart of the best time to go to specific countries to avoid high prices and big crowds.
There are also places you really don’t want to go during certain seasons, regardless of availability.
For instance, you would not want to hike in a desert area like Zion National Park in Utah at the hottest part of the year, or in Alaska’s Gates of the Arctic National Park in winter.
Summer can also be a very wet season in some parts of the world, and a time to avoid travelling there – especially for outdoor activities.
WHAT’S YOUR HIKING DREAM DESTINATION?
Will it be the mountains? Or do you have your heart set on vacationing near the ocean? Or maybe you would really like to hike in a foreign country, near some ancient ruins?
If you don’t already know where you want to go, research and your other limiting parameters can help you decide.
For instance, if you know you want to do a series of day hikes rather than camping and thru-hiking, you would choose a location that has available lodging in cabins or nearby hotels.
If you have children or novice hikers on the trip, you would choose a place with some less strenuous and shorter trails available. If your group is all experienced hikers, you would choose a more challenging venue.
For National Park locations in the US, the National Park Service provides a park locator that may help you with some destination ideas.
Another option is to have your entire itinerary planned and hikes led by experts who specialize in adventure travel like G Adventures who I have traveled with many times. (For info on some great discounts and travel specials, see my G Adventures travel page.)
I find it especially helpful to travel through this kind of company when going to places in Europe or South America.
With a travel service company like this one, all you have to do is choose your itinerary and dates, then show up with the recommended gear and the desire to have a great experience!
Your destination will also be limited by available time and budget. Wherever you go, make sure you bring the right gear to enjoy your trip!
OTHER TRAVELERS
Who is going with you? As mentioned earlier, your itinerary and also your budget will be affected by how many people are on your trip with you and how much time they have available.
Your group’s level of hiking expertise, if children are hiking, and how willing the group is to camp or even share lodgings will also have an impact on your plans.
Solo travel is a personal choice: some swear by it, and others hate it.
I choose to travel alone sometimes, and sometimes with my family, but I also enjoy travelling alone within an adventure travel company group.
I like meeting new people, or having a new experience with friends, but I can also be content with my own company.
The choice to travel solo or solo within a group is usually based on what kind of activities my friends/family are not willing to do (that I would like to do), time or budget I have available when no one else does, and also the feeling of greater personal safety I might have with an experienced company like G Adventures.
TRAVEL BUDGET
Everyone has a limit on how much they can spend on a recreational trip. Generally, the more people on a trip, the more expensive it is. That said, sharing lodging rooms and transportation (such as rental car and gas) could help save on some expenses.
If you are traveling solo on an itinerary with an adventure travel company, they will sometimes charge an additional fee if you want your own room. Otherwise, you will share with another solo traveler of the same sex.
If the budget is really tight and your destination is close enough, driving your own vehicle (rather than flying and renting a car) would save some money.
You can also rent an RV, and save on lodging. Camping is also a way to reduce your expenses, though it does require more gear and planning.
THERE’S NO WRONG WAY
How you take your adventure is entirely up to you and as unique as your own circumstances.
When my little girl was in grade school and the budget was very tight, we went on a weekend hiking trip (staying at a luxurious business hotel in off-season), visited two State Parks and were never more than a three-hour drive from home.
She thought it was the best trip ever, even though it was very inexpensive.
There are also last minute trips and flights available at big discounts from many airlines and travel companies, if you are willing to be flexible with destination.
If you’re looking for some travel pointers or ideas for your next adventure, check out my Travel Resources page.
However you do it, get out there and have your hiking adventure! Leave a comment and let me know about your trip and if you find any other tricks and tips to share.
Thanks for stopping by – see you next time! LJ
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LJ has spent much of her free time as a single Mom – and now as an empty-nester – hiking in the US and around the world. She shares lessons learned from adventures both local and in exotic locations, and tips on how to be active with asthma, plus travel, gear, and hike planning advice for parents hiking with kids and beginners of all ages. Read more on the About page.