Shaping Up for a Walking Vacation

Walking has become the workout of choice for 36 million Americans, according to fitness industry estimates. And organized walking vacations are booming, say the tour operators who run them. If travelers are fit enough to take them, the treks can offer exercise, education and entertainment. If not, the experience can be unpleasant.

Walking has inched out bicycling vacations for at least one company. Country Walkers, a Waterbury, Vt., tour company, switched from a specialization in bike tours to walking tours in 1990, said Cindy Maynard, co-owner with her husband, Bob. Since then, Maynard said, business has increased 40% to 100% each year as demand for walking vacations has increased steadily. “People want to stop and smell the flowers, and not just blow by them,” Bob Maynard explained.

He also said that Country Walkers clients have told him they want to be educated, so he offers such programs as a walking and cooking vacation in which participants learn how to prepare the Italian cuisine of the Tuscany region.

Likewise, Berkeley-based Backroads offers, among its choices, a walking tour in Burgundy, France, during which travelers can participate in wine tastings.

Progressive Travels, a Seattle-based tour operator, includes visits to pastry shops and restaurants in its seven-day walking tour of Burgundy. There are U.S. destinations too, with Backroads offering walks in Santa Fe, N.M., and Sedona, Ariz.

Costs begin at $2,000 or more plus air fare for one-week overseas tours, and $1,400 or more for one-week domestic trips. They generally attract more women than men, with many participants over 40, according to tour company officials.

Whatever the itinerary, preparing for a walking vacation--and knowing what to take along--can minimize problems on the road.

Most important, experts say, is to choose a trip that meets fitness capabilities. Before booking, be sure to ask about average daily mileage.

For Progressive Travels tours, seven to 12 miles a day is the average covered, Parisot said. And this can be accomplished by most reasonably fit people with a little bit of training, experts said. Travelers heading for a walking vacation are encouraged to walk three or four times a week at least three or four months before a trip, said Cindy Maynard of Country Walkers. “Most people [who sign up] are in fairly good shape,” she said.

On tours by Country Walkers, nine miles a day is average, Maynard said. At Backroads, the average is three to 12 miles per day.

“We have support vans,” said Valerie Gilbert of Backroads. On most tours, she added, “the van will sweep the route and give people rides as needed.”

Other tour operators say they do the same and encourage travelers to tell them when booking the maximum mileage they are comfortable walking in a day. A traveler can determine this in advance by logging the distances of their walks and not booking distances beyond their comfort level.

Some companies also rate the terrain as moderate or easy to help travelers match the trip with their fitness level. The trips are designed to be tours, not races, Progressive Travels literature advises customers.

Still, a basic level of fitness is recommended. Staying in shape before departure is advised. (Walking a mile burns roughly 75 to 100 calories, depending on body weight and other factors.) Sedentary people, in particular, are advised to obtain their physician’s approval before booking.

Walk on both hilly and flat terrain unless the upcoming tour will be totally flat, experts advise. And get in the habit of stretching before and after walking to prevent sore muscles.

Buy shoes with good ankle and arch support, Gilbert advises. Country Walkers travelers are advised to wear lightweight hiking boots and to pack a backup pair if the boots are not waterproof.

Hiking in brand new shoes is one of the most common mistakes people make, operators of walking tours said. Allowing a break-in time for shoes before a trip is important.

Take along absorbent socks. Stay away from all-cotton ones, Cindy Maynard advised, and opt for blends, which better wick away moisture and decrease the risk of blisters and other foot problems. Bringing along a small first-aid kit and a water bottle are also good ideas. Support vans usually dispense refreshments.

“Guides are trained in cardiopulmonary resuscitation and first-aid every year,” said Dominique Parisot, vice president and tour leader for Progressive Travels.

If the tour is overseas, try to arrive one or two days before the tour starts to minimize the chance of having jet lag symptoms and sore muscles simultaneously, experts suggest.

Among companies offering walking tours are Backroads, (510) 527-1889; Country Walkers, (800) 464-9255; and Progressive Travels, (800) 245-2229.

The Healthy Traveler appears the second and fourth week of every month.