FAQs

Yes we most certainly can. Customised trips is something that we very much specialise in.  Whether it’s just for yourself, or a group of 30 walkers, we are here to help you with the logistics to ensure a stress free experience.

The distances we walk each day are as varied as our destinations. Some walks are only a couple of kilometres whilst some (very few) are just shy of 30 kilometres (most walks range between 10 to 20kms).  You can choose the walk distances and difficulty you are comfortable with from our wide range suitable for first-time walkers through to more experienced walkers.  Choose which walk appeals to you using the rating, with each having a classification of easy, easy to moderate, moderate, and moderate to challenging or challenging.   We have given each trip an overall difficulty rating as well as rating the individual walk. A good walking fitness level will ensure that you make the most out of most of our walking holidays.

We advise on the seasons during which you can book each walk. Anything outside of these seasons isn’t preferable or sometimes even allowable in certain areas like alpine or the remote desert. We recommend that walkers always schedule their hike during a time of the year when the weather is the most favourable in that region for walking. Our destination consultants are also able to advise on the best time to walk each walk, so please speak to them if you are unsure. This doesn’t guarantee that the weather will be as anticipated so we do ask that walkers be prepared for all conditions. On each walking trip page, you will find a link that takes you to the Bureau of Meteorology’s website for information on past weather averages.

All our holidays are heavy pack-free experiences with all the logistics of luggage transfer taken care of. All your luggage will be moved ahead for you so you won’t need to carry a heavy pack. All you will need to carry with you on your walk is a small day pack containing your lunch, water, and other essentials for the day. You can bring up to 25kgs of luggage for your holiday (on a limited range of walks this can be less due to legislative requirements in different countries). If anything is over that amount please speak to the office.

Details about where your holiday will commence from can be found on the relevant walks page. We will also include this information for you in your walk notes.

Details about what time your trip will start and finish can be found on the relevant walks page. We will also include this information for you in your walk notes.

Please ensure that you make us aware of any dietary requirements that you may have at the time of booking. We aim to cater for all requirements big or small whenever possible.

Unfortunately, in many countries hotel accommodations (like the ones we use) charge the same or very similar price, regardless of whether there are one or more people in the room. This means that to cover the cost of the accommodation for your trip we do need to pass on a single supplement surcharge which is charged at cost. This guarantees you the solo use of your own room and private bathroom and on occasion, the added advantage of the use of a lounge which may or may not be shared with one other room. Please get in contact with us if you have any further questions.

If you have particular preferences or dietary requirements that may not be readily available in remote locations, it may be a good idea to bring your own snacks that you need on the track. If you are a particularly big eater, or have a favourite snack that you take on hikes then by all means feel free to bring something along.

We always set out to select accommodations where walkers have their own private ensuite bathrooms at night. Exceptions are made when we stay at unique locations that add to your experience. This will only ever be for one or two nights of your overall experience, and advised in advance.

Self-guided walking holidays allow you the freedom of walking independently with your own group, when you want and where you want. We’ve carefully planned every aspect of your journey, from the best walking itineraries to seamless luggage transfers that whisk your bags from accommodation to accommodation while you’re out walking, allowing you to walk pack-free. We include all breakfasts and lunches and almost all dinners along the way. You can enjoy worry free navigation with our comprehensive walk notes to guide you along the track.  We provide everything you need to enjoy an insider’s perspective on the best walking tracks and the liberty to explore it all at your own pace. At all times you will have the security of knowing that you will have safety and support from Stroll and our team on the ground around the clock.

You are not able to do a self-guided trip alone as we have a duty of care to our walkers.  This means that we cannot offer any of our walks on a solo basis.

Some days you will walk directly out of your accommodation and/or into your evening’s accommodation. When transfers are required, these will be booked and provided for you, and detailed in your notes.  Our transfer providers are locals and know the area you’re walking in intimately. In many cases they offer a wealth of knowledge on your destination having lived there for many years (sometimes all their life).

Directions for getting to the start of your holiday are different for every trip.  You will find information on this specific to your walk on the relevant walk page.

We will send out your package that includes all your trip information and much more once the final payment has been received. This is due two months prior to your departure. Your package should arrive to your nominated address anywhere between 4 and 5 weeks before your departure.

Wifi access will be available at most accommodations along the track. Additional fees are rarely charged by the accommodations to use the service, and this amount will differ between properties.

Most of our walks will have mobile phone reception for the majority of the trip. In the few instances where this isn’t the case we can relay information via our suppliers on the ground. On the select group guided trips we provide, guests can be contacted via the guides.

At Stroll, we strongly believe in the value of travel insurance. Don’t take a chance! We recommend that you have adequate insurance against potential losses, damage or injury, including cancellation costs and loss of luggage. We also require that you purchase travel insurance if you are travelling out of your own country.

Note that Stroll charges a cancellation fee.

You will need to carry a small day pack with you on the track. We suggest you take the following essential items with you:

• walk notes, map and map case
• picnic lunch packed in insulated container (when supplied)
• quality waterproof jacket with a hood
• warm jumper or jacket
• sunhat
• sunscreen (at least 15+)
• 2+ litres of water
• first aid kit
• toilet paper
• some money
• mobile phone (note that reception is not available in all walk areas)
• insect repellent & bandaids/ blister kit

The following items are optional and dependent on weather conditions/ your preferences:

• waterproof overtrousers
• warm hat
• sunglasses
• camera
• binoculars
• notebook and pen
• matches
• small torch
• walking poles
• thermos (for hot drinks)
• gaiters (great for keeping dirt out of your boots as well as providing protection from snakes!)

A waterproof jacket serves two functions – to keep you dry and to keep the wind out. Cheaper plastic or nylon raincoats are good for keeping the rain out, but unfortunately, they do not breathe meaning that you’ll still get wet from condensation, and are not really suitable for any walk.

By far the best jackets are made from waterproof AND breathable fabrics such as Gore-Tex. These wick your body moisture through the Gore-Tex material to the outside of the jacket through one-way pores. Gore-tex and other similar jackets aren’t cheap but most of the quality outdoor equipment stores have sales where prices can often be reduced by substantial amounts. And they last a lifetime!

Your waterproof jacket is a practical item, designed to keep you warm, dry, and comfortable in areas where there is a risk of being cold.

We’re often asked about waterproof clothing in the tropics. If the tropical area is warm to hot then just get wet – you’ll dry out soon enough.

The best thing is to wear light summer style clothes with additional layers. Layers work well as they can be adjusted throughout the day as the conditions change.

You will also need:

A warm jumper. The best material these days is polar fleece or equivalent as they are lightweight and dry very quickly if they get wet. Wool, on the other hand, is heavy and takes a long time to dry. Cotton is not appropriate.

A warm hat is an important weapon for winter use. Did you know that you lose 40% of your body heat through your head? So if you’re feeling cold, don a hat and feel the difference.

If you suffer from cold hands, we suggest you invest in a lightweight pair of polypropylene gloves.  In very cold conditions, thermal clothing is useful. Thermal clothing should be worn next to the skin to be most effective.

We recommend thin synthetic materials for summer walking – cotton can get damp from perspiration.

Shirts should have collars and sleeves to help prevent sunburn. Long sleeves that can be either rolled up or rolled down are a good idea. Light colours will keep you cooler. Specialist shirts have vents to allow for airflow.

Shorts are great for hot weather, but use plenty of sunscreen. Long trousers are great for sun protection and also for cooler weather. Trousers that have “zip off” legs are a good compromise.

A sun hat is obviously essential. Choose a hat with a brim all the way round as this keeps off more heat and sun than either baseball caps or soft floppy cotton hats. Good hats also come with some mesh ventilation in the middle and a chinstrap to keep it on when the wind blows. Choose a hat that packs easily into your case and daypack.

Sunglasses are also essential for most of our walks.

The best piece of advice we can give is to make sure it’s big enough! As a minimum you need to fit in your lunch, water bottle/s, wet weather gear, warm jumper, and other personal bits and pieces. A larger pack weighs marginally more, costs very little extra and you’re unlikely to regret it.

Well-padded shoulder straps are a must as your pack is inevitably going to feel heavier as the day goes on. Padded waist/hip belts are also very useful as they help take some of the load off your shoulders. A chest strap is available on most good packs these days and it will stop the pack from sliding around on your back whilst you bend over or walk on uneven terrain.

Several pockets or sections can also be handy, allowing you quick access to things like sunscreen, water bottle or snacks.

Most packs are not waterproof so it’s always a good idea to line the pack with a heavy-duty plastic bag. You can also buy a pack cover, which does an excellent job of keeping most of the rain out.

Some daypacks have a curved back and this allows more air to circulate, making for a much more comfortable experience. 

We strongly recommend wearing proper hiking boots or shoes as they provide added ankle support. If you buy a new pair of walking boots/shoes make sure you break them in before you come on holiday.

Here are some things to consider:

• Boots versus walking shoes – that’s largely an issue of personal preference. Boots provide considerably more ankle support than walking shoes, which can also help prevent injury.
• The weight of the footwear is important. You only need something suitable for day hikes on tracks – not to climb Mt Everest in! There’s an old saying that 100 grams on your feet is equivalent to 500 on your back.
• The shoes should wrap round the foot with an even, snug hold over all parts of your foot. You should look for comfort across the balls of the feet. Your toes should not press together or touch the end of the boot – this is especially important for downhill walking. Your heel should not move inside the boot when you walk. And a laced up boot should not put pressure on the top of your foot or hurt your ankle.
• Leather has been the long time favourite with many walkers but these days is generally only used in heavier boots, which are mostly not necessary for day walks. Most light to medium weight boots are of good quality and have synthetic uppers. These are durable, but do not keep the water out. If you can pay some more, have a look at boots with a waterproof membrane such as Gore-Tex. The membrane is a very clever product built into the boot material so, though it can’t be seen, it lasts for the life of the boot. Dry feet will be more comfortable, smell less, and be less likely to blister if conditions get tough.
• The soles of the boots are extremely important. Look for soles that are thick enough to protect your feet against sharp rocks that might press into the sole, and with a chunky pattern that will provide better grip on slippery tracks. A Vibram sole is good quality – look for the yellow brand on the sole of the boots.
• Finally, we often see people who are wearing cheap, ill-fitting, loose, sloppy socks, which is an absolute recipe for disaster! Wear socks that fit firmly. Spend that bit extra and buy socks with shaped heels and good cushioning – your feet with thank you at the end of the day! Some people like to wear one pair of socks, others prefer two pair…..it is up to you. Once again, avoid loose socks that are too big.

At the end of the day, there are lots of different boots in the stores. Take your time, keep looking till you find a boot that fits like a glove.

These are not necessary for most Strolls but are easy to justify if you do lots of walking. They are designed to keep rain, grass seeds, sand, mud, leeches and other unwanted items out of the top of your boots. They come in a full range of sizes from huge mountaineering styles through to short, lightweight ones. Most of them wrap over the boot laces, around the tops of boots and upwards over the lower part of your legs. Sensible, practical gaiters should have some stiffness, so they will sit upright around the lower part of your legs, and not slip down. Also, they should go on and off without needing to remove your boots. Gaiters also provide useful leg & sock protection whenever there are scratchy plants over the track or grasses full of seeds.

If you want to be sure that you’ll get reception everywhere, then you will need a satellite phone. We recommend satellite phones for self guided walking holidays. These can be hired from many outlets found online.

If you haven’t got or organised a satellite phone, it is essential that you at least carry a mobile phone if you are doing a self-guided Stroll holiday. Note that there will not necessarily be reception in all of the walking areas.

With some phones, reception can be improved by purchasing a small external aerial that can clip onto our mobile phone. Our experience is that these aerials can increase signal strength by 1 to 2 bars, and often allows us to use the mobile in places where there would otherwise be no signal.

Another useful tip is that text messaging requires less signal strength than voice communications. You may not be able to make a call, but you can still often send or receive a text message.

An emergency phone number will be included in your walk notes.

More and more walkers are discovering the benefits of using one or two walking poles. Poles can provide valuable support when walking on uneven ground and can significantly reduce jarring on knees and ankles when walking downhill.

There are several different styles of handles, so you can find a comfortable grip. Look for a stick with a spring mechanism built into it, which will reduce jarring on wrists and elbows.

Your new poles will no doubt travel in your suitcase so make sure they collapse small enough to fit.

Everyone can benefit from the use of walking poles, for walking further, exercising / strengthening upper body, or reducing knee jarring going downhill.

For a full day walk, you really need about 1.5 litres of water in cool weather, up to about 2.5 or even 3 litres during the heat of summer. It’s a good idea to drink lots (but not coffee) before you start walking, to give you a flying start! Personally we don’t see any need to purchase brand name water bottles – it’s perfectly OK to use discarded soft drink bottles which are lightweight, plentiful, durable, don’t leak and they are free!

Many people like camel baks – a “built in” water sack that sits snugly in your day pack and has a tube from which you can drink. If using one of these hydration systems, it is good practice to have a spare bottle of water in your pack, just in case you suck the camel bak dry!

Please consider using handkerchiefs instead of tissues – they last a lot longer and are much better for the environment.

Toilet paper – carry some for emergencies but please, please bury everything. Anything else is unsightly and thoughtless and tissues/toilet paper seem to take ages to degrade.

First Aid – if you are doing a self-guided trip you will need to carry your own complete first aid kit. If you are doing a guided trip then you should still carry personal medications and a blister kit.

Some people like to carry a fly net during the hot summer months.