Hiking Difficulty Guide
These two are often closely related. For example, a steeper and more technical path is more physically demanding than a flatter one, even if the elevation gain and the distance remain the same. However, in some cases, they do not correlate to the same extent, making it harder to assess how appropriate a hike is for someone.
Subsequently, our system allows hikers with stamina to avoid technical difficulties or hikers who only cherish technical challenges to avoid longer distances if they wish.
Individuals are different, and we aim to ease your decision and prevent you from making the wrong one.
Here is how our difficulty levels work:
Fitness Level
When determining the fitness level, we look at three metrics:
- Average daily distance
- Average combined daily elevation (full elevation gain + half of elevation loss)
- Number of (successive) hiking days
While we try to keep the numbers standardized according to the levels below, these factors also mutually affect each other.
For example, longer distances with less elevation gain and shorter distances with more elevation gain may be graded equally in some cases:
- Level 1: 14 kilometers and 100 meters of elevation gain or 6 kilometers and 500 meters of elevation gain
Our hiking experts, therefore, evaluate each tour within its own context and then compare it to others.
This sometimes means the tour’s overall fitness level can be higher or lower than the average values below. As a result, these numbers are for reference only.
1/5 – Easy
- Average daily distance: up to 10 kilometers
- Average combined daily elevation: up to 600 meters
- Number of (successive) hiking days: up to 5 days
Most healthy and physically capable people should be able to comfortably overcome the strain of 10 kilometers and 600 meters of elevation for up to 5 consecutive days. Therefore, these tours can be handled even by total beginners.
2/5 – Balanced
- Average daily distance: 10-12 kilometers
- Average combined daily elevation: 600-900 meters
- Number of (successive) hiking days: up to 7 days
Balanced tours are only slightly more demanding than level-one tours. If in doubt whether you can manage these numbers, we recommend going a level below. Still, most healthy people can handle these hiking tours.
3/5 – Moderate
- Average daily distance: 12-15 kilometers
- Average combined daily elevation: 900-1200 meters
- Number of (successive) hiking days: 5-9 days
The moderate level is when things get somewhat tougher. The daily elevation gains are usually above 1000 meters, and these tours can last up to 9 days with daily distances of up to 15 kilometers. Before going on a tour like this, hikers should have a rough idea of how good their fitness is. If you have an active lifestyle, do other sports, and have done hiking before but not regularly, you should manage these strains.
4/5 – Demanding
- Average daily distance: 15-18 kilometers
- Average combined daily elevation: 1200-1700 meters
- Number of (successive) hiking days: 6-12 days
These numbers probably discourage any occasional hiker or beginner. Rightly so, as the fourth-level hiking tours are suitable only for regular hikers well aware of their fitness level and have done hikes like this before. The daily load is significant, and people not used to it will suffer, even if their lifestyle is otherwise active.
5/5 – Very Demanding
- Average daily distance: above 18 kilometers
- Average combined daily elevation: above 1800 meters
- Number of (successive) hiking days: 8 or more days
Only the most advanced hikers with exceptional fitness and mental perseverance can handle the strains of very demanding tours. There are no easy days on these tours, and they’re usually located in remote places, meaning a heavy backpack is also a part of the equation. Training and maintaining good form before the tour is essential, even for people with an active lifestyle.
Technical Level
Determining the technical level is slightly trickier because we have no palpable metrics for reference. We also understand that hikers grade the challenges according to their abilities, which makes it harder for us to make the scale objectively suitable for everyone.
We grade our hiking tours based on our most and least technically challenging hikes, which determine levels one and five. We established the levels in between accordingly.
All our hiking tours are multi-day experiences, and not all days are equally challenging. Therefore, our hiking experts determine the overall technical level according to the hiking tour’s highest-rated section.
If we grade a section at four, the overall score is also graded at four, even if the remainder of the route is between two and three.
The reason for this approach is simple: if someone isn’t up to technical challenges at a certain level, even a short section can be too much for them.
Here is what each technical level entails in most cases:
1/5 – Very Easy
Our least challenging hikes usually entail walks on the beach, macadam or asphalt roads and tracks, and paved paths. There are no steep sections on the way, meaning these hiking tours are relatively flat and don’t include any height exposure.
Additionally, they are centered around towns and don’t venture out into remote areas.
2/5 – Easy
The second technical level typically includes well-beaten dirt or rocky footpaths but still avoids uneven terrain or steep slopes. The height exposure is minimal or non-existent.
Most second-level hiking tours remain suitable for beginners, families, or light hikers. However, they might venture into slightly more remote surroundings or higher altitudes than level-one tours.
3/5 – Moderate
These hiking tours venture into more significant altitudes and secluded areas. Steep climbs are integral, and the paths are mostly rocky and uneven, requiring stepping over roots or smaller boulders.
Immediate height exposure remains minimal because these trails usually don’t wind near high drops. The use of hands is not required at any point, either. Instead, we recommend hiking poles.
To tackle level-three paths, we suggest having at least some experience with hiking in the mountains. Sure-footedness is not essential but advised. Consequently, we would not recommend these tours to people who have never hiked before or families with small children.
4/5 – Challenging
Almost every mountain hut-to-hut hike includes a level-four section. These usually include steep climbs and descents with minor use of hands or height-exposed passages secured with steel cables, iron rungs, or ladders.
Nonetheless, these paths don’t require wearing a helmet or possessing climbing skills. They require sure-footedness and a good head for heights. Vertigo is not an option.
In addition, some level-four hiking tours can venture into remote mountain areas without mobile reception, water, or even other hikers. Therefore, only more experienced hikers used to these circumstances can undertake these adventures.
5/5 – Very Challenging
Our most challenging hiking tours pose a significant challenge even to the most advanced hikers. These routes include passages of serious height exposure, steep climbing with the help of iron rungs or steel cables, and extensive use of hands.
A helmet is essential, and we also recommend having a ferrata kit. We commonly don’t offer a self-guided option on these tours because the objective dangers require a licensed mountain guide.
Even with a guide, level-five hiking tours are reserved only for the most skilled, sure-footed, and confident hikers.
Now that you understand how we grade our hikes, you can continue browsing our hiking tours. To make matters even easier for you, we curated several selections containing the most suitable tours for the chosen group of hikers:
