This Is How We Travel
Two guides on every trip. Tours built from scratch, not repackaged. A daily rhythm that blends walking, culture, and free time. Here’s what to expect when you travel with WAI.
What a Day Actually Looks Like
Not every WAI day is identical — that’s the point. But there’s a rhythm to it.
Mornings begin with breakfast at the hotel, usually included. Your guides will have sent an email the night before or early morning with the plan for the day — what the walk involves, what to expect, and what to bring. Then it’s time to move.
Most mornings involve a walk — anywhere from a couple of miles to six or seven, depending on the tour and the day. The coach takes you to the starting point and meets you at the other end, so you’re never carrying more than a daypack. Walks happen on all kinds of terrain: city streets, coastal paths, park trails, country lanes, light mountain tracks. Not every day is a walking day. Tours blend walking with motorcoach sightseeing, museum visits, cultural experiences, and free time.
Lunch is sometimes a group affair at a local restaurant the guides have scouted. Other days, you’re on your own to explore. The balance of group meals and independent meals varies by tour and destination, because WAI believes both shared experiences and personal exploration matter.
Afternoons might bring a second walk, a cultural site, a boat ride, a cooking demonstration — or free time to rest and explore on your own.
Evenings wrap with a group dinner or an independent evening in town — your guides and local experts always share restaurant recommendations so you’re never guessing.
Rest days and lighter days are built into longer tours. And any walk is optional — if you need a morning off, just let your guides know. They’ll help you rejoin the group at the next stop.
Walking With WAI
Walk routes typically range up to about 12 kilometers (7.5 miles) per day, though many days are shorter. Some tours with established long-distance routes — like the Camino de Santiago — may cover more ground on certain days, but there are always alternatives for those who prefer a lighter walk. Walks on a given day are often done in segments — 4 km in one setting, 5 km in another — which adds variety and keeps things manageable.
The pace is about 3 kilometers (2 miles) per hour: steady and relaxed, with time for guide commentary, photos, and rest stops. In most cases, we’re not strolling — but we’re not racing, either.
Two WAI guides accompany every group tour. One leads; the other sweeps at the back. The group naturally stretches out like an accordion — walk at your own pace, and the guides monitor the spread, pausing periodically to let gaps close or to hear from the local guide. No one falls behind unnoticed.
WAI walks fall into a few broad categories: nature walks through parks, forests, and coastlines; city sightseeing walks through historic streets and neighborhoods; and rural or cultural walks through countryside, villages, and farmland. Some tours also offer optional challenge trails for confident walkers who want to push themselves further on a given day.
When the main walk is more demanding, a shorter or easier alternative is usually available. On easier days, the whole group typically walks together. And none of the walks are mandatory — take a day off, do a partial walk, adjust as you need. Just let the guides know, and they’ll help you make arrangements.
Every WAI tour is rated with an Adventure Pace score: Tour Pace (1–5) for overall intensity and Walk Challenge (1–5) for the walking difficulty. Individual walks are also rated for incline (1–3) and terrain (A–C), so you can see exactly what each day involves before you book.
One honest note: your enjoyment will be directly shaped by your fitness level. If you’re not walking regularly at home, we strongly recommend making training a priority before the trip. Being prepared means you get the most out of every day.
Two Guides, Every Trip
WAI sends two guides on every group tour. This is unusual in the industry — most operators send one. It means there’s always someone at the front setting the pace and someone at the back making sure no one’s left behind. It means if someone needs help, the group doesn’t stop.
On international tours, licensed local guides join the team — cultural and historical experts who know their home country in ways no outsider can.
Your WAI guides handle everything you don’t see: daily logistics, walk navigation, restaurant bookings, weather adjustments, and medical situations. They carry first aid kits and communication devices. They know the planned route plus backup routes for different ability levels. And because every tour is created from scratch — not purchased from another company — your guides know the itinerary intimately. They helped build it.
Leading the WAI guide team are Scott Isom, our Adventurer in Chief and the most experienced guide in the company’s 37-year history, and Hugo Palma, our Experience Architect and founder of Borealis, a Portuguese outdoor experience company whose creative approach to nature-based travel has become part of the WAI DNA.
Meet All Our Guides →
Everything Handled, Nothing Hidden
Where you’ll stay
WAI books all hotels for the group — you never arrange your own lodging. We select comfortable 3-star to quality 4-star properties based on location, character, and walkability to local restaurants and shops. Some tours are center-based, staying at the same hotel for several nights with day trips out. Others move every two to three days. Luggage travels on the motorcoach between hotels, so you only carry a daypack on walks.
Pricing is based on double occupancy — two people sharing a room. Solo travelers can request a single room for a supplement (varies by tour) or use our roommate matching service.
What you’ll eat
Breakfast is typically included, provided by the hotel. Beyond that, group meals are included when a meal at a particular place is part of the shared experience — a traditional dinner in a local home, lunch at a historic inn, a farewell evening together. Independent meals give you freedom to wander and discover on your own.
The specific meal plan is shown on each tour page, day by day. If you have dietary restrictions, let us know in advance — group restaurants can usually accommodate common needs, though remote locations may have limitations.
How you’ll get around
Motorcoach is the primary group transport — connecting hotels, walk starting points, and cultural sites. For groups of up to 24, we typically use full-size coaches with extra space and comfort. In areas where large coaches can’t access — narrow mountain roads, national park lanes — we switch to smaller vehicles.
Air travel is generally not included in the tour price. You book your own flights, which gives you flexibility to use your preferred airline, frequent flyer miles, or travel credits. After you register, WAI sends an Adventure Advice email with recommended airports, arrival and departure times, and a recommended travel agent who knows our tours well. Don’t book flights until you receive this guidance. Some international tours include internal flights as part of the package — this is noted on the tour page.
Your Fellow Travelers
Groups are kept intentionally small. The average traveler age is around 65, though our groups include everyone from grandchildren to active octogenarians. On any given tour, over half the group are repeat WAI travelers. That built-in community creates a welcoming atmosphere for newcomers.
Solo travelers are welcome and common. WAI offers a roommate matching service, and the social dynamic of a small group that walks together every day means you won’t feel like you’re traveling alone.
WAI has always been more travel club than travel company. Travelers shape each year’s schedule by voting on destinations with refundable Early Bird deposits. Every year’s roster is different. Every edition of a tour is its own customized adventure — no two are exactly alike. We are not a tour mill cranking out cookie-cutter itineraries.
Seven Ways to Walk the World
Every WAI tour is created from scratch — months of planning, on-site research, handcrafted daily schedules. We never purchase pre-packaged programs from other companies. But not every adventure looks the same. Here are the ways we travel:
Every year, WAI offers a rotating selection of destinations — some returning favorites, some brand new. The schedule is shaped by traveler input and changes annually, which keeps things fresh even for the 50%+ who come back year after year.