Enjoy the World on Foot on a walking holiday

Enjoy the World on Foot on a walking holiday

Tracey Strand, owner of Tailor and Made Travel, shares one of her favourite walks in the world. 

Whether you want to saunter around cities, seek out iconic landmarks or hunt for cultural hotspots. You can discover paths, trails, routes and enjoy varying landscapes along river banks or through mountain villages. Walking holidays enable you to not only see destinations but to immerse yourself in them. Leisurely walks of up to 6 miles per day, moderate walks including descents and ascents or something more challenging including hard mountain walking, there is something for everyone. All you need is a reasonable degree of fitness, walking shoes/boots and suitable clothing for your destination, then you are ready to enjoy an expert led walk.

Most weekends I put on my walking boots and head off. The thought of committing to a walking holiday terrified me, could I keep up? Then after doing my research I realised I would be more immersed in local life and culture if I joined a guided walking tour and this really appealed.

I had planned a holiday to Vietnam where I was due to visit Sapa, in the far northwest of the country, renowned walking country. Sapa is the rice bowl of Vietnam, your views all around are of terraced paddy fields. Our guide met us in the town and checked we had water, a snack and suitable footwear, then off we set.

He explained how rice is planted and then harvested, one of the most important activities in daily life. We learned all about the Black Hmong people, a minority in Vietnam and originally from China. The women dress in indigo blue with batik flowers on their shoulders, their hair wrapped in blue turbans and scarves wrapped around their legs.

Walking back to Sapa we chatted about our other experiences and picked up more ideas for future walking holidays. It really was not what I expected, I was able to keep up, I learnt so much about the area and felt a real sense of achievement.

This was the first of what turned out to be many walking holidays I have taken and I cannot recommend it highly enough.

Ramblers Walking Holidays have numerous holidays throughout the UK, Europe and Worldwide including extensive walks in Asia.

If you are a member of The Ramblers, booking a holiday through Tailor and Made Travel ensures your local group receives a charitable donation and you receive loyalty points towards future holidays. Tracey is also available for short presentations for any Ramblers groups.

Tracey can be contacted by email [email protected], telephone 01449 763427 or via the website. 

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