While outdoors, whether it’s the highlands of Machu Picchu or the wild expanses along the Great Wall of China, it always pays to have a local base of knowledge accompanying you in the form of a tour guide. While it may take away some of the adventurous sheen off the trip, a deeper knowledge of the terrain indeed offsets this missing element. That said, is it really safe to blindly trust a stranger to lead you into an unexplored terrain in the middle of nowhere? Here are a few tips to choose a hiking guide and make sure you don't end up with an unwelcome addition to your hike.

• In most adventure travel spots, there will be an abundance of options available for hiking tour guides. Make sure you do your homework and enquire for the most reputed tour guide agencies available. Sure, you will be tired and exhausted and in a mood to just get it done with, but a bit of enquiry and research will only make your travel experience more enjoyable with a more trustworthy tour guide. Look for licensed tour guides who speak your language.

 

• During enquiry, ask for details of the previous customers with the tour guides, like nationalities, age groups, activities etc. Glean as much information about the past customers as you can. It is a great place to get some first-hand reviews. Any hesitation on the part of the guide in relation to this is your cue - perhaps it's better to look somewhere else.

 

• Try to get your guide to spell out your program to as much detail as he can. Where will you be staying, the estimated amount of time between each stage, the weather etc. After all, an experienced and able guide will be able to answer most of those questions without much trouble. These questions should help you gauge his effectiveness. Also ensure that the guide gives you exhaustive hiking trip details. What do you require - from tents, hiking boots, provisions and supplies to prior fitness training; clarify upfront, what is inclusive and what is not.

 

• Enquire about the size of the group, and who else will be joining you. Also get him the hiking tour guide to spell out what is included in the price - the lodging, travel, equipment, snacks and anything else that may be part of the itinerary. You do not want to go on a hiking trail for 8 hours and then be told that you have to pay a couple of hundred dollars extra to stay somewhere for the night.

 

• Even during the trip, keep posing questions to your guide and find ways to customize the trail according to your preferences rather than blindly following where he leads you. Also, be wary of any goods/services you might be sold. Lots of outdoor guides get commissions for bringing in business. Just ensure that you are not overpaying or being conned by some insincere seller.
• Discuss upfront about necessary hiking permits and country licenses. You might not want to be caught in the middle of nowhere and have a brush with the law.

 

A good enquiry should allow you to get a feel for the guide's capabilities. This should allow you to make a better judgment and make the appropriate call. Remember: it's always better to go with your instinct. If you don't feel right about something, try to get it clarified. If it doesn't help, walk away. After all, it's your personal holiday and it's better to find a guide you fully agree with.

 

While it's always customary to go with the biggest tour guide company because you might receive a guaranteed experience, it's always worth it to look out for more offbeat options available which might turn out to be more adventurous and exciting than the run-of-the- mill experiences that have already been provided to thousands of tourists before you. Follow the steps described above, and you should feel safer about your choice of hiking tour guides...!

 

Tia Jones is a Marketing & PR Consultant who loves all things Travel & Technology. She's a blogger who contributes articles on Travel Tips, Technology and Grand Canyon Attractions for National Geographic's ExploretheCanyon.com. Feel free to follow Tia on Twitter @GrandCanyonNGVC and like Grand Canyon National Geographic Visitor Center on Facebook.