Walking Tour tips from an expert traveler

When we heard that traveler Ernie G. and his wife had gone on an impressive five Walking Tours in 2013 (they average about 150 travel days per year!), we just had to pick his brain about his whirlwind experience—and ask for a few Walking Tour travel tips, of course.

What do you love about Walking Tours?

We like the Go Ahead Walking Tours because—besides getting some exercise—you get a different perspective of what you’re seeing and doing. All our tours had great guides. The tours have mixed itineraries so you get history, culture, architecture, physical geography and geology. The hotels were in good locations for free time exploring.

Why did you choose Go Ahead for your Walking Tours?

We did a internet search for Ireland tours. Checking out the different sites, we liked what we saw about Go Ahead and their Ireland Walking Tour for July of 2012. The company was great to work with. We flew in several days early and extended our trip after the Dublin extension. We had a great trip and our guide was excellent. Thus, when we got home we signed up for both the late September and October 2012 Tuscany and Amalfi Coast Walking Tours—again, great guides and great trips. We had six days on our own between trips. We enjoy it when we can combine trips and add days before, between and after.

Then, in the spring of 2013 we did the two new trips basically back to back. Northern Italy & Cinque Terre Walking Tour followed by the Spain’s Coast & Islands Walking Tour. They were wonderful tours.

What has been your favorite trip so far?

It is hard to pick a favorite Walking Tour. Usually, it’s whatever tour I’m on. But if I must have a favorite, it would be the Amalfi Coast Walking Tour, which included Mt. Etna and the Path of the Gods hikes.

What is your dream Walking Tour?

A dream walking trip would be doing parts of historic trails in the USA and still sleep in a bed each night. Would also like to see a waking tour in Northern Spain that included some of the Way of St. James.

What tips do you have for anyone going on a Walking Tour?

Travel light. Dress in layers and carry a daypack for rain gear, walking sticks, TSA-approved plastic bag with small tubes of sunscreen, bug spray and any other small items you might want or need, like batteries or aspirin. This also allows for easy air travel with your daypack when your tour day includes air travel, as happened to us between Mallorca and Minorca.

My wife and I like to use only one walking stick when we feel it’s needed. We have a pair of Black Diamond Ultra Distance sticks that are extra light and folds down to 14.25 inches to fit in a daypack.

How do you manage to travel light when on tour for weeks at a time?

Wear types of clothes that can be washed in the sink or shower, rung out and rolled in a towel. Then hang dry overnight. That way you pack less. I use Sea to Summit Trek & Travel soap, which has 50 leaves in a tiny packet.

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