Day pack hiking tours

Kip Sturdevan of Encinitas, California, wrote, “Several of our friends have taken walking tours on which the organizing companies have arranged accommodations and made sure the luggage was moved every day to the next night’s lodging, thus allowing the walkers to carry only day packs. Each day’s hike tended to vary from 7 to 14 miles.

“One couple took walking tours of the Lake Country in England and across Scotland and told us how much they enjoyed it. Conversely, they did one in France where the difficulty of the day’s hikes was not explained up front and the directions and maps were sketchy at best. 

“I am 70 and my wife, 60, and I can’t get her to do anything too extreme, but hiking tours where you carry only day packs and spend the evening in comfort sound attractive, as it seems to be a wonderful way to see things most tourists don’t get to see, it allows you to experience a country in a less-hurried fashion, and you can really interact with the locals. 

“We would like to hear from anyone who has done this sort of trip. What firm do you recommend? And which firm would you not use again and why? What tips do you have for making sure an advertised trip is one that will fulfill its promise?”

If you are an ITN subscriber and have advice or recommendations for Kip, include when (year) you took your hiking trip and email editor@intltravelnews.com or write to Day Pack Hiking Tours, c/o ITN, 2116 28th St., Sacramento, CA 95818. Include the address where you receive ITN. Replies will be printed in a future issue. If you have photos, include those too (with captions).