29 Mar Why go for private luxury hiking in the Alps?

Does private luxury hiking in the Alps feel like an indulgence? We’ve got the lowdown on the pros and cons of private vs group trips.

Flex to suit you

Flexibility can only be found within your own group. Joining any group with a fixed itinerary means you give up the flexibility to change the program, be it around the weather, your level of fatigue or just plain desire. Perhaps you like to stop and take photos, look at the flowers or just decide to go slow one day. The need to set your own pace is a great reason to make sure your luxury hiking trip is in the Alps is private.

Have your say

When you’re on the mountain your private hiking guide may see that you are capable of more than had been originally planned. He or she may just suggest a summit that you hadn’t thought of because the conditions are great and it’s clear that you would enjoy it and manage it well. Being on a private luxury hiking trip means you can be part of the decision making. This is not always obvious in a trip’s planning phase. It becomes obvious when you are in the terrain. The ability to tweak the trip to your ability level and interests is an important advantage of a private luxury hiking trip in the Alps.

Your version of luxury

Do you care about hotels, good food, good wine and the finer things in life? To find a balance that suits your taste, you need a private luxury hiking trip in the Alps. Group trips where numbers are important have difficulty booking into the smaller boutique hotels. For this reason the mass market use larger hotel chains. Meals are decided on the basis of where a group of that size can get a reservation.

When group trips can work well

There are some advantages to group trips with set itineraries. For example, if you are working within a constrained budget, as private trips and private guides are expensive. With a group trip with higher numbers the cost of guides, transport and much more are divided between the group. If you are happy to go along with the group then this may be the trip for you. Also, on a group trip you are going to meet other people. This can make it a great solution for single people and social people. It can be a lot of fun meeting new people and enjoying an activity together. In a larger group there are often numerous levels of abilities. You may find that you can fit into the group that hike at your pace… and meet some fun people at the same time.

We could go on and on about the differences between a private luxury hiking trip in the Alps and joining a group trip. Hopefully we have given you insight and helped point you in the right direction to decide what is best for you. Good luck and happy hiking this summer.

Warm Regards from the mountains,

Danielle