User:(WT-en) Innwalking

Inn Walking is a new project, growing very fast and inspired by the ambition to promote self-guided walking tours as a modern way of spending a holiday away from the crowded tourist tracks and groups. The popularity and the idea of the inn to inn hiking vacations have been attracting millions and millions of adherents during the last decade, proving to be the best way to explore independently different cultures, people, nature and habits - a tourism in the true sense of the word.

The main purpose of Inn Walking  is to provide end-customers with a variety of self-guided walking tours, listed directly by the companies who organize them. The unification of the appearance of the tours has been set to provide easy navigation to users through the most important parts of each tour - introduction, day by day itinerary with duration and difficulty of the walks, accommodation and mealplan, best travel period and of course price. Hints and joining instructions are also available. However we know that this can not always be enough to make a final desision. That is why an easy access through enquiry form is also available, providing immediate connection with the tour supplier for more details.

Inn Walking covers a well expanding range of self-guided walks worldwide, including Spain, Italy, France, Turkey, Portugal, Austria, Turkey, Slovakia, Bulgaria, Switzerland etc. Africa, Australia and the Americas will soon have their destinations as well published here.

'''Starting an individual walking tour for the first time is always an exciting issue, which needs some initial preparations and information background. We hope the FAQs below will help you make it better and do this type of traveling more frequent in the future:'''

What sorts of accommodation are normally used? It is a phylosophy of the self-guided walks to use home stays, family-run hotels, huts, pensions or good 3*** hotels in general where travellers can experience in detail the local way of life at first hand, habits, food and personal attitude too. This approach is inseparable part of the idea of the self-guided tours, which main delivery is the ultimate and direct experience among tourists, nature and local people without the interference of any mediators (guides). Supplements for upgrade in the accommodation sometimes may also be available.

How difficult the tours are? Although all trips are suitable for good walkers with no special skills (e.g. no rock climbing or ice-walking experience is needed) some tours are easier than others. Initial idea about the difficulty level of each tour can be received from the number of kilometers walked per day as well as from the uphill/downhill walking details. On average the daily treks comprise appr. 13-18km walk (taking about 4-5 hrs), with uphill/downhill walk ranging between 400 and 800m. However details on the terrain are something essential before desiding to take a tour or not. This information can be provided by the supplier of each tour when you fill out the enquiry form.

What is the average group size? In general the self-guided tours are run anytime within the best period for each particular trip. Most of them have a minimum group size of 2 persons, while some are also possible for individuals. It is very likely that you will meet other parties following the same route at the same time. In such cases you can either join them on some of the days (if they don't mind of course) or you can walk by yourself only. In any case please do respect the tourists' right to walk without your company and do not bother them in case you feel they wouldn't really enjoy your company during the daily treks. Do not forget that most of the people coming on a self-guided trek have chosen this type of holiday only because they wish to spend some time on their own without anyone walking by their side.

What sort of equipment should you bring along? When booking a self-guided tour it is generraly taken as granted that you have some experience of walking without a guide following maps and tourist signs. This also includes at least basic background of what you might need going somewhere. Checklist with recommended and/or necessary equipment can be requested from the provider of each tour prior departure (or earlier when filling out the application form).

What is a roadbook? The roadbook you should be given prior departure (or received on spot in the first accommodation on your route) is the most important staff of your travel documents. You will read inside notes about your tour which will help you stay on the right path all the time. Remarks of specific parts of the route are also available (e.g. where to expect water fountains or alcoves good for picnic or where you will be able to buy some refreshments etc.). Please take some time and study the roadbook in advance as for some of the days you might be expected to choose between two options and you should have to decide which of them you will choose depending on your physical condition and the weather forecast and advise your provider in time in case changes of the transfers should be made accordingly.

How does a typical day look like? Normally in the evening of the previous day you read the roadbook for the next day and decide when to start. Please do inform yourself about the weather forecast in advance so that you can change your plans in order to avoid showers or storms. In some mountain trips weather information is available at the reception. Otherwise you can try asking your hosts about that. Now that you are aware of what is expecting you, you can arrange your day as per your wishes, leaving more time on places of interest of you. The breakfast unless strictly fixed in the roadbook is usually available after 7.30.

What should you read before you go there? We do encourage everybody to read more about the destination they are going to before getting there. Please note that the roadbook and the trip dossier will give you only information that is essential for the walking trip itself but not about the history of certain places or the local habits and holidays etc. The guide books of “Lonely Planet” or “Rough Guide” referring to your destination are may be the best choice for you although for some rural regions it would be best to find something on the Internet. Again further information can be requested from each tour's supplier.

In the true spirit of the Responsible Travel, which is not just a fancy tendency but a must and a long-term investment in our own future, we at Inn Walking have outlined several important issues, intended to help us all make a New World, where no threats will endanger the fragile links between humans and nature. We, at Inn Walking, endeavor to spread the philosophy of Responsible Travel among the suppliers of the tours listed on our website but most of all among end-clients who have direct connection with the local people and nature.

It is our general purpose to: - link end-customers with suppliers of quality tours - maintain a varied listing of tours worldwide, offering good choice of destinations, difficulty and price levels - spread the idea of the responsible travel and the sustainable tourism among tourist, travel agencies, social groups and stakeholders - conserve resources, to prevent environmental harm and to improve environmental conditions whenever possible - foster public awareness of the environmental and social significance of tourism - promote tours for smaller groups, who will cause less impact both on the environment and the societies they visit - respect local people, their cultures, traditions, religions and environment

Ethos/mission of Inn Walking: We believe that what we have now as an environment is not a legacy from our ancestor but something we have borrowed from our children. We will do our best to preserve it and improve it as much as we can.

We are continuously doing our best to make sure that the suppliers of our tours provide their clients with the following very important elements: - they provide their clients with pre-departure information containing detailed trip dossier with day-by-day tour note, pack list, dress code (where applicable), notes about local habits and etiquette instructions (where applicable), weather details, health care, extension suggestions - they give their clients the chance to try local organic food and to taste specific local meals/drinks that represent the local cuisine at its best; also some tours are made to pass through traditional guesthouses where clients could experience the local way of life and to provide opportunities for genuine interaction with natives - they instruct their clients on tours with sensitive elements or fragile ecosystems (e.g. areas of breeding rare birds, trails on national parks and reserves, protected areas, caves etc.) to follow specific on-trail behaviour that would minimize the risk of environmental damages - their clients are given the possibility to visit local crafts and souvenirs shops and also to become a part of local celebrations if such appear by any chance en-route - their clients are insisted to collect their waste if they try to leave such en-route and to keep it until the first appropriate disposal facilities appear - their clients are insisted not to take any wildlife samples with them (flowers, insects etc.)

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