7 Questions You Must Ask Before Booking an Adventure Tour (That I Learned the Hard Way)
Hi folks! I can't pretend I'm some kind of adventure travel guru, but I have made enough mistakes over the years to know what separates an amazing adventure from a total nightmare. And trust me, when you're halfway up a mountain with the wrong gear and a guide who barely speaks English, you'll wish someone had told you what to ask beforehand.
So here's my hard-earned advice on questions you absolutely need to ask before handing over your credit card to any adventure tour company.
1. "What's the actual fitness level required?"
Tour descriptions love to use vague terms like "moderate difficulty" or "suitable for most fitness levels." What the hell does that even mean?
I once signed up for a "moderate" trek in Nepal that had me gasping for air within the first hour. Meanwhile, a 65-year-old woman in our group was practically skipping up the trail.
Ask for specifics: How many hours of hiking per day? What's the elevation gain? What's the longest day like? Will there be any technical sections requiring climbing skills?
A good company will give you concrete examples: "You should be comfortable hiking 18 kilometers with a 700 meter elevation gain while carrying a daypack."
2. "Can I talk to someone who's actually done this trip?"
Brochures and websites are marketing materials, not reality. The best companies will happily put you in touch with past clients. Adventure travel isn't cheap, so don't be shy or think that you're asking too much.
I read about an adventure traveler who booked a "luxury" safari that turned out to have tents with holes and no running water. A quick conversation with a previous client would have saved her from that disaster.
If a company hesitates to connect you with past customers, that's a major red flag.
3. "What happens if the weather sucks?"
This is the question almost nobody asks, but it's crucial. Bad weather can derail adventure plans, and how companies handle it separates the professionals from the amateurs.
Do they have alternate activities planned? Will you get refunded for missed activities? Are guides empowered to make on-the-spot decisions?
During a sea kayaking trip in Alaska, my friend got hit with three straight days of storms. The company had zero backup plans, so he and his wife just sat in a small cabin watching the rain. Total waste of money.
4. "Who are your guides and what's their experience?"
Your guide can make or break your trip. I've had guides who were basically walking encyclopedias of local knowledge and others who seemed like they were bagging groceries the day before.
Ask about:
• How long they've been leading this specific trip
• Their safety certifications
• Their language abilities (if traveling internationally)
• Guide-to-client ratio
On my first white water rafting trip, I discovered our "experienced guide" had only done the river twice before. Not exactly confidence-inspiring when you're about to hit Class IV rapids.
5. "What gear do I really need to bring?"
Packing lists are often generic templates that companies send to everyone. Push for specifics based on your trip dates and locations.
The same Alaska friend once packed a lightweight sleeping bag for a trip to Patagonia based on the company's recommendation, only to freeze his ass off every night because they didn't account for an unusual cold front. That dude learned some tough lessons!
Ask about rental options too. Sometimes it's better to rent specialized gear than invest in something you'll rarely use again.
6. "What's NOT included in the price that I should know about?"
This is where adventure companies often hide costs. That attractive base price might not include:
• Park entrance fees
• Equipment rental
• Tips for guides (which can be substantial)
• Certain meals
• Transportation to/from the start/end points
I once budgeted perfectly for a trip to Costa Rica, only to discover at the end that the "customary" guide tip was $20 USD per person per day. That was most of an extra three-hundred bucks I hadn't planned to spend!
7. "What happens in case of emergency?"
Nobody wants to think about emergencies, but this is adventure travel and "stuff" happens, especially in underdeveloped countries with shaky sanitation or infrastructure.
Ask about:
• Evacuation procedures
• Nearest medical facilities
• If guides carry satellite phones/emergency beacons
• If the company has ever had to evacuate clients (and how it went)
During the Bolivian portion of my South American trip, a member of our group developed severe altitude sickness. Watching our guides execute a flawless emergency evacuation plan gave me a whole new appreciation for why this question matters.
The Bottom Line
Adventure travel is supposed to be, well, an adventure! Things won't always go perfectly. But there's a big difference between exciting unexpected challenges and preventable disasters.
The best companies welcome these questions. If you get pushback or vague answers, keep shopping around. Your safety and enjoyment are worth the extra research time.
And remember: the most Instagram-worthy adventures often come with the least Instagram-worthy realities. That pristine mountain lake? It's probably freezing and surrounded by mosquitoes. That gorgeous beach camp? Hope you like sand in everything you own.
But with the right company and the right expectations, those discomforts become part of the story you'll be telling for years to come.
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