Planning a trek isn’t just about picking a route; it’s learning the art of shedding the superfluous to rediscover your natural pace.
- Choosing a walking holiday regenerates the mind more than a sedentary vacation.
- The secret is in the stage planning: 12-15 miles per day is the sweet spot (adjusting for elevation gain).
- The golden rule of the backpack: it should never exceed 10% of your body weight.
- You don’t need to be an Olympic athlete, but you must condition your feet and shoulders before you go.
It’s January. It’s cold outside, the days are still short, and our minds inevitably start projecting toward summer.
Usually, the standard dream includes a beach, a cocktail, and almost total immobility. And that’s perfectly fine.
But I’d like to propose an alternative. One of those ideas that makes you say “are you crazy?” at the start and “it was the best thing I’ve ever done” at the end.
I’m talking about a walking holiday. A trek.
Seven days where your only job is to put one foot in front of the other, watch the world slowly change around you, and decide what to eat for dinner.
Running is exploration, but walking is immersion. It’s a way to reclaim time and space, stepping out of the digital frenzy and into a human rhythm.
This Year, Give Yourself the Greatest Luxury: Slowness
We live in a world that rewards speed. Everything has to be “now,” “immediate,” “fast.”
Walking is the rebellious act of slowing down.
It’s not about getting there first, but getting there better. When you walk for days on end, the brain stops jumping from one notification to another and starts to unwind. Thoughts dissolve, worries that seemed giant become manageable.
It’s the same feeling of mental clarity you get after a long run, but stretched over an entire week.
Why a Walking Holiday Regenerates You More Than a Week at the Beach
It seems like a paradox: how can I rest if I’m exerting myself all day?
The truth is, we are tired in our heads, not our bodies. Our physique is made to move, designed to cover distances. Sedentariness rusts us; movement oils us.
Walking for 6 or 7 hours a day produces a healthy, “good” tiredness, the kind that makes you eat with gusto and sleep like a log. You come home with sore legs, but a head as light as a feather. It’s a complete operating system reset.
Planning: Pick the Right Route for Your Legs
The classic mistake of enthusiasm: “I’ll do 25 miles a day so I see everything!”
No, no, no. Calm down.
If it’s your first experience, aim for an average (maximum) of **12-15 miles per day**.
It’s the perfect distance: it allows you to walk for a good part of the morning and early afternoon, but leaves you time to shower, explore the town you’ve arrived in, wash your socks (a fundamental pilgrim activity), and enjoy dinner without collapsing face-first into your plate. Clearly, however, the distance can vary (even significantly) based on the elevation gain you face on the route.
Think of routes like the Appalachian Trail sections, the Camino de Santiago, or many other paths. They are well-trodden, well-marked, and full of services.
The Art of the Light Backpack: If You’re Undecided, Leave It Home
This is where the game is won or lost between a dream vacation and an ordeal.
Your backpack is your home for a week. But remember: you have to carry it on your back, uphill, under the sun.
There is a sacred rule: your backpack weight should never exceed **10% of your body weight**. If you weigh 150 lbs, your pack (water included!) must stay under 15 lbs.
This forces you to make drastic choices.
- Do you really need a hairdryer? No.
- Do you need three pairs of long pants? No.
- Do you need that 800-page hardcover book? Maybe a Kindle or audiobook is better.
Learn essentialism. You’ll discover you need very little to be happy: two technical outfits (one on you, one in the pack), one light outfit for the evening, a rain shell, multipurpose soap, and a first aid kit.
For a detailed list of what to bring, you can check out the guide on how to prepare for your first trek.
Remember: just like in running, traveling light allows you to enjoy the journey.
Preparing Physically and Mentally: You Don’t Need to Be an Athlete, You Need Consistency
You don’t have to be a marathoner to do a trek. You need to be a consistent walker.
The problem isn’t doing 15 miles once. It’s doing them for 7 days in a row.
The best training is, simply, walking. In the weeks before departure, get used to walking on weekends for a few hours, possibly with the shoes you will use (never start with new shoes!) and with a loaded backpack, to accustom your shoulders.
It’s a journey of discovery, inner and outer. And just like running, the hardest part is just the first step.