Difficulty & Risk

Outdoor Voyage’s adventure trips are all run commercially by high-quality small companies, local outfitters and guides. We require our operators to provide us with extensive documentation verifying both their business as well as their ability to run safe, secure adventure trips for clients. This includes client and guide insurance as well as the proper certifications. Unlike many other platforms, we do not allow individual guides or non-professional sellers. Every outfitter on our platform has a proven track record of quality and safety.

Outdoor Voyage places the utmost importance on your safety. Before booking, it is crucial to understand that with every adventure comes inherent risk. Events such as storms, hurricanes, and earthquakes can happen without warning. This may cause trip operators to modify itineraries, and could also pose a physical threat. In the event of injury abroad, emergency services such as ambulances and hospitals may be more difficult to reach and less developed than those that you may be used to at home.

Outdoor Voyage uses its extensive network of local guides and operators to stay up-to-date on all local situations in our areas of operation, allowing us to inform you of dangers and make decisions as to whether or not to modify a trip.

Our mission is to enable as many people as possible to experience and understand the need to preserve the outdoors. This means that the majority of the trips offered by this platform are accessible to a very wide range of people – the limits are not defined by age, more so by individual levels of fitness and determination, meaning children to octogenarians and beyond can find something that suits their interest. That said, some of our more extreme and exciting adventures may be better suited for younger and fitter adults.

Outdoor Voyage gauges difficulty on a 1-10 scale, but keep in mind that trip difficulty is itself difficult to gauge and not an exact science. It depends on an individual’s personal level of fitness and inclinations. While we work closely with operators to try and give our customers an approximate idea of how difficult a trip could be, it is eventually up to each person to know how much physical exertion they are able to manage, with doctor’s advice if needed.

In general, the easiest trip we offer would involve no more effort than getting to and from an airport to a hotel or lodge, and spending some hours on a boat, plane or jeep. Think of a luxury safari holiday in Tanzania– that’s probably a “1” on our scale.

On the other end of the scale, a “9” or “10” could be a polar expedition helmed by a world-famous explorer, or an expedition to summit Everest with one of the best guiding companies on Earth.

Here is our physicality guideline for trip difficulty, with an example for each:

0:You are comfortable with air travel, boat rides and car transport.

1:Some walking is required, but no hiking or other strenuous activities.

2:If you want to explore Iceland’s Wild West, you’ll need to be able to be on your feet through a majority of the day, including moderate walking.

3:Your daily walks through the woods have gotten you ready to spend some time on glaciers in Greenland and your weekly lap swim session has prepared you for snorkeling with turtles in the Galapagos!

4:Kayaking several hours per day for several days on the Amazon River takes a measured commitment to fitness.

5:If you bike to work at least three times a weekand, it'll pay off with this multisport holiday in Croatia!

6:Your balanced and consistent approach to fitness includes cardio, flexibility and strength training. You can handle whitewater rafting in the Himalayas.

7:Calisthenics and weight training are part of your weekly routine. You are no stranger to pull-ups and challenging hikes that rev your pulse. You’re definitely ready to climb a volcano in Ecuador.

8:You might not be a climbing expert, but you are well-versed in pushing through your personal limits. At Level 8, you can challenge yourself to a 6,000-meter peak in Nepal.

9:Adventure is your lifestyle, not just a hobby. You’ve earned the right to be called a Voyager. Wear it with pride.

10:Congratulations, you’re one of our ambassadors, pushing the limits of your field and leaving behind a legacy to inspire future generations.

For more safety guidelines, please read our complete terms of use and terms of sale.