Trek & Tour Grades

Trek Grade 1 - Easy
Experience is not necessary at this level: anyone who is in good health and fit enough to enjoy a good weekend hill walk can manage this trek. However, walking always involves some exertion: trails are seldom flat, and you must still expect to have a reasonable amount of ascent and descent.
Days are generally short in duration (3-5 hours)
Altitude is less than 3000m

Trek Grade 2 - Moderate
Most people who enjoy a weekend in the hills or mountains at home are capable of undertaking a trek at this level: you need to be in good health and reasonably fit, and taking regular exercise.
Days generally involve 4-6 hours walking – it may include the occasional longer or more difficult day.
Altitude is around 3000m

Trek Grade 3 – Strenuous
For any trek at this level, fitness is most important and you may have to improve yours before departure. Previous trekking experience is desirable but not essential if you are confident of your physical condition. Altitude, climate and remoteness play a part in the grading.
Walking days are usually between 5 and 7 hours although there may be some longer days for pass-crossing or similar.
Altitude of around 4000m.

Trek Grade 4 – Tough
At this level we recommend previous experience of trekking, preferably at altitude, and you need complete confidence in your physical condition and your ability to trek for many days without a break and be able to cope with difficult underfoot terrain such as scree, snow or difficult paths on steep mountainsides. Extremes of altitude and weather may also be encountered, and on some treks it may be necessary to use ice axe and crampons.
Stamina is very important, as walking days can be from 6 to 9 hours.
Altitudes of over 5000m

Trek Grade 5 – Very Tough
All the factors of a grade 4 trek plus extra factors of significant difficulty - tricky river crossings, very high or difficult passes, glaciers, or trekking peaks where basic climbing skills may be required. Often some special equipment such as ice axe and crampons will be needed and if so we require you to have experience of them.
While normally walking for 7 to 9 hours a day, you should be prepared for up to 12 hours on some climbs.
Altitudes of over 6000m

Trip Grading
Easy – relaxed sightseeing with private transport to sights.

Moderate – Whilst no strenuous activity is involved conditions will be harsher than you are used to. Accommodations on some days will be extremely basic with shared ‘pit’ variety toilets and no washing facilities. Food will be sometimes be basic, with little variety available. Driving days can be long, dusty and bumpy and you may feel some effects of altitude.

Challenging – All the aspects of a moderate trip, but sustained over a longer period of time. The koras (circumambulation) of Mount Kailash and/or Lake Manasarovar are challenging due to the altitude, but generally achievable by anyone in good health.