Our Physical Grading Definition

Refer our grading definition to make sure how hard the adventure you are going to involve in. That does not ensure your best safety but very much enhance your enjoyableness.

Basic Grade Involves with the tour sometimes get into remote areas where on-site facilities are often basic and simple. Active, physical required activities are included such as hike, kayak or bike but within 2-3 hours per days in good track conditions. The tour duration is about 2 - 4 days. There are several relaxing intervals among active time. You will need a reasonable level of fitness. No special notices required. (Remember there is no such thing as an easy trek) Suggested preparation: good exercises routines of 2-3 times per week with moderately active lifestyle and positive attitude. Who suits: Almost adventure travelers Physical activity: 1-3 hours most days Distances: walk less than 3 miles (or 5km) most days Surfaces: flat terrain Elevation change: little to none Altitude: less than 2,000 ft (about 600m)	Accommodation You can expect your room at pretty good level of comfort. You are about to stay at a hotel room – mostly three star standard in main city and good guest houses in smaller city/town. Sometimes, you will stay in homestay but it is not typical. Your toilet in homestay is western, flushing style, shower with hot water mostly available. Onsite Supporting The Supporting includes but not limited to porter services, mechanic, supporting trucks and/or supporting boats. With this level of physical grade, those supporting services are often accessible but not essentially required. That is the reason why our tour quotes with Basic physical grading level are all not included those services to save you goo amount of money.
Introductory Grade Involves tours for up to three to four hours of active, physical-required activities per day at a slow but steady pace and less than a week (07 days) in duration. Your track trails are predominately on good conditions and tracks and might include some easy pass crossings such as a mix of quiet paved roads, forestry tracks and easy double tracks. Your muscles are going to relatively tense however there are some relax intervals helping you back to the phase. You will need a good level of fitness. No special notices required. * Suggested preparation: 30 minutes of aerobic type exercise, three times a week for the three months leading up to your trek. Who suits: Great for newcomers to active travel. Activity: 2-5 hours most days Distances: Hike up to 5 miles (or 8km), cycle 10-20 miles (or 16 – 32km) most days Surfaces: flat or rolling terrain with some possible steeps Elevation change: up to 2,000 ft/day (about 600m) Altitude: up to 4,000 ft (about 1200m)	Accommodation Your rooms are often at 3 star hotels/guest house where standard hotels are not available with some interval nights at a homestay. In some tours, you will stay all nights at homestay that we believe to give better experience. The homestay is located in main villages, has good linen and beds, toilet with western style and shower with hot water. Onsite Supporting The Supporting includes but not limited to porter services, mechanic, supporting trucks and/or supporting boats. Those services sometimes are very helpful for first-time adventure travelers. We can supply upon your request. Biking tours and motor tours often are divided into two price options – Basic Support (without mechanic and support truck) and Full Support (with mechanic and support truck)
Moderate Grade Involves tours that active, physical-required activities can be up to 04 - 06 hours a day at a steady pace and are usually between 6 to 8 days in duration depending on adventure types into remote locations. The tour is going to involve a considerable amount of ascent or descent under different weather conditions. Support facilities may not be available on-site and there are some occasional difficult days. You will need a very good level of fitness. * Suggested preparation: 45 minutes of aerobic type exercise, three to five times a week for the three months leading up to your trek. Hill walking with a pack in variable weather conditions is also recommended. Who suits: For outdoor novices and above. Activity: 4-6 hours most days Distances: Hike up to 8 miles (or 13km) most days, cycle 20-40 miles (or 32 – 68km) most days Surfaces: rolling or mountainous terrain with some steep ascents/descents and uneven trails Elevation change: up to 3,000 ft/day (about 900m) Altitude: up to 8,000 ft (about 2500m)	Accommodation Most of nights your stays will be at local, authentic homestay. We may manage some hotel stay at the first/last night of your trip to avoid culture crush. Your homestay is often located in remote area with hours walk from main town. Clean beds, mosquito net and warm blankets, pillow are provided. They have western style toilet, hot water but sometimes not shower. Onsite Supporting The Supporting includes but not limited to porter services, mechanic, supporting trucks and/or supporting boats. Those services are available for requests in advance due to the area you are about to visit is rather far from the main town and the support may take time to arrive in time. Biking Tours and Motor biking tours often are divided into two price options – Basic Support (without mechanic and support truck) and Full Support (with mechanic and support truck).
Challenging Grade Involves in tours that have active, physical required activities up to 06 – 08 hours per days in remote area, under variable weather conditions or quick attitude changes and in more than 10 days of duration (there is no extreme altitude in Vietnam and Indochina. The highest mountain peak is 3143m). You are going to get into remote areas where the support facilities are not always available or facing to passes or river crossing. This kind of tour will provide a real sustained workout even for fit and experienced adventurers. A high level of fitness and previous experience are essential. For those biking or motorcycling adventure, experienced riders with good driving skills are required. * Suggested preparation: One hour of aerobic type exercises daily for three to five months before your trek. Hill walking with a pack in variable weather conditions is also recommended. Who suits: Recommended for fit travelers Activity: 5-8 hours most days Distances: Hike up to 10 -12 miles (or 16-20km) most days, cycle 40 - 55 miles (or 65 – 88km) most days Surfaces: mountainous, exposed terrain with steep ascents/descents and uneven trails Elevation change: up to 4,000 ft/day (about 1200m) Altitude: up to 12,000 ft. (about 3600m) Previous experience evidence may be required	Accommodation Most of your nights will be at local, authentic homestay or in camping sites. The homestay is authentic with good hygiene of beds and toilet that allows you to immerse in real local life. Prepare for culture crushes. Camping tent will be prepare with sleeping bags. The camping site is often in very remote place such as jungle or mountain. Sometimes, we manage the first or/and last night at the hotel for relax. Onsite Supporting The Supporting includes but not limited to porter services, mechanic, supporting trucks and/or supporting boats. We request those services are requested in advance in order to proper preparation. Otherwise, those services are inaccessible while we departing. Under this case, for Biking and Motor biking, Basic option can be very challenging that we may require the evidence of your previous experience, Full option is highly recommendation. Porter services are often included in Hiking tours.
Strenuous Grade This is our highest grade of physical requirement. Activities are of a strenuous nature requiring a high level of fitness and a high degree of competency. We give this grade to the journeys that combine a high level of challenges or need special notices of physical, mental health. A high level of fitness with previous experiences is required. In special cases, we may request your most recent medical report. * Suggested preparation: 1.5 - 2 hours of aerobic type exercise daily for three to five months before your trek. Hill walking with a pack in variable weather conditions is also recommended. Who suits: Designed for very fit travelers with good routine of physical activities Activity: 10+ hours/day Distances: Hike 12 or more miles (20km+) most days, cycle 55 or more miles (90km+) most days Surfaces: remote, mountainous, exposed terrain with steep ascents/descents, uneven trails with loose features. Elevation change: up to 4,000 ft/day (about 1200m+) Altitude: may well exceed 12,000 ft (about 3600m+) Experience are required	Accommodation Most of your nights will be at local, authentic homestay or in camping sites. The homestay is authentic with good hygiene of beds and toilet that allows you to immerse in real local life. Prepare for culture crushes. Camping tent will be prepare with sleeping bags. The camping site is often in very remote place such as jungle or mountain. Sometimes, we manage the first or/and last night at the hotel for relax. Onsite Supporting The Supporting includes but not limited to porter services, mechanic, supporting trucks and/or supporting boats. There are supporting services becoming compulsory for your own safety – such as porter services in trek Fansipan, hiking Mt. Everest Base Camp. The needs of those services must be informed in advance. Choice of Basic option in Biking or motor biking under some cases may not available.

Our Tips:

We provide real adventures to Indochina only, please kindly do not expect easy or classic activities. Our grading is a general guide from our experiences since 2006 for your easy understandings. They cannot be correct all the time due to the health of each individual never similar to any others. We strongly recommend you should clear this with your consultant to ensure your safety and joylessness.

Kids Under 16 are not allow to climb Mt. Fansipan

Mt. Fansipan at 3143m with dense forest trails is not suitable for kids under 16 even going with their parents. All climbers must be escorted by local guide and porters. ActiveTravel Asia is sorry to refuse requests of climbing Mt. Fansipan without our tour guide/porters.

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Previous experiences are required in some of our tours

Due to conditions in Indochina very much different to your home countries, we may ask for your previous experiences for some tours such as motorbiking or very hard biking challenges

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Address: Floor 11, Thai Holdings Building, No. 17 Tong Dan, Trang Tien Ward, Hoan Kiem District, Hanoi, Vietnam.
Hotline: (+84)903278856
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