We just signed up for this tour for next year and we are in our mid-50s, relatively active but not athletic. We are generally healthy. How much of this tour is hills/stairs, especially for hotels and sites? Wondering if we should start a gym program now to be ready for it!
Posted by
Chicago
697 posts
My sister and I took this tour -- the one that goes through Czechia, Poland, Slovakia, Hungary, Croatia and Slovenia -- in the fall of 2022, when we were both in our mid- or late-50s.
It's a very active tour; "strenuous" would be overstating it. However, be prepared for a lot of walking on hills and stairs. My sister, who's a physician, brought along a pedometer, which she's used for some five years or so. She said she recorded the biggest number of steps ever in a single day on the trip -- something like 12,000 steps.
I would recommend adding a daily long walk to your routine or join a gym for cardiovascular exercise and go two days a week.
Posted by
Atlanta, Georgia
158 posts
My sister, who's a physician, brought along a pedometer, which she's
used for some five years or so. She said she recorded the biggest
number of steps ever in a single day on the trip -- something like
12,000 steps.
Are you sure she said 12K steps or twelve MILES? 12K steps isn't much more than the recommended 10K steps we're supposed to take most days. Twelve MILES, however, is about what I've walked on a very busy day sightseeing in Europe. Most people today would just log it on their Apple watch or FitBit - a pedometer sounds kind of old school!
Posted by
Chicago
697 posts
StellaB: You might be right: Maybe she said 12 miles. She uses a FitBit.
Posted by
Salem, Oregon, USA
3236 posts
I did this tour in 2012 when it had a slightly different itinerary. I kept a note of my daily steps, in case it helps:
- pre tour days in Prague averaged 10,000 to 24,000 steps
- tour days were an average of 14,000 steps (low of 7,000 was a bus day, high of 25,000 in Lake Bled)
I did a walking tour in Prague pre tour which accounts for that high day. That said, I chose walking as an optional activity, and you don't have to do that. There will be some hills and stairs some places but you won't be climbing Everest :) The thing that bothers me (and my back) is standing in place for a long while, for example on a museum tour or a walking tour. You'll have a fair share of that activity.
I suggest ramping up your walking schedule at least 6 months ahead of the tour, making sure that you wear the footwear you plan to use on your trip. Broken in shoes are an absolute necessity for tour enjoyment no matter how far you walk.
Posted by
Cleveland
528 posts
We had similar steps as CL mentioned above-- my wife had lots of steps in Lake Bled as she walked the trail to the castle. I swam in the lake and didn't make 20,000+ that day.
Only one hotel (rovinj) had steps to carry the bag as I recall. The actual hotel had an elevator but to get from boat up the walkway was a couple stories. Wasn't too bad.
The tour was fantastic! You'll love it!
Happy travels.