A walking/hiking tour generally employs tour guides, and can be for a day or two, or last for a week or more. They are led by guides that have knowledge of the sites, or the landscape, covered on the tour, and explanations and interpretations of the site can cover a range of subjects, including places with historical, cultural and artistic significance. Walking tours, of various kinds and length, are universally part of the tourism industry, and can be found around the world.
Self-guided tours, utilize a range of methods to aid travel through a place, or landscape, such as books, maps, pamphlets, and audio material. Independent walking gives you freedom. Whether you pause or power on: the choice is up to you, from selecting sightseeing stops along the way, deciding to linger a little over your lunch, or setting off an hour earlier to catch the coolest part of the day. Your bags are transported ahead of you; the hotels are researched and selected by travel experts, ensuring a good night’s sleep. The detailed route notes provide everything you need, but just in case, there’s always a 24 hours emergency telephone number.
A newer option, in the self-guided category, involves battery powered electic bicycles for those who have leg/foot problems or just wish to travel in ease over greater distances per day.