5
Excellent# of trips
38
Type
Global operator
Service level
standard
Travelers age
5 — 65
Trip prices
$398 — 6,898
Tour languages
Unknown
Trips other travelers liked
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How well do you know the world?
Play the gameWalking Connection Reviews & Ratings
Portugal – Azores Island
Our Azores trip was excellent except for a bit of rain :-); The volcano hikes were spectacular and the side trip notes were very helpful. Doing the volcano hikes was...
wonderful moments
The Walking Connection is top notch and second to none. I’ve now been on three trips with them and each better than the last. Detailed planning, spectacular accommod...
Wonderful!
Wonderful and accommodating hosts, and first class, fantastic trips. The Walking Connection with Gene and Jo Ann truly make traveling everything it is meant to be. I...
Walking Connection is your best sourceIf you are looking for walking adventure travel
I met JoAnn and Gene Taylor years ago right after they conceived the idea of Walking Connection and started the program. I knew from the start they are special, cari...
Editoral Review of Walking Connection
Walking Connection, established in 1989, specializes in inspiring individuals to take a healthy approach to life by being active through walking and hiking.
WHO:
Around since 1989, it was founded by Gene and Jo Ann Taylor, who started gathering groups for local walks. It got promoted through the local media, and soon the company started getting corporate sponsors. Companies such as Safeway, IBM, and Honeywell have participated in their programs.
WHAT:
The tours are best enjoyed by those who are looking for an active trip and want to explore a new area by foot. If you're looking for a more independent group tour, this is it. You'll be able to have someone set a general itinerary for you and take you to new places, while also having time to relax and explore on your own. You’ll walk around 3-5 miles a day, but a van is available if a ride is needed. They also specialize in luxury travel tours with walking and hiking incorporated into the trips. Groups average in size from 12-14 people, but can go up to 16.
WHERE:
Explore North America, South America, Australia, Europe, and Africa through the tours. Tours are currently available in 16 countries and growing each year. A wide variety of activities are covered, including hiking, safari, walking/cultural, trekking, and summit trips.
HOW:
The Walking Connection pride themselves on being able to explore at a leisurely pace. Trips are moderately challenging to challenging, so you can pick the right one based on your activity level. You will travel by bus or car to get to destinations that are further away. Rest days can be taken if you need to relax for a day.
WHY:
While Walking Connection tours cater to all age groups, they are most commonly explored by the 40-60 year old age group. Couples as well as individuals will enjoy the tours. Those who have a positive outlook on life and love exploring new cultures will do well on these tours. They have a 90% returning customer rate! You can commit to several weeks for a longer tour, or just 2 nights for a shorter tour. The guides will take the time to see what you're interested in to give personal recommendations. A detailed packing list will be given specific to the trip you pick to ensure you are fully prepared for your adventure.
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More Details
Solo friendly
Activities
About the company
Company owners Gene and Jo Ann Taylor have a genuine passion for active living. By that, we mean not living life sitting on a couch and watching it go by on a television screen, or staying so close to home that we could only dream about what the rest of the world was like. Always adventuresome and active, we decided to make it our life’s work. So in 1989 Jo Ann quit Nike and Gene left a national marketing and management company and together we founded The Walking Connection. From the beginning our concept was to create a community of like-minded people who enjoy walking, hiking, being outside, and for many, traveling and exploring some of the world’s greatest destinations by foot, kayak, hot air balloon or occasional zip line.
Being active and enjoying life is at the very core of who we are and what we do. Our company is not simply about fitness, exercise and being healthy. Though those are a big part, we are also about enjoying the great wines of the world, the unique flavors of local cuisine, meeting people of different cultures and taking long walks, just to see what’s around the next corner.
We are also rooted in adventure travel. We lead exciting journeys that balance active exploration with exceptional comfort. We criss-cross the globe searching for just the right places to visit and then create amazing itineraries that provide our traveling guests with authentic experiences. Whether walking through a bustling city market, the narrow passages of a rural village or hiking to a distant mountain top, we connect our guests to each other as well as to the local flavor, culture, cuisine and of course, great walks that are in nearly every corner of the world.
Walking is the connection…
…to an enriched lifestyle.
Walking is the connection…
…to the greatest destinations in the world!
As established leaders in the providing healthy living information, especially geared toward fitness walking, training and hiking, in 1992 we added a new component to our list services, which at the time was just beginning to gain popularity in the fitness, lifestyle and travel industries – active adventure travel. Our recipe for success is pretty simple. We take the existing active lifestyles of our clients, learn about their personal preferences and combined them with our professional planning skills to to create and personally lead remarkable travel adventures. Our goal is to treat every guest as special. And we do our best to make you a lifelong customer and guest by working tirelessly to earn your trust, over and over again, year after year.
Walking Connection Trips & Specials
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