Trekking guides lead hikers through trails, sharing their knowledge of the area’s flora, fauna, and inhabitants. They work for tourism agencies or are self-employed, and training is offered by adventure tourism agencies and travel guide schools. Guides must possess excellent communication, social, and organizational skills. They lead groups on day, overnight, or month-long hikes, and are responsible for guiding the group safely and keeping the trek on schedule. Trekking guides work in a variety of outdoor environments and must enjoy working with people.
A trekking guide leads a group of hikers along trails while sharing his knowledge of the area. These guides are usually outdoor enthusiasts with extensive knowledge of an area’s flora, fauna and inhabitants. Many trekking guides work for tourism agencies and others are self-employed. Training for trekking guides is usually offered by adventure tourism agencies and travel guide schools, although some guides are self-taught. Trekking guides must possess excellent communication, social and organizational skills to effectively guide a group of people.
The main task of a trekking guide is to lead groups through extensive hikes. These hikes can be day, overnight or month-long adventures. Individuals signing up for these hikes are usually interested in being guided by someone who knows their way around and has extensive knowledge of the area. A trekking guide is responsible for guiding the group safely and keeping the trek on schedule. Some hikes require two trekking guides, one of which leads the group and the other walks behind the group to help slower hikers.
Trekking guides work in a variety of outdoor environments. A guide who works on an island in the Galapagos can lead a group on a day hike along the beach and extensive trails. He would share his knowledge of the iguanas, sea lions and turtles seen along the way. A trekking guide in a location known for its beauty can take hikers to scenic vistas and share his knowledge of specific plants and flowers along the way.
Training for trekking guides is usually offered by travel guide schools and some tourist agencies. In these programs, guides learn information about the flora and fauna of specific regions, shadowing an experienced guide. They also learn how to keep groups engaged through stories and humor. Organizational strategies are also taught in such training programs, including how to keep groups on task and on schedule. To excel in such training programs and on the job, trekking guides must enjoy working with people and possess excellent communication skills.
Trekking guides usually work for tourist agencies. They can be hired full-time, part-time or on an as-needed basis to lead groups on trails. Agencies usually handle the administrative and financial aspects of the hike. A self-employed trekking guide is usually an individual who develops a reputation in a locality for his knowledge of the area. The independent guide usually handles all aspects of the hikes, including arranging overnight stays.
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