On the Cost to Coast hike in England organized by Macs Adventure.
Self-guided adventure travel is currently enjoying its heyday and there are many reasons for its growing popularity. No one knows this better than Neil Lapping, founder of The Mac adventurewhich offers more than 500 self-guided hiking and biking adventures in more than 40 destinations around the world.
Lapping got the idea for the company in 2003 while hiking in Scotland. He saw a bus arrive in the small town of Ullapool and watched as passengers got off, took photos, interacted with no one, then got back on the bus. He believed there was a better way to experience a country as rich in nature, history and culture as Scotland.
“So, with no money and no ideas, I founded Macs Adventure to offer guided hiking and cycling trips in Scotland,” Lapping recalled in an email interview. It now employs 200 people and sends more than 40,000 people a year on Macs Adventure trips.
“Even though we've been doing this for over 20 years, the last three years have seen this momentum accelerate dramatically, and this feels like a turning point for autoguiding,” Lapping reports. In 2023, their best-selling trips were the Tour du Mont Blanc, West Highland Way, Camino Frances, The Cotswold Way, Coast to Coast, Great Glen Way, The best of the Bernese Oberland, Cycle the south of Sicily, And Walking to Portofino and Cinque Terre.
Here are 8 reasons why you should consider a self-guided adventure.
It's a more immersive way to travel.
Travelers are looking for personalized, authentic and immersive experiences,” says Lapping. With traditional adventure travel, you usually join a group of strangers.
“Americans today are seeking personal discovery, celebration of milestones, or personal and spiritual growth,” he says. “It all makes more sense when you're traveling alone or with friends and family, not with a group of strangers who might not share your priorities and values.”
Hiking in France.
They manage the logistics
Lapping remembers that during his first year in business, in 2003, a German woman approached him.
“She was an avid hiker and didn't want a guided trip, but she wanted a perfectly planned itinerary, carefully chosen accommodation, her luggage moved daily and local support. I said, “Yes, of course, we can help you.” » » She was their first self-guided traveler and the company's role model.
“We plan travel itineraries, connect you to the right trip, take care of all accommodation, transfers, baggage booking, logistics and payments, answer all pre-travel questions and guide you to every step of the way with our mobile app. mapping and directions,” says Lapping. If you need any assistance during the trip, we are here to help you 24/7.
Tour of Mont Blanc.
As an example, Lapping cites their Tour Mont Blanc in Comfort. One of Europe's most popular hiking routes, Macs researches every aspect of the route and then plans multiple routes to suit different preferences, mapping daily hikes, best places to stay and baggage transfers . They test travel variations and connect customers to the right trip through their website and team of adventure specialists. They book all accommodation, baggage transfers and transfers. You are responsible for booking flights and transportation to and from the start and end of the trip. Through their app and the My Account website, Macs provide a detailed personal day-to-day itinerary, trip information, daily hiking map, and driving directions.
You are in control
It's all about being independent and moving at your own pace, not at the pace of a group that may be too fast or too slow for you. You have a map and directions, but you make all the other decisions. For this reason, Macs Adventure's slogan is “Active travel led by you.”
“You decide where to go, what to do, when to leave, how long to linger over lunch and every other aspect of your trip,” says Lapping. “It’s more rewarding because you actively participate in decision-making, embrace the challenge and overcome obstacles.”
Self-guided trips are more flexible.
You can choose a trip and itinerary that suits you and start on a date that suits you. You can get up early or sleep in. Small talk is useless. You don't have to worry about whether the group will freeze or show up for meals at set times.
Walk the Camino Frances.
It's a more authentic and impactful journey
According to Lapping, self-guided travel is “a more personal, more self-directed and better experience because you are directly connected to the people, nature, culture and landscapes of a destination.”
Group travel, he notes, isolates you from one place. The guide is the main interface, and it's more comfortable to interact with your group and not reach out and connect with the locals. Accommodation choices are part of this. Rather than staying in large, impersonal hotels, “we can use small hostels, restaurants and local services that larger groups don't have access to,” says Lapping.
They take care of accommodation and some meals
Lapping says the accommodations are “more authentic, local and less polished” than what high-end adventure operators in the United States might offer. “But it’s still high quality and true to the place. This is a conscious decision because we believe it provides a better local experience, makes travel more accessible, creates greater local economic impact and connects the traveler to people and places.
Most of their hotels offer breakfast and sometimes offer dinners, lunches or unique dining experiences on their trips.
“We tend to select accommodations that have an on-site restaurant or restaurants nearby,” says Lapping. Once the trip is confirmed, the customer will be able to view the full itinerary and hotel list. It’s then up to them to research cities and hotels and decide where they want to book their meals. This is an essential element in providing the traveler with choice and a self-guided experience.
Explore the south of Sicily by bike.
Self-guided trips are more affordable
“I should emphasize that our travelers choose Macs and self-guided trips not because of cost,” says Lapping. “That’s because they prefer the experience of a self-guided trip.”
That may be true, but the savings are quantifiable. The savings on a self-guided trip start with you not paying for services like guides and vans. Lapping says: “Our competitive analysis suggests that the average cost per night among our main guided group competitors is approximately $650 per person, per night. Our average cost is approximately $275 per person per night. On average, our trips are 42% of the cost of our guided competitors, a savings of 58%. For the same hike, the same accommodations and, in our opinion, an improved and more rewarding experience.
Self-guided trips are more fun
Lapping insists that self-guided trips are more fun. When you travel with family or friends, “you are more relaxed and much more likely to experience the unexpected interactions and moments that make the trip so memorable.”
Visit The Mac adventure for more details.
