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Walking is Switzerland’s national sport: about 60 percent do it regularly. Women are one small step ahead of men. You go out into nature more often. This is no surprise in Switzerland, a hiking wonderland with a network of 65,000 kilometers of trails. But people go hiking all over the world – and more and more often not only in their free time, but also on vacation.
The reason for this is simple: Walking is fun, healthy, and literally expands your horizons. A study by the German University of Health and Sports has proven that exercising in the fresh air reduces stress. Positive emotions such as satisfaction and gratitude are aroused and happiness hormones are secreted. Its psychological impact is so great that walking is even recommended by a doctor in Canada. Walking also has a positive effect on the musculoskeletal system, muscles and respiratory system.
Traveling with like-minded people
The happiness of walking increases with shared experience. “For me, it is much better to be in motion as part of a team. Because you cannot share beautiful moments with anyone alone,” says Bernese mountaineer Nicolas Hojac. Things get even better when you can rely on an experienced hiking guide when exploring new routes. This means you don’t have to worry about choosing the right route, but can fully immerse yourself in the impressive scenery.
If you want to explore new areas it is best to do this during your walking holidays. Expert organizers take care of everything: They organize the trip to the hiking area, plan the daily stages and take care of the luggage when necessary. Guests travel with like-minded people and learn a lot of interesting information about the region from the walking guide. While the hiking guide speaks the language of the country you will visit, you can communicate with each other in your native language. This eliminates possible language barriers.
There’s something carefree about walking groups
The unifying element of walking leads to positive group dynamics. We know this effect largely from sports stadiums and concerts: Experiencing something together and being carried away by emotions evokes positive emotions.
The same thing happens on hiking trips: Here you come together in groups of 10 to 25 people, sharing your common passion, encouraging, supporting and understanding each other. This also increases safety, especially in unknown and perhaps challenging terrain. The requirement profile, walking routes and elevation gain are given for each walking trip and provide a good indication of your own performance.
The focus is on the sense of community. Anyone who has hiked knows that people are called by their first names and etiquette is more relaxed. “When you are walking, you have the chance to walk next to this or that person. “There’s something very joyful about it,” says Sandra Siegrist, an instructor of tour guides.
Share experiences
Siegrist thinks organized walking holidays are an advantage, especially for solo travellers. This is the case for two-thirds of customers at the specialist Imbach Reisen. Siegrist believes that hiking, in particular, is an experience you want to share. If you don’t want to interact, you can step back and enjoy nature, or do something for yourself for the day and skip the tour. By dinner at the latest the commonality will be appreciated again. Sitting alone at a table in a restaurant is really bad for many people.
Gabi Bucher has been going on walking holidays with Imbach Reisen for 50 years and confirms this. You can always communicate and exchange ideas. If you’re traveling alone, maybe even more than if you book as a couple. You can also talk to people you wouldn’t otherwise talk to. “Everyone has something to say, you can always find common ground.”
new perspectives
The composition of the group creates the opportunity to share diverse perspectives and experiences. Additionally, with organized walking holidays, you can probably reach places you wouldn’t otherwise be able to go to, says Bucher. Thanks to the tour guide, you can focus entirely on the tourist attractions without having to research the route or food and beverage options on your own.
This applies to Switzerland as a hiking country as well as hiking abroad. Imbach Reisen organizes everything related to the hiking experience and ensures that hiking groups can discover new things together. Active holidays, shared fun and a backpack full of new impressions are guaranteed.
Source : Blick
I am Dawid Malan, a news reporter for 24 Instant News. I specialize in celebrity and entertainment news, writing stories that capture the attention of readers from all walks of life. My work has been featured in some of the world’s leading publications and I am passionate about delivering quality content to my readers.
