Travel Fitness

Fit To Travel – What You Need To Know

At Encounter Travel, we offer holiday groups exclusively for solo travellers. With trips across Australia and the globe, we cater to different travel styles—from relaxed escapes to discovery tours. Our trip pace ratings and fitness requirements help ensure each traveller can enjoy their journey safely and comfortably.

Touring is Active – Be Prepared

All our tours involve activity such as walking tours and extended standing. We are not a ‘see it from the coach window’ operator. To enjoy the experience fully, build your walking endurance prior to departure. Luggage must be handled independently at points of arrival and departure, even when porter services are included elsewhere.

Tour Pace Guide

We keep it simple with a scale from 1 to 5 to rate the physical demands and pace of our tours:

1 – Easiest: A leisurely pace, like a relaxing cruise.
2 – Easy Going: Suits average fitness and above.
3 – Moderate: Mix of moderate and faster-paced days.
4 – Fast: Active trips like walking tours requiring above-average fitness.
5 – Challenging: Demanding tours such as hikes, requiring high fitness levels and preparation.

Note: We’ve never offered a trip at Tour Pace 5.

Fitness Levels for our Leisure Tours

Our leisure tour categories include:

• Discovery Tours: Land-based touring
• Combo Tours: Combination of land-based touring and a cruise
• Essentials: Simpler accommodations and/or limited inclusions
  
  

These typically fall under Tour Pace 2 or 3. In rare cases, there may be a tour at pace at a pace 4.

Tour Pace 2 – Minimum Requirements

• Walk up to 1.5 km on uneven surfaces without aid or breaks
• Participate in 1–2 hours sightseeing on foot for any one period of time (may be more than one occasion per day
• Stand for extended periods
• Climb stairs and manage walking on undulating slopes
• Manage a daily step count of 7,500 steps (most days)
• Can get on and off tour vehicles, trains and any small boats used without assistance
• Carry or wheel luggage (up to 23kg) and hand luggage (up to 7kg) unassisted
  
  

Tour Pace 3 – Minimum Requirements

• Walk up to 3 km on uneven surfaces without aid or breaks
• Participate in 2–3 hours sightseeing on foot (may be more than one occasion per day)
• Stand for extended periods
• Climb stairs and short steep hills
• Manage a daily step count of 10,000 steps (most days)
• Can get on and off tour vehicles, trains and any small boats used without assistance
• Carry or wheel luggage (up to 23kg) and hand luggage (up to 7kg) unassisted
  
  

‘Get Going’ Tours – Active Style

These tours require excellent fitness and full independence and mostly graded a pace 4

• Walk up to 15 km a day (rest breaks along the way)
• Walk multiple consecutive days (e.g. 3+)
• Climb hills and stairs on uneven terrain with ease
• Manage a daily step count of 12,000 steps (most days)
• Can get on and off tour vehicles, trains and any small boats used without assistance
• Carry a backpack (up to 12kg) and main luggage (up to 23kg) unassisted
  
  

Fit To Travel Forms – Medical Clearance

Travellers may be required to complete a Fit To Travel form depending on their age, tour type and any pre existing medical conditions:

• Pace 2: 75 years & over: Doctor-completed Encounter Travel form.
• Pace 3 :70 years & over: Doctor-completed Encounter Travel form.
• Pace 4 & Get Going tours: Doctor-completed Encounter Travel form.

All travellers joining a ‘Get Going’ tour must submit a Self Complete Fit to Travel form. If a pre-existing condition exists, a doctor's clearance may also be needed.

Traveller Responsibility and Duty of Care

We prioritise the safety and enjoyment of all our travellers. It's essential that each participant can manage the physical demands of their chosen tour independently, ensuring a positive experience for themselves and their fellow travellers.

Important Advice

If you are required to provide a Fit To Travel form and choose to submit it only after paying your deposit, please be aware that if your doctor does not deem you fit to travel, any cancellation fees or penalties incurred will be your responsibility.

If there is any uncertainty about your fitness or suitability for the tour, we strongly recommend you consult your doctor before paying a deposit. Be sure to take the relevant Encounter Travel Fit To Travel form with you to assist your doctor in reviewing your ability to participate in the tour.

Change to Fitness After Booking

If there is any change to your physical or mental fitness after you’ve submitted your Fit To Travel form and completed your booking, you must inform us immediately. This applies whether the change is temporary, ongoing, or newly diagnosed, and regardless of whether it impacts your ability to travel.

We rely on travellers to keep us informed so that we can assess suitability and any possible impact on the tour experience—for you and fellow travellers. In some instances, this may require an updated medical clearance.

In most cases, if your physical or mental fitness changes after booking, you may be able to claim for cancellation or changes under your policy. However, Encounter Travel does not guarantee that your policy will provide cover. It is your responsibility to confirm your individual cover and be prepared to meet any cancellation or change costs should your updated fitness prevent you from travelling.

When the Tour Pace Feels Too Challenging

We understand that, despite best intentions, some travellers may find the tour pace, physical challenges, or the mental demands of group travel are more than they had anticipated.

We are unable to adjust the tour itinerary or overall pace to suit individual needs, as doing so would impact the experience for the rest of the group.

If you find yourself outside of your comfort zone or unable to continue with a scheduled activity, we will provide support by offering suggestions for returning to the hotel or making alternative arrangements — whether by taxi, public transport, or private transfer. These arrangements must be made independently and at your own cost, but we will do our best to offer guidance.