5 reasons that ‘going guided’ with local guides makes sense

Top 5 reasons that ‘going guided’ with our expert local guides makes sense

Here at H+I Adventures we specialise in crafting spectacular guided mountain biking adventures around the world, and there are many good reasons that we use local guides in each destination and whole-heartedly advocate going-guided. Here are our top 5 reasons to go guided this year.

1. In-depth destination knowledge

We only work with highly skilled and personable local guides who know their destination inside-out. From the trails and tales, to the local flora and fauna, and where to find the best pint, local guides know their patch better than anyone else.

A great example of this can be seen in our coast-to-coast Scotland adventure, where years of personal guide experience and research have culminated in the creation of the ultimate point-to-point mountain bike route in the UK. This challenging tour will take you through some of the most remote areas of the Scottish Highlands, virtually void of human and bike traffic, where maps and GPS are no substitute for the expertise of our local guides.

2. Maximise your time

Your time is precious, both at home and particularly, on holiday. A guided tour’s turnkey convenience means that you’ll spend less time researching the nuts and bolts of trip planning and more time enjoying the experience.

We’ve already done the hard work for and researched the best trails, accommodations, restaurants, cultural experiences, bikes and local guides, so that all you have to do is book, turn up and enjoy getting closer to the true character of your chosen destination.

During our all-mountain coast-to-coast Scotland adventure, we’ve enlisted a very special transfer, a high-speed RIB (rigid inflatable boat), to take you along the coastline to the start of the next trail, avoiding a long, dull road stretch.

3. Safety

Local guides know the unique trail conditions of the destination, distances between locations and what to avoid. They can better predict the impact of rapidly changing weather conditions – particularly prevalent in Scotland – and recommend safe short cuts if necessary. Going guided also means you’ll be fully prepared to master technical sections of the trail, thus avoiding unnecessary injury.

If injury does occur, our expert local guides are all first-aid trained and will give you the best care and get you to medical attention, or simply back to your accommodation and a warm shower, in quick time.

In addition, each H+I tour includes Global Rescue emergency evacuation services. In the event of an emergency, Global Rescue will be on-hand to provide skilled medical support and evacuation services.

4. Skill improvement

H+I guides are highly experienced and qualified mountain bike experts. They’ll help you through every stage of the journey, from pre-trip pointers to keeping the pace just right on the trails.

Again, our coast-to-coast adventure is designed to become progressively more technical throughout the course of the week. Our guides are on-hand to coach you through each new challenge, such as water bars, hike-a-bike and rocky descents, to ensure that you make the most of your experience with us, and that you go home a more competent, confident mountain biker.

5. Meet an international clan of adventurers

Our mountain biking adventures are shared between like-minded people, with similar skill and fitness levels, from all over the world. Riders may start the week as strangers, but soon they’ll be working together as a team to help each other fix punctures, wade through rivers and dig deep to reach the top of that next climb. This sense of camaraderie extends beyond one, specific journey, as many of our past travellers return again and again for the H+I experience.

If you’ve been convinced to join us this year, on our coast-to-coast Scotland or any of our sensational mountain biking adventures, you’ll discover the real value to be gained from ‘going guided’ with our team of local experts.