How to Choose an Awesome Guide

I hopped on the back of the tiny motorcycle in Jarabacoa, a tropical yet rustic Dominican town at 1,736 feet above sea level. My driver was a soft-spoken man, who acted surprised when asked the night before if he’d bring me a helmet to wear.

He rested his backpack on top of the gas tank and between his arms. I tossed mine over my shoulders, wrapped my arms around this unfamiliar person, and we took off down a dusty road. It was 4:00am.

As far as I knew, I was the only woman in the Dominican Republic, awake at that hour, at that altitude, astride a motorcycle.

In darkness.

Had I made a smart decision? What if he kidnapped me? The wind chilled my face as I looked upwards; it was a spectacularly starry night. In that moment all fear disappeared.

“Yes, I am alone,” I thought. “And I’m going to climb the biggest mountain on this island.”

Choosing a guide can be one of the most intimidating parts of planning an expedition. Porforio, who guided me up Pico Duarte in the Dominican Republic, turned out to be a true gem. Here are some guidelines to get you started on your own journey:

Go Local. But with caution. I booked a trek to Annapurna Base Camp in Nepal, while in downtown Kathmandu. Had I organized it from the United States, I would have paid hundreds of dollars more. There are times when it’s okay to organize on the ground (horseback riding in Iceland), and times when it’s better to organize from your own country (Kilimanjaro). Tip: the greater the language and cultural barriers, the more likely you’ll want to arrange from home.

Partner up. This can mitigate any weirdness that may arise on account of your being the sole female traveler. But understand that some cultures defer to the man (if you team up with one) in the partnership. Although this can feel alienating, focus on the positive, like the fact that you are on an adventure most would only dream of.

Be flexible. When planning a spontaneous adventure abroad, head to the local tourist office and ask what they recommend. But understand that degrees of service may vary widely. In retrospect, it seemed my hiking guide in Thailand simply walked us around in circles. However, he did take us to a beautiful waterfall for an afternoon swim. Set your expectations at average, and you will more often be pleasantly surprised.

Meet the guide. Whenever possible, meet the guide before you go. If your trip/adventure is organized on the fly, ask the person signing you up if s/he is also the guide. If not, ask to speak with that person. This will give you a sense of whether your personalities will click.

Fair treatment. On longer treks, such as Machu Picchu, pay attention to how your guiding company takes care of their workers. Inquire about this before you pay your deposit. You may be spending a large chunk of change for an adventure, but see to it that even the porters, often the hardest working of the bunch, are treated fairly.

Word of mouth cannot be overemphasized. Enough said.

A word on food allergies. When traveling across cultures, this is a very difficult and sensitive topic. If you haven’t met the chef of your expedition, and she/he does not speak your own language, be prepared to carry a decent portion of your own “safe” foods from home. Feel free to message me at lauren@laurenschaad.com for more on this.

Category: International, Travel