Walking Travel: Debunking Myths About This Transformative Journey

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Many people seem to think that walking and backpacking are activities reserved for 20-year-olds exploring the world on a shoestring budget in true hippie style. Sure, that's a valid way to travel, but it's not our approach.

The person speaking to you has lived a few years, and the truth is that the days of interrailing, sleeping rough, and grabbing supermarket sandwiches as my best travel plan are long behind me. 

That's why in this article I want to talk to you about all the myths and misconceptions that exist about walking travel.

A backpacker must carry their backpack ALL THE TIME.

Let me tell you something.

There are no prizes for carrying it with you constantly.

You're not more adventurous because you're lugging it around like an extra limb.

Baggage transfer services exist (and we offer them!) that allow you to walk certain stages feeling light as a feather, and when you arrive at your hotel or hostel, voilà! your backpack is waiting for you like magic.

All you'll need is a small daypack to carry what you need for the day before reuniting with your precious luggage.

Backpackers have poor hygiene standards

This might surprise you, but backpacking doesn't mean you can't wash your clothes.

If your itinerary includes staying in modest hostels, you can be sure they'll have laundry facilities where you can wash and dry your clothes—highly recommended if you want to make friends and connect with other travellers. And if they don't, there's always the river, just like our grandmothers did!

If you're not suffering on the trail, you're not really travelling

100% false.

There's no such thing as "travelling badly".

All forms of travel are valid, but I'm sure you know someone who feels superior because they spent 82 days in the Philippines carrying a 125kg backpack without ever putting it down.

You don't need to suffer to travel authentically—it's just another option.

Walking travel is slow

That's a half-truth.

It's obviously slower than driving or taking the metro, but it allows you to enjoy unique landscapes, discover cities, and experience them in a way that's truly special. There's nothing more to it.

It's a solitary experience

Absolutely false.

Even if you choose to travel alone, there's nothing solitary about it.

In fact, you'll have more conversations this way than when travelling with companions, because your "solitude" will draw people to you and vice versa. So don't be mistaken—walking travel is never lonely!

It's only for young people

We already established at the beginning of this post that backpacking isn't about being 20 years old.

In nearly five years of organising trips, we at A Piedi Per Il Mondo have seen it all.

70-year-olds walking the Camino de Santiago and 45-year-olds travelling with us in Japan.

There are as many ways to travel as there are travellers, and we can guarantee that you can walk travel at almost any age!

Walking travel means eating poorly

As we've already mentioned, you don't have to live on supermarket cold cuts (though there's nothing wrong with that if you want to): nothing prevents you from walking and enjoying local cuisine.

You can opt for street food (don't worry, you won't catch a deadly disease) or dine at renowned restaurants—the choice is entirely yours!

Don't fall for stereotypes!

These are just some of the misconceptions often attached to the idea of walking travel.

So free yourself from prejudice and let this unique experience carry you away.

We can definitely help make your walking journey easier. 

Explore all our routes and tell us what you need—we'll know exactly how to guide you!

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