What to expect on a Trek America camping tour

A lot of first-time trekkers want to know what it's like on a Trek America tour, especially the 18-38 camping tours, so I thought I'd share my experience here.

'Fun, freedom and flexibility', that's how Trek America describe their tours and I'd be inclined to agree. Fun because you do crazy stuff in amazing places with strangers that quickly become friends. Free because you have plenty of time to do your own thing - although you could be having too much fun with the group to want to go off on your own! Flexible because the itinerary can change, every tour will be slightly different and you could end up experiencing and seeing far more than you ever expected; for example, on Westerner 2, our awesome tour leader, Lauren Karasek took us to places not part of the itinerary (the group agreed to pay the extra cost). We went to Monument Valley, where we got to spend the night in an authentic Navajo Hogan (mud hut) and Betty and Rusty's cowboy camp in Arizona, where we got to go horse-riding at sunset and have a real cowboy dinner around the campfire - both amazing experiences that I will never forget.

Small groups
There are only ever a maximum of 13 people on any single Trek America tour, plus the tour leader; this is one of the great advantages compared to some other companies that take larger groups - the tours are much more personal and you get to know everyone, no-one is left out. If you're travelling solo, that's great, because a lot of people travel solo on these tours anyway, so most people are in the same situation and you quickly make friends. If you decide to book a trek with a friend or partner, that's great too, but it's expected that everyone will make an effort to get along and work as a team. On my last trek, all 12 of us were travelling solo and we had a blast and all stay in touch - on a Trek America tour, you can make friends for life :)

On the road
Each group have their own adventure mini-bus which is driven by the tour leader. Again the benefits of being part of a small group adventure tour is that you have a vehicle that can take you off the beaten track - unlike those travel companies that use coaches. There's plenty of space for your gear too, because all the equipment, food and luggage goes in the trailer, which is always locked on a night.

The tour leaders are required to drive safely and the bus we had was also fitted with a speed monitor. Also in the interest of safety, everyone is required to wear a seatbelt.

Depending upon the tour you choose  (considering distance and duration), you may find that you will cover a lot of miles and therefore will spend a lot of time on the bus. I have to say some of the best moments of my last trek were on the bus though, because it's a great place for everyone to bond, play crazy games, sing along to the songs that will make your road trip playlist when you get home, or just watch the amazing scenery. Whether you're driving through the desert observing the mirages in the road, checking the surf along Highway 1 or passing beautiful mountains and lakes, the drives are always interesting, and keeping your camera to hand and fully charged, is a must! Oh, and don't forget all those quirky little towns you will drive through too - those that choose to sleep on the bus really do miss out ;o)

The tour leader will always make regular stops for comfort breaks and there will be plenty of opportunities to stop on the road to take group photographs - on Westerner 2, Lauren even took a diversion to drive us through Utah, for some photos of us running in the road - just because we 'felt like runnin' - just like Forrest did in the movie :D

Camping equipment

Everyone shares a tent with another member of the group; if you are travelling solo, you can pair up with another member of the same sex. The tents are in great condition and you are allocated one for the duration of the trek. Each person will also receive a camping mat (the type can vary depending upon the tour you do e.g. you should expect a thermal pad but some longer tours may have the inflatable ones). Trek provide full guidance on the type of sleeping bag required for your trek, depending upon the time of year that you travel. Each person is responsible for their tent equipment and setting up and packing away - there's always someone to help if you're struggling though and the tour leader shows everyone how to use all the equipment.
All other camping equipment for cooking, eating, drinking and cleaning are provided by Trek, so you don't need to bring your own mug, cutlery etc.

Camping facilities
Facilities can vary from place to place. There will be times when you stop at places without showers or maybe even running water - the only facilities we had in Monument Valley and cowboy camp were portable toilets (one or two). But as long as you have some wipes, dry soap (the anti-bac stuff in liquid form) and a bottle of water, you can at least have a a bit of a wash and brush your teeth. And if your hair needs frequent washing (like mine!), dry shampoo is fantastic! Failing that, even a small amount of talc can make your hair temporarily look a bit cleaner (the talc tip was from Lauren which I've tested and is a good solution if you're desperate, although it does leave you smelling like a Johnson's baby :D).
Of course some of the camping facilities will be awesome - with hot showers, nice clean toilets and laundry facilities. Even better, you may find yourself with a swimming pool and hot tub. Roughing it is part of the adventure travel experience, you learn to be adapt and it really makes you appreciate what you have at home. If you want to get off the beaten track, then it is likely you will have to sacrifice a few home comforts.

Team work
Everyone on a tour has a job, for some, this might seem off-putting - you're on holiday after all; however, the team work element to the treks really helps people to bond (it's kinda fun - this is adventure travel after all!) and maybe you'll learn some new skills too. The tour leader assigns people to jobs/groups, e.g. on Westerner 2, we had 3 teams of 3, 2 van loaders and a food mama. In our case, the food mama and van loaders volunteered and the rest of us were allocated to the 3 teams. The van loaders would take responsibility for loading and unloading our bags from the trailer (packing everything safely) and they were also responsible for the camp fire (so they had to be early risers to get the kettle boiling on a morning!). The food mama, took responsibility for keeping check on our main food supply and would help with the shopping, cooking and washing up. The teams would rotate 3 jobs: cooking, washing up and cleaning the van. Jobs are only completed on days that you are camping - no-one does any jobs when you stay in a hotel.

Food kitty
Camping tours include a food kitty, which is currently $10 per day per person. This is a really cheap way to eat whilst you are on tour. The kitty covers all food when you are camping. The core food items are bought for breakfast and lunch (the type of food you have can vary but your tour leader will usually ask what you prefer to have in stock (e.g. tea, coffee, wraps, bagels, variety of bread, cereal, salad, crackers, cold meats, cheeses, dressings, yoghurts, cereal bars, fruit etc) and the rest of the food kitty money is used for buying ingredients for cooking evening meals. The team that is on cooking duty, will plan their meal a few days in advance (before stopping at a hypermarket) and the kitty will cover the cost. So depending upon how economical you are as a group, you could find you have some money returned to you at the end of the trek. We got to eat some really great meals on Westerner 2 and if you're lucky, there might even be a chef or two in the goup! I should add, the kitty is not for buying alcoholic drinks and most people drink the tap water as it is perfectly safe to do so.

Under 21?
A lot of first-time trekkers that are under 21 worry that they will not be able to fully participate in social activities in the evening. This is understandable and although I can't condone breaking the law, what you will find is that a lot of drinking takes place around the campfire and people usually buy packs of beer from the hypermarket together (ID is required for the person making the purchase). When out in the towns and cities, you should always carry ID if you want to enter a bar, even if you are under 21, because in many places you can still enter but not drink. No ID = no entry. A lot of places are also a lot more relaxed too, so your tour leader will provide advice on this, dpending upon the place you are in - laws (and attitudes) vary from state to state.

Responsible travel is good for your health
Trek America don't like to leave a trail, and rightly so (unlike my tent buddy - hahaha :D). Everyone is responsible for clearing litter and a lot of waste can be recylced too (we had separate rubbish bags). Keeping camp tidy can also be good for your health - if you're lucky enough to camp in Bear Country (we camped amongst brown bears in Yosemite National Park), it is essential you adhere to National Park rules - no food, drink or toiletries are to be kept in the tents or vehicles (unless you want a visitor through the night!). Instead, national parks provide bear-proof metal boxes that you must lock your stuff in. People that ignore these rules and

leave stuff in cars usually find their car trashed in the morning - bears are animals after all, and when they're looking for food, they will use their power to get what they want. Thankfully, bears are not interested in people, so despite the flimsy protection of a tent, you can sleep safely ;o)

Go for it!
If you've never experienced small group adventure travel, I highly recommend it. And as far as Trek America are concerned, there's got to be a reason why there's a Frequent Trekkers Club - us trekkers just can't get enough, and we kinda like the discounts we get too :o) The wide variety of tours mean there's something for everyone, whether you want lots of the Great Outdoors or prefer more time exploring cities, and those that like to be really active, they have itineraries to satisfy those needs too. If you prefer not to camp, there are budget lodging tours and if you're young at heart or just like to hang with a wide age range of travellers, there are also tours for all ages and families available through Trek's sister company Grand American Adventures (discounts still apply).

Westerner 2, October 2009

Find out more
If you use Facebook, why not join the official Trek group: Join Team Trek America, where you can ask other past trekkers questions about their experiences too, and also find other people thinking of booking a tour?