Traveler resources
Physical activity levels
A clear scale to help you choose the right journey — and to help us match the right journey to you.
Every Heritage and Routes journey carries a physical activity rating from 1 to 5. The rating reflects the cumulative demand across the days — walking distances, standing time, terrain, climate, and pace. The scale is built so that travellers with mobility considerations can confidently identify which programmes work for them.
Level 1 — Light
Minimal walking (under 1 km per day on level ground). Short ground transfers (under 2 hours). No climbing, no standing for long. Suitable for travellers with significant mobility considerations. Currently no Heritage and Routes journey sits at level 1 — most cultural visits require at least Level 2.
Level 2 — Easy
1–3 km of walking per day on level ground. Ground transfers up to 3 hours. Brief standing during ceremonies or museum visits. Slave Coast 12-day journey at the lighter end. Voodoo Discovery 5-day is solidly Level 2.
Level 3 — Moderate
3–6 km of walking per day, some uneven terrain (cobblestones at Cape Coast Castle, sand at Door of No Return, forest paths at Kpassè). Ground transfers up to 5 hours. Standing 1–2 hours at festivals. Our most common rating — most cornerstones festival circuits sit here.
Level 4 — Active
Long days (8am–8pm at festivals). Standing several hours at durbars. Some terrain demand (steep stairs at castles, hot sun for long stretches, dense crowds at festivals). PANAFEST 10-day is Level 4. Evala 6-day with its long Lomé–Kara drive sits at the upper end of Level 3 / lower Level 4.
Level 5 — Demanding
Sustained physical demand across multiple days, longer walking distances, more uneven terrain. Currently no Heritage and Routes journey sits at Level 5 — our programmes are designed to be culturally demanding but physically accessible to most travellers in reasonable health.
If you have specific mobility considerations, let us know at first contact. We can adjust pacing, add rest days, or recommend the journey that best fits.
Questions on anything not covered here?