FAQs
1. Health
What is altitude sickness?
Altitude sickness can occur above 2500 meters. Headaches, nausea, and vomiting appear because the volume of oxygen in the air you breathe begins to decrease. Therefore, to maintain the levels required by the body, the heart accelerates its rhythm, pumping blood more frequently to all parts of the body, thus minimizing the oxygen deficit. Acetylsalicylic acid, present in Aspirin and Aspegic, for example, activates blood circulation, facilitating the work of hemoglobin and making the symptoms of altitude sickness disappear more quickly.
Can I suffer from altitude sickness on mountain trips?
Theoretically, anyone can suffer from altitude sickness if they ascend above 2500 meters, especially if this ascent is abrupt. In most cases, the symptoms disappear after 24 or 36 hours. However, if the symptoms persist, please inform the guide, who will determine the most appropriate course of action.
How do I know if I'm suffering from altitude sickness?
Please read the question: What is altitude sickness? (general information). If the described symptoms persist for more than 36 to 48 hours, it may be a case of altitude sickness. In these situations, you should rest and descend to a lower altitude as quickly as possible.
How can I maintain my daily hygiene during hikes?
Campsites are almost always near watercourses or lakes. You can therefore use these locations for your daily hygiene. When this is not the case, some team members (porters or cooks) will be responsible for finding and collecting enough water for your hygiene.
Where can I go to relieve myself during the hike?
Find a secluded spot, behind a rock or vegetation. Don't forget to always carry toilet paper, which you should bury after use.
2. Transport
What means of transportation do we use?
Flights are on regular airlines in economy class with 20 kg of baggage allowance. The transportation used aims to be as comfortable and well-suited to the destination as possible. This may include 4x4 vehicles, minibuses, local boats, sailboats, rafting boats, or bicycles.
3. Accomodation
Do we always stay in hotels?
No, not always. In cities, almost always, based on double rooms. In other locations, depending on the country and the type of program, overnight stays may be in hotels, small inns, mountain shelters, village houses, campsites, or even bivouacs. These trips do not focus on the type of accommodation, but on the overall travel experience.
Are the accommodations always comfortable?
When accommodation availability is limited, we try, within the possible choices, to make them clean, simple, and with a friendly atmosphere. See the comfort levels.
4. Equipment
What kind of clothes should I bring?
Visiting a country culturally different from our own can be a challenge. Respecting the beliefs and customs of the local population, while minimizing the impact caused by the visitor, should be the main objective.
Shorts or tight clothing are not appropriate. A certain amount of care with clothing, so as not to attract attention, can be more comfortable for both the visitor and the locals. Try to be as discreet as possible.
Should I bring a first-aid kit?
Yes, it's advisable. When you register for the NoMade Horizon trip, you will receive a list with some examples of what should be in your first-aid kit.
What should I include in my luggage for this type of trip?
It largely depends on the selected destination. You will receive a detailed list of necessary equipment after registering for the NoMade Horizon trip.
5. Travel Characteristics
Are your trips adventure trips?
It depends on your concept of adventure. If for you adventure means getting to know countries and peoples with cultures and landscapes different from our own, hiking trails that few people use, foregoing luxury hotels and restaurants to experience the authentic flavor of unique and ancestral ways of life, then we can say that our trips are adventure trips.
How is the group of travelers formed?
It depends on the type of trip. In some NoMade Horizon trips, the group is entirely made up from the same nationality. In others, participants join a group made up of people of various nationalities.
Can I extend my trip to a longer stay?
Of course you can. If you choose this option, please inform us as soon as possible so we can check hotel and flight availability and offer you the best price.
What do the difficulty levels mean?
The difficulty levels, divided from 1 to 5, attempt to reflect the effort you are required to make to perform a given physical activity. They exist to guide you in deciding on a particular trip.
See the description of the difficulty levels (in the section below).
Trip Difficulty Level
Level 1: Light physical activity and/or short trips.
You should expect short walks or other types of minor exertion. You will virtually exert yourself as much as or less than in your daily life. Travel between and during activities using private or local transport within a city.
Level 2: Moderate physical activity and/or short trips.
You should expect walks or other types of exertion. The duration of the exertion on this day should not exceed 6 effective hours. In the case of walks, these may be done on trails or footpaths. Travel between and during activities using private or public transport within a city and its surroundings on trips not exceeding 3 hours in total.
Level 3: Moderately intense physical activity and/or medium-level travel.
You should expect marches or other types of exertion. The duration of the exertion to be performed on this day should not exceed 8 effective hours. In the case of hiking, this may be done on trails or footpaths or snow.
Travel between and during activities using private or public transport within a city, its vicinity, or other destination location for journeys not exceeding 6 hours in total.
Level 4: Intense physical activity and/or long-distance travel.
You should expect marches or other types of intense exertion. Hiking at medium altitudes that may vary between 2500 and 4500 m on trails, footpaths, snow or ice with pronounced slopes. The duration of the exertion should not exceed 10 effective hours. Travel between and during activities using private or public transport within a city, its vicinity, or other destination location for journeys not exceeding 8 hours in total.
Level 5: Intense physical activity and/or very long journeys.
You should expect marches or other types of very intense exertion. In mountain environments, hikes will be at average altitudes above 4500 m. On trails, footpaths, snow or glaciers with pronounced slopes.
In some situations, there may be a need for auxiliary means of progression and/or the application of mountaineering techniques. The duration of the effort should exceed 10 hours.
Travel between and during activities using private or public transport within a city, its surroundings, or other destination, with journeys not exceeding 10 hours in total.
Level of comfort in travel
Level 5: Accommodation in 5* hotels or equivalent in a double room with private bathroom.
Transportation for short, medium and long distances in private vehicles and some sections in public vehicles, namely airplanes, boats and trains with comfortable space.
Level 4:Accommodation in 4* hotels or equivalent in a double room with private bathroom.
Level 3: Accommodation in tourist-class hotels, "glamping" or equivalent 3*, in a double room with private bathroom inside or outside (in the case of "glamping"). Accommodation on train or boat in litters/cabins in first or second class with shared bathroom.
Transportation in private and public vehicles, namely airplanes, boats, trains and buses.
Level 2: Accommodation in simple hotels or local houses or glamping in double, triple or quadruple rooms. Accommodation on train or boat in litters/cabins in second class. Possibility of shared bathrooms.
Accommodation in hotels and always shared in glamping on trains and boats.
Transportation in private and public vehicles, namely airplanes, boats, trains, and buses.
Level 1: Accommodation in tents, shelters with multiple beds or dormitories, train or boat berths/cabins in second or third class. Basic shared bathrooms or none at all. Overnight stays in common tents.
Transportation in public vehicles and some sections in private vehicles.
6. Reservation
How can I register for these trips?
On the page for the trip you wish to take, next to your chosen date, click the "book" button and proceed according to the information requested by the system.
Is registering a month in advance enough?
Probably not. To get the best flights and fares, you should register for your Roadrunner trip as far in advance as possible. Three or four months before the trip is not too much.
If I don't have friends who want to take these trips with me, can I go alone?
Yes. All Roadrunner trips have a minimum and maximum number of participants. When forming groups, there are always people traveling alone who easily join the group because they usually share the same interests and the same traveler's spirit.
7. Payment
Do I have to pay for the trip in full when I register?
No. At the time of registration, you must pay 30% of the trip price, paying the remaining 70% up to 30 days before departure (some trips require more advance payment of the remainder – see the specific conditions of each trip).
What happens if I can't take the trip after registering and paying?
If you cancel the trip, you will have to pay all costs incurred by your registration and subsequent cancellation, plus an amount that can reach 15% of the trip price. The client may be reimbursed for the difference between the amount already paid and the amounts mentioned above. See the general conditions.
Do I have to pay an individual supplement if I register alone?
Not necessarily. If you don't mind staying alone in the accommodations, you can share them with another registered person. NoMade Horizon may group clients who register individually for the same trip into pairs, by gender and chronological order of registration. If the number of participants is odd, the person left alone will have to pay a corresponding individual supplement.
Is travel insurance always included?
The answer is yes, it is included.
8. Tours
Will the hikes be done in any weather conditions?
In principle, our trips are planned to take advantage of the best weather season in the countries we visit; however, we don't control the weather, and rain, wind, snow, or even hail can occur unexpectedly. If this happens, the guide will assess the best solution on-site, and if you choose not to do the hike, they will offer alternative suggestions.
Do we spend the whole day walking on hiking trips?
No. Depending on the trip, hiking days usually last 4 to 5 hours. There may occasionally be longer days, 7 to 8 hours, on some trips with a higher degree of difficulty.
What kind of preparation will I need for trekking/hiking trips?
As a starting point, it should be assumed that you are in good health. Preferably, you should be in good physical shape; that is, a few months before the trip, try to practice some sports that improve your aerobic endurance. A good starting point might be to walk some routes you usually take by car, or to replace the elevator with the stairs. In short, if you're not in good physical shape, it doesn't mean you can't do the Road Runner trip; you'll do it with more effort than if you were in good physical shape, where you could enjoy it much more. However, don't forget that psychological motivation sometimes surpasses physical effort.
9. Food
What do you eat on this type of trip?
The food is usually composed of the cuisine of the places visited, adapted to Western tastes, so you will rarely find the dishes you are used to. However, whenever possible, there is a concern to adapt the local gastronomy to the tastes of the participants.
Can a vegetarian take these trips?
Yes, they can. However, they will have to inform NoMade Horizon when registering that they have a particular dietary regime.
Do I have to take any special precautions with the water I drink on these trips? And with the food?
It depends on the destination. Having a cautious and skeptical attitude towards food and water is half the battle in avoiding complications, especially when traveling to tropical destinations. In short, all foods that are not cooked or that cannot be peeled, water (including ice), and unpasteurized milk are potential causes of illness. Never drink tap water and always peel fruits before eating them.
Do they provide all meals during the trip?
In principle, the meals included on these trips consist of breakfast in the cities and full board during the hikes. However, there are programs that deviate from this rule, either by including full board throughout the trip or by offering some meals in the cities. After your registration, you will receive a detailed list of the program, specifying how many and which meals are included in the price.
10. Guides
Will a NoMade Horizon guide accompany the group?
Yes. All of our trips are guided by experienced NoMade Horizon guides. In Addition, local guides who are well-versed in the territory, its customs and traditions will be with them too.
What language do you speak during the trip?
Normally, English is the language spoken, but the guides also speak Spanish, French, and Portuguese
11. Age
I'm over 67, can I still take this type of trip?
Of course you can. For these trips, the most important thing is your state of mind and youthfulness, which, combined with good health and fitness, will make you a perfect traveler. Check the "details" section of the trip you want to sign up for to see if there are any exceptions to this rule.
I have children aged between 10 and 16, can I take them with me?
It would be excessive to say yes to all trips. Depending on your children's interests and curiosity, many programs can be truly appealing, while others can become tiring and boring, which would not benefit your children, yourself, or ultimately the group.