A digital nomad lifestyle means that your office can be anywhere in the world, whether it’s a cosy hut in the Norwegian woods or a sunny poolside in Thailand. It allows you to find the work-life balance that suits you.
However, certain types of trips can make this balance a lot more challenging to find, and walking holidays are one of them. It’s certainly not impossible – just requires more planning.
Choosing the destination
There are truly endless options when it comes to destinations, from the infamous Camino de Santiago pilgrimage trails to walking holidays in Ireland, Slovenia, Scotland, Greece and many more. While to anyone else it’s just a matter of preference, digital nomads have a few more considerations.
For instance, not all countries offer a good internet connection everywhere you go. In some cases, rural and mountainous areas may struggle. If you rely on a strong connection, particularly to do video meetings, this could become an issue.
A similar consideration is the time zone of your destination. If you’re travelling from Europe to South East Asia, you could have a 6-8 hour difference between you and home. So, having time-bound commitments may also hinder your plans.
Also Read: Most Beautiful Mountains in The World
Juggling work and miles
On walking holidays, most people typically walk for 6-8 hours a day. However, digital nomads will have to somehow fit in time to work in between this. So, how do you find the balance?
First and foremost, it’s important to be realistic about your daily capacity for both. Working full time is, of course, not possible, but you could aim to fit 3-4 hours of most important tasks each day.
The best way to do this is by adjusting the usual walking timeline to your own needs. For example, if the route normally takes 7 days, you could do it in 14, halving the hours you walk to accommodate your work time.
So, you may do most of your walking in the mornings and work in the afternoons or the other way round. Similarly, you can also walk in intervals (a few long days covering a good distance and then one or two rest days in a hotel with good WiFi).
Booking your walking holiday through an agency will help you plan this easier. Orbis Ways, experienced organisers of Camino de Santiago and walking holidays, will create an itinerary tailored to your unique needs and requirements. They will also take care of booking the right accommodation and transportation too.
Furthermore, you probably don’t want to be carrying a backpack with your laptop, headphones, charger, portable WiFi and other work-related equipment.
Not only is it unnecessarily heavy while walking, but you also risk losing or damaging your expensive items. To avoid this, Orbis Ways can also organise luggage transfers between the hotels, so you only need to bring with you what’s needed for the walk.
It’s all worth it
Trying to plan a walking holiday without taking the whole week off can bring on some headaches. However, the opportunity to get out there, challenge yourself physically, visit breathtaking spots and explore new cultures, all while keeping up with your work commitments, is more than worth the hassle…
