Adventure is not a personality type. It is a choice you make, followed by a series of small decisions that keep you there. Even so, we recognise the same five types at the start of every expedition. Knowing which one you are mainly helps with one practical question: where do you begin?
The five types at the start
The planner
Weeks before departure the packing list is ticked off and the route is mapped. This type does not like surprises, and that is a quality: on expedition, preparation is half the work. The trap is that every plan collapses on first contact with the terrain. Accept that in advance and you hold the biggest advantage of anyone.
Fits: a programme with a clear preparation phase, such as the Kyrgyzstan expedition.
The improviser
Runs on instinct and enthusiasm, and now and then forgets something essential. Produces the best stories, but on a real expedition a forgotten layer is not an anecdote, it is a problem. For this type the kick off is the most important moment of the whole programme.
Fits: a short first experience with everything provided, such as the Untamed Adventure Weekend.
The spontaneous one
Decides along the way and lets things come. This type gets the most out of an environment you cannot plan anyway, where weather and terrain set the schedule.
Fits: wilderness without a fixed script, such as the Carpathians.
The walking encyclopaedia
Curious about the geology, the flora and the people who live there. Travelling with this type feels like having a second guide along. Good news: with us you already have one.
Fits: a destination with a strong cultural layer, such as the nomadic culture of Kyrgyzstan.
The comfort seeker
Wants to get into nature, but not at any cost. That is not a weakness. Being honest about your comfort limit leads to better choices and more staying power than overestimating yourself.
Fits: an expedition at level 2 or 3, with fixed camps and a controlled pace.
From type to choice: the intensity scale
To make that choice concrete we work with five intensity levels. They say something about physical load, remoteness and comfort, not about how valuable the experience is.
- Level 1, Experience: introduction, short days, everything provided.
- Level 2, Explore: multi day, moderate distances, fixed camps.
- Level 3, Adventure: long days, changing terrain, bivouac in the wild.
- Level 4, Challenge: hard days, altitude or cold, little infrastructure.
- Level 5, Xtreme: extreme conditions, full self reliance, no safety net.
Most people start at level 1 or 2 and move up from there. Starting straight at level 4 without ever having slept outdoors rarely ends well.
The first step is smaller than you think
The biggest barrier is almost never fitness. It is the idea that you have to become someone else before you are allowed to leave. That is not true. You build fitness during the preparation phase, you learn the techniques at the kick off and we go through your gear together.
What you bring yourself is the willingness to allow discomfort: a cold morning, wet feet, a day when nothing works. That is the whole test, and you can practise it at home.
Start this week
Sleep a night outdoors, in your own garden or in the Ardennes. Walk thirty kilometres once with a loaded pack. Take cold showers. Do those three and still want it, and you are ready for a real expedition.
Ready to take on the challenge?
Find out which type of adventurer you are on one of our expeditions. Nature challenges you, strengthens you and surprises you, whichever type you are at the start.