Preparation programme
Ready for
the wilderness.
Stronger first
Only then
into the wilderness
Every participant goes through the same programme, starting three to six months before departure.
How it works
From sign up
to departure
Phase 1 you do on your own, from the day you sign up. Phase 2 you do with your group, from three to six months before departure.
The individual
phase
Starts as soon as you sign up. In this phase you already prepare for the group phase. Three things, concretely.
01 / 07Act like an expedition member and move
You receive an inspiration pack with practical tips, insights and exercises to prepare on your own.
02 / 07Gather your expedition gear
You receive the packing list. You do not have to buy anything yet: bring what you already own to the kick off, and together we look at what works and what is still missing.
Read: the expedition packing list
03 / 07Gather your medical information
Safety is our highest priority. The best preparation is a plan for when things go wrong. That is why we ask you to share personal information that could matter in an emergency.
[ Phase 2 of 2 | Together ]
The group phase
Starts three to six months before departure. You do not prepare alone, but together with your group. Four parts, and for each one you know in advance what we do and why.
Kick off
This is the day your expedition begins, at Kasteel Borgwal in Gavere, Belgium. You get to know your group and we prepare you physically, practically and as a team.
Physical tests
We measure your strength, mobility and endurance on a timed course. Depending on where you stand within the group, you receive training advice.
The expedition in detail
Together we go through the route and the risks that come with the destination, and explain how we deal with them.
Food
You see which meals and snacks you eat along the way, and you taste them.
Equipment
We go through the packing list. You hear what we provide and what you still need to bring yourself.
Out together
We hike with the group and take an ice bath together.
Read: ice bath, safely push your limitsAt the table
We close the day with a good meal, so you get to know your group even better.
At the end of the day we start the WhatsApp group in which everyone shares their progress.
Between kick off
and departure
You join our group training sessions and learn what you need technically for your destination.
05 / 07Group training
Between the kick off and departure we organise group training sessions where every participant is welcome. That builds your fitness with purpose, and every session brings you closer to the people you will leave with.
Read: altitude training at home
06 / 07Technical training
We teach you what you need technically and physically for your expedition. What you learn depends on the destination: navigation, rope work, packrafting or moving on snow and difficult terrain.
Read: wilderness training in the Carpathians
Final check
This is the last moment before departure. We check whether your equipment is complete and whether your fitness and strength are up to standard.
In short: are you ready?
Questions about
the preparation
See all questions
How much do I need to train before departure?
Count on three to five hours a week, spread over a few sessions. Your training advice is built around strength, mobility and endurance, and matched to your expedition, your body and the time you have. Consistency matters more than volume. Training twice a week gets you further than one hard week followed by three weeks of nothing.
How does the physical test work?
At the kick off you complete a course against the clock. That way we measure your strength, mobility and endurance, and we see what happens when you get tired. It is not an exam. It is a baseline on which your training advice is built. At the final check we see whether the build up has worked.
Where do the preparation days take place?
The kick off and the group sessions take place at Kasteel Borgwal in Gavere, Belgium. The technical training happens in the field, at a place that suits what you are learning. Some parts can be done online. What belongs outside, we do outside.
How many days do I need to free up for the preparation?
The kick off is a full day and the technical training is a practice day. On top of that there are monthly group training sessions and the final check, and you train at home. For a level 5 the group phase starts earlier, because technical skills come into play that you cannot build in a few weeks. The exact number of sessions is in your planning.
Is the preparation compulsory?
Yes. The preparation is not an extra service, it is part of the expedition and included in the price. It is also the reason we can head into terrain where help is not twenty minutes away. If you miss several parts, we look at whether taking part is still responsible.
What if I cannot make a preparation day?
Let us know as early as possible. For most parts we find a catch up moment, on your own or with the group of another expedition. Two parts are hard to catch up on: the kick off, because that is where you meet your group, and the technical training, because it is tailored to your terrain.
That is how you leave physically, practically and mentally prepared.
Find the expedition
that fits you
View all expeditions
Chimborazo
Kyrgyzstan
Carpathians
Oman
Escape The Arctic
Highlands
Also read how we approach safety and what personal guidance means.
Ready for the adventure
of your life?
Together we take the time to listen, think along and guide you to an expedition that truly fits you.