This report is about the tour: South Demerdgi
Reflections inspired by a hike for Easter (April 2011, route “Around Demerdzhi”).
I've been hiking for 3 years now. But until this spring, I always gathered a team of tourists or joined an already assembled one. We came up with a route, discussed all organizational issues, bought food and tickets and went for 2-3 days to picturesque places. I noticed the website OutdoorUkraine.com while scouring the Internet in search of a new interesting route.
This spring, my friends and I planned a trip to the Donetsk region for Easter. But suddenly everyone had important things to do, and they decided to postpone the trip indefinitely. I had no other plans for these days, but I had a desire to get out of the city. And then I remembered about commercial groups. OutdoorUkraine just found a three-day itinerary that suited me. My application was processed very quickly, I bought tickets and began to prepare for the trip.
And now, as a person who went camping both with a commercial group and with friends, I can write about the advantages and disadvantages of both options.
So, the advantages of going with a travel agency:
- There is no need to deal with organizational issues.
Yes, sometimes it feels like a pleasant chore - calculating the layout of food for everyone, buying them and distributing them, filling gas cylinders, agreeing on who will take the pot and who will take the saw. But it often happens that there is no time or desire to do this. And even more so if you decide to plan something more serious. On a commercial trip, the only organizational thing you need to do is buy tickets and not miss your train. All. The organizing company will do the rest. - You choose from ready-made and tested tours exactly the one you want.
And you get exactly what you choose - the date and route will remain as planned.
- You will be led by an experienced instructor.
This means that even on a new route you will not get lost, you will stop at the best stops, and you are guaranteed to be provided with water and useful advice in a doubtful situation. - You can go hiking even when there are no fellow travelers.
If your friends have changed their minds about going, or don’t want to go hiking on the dates or in the mountains you are planning to go to, or you don’t know anyone who likes hiking with backpacks at all, then a trip with a commercial group is an excellent opportunity to still get out.
- You don’t have to have your own equipment. Everything, even a backpack and raincoat, can be rented.
- You are insured against the situation “If a friend suddenly found himself...”
Sometimes the person with whom you spend the most pleasant time in the city turns out to be not such a pleasant person for you when traveling. And if this is a relative or work colleague, and you still have to communicate with him later...
- You can meet new people.
- You can see new places.
Sometimes you want to go to some interesting place. But what is there and how little information there is. You don’t want to fly or drive far, and you don’t want to take risks. And all that remains is to either refuse the trip or use the services of professionals.
Well, what about the cons? In principle, there are two of them - this is the unknown - you don’t know what kind of people will gather, what kind of instructor will be, and you’re not sure of anything until you find yourself in the mountains. Well, actually, you have to pay for pleasure. But the time and nerves saved are worth it.
Overall, I was very pleased with the trip. Great guys gathered, we were led by a great instructor, all organizational issues were resolved at a high level. Of course, I won’t stop going with friends, but I’ll definitely go again with OutdoorUkraine.com.
Ekaterina Zhilyaeva, Dnepropetrovsk