57hours

A platform that books trips with local guides

57hours is an online platform that sells outdoor adventures run by independent local guides and guiding companies around the world. It does not present itself as the operator of the trips: its own line is "We handle the logistics; local guides lead the way", and it describes itself as "a platform that lets you focus on the adventure with best guides while we take care of the nitty-gritty details". The homepage says it partners with "1000+ vetted local guides", and a counter on the site shows 2,125 certified local guides and 1,591 unique adventures. Reviews on the site often name the company actually running a trip, such as Norse Adventure and Icelandic Mountain Guides in Iceland, SpiceRoads in Thailand, Tour de Vines in Vietnam or Medfeel in Mallorca, so the guide or outfitter on the ground is a separate business from 57hours.

Its menu of places is wide: Iceland, Mont Blanc, the Dolomites, the European Alps, Switzerland, Croatia, Slovenia, Italy, Tuscany, Sardinia, France, Germany, Spain, Portugal, Norway, Kalymnos in Greece, the Camino de Santiago, US National Parks, the Appalachian Trail, Utah, British Columbia, Costa Rica, the Galapagos, Patagonia, New Zealand, Japan and the rest of Asia, with recently added trips in Texas, California and Fiji. Prices are shown in US dollars by default, with a currency switcher.

The range, by activity and place

Hiking is the core, but the platform also lists cycling, mountain biking, backcountry skiing, climbing, sailing, kayaking, surfing, kiteboarding, mountaineering, ice climbing, trail running and avalanche education. Trips are grouped as classic trips, women-only, beginner-friendly, family, self-guided, education, and sail-and-hike or ski-and-sail combinations. The homepage shows 32 adventures in Iceland and 29 for British Columbia skiing.

The Asia bike tours page lists the Cycling Tour of Hidden Japan on Shikoku Island at 6 days from $3,073, a Guided Bike Tour From Saigon to Bangkok at 14 days from $3,950, Cycle the Vibrant Mekong Delta of Vietnam at 8 days from $2,323, and a Bangkok to Chiang Mai heritage ride at 7 days from $2,285. It also includes a short Bali ride at 3 days from $750 and mountain-bike expeditions in Nepal, Mongolia and Cappadocia. The Spain page lists an e-MTB week from a family farm in Andalucía at 7 days from $1,861, a Sierra Morena gravel tour at 5 days from $1,733, a Mallorca e-bike tour at 8 days from $4,066 and a Pre-Pyrenees enduro trip at 7 days from $3,948.

The Utah page lists 24 adventures, from a Rock Climbing near Salt Lake City outing from $285 and Moab climbing from $275 to the 9-day Hiking and Camping Tour of Utah's Mighty Five, shown at $3,056 against $3,395, the 5-day All-Women Zion and Bryce Canyon Hiking Adventure from $3,295, and a 4-day Coyote Gulch backpacking trip from $1,250. Private mountain-bike tours in Moab start from $290. The same page shows the winter side of the catalog: an AIARE Avalanche Level 1 Course in the Wasatch from $495, an AAI Level 1 hybrid avalanche course from $590, backcountry skiing in the Cottonwood Canyons from $540, and a women's crack climbing retreat in Indian Creek from $975. The Kalymnos climbing-and-sailing trips are presented by Lorenzo Pernigotti, whom the site names as skipper, climber and founder of Vertical Sailing Tour. In Kalymnos, Sailing and Rock Climbing runs from $2,780 and multi-day climbing courses of 3-5 days from $1,099. Recently added trips include a Reykjavík glacier and waterfalls day tour from $212 and a 15-day sailing voyage along Norway's Lofoten Islands from $3,490.

How the trips work

Each trip is run by its local guide or outfitter, and the platform handles the booking side. The Asia page says most trips are fully guided, with a few offered self-guided with route notes, luggage transfers and booked accommodation, and that logistics such as permits, accommodation and meals are handled for the traveler. On fitness, it says every trip page has a detailed "How fit do I need to be" section and gives its own rule of thumb: classic touring routes in Thailand, Vietnam, Bali and Japan suit a moderate fitness level on days of 30 to 60 kilometers, while the Nepal, Mongolia and Cappadocia mountain-bike trips call for off-road experience. Guide profiles on the Spain page list qualifications, such as a UIMLA mountain guide with PMBI Level 2 MTB certification and a CAFEM-certified MTB guide.

A tool called Scout, which the site calls an "adventure agent", builds a day-by-day itinerary in a minute, by the site's account, "quoted by a certified local guide". Travelers can also fill in a planning form covering group size, accommodation preference (basic, premium or luxury), age and fitness, and the site says the team replies within 24 hours.

Booking and support

Trips are booked through the site, and each listing shows upcoming dates and a "From" price. Help comes through a help center, the planning form, a scheduled call with an adventure planner, or email at support@57hours.com. The footer lists private adventures, special offers and gift cards, and the site offers free downloadable brochures with full itineraries, FAQs and guide details for its hub pages. Partner perks include cash back at other stores and a free year of The Dyrt PRO camping app on US trips.

What the pages leave open, and who it suits

The overview pages do not state the cancellation and refund rules, deposit or payment schedule; the footer links to the terms of service, and the individual trip pages are where to check them. Group sizes, meeting points and inclusions vary by guide and appear on individual trip pages rather than the hubs. Because each trip is run by a different local business, service standards depend on that guide, which the site addresses by showing guide bios and reviews.

57hours suits travelers who want to compare guided hikes, rides and climbs in many countries in one place, especially niche options such as women-only trips, avalanche courses or climbing-and-sailing combinations, and who are happy to travel with a local specialist rather than one global brand. Those who want a single company to run every departure with its own staff may prefer a traditional tour operator, but for choice and access to local guides the platform is broad.