Tour descriptions are written to sell. "Easy", "moderate", "some walking" and "uneven surfaces" are true for someone, but they do not tell you whether the day suits you. The fix is to ask questions that have numbers for answers.
1. The vague words
Watch for: easy, gentle, moderate, active, light walking, some stairs, uneven ground, cobblestones, hilly. None of them says how far, how steep, how many steps, or how long you will stand.
2. Turn them into questions
| The label says | Ask instead |
|---|---|
| Some walking | How far in total, and what is the longest stretch without a seat? |
| Uneven surfaces | What surface: ancient paving, gravel, grass? Any ramps steeper than usual? |
| A few steps | How many steps, where, and is there a handrail or a way round? |
| Guided visit | How long do we stand while the guide talks, and are there seats? |
| Coach transfer | How many steps into the vehicle? Is there a lift or ramp? |
3. Distance, gradient, stairs and standing are four different things
A short, flat walk with long standing stops can be harder than a longer walk with benches. Ask about each separately, and about toilets and rest stops along the way.
4. Example: Pompeii
The archaeological park publishes a "Pompeii for All" itinerary of over 3.5 km from Piazza Anfiteatro to the Sanctuary of Venus, entered at Piazza Anfiteatro. It is candid about the limits: some ramps and slopes may exceed 8%, there are small sudden changes in height (typically under 5 cm), stretches of ancient uneven paving, only some stretches wide enough for two wheelchairs to pass, and parts of the site where wheelchair users may have difficulty moving independently. A tour that says "accessible Pompeii" should be able to tell you which part of this route it uses.
5. Example: Butchart Gardens
Butchart Gardens near Victoria lists complimentary push wheelchairs with a refundable deposit (without handbrakes), no mobility scooters to rent on site, the paths with steeper grades (for example between the Concert Lawn and the Rose Garden), narrow paths with signed alternate routes, a large accessible stall in every washroom, and free luggage storage. That is the level of detail to ask a tour for: which paths, which grades, which facilities.
6. An email template
Hello, I am considering [tour name] on [date]. Before booking, could you tell me: the total walking distance and the longest stretch without seating; the surfaces and any steep slopes; the number of steps and whether there is a way round them; how long we stand at stops; how many steps into the vehicle; where the toilets are. Thank you.
Our guide to walking on shore excursions covers what typical tours involve; for tender ports see tender access.