How it works

How We Score Trips & Treks

Every destination and trek carries a DIY-readiness score - our honest read on how do-able the place is to plan and travel yourself. Destinations show a 0-5 DIY Score; treks and route maps show a 0-10 Score. It is a readiness gauge, not a beauty rating. Here is exactly what goes into it.

DIY Score · 0-5

Destinations

Places show a DIY Score out of 5 with a plain-English effort label (Easy DIY, Doable DIY, Plan ahead, Expert DIY) - how self-plannable the place is.

Plan Score · 0-10

DIY Itineraries

Ready-made day-wise plans show a Plan Score out of 10 - how reliably the plan can be followed: routes, stays, food, budget and season.

Trek Score · 0-10

Treks

Treks show a Trek Score out of 10 - fitness, permits, weather windows, network and rescue access make the risk finer to judge, so a wider scale.

Route Score · 0-10

Route Maps

Self-drive route maps show a Route Score out of 10 - road/route clarity, halts, fuel and stay spacing, and season conditions.

All four measure the same thing: how do-able it is to plan and travel yourself. Destinations use a 0-5 scale; itineraries, treks and route maps use a wider 0-10 scale for the extra variables they carry (a 4.5/5 place is roughly a 9/10 trek).

What goes into the score

  • SafetyLocal safety, terrain and current advisory conditions along the route.
  • Transport accessHow easily you can reach the place and move around without your own vehicle.
  • NetworkMobile signal and data coverage you can expect on the way.
  • Season reliabilityHow dependable the weather and season window is for travel.
  • Budget clarityHow predictable day-to-day costs are, with few surprises.
  • Trail / route clarityHow well-marked and easy to follow the route or trail is.
  • Stay availabilityThe choice and reliability of places to stay along the way.
  • First-timer friendlinessHow forgiving it is for a first-time independent traveller.
  • Solo / women comfortHow comfortable and safe it is for solo and women travellers.
  • Local supportAvailability of guides, hosts and on-the-ground help if you need it.

Higher score = more first-timer friendly and easier to do independently. A lower score does not mean "avoid" - it means plan more carefully, or consider a guide or our planning help.