Guiding for Country Walkers

Before submitting an application, do your homework! We receive dozens of unsolicited inquiries each week from individuals seeking information about becoming a guide. In an attempt to streamline the hiring process we have created the following online information and application resource. We hope this helps. Thank you for your interest and please read on.

• About Country Walkers
  Please read through our catalog. Many of your questions will be found within. It is important that you are familiar with our destinations before applying as we seek individuals who already have expertise in these regions.
• Country Walkers Guides
  Country Walkers works with the most experienced and knowledgeable guides in the world. Country Walkers guides work on a freelance basis and are paid daily fees. All tour-related expenses are covered by Country Walkers. Some guides may guide only four or five trips a year while others may guide up to 12 or 13. Rarely are guides able to work year-round with Country Walkers due to limited tour seasons in each region.
• When and How to Apply
  While we recruit and schedule guides on a year round basis, most of the scheduling is confirmed during the last quarter of the year for the following year. Scheduling for Italian tours may even begin earlier. We encourage anyone meeting the criteria in the "What We Look for in Potential Guides" section to apply by completing the following online process:
  
  
  1. Online Application - Complete & submit
  2. Accompanying cover letter - Complete & submit
  3. Resume or C.V. - (If your resume is not specific to guiding, but details relevant experience, please highlight as such in your cover letter. Some of our best guides have professional backgrounds which include teaching, writing or meeting planning, to name a few.)

The application form, cover letter and resume/CV form may be submitted online, or via standard mail, e-mail or fax. Due to the high volume of applications, we ask that you please not call to check the status of an application. You will be contacted if opportunities matching your experience are available.

What We Look for in Potential Guides
Please take time to review the following list. You should only complete the application process if you feel you meet these criteria. As much as we'd like to give every armchair traveler an opportunity, we cannot. Our guests have extremely high expectations of our guides and related experience is essential.

• Intimate knowledge about the region you wish to guide (this should include areas of common interest in that particular region whether it be natural history, art history, architecture, food, wine, cultural history, geology, indigenous history, music or folklore)
• We prefer that you live in the region in which you wish to guide (we find that guides living locally are more knowledgeable about the region and we cannot fly guides to and from tours on a regular basis)
• Stellar people skills: dazzling personality, secure and confident, at ease when speaking to groups, friendly and caring, a spirited conversationalist
• Experience in handling multiple logistics
• Fluency in the local language as well as English (if applying for a tour in a country where English is not the local language)
• Passionate about the outdoors
• Physically fit
• First aid skills and CPR preferred
• Prior guiding experience is helpful but not required
• Well-rounded life experience
• A warm smile and encouraging nature

Are You Ready to Apply?
If you think you fit the bill, we'd love to hear from you! Simply click below to start the application process.

Proceed to the application form