Navigation
A topographic map with a compass

Knowing where you are, and how to get back, is the most important hiking skill. Many routes are unmarked, and phone signal can drop out in deep wadis.

Read topographic maps: contours, scale, grid references and symbols

Use a compass to take and follow bearings, adjusting for declination

Navigate with GPS apps such as Gaia, AllTrails or Wikiloc, with offline maps downloaded before you leave

Plan routes by distance, elevation gain and realistic time (Naismith's rule is a good start)

Match the terrain around you to the map, and relocate yourself if lost

Navigate safely in poor visibility or after dark

Trip Planning and Preparation
A trip-planning checklist with a clock and the sun

Most hiking emergencies start with a planning gap. A good plan matches the route to the group, the season and the weather.

Research the route, its difficulty and current trail conditions

Check the forecast and seasonal hazards, especially summer heat and flash floods

Confirm permits, access rules and local regulations

Share your itinerary and expected return time with someone at home

Match the route to the fitness of everyone in the group

Set a turnaround time and identify bail-out points before you start

Gear and Clothing
A backpack surrounded by hiking essentials
The right gear is light, suited to the terrain and always includes the basics. Every hiker should carry the Ten Essentials:

Navigation (map, compass, GPS)

Headlamp with spare batteries

Sun protection (hat, sunglasses, sunscreen)

First aid kit

Knife or multi-tool

Fire starter

Emergency shelter (space blanket or bivvy)

Extra food

Extra water

Extra clothing

Beyond the essentials, learn to choose footwear with good grip for rocky ground, layer clothing for hot days and cold nights, and fit your backpack properly. Trekking poles help a lot on steep, loose descents.

Fitness and Movement Skills
A hiker climbing a steep slope with trekking poles
Fitness lets you enjoy the hike; good technique keeps you safe on it.

Build cardio endurance and learn to pace yourself over a full day

Ascend and descend steep ground with control, saving your knees on the way down

Scramble with three points of contact on easy rock (Grade 1–2)

Cross scree, boulder fields and wadi beds safely

Judge water crossings, and know when not to cross

Carry a loaded pack efficiently and conserve energy

Safety and Risk Management
A warning sign beside a wadi under storm clouds
Good hikers make good decisions, and the best decision is sometimes to turn back.

Spot hazards early: rockfall, exposed edges, flash floods, wildlife and unstable ground

Reassess risk as conditions change, and make clear go/no-go calls

Watch for human factors such as summit fever and group pressure

Know what to do in an emergency: stop, shelter and signal

Carry a way to call for help: phone, satellite messenger or personal locator beacon, plus a whistle

Know the local emergency number (9999? in the country) and how rescue would reach you

First Aid and Wilderness Medicine
A first aid kit with a splint and thermometer
Help can be hours away on the trail, so basic first aid is a must. Leaders should hold a Wilderness First Aid (WFA) or Wilderness First Responder (WFR) certificate.

Recognise heat exhaustion and heat stroke, the biggest risk in climate

Prevent and treat dehydration, and avoid over-drinking plain water (hyponatremia)

Manage hypothermia, which is possible on cold mountain nights

Treat blisters, sprains and fractures, including improvised splints

Handle bites and stings from scorpions, snakes and insects

Care for a casualty and plan an evacuation

Hydration and Nutrition
Water bottles in the desert heat
In a hot climate, water planning can decide whether a hike succeeds.

Estimate how much water you need from temperature, distance and effort, then carry extra

Know where water sources are, and treat water with a filter, tablets or boiling

Replace electrolytes, not just water

Pack trail food that delivers steady energy, and eat little and often

Weather, Environment and Leave No Trace
A wadi with palm trees below the mountains
Reading nature keeps you safe, and respecting it keeps trails beautiful for everyone.

Read clouds and notice when conditions are changing

Never linger in a wadi when rain threatens upstream, since flash floods can arrive under clear skies

Know lightning safety and how to manage sun and UV exposure

Follow the 7 Leave No Trace principles, including packing out all waste

Respect wildlife, plants and heritage sites

Respect local villages and private land, including dress and behaviour norms

9. Advanced Skills: Overnight, Leadership and Technical
A tent and campfire under a starry sky
Once the basics are solid, these skills open up multi-day trips and leading others.
Overnight and camping

Choose safe campsites, away from wadi beds and rockfall zones

Pitch a tent or bivouac, and cook safely on a stove

Use a sleep system rated for cold desert and mountain nights

Group leadership

Give a clear pre-hike briefing on route, hazards and rules

Manage pace and keep the group together with a leader at the front and a sweep at the back

Read each hiker's ability and adapt the plan

Keep morale up with regular water and rest checks

Share local history, plants and wildlife to enrich the experience

Report and document any incident

Rope and technical basics

Tie core knots: figure-8, bowline and clove hitch

Use fixed ropes and handlines safely

Know when a route needs a certified technical guide

Where Do You Stand?
Use these levels to place yourself and pick your next challenge

Level	What you can handle
Beginner	Marked trails, short day hikes, basic gear and hydration
Intermediate	Unmarked routes, map and compass navigation, full-day hikes, basic first aid
Advanced	Scrambling, multi-day trips, remote areas, wilderness first aid
Leader / Guide	All of the above, plus group management, risk assessment and rescue coordination

ertifications Worth Considering

Wilderness First Aid (WFA) or Wilderness First Responder (WFR)

Mountain Leader awards, such as UK Mountain Training's ML or the International Mountain Leader (IML)

Leave No Trace Trainer

Tour guide licence from the Ministry of Heritage and Tourism, for anyone guiding professionally

Start Your Next Adventure
No one masters all of this at once. Pick one skill from the list, practise it on your next hike and build from there. Ready to put your skills to work? Find guided hikes across the country on the Adventures Club app, and join experienced leaders who can help you level up safely.