Mitch Bach sat down with João Perre Viana, the founder of Walking Mentorship, to talk one thing we tour operators are all familiar with: walking.
But not many of us design week-long trips where all you do is walk. Sometimes alone. Sometimes in a group. That’s it. Beyond some shared meals and moments, there isn’t much of a plan. Each group takes on a different spirit, but it’s all guided by a mentor who along the way tries to facilitate and gently foster personal transformation. What that looks like is up to the individual guest.
This conversation veered away from the nitty-gritty of business, and towards diving into the importance and magic of what we do as experience creators.
1. Introduction to Walking Mentorship [00:00:09]
- Joao’s background and origins in Portugal
- Is Walking Mentorship a tour company?
2. Joao’s Personal Journey and Spark for Walking Mentorship [00:01:16]
- The first Camino de Santiago in 1993
- The impact of the walk and self-discovery
- Realization of a calling to this work
3. Founding and Early Development of Walking Mentorship [00:04:23]
- Corporate career delay and returning to the idea
- Email to “fools, friends, and family,” and pilot programs
- Early feedback and attempts to give up on the idea
4. The Nature of Walking Journeys as Transformational Experiences [00:07:14]
- Layers of experience: curiosity, physicality, purpose, self-understanding, spirituality, culture
- Doors in a room analogy for guiding participant journeys
5. Participant Freedom, Responsibility, and Structure [00:12:06]
- Emphasis on total freedom and responsibility
- Rare participant withdrawal and the ethos behind the program
6. Difference Between Typical Travel and Mentorship Walking Journeys [00:13:10]
- Critique of traditional, structured, checklist-driven tours
- Deprogramming guests and creating space for transformation
7. Risk, Challenge, and Your Personal “Everest” [00:17:26]
- Meaning of risk (internal vs. external threats)
- The “wolves” participants face within themselves
- Ensuring physical and psychological safety
8. Common Motivations and Unique Outcomes [00:19:55]
- The universal quest or search among participants
- Every individual’s unique journey and needs
- “There is no replay” principle
9. The Mentorship Structure and Methodology [00:22:20]
- Mentor’s responsibilities and boundaries
- Preparing participants for returning home
- Structured support with eventual independence
10. Designing for Difficulty and Personal Growth [00:26:53]
- Backpack packing as a life metaphor
- Balancing physical challenge with adaptability
- Reading the group and tailoring the journey
11. Practical Aspects and Device Usage [00:32:22]
- Approach to phone/device use on programs
- Fostering mindful interaction with technology
12. Lessons for Day Tour Operators and Short-Form Experiences [00:35:16]
- Applying listening, eye contact, and personalization even to short tours
- Offering small but impactful experiences
13. The Art of Listening and Asking Questions [00:40:04]
- Listening as a crucial guiding skill
- Asking questions through stories
- Techniques for prompting deep reflection
14. Walking Mentorship Methodology: “Survival Kit” [00:44:40]
- Four stages: Slowing Down, Reconnecting, Gaining Perspective, Taking Action
- Toolbox of facilitation methods and adapting to the moment
15. Working with Corporate Groups [00:51:36]
- Parallels between corporate groups worldwide
- Depth of impact in team environments
- Equalizing power structures and fostering trust
16. Empathy, Conflict, and the Power of Walking Side-by-Side [01:00:08]
- Walking as an equalizer, building empathy beyond verbal communication
- Practical examples with diverse and conflicting groups
17. Broader Mission and the Potential of the Travel Industry [01:06:15]
- The urgency of empathy-building travel experiences in a divided world
- Tourism’s unique opportunity and challenge
18. Reflections on Personal Growth and Lifelong Learning [01:03:16, resumes at 01:11:30]
- Lifelong curiosity, humility, and self-improvement
- Giving individuals autonomy and intention