The Transformational Power of Walking (w/ Joao of Walking Mentorship)

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.

For more show notes, visit tourpreneur.com. And be sure to join nearly 20,000 tour operators in our Facebook group!

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