Put a rest day right after your heaviest tour, and never put two heavy tours back to back. If your trip is short, a half rest day, a light morning and a free afternoon, does most of the job. The layout below shows how this looks across a week.
This guide belongs to our itinerary styles topic.
Why do rest days matter on a tour-heavy trip?
Tours stack up. Early starts, hot walking and long rides leave you sleepy by the third day. The tour on that day then feels worse than it should.
A rest day does not subtract from the trip. It makes the tours you already paid for more enjoyable.
Which tour is the heaviest?
Score each tour by what it asks of you:
| Factor | Light | Heavy |
|---|---|---|
| Start time | After breakfast | Before sunrise |
| Travel | Short ride | Long ride or ferry |
| Body load | Mostly sitting | Walking, climbing or diving |
| Weather | Shaded or indoors | Open sun |
The tour with the most Heavy marks gets a rest day right after it. If you are planning dives, also read our guide on the no-fly window after diving.
How far apart should tours be?
Two heavy tours need at least one lighter day between them. Three tours in a row work only if all three are light.
If your leave is short, shrink the gap but not the rest. A light day with a late start and a pool afternoon counts.
What does a week with rest days look like?
Here is one example for a seven-night trip with three tours:
- Day one: arrival, easy evening.
- Day two: rest day, settle in.
- Day three: heavy tour.
- Day four: half rest, light morning plan.
- Day five: medium tour.
- Day six: full rest day.
- Day seven: short light outing, then pack.
The heavy tour sits early, when you are fresh, and rest follows straight after.
What should we do on a rest day?
Resist filling it. Sleep in, have a long breakfast, swim, nap, and perhaps book a couples massage. Our guide on spa value at resorts can help you choose one.
If you start planning during a rest day, bring it back to one easy thing only.
What if it rains on a tour day?
Rain can swap days. Keep your rest day flexible so you can trade it with a cancelled tour. Ask each operator about their rebooking rules before you pay, and get the answer in writing.
What should we do next?
- List your tours.
- Mark each as light, medium or heavy.
- Place a rest or half rest right after each heavy one.
- Send the list to us, and we will check travel times and the total for two with the operators.