Let’s Chat About Tips..

Gratitude in the Back Country: A guide to tipping

At Western Spirit, our guides are the heartbeat of the trip. They are your master mechanics, backcountry chefs, flora and fauna experts, and personal cheerleaders all rolled into one. We often get asked about the “etiquette” of tipping in the outdoor industry. While gratuities are never mandatory, they are a standard industry practice and a powerful way to say “thanks” for a job well done.

To help you prepare for your adventure, here is our guide to tipping like a pro.

1. The “Industry Standard” Rule of Thumb

Just like in the service or hospitality industry, tipping is based on a percentage of the total cost. A gratuity of 10% to 20% of your trip price is the standard range for outdoor guiding.

Example: If your 4-day White Rim tour cost $1,345, a tip of $135 to $270 is customary.

2. Cash is King (But Venmo Works Too)

While we live in a digital world, nothing beats the “backcountry handshake” with a cash envelope at the end of the trail. However, we know carrying large amounts of cash on a bike trip can be tricky.

Pro Tip: Most Western Spirit guides have Venmo. If you prefer to tip digitally, feel free to ask your guides for their handles on the final day.

3. The “Group Pot” Approach

If you are traveling with a group of friends or family, it’s often easier to pool your tips together into one envelope. This simplifies things for the guides and ensures the whole crew is recognized collectively for their hard work.

4. Tipping for the Team

On most Western Spirit trips, you’ll have a team of 2 guides working together to handle everything from driving the support vehicle to setting up camp.

How to split it: Your guides split tips evenly 50/50. You don’t need to worry about individual math. You can give the total tip to either guide, and they will ensure it is split evenly. (including the shuttle driver and support staff who made the magic happen).

5. It’s About the Effort, Not Just the Summit

In the outdoors, things don’t always go according to plan. Maybe a sudden thunderstorm rolled through Moab, or a mechanical issue changed the day’s route. As Outside Online notes, “Sometimes good guiding means saying no.” If your guides worked tirelessly to keep you safe, fed, and smiling despite challenging weather or trail conditions, that effort is often when they’ve earned a tip the most.

6. When to Give

The best time to tip is on the final day of your trip, usually right after the last lunch or when you’re saying your goodbyes back at the meeting place. A personal note or a simple “thanks for an epic week” goes a long way.

What do our guides use their tips for?

“I use my amazing guest tips to shop locally & support our small town business.. Also to fix all the bikes I break.” -Cullen

“I use tips to buy gas to get me to the next trailhead & coffee shop” -Katie

“I use my tips to expand my Pit Viper collection” -Lewis

“To Save responsibly for my further education” -Chris K.

FAQs

• Is a tip required? Never. Tipping is a personal decision and should reflect the quality of service you received. Our guides are professionals who love what they do, and they strive to provide a 5-star experience regardless of the gratuity.
• What if I’m on a budget? We get it—adventure travel is an investment. If a 10-20% tip isn’t in the cards, please don’t let that stop you from showing appreciation. A heartfelt thank-you note, a glowing online review mentioning your guides by name, or even a cold beverage at the finish line is always appreciated.
• Can I tip in gear or beer? While our guides love a good craft brew or a fresh pair of socks, these should be considered “bonuses” rather than a replacement for a monetary tip. Our guides use their tips to cover travel, gear maintenance, and off-season living expenses!

Got more questions? We’re here to help! Give us a call at the office 435-259-8732 or shoot us an email biking@westernspirit.com We can’t wait to see you on the trail.

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