Unlike many guiding certifications that are very mountain-centric and quite limited in scope, PAWGI addresses the very specific requirements and specificities of wilderness environments. This includes:


Wilderness environments are more pristine, more fragile, and typically involve more biodiversity. Their primeval nature requires specific protection so they remain unaffected by recreational use ensuring their continuing bio-integrity and preservation for generations to come.

PAWGI-certified guides are not only trained in environmentally sustainable outdoor practices that exceed the Leave-No-Trace standards, but also in basic conservation biology in order to better understand the interrelationship of all living organisms on earth.


Wilderness environments are typically remote, and they usually lack basic services, such as designated trails, telephone coverage, or search and rescue. Guides must therefore be able to face any situation without outside help.

For this reason, PAWGI-certified guides are also trained in wilderness survival.


The remote nature of wilderness environments and lack of services often means that weather forecasting may be limited, potentially placing users at risk.

As a result, PAWGI-certified guides are further trained in meteorology in order to reasonably forecast weather events in regions where a weather office is not present.


Wilderness areas are often far from outside help, which requires specific planning, as well as adapted risk and emergency management techniques.

PAWGI-certified professionals are therefore trained to face the specific demands of remote wilderness environments.


Guiding a large group of participants on a well-used trail in a mountain area is certainly very different from guiding a handfull of people in the unchartered tundras of the high Arctic, the unexplored MacKenzie Mountains of Yukon, or the dense jungles of Borneo.

PAWGI-certified guides are therefore specifically trained in group management techniques adapted to the inherent expectation of solitude of wilderness environments, as well as expeditionary techniques that do not rely on developed trails. PAWGI-professionals are guides before being facilitators.


There is life, and a wide variety of it, beyond the heavily-used mountain areas of the world. There is also a history of First Nations who used to live in harmony with their environments.

PAWGI-certified guides are trained in nature and cultural interpretation in order to share such natural and cultural knowledge with their clients.


Compliance with laws and regulations ensures a fair competitive environment for all operators, public support, as well as preservation of sensitive wilderness areas. It also improves social responsibility by insuring outdoor professionals are fairly treated and remunerated.

Consequently, PAWGI-certified guides are trained and kept up to date with regulations in their area of operation.


Not all environments are identical, and not all guides share the same level of expertise in all subjects.

For this reason, PAWGI-certified guides can also specialize in Arctic, Conservation, Coastal, Desert, Jungle, Mountain, Survival and Winter operations.

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