Why I Built Made to Hike (And Why It Should Be Yours Too)
From Solo Project to Shared Home
What began as my personal business became something bigger—a place where certified guides could have the same ownership and control I wanted for myself, while benefiting from a powerful marketing platform none of us could build alone.
Think of it as a refugio. Not just a booking platform, but a home base for your adventures. A place that's yours.
I've spent the last decade training with Mountaintraining.org in the UK—first earning my Mountain Leader qualification, now working toward International Mountain Leader. I've guided small groups through the Scottish Highlands, the Dolomites, and the Pyrenees. Every trip reinforces why I love this work.
What the Mountains Teach Us
The mountains demand presence. When you're truly immersed in remote nature, everything else falls away. You feel how small you are against ancient rock and weather. Your thoughts quiet and merge with the environment around you.
And paradoxically, in that smallness, you discover what you're capable of—physically, mentally, spiritually.
That's what I want to share with people. That's what we share with people.
Your Refugio
Made to Hike isn't just for IFMGA or UIMLA-certified guides. If you're locally certified, you belong here too. What matters is that you're qualified, that you support our mission of sustainable and safe mountain adventures, and that you want to run your own business—not work for someone else's.
This is your home base. Your starting point for every adventure with your groups.
You set your prices. You control your calendar. You own your business. We provide the infrastructure and the marketing reach you need to grow—while you stay in control.
Built Different
Guides keep 95% of their earnings. The platform is EU-based, GDPR-compliant, runs on renewable energy. Every decision is made with guides at the center.
Because I built this as a guide who wanted to be my own boss. For guides who want the same.
If this resonates with you—if you want to own your business instead of working for a platform—join us.
If you're a hiker looking for authentic mountain experiences with certified guides who run their own businesses, find your next adventure here.
The mountains are where we find ourselves. Made to Hike is where we build our own path.
Michel Visser is a Mountain Leader (UK) working toward International Mountain Leader certification through Mountaintraining.org. Based in Amsterdam, he guides small groups in the Scottish Highlands, Dolomites, and Pyrenees. Made to Hike is his platform for guides who want to be their own boss.