RAW TRAVEL APP

Please install RAW Travel’s new navigation APP onto your phone when you are connected to strong WIFI, and before you depart on your trip. For iPhone users, please click here. Android phone users, please click here.

After you have installed and opened the APP you will see the home screen, as per the image below. Enter your unique Itinerary reference number 00000/A00000. Then, simply tap the blue download button to proceed.

NOTE: Your itinerary number will be saved on the App under “Your Itineraries” It is marked as a black circle in the image below. You do not need to re-enter your reference number every time.

LOCATION SERVICES
It is essential that you enable location services on your phone.

1. Go to Settings > Privacy & Security,  turn Location Services ON.

Allow location services or permission for the RAW Travel APP.

1. Go to Settings on your phone and scroll down to the RAW Travel APP and then allow Location Access by selecting ‘While Using the App’ or ‘Always’. 

You will find further advice in the other FAQs on this page. Or you can email app@rawtravel.com for support, especially over weekends and after hours when the office is closed.

TIP: We recommend bringing an external power bank for your phone during your walk. Our travellers often notice a rapid drain on their mobile batteries due to navigation, photography, music, and other activities.

The RAW Travel App is a navigation tool with many useful features:

• It shows your current position on the trail in real-time without any internet connection needed.
• Your information can be accessed offline with zero data usage.
• There is a day-by-day itinerary, with a brief overview on the map and also a more detailed summary.
• On most routes, local points of interest are included with an audio description that plays as you approach them.
• Images of your accommodation booking are included, along with luggage transfer details.
• There’s important safety information relevant to the route you are walking plus emergency contact details.
• Localised weather reports for each overnight stop are included to help you plan the next day.
• Option to view maps in Satellite/ Terrain / Standard / Hybrid display, with compass orientation shown.

Yes. The exact location, address, phone number and a photo of each property you are booked into is included in the app. Tap on the orange accommodation icon to reveal the information.

If you click on Day by Day on the home screen, you can access your full itinerary, including information about your accommodation.

You do not need to use Google Maps to find your accommodation.

Some toilets are included on our route maps but please understand that we cannot show all amenities. Google Maps is a great tool for finding public restrooms nearest to your location.

No, it’s different. Our app can pinpoint and confirm whether you’re still on the correct trail if you have doubts. When navigating your way to your hotel or guesthouse at the end of the day, we recommend switching to satellite mode. This provides a clear view of roads and helps you make informed decisions about your route. Combining our app with trail signage and a local map or guidebook will assist with a smooth and enjoyable hike.

You don’t need the latest model smartphone to use our app but it will help if your software updates are up to date and you have checked that you have enough phone storage before you download the app. Smartphone compatibility information and file sizes are shown in the app stores.

(Go to Settings > General to see information about software updates and storage.)

Once you have downloaded the RAW Travel app to your device, enable Location Services (Go to Settings > Privacy & Security, then turn ON Location Services.) You must enable Location Services so that you can see where you are in relation to the trail (you will be the blue dot).

You must also allow location services for the app itself. Go to Settings. Scroll down until you find the RAW Travel App. Allow Location Access by selecting While Using the App or Always.

Then open the app on your home screen.

You will be prompted to enter a unique reference number in the white square at the bottom of the screen that says ‘Your itinerary’. You will only need to enter this number once. (The number will be stored on the app under the heading ‘Your Itineraries’ at the bottom of the screen.)

Then, click on the arrow within the blue circle (next to where you just typed in your itinerary number) to download your daily itinerary, route maps, emergency contact details, weather information and more. 

Your unique code will be sent to you in your pre-departure information – usually 4 weeks before the start date of your trip. Once you have entered this number (exactly as supplied, including the forward slash) you will be able to view your route maps, daily itinerary, accommodation details, localised weather info and emergency contacts. You only need to enter this number once. It will then be saved under ‘Your Itineraries’ at the bottom of the screen.

Before you depart for your trip, follow the steps below. This will make it easier to troubleshoot in the unlikely event that there are any issues.

1. Install the App (see above) when you are connected to strong wifi (not while using cellular data).
2. Enter your unique Itinerary Number. Your Itinerary will be downloaded onto the app. Your unique number is stored on the App under the heading ‘Your Itineraries’. (This is at the bottom of the page where you have the space to enter this number.)
3. Select one of the 6 buttons to access the information you need.

You’ll see various icons on your route map, which visually identify booked accommodation, cafes, points of interest and more.

Tap on an icon/pin to reveal the information.

• The blue dot shows your location on the trail in real-time.
• Orange accommodation icons are GPS mapped and show the actual location of your accommodation.
• All other icons provide valuable information, including distance, suggested walking hours and a descriptive overview of the day.

To navigate using our App you must have Location Services turned on in two different places on your device. This is very important. If you don’t do this, your location will be concealed, which means you position relative to the trail will not be shown as the blue dot.

Step 1 ) Go to Settings > Privacy & Security. Turn ON Location Services.
Step 2 ) To access Location Services for the RAW Travel App: Go to Settings. Scroll down until you find the RAW Travel App. Allow Location Access by selecting While Using the App or Always.

NOTE: Step 2 is in addition to your location services being switched on for your phone. If everything is set up correctly, you will see the blue dot. If you have enabled Location Services but the blue dot still isn’t visible, it means you have not enabled location access for the app itself.

Use Flight Mode
We recommend using Flight Mode. This will prevent the phone looking for a signal, which will interfere with the app. When you have Aeroplane Mode switched on you will see an airplane icon in your notification bar at the top of your screen. Using Aeroplane Mode is also a great way to conserve your battery.

HOW TO NAVIGATE
Once you have followed the steps, above…

1. Click on the blue Routes Map option on the home screen. This will reveal your entire route. Click on Your Routes again (at the bottom of the screen) and it will reveal the different sections.
2. Under Settings (next to Route Maps) you can change the Map Type to Satellite, Standard, Hybrid or Terrain.
3. To navigate along the trail, simply follow the blue dot on the map. It shows your location on the trail in real-time. You do not need an internet connection or GPS maps. The app works offline.
4. To zoom in on small text or fine details, pinch your thumb and index finger apart to adjust the zoom.
5. To zoom out to see the overall picture or find a different place to zoom in, pinch your thumb and index finger together.
6. Next, tap on the various icons and pins on your route map. The icons visually identify accommodation, cafes, important information and so on. Tapping on the icon or pin will reveal the information.
7. To see your itinerary, click on the green Day by Day option.

While our app uses GPS and functions in airplane mode, having a working phone will enhance your experience. It allows you to interact with your daily itinerary, find restaurant options, call hotels, check train/bus schedules, and contact emergency services if needed.

• Read more in our article about How to set up your phone for international travel, which includes recommendations for each RAW Travel destination.

Yes! You should use your electronic device as your primary navigation tool, but it is important to also have a backup. Your phone may run out of battery, get wet or break. Or you may lose it. Always carry a paper map / guidebook in your daypack so that you have two reliable navigation aids. Do not rely exclusively on the app. This is particularly important on trails that are poorly signed.

The blue dot shows your location on the trail in real-time. If your position on the trail doesn’t seem accurate, don’t panic! Maps use satellites to know your location up to around 20m. As long as you are close to the path and heading in the right direction you don’t need to be concerned.

If the photos are not downloading, it doesn’t mean the app is not working. You need internet for the photos to download.

If you have issues with the app while you are out walking the trail, the best thing to do is to switch off your device and then turn it back on. This will reset your phone and the app. Remember to put your phone on Flight Mode while you are using the app to navigate on the trail. This will save the battery and prevent the phone looking for a signal and dropping out on the app.

If the issues do not resolve, you can delete and reinstall the app when you have wifi, ie when you get back to your hotel. It’s unlikely that you will need to do this, and is a last resort.

The issue of apps crashing is more relevant to Android phones. App glitches, corrupted cache data, and outdated Android OS are common reasons for why apps do not open on Android devices. Follow the trouble-shooting instructions below.

1. Clear the cache
Apps on Android tend to collect cache data to improve their performance. But if that cache data is old or corrupt, the app may misbehave or refuse to open. To fix it, clear the app’s cache by following these steps:
Step 1: Long-press on the troublesome app and tap on the info icon from the resulting menu.
Step 2: Go to Storage and cache and tap on the Clear cache option.

2. Update all apps
If you don’t update apps regularly, they get outdated. That leads to compatibility issues and abrupt app crashes. To rule this out, update all of your apps.

3. Update software
Software updates bring all kinds of bug fixes and improvements to the Android OS. To check for updates, open the Settings menu and navigate to System. Tap on the System update to download any pending software updates.

If you experience problems downloading or using the app before you travel, please check that you have followed all the instructions provided to you and that you have browsed the information on this page – it contains important information and useful tips. If you are still experiencing problems, please email app@rawtravel.com to request assistance, and include a description of the issue and your contact details.

If you have issues while you are walking the trail, please refer to the relevant FAQ. If you have tried to resolve the problems and the app is still not working, please email app@rawtravel.com and mark your email as urgent.

Yes. Your trip profile on the RAW app expires 2 days after your trip has ended and you will no longer have access to your trip information through the app.

The default settings on some OPPO phones will kill off apps that need to run in the background to conserve battery use. If you find that your App is “not working” then please follow the following steps:

• Go into Settings on your OPPO phone.
• Find Battery and scroll down to Battery optimisation
• In Battery optimisation, scroll to RAW Travel App.
• Change the setting from Optimise to Do Not Optimise.

Next, go to your Battery setting and select Energy Saver. Find the RAW Travel App and switch off the following:

• Freeze when in Background
• Automatically Optimise when an Abnormality is Detected

Yes. You may find that your battery will rapidly dwindle when using your phone for navigation as well as taking photos and listening to music. Watching your device steadily run out of power when you’re nowhere near an outlet is stressful, so we recommend you take a portable power bank or charger.

Enabling Aeroplane Mode (Flight Mode) will help conserve your battery.