My sister Emily and I went on a mountain hiking trip with five (1) _______ people and our guide, Alex. The view was beautiful, and we saw lots of animals like deer, eagles, and even a fox. But one afternoon, Emily and I (2) _______ a silly mistake.

We wanted to take pictures of the sunset, so we decided (3) _______ to a nearby hill. We left the group quietly and walked for about fifteen minutes. After taking a few photos, Emily looked around and said, "I think we're too far. We should head back."

We turned around, (4) _______ the trail was confusing, and we couldn't see the way. "I think we're lost," Emily said, worried. "How do we get back? Nobody knows we left."

Soon, it became dark, and the wind was cold. (5) _______, I had a flashlight, but we were still scared. After what felt like hours, we finally heard Alex calling our names. He was angry but also (6) _______. We promised not to wander off again!

1. Many young people think being a tour guide is a dream job, like a paid holiday without any costs. But in reality, it can be tiring and stressful. Tour guides have to solve problems and handle the constant requests of people who paid for the tour.

2. Nowadays, tourists are more demanding, partly because of the internet. They already know a lot of basic facts that tour guides usually share. What tourists want now is something unique and special. Just showing them famous buildings, monuments, or telling a few stories is no longer enough. Modern travellers prefer to experience the local culture and see how people really live in the places they visit.

3. This is why ‘step-on guides' have become more popular. These guides live in the local area and have personal knowledge. They temporarily take over the tour to give more specific information that regular guides might not know. Moustafa, a step-on guide from Istanbul, Turkey, says ‘it's a great way to meet people and introduce them to the city'.

4. To be a good step-on guide, you must understand what tourists want. Moustafa treats his guests more like students than tourists, encouraging them to engage with the places and people they visit.