Germany, Austria and Italy

Transcription

1 Germany, Austria and Italy E5-Across the Alps One of Europe s great Alpine journeys Walk through three countries Hugely rewarding mountain journey (Option to visit Fairytale Schloss Neuschwanstein and climb Tegelberg) Guided Group Departures Tour Grade C Tour Code - TATA For dates and prices visit: Group Size:- Min 6 Max 16

2 Introduction The E5 is one of Europe s most famous, dramatic and challenging Alpine trails. We have selected the most spectacular section of the E5 as it crosses the Alps from Bavaria via Austria to Italy. In the company of an expert, professional, English-speaking mountain guide you will experience the delights and challenges of walking high in the Alps. Amongst the high peaks you will see glaciers, isolated alpine lakes as well as walking through picturesque meadows lower down. For the times you remain high in the mountains, overnight halts are in authentic Bavarian and Tyrolean mountain huts and in charming guesthouses and rustic hotels when in the lower valleys. During the course of this classic mountain walking adventure you will experience sustained ascents and descents and you need to carry all your gear during the times spent up in the mountains, although we will make use of cable cars to carry backpacks and tired walkers when practical. Indeed, this long distance journey is for experienced mountain walkers only, comfortable with their own abilities, a head for heights and a good level of fitness. This is not a walking holiday for beginners or for anyone with no previous experience of walking in real mountains. The rewards for efforts are commensurate with sublime Alpine views to be enjoyed from lofty summits like Seekopf (2412 metres) and Pitztaler Jöchl (2995 metres). You can also meet Frosty Fritz, the 5,000-year-old Ice Mummy at the Bozen Museum too. Upon completion of this epic journey through the wild, untamed mountains of the Alps the local phrase Alpine Gemütlichkeit will make perfect sense. The Holiday Routine During the trek the group stays overnight in a variety of Alpine Mountain Huts and Pensions. On each of the trekking days you will mostly be walking from Mountain Hut to Mountain Hut. Each day you will be walking between 5 and 7 hours, sometimes with the assistance of cable cars to aid ascents, or to transport our daypacks. Usually we ll walk approx. 2-3 hours in the morning, take a break for lunch either at a mountain hut, or a picnic lunch in a scenic place. We ll then walk for 3-4 hours in the afternoon to our next overnight halt. Walking conditions During the course of the trekking in the mountains you will need to carry your own personal gear. A larger daypack of around litres should suffice. However, as you do not need to carry either a sleeping bag you should be able to keep the overall weight of your daypack to around 8-9kgs. We ll be walking in mountainous terrain, with sustained and sometimes steep ascents of between 500m to 1000m and descents to a maximum of 1800m on mountain trails. Conditions underfoot are generally good throughout on rocky footpaths, although there are short sections where scrambling will be involved. There are no technical sections that require the use of ropes or crampons. This trek will be best enjoyed by regular hill walkers with some previous mountain walking experience and a good level of fitness. The trip is not suitable for walking beginners. A full explanation of the trip grading can be found in our brochure or online at You should ensure you are comfortable walking at this level of grading and are physically prepared for the trip. Walk staff You will be accompanied by an English-speaking Alpine Mountain guide. If the group size exceeds 10, then a second guide will also accompany the group. What you need to provide Your personal equipment as detailed in the clothing and equipment list later in this trip dossier. Sleeping bags will not be required for the nights spent in Mountain Huts as bedding is provided, however we recommend you bring along a lightweight cotton or silk sleeping bag liner. Germany- E5, Across the Alps 2

3 Itinerary IMPORTANT-Due to the specialist nature of our holidays, day to day itineraries should be taken as a guide only, and as statements of intent and not contractual obligations. We regularly update our trip dossiers to take into account changes to trekking routes, accommodation, local transport etc. Such changes are a factor of this type of holiday and when made are out of necessity. Other factors such as adverse weather, unforeseen circumstances and other matters entirely out of our control etc can also lead to enforced changes during the course of the holiday. It is not possible to guarantee that any of our holidays will operate exactly as per the anticipated Outline Itinerary itinerary. The most current trip dossier will be made available on our website. We will also send you the most up to date trip dossier with your Final Joining Instructions approx. 2 weeks before departure and you should carefully check this for any changes that may affect your plans. We also recommend you read the Useful Information section on our website and in our current brochure.! Day Your 'at-a-glance' Itinerary Overnight Accn. Meal plan 1 Arrive Munich and take train to Oy-Mittelberg Oy-Mittelberg Hotel D 2 Transfer to Oberstdorf and ascend to the Kempner Hut Kemptner Mountain Hut BD 3 Hike into Austria and ascend Seekopf (2412m) Memminger Mountain Hut BD 4 Ascend Seescharte (2599m) and descend nr Venet Pension BD 5 Take gondola and trek to Braunschweiger hut Braunschweiger Mountain Hut BD 6 Exciting Alpine hiking, descending to Oetzal Solden Hotel BD 7 Hike from Austria into Italy Pfandler Alm Mountain Hut BD 8 Over the Hinteregg Alm and gondola to Meran Meran Hotel BD 9 Transfer tooy-mittelberg, with a stop to the Bozen Museum Hotel BD 10 Depart Oy-Mittelberg B B Breakfast, L Lunch, D Dinner. Please note that on this trip you may be joined by clients from other tour operators. Germany- E5, Across the Alps 3

4 Day 1 Rendezvous at the group hotel in the Bavarian village of Oy-Mittelberg. See Joining Instructions and transfers further on in this trip dossier. Most clients will fly to Munich or Memmingen Airport and take the train to Oy- Mittelberg. We ll enjoy a traditional Bavarian dinner and our Alpine Guide will join us with a briefing of the trip as well as check everyone is properly equipped for our journey across the Alps. Pension, Oy-Mittelberg Day 2 We ll leave our main baggage in Oy-Mittelberg, which we will be reunited with on day 8 when we arrive in Merano. We then transfer to the winter resort town of Oberdorf (1000m). Our Across the Alps journey then begins in earnest with the ascent up to the Kemptner Hut (1846m) where we will spend our first night in the Alps. Walking time approx. 4 hours, ascent 850m. Kemptner Mountain Hut we can be relieved of our daypacks as they are now transported up the mountain to our next overnight halt. We ll make the steady ascent up to the strategically located Memminger Hut (2242m) at a leisurely pace. After our high mountain supper we ll take a short hike of around 30 minutes to the summit of Seekopf (2412m). Up here in this tranquil, high alpine mountain wilderness we can truly appreciate the majesty of our surroundings, with fantastic mountain views to be savoured. Walking time approx. 6 hours. Ascent 950m, descent 850m. Memminger Mountain Hut Day 3 Our first morning in the mountains as we head towards the Austrian Tyrol. At first it s an ascent up to the Germany/Austria border to reach a ridge. From here we descend into the Tyrol to reach the town of Holzgau. Here we have a short transfer to a cable car station and Day 4 We ll make an early start as we head upwards and onwards to the Seescharte, a high mountain pass at 2599m. En route we pass a scenic alpine glacial lake, surrounded by delightful meadows. Reaching the pass we are rewarded with magnificent views of many alpine summits, as well as way down to the valley below. The latter also happens to be the direction we are heading as we make the long, but exceptionally scenic descent through several vegetation zones to reach our rustic overnight Pension. Here we can enjoy the luxury of a hot shower as well as the optional extra of a laundry service if required. Tucking into a hearty Tyrolean dinner we can pause Germany- E5, Across the Alps 4

5 and reflect on previous days spent high in the mountains. Walking time approx. 7 hours. Ascent 420m, descent 1800m. Pension,nr. Venet Day 5 Our most challenging day so far. The first major ascent of the day is by way of the Wennet Berg Gondola, which will quickly take us up to 2208m. From here the trek follows a ridge and up and down several minor alpine summits. We are treated to stupendous mountain panoramas all along the way as we remain above the tree line. Descending into the Pitzal Valley we hop on a bus to reach the end of the valley. Stopping for lunch at a charming mountain guesthouse we shall lose our daypacks once more as they are transported upwards by cable car. We shall follow our daypacks on foot of course, taking a trail by a striking waterfall as we ascend upwards once more. Above us hanging over the edges of sheer rock faces we ll see the tongues of the odd glacier. We ll reach today s final objective the Braunschweiger Hut at 2760m in good time for supper. Here we can appreciate the silence and solitude at this striking location Walking time approx. 7 hours. Ascent 1150m, descent 800m. Braunschweiger Mountain Hut Day 6 As the sun s rays begin to kiss the mountain slopes we will truly be able to appreciate the sheer splendour of our high mountain surroundings. A series of glaciated peaks dominates all our horizons, including the spectacular Wildspitze (3780m). Leaving the hut we ascend to reach the high point of our Alpine traverse and head for the Pitzaler Jöchl (2995m). So, that we can break the magic 3000m mark we carry on climbing upwards just a bit more with the odd little scramble across rock, ice and snow. We should also keep a sharp eye out for the elusive Ibex that inhabit these high mountains too. We then have a long descent down to Oetzal where the Ice Mummy (whom we shall meet in a few days time) was first discovered. Tonight we can once again enjoy hot showers, as well as the use of a Finnish style sauna. Walking time approx. 7 hours. Ascent 300m, descent 1400m. 4* Pension, Oetzal Day 7 After breakfast a short vehicle transfer brings us to the Timmelsjoch (2600m). Here we begin today s walk and say goodbye to Austria and hello to Italy. Initially ascending our route then descends quickly and quite steeply at times to reach the tiny village of Moos. Another short transfer takes us to a small restaurant where we can enjoy an Italian lunch. After lunch we ascend for a while before we then descend past the Glift waterfall to reach tonight s halt at Pfandler Alm. Tonight we can enjoy the unique nature of our surroundings with a BBQ. Walking time approx. 6 hours. Ascent 700m, descent 1470m. Pension, Pfandler Alm Day 8 Our final day of trekking is positively beautiful. Hiking up to reach delightful Alpine meadows, we reach the Hinteregg Alm (1990m). Here we can look forward to breathtaking views to the Ortler (3890m), the highest peak in the eastern Alps. A further 90 minutes of steady descent brings us to a cable car that will take us down to the fascinating medieval city of Meran. We have now completed our crossing of the Alps and are sure to have a celebration to mark this in Meran tonight. Walking time approx. 5 hours. Ascent 850m, descent 200m. Hotel, Meran Day 9 We now travel back to Oy-Mittelberg, but en route we ll make a stop at Bozen to visit the museum here, which contains the Ice Mummy. Found in 1991 by accident on the Schnalstal Glacier this archaeological sensation dates back over 5,000 years. We ll enjoy a traditional Germany- E5, Across the Alps 5

6 and hearty Bavarian dinner here and will no doubt find this the ideal place for a further celebration..the end of our journey! Hotel, Oy-Mittelberg accommodation here is dorm style. Some of the Mountains Huts do also have coin operated showers. Day 10 Depart Oy-Mittelberg by train for Munich Airport. Practical Information Passports and Visas British passport holders (and other EU passport holders) do not require a visa for stays up to three months for this trip (please ensure your passport has at least 6 months validity). Accommodation Accommodation will be reserved for you on a twin share basis unless you have already requested a single room. During the course of this trip we use a variety of hotels and pensions, all of a good standard and with en suite facilities. We also spend several nights in high Alpine Mountain Huts that provide simple, yet comfortable and acceptable standards of accommodation considering their extremely isolated locations. Please note twin and single accommodation is not available for the nights we spend in the Alpine Mountain Huts as all Food In the hotels and pensions we ll enjoy traditional and hearty local fayre, Bavarian, Austrian and Italian. Breakfasts will be continental style. In the Mountain Huts the food will be surprisingly good and filling considering our location. Lunches will mostly be picnics, which you can purchase at mountain huts we pass en route, or from our previous night s accommodation. Climate It is of course impossible to predict the precise weather conditions you will encounter during the course of your holiday. However, we do schedule our holidays to coincide with what should be the most suitable weather periods for walking. Summer in the Alps is usually quite warm, with frequent dry periods, although rain and thunderstorms can occur at anytime. Mountains are notorious for creating their own, localised weather conditions, so you should always be prepared for inclement weather conditions. For climate statistics visit Roughly speaking temperatures decrease by approx. 1ºC for every 200 metre increase in altitude. Snow can occur at anytime of year above 2000m. Temperatures can range between 15 C to 5 C between 2000m and 3000m in Germany- E5, Across the Alps 6

7 July/August although these are likely to be lower in September. In the lower valleys the temperatures will naturally be higher and feel positively warm in comparison to the days and nights we spend high in the mountains. Altitude This trip involves going to moderately high altitudes. If you are fit and healthy this is usually not something you should be worried about. Most people adapt to altitude quite well and there is plenty of oxygen even at the highest point of this trip. But, you should take care to allow yourself to acclimatise. You can do this by ensuring you drink between 3 and 6 litres of liquid each day, and walk at a pace slower than you perhaps usually would, especially at the outset and when ascending. Local transport A private mini bus and driver will be used for trail transfers within the trip itinerary. Baggage Please make sure that your baggage is clearly marked with your name, inside as well as outside, in case the labels get detached. During the course of the trekking in the mountains you will need to carry your own personal gear and you will have no access to your main baggage from the morning of day 2 until the evening of day 8. A larger daypack of around litres should suffice. However, as you do not need to carry either a sleeping bag or camping mat you should be able to keep the overall weight of your daypack to around 8-9kgs. Please note that as from July 1 st 2009 we are no longer providing complimentary Walks Worldwide kitbags. Your main baggage will be transferred from Oy-Mittelberg to Meran only. As your main baggage will be transported by vehicle a normal suitcase can be used for your main baggage. Responsible Tourism Acting responsibly in the way that we operate our holidays is very important to us at Walks Worldwide. In recognition of our Responsible Tourism values and practices, we have been awarded 3-star status in AITO s Responsible Tourism scheme. We would also request that as a client you endeavour to take part in any of our holidays with a positive attitude to Responsible Tourism and travel in a socially responsible manner. Many of our holidays travel to ecologically and culturally sensitive areas, where it is important to minimise any negative impact. We would especially recommend that before you start your chosen holiday you take the time to learn more about the country you are visiting, especially with regard to local culture, religion, customs, taboo s, acceptable modes of dress etc. Bradt, Lonely Planet and Rough Guide publications are an excellent resource for this and much more too. We are of course always happy to help and advise with regard to the country you are visiting. Vaccinations and medical precautions We always recommend visiting your doctor and dentist for a check up before travelling. Your doctor will also have access to the most up to date information on vaccinations and medical precautions for the country you are about to visit. In general, no vaccinations are necessary for Germany, Austria and Italy and health problems here are quite rare. Water on the walk is generally safe to drink, but you may like to take iodine tablets to purify your drinking water. Iodine is preferable to chlorine as a water steriliser, and a supply of powdered fruit juice would be a useful luxury to take away the taste of the sterilising medium. A useful travel health online resource is Please make sure that you obtain form EHIC either online or from your local post office you will need to produce this if you have to see a doctor. First Aid You should always carry your own small, personal first aid kit. This should consist of the following: A general anti-biotic, throat lozenges, painkillers, plasters (band-aids), blister treatment, insect repellent (DEET), rehydration salts, antiseptic cream, diarrhoea treatment (e.g. Imodium). Currency The currency used in Germany, Austria and Italy is the Euro ( ) Please refer to for up to date rates. ATM machines are common in the main towns as are credit cards. You will not have any access to any banks whilst in the mountains. Language During the course of this holiday you will be accompanied by an English-speaking guide and in many of the places we visit, English will be understood. However, it is always a good idea to learn a few simple phrases, common greetings and courtesy s in both German and Italian, and taking along a phrasebook can be very useful in this respect. Germany- E5, Across the Alps 7

8 Know before you go Walks Worldwide are fully committed to the British Foreign and Commonwealth Office s Know before you go campaign. We thoroughly recommend that all Walks Worldwide clients visit the FCO website If you have any questions or concerns about government travel advice to your chosen country please contact the Walks Worldwide office. Contact details It is not our policy to provide addresses and telephone numbers of every location that you will be staying at on this tour, as, due to frequent changes in contact details, it is very difficult to provide an accurate list for all our tours. Your Final Joining Instructions, which you will receive 2 weeks prior to departure, will show any local contact details that are required for your tour. However we will endeavour to provide you with further details if you have a specific reason.mobile phones do work in some of the areas you are trekking in, however at some stages there maybe no signal. If you have not used your mobile outside the UK before you will have to contact your operator to enable international calls. Please ensure your phone is set for roaming if you are taking a mobile. Please note that it is expensive to phone both to and out of a mobile when abroad. We do not however encourage mobile phone use whilst walking on any of our trips out of courtesy to other clients please use you mobile phone discretely. If you do need to get in touch, or if anyone needs to get in touch with you, please contact the Walks Worldwide office ( ) during office hours. Tipping Tipping is at your discretion. However, if you have received good service a tip is the normal way of saying thank you and as guideline only we recommend a tip of 25 per person if you feel you have received good service from your guide. Maps We recommend either: The Map Shop, 15 High Street, Upton-on-Severn, Worcs WR8 0HJ (Tel: ) or Stanfords at Long Acre, London WC2E 9LP (Tel: ) Joining Arrangements and Transfers Rendezvous at the group accommodation in Oy-Mittelberg on day 1 of the trip itinerary. The nearest Airports to Oy-Mittelberg are Munich and Memmingen. You should aim to arrive at your chosen Airport no later than mid-afternoon on day 1 in order to arrive in Oy-Mittelberg no later than early evening and in time for dinner. You will be met on arrival at the train or bus station in Oy-Mittelberg on day 1 of the trip itinerary and taken to the group hotel. It is very easy and straightforward to travel from Munich and Memmingen to Oy- Mittleberg. From Munich there is a regular train service to Oy-Mittelberg (journey time approx. 2hrs 30mins, cost approx. 15). From Memmingen there is a regular bus service to Oy-Mittelberg (journey time approx. 1 hour) To arrange your pick-up at Oy-Mittelberg station, you would simply telephone our agents office (number supplied in your Final Joining Instructions) just prior to boarding whichever train or bus you subsequently take to Oy- Mittelberg to advise our agents (who are based in Oy-Mittelberg) with your scheduled arrival time. Please note there is no taxi service in Oy-Mittelberg. Train times and bus times for Munich and Memmingen to Oy-Mittelberg can be found at: Land Only With the increasing choice of both scheduled and low cost airlines offering regional departure flights to Munich Airport and with simple to use online booking services, our Land Only walking holidays do not include International travel. Making your own International travel arrangements online is certainly the easiest and most cost effective way to join this trip. You will need to book flights that enable you to arrive in Munich or Memmingen, no later than mid-afternoon on Day 1 of the trip itinerary in order to subsequently arrive in Oy-Mittelberg no later than early evening by train or bus on the same day. Return flights should be booked to depart from Munich or Memmingen Airport no sooner than Day 10 of the trip itinerary. Germany- E5, Across the Alps 8

9 In 2010 Ryanair ( are introducing flights from London Stansted to Memmingen Airport, which is considerably closer to Oy-Mittelberg than Munich. You may require extra nights both at the start and end of the trip if you choose Ryanair flights, dependent upon their flight schedules. Useful online search engines for International air travel from the UK to Munich are: - searches scheduled airlines - provides useful information on low cost airlines flights. IMPORTANT- MAKE SURE YOUR CHOSEN HOLIDAY IS GUARANTEED TO RUN BEFORE YOU PURCHASE AIR TICKETS AND MAKING ANY OTHER TRAVEL ARRANGEMENTS. Please contact the Walks Worldwide office to check the status of your chosen holiday BEFORE purchasing your International Air ticket. You should not book your International flight tickets or make any other travel arrangements until your chosen holiday is guaranteed to run. If you are purchasing your own air ticket, you should be aware that most of the cheaper airline tickets available for sale on the Internet or from low cost carriers are non-refundable in the case of cancellation. For this reason we strongly advise you check the rules of the ticket when you make a flight booking, and check the limitations of any cancellation insurance policy you have. We cannot be held liable, for losses incurred relating to any flight bookings or subsequent travel arrangements you have made yourself. travel and the activities involved. This cover should include repatriation costs, air ambulance and helicopter rescue. It is also advisable to take out cancellation insurance as all deposits paid are non-refundable. You may arrange either single-trip or annual multi-trip travel insurance through our preferred specialist insurance brokers Campbell Irvine, for example, underwritten by AXA Insurance (UK) plc. This cover has been specifically designed to cover our type of travel and we strongly recommend that you use it. To arrange cover or to obtain a quotation please contact Campbell Irvine directly. Apply online at Tel: info@campbellirvine.com Inclusions and exclusions Inclusions All breakfasts and dinners All accommodation Guide whilst on trek Gondola/Cable Car Fee s used in the itinerary. All land transfers in the itinerary Entrance fee to Bozen Museum (Ice Mummy) Exclusions Drinks Lunches Souvenirs and personal items Insurance Lunches International Travel Airport transfers Once your chosen holiday has reached guaranteed status we will contact you Travel by Train If you would prefer to travel to/from Munich by train provides an online booking service for European rail services, including Eurostar. You should not book your International rail tickets or make any other travel arrangements until your chosen holiday is guaranteed to run Travel Insurance It is a condition of booking any of our holidays that you have comprehensive travel insurance. It is your to responsibility to ensure you are covered for medical and personal accident risks for the part of the world you intend to Germany- E5, Across the Alps 9

10 Visit Fairytale Schloss Neuschwanstein and climb Tegelberg Surely no visit to Bavaria is complete without a visit to the most famous landmark in the whole of Germany, the magical, fairytale castle of Schloss Neuschwanstein, built by King Ludwig 2 nd, The Swan King. The castle is idyllically located just outside the medieval town of Füssen and only a 25min drive from Oy-Mittelberg where we commence our E5-Across the Alps Adventure. On our special extension, not only can you visit Schloss Neuschwanstein, you can also trek to the nearby summit of Tegelberg (1730m) for sublime views of the Bavarian Alps and the lake below. It s a 900m ascent to the summit, undertaken in the company of a guide and is certainly well worth the effort, especially as there is a panoramic restaurant almost on the summit itself. In order to incorporate both a visit to Schloss Neuschwanstein and ascend Tegelberg in the same day, the descent is by Gondola cable car. To join this wonderful extension and visit dreamy Schloss Neuschwanstein and climb Tegelberg you simply need to arrive one day BEFORE the scheduled group start date. Prices start at 150 per person (for a minimum of 2 participants) - Includes twin share Gasthof accommodation in Oy-Mittelberg with Dinner and Breakfast, transfers by private vehicle, guide, entrance fee to Schloss Neuschwanstein and Gondola descent from Tegelberg Germany- E5, Across the Alps 10

11 Clothing and Equipment Lists At least one set of casual / non-walking clothes will be useful for wearing in hotels on this holiday. Whilst walking you must not worry about how you look: comfort and protection against bad weather are of prime importance. Because mountain weather is so very variable, we recommend a number of thin layers rather than a few thick ones. The following list is our suggested guide to help you with your packing based upon our many years of travelling/walking. Using your own judgment for packing is of course important, especially with regard to casual clothing etc but please do not hesitate to contact us if you have any questions about packing for your holiday, or are uncertain as to the suitability of your clothing and equipment. CLOTHING Walking boots and spare laces Lightweight Trainers/approach shoes Socks 3+ pairs (Walking and Casual) Underwear 3+ T-shirts 3+ Trekking Pants Short trousers 1+ Light fleece 1-2 Thick fleece 1-2 Warm Jacket (e.g Down) Thermal Baselayer shirt 1-2 Thermal underwear Waterproof jacket with hood Waterproof trousers Winter/Thermal Gloves Sun Hat Warm Hat Gaiters (optional) Swimwear (for sauna) EQUIPMENT Daypack/rucksack (minimum size litres) Sheet sleeping bag 2 Large water bottles ( 1 litre each) Towel quick drying pack towel is recommended Torch (and spare bulb and batteries) Camera & accessories Binoculars (optional) A variety of dry bag/plastic bags (kitbags are not waterproof) Sunglasses Trekking poles (highly recommended) Reading material (optional) Washing/Shaving kit Insect Repellent Small personal First Aid kit (see section above) Anti-Bacterial Handwash Water purifying tablets (iodine based are best) Sun Cream & lip salve Blister plasters i.e. Compeed Tickets/E tickets Passport Money Germany- E5, Across the Alps 11

12 The following items should also considered as being useful on a walking holiday Penknife/small scissors (DO NOT PACK IN HAND LUGGAGE) Moisturising cream Baby wipes Snacks/Energy bars Safety pins (DO NOT PACK IN HAND LUGGAGE) Padlock for your kitbag Small sewing/repair kit (DO NOT PACK IN HAND LUGGAGE) Small mirror Nail clippers (DO NOT PACK IN HAND LUGGAGE) Spare glasses/contact lenses Earplugs (against snorers) Cold water Travel Wash (preferably biodegradable) Travel adaptor Germany- E5, Across the Alps 12

13 What to do next We hope that you found this trip dossier helpful and informative. If you would like further information, our friendly team would be delighted to help and advise with any questions you may have. As an independent walking specialist company staffed by widely-travelled walking enthusiasts, we pride ourselves on being able to provide an informal personal service to our clients, many of whom travel with us on a regular basis. How to book this trip To check availability for specific dates and to receive a flight quote please contact us, also if you are looking at a group trip please check the trip status with us before you book. The easiest way to book your holiday is via our website: or to go directly to the online booking form please CLICK HERE. There is also a booking form on the website and in the brochure which you can complete and post to us. Alternatively you can telephone ( ) us and we can accept your booking over the telephone. Deposit We require a deposit of either 100 per person or 10% of the total cost of the holiday (whichever is greater), including extensions, single supplement and flights if we have quoted these separately to you. Certain non-refundable, instant purchase flights will require full payment we will advise you this at time of enquiry. Your deposit can be paid by cheque, debit or credit card. YOUR FINANCIAL PROTECTION We are an ATOL bonded tour operator authorised by the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA). Every holiday we sell that includes a flight element is protected under our ATOL licence number In the unlikely event of our insolvency, the CAA will ensure that you are not stranded abroad and will arrange to refund any money you have paid to us for an advanced booking. We protect all UK customers who purchase tours that do not include flights from the UK through the AITO-arranged AITO Trust Ltd (AITOT). AITOT work closely with the CAA - they share much of their information. Their financial requirements are as rigorous as those of the CAA IATA is the Trade Association of the world s international airline industry. To become an Accredited IATA Agent we have to demonstrate financial soundness, and proficiency of staff We are a member of the Association of Independent Tour Operators. AITO represents Britain s leading independent tour operators and encourages high standards of quality and service. We abide by the Association s Code of Conduct and adhere to the AITO Quality Charter which can be viewed at RESPONSIBLE TOURISM Climate Care is the organisation through whom we offer people the opportunity to offset their carbon emissions. We were one of the first travel companies in the UK to provide this facility. In recognition of our Responsible Tourism values, we have been awarded 4-star status in AITO S Responsible Tourism Scheme LOYALTY SCHEME Up to 100 off If you ve already experienced the magic of one of our holidays, you automatically qualify for a discount on holidays offered by the other specialist travel brands in our group. See our website or brochure for details. Germany- E5, Across the Alps 13