Experience the medieval villages, vibrant cities and authentic culture of Catalonia, culminating in a hiking excursion to the remote Nuria Valley. For those with limited time, this 8-day hiking adventure is an ideal way to get to know this region of Spain, known for its dense forests, rolling hills, dormant volcanoes and stark cliff faces. Catalonia Walking Adventure Active 2009 GPE 6 15 Max 15, Avg 10 Europe Spain Barcelona Barcelona Spain Spain Trekking/Hiking 8 3 Standard http://www.gapadventures.com/images/banners/spain/spain_tapas.jpg Arrive in Barcelona at any time. A short bus or train ride brings us to Gerona where we have a guided walking tour of the city. Begin your journey with a morning train and bus ride from the coast to the Garrotxa National Park area and the historic town of Olot. Spend the afternoon at leisure discovering this authentic Spanish village. In the following two days enjoy an optional hike to one of the park’s many extinct volcanoes and visit the nearby village of Santa Pau for a journey back in time. Visit the remote Vall de Nuria by train and spend two days relaxing and hiking — you choose the pace — in this picturesque area, deep in the Pyrennes on the edge of the French border. Return to Barcelona by train. The afternoon is free to spend one last day exploring the cultural capital of Spain and enjoy a farewell dinner with your new found friends. Arrival day, no activities planned. Check into our hotel and spend the afternoon at leisure exploring Spain’s second largest city, known worldwide for its dynamic atmosphere and exciting style.

Barcelona may be Spain’s second largest city, but it is the capital when it comes to fashion, architecture, food and music. Known worldwide for its dynamic atmosphere and exciting style, Barcelona is always fun and exciting. As the most cosmopolitan and economically active city in Spain it has always shown its will to be modern, and Barcelona is always at the forefront of the latest international styles, whether it be architecture, fashion or ways of thinking. There is plenty of history too: visit the old Gothic Quarter with its maze of dark streets, historic cathedral, medieval buildings, bars and cafes. Stroll the Rambla, a large tree-lined pedestrian boulevard perfect for people-watching and window shopping, ending at the harbourfront facing the Mediterranean Sea.

Make sure to view Gaudi’s most famous life work, the cathedral La Sagrada Familia, an inspiring yet bizarre testament to the artist’s unique vision. Should you need some quiet time away from it all a visit to the city’s imaginative Parque Guell will cure all ills, as you stroll the tree-lined paths and admire more of Gaudi’s creative genius at play.

For nightlife, the highest concentration of beautiful young locals dancing – both in the bars and on the street – can be found near the intersection of Santaló and Mariano Cubi streets. Here you can always find good music, good drinks and lots of fun. Another good nightlife spot for meeting the fashionable locals of Barcelona is on the Plaza Francesc Maciá.
Estimated Travel Time: 1.5 hours

A short bus or train ride brings us to Gerona where we have a guided walking tour of the city.

Gerona (also spelled Girona), an ancient walled city situated atop a hill overlooking the Onyar River, is the most fought after town in all of Catalonia. Dating back to Roman times, Gerona has been the scene of bloody battles in every century since. For nearly two hundred years Gerona was controlled by Arabs, followed by over 600 years of Jewish control. Gerona was besieged a total of 21 times, and in the nineteenth century it earned itself the nickname "Immortal" by surviving five attacks, the longest of which was a seven-month assault by the French in 1809. Not surprisingly, all this turmoil has bequeathed the city a hotchpotch of architectural styles, from Roman classicism to modern, yet the overall impression for the visitor is of a medieval city, its attraction heightened by its riverside setting.

Many bars and restaurants line Gerona’s calle la Força, in the centre of the old city. The areas that surround the Rambla, Libertan and Plaça del Vi, are two of the best areas to grab a bite to eat in the afternoon since they have ample outdoor seating. Another little enclave of restaurants with good menús del dia is over the river in Plaça de la Independencia. Estimated Travel Time: 1.5 hours

Take an early train/bus to Olot town. After a short group meeting there will be free time to explore this typical Catalan town, or go biking or hiking on one of the trails surrounding the town.

Today marks our entry into the Catalan Pyrenees proper, where we will spend much of our trip. The Catalan Pyrenees consists of a mountainous strip nearly 250 km long, stretching from the Val d'Aran to the Mediterranean. The range includes some of the highest peaks in Europe, including Mount Aneto (3404 m) in the Maladeta Massif.

For an area renowned for its varied landscape, the peaks themselves are surprisingly similar, including the glacial cirques with their lakes and ponds. Visualize crystal clear mountain streams running through deeply carved valleys lined with pine forests.

The region is made up of several sections, each making up its own natural region. These sections are based on a major river valley and possess their own distinct personality and history. The regions are the Val d'Aran, Ribagorça, Pallars, Alt Urgell, Cerdanya, Ripollès, Garrotxa and Empordà.

Visitors to the Catalan Pyrenees can enjoy a wide range of attractions, magnificent scenery, villages steeped in character, facilities for all types of mountain sports and delicious culinary specialties. It is an area where time honoured traditions still hold true.

Visit La Garrotxa National Park and walk the old pathways through farms and wooded areas, past ancient medieval churches and lovely scenery.

The historic town of Olot is located within one of the most important volcanic areas in Europe, the Natural Park of the Volcanic Area of the Garrotxa. This impressive volcanic landscape, combined with the plant species of the area, lends the region its unique natural beauty. The scenery here is varied and often spectacular: dense oak forests, valleys both narrow and wide, white cliffs striped with bands of deep green trees clinging to ledges.

We have a chance to hike the two volcanoes, Santa Margarida and Croscat with their stunning views and delightful scenery, and there is still ample time to explore many lovely local villages. People have lived here for thousands of years and used the land gently. See towns and stone farmhouses perfectly placed to catch the best sun while shielding themselves from the worst winds. Hillsides are terraced with intricate dry walls and tiny country churches serve a social as well as spiritual purpose. All are signs of a life of harmony that was all but lost when nearby cities offered promise of a better future. Only now people are slowly starting to return to their roots and the lifestyle of yesteryear in these intricate hills and valleys.

For those interested in exploring on their own a little, the beach resort of Lloret del Mar only a 2 hour bus ride away. Explore the medieval architecture and woods on an optional visit and walk in the nearby village of Santa Pau. Later we head northwest towards the towns of Ripoll and Ribes, via the unique cremellera (cog railway). It is more than 12km long and ascends 1000m through the mountains to the Pyrenean village of Nuria. Estimated Travel Time: 2.5 hours

Set in the Pre-Pyrenees, the Nuria Valley is a ski resort in winter but during summer months it provides a lovely, peaceful setting to relax or take one of the mountain tracks for some of the area’s beautiful hiking, as well as a variety of optional activities such as boating, horseback riding, and even archery.

Tot un mon de sesacions… a complete world of sensations aptly describes this Pyrenean valley near the French border. Culturally, the valley is full of myth mixed with truth. According to legend, Sant Gil arrived in the valley around the year 700, preaching to shepherds for some years before he was finally chased out by invading Visigoths. Before he left, though, he managed to squirrel away a statue and some personal utensils. These were discovered a few hundred years later, and lo and behold, a medieval sanctuary was born! Today, this is the Santuario, where the faithful and the curious collide.
Hike, ride, boat, explore the town, or just relax and take in the high mountain air; you set the pace. Estimated Travel Time: 2 hours

Return to Barcelona by train. The afternoon is free to spend one last day exploring the cultural capital of Spain. Visit the city’s numerous museums and shops or relax at one of the many cafes with a glass of wine. 729 689 419 339 909 649 619 949 599.00 569.00 339.00 279.00 749.00 529.00 339.00 529.00 Local Payment 200 EUR 729 689 419 339 909 649 619 949 599.00 569.00 339.00 279.00 749.00 529.00 339.00 529.00 Local Payment 200 EUR 729 689 419 339 909 649 619 949 599.00 569.00 339.00 279.00 749.00 529.00 339.00 529.00 Local Payment 200 EUR 729 689 419 339 909 649 619 949 599.00 569.00 339.00 279.00 749.00 529.00 339.00 529.00 Local Payment 200 EUR 729 689 419 339 909 649 619 949 599.00 569.00 339.00 279.00 749.00 529.00 339.00 529.00 Local Payment 200 EUR 729 689 419 339 909 649 619 949 599.00 569.00 339.00 279.00 749.00 529.00 339.00 529.00 Local Payment 200 EUR 729 689 419 339 909 649 619 949 599.00 569.00 339.00 279.00 749.00 529.00 339.00 529.00 Local Payment 200 EUR 729 689 419 339 909 649 619 949 599.00 569.00 339.00 279.00 749.00 529.00 339.00 529.00 Local Payment 200 EUR Accommodation Hotels (5 nts), Mountain retreat (2 nts) (multi-share). Departure Departs every two weeks (Apr-Oct) DepEnd Sat-Sat Group Leader Tour leader throughout, Local guides. Group Size Max 15, Avg 10 Highlights Barcelona, medieval villages, Olot, Garrotxa National Park, Vall de Nuria, catalonian culture. Max Pax 15 Meal Budget Allow EUR200 for meals not included. For additional expenses, see trip details Meals Included 5 Continental breakfasts. Min Pax 6 My Own Room Please note that if you have booked the "My Own Room" option for this tour, you will receive your own single room for all night stops, with the following exceptions:

Nights 5-6, Nuria Recommendation Prefer two wheels to two feet? Try our Catalonia by Bike adventure, ESCB. StartFinish ex Barcelona Testimonial "An extremely enjoyable & stress free wander through Spain! Introduced to the wonderful Catalan cuisine, gentle walks through fairy tale scenery, and a very perceptive tour leader!" - Amber van Dreven travelled on Catalonia Walking Adventure Transport Local bus, Walking, Train. What's Included Excursion to Vall de Nuria, Vall de Nuria train ride, walk to Santa Pau, guided walking tour of Gerona A Couple of Rules Illegal drugs will not be tolerated on any trips. Possessing or using drugs not only contravenes the laws of the land but also puts the rest of the group at risk. Smoking marijuana and opium is a part of local culture in some parts of the world but is not acceptable for G.A.P Adventures Adventure travellers. Our philosophy of travel is one of respect towards everyone we encounter, and in particular the local people who make the world the special place it is. The exploitation of prostitutes is completely contrary to this philosophy. Our group leader has the right to expel any member of the group if drugs are found in their possession or they use prostitutes.
About Accommodation On this trip you will stay in a variety of accommodations, from a typical city hotel in Barcelona, located right in the centre of all the action just a stone's throw from the famous Ramblas, to a quaint family-run hotel with bags of Catalonian character and friendly cheer, in Olot, and a unique experience in a mountain retreat in the heart of Nuria, in the Pyrenees. About our Transportation Transport on this trip will be by public bus and train. The bus and train systems in Spain are generally very good. Between transport and hotels you may be required to carry your luggage short distances (up to 15mins walk), in larger cities you may travel by metro or city bus, and occasionally the group will take taxis to and from hotels. One section of the journey to and from Nuria is by cog train, a unique ride through spectacular mountain scenery. Arrival Complications We don't expect any problems, and nor should you, but if for any reason you are unable to commence your trip as scheduled, as soon as possible please contact your starting point hotel, requesting that you speak to or leave a message for your trip leader (if you are not on a group tour please refer to the emergency contact details provided in this dossier). If you are unable to get in touch with your leader, please refer to our emergency contact details. If you have pre-booked an airport transfer and have not made contact with our representative within 30 minutes of clearing customs and immigration, we recommend that you make your own way to the Starting Point hotel, following the Joining Instructions. Please apply to your travel agent on your return for a refund of the transfer cost if this occurs.
Brochure Intro Experience the medieval villages, vibrant cities and authentic culture of Catalonia, culminating in a hiking excursion to the remote Nuria Valley. For those with limited time, this 8-day hiking adventure is an ideal way to get to know this region of Spain, famous for its dense forests, rolling hills, dormant volcanoes and stark cliff faces. Checklist - Passport (with photocopies)
- Travel insurance (with photocopies)
- Airline tickets (with photocopies)
- Euros and travellers cheques
- Credit or debit card (see personal spending money)
- G.A.P Adventures vouchers, pre-departure information and dossier
- Any entry visas or vaccination certificates required
- Camera and film
- Reading/writing material
- Small towel and swim wear
- Sun hat
- Sunblock
- Sunglasses
- Toiletries (biodegradable)
- Watch or alarm clock
- Water bottle
- Personal clothing for mild to hot weather and comfortable hiking clothes, remember to pack light, laundry services are available in some cities if needed.
- Hiking shoes or boots
- Light rain gear for spring and autumn departures
- Light fleece or sweater
- First-aid kit (should contain lip salve, Aspirin, Band Aids, anti-histamine, any extra prescription drugs you may be taking). Departure Tax Usually included in international air ticket, check with your air travel agent Detailed Trip Notes Dossier Disclaimer The information in this trip details document has been compiled with care and is provided in good faith. However it is subject to change, and does not form part of the contract between the client and G.A.P Adventures. The itinerary featured is correct at time of printing. It may differ slightly to the one in the brochure. Occasionally our itineraries change as we make improvements that stem from past travellers, comments and our own research. Sometimes it can be a small change like adding an extra meal along the itinerary. Sometimes the change may result in us altering the tour for the coming year. Ultimately, our goal is to provide you with the most rewarding experience. Please note that our brochure is usually released in November each year. If you have booked from the previous brochure you may find there have been some changes to the itinerary.

VERY IMPORTANT: Please ensure that you print a final copy of your Trip Details to review a couple of days prior to travel, in case there have been changes that affect your plans.
Dossier Intro Experience the medieval villages, vibrant cities and authentic culture of Catalonia, culminating in a hiking excursion to the remote Nuria Valley. For those with limited time, this 8-day hiking adventure is an ideal way to get to know this region of Spain, known for its dense forests, rolling hills, dormant volcanoes and stark cliff faces. Emergency Contact Should you need to contact G.A.P Adventures during a situation of dire need, it is best to first call our local office. If for any reason you do not receive an immediate answer, please leave a detailed message and contact information, so they may return your call and assist you as soon as possible.

G.A.P Adventures local office (Spain)
Local Emergency Cell Phone: +34 627 357 664

If you are unable for any reason to contact our local office, we have a toll-free line for North America, which will connect you directly with our Toronto office. In the event that you cannot get through, you can reach a member of our Operations department at the mobile number below.

Toll-free, North America only: 1 800 465 5600.
Calls from the UK: 0870 999 0144.
Outside North America and the UK: +1 416 260 0999.
Mobile: + 1 647 504 6467 Emergency Fund Please also make sure you have access to at least an additional USD200 (or equivalent) as an 'emergency' fund, to be used when circumstances outside our control (eg. a natural disaster) necessitate a change to our planned route. This is a rare occurrence!
Feedback After your travels, we want to hear from you! Your feedback information is so important to us that you'll receive a special discount code for free online prints and we'll give you 5% off the price of your next G.A.P Adventures trip if your feedback is completed on-line within 30 days of finishing your trip. Please visit http://www.gapadventures.com/evaluations
Free Online Trip Journals An online Trip Journal is a great way to record stories and photos as you travel, not to mention sharing your experiences with friends. Encourage your family and friends to follow in your footsteps as you explore the world! With templates for over 300 G.A.P Adventures trips already online all you have to do to get started is log in, choose your trip and your departure date, it's quick and easy! Head to http://www.gapadventures.com/trip_journal. Group Leader Description This G.A.P Adventures group trip is accompanied by one of our group leaders. The aim of the group leader is to take the hassle out of your travels and to help you have the best trip possible. They will provide information on the places you are travelling through, offer suggestions for things to do and see, recommend great local eating venues and introduce you to our local friends. While not being guides in the traditional sense you can expect them to have a broad general knowledge of the countries visited on the trip, including historical, cultural, religious and social aspects. We also use local guides where we think more specific knowledge will add to the enjoyment of the places we are visiting- we think it's the best of both worlds. Health You should consult your doctor for up-to-date medical travel information well before departure. We recommend that you carry a First Aid kit as well as any personal medical requirements. Please be aware that quite often we are in remote areas and away from medical facilities, and for legal reasons our leaders are prohibited from administering any type of drug including headache tablets, antibiotics, etc. When selecting your trip please carefully read the brochure and itinerary and assess your ability to cope with our style of travel. Please refer to the Physical and Culture Shock ratings for trip specific information. For travellers over 70 years a completed Medical Form is required. G.A.P Adventures reserves the right to exclude any traveller from all or part of a trip without refund if in the reasonable opinion of our group leader they are unable to complete the itinerary without undue risk to themselves and/or the rest of the group. Important Notes Please note that the 2 nights mountain retreat in Nuria may be on a multi-share basis (more than two persons per room, with shared bathroom) Itinerary Disclaimer While it is our intention to adhere to the route described below, there is a certain amount of flexibility built into the itinerary and on occasion it may be necessary, or desirable to make alterations. The itinerary is brief, as we never know exactly where our journey will take us. Due to our style of travel and the regions we visit travel with G.A.P Adventures can be unpredictable. The Trip Details document is a general guide to the tour and region and any mention of specific destinations or wildlife is by no means a guarantee that they will be visited or encountered. Aboard expedition trips visits to research stations depend on final permission.

Additionally, any travel times listed are approximations only and subject to vary due to local circumstances. Joining Hotel Hotel Condestable
Ronda Universitat,1
08007 Barcelona
Spain
Ph: (+34) 93 318 62 68
www.hotelcondestable.com Joining Instructions Please note that Day 1 is an arrival day and no activities have been planned, so you may arrive at any time. Similarly the last day is a departure day during when no activities are planned.

How to get the Hotel Condestable:
From the airport, the easiest route is to take the Aerobus direct bus line from outside the terminal building to Plaça Universitat (the second from last stop), cross the square to Ronda Universitat where you will find the hotel

From the airport, you can also take the train to Estació de Sants. From there either:
a)Take the red Cercanías suburban train for one stop to Plaça Catalunya, exit the underground station and walk 5mins along Ronda Universitat to the hotel.
or b) Take the metro (green line) to Espanya and change to the red line to Universitat (long walk between lines), or stay on the green line until Parallel and change to the purple line to Universitat. The hotel is directly opposite the exit from the metro station Universitat.

Your Tour Leader will organize a short meeting in the evening time, during which you will meet other tour participants and receive information about general and specific aspects of the trip (a letter will also be posted with any details at reception desk). The Tour Leader will contact you at the hotel on Day 1 and make sure you are settled comfortably. If you arrive late, s/he will leave you a message detailing what time and where you should meet the next morning. Keeping in Touch If you need to be contacted while travelling we recommend that you set up an email address that can be accessed on the road, rather than relying on postal mail. Email cafes are becoming increasingly commonplace and cheap throughout the regions we visit, and have quickly become the preferred way for our leaders and travellers to stay in touch. If someone wishes to contact you in an emergency while you are on one of our trips we recommend that they contact your local booking agent, or refer to our Emergency Contact. We recommend that family and friends don't try to contact you through phoning hotels en route, as our hotels are subject to change, and our hotel receptions often don't have English speaking staff.
Laundry Laundry facilities are offered by some of our hotels for a charge or ask your Tour Leader where the closest laundromat is. There will be times when you may want to or have to do your own laundry so we suggest you bring non-polluting/biodegradable soap. Local payment description Most of our adventure tours involve a local payment. This is the final payment of your tour price, paid locally. Paying locally facilitates the flow of funds into countries that we travel through and also helps to reduce the overall price of the tour. This helps G.A.P Adventures keep our prices competitive and in-turn, pass our cost savings onto you. Payment is to be made to your leader or G.A.P Adventures representative upon arrival in cash in the requested currency. Please see our website, brochure or your trip documents and invoice for Local Payment.
Meals Eating is a big part of traveling. Travelling with G.A.P Adventures you experience the vast array of wonderful food that is available out in the world. Generally meals are not included in the trip price when there is a choice of eating options, to give you the maximum flexibility in deciding where, what and with whom to eat. It also gives you more budgeting flexibility, though generally food is cheap. Our groups tend to eat together to enable you to taste a larger variety of dishes and enjoy each other's company. There is no obligation to do this though. Your group leader will be able to suggest favourite restaurants during your trip. For all trips please refer to the meals included and budget information for included meals and meal budgets.
Medical Form Our small group adventures bring together people of all ages. It is very important you are aware that, as a minimum, an average level of fitness and mobility' is required to undertake our easiest programs. Travellers must be able to walk without the aid of another person, climb 3-4 flights of stairs, step on and off small boats, and carry their own luggage at a minimum. Travellers with a pre-existing medical condition are required to complete a short medical questionnaire, which must be signed by their physician. This is to ensure that travellers have the necessary fitness and mobility to comfortably complete their chosen trip. While our leaders work hard to ensure that all our travellers are catered for equally, it is not their responsibility to help individuals who cannot complete the day's activities unaided. Please refer to the physical ratings in this Trip Details document for more information.
Please note that all passengers traveling to Antarctica are required to fill out this questionnaire.

The medical questionnaire can be found online at:

www.gapadventures.com/online_medical_form.
Money Exchange Credit cards and debit cards are very useful for cash advances. Visa cards are the most widely accepted cards. While ATMs are widely available, there are no guarantees that your credit or debit cards will actually work in Western Europe. Check with your bank. You should be aware that to purchase products or services on a credit card a fee of 5%-10% usually applies. Do not rely on credit or debit cards as your only source of money. A combination of Euros, travellers cheques and cards is best. Always take more rather than less, as you don't want to spoil the trip by constantly feeling short of funds.

As currency exchange rates can fluctuate often we ask that you refer to the following website for daily exchange rates: www.xe.com
Newsletter Our adventure travel e-newsletter is full of travel news, trip information, interesting stories and contests. To avoid missing out on special offers and updates from G.A.P Adventures, subscribe at www.gapadventures.com/newsletter_signup
Optional Activities All prices are per person, in Euro amounts.

Barcelona:
Bus Turistic €20
Parc Guell Free
Sagrada Familia €10 (additional €4 for guided tour)
City tour (various) €39 + Montserrat Day Pass €34
Bike tour €24
Casa Mila, Pedrera €8
Camp Nou €8.50 (museum only) €13 (museum & tour)
Picasso Museum €9

Olot:
Bike Rental € 15 (€1.2 Helmet)
Hot Air Ballooning € 150
Horse back Riding € 30
Volcano Museum € 1.80
Bus trip to Gerona € 9
Walking tour of Gerona € 105 per group

Vall de Nuria:
Horse back Riding € 12/hr
Mini Golf € 3
Archery lessons € 10 Our Commitment to Responsible Travel in Antarctica Planeterra-The G.A.P Adventures Foundation Through G.A.P Adventures’ commitment to responsible tourism we have developed Planeterra – the G.A.P Adventures Foundation, a non-profit organization dedicated to making a positive difference in the lives of people and communities around the world through support of international charities, local organizations and community projects in the places that we visit on our tours. G.A.P Adventures matches all individual donations and pays all administration fees, which means that 100% of each donation is doubled and goes directly to support our projects. For more information about Planeterra and the projects we support, or to make a donation, please visit www.planeterra.org

Planeterra Dollar-A-Day Program
Our Dollar-A-Day Program provides travellers with the opportunity to help us give back to the people and places visited on our tours by donating one dollar per day for the duration of their tour. 100% of these proceeds will go directly to support our Planeterra projects.

To participate in this program please indicate at the time of booking that you would like to participate in G.A.P Adventures’ Dollar-A-Day program, either by clicking the check box online, or by advising your GA.P Adventures specialist or travel agent. (Note: Donation will be charged in the currency of your booking) Responsible Travel Being a responsible tour operator is at the heart of what G.A.P Adventures is all about. From the start, G.A.P Adventures has been committed to offering low-impact tours that benefit traveller and host alike. While our sustainable tourism policies are constantly evolving, our commitment to socially conscious, grassroots style travel has never changed. We work with local communities, businesses and individuals to develop sustainable tourism opportunities that help local economies while minimizing negative environmental and cultural impacts.

For more information about our commitment to responsible travel, please visit the Sustainable Tourism section of the G.A.P Adventures website: www.gapadventures.com
Safety and Security Many national governments provide a regularly updated advice service on safety issues involved with international travel. We recommend that you check your government's advice for their latest travel information before departure. We strongly recommend the use of a neck wallet or money belt while travelling, for the safe keeping of your passport, air tickets, travellers' cheques, cash and other valuable items. Leave your valuable jewellery at home - you won't need it while travelling. Many of the hotels we use have safety deposit boxes, which is the most secure way of storing your valuables. A lock is recommended for securing your luggage. When travelling on a group trip, please note that your group leader has the authority to amend or cancel any part of the trip itinerary if it is deemed necessary due to safety concerns. Your leader will accompany you on all included activities. During your trip you will have some free time to pursue your own interests, relax and take it easy or explore at your leisure. While your group leader will assist you with options available in a given location please note that any optional activities you undertake are not part of your itinerary, and we offer no representations about the safety of the activity or the standard of the operators running them. Please use your own good judgement when selecting an activity in your free time. Although the cities visited on tour are generally safe during the day, there can be risks to wandering throughout any major city at night. It is our recommendation to stay in small groups and to take taxis to and from restaurants, or during night time excursions.

Single Travellers We believe single travellers should not have to pay more to travel so our group trips are designed for shared accommodation and do not involve a single supplement. Single travellers joining group trips are paired in twin share accommodation with someone of the same sex for the duration of the trip. Some of our Independent trips are designed differently and single travellers on these itineraries must pay the single trip price.
Spending Money Every traveller is different and therefore spending money requirements will vary. Some travellers may drink more than others while other travellers like to purchase more souvenirs than most. Please consider your own spending habits when it comes to allowing for drinks, shopping and tipping. Please also remember the following specific recommendations when planning your trip.
Tipping It is customary in Europe to leave a small tip for service providers, such as waiters, if you are pleased with the service (€1-2). Tipping is an expected - though not compulsory - component of your tour program and an expression of satisfaction with the persons who have assisted you on your tour. Although it may not be customary to you, it is of considerable significance to the people who will take care of you during your travels. There are several times during the trip where there is opportunity to tip the local guides or drivers we use. You may do this individually, or your Tour Leader will offer to collect the money and tip as a group. Recommendations for tipping drivers and local guides would range from €5-20 per day depending on the quality and length of the service; ask your tour leader for specific recommendations based on the circumstances and culture.

Also at the end of each trip if you felt your G.A.P Adventures Tour Leader or skipper did an outstanding job, tipping is appreciated. The amount is entirely a personal preference, however as a guideline €20-25 per person, per week can be used. Travel Forum - The Watering Hole Be sure to stop by The Watering Hole, our adventure travel forum. If you're interested in meeting others booked on your upcoming trip, check out the Departure Lounge section of our forum and introduce yourself. Otherwise, just drop in at anytime to share some travel tips, ask questions, meet other travellers and quench your thirst for travel. Our forum is located at wateringhole.gapadventures.com. Travel Insurance Travel insurance is compulsory in order to participate on any of our trips. When travelling on a group trip, you will not be permitted to join the group until evidence of travel insurance has been sighted by your leader, who will take note of your insurance details. When selecting a travel insurance policy we require that at a minimum you are covered for medical expenses including emergency repatriation. We strongly recommend that the policy also covers personal liability, cancellation, curtailment and loss of luggage and personal effects. If you have credit card insurance we require proof of purchase of the trip (a receipt of credit card statement) with a credit card in your name. Contact your bank for details of their participating insurer, the level of coverage and emergency contact telephone number.
Trip Specific Safety Always keep an eye on your belongings especially in major cities, bus and train terminals. Validity Valid for all trips departing January 1, 2009 - December 31st 2009. Visas All countries require a valid passport (with a minimum 6 months validity). Contact your local embassy, or consulate for the most up-to-date visa requirements, or see your travel agent. IT'S YOUR RESPONSIBILITY TO HAVE THE CORRECT TRAVEL DOCUMENTATION.
We Want Your Photos If you've got some great photos form your G.A.P Adventures travels, then post them online in our community! You can share photos - and videos - with our travellers from around the world. Simply go online to www.gapadventures.com/community to check out what other people have shared! We often have photo and video contests running too, so be sure to check our website often!
What to Take We recommend the use of a duffel bag or backpack (whichever you find EASIEST TO CARRY). A good size daypack is also essential for hiking days. Remember that you might be required to walk short distances with your luggage (15-20 mins max) between transport and hotels. Please also note that many smaller hotels do not have elevators, so you will need to be comfortable carrying your bags up and down steps. Your Fellow Travellers As you travel on a group trip you will be exposed to all the pleasures and maybe some of the frustrations of travelling in a group. Your fellow travellers will probably come from all corners of the world and are likely to be of a variety of ages too. We ask you to be understanding of the various needs and preferences of your group - patience with your fellow travellers is sometimes required for the benefit of everyone's travel experience. Remember too that you have responsibilities to the group. If you are requested to be at a place at a certain time, ensure that you don't keep the rest of the group waiting. We have found time and time again that the very best trips we operate are those where the dynamics within the group work well - this takes just a little effort on your part.