Travel Information

Please read carefully the following Travel information referring to Walking, Cycling and Activity Tours.

It contains valuable and important advice and conditions regarding the Exclusion/Inclusions, a Travel Checklist with important items to bring while on holiday, Insurance info (where you’ll be able to get a quote), Health and Safety information for activity holidays, and Holiday grades to access if your chosen holiday fits your ability and physical fitness.

This Travel info does not replace the thorough consult of the General Terms and Conditions and the info stated on each holiday page.

What's Included?

Small Group Guided Holidays

You’ll love to see how easy it is. All of our guided activity holidays include local transfers, some meals, and a trained and qualified tour leader. There’s none of the hassle of planning everything or working out where to go next. And you’ll never get lost! Included in the Walking, cycling and activities tours are:

  • Airport transfers
  • En-suite accommodation with breakfast (prices are for double occupancy, single rooms are available with a surcharge  – except for Solo Holidays, where the room is single)
  • The standard meals regime is Bed & Breakfast, except when it’s clearly specified in the selected tour’s programme.
  • All transport in conjunction with the selected tour’s programme.
  • Services of a dedicated licensed leader.
  • Services of a dedicated licensed driver.
  • All tours, walks and activities in conjunction with the programme
  • Holidays professionally designed by local leaders, very knowledgeable of the region

This is general information, you must consult all inclusions/exclusions to each specific holiday.

What's Excluded?

  • Flights
  • Admission fees to castles & attractions or events
  • Guide services inside monuments
  • Meals except when explicitly laid out on the holiday description
  • Tips/gratuities
  • Baggage or personal insurance
  • Beverages or food not described in the holidays description
  • Any other purchases of a personal nature
  • Any activity/service not included in the selected holiday description
  • Travel Insurance
  • Single room supplements are purchased as an extra

Travel Checklist

The right equipment for walking and activity tours is important for a felicitous holiday. Take care that you wear comfortable clothes to meet the climate of the region and season. Always take a jacket/sweater with you as weather might change.

Documents

  • Validpassport or ID card
  • Money, Cheques and/or credit card
  • International travel health insurance certificate

Clothing

  • Hiking shoes
  • Functional sports underwear
  • T-Shirts
  • Scarf (if required)
  • Hat or cap – Sun protection is important!
  • Jacket (Windstopper)
  • Shorts
  • Hiking socks
  • Raincover
  • Warm clothing
  • Towel
  • Toiletry

Hiking equipment

  • Backpack
  • Small backpack pharmacy
  • Hiking poles (depending on taste)
  • Pocket knife, picnic dish, cup/mug
  • Water bottle(s) 1 – 2 litres per person
  • Food (eg. bread, salami, cheese, chocolate, dried fruit, nuts)
  • Handkerchiefs
  • Camera or Digital Camera (film, batteries /do not forget memory card)
  • Mobile phone and charger
  • Sunglasses

Health & Safety

1. Safety on Tour

Safety of our clients is paramount and we do monitor local events and conditions. If we feel it is necessary to modify an itinerary we will do so and naturally advise you immediately, although this is rare. Every attempt will be made to safeguard your holiday arrangements.

You should be aware of potential hazards as walking amongst mountains, hills and even in cities does involve an element of risk. Terrain underfoot can vary and you may find walking poles a great aid to mobility and they take some strain off the knees.

As the tour leader is responsible for the safety of all group members, he or she may adopt a more cautious approach depending on local conditions.

Do be aware that itineraries planned for some tours may be varied on the spot because of unexpected events such as weather conditions.

The final decision for any change rests with our leader.

We cannot be held responsible for disruption to planned itineraries arising from weather conditions or other situations beyond our control. Every effort will be made to provide alternative activities and to ensure that you have the best possible Tour.

2. Health & Physical Condition

Travelers in all tours should be in good physical condition and prepared to enjoy considerable walking, often over uneven surfaces. Many spectacular views are usually seen from the tops of hills that must be walked up.
We ask you to appraise your own capabilities honestly. In addition, those individuals requiring special attention, treatment or whose condition limits their activities must disclose this information to us.

We reserve the right to decline to accept or retain any person as a tour member should such a person’s health, mental condition, physical infirmity or attitude jeopardize the operation of the tour and the rights welfare or enjoyment of other participants or their own self.

Participants agree not to hold the organizer responsible for any loss, injury or damage to any person, property or otherwise in connection with any accommodation, transportation or resulting from any Acts of God, dangers, incident at sea, fire, breakdowns in machinery or equipment, act of governments authorities, de hure or de facto, wars declared or not, hostilities, civil disturbances, strikes, riots, thefts, pilferage, epidemics, quarantines, medical or customs regulations, defaults, delays, cancellations or any causes beyond our control, for any loss or damage resulting from improperly issued visas or other documents, and that our or its staff will not be responsible for any additional expenses or liability sustained for or incurred by the tour participant as a result of any of the forgoing clauses.

3. Travelling In A Different Country

We would ask you to show respect to the many diverse customs of the different places we visit. Please note that living standards and practices, as well as conditions and standards with respect to the provision of utilities, sanitary services and the grading of accommodation that differ with your country standards, may be encountered during your travel for which we cannot be held responsible.

4. Travelling In the Nature

We promote ecotourism activities with natural, cultural and environmental interest. We expect the utmost respect of the natural areas and local lifestyles of the places we visit by the participants. We also respect the code of conduct of the protected areas according with the ICNB (Biodiversity and Nature Conservation Institute) and we expect the same from our clients.

We reserve the right to suspend or cancel an activity if we find that your behaviour is in conflict with this philosophy and code of conduct.

Your appointed Travel Tour Guide may need to make a decision in the interests of safety. It is a condition of bookings that you comply with the authority and decisions of the appointed representative of BeCool Travel. If you do not comply with the said representative and are not compatible with the general enjoyment and well-being of members of the tour, we reserve the right to refuse to allow you to continue the tour. In such a case we will not be liable for any refund, compensation or any additional costs incurred by you. We cannot accept liability for the behaviour of others on your tour nor if any facilities are curtailed as a result of their actions.

The routes and exact time on certain interest points are indicative. Our team works flexibly with you, and some of these moments can be extended or shortened. The duration and itinerary of activities are subject to change without previous notice depending on external factors.

It is your responsibility to meet your tour at arranged points. Because of the nature of the service, BeCool Travel will not be liable if any service leaves or arrives later than its specified time, even if as a result you miss a connecting service, BeCool Travel will endeavour to ensure that departure and arrival.

Holiday Grades

Complete description of Holiday Activity grades here.

Leisurely – 1, 2 and 3

1. Easy Access. Walks for everyone, using easy access paths.

2 – Easy. Activities for those with no mobility difficulty. May mix active sightseeing with city walks under 5km/3mi and brief ascents/ descents.

3. Easy/Moderate. Easy countryside/city activities, with elements of sightseeing. Walks under 10km/6mi and brief ascents/descents.

Moderate – 4 and 5

4. Moderate. Full and half day walks at a moderate pace over hilly terrain. Most of these holidays have an element of sightseeing as well. Ascents and descents of up to 600m.

5. Moderate/Hard. Full day walks with ascent and descent as much as 750m. There may be some steep and rough ground.

Hard – 6 and 7

6. Hard. Full day walks with appreciable amounts of ascent and descent. Similar to Grade 5, but with most of the walks at the upper level of ascent/descent, time and distance.

7. Demanding. There is plenty of ascent and descent over rough and steep ground, so a steady foot and a good head for heights is advisable.

Technical – 8

8. Technical. Technical mountaineering with ice-axes, crampons, slings, ropes and karabiners where necessary. Led by qualified mountain guides.

General Conditions

Please read carefully the terms and conditions, as they set out our respective rights and obligations. Once you begin your tour with BeCool Travel, by default, you accept the terms and conditions set out on our Terms & Conditions page.

Our tours are subject to a maximum number of people. Pre-booking is therefore essential to guarantee a place. Restrictions on participation are a matter of common sense and we have no absolute ones.

If you have a health problem or any physical limitation which may hamper or restrict your full involvement in any aspect of the tour, or about which we should be aware for your safety (e.g. walking difficulties, diabetes, asthma, angina, etc.), please advise us in detail and in writing at the time you reserve space.

We will provide any information that you or your doctor may need to judge your capacity to participate fully in the tour and we may request a physician’s letter indicating that you are healthy enough to participate on the tour.

We do not normally program strenuous physical exercise, but if it cannot be avoided the fact is made explicit in the tour description and in the general information sheets for the tour. Participants should be able to complete gentle walks of one-half day’s duration, ride in any seat in tour vehicles and meet the simple schedule of the tour. We reserve the right to send home persons unable or unwilling to conduct themselves in a manner compatible with the satisfactory operation of the tour.