TRIP NOTES ------BELIEVE ACHIEVE INSPIRE ------MOUNT SUMMIT CHALLENGE

Fri 10 Sep - Mon 13 Sep 2021 OVERVIEW MOUNT TRIGLAV SUMMIT CHALLENGE - SLOVENIA 2

In aid of your choice of charity 10 Sep - 13 Sep 2021

4 DAYS | SLOVENIA | CHALLENGING

Mount Triglav, once believed to be the home of a three- · Summit Slovenia’s highest mountain, Triglav (2,864m) headed monster due to the fact it has three main peaks, · Experience via ferrata and alpine scrambling appears on the country’s flag and has been a source of · Relax beside Lake , the largest Slovenian natural lake inspiration for Slovenes for hundreds of years believing it the · Hike through one of the oldest national parks in Europe, duty of every countryman and woman to scale its height at least once in their lifetime. This short but active weekend · Soak up the beauty of the blue-green waters of challenge offers some of the most spectacular mountain scenery in Europe.

Leaving Lake Bohinj below, you’ll walk through verdant forests and upwards through the tree line, passing alpine pastures to be rewarded with views over the Julian . Whilst no technical climbing skills are required, the trail offers some tough scrambling followed by sections of via ferrata (a protected climbing route, built with a steel cable rail fixed to the rock).

The adrenaline rush and heart-stopping moments are rewarded by the amazing panoramic views across the and on as far as neighbouring Austria, Italy and Croatia.

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YOUR CHALLENGE DAY BY DAY

DAY 1 Fri 10 Sep - Meet at the group hotel in Lake Bohinj

Meet at the group hotel in Lake Bohinj which is 40 miles/65km (60 mins transfer) from Ljubljana Airport. (Please note: Charity Challenge Ground Only package services begin with a single, timed group transfer from the airport to Lake Bohinj). Lake Bohinj is the largest permanent lake in Slovenia and surround by the Julian Alps. There is a 12km circular walk of the lake which takes around 4-5 hours to complete depending on your walking speed and number of stops. Ribev Laz is the main town on Lake Bohinj and a small monument can be found commemorating four men to make the first ascent of Mount Triglav. Tonight, you will all meet for you first group dinner together and a full briefing from your challenge leader. (D)

Accommodation: Hotel

DAY 2 Sat 11 Sep - Drive to start of trek; climb to Kredarica hut (2,515m); (5-8 hrs/approx. 15km)

Starting early this morning, you’ll transfer by bus to the start of the trek in Valley situated in the Triglav National Park, the country’s only national park. You’ll walk through verdant forests before you ascend out from the tree line and be rewarded with views over Lake Bohinj and surrounding area. After a stop for lunch, the path continues onwards and upwards until you reach Kredarica Mountain hut (2,515m) your home for the night. (B,L,D)

(Please note: your challenge leader will decide when to summit Triglav either today or tomorrow morning depending on weather conditions. Ascent will be made on either day 2 or 3 and flexibility is built into the itinerary.)

Accommodation: Mountain hut/refuge

DAY 3 Sun 12 Sep - Trek from Kredarica hut to Triglav summit (2,864m); return to Lake Bohinj (6-7 hrs/approx. 9km)

If you haven’t climbed Mount Triglav already, you’ll start early crossing Konjsko Sedlo or the Horse Saddle (2,020m) surrounded by summits all around. The guides will make sure all the Via Ferrata equipment is secure and will be there to help and support you over this section. The final ridge to the summit is very narrow but well secured with cables; not for the faint-hearted! The views from the top make the effort all worthwhile looking over the alpine valleys below and the Julian Alps all around. If you are lucky, on a clear day, you can see the highest mountain in Austria, the Grossglockner. After taking in spectacular views, you descend down to the Valley of Krma, one of the three main valleys that lead to Triglav. At Kovinarska Hut (870m) you’ll meet your transport to take you down to your hotel in Lake Bohinj. In the evening, you can reward your achievement over a celebration dinner. (B,L,D)

Accommodation: Hotel

DAY 4 Mon 13 Sep - Relax in Lake Bohinj; single timed transfer to Ljubljana for international flight home

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The morning is left free for you to relax and look around the area. Charity Challenge services on this ground only itinerary will end after breakfast. However, there will be a single timed group transfer to Ljubljana airport departing in the afternoon. (B)

NB

B = Breakfast, L = Lunch, D = Dinner

The itinerary is there as a guide and may change due to unusual weather patterns, wildlife movements, the strength of the group, and so on. We will do our very best to keep to the set itinerary; however, we cannot be held responsible for any last-minute changes that might occur. In all such circumstances, your expedition leader will have the final say.

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HOW TO FUND YOUR CHALLENGE

This page provides you details of the costs of your challenge. The costs below are per person.

SELF FUNDER MINIMUM SPONSORSHIP FLEXI - - - Pay a registration fee of £145.00 when Registration fee of £145.00 when you Registration fee of £145.00 when you you book book book Then a balance of £414.00 Raise a minimum of £845.00 for your Then £145.00 towards challenge costs (10 weeks before your challenge) charity. (10 weeks before your challenge) Raise as much as you can for your Raise a minimum of £549.00 for your charity. charity.

WHAT'S INCLUDED

Before you go On your challenge - - · Sponsorship forms · Drinking water on challenge days · Support materials (itinerary, kit list, visa · An English speaking first aid trained challenge information, travel insurance, health notes, travel leader and full local support team tips, responsible travel policy and guidance) · Equipment as per the challenge activity · 15% off Cotswold Outdoor, Cycle Surgery, Snow · Internal transfers (unless otherwise stated in the and Rock, and Runners Need itinerary) · Risk assessment and emergency management · UK-based 24-hour emergency support line planning · Full back-up support including first-aid qualified · Public liability insurance staff and first-aid supplies · Access to training weekends (optional and at · Entrance fees to national parks or other places of additional expense) interest visited on the itinerary · Warm up exercise routines · A contribution towards funding the reduction of · 16 and 20 week trek/bike training schedule carbon emissions through Climate Care’s portfolio · Fitness training notes of award winning projects · Fundraising advice · Three meals a day (unless otherwise stated in the · Access to your own password protected account itinerary) including support materials and training · Accommodation during the challenge (usually in schedules twin share) · A Charity Challenge T-Shirt · A donation to a community project in one of the countries in which we operate

WHAT'S NOT INCLUDED

Before you go On your challenge - - · Visa (if required) · Tips · Travel to and from the UK airport of departure · Departure Tax (if applicable)

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· Vaccinations (please check Trip Notes for requirements) THE DETAILS

Fundraising deadlines You will need to send your sponsorship money to the charity as you raise it. At least 80% of the minimum sponsorship required must be sent to the charity 10 weeks before departure (by 02/07/2021), and the remaining 20% within 4 weeks of completing the challenge (by 11/10/2021).If you have raised the necessary funds, the charity will then pay the balance of your challenge costs. The charity benefits by keeping the remaining sponsorship money and every pound over and above that you raise.

Prices include all known air taxes We include ALL known air taxes (including fuel) at the time of costing. Many companies do not include air taxes at all, and clients are therefore hit with a surcharge of three or four hundreds of pounds just before departure. Our aim is to provide you with transparent pricing and clear instructions as to what is included in our prices and if applicable what isn't.

Typical group size The typical group size is 15 - 20 participants

Small group supplement The costs and sponsorship levels on our website are based on a minimum of 15 participants. We can run this trip with 11-14 people, but there will be a small group supplement of £50. This is payable by your charity if you book under the Minimum Sponsorship or Flexi options, and by yourself if you choose the Self Funder option. We will notify you 12 weeks before departure if this is necessary.

Optional extras Extensions at end of trip* Single room supplements* Travel insurance Business class upgrades* (*subject to availability)

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Travel insurance Your safety when travelling with Charity Challenge is our main concern, which is why it is a booking condition that you have a suitable travel insurance policy, which covers you for the adventurous nature of your challenge, the activities you are undertaking, and the altitudes. We have chosen to partner with specialist travel insurance providers Campbell Irvine, who offer cover for an extensive number of adventurous activities. Cover is available directly from Campbell Irvine for most European residents and includes cover for emergency medical and repatriation and for your cancellation or curtailment of the challenge. Full details including costs may be found at http://www.campbellirvinedirect.com/charitychallenge.

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Level of difficulty

Challenging: A “challenging” trip will test someone who is relatively fit and has a spirit of adventure. You may have had some previous experience, but this is not necessary as long as the correct training is undertaken. Previous experience of using via feratta is not required as you will receive full instruction and be accompanied by a qualified guide. You must be a confident walker with a good level of fitness and head for heights to manage sections of the trek.

You can tell your supporters that on your Mt Triglav Challenge you will be:

- Using a via ferrata to traverse and reach the summit of Mt Triglav - Reaching the summit of Mt Triglav, 2,864m, Slovenia’s highest mountain

Typical day

You will wake early in time for breakfast and prepare your rucksack for the day ahead. Hiking will start around 0800hrs. The number of hours spent hiking will depend on the size and ability of the group as well as weather conditions. There will be plenty of refreshment stops and to enjoy the natural beauty of this challenge. In the evening you will have dinner at your hotel or mountain hut.

Safety

Charity Challenge considers the safety of all of our participants and staff to be a top priority, and as such we have set up Challenge Safe, an advanced and thorough safety management system. Challenge Safe formalises our ethos when it comes to safety, and brings together the procedures and risk management strategies that we use to audit all aspects of our challenges, from vehicles to accommodation to the challenge activity itself. Your welfare is absolutely paramount.

In terms of your Slovenia challenge, there are a couple of important points that you should be aware of:

- The walks are on well-defined footpaths, mountain trails and some dirt tracks. There will be some steep ascents and descents and you should be confident dealing with heights. - The weather conditions in the mountains can be changeable. Make sure you carry an additional warm layer and waterproof jacket. - Ensure that you keep yourself hydrated by drinking lots of fluids. - Due to the use of via ferrata, the challenge leader reserves the right to adjust the programme regarding the weather conditions and physical conditions of the participants.

Responsible Tourism

At Charity Challenge we are committed to sustainable and responsible tourism and work closely with bodies such as the International Porter Protection Group and Climate Care to ensure that our challenges benefit the local environments and communities in which they take place. We ensure that all rubbish is disposed of responsibly and following local guidelines on cultural and environmental protection and respect, we aim to limit our impact on the natural environment. In addition to taking these practical steps to ensure that our challenges are sustainable, we also contribute each year to a number of local community projects, so as to give something back directly to the communities that we visit. Since 2000 we have donated almost £200,000 to such projects, supporting a range of

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initiatives, including schooling for children in Africa, shelter for street children in Brazil, and Orang-utan conservation in Indonesia. We recommend that any gifts brought over for children are given to the UK challenge leader and distributed where needed by them and our local Ground Agent. If you wish to do more, you should consider buying drinks, postcards and souvenirs from the local vendors. For many, it is their sole source of income. For more information, please visit our Responsible Tourism pages, where you will be able to view a list of the projects that we currently support.

Flights

This is a ground only departure. You will need to arrange your own flights to either meet the group for a transfer from Ljubljana airport to the joining hotel in Lake Bohinj, or if you arrive much earlier or later, you will need to make your own way to the joining hotel. The same applies on the return journey. There will be one organised transfer from the final hotel to the airport. If you wish to leave earlier or later, you will need to organise this separately. We can support you with relevant transfer details.

Visa

You need a valid passport to fly to Slovenia. For UK passport holders, you don't need a visa for trips of 90 days or less. Your passport should be valid for the proposed duration of your stay; you do not need any additional period of validity on your passport beyond this. Non-UK passport holders should consult their nearest Slovenian embassy regarding visa requirements.

Insurance

Your safety when travelling with Charity Challenges is our main concern which is why it is a booking condition that you have a suitable travel insurance policy that will cover you for the adventurous nature of your challenge. We have chosen to partner with specialist travel insurance providers Campbell Irvine, who offer cover for an extensive number of adventurous activities. Cover is available directly from Campbell Irvine for most European residents and includes cover for emergency medical and repatriation and for your cancellation or curtailment of the challenge. Full details including costs may be found by clicking here.

Vaccinations and Medicines

For up to date vaccination information please check the Travel Health Pro page: https://travelhealthpro.org.uk/country/198/slovenia#Vaccine_recommendations

The Charity Challenge team are not medical experts and we would encourage you to visit your doctor or travel nurse to discuss vaccination requirements. Your doctor may ask questions about the specific locations that you are visiting, and as such it may be useful to take a copy of your itinerary with you.

Medication Carry medicines (including those bought over the counter) in their correctly labelled original packaging, as issued by the pharmacist. These should be carried in your hand luggage.

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Consider packing a spare supply of medication in the hold luggage in case of loss of hand luggage. A letter from the prescriber detailing the medicines with the generic names for the medications can be helpful for border control checks, and in case medicines have to be replaced or medical help is required. Carry a note from the prescribing physician on letterhead stationery for controlled substances and injection medications. N.B. Some medications are banned abroad so please check. You can find further information at https://travelhealthpro.org.uk/factsheet/43/medicines-abroad

Climate and Terrain

Climate Slovenia has a Continental climate with warm summers and cold winters (with heavy snowfall in the Julian Alps). The best time to climb Mt. Triglav is during the dry season, which goes from June to October. The temperature around Mt. Triglav doesn’t often exceed 10C in the summer but on the Slovenian plains and coast at this time it will be around 30C. Even during summer, there may be snow in hidden crevices in the mountains and it is essential to have warm clothes with you.

Terrain The hike is on well-defined footpaths, mountain trails and some dirt tracks. There will be some scrambling and sections of via ferrata.

Training

The ideal training for this challenge is, naturally, hill walking. However, if you do not have the luxury of living near the hills, then the stairs at home (or an office block) are a great place to start. Most training should be part of an ongoing lifestyle, but if this is not the case then you should begin training 2 months prior to the challenge and gradually build up as suggested. Remember to use the walking boots that you will be wearing on the challenge in order to get them worn in and take the daysack that you will be using during the challenge.

There is no substitute for walking in the hills so try, if possible, to get out on a weekend and train in an area with steep hills. You should progress to training with your boots on from week 4 at the latest, but preferably from week 1. The more you exercise before the expedition, the more you will get out of it. Also see your Charity Challenge Fitness Training notes

Training weekends

We offer superb training weekends across various locations in the UK, from Saturday morning to Sunday afternoon. These training weekends not only help you become physically prepared for the challenge, but our experienced instructors and leaders will talk you through your clothing and equipment, camp craft, health and wellbeing, trekking skills (walking on different terrain/at altitude/at night/using walking poles), teamwork on expedition and many more themes designed to make you get the most out of your challenge. The weekends are great ways for you to get out into the mountains of the UK, while also meeting other Charity Challengers and sharing your experiences. To read more about our training weekends, including dates and prices, check out our dedicated page here.

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Luggage and valuables

Try to keep luggage to an absolute minimum as you will be away for a few days – details of what to pack are provided in your kit list. Your rucksack/holdall (suitcases are not appropriate) must not exceed the maximum weight limit of the airline you are flying with (usually 20kg, however do check this with the airline or contact our flights team if in doubt). During the challenge, you will need to carry clothes and essentials for one night at the mountain refuge, this includes packed lunches and snacks, drinking water and personal items such as toiletries and medication.

Leadership

There will be an English-speaking challenge leader who will be responsible for the logistics and co-ordination of your challenge. There will also be numerous local support guides and staff to assist them. The challenge leader will be ultimately responsible for the running of the itinerary and the safety of your group. You will also be accompanied by a mountain guide holding an IFMGA. They will ensure you have the best experience on your traverse and summit climb always ensuring your safety is paramount.

Group size

Each group is intended to be 14 people minimum in order to run and a maximum of approx. 20 people. We will be able to run this challenge for 11 to 13 people by charging a small group supplement of £50 which will be added to your final balance invoice (self funders) or charged to your charity (minimum sponsorship or flexi).

Clothing and equipment

Good quality, durable kit could mean the difference between a fantastic challenge experience and an uncomfortable one. For this challenge, do not to pack too much as you will be carrying all that you need which should be no more than a waterproof jacket and trousers, a thermal top and bottoms, a warm sweater or fleece jacket, wicking shirts and trousers (not cotton), sturdy hiking shoes and socks, sun protection, a warm hat and gloves, a water bottle, a head torch, an ID, cash, and a rucksack to carry these items on the hike. A full kit list for this challenge can be found here and once you book you will have access to kit discounts with our partners Cotswold Outdoor, Cycle Surgery, Snow and Rock, and Runners Need.

Accommodation & toilets

Accommodation Your first and last nights are in Lake Bohinj where you will be staying in a hotel. In the mountain hut, accommodation is basic but comfortable with dormitory-style bunks, electricity, water, central heating and a restaurant serving a range of foods. Beds are equipped with pillows, sheet and blankets. The huts have basic toilet facilities and running water but showers are not provided. If you are travelling with a friend or partner who you wish to share with, please ensure that you note this where appropriate when booking or email [email protected]

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Toilets These range from basic during the trek to normal western standards in the accommodation. Remember to bring some toilet paper with you as it may be difficult to find during your trekking day.

Food & drink

The food will be very filling and nutritious. Breakfast will consist of eggs, ham, cheese, jam or honey and tea/coffee. Lunches are picnics with meat, cheese, fresh vegetables and fruit, chocolate or cookies. Dinner will be three courses: soup followed by a main course and dessert. Plenty of drinking water will be available to keep you hydrated. You may want to bring some extra snacks, such as cereal bars, nutrigrains, dried fruits etc. You can buy extra food or alcohol at the hotels/guesthouses if you wish. Whilst we can cater for vegetarians, with a limited choice, it may be more difficult to cater for special diets. The local team are very good at trying to accommodate different dietary requirements but a vegan and gluten free diet will be difficult to cater for. It may be necessary to supplement your diet with food products that you are used to eating as well as snacks from home. Please let Charity Challenge know prior to departure if you have any specific dietary requirements or allergies.

Money

Money: Currency: The national currency is the Euro. For up to date currency exchange, go to www.xe.com.

Cash: There are ATMs available at Ljubljana airport and in the larger towns. For travel around the country it is a good idea to carry cash.

Credit cards: ATMs are generally OK. Visa, MasterCard and American Express are the most widely accepted and may be used at cash points. In smaller towns, banks do not necessarily have cash points. Credit cards can be used to purchase goods and services in some shops, hotel and restaurants in Slovenia.

Spending money: You will not need a large amount of money during this trip. Approximately £80 should be sufficient, but please take more if you plan to extend your stay or shop a lot!

Tips: Tipping is personal and at your sole discretion. You should only tip if you feel that you have received good service. We recommend approx. EUR40 per person and this should be given to the challenge leader at the end of the challenge who will distribute it amongst the local support team. In bars and restaurants tips are very common and are about 10% of the total bill.

Phone & WiFi

The hotel will have limited Wi-Fi which you will be able to use but not at the mountain refuge. On trekking days, there will be some phone signal at some points.

Emergencies

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The event is not run as a race and there is always a large discrepancy in people’s walking ability. This is allowed for. There will be a staff member at the back of the group at all times to ensure that you are not left behind and can take things at your own pace. Throughout the challenge, back-up support will be close by.

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Contact us:

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