WALKING IN THE MINHO AND VALLEY

A walking holiday in the Minho and the Douro Valley, two of the most famous wine growing regions of

Walk the on the Atlantic Coast, Portuguese Way and stay in historic Ponte de Lima Visit the Mateus Palace and enjoy a Rabelo boat ride down the Rio Douro to Pinhao 3 stunning day walks amongst the vineyards and terraces of the Douro Valley Sample delicious wines from the Minho and Douro at family run quintas 2 nights in , including a port tasting in the cellars of Vila HOLIDAY CODE PMD Nova de Gaia

Portugal, Trek & Walk, 8 Days

7 nights hotel, 7 breakfasts, 5 lunches, max group size: 16, 6 days walking 

VIEW DATES, PRICES & BOOK YOUR HOLIDAY HERE

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Introduction

This walking holiday in the Minho and the Douro Valley, two of the most famous and stunning wine growing regions of Portugal, is ideal for those who enjoy good food, culture, wine, and fantastic day walks. We begin in with 2 nights in Ponte de Lima, the oldest town in Portugal. From here we wander along the beaches of Minho's wild Atlantic Coast, explore the historic streets of Viana do Castelo, and walk a short section of the ‘Portuguese Way’. As we transfer east to the Douro Valley, we’ll break our journey with a long lunch at a family run quinta in Guimaeres, where we can sample some delicious Vinho Verde, and visit the baroque Casa de Mateus and its gardens. During our 3 nights in the Douro we will be based at a stunning 4* Pousada in the hillside town of Alijo. Here we explore on foot the magnificent vineyards and terraces that, over 2000 years of wine making, have transformed the landscape. This is the birthplace of port and, accompanied by our knowledgeable guide, as we walk we will begin to discover its story, from the cultivation of the terraces, the grape harvests, fermentation and bottling process, and its journey to the cellars of Porto. As a special treat one of our walks concludes at a riverside quinta owned by one of our guides, where we enjoy a delicious picnic lunch, with a range of accompanying wine, before taking a Rabelo boat downriver to Pinhao, famous for its railway station decorated in hand-painted blue tiles. We complete our journey with 2 nights in stunning Porto, where we will discover it's historic centre, before finally crossing the Rio Douro to end the holiday with a port tasting at one of the world famous port cellars of Vila Nova do Gaia.

Is this holiday for you?

On this holiday we will explore the Minho and the Douro on a series of good day hikes and walks, any of which can be considered as optional. The walks are on good trails and we will be walking around 4 – 6 hours a day on average, carrying just a small day pack. The nature of the Douro Valley means that we will have to be prepared for some ascent and descent on our day walks here, and we do have one day of around 800m descent; however, it is possible to join this walk half way if you would prefer. Our accommodation each night is in well-appointed and comfortable hotels and our evenings are free to relax, explore the surroundings, sit in the lounge and read a book, enjoy the great food produced in Northern Portugal and, of course, sample some of the local wine!

Holiday Itinerary

Day 1: Meet in Porto. A single timed transfer to the group hotel in Ponte de Lima is provided.

The group will meet at a designated meeting point at Porto Airport and will transfer together to Ponte de Lima in the early afternoon. This means you are free to book a wide range of different flight options from various different UK airports. If you are arriving early in the morning, Porto is easily accessible via the Metro and it will be possible to leave luggage in the lockers at the airport and head into Porto for some free time to explore ahead of rendezvousing at the designated meeting point for the group transfer to Ponte de Lima. Nestled amongst the Minho countryside on the side of the Rio Lima, Ponte de Lima is the oldest town in Portugal and will serve as our base for the next two nights. The town is perhaps most famous for its stunning 31 arch bridge, the Ponte Romana, which is in part Roman and part Medieval.

ACCOMMODATION  HOTEL

Day 2: Walk along the Atlantic coast from Carreco to Vila Praia de Ancora and visit Viana do Castelo.

After breakfast we transfer the short distance out to the Atlantic Coast at Carreco, where will walk a section of the Atlantic Way following the coastline north towards Vila Praia de Ancora. We follow a mix of good path and wooden boardwalks as we stroll along the beautiful beach and past a series of abandoned stone windmills which, motionless without their sails, look forlornly out to sea. We also head slightly inland through patches of forest and agricultural fields, ending our walk in the pretty coastal town of Vila Praia de Âncora. Busy local fishermen ensure that there is a regular supply of fresh fish and seafood on tap here, so we can indulge ourselves over a long lazy

www.keadventure.com UK: +44(0) 17687 73966 US (toll-free): 1-888-630-4415 PAGE 3 WALKING IN THE MINHO AND DOURO VALLEY lunch. Being so close to the wine region there is sure to be a glass of delicious local wine to accompany our food. After lunch we transfer to the pretty town of Viana do Castelo where we will have a short guided tour of the town's medieval centre, with its narrow lanes flanked by colourful tile fronted houses and hidden squares dominated by impressive rococo palaces. We will also have a little free time to look around under our own steam before we transfer back to Ponte de Lima. The rest of the day is free for us to relax or explore Ponte de Lima at our own leisure. ACCOMMODATION  ASCENT 160M  DISTANCE 11KM  MEALS BL  HOTEL

 DESCENT 153M TIME 4 HRS  WALKING HOURS

Day 3: On . Lunch at a quinta near Guimaraes with wine-tasting. Visit Mateus Palace. Transfer to Douro Valley.

This morning we will walk straight from our hotel and, crossing the Ponte Romana, join a section of the Portuguese Way, one of the many pilgrimage routes leading to Santiago de Compostela, the burial place of St James, in Northern . This short walk takes us along quiet rural farm tracks and we will pass shrines, as well medieval bridges and stone crosses. We will also get an insight into agricultural life in the Minho as we wander through small villages surrounded by orchards, vineyards and farmland. We end our walk at the tiny chapel of Senhora Das Neves (Our Lady of the Snow). We then begin our 2hr drive to the Douro Valley. Naturally, we cannot leave the Minho without sampling some of the fresh and delicious Vinho Verde (green wine) for which the region is famous and so we will break our journey near the historic the town of Guimaraes where we can do just that. We will enjoy a 3 course lunch at a traditional quinta, where we will be able to taste several different wines. The owner of the quinta will also be on hand over lunch to talk to us about the different wines produced here. After lunch we continue our drive to the Douro, stopping to enjoy a guided tour of the Mateus Palace and gardens, a true baroque masterpiece, as we pass by. Our drive ends in the wine producing town of Alijó on the northern edge of the Douro where we will stay for the next 3 nights in a fully renovated and centrally located 4-star pousada with a pool. We have the evening at our own leisure. Evening meals are not included whilst in Alijo and you may dine at the restaurant at the pousada each night, or head out into the town to sample some local delicacies in one of the small family run restaurants in town. ACCOMMODATION  ASCENT 219M  DISTANCE 8KM  MEALS BL  HOTEL

 DESCENT 150M TIME 2 - 3 HRS  WALKING HOURS

Day 4: Circular walk from Alijo, via Sao Mamede da Ribatua with views over the Tua Reservoir.

Our first day of walking in the Douro Valley takes us on a circular journey through an ever changing landscape from our base in Alijo, we walk through vineyards and down through the cobbled streets of Sao Mamede da Ribatua, a picturesque small village with a blue tiled baroque church at its centre. From the edge of Sao Mamede we have stunning views down over the Tua reservoir, an ideal spot to enjoy our picnic lunch. After lunch we have an uphill pull back up to the ridge where we make our way back through the vineyards to Alijo. As we walk through the vineyards our guide will be on hand to answer any questions we may have about the cultivation of the vineyards, and how the grapes make their journey from vine to bottle. Returning to the hotel the rest of the evening is at leisure.

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ACCOMMODATION  ASCENT 457M  DISTANCE 14KM  MEALS BL  HOTEL

 DESCENT 457M TIME 5 - 6 HRS  WALKING HOURS

Day 5: Walk from Alijo to Pinhao on the banks of the Douro River. Olive oil tasting.

Today we enjoy another walk directly from our accommodation, heading right into the very heart of the Douro Valley along the ridge of the Pinhão Valley. This will be our longest walk at 17 km, but also our most scenic as we pass by the rugged mountains and through the relatively flat vineyards on the outer edges of the wine region before descending through the terraced slopes that create a patchwork pattern right down to the Douro River. Before beginning our descent we will stop off somewhere shady where we can eat our picnic with a fantastic view down over the vineyards and river. Continuing down towards the river after lunch, we will stop off at a restored olive oil press where we will learn about traditional olive oil production. We will also get a chance to taste the quality oils produced here using more modern methods! The press also produces excellent honey, which may also be lucky enough to sample. Continuing down we eventually reach the scenic town of Pinhao with it famous blue tiled railway station, right on the banks of the Douro. We have some time to relax here beside the river before transferring back to our accommodation in Alijo for one last night. ACCOMMODATION  ASCENT 269M  DISTANCE 17KM  MEALS BL  HOTEL

 DESCENT 821M TIME 5 - 6 HRS  WALKING HOURS

Day 6: Cross the Douro and walk from Ervedosa do Douro to Quinta des Tecedeiras. Picnic and wine-tasting. Rabelo boat journey to Pinhao. Transfer to Porto.

Today will be a highlight of the trip as we take a scenic drive from Alijo, across the meandering Douro River via the bridge at Pinhao, and up to the village of Ervedosa do Douro where we begin today's walk. We will descend through the vineyards with magnificent views out across the Douro Valley and river. The real treat will be stopping to take our lunch at Quinta das Tecedeiras, owned by one of our KE guides, Francisco Passos. Here we can enjoy our picnic al fresco amongst the grape vines whilst sampling some of Francisco's delightful Douro wines. Afterwards we take a traditional rabelo boat journey down the meadering Douro River to Pinhao where our driver will be waiting to take us back to Porto, where we will check into our hotel right in the heart of the city. We have the evening at leisure to explore the stunning city of Porto. ACCOMMODATION  ASCENT 188M  DISTANCE 9KM  MEALS BL  HOTEL

 DESCENT 612M TIME 3 HRS  WALKING HOURS

Day 7: Half-day guided tour of Porto, including the port cellars of Vila Nova de Gaia including a port tasting. Free afternoon.

We begin the day with a guided cultural and historical walking tour of Porto's ancient streets, before crossing the Luis I bridge to the other shore of the Douro to Vila Nova de Gaia, to visit the line of Port Cellars that line this side of the river bank. We will enjoy a tour of the Sandeman port cellars, where we will also enjoy a port tasting, sampling some of the the different styles of port: ruby, tawny, white, vintage and L.B.V., and learn about what makes them distinct. This is the perfect way to round off the story of Port wine, which began during our vineyard walks in the Douro Valley. We then return to Porto, crossing the Douro by boat. The rest of the day is free for us to

www.keadventure.com UK: +44(0) 17687 73966 US (toll-free): 1-888-630-4415 PAGE 5 WALKING IN THE MINHO AND DOURO VALLEY explore Porto at your own steam, you may want to visit some other cellars to taste some different varieties of port, or head off to explore the streets of the old town with its stunning mix of art deco and baroque buildings. There is so much to see in Porto and it is extremely easy to get around the city, either on foot, or by utilizing the trams, buses and metro. Overnight Porto. ACCOMMODATION  MEALS B TIME 2 - 3 HRS  HOTEL  WALKING HOURS

Day 8: Departure day.

KE Land Only Package Services end after breakfast. With flights departing all throughout the day we have not included a timed airport transfer on this day. The most convenient way to get to the airport is via the Metro. There is a Metro Station directly opposite the hotel, the journey to the airport takes around 50mins on the violet line and will cost around €3. If you would like to extend your stay in Porto additional hotel nights are available please contact the KE office for further information.  MEALS B

Holiday Information

What's Included

• A professional and qualified tour leader in the Minho • A professional and qualified tour leader in the Douro • Single timed transfer on arrival • All accommodation as described • Meals as described in the Meal Plan • All land transport required by the itinerary • All activities/excursions/entrance fees mentioned except where specified as ‘optional’

What's Not Included

• Travel insurance • Some meals as described in the Meal Plan • Any additional activities/excursions indicated as optional • Tips • Miscellaneous personal expenditure - drinks and souvenirs etc...

Joining Arrangements & Transfers

The group will meet at a designated point in Porto Airport in the early afternoon of Day 1 of the itinerary and there will be a single timed group transfer from Porto Airport to Ponte de Lima. If you are arriving early in the morning it is very easy and low cost to leave your luggage in a locker at the station and take the Metro into Porto to take a look around while you wait for the rest of the group to arrive. The journey from the airport into Porto on the violet line will cost around €3 and takes approximately 50min. A taxi costs between €20 - €30.

With flights departing all throughout the day we have not included a timed airport transfer on Day 8. The most convenient way to get to the airport is again via the Metro. There is a Metro Station directly opposite the hotel, the journey to the airport takes around 50mins on the violet line and will cost around €3. If you would like to extend

www.keadventure.com UK: +44(0) 17687 73966 US (toll-free): 1-888-630-4415 PAGE 6 WALKING IN THE MINHO AND DOURO VALLEY your stay in Porto additional hotel nights are available please contact the KE office for further information. Hotel contact details and an emergency number will be provided with your booking confirmation.

Meal Plan

All breakfasts and 5 lunches are included. Dinners and lunch on your free afternoon in Porto are not included, there will be a large range of dining options in Ponte de Lima, Alijo and in Porto and a ranges of budgets to choose from and so it makes sense to leave the choice to you. You will need to pay directly for a total of 3 lunches and 7 dinners. You should budget €8-15 per main meal in a mid-range restaurant.

Food & Water

Breakfasts will be continental in style with bread, pastries, cakes cereal and yoghurt, fruit, jam and honey served with tea or coffee. On some days we will enjoy a picnic style lunch with local breads and freshly sourced local ingredients and on others will be a hearty 3 course affair, usually a soup or salad, followed by a main course and simple desert and these lunches will usually also include a glass/glasses of local wine. Dinners are not included and you have the option to dine in the restaurants at our accommodations or out at one of range of restaurants to be found in Ponte de Lima, Alijo and Porto. Porto and the Douro valley are known for their good wines and simple, but delicious, local cuisine. Local specialities include the caldo verde, or ‘green soup’, a cabbage soup containing chorizo. Fish dishes are also common here, as well as variety of sausages and slow cooked casseroles. Whilst in Porto, you must be sure to sample ‘francesinha’. Calorie heavy, but extremely delicious, this glorified sandwich is made from bread, wet-cured ham, sausage, steak and egg, all drowning in melted cheese and served with a spicy tomato and beer sauce! Note that vegetarian options, though available in northern Portugal, will be less varied. When it comes to drink, wine lovers will be in their element. Port wines are of course a must when visiting this region. Ports can be ruby, tawny, white and rosé and during the holiday there will be plenty of opportunity to sample the different varieties of this rich and delicious fortified wine. Vinho Verde (or green wine) is generally the wine of choice when in the Minho. Fresh and fruity, and sometimes lightly sparkling, it is extremely easy to drink!

Special Diets

Whilst we can cater for vegetarians, albeit sometimes with a more limited choice, we cannot provide special diets. Due to the nature of the trips that we operate and the countries in which we operate them, it can be very hard (and sometimes impossible) to cater for a wide range of dietary choices and you may have to supplement your diet with food/snacks from home. If you have specific dietary requirements please do speak to our sales team and they will be able to advise you whether or not we will be able to offer your specific choice. Please note that we are unable to provide separate menus and cannot accept liability for any problems arising from special dietary requirements or intolerances.

Accommodation

We will spend 2 nights in a comfortable riverside hotel in Ponte de Lima (Minho), 3 nights in a charming 4* Pousada in Alijo (Douro Valley) and 1 night in a comfortable and well located hotel 4* hotel in Porto. If you are travelling by yourself, you will be paired up with another single client of the same sex. Single rooms are available for a supplementary cost. If you are planning on extending your holiday additional nights at the group hotel are available on request.

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Group Leader & Support Staff

The group will be led by two professional and qualified tour leaders one, in the Minho and one in the Douro. We have chosen to use two guides for this tour as each will have indepth an knowledge of one of the wine growing regions.

Spending Money

Approximately €200-€300 should cover all miscellaneous personal expenditure, the non-included meals, wine with dinner and activities / transport on your free day as well as reasonable tips for the local staff. You can withdraw cash (euros only) from ATM on arrival and in Ponte de Lima. If you intend to travel with cash, you should take this in the form of euros. If you are intending to buy expensive souvenirs, you should budget accordingly. Also, if you expect to buy considerable quantities of soft drinks, wine or beer, you should make an allowance for this.

Guidance On Tipping

Tipping is the accepted way of saying ‘thank you’ to your leaders and driver. Tipping is entirely voluntary and should be dependent on good service. We recommend that you decide levels of tipping and give any tips as a group rather than from individual group members.

Baggage Allowance

For this holiday you should take one piece of luggage and a daypack. For international flights please check your baggage allowance with your airline.

Group Size & Holiday Status

For each holiday there is a minimum number of participants required to enable it to go ahead. Once the minimum number is reached, the trip status will change from 'Available' to 'Guaranteed to run'. You can check the trip status for each departure in ‘Dates and Prices’ table. Other than in exceptional circumstances, we will not cancel a trip once it has achieved this guaranteed to run status and so you are free to proceed with your international flight booking and other travel arrangements.

Recommended Outdoor Retailers

Many of the Equipment items listed above are available from Cotswold Outdoor - our 'Official Recommended Outdoor Retailer'. When you book a holiday with KE you will receive 15% discount voucher from Cotswold Outdoor and other retailers. >> Find out more

Travel Insurance

It is an essential condition of joining a holiday with KE Adventure Travel that you have a valid travel insurance policy to cover the cost of medical treatment and to protect the value of your holiday in the event of cancellation. When taking out insurance please ensure the policy you choose covers you for the activities and altitude included in your itinerary.

For appropriate insurance cover we recommend Campbell Irvine Direct. Please go to our Travel Insurance page for further information and to get a quote.

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General Information

Passport & Visas

A passport with 6 months remaining validity at the end of your stay is generally required for visits to countries outside the EU. The information that we provide is for UK passport holders. Please check the relevant embassy or consulate for other nationalities. It is your responsibility to ensure that you have the correct travel documents and visas for your holiday. Visa requirements and charges are subject to change without notice. If you are travelling outside the EU you should have at least 2 blank pages in your passport for each country that you visit.

Visa information is changing all the time. Please ensure that you check for the latest advice before travel.

Visa Europe

Travel to the European Union, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein will change from 1 January 2021. Before you travel, you should check the latest government advice at: https://www.gov.uk/visit- europe-1-january-2021

From 1 January 2021 your passport must be less than 10 years old and have at least 6 months validity beyond the date of travel.

Health & Vaccinations

Severe Allergies

If you have a severe allergy please inform the KE office before you travel. We will do all we can to help, but we cannot guarantee an allergy free environment on KE trips. You will need to carry your own treatment for the allergy with you, as 'adrenaline auto-injectors' are not carried as standard by KE leaders and staff. You should inform your leader on arrival of your allergy, and let them know where you keep your adrenaline pen.

Vaccinations

You should contact your doctor or travel clinic to check whether you require any specific vaccinations.

EHIC / Medical Cover

UK residents should obtain a free European Health Insurance Card (EHIC). This entitles you to state provided medical treatment, but is not a substitute for medical travel insurance which is still vital when travelling overseas.

Currency

The currency for part or all of this holiday is the Euro.

Electricity Supply & Plug

We recommend you check if you require an adaptor for your electrical items at: http://www.worldstandards.eu/electricity/plugs-and-sockets/

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Preparing For Your Holiday

Getting some additional exercise before coming on an active holiday makes a lot of sense. The fitter you are, after all, the more enjoyable you will find the experience.

You should be aerobically fit and comfortable with walking 4 to 5 hours for consecutive days. Hill walking, with a good amount of ascent and descent, is the best training. Running, cycling and swimming are also good for developing cardiovascular fitness and stamina.

Climate

Spring, early summer and autumn are ideal times for a walking holiday to north Portugal (avoiding summer, which is too hot for walking), though the weather can of course be varied. You can expect day time temperatures of 15-20 degrees. From April onwards the green wines will be starting to transform the hillsides in the Douro once again. Mid to late September the grape harvest will be well underway and by early October the hills will be starting to take on a warm autumnal hue.

Travel Aware

As a reputable tour operator, KE supports the British Foreign & Commonwealth Offices' ‘Travel Aware’ campaign to enable British citizens to prepare for their journeys overseas. The 'Travel Aware' website provides a single, authoritative source of advice for all kinds of travellers and we recommend that prior to travel, all KE clients visit the official UK Government website at travelaware.campaign.gov.uk and read the FCO Travel Advice for their chosen destination. North Americans can also check out the U.S. Department of State website: www.travel.state.gov for essential travel advice and tips.

KE treat the safety and security of all clients as the most important aspect of any trip we organise. We would not run any trip that we did not consider reasonably safe. Should the FCO advise against travel for any reason, we will contact everyone booked to travel to discuss the situation. We receive regular updates direct from the FCO and are in constant touch with our contacts on the ground. If you have any questions about government travel advice, please call our office.

Single Use Plastic

KE do not encourage the use of single use plastic items. We are ensuring that our agents all over the world are working together to reduce the problem and educate those around them. We are leading by example in our KE office by reducing our plastic use. We have pledged to AITO’s Project Protect that 70% of our agents stop using single use plastic bottles.

Books

The Portuguese: The Land and its People, Marion Kaplan

Douro Valley: Journeys and Stories, Sergion and Susana Fonseca

Pocket Porto, Lonely Planet

Flight Information

Flight Inclusive Or Land Only?

On our website we display a UK Flight Inclusive package price and Land Only package price for the majority of our holidays.

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Land Only Notes

The dates above are for the LAND ONLY itinerary, joining at Porto Airport. Please refer to the 'Joining arrangements & transfers' and 'Flights' for further details.

Flights SHOULD NOT be booked until you have received your booking confirmation and the departure is showing 'Guaranteed to Run' or 'Limited'.

If flying from the UK there are a number of low cost airlines offering flights to Porto. These include Easyjet who have the best selection of regional flights from Manchester, Bristol and Gatwick and Ryan Air from Stansted. Other airports and airlines are available.

If you would prefer to book a 'flight inclusive package' using scheduled airlines from the UK please contact our flights department for a quote. Whilst flight prices are likely to be more expensive you will benefit from full financial protection.

Why Choose KE Adventure Travel?

Why Choose KE Adventure Travel?

Adventure Travel Insurance

It is a condition of joining any of our trips that you are insured against medical and personal accident risks (to include repatriation costs, air ambulance and helicopter rescue services). We also strongly recommend that you take out holiday cancellation insurance, as all deposits paid are non-refundable. Please ensure that your insurer is aware of your KE Adventure itinerary and can agree to cover the activities being undertaken. You will then need to advise us of your policy details and complete an Insurance Declaration Form.

CAMPBELL IRVINE DIRECT travel insurance is available to EU residents and will cover the majority of KE Adventure holidays. It has been designed to provide cover for activities normally excluded by other insurers such as trekking, mountain biking and climbing. Please note that certain activities may attract a higher premium. In addition ‘Campbell Irvine Direct’ cannot provide cover for KE climbing trips above 6000m. Cover for these can be obtained through either the British Mountaineering Council (BMC) or Snowcard.

TRAVELEX is a USA based insurer offering travel insurance, which can be used by US citizens and US residents only. KE recommends the "Travelex Select" package for our holidays. If your holiday involves using mountaineering equipment (ropes, harness or crampons), for climbing or glacial travel, you should consider the "Adventure Plus Pak" optional upgrade on the Travelex Select Plan. Please refer to the 'Description of Coverage' for a summary of the terms, conditions, exclusions and limitations of the applicable Protection Plan. This policy will also cover KE climbing trips above 6000m.

Operating since 1984, KE Adventure Travel has some of the most experienced staff in the business, with the proven ability to set up and operate a worldwide programme of adventures. Everyone has adventure travel at heart and joins at least one trip a year. It is this depth of experience that makes KE stand out from other adventure travel operators. When you contact KE, by phone or e-mail, or visit our office, you will find the help and advice you need, from someone who has actually done the trip and can give you the benefit of their first-hand experience.

KE can guarantee the very best in trip support, excellent food, a good standard of hotel and other accommodation, plus the back up of one of the most respected companies in the business. Client satisfaction is at the top of our agenda and almost 50% of our bookings each year come from repeat business. If you are looking for adventure then look no further than KE.

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Group Tour Leaders

All of our holidays are accompanied by an experienced leader, some of whom have worked with KE groups for many years. Many are professional guides and instructors with an unrivalled knowledge of the areas in which they work. In many parts of the world, we recruit local guides with appropriate training and experience. In addition to having the technical skills to ensure your safety, KE expects its leaders to be active members of the group. A leader should be fun to travel with and ready to share with you their enthusiasm for adventure travel and their knowledge of the area. Alongside the group leader, there will be a local support crew, which could be just a driver, or a complete team of guides, drivers, porters, mule-herders and cooks. The hard work of our support crews, along with the fascinating insight they can offer into their local culture, is integral to providing you with the very best adventure travel experience.

Sustainable Tourism

Since we ran our first trip in 1984, we have been committed keeping the world's most beautiful places pristine by minimising our environmental impact. Recognising the fragility of the world's wilderness environments, we keep our groups small and operate according to a ‘Mountain Code’, which is provided to all groups, trek leaders, agents and staff. We make sure that our local staff are well treated and well paid, we respect indigenous cultures, take care to protect the environment of the places we visit and take every opportunity to make a positive contribution wherever we travel. Our philosophy of 'leaving nothing but footprints' has been integral to KE's approach right from the start over 30 years ago. In recognition of our efforts we are proud to have achieved the highest award of 5 Stars for Sustainable Tourism by AITO.

We continue to travel responsibly, and more information on our policy, practice, and specific projects can be found at www.keadventure.com, and on the website of our partner charity the Juniper Trust: www.junipertrust.co.uk. KE's Mountain Code is issued to our staff, trek leaders and overseas agents, and we recommend it to our clients, too!

Booking Your Holiday

The easiest way to make your booking is online. You will need to pay a deposit at the time of booking. This is normally £200 but for some holidays with special permit fees or internal flights, this may be more. The amount of deposit required for an individual holiday is given on the dates and prices page of the holiday. Late bookings will require full payment. We cannot confirm any booking until we receive your fully completed booking form.

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Equipment List

The following checklist should help you with your packing. As a general rule, you should always try to keep the weight of your equipment to a minimum.

YOU SHOULD BRING THE FOLLOWING ITEMS:

• Hiking boots or approach shoes • Trainers or sandals/flip flops • Socks and Underwear • Walking trousers • Lightweight waterproof jacket • Lightweight waterproof over-trousers • T-shirts and/or casual shirts • Sunhat • Sunglasses • Light fleece or warm jumper • Warm hat or buff • Daypack 20-30 litres • Sun protection (including for lips) • Water bottles 1 litre (x2) • Washbag and toiletries • Antibacterial handwash • Swimwear • Basic First Aid Kit including: Antiseptic cream, throat lozenges, diarrhoea treatment (Imodium), painkillers, plasters and blister treatment, insect repellent, and re-hydration salts (Dioralite). Glucose tablets and multi- vitamin tablets.

THE FOLLOWING ITEMS ARE OPTIONAL:

• Trekking poles (recommended) • Shorts

Please note: This document was downloaded on 2 Oct 2021, and the trip is subject to change.

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