Leader: Marianne Page

Transcription

1 Mallorca Coastal Hiking August 31, 2019 to September 9, 2019 Trip # 1944 Leader: Marianne Page INTRODUCTION Hiking in Mallorca is simply delightful. Considered the star of the Mediterranean, Mallorca has vast amounts of all things Spanish superb mountain scenery, charming hill top villages, azure vistas, world class beaches, top notch wines and an old world gastronomy that is to die for! Add in wonderful day hikes through a bouquet of Mediterranean flora and lose yourself in the vastness of the Tramutana Mountains this is a transformational journey for the discerned traveler. In September 2019 we invite you to join this unique hiking tour. Expect day hikes not exceeding 6-8 miles and opportunities to explore the islands rich cultural heritage, its wonderful gastronomy and beautiful physical landscapes. This tour is designed for light to moderate hikers that are seeking a balanced holiday of hikes with sightseeing. Bienvenido a Mallorca! Day 1 - Arrival day / Palma La Mallorca Today you are free to arrive to Palma, Mallorca s pleasant capital and make your way to our group hotel. Options for reaching the hotel from the airport are by taxi (20 minutes / approximately 25 euros per 4 person taxi) or by shuttle bus (30 1

2 minutes / approximately 5 euros per person to city centre location). If you arrive early, a great option to beat jet lag is the Hop On / Hop Off city bus tour or simply relax around the hotel pool! This evening you ll meet your guide and enjoy a welcome dinner near the hotel. Hotel: Palau Sa Font 4* with pool (or similar) / Welcome Dinner included Day 2 - Palma La Mallorca Exploration Day Today is a guided exploration on foot of Palma offering us the chance to walk off jet lag and see the best of Mallorca s cultural highlights. Part of today s walking tour will be with a local city guide who will impart his/her experiences of Mallorcan life! Expect to be on your feet for most of the morning leading up to lunch. The afternoon you are free to self-explore some museums or even take a boat excursion or visit the nearby beaches before we head out tomorrow on our adventures. Hotel: Same as above / Breakfast only included. Day 3 Introductory Hike of West Mallorca - Es Capdella to Estellencs After breakfast this morning we transfer 17 miles to the village of Es Capdella, a once Roman and Moorish settlement nestled in the Tramutana Mountains A UNESCO World Heritage Site. Here our first walk begins gently enough as it passes the Finca Galatzo (a historic estate house well worth a visit) and then ascends to the Galatxo Valley, for wonderful views of the Mediterranean Sea. From here we descend to Estellencs to complete our day in this precious tiny hamlet located near the sea. Hotel: Hotel Maristel 4* with pool (or similar) / Breakfast, Picnic Lunch & Dinner included. Hike rating: Medium / 4-5 hours / 8 miles / 2000 feet elevation gain Day 4 - Estellencs to Banyalbufar Today we hike the rural Tramuntana Mountains and explore the Font de s Obi and the Planicia Estate before descending to one of the island s most picturesque towns, Banyalbufar Mallorca s prized vineyard region famous for the Malvasian grape variety growing over terraces dating back thousands of years. You can enjoy the rest of the afternoon exploring the village and tasting Banyalbufar s special wines and local tapas delights. Hotel: Can Busquets Hotel de Interior 3* (or similar) / Breakfast & Picnic Lunch included. Hike Rating: Easy-Medium / 3.5 to 4 hours / 6 miles / 1500 feet elevation gain Day 5 - Banyalbufar to Esporles & Valldemossa A steep climb up from Banyalbufar over its ancient terraces connects us to a pleasant forested path, the Cami des Correu (The Postman s Path), all the way to Esporles. Near the end we reach La Granja Museum and restaurant where we can make a visit. From 2

3 Esporles village we have a 7-mile bus transfer to Valldemossa, where a famous monastery and perhaps the homes of Chopin and George Sand can be visited later in the afternoon. Valldemossa is a strikingly beautiful medieval town of 2000 residents set in the foreground of lush olive and oak forests and dramatic Tramutana mountain scenery. Hotel: TBA / Breakfast & Picnic Lunch included. Hike Rating: Easy-Medium / 3 hours / 5 miles / 1150 feet elevation gain Day 6 - Valldemossa to Soller Today we make our way to Soller in the valley of Oro (Gold). Famous for it s rich history of orange groves and culinary delights, Soller, with 14,000 residents is a beautiful cultural destination. Today we can follow the Archduke s trail perched high atop a ridge, or we may customize the hike to suit our needs - making our way to Deia, a picturesque village, once home to Robert Graves and a spectacular coastline. We ll have 2 nights in Soller and plenty of time to explore this wonderful region of the Tramutana range. Hotel: Hotel El Guia 4* with pool (or similar) / Breakfast, Picnic Lunch & Dinner included. Hike Rating: Easy-Medium / 3.5 to 4 hours / 6 miles / TBA feet elevation gain (*pending final route chosen) Day 7 Soller Optional Morning Hike and Tram Car Excursion Today we ll explore the valley of Soller by taking an optional morning hike followed by an afternoon excursion by tramcar to Port Soller where we are afforded with a wonderful coastline and self-exploration options. The famous Soller Tram to the Port town dates back to 1913 and was used to transport fresh fish, coal, oranges and produce between Palma and to barges heading to mainland Spain and France. A wonderful experience and a great way to see the dramatic countryside during this short return journey by tram. In Port Soller, one could lounge on the beaches, swim in the crystal clear waters or stroll through the port and fish markets. Hotel: Same as above / Breakfast only included. Hike Rating: Easy / 2 hours / 3 miles / TBA feet elevation gain Day 8 Soller to Alaro This morning we have a private bus transfer (45 min), towards Alaro an interior village of 5000 residents and famous for leather footwear and a charming rural atmosphere in beautiful 3

4 natural surroundings. Today s hike is in the region of Alaro, taking in perhaps the Castell D Alaro (Alaro Castle) and a descent to the village itself through glorious pastures, woodlands and diverse Mediterranean vegetation. Our final night in Mallorca will be spent in this wonderful community and a farewell celebratory dinner is provided. Hotel: Hostal Ca N Tiu 2*/ Breakfast, Picnic Lunch & Farewell Dinner included. Hike Rating: Easy-Medium / 3.5 to 4 hours / approx. 6 miles / 750 feet elevation gain Day 9 - Departure (Alaro to Palma transfer) After breakfast a group transfer to Palma Airport is included. You may extend your stay on the island or visit some of mainland Spain s wonderful destinations. Please note, the group transfer provided is based on the earliest departure. Breakfast included. The leaders reserve the right to make such changes as necessary, both before and during the trip. IMPORTANT - THIS ITINERARY IS SUBJECT TO VARIATIONS / CHANGE OF HOTELS and / or extended stay in hotels PENDING NUMBER OF PARTICIPANTS.. ABOUT YOUR TOUR, WE INCLUDE: Lodgings We provide 8 tour nights in good quality hotels located in specially selected regions. Rooms are based on double sharing with limited single supplements available. All hotels have WIFI connections and some have swimming pools. Solo travelers will be paired with a same gender roommate. Meals Please refer to the itinerary above as to what meals are included. Meals are generally taken within the hotel or in walking distance. For lunches, we often carry picnics on the trail. Mallorcan food is very healthy and cooked well with plenty of flavor. Vegetarian needs can be met however specialist s diets such as gluten free, vegan, etc. may be difficult to manage in some remote areas. Normally dinners are served in 3 courses and a drink of your choice (wine, beer, soft drink, etc. is included). Mineral water is always provided with the dinners. Transport During the tour days, we have a private air-conditioned mini bus for our use and at times we rely on local bus services and authorized taxis for some transfers. Arrival transfers to the hotel on day 1 are not included however a group transfer back to the airport on the final day is provided. Personal Money - Outside of the meals not included in your tour price, you will need to have Euros and these can be obtainable from ATM machines. Travelers cheques are no longer valid in most of Europe. Paying small amount purchases with credit card is not always accepted. 4

5 Telephone and Internet Services in Mallorca Credit Cards may be used for International calls or a Spanish or European SIM Card can be purchased for a certain value. INTERNET WIFI is available in all hotels - including cafes throughout the region. Please note, hotel Wi-Fi connection always in the common areas but not always guaranteed in rooms and power outages and people s posting of photos may impact connectivity and Internet reliability. Insurance Please ensure, as a condition of travelling with Adventurebug that you have taken out personal travel insurance, which covers you for accident, injury, and general health insurance for travel in Europe. Adventurebug is a licensed operator of Adventure Travel and thereby has necessary permits and Third Party Public Liability cover but we do not cover personal accident, health and travel insurance for our participants. Good private medical facilities can be found in the regions of travel on this trip. The trip fee includes an AMC overhead charge to cover the administrative expenses of offering AMC Adventure Travel excursions and, in accordance with AMC you are subsidizing some of the leaders cost. The trip fee also includes emergency medical and evacuation insurance coverage, which is required by AMC. It does not include insurance for travel delay, interruption, or cancellation, or for baggage loss. More information about included emergency medical and evacuation insurance, as well as about optional and recommended travel insurance, will be provided to participants in their formal acceptance letters. Cost of this guided Trip is: 2, The price for this excursion is based on quotes or estimates obtained at the time the trip was submitted to the Adventure Travel Committee for approval. The final price will be adjusted in accordance with the best final arrangements we can make. As with all Adventure Travel Committee excursions, this trip is run on a non-profit basis; trip participants will share any savings we achieve, as well as any cost increases we incur. Our cost estimates are conservative, and so a refund is considerably more likely than a price increase. Cost includes: 8 nights twin or double share accommodation in selected hotels as per itinerary Meals as indicated on itinerary Tour manager services throughout All entrance fees and attractions / visits as per itinerary Transfers by air-conditioned private coach as per itinerary (airport transfers at end of tour only) All local taxes, administrative fees and park entrances Third Party Public Liability Insurance AMC Accident Insurance Tipping for all included meals and coach drivers are included 5

6 It does not include: Tipping for housekeeping and personal meals, etc. Hotel room personal expenses, telephone bills, mini bar, room service, etc. Drinks and beverages at meals apart from what s included. This is a trip for experienced hikers who enjoy an active vacation and is rated a difficulty of 3: moderate. Our pace will be moderate so that we may enjoy the scenery and take time to meet the local residents, and socialize with each other. When you participate in this activity, you should be in proper condition for the challenges outlined in this prospectus and equipped with the appropriate gear, which will be listed once accepted. You should always be aware of the risks involved and conduct yourself accordingly. You are ultimately responsible for your own safety. Prior to your acceptance as a participant in this trip, you will be asked to discuss your capabilities and experience with us. We may also request references to confirm your fitness level and suitability for participating in trip activities. AMC Adventure Travel trips are run in a manner supportive of and consistent with the conservation, recreational and educational principles and mission of the Club. Trip leaders encourage participant conduct consistent with Leave No Trace environmental and conservation principles and local regulations. This is a trip for experienced hikers who enjoy an active vacation. While the leader will make a reasonable attempt to ensure a good fit between the trip and participants, you are ultimately responsible for being aware of the risks involved in the activities and for conducting yourself accordingly. You are ultimately responsible for your own safety. This is a group activity, when we will be spending many, but not all, hours together. We expect that everyone will pitch in and contribute to helping each other have a great time. This trip is rated a difficulty of 3: moderate. Our pace will be moderate so that we may enjoy the scenery and take time to meet the local residents, and socialize with each other. It may happen on any trip that a participant is or becomes unable to participate in one or more of the planned activities. Leaders in their sole judgment have the right and obligation to refuse participation in any activity to any group member for reasons of safety, whether it be of the group or of the individual. Illness, injury, or lack of proper gear or fitness, are examples of some conditions that might result in an individual being unable to participate in one or more activities. 6

7 To apply to the trip: Mail the leader letting her know that you are interested in receiving the trip application forms. You will be sent the application, risk release, and medical forms which you will need to print, complete, sign and return along with the required deposit check of $500 made payable to the Appalachian Mountain Club. Send the completed paperwork and deposit to leader: Marianne Page, 29 Bedard Ave, Derry, NH Balance of trip fee of $ 2, due by March 30, 2019 Your round trip Airfare to Palma, Mallorca from Boston, as of 9/18/ at the time of this proposal, is approximately $ and from NY approximately $ 500. Marianne will gladly assist in selecting your flight. You will be considered qualified for the trip when the leader has determined by conversation with you that you and the trip seem to be a good match. You will be formally accepted, and your check will be deposited. Deposit checks from wait-listed applicants will not be cashed until I offer them a spot on the trip AND they accept. Cancellation Policy: Our cancellation policy is based on several considerations. First, a cancellation shall not raise the cost to the other participants or to the leaders Second, we will charge a canceling participant for the expenses already incurred on his/her behalf and any unavoidable future expenses that will be incurred as a result of his/her registration, unless they can be applied toward another acceptable participant Third, to discourage uncommitted people from applying for the trip, we have a schedule of minimum cancellation penalties, applicable once you have been accepted: $0 penalty if canceled (in writing) before February 22, 2019, less any funds that fall into the category of the second bullet above $200 penalty if cancelled (in writing) from March 22, 2019, plus any funds that fall into the category of the second bullet above. 7

8 $500 penalty if cancelled (in writing) after May 25, 2019 plus any funds that fall into the category of the bullet above. No refund if cancelled after June 20, 2019 AMC Leader Marianne Page is an AMC New Hampshire Chapter Trip Leader and is currently certified in SOLO Advanced Wilderness First Aid, AED & CPR. Marianne has led Adventure Travel excursions since She has traveled extensively to Germany, hiked in Africa, Peru and Patagonia. Marianne has led trips to Glacier N.P., the Sawtooth Mountains, New Zealand, Big Bend N.P., Utah, Patagonia, backpacking in the Tetons, and hikes in the High- and Anti Atlas of Morocco three times. She is looking forward to sharing this exciting Mallorca hiking and cultural appreciation journey with you. 8

9 General Information about Mallorcan Travel Mallorca poses no great dangers in terms of risks to health. No vaccinations are required for visits to the Balearic Islands. We recommend you carry all your prescriptions from home and don t always expect to find the same items in a local pharmacy. Also include an extra pair of glasses. Protection from the sun and dangerous UV rays is critical in Mallorca. Swimming in the sea is generally safe with the exception of stormy days and strong sea currents. Jellyfish are an issue in the summer months mostly. Spiny sea urchins can be problematic underfoot! Generally crime is low in Mallorca but as always be vigilant of pickpockets in the tourist areas of Palma. Electricity is based on 240 Volts and a standard central European plug is necessary.. 9