SACRED SUMMITS OF OLYMPUS AND METEORA

Transcription

1 SACRED SUMMITS OF OLYMPUS AND METEORA Trek to the magnificent summit of Olympus, Greece's highest mountain and explore the UNESCO floating monasteries of Meteora. HOLIDAY CODE GMO Hike up the highest peak in Greece nestled in a UNESCO national park Walk on ancient trails in the foothills of Meteora's sandstone mountains Visit the breathtaking UNESCO floating monasteries of Megalo and Varlaam Look for eagles and chamois and walk along the E4 long distance trail Greece, Trek & Walk, 8 Days 3 nights mountain hut / refuge, 2 nights hotel, 2 nights guesthouse, 7 breakfasts, 3 lunches, 3 dinners, max group size: 8, 6 days walking, max altitude m

2 PAGE 2 VIEW DATES, PRICES & BOOK YOUR HOLIDAY HERE Introduction Captivating Greece is home to the breath-taking UNESCO floating monasteries of Meteora and Mount Olympus, the highest peak in the country. Dominating a UNESCO national park, dramatic Olympus, the Throne of Zeus is the highlight of this fantastic trekking journey which includes traditional mountain huts and a spectacular trek onto the mountain. Greece s first national park of Olympus sits on the Macedonian border and is home to wonderful variety of wildlife including chamois, wolves, jackals, woodpeckers, birds of prey and butterflies. We start in the Greek village of Krastaki, located at the base of the Meteroa s floating Orthodox monasteries. This UNESCO World Heritage Site is an area of towering sandstone pillars topped by magical monasteries. We ll explore trails used by 11th Century monks and visit two of the monasteries before heading to the quaint town of Litochoro. Complete with a stunning mountain backdrop, Litochoro is a great place to relax before our trek up to the highest point in Greece. Mount Olympus is the second highest peak in the Balkans and this holiday is a real mountain adventure complete with dramatic ridges and breath-taking scenery. If you re looking for a unique trekking journey with views that extend over a stunning coast, then this is the perfect choice. Is this holiday for you? This is a fantastic mountain journey with significant amounts of ascent and descent on the days we spend in the Olympus National Park. The trails are predominantly good but there is a ridge section with scrambling. The walking is between 4 and 8 hours on days 4, 5, 6 & 7, with some exposure at times on the final ascent to the top (which is an optional summit). For 3 nights we stay in traditional mountain huts which are mostly inaccessible by vehicles and you'll need to carry your personal equipment for 4 days, however as bedding is provided and with clever packing there is no need to carry a heavy backpack. As there is no vehicle support in the national park and narrow balcony sections plus mountainous paths above Refuge A, has an influence on the grading. This holiday is suitable for regular walkers (with a good head for heights) looking for a wonderful mountain holiday in a much loved part of Europe. Holiday Itinerary Day 1: Meet at Thessaloniki Airport and transfer to Kastraki close to Meteora. A single timed transfer will be provided from Thessaloniki Airport to the group hotel in Kastraki. The scenic journey takes approximately 2.5hrs and we will have views of the mountains, towns and villages along the way. Kastraki is a small town located in the region of West Macedonia, Greece. Meaning "small castle" this small peaceful town has a laid-back feel to it and is the perfect base for our visit to Meteora. From afar the large village looks like an eagle's nest at the bottom of two gigantic rocks! Protected by the Greek government and under a preservation order, Kastraki is famed for traditional houses with roofs of clay tiles local inhabitants who proudly make sure each garden has an abundance of flowers in residence! During dinner this evening our leader will brief us on the week ahead. GUESTHOUSE Day 2: Explore UNESCO Meteora and visit two of the floating monasteries.

3 PAGE 3 Today we visit the amazing area of Meteora and enter two of the spectacular monasteries. We'll walk around western Meteora, following the old paths the monks used to use to wind their way amongst the tall rock-towers. These paths then ascend up these gigantic rocks, taking us up to the cliff top monasteries. We will have enough time to visit two of the most important ones: the Megalo Meteoro, and the Varlaam. A UNESCO world heritage site, Meteora is a mystery of nature as monasteries sit suspended in the air on towering sandstone rocks. Formed approximately 60 million years ago, these amazing structures were shaped by weather and earthquakes over time. Meaning "suspended in the air" or "in the heavens above" the whole area is a magical place containing one of the largest and most important Greek Orthodox Monastery complexes in the whole of Europe. During the 11th century monks originally settled in caves, but legends tell of them climbing higher and higher during the Turkish occupation. The first monasteries were built by bringing materials and people up the enormous rock formations with a series of ladders and baskets. In the past these sacred buildings were closed to the public, however in 1921 Queen Marie of Romania visited Meteora and was the first woman allowed to enter. Today six of them remain religious buildings, 4 for men and 2 for women. We'll visit Megalo Meteoro famed for its library, silverware, wood carvings and beautiful frescoes. Our second visit will be to Varlaam, the second biggest and one of the most beautiful, also with exquisite frescoes. (Please note that modest clothing is required for our visits to the monasteries - no vest tops or short shorts for either men or women. Women are requested to wear skirts, however a sarong is provided at the monasteries). GUESTHOUSE MEALS B Day 3: Morning walk around Kastraki village and transfer to Litochoro, the gateway to Olympus. This morning we'll enjoy a relaxing start to the day. After breakfast we'll explore the village of Kastraki with a short walking tour and morning leg stretcher directly from our accommodation. During the morning there will be time to photograph the traditional houses and colourful gardens that Krastraki is famed for. After lunch we'll transfer (2.5hrs) to the small town of Litochoro. Situated only a few kilometres from the sea and known as the gateway to Mount Olympus, this picturesque town is built in traditional Macedonian style. The town is a relaxing place to wander with narrow lanes, small town squares and a quaint Maritime and Folk Museum. After checking-in, there will be some free time to relax. Over dinner, the leader will brief us about the exciting trek through the UNESCO national park and walking days ahead. HOTEL MEALS B Day 4: Transfer to Olympus National Park and trek to Spilios Agapitos Refuge A (2100m). Today we start with a short morning transfer to Prionia (770m), the highest point which can be reached by car. From here our trekking route begins as we head to the Spilios Agapitos Refuge located on a rocky outpost called "The Balcony" at 2100m. Our footpath takes us through beech woodland and today is an excellent day as we walk part of the E4 European Mountaineer's Path which runs all the way from Spain to Crete. This fantastic path zigzags across the mountain's lower slopes, as deciduous trees gradually give way to pines as we gain height. The trail is signposted and well-used and we may even encounter one of the mule trains that are used to supply the refuges on the mountain. Our overnight stop, also known as Refuge 'A', is a large and well-maintained mountain refuge, with excellent views, two dining areas and a fantastic location. There are simple toilet facilities and a restaurant that is decorated with old photographs of early exploits on the mountain. It was only as recently as 1913, that the main summit of Mytikas was first climbed by local man Christos Kakalos with 2 Swiss mountaineers. From the refuge we can enjoy the views from the terrace and during dinner our leader will brief us on our aim for the following day - the summit of Mount Olympus. The ascent of Olympus is optional and if you decide not to attempt the summit the leader will decide on the best pace for you to wait until the group returns. This will not take away any enjoyment from the holiday as the trekking journey and hut experience in itself is wonderful.

4 PAGE 4 MOUNTAIN HUT / REFUGE ASCENT 100M DISTANCE 6KM GPS DATA VIEW NOW MEALS BLD DESCENT 100M TIME 4 HRS TREKKING HOURS Day 5: Exciting and airy trek to the summit of Olympus. Today we leave for Olympus, which has three separate summits - Skala (2866m), Skolio (2912m) and Mytikas (2918m). Initially we follow a zigzag path which brings us under the mountain's three summits. Please note there are various options available today due to the weather and the leader will decide on the most suitable one. We may climb Skala (2882m) before crossing to Skolio (2911m). Or if the weather is stable and the mountain is snow free, we'll head to the summit of Mytikas (2917m). One thing is for sure, we'll experience dramatic paths and superb views especially as we overlook the Cauldron dropping 500m between Mytikas and Skolialso. The approach to the top involves scrambling and needs a good head for heights! As the highest mountain in Greece and known as the Abode of the Greek Gods, the views are breath-taking. After taking plenty of mountain photos, we descend and cross under the summit of Zeus' throne. Late afternoon we reach an alpine plateau (2700m) and our accommodation, a small and friendly refuge called Refuge C "Kakkalos. (N.B: an element of flexibility and patience is needed today due to the exact route which is weather, trail and group dependent. Helmets and harnesses will be provided and carried by each member of the group for extra security on the scrambling section). MOUNTAIN HUT / REFUGE ASCENT 1200M DISTANCE 8KM GPS DATA VIEW NOW MEALS BLD DESCENT 600M TIME 8-9 HRS TREKKING HOURS Day 6: Descend from Refuge C on the Plateau of Muses to Refuge A. Today we'll enjoy a later start and relaxed breakfast before hiking from Refuge C to Refuge A. This morning we'll explore the plateau and surrounding smaller peaks plus there may be the opportunity to walk to a nearby chapel situated on the top of a peak. (This is also a back-up day for Olympus, so if the previous day's weather has affected our chance to the go summit, we may head up Olympus today.) The trail we take back down to refuge A is off the main summit approach and you may find it slightly more rocky underfoot than the other trails we've walked on during the trek. After arriving at refuge A we'll be able to relax and enjoy the terrace of the refuge, plus a wellearned celebratory beer. MOUNTAIN HUT / REFUGE ASCENT 300M DISTANCE 8KM GPS DATA VIEW NOW MEALS BLD DESCENT 900M TIME 4-5 HRS TREKKING HOURS Day 7: Walk out of Olympus National Park and relax in Litochoro. This morning we'll leave the mountains and head down to the valley floor. There are numerous trails and if we're lucky we may spot the birds of prey that live and soar in the national park. Here vultures, eagles and falcons are all residents alongside storks, doves and hoopoe. The park is famed for its abundance of butterflies and reptiles plus chamois, wolf, wild boar, fox, jackel, wild cat and squirrels. One thing is for sure we'll enjoy a walk out of the park before our transfer to Litochoro. After checking-in there will be time to for a stroll before we meet up to enjoy a

5 PAGE 5 final group dinner. Tonight there will be plenty of opportunities to enjoy a glass or two of the local ouzo, metaxa or retsina. HOTEL MEALS B ASCENT 100M DESCENT 1000M DISTANCE 6KM TIME 3-4 HRS TREKKING HOURS GPS DATA VIEW NOW Day 8: Departure Day. A single timed transfer from Litochoro to Thessaloniki Airport is included. Departure Day. A single timed transfer from Litochoro to Thessaloniki Airport is provided. MEALS B Holiday Information What's Included An experienced professional English-speaking mountain guide Single timed Thessaloniki Airport transfers on days 1 and 8 All accommodation as described in the trip dossier Some meals as per the meal plan Vehicle support throughout the trek (apart from days 4 & 5 & 6) What's Not Included Travel insurance Airport transfers (other than the single timed group transfers) Tips for local staff Some meals as per the Meal Plan Miscellaneous personal expenses Meal Plan All breakfasts, 3 lunches and 3 dinners are included. Food Greek food is absolutely excellent with its colourful Mediterranean diet of tasty dishes alongside a fantastic range of fresh vegetables and salads. Local menus include fava beans, olives, aubergines, fresh cheeses, filled filo pastries, lamb and poultry plus don t forget excellent breads to dip in taramasalata and tzatziki. Breakfasts are continental in style with tea, coffee, cereals, bread, jam, yoghurt, honey and occasionally cheese. Lunches will be picnic style and the group will make them up during breakfast to carry during the day (bread, cheese, tomatoes, cucumber, ham or dried meat, fruit and biscuits). In Litohoro and Krastaki we ll eat in small local restaurants with something to suit all tastes and budgets. In the refuges dinner will be simpler but filling with thick soups, pastas, stews etc. As one of the oldest wine-producing regions in the world, the country has an excellent selection of local wines available by the glass. The light beer of Mythos, the aniseed aperitif of Ouzo, Metaxa the local brandy, Retsina (wine with an acquired taste) and the fiery Tsipouro are all popular local tipples and well worth a try.

6 PAGE 6 Joining Arrangements & Transfers On day 1 of the Land Only itinerary there will be a single timed transfer from Thessaloniki Airport to the group hotel in Kastraki. This transfer is due to depart early afternoon after the arrival of the direct flight with British Airways from Gatwick. The KE local leader will meet everyone in the arrivals hall, please look out for the "KE Adventure" signboard. On day 8 there will be a single timed group transfer back to Thessaloniki Airport from Litochoro departing mearly to mid-morning. This transfer is due to arrive at the airport in time to check-in for the direct flight with British Airways back to Gatwick. Hotel contact details and an emergency number will be provided with your booking confirmation. Accommodation During this holiday the group will spend 4 nights in simple guest houses / small hotels, 2 nights in Kastraki and 2 nights in Litochoro on an en-suite basis. If you are travelling by yourself you will be paired up with a solo traveller of the same sex to share a twin room. For the 3 nights in Olympus National Park, the group will stay in two traditional mountain refuges with dormitory accommodation, known as Refuge A and Refuge C. Blankets are provided, however we recommend taking a sheet sleeping bag liner for these 3 nights. Each refuge has a restaurant plus plus drinks and snacks can be purchased. Both have simple toilet facilities, whilst refuge A has refreshing cold showers. Although basic, the atmosphere and location of these huts more than makes up for the lack of hotel facilities. It also allows the chance to stay in a UNESCO registered national park. Please note that as the park has UNESCO World Heritage, you need to carry any rubbish (garbage) out of the park. Group Leader & Support Staff A professional, English speaking qualified mountain guide will accompany the group throughout the holiday. Spending Money The local currency in Greece is the Euro and approximately Euro should cover extra expenses - drinks with evening meals, snacks, non-included meals and drinks in the refuges. We recommend taking your money in local currency or carrying a debit/credit card to use at a local ATM. There is an ATM at Thessaloniki Airport and in Litochoro where you can withdraw Euros. Guidance On Tipping Most people will want to tip their local guide if they have had a good experience. This is a purely personal decision and it is important to remember that tips are a way of saying 'thank you' and are not part of the wages of local staff. We recommend that any tips be given from the group as a whole rather than from individuals and that the group decides together on a level of tipping that everyone is comfortable with. Free KE Gift We give you a free gift as a way to thank all our clients who book a KE holiday. Choose from KE T-shirts, buffs, KE trek bags* (where applicable) plus many more. Alternatively you can choose to make a 10 donation to the Juniper Trust Charity. You can make your selection in your My KE account after booking. * A trek bag is not required for this holiday. You can however purchase a KE trek bag for Delivery outside of the UK will be charged. Baggage Allowance

7 PAGE 7 Baggage will be transported between overnight stops (except on Days 4, 5 and 6) by vehicle. A litre rucksack should be adequate for the two day trek into Olympus National Park. There is no weight restriction other than that imposed by your international carrier but we do ask you to limit your luggage to one piece plus your day pack. 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. 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 Europe UK and USA passport holders do not require a visa. Health & Vaccinations You should contact your doctor or travel clinic to check whether you require any specific vaccinations. 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 unit of currency in Europe is the Euro. Electricity Supply & Plug We recommend you check if you require an adaptor for your electrical items at: Preparing For Your Holiday It makes a lot of sense to spend some time before coming on a trekking or climbing trip getting some additional exercise. The fitter you are, after all, the more enjoyable you will find the experience. We would suggest that you adopt a weekly exercise regime leading up to your trip. Running, swimming and cycling are good for developing better stamina. Before departure, we suggest that you try to fit in a number of long walks in local hilly and mountaineous areas.

8 PAGE 8 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: 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. Climate The best time of year for trekking in the Olympus National Park and a summit attempt is in September and October - when we have planned our trips. We can expect daytime temperatures to range between 20 and 25 degrees centigrade, dropping at night to degrees centigrade in the towns and villages and 5-10 degrees centigrade in the mountains. During early summer the trails of Mount Olympus can be covered in snow, whilst it is too hot and busy to complete this itinerary comfortably during July and August. Although the whole coastline is blessed with sunshine from spring to autumn, we can expect a wide variety of weather as with all mountain regions. Books The Gods of Olympus - Barbara Graziosi 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. Flight Inclusive Notes The FLIGHT INCLUSIVE dates and prices are based on UK flights from London Gatwick to Thessaloniki with British Airways. Outbound flights will depart from the UK in the morning, arriving in the early afternoon of the same day (day 1 of the Land Only itinerary). Return flights will depart in the early afternoon of the last day of the itinerary, arriving in the UK later that same evening. Regional departures and/or alternative carriers are available on request. Please be aware that there are often only a limited number of seats available at the advertised price. To avoid paying flight supplements, we recommend that you book as early as possible, especially during peak times. If we are unable to secure seats at the price shown, or you have requested regional departures or flights with an alternative carrier, we will contact you with an alternative quote. Please be aware that there are often only a limited number of seats available at the advertised price. To avoid paying flight supplements, we recommend that you book as early as possible, especially during peak times. If we are unable to secure seats at the price shown, or you have requested regional departures, we will contact you with an alternative quote. Please note that you may

9 PAGE 9 be asked to pay for your flights in advance of your final holiday balance. Note that if you book a package including flights with KE you will benefit from full financial protection. Land Only Notes The LAND ONLY dates and prices are for the itinerary joining in Thessaloniki. For clients making their own flight arrangements, Thessaloniki Airport is the most convenient for transfers to the group hotel. Please refer to 'Joining Arrangements and Transfers' 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'. Flight Options From The US For help and advice with booking your flights, we recommend you consult our friends at Exito Travel, airfare specialists since The air team at Exito are familiar with our destinations and know the airports, best airlines and potential pitfalls. If there is ever a flight change, cancellation or air-related issue before or during your travels, it's nice to know you have someone on the Exito air team looking after you. Visit their website at: or contact the team on: keadventure@exitotravel.com &/or via phone at: ext Why Choose KE Adventure Travel? Why Choose KE Adventure Travel? Experience KE has 31 years experience of adventure travel worldwide. 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, muleherders 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. The team of KE office staff is amongst the most experienced in the business, with the proven ability to set up and operate a worldwide programme of adventures. Every one 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 , 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 trek support, excellent food, a good standard of hotel and camp 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.

10 PAGE 10 RESPONSIBLE TOURISM AND AWARDS Responsible Tourism has always fitted naturally with KEs travel ethic. It is important to us that our clients are not the only beneficiaries of the travel experience, but that we share a two-way relationship with the areas that we visit. We make sure that our local staff are well treated and well paid, we respect indigenous cultures, take care to protect the environment and make the most of every opportunity to make a positive contribution wherever we travel. In addition to holding an AITO 5-star Sustainable Tourism rating, we are recipients of AITO s Achievement in Sustainable Tourism Award in recognition of the work carried out over the past 20 years, giving back to the communities and areas we visit. We have been awarded Highly Commended status in the Best Tour Operator category of the Virgin Holidays Responsible Tourism Awards, and were named Best Trekking Operator on Earth by National Geographic Magazine, whose criteria included commitment to responsible tourism. We continue to travel responsibly, and more information on our policy, practice, and specific projects can be found at and on the website of our partner charity the Juniper Trust: KEs Mountain Code is issued to our staff, trek leaders and overseas agents, and we recommend it to our clients, too! Your Complete Financial Protection KE Adventure Travel is a fully licensed and bonded tour operator. We are a member of the Association of Independent Tour Operators (AITO), bonded with the CAA (ATOL 2808) and ABTA licensed (W4341). You can book your trip with KE Adventure Travel in complete confidence that all monies you pay for a trip are fully protected. BOOKING YOUR HOLIDAY Making a Booking 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. Adventure Travel Insurance IMPORTANT - 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

11 PAGE 11 the terms, conditions, exclusions and limitations of the applicable Protection Plan. This policy will also cover KE climbing trips above 6000m. We hope that this trip notes has answered most of your questions. Please feel free to contact us and speak to one of our experts.

12 PAGE 12 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 Must Bring The Following Items: Hiking boots Trainers to travel in and for the huts Socks Trekking trousers Lightweight waterproof overtrousers Underwear Baselayer shirts T-shirts and/or casual shirts Fleece jacket or warm jumper Waterproof jacket Warm jacket Gloves or mittens Sunhat or cap Sunglasses Warm Hat Daypack minimum 40 litres Headtorch and spare batteries Sun protection (including for lips) Water bottles x2 1 Litre Sheet sleeping bag liner (for the huts) Washbag and toiletries Small Towel Antibacterial hand wash Small padlock (to lock the trek bag) Basic First Aid Kit including: Antiseptic cream, throat lozenges, diarrhoea treatment (Imodium) painkillers, plasters and blister treatment, Insect repellent (DEET), and re-hydration salts (Dioralite). Glucose tablets and multi-vitamin tablets are a good idea Equipment (provided locally)

13 PAGE 13 Climbing harness Climbing helmet (These items will be issued to everyone at the start of the trip for the ascent of Olympus for extra security on a short section near the summit.you should ensure you leave room for them in your daypack The Following Items Are Optional: Trekking poles Thermal baselayer - leggings Shorts Earplugs (Especially if you are not the one snoring) Insect repellant Camera Travel clothes Pen-knife (note: always pack sharp objects in hold baggage) Repair kit (eg. needle, thread, duct tape) Please note: This document was downloaded on 1 Dec 2017, and the trip is subject to change.