PEAKS AND PASSES OF MGOUN

Transcription

1 HOLIDAY CODE MGO Off the beaten trail to spectacular Mount Mgoun (4071m) in the High Atlas of Morocco and explore Marrakech Spectacular trekking through hidden valleys to the summit of beautiful Mgoun Experience the timeless Bougamez Valley and homeland of the Berbers Walk through the stunning High Atlas and undiscovered Moroccan regions Time to explore colourful Marrakech and The UNESCO Djemaa el Fna square Morocco, Trek & Walk, 8 Days 1 night gite / hostel, 4 nights camping, 2 nights hotel, 7 breakfasts, 6 lunches, 7 dinners, max group size: 12, 5 days trekking, max altitude 4068 metres VIEW DATES, PRICES & BOOK YOUR HOLIDAY HERE

2 PAGE 2 Introduction This breath-taking Moroccan walking holiday takes you away from the Toubkal crowds and deep into the heart of a special region which sees very few travellers. Alongside jaw dropping scenery you ll experience excellent Berber hospitality and camp on high pastures used by nomadic shepherds before heading to the summit of Mgoun (4071m), the 3rd highest peak in Morocco. Described as the most beautiful mountain in the country, Mgoun rewards you with a sense of isolation and a jaw dropping panorama which includes the High Atlas Mountains and incredible Sahara Desert. Dropping down via high plateaus you ll explore the dramatic Mgoun Gorge before finishing amongst pretty villages, terraced fields and gardens bordered by the famed rose bushes of Morocco. This unique holiday explores a truly remote area of the High Atlas Mountains before finishing back in Marrakech, Morocco s most vibrant city. If you're looking for the perfect combination of off the beaten track walking and Moroccan culture then this is an excellent choice. A Genuine Small Group Experience - The Secret Of Our Success On Mgoun And In Morocco We are proud to say that the majority of our holidays in Morocco are limited to a maximum group size of 12, ensuring we leave only our footprints on the trails whilst enjoying a genuine small group adventure. We've been taking our clients walking, trekking and mountaineering for almost thirty years so we know the ingredients of a good guide and a successful group adventure. On this Mgoun trek, the mountain is neither particularly high nor technically demanding, but the experience and knowledge of our Moroccan leaders, teamed with a smaller group size, can make a big difference to your chances of success on summit day. Those who are new to remote trekking will take particular comfort in the presence of our experienced Moroccan guides, who we believe are the best in the business. Award winning tour operator for holidays in North Africa In November 2016, KE won a British Travel Award for Best Holiday Company to North Africa. We have been operating in Morocco for many years and this is country close to our hearts. The majority of KE staff have travelled to this fascinating country, meaning we are true Moroccan experts. Is this holiday for you? This excellent off the beaten track adventure doesn t spend any nights above 3000 metres which means acclimatisation is not usually a problem. The good news is for most of the trek we follow well-established trails between valleys and villages which are suitable for mules and straightforward for trekking. However on the traverse of Mgoun and whilst trekking up passes we ll encounter zig-zag trails on rocky ground. Overall this is a fantastic walking holiday which includes walking on a variety of terrain including steep ascents and descents for up to 6 or 7 hours each day and for several days continuously. You ll only need to carry a day pack each day and as with all our Moroccan camping treks, you ll be fully supported with an excellent team. Holiday Itinerary Day 1: Meet at the group hotel in Marrkech. Airport transfers are included. On arrival in Marrakech you will be met by a KE representative who will assist with the short transfer to the group hotel in the city. Depending on your flight arrival time, after settling in you may have the opportunity to do a little exploration. Marrakech is a friendly city and quite easy to get around and most people head for the large central square of the Djemaa-el-Fna beneath the imposing tower of the Koutoubia Mosque. This is the social hub of the Medina or Old City backed by a labrynthine market known as the 'souk'. KE Land Only services begin with the

3 PAGE 3 evening meal taken at the group hotel or a nearby restaurant. The group leader will give a trip briefing during dinner. ACCOMMODATION HOTEL MEALS D Day 2: Transfer to the village of Agouti in the Bougamez Valley and hike to Arous. After breakfast in the hotel we load our bags onto the transport and begin the journey to the trek start point. In a short time we re beyond the Marrakech hustle and bustle and travelling on good roads through the farmlands of the Moroccan countryside. On the way our guide will give a detailed talk on Morocco s cultural history and answer any questions you may have. We will stop in the town of Azilal for mint tea, refreshments, and some lunch before making our way down into the Bougamez Valley, an arid, craggy ad starkly beautiful region, stopping close to the village of Agouti (1780m). Here we meet our muleteers, and the rest of the trek crew, the pack animals are loaded and we begin trekking into the lush farmland towards Arous, following the river as it meanders through poppy strewn fields. ACCOMMODATION CAMPING MEALS BLD ASCENT 680M DESCENT 230M DISTANCE 6KM TIME 3 HRS TREKKING HOURS GPS DATA VIEW NOW Day 3: Trek to the strikingly green high plateau of Tilibiyt N Tarkeddit home to Berber herdsmen. Leaving our muleteers to pack up the camp gear we make a steadily rising traverse towards the col known as Tizim-Oumskiyg (2910m). The river gradually peters out as we enter the higher mountain scenery of the Central Atlas. A welcome rest at the col and some mid morning snacks before bearing left and upwards towards the ridgeline above. Approximately 2 miles of gradual ascent see us on the ridge and the viewpoint of Aghouixni Est (3400m). From here we have spectacular views of M Goun and can clearly see our next day s route. We now descend on good paths towards the high plateau known as Tilibiyt N Tarkeddit, overlooking the Tessaout Valley. This is a strikingly green oasis area used frequently by Berber herdsmen. High pasture nestles beneath the peaks of the M Goun massif, and spectacular rock formations surround the area. We camp near a small mountain hut with good toilet facilities and showers (for a small fee). The rest of the afternoon is free to soak up the nomadic Berber ambience of the tranquil spot. ACCOMMODATION CAMPING MEALS BLD ASCENT 1000M DESCENT 480M DISTANCE 8KM TIME 6 HRS TREKKING HOURS GPS DATA VIEW NOW Day 4: Head to the spectacular summit of Mgoun. A pre-dawn start is required today and we gain height steadily, at first by headtorch, onto the lower slopes of M Goun. An hour or so later the first rays of sunshine begin to creep across the lower slopes of the M Goun massif. This straightforward route, with the odd rougher section makes progress via switchbacks up a rolling ridgeline of subsidiary peak M Goun Oest (3978m). After 4 or 5 hours we gain the stunning ridgeline leading to M Goun. Breaking left along the ridge, which drops away steeply on both sides, stunning views surround us. To the south the Jebel Sahro region frames the edge of the Sahara beyond, and southwest we can see the Toubkal range in the distance. Looking back to the north our route of the previous two days is clear, dipping into the Bougamez valley and the Draa region. A further hour, gently rising along the ridge brings us to the cairned summit of M Goun itself (4068m). After the obligatory summit photos we begin our descent by a different route making a traverse of the

4 PAGE 4 mountain. We head South initially on the ridge and then down scree slopes to our lunch spot by the river where wild camels graze the fertile valley sides. After lunch we continue on vague tracks toward Tiguitine (2700m) and our camp for the night which we should reach in under 3 hours from the summit. Tiguitine is a very pleasant camp, surrounded by strange rock formations and babbling streams. Our crew will no doubt treat us to some Berber songs and dancing in the evening to celebrate our successful traverse of the mountain. ACCOMMODATION CAMPING MEALS BLD ASCENT 1500M DESCENT 1800M DISTANCE 18KM TIME 8 HRS WALKING HOURS GPS DATA VIEW NOW Day 5: Hike along river beds, pass Tighremt N Tichki 's kasbah and camp beside Ameskar gorge. A more leisurely start today as we continue to follow the river course away from the high mountains and into the fertile farmland of the Central Atlas foothills. After a short ascent to a small col we lose height gradually following undulating terrain, passing through small thickets of fig trees and criss-crossing streams before emerging from the undergrowth at Ifni Ait Hamou (2550m). A small café sits by the trailside in this improbable location offering mint tea and biscuits. In a further two miles we come upon the village of Tighremt N Tichki, passing a large kasbah on the outskirts now used for communal grain storage an impressive structure. As the river broadens we pass rushing waterfalls and use stepping-stones to cross where necessary. Taking advantage of riverside trees for shade we ll stop for lunch. Another leisurely couple of hours along the river leads us to the village of Ameskar El Fougani, where we negotiate the field systems surrounding the village and continue to Ameskar El Tahtani (1990m) 2 miles further on. We make camp just before the entrance to the Ameskar Gorge. ACCOMMODATION CAMPING MEALS BLD ASCENT 340M DESCENT 1100M DISTANCE 24KM TIME 7-8HRS WALKING HOURS GPS DATA VIEW NOW Day 6: Trek to Boutaghar via the charming Petites Gorges of M Goun. A fairly early start today to avoid the heat later in the day. Leaving camp the valley walls steepen quickly and awesome rock architecture looms above as we press on through the Petites Gorges du M Goun. Eventually the gorge opens out once more giving way to open farmland. Crops line the riverbanks and the smell of fruit trees and growing herbs fills the air. We reach our lunch spot, a shady riverside nook, after around 4 hours trekking. We will have an hour or so for relaxing, eating and perhaps some paddling in the river to cool off before we make the final 2 hour meander to the village of Boutaghar. Our accommodation tonight is in a gite. Comfortable seating areas to relax in the cool of the evening surround a plant filled central square in the riad. Our crew will be keen to teach us some Berber songs and demonstrate their skills with drums if you have the energy the ground floor in the riad is perfect for dancing to the drummers rhythms. This will be our last night with our Berber crew and time to say our farewells. ACCOMMODATION GITE / HOSTEL MEALS BLD ASCENT 270M DESCENT 600M DISTANCE 22KM TIME 7-8 HRS WALKING HOURS GPS DATA VIEW NOW Day 7: Return to Marrkech via the route of the kasbahs and enjoy an afternoon at leisure. After breakfast we board our 4 wheel drive transport for the dirt road climb out of the Dades Valley leaving Boutaghar behind and passing along the famous Kasbah route through Oaurzazate and on to Marrakech. En

5 PAGE 5 route after about 3/4 hours we stop for lunch at an excellent roadside restaurant serving a variety of traditional Moroccan dishes, cooked on open barbecues. Another few hours of driving finds us pulling into the city streets of Marrakech, and back at our hotel. The rest of your time is free to explore the souks, shop for souvenirs and soak up the atmosphere of this ancient market town. An evening wandering around the Djemaa El Fna is not to be missed and our final dinner together is often taken in one of the numerous excellent eateries that line the square. ACCOMMODATION HOTEL MEALS BLD Day 8: Departure Day. Complementary transfers to Marrakech Airport are provided. KE Land Only services end after breakfast. There is a complimentary transfer to the airport to check in for the return flight. MEALS B Extend Your Holiday Extensions When booking your holiday, you will be able to 'add an extension option'. Once we have received your booking we will contact you to discuss additional services required for the extension and to take any additional deposit. Imperial Cities Of Morocco This exotic extension starts in Meknes, the beautiful 17th-century imperial headquarters of Sultan Moulay Ismael. A fortified citywithin-a-city complete with elaborate palaces, decorative mosques, mystical dungeons and charming gardens! After exploring the heart of Meknes we move onto the atmospheric UNESCO Roman masterpiece of Volubilis, the best preserved archaeological site in the country and an atmospheric place to explore. However nothing can prepare us for the magical riot of Fez, with its UNESCO old town and city walls extending for 10 miles! The fantastic medina, mediaeval Fez el Bali and the modern "ville nouvelle" is a wonderful melting pot on the senses. We finish in cosmopolitan Rabat, complete with tree-lined boulevards and beautiful colonial architecture. This fantastic extension ensures you are completely immersed in a variety of contrasting cities! (Please note this extension includes a local driver but not a KE leader. This gives you more freedom to explore at leisure pre/ post KE group trip).

6 PAGE 6 Imperial Cities of Morocco 5 days From US$780 per person Into The Sahara Desert For a real taste of the Sahara this adventure is hard to beat! After journeying across the Atlas Mountains we arrive in the oasis town of Agdz for a night in a traditional Moroccan house. Next we head to our comfortable fixed Berber camp at Erg Chegaga and take in a spectacular desert sunset before settling down under star-filled Saharan skies! In the morning we'll watch sunrise over the dunes before exploring this magical landscapes by 4WD. After a night in Ouarzazate, we make our way back to Marrakech via the magnificent UNESCO Kasbah of Ait Ben Haddou. (Please note this extension includes a local driver but not a KE leader. This gives you more freedom to explore at leisure pre/post KE group trip). Into the Sahara Desert 4 days From US$580 per person Essaouira Riad And Atlantic Coast Friendly Essaouira provides a beautiful base for this colouful Atlantic Coast extension which offers a fantastic start or end to our holidays in Morocco. Described as the prettiest town in the country, the UNESCO port and medina are a riot of colour and activity. To ensure a relaxing time in Essaouira we take care of private return transfers and riad accommodation for 3 nights at the comfortable Riad Maison du Sud, situated within the ramparts of the medina and just a few minutes walk from the sea. Redecorated in Moorish style, it has a snug sitting room and sunny roof terrace with views of the Mellah and the Atlantic Ocean. Essaouira has plenty of things to so and do so we leave your days free for you to enjoy at leisure. This extension starts and ends in Marrakech. Essaouira Riad and Atlantic Coast 4 days From US$310 per person

7 PAGE 7 Holiday Information What's Included An experienced professional local leader Marrakech Airport transfers (on first and last day of itinerary) All land transport involved in the itinerary All accommodation as described in the trip dossier All meals Full service on trek including food and all equipment (excluding personal equipment) What's Not Included Travel insurance Visa fees Tips for local staff Miscellaneous expenses - souvenirs and drinks etc Meal Plan All meals are included in the holiday price from dinner on day 1 to breakfast on day 8. Food On trek, the food is a mixture of local and Western, all purchased locally and cooked for us by our trek cooks. Breakfasts are continental style, with tea and coffee, orange juice, cereals including muesli, bread, jam, honey and cheese. A morning snack is also provided and this usually consists of a kind of Moroccan trail mix of dried figs and dates, peanuts, sugar coated peanuts and other nuts. Lunch usually starts with the Berber speciality of mint tea, followed by a buffet of rice, pasta or cous cous, with a freshly prepared salad - onion, tomatoes, green peppers, grated carrot, green beans, with tinned sweetcorn or peas added. Hard and soft cheeses, tinned fish, olives, biscuits and bread are also on the lunchtime menu. Dinner starts off with soup and bread. The main course is usually rice, pasta, cous-cous, spaghetti or chips, with a vegetable stew (or tagine) consisting of some of the following - onion, potato, carrot, green pepper, zucchini, turnip, parsnip. green beans, peas. There will be some meat (usually chicken, lamb or beef). Meat is not prominent in the menu. All dishes come with traditional sauces which are rarely (spicy) hot. To round off dinner, there is the usual range of hot drinks. Joining Arrangements & Transfers All clients arriving on Day 1 and departing on Day 8 of the itinerary will be provided with complimentary airport transfers. Clients booking a Land Only Package should let us know if Marrakech Airport transfers are not required and MUST provide the KE office with full details of their flights. Hotel contact details and an emergency number will be provided with your booking confirmation. If you intend to make your own transfer arrangements at Marrakech Airport, taxis are available outside the arrivals hall at all times. They are equipped with meters but most taxi drivers are reluctant to use them and you should either insist on a meter or agree the fare before setting off. The standard fare to the city in a "petit taxi" should be no more than 6 though you may have to pay a little more if arriving late at night. The airport is approximately 4 miles from the city and the journey takes minutes.

8 PAGE 8 Accommodation During this trip the group will spend two nights at a tourist class hotel in Marrakech. While there are several more expensive hotels in Marrakech, we try to strike the right balance of a comfortable and conveniently located hotel while maintaining a really good value holiday. We will also spend one night in a gite (traditional Berber house converted to a hostel) in Boutaghar. Rooms in the gite are small dormitory style and a single room option is not available for this one night. However the warm welcome more than makes up for the lack of hotel facilities. Whilst on trek there is a total of 4 nights camping. All accommodation is based on twin sharing (except in the gite). If you are travelling by yourself you will be paired up with another single client of the same sex. It is possible to hire a single tent while on trek for an additional cost. Please note single tent hire does not include single rooms in hotels. For the 2 hotel nights in Marrakech single rooms are available for a supplementary cost. Additional hotel nights in Marrakech are also available. For hotel prices and single supplement costs please refer to the dates and prices page of the trip on our website. Group Leader & Support Staff An English-speaking professional local leader will accompany the group throughout the holiday. In addition the group will be supported on trek by a team of cooks and camp staff, baggage animals and their handlers. Altitude This holiday involves going to high altitude. During the course of your trip you will reach altitudes in excess of 3500 metres. This is not something that you should worry about; the human body is quite capable of adapting to a very wide range of altitudes, but it is important that we follow some simple rules in order to acclimatise successfully. Before coming on this holiday you should read the advice on trekking at high altitude on our website which can be viewed via the link below. You can also talk to one of our trekking experts if you have any concerns about altitude. Spending Money Approximately 100 (or equivalent in US dollars or Euros) should be allowed for miscellaneous expenses. This amount will cover tips for the trek crew, soft drinks, snacks etc, and also lunches in Marrakech if you should happen to arrive early in the day or depart late in the day. Marrakech is a great place for souvenir buying and all major credit cards are accepted. Marrakech is a great place for souvenir buying and all major credit cards are accepted. If you are intending to buy expensive items, you should budget accordingly. It is not necessary to purchase Moroccan currency (Dirham) outside the country. You can withdraw money in local currency from ATM s in the arrivals hall of the airport or in Marrakech itself, or your travel money can be carried in the form of cash. Sterling, Euros and US dollars are easily exchanged. Credit cards can be used to purchase goods and it is a good idea to carry one in case of emergency. Guidance On Tipping Tips are the accepted way of saying thank you to your local guides and porters. They do not form part of their wages and any tips they receive are seen as a personal thank you from group members. For our part, we advise local teams that tips are not a duty or a prerequisite but are a bonus and entirely dependent on the service that was given. For your trek crew we recommend that you give a tip if you feel that their services have met your satisfaction. We will provide guidelines on how much to tip the local staff along with your joining instructions but it should be remembered that this is your thank-you to the crew and the final amount should be decided by the group. We estimate that approximately 30 per group member should provide an appropriate level of tips. However, for the KE leader, we leave the tipping amount totally at your own discretion.

9 PAGE 9 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 free KE trek bag is available on this holiday. Delivery outside of the UK will be charged. Baggage Allowance Your baggage on trek will be carried by pack animals. The packed weight of your main bag whilst trekking should be no more than 15 kgs. (33 pounds). It is possible to leave clothes or other items not required on trek at the group hotel. 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 Morocco UK and USA passport holders do not require a visa for short stays. Health & Vaccinations You should contact your doctor or travel clinic to check whether you require any specific vaccinations or other preventive measures. You should be up to date with routine courses and boosters as recommended in the UK e.g. diphtheria-tetanus-polio and measles-mumps-rubella, along with hepatitis A and typhoid. A good online resource is Travel Health Pro. Dengue fever is a known risk in places visited. It is a tropical viral disease spread by daytime biting mosquitoes, like malaria. There is currently no vaccine or prophylaxis available and therefore the best form of prevention is to avoid being bitten. We recommend you take precautions to avoid mosquito bites. Currency The unit of currency in Morocco is the Dhiram.

10 PAGE 10 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 holiday, getting some additional exercise. The fitter you are, after all, the more enjoyable you will find the experience. For this trip you need to be aerobically fit and also capable for walking up to 7 or 8 hours each day for several days continuously. We would suggest that you adopt a weekly exercise regime. Regular walking in hill or back country is the best preparation but if this is not possible, regular exercise with your preferred sport or pastime such as jogging and/or swimming, will develop better fitness and stamina. Before departure, we suggest that you try to fit in a number of long walks in hilly country. 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 When we are on trek and in the mountains gaining height we can expect the daytime temperatures above 2500m to be around 20 to 25ºC, a pleasant temperature for walking. At night, the temperatures, even at our highest camps, will not fall below freezing. We can expect the hottest temperatures in the height of the summer in Marrakech to reach 40ºC, dropping to a pleasant 25ºC at night. The weather is usually fine at the time of our scheduled departures. However, weather in mountainous areas is notoriously difficult to predict, and rain or even short-lived storms can occur at any time of the year and you must be prepared for extremes of climate. Books Lonely Planet Guide Morocco. The Rough Guide to Morocco. The Atlas Mountains. Karl Smith. (Cicerone Press). Trekking in the Moroccan Atlas. Richard Knight (Trailblazer Publications) Classic Treks Bill Birkett. (David & Charles pubs.) The Trekkers Handbook. Tom Gilchrist. Lonely Planet Moroccan Arabic phrasebook. Dan Bacon

11 PAGE 11 Maps Mgoun Massif, Central High Atlas Mountains 1:100,000 Series. West Col Productions A map designed for trekkers showing relief by ridge lines, spot and peak heights. Roads, tracks and paths are clearly shown and villages are also marked. Latitude and longitude margin ticks are at 20 intervals. The map is approximately centred on Mgoun and covers an area measuring approx 80km E-W and 50 km N-S. 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. Land Only Notes We sell this holiday on a Land Only basis and recommend that you book your flights to Marrakech Airport, which is approximately 15 minutes drive away from the group hotel in downtown Marrakech. Please refer to the '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'. If flying from the UK there are a number of low cost airlines offering flights to Marrakech. These include Easyjet who have flights from London & Manchester.TUI Airways who have flights from London, Manchester, Birmingham, Bristol & Glasgow and Ryanair who have flights from London. 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? Experience KE has 34 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

12 PAGE 12 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. 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.

13 PAGE 13 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. 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.

14 PAGE 14 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 / sandals for gites Socks Underwear Trekking trousers Lightweight waterproof over-trousers Thermal Baselayer - leggings Thermal baselayer shirts (2 short sleeve, 2 long sleeve) T-shirts Fleece jacket or warm jumper Lightweight waterproof jacket Sunhat Fleece hat Sunglasses Lightweight thermal or fleece gloves Daypack 30 litres Headtorch and spare batteries Sun protection (including total bloc for lips, nose etc.) Water bottles 1 Litre (x2) Sleeping bag (comfort rated -5 C)* Antibacterial handwash Washbag and toiletries Small towel Toilet roll Water purification tablets Small padlock (to lock your KE kit bag) Basic First Aid Kit including: Antiseptic cream, throat lozenges, diarrhoea treatment (Imodium), painkillers, plasters and blister treatment, Insect repellent, and re-hydration salts (Dioralite).

15 PAGE 15 The Following Items Are Optional: Spare laces Sleeping bag liner Shorts (should not be worn in villages) Thermarest (note that foam mattresses are provided) Trekking poles (recommended) Camera Travel clothes Pen-knife (note: always pack sharp objects in hold baggage) Repair kit (eg. needle, thread, duct tape) Equipment Hire: *Available for hire/rental through KE Adventure Travel Please note: This document was downloaded on 16 Feb 2018, and the trip is subject to change.