Introductory snowshoeing in the Chamonix Valley and the Mont Blanc region Snowshoe in France, fully guided with equipment supplied Three full days exploring snow-covered forests and Alpine summits Enjoy Chamonix, fine french food, hospitality and Apres `snow` Combine with KE`s Italian Ski Break for a superb winter holiday HOLIDAY CODE SEB France, Winter, 5 Days 4 nights hotel, 4 breakfasts, 4 dinners, max group size: 8, 3 days snowshoeing, max altitude - 1969m VIEW DATES, PRICES & BOOK YOUR HOLIDAY HERE
PAGE 2 Introduction A fabulous three days of centre based snowshoeing in the spectacular Chamonix Valley, France; this short break is the perfect introduction to winter walking on snowshoes! We begin our adventure with a day 'finding our feet' on the way to the summit of Le Prarion, where our guide will be on hand to offer instruction on how to make the most of our snowshoes on differing terrain. Modern snowshoes are light and easy to use so it is possible to progress very quickly from easy trails to steep mountain slopes. Now comfortable on our snowshoes, over the next two days we will have a choice of some of the best day walks in the Chamonix Valley, a loop of Vallorcine (the valley of the bears), or exploring around the gorge and frozen waterfalls of the Berard Valley, where the ice has formed into dramatic shapes. As a finale we'll travel into the mountains above Les Houches, where we will wander up to the ancient farm of Chalets de Chailloux for a wonderful vista of the Chamonix Valley; a stunning sight and a great way to end our mini snow adventure. Explore International. This holiday is part of our Explore International range. Participants on these trips can book through KE or through one of our international partners. This helps us to gather together sufficient numbers of like-minded adventurers to get your holiday up and running quickly. Led by an English-speaking guide, the cosmopolitan nature of these groups can be an important part of the experience! Is this holiday for you? Snowshoeing is simply 'walking' in winter. We put snowshoes on our feet to stop ourselves sinking into the snow, and to generally make walking easier when travelling through the mountains. This holiday is fully guided, with all snowshoeing equipment supplied so anyone who is fond of the outdoors can sign up for this long weekend; our days will be relaxed as we find our snow feet! You can expect to be out in the hills for 4-5hrs a day and to cover a variety of ground from relatively easy snow covered forest trails to steeper mountain slopes. It should be noted that in some snow conditions snowshoeing can be quite energetic and you should have a good level of cardiovascular fitness before coming on this holiday. The itinerary is suitable for novices and also those people with previous snowshoeing experience looking for a short winter break. Please note the itinerary should be taken only as a guide. Your experienced guide will decide your itinerary each day based on the weather and snow conditions. Any changes made will be order to ensure the safety and enjoyment of the group. Holiday Itinerary Day 1: Meet at the group hotel in Chamonix, France. Meet at the group hotel in Chamonix, France. Your guide will join you in the evening to answer any questions about your weekend of snowshoeing. ACCOMMODATION HOTEL MEALS D Day 2: Snowshoeing above Les Houches. Walk from the top of the ski lift to the summit of Le Prarion (1969m). Today we travel to Les Houches and take the ski lift into the mountains, a great way to save the legs! We are rewarded with excellent views of the entire Mont Blanc range. From here we wander up to the summit of Le Prarion which sits at 1969m. It offers a wonderful vista of the whole Chamonix Valley and your guide will be able to
PAGE 3 point out the major peaks which have for centuries attracted alpine climbers from around the world. Another option, depending on snow conditions, is that we may walk from your hotel door through the pine forests to Songenaz which offers wonderful views of the Bossons glacier. Either offer a lovely snowshoe hike. After a day out in the snow we return to our lovely hotel in Chamonix to warm up. ACCOMMODATION HOTEL DESCENT 250M ASCENT 250M TIME 5 HRS SNOWSHOEING HOURS DISTANCE 6KM MEALS BD Day 3: Snowshoe up to the ancient farm of Chalets de Chailloux. Fantastic views of the Chamonix Valley. Today we head to a high alpine 'alpage', this is a beautiful meadow where sheep graze in the summer months and which in our opinion offers some of the very best views of the mountains. After a steady climb through the forest we gain the vista for which this walk is famous. At the ancient farm of Chalets de Chailloux we have what is a fabulous vantage point giving superb views of the glaciers and peaks for which Chamonix Valley is world famous. We will be out for about 5 hours today, with the aim of getting you back to Chamonix in time for some apres 'snow'. ACCOMMODATION HOTEL DESCENT 750M ASCENT 750M TIME 5-6 HRS SNOWSHOEING HOURS DISTANCE 12KM MEALS BD Day 4: A day snowshoeing in Vallorcine, the Valley of the Bears. After a leisurely breakfast we will take the historic Mont Blanc Express train towards the Swiss frontier for a snowshoe walk in Vallorcine. This is the 'Valley of the Bears', so named due to the high numbers of bears in the Middle Ages. It offers various options for an excellent day on snowshoes, and we will aim to do a loop which will take us past some gorgeous hidden chalets and hamlets. We may also explore the Berard Valley, walking beside the gorge and the waterfalls where the ice is frozen into fantastic shapes. ACCOMMODATION HOTEL DESCENT 600M ASCENT 600M TIME 5-6 HRS SNOWSHOEING HOURS DISTANCE 7KM MEALS BD Day 5: Departure day. KE Land Only Package services end with breakfast at the hotel. MEALS B Holiday Information What's Included Professional guiding with full snowshoe instruction
PAGE 4 All land transport (not airport transfers) All accommodation as described Meals as described in the meal plan Snowshoes / ski poles and all necessary safety equipment What's Not Included Travel insurance Airport transfers Some meals as described in the meal plan Miscellaneous personal expenses - drinks / hill snacks / souvenirs etc. Joining Arrangements & Transfers The group will meet at the group hotel in Chamonix on the evening of Day 1 of the holiday itinerary. For clients arriving by air, the easiest way to get to Chamonix is to fly to Geneva Airport and make use of an airport transfer service. We recommend mountaindropoffs.com. KE clients can get transfers from 30 each way by entering the promo code KE11. Please note that transfers are subject to availability and your flight details are required a minimum of 72 hours before your arrival in Geneva. Hotel contact details and an emergency number will be provided with your booking confirmation. Meal Plan All meals except lunches are included in the trip price. You will need to purchase snacks for each day. These can be bought in Argentierre and at the Bonatti Refuge. Food & Water Breakfast will be taken in our hotel each day and will be continental-style. Lunch (not included) will be packed lunches purchased from the hotel or can be taken at cafes or mountain restaurants where there will be a choice of different dishes to suit your tastes and budget. Dinner each evening will be a 3 course meal at our hotel. French food is world-renowned and this is an excellent opportunity to sample the delights! When in the towns and villages all tap water is drinkable. In mountain huts there is usually not a sustainable drinking water supply. Water in plastic bottles is brought in to the hut. All huts have a recycling point. If you have to purchase water in plastic bottles please buy the largest bottle you can so as to use less plastic. Please take purification tablets or a filter bottle (such as a Water-To-Go bottle) to treat your water if you can fill from a local stream. Bottled water is not provided. We do not encourage the purchasing of single use plastic bottles. Local authorities are working to find solutions to using plastic water bottles in huts. We monitor the situation carefully for updates. Accommodation While in Chamonix we usually use the 3* Hotel Aiguille du Midi (4 nights) which is a lovely place to stay with excellent food and sauna/spa facilities. To ensure that we are able to booking the Hotel Aiguille du Midi we advise you to book early. If this hotel is not available then we will stay somewhere similar in Chamonix and always where possible we use family run hotels, with plenty of comfort and character! If you are travelling by yourself you will be paired with other single traveller of the same sex for room share. It may be possible to arrange single rooms for a supplementary cost, subject to availability. Contact the KE office for details.
PAGE 5 Group Leader & Support Staff The group will be led by a professional english speaking guide. Altitude The altitudes on this holiday are not extreme and the maximum altitude attained is no more than the equivalent of a pressurised cabin on an international flight. You may feel the altitude the first time you trek above 2000 metres but all that is required is a slower pace to compensate. You should pay particular attention to your hydration levels while trekking above 2000 metres. Spending Money We recommend an allowance of 15-20 per day for lunches, snacks, water etc. There are ATMs in Argentiere and in Chamonix. If you intend to purchase items of equipment you should budget accordingly (credit cards can be used in this respect). Free KE Gift We would like to give you a free gift as a way to say thank you when you book your holiday. Choose from exclusive KE branded t-shirts, caps, neckwarmers, trek bags* and more. Alternatively you can choose to make a 10 donation to the Juniper Trust Charity. You can make your selection in your MyKE account after booking. You will need to select your free gift at least 6 weeks before you depart and all items will be posted out at 5 weeks prior to departure. For all late bookings, we will endeavour to send your FREE gift to you before you travel, however this cannot always be guaranteed. Please visit our Free KE Gifts page for more details of all our KE Branded goodies on offer. * A trek bag is not required for this holiday. You can however purchase a KE trek bag for 24.95. Delivery outside of the UK will be charged. Baggage Allowance For this holiday you should take one piece of luggage and a daypack. Luggage with wheels is useful for this holiday. 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
PAGE 6 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: http://www.worldstandards.eu/electricity/plugs-and-sockets/ Preparing For Your Holiday It makes a lot of sense to spend some time before coming on an active holiday getting some additional exercise. The fitter you are, after all, the more enjoyable you will find the experience. While regular walking is the best preparation for this holiday, a weekly exercise plan (running, cycling, swimming etc.) is also good for developing cardio-vascular fitness. Climate The temperatures that we can expect to encounter during the day will be in the range -10 degrees to + 15 degrees celsius / 14-59 F, though it can feel much warmer than this in the reflected sunlight on the slopes away from the forest. In the evening, temperatures will drop below freezing levels. January to March is statistically the time of lowest precipitation in the Alps but mountainous areas do generate their own weather systems so occasional rain, snow and even stormy weather cannot be ruled out. 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
PAGE 7 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. 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 The dates above are for the LAND ONLY itinerary, joining at the group hotel in the Chamonix Valley. The nearest airport is Geneva, approximately an hour's drive away. 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 Geneva. These include Easyjet who have flights from London, Manchester, Liverpool & Glasgow and Jet 2 who have flights from Manchester, Leeds Bradford, Birmingham & Belfast. Other airports may be 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? 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,
PAGE 8 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. 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.
PAGE 9 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 (must be waterproof) Snow shoes (provided) Gaiters Trainers (for valley use) Socks Walking socks (2 or 3 pairs) Spare laces Trekking trousers Lightweight waterproof overtrousers Underwear Thermal baselayer - leggings Thermal baselayer shirts T-shirts and/or casual shirts Fleece jacket or warm jumper Waterproof jacket Warm jacket (eg. down) Daypack of approximately 30 litres capacity Water bottles 1 Litre (x2) (we encourage re-filling water bottles rather than single use plastic) Water purification tablets Warm and waterproof gloves or mittens Lightweight thermal gloves Fleece hat Sunglasses with side protection Ski goggles Headtorch and spare batteries Sunhat Basic First Aid Kit - Our professional tour leaders hold first-aid qualifications and will carry a basic medical kit. You should bring your own personal first aid kit consisting of the following: throat lozenges, painkillers (anti-
PAGE 10 inflammatory), antiseptic cream/spray, plasters, blister treatment/tape, and re-hydration salts (Dioralite). Glucose tablets are a good idea. Sun protection (including total bloc for lips, nose etc.) Washbag and toiletries Antibacterial handwash The Following Items Are Optional: Earplugs (particularly if you are not the one snoring!) Waterproof liner for your daypack Thermos flask Cameras Travel clothes Spare clothes Reusable cloth bag for shopping (to avoid plastic bags) Notes: Specialist Equipment: Snowshoes, ski poles, and standard safety equipment including an avalanche transceiver, probe and shovel will be provided by KE, and available to collect on arrival in Chamonix. If you wish to take your own walking poles, make sure that they have snow baskets fitted. Please note: This document was downloaded on 14 Dec 2018, and the trip is subject to change.