PYRENEES COAST TO COAST ROAD CYCLE

Transcription

1 A road cycling holiday in the Pyrenees via classic Tour de France cols Bike from the Mediterranean to the Atlantic Classic cols Peyresourde, Aspin, Tourmalet, Aubisque Experience the best of the Pyrenees, from Catalonia to the Basque Country A challenging 'must-do' ride for road cycling enthusiasts HOLIDAY CODE PYMB France, Spain, Cycling, 9 Days 8 nights hotel, 8 breakfasts, 8 lunches, 8 dinners, max group size: 15, 8 days cycling, 700 kilometres, 100% road, 100% vehicle supported, max altitude 2115 metres VIEW DATES, PRICES & BOOK YOUR HOLIDAY HERE

2 PAGE 2 Introduction This is a classic, challenging road cycling holiday over famous Tour de France cols in the Pyrenees. We have relaunched this holiday in a completely new way. This is THE coast-to-coast route, starting out from the pretty artist s hang-out of Collioure on the Mediterranean and ending in St Jean de Luz on the Atlantic coast. Cycling amongst breathtaking scenery, we will tackle many of the most challenging Tour de France passes, including the highest of all, the legendary Col de Tourmalet (2115m). Epic climbs and sweeping, hairpin descents are amongst the challenges we will face in crossing stunning cols such as the Aspin, Soulor, Aubisque and Marie Blanque. Mostly following quiet country roads, we will experience the great variety of Pyrenean landscape, from pretty farmland to soaring, rugged peaks. Cycling east to west, from the Land of the Catalans to the Basque Country, we also experience a variety of different cultures, as well as superb local hospitality and regional food. Our version of the 'Pyrenees Raid', this a fantastic road cycling journey and a 'must do' ride for all 'sportive' riders and cycling enthusiasts. Is this holiday for you? ROAD CYCLING. This is a classic road cycling holiday and one of the most challenging we offer. However, comfortable hotels, good food and vehicle support make it accessible to regular weekend and sportive cyclists. We follow a mixture of main roads and back roads and prioritise the quieter options. This is supported riding - at the start of the day, when the group sets off biking, your kit bag will be loaded into the support vehicle and transported to the next overnight halt. Apart from a fixed rendezvous for lunch, you are free to cycle at your own pace, with the support vehicle never far away. You will carry just your normal day-ride gear. Over the course of 8 cycling days, this challenging route involves 700 kilometres of riding with almost 19,000 metres of ascent. We provide detailed Road Books (and GPS tracks) and the support vehicle and cycling guide will accompany the group throughout. This is a trip for keen road cyclists who enjoy the challenge of climbs and descents day after day. BIKE HIRE AVAILABLE LOCALLY. Holiday Itinerary Day 1: Meet at the group hotel in Collioure, beside the Mediterranean. The group will rendezvous at the hotel in Collioure. KE Land Only package services begin with dinner and overnight at the hotel. MEALS D Day 2: Meet the guide and support vehicle and set off cycling through the rugged foothills of the Pyrenees Orientales to Prades. After breakfast at the hotel, meet the guide and support vehicle driver. Then, after an initial briefing, this first day of cycling provides a brilliant introduction to the holiday. We can make a diversion to the beach to dip our toes in the sea, before cycling away from the Med on quiet roads through open farmland. The first 25 kilometres are pretty flat and allow us to get into the ride, before we start our climb up to cross the Alberes foothills, part of the Eastern Pyrenees. Climbing to cross the Xatard Pass (752m) amongst scrubby oak woodland, the air is scented with herbs. We will have regular stops at the support vehicle to regroup and refuel and we will find a suitable place for our picnic lunch. The road twists and turns through a surprisingly wild and remote area, with a number of quiet

3 PAGE 3 Catalan villages and climbs again to the Col Palomere (1036m), where we can look back to the distant Mediterranean. Dropping down now, with Pic Canigou (2786m) away to the left, we cycle through Finestret to join a short section of busier road which takes us in to Prades and our hotel. DESCENT 1400M ASCENT 1700M TIME 6-7 HRS CYCLING HOURS DISTANCE 113KM MEALS BLD Day 3: Cycle through wild country and across little-known cols to Ax-les-Thermes. This area is rarely visited and our rolling route takes us through historic, walled Catalan villages and across several superb little passes, such as the heavily wooded Col de Jau (1513m), the Garabel (1267m) and the Moulis (1099m). Another highlight of today's ride is the village of Mosset which ranks amongst the most beautiful in France. The route finishes today with the crossing of the Port de Pailheres (2001m), before dropping down to Ax-les-Thermes. Our overnight stopping place, Ax-les-Thermes, is a pretty town on the Ariege River, known for its sulphurous and health-giving hot springs. DESCENT 2600M ASCENT 3000M TIME 6-7 HRS CYCLING HOURS DISTANCE 95KM MEALS BLD Day 4: Cycle from Ax-les-Thermes to the sleepy village of Saint Lary. Today's ride traverses perhaps one of the wildest and most spectacular parts of the entire journey as we follow minor roads on the north side of the Ariege Valley. After around 40 kilometres we drop down to Tarascon-sur- Ariege and begin a long ascent up towards the Port de Lers (1517m) and then cycle past the mountain tarn of the same name to reach the Col d'agnes (1570m) and the little village of Aulus-les-Bains. The route continues more easily, generally downhill to St Girons, followed by a steady ascent to Audressein and our overnight hotel in Saint Lary. DESCENT 2500M ASCENT 2500M TIME 7 HRS CYCLING HOURS DISTANCE 140KM MEALS BLD Day 5: Cross the Tour de France cols of Aspet, Mente and Peyresourde to Germ. The climb to the Portet d'aspet (1069m) starts immediately we leave the hotel. Legs just warmed up, a cafe stop at the top is an option before we make the steep descent. Half way down is a monument to Fabio Casartelli who died here in a crash during the 1996 Tour de France. We are, once again, entering a very tranquil part of the Pyrenees and one of the most beautiful. The next classic climb is the Col de Mente (1349m) and it's topped by yet another brilliant cafe. Look out, on the descent, for the plaque marking the spot where Luis Ocana fell while leading Eddy Merckx in the 1971 Tour. Down in the valley bottom, the village of Saint Beat is another of 'Les Plus Beaux Villages de France'. The popular tourist spa of Bagneres de Luchon is another place where the cafes are hard to resist. There are also a couple of cycle shops - good news if your brake blocks are on the way out. The final challenge of the day is the Col de Peyresourde (1569m). Beyond the pass, we start what will ultimately be a long descent to Arreau, but turn off after just a few kilometres and then have a short climb to our accommodation in the oddlynamed village of Germ.

4 PAGE 4 ASCENT 2600M DISTANCE 74KM MEALS BLD DESCENT 2000M TIME 5-6 HRS CYCLING HOURS Day 6: Cycle across the Col d'aspin and the mighty Col du Tourmalet (2115m) to Luz Saint Sauveur. A relatively short day today, but crossing 2 of the most famous Tour de France cols. We start the day with the continuation of the descent to Arreau, followed by a steady 13 kilometre ascent to the Col d'aspin (1489m) through picture-postcard Pyrenean scenery, with cows grazing on the green pastures of the summit. After a short descent to the village of St Marie-de-Campan, it's up again on an impressive road to the Col du Tourmalet (2115m), surrounded by jagged peaks. As with all great passes, there is an excellent cafe for a coffee stop right on the summit, opposite the famous 'Geant du Tourmalet' statue, a composite of all the riders who have suffered racing to the top of the col. From here, we descend to the small ski resort of Bareges and then on, ever downwards, to our overnight stop at Luz Saint Sauveur. From here, there is the very challenging option to extend the ride with an out-and-back up to the Spanish border at the Port de Boucharo (Col de Tentes) (2270m). Optional longer route stats. 138 km with 3700 metres of ascent and 4300 metres of descent. DESCENT 2800M ASCENT 2200M TIME 6 HRS CYCLING HOURS DISTANCE 78KM MEALS BLD Day 7: Across the Soulor, Aubisque (1709m) and Marie Blanque passes to Accous. After a short section of busier road, we divert up to the Col des Borderes (1156m) and pass through a number of low-key ski resorts as we continue to climb to the Col de Soulor (1474m). On the descent from this col, we pass a plaque that marks the spot where, in 1951, Wim Van Est had a spectacular crash whilst wearing the 'maillot jaune'. Remarkably he was OK, despite leaving the road and falling some distance. Our next climb is another of the classics and we wind our way up, passing a number of short tunnels, to the crest of the Col d'aubisque (1709m) which has been included in the Tour de France on more than 40 occasions. More fantastic Pyrenean high mountain scenery, as we make the descent on a good road to the small and very unusual spa town of Eaux Bonnes. Stopping for a coffee here, we can marvel at the grand main street, lined with large hotels, now mostly closed down. Continuing our descent to the Ossau River, we begin our last climb of the day over the Col de Marie Blanque (1035m), taking care on the steep descent through woodland. Our overnight stop is in the pretty commune of Accous, nestled beneath rugged peaks. DESCENT 2950M ASCENT 2700M TIME 7-8 HRS CYCLING HOURS DISTANCE 116KM MEALS BLD Day 8: Cycle across several beautiful cols, including the Baguargui (1327m), to Esterencuby. We start out today with a superb sequence of quite small, but beautiful passes. Following on quickly, one after the other, this ride takes us through a part of the stunning 'Basque Country'. First up is the Col de Bouezou (1009m), then the Col de Labays (1351m) and the Col de Soudet (1540m). Continuing our journey westwards, we cross the Bagargui Pass (1327m) and one final high point at the Col de Burdincurutcheta (1135m), before our long, rolling descent through the Pyrenean foothills to our overnight accommodation in the pretty little hamlet of Esterencuby.

5 PAGE 5 ASCENT 3000M DISTANCE 98KM MEALS BLD DESCENT 3200M TIME 6-7 HRS CYCLING HOURS Day 9: Into and out of Spain again via the Col d'ispeguy (672m) to Saint Jean de Luz. This short final day in the 'Basque Country' takes us firstly through Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Port, with its impressive ramparts and citadel, then across the border into Spain via the Col d'ispeguy (672m) and back into France via the Puerto Otxondo (570m), a favourite weekend meeting place for cyclists from both sides of the border. Dropping down now, towards the Atlantic, we cross the final 'blip' of the Col de Saint Ignace (169m) and descend to the sea at St Jean de Luz, arriving at about midday. We finish the tour with a swim in the sea and a picnic lunch on the beach. KE Land Only package services end on arrival at St Jean de Luz. ASCENT 1200M TIME 4 HRS CYCLING HOURS DISTANCE 85KM MEALS BL DESCENT 1550M Holiday Information What's Included A KE biking leader Vehicle support Baggage transfer between overnight stops Accommodation as detailed in the itinerary All meals What's Not Included Travel insurance Visas (if required) Airport transfers unless purchased separately Miscellaneous personal expenses - tips drinks and souvenirs etc Bike Carriage on the flights - please contact your carrier for charges Meal Plan All meals are included in the trip price from dinner on Day 1 to lunch on Day 9. Food Breakfasts are usually continental style. Lunches will be fresh and tasty picnics provided by our vehicle support crew. Dinner will be taken at our accommodation. The hotels we use are used to feeding hungry cyclists and generally provide a three-course evening meal, with tasty and large portions of quality local cuisine.

6 PAGE 6 Joining Arrangements & Transfers You can book this holiday without airport transfers and make your own way to the start and finish of the cycling. Alternatively, you can choose to book a transfer with KE from and back to Toulouse Airport at additional cost. We will arrange a single timed transfer to meet the Ryanair flight from Stanstead to Perpignan which arrives at Clients making their own arrangements should join this trip at the group hotel in Collioure on the evening of Day 1 on the Land Only itinerary. The cost of the 30 minute taxi ride from Perpignan to Collioure is approximately 70. Services end on arrival at St Jean de Luz at lunchtime on Day 9. The nearest airport to St Jean de Luz is Biarritz which is also served by Ryanair with a convenient late afternoon flight back to Stansted. Clients will need to make their own arrangements to get to the airport. The cost of the 10 minute taxi ride is approximately If you choose to travel through Toulouse Airport, we can offer a single timed pick up at 1930 hrs on Day 1 of the Land Only itinerary and taken to the group hotel in Collioure (2 and a half hours transfer). At the end of the cycling (Day 9) you will be transferred back to Toulouse Airport (3 hours transfer) in time for an early evening flight back to the UK. Details of the first night's hotel and an emergency contact number will be provided. Accommodation Whilst on the tour, accommodation is on a twin-share basis in comfortable, family run 2 and 3-star hotels. If you are travelling by yourself you will be paired up another single traveller of the same sex. Group Leader & Support Staff A professional English speaking KE biking leader will accompany the group together with a support vehicle and driver. Altitude The altitudes attained 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 cycle above 2000 metres but all that is required is a slower pace to compensate. You should pay particular attention to your hydration levels whilst cycling above 2000 metres. Spending Money We recommend that 150 (or the equivalent in US dollars or euros) will be sufficient for your miscellaneous expenditure and should also cover your bar bills - beer, wine and soft drinks are available every night. By far the easiest way to obtain your travel cash is from ATM s using a credit card or a debit card - there are ATM facilities at Toulouse and Perpignan airports and in Colioure at the start of the ride, as well as in the majority of the larger towns on our route. Your Bike Your Bike - Road Cycling

7 PAGE 7 Your bike should be fitted with a compact or triple chainset and we suggest that 25mm tyres will provide a bit more comfort on the variable road surfaces typically found on our Road Cycling holidays. Since you are depending on your bike to transport you throughout your holiday, it s important to ensure it is in good working order. If you are not mechanically minded, get your local bicycle dealer to service it for you. Please contact us if you are unsure about the suitability of your bike. Bike Hire Bike hire can be arranged through our local agent. Your choice of bike will be brought to the group rendezvous at 9 am on Day 1 of the holiday. The options are (1) aluminium framed Trek Domane ALR4 (or equivalent) fitted with Shimano and Bontrager components, a compact 50/34 chainset and 10-speed 11/32 cassette. The cost of this bike is 175 euros for the period of the trip. (2) carbon framed Trek Domane S4 (or equivalent) fitted with Shimano Tiagra and Bontrager components, a compact 50/34 chainset and a 10-speed 11/32 cassette. The cost of this bike is 255 euros for the period of the trip. You will pay the hire charges directly to the local guide in cash when you pick up the bike. We must stress that your hire contract will be with the local hire company and that KE cannot be held responsible for any issues arising from bike hire. If you do hire a bike, we recommend that you take your own shoes, pedals and possibly even your own saddle, which will go a long way towards making it feel like your own bike. You must also take your helmet, which will be worn at all times when on the bike. Travelling With Your Bike Airlines require that you pack your bike properly for travel and for this holiday we recommend that you use a purpose-made soft bike bag. These can be relatively inexpensive. They are also light in weight, easy to handle and, most importantly, can be packed into a small space to allow easy transportation in the support vehicle. You will need to partially dismantle your bike to pack it in your bag. PLEASE DO NOT USE a purpose-made rigid bike box for this holiday. We do not have the space in the support vehicle to transport these bulky items. Please contact us if you have any questions regarding travelling with your bike. Vehicle Support Throughout the entirety of the trip we have the back up of our support vehicle. Each morning our main baggage will be loaded onto the support vehicle and transported to our next night s accommodation. During our morning s ride and on the big climbs the support vehicle will sweep through the group and provide extra water and assistance as required. The vehicle will then stop at a designated rendezvous for the picnic lunch. After lunch the support vehicle will drive onto our next accommodation. We want everyone to enjoy their cycling experience on this trip and we recognise the importance for group members to ride at their own pace. On our road biking trips it is usual for there to be some distance between the front and rear cyclists in the group and there may be times when other group members, vehicle support and the KE biking leader are out of sight. You will be provided with detailed 'road books' and GPS stats to assist with route finding and the cycling leader will keep a watch at strategic locations. The cycling leader and support vehicle driver will be contactable at all times by mobile phone. Should a breakdown or an emergency arise during your cycling day they will respond as soon as is possible. Whilst our support vehicle cannot transport the whole group, baggage and bikes, it is also there to assist the occasional tired cyclist. So if you want to opt out of a morning, afternoon or even a full day of cycling, it may be possible to travel in the vehicle.

8 PAGE 8 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 Apart from your bike in its bag (if you are taking your own bike), you should travel with one main item of luggage, such as a KE Trek Bag or similar holdall, and a small day pack. The day pack can be used to carry valuable items such as cameras and GPS devices whilst travelling, but will also be useful to separate out items you might want to pick up from the support vehicle during the rides, like additional clothing. Your baggage allowance on the flights will depend on your airline. When choosing your flights, whether booking them directly or through KE, you will need to consider the cost of carrying your bike. These costs are your responsibility. 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. Electricity Supply & Plug We recommend you check if you require an adaptor for your electrical items at: Preparing For Your Holiday The better conditioned you are the more you will enjoy your trip. We suggest that you adopt a sensible weekly exercise regime and fit in a number of long cycle rides in hilly country to ensure you are physically capable of taking part in this trip - this will also provide you with an opportunity to make sure all your riding kit is tried and

9 PAGE 9 tested before you travel. Cycling is obviously the best activity to prepare for this trip, however, running, squash and swimming are also good for developing aerobic fitness and stamina. 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 temperatures that we can expect to encounter during the day will be reasonably warm, ranging from 18 to 28 degrees Centigrade. It can be cool in the evenings at our highest overnight stopping places and chilly at the highest passes on the route. The weather is usually stable during the early summer and autumn months in the Pyrenees, but mountainous areas do generate their own weather systems and occasional rain and even stormy weather cannot be ruled out. Books Rough Guide to the Pyrenees Rough Guide to France Lonely Planet - France Maps Michelin 1:150,000 Series 342 Haute Pyrenees 343 Ariege Haute Garonne 344 Aude, Pyrenees-Orientale 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 LAND ONLY dates and prices are for the itinerary joining in Collioure. Flights should be booked outbound to to Perpignan and inbound from Biarritz. Alternatively, you can book your flights into and out of Toulouse and book an additional transfer package from us. Please refer to Joining Arrangements and Transfers for further details.

10 PAGE 10 Flights SHOULD NOT be booked until you have received your booking confirmation and the departure is showing 'Guaranteed to Run' or 'Limited'. Ryanair offer flights from London, Stansted to Perpignan and back from Biarritz which work well with this itinerary. For the Toulouse Airport (with transfers) option, there are direct flights with Easyjet 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. 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. 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

11 PAGE 11 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 the terms, conditions, exclusions and limitations of the applicable Protection Plan. This policy will also cover KE climbing trips above 6000m.

12 PAGE 12 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.

13 PAGE 13 Equipment List For this holiday you will need your usual cycling clothing, including shoes, cycling gloves and helmet (which must be worn at all times when cycling). Whether you are hiring a bike or taking your own, we recommend that you take the usual day-ride essentials of: mobile phone, multi-tool, mini-pump, tyre levers, spare tubes and puncture repair kit. Bike Wear Cycling helmet Cycling shoes Waterproof overshoes Padded cycling shorts Long leg cycling trousers or leg warmers Lycra arm warmers Short sleeve cycling tops Long sleeved cycling top Lightweight windproof gilet Lightweight waterproof jacket Regular biking gloves Long fingered biking gloves Warm hat that fits under your helmet Buff Sunglasses Sun cream (inc. total bloc for lips/nose) Camera Other Stuff Travel and off-the-bike clothing and footwear Wash bag, towel, toiletries Swimwear Basic First Aid kit and personal medication Chamois Cream (e.g. Assos or Ozone) Spares If you are hiring a bike you do not need to bring any spares. The hire bikes are provided in good condition and a supply of spares is carried. You may be asked to pay directly for any spares used, especially in the case of crash damage or damage by mis-use. If you are taking your own bike, you should consider taking a minimum of spares, including a couple of spare

14 PAGE 14 spokes (for each wheel if they are different), spare brake blocks (or brake disc pads), chain links/chain connector, rear derailleur hanger and any non-standard parts specific to your bike. Repairs Whilst not essential, it is a good idea that you familiarise yourself with how to carry out at least some basic repairs to your bike e.g. changing an inner tube and fixing a puncture. Your bike guide will be happy to help with repairs and general maintenance, but being able to carry out a simple repair yourself could save the inconvenience of having to wait for assistance. Hydration And Energy Snacks You should take 2 standard water bottles and also consider taking a small supply of the gels, power bars or sports drink mix that you would normally use on a ride at home. Please contact us if you have any questions about your equipment. Please note: This document was downloaded on 24 Dec 2017, and the trip is subject to change.