Trip Information
Below is information about some of the most commonly asked questions. If your questions are still not answered after reading this section then you are, of course, very welcome to contact us.
Trip inclusions and exclusions
What is included in your trip will vary slightly from trip to trip so please check the relevant trip descriptions or check with us if you are in doubt. However, for all our scheduled group trips and tailor made guiding the following is always included:
Trip planning and organisation by the very same people who lead the trips.
Leadership/guiding by fully qualified UIMLA International Mountain Leaders or, where necessary, UIMGA/IFMGA High Mountain Guides throughout the trip.
Guaranteed small groups (maximum 10).
Multi lingual and fluent English speaking leaders/guides with local knowledge of the area you visit.
Flights and transfers
We do not provide flights and transfers to the resort with our trips. In our experience, this offers the most flexibility to our customers. Many customers choose to lengthen their stay at either end of the trip to get the most of what is often the trip of a lifetime. Some prefer to have full flexibility and choice of airports and flight times, and some have access to special deals or have air miles to redeem. Further travel information is provided with your booking.
Accommodation
Accommodation is included on our scheduled group trips. We source rooms at an acceptable standard, which we feel will fit most peoples taste whilst keeping our trips affordable. Single travellers will be sharing with other single travellers, although mostly it is possible to arrange single room accommodation at a small extra fee. We do realise that people have different requirements when it comes to accommodation so we are often able to offer the possibility of choosing your own accommodation in the resort.
For trips where accommodation is not included we may be able to recommend accommodation. Please get in touch to discuss.
Accommodation along the trail on multi-day tours is a mixture of mountain huts, gîtes, hostels and hotels. On some tours we stay in mixed sex dormitory style rooms where single room is not an option.
Meals
Meals are included on scheduled group trips. Meals are provided on a bed and breakfast basis when staying in Chamonix or another valley base. This allow members to explore the local cuisine at night as they wish. Along the tours, when staying in mountain huts, gîtes and hostels, half board is the norm. This can vary slightly so make sure you check the relevant trip information for specific details.
Vegetarians and other dietary requirements
Vegetarians are catered for when we stay in valley accommodation such as hotels. In some mountain huts, the vegetarian options may be quite limited. Please do let us know well in advance if you are a vegetarian or have any other dietary requirements.
Equipment and clothing
Weather in the mountains is prone to variations. The bigger the mountains, the greater the variations. Although, we mostly enjoy fine weather in the summer, it has been known to change from baking hot and sunny to bitterly cold, literally within minutes. Therefore, we should have the clothing to deal with both of these extremes and anything in between. We find that a layering system is the most flexible. Please download and read our equipment lists for more information.
Baggage on Treks
You will need to carry all of your personal food, water and equipment when trekking. The amount will vary slightly between single day treks from a valley base and a multi-day trek with hut stay. Please refer to our equipment list.
We do not use porters or support vehicles to ferry equipment between stages of a trip. It is our ethos that we should be self-sufficient and complete a trip ‘under our own steam’. Also, we do not believe in creating additional traffic and pollution in the alpine environment. If you are looking for a supported trip then Alpine Treks is probably not for you.
Any additional baggage that you do not wish to bring during the trekking can be stored at our valley base for the duration of the trip.
Grades
We don’t have a formal grading of our treks. Rather, we try to provide an accurate feel of the trip in our descriptions, which should give a good indication of whether a particular trip fits your needs. You are always welcome to contact us if you are in doubt.
Baggage transfer and transportation
We don’t transfer baggage between overnight places on multi-day tours. It limits the type of accommodation we can use as vehicles can’t get to some of the nicest mountain huts. Also, baggage transfers add extra cost to the tour price and is damaging to the environment.
Similarly, if we need to use transportation along a tour, we will use public transport wherever possible. Again, this is better for the environment, keeps the cost down and gives a much nicer cultural experience.
Itineraries
Both on our scheduled group trips and bespoke guided trips, we keep the itinerary flexible in order to match it as closely as possible to the group members’ individual wishes and abilities as well as uncontrollable factors such as weather and trail conditions. Our leaders have extensive local knowledge and will always be able to find suitable alternatives on very short notice. For instance, if the normal trail on a Tour du Mont Blanc trip is unsafe due to snow fall, your leader will find another, safer, route to your destination. Please keep an open mind and do not hesitate to discuss particular wishes with your leader who will try to accommodate them.
Summits and cols
On most trips, we aim to climb to the summit of a peak or a significant mountain pass/col in the area, which offers great views all around and gives an amazing sense of achievement. This is not technical and requires no climbing skills or equipment and is well within abilities of a reasonably fit walker.
Skills and training
All our leaders are very knowledgeable and qualified to instruct as well as lead. Whilst trekking there is amble opportunity to learn about the local culture, geology, flora and fauna. For those interested, it is also possible to learn and practice mountain skills such as navigation.
Trekking and walking holidays: Chamonix Spring Walking ; Best of Mont Blanc Walking ; Tour du Mont Blanc trek ; Haute Route trek, Chamonix to Zermatt ; Gran Paradiso trek.
Tailor made trekking and walking: Weekend Explorer trek ; Trekking skills weekend ; Tailor made trekking ; Tailor made trekking expeditions.
Snowshoeing in the Alps: Best of Mont Blanc snowshoe week ; Weekend Explorer Snowshoeing ; Tailor made snowshoeing.
Corporate activities
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