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Self-Guided Trips

Registration Information for Self-Guided Trips

Getting Started:

You tell us the dates, area of interest, level of hiking and number of days you are interested on being on the trail. We will draft up a basic outline for a trip and land cost.

Once we agree on an itinerary and dates we ask for a non-refundable deposit of $375 per person and begin making all reservations. We also require a completed application form and a signed risk waiver per participant. We accept Mastercard and VISA or personal checks.

When we receive your deposit(s), application and signed wavier, we will send you a confirmation of receipt, an itinerary with your dates, travel information, packing list and other information that will help you plan your trip.

Normally, we have no trouble confirming your first choice of accommodations though we encourage you to plan your trip early. Late registrations or other circumstances may prevent us from your first choice. Should this happen we will make appropriate substitutions then reconfirm the changes with you before we proceed. These changes may result in an additional cost.

Once we have confirmed dates and itinerary, there will be an extra charge if there are any changes to the dates or itinerary. We cannot make any changes or give any credits for unused parts of your trip once you begin your hike.

We also ask that each participant complete and return to us a short medical questionnaire.

On receipt of final payment, due 60 days prior to your start date, we send detailed trail notes, hotel and refuge information and maps. We cannot send final trip information until we receive the necessary forms from each participant.

Included in the cost of self-guided trips:

2 hours of general consulting regarding hiking dates and abilities, travel information on getting to the starting point, travel suggestions, the area and route, detailed maps covering the route, detailed trail notes, which include additional information covering various aspects of your trip (i.e. lunches, laundry, water, refuge routines, alternate transportation, etc.). We make and prepay all overnight accommodations, which include breakfasts (many hotels serve breakfast buffets, refuges generally serve continental-style breakfasts) and most dinners and all private taxi transfers as detailed in the final itinerary. Accommodations will vary depending on the trip. On some trips a 2nd Class Swiss Card is included, which allows for discounts on travel with in Switzerland.

Not included in self-guided trips:

air fare, lunches, any transfers or excursions on trains, lifts, buses, taxis, luggage transfer if any, extra charges due to changes in itinerary, items not on set dinner menu, 2 to 4 dinners depending on the trip, beverages except what is served at breakfast, insurance, items of personal nature (phone calls, laundry, excess baggage charge, medical expenses, evacuation costs, insurance, passport fees, etc.). Allow roughly $150–$350 in additional costs, depending on your trip length.

What if weather is a problem or I get delayed en route?

In the final information we offer detailed directions and instructions about what to do if you must skip a day of hiking due to bad weather or for some other reason and how to rejoin your itinerary.

For a more detailed itinerary or to register please call.

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