#1 – Plan well in advance, especially if you are getting together with a group of friends
If you are thinking ahead, we generally schedule our departure dates on the same weeks from year to year.
- Choose your trip, select a date, then invite your friends to come join in the fun!
- Complete and submit the on-line registration form and pay the €400 deposit.
- Locate your passport. A valid U.S. passport with at least 6 months of validity is required for all U.S. citizens. Visas are not required for Portugal or Spain for stays of up to 90 days. If you travel on a passport other than U. S., it is your responsibility to check with the appropriate consulates and obtain the necessary visas.
- We ask that you do not purchase airline tickets until your trip has been confirmed.
- Begin planning your travel arrangements (see Transport, Flights, Hotels, Tour Meeting Points for more details)
- Get physical! Start incorporating more physical activity into your daily life.
- Go for a short hike or bike ride on the weekend! Get a feel for the gear you need for activities. Do your hiking socks and boots feel good? Do you need a good sun hat, windbreaker , backpack etc.? For ideas on what you’ll need please see our Packing List lower down in this section.
#2 – 65 days prior to departure
- Each trip requires a minimum number of 4 participants. If we sign up enough participants to run a trip, the trip is guaranteed and we’ll alert you so they can purchase airline tickets. Depending on the itinerary and time of year, we may run a tour with only 2-3 sign ups. However, in this case we must charge a “small group supplement” of 300€ / guest. If at 90 days prior to departure there are still fewer than 4 participants, we will either cancel the tour and give you a full refund, or we may agree to run the tour. In that case, you can decide what you want to do: pay the small group supplement, transfer to another departure or cancel your trip for a full refund.
- Settle the balance of payment for your tour.
- Finalize your travel arrangements. See Transport, Flights, Hotels, Tour Meeting Points below. Travel insurance covering trip cancellation and interruption, and emergency medical assistance/evacuation is advised for all guests. Please arrive to your starting city at least one day prior to the group meeting, which takes place at 9:00 AM on Day 1. This may require departing your hometown one or more days in advance and traveling on an overnight flight.
- Increase your exercise regimen. See our Activity Level ratings for details.
#3 – 30 days prior
- Confirm all reservations.
- If you are leaving the country more than 21 days before the tour, let us know.
- Plan what you are going to pack (see packing suggestions below).
#4 – 15 days prior
- We’ll email you a final bulletin with important details about your trip including: Day 1 meeting point, daily hotel listings, guide names, emergency contacts. We suggest you print out this important document and keep it with you when you travel.
- Contact your cell phone provider about data plans to use your phone abroad. Alternatively, you might consider purchasing a local eSIM card and having it emailed to you, or a physical SIM card upon arrival at the airport, with a set amount of minutes and/or data for a certain duration, at one of the local cell phone providers (such as Vodafone, MEO or NOS). For example, check out Vodafone’s Travellers eSIM card.
- Let your credit card company know you will be travelling to avoid any issues with card use abroad.
#5 – 2 days prior
- Double check your flight schedule has not changed for any reason. Check the weather at your destination. Finish packing so you can relax a little before you travel!
