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Frequently Asked Questions
Guided Walking Worldwide
Walking Holidays Worldwide
Accommodation and Meals
Travel Arrangements
Before Departure
| Walking Holidays Worldwide |
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The combination of spectacular destinations and unique holiday itineraries with good food and accommodation, the highest quality leadership and our attention to detail means we can provide you with the very best worldwide holiday experience. We include as much as possible in your holiday price, all excursions highlighted for each holiday, even tips for local guides and drivers, offering you excellent value for money and leaving you to enjoy your spending money to the full.
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You don't need to be super-fit or an experienced walker - some of our holidays offer full day walks on most days, whilst others combine easy walking with relaxed sightseeing. We won't rush you on the walks - we know you're on holiday to relax. We give you time to absorb the magnificent scenery around you, to take photos and to admire the flora and fauna.
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Walks will be led by either your HF Holidays' Leader, or by an experienced local guide or tour director.
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All of our Classic Walking Worldwide holidays feature walks on most days. Sometimes these will be full day walks, sometimes part of a day that also features a sightseeing visit or travelling from one region to another visited as part of the holiday.
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Where possible, easier and harder walking options will be offered on full walking days. Options may include different routes, or varying the distance walked on a particular route. Within the walks available for your chosen holiday, Leaders will be as flexible as possible to offer the best choice of walks for all guests.
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You won't be one of a crowd. Group sizes vary, but are always small, typically between eight and 20, with maximum numbers set to suit the areas visited and the holiday itinerary.
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Walks and excursions are of course completely optional and you are welcome to relax in your hotel or explore the local surroundings where the itinerary allows.
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Rather than selecting cheaper, out of season dates for our holidays, we offer the optimum times for walking and viewing local wildlife and the surroundings. Walking options, weather and wildlife may vary slightly between departure dates, each destination page gives details where this is the case.
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Comfortable transport, responsibly driven is included in your holiday price for travel between locations visited. We try to keep travelling times and changes of accommodation to a minimum whilst visiting all the best areas a destination has to offer. Longer journeys are broken up by regular stops and walks or sightseeing en-route.
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A friendly, relaxed atmosphere is one of the hallmarks of our holidays, making them very suitable for single guests or couples. Your fellow travellers will come from all walks of life, but you will be united by a love of experiencing different cultures and exploring new places. With activities and meals taken together, friendships are easily made and you'll soon find yourself part of a relaxed and friendly group.
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- Return economy class international air travel with appropriate in flight meals ( with flight price only)
- Full board accommodation or half board accommodation (often with a number of lunches) as described on the holiday page.
- Services of an HF Leader or local tour directors and guides.
- The cost of local travel, walks, excursions, sightseeing and entrance fees as specified in the itinerary.
- All gratuities (eg local guides, drivers, restaurant meals)
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Items of a personal nature, such as drinks, laundry etc which must be paid for locally. Meals other than those specified on the holiday page. Visa charges. Transport costs, excursion costs and entrance fees not specified in the itinerary. Insurance. Porterage.
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| Accommodation and Meals |
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The hotels for each holiday are carefully selected for their locations, high standards and suitability for your needs. They range from small country inns to resort style hotels, from jungle lodges to modern city hotels and are always among the best in the local area. Facilities will vary depending on the country and region being visited and the nature of each individual hotel.
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Meals are taken as a group, either in your hotel or in local restaurants, offering a choice of menu and the chance to sample local specialities. All holidays offer half board accommodation, with lunches included where possible and suited to the itinerary. Some holiday are full board from arrival to departure - check your holiday page for full details.
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If advised we can pass on all dietary requirements to local hotels and restaurants. Vegetarian food can usually be provided. Please be aware however that vegetarianism is a concept poorly understood in many countries of the world. We recommend that if you are vegetarian or have special requirements you talk these through with your Leader or Tour Director to ensure the best possible food is available for you.
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| Travel Arrangements |
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Yes - all Classic Walking Worldwide holidays are available with or without international flights included. Please check holiday details if booking your own international flights as you may need to also book internal flights included in the itinerary independently.
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If you have booked your holiday with flight, your Leader will meet you in the arrivals hall at your final destination airport. Where possible, Leaders travelling out from the UK will look out for you before departure from London, however often it is not practical to meet until arrival at your destination.
If you have booked your holiday without flight, you should check whether your arrival coincides with the group and meet them at the airport or at the first hotel accordingly. We may be able to organise transfers from the airport to the first hotel at other times on the first day of the holiday, please ask for details.
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We suggest that you contact Holiday Extras at www.holidayextras.co.uk or telephone 0870 844 4040 for further information on airport hotels or parking.
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The airports at London Heathrow, London Gatwick and Manchester can be reached easily by train or coach. Visit www.nationalrail.co.uk or www.gobycoach.com for details.
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Yes - we can often arrange extra accommodation at the end of your holiday. Please ask for details. A small administration charge is payable for additional services arranged.
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All our holidays which involve long flights or significant time differences include a gentle start to the holiday to allow you to recover from any tiredness or jetlag and enjoy your holiday to the full. Jetlag is caused by the significant time differences experienced in travelling to some destinations which can be disorientating as they disrupt your body's normal routine. On arrival, getting settled into a new routine in line with the time at your destination will quickly help you adjust.
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| Before Departure |
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We'll send you a full list of what to bring well in advance of your holiday. The main items you'll need are a waterproof jacket and a small rucksack to carry your lunch, camera etc when walking. On most of our holidays you will also need a pair of walking boots.
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Baggage allowances vary from airline to airline, but 20kg is usual and should be ample.
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It is always the traveller’s responsibility to obtain the correct passport and visa, and to ensure they have the correct travel documentation. For British citizens with right of residence, a 10 year British passport is required for all overseas holidays; a number of countries also stipulate that your passport must be valid for 6 months after your return date. At time of writing, UK citizens only require a visa for visits to Australia, India, Russia and China - we will advise you if this situation changes.
Holders of other passports, or guests making their own travel arrangements, should check their visa and passport requirements with the Embassy or Consulate concerned.
The following information should be used as advice only. If you are in any doubt about your indiviudal requirements we recommend you either contact the British Foreign & Commonwealth Office, or your regional Embassy or Consulate.
| Destination |
Advice for British citizens |
Advice for those of other nationalities |
| Australia |
Visa is required. Passports must be valid for at least 6 months beyond the date you are due to leave Australia. Visas are necessary for almost all visitors apart from Australian and most New Zealand citizens. |
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| Barbados |
No visa is required by UK passport holders for stays of up to 6 months. Landing cards and customs declarations are usually handed out for completion towards the end of the flight. |
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| Canada |
A full passport is required. Visas are not necessary for British Citizens with passports giving full right of residence in the UK. |
Other nationalities should consult the visa section of their nearest Canadian Consul or Embassy. |
| Chile, Bolivia, Argentina |
A full passport is required. For entry to Chile, Bolivia and Argentina, no visa is required for British citizens with full right of residence in the UK. |
Those who do not have British passports with full right of residence in the UK should check requirements with the Embassies or Consulates of all 3 countries. |
| China |
A full passport is required. Please ensure that you have a full empty page in your passport and that it is valid for at least 6 months after the date on which you are due to exit China. A visa is required for entry into China. You can obtain a visa through a travel agent, web site visa service or directly with the Chinese Embassy or Consulate. |
Those who do not have British passports with full right of residence in the UK should check requirements with a Chinese Embassy or Consulate. |
| Costa Rica |
A full passport is required. British citizens with full right of residence in the UK do not require a visa. |
Those who do not have British passports with full right of residence in the UK should check requirements with the Embassies or Consulates of Costa Rica. |
| India & Bhutan |
A full passport is required and should be valid for at least 6 months beyond the end of your stay in India. Visas are required for entry to India. Special permits are required for entry into the state of Sikkim, but your local agent will obtain these immediately before entering Sikkim. A small charge will be made. Tourists visiting India are normally granted short-term tourist visas, effective from the date of issue. Tourist visas are non-extendible and non-convertible. |
Those who do not have British passports with full right of residence in the UK should check requirements with an Indian Embassy or Consulate. |
| Kenya |
United Kingdom passport holders need a visa to enter Kenya. Visas may be obtained on arrival by air with a cash payment or in advance from the Kenya High Commission. You are advised to obtain your visa in advance to avoid a long wait at Kenyan immigration control. Passports should be valid for at least a further 3 months. |
Those who do not have a British passport with full right of residence in the UK should check requirements with a Kenyan Embassy or Consulate. |
| Morocco |
A full 10 - year passport is required by all. Visas are not necessary for UK citizens for stays of up to 6 months. |
Those who are not UK citizens with right of residence in the UK should consult their local Moroccan embassy or consulate. |
| Nepal & Everest |
A full passport is required by all except nationals of Nepal & India. Visas are required for entry into Nepal and these can be obtained from the Nepalese Embassy. |
Those who do not have British passports with full right of residence in the UK should check requirements with a Nepalese Embassy or Consulate. |
| New Zealand |
Passports must be valid for at least 3 months beyond the date you are due to leave New Zealand. Visas are not necessary for British citizens visiting for less than 6 months who do not intend to work there. If you have ever had any criminal conviction, you will need to check with the Embassy whether a visa is required. |
Other nationalities should check with a New Zealand Embassy or Consulate. |
| Peru |
A full UK passport is required, but no visas are necessary for British citizens. |
Other nationalities should check with the visa section of their nearest Peruvian embassy or consulate. |
| South Africa |
Holders of EU passports and nationals of the USA, Canada, Australia and New Zealand can stay in South Africa for up to 3 months without a visa. |
Other nationals should check with the South African embassy for details of entry requirements. |
| St Lucia |
A full passport is required. British Citizens with full right of residence in the UK do not require a visa. |
Those who do not have British passports with full right of residence in the UK should check requirements with the Embassies or Consulates of St Lucia. |
| Turkey |
Your passport should be valid for at least 6 months on entry into Turkey. A visa is required for British nationals to enter Turkey. British citizens may obtain a multiple entry visitors visa valid for 90 days at the port of entry on payment of £10.00 sterling in cash. |
Other nationalities should check requirements. For further information on entry requirements, you should check with a Turkish embassy or consulate. |
| Vietnam |
Passport should be valid for at least 6 months on entry. A tourist visa is required for British nationals to enter Vietnam and is valid for 1 month from date of entry. Visa must be obtained before departure. |
Other nationalities should check requirements with the Vietnamese Embassy or Consulate. |
| USA |
A full machine-readable passport is required. No Visa is required by British citizens with full right of residence in the UK if a Visa Waiver form is completed prior to arrival in the United States. If you are not travelling on our flight, please check with your airline that they operate the Visa Waiver scheme. Anyone with a criminal conviction must consult the US Embassy to check whether a visa is required. |
Those who do not have British passports with full right of residence in the UK should check requirements with a US Embassy or consulate. |
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Yes - travel insurance is so essential we consider it a condition of booking your holiday. The implications of mishap or illness if travelling uninsured are serious.
Insurance can be purchased through HF Holidays when making a booking online or by telephoning us on 0845 470 7558 (or outside the UK on +44 20 8732 1250).
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Health precautions should be checked with you doctor at an early stage before travel. At the time of writing, Barbados, Chile, Morocco, Peru and South Africa are subject to health/vaccination recommendations.
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