GENERAL WALKING HOLIDAY QUESTIONS
What are my travel options?
Each walking holiday description provides more specific information about getting to your holiday destination.
They relate to travel from the UK or within France and do not consider long-haul flights. If you would like advice in booking your travel arrangements please contact us. Please do not book your travel arrangements until you have made a pre-booking enquiry or contacted us by phone to ensure that the holiday is available and corresponds to what you are looking for. We do not include any travel to and from your holiday in our tour packages.
Do I need my passport?
Further information about the travel documents required are provided on the FAQ section of our website.
Where will we be picked up?
On some walking holidays, you'll make your own way to the first accommodation whilst on others a transfer is provided. Please check the information provided with each walking holiday. Where transfers are provided they are usually from the local airport or railway station. Such transfers are included in the price of your holiday unless otherwise stated. Details about appropriate airports and flights for a specific holiday are detailed under the relevant holiday pages. If in doubt, please contact us.
Can you give me advice?
Yes, we will be only too pleased to provide you with advice on any matters relating to our holidays. Whatever the subject - travel arrangements, passport requirements, our activities, the weather, equipment etc - we are here to give you honest advice, helping you make the right decision, even if that advice means that our holidays aren’t the best option for you. You can call us straight away on 01749 321032 or e-mail us and we will then telephone you at a time to suit you. You can also use our on-line contact us form.
Do you offer tailor-made holidays?
Yes, if you have a specific idea that is not catered for by our advertised walking holidays, we can create a made-to-measure holiday to meet your requirements. Whether you wish to add additional days to an existing offer or create your own holiday, we can arrange it for you. Each walking holiday has additional ideas in the section called options. Also in this section we have provided links to our tailor-made or signature trips which are in the same region. Thanks to our network of specialist partners we can create a range of active holidays, for example, learning to horse ride, a trip in a hot air balloon, wine tasting courses, Thermal Spa treatment breaks, or fishing.
I only have a few days holiday available, what can you offer me?
We can adapt our independent walking holidays and other activity breaks to suit your needs. Please contact us as early as possible to discuss your plans. In general there will need to be a minimum of 3 nights before we can organise a walking holiday.
What if I need help whilst on holiday?
You will be personally taken care of on our guided walking holidays. On all our other holidays you will be sent an information pack before your holiday providing facts concerning every aspect of your holiday including a local contact number, in case there is a problem or emergency.
Where will I stay and where will I eat?
There is a page dedicated to accommodation on our web site which show cases the types of accommodation we use on our holidays. The majority of our accommodation on our walking holidays is in quality B&B’s or small independent hotels. Some walking holidays may use mountain refuges or camping. Please consult the holiday details for further information. Often we will use several establishments during the course of a holiday. Continental breakfasts, packed lunches and evening meals are generally all provided by our welcoming hosts, although occasionally meals will be taken in local restaurants. The accommodation is often within traditionally built properties, lovingly restored. Meals served by our hosts use local fresh produce, often grown on their own properties, in order to cook authentic local delicacies. There will also be plenty of opportunity for those wishing to taste the local wine. A glass or two is sometimes free with the evening meals (except in restaurants). Our activity holidays are designed for those wishing to immerse themselves in the French culture and lifestyle for a few days.
Do you cater for vegetarians?
All of the establishments we use are able to adapt to specific diets, as long as you let us know when you book.
Do I need to speak French on your walking holidays in France?
If it is often a more satisfying experience if you can speak to the locals in their language. However it is certainly not a condition of our holidays. Most people get by with a mixture of English, broken French and gestures! Many of the hosts at your accommodations speak excellent levels of English
Our guided walking holidays in France will be lead by bilingual guides. Elsewhere your local guides speak very good English.
Whatever your level of French, we do suggest that you try and embrace the cultural differences and be open-minded. After all, our holidays are based on having an authentic local experience.
Do I need Travel Insurance?
Yes, it is essential that you have insurance. It needs to cover cancellation, loss/theft of personal possessions, and/or money, medical expenses, and valid cover for the activity, which should all be valid for the country visited.
How do I book?
Once you have chosen your holiday, please contact us to check availability and pricing. Once we confirm the walking holiday is available, we'll send you a book form to fill in and information about paying your deposit. More information about how to book.
Are your holidays suitable for children?
Children are welcome on our easier graded independent walking and cycling holidays. Very young children can be carried in a specialised rucksack or papoose and bikes can be hired that have special child seats. Our guided walking holidays are not normally suitable for children under the age of 16 years of age. However, there may be exceptions to this general rule and we recommend that you have a chat with us first, so that we can discuss the suitability of the holiday in relation to your child’s age and abilities.
Please also contact us for a quotation for your child as reduced rates will sometimes apply. For all other holidays we recommend that you have a chat with us first, so that we can discuss the suitability of the holiday in relation to your child’s age and abilities. The price will depend on the holiday and will be based on sharing a room with the parents. Often large family rooms can be provided. Just tell us your requirements. All children under the age of 18 must be accompanied by their parent(s) or a guardian who is completely responsible for their actions.
Are there any hidden charges?
We make every effort to ensure that you understand what is included in the price of our holidays. To achieve this, each holiday description includes information on the elements not included in the price as well as those elements that make up part of your holiday package.
Why should I choose High Point Holidays?
Because we offer great walking holidays letting you experience that little bit extra. Our walks have been specially designed for walkers who wish to explore the full richness of an area without following the usual tourist tracks. We have tried and tested all of our walks ourselves. We also try and give you an authentic slice of French life during your stay through our choice of accommodation and meals. In addition we offer pickup at the local station or airport and the ability to adapt our independent walking holidays to your needs.
How do I choose the right walking holiday for me?
When you are on our walking holiday itineraries page, you'll find a search engine which allows you to choose the walking grade, region, interests and type of scenery which interest you the most. Each walking holiday then provides further information to help you choose. There is also more information about walking grades on our dedicated page.
Where do you offer walking Holidays?
We offer walking holidays in England, Wales, Scotland, Ireland, France, Spain and Italy.
How fit do I need to be?
That depends on the walking holiday you have chosen. Our page relating to walking grades provides detailed information about the level of fitness and experience that we advise. Each holiday also provides additional information on the nature of the walks. In all cases, you will undoubtedly find the first couple of days more enjoyable if you’ve done some walking before you come on holiday.
What clothing and equipment do I need to bring?
You will need to bring suitable clothing and footwear for walking many hours on rough paths in all types of weather. However, you do not need to buy expensive specialist equipment. Jeans should be avoided during the walks and we strongly recommend wearing a pair of comfortable walking boots, which should be worn in prior to the holiday, as they help protect against ankle injuries. You may find walking poles a good buy as they provide purchase when going uphill, reduce the impact on knee joints and assist in stability on uneven or slippery ground.
Will I need to carry a large rucksack?
No, all you need to carry is a small daypack with essential items, including your packed lunch. Please each walking holiday description, because there are some hikes in the Alps and Pyrenees which require you to carry overnight gear for one or more days. Please check the specific holiday pages for details and what you need to carry in your rucksack.
What type of walks do you offer?
Our independent walking holidays will take you from one night’s accommodation to the next. Detailed information packs including route notes and maps (all included in the price) are provided to guide your way, but there is always the time to explore the sights on route.
Our guided walking holidays are generally based on daily and more occasionally two or three-day circuits both of which are tailored to suit the ability and interests of the group, as well as the weather conditions. All our guided walking holidays are for private groups.
GUIDED WALKING HOLIDAYS
How many people can go on a group guided walking holiday?
Our guided walking holidays are only available for private groups and they are generally available for groups of 4 or more.
Who are your leaders?
Our walking leaders are chosen according to the destination of the guided walking holiday as they are usually native to the local area and are very experienced and extremely knowledgeable about our destinations.
INDEPENDENT WALKING AND CYCLING HOLIDAYS
How many people will be on the holiday?
That will depend on the time of year you are travelling as some periods will be busier than others. However, as we are a small operation and are not catering for mass tourism, you may find that you are the only couple or family travelling on a particular day. If there are other people, you do not have to walk or cycle together. You can set your own pace and decide on your own sightseeing arrangements.
Are the holidays suitable for single guests?
We are unfortunately obliged to levy a single supplement for single guests on our unguided activity holidays. We may refuse single travellers for certain independent walking holidays where the terrain is difficult and remote.
Are your holidays available all year round?
No, they are generally not available during August or during the winter period. Please refer to each holiday for specific dates. There is no best time to travel, although if you are worried about the heat, it would be advisable to avoid July. Mid September is a good time to see the grapes being picked in the Beaujolais region and mid-October to catch the vines in their full autumnal colours.
Do I need to be able to read a map?
Everyone on our independent walking and cycling holidays are provided with detailed route notes and sketch maps, which are sufficient to navigate on your journey. We will, however, provide you with 1:25000 walking maps on the walking tours and adequate route maps for the cycle tours, which can be used if you so wish. We would advise that someone in your party has a minimum knowledge of map reading, in case of problems. In the unlikely event that you do not turn up at your accommodation by a certain time, we will rapidly organise a search. Please keep the information pack with you at all times as it provides useful facts about what to do if you have a problem or an emergency.
How fit do I need to be?
That depends on the walking holiday you have chosen. Our page relating to walking grades provides detailed information about the level of fitness and experience that we advise. In all cases, you will undoubtedly find the first couple of days more enjoyable if you’ve done some gentle walks before you come on holiday.