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Information and Policies
General Information
We are pleased to provide general information on a wide range of Country Walkers policies. Realizing that you may have a specific question relating to you, your party, or one of our journeys, we encourage you to call our office at (800) 464-9255. At Country Walkers, our goal is to provide you a hassle-free travel experience!
Group Size
To ensure you receive a memorable and personalized travel experience, two expert guides accompany each group with a minimum of 8 guests. Our average group size ranges from 12 to 14 guests, with a maximum of 18 (unless otherwise stated).
Age Range
Country Walkers travelers generally range from 30 to 60 years old—yet individuals up to 89 year of age have walked with us, as have young adults. Our knowledgeable staff can help you decide which tours might best suit the interests and abilities of college-age travelers or older high school students. Naturally, children of all ages are welcome on Private Trip, which are thoughtfully crafted to suit the diverse needs of your unique group.
Reservations and Payment
Group size is limited and many trips sell out early. To avoid disappointment, we suggest you reserve your tour at least six months ahead of time.Also, keep in mind that airlines usually offer their best preseason rates many months in advance. To register for your one-of-a-kind trip, choose from these options: Call us at 800.464.9255, and we will confirm your reservation over the phone with your Visa, MasterCard, Discover, or American Express card; click on the Reserve link from any of our tours. The balance of the trip cost is due 90 days prior to the trip departure (120 days prior to departure for Egypt: The Legendary Nile à la Carte or Turkey: Cappadocia and the Turquoise Coast). You may pay by check, money order, or credit card. If your tour is within 90 days of booking, final payment is due immediately. If final payment is not paid when due, Country Walkers reserves the right to treat the reservation as canceled, resulting in the loss of previous deposits and payments.
Accommodations
Standard accommodations are two people per room with a private bath (except if otherwise noted). If you are traveling alone and wish to share a room, we will make every effort to find you a roommate of the same gender. Based on availability, if you reserve a tour at least 91 days prior to the tour start date and wish to share a room, you will not be required to pay the single supplement fee (except where designated), even if we cannot find you a roommate. You may also choose to select a private room, as a limited number of single rooms are available for an additional fee.
Many hotels and lodges require that a child under the age of 18 be registered in a room with an adult (a policy with which we comply).
Country Walkers chooses its accommodations for their comfort, hospitality, and proximity to good walking areas. In these unique properties, room sizes and views may vary.
Cancellations and Refunds*
We strongly recommend cancellation insurance. Cancellations must be made in writing. Cancellation fees are applied according to the following timetable:
- Cancellations received 91 days prior to the start of the trip: $100 per person
- Cancellations received 90 to 61 days prior to the start of the trip: 25 percent loss of trip price
- Cancellations received within 60 days of the start of the trip: 100 percent loss of trip price
Exceptions to this cancellation policy cannot be made for any reason, including personal emergencies, illness, or weather.
Up to 91 days prior to departure, you may transfer your reservation, depending on availability, from one trip to another (in the same calendar year). You must notify us in writing, and a transfer fee of $50 per person will apply.
*Our cancellation policy varies for Egypt: The Legendary Nile a la Carte and Turkey: Cappadocia and the Turquoise Coast, so please call for details.
Departure Guarantee
Booking an adventure with Country Walkers gives you peace of mind—your trip will never be cancelled due to lack of participation. We guarantee the departure of every trip paid in full 90 days in advance of the departure date, excepting only in cases of force majeure (this does not apply to Turkey: Cappadocia & the Turquoise Coast; please call for details). Setting the standard, we were the first in the industry to offer this important guarantee, alleviating a common worry for many group travelers. Country Walkers is not responsible for any additional expenses that may be incurred by a guest in relation to: a canceled tour, travel delays, flight cancellations or nonrefundable airline tickets.
Trip Cancellation Insurance
We recommend purchasing travel insurance—either through the application included with your confirmation packet or through your travel agent. This can help prevent needless loss in case of serious illness, accident, or death of the passenger, passenger's immediate family, traveling companion, or traveling companion's immediate family before your trip or while on your trip.
Confirmation Packet
Upon receipt of your deposit, we will send you a trip confirmation packet that includes information on what to bring, how to prepare for your trip, travel directions, pre- and post-trip hotel suggestions, a detailed itinerary, suggested reading material, and a trip cancellation insurance application. We also include the Arrival and Departure form, the Release and Assumption of Risk form, a Medical Release form (for the Italy: Hiker's Amalfi, Italy: Hiker's Cinque Terre, Mont Blanc Hiking Circuit, and the Peru Trek: Inn-to-Inn Adventure tours), and the Guest Questionnaire, which must be returned no later than 90 days prior to the tour.
Trip Member Responsibility
As a trip member, your responsibility to Country Walkers and to other tour members includes:
- Selecting a trip appropriate to your ability and interests
- Being sufficiently healthy and attaining the proper fitness level to undertake the trip
- Preparing for your trip by reading ALL of the predeparture information sent to you by Country Walkers
- Bringing along the appropriate clothing and equipment
- Acting in an appropriate and respectful manner in accordance with the customs, cultures, and laws of the regions visited
Country Walkers reserves the right to accept, retain, or decline any tour member at any time, for any reason. In such a case, a refund equal to the actual cost of the unused services is the limit to Country Walkers' responsibility.
Passport and Travel Documents:
International travel requires a valid passport; many countries require that the passport be valid for 6 months after your travel dates. U.S. citizens may also need to obtain a visa for certain countries. If you do not have a passport and/or need a visa, please contact the appropriate consulate nearest you. It is your responsibility to ensure that you have a valid passport to join our tours.
As of January, 2007, a valid passport is required for all U.S. citizens (including infants and children) traveling by air to and from Canada, Mexico and Central and South America. Please note that this new law has resulted in a back log of passport applications so please plan accordingly.
Country Walkers reserves the right to accept, retain, or decline any tour member at any time for any reason. In such a case, a refund equal to the actual cost of the unused services is the limit of Country Walkers' responsibility.
Equipment and Clothing
A daypack, a comfortable pair of hiking boots, rain gear, sunscreen, and water bottle are essential. We emphasize that hiking boots with thick soles, good tread, and sturdy ankle support are mandatory on all tours. (Or hiking shoes for our Walking à la Carte tours.) For each trip, a customized list of what to bring is included in every confirmation packet.
Luggage and Transfers
On all our vacations, your luggage will be transported by vans, mini-coaches, trains, or boats. Luggage is limited to one medium and one small carry-on bag per person.
Itinerary Changes
We reserve the right to alter the itinerary. Tour arrangements are sometimes made up to a year in advance, and unforeseen conditions that mandate change might arise.
Privacy Policy/Guarantee
Country Walkers is committed to protecting your privacy. We provide this notice to explain our online information practices and the choices you can make about the way information is collected and used. We will only use the information we collect for the purposes of enhancing your Country Walkers experience and provide you with a more personalized trip-planning process. At no time will we sell, trade, or rent your personal information to third parties.
Forms
Certain forms may ask you for personal information. In order to ensure the integrity of your personal information, all of your data is stored in our secure databases.
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