Your Guided Trekking Adventure: What to Expect

2. Prep Time!

• Arrange your insurance
• Plan your travel
• Add extras

When: As soon as possible after booking. That way we can assure we can arrange those extras for you. If left too late options are likely to be booked up.

What you need to do:

• Insurance
  • Book comprehensive travel insurance that covers trip cancellation, medical emergencies, and repatriation
  • We highly recommend getting insurance that covers pre-trip cancellation, so you don’t risk losing your deposit if something unexpected prevents you from joining the trip
  • Check out our 🔗 insurance guide
• Plan your travel
  • Plan to arrive by early afternoon at the latest on arrival day. Even better: arrive the day before (or earlier!)
  • Travelling from overseas? If you’re coming from a long-haul destination, we highly recommend arriving a couple of days earlier to give your body time to adjust and avoid jet lag affecting your adventure in the mountains. A well-rested start can make all the difference.
  • Chamonix-based trips: For transfers with Mountain Drop-Offs, please select “Central Chamonix”.
• Add extras
  • All extras are non-refundable, so please plan carefully and book early where possible to ensure availability.
  • Extra Nights: Request early, ideally by November, for trips the following year: More info on extra nights and requesting extra nights
  • Luggage Transfers: Your final itinerary, typically sent January–March (for bookings made the year before). Take a look at how luggage transfers work on your route. Familiarise yourself with what’s possible and what’s included. On certain routes (e.g. Alta Via 1, WHR, TDC, WHW), availability is very limited and prices are higher. Once you receive your final itinerary (see section 3: Final Itinerary Confirmation), you’ll be able to request your luggage transfer.
    • How luggage transfer works and request form – TMB
    • How luggage transfer works and request form – Alta Via 1, Haute Route, Tour du Combin, West Highland Way
  • Equipment Rental:
    • For Chamonix-based trips, you can purchase gear once in Chamonix (Snell Sports, Ravanel, Intersport, etc.).
    • Poles cannot be rented in Chamonix and must be purchased. Affordable options are available at Decathlon (~€8), or you can buy from local shops like Snell Sports, Intersport, or Ravanel.
    • Request other gear rental with Concept Pro Shop Chamonix
    • For all other destinations, please check out our Equipment Rental Journal For Your Trip

3. Final Itinerary Confirmation

When: In the first quarter of the year of your trip (Most refuges only begin confirming from late autumn through early spring)

What comes from us:

• An email confirming your final itinerary and accommodation:
  • You’ll receive a full itinerary confirmation listing each of the places booked for you, so you know exactly what to expect each night along the route.

What you need to do:

• Review the itinerary, and get in touch if you have any questions.
• If you want to add Luggage Transfer, you should request it now. Book it before your final payment is due.
  • 🔗 How luggage transfer works and request form – TMB
  • 🔗 How luggage transfer works and request form – Alta Via1, Haute Route, Tour du Combin, West Highland Way

4. Final Payment

When:

• 20 weeks before your trip – you’ll receive a reminder that the final payment is coming up soon
• 16 weeks before your trip – you’ll receive your payment request + secure link
• 15 weeks before your trip – your final balance is due

What comes from us:

• Before payment: Email with a payment link
• After payment: Payment receipt

What you need to do:

• Pay your balance on time to keep your spot confirmed

5. Final Pre-Trip Email & WhatsApp Group

When: 2 weeks before your trip & 1 week before

What comes from us:

• 2 weeks before: Via email you will receive your final info pack, including:
  • Arrival Details
  • Last travel reminders
  • Packing checklist
  • Final tips for a smooth start
  • Accommodation location will be shared via WhatsApp group shortly before your trip. For transfers, please select “Central Chamonix”.
• 1-2 days before: An invite to a WhatsApp group with:
  • Your guide
  • Our operations team
  • Your fellow adventurers
  • (Your chalet hosts if you’re staying in one of our chalets)
  • Final Trip information, such as accommodation and any other updates

What you need to do:

• Join the group for updates, coordination, and last-minute questions or reminders

6: Trip Start

What you need to do:

• Arrive by early afternoon at the latest on arrival day (morning or the day(s) before is even better – especially if you’re flying from overseas)
• This gives you time to:
  • Collect rental gear
  • Settle in
  • Be ready for your evening briefing (~6pm)
• Then… Let the Adventure begin! You’re fully prepped and ready to go. We’ll be right here if you need anything.

7: Post Trip

Feedback & Call-Back Option

What you’ll receive:

• A link to share your thoughts via our feedback form
• You’ll also have the option to request a call-back from our team, if you’d like to chat through your experience – no pressure, just a friendly catch-up if it suits

Referral Programme 

What you’ll receive:

• An email invite to join our referral scheme, so we can say thank you for recommending us to others
• Full details will be in your inbox post-trip (2025 adventurers will receive this at the end of the season)