FAQs
- How can I find out more information about a specific trip?
- What level of fitness do I need to have to do one of your trips?
- What trip arrangements do I need to make myself?
- What kind of people travel on your trips?
- Do you have any age limits on your trips?
- Are these trips a good choice for solo travelers?
- What type of accommodation will I be staying in during my trip?
- Can extra luggage be stored?
- Do your trips include meals?
- Can special diets be accommodated?
- What are the qualifications of your guides?
- How many guides will be with me on my trip?
- How will I know where and when to meet my guide?
- Is there the possibility to do laundry during the trip?
- Will I be able to use my mobile to contact people whilst I am away?
- Why do I need to have travel insurance when I am travelling outside of the UK?
- When do I need to pay for my trip and how?
How can I find out more information about a specific trip?
If you look at the trips section of our website and click onto the trip you are interested in you will see there is a lot of information provided so you can make an informed judgement. You can also click on the download course dossier link and this will provide you with a pdf file which you can look at your leisure. If you have any specific questions about a trip that are not answered in the trip information please do not hesitate to contact us.
What level of fitness do I need to have to do one of your trips?
This again depends on the trip that you are interested in. In the trip information we advise you of what level of fitness you need and any previous experience required. We will also send you a fitness plan, devised by a fitness professional, to advise you on the preparation you need to do before your trip. After all - the fitter you are the more you will enjoy yourself!
What trip arrangements do I need to make myself?
This depends on the trip you are going on. Most European and Rest of World trips include airport transfers but you will need to book your own flights. On our UK trips if airport transfers are not included we will tell you, however this can often be booked as an optional extra.
What kind of people travel on your trips?
We have a wide variety of people of all ages travelling on our trips - which gives you a great opportunity to meet new people and make lifelong friends.
Do you have any age limits on your trips?
No we do not. To go on any of our trips it is more about your fitness, capability and previous experience which we will be happy to advise you on an individual basis. If any clients are under 18 they must be accompanied by a parent/guardian and a disclaimer signed to show you have parental/guardian consent for them to take part.
Are these trips a good choice for solo travelers?
A lot of our clients travel on their own or in small groups of 2-4 people. We can pair you up in accommodation with a similar traveller to reduce your costs, or you can pay a little extra to have your own room in the hotels we offer. If you are staying in mountain huts this is not possible as they do not offer single rooms for travellers.
What type of accommodation will I be staying in during my trip?
We always use accommodation that passes our high standards to ensure that all of our clients have a comfortable place to stay where they can relax during their trip - we have a motto! If we wouldn't stay there we certainly wouldn't put our clients there, in fact quite often our guides stay with you during your trip in the same accommodation!
When staying in towns and villages we will always book comfortable hotel accommodation. For accommodation on the mountains these will range from mountain huts to tents depending on the trip that you are doing. For more information about the type of accommodation please see the inidividual trip listing and download the course dossier.
Can extra luggage be stored?
This again depends on the trip that you are doing. On a 3 Peaks Challenge, additional luggage can be left in the minibus whilst you complete each of your peaks. On the majority of European and Rest of World trips luggage can be stored in your base hotel as long as you are returning back to that hotel at the end of your trip. We will be able to advise you on this when you book.
Do your trips include meals?
All of our hotel accommodation is provided on a bed and breakfast basis. If you are staying in mountain huts you will receive half board, meaning that you will only need a packed lunch with you. We do not book evening meals when staying in hotel accommodation as this gives you the freedom to choose where and what you would like to eat in the evening and an opportunity to explore the area you are staying in.
Can special diets be accommodated?
We can accommodate most diets, all that we ask is that you notify us of what kind of diet you require at the time of booking so we can make special arrangements before your departure.
What are the qualifications of your guides?
All of our trips are lead by appropriately qualified guides, instructors or mountain leaders. In many instances UIAGM (the highest international guiding certificate available). In many cases the guide leading you will have completed that particular route many times before. Either way, whoever is leading you will have a long and extensive history of personal travel in the mountains. Your enjoyment on your trip is largely dependent on the guide's knowledge of the area, their ability to make you feel safe in the environment you are in and also the rapport they can build with you. We choose all of our guides according to this criteria. The majority of our guides have worked with Maximum Adventure for a number of years now. They come from a variety of different areas, have a variety of different nationalities but all have a love of the mountains in common.
How many guides will be with me on my trip?
This depends on the trip that you are taking. Usually for a UK walking trip such as Ben Nevis we will have one mountain leader for every 8 clients. This changes for more challenging trips such as Mont Blanc where the summit attempt is guided at a 1:2 ratio and more rigorous peaks such as the Matterhorn and Eiger are always guided on a 1:1 basis.
How will I know where and when to meet my guide?
You will receive an email at least one week before the departure date of your trip giving you all the details you need to ensure a successful trip. These include where and when to meet your guide, your accommodation details and any other information we feel is necessary to ensure you know what is happening and feel comfortable with the arrangements. Should you have any other questions though, we are always here to help.
Is there the possibility to do laundry during the trip?
Some hotels offer this facility and in some of the major towns you will find laundry services, however this is not something which can be relied upon so it would be best to have enough equipment with you to not have to do any - after all who wants to spend their time doing washing when on holiday!
Will I be able to use my mobile to contact people whilst I am away?
This depends where you are and the reception you receive with your Network. For most networks you can usually get a signal on the mountain summits, however this is intermittent on the way up and down. You will not have mobile phone coverage in Asia and South America.
Why do I need to have travel insurance when I am travelling outside of the UK?
Travel insurance is one of those things that we constantly seem to buy and rarely use, however the one time you do need it you will find it invaluable. We have to ensure that all clients are fully covered when taking a trip with us outside of the UK to ensure that all medical emergencies are covered should we ever need to utilise them, for example, a helicopter from Mont Blanc will be in the region of £5,000.
When do I need to pay for my trip and how?
When you book your trip you will need to pay a deposit to secure your place. For a UK trip this is currently £150, for a European trip £350 and for any trip with an individual cost over £2000 a deposit of £500 will be required. You can pay your deposit and balance payment by credit/debit card, bank transfer or cheque. There is a charge of 3% for all payments made by credit card, however there is no charge for any other payment method. Balance payments are due 10 weeks before the trip departs. If you book your trip with less than 10 weeks before the trip departs you will be required to pay the full amount on booking.
