Catalonia Explorer
Welcome to the fantastic Catalonia tour, another great adventure from Peak Tours exploring the beautiful regions of Bages, Osona and Girona. Keeping off the beaten path, and on some truly wonderful cycling roads, we embark on an unforgettable journey through the heart of the Catalonian community. The beauty of the countryside, rich history, and vibrant culture, not to mention the delicious food, all await us. We will take you through the three captivating regions of Bages, Osona, and Girona, each offering its own unique charm. From the solitude of monasteries and natural parks and gorges, through volcanic hills, to the cosmopolitan university city of Girona and the surrounding medieval villages. The roads seemingly made for cyclists, lovely twists and turns, exciting switchbacks and majestic backdrops speak for themselves on another Peak Tours extraordinary adventure, or extraordinร ria aventura as they say in Catalonia!
Highlights
– The impressive backdrop of the Monsterrat Mountains
– The stunning gorge climb up to Sant Miquel del Fai monastery
– The unusual landscape of the La Garrotxa Volcanic region
– Beautiful medieval villages, typified by Monells near Girona
– The Els Angels and St Hilari climbs from Girona
– Excellent switchback riding on smooth roads in remote,scenic areas
– Quality 4 star accommodation
Duration 7 nights / 6 days cycling
Total distance 325 miles / 523 km
Total elevation 27312 ft / 8324m
Grade 7
Practicalities
Our arrival day is Saturday and we will meet you at Barcelona airport or the airport train station, and will organise the transfer to your accommodation. The accommodation is a 1 hour transfer away and the evening meal is at 20:00 so you should aim to arrive to Barcelona airport no later than 17:30. For those arriving later, you will need to arrange your own transfer to the first night’s accommodation.
You can download the trip notes for the tour here: Catalonia Explorer Trip Notes
Please see the Itinerary tab for a more detailed description of the route and the Additional Information tab for more information on the logistics.
This fantastic tour is a grade 7. It has two longer days of around 60 to 70 but the rest are around 50 miles with a shorter last day of 40. Although the mileages are shorter this should not be seen as an easier tour as we fit a lot of climbing into the days. The grading is for the tour is 7, the same as our Portugal and Channel to the Med tours.
The gradients for this trip range from the generally manageable gradients of around 2% to 5%, up to the fiestier 5% to 9% range when we head into the hillier areas and up the gorge climbs, some of which can go on for a number of miles. A lot of the roads have really lovely switchbacks and are graded up so you can tick along with a decent fitness base and it’s always advisable to stop and smell the roses from time to time too, you are on holiday after all! Please ensure that you have done sufficient training to allow better enjoyment of your tour. Please take time to choose the tour with the grading that suits you best.
If you can get your bike to us at the start of the tour then we can take your bike over for you and also bring it back for you at the end of the tour. There is a ยฃ60 charge for this service.
2025 Tour Dates:
Sat 4th – Sat 11th October 2025 – Only 10 places left No single or sole occ places left
Sat 11th – Sat 18th October 2025 – Places available
Sat 18th – Sat 25th October 2025 – Places available
Prices for 2025 are ยฃ1795 for a shared twin or double, ยฃ2095 for a single and ยฃ2295 for sole occ of a double.
Catalonia Explorer Route
Arrival Day – Saturday: Arrive Barcelona and transfer 1 hr to Mon Sant Benet
We arrive initially to the bustling, Catalan capital of Barcelona, before transferring an hour north to the tranquility of Mon San Benet. We will have the arrival meal in the hotel restaurant at 20:00. We are here for two nights, so if you are feeling posh you can order a meal at the Michelin star restaurant attached to the hotel on the second night! For the arrival meal it will be the normal restaurant.
Day 1 Sunday: Mon Sant Benet Loop (50 miles/ 80 km) Elevation Gain: ย 5080ft / 1548m
From the grounds of the hotel we pass through the town of Navarcles and up and out into the gorgeous, surrounding hills. We have the backdrop of the impressive Monsterrat Mountains as our companion for a large section of the day. The afternoon is spent through the distinctive red sandstone of the Parc Natural de Sant Lorenc before stopping for lunch at lovely Talamanca. There is time after lunch to explore the village as it’s mostly downhill back to base at Mon Sant Benet.
Day 2 Monday: Mon Sant Benet to Seva (49 miles / 79 km) Elevation Gain: ย 5247ft / 1599m
Our second day in the saddle is a challenging one but a cracker. We leave the monastery and hotel behind and head out back up into the, by now familiar, surrounding hills, repeating the first section of Monday’s climb. We then cut east over to the stunning gorge climb up to Sant Miquel del Fai monastery. After a well deserved lunch just after the gorge, we head to our evening’s accommodation with the chance to have a dip in the pool!
Day 3 Tuesday: Seva to Olot (54 miles / 87 km) Elevation Gain: ย 4450 ft / 1356 m
Heading through the region of Osona in earnest, we now explore this quiet region nestled between lush valleys and towering mountain peaks. The cycling here is a perfect balance of challenge and reward, with smooth, quiet roads leading you through picturesque hamlets. A final, tough climb of the day with stunning views of the eastern Pyrenees awaits along with our evening’s desination of Olot with a 1km leg stretch into the centre to explore.
Day 4 Wednesday: Olot to Girona (61 miles / 98 km) Elevation Gain: ย 4785ft / 1458m
A longer day in the saddle today, but easier elevation wise, sees us heading into the wonderful region of Girona. We will spend the next 3 day’s cycling in this fantastic region, and we start with the unusual landscape and delightful riding of the La Garrotxa Volcanic nature reserve. Coming out of the reserve we head past Banyoles lake on some cycle paths and then on to Girona on a circuitous route taking us up the back of the Els Engels climb and into the beautiful city of Girona.
Day 5 Thursday: St Hilari Loop from Girona (70 miles / 112 km) Elevation Gain: ย 5126ft / 1562m
Heading out from the city on cycle paths straight into the peaceful roads surrounding, we head for Les Guilleries National Forest and on to the gorgeous climb up to St Hilari Sacalm. This a long climb of around 14 miles, but averaging 3% for 9 miles and then around 2% for the next 5 and is a lovely ascent. The next 12 miles is spent enjoying the gentle downhill before winding our way round to some link roads to take us back into Girona with it’s vibrant nightlife.
Day 6 Friday: Els Angels Loop from Girona (40 miles / 62 km) Elevation Gain: ย 3,114 ft / 949m
Our final day in the saddle sees us ascending the fantastic Els Engel climb from Girona. We tackle the climb from the opposite direction we came down on day 4 so I hope you took notes! After the climb and a great descent we have the chance to stop for a morning coffee at the very pretty, medieval, Monells. The final ascent of the trip comes at around 20 miles in followed by a lunch on the outskirts of Girona, before a mixture of cycle path and minor roads take us back up to the hotel where a glass of the 2nd best prosecco we can find awaits, along with group hug, basket weaving and zumba.
Day 7 Departure Day: Girona back to Barcelona
A coach will pick us up at 08:00 to get us to Barcelona airport for around 09:30. Bidding a fond farewell to our new found friends we say adรฉu to our exploration of this great region with some hopefully cherished memories and no saddle sores!
What’s Included?
The tour price includes 7 nights accommodation, 7 breakfasts, 6 lunches, all snacks, tea, coffee, hot chocolate, fruit, cake, jelly babies etc, full trip support including a tour leader that cycles with the group, back up van with spare parts and a few spare bikes, detailed route notes and GPS files so that you can cycle at your own pace, a Peak Tours cycle shirt, completion certificate, luggage transfer each day, transfer from Barcelona Airport to hotel on Saturday (flights to arrive no later than 17:30) and also from the Girona Hotel to Barcelona airport at the end of the tour on Saturday morning (coach arrives to Barcelona airport at 09:30). We have Barcelona airport fixed as the arrival airport as it is the most convenient all round. Unfortunately we can not do any pick ups from Girona airport at the start of the tour. If anyone wishes to fly home from Girona airport the departure coach will leave at 08:00 and we can drop you off en route to Barcelona airport.
What’s Not Included?
Evening meals, cycle hire (available for a fee), Garmin hire (available for a fee), insurance, flights.
Group Size
The group will be a minimum of 8 and a maximum of 25 people. We feel that this size of group works best as there will always be enough in the group for some good company but there wonโt be so many people that it becomes overcrowded.
Accommodation
You have a choice sharing a double or a twin room or, if you would like your own space then you can choose the single room optionย or sole occupancy of a double.ย All rooms are en-suite.
Route
After our arrival on Saturday we will transfer you from Barcelona to your hotel at Mon Sant Benet.
On our first day of riding we do a loop from Mon Sant Benet and are straight out into the hills so please make sure your bike is in good working order. On the second day we leave Mon Sant Benet behind on a fantastic route with some challenging gorge climbing and impressive scenery.
Days three and four are spent covering longer distances taking in a very scenic route over towards the Girona region passing through some really interesting areas like the volcanic Alt Garrotxa national park.
Once into Girona we base ourselves there for three nights and do two loop rides. The first is the St Hilari climb and is a longer day full of wonderful cycling, and the final climb is the popular Els Angels climb giving us enough time to enjoy the climb, have lunch and then back to the hotel and out for our final meal to celebrate the end of what we hope for you, has been a fantastic trip.
Food
All of your breakfasts and lunches are included in the price of the trip. Lunches (but not drinks) will be provided each day, and will generally be at a restaurant or cafe with pasta, salads, sandwiches and local fare etc. As mentioned in the trip notes, the timings of when to eat are different to what you may be used to in Catalonia and is something we have to work around as it is generally later than we are used to. We will endeavour to do our best to get the lunches at a similar time to our other trips, but it does tend to be later for breakfast and lunches in general.
Evening meals are not includedย and can be bought at the hotels for the first few nights, and out in vibrant Girona later on in the tour, which has some excellent restaurants. We also have fruit, biscuits, nuts etc in the back up van that you are welcome to pick at throughout the day and if there are specific snacks you would like, as ever, just let us know.
Back Up
An experienced tour leader will cycle at the back of the group with you each day and be on hand to help with any bike problems that may occur. You will have detailed route notes and the GPX files so that you can go at your own pace.
A back up van will leap frog the group and set up a morning snack stop and then an afternoon stop on the longer days. We carry a range of spare parts so that repairs can be made en-route and we will have a spare bike available in the event that your bike has a serious breakdown.
Bikes
We highly recommend that you use a bike that you are used to and feel comfortable riding. Your bike should be fully serviced and in good condition before you start, this will reduce the risk of mechanical problems and unnecessary stoppages along the way. It should be noted that if you have your bike serviced before the tour then it is a good idea to ride it a few times to allow things to ‘bed in’ before joining the tour.
Either a road bike or a touring bike is preferable. We have a range of bikes available for hire if you donโt have your own bike. We will take your bike over for you if you bring it to us before hand and we will take it back for you at the end of the tour as well. We used to provide this service for free but we now have to charge a fee of ยฃ60 per bike to cover the post Brexit paperwork (ATA carnet) that is required. If we take your bike for you then we would also need to bring it back. We can’t take bikes one way I’m afraid. This is due to the post Brexit paperwork that needs to be completed.
Please note that Peak Tours will not be held responsible for any damage caused in the transportation of the bikes, problems are very rare indeed and we have a very safe, tried and tested system. Any bikes with DI gears need to bring their chargers with them for the trip and riders also need to be aware that it may be necessary to remove the saddle and in some cases with DI gears, unplug the cable (although we try to avoid this). We also remove the front wheel of most bikes being transported and place them in wheel bags, if anyone has a wheel that requires a specific tool you would need to provide that too please.
The roads we use in Catalonia are generally of a very good quality and large sections are really nice and smooth. There is the occasional rougher section of road when linking regions up, but on the whole the condition is excellent. Hard wearing 25mm tyres and up are fine and a road bike or hybrid are both suitable for this trip. At the end of your trip we can arrange for your bike to be sent to your address (UK only – contact the office for a price) if you don’t want the hassle of transporting it yourself.
Fitness
This tour is suitable for someone with a good level of fitness and who wants a challenge. If you do plenty of training beforehand, and pay attention to the grading information on the website, you should have no problem completing the ride.
It must be stressed that a good amount of training before the ride will make your tour much more enjoyable and ensure that you finish your ride. We are always happy to advise you about training plans in preparation for the ride.
Clothing & Equipment
Clothing for all weathers is recommended so waterproofs are essential. Even in warmer climes you should be prepared with layers as we are cycling at altitude and a downpour can see temperatures drop. A full recommended kit list is provided & we are always happy to answer any questions that you may have.
Insurance
It is compulsory that you take out adequate insurance to cover against, personal accident, loss of belongings and cancellation cover.
How do I get to Barcelona?
You can get to Barcelona from all major UK airports which all have regular non-stop flights. We can pick you up at the airport when you arrive on Saturday and transport you to your first nights’ accommodation an hour north of Barcelona. There is an airport at Girona but not well served by enough UK airports to make use of, so we will not be able to pick people up there.
What happens when I arrive?
If you would like collecting from the airport then we can meet you at any point up to 17:30, so all flights should be booked to arrive no later than 17:00, ideally earlier. We will have everyone’s arrival times and organise a few 8 x seaters at different set times throughout arrival day. You will go with your luggage in the taxis and any bikes will be put into the vans and taken to Mon Sant Benet where we will spend our first night. We will have a group meal at 20.00 on the Saturday night. If you arrive after 17:30 then the guides will not be able to collect you and you will need to arrange your own transport via taxi from the airport to your accommodation at your own expense.
What happens at the end?
On the final day we finish cycling on the Fridayย and we will have a โfinal supperโ where we all get together for a last group meal. On the Saturday morning departure day a coach will pick us up at 08:00 at the hotel in Girona and take us to Barcelona airport. As mentioned before we can not pick up at Girona airport at the beginning of the tour, but if you would like to be dropped at Girona airport on the way to Barcelona airport on departure day that would be possible you just need to let us know in advance.
What mechanical knowledge do I need?
We donโt expect you to be an expert bike mechanic but there are a few simple skills that will be a great benefit to you. The most important skill you need to know is how to fix a puncture. It is quite likely that at some point you will have a puncture or two so it is essential that you carry a puncture repair kit and a spare tube or two with you. It is also helpful if you know how to change your brake pads and adjust your brakes & gears however this isnโt essential. Our guides will help you with any repairs and adjustments en-route.
What are the lunches like?
We arrange a lunch at a restaurant or cafรฉ each day. This will be a mixture of local dishes, salads, soup etc and will be different at each place. There will always be enough to go round so donโt worry if you are at the back of the group. Sometimes there may be a picnic lunch. The lunch stops provide a good opportunity to re-group and catch up with others and compare notes.
Will I be left behind?
No, a tour leader cycles at the back of the group so that you wonโt be left behind if you are worried about cycling too slowly. Throughout the group there will be a mix of abilities and cycling speeds so you will usually be able to cycle with others that cycle at a similar pace. Some people like to cycle fast whilst others prefer to take their time, stop for coffee & cake or stop to take photos etc so whether you are a โspeed demonโ or more of a โtourerโ there usually will be someone to cycle with each day. You should try to be capable of navigating independently as the tour guide at the back can sometimes get called off to deal with various situations.
Do I need to be super fit?
No, you donโt need to be super fit but a good level of fitness is important as long distance cycling is challenging at times. The fitter you are and the more training that you do before hand will add to the enjoyment of your tour and improve your chances of succeeding the challenge. If you need any advice about fitness please contact us and we will be happy to discuss any questions and concerns that you may have. The tours are graded and require different levels of fitness so please take care to choose a tour that’s suitable for you.
What are the groups like?
Obviously each group is different but generally our Peak Tours customers are a fun, friendly, helpful and adventurous bunch. There will be people of all ages and from all walks of life. We tend to get quite a few older riders although there will always be a few younger riders as well. So far our youngest rider was 13 & the oldest 87. We think that a group of 20-25 is ideal as there will be plenty of people with similar interests and character without being such a big group that it becomes too much.
Generally the group will be split 50/50 between people travelling alone & people that travel as a pair such as two brothers, two friends, two partners. There will be plenty of people to socialise with throughout the day and in the evening.
How do I get my bike home at the end of the trip?
As always, if you can get your bike to Peak Tours HQ in Derbyshire then we can take it and bring it back for you. There is a charge of ยฃ60 for this service.
If you are flying with your bike then you will need to box your bike or put it in a bike bag before you board the plane. If you choose to do this then please be aware that there is only room in the vans for a limited number of soft or hard cases that will fold down. Hard cases are not generally taken as they take up too much room but we have made exceptions for people in the past coming from abroad in mitigating circumstances. If you use a cardboard box for your bike we can easily fold that down and lay it flat on the floor of the van.
If you would like us to post the bike back for you after the trip to your home address the way it works is that the bikes will be boxed (this usually means that they will remove the front wheel, pedals, saddle & turn the handlebars) and posted to your address. The price for this service is available on request. If you would like to use this service please let us know & we will book it in for you.
What happens in the evenings?
Once you have arrived at your accommodation you should have chance for some time to relax, have a shower, explore etc before the evening meal. Generally we will recommend a number of places to eat each evening if we are staying in a larger place, but sometimes the best place to eat will be the accommodation. Sometimes we arrange group meals but we don’t do this every night as it can become a bit restrictive.
Does the support vehicle(s) follow the group?
No, the back up van doesnโt drive behind the group at all times but the vans shouldnโt be too far away if you require assistance. In the morning we have a group brief and set off cycling, meanwhile the luggage van will collect all the luggage from the various hotels and the “brew van” will set up a morning tea and coffee stop. Once all of the luggage has been loaded, the luggage van will see us at lunch and then go on ahead to the hotel to make sure your luggage is in place when you arrive. The brew van will set up an afternoon tea and coffee stop when the milages demand it so you are never too far away from one of the vans.
How much luggage can I take?
There is limited space in the back up van to store luggage. We therefore request that you try to keep your luggage size to a minimum and try not to bring too much with you. ย The ideal size for luggage is 70 x 50 x 30 cm and a weight of 15 – 18kg (or less).
What training should I do?
The more the better. We will provide a training guide for you so that you can build up your cycling strength and prepare for the ride in the correct way. It is important that you cycle two long days back to back whilst training and also that you cycle on some hills.
What bike should I use?
This tour is suitable for both road bikes and hybrids. The roads in Catalonia are mostly excellent quality and we have laboured to provide a fantastic route but there are some small sections of sporadic, rougher tarmac so hard wearing 25mm tyres are strongly recommended.
You are going to cycle 325 miles so it is important that your bike wonโt let you down. You may want to fit new brake blocks, tyres & inner tubes before you start the ride and also bring 3-4 spare inner tubes, pump, puncture repair kit and multi-tool to carry with you each day. It is essential that you are able to fix a puncture.
It is also advisable to have lights from and rear lights on your bikes and try to be a visible as possible.
Can I hire a bike from you?
It is advisable to use your own bike if possible, however we realise that it is not always possible to use your own steed so you may wish to hire one. Our road bikes are Cannondale Synapse 1 bikes. We also have two types of touring bike available. The Cannondale Synapse road bike is a good fit for this trip. You can find the details here
All of our hire bikes come fitted with water bottle cage, bell, small saddle bag and front and rear lights, as well as two branded Peak Tours 750ml water bottles for you to keep. We can also provide a larger seat post bag on request for the Synapses. In the standard small saddle bag for the road bikes there will be a a multi-tool, pump, puncture repair kit, spare tube and tyre levers at no extra cost. All bikes can have flat or SPD pedals so please let us know your preference or, if you would prefer to use your own (and maybe your own saddle, which we would recommend) then please bring these along with you. We can also provide a helmet for you at no extra cost.
What gear should I take?
We provide a suggested kit list so please contact us if you would like a copy sending to you.
What is the male / female ratio?
This varies with each group. There are usually more guys than gals but an average would be about 1/3rd ladies & 2/3rds gents although some tours have more ladies than men.
What are the Accommodation Options?
Double or Twinย room option
If you choose this option then you will stay in a B&B/hotel every night. If you are with your partner then you can have a double room each night of the tour. If you are with a friend/relative then you would have a twin room each night of the tour. If you are travelling alone and choose this option then you will be roomed with other members of the group (same sex) and stay in a twin (on rare occasion a triple) room throughout. Usually you will have an en-suite bathroom but occasionally you have a separate bathroom.
Single room option
Here you are guaranteed a single room each night of the trip. All rooms are en-suite.
Sole use of a double room option
Here you are guaranteed single occupancy of a double room. All rooms are en-suite.
These Booking Conditions, together with our Privacy Policy and where your holiday is booked via our website or over the phone, our Website Terms of Use, together with any other written information we brought to your attention before we confirmed your booking, form the basis of your contract with Peak Tours Ltd, company number 07992506, of 38 Storth Meadow Road, Glossop, Derbyshire, SK13 6UZ ("we", "us", "our"). Please read them carefully as they set out our respective rights and obligations. In these Booking Conditions references to "you" and "your" include the first named person on the booking and all persons on whose behalf a booking is made or any other person to whom a booking is added or transferred.
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- he/she has key rights under the Package Travel and Linked Travel Arrangements Regulations 2018 - Standard Information Form on Travellers Rights when Booking a Package Holiday.
1. Booking & Paying For Your Arrangements
A booking is made with us when you pay us a deposit (or full payment if you are booking within 60 days of departure) and we issue you with a booking confirmation. All bookings are made subject to the eligibility requirements listed at section 2 below. We reserve the right to return your deposit and decline to issue a booking confirmation at our absolute discretion. A binding contract will come into existence between you and us as soon as we have issued you with a booking confirmation that will confirm the details of your booking and will be sent to you. The accommodation provisions included at section 14 will also apply to your booking.
Upon receipt, if you believe that any details on booking confirmation or any other document are wrong you must advise us immediately as changes cannot be made later and it may harm your rights if we are not notified of any inaccuracies in any document within ten days of our sending it out.
The balance of the cost of your arrangements (including any applicable surcharge) is due not less than 60 days prior to scheduled departure. You will receive a payment reminder from us prior to your balance becoming due. If we do not receive this balance in full and on time, we reserve the right to treat your booking as cancelled by you in which case we shall retain your deposit.
2. Eligibility Requirements
In booking with Peak Tours you understand that there are certain risks and dangers inherent in taking part in a cycling holiday and that by the very nature of the activities you will participate in these may be hazardous to you, including cycling on uneven surfaces, cycling in inclement weather, cycling in close proximity to vehicular traffic and any other activities involving inherently dangerous risks, and you acknowledge that you will be exposed to an element of personal risk. These include the risk of personal injury and death and loss of or damage to your property. You are under a duty to mitigate any risks to yourself as far as is practicable, by taking all reasonable steps to comply with all instructions of your tour leader and the instructions included in your route map, and taking all reasonable steps to ensure your own safety whilst taking part in the holiday.
It is your responsibility to ensure that you are at a sufficient level of fitness to take part in your chosen holiday (please also see section 13 - Disabilities and Medical Problems). You will generally be at a sufficient level of fitness if you are able to complete your day's cycling within a reasonable timescale (which shall be set by your tour leader, and in respect of most holidays shall mean completing the day's cycling by 18:30 hours local time at the latest). If you finish your day's cycling beyond this time period, it shall be at the tour leader's absolute discretion as to whether you are at a sufficient level of fitness to continue with your chosen holiday. You are required to follow any safety advice or other instructions provided to you by your tour leader, and wear a cycle helmet and appropriate clothing at all times whilst cycling.
If you are using your own bike, it must be suitable for use for the duration of the route of your chosen holiday. It is your responsibility to arrange for your bike to be transported to the holiday. Your bike must be insured for the duration of your holiday, and your insurance should cover loss or damage to your bike that may occur during your holiday. Peak Tours take great care to ensure that your bike is safe at all times. However, Peak Tours cannot accept any responsibility for any damage to your bike or loss of your bike, including if your bike is stolen during the holiday. This includes times when your bikes are being transported in one of the vans. If a van was stolen containing your bike then you would need to have an adequate insurance policy in place to cover this.
Bike hire is available to be booked at any time up to the start of your holiday, subject to availability. If you choose the bike hire option, your bike will be provided at the beginning of the holiday and returned to ground staff at the end of your holiday.
3. Accuracy
We endeavour to ensure that all the information and prices contained in our advertising material are accurate, however occasionally changes and errors occur and we reserve the right to correct prices and other details in such circumstances. You must check the current price and all other details relating to the arrangements that you wish to book before you make your booking.
4.Insurance
Adequate travel insurance is a condition of your contract with us. You must be satisfied that your insurance fully covers all your personal requirements including pre-existing medical conditions, cancellation charges, medical expenses and repatriation in the event of accident or illness. If you choose to travel without adequate insurance cover, we will not be liable for any losses howsoever arising, in respect of which insurance cover would otherwise have been available.
5. Pricing
We reserve the right to amend the price of unsold holidays at any time and correct errors in the prices of confirmed holidays. We also reserve the right to increase the price of confirmed holidays solely to allow for increases which are a direct consequence of changes in:
- the price of the carriage of passengers resulting from the cost of fuel or other power sources;
- the level of taxes or fees chargeable for services applicable to the holiday imposed by third parties not directly involved in the performance of the holiday, including tourist taxes, landing taxes or embarkation or disembarkation fees at ports; and
- the exchange rates relevant to the package.
Such variations could include but are not limited to cost changes which are part of our contracts with accommodation suppliers (and their agents), transfer operators and any other transport providers.
You will be charged for the amount of any increase in accordance with this clause. However, if this means that you have to pay an increase of more than 8% of the price of your confirmed holiday (excluding any insurance premiums, amendment charges and/or additional services or travel arrangements), you will have the option of accepting a change to another holiday if we are able to offer one (if this is of lower price you will be refunded the difference in price), or cancelling and receiving a full refund of all monies paid to us, except for any insurance premiums and any amendment charges and/or additional services or travel arrangements. Should you decide to cancel for this reason, you must exercise your right to do so within 7 days from the issue date printed on your final invoice. We will consider an appropriate refund of insurance premiums paid if you can show that you are unable to transfer or reuse your policy.
Should the price of your holiday go down due to the changes mentioned above, then any refund due will be paid to you less an administrative fee of ยฃ10. However, please note that travel arrangements are not always purchased in local currency and some apparent changes have no impact on the price of your travel due to contractual and other protection in place.
There will be no change made to the price of your confirmed holiday within 20 days of your departure nor will refunds be paid during this period.
6. Jurisdiction and Applicable Law
These Booking Conditions and any agreement to which they apply are governed in all respects by English law. We both agree that any dispute, claim or other matter which arises between us out of or in connection with your contract or booking will be dealt with by the Courts of England and Wales only. You may however, choose the law and jurisdiction of Scotland or Northern Ireland if you live in those places and if you wish to do so.
7.Cutting your holiday short
If you are forced to return home early, we cannot refund the cost of any travel arrangements you have not used. If you cut short your holiday and return home early in circumstances where you have no reasonable cause for complaint about the standard of accommodation and services provided, we will not offer you any refund for that part of your holiday not completed, or be liable for any associated costs you may incur. Depending on the circumstances, your travel insurance may offer cover for curtailment and we suggest that any claim is made directly with them.
8. If You Change Your Booking & Transfers of Bookings
If you wish to change any part of your booking after our confirmation invoice has been issued, you must inform us in writing (which includes by email) as soon as possible. This should be done by the first named person on the booking. Whilst we will do our best to assist, we cannot guarantee that we will be able to meet your requested change. Where we can meet a request, all changes will be subject to payment of any costs and charges incurred by us and/or incurred or imposed by any of our suppliers in making this change. You should be aware that these costs could increase the closer to the departure date that changes are made and you should contact us as soon as possible. Where we are unable to assist you and you do not wish to proceed with the original booking we will treat this as a cancellation by you. A cancellation fee may be payable in accordance with clause 9.
Transfer of Booking:
If you or any member of your party is prevented from travelling, that person(s) may transfer their place to someone else, subject to the following conditions:
- that person is introduced by you and satisfies all the conditions applicable to the holiday;
- we are notified not less than 7 days before departure;
- you pay any fees, charges or other costs arising from the transfer; and
- the transferee agrees to these booking conditions and all other terms of the contract between us.
You and the transferee remain jointly and severally liable for payment of all sums. If you are unable to find a replacement, cancellation charges as set out in clause 9 will apply in order to cover our estimated costs. Otherwise, no refunds will be given for passengers not travelling or for unused services.
Important Note: Certain arrangements may not be amended or transferred after they have been confirmed and any alteration could incur a cancellation charge of up to 100% of that part of the arrangements.
9. If You Cancel Your Booking Before Departure
If you or any other member of your party decides to cancel your confirmed booking you must notify us in writing (which includes by email). Your notice of cancellation will only take effect when it is received in writing by us at our offices and will be effective from the date on which we receive it.
Since we incur costs in cancelling your arrangements, you will have to pay the cancellation charges as follows:
Cancellation | Charge |
---|---|
More than 60 days before start date | Deposit |
60 - 0 days | 100% |
Important Note: Certain arrangements may not be amended after they have been confirmed and any alteration or cancellation could incur a cancellation charge of up to 100% of that part of the arrangements in addition to the charge above.
If the reason for your cancellation is covered under the terms of your insurance policy, you may be able to reclaim these charges.
Where possible, we will deduct the cancellation charge(s) from any monies you have already paid to us.
10. If We Change or Cancel
As we plan your holiday arrangements many months in advance we may occasionally have to make changes or cancel your booking and we reserve the right to do so at any time.
Changes: If we make a minor change to your holiday, we will make reasonable efforts to inform you as soon as reasonably possible if there is time before your departure but we will have no liability to you. An example of a minor change would include change of accommodation to another of the same or higher standard.
Occasionally we may have to make a significant change to your confirmed arrangements. Examples of "significant changes" include the following, when made before departure:
- A change of accommodation area for the whole or a significant part of your time away.
- A change of accommodation to that of a lower standard or classification for the whole or a significant part of your time away.
- A change of outward departure time or overall length of your arrangements by more than 12 hours.
- A significant change to your itinerary, missing out one or more destination entirely.
Cancellation: We will not cancel your travel arrangements less than 60 days before your departure date, except for reasons of Events Beyond Our Control or failure by you to pay the final balance. We may cancel your holiday before this date if, e.g., the minimum number of clients required for a particular travel arrangement is not reached.
If we have to make a significant change or cancel, we will tell you as soon as possible and if there is time to do so before departure, we will offer you the choice of:
- (for significant major changes) accepting the changed arrangements; or
- having a refund of all monies paid; or
- if available and where we offer one, accepting an offer of an alternative holiday (we will refund any price difference if the alternative is of a lower value).
You must notify us of your choice within 7 days of our offer. If we do not hear from you within 7 days, we will contact you again to request notification of your choice. If you fail to respond again, we will assume that you have chosen to accept the change or alternative booking arrangements.
Compensation
In addition to a full refund of all monies paid by you, we will pay you compensation as detailed below, in the following circumstances:
- If, where we make a significant change, you do not accept the changed arrangements and cancel your booking;
- If we cancel your booking and no alternative arrangements are available and/or we do not offer one.
The compensation that we offer does not exclude you from claiming more if you are entitled to do so.
Period before departure in which we notify you | Amount you will receive from us* |
---|---|
More than 60 days | ยฃ0 |
60-43 days | ยฃ10 |
42-29 days | ยฃ20 |
28-15 days | ยฃ30 |
14-0 days | ยฃ40 |
*IMPORTANT NOTE: We will not pay you compensation in the following circumstances:
- where we make a minor change;
- where we make a significant change or cancel your arrangements more than 60 days before departure;
- where we make a significant change and you accept those changed arrangements or you accept an offer of alternative travel arrangements;
- where we have to cancel your arrangements as a result of your failure to make full payment on time;
- where the change or cancellation by us arises out of alterations to the confirmed booking requested by you;
- where we are forced to cancel or change your arrangements due to Events Beyond Our Control (see clause 11).
If we become unable to provide a significant proportion of the arrangements that you have booked with us after you have departed, we will, if possible, make alternative arrangements for you at no extra charge and where those alternative arrangements are of a lower standard, provide you with an appropriate price reduction.
11. Events Beyond Our Control
Except where otherwise expressly stated in these Booking Conditions we will not be liable or pay you compensation if our contractual obligations to you are affected by "Events Beyond Our Control". For the purposes of these Booking Conditions, Events Beyond Our Control means any event beyond our or our supplier's control, the consequences of which could not have been avoided even if all reasonable measures had been taken. Examples include warfare and acts of terrorism (and threat thereof), civil strife, significant risks to human health such as the outbreak of serious disease at the travel destination or natural disasters such as floods, earthquakes or weather conditions which make it impossible to travel safely to the travel destination or remain at the travel destination, the act of any government or other national or local authority including port or river authorities, industrial dispute, labour strikes, lock closure, natural or nuclear disaster, fire, chemical or biological disaster, unavoidable technical problems with transport and all similar events outside our or the supplier(s) concerned's control.
Brexit Implications: please note that certain travel arrangements may be affected as a result of the United Kingdom's decision to leave the European Union. Please rest assured that this is something we will continue to monitor and will advise our customers as soon as possible if we become aware of any confirmed bookings that will be affected. However, since this is something which is completely unprecedented and outside our control, we would treat any such changes as Events Beyond Our Control, and whilst we will endeavour to provide suitable alternative arrangements or refunds where possible, we will not be liable to pay you any compensation.
12. Special Requests
Any special requests must be advised to us at the time of booking e.g. diet, room location, a particular facility at a hotel etc. You should then confirm your requests in writing. Whilst every effort will be made by us to try and arrange your reasonable special requests, we cannot guarantee that they will be fulfilled. The fact that a special request has been noted on your confirmation invoice or any other documentation or that it has been passed on to the supplier is not confirmation that the request will be met. Failure to meet any special request will not be a breach of contract on our part unless the request has been specifically confirmed by us. We do not accept bookings that are conditional upon any special request being met.
13. Disabilities and Medical Problems
We are not a specialist disabled holiday company, but we will do our utmost to cater for any special requirements you may have. If you or any member of your party has any medical problem or disability which may affect your booking, please provide us with full details before you make your booking so that we can try to advise you as to the suitability of your chosen arrangements. We may require you to produce a doctor's certificate certifying that you are fit to participate. Acting reasonably, if we are unable to properly accommodate the needs of the person(s) concerned, we will not confirm your booking or if you did not give us full details at the time of booking, we will cancel it and impose applicable cancellation charges when we become aware of these details. If, during your holiday, we become aware of a medical problem or disability which may affect your health and safety or the health and safety of others, which you did not disclose at the time of booking, we reserve the right to postpone, restrict or cancel your involvement in any cycling activities, at the tour leader's sole discretion.
14. Accommodation Provisions
B&B OPTION & DOUBLE OR TWIN/TRIPLE
If you choose the B&B only option you will stay in a mixture of B&B's, hotels and country pubs. If you are travelling with a friend then you will be roomed together in a twin or if you're with your partner then you will be in a double room (or a twin if you prefer). If you are travelling alone then you will be roomed with another member of the group in a twin or triple room (same sex). The actual stopovers may change from the advertised accommodation providers, if this happens then an equivalent standard of accommodation will be used nearby. The majority of the rooms you stay in will be en-suite however you may stay in a couple of rooms that are not en-suite.
SINGLE ROOM OPTION
If you choose the single room option, you will have your own room for the duration of the holiday. This will be in either a single room or single occupancy of a double room in a mixture of en-suite and non en-suite rooms.
SOLE USE OF A DOUBLE ROOM OPTION
If you choose this option, you will have a guaranteed double room to yourself throughout the tour. You will always have an en-suite each night of your holiday. There may be an exceptionally rare occasion when you have a separate bathroom but this is very unlikely. Occasionally you may have a twin room to yourself if a double room isn't available but again, this is rare.
YHA (YOUTH HOSTEL) OPTION
This option is only available for the fourteen day LEJOG tour. If you choose the YHA option you will stay in a mixture of hostels, hotels & B&B's staying in dormitory rooms, single rooms, twin rooms & triples.
15. Complaints
We make every effort to ensure that your holiday arrangements run smoothly but if you do have a problem during your holiday, please inform the relevant supplier (e.g. your hotelier) and your tour leader immediately who will endeavour to put things right. If your complaint is not resolved locally, please contact 07495 023 022 or 01457851462.
If the problem cannot be resolved and you wish to complain further, you must send formal written notice of your complaint to us at our office, ideally within 28 days of the end of your stay, giving your booking reference and all other relevant information. Please keep your letter concise and to the point. This will assist us to quickly identify your concerns and speed up our response to you. Failure to follow the procedure set out in this clause may affect ours and the applicable supplier's ability to investigate your complaint, and will affect your rights under this contract.
You can access the European Commission Online Dispute Resolution (ODR) platform at http://ec.europa.eu/consumers/odr/. This ODR platform is a means of registering your complaint with us; it will not determine how your complaint should be resolved. Please Note: the ODR platform is unlikely to be available for use by UK consumers at such a point that the UK ceases to be a member of the European Union.
16. Your Behaviour
All our customers are expected to conduct themselves in an orderly and acceptable manner and not to disrupt the enjoyment of others. If in our opinion or in the opinion of any hotel manager, tour leader or any other person in authority, your behaviour or that of any member of your party is causing or is likely to cause distress, danger or annoyance to any other customers or any third party, or damage to property, or to cause a delay or diversion to transportation, we reserve the right to terminate your booking with us immediately. In the event of such termination our liability to you and/or your party will cease and you and/or your party will be required to leave your accommodation or other arrangements immediately. We will have no further obligations to you and/or your party. No refunds for lost accommodation or any other arrangements will be made and we will not pay any expenses or costs incurred as a result of termination. You and/or your party may also be required to pay for loss and/or damage caused by your actions and we will hold you and each member of your party jointly and individually liable for any damage or losses caused by you or any member of your party. Full payment for any such damage or losses must be paid directly to the hotel manager or other supplier prior to departure. If you fail to make payment, you will be responsible for meeting any claims (including legal costs) subsequently made against us as a result of your actions together with all costs we incur in pursuing any claim against you. We cannot be held responsible for the actions or behaviour of other guests or individuals who have no connection with your booking arrangements or with us.
17. Our Responsibilities
- We will accept responsibility for the arrangements we agree to provide or arrange for you as an "organiser" under the Package Travel and Linked Travel Arrangements Regulations 2018, as set out below and as such, we are responsible for the proper provision of all travel services included in your package, as set out in your confirmation invoice. Subject to these Booking Conditions, if we or our suppliers negligently perform or arrange those services and we don't remedy or resolve your complaint within a reasonable period of time, and this has affected the enjoyment of your package holiday you may be entitled to an appropriate price reduction or compensation or both. You must inform us without undue delay of any failure to perform or improper performance of the travel services included in this package. The level of any such price reduction or compensation will be calculated taking into consideration all relevant factors such as but not limited to: following the complaints procedure as described in these Booking Conditions and the extent to which ours or our employees' or suppliers' negligence affected the overall enjoyment of your holiday. Please note that it is your responsibility to show that we or our supplier(s) have been negligent if you wish to make a claim against us.
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We will not be responsible or pay you compensation for any injury, illness, death, loss, damage, expense, cost or other claim of any description if it results from:
- the acts and/or omissions of the person affected; or
- the acts and/or omissions of a third party unconnected with the provision of the services contracted for and which were unforeseeable or unavoidable; or
- Events Beyond Our Control (as defined in clause 11).
-
We limit the amount of compensation we may have to pay you if we are found liable under this clause:
- loss of and/or damage to any luggage or personal possessions and money: the maximum amount we will have to pay you in respect of these claims is an amount equivalent to the excess on your insurance policy which applies to this type of loss per person in total because you are required to have adequate insurance in place to cover any losses of this kind.
- Claims not falling under (a) above and which don't involve injury, illness or death: the maximum amount we will have to pay you in respect of these claims is up to three times the price paid by or on behalf of the person(s) affected in total. This maximum amount will only be payable where everything has gone wrong and you or your party has not received any benefit at all from your booking.
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Claims in respect of international travel by sea and rail, or any stay in a hotel:
- The extent of our liability will in all cases be limited as if we were carriers under the appropriate Conventions, which include The Athens Convention (with respect to sea travel); The Berne/Cotif Convention (with respect to rail travel) and The Paris Convention (with respect to hotel arrangements). You can ask for copies of these Conventions from our offices. Please contact us. In addition, you agree that the operating carrier or transport company's own 'Conditions of Carriage' will apply to you on that journey. When arranging transportation for you, we rely on the terms and conditions contained within these international conventions and those 'Conditions of Carriage'. You acknowledge that all of the terms and conditions contained in those 'Conditions of Carriage' form part of your contract with us, as well as with the transport company and that those 'Conditions of Carriage' shall be deemed to be included by reference into this contract.
- When making any payment, we are entitled to deduct any money which you have received or are entitled to receive from the transport provider or hotelier for the complaint or claim in question.
- It is a condition of our acceptance of liability under this clause that you notify any claim to us and our supplier(s) strictly in accordance with the complaints procedure set out in these conditions.
- Where any payment is made, the person(s) receiving it (and their parent or guardian if under 18 years) must also assign to us or our insurers any rights they may have to pursue any third party and must provide ourselves and our insurers with all assistance we may reasonably require.
-
Please note, we cannot accept any liability for any damage, loss or expense or other sum(s) of any description:
- which on the basis of the information given to us by you concerning your booking prior to our accepting it, we could not have foreseen you would suffer or incur if we breached our contract with you;
- relate to any business;
- indirect or consequential loss of any kind.
- We will not accept responsibility for services or facilities which do not form part of our agreement or where they are not advertised on our website. . For example any excursion you book whilst away, or any service or facility which your hotel or any other supplier agrees to provide for you.
- Where it is impossible for you to return to your departure point as per the agreed return date of your package, due to "unavoidable and extraordinary circumstances", we shall provide you with any necessary accommodation (where possible, of a comparable standard) for a period not exceeding three nights per person. Please note that the 3 night cap does not apply to persons with reduced mobility, pregnant women or unaccompanied minors, nor to persons needing specific medical assistance, provided we have been notified of these particular needs at least 48 hours before the start of your holiday. For the purposes of this clause, "unavoidable and extraordinary circumstances" mean warfare, acts of terrorism, significant risks to human health such as the outbreak of serious disease at the travel destination or natural disasters such as floods, earthquakes or weather conditions which make it impossible to travel safely back to your departure point.
18. Excursions
Excursions or other tours that you may choose to book or pay for whilst you are on holiday are not part of your contracted arrangements with us. For any excursion or other tour that you book, your contract will be with the operator of the excursion or tour and not with us. We are not responsible for the provision of the excursion or tour or for anything that happens during the course of its provision by the operator.
19. Insolvency Protection
In accordance with the requirements of the Package Travel and Linked Travel Arrangements Regulations 2018, we provide full financial protection for all package holidays that we sell, by way of a separate account held by HSBC.
If you book arrangements other than package holiday from us, your monies will not be financially protected. Please ask us for further details.
20. Passport, Visa and Immigration Requirements & Health Formalities
It is your responsibility to check and fulfill the passport, visa, health and immigration requirements applicable to your itinerary. We can only provide general information about this. You must check requirements for your own specific circumstances with the relevant Embassies and/or Consulates and your own doctor as applicable. Requirements do change and you must check the up to date position in good time before departure.
Most countries now require passports to be valid for at least 6 months after your return date. If your passport is in its final year, you should check with the Embassy of the country you are visiting. For further information contact the Passport Office on 0870 5210410 or visit https://www.gov.uk/browse/citizenship/passports.
Special conditions apply for travel to the USA, and all passengers must have individual machine readable passports. Please check https://uk.usembassy.gov. For European holidays you should obtain a completed and issued form EHIC prior to departure.
Up to date travel advice can be obtained from the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, visit https://www.gov.uk/travelaware.
Non British passport holders, including other EU nationals, should obtain up to date advice on passport and visa requirements from the Embassy, High Commission or Consulate of your destination or country(ies) through which you are travelling.
We do not accept any responsibility if you cannot travel, or incur any other loss because you have not complied with any passport, visa, immigration requirements or health formalities. You agree to reimburse us in relation to any fines or other losses which we incur as a result of your failure to comply with any passport, visa, immigration requirements or health formalities.
21. Conditions of Suppliers
Many of the services which make up your holiday are provided by independent suppliers. Those suppliers provide these services in accordance with their own terms and conditions which will form part of your contract with us. Some of these terms and conditions may limit or exclude the supplier's liability to you, usually in accordance with applicable International Conventions. Copies of the relevant parts of these terms and conditions are available on request from us or the supplier concerned.
22. Prompt Assistance
If, whilst you are on holiday, you find yourself in difficulty for any reason, we will offer you such prompt assistance as is appropriate in the circumstances. In particular, we will provide you with appropriate information on health services, local authorities and consular assistance, and assistance with distance communications and finding alternative travel arrangements. Where you require assistance which is not owing to any failure by us, our employees or sub-contractors we will not be liable for the costs of any alternative travel arrangements or other such assistance you require. Any supplier or transport supplier may however pay for or provide refreshments and/or appropriate accommodation and you should make a claim directly to them. Subject to the other terms of these Booking Conditions, we will not be liable for any costs, fees or charges you incur in the above circumstances, if you fail to obtain our prior authorisation before making your own travel arrangements. Furthermore, we reserve the right to charge you a fee for our assistance in the event that the difficulty is caused intentionally by you or a member of your party, or otherwise through your or your party's negligence.
23. Delays, Missed Transport Arrangements and other Travel Information
If you or any member of your party misses a transport arrangement, it is cancelled or you are subject to a delay of over 3 hours for any reason, you must contact us and the transport supplier concerned immediately.
We cannot accept liability for any delay which is due to any of the reasons set out in clause 11 of these Booking Conditions.
24. Foreign Office Advice
You are responsible for making yourself aware of Foreign Office advice in regard to the safety of the countries and areas in which you will be travelling and to make your decisions accordingly. Advice from the Foreign Office to avoid or leave a particular country may constitute Events Beyond Our Control. (See clause 11).
Company Details
Peak Tours Limited
38 Storth Meadow Road, Glossop, Derbyshire, SK13 6UZ.
Registered in England 7992506
VAT No 130935822
The following extras are available for this tour:
From: £1,795.00