Frequently asked questions about your holiday

What type of people will I meet on a Rustic Trails guided holiday?

Ages typically range from early 40's to early 70's. There is usually a mix of couples, pairs of friends/relatives, and singles. Nationalities also vary; mainly British but with North Americans, Australasian and Irish often well represented.

How do I know if I'm fit and experienced enough for a particular holiday?

Besides the activity and the destination the most important thing about choosing your trip is making sure it suits your physical abilities. To help you select the right trip we've classified our guided walks into the following grades: Easy, Moderate.

Walking grade - Easy

Gentle terrain, four to six hours walking per day without steep climbs or vertiginous mountains.

Walking grade- Moderate

Rolling uplands, five to six hours walking per day with some uphill climbs and the odd longer day.

If you want more advice on whether a particular trip is right for you, please contact us. Our staff will be able to help you choose the trip that's right for you by asking questions about your outdoor background, physical activity, and preferred style of travel. We want you to be on the right trip just as much as you do. Please remember that age may affect your interpretation of walking grades.

What will I have to carry?

All our holidays are single centre based, so you only need to take a small backpack with you each day to hold your picnic lunch, water, binoculars, camera etc

How about the food?

Week-long guided holidays include all breakfasts, picnic lunches and evening meals except on Wednesday which is breakfast only, and is the rest day when no guided walking or touring takes place. You are free to do your own thing and have the opportunity to eat in one of the local restaurants a short walk from your base. Shorter holidays have no rest day and so all meals are provided. We are very happy to discuss any special dietary requirements you may have.

I'm travelling on my own - can I go on a group tour?

Yes, of course. Although we don't plan it that way most groups on our holidays contain a mixture of singles, couples, pairs of friends. Please note there is a single supplement of £200 which gives you a double room for single occupancy.

Are there any Rustic Trails holidays that my whole family could take part in?

We don't think our guided holidays suit younger people, almost all our guests are aged over forty, but please contact us if you would like to discuss this further.

What's included on a Rustic Trails guided holiday?

The services of an experienced and knowledgeable guide, minibus transport on the guided days where necessary, any admission costs on guided days. Accommodation and meals as specified above and in the trip notes for the holiday.

How to I get a free transfer?

Alongside the holiday, we offer a free transfer from/to Lyon airport or Valence TGV on the first/last day to anyone who coordinates their travel with the timing of the transfer (please note there is only one transfer per day, timed to coincide with late afternoon flights / trains onwards on arrival day, late morning trains and mid afternoon / evening flights on departure day)

Where can I get more detailed information?

For each tour, in addition to the description in the website, we provide 'trip notes', which is an information sheet of 2 or 3 pages containing more detail than there is space for on the webpage. It is intended as a supplement to the webpage before you book the holiday, and provides more background information about the area of the walks and a brief description of each day's route. Trip notes are available from our website. If you require more information then please contact us.

Can I make a provisional booking?

Yes. Just call or e-mail us, quoting the name and starting date of the tour, tell us how many people there are, and ask if there are places available. If the holiday is available, we will hold places for you for 5 days; we just need your name and a daytime phone number - no payment is necessary at this stage.

How do I book?

Either pay online by following the instructions on the booking page, or contact us to hold places and complete the booking form provided when you are ready, inserting the prices as given. If you are a single traveller add the single supplement fee. Total the prices for all members of your party. £150 per person is the amount required for a deposit. If you are booking within 70 days (10 weeks) of the start date the full payment will be due as soon as the trip is confirmed. Sign the form and return it to us.

Can I book an extra night at the beginning or end of the tour?

Not normally, but it may be possible, please check with us

Can I change the date of travel after I book?

No, the group guided tours start on fixed dates. We view this as a cancellation and re-booking - it may be possible for you to change to a different date only if you give sufficient notice, please refer to our terms and conditions, but we cannot guarantee this.

How should I prepare for the trip?

We emphasise that whatever the grade of the walk it is important that before you start the trip you must be in reasonable physical shape and your feet and your footwear must be accustomed to walking the distances indicated in the trip notes for the particular tour. The best way to ensure this is to go for a number of walks during the weeks immediately preceding your departure, using the footwear that you will wear during the trip.

What do I need to bring?

We provide a list of items to bring in the trip notes for each tour, available on our website

How do I get to the starting point?

We provide 'land only' holidays, so for guided holidays you need to make your own way to the specified collection points for the free transfer, or make your own arrangements to get to our base in the Drome.

How do I know if I'm fit and experienced enough for a self guided holiday?

You choose how much or how little walking you do, as well as the pace, so there is no concern about your fitness levels. We provide you with walking notes, maps and itineraries, plus other ideas for days out and places to visit, so you can easily tailor each day to suit your requirements.

What will I have to carry?

A daypack with lunch, water bottle, first-aid kit, waterproofs, camera. We operate single centre holidays, so once you have arrived you can unpack and make yourself at home.

How about the food?

Week-long (seven night) self guided holidays include all breakfasts, picnic lunches and evening meals except on Wednesday which is breakfast only, as no picnic lunch or evening meal is provided. You have the opportunity to eat in one of the local restaurants a short walk from your base.

How do I get to the starting place?

We recommend self guided guests have their own transport during their stay, we can provide a list of recommended car hire companies.

I'm travelling on my own - can I go on a self-guided tour?

Yes, please note there is a single supplement of £200 which gives you a double room for single occupancy.

Are there any self-guided walking tours that my whole family could take part in?

Yes, although your children will need to be as fit and as motivated you are.

What's included in my self-guided walking holiday?

Accommodation and meals as specified in our price quote - you can select the number of nights and meals you would like. The price quoted on our website is based on seven night's accommodation and all meals except for Wednesday, which is breakfast only. Specially researched walks with notes, relevant sections of maps with the routes marked. A walking map of the area. Background information on the area of the holiday, notes on locations of interest.

Where can I get more detailed information?

The trip notes on our website provide detailed information. If you require more information then please contact us.

Can I make a provisional booking?

Yes. Just call or e-mail us, stating the required dates, tell us how many people there are, and ask if there are places available. If the date is available, we will tell you the relevant price per person. If you then wish to make a provisional booking we will hold places for you for 5 days; we just need your name and a daytime phone number - no payment is necessary at this stage.

How do I book?

Complete the booking form provided, inserting the prices as quoted by us. If you are a single traveller and want a single room add the single supplement fee. Total the prices for all members of your party. £150 per person is the amount required for a deposit. If you are booking within 70 days (10 weeks) of the start date the full payment will be due as soon as the trip is confirmed. Sign the form and return it to us. You can either make your payment online by following the instructions on the Booking page, or by bank transfer or cheque.

Can I subsequently book an extra night at the beginning or end of self guided holiday?

This might be possible if you give us sufficient notice, please contact us.

Can I change the date of travel after I book?

No, we have reserved accommodation for you on fixed dates, and other holidays and bookings have been fitted in around yours. We view this as a cancellation and re-booking - it may be possible for you to change to a different date only if you give sufficient notice, please refer to our terms and conditions, but we cannot guarantee this.

How should I prepare for the trip?

For your own benefit you should ensure that you have comfortable footwear that you have 'worn in' before your holiday.

What do I need to bring?

We provide a list of items to bring in the trip notes for self guided walking, available on our website.

Where will I stay?

All our holidays are based in Saillans in the Drome valley, in a spacious and very comfortable guest house with large en-suite bedrooms, wi-fi, library and swimming pool, set in extensive grounds with beautiful views.

Will I need a visa?

Currently almost certainly not, please check with us if you have a doubt.

What is the 'single supplement'?

The 'single supplement' fee reflects the additional cost of providing single room occupancy of a double or twin room. For most holidays the single supplement is £200, for the Rhone Wine Tour it is £300.

Do I need travel insurance?

Yes. This should cover cancellation, loss/theft of personal possessions and/or money, medical expenses and should be valid for the region to which you are travelling and the activities you are undertaking. Nowadays many customers have their own multi-trip travel insurance, but check on it’s validity for your trip.Travel insurance is a condition of booking. This is not included in the price of the trips as many people already have travel insurance cover.

What if I have to cancel?

Inform us in writing (your letter can be e-mailed) as soon as you are sure that you will have to cancel. Insurance companies insist on written cancellation. The date that we receive your written statement of cancellation is the date from which cancellation fees/insurance claims will be calculated.