Value for Money
There are many elements that contribute to the cost of any adventure holiday, including; standard of accommodation, quality of transport and number and experience of staff. We carefully balance these and many other factors when planning our trips, with the aim of providing quality adventure holidays that represent unbeatable VALUE FOR MONEY. Whilst our prices are competitive, you can be assured that we don't cut corners to achieve this. With KE there are no hidden extras.
How we Price our Holidays
On our website we display UK Flight Inclusive and Land Only prices. Note that the prices in our brochure should be taken as a guide only and up to date prices can be checked on this website.
Flight Inclusive Package: The majority of KE clients based in the UK choose to book a Flight Inclusive Package letting KE take care of both their holiday and flight arrangements, and thereby taking advantage of the full financial protection offered by the ATOL bonding scheme administered by the Civil Aviation Authority. For most of our holidays, we select a preferred flight and use the estimated cost of this to calculate our flight inclusive prices. (The estimated cost of this flight is based on fare information for 2012/13 available at the time of printing). Up to date prices and flight timings for your chosen trip can be obtained from this website or by contacting the KE office. Please be aware that there are often only a limited number of seats available at the advertised price. To avoid paying flight supplements, we recommend that you book as early as possible, especially during peak times. If we are unable to secure seats at the price shown, or you have requested regional departures or flights with an alternative carrier, we will contact you with an alternative quote.
Land Only Package: With diverse clientele joining our trips from around the world and increasingly sophisticated online booking technology, we see many of our clients choosing to book their own international flights. The proliferation of no-frills airlines means there are now some destinations (such as Geneva and Marrakech) where it makes sense to book flights directly. For holidays to such destinations we show the Land Only price together with an indication of flight cost from the UK. The Land Only price does not include the cost of international flights and is based on joining the group in the destination country.
If you are making your own flight arrangements, you must check that your chosen holiday has reached the minimum number required and is 'Guaranteed to Run' - BEFORE paying for your air tickets. Check with the KE office or check the trip status on the 'Dates and Prices' page for your trip. The Land Only price includes everything except the cost of the international flights and airport transfers (unless otherwise specified on an individual holiday description). When you book a Land Only Package we will give you details of the hotel to be used by your group and the date on which you should meet. Naturally, the hotel accommodation that is used by the main group is included within the Land Only price. If your flight arrangements mean that you will arrive well before the group (or depart after the group has returned home) we can book additional hotel nights for you. Before finalising travel arrangements to meet a KE group, clients who book their holiday on a Land Only basis should ensure that they have read and understood the Booking Conditions . Please note that we cannot be held liable, in cases where we cancel your trip, for losses incurred relating to any flight booking you have made.
WHETHER WE BOOK YOUR FLIGHTS OR YOU DO, EARLY BOOKING USUALLY MEANS BETTER VALUE AIRTICKETS
What the Price Includes
All of our holidays include the following services, as described in our brochure and trip dossiers and as detailed on this website: internal flights (where appropriate), land transport, accommodation, meals (as specified), leaders and support staff. International flights are also included if you have chosen to book a Flight Inclusive Package.
What the Price does not Include
Cost of visas, vaccinations, tips for porters, guides and other staff, bar bills, drinks with meals, hotel refreshments, laundry, telephone calls, souvenirs, meals other than those specified in the relevant trip dossier, entrance charges to some historical sites, certain national park and peak fees - as highlighted in our brochure / website, travel insurance, personal clothing and equipment, foreign airport taxes, excess baggage charges.
Transport
All transport during the trip is included, whether private or public, including internal flights, road transport and transfers as per the itinerary. (Please note that airport transfers at the beginning and end of a trip may not be included in the Land Only price, and in some cases domestic flights are charged separately. This will be indicated on the 'Dates and Prices' page for your trip if applicable).
Domestic Flight Tickets
In some countries (eg: Chile) the price of domestic return flights can vary in price depending on the airline used and on the time of booking. Generally, the sooner we can book these flights, the lower the ticket cost. To allow us to pay for these flights as soon as the trip is guaranteed, we will take an additional payment from you at the time of booking. When we pay for them, we will add the cost of these flights to your trip invoice. Any savings will be credited to your trip balance.
Accommodation
The standard of accommodation we use can vary from excellent 4-Star hotels to basic high mountain refuges. We always try to choose comfortable accommodation with local character, although in some areas this may not meet Western standards and in gites or mountain huts only dormitory accommodation may be available. This is all part of the experience of an adventure holiday and a flexible approach is required. Where hotel accommodation is provided, this is based on twin occupancy. If you book on your own (and half of our clients do) we will arrange for you to share with a person of the same gender. When camping, for the majority of our trips we supply spacious 2-man tents with sewn-in groundsheets. A mess tent, cook's tent, toilet tent, plates, cutlery etc. are all provided. On climbing trips that require high camps, up to 3 people may on occasion be required to share a lightweight mountain tent.
FAMILY ROOMING
In hotels for a family of three, wherever possible you will be allocated a triple room which may be a twin room with an extra bed or a mattress on the floor, otherwise it may be that only a twin and single is available. For families of two or four you will have either one or two twin rooms. Rooming is specific to each holiday, please check the dossier for more detailed information. We will do everything to ensure that you are happy with your rooming allocation.
No Compulsary Single Supplements
You will only be charged a single supplement if you specifically request a single room or tent.
Optional Single Rooms or Tents
Single hotel rooms and single tents are available for many of our trips, please check the 'Dates and Prices' page on the specific trip for costs. Please note that on climbing trips single tents will not be available at high camps.
Included Meals
Wherever practical, all meals are provided within the trip price. However, there is no set rule and in most South American countries, for example, you will need to pay for lunches and dinners when staying in major towns. Each trip description on this website gives an indication of the meals you may need to buy and more information can be found in the trip dossiers.
Staff
All KE groups are accompanied by a professional leader or a local guide selected on the basis of his or her experience and leadership skills. There will also be a local crew of drivers, cooks, porters and other appropriate staff. We only appoint leaders who have consistently demonstrated that they can meet the high standards expected by us and by our clients. Some climbing trips will have 2 or more leaders, depending on group size.
Age Requirements
For all the trips the minimum age is 16 at the time of travel and anyone under 18 must be accompanied by an adult. There is no upper age limit on our holidays, but we do ask that those over 70 send a letter with their booking to confirm that they are fit enough to participate fully.
Baggage Allowance
You should make every effort to restrict your personal clothing and equipment to a minimum. Individual trip dossiers will provide additional advice about this. KE is not responsible for excess baggage charges.
Equipment
Everyone who books a KE trip will receive a FREE 80 litre trek bag. Made of tough Cordura fabric, our trek bags are specially designed, with strong zips and webbing straps, to withstand the rigours of being carried by pack-animals and porters. Subject to availability we can arrange the hire of the following items of trekking and climbing equipment: 4 or 5 season sleeping bag; Thermarest; ice axe; crampons; climbing helmet; harness pack (climbing harness, sling, prussik loops and 2 karabiners). Hire requests must be submitted at least 6 weeks prior to departure. Hire equipment details and costs are indicated at the time of booking, within the online booking procedure.
2013 Prices
Dates, prices and itineraries shown for trips departing in 2013 may be subject to change. Trip prices may alter up or down by a maximum of 10% due to unforeseen air or ground cost or exchange rate fluctuations. In the unlikely event that the tour price increases above 10% for confirmed bookings, clients may cancel with a full refund of monies paid to KE - see section 3 - 'Your Holiday Price' in our Booking Conditions.
WEBSITE INFORMATION
All information on this website is correct at the time of completion. Subsequently, this information can become outdated and inaccurate. We reserve the right, therefore, to change any of the information included on our website and this amended information will then form part of your booking contract with ourselves.
