Europe

Your passport must meet 2 requirements. It must be:

• less than 10 years old on the day you enter (check the ‘date of issue’)

• valid for at least 3 months after the day you plan to leave (check the ‘expiry date’)

For the latest details on visiting countries within the EU or the European Economic Area (EEA), please check the UK Government website

The information that we provide is for UK passport holders. A passport with 6 months remaining validity at the end of your stay is generally required, and you should have at least 2 blank pages for each country that you visit.

It is your responsibility to ensure that you have the correct travel documents and visas for your holiday. Please ensure that you check for the latest advice before travel. For the most up to date information on entry requirements, please visit the UK Government website.

If you have a severe allergy please inform the KE office before you travel. We will do all we can to help, but we cannot guarantee an allergy free environment on KE trips. You will need to carry your own treatment for the allergy with you, as 'adrenaline auto-injectors' are not carried as standard by KE leaders and staff. You should inform your leader on arrival of your allergy, and let them know where you keep your adrenaline pen.

Vaccinations

You should contact your doctor or travel clinic to check whether you require any specific vaccinations.

GHIC / Medical cover

UK residents should carry a free Global Health Insurance Card (GHIC). This entitles you to state provided medical treatment when you're visiting an EU country or Switzerland. This is not a substitute for medical travel insurance which is vital when travelling overseas.

The unit of currency in Switzerland is the Swiss Franc.

It makes a lot of sense to spend some time before coming on a cross-country ski trip getting some additional exercise. The fitter you are, after all, the more enjoyable you will find the experience. We would suggest that you adopt a weekly exercise regime in the 6 to 8 week period leading up to your trip. Running, cycling, indoor rowing machines and swimming are excellent cross training methods for developing endurance. Nordic walking or the cross trainer machine are also excellent ways to imitate the arm action needed for cross-country skiing and help to build up arm and shoulder strength. Cross-country skiing is excellent cross training for other sports and as a low-impact exercise is a great way to improve your fitness.

The temperatures that we can expect to encounter during the day will be in the range minus – 15 to 2°C, though it can feel much warmer than this in the reflected sunlight high on the slopes away from the forest. In the evening temperatures will drop well below freezing levels. January to March is statistically the time of most snow in the Jura but mountainous areas do generate their own weather systems and variations cannot be ruled out.

As a reputable tour operator, KE supports the British Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office's ‘Travel Aware’ campaign to enable British citizens to prepare for their journeys overseas. The 'Travel Aware' website provides a single, authoritative source of advice for all kinds of travellers and we recommend that prior to travel, all KE clients visit the official UK Government website at travelaware.campaign.gov.uk and read the FCDO Travel Advice for their chosen destination. North Americans can also check out the U.S. Department of State website: www.travel.state.gov for essential travel advice and tips.

KE treat the safety and security of all clients as the most important aspect of any trip we organise. We would not run any trip that we did not consider reasonably safe.  Should the FCDO advise against travel for any reason, we will contact everyone booked to travel to discuss the situation.  We receive regular updates direct from the FCDO and are in constant touch with our contacts on the ground.  If you have any questions about government travel advice, please call our office.

KE do not encourage the use of single use plastic items. We are ensuring that our agents all over the world are working together to reduce the problem and educate those around them. We are leading by example in our KE office by reducing our plastic use.

• Switzerland - Lonely Planet

• Guides Burgundy Jura - Michelin Green Guide The official GTJ guide (currently only available in French) can be purchased from your guide for around 12 euros

Doubs, Jura

Michelin Local Maps

It is an essential condition of joining a holiday with KE Adventure Travel that you have a valid travel insurance policy to cover the cost of medical treatment and to protect the value of your holiday in the event of cancellation.  When taking out insurance please ensure the policy you choose covers you for the activities and altitude included in your itinerary.

For appropriate insurance cover we recommend Campbell Irvine Direct.  Please go to our Travel Insurance page for further information and to get a quote.

The following checklist should help you with your packing.  Note: winter cycling clothing is excellent apparel for cross-country skiing.

You should bring the following items:

• Approach shoes / Snow boots or walking shoes

• Rucksack – 25 to 30 litres maximum**

• Waterproof jacket

• Waterproof overtrousers. Sallopettes are not needed.

• Thermal baselayer - leggings
  

• Thermal top – long sleeved

• Thin fleece top – long sleeved

• Thermal gloves

• Warm and waterproof gloves or mittens

• Warm hat

• Sunhat

• Scarf or buff for neck

• Warm socks (like walking socks but not too thick or long like alpine ski socks

• Gaiters

• Comfortable underwear/sports bras for ladies (not wired)

• Water container (1 litre) NB. Drinks tubes and bottles stowed on the outside of your rucksack usually freeze in winter (we encourage re-filling water bottles rather than single use plastic)
  

• Water purification tablets

• Small flask

• Toilet paper and small pack of hand wipes

• Waterproof bag for documents

• Headtorch and spare batteries

• Sun protection (including total bloc for lips, nose etc.)

• Slippers / sandals for your overnight accommodation

• Clothing for use in hotels/chalets

• Sheet sleeping bag (usually only needed for 1 night)

• Ear plugs (especially if you are not the one snoring)

• Lightweight pack towel

• Swimming costume – for sauna available in some accommodation

• Basic First Aid Kit consisting of: throat lozenges, painkillers (anti-inflammatory), antiseptic cream/spray, plasters, blister treatment/tape, and re-hydration salts (Dioralite).

Cross Country Ski Equipment*

• Cross-country ski boots*

• Cross-country skis*

• Ski poles*

• Ski Tie*

The following items are optional:

• Extra pair of warm mittens

• Head/ear band

• Waistcoat – fleece or wind stopper

• Camera, media, spare batteries

• Repair kit – (eg. needle, thread, duct tape)

• Reusable cloth bag for shopping (to avoid plastic bags)

* Notes

**On this tour you will only need to carry a daysack whilst skiing. Ideally this should be large enough to stow any warm and bulky clothing which you may want to shed as you warm up. It must also have ski loops or ties with an extra couple of bungee cords or a ski tie/strap to enable you to strap your skis to your daysack in case you need to walk for periods of time.

Skis:

Cross country skiing equipment, which in this case means classic skis with skins (not skates or waxables), NNN boots and poles, can be hired at the start of the traverse. The equipment is all good quality and well maintained. The total ski hire for the week is 150 Euros per person (this includes the cost of returning the equipment to the hire shop at the end of the trip). Fishscale skis are also possible to rent for 20 Euros less. We ask that you make your payment directly to the guide in cash Euros.

Ski Hire. Cross country skiing equipment, which includes fishscale classic skis (not skates or waxables), Saloman (or similar) boots and bindings, and poles, can be hired locally at the start of the traverse. The cost of equipment hire is about €150 for the week (this includes the cost of returning the equipment to the hire shop at the end of the trek). You will make your payment direct to the guide (cash only). All equipment hire must be arranged in advance, as it will be necessary to pre-order correct sizes. Please contact our office if you wish to arrange equipment hire. We will need to know your height, weight, normal shoe size (you must give us your everyday shoe size and not your personal adjustment for wearing boots) and the measurement of your height up to your armpits (for ski pole hire). The guide will accompany clients to the hire shop and at the end of the traverse, will collect any hire equipment and organise its return.

Please note you will be liable for any damage caused to the specialist equipment due to negligence.

Many of the Equipment items listed above are available from Cotswold Outdoor - our 'Official Recommended Outdoor Retailer'. When you book a holiday with KE you will receive 12.5% discount voucher from Cotswold Outdoor and other retailers.
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