The Dordogne and The Lot Valley
Welcome to Peak Toursโ Dordogne and Lot Valley tour. A most beautiful week of cycling awaits with idyllic scenery in this stunning region of France. We begin from Bergerac and cycle east to Les Eyzies moving on to Sarlat-la-Canรฉda and Gramat before finishing in Cahors. The region is packed with historic sites, amazing natural cliffs and of course, we cross over the beautiful Dordogne and Lot rivers. Exploring this region by bike is truly a lovely way to spend a week’s holiday.
We will stay in both Les Eyzies and Cahors for 2 nights each, so we will not be moving on every day. This allows our itinerary to be flexible, with a choice of cycling or ‘touristing’ on some days.
This beautiful picturesque tour has something for everyone, with short and long routes, and there are some optional rest days if desired. If all of the shortest options are taken you will cover 240 miles / 390km total distance, 16000ft / 4900m total ascent, but there is the possibility of extending 4 of the 6 days, taking the total mileage for taking all of the long options to 327 miles / 526km, with 23,400ft / 7150 m total ascent. It provides another rewarding experience in a similar vein to our other tours, with the โmagic vanโ providing refreshments throughout the week. Your bags will be transported for you each day and we will be having some fantastic lunches whilst we explore this enchantion region. This tour is classed as difficulty level 4 because although average daily distances for the shortest options are below 50 miles, there is also a bit of climbing. Taking all of the longer options would make it more of a grade 5 tour, so similar to our Week in Provence tour (but without any climbs that are anywhere near as long as Mont Ventoux!) but you can feel free to mix and match the days as you desire!
Highlights
– See some fantastic sights, all by bike – the best way to enjoy this wonderful region of France
– Cycle through the stunning Vezere valley, also known as the Valley of Man, where you will find a huge range of prehistoric sites, from the troglodytic dwellings of La Roque St Christophe to the cave paintings of the Grotte de Font-de-Gaume
– Visit the famous Lascaux International Centre for Cave Art – the site of cave paintings and engravings thought to be from 17-18,000 years ago
– See some fantastic towns built into hillsides – Rocamadour and St Cirq Lapopie will take your breath away!
– Enjoy quiet cycleways and roads, with beautiful views
– Stay in the historic centres of Bergerac, Sarlat-la-Canรฉda and Cahors
Duration 7 nights / 6 days cycling
Total distance 240 miles / 390km – 327 miles / 526km (depending on which options you choose)
Total elevation 15,700 ft / 4800m – 23,400ft / 7150m (depending on the options that you choose)
Grade 4 (short options) – 5 (long options)
Practicalities
We will transfer you from Bordeaux or Bergerac airport to Bergerac at the start of the tour and also from Cahors to the airport at the end of the tour on Saturday morning. Bergerac is also accessible directly by train, which can be a really enjoyable way to travel, and takes only around 7-8 hours from London.
Please see the Itinerary page for a more detailed description of the route and the Additional Information page for more information on the logistics.
You can download the trip notes for the tour here Dordogne and Lot Valley Trip Notes
2025 Dates:
Sat 21st โ Sat 28th June 2025 Only 1 male twin sharing space available
Sat 28th June โ Sat 5th July 2025 Only 10 places left
Sat 5th โ Sat 12th July 2025 Places available
Sat 12th โ Sat 19th July 2025 Places available
Sat 19th โ Sat 26th July 2025 Only 1 female twin sharing space available
Prices for 2025 are ยฃ1595 for a shared twin or double, ยฃ1945 for a single and ยฃ2095 for sole occ of a double.
2026 Dates:
Sat 23rd โ Sat 30th May 2026 Places available
Sat 20th โ Sat 27th June 2026 Places available
Sat 27th June โ Sat 4th July 2026 Places available
Prices for 2026 are ยฃ1695 for a shared twin or double, ยฃ2095 for a single and ยฃ2195 for sole occ of a double.
To go ahead and book this tour please complete the booking form below or if you have any queries then please call us on 01457 851462 or email info@peak-tours.com.
The Dordogne and The Lot Valley Route
This week-long tour, with 6 days of cycling, with some optional shorter or rest days, has been designed to take in many of the highlights of the Dordogne and the Lot Valleys, whilst also allowing time for relaxation and exploration if desired.
We stay in the same hotel in Les Eyzies and Cahors for 2 nights each, so we will not be moving on every day. There are different options on some days, with the short loops being deliberately quite short to allow for some sightseeing. There are some rest day options on the days when we stay in the same place more than once – if you didnโt want to cycle on those days then you could take it easy and enjoy some tourism. It should be noted that it will not always be possible to support those doing the shorter routes with brew and lunch stops โ those doing the longer routes will take priority. There will not be a riding guide on the shorter options. We will of course be on hand and just a phone call away if riders encounter any issues. Alternatively, if you didnโt want to cycle on those days then you can take it easy, enjoy some tourism and cycle every other day if you prefer. The numerous options make this a great tour for friends who perhaps want to come away together on a cycling holiday but have different distances or amounts of climbing that they want to do.
Choosing all of the longer options would make it more of a grade 5 tour, so similar to our Week in Provence tour (but without any climbs that are anywhere near as long as Mont Ventoux!)
Saturday: Arrival Day Non-riding day
Arrival day โ welcome to the tour!
Our guides will set off from our base in Glossop on Thursday with all the bikes and stop a couple of times en route to Dover to pick up bikes.
A coach will depart from Bordeaux airport at 16:30 to arrive in Bergerac for 18:30 to allow time to settle in before the first evening meal.
For those arriving into Bergerac by train or plane, the city is just a short taxi ride away from the airport so you can arrive and have time to explore the winding streets and the history of the town.
Sunday: Bergerac to Les Eyzies Distance: 47 miles / 76 km Elevation: 2350 ft / 950 m
A lovely bike path along the river takes us out of Bergerac and into the heart of the Dordogne region. We make our way to the amazing Cadouin Abbey, which was once a major pilgrimage site, before passing by Limeuil, classified as โone of the most beautiful villages in France.โ With its winding streets built on a hillside over the river, itโs easy to see why! The final part of the day sees us finishing in Les Eyzies, a village dominated by the amazing once-inhabited caves which sit above.
Monday: Les Eyzies โValley of Manโ loops Short loop: 34 miles/ 55km Elevation: 1740ft / 650m, Medium loop: 52 miles / 83km Elevation: 3600ft / 1100m ascent, Long loop: 63 miles / 101km Elevation: 4300ft / 1300m
Today we have 3 loops, all of which pass by some famous sites in the โValley of Manโ – so named because of the volume of pre-historic sites found here. The shorter loop is 34 miles / 55 km, designed to allow for some โtourisme ร vรฉlo.โ For those who wish to go a bit further, there are the options of the medium loop at 52 miles / 83km (3600ft / 1100m ascent) or the long loop at 63 miles / 101km (4300ft / 1300m ascent). Whichever route you choose, we pass by the famous Troglodytic Fort and City of La Roque Saint Christophe, before arriving into Montignac-Lascaux, which sits pretty on the Vezere river. For those who wish to stop at the Lascaux International Center for Cave Art for a tour of the replica caves and the museum, there is an opportunity to do so (2hr visit – this is to be booked before you arrived). On the return to Les Eyzies there is the Grotte de Font-de-Gaume, another site of Paleolithic era cave paintings, which this time offers tours of the caves themselves.
Of course for those who would prefer to have a day off exploring, then the Grotte de Font-de-Gaume is a short walk from the hotel and the French National Museum of Prehistory is also situated in the village itself!
You can choose to end your day with some optional wine tasting at our lovely hotel.
Tuesday: Les Eyzies to Sarlat-la-Canรฉda Short route: Distance: 41 miles/ 65 km, Elevation: 3200 ft / 950 m, Long route: Distance: 62 miles/ 100km, Elevation: 5500 ft /1700 m
Leaving Les Eyzies behind, but by no means leaving the history behind, we continue our journey along the Dordogne river, crossing it a few times as we pass by the impressive Chรขteau de Castelnaud-la-Chapelle, and through the fortified town of Domme, sometimes known as the โAcropolis of the Pรฉrigord.โ Finally we pass by the stunning village of La Roque Gageac, a town built into the rock, perched above the Dordogne. We end our day in Sarlat-la-Canรฉda, a medieval town with an abundance of cobbled streets to explore. For those who wish to extend their ride, there is an extra 20 mile loop which takes in some more typical Dordogne scenery and villages.
Wednesday: Sarlat-la-Canรฉda to Gramat Short route: Distance: 43 miles / 72 km Elevation: 3600ft / 1100 m, Long route: Distance: 61 miles / 94km, Elevation: 5300ft / 1600m
Leaving Sarlat, we take a traffic-free โVoie Verte,โ which winds its way through lovely quiet farmland before we cross the river and make our way towards hillier terrain. The hills are worth it as we find ourselves cycling towards Rocamadour, a famous cliff-side pilgrimage town, also known for its goats cheese. We finish the day in Gramat, which is again on the โPilgrimโs Trail.โ Again, there is a longer route which takes in the beautiful Autoire gorge road.
Thursday: Gramat to Cahors Distance: 41 miles/ 66 km Elevation: 3000ft / 900m
The scenery changes as the cave dwellings and cliffs become more sparse, and we take in more pastoral France. Quiet roads lead us through small rural villages, as we head towards the river Lot. We end with a stunning cycle along the river to see the Pont Valentrรฉ, a bridge built in the 14th century, which has now become the symbol of Cahors.
Friday: Cahors Loop: St-Cirq-Lapopie and the Lot river Short loop distance: 41 miles/ 66 km Elevation: 2500ft / 750m, Long loop distance: 52 miles / 83km, Elevation: 3600ft / 1100m
The final day of riding of our tour finishes with a visit to one of the highlights of the Dordogne and Lot regions: St-Cirq-Lapopie. Built into a sheer cliff, it seems an improbable place to build a town, but the maze of streets and impressive church give some insight into St-Cirq-Lapopieโs historical significance. The two loops allow for some flexibility, as the routes split after lunch, so if youโre feeling like you have some energy left for the end of the tour you could tackle some extra climbing on quiet roads into hidden valleys, before descending to rejoin the short loop.
Saturday: Transfer to Bordeaux and Bergerac Airports and Tour Ends
Transfers will be arranged to the transport hubs of the region (Bordeaux or Bergerac) for your trains or flights home. Meanwhile your bikes will start their journey back home in our back up van and will stop of a couple of times en route to Derbyshire.
Whatโs included?
The Dordogne tour includes 7 nights accommodation, 7 breakfasts, 6 lunches, snacks throughout the day, full trip support including a tour leader that cycles at the back of the group, two back up vans with spare parts and a few spare bikes.
We will even take your bikes over to France for you and bring them back at the end of the tour (there is a ยฃ60 charge for this, and you would need to get your bike to us in Derbyshire or meet us at one of the pick-up points en-route as the guides travel down to Dover on the Thursday before the tour starts.) Alternatively, you can post your bike to us and we will take it over for you.
We provide GPX files, detailed route notes so that you can cycle at your own pace, a Peak Tours cycle shirt, certificate, luggage transfer each day, lots of fun!
It should be noted that it will not always be possible to support those cycling the shorter routes with brew and lunch stops โ those doing the longer routes will take priority.
Whatโs not included?
Evening meals, cycle hire (available for a fee), Garmin hire (available for a fee), transport to and from France.
What happens at the start of the tour?
The tour starts in Bergerac on the first Saturday, arrival day. If you are arriving into Bergerac airport, or to the train station, we will try to meet you with the van or arrange a taxi transfer. For those arriving into Bordeaux airport, a coach transfer will leave at 16.30 and bring you to Bergerac. This transfer takes approximately 2 hours. ย We have a group meal on Saturday night and then the cycling starts onย Sunday.
What happens at the end? (and bike transport information)
The end of the tour finishes in Cahors on the Friday and we will have a celebratory last night meal and no doubt a few drinks as well!ย We will take our group photos then the guides will be scurrying around organising, while you take your time and get ready for the evening. We will meet for the final group meal at about 19.30, which will be followed by group conga (optional!)
A coach will arrive in Cahors onย Saturdayย morning to transfer you back to Bordeaux airport, making a stop at Bergerac airport. We aim to be at Bordeaux airport by 12 noon, so you should book your flights with this timing in mind.
One of the guides will drive a van with all your bikes in back to England and you can either meet them on Sunday as they are driving north, or pick up your bike from us in Glossop at some point.
If we take your bike for you then we would also need to bring it back. We canโt take bikes one way unfortunately. 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 electronic 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 Di2 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.
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 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 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 and we will book it in for you.
Route
This route is easier than some of our other tours however there are still a number of hills throughout the week. There are a few days with options for shorter or longer rides so there should be something to suit everyone. On average, you can cycle about 40 or 55 miles (65 / 90km) each day depending on whether you choose the shorter or longer routes on a couple of the days.
You may also wish to have a rest day from the bike and sightsee where you are staying. We stay in the same hotel for two nights in Les Eyzies and Cahors so if you didnโt want to cycle on those days then you can take it easy.
How difficult is the tour?
The Dordogne tour is graded at 4 or 5 depending on whether you choose the shorter or longer route options. This tour is suitable for someone with a reasonable level of fitness and who wants a challenge. The fitter you are and the more training that you do beforehand will add to the enjoyment of your holiday. The tour is slightly easier than most of our tours, as there are options for rest days, although there are several options for longer days in the saddle if you prefer. Take a look at the Itinerary section, and 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.
Why France?
France is a wide and diverse country which contains a variety of different and changing landscapes. France is also much less densely populated as the UK and much more rural so the roads are quieter and cyclists are treated with much more respect.
France is the cultural home of cycling and everyone has heard of the Tour de France. We will cycle through some of the landscapes that you will have seen whilst watching the tour.
France usually enjoys much better weather than the UK, so chances of a dry and sunny tour is much more likely than if tackling LEJOG. However, it must also be noted that it can get very hot in the summer months.
France is also well known for its gastronomy and also fine wines, and we will do our best to ensure that you sample plenty of the delights on offer. Added to that, a rich culture, medieval villages and stunning architecture all make France an ideal place for a cycle tour.
Support
Usually each tour has 3 guides*:
– One guide drives a van that provides refreshments during the day. We call this van the โbrew vanโ. Generally we have a mid morning stop, a lunch stop and an afternoon brew stop. The brew van provides hot drinks such as tea and coffee, water and a range of snacks such as fruit, dried fruit, biscuits, local specialities etc.
– One guide drives the โluggage vanโ – transporting your luggage from hotel to hotel, as well as setting up your lunches on picnic days. We aim to put your bags in your rooms for you each day although this isnโt always possible.
– One guide cycles at the back of the group. You are provided with detailed route notes and gpx files so that you can navigate yourself. It is important that you cycle at your own pace – we donโt cycle as one big group. There could be an hour or two between the front and the back rider. Our cycling guide will always stay at the back of the group.
– Mechanical support: We carry a range of spare parts so that repairs can be made en-route and we will have some spare bikes available in the event that your bike has a serious breakdown. If we canโt fix your bike then we will try to get it to the nearest bike shop for repair.
– Each guide will be contactable by phone during the day so if you have any issues you can get straight in touch with them.
*For smaller groups you might only have one guide that cycles with the group and one back up driver or two back up drivers without a guide cycling at the back of the group. For groups of 10 or less just one tour leader will provide back-up for you.
FAQ: Does the support vehicle follow the group?
No, the back up van doesnโt drive behind the group at all times but the van shouldnโt be too far away if you require assistance. On most tours we have two back up vans. The brew van stays out with the group throughout the day, stopping for a morning refreshment stop, lunch and on most days an afternoon refreshment stop as well. Usually the luggage van will go on ahead to ensure that your luggage is ready for you when you arrive at your accommodation.
FAQ: Can I get in the van if I am tired and unable to complete the dayโs riding?
Ideally you would complete each day’s ride however you can get in the van as a last resort if you are unable to complete that dayโs ride. We ask that riders who sign up for the tour are able to complete each day of riding, and donโt see the vans as a โstrategyโ for completing the tour – e.g. if you are considering signing up for the tour and riding half of each day, and then getting in the van, then perhaps the tour is not quite for you yet, but once youโre confident that you can complete each day on your bike we will gladly welcome you.
If you have a contagious illness and canโt ride on any particular day then getting in the van isnโt an option as the chances of passing the illness to the guide driving the van is high. This has happened on many occasions in the past and then the guide has passed the condition to others in the group. It is for this reason that we donโt allow anyone with a contagious condition to ride in the van with the guide. If this happens then we will help arrange alternative transport to the next stop.
FAQ: Can my non cycling friend/partner book onto the tour and ride in the van each day?
No. We may need the space in the van to pick up riders who have had an accident or need mechanical assistance so we need to keep the space in the van free for emergencies.
FAQ: What are the groups like?
Obviously each group is different but generally they 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. The average age for our riders is people in their 50โs and 60โs. 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 and people that travel as a pair such as two sisters, two friends, two partners etc. There will be plenty of people to socialise with throughout the day and in the evening.
ACCOMMODATION
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, guesthouses and hotels. 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, although this is rare for the double/twin room option.
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. Usually rooms are en-suite however there maybe the occasional room that is not en-suite.
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. 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 14 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.
FAQ: What happens if Iโve booked a twin room option but decide that I want a single during the tour?
We will try to find another room for you each night however any additional room costs would need to be paid for by you. It may be that some accommodation providers donโt have any extra rooms available, in which case you would need to stay in a twin room.
FAQ: What can I expect the quality of my accommodation to be like?
Most of our accommodations are either 3 or 4 star which we have hand picked because of their location, high quality facilities and great service standards. You will experience a variety of accommodations throughout the regions youโre passing through each one being different to the next. Where possible we try to steer away from large corporate hotels and lean towards local family run businesses to provide a more authentic experience. Occasionally, in rural areas, the infrastructure isnโt as developed as in other areas so there isnโt an abundance of accommodations that are able to host a large group of cyclists with bicycles. On these rare occasions the group has to be split between two neighbouring villages.
FOOD
All of your breakfasts and lunches, unless otherwise specified in specific tour information, are included in the price of the trip. Lunch will be provided each day in a cafรฉ or restaurant or picnic lunches provided by the guides. Evening meals can be bought at your accommodation or in a nearby restaurant. We also have tea, coffee, fruit, biscuits, cake, nuts etc in the back up van that you are welcome to fill your pockets with at the morning and afternoon โbrew stopsโ. We donโt provide gels or powders โ only real food.
FAQ: What if I have any dietary requirements such as being Vegetarian or Vegan, Gluten or Dairy Free?
Usually on each tour we have people with specific dietary requirements, and we are able to accommodate these without a problem. Sometimes in the more rural areas our tours visit there may not necessarily be as wide a variety of food (e.g. for Vegans in France or Portugal) but we always inform each cafรฉ or restaurant well in advance.
FAQ: WHAT HAPPENS IN THE EVENINGS?
Once you have arrived at your accommodation you should have chance for some time to relax, have a shower etc before the evening meal. We will often arrange somewhere to eat for the evening meal so that we can all get together and you wonโt be left alone if you would like to eat with others. We donโt arrange a group meal every night to allow for flexibility and exploration but there will always be somewhere at your hotel or close to your accommodation for you to have an evening meal.
Other Costs
We often get asked about estimations for spending money for your evening meals over the length of the tour to help people budget. This is sort of a โhow long is a piece of stringโ question, as some will eat and drink much more than others, but as a rough guide we would recommend budgeting around ยฃ30 / โฌ35.00 per day per person for a 2-3 course evening meal plus a drink and, knowing yourself what you are likely to eat and drink, you can adapt that accordingly.
BIKES
UK TOURS:
You can transport your bike in the following ways:
– bringing your own – most people using this option will take a train or have a friend or relative drive them to wherever the tour starts. For some tours we may be able to offer some en-route collections before the tour. This will usually be at a motorway service station along the route between our HQ in Glossop, Derbyshire and the start point of the tour.
– those arriving into the UK from overseas with their own bike generally tend to transport their bike in a bike bag / box. We have a limited number of spaces in the vans to store such bike boxes / bags during the tour so please contact us if you are thinking of bringing your own bike.
EUROPEAN TOURS:
You can transport your bike in the following ways:
– bringing your own – most people using this option will take a train or plane, with their bike in a bike box or bag. We have a limited number of spaces in the vans to store such bike boxes / bags during the tour so please contact us if you are thinking of bringing your own bike.
– we can transport your bike for you, for a ยฃ60 charge. You can either get your bikes to us in Glossop in the Peak District, or you can meet our guides at a convenient location (usually a motorway services) for them while they are en route to catch the ferry.
It should be noted that bikes travel with us at your own risk. It is very difficult for us to provide insurance for your bike during transit, so you need to insure your bike in the unlikely event that your bike is lost or stolen or damaged.
Please note – Generally this isnโt necessary, but for some of the larger bike frames we may need to lower/remove your seat posts in order to pack all the bikes into the vans. We take great care packing the bikes and we will mark seat posts with tape to ensure seat heights can be restored. We are aware that some of you will have Di2 battery systems in the seat posts. We can disconnect these carefully and reconnect them when we unpack the vans.
Please ensure that your bike is fully serviced and in good working order before the start of the trip. It is advisable to have your bike service a few weeks before the start of the tour. This will allow time to โbed inโ before you start your ride.
Alternatively you can hire a bike from us, please see our website for more information.
FAQ: Can I use an electric bike on your tours?
E-bikes are welcome on all of our tours, please let us know if you are intending to ride an e-bike, and whether it has to be charged in-situ, or if the battery is detachable, so that we plan accordingly.
FAQ: Where will my bike be stored overnight?
Our accommodations are sourced specifically based on the requirements of our tour and groups, part of these requirements is ensuring there is suitable secure storage for your bicycle throughout your stay. Most accommodations we use havenโt been designed to host a group of 25 cyclists in mind so the bike storage solution we arrange can differ from place to place. Usually there will be a room/garage/shed where the bikes can be stored securely and out of the elements. When travelling through rural areas, we use local B&Bs which are unlikely to have the ideal large indoor storage facilities weโd like. In such circumstances bicycles are stored outside under a tarpaulin secured with a cable lock(s) around the back of your accommodations or behind locked gates. If youโre considering booking a tour that travels through rural areas and wish to discuss this in more detail, please speak to one of our team members. Occasionally we keep bikes stored in our back up vans.
CLOTHING AND EQUIPMENT
A full kit list, including clothing and equipment (personal spares and repairs) can be downloaded here for our 10 – 14 day tours or here for our 7-9 day tours or here for our tours that are less than 7 days.
Helmets are a requirement on all of our tours.
LUGGAGE
The ideal size for luggage is 70 x 50 x 30 cm and a weight of 10 to 15kg (or less). You will also be able to have a smaller โday bagโ which you can access during the day.
Where possible, your luggage will be put into your room at the end of each day, but please note that if your luggage exceeds the 15kg limit then this may not be possible.
FAQ: Are there any places to wash clothes during the tours?
This varies from tour to tour, but there will be a note made in your route notes. Often the towns you will stay in will have a local launderette, or sometimes there are self-service washing machines at fuel stations or in supermarket car parks (this tends to be more common on our European tours.) Most people will tend to wash their own clothes during the tour using some travel wash gel or soap in their hotel bathroom – this can be done quite effectively meaning no need for a launderette.
FITNESS
Each of our tours has a grade. Our grading system is explained here
We offer two different training weekend options, which can be found here. If you are booked on to one of our longer tours then you may wish to do one of our shorter tours first, to get a feel for how things work. You can see details of our shorter tours here.
In addition to this we send out a training plan for each tour once you have booked on.
FAQ: What if I am very slow during each day?
We ask that each rider completes each day of riding by 18:30, to allow you to have enough time to rest, socialise and eat before heading to bed. This helps you to get maximum enjoyment out of the tour, rather than each evening becoming a rush! Whilst on tour, if you are coming in late then we will try to accommodate this by perhaps setting you off early. As per the booking conditions, 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.
MECHANICAL KNOWLEDGE
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. It is essential that you know 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 and gears, however this isnโt essential. Our guides will help you with any repairs and adjustments en-route.
FAQ: What if I canโt change a puncture?
We recommend that you practise this before coming on tour. There are a number of Youtube videos out there to help, and your local bike shop will be able to offer advice and show you in person. If you arrive at the tour and you still donโt know how to change a puncture, then our guides will show you at the beginning of the tour. Changing a puncture is a quick job: it should take at most 10 minutes, even if the tyres are tricky to get on and off. If you have to wait for one of our guides to assist you, then it is likely that you may be waiting longer than 10 minutes depending on where they are, so it makes sense for you to master this skill so you can get back on the road sooner rather than later.
NAVIGATION
We provide detailed route notes and also GPX files for all tours. If you would like to hire a Garmin Device from us, with all of the routes loaded, then we have them available for hire. These can be booked through the Tour Extras section of our website, or by getting in touch with the office.
FAQ: What if my own navigation device fails on tour?
We have a number of spare Garmins which we carry, with all of the routes loaded on. In the interests of fairness to other customers who have hired a Garmin, if you have to use one of ours then we would ask you to pay the same fee that they have paid (or contribute towards some costs depending on how many days you have had to use it for).
GROUP SIZE
Our tours operate with group sizes of a minimum of 8 and a maximum of 25 people. We donโt cycle as a large group, smaller groups naturally form along the way. 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.
FAQ: What is the usual age and make up of your groups?
Typically most people are aged around 45 and above, and generally on each tour there is a split of around 40% women and 60% men. That does vary from tour to tour however, and we have had riders from ages 15 to 87!
FAQ: Can I come with my child who is under 18?
Yes, however you will be responsible for your childโs safety throughout the tour. Our guides do look after all of our riders but they will not act in loco parentis.
SAFETY
Emergencies
112 is the emergency number for Europe. The number 112 can be dialled to reach emergency services – medical, fire and police – from anywhere in Europe. This Pan-European emergency number 112 can be called from any telephone (landline, pay phone or mobile cellular phone). Calls are free and you can ask for an English-speaking operator.
GHIC โ European Health Insurance Card
This card entitles you to greatly reduced or free state medical services throughout Europe, including Switzerland. We recommend you send off for one of these before the trip and carry it with you. Itโs important to bear in mind that these cards are not a substitute for travel insurance and adequate travel insurance is compulsory for this tour. This link will give you all the information you need about the EHIC – Apply for a GHIC Card.
Tick-borne encephalitis
In general, no special immunisations or medications are necessary for travel to Europe but it may be worth immunising yourself against ticks as, in many countries, in wooded areas and rough pasture with long grass, ticks can be found. The risk is very low but it is possible to contract Lyme disease, tularaemia, tick-borne encephalitis and rickettsia diseases from these little critters in the warmer months.
If you find a tick attached to skin, promptly remove it. Grasp the tick using fine-tipped tweezers as close to the skin as possible. Pull upward with steady, even pressure, do not twist or jerk the tick. After removing it, thoroughly disinfect the bite site and wash your hands. If you begin to experience a rash or fever within several weeks of removing a tick, see your health care provider.
Cycling Tips for mainland Europe
Weโll start with the obvious one, cycling on the right-hand side of the road. You will be surprised at how many times you are cycling along thinking โsomethings not quite right hereโ only to find a Renault heading in your general direction!
It takes time to break the lifelong habit of cycling on the left-hand side and it would be worthwhile keeping this ever present in your minds for at least the first few days.
Instinctively, at junctions and roundabouts, we Brits look for cars coming from the right. This habit must also be broken and great care taken at junctions and roundabouts to look for the cars coming from your left and giving way to the left at roundabouts.
Another tricky manoeuvre that is counter intuitive to the British brain is turning left. This is perhaps the most confusing as we are so used to simply turning left.
To turn left we must cycle past the first half of the junction and turn left into the second half while at the same time taking great care for oncoming traffic (there is usually a blue arrow sign to remind you).
By law, you need to have a bell on your bike in France, you can find small ones that donโt take up too much space.
INSURANCE
We strongly recommend that you take out adequate insurance for your tour which, as an absolute minimum, should cover accident & medical expenses if you are travelling within the UK or outside of the UK for our European tours, cover for your bike and belongings and cancellation cover in the event that you have to cancel your tour for unforeseen circumstances.
You should be aware that if you have an accident or fall ill while on the tour you will lose the money paid for the trip. A travel insurance policy would allow you to reclaim most of the money as well as providing insurance in case you lose your bags or if your bike is stolen, broken etc.
Your policy should also cover cancellation costs if you cancel the tour within 8 weeks of departure. If this happens we will try to fill your space and return your funds to you but if we are unable to fill your place you will lose the funds paid for the tour.
Weโve partnered with Yellow Jersey and agreed a 10% discount off their travel insurance products, both available on a short term or annual basis for all our clients. Once you have booked onto your tour with us, you will receive a discount code. We would recommend that you also take a look at what other products are available.
FAQ: What if I donโt have insurance for my tour?
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.
For information on our Booking Conditions, please see here.
FAQ: What do I do if I lose my passport?
1. Go to the police and get an incident report: You need to do this because The British Embassy (or Embassy of the country your passport is from) will not issue you with a new/replacement travel document without a police report and your travel insurance policy will not reimburse you for costs incurred without a police report.
2. Go to the nearest British Embassy: Once you have filed a police report, head to the nearest British embassy to get the necessary paper work. This includes an LS01 form, which cancels your current passport and prevents crooks from using it for identity theft.
3. Emergency Travel Documents: In the event of an emergency (like your flight home leaving that afternoon), travel documents can be issued for those who need to fly home immediately. For an emergency passport to be issued, you will still need some form of identification and a police report – for security reasons. This is not a replacement passport though – it will only be valid for your flight home.
4. Check your travel insurance as some insurance providers cover situations like this so it is worth ringing them up to find out.
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.
By making a booking, the first named person on the booking agrees on behalf of all persons detailed on the booking that:
- he/she has read these Booking Conditions and has the authority to and does agree to be bound by them;
- he/she consents to our use of personal data in accordance with our Privacy Policy and is authorised on behalf of all persons named on the booking to disclose their personal details to us, including where applicable special categories of data (such as information on health conditions or disabilities and dietary requirements);
- he/she is over 18 years of age and, where placing an order for services with age restrictions, declares that he/she and all members of the party are of the appropriate age to purchase those services;
- he/she accepts financial responsibility for payment of the booking on behalf of all persons detailed on the booking.
- 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. You must also abide by the rules of the Highway Code.
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. On receiving your hire bike, it is your responsibility to check that the bike is in good working order and to check your bike each day before starting your ride. If you have any concerns about the function of the bike then you need to raise this with your tour leader straight away.
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. If you have any contagious condition then you must isolate from the other people within the group. You cannot travel in our back up van with your tour guide as they may also contract your illness. If you are unable to cycle due to you having a contagious illness then you will need to find alternative travel such as a train or taxi to get from one destination to another. This travel or any unscheduled accommodation costs would need to be covered by yourself or your insurer.
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.
-
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.
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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
From: £1,595.00