Direct financial support for your local walking group.
Frequently Asked Questions
What’s included in my holiday?Actually, an awful lot. We generally travel to your destination, transfers, accommodation, a qualified Ramblers Worldwide tour leader, usually breakfasts and dinners, a great itinerary and the companionship of some great fellow travellers.
For a better idea see our ’Outstanding service & value’ and What’s Included pages as well as the descriptions of our individual holidays.
Am I fit enough, and how much walking is involved?The world really is more beautiful on foot and to ensure you relish every moment, we’ve graded our holidays to help you find the level of walking you wish to undertake - from stretching your legs on a relaxing sightseeing tour, to stretching yourself on a challenging high altitude trek. Whatever suits you, we’ve a fabulous selection of holidays to match your individual walking ability and spirit of adventure!
Choosing the right walking grade to suit your ability and comfort level is key to your enjoyment. Please avoid selecting a holiday beyond your physical capabilites, or even well under your normal capacity - unless you’d be happy with a slower pace. Our grades indicate the pace and terrain you should expect on each chosen holiday, and the personal fitness required.
For more information, take a look at our Walking grades page
Do you offer specialist interest walking holidays?Yes! Some of our walking holidays combine the pleasure of walking with other interests, such as wildlife, bird-spotting, sightseeing or cooking. For example, our new ‘Flora & Walking’ programme has been approved by the Royal Horticultural Society and includes trips such as Spring in Menorca, the mountains of Madeira or Cape Province in South Africa. Some of our leaders are botanists; all have a keen interest in flowers and plants, and you’ll be seeing anything from wild orchids or anemones to protea and prickly pear.
Find out more about our Spcial Interest Holidays where we’ve something for everyone.
How do you look after your safety while on holiday? What are the accommodation and meals like? I’d like to know more about your tour leaders… Are your holidays suitable for single travellers?Yes !! Please see our section for ’Single travellers’.
What is group travel like?Our page on ’Small and friendly groups’ will try to describe the type of experience you can have as part of a small group travelling together.
What do you advise regarding insurance?You must have travel insurance to take part in all our overseas, Cruise & Walk holidays and holidays based in the Channel Islands - but it doesn’t have to be our insurance of course. Please see our ’Insurance’ page for information and advice on travel insurance generally as well as our own policy.
What is Ramblers Worldwide Holidays’ Responsible Tourism policy?We feel strongly about being a responsible holiday operator - our section on ’Responsible travel’ explains why.
Can I book my own flights?Yes! If you wish to organise your own flights from a non-UK or provincial airport, or travel by rail or car to the holiday centre, ‘no-travel’ reductions are often available, although there can be restrictions due to our pre-arranged airline or rail company commitments. Before finalising any independent travel arrangements, please check with us, as schedule changes to occur. Further information is available on our ’Travel Information’ page.
Can I travel from a regional UK airport? Can I book a tailor-made extension to my holiday?Yes. Many of our clients like to ‘bolt-on’ an independent package to their holiday with an extra stay at the start or end of the stated holiday dates. This is a great way to take advantage of the area, allowing you to explore alone, visit friends or relatives or simply relax. We can usually offer extra hotel nights at an advantageous rate, and many of the airlines and rail companies we use do allow some flexibility (for a small charge) if a date change is arranged more than three months before departure. Please call our Travel team for more information 01707 386732.
What do I need to take?The most important item to take with you is a pair of comfortable walking shoes or boots appropriate to your grade of walking holiday. Your holiday information will indicate if you need any other items, for example, walking aids or sleeping bags. You should also think about all the other essentials you will need to take, such as travel documents and health remedies according to your destination.
I'd like to bring my family. Are these holidays suitable for under-16's?
The holidays on our Worldwide programme are not usually recommended for under -16s but there are always exceptions, just call our Reservations Team to discuss your individual requirements. We have, however, developed a new programme where the walks and activities are designed for family groups - please follow this link for more information - Ramblers Family Adventures.
Will there be any opportunities to swim?
Yes, sometimes - it depends where you are! Some holidays offer the opportunity for beach swimming or some hotels or resorts may have pools. You will be able to find more information about your specific holiday in the Holiday Information sheets issued with confirmation of booking. See ’Where we Stay’.
Will I have any free time?
Most of our holidays have ‘rest’ days or free time scheduled into the itineraries. If you’d like to explore on your own you are free to do so – just let your leader know that you won’t be accompanying the group on certain days.
How can I prepare for a walking holiday?
Again, it depends on your chosen holiday as to whether it’s a good idea to do some fitness preparation. For easier holidays, a general level of everyday fitness is required, but for higher-grade holidays it might be a good idea to do some practise walks of the same length before you leave, just to ensure your muscles are ready!
I'm interested in a trekking holiday. Will I have to put my own tent up every day?
No. On arrival at camp you will find the trekking crew have put your tent up, put your bag in the tent and have the kettle on for a cup of tea and a biscuit.
What are the washing facilities like on trekking holidays?For washing facilities, each morning the trekking crew will bring you a bowl of hot water so you can have a wash in the tent (bring your own flannel). On the campsite, the toilets are simple holes dug in the ground with a tent around so you have complete privacy. Outside the tent the crew leave a large bowl of potassium permanganate solution for washing hands afterwards. On breaking camp, the crew will fill in the hole, so the process is as environmentally friendly as possible.
On holidays in Nepal where we stay in Tea Huts (Joys of Nepal), some have showers though not always a supply of hot water. These also have toilets but are rarely plumbed in with a flush.
What are meals like on trekking and hutting holidays?Hot meals are cooked for you every day and a picnic lunch will be provided for your day’s walking.
Please click on these links for more information about our trekking or hutting holidays.
If I book a sightseeing holiday, do I have to do all the excursions?Itineraries are flexible, so if you want to go off on your own for a day, just let your leader know and enjoy your day exploring!
How much should I allow for entrance fees and optional excursions?Local transport costs and entrance fees for your particular holiday will be indicated in the Holiday Information sheet issued with your booking confirmation but, as a guideline, think in terms of an average of around £40 per week.
Optional excursion costs will vary depending on where you are and the type of excursion. Please contact us for details or see our Holiday Information sheet for some guidance.
Read more about our Sightseeing and Walking Holidays.
Where can I get information on airport parking and hotels close to UK airports? Where can I get information about security measures at UK airports?Please follow the individual Airport links on our Airport Parking and Hotels pages.
How is my holiday protected? I follow a special diet, can you accommodate me?Please contact us if you have any particular dietary needs - we are able to accommodate some requests but we cannot make any guarantees. Our Reservations Team will be able to advise you further according to your destination, so please call them on 01707 331133 to discuss your needs before booking.
Do I have to join the group for a meal every evening?No, there is no obligation to do so (although it would be unusual not to!).
Do you charge single supplements?Most hotels we use charge a single supplement, please refer to individual holiday details for more information.
Can I share a room?Yes, we can arrange this. If you’re willing to share a twin room with another group member of the same sex, we can accommodate this on most holidays; simply talk to our Reservations Team on 01707 331133. Please note that when booking to share you are agreeing to a no smoking policy and reasonable norms of behaviour.
Can you take bookings from private groups? Many large organisations work with charities, can you tell me whether Ramblers Worldwide Holidays does any charitable work?By holidaying with Ramblers Worldwide Holidays, you are directly supporting our own Charitable Trust, set up to generate funds to support the work of The Ramblers, where all profits not needed for the safe running and development of the company are ploughed back into our environment.
Please follow this link to read more about the work of Ramblers Holidays Charitable Trust in the UK and our other charitable activities abroad.
