Trip Details

Accommodation, comfort, luggage, guides, meals and travel documents: these details help you prepare for your holiday. Your own trip page specifies the services and conditions that apply to your itinerary.

Comfort

Whatever the level of comfort, we take great care in selecting our accommodation; the privileged location of a mountain refuge or hut may allow for more rustic conditions, however allow you to stay in the mountains in remote natural settings.

For the uninitiated, here are a few details on the comfort of each type of accommodation:

Hotel

• In rooms of 2, exceptionally 3: Shower / WC in the room, exceptionally upstairs. The level of comfort, and often the classification of the establishment (from simple hotel to 4* comfort), are specified in our trip information packets. Single rooms are usually available on request with a supplemental fee.

• Gasthof: You'll find these in Germany, Switzerland, Austria, Northern Italy. These are inns, often family-run, with accommodation and meals. Check the trip page for the facilities provided.

• Gasthof or hotel: Beds in German-speaking countries are generally made up of a single box spring and two mattresses, with individual blankets. The notion of having double beds and separate twin beds is rare.

• Chambre d'hôtes (or home-stay): Whenever possible, we prefer this type of accommodation, because we know you'll appreciate the conviviality, the opportunity to meet the owners, the personal touch and the charm of the rooms. It is often difficult, however, to accommodate groups (insufficient capacity) or a single night.

Mountain Lodge

• You could call it a mid-mountain or lowland refuge! It allows Hiking enthusiasts to stop off without excessive luxury and in a friendly atmosphere.

• Accommodation is generally in small dormitories (4 to 8). Sanitary blocks (showers and WCs) shared on the same floor, or, increasingly, in each small dormitory. Bedding is generally provided, but you may need a sleeping-bag liner or a sleeping bag as specified in your trip information. A growing number of mountain lodges also offer rooms for two, with hotel services (sheets).

• Here, the communal areas are vast and conducive to meetings and exchanges.

Mountain Refuge

• Most often guarded, in dormitories.

• Refuges are located at higher altitudes, and adapts to circumstances and its environment; what's easy in the valley isn't necessarily obvious in the mountains. On the other hand, the view is breathtaking and these refuges are always located in spectacular areas.

• Dormitories can vary from a few places to large areas (now rarer, but a few still exist).

• Sometimes there isn't always a shower; water is not always easily available on demand, and you may have to buy shower tokens and/or mineral water at the table in the evening. Toilets may be outside and composting style without water. Sometimes, especially in Austria, refuges offer almost hotel-like comfort!

• When it comes to conviviality, the refuge is a place where everyone can talk about their route, their experiences, their wonders, their difficulties. The atmosphere is friendly and open, thanks in particular to the refuge keeper, who is the master of their domain.

Bivouacs

• Or under the stars for those who prefer! We're in areas where there's no permanent accommodation, or not enough of it. In general, there are no sanitary facilities. Tents and sleeping mats are provided, so bring your own sleeping bag.
• Meals are prepared jointly or by a team (cook + helpers). You may be asked to join in and get your hands dirty.
• These are generally memorable experiences, as much for the atmosphere and beauty of the evenings as for the strength of the experiences shared.

Trip Comfort Level Ratings

To help you choose the tour that's right for you, each of our tours has a "Comfort" rating. This rating allows you to evaluate at a glance the type of accommodation you'll be staying in during your trip.

Please Note! This "Comfort" rating is an average of all the accommodation provided for the entire stay. For some stays, there may be several different types of accommodation.

Level I

Rustic, unguarded mountain refuges. Basic sanitary facilities are generally available. You'll need to bring a duvet/sheet bag for the night, as most of these mountain refuges are dormitory-style. We often privatize these accommodations for our hikers, for greater conviviality and privacy for the group. When we choose this type of accommodation, it's for good reasons, such as a privileged location in the heart of a wilderness nature reserve.

Level II

Alternation of gîtes, guarded refuges/huts, guesthouses and simple hotels, in dormitories and/or rooms of 2 to 4. Toilets and sanitary facilities are available; The sanitary facilities are often collective. You usually need a sack sheet. It is the typical (and ideal) accommodation for itinerant hiking, in the mountains and mid-mountains; You will therefore often find this category in our guided hikes. Comfort, conviviality, meetings and exploration of the local environment are the order of the day on these trips.

Level III

Accommodations in 2* and 3* hotels or equivalent (non-classified hotels and B&Bs, similar in comfort to a 2-3* hotel). You are accommodated in a room for 2 people with an ensuite bathroom / toilet (exceptionally in a room of 3 for guided groups); On request, you can be in a single room or in a family room. This level of comfort corresponds to the standard comfort of most cycling trips in France, as it also corresponds to the traditional comfort style of different regions.

Level IV

Accommodations in 3* and 4* hotels or equivalent (non-classified hotels and guest houses, with similar comfort to a 3-4* hotel). You are accommodated in a room for 2 people with an ensuite bathroom/toilet; On request, you can be in a single room or in a family room.

Level V

Charm and excellence, that's what characterizes this level of comfort. You stay in hotels and B&Bs "with that little something extra" that forges lasting memories. The level of comfort is that of a 3*, 4* or even 5* hotels or bed and breakfasts; Accommodations can on exception may be a little simpler if the welcome, the environment, the staff, the breakfast, etc. make it a rare and exceptional stopover. You are accommodated in a room for 2 people with an ensuite bathroom / toilet; On request, you can be in a single room or in a family room. This is of course the comfort category we prefer for self-guided travel. It is also a partly subjective classification; we always appreciate guests sharing their impressions with us, once they are back home from a trip!

Luggage Transportation

Who is carrying my bags?

No extra luggage to carry beyond a daypack...

You only carry your necessities for the day, including the picnic; Your main luggage is carried between each stage. Delivery times depend on the itinerary and the luggage carrier; check your travel documents.

Partial Luggage Transport

In addition to your belongings for the day, you carry what you need for one, two or even three nights, and sometimes the corresponding picnics. This formula allows you to stay at altitude with a more mountainous atmosphere away from the crowds. You will find the rest of your luggage on the following day(s) of trips with these logistics.

You carry your luggage

Most of the time, you won't need a duvet, and you'll carry a maximum of 2 or 3 picnics. So you can easily limit the weight of your bag.

Packing my luggage

My luggage is transported (or partially)

• Luggage allowance: one piece per person, within the weight limit specified in your trip information.

• The bag must be in good condition and easy to handle: put yourself in the shoes of the person in charge of transporting your luggage. On most trips, choose soft bags with wheels, or backpacks that are easy to carry. In the case of carrying by pack animals, a soft bag without wheels (sport or duffel bag) is preferable or even required.

• In the case of extra bulky luggage or group packing on a trip, partial repacking into smaller bags may be necessary. Grand Angle then supplies these bags.

I carry my luggage

Keep the weight to a minimum and follow the equipment and packing instructions for your trip.

Our Guides

• Your guide is always in accordance with the country's legislation; they know the Grand Angle style well and share their passions and values: from one trip to the next, whoever your guide is, you will find the spirit and professionalism that you have already known as Grand Angle's style.

• Our French guides hold the relevant mountain leader or ski instructor qualifications. When the terrain is right, you are supervised by a High Mountain Guide. They are Self-Employed Workers who have chosen to work with Grand Angle, and, just like Grand Angle, they engage their personal professional responsibility when they are with you.

• In the field, your guide is the "captain of the ship". They have full discretion to modify or adapt the program that they deem necessary or preferable, for the safety and well-being of the group for which they are responsible. Trust them and respect their decisions, remember they are an experienced professional.

Dietary Requirements

Tell us about food allergies and dietary requirements when booking, then remind your guide and accommodation providers. Available alternatives vary between destinations, particularly in mountain huts. If you have an important requirement, discuss it with us before booking.

Access - Arrival & Departure Travel

Our European destinations are almost all easy to reach by public transport and/or by flights. Refer to specific trip information packets for details on arrival and departure travel. Most of the time, you will also find detailed information on how to use certain transportation options (flights, trains, buses, airport shuttles, etc). We often have details on where to park your car, if arriving by a rental or personal vehicle.

Travel Packets

Before departure, you receive the practical information and documents needed for your trip. For guided trips, these include the meeting point and useful contact details. For self-guided trips, the packet includes accommodation details and the route documents described on the trip page.

Your trip page specifies the document format, any navigation app provided and any documents to collect on arrival. Check the booking steps, pay the balance when due and read all your documents before travelling.

Your travel story

After your trip, your feedback helps us improve our journeys. You can complete the satisfaction survey sent to you and share a story with photos. Our traveller review charter explains the publication rules.

For questions about accommodation, luggage or documents, contact our team.