Planning Your Tour

Flights

Casterbridge Challenges & Adventures is an IATA licenced tour operator and our extensive airline industry contacts allow us to book group space at the most competitive rates. When planning your tour we will, wherever possible, use direct or non-stop flights so that no change of aircraft is required.

Accommodation

In main cities we use good quality tourist class hotels and where possible we select centrally located accommodation which has plenty of local character. These hotels are checked regularly by our overseas agents to ensure that the standards we require are being maintained. On the Challenge or Adventure programme, accommodation might be in more basic hotels and lodges, in rudimentary mountain huts or perhaps local village accommodation.

Camping Facilities

Many of our Challenge and Adventure tours, particularly those in the Himalaya and South America will involve camping. When camping we sleep in good quality two-person tents. We will have a large mess tent where we will have breakfast and evening meals. In addition there will be a cook tent for the local staff where our meals are prepared. We also provide a toilet tent, folding chairs, dining tables, lanterns, washing basins, crockery and cutlery.

Well planned itineraries

Our itineraries are devised with the utmost care. In most cases our in-country ground agents have worked with us for many years, allowing us to carefully monitor the local situation and even develop our own local infrastructure. Our guides and office staff have a wealth of travel expertise and in most cases will be able to give you first hand information about your chosen destination.

Qualified Tour Leaders

Unless you request otherwise, all our Adventure Tours are led by experienced tour managers with appropriate mountain leader or other outdoor qualifications. The leader's role is pivotal to ensuring the success of the trip. Our leaders are carefully selected for their experience, maturity and leadership skills. For the majority of our tours we provide leaders who hold the International Mountain Leader (IML) Award. This encompasses all mountain and wilderness trekking and hiking where no glacier travel is involved. For tours which involve other activities including watersports or cycling, we use leaders with a broad range of experience and qualifications.

Local Infrastructure and Back Up

Our locals agents will always provide essential safety infrastructure to allow swift evacuation in the event of injury or illness, and all of our Challenge and Adventure Tours are resourced with modern technology and safety aids. In general we will provide leaders and staff with Walkie Talkie radios for routine communication amongst the group, and in situations where mobile phone networks are absent we will also provide a Satellite phone for emergency use.

Meals and Special Diets

We make every possible effort to cater for vegetarians and endeavour to provide a variety of suitable meals. However, in some of the countries we visit, the vegetarian concept is not well understood. Whilst we do not expect you to compromise your principles, we would ask for your appreciation of the difficulties which can be encountered and your patience in such circumstances.

Casterbridge Challenges & Adventures -
Your Ideal Travel Partner

We are dedicated to providing a high quality and professional product, giving your school the highest standards of service possible. Our Adventure Tour leaders have a wealth of experience in leading schools groups. With the assistance of a knowledgeable guide and the back up of a first rate local agent your students will be in good hands. Professional management, extensive experience and a close working relationship with the best local operators in each of the countries that we visit, make Casterbridge Challenges & Adventures your ideal partner.