Description

ALSAZIA TREK: CHRISTMAS MARKETS AND VINEYARDS

Alsace is the easternmost region in France, and it lies between the Vosges mountains and River Rhine, representing the natural border with Germany.
His troubled history and the proximity with Germany are responsible for its unique cultural, linguistic, and culinary identity where traditions and cultures of both nations are kept alive.

Alsace will enchant you with its picturesque hamlets: coloured timber-framed houses seem to be coming out from a fairy tale book; the surrounding hills produce one of the most precious wine in the world thanks to the mosaic of rocks underneath.

Green valleys, ancient ruins and fortresses nestled in the mountains: though it is one of the smallest region in France, Alsace offers a picturesque landscape making it one of the most beautiful and typical region in the country.

During Christmas time, all villages decorate their buildings creating a magic and unique Christmas atmosphere: suffused lights, thousands decorations on the front of the houses, wooden small houses selling typical cuisine and local products to taste, traditional music and dances.
There is no place in Europe which could equal Christmas atmosphere in Alsace.

Climate in Alsace is not exttemely cold or wet. As to my experience, we have never suffered from cold or snow.

Weather conditions will be monitored during the preceeding days in order to define the programme which could be modified consequently but not completely cancelled.

POINTS OF INTEREST

Middleage villages immersed in Christmas atmosphere;
Vineyards and hills among villages where to hike;
Tasting of different vines on different hill directly from the producer;
Tasting of local cuisine which will surprise you;
Easy and comfortable excursions just to justify Taste with the Trek;

Technical details

Both excursions are medium easy 100 to 200 difference in level and around 12 km each.
More details as we define allocation.

Description

The 2 hikings I would like to plan starts in Ribeauvillé or Kaysersberg according to accommodation; they are both fascinating villages along the wine road in Alsace. Difficult in level is always medium easy and hikings will lead us to live in a more relaxing way the atmosphere of villages and Christmas markets as well as visi fortresses on the hills surrounding the area and offering wonderful view on Rhin plane.

More programme details as the accomodation is confirmed.

Difficulty level MEDIUM – EASY

All hikings are suitable to adults and teens over 12 in good health conditions and used to walk.

Dogs must be on a leash owing to the presence of wild animals in the wood and out of respect for other participants who could be afraid of or annoyed by them.
Please check for access to foreign countries.

Responsible tourism

The excursions I offer also aim at supporting local economic activities and at living unique experiences closely in touch with and with respect to people and places.

That’s why they often include tasting experiences and/or chance to buy local products directly from producers, mainly small local activities working hard and with passion to keep traditions alive;
That’s why groups I accompany are usually small … in order to meet and live local people and enter their lives and the calmness of the place on tiptoes.

The Cape Town Declaration in 2002 recognises that Responsible Tourism takes a variety of forms, it is characterised by travel and tourism which:

minimises negative economic, environmental and social impacts;
generates greater economic benefits for local people and enhances the well-being of host communities, improves working conditions and access to the industry;
involves local people in decisions that affect their lives and life changes;
makes positive contributions to the conservation of natural and cultural heritage, to the maintenance of the world’s diversity;
provides more enjoyable experiences for tourists through more meaningful connections with local people, and a greater understanding of local cultural, social and environmental issues;
provide access for people with disabilities and the disadvantaged;
is culturally sensitive, engenders respect between tourists and hosts, and builds local pride and confidence.

Programme

FRAMEWORK PROGRAMME
Day 1
Transfer from Italy to Alsace by private car or train and meeting point at the hotel/apartmente (depparture from Como at about 6.30am). Car-sharing is possible.
Visit, relax, accommodation and dinner

Day 2
Hiking among vineyards to middleage neighbouring villages. visit to Christmas markets. Wine tasting.
Itinerary and technical details according to final accommodation.
Return by either private or public transport.
Dinner and relax.

Day 3
Hiking among vineyards to middleage neighbouring villages. visit to Christmas markets. Wine tasting.
Itinerary and technical details according to final accommodation.
Return by either private or public transport.
Dinner and relax.

Day 4
Transfer back to Italy according to means of transport and weather conditions. Colmar visit according to time available.

Programme to be defined according to participants accommodation

ATTENTION: programme and itinerary could vary according to weather conditions. The journey is confirmed even in case of cancellation of the hikings due to bad weather conditions. If it is the case, the programme will modified accordingly offering participants a safe stay thanks to the many richnesses of the region.

CANCELLATION/POSTPONEMENT
The excursion can be cancelled or postponed anytime by the Guide at her absolute discretion, in case safe and proper conditions cannot be guaranteed following bad weather conditions on the day of the excursion or on the previous days.
Excursion could be confirmed even if weather conditions are not good but safe for participants.

In case of cancellation from the participant after the confirmation deadline, the relevant Guide fee cannot be refunded.
Hotel cancellation costs according to agreements with the hotel.

Participation fee and extra costs

Adults and teens: € 250.00 (4 days);
Inclusions: accompanying fee Hiking Guide AIGAE LO639 during hiking; liability insurance; logistics and language help; guide’s expenses
Exclusions: any lunch and break; any transport to the meeting point; food and accommodation; injury insurance for the participants; any service not included in the item “inclusions”.

EXTRA COSTS

180 – 140 € per person 3 nights: accommodation in apartments with shared bathroom; single, doubloe and big beds, sofa beds. Costs depending on number of participants and kind of accommodation. Please contact the Guide for more logistics.
Breakfast in the apartment or in the village; dinner and lunch;
40 € swiss highway tax; Fuel costs; costs to be shared among passangers. As it is a long drive, my advise is to value a reduced cost for the driver and owner of the car.

Reservation required within 1st November 23 on website chart.
Contact details
e-mail sabrina@trekandtaste.it – mobile +39 347 04 05 703.

MINIMUM NUMBER OF PARTICIPANTS: 3
MAXIMUM NUMBER OF PARTICIPANTS: 8

Minimum number of participants is required to confirm the hiking.

Minors must be accompanied by an adult holding responsible.

Participation to the excursions implies unconditioned acceptance of the rules and payment of hotel costs.

Injury insurance for participants

INJURY INSURANCE FOR TREKKERS
Participation fee only includes liability insurance; no injury insurance coverage is provided to Participants to the excursion. It is advisable to take out a suitable injury insurance.
EIC Organization offer an annual injury insurance which can be activated by the Trip&Trek app and amounting to 10 euros per year, per person. The insurance is valid 1 year whenever you participate to an excursion with and AIGAE Guide. For more details, please contact info@escursioni-italia.it.

ATTENTION: The Guide cannot be hold responsible for accidents occurring when not on trekking excursions in Nature.

How to reach the meeting point

Alsazia can be reached both by car and train from Como and Milan.

Please contact the Guide for more details.

Clothes and equipments

- Winter trekking shoes.
- Backpack to carry personal belongings and spare water and food.
- Packed lunch according to excursion and programme (please check);
- Dress in layers according to the season (shirt, long-sleeved shirt, Fleece jacket or sweatshirt, rain and wind stopper jacket); rain poncho in case of instable weather and summer storms.
- Headlamp.

Please contact the Guide for more details

Containment measures

According to measures in force at the time of the hiking

Additional information

Partecipante	Adults
Data	7-10 Dec

Rules

Download RULES.PDF

HOW TO PARTICIPATE

How to behave

Participant to the excursions are required to:

comply with the scheduled programme and with anychange decided by the Guide due to force majeure.

be in good physical conditions and wear suitable outfit as recommended by the Guide in the relevant excursion programme, according to season and type of event; if it is not the case, the Guide is unquestionably entitled to exclude the Participant from the excursion in order to guarantee safety for both the person concerned and other Participants. When the exclusion is justified, no refund at all is

behave properly towards other Participants to the excursion and comply with the rules given by the Guide as to group management, namely in case of emergency and danger.

prevent the Guide before abandoning the group for any reason. The Guide is not responsible for people walking further ahead of the Guide.

respect the environment; collecting or intentionally damaging flowers, trees fossils and the like is strictly forbidden; waste has to be taken at home.

prevent the Guide in case you would like your dog to participate to the excursion , so that we can evaluate whether it is possible and how. We have to consider that the group is formed by people who do not know each other; dogs must compulsory be on a leash all along the excursion; the Owner Participant is solely responsible for the dog and its behaviour and for any problem or damage directly or indirectly caused by the dog. In case the Participant doesn’t prevent the Guide concerning the presence of the dog or the rules cannot be complied with, the Participant and his dog can be excluded from the excursion in any moment. When the exclusion is justified, no refund at all is provided.

co-operate for the success of the excursion by complying with the decisions taken by the Guide, namely in case of danger such as worsening weather conditions, sickness of a Participant…to name a few.

Participants are personally liable for any behaviour which could cause damage to themselves and to third persons, mainly in case they take decisions against the advice of the Guide.

Insurance

Participation fee only includes liability insurance; no injury insurance coverage is provided to Participants to the excursion. It is advisable to take out a suitable injury insurance.

EIC Organization offer an annual injury insurance which can be activated by the Trip&Trek app and amounting to 10 euros per year, per person. The insurance is valid 1 year whenever you participate to an excursion with and AIGAE Guide. For more details, please contact info@escursioni-italia.it.

Further rules

Excursions and experiences are confirmed upon achievement of a minimum number of participants shown on the programme (and up to a maximum number of participants). Minimum and maximum number of Participants are decided by the Guide according to the type of activity and the required effort. Registration is confirmed upon receiving the full amount/deposit (if it is the case) of the participation fee.

In case the minimum number of participants is not achieved, the Guide can decide to cancel the excursion/experience or alternatively offer it at a higher fee to cover all expenses.

Minors must be mandatorily accompanied by an adult taking their responsibility.

Declaration of physical fitness

By accepting this rules, the Participant declare under his own responsibility to be healthy and in good physical and psychological conditions to participate to the excursion. The Participant also declares having provided the Guide all the information needed to properly evaluate his physical conditions and level of fitness being appropriate.

Photos, video, smartphone, and GPS equipments

Photo and Video shooting

Participation to the excursion/experience implies the authorization to release on the internet (facebook, instagram, websites, to name a few) photos and video shootings taken during the excursion/experience by Participants and/or by the Guide for private and advertising purposes. In case you do not want to be shooted, please prevent the Guide immediately before the beginning of the excursion/experience.

Mobiles
Participants are kindly asked to switch off their mobiles, disable the ringtone, or, in case of need, to use them discreetly, in order not to disturb the atmosphere of the group.

GPS tracks recording

It is forbidden to release GPS tracks recorded during the excursion, in respect of the professionalism of the Guide.

Cancellations

Cancellation by the Participant

In case of cancellation by the Participant within 3 days before the event, the amount paid will be considered valid as a voucher for a following event. Any cancellation after that term will not be refunded. Deposits are not refundable.
Vouchers are valid for 1 year from date of the excursion booked.

In case the Participant decides to interrupt the excursion, the amounts paid (including balance) will not be refunded and the Guide will not be held liable for any claims or damage.

Cancellation by the Guide

The excursion could be cancelled or postponed due to force majeure and the amounts paid will be refunded except for bank charges and other costs which do not depend on the Guide’s will.

The excursion can be cancelled and/or interrupted anytime at the Guide’s absolute discretion, in case safe and proper conditions cannot be guaranteed (eg in case of sickness and/or injury of one of the Participant, worsening weather conditions…and so on).

INSTRUCTIONS

How to participate

To participate to an excursion, please buy and pay the relevant event directly on the website or contact me.

Participation to the excursions implies unconditioned acceptance of this regulation.

Participation fee only includes accompanying fee. Any extra cost will be paid separately on site unless otherwise stated (eg tour operator quote).

Before subscribing, please read “difficulty level” and “equipment required” sections so that you can verify the excursion meets your expectations. In case of doubts, please do not hesitate to contact me.

As to car-sharing to the meeting-point, please contact me directly and I will get in touch with participants willing to share transportation. It will be up to you to agree on costs to be shared.

CORONAVIRUS Emergency

Owing to the present pandemic, some rules have to be complied with during excursions in order to reduce risks of infection. Participants are requested to behave properly and honestly and to be adaptable in case of decisions to be taken according to rules concerning containment measures in force, which can suddenly be changed.

Maximum number of participants: 15.

Participation is subject to the following conditions:

The Participant have got NO flu symptoms (on the day of the excursion and on the previous days)

The Participant is NOT subject to quarantine restrictions

The Participant have NOT come into contact with people resulting positive to covid test or people who have got flu in the previous 14 days.

Participants are requested to fill in the self-certification provided and concerning personal good-health conditions, to be given to the Guide on the day of the excursion.

Private and public transportation must comply with containment measures in force. If it is the case, please aerate the car, wear face masks and sanitize hands.

During the excursion, participants are requested to keep interpersonal distance (2 m min.) in order to safely walk without face mask. Please wear your face mask when stopping or when interpersonal distance is not possible.

When meeting trekkers on the opposite direction, stop and let people go by safely, wear your masks and keep distance.

In case of flu symptoms or positive test results after the excursion, the Guide has to be immediately prevented in order to inform participants to the same excursion, in respect of the privacy policy.

For more information, please visit the Italian Health Ministry website http://www.salute.gov.it/portale/home.html

Clothes and equipment

In winter as well as in summer, the advice is to dress in layers and to have a clean t-shirt to wear when reaching the summit or stopping for a long rest. Please carefully read the relevant section in the programme of the excursion you have chosen.

Clothe and equipment generally recommended:

Hiking shoes, preferably high laced-up and having soles in Vibram material; mainly when paths are rough and slippery

Rain and windproof cap/jacket such as a softshell (wind significantly reduces the temperature our body feels)

Water and e snacks (at least 1.5 litres of water per person are recommended); thermos bottle with hot beverages in winter is recommended.

Sun cap/beanie and gloves in winter

Fleece jacket or sweatshirt according to the season.

Sun-protection cream and sunglasses in summer and in winter on snow ground.

Hiking poles are recommended (telescopic poles are very handy); hiking poles helps to reduce considerably stress on joints and knees.

Backpack whose size can carry personal belongings (mainly spare clothes and food supplies) and having comfortable shoulder straps; as a general rule, to prevent injury, a full backpack should weigh no more than 15 to 20 percent of your body weight.

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