Wales Expedition

Highlights

• See the sights of London on an exciting speed boat ride down the Thames
• Kayak in the surf amongst the rugged cliffs and caves of Pembrokeshire
• Mountain bike through forest trails in the heart of Snowdonia National Park
• Trek to the summit of Snowdon, the highest British peak south of Scotland

Dates
August 15 to 22, 2009

Price
$3512 CAD  $3269 CAD (for a limited time)

$500 deposit required to reserve your space for this trip. If reservations are made less than 60 days prior to the date of the start of the trip, full payment is due at the time of reservation.  Final payment is due 60 days prior to commencement of the trip.

Detailed Itinerary
Day 1 London
Arrive at the London airport of your choice.  If you are arriving at Heathrow, we will provide you with a Heathrow Express ticket which will get you to Paddington Station in about 15 minutes.  Transfer on your own to the Park Plaza Riverbank London hotel. There are no scheduled activities today giving you time to explore London on your own or relax. 

Dinner on your own.

Day 2 London
Today we will embark on an exciting speed boat ride on the Thames.  See the historic sights of London combined with an exhilarating speed boat ride through the heart of London.   

The rest of the day is yours to enjoy on your own.

Tonight, we will have our official welcome dinner.  After dinner, be sure to check out London’s lively gay nightlife.

Day 3 Swansea
In the morning, we will board a train at Paddington for a three hour journey to Swansea.

You will have time to explore Wales’ second largest which is the hometown on Dylan Thomas, the celebrated Welsh poet.

After dinner on your own, check out some of Swansea’s gay pubs and clubs.

Day 4 Pembrokeshire
This morning we drive to the Pembrokeshire coastline to start our sea kayaking adventure.  The Pembrokeshire coastline is a renowned sea kayaking destination with sheltered bays, secluded beaches, sheer cliffs, and sea caves.  You will receive instruction in paddling skills and safety and then embark on a guided tour along the coastline.  We will stop for a picnic lunch on the beach and then continue with our exploration of the hidden coves, secluded beaches, and sea cliffs.  Along the way, you will learn about the local flora, fauna, and geology.

Tonight, we will have exclusive use of a five star eco lodge located on the coast.  The lodge has a full bar and after dinner we plan to have a bonfire in the secluded garden, or a moonlit frolic on the local beach.

Day 5 Pembrokeshire
Today, we will continue our exploration of the stunning Pembrokeshire coastline by kayak.  You will continue to build your skills and gain confidence in your paddling skills.  If we are lucky, we may find ourselves kayaking amongst the seals and dolphins that inhabit this area.  Again, we will look for the perfect place for a picnic lunch.

After a full day of kayaking, we will drive to Betws-y-Coed in the heart of Snowdonia National Park where we will check into the Waterloo Hotel.

Dinner on your own.

Day 6 Snowdonia
This morning, we will drive to the village of Penmachno where you will receive mountain biking instruction on an extensive network of forest trails. Instruction will be provided to improve the skills of both beginner and intermediate riders.  Depending on your skill level, you will get lots of practical riding on either undulating trails to develop your confidence or get your adrenaline flowing on some long and steep forest trails while enjoying the views over Snowdonia National Park.

After cycling, we will retire back to Betws-y-Coed where you can relax at some of the local pubs.

Dinner on your own.

Day 7 Snowdonia
After breakfast, we set out to conquer the summit of Mount Snowdon. At 3,580 feet, Snowdon is the highest mountain in Britain south of Scotland.  Guided by a qualified mountain leader, the round trip trek to the summit will take between 5 and 7 hours.  You will be rewarded with magnificent views and the knowledge that you are at the highest point in England or Wales.

Farewell group dinner at a local restaurant.

Day 8 London
Following breakfast, we will take a short drive to Llandudno Junction where you will board a train for our journey back to London’s Euston Station.  Once reaching London, our adventure journey is at its end and you can either depart or spend some additional time in London.  If you are planning to stay on in London, we can assist you with booking additional nights of hotel accommodation.

Important Trip Information
Group Size:
Minimum of 6, maximum of 12

Arrival & Depart Information:
Trip starts and ends in London.

Price Includes:

• 7 nights hotel accommodations in double occupancy rooms
• All ground transportation except transfer from airport to Park Plaza Riverbank London Hotel
• Equipment usage (bikes and gear, kayaks)
• Local guides and instructors
• Support of Big Wolf Expeditions tour leader
• 6 Breakfasts, 4 Lunches, 3 Dinners

Not Included:

• Transportation to and from London
• Meals not specified as included
• Personal items
• International health insurance
• Soft drinks or beer/wine with the exception of welcome dinner
• Gratuities

Passports and Visas:
It is the responsibility of the traveler to be in possession of a valid passport with at least 2 months of validity remaining.  Visas are not required for residents of the U.S., Canada, Australia, New Zealand, or South Africa.

Single Travelers:
In order to keep our prices reasonable, our group tours are based on shared accommodations.  Single travelers will be matched up to share twin bed accommodations with other members of the same sex for the tour.

Travel Insurance:
Travel insurance is required to participate in any of our tours.  The policy must include personal accident, medical expense, and emergency evacuation coverage.  When purchasing insurance, clients should ensure that there are no exclusion clauses limiting protection for the type of activities in their trip.  We recommend that you purchase insurance that includes cancellation coverage so that you are covered in certain circumstances if you need to cancel your trip.  A copy of your insurance policy must be provided to Big Wolf Expeditions prior to the departure date of the tour.

If you do not currently have travel insurance, we can provide you with some options.

Physical Condition:
This trip involves engaging in some serious physical activities. While you do not need prior experience in the activities offered, you should be in reasonable shape to enjoy the trip.

Conduct:
All travelers are expected to obey the laws of the countries we visit.  Possession of illegal drugs is prohibited on all our trips. Possessing and using illegal drugs puts the entire group at risk. We reserve the right to ask a traveler to leave the trip if drugs are found in their possession.

Pre-Departure Information
In advance of you trip, we will send you the final trip details and a Release From Liability Agreement which must be signed and returned. Additionally, we will provide suggestions about clothing and equipment to bring with you and other travel advice.

Final Note:
Due to the nature of travel, we sometimes need to make changes to the itinerary. We will make every effort to keep you informed of any changes, but cannot be held liable for any alterations made to the itinerary.

How to Book

We are excited to have you join us on one of our expeditions and look forward to providing you with a great adventure.  Please take a few minutes to read our Terms and Conditions prior to reserving your trip.  Once you are ready, you can reserve directly with us or through your travel agent.

Reserve
Send us an e-mail or give us a call to check on availability. Or if you prefer, contact your travel agent.

Deposit
If you choose to reserve directly with us, you can send us your deposit via check or we can send you an invoice via e-mail for online credit card payment.

Final Payment
Final payment can be made by check or online credit card payment.

Reservations: +1-617-792-5569
E-Mail: info@bigwolfexpeditions.com