Passport

Per the entry requirements of the local government, you will need to travel with a passport that has at least 1 blank page and it must be valid for at least 3 months past the date that you will arrive back in the U.S. but 6 months is recommended by the State Department.

Visit the State Department for details about the passport application and renewal process and processing times. It may take several weeks for renewals to be processed, so plan accordingly.

Visa

U.S. citizens are not required to have a visa to travel to Spain or France for stays of up to 90 days.

Check the State Department International Travel site for details about entry and exit requirements.

Citizens of other countries should check with the nearest consulates for specific visa entry requirements for their entire itinerary.

If you are traveling independently of the group or to any other countries prior to or after the group program, check the visa requirements with the local consulates of each country you plan to visit.

General Recommendations

Consult your doctor for medical advice on this program and use your best judgment when evaluating your health, physical ability and the appropriateness of this program for you. This program is a group experience and your level of ability and preparedness will have an impact on the other participants.

Medical care and facilities are readily available in Spain and France, but accessibility and standards of medical services may vary.

You are responsible for bringing an adequate supply of your personal medications as well as medicines for common ailments. Some medicines that are over-the-counter or prescription in the U.S. may be prohibited in some countries. Check with the foreign embassies and consulates in the U.S. for the country or countries where you will be traveling to find out what medications are prohibited, and speak with your doctor regarding alternate medications to bring, if necessary.

We recommend you carry the telephone number and email address of your personal physician, along with an up-to-date record of known allergies and chronic medical problems.

Covid-19 Information and Vaccinations

All travelers who are eligible for vaccination will be required to upload documentation showing full vaccination (including booster, if eligible) for Covid-19. Travelers may request an exception to the vaccination requirement. If approved, unvaccinated travelers will be required to undergo Covid-19 testing and other requirements may also apply. Note that destination requirements may prohibit unvaccinated individuals from entry. All travelers who are eligible for vaccination will be required to upload documentation showing full vaccination (including booster, if eligible) for Covid-19. Please contact our office if you received a vaccine other than Pfizer, Moderna or J&J.

Covid-19 travel protocols for this trip are in development. To read more about Travel/Study’s approach to ensuring traveler health and safety, visit the Covid-19 information page on our website. With destination conditions and travel requirements changing frequently, travel protocols for this particular program will be shared with confirmed travelers approximately 3 to 4 weeks before departure.

In the best interest of the health of the group, we ask you to take a COVID-19 rapid or PCR test 24 hours (no more than 48 hours) before meeting up with the group. Please note that if you test positive and are unable to participate in the program, you will be able to file a claim via the included trip insurance.

Other Vaccinations

See your local travel clinic, doctor or healthcare provider to discuss the details of your trip. You should also check the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) website for the most up-to-date recommendations.

At the present time, no vaccinations are required by the destinations we visit on this program.

You should be up to date on routine vaccinations while traveling to any destination. These vaccines include measles-mumps-rubella (MMR) vaccine, diphtheria-tetanus-pertussis vaccine, varicella (chickenpox) vaccine, polio vaccine and your yearly flu shot.

Ask your doctor what vaccines and medicines you need based on your personal medical history, where you are going, how long you are staying, what you will be doing, and if you are traveling from a country other than the U.S. You can also check the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) website for the most up-to-date recommendations.

See your doctor before your trip to allow time for vaccines to take effect, ideally at least four to six weeks before departure.

Sun Protection

The sun is very strong at this time of year in Spain. To avoid overexposure to the sun during the program, bring a sun hat with a wide brim, a scarf to protect your neck and sunglasses that block 100% of UVB rays. A quality waterproof, long-lasting, ultraviolet A- and B-blocking sunscreen (at least SPF 30) is strongly recommended.

Motion Sickness

If you are susceptible to motion sickness on buses you should plan to bring a supply of motion sickness preventives, such as elasticized “acupressure” bands, small electronic devices, herbal preventives (e.g. ginger supplements), over-the-counter medications or prescription medications. Following are details about timing on vehicles during our program that will help you gauge whether this is a concern for your:

• Buses: Drive times are up to three hours at a time, sometimes over winding roads (the longest drive is from Bilbao to St. Jean)

Insect Precautions

To reduce the risk of being bitten, protect yourself with long sleeves and pants and a good insect repellent that contains at least 30% DEET, particularly from dusk to dawn when mosquitoes are most active.

Digestive Health

Traveler’s diarrhea is the most common health-related travel concern. It is not unusual for travelers to experience one or two days of mild intestinal discomfort at some point during the tour. Speak with your doctor regarding preventive measures and suggested treatment for traveler’s diarrhea. You can find more information about preventive measures and suggested treatment for traveler’s diarrhea at the CDC website.

Temperatures during our program can be variable. Historically temperatures have ranged from low 50s in the early mornings and evenings to the 70s and high 80s (°F) during the day during this time of year. This trip covers a large and diverse geographical area and parts of the trip can be wet and cold at any time of year, especially in the Pyrenees and the extreme northwest of Spain. Despite the fact that we have scheduled this walk for one of the driest periods of the year you should come prepared for wet weather as we walk rain or shine.

Since weather patterns are increasingly unpredictable, we recommend checking temperatures online at The Weather Channel or Weather Underground a few days before the trip departs. This will be your best source for up-to-date weather information.

During our program, we will be at elevations ranging from sea level to 4,500 feet above sea level in the Pyrenees and 5,000 feet above sea level in the Leonese mountains

This program includes accommodations, transportation, group meals as noted on our website (including water and local wine at group lunches and dinners), entrance fees, and gratuities for all group activities to guides, waiters, porters. You should need money only for personal expenses, meals on your own, beverages not provided at group meals and for individual purchases.

A few things to note about money while on this trip:

• You will need to pay for everything in local currency using cash or credit cards.

• ATMs are readily available in most of the cities on our itinerary. You may have to split off from the group on excursions in order to seek out an ATM.

• Major credit cards (VISA, MasterCard and American Express) are accepted in virtually all hotels, most restaurants and large shops.

The currency in Spain & France is the euro. You can find up-to-date information and current exchange rates online, for example at Oanda.

Gratuity Guidelines

Guidelines for gratuities that are NOT included in the program cost

• Hotels: It is not customary to leave money for housekeeping staff. Of course, if you’ve asked for special services a gratuity of a few euros would be appropriate.

• Taxis: A tip of 1-5 euros is appropriate depending on the service and cost of the ride.

• Restaurant meals that are not part of our program: Many restaurants, bars and cafes automatically add a service charge to the bill. When service is not included locals tend to just round up the bill but you should not leave more than 5 -10% of the total bill.

Please note that we change hotels frequently on this program and will often have one night in a hotel, which means that bringing fewer articles of clothing that can easily be mixed and matched will make it easier to pack and unpack your suitcase.

Laundry service is available in all of our hotels for a fee where we have stays of two nights or more. Hair dryers are also provided at all the hotels on our itinerary.

Note it is highly recommended to include a change of clothes for hiking and wearing or packing your hiking boots in your carry-on.

Luggage

We recommend that you limit your luggage to one suitcase (not to exceed 45 pounds) and one carry-on piece (not to exceed 10 pounds) in addition to a personal item such as a purse or handbag. Doing so will make it easier to handle your luggage on your own in the event you need to do so. Please note that we change hotels often on this program. Bringing fewer articles of duplicate pieces of clothing will make it easier to pack and unpack your suitcase.

Participants are responsible for their own overweight luggage charges, so please be aware of your luggage limits during the program as well as the restrictions for your international flight carrier.

Clothing

We recommend a casual, comfortable wardrobe that you can layer. Smart casual attire is appropriate for evening meals, and often travelers will bring an outfit that can be dressed up a bit for the welcome and farewell dinners (jacket and tie are not required but are preferred for dinner on the last evening). See note above about bringing fewer articles clothing that can easily be mixed and matched.

When walking, you will undoubtedly work up a sweat. It is important that you wear the proper clothing and layers to protect yourself from overheating, experiencing the chills and from sun exposure. When dressing in the morning, we recommend you start out wearing three layers: a base, insulation and shell layer. As you work up a sweat, you can remove layers. When you stop for an extended period of time, you can add layers to avoid getting chilled. We recommend you plan to dress in layers as follows. In addition, past travelers have recommended this website for an easy breakdown of how to dress in layers.

Base layer: short-sleeve, quick-dry shirts OR long-sleeve, quick-dry shirts (for sun protection)

Insulation : light weight fleece; vest

Shell: lightweight waterproof rain gear (pants, jacket and boots)

Footwear

In addition to proper clothing, sturdy, comfortable, well broken-in hiking boots with good tread and some ankle support are a must. If you are planning to purchase new boots, do so NOW and take several long walks between now and departure time to be sure they are comfortable and fit properly. Several of our walks will be up- or downhill and on uneven and rocky trails, where poorly fitted boots can cause blisters and other problems. Goretex™ boots are a good choice as they are lightweight and waterproof.

Socks are equally important as your boots. There are many socks made of fibers that wick moisture away from your feet and are designed with extra cushioning or arch support to keep your feet comfortable throughout a day’s walk. We recommend these socks over those made of 100% cotton or wool. We also recommend that you bring lots of socks. Heavy socks may not dry for several days, especially if they are made of 100% cotton or wool.

Special Equipment

• comfortable, broken-in, waterproof, lightweight hiking boots

• rain gear (waterproof jacket and pants). Note that it is helpful to treat your rain gear to ensure it is waterproof for the trip.

• refillable water bottle or bladder

• waterproof backpack or cover for backpack

• drybag or plastic bags to keep items in your backpack dry

• a small scrub brush to clean your boots

• walking sticks can be helpful on uneven terrain and especially on steep descents

• lightweight scarf, bandana or buff (to protect your neck from the sun or wipe sweat from your brow)

• long-sleeve, lightweight shirts (for sun protection)

• collapsible umbrella

• day pack or backpack large enough to hold a snack, water, sunscreen, walking stick(s), camera, rain gear and jacket, and whatever else you might need during the day. It can also serve as your carry-on.

• personal supply of toiletries, medications & first aid supplies

Often restroom facilities are not available along the trail and it can be necessary to make use of a bush, tree, rock or whatever else the terrain might provide. As we have a “leave no trace” philosophy, we encourage you to bring bags to remove your paper waste after your visits to “the woods.”

For your peace of mind, because people can use a self-test (sometimes referred to as home test) that meets the following criteria, it is suggested you bring such a test with you, should you need it:

• The test must be a SARS-CoV-2 viral test (nucleic acid amplification test [NAAT] or antigen test) with Emergency Use Authorization (EUA) from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) OR the relevant national authority where the test is administered.

• The testing procedure must include a telehealth service affiliated with the manufacturer of the test that provides real-time supervision remotely through an audio and video connection. Some FDA-authorized self-tests that include a telehealth service may require a prescription.

• The telehealth provider must confirm your identity, observe the sample collection and testing procedures, confirm the test result, and issue a report that meets the requirements of CDC’s Order.

• Airlines and other aircraft operators must be able to review and confirm your identity and the test result details. You must also be able to present the documentation of test results to U.S. officials at the port of entry and local/state health departments, if requested.

Examples of providers include Azova, BinaxNow Covid, Ellume COVID-19 Home Test with Azova (available through pharmacies), Cue COVID-19 Test for Home or OTC Use. Afar have reviewed some of these: https://www.afar.com/magazine/cdc-approves-at-home-covid-tests-for-international-travel

Please review the test kit instructions prior to departing home to make sure you have the correct web link to activate the kit and also have downloaded an app, if required, to receive your test results.

Personal Protective Equipment

You should pack an ample supply of masks to last you throughout the program, bearing in mind it may not be possible to launder them along the way. The CDC offers a guide to masks, which you can access on their website, here. We also recommend you pack a personal supply of liquid hand sanitizer and/or sanitizing wipes.

Should your time in Europe be extended

additional supply of prescriptions (approx. 2 weeks worth)

materials to entertain you: books, movies, sudoku, crossword puzzles etc.

laptop or iPad to be able to access virtual meetings

a small supply of your favorite snacks/treats

Internet

Most of our hotels have a business center or wi-fi connections in the. Rates and connection speed will vary.

Cell Phones

Contact your cell phone provider to find out how you can use your cell phone abroad. Charges will vary depending on the destination and your existing plan. Please note that many U.S. cell phone plans do not include international roaming, and charges can be quite high.

Adapter

You will need an adapter plug that looks like this to charge any of your electrical devices. If you travel frequently, a universal adapter will cover you on this trip as well as your future travels.

Converter

Most laptop computers, cell phones, and digital camera battery chargers can operate on a range of currents from 110-240 volts, in which case a converter is not necessary since the current in Spain and France is 230 volts, 50 cycles.