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Here are some of the most frequently asked questions we receive. If you have a question that is not answered here, please feel free to contact us.

Do you have a printed brochure?
In order to lessen our impact on the environment, we do not provide paper catalogues or brochures. Please fill out our Request A Brochure form and we would be pleased to email you a copy of our current brochure. You will require the Acrobat Reader to view our brochure.  If you don't have the Acrobat Reader you can download it free by clicking here.   In the event you still have questions, feel free to contact us.

Which trip or adventure should I choose?
Choosing a trip is a great opportunity, and a lot of fun. Sit down with a map and let your imagination run wild. How long do you want to be away? Where do you want to go? The Canadian Rockies, Quebec, the Caribbean, Europe, Brazil, or China? What do you want to do? Heli-hiking, rock climbing, backpacking, canyoneering, canoeing, sea kayaking, snorkelling and scuba diving, cultural and historic tours, city exploration, or all of the above. Let your enthusiasm take control. If you want to extend your journey, certain trips can be combined together to create an adventure that lasts up to seven weeks. Participants who combine trips will receive a discount and we will work with you regarding accommodations for the days between trips.

Do I need any previous experience?
No, most of our participants come with little or no experience in the activities we offer. We teach all the required skills needed to participate. You will receive the training and gain the confidence required for a challenging and rewarding experience. Our excursions are for anyone who can hike while carrying a backpack. You do not have to be a great "athlete" to enjoy our programs, just an enthusiastic one.

What is expected from me as a participant?
Our success is based on your success and it is important to ensure the trip chosen is the right fit for you. If you are looking for a 5-star resort vacation or a fully catered tour then an Adventure Teen Travel tour is not for you. For those persons who choose to be travelers, not just tourists, their efforts are rewarded with a broadened outlook on the world and experiences that can be enriching and life changing. Enthusiastic participation, fun and friendship are the foundation to a great trip. A positive attitude, a willingness to try new things and assuming ownership of an exciting adventure are equally important. Adventure travel, by nature, is a flexible style of travel and an open mind will be key to dealing with the spontaneity of the opportunities, situations and conditions you may encounter. You will be assigned responsibilities each day and these may include cooking, cleaning up, grocery shopping and/or planning activities and you need to be willing and ready to undertake these tasks to the best of your ability. Of course, our leadership team will be there to oversee and assist with their primary focus being on ensuring each group enjoys their travels in a safe, comfortable and fun way. Our leaders will also be looking to hear your ideas and input as active members of the group throughout the trip, but he or she will make the final decision on all matters and it is essential that everyone respect the authority of the tour leaders. When it comes down to it, a healthy measure of enthusiasm, common sense and respect are all that we expect.

May I come with friends?
It is comforting to bring someone along with whom to share a great time, although most participants come alone. It is easy and fun to make new friends quickly on our adventures, and we encourage you to come prepared to do so. In order to increase everyone's involvement, we like to limit enrolment to three friends per trip.  However, if you have a large group we can accommodate you on a separate tour. Please see the question below.

Do you take group bookings?
Of course! If you have a class, sports team, scout group, or just enough family or friends to fill a tour (depends on the tours, but typically 6 to 10 minimum) we can work with you to arrange a specific program for your group. Special pricing will apply and some customization may be available. Please contact us for more information.

What is included in the tour price?
All Adventure Teen Travel tours are specifically designed to offer you a convenient travel experience so that the teen travelers do not have to bring with them large sums of money to pay for optional meals or activities. Essentially everything you will need for your adventure is included in the listed tour price: our certified leaders at a maximum ratio of 1 to 9, all daily meals, accommodations, transportation during the trip, activities, site entries, etc. All you need to do is arrange your flight to/from the listed tour start/end location, arrange for your own insurance and bring a small amount of money (~60 Euro / ~US $70 / CAD $80 per week) to pay for personal items like souvenirs, phone calls home or drinks/snacks between meals. With an Adventure Teen Travel tour, once you arrive at the starting point you are all set to go for your adventure of a lifetime!

Are flights included in the packages?
Air travel to and from the camps and trips is not included in the package prices and must be arranged separately by each participant. Offering our trips without the flight allows you to shop for the best deals on airfare, use your air mile points or even to find a different mode of transportation.

How can I make my trip last longer?
There are several ways to extend your summer adventure beyond the length of one trip:

Certain trips can be combined together to create an adventure that lasts up to seven weeks. Participants who combine trips will receive a discount and we will work with you regarding accommodations for the days between trips.

Create a family vacation by driving to the trip start. Driving allows you and your family to take as much time as you choose, seeing sights or visiting friends and family along the way.

Can we drive to the trip start?
Driving is an excellent way to get to the trip. Not only do you save money, but also you and your family can create your own adventure by making stops along the way.

What size and ages are the groups?
Adventure Teen Travel organizes a diverse range of trips in our program and we will always ensure our groups stick to the age ranges listed on our website. Also, where possible, we divide trips up into groups of teens in even tighter age brackets (i.e. 15-16 and 17-18). Our more active adventures, like Top of the Rockies - Mount Robson or Northwestern Explorer are geared towards smaller groups of 6-12 people while our tours to Europe, Brazil, China, Quebec and Martinique have larger groups, ranging from 20 up to 36 participants.

In the larger group size tours there is almost always a full range of ages within the specified age bracket offered for the trip, which means you can expect to be able to enjoy your trip with a number of teens around your age. One thing to keep in mind is that due to the nature of our trips, our participants, regardless of age, come with similar mindsets and a desire to experience the spirit of adventure. You may find that you have much in common with people slightly older or younger than yourself.

Learning to live within a small group is both challenging and extremely rewarding. You will return home with improved communication and problem solving skills, increased self-confidence, respect for differences, and most of all, deep and lasting friendships.

Where are the participants from?
Adventure Teen Travel tours involve participants from around the world, with the majority of them being from North America and Europe. Some of our tours have largely English speaking groups, while others, such as of our French-immersion tours, tend to have a larger contingent of teens who speak French or other languages. On these tours, our bilingual guides will work with the whole group as they learn about and discover new places, cultures and languages.

How much gear will I need to bring?
Participants must bring their own backpack and/or duffel bag. Where camping is required, all necessary camping and food preparation equipment is supplied, except for a sleeping bag and pad. A specific gear list for each adventure will be included in the "Preparing for Adventure" packet you will receive in the spring.

How is the food?
Satisfying meals are an integral part of all trips, whether they are prepared by the participants, under the guidance of the leaders, in camp or at the lodgings, or taken at restaurants or picnic lunches along the way. We can generally accommodate vegetarian diets whereas other special dietary needs must be reviewed on a case-by-case basis.

How can we communicate with home?
All participating families will be contacted upon arrival at the tour starting point. In the case of illness, injury or other problems, the family is contacted immediately. Parents also can contact Adventure Teen Travel by email at any time and will be given a separate 24-hour emergency contact number.

During the trip, we make efforts to allow weekly phone calls or email stops where possible. However, we discourage regular contact with friends and family at home as we believe it is contradictory to the spirit of our adventures. Therefore, the general rule on all our trips is that "no news is good news." Cell phones should be left at home.