FAQs

• How long have you been in business?
• What kinds of trips are offered?
• How do I know what each trip is like?
• Who goes on REI Adventures trips?
• What is your maximum group size?
• What if I'm traveling alone?
• Can I be comfortable doing adventure travel?
• Do you take children on your trips?
• Do you offer private departures for small groups?
• Who are your guides?
• What do I need to bring?
• What's the food like?
• How are your trips rated? What does "moderate" mean?
• Do I have to be an REI member to go on your trips?
• Can I give a trip as a gift?
• Do REI Adventures trips earn a dividend?
• Do REI Adventures trips earn a rebate?
• What is Travelex?

How long have you been in business?

REI has been offering the finest in outdoor gear since 1938. In that same spirit, REI Adventures has been leading the way down wilderness paths and cultural back roads to the most intriguing destinations in the world since 1987.

What kinds of trips are offered?

We have adventures that range from weekend getaways to three-week treks. We explore the world on foot, by kayak, canoe or raft, bicycle, safari, 4-wheel drive, cruise ship or a combination of these vehicles! Novices are welcome. We can teach you to kayak or to safely summit a mountain.

How do I know what each trip is like?

This website provides full details of each trip. If you still have questions, call us at 1-800-622-2236 or e-mail us at travel@rei.com. We would be happy to discuss our adventure trips with you!

Who goes on REI Adventures trips?

Our travelers love the outdoors and want a new experience in a part of the world they have been wanting to visit. People's ages vary by trip depending upon a number of factors, including the activity level, duration and price. Our trips usually have a good mix of men and women, ranging in age from 25 to 65+. People join us from all over the world; your traveling companions are just like the people you meet at an REI store.

What is your maximum group size?

We keep our groups small-usually 16 participants or fewer. Our minimum is typically 4, but varies by trip.

What if I'm traveling alone?

Wonderful! About half of our trip participants are individuals traveling alone. We also have people traveling with a friend, a spouse, or their entire family! We get single men as well as single women traveling with REI Adventures. It is a fun, convenient way to experience a new part of the world.

(Note: Prices are based on double occupancy. If you are traveling alone and specifically request single accommodations, you will be asked to pay the full single supplement. If you wish to share accommodations, we will assign a roommate if one is available. If a roommate cannot be found, you will be asked to pay a reduced single fee, which is usually one-half of the full single supplement. Please be advised the number of single rooms available on most departures is limited.

Can I be comfortable doing adventure travel?

Adventure travel and physical comfort can go hand-in-hand. Join us for a hike through the Italian countryside and you will sleep in charming inns and dine in fine restaurants. If you prefer mountaineering, these amenities will, of course, be unavailable. But our camping trip arrangements are exceptional and comfortable. For example, our African safari trips provide spacious sleeping tents, a dining tent and a shower tent. Hot water is available, and a full camp staff takes care of all the chores!

Do you take children on your trips?

Some REI Adventures trips can accommodate young people who are accompanied and supervised by a legal guardian, and who can handle the physical and emotional requirements of the trip. Our REI Adventures staff can discuss whether a trip is suitable for your child. See our family trips for adventures offered for participants of all ages.

Do you offer private departures for small groups?

Yes. We offer private departures for all kinds of groups from couples, families and friends to clubs and organizations. See our private departures page for details.

Who are your guides?

Take a look at our guides page on our site! Our guides are skilled in their respective fields (mountain climbing, sea kayaking, cycle touring, etc.). REI Adventures finds knowledgeable local experts to lead our trips. We also form business partnerships with local companies around the world to provide expert leaders, transportation, hotels, and other services. These men and women know their homeland intimately, and are enthusiastic and accommodating. They "show you the ropes" and encourage you every step of the way!

What do I need to bring?

Usually all you need to bring is your personal gear. A detailed clothing and equipment list for each trip is provided on our website and is also mailed to each participant in their trip packet. For the majority of our trips, we provide the rest: tents, rafting gear, sea kayaks, commissary and camping gear, and more.

What's the food like?

On hotel- and inn-based trips we dine in local restaurants and have the pleasure of experiencing a variety of local cuisine. We eat equally well on our camping trips, which feature an abundance of fresh, delicious food. On our high-altitude climbing trips we use a combination of fresh and freeze-dried food. All water used for cooking and drinking is purified by filter or it is boiled. Of course, we can accommodate special dietary requests (vegetarian, food allergies, etc.) For a list of which meals are included on your trip, please refer to the specific trip itinerary.

How are your trips rated? What does "moderate" mean?

We have active trips for every skill level, novice to expert. These guidelines will help you select the level of adventure that's right for you.

• (1) Relaxed: Adventure travel at its most relaxed pace.
• Activity: 1-3 hours most days
• Distances: walk less than 3 miles most days
• Surfaces: flat terrain
• Elevation change: little to none
• Altitude: less than 3,000 ft

• (2) Easy Active: Great for newcomers to active travel.
• Activity: 2-5 hours most days
• Distances: Hike up to 6 miles, cycle 10-30 miles most days
• Surfaces: flat or rolling terrain with some possible steeps
• Elevation change: up to 2,000 ft/day
• Altitude: up to 6,000 ft

• (3) Moderate: For outdoor novices and above.
• Activity: 4-6 hours most days
• Distances: Hike up to 10 miles most days, cycle 20-40 miles most days
• Surfaces: rolling or mountainous terrain with some steep ascents/descents and uneven trails
• Elevation change: up to 3,000 ft/day
• Altitude: up to 10,000 ft

• (3) (4) Moderate Plus:
• Trips rated as Moderate Plus [3-4] are recommended for travelers seeking both moderate [3] and vigorous [4] activity levels. Please refer to daily trip itineraries for specifics.

• (4) Vigorous: Recommended for fit travelers with basic skills
• Activity: 5-8 hours most days
• Distances: Hike up to 12 miles most days, cycle 30-50 miles most days
• Surfaces: mountainous, exposed terrain with steep ascents/descents and uneven trails
• Elevation change: up to 4,000 ft/day
• Altitude: up to 14,000 ft.
• Experience and a doctor's release may be required

• (5) Strenuous: Designed for very fit travelers.
• Activity: 10+ hours/day
• Distances: Hike 12 or more miles most days, cycle 50 or more miles most days
• Surfaces: remote, mountainous, exposed terrain with steep ascents/descents, uneven trails with loose features.
• Elevation change: up to 4,000 ft/day
• Altitude: may well exceed 14,000 ft
• Experience and a doctor's release are required

Do I have to be an REI member to go on your trips?

Although you do not need to be an REI member to go on an REI Adventures trip, REI members do indeed get a substantial discount. As an REI member, you are also entitled to apply for an REI Visa card. If you pay for your trip with the REI Visa, you can earn a 5% rebate on the cost of the trip.

Can I give a trip as a gift?

You can purchase a specific trip and give it as a gift, or you can purchase an REI Gift Card which can be applied to any of our trips. REI Adventures' Gift Registry can be used for any occasion-a wedding present, honeymoon trip, graduation gift, birthday or any other celebration. Adventure travel is a unique and exciting gift, and we look forward to sending you (or someone you know) on a wonderful trip. For more information on our Gift Registry, please call us.

Do REI Adventures trips earn a dividend?

No. REI Adventures trips are not included in the member refund portion of the REI dividend. However, the special REI member pricing discount is approximately equal to the amount which would be received as a dividend.

Do REI Adventures trips earn a rebate?

Yes. REI Adventures trips are included in the new 5% REI Visa rebate program introduced on May 1, 2007. REI members will earn a 5% rebate on any REI Adventures invoiced trip payments paid for with the REI Visa card.

What is Travelex?

Travelex is an insurance company specializing in travel insurance. For unforeseen circumstances that may arise, we strongly recommend the purchase of a travel protection plan. Travelex offers Trip Cost Cancellation and Interruption Insurance. This pays for loss due to covered unforeseen circumstances or death, injury, or illness of you or a family member. Travelex also covers emergency medical transportation and medical expenses. REI Adventures recommends that you purchase this insurance. We include a brochure with each itinerary we mail.

• How do I sign up for a trip?
• Can I use my REI dividend to help pay for my trip?
• Do I receive any trip preparation materials?
• Do I need a visa?
• What if I have to cancel?
• What about transferring trips?
• Should I purchase trip cancellation insurance?
• What if REI Adventures cancels my trip?
• What if there are fewer than the required number of participants?
• What about refunds?
• What about air travel? Is airfare included in the trip price?
• What are my responsibilities/obligations as a trip member?
• Responsibilities of trip participation

How do I sign up for a trip?

Reserving a trip is easy! You can sign up online or call us at 1-800-622-2236. Or if you prefer, mail in a completed application and deposit of $400 for each person. If you are signing up within 60 days of the trip's departure, payment in full is required. However, we recommend that you sign up as early as possible! Our group sizes are small, so they fill up rapidly. Trips frequently sell out months in advance. The trip deposit is fully refundable up until 90 days before departure, so there is no risk in reserving your space early, with a few exceptions. (Some trips may require a special deposit/payment policy, and this will be noted on the itinerary.)

Most trips require final payment 2 months before departure (some trips require final payment prior to that time; if so, it will be noted on the trip itinerary.)

Weekend trips require final payment at the time of signup.

All prices quoted are in U.S. dollars and are subject to change. All payments must be made in U.S. dollars. We accept Visa®, Mastercard®, American Express® and Discover® bankcards for trip payment, as well as personal checks, REI dividends and REI gift cards.

Our trips fill up well in advance, so we advise signing up as soon as possible. We accept reservations for most trips until 30 days before departure, provided that space is available. For most Weekend Getaways we accept reservations up until 10 days before departure.

Can I use my REI dividend to help pay for my trip?

Yes. You can apply your REI dividend towards the purchase of a trip. Note: trips do not earn REI dividends but are specially priced for REI members.

Do I receive any trip preparation materials?

To help you prepare for your trip, REI Adventures sends you additional trip-specific information as outlined below:

Trip Confirmation Packet: This includes a detailed land itinerary, application forms including liability release and health forms, pre-departure information, medical bulletin, immunization recommendations, gear list, payment invoice, travel insurance application and other travel hints. This packet is sent on the day after we receive your reservation.

Final Bulletin Packet: This includes last-minute trip information, air tickets if purchased through REI Adventures, baggage tags, trip roster, rendezvous instructions, emergency numbers and an REI Adventures t-shirt. This packet is sent approximately 3 weeks prior to your scheduled departure.

Weekend Getaways Packet: Weekend trip participants receive one trip packet only. This includes a detailed land itinerary, application forms including liability release and health forms, pre-departure information, medical bulletin, gear list, baggage tag, payment invoice, travel insurance application and other travel hints.

Do I need a visa?

All U.S. citizens traveling to other countries are required to have a valid passport.

Many of our trips take place in countries in which U.S. citizens also require a travel visa. Visa information will be included in your pre-departure packet if your trip requires that you purchase a visa. For further information, applications and to purchase a travel visa, please see the Zierer Visa Services/REI Adventures Visa Page.

What if I have to cancel?

If you decide to cancel your trip, the following fees apply and are due to REI Adventures at the time (prior to departure) we receive written notice of your cancellation.

• 91 or more days
• 61 to 90 days
• 31 to 60 days
• 0 to 30 days

• $0
• $400.00
• 50% of trip cost
• 100% of trip cost

For our Weekend Getaways, the following fees apply and are due to REI Adventures at the time (prior to departure) we receive written notice of your cancellation.

• 30 or more days
• 15 to 29 days
• 0 to 14 days

• $0
• 50% of trip cost
• 100% of trip cost

Some trips have specific cancellation fees which are noted on the trip itinerary. Please see specific trip itineraries for details.

What about transferring trips?

For transfers made 90 days or less before departure, you must pay REI Adventures the cancellation fees as outlined above. There is no fee for transferring trips up to 90 days prior to departure.

Weekend Getaways: For transfers made 29 days or less before departure, you must pay REI Adventures the cancellation fees as outlined above.

To protect yourself, we recommend that you purchase trip cancellation insurance (see below).

Some trips have specific transfer fees which are noted on the trip itinerary. Please see specific trip itineraries for details.

Should I purchase trip cancellation insurance?

Should you have to cancel your trip because of illness, injury or death of yourself or an immediate family member, this insurance protects all your deposits and payments for both air and land cost. We will mail you the necessary forms in your trip packet. If you purchase it at the time of your initial reservation, you will also be covered for pre-existing conditions. (Certain restrictions apply.) We strongly recommend the purchase of travel insurance.

What if REI Adventures cancels my trip?

REI Adventures reserves the right to cancel all or a portion of a trip for force majeure or any other circumstances beyond our control, and, in the event of such cancellation, full or partial refunds, if any, will be at REI's sole discretion. We also reserve the right to cancel any trip if signups are inadequate to make the trip economically feasible for us to operate, and in this event we give a full refund of the trip price. However, REI Adventures is not responsible for additional expenses incurred by you in preparing for the trip (e.g., non-refundable air tickets, visa fees if applicable, gear or medical expenses).

What if there are fewer than the required number of participants?

Each trip requires a minimum number of participants for departure. If we sign up enough participants to run a trip, but unexpected cancellations drop the number of participants below the required minimum, we will run the trip at an additional charge of $300 per person. If additional participants join and the required number of participants is re-attained, the surcharge will be refunded.

What about refunds?

REI Adventures does not give any refunds for unused hotel rooms, meals, sightseeing trips or trek arrangements. Trip price is quoted as a package; credits are not given for services not used.

What about air travel? Is airfare included in the trip price?

Our prices are land costs only. Airfare is additional.

Booking Your Air Travel: REI Adventures has a full-service, specialized staff for handling ticketing and reservations for Latin America, Asia, Africa and the South Pacific. Our staff is experienced in scheduling air travel to the most remote and obscure destinations.

You may purchase your air tickets with most major credit cards. All airfares quoted are subject to change until ticketed. Contact REI Adventures for current information.

Airfare Advisory: It is always possible that your flights may be delayed or canceled because of unforeseen circumstances. Please note that most airline tickets are completely nonrefundable and nontransferable. Some airlines have adopted a "use it or lose it" policy. We encourage all of our travelers to include the cost of their airline tickets when purchasing travel insurance. Please call us if you have any questions regarding airfare.

Baggage Restrictions: For travel on most airlines, you may carry on one bag and one personal item such as a purse, briefcase or laptop computer. Regulations vary depending on airline and destination (contact airline for specifics). Most airlines require that a carry-on item travel as checked baggage if the item cannot be safely stowed on a particular flight.

Security checkpoints are in place at all airports. Allow ample time for luggage checks. We recommend not packing prohibited items, leaving gifts unwrapped, putting all undeveloped film and cameras with undeveloped film in your carry-on bag, and placing identification tags in and on all of your baggage.

Airline Clause: Airlines disclaim responsibility for any act, omission or event that occurs when passengers are not on board their planes or conveyance. The passage contract in use by the airlines concerned, when issued, constitutes the sole contract between the airlines and purchasers of these tours and/or passengers. Such conveyance, etc., is subject to the laws of the countries involved. Please see your airline passage contract for additional terms and conditions.

What are my responsibilities/obligations as a trip member?

Medical Considerations: If you have any medical or psychological conditions, it's very important you let us know well before departure so that we can make extra arrangements if necessary. Trip leaders have the right to disqualify anyone at any time during the trip if they feel the trip member is mentally or physically incapable of continuing and/or if a trip member's continued participation jeopardizes the group's or his/her own safety. Under these circumstances refunds are not given.

REI Adventures is not a medical facility and therefore has no responsibility regarding medical advice, medications or inoculations that you or your doctor deem necessary for your safe participation.

Hospital facilities for serious problems are often unavailable, and evacuation can be prolonged, difficult and expensive. REI Adventures assumes no liability regarding provision of medical care. By signing the Liability Release, Assumption of Risk Agreement and the Health Form, you agree to pay for emergency evacuation and emergency medical care.

As a trip member, you receive our medical bulletin and a Health Form which must be completed and returned to us. A doctor's release is required on the Health Form if the trip is rated Strenuous. Once you have been confirmed on a trip, there are no refunds if your doctor does not approve your participation by signing the Health Form.

Responsibilities of trip participation:

By participating in an REI Adventures trip, you assume certain obligations to REI Adventures and the other trip members. It is your responsibility to:

• Understand the conditions implied in the Activity Level rating of your selected trip.
• Select a trip that is appropriate for your interests and abilities.
• Understand the risks associated with the activities you plan to take part in while on your trip and behave in such a manner as to minimize risk to yourself and others.
• Prepare for the trip by familiarizing yourself with the trip itinerary and trip preparation materials sent by REI Adventures.
• Bring appropriate gear and clothing as advised by REI Adventures.
• Obtain all necessary visas.
• Follow considerate standards of personal hygiene in order to reduce risk of contracting diseases.
• Follow considerate social behavior with other trip participants and respect their habits.
• Act in an appropriate and courteous manner befitting the customs of countries you visit.
• Complete the trip itinerary as scheduled (or as adjusted by your trip leader as necessary).
• Respect the countries we visit by using environmentally safe products, staying on established routes of travel and not littering.

REI Adventures reserves the right to decline to accept or retain any person as a tour participant should such person's behavior, health or mental condition impede the operation of the trip.

OUR LEGAL LIMITATIONS-PLEASE READ CAREFULLY
REI Adventures may contract with independent contractors to provide transportation, guide services and/or all other related travel services. We assume no responsibility, however caused, for injury, loss or damage to person or property in connection with any service provided by an independent contractor or resulting directly from the following: - acts of God - detention - annoyance - terrorism - thefts - pilferage - force majeure - civil disturbances - government restrictions or regulations - strikes - delays and expenses arising from quarantine - failure of any means of conveyance to arrive or depart as scheduled - discrepancies or change in transit or hotel services over which we have no control.

We reserve the right to make reasonable changes in the itinerary where deemed necessary or advisable for the comfort and well-being of trip members.

By advancing payment to REI Adventures, the payee thereby agrees to be bound by the above terms and conditions.

Enjoy the benefits of REI membership:

You don't have to be an REI member to go on an REI Adventures trip, but REI members enjoy many benefits, including a yearly member refund, discounts on rental gear and special pricing on REI Adventures trips. To learn more about the advantages of REI membership and to join REI, see our membership page or call 1-800-426-4840.

If you have any more questions, contact us.