Trip Preparation
Frequently Asked Questions
We know you will have many questions about our adventures and have tried to answer the most common ones here. However, if you don’t see an answer to your specific question, we would love the opportunity to answer it!
Typical Group
WHAT IS YOUR AVERAGE PARTICIPANT LIKE?
The average age of our participants is 48 years. Most are between the late 20s and 60s, although the range is about 10 to 76. The gender gap is fairly evenly split with slightly more women than men. The majority of our participants come from North America but we get travelers from all over the world. About 40% of participants sign up alone, 40% sign up with a partner, and 20% as a family. Most importantly, however, is this: most people who join us for the first time are nervous about the “group tour” experience but our alumni rate it as one of the best parts of their vacation. You’ll never know until you try.
WHAT IS YOUR MAXIMUM AND AVERAGE GROUP SIZE?
This is a key question in the outdoor tour industry. The truth is, we have done the number crunching and there is no correlation between group size and participant satisfaction on our past tours. Small groups can be fun if everyone bonds and large groups can be fun because they allow you more opportunity to meet new friends. The important thing is to get it right on each tour. Our maximum group size on skating and biking tours (where you have the freedom to go at your own pace) is 24 participants while the maximum on our hiking tours (where we are often on the same trail at the same time) is 16 participants. This is the maximum – our average group size for all tours are below these maximums.
Solo Travelers
WHAT IF I DON’T HAVE ANYONE WHO WILL SIGN UP WITH ME?
Not a problem! 40% of our participants sign up entirely on their own, so you will likely be traveling with others in the same situation. Our guides are experts in making everyone feel at home and a part of the group.
If you are traveling solo, you are never required to pay a single supplement. We will find you a roommate or will give you a free single room if we cannot find one for you. However, if you would like to ensure you have a room to yourself, you can do so by paying the single supplement. Please see each location page for the supplement cost.
Difficulty Level
AM I FIT ENOUGH TO GO ON AN ADVENTURE?
While some of our tours are more challenging than others, most are designed to accommodate participants of ALL ability levels. We have multiple route options of varying distances on most days of our tours, allowing you to choose where you want to fall on the exercise-relax seesaw for that day. Because we also have a support van available to give you a lift when needed, our adventures are suitable for almost all abilities. Please see our Ability Level page for details.
The Value of A Zephyr Adventure
SHOULD I BE CONCERNED ABOUT THE TRIP PRICE?
Price is a legitimate concern on any major purchase like this, and it is an excellent concern! Essentially, our trips are nearly all-inclusive (you can see below what each trip includes and doesn’t include). Two of the biggest “unquantifiable” things you receive when participating in one of our adventures (and frankly, two of the most important ones, and the reasons that we have so many repeat travelers) are:
1.) You simply need to show up. You don’t have to spend time planning, booking, or trying to determine the best places to stay, eat and do your activities. We have spent countless hours doing this for you, so you can just arrive, and have an awesome time.
2.) Spending time with a group of other active people who love to have fun is an experience that most people are simply unable to create on their own. Our guides are experts at creating group fun and those who have never been on a group trip don’t realize how important this aspect can be…until they’ve experienced it.
We believe in providing good value on our tours. Please visit our value page to see why we think our trips are the best deal around!
WHAT IS INCLUDED IN THE TRIP PRICE?
All adventures include double occupancy lodging, dinners, breakfasts, guides, van support, local transportation, Zephyr Adventures activity shirt and a detailed Pre-Departure Packet. Trekking Adventures also include most lunches but one dinner is often on your own. Wine Adventures include some wine tastings and Beer Adventures most beer tastings. Most trips include instruction in the activities on that adventure. You can even learn something from our guides about biking and hiking! Equipment is included for some activities: mountain biking, kayaking or canoeing, horseback riding, and river rafting.
WHAT’S NOT INCLUDED?
Not included in the trip price is transportation to and from the trip location, beverages, lunches, desserts, and personal expenses. Inline skates are never included on our Skating Adventures since it is much better for you to bring your own skates. If you know your size, we suggest you shop online at Inline Warehouse, which has a good selection and excellent service. Bicycles are available for rent on Biking and Skating Adventures.
The Tibet, Peru, Patagonia, and South Africa tours have internal flights that are not included in the trip price but will be purchased by Zephyr and billed to you. Sleeping bags are not included on Trekking Adventures but are available to rent for $75 per trip.
Getting to Your Tour
WHERE AND WHEN DO I MEET FOR EACH ADVENTURE?
You are responsible for getting to and from the trip location and this transportation is not included in the trip price.
Most adventures meet just after lunch on the first day, giving you time to get to the trip location that morning. Some adventures require a full first day and, on those, we meet you in the morning and provide you with suggested hotels where you can stay the night before. We will send you a Pre-Departure Packet with detailed information about your adventure once you register, including arrival and departure information. Call or email us for exact information about a specific location.
Hotels & Restaurants
WHAT ARE THE HOTELS AND MEALS LIKE?
We stay in excellent hotels and prefer local, centrally located inns over chain hotels or luxury retreats isolated from the local culture. We eat in nice restaurants but will pass up a tourist trap for a small cafe in an out-of-the-way street. Giving you a quality, real experience is our goal.
Discounts
DO YOU OFFER ANY DISCOUNTS?
We do offer discounts for groups and children plus a non-instructional participant discount at our Skate Camps. See our Booking Details page for details. Once you travel with us once, you are automatically in our Alumni Club and eligible for further discounts each year.
Travel Insurance
DO YOU RECOMMEND TRAVEL INSURANCE?
Absolutely! We think travel insurance is crucial. Every year we have many people who have to cancel an adventure at the last minute, losing their trip payment and airfare. See our travel insurance page for more information.
Deposit, Cancellation & Privacy Policies
WHAT ARE YOUR DEPOSIT AND CANCELLATION POLICIES?
Please see our Booking Details page.
WHAT IS YOUR PRIVACY POLICY?
If you provide us with information via one of our online forms, we will use that information only to communicate with you. We will not sell or provide your private information to any other parties. Please refer to Zephyr’s Privacy Policy page for more information.
Gift Certificates
CAN I PURCHASE A GIFT CERTIFICATE FOR A FRIEND OR FAMILY MEMBER?
Of course! Please visit our Gift Certificate page.
