Europe

Your passport must meet 2 requirements. It must be:

• less than 10 years old on the day you enter (check the ‘date of issue’)

• valid for at least 3 months after the day you plan to leave (check the ‘expiry date’)

For the latest details on visiting countries within the EU or the European Economic Area (EEA), please check the UK Government website

The information that we provide is for UK passport holders. A passport with 6 months remaining validity at the end of your stay is generally required, and you should have at least 2 blank pages for each country that you visit.

It is your responsibility to ensure that you have the correct travel documents and visas for your holiday. Please ensure that you check for the latest advice before travel. For the most up to date information on entry requirements, please visit the UK Government website.

Europe

Your passport must meet 2 requirements. It must be:

less than 10 years old on the day you enter (check the ‘date of issue’)

valid for at least 3 months after the day you plan to leave (check the ‘expiry date’)

For the latest details on visiting countries within the EU or the European Economic Area (EEA), please check the UK Government website

The information that we provide is for UK passport holders. A passport with 6 months remaining validity at the end of your stay is generally required, and you should have at least 2 blank pages for each country that you visit.

It is your responsibility to ensure that you have the correct travel documents and visas for your holiday. Please ensure that you check for the latest advice before travel. For the most up to date information on entry requirements, please visit the UK Government website.

If you have a severe allergy please inform the KE office before you travel. We will do all we can to help, but we cannot guarantee an allergy free environment on KE trips. You will need to carry your own treatment for the allergy with you, as 'adrenaline auto-injectors' are not carried as standard by KE leaders and staff. You should inform your leader on arrival of your allergy, and let them know where you keep your adrenaline pen.

The currency for part or all of this holiday is the Euro.

This is a moderately-paced walking holiday which includes a fair amount of ascent and descent and it makes a lot of sense to spend some time before coming on any active holiday, getting some additional exercise. The fitter you are the more enjoyable you will find the holiday. While regular hiking is the best preparation, any weekly form of exercise (running, cycling and swimming) is good for developing cardio-vascular fitness. Before setting off we recommend that you make time to fit in a number of 5 – 6 hour walks in the hills.

La Palma boasts a mild and varied climate that makes it an ideal destination year-round. The island's unique topography creates distinct microclimates, ranging from the lush, green north, characterised by temperate weather and frequent rainfall, to the sunnier, drier southern regions, where warm temperatures prevail. Average temperatures typically range from 15°C in winter to around 25°C in summer, making it pleasant for walking. Visitors can enjoy sunny days interspersed with cool breezes, especially at higher altitudes, where the air is fresher and cooler.

As a reputable tour operator, KE supports the British Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office's ‘Travel Aware’ campaign to enable British citizens to prepare for their journeys overseas. The 'Travel Aware' website provides a single, authoritative source of advice for all kinds of travellers and we recommend that before travel, all KE clients visit the official UK Government website at travelaware.campaign.gov.uk and read the FCDO Travel Advice for their chosen destination. North Americans can also check out the U.S. Department of State website: www.travel.state.gov for essential travel advice and tips.

KE treat the safety and security of all clients as the most important aspect of any trip we organise. We would not run any trip that we did not consider reasonably safe.  Should the FCDO advise against travel for any reason, we will contact everyone booked to travel to discuss the situation.  We receive regular updates directly from the FCDO and are in constant touch with our contacts on the ground.  If you have any questions about government travel advice, please call our office.

KE do not encourage the use of single use plastic items. We are ensuring that our agents all over the world are working together to reduce the problem and educate those around them. We are leading by example in our KE office by reducing our plastic use.

• Bananas about La Palma - David M. Addison

• Canary Islands - Lonely Planet

• Sandwiches in the Sun: The Extrodinary Truth about Life on a Spanish Island - Chris Herman

It is an essential condition of joining a holiday with KE Adventure Travel that you have a valid travel insurance policy to cover the cost of medical treatment and to protect the value of your holiday in the event of cancellation.  When taking out insurance please ensure the policy you choose covers you for the activities and altitude included in your itinerary.

For appropriate insurance cover we recommend Campbell Irvine Direct.  Please go to our Travel Insurance page for further information and to get a quote.

The following checklist should help you with your packing.  As a general rule, you should always try to keep the weight of your equipment to a minimum. Please be aware that you will be required to carry your bag to your room which in some cases may involve flights of stairs.  Although this is the Canary Islands it can be quite chilly in the evening so it's a good idea to bring some warm clothing.

You should bring the following items:

• Hiking boots (these should be sturdy with good tread on the sole and with ankle support)

• Socks

• Walking trousers

• Lightweight waterproof overtrousers

• Underwear

• T-shirts and/or casual shirts

• A fleece jacket or similar

• Waterproof jacket

• Lightweight thermal gloves

• Warm hat

• Sunhat

• Swimwear

• Eyewear - sunglasses

• Daypack c. 30 - 35 litres

• Sun protection (including for lips)

• Water bottles 1 Litre (x2) (we encourage re-filling water bottles rather than single-use plastic)

• Water purification tablets

• Washbag and toiletries

• Antibacterial handwash

• Basic First Aid Kit including: Antiseptic cream, throat lozenges, diarrhoea treatment (Imodium), painkillers, plasters (band-aids) and blister treatment, insect repellent, and re-hydration salts (Dioralite).

The following items are optional:

• Trekking poles (highly recommended)

• Trainers or sandals

• Shorts

• Camera and batteries

• Penknife (for picnic lunches)

• Reusable cloth bag for shopping (to avoid plastic bags)

Many of the equipment items listed above are available from Cotswold Outdoor - our 'Official Recommended Outdoor Retailer'. When you book a holiday with KE you will receive a 12.5% discount with Cotswold Outdoor, Snow+Rock and Runners Need. The discount code can be downloaded from your MyKE account and you can use this code at the checkout, either in store or online.