We were all affected by the 9-11 terrorist attacks on the US. The safety and comfort of our Tour Guests is our highest priority. We travel in non-descript tour buses with local license plates. Although some Alpventures® Tours visit major European cities, we keep our groups small and usually stay off the beaten path. Alpventures® also offers its travelers Travel Insurance, so you can enjoy your tour worry-free and know that any lost or delayed luggage, personal injury or even trip cancellation will be covered. Click here to view our Tour Terms & Agreement for details on Alpventures® Cancellation Policy.
| 2. What makes your tours so special? How are they different than any other? |
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Unlike many large Tour Operators, we do not concentrate on volume tourists. On the contrary, we are bringing the personal touch and service you deserve back to the business. We keep our groups small; an absolute maximum of 25 people, so that you can make new friends, get much more out of the tour, and save time, rather than traveling with a large group. Alpventures® is also Owner-Operated; so you get responses to your inquiries right away, if not on the spot. When you call us, we can answer all your questions about any aspect of the tour. Read our past Client Testimonials.
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| 3. How much do the tours cost, what do they include, and how can I pay? |
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Alpventures® Tours include different features so they are priced differently. Tariffs, airfares and foreign exchange rates are also subject to change, so prices are only fixed at the time of your tour booking. Generally, the tours run from $1850 - $2350 for an 8-10 day tour. The prices depend on the type of tour, length of tour, features included in the tour and time of the year. Keep in mind the prices we quote generally include First-Class accommodations in 3- and 4-Star hotels, daily breakfasts and most dinners, deluxe Motor Coach transportation, entertainment, all entrance fees, sightseeing and guiding services. All you need is lunch money and extra money for souvenirs. Some tours are priced with round trip airfare from a gateway city. We consistently get very reasonable airfares from major airports throughout the US. All major Credit Cards and checks are accepted for the initial Tour Deposit payment. Final payment must be paid by Cashier's Check, or official Bank Check (or Money Order). For more information on booking Tours, click here or visit our Tour Booking Center.
| 4. How about flight information? Can I go early and meet the tour, or stay later? |
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Most Alpventures® Tours are priced without airfare. This is because for one, we have participants from all over the country, originating in many different cities. Secondly, some of our guests like to use frequent flyer miles or they want to go earlier than the group and see more of a certain place or area. We can arrange your flights for you; either along with the group or a deviation such as a few days earlier to do more sightseeing and get over the jetlag. We can also arrange special packages for you including airport transfers, sightseeing tours and hotel accommodations. If we can’t be there ourselves, we have excellent vendors to help pick you up and show you around.
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| 5. Where do the tours start and finish? |
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Most Alpventures® Tours start at your arrival airport in Europe. For instance, on our D-Day & Battle of the Bulge Tour, we pick you up at the Paris Airport. The tour does not necessarily finish at the same airport. The above-mentioned tour finishes at Frankfurt, or Munich, depending on whether you continue on Part 2 of the Tour, Secrets of the Third Reich. We give you all the details well in advance; so you can plan accordingly and we make sure to allow you plenty of time for check-in with the airlines due to heightened security. Prior to your tour departure, we send you an Alpventures® Travel Packet, with lots of additional information, maps and helpful pre-trip materials to better prepare you for your tour.
| 6. How do I book an Alpventures® Tour? What’s the process? |
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Booking a Tour just takes a few clicks of the mouse; or, is as easy as filling out a form and writing a check for the tour deposit. Please carefully read our Tour Reservation Terms and Agreement. You can book our Tours online with a credit card; or complete our online Tour Booking Form and send your Tour Deposit ($200 per Person, per Tour) to our office in Portland, Oregon. The tour deposit payment guarantees your reservation on the Tour. Generally, deposits are required at least 4 months prior to tour departure; however, our tours do sell out, so we recommend you book early. In most cases you will receive a discount for booking early as well. Final tour payment is generally required at least 6 weeks prior to tour departure. See each tour for details. You will receive a confirmation of your tour reservation along with a receipt for your deposit. Once we have received your final tour payment, we’ll send your Alpventures® Travel Packet with all the details you’ll need on meeting the group, special hotline numbers, etc. All major Credit Cards and checks are accepted for the initial Tour Deposit payment. Final payment must be paid by Cashier's Check, or official Bank Check (or Money Order). For more information on booking our Tours, click here or visit our Tour Booking Center. Click here to open tour reservation form.
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| 7. How much history do we get on the World War II Tours? |
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All Alpventures® Tours are packed with interesting, accurate and current historical information. They are the result of years of research at national archives (both US and abroad), local institutions and eyewitness accounts and interviews. Alpventures® Owner and Tour Director lived and worked as a local Tour Guide in Europe. He not only knows the sites; but the people. In some cases your tour will include sites not visited by other Tour Operators. Although we concentrate on particular areas and sites, the tours are not limited to WWII history. Local history of the major cities and country villages is also included. Our WWII Tours are enjoyable for non-history buffs, amateur historians and educators alike.
| 8. What is paragliding? How is it different from hang gliding or parasailing? |
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 The sport of paragliding started in France in the late 1970´s. The flying apparatus is a soft material, normally reinforced nylon. The "wing" is made up of cells, which are open at the front, and sewn together at the back, enabling it to "inflate" as it is launched. It is very different from parasailing in that parasailers are "towed" above water from behind a boat. Paragliding is similar to hang gliding since it is the closest man can come to having wings. Tandem flights are when a "passenger" is connected with a harness to the glider and pilot. The pilot maneuvers the glider while the passenger sits back and enjoys the ride.
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| 9. How about taking off and landing? How involved are they? |
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Weather plays a crucial role in this sport. We will simply not fly on days where the weather is not ideal. That's why the itinerary for the tour must be flexible. We fly on the best day of the week, whenever that day may be. In ideal conditions, launching a glider (for the passenger) consists of running four or five paces down a gradual incline. The pilot does the rest. Most people think you have to jump off a cliff. Not true. To land, under the same conditions, the passenger just needs to keep the feet stretched apart, and run a few steps when the pilot touches down. This is a very soft landing under normal conditions.
| 10. Are the Alpine Adventure Tours dangerous? How well in shape must I be to go? |
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Your safety is our main concern. Our safety briefings and orientations are fun, exciting and most of all, informative. Our tandem paragliding pilots, rafting guides and instructors are all well-trained, government licensed and competent professionals. The minimum age for participation on the Alpine Adventure Tours is 16 years old and there is no maximum age to participate. We do, however, request that only individuals in good health apply. You must be able to walk long distances at a slow pace, without getting winded. Our ridge hike is fairly flat, with very few uphill sections.
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| 11. Why go to Europe for adventure sports? Can’t I do them here in the US cheaper? |
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You can go rafting and hiking in the United States, and if you have the time and money, you can learn how to fly a hang glider. Some areas have paragliding clubs; however paragliding is very new here. Learning to fly takes a great deal of time, study and can be very expensive. With Alpventures® Alpine Adventure Tours, you’re in the air above the majestic Alps after about two hours of orientation. The pilot does everything. In addition, for about the same price or even cheaper, why not spend a week having a blast in the most beautiful part of Europe? We also include sightseeing and history in all areas.
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