Any Questions? Speak to someone with extensive knowledge of our walks and destinations.
Call 01799 513331 or enquire here or use the messenger service – bottom right.
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Hillwalking in Tuscany
Centre-based walking breaks in Spring & Autumn
Leisurely & Intermediate
Join Walks or Self-guide
Spring & Autumn
Gorgeous landscapes, medieval villages, exquisite food & wine
This is a 7 night holiday. Choose day to day whether to join a longer rambling hike or a shorter, more leisurely walk. In the Val d’Orcia – a UNESCO World Heritage treasure – Collett’s has found you the best hillwalking in Tuscany and accommodation to match. Venture into iconic Tuscan landscapes amidst rolling hills, cypress trees, vineyards and olive groves. Pass through idyllic hilltop villages steeped in medieval art and architecture.
Agriturismo Il Rigo is our amazing base here, a working farm comprised of 2 large and beautifully converted country houses. Close to numerous gorgeous towns and villages, this place is perfect for exploring one of Tuscany’s most prized jewels, the Val d’Orcia. Inside and out, it overflows with charm – a classic dreamy gem. Owned by an award-winning Italian cook, the food here will make every evening special. And, if you like your wine, book now!
The holiday at a glance...
Dates
Saturday to Saturday
Saturday to Saturday
| Autumn 2021 25 Sep – 1 Oct 1 – 8 October 8 – 15 October 15 – 22 October 22 – 29 October |
Spring 2022 |
Two Walks Daily:
Except Wednesdays
Except Wednesdays
An Easier Moderate Walk
A Rambling Moderate & Longer Hike
Self Guiding?
Yes! If you prefer to self-guide – every day or just occasionally – we have everything you need for up to 20 local walks from easy to moderate long – plus lots of information on local places of interest in a region drenched in medieval towns, art and architecture.
Browse our Ideas & Info Files and borrow ‘Route Laminates’ for the itineraries that take your fancy. Also, you can chat daily with our hosts and glean proposals. If you fancy self-guiding and sightseeing extensively, think about having a car during your stay.
Cookery Classes:
Something special for your day off?
See Itinerary tab at the top of this page.
What's Included:
The Walks – optional participation in our organised walks. Collett’s is all about memorable walks of your chosen grade.
Self-guiding – everything you need to self-guide on 20 local walks; plus lots of information on local places of interest.
Accommodation – Bed, Breakfast & 4 course dinner with wine at beautiful Il Rigo. See Accommodation Tab at the top of this page.
Office Hour – guarantee yoursleves a succession of fabulous days out by joining us and other guests for a relaxed and informal pre-dinner drink each early evening. This is an opportunity to sign up to the next day’s organised walks, choosing whichever one takes your fancy. Or use the local knowledge of our hosts to plan a self-guided walk or a visit to a local place of interest. Drinks at Office Hour not included.
Transport – when required, to and from organised walks.
Wine Tasting – this is home to some of the world’s best wines, so we organise a wine tasting on the Thursday evening of your holiday.
What's Not Included:
Flights, Airport Transfers, Insurance & Packed Lunches
Getting there:
Getting to Tuscany is easy with most guests flying to Pisa and meeting a Collett’s airport transfer.
But there are other options – see the Travel tab at the top of this page.
Book with confidence:
In uncertain times, booking with financial peace of mind is essential – as members of ABTA, our walkers have been doing this for over 23 years. In addition, our booking conditions are now more flexible than ever:
- book now and pay your balance only 4 weeks before departure;
- if you change your mind you can defer or change your holiday free of charge at any time up to 4 weeks before departure;
- refund guarantee – If within 4 weeks of your departure, the FCDO or UK governments advise against non-essential travel to your destination, or there are restrictions in place in your destination that will significantly affect your holiday, you will be entitled to a refund;
Guest Testimonials
Average of 5 / 12 reviews
More about Collett’s in Tuscany
Tuscany is a world; Italy is a universe. Five lifetimes would not be enough to explore it.”
We simply could not resist coming to Tuscany. It’s not one of our usual ‘off the beaten track’ destinations, but Tuscany is too good for you to miss out on. In spring and autumn, its temperate sunny climate is perfect for a walking holiday. As ever, we do it differently from the others and a Collett’s walking holiday in Tuscany will enchant you.
When trying to capture the essence of Tuscany, it is easy to see why travel writers dwell on the unassuming abundance of superlative art, architecture, culture, gastronomy and wine. These riches are hosted exquisitely by dreamy landscapes of terracotta farmhouses, idyllic villages, rolling hills, solitary cypress trees, immaculate olive groves – and many of our planet’s most culturally spellbinding towns and cities. But there is still more to savour. Frances Mayes wrote “Tuscany is a world; Italy is a universe. Five lifetimes would not be enough to explore it.”
We believe the Val d’Orcia, our base here, is the icing on the cake. Our competitors tend to focus on northern Tuscany, so that big-hitting Florence, Siena and San Gimignano etc. are in easy striking distance, but the walking is unquestionably better in the south and you will be bewitched by local mediaeval towns, such as Montalcino (famous for its Brunello wine), Montepuluciano and Pienza. Siena is an hour away and it is easy to add a few days before or after your time with us so that you can explore other areas.
In its classically Tuscan location, our accommodation at Il Rigo is sure to warm your hearts. It is one of the area’s most characterful and beautifully-presented farmhouses (or Agriturismo), converted to guest accommodation in the most special and discerning way by its owners and our friends, Matthias and Luisa. If you like your food, you will be very happy here.
The Tuscany Gallery
Walking in Tuscany on a Collett's holiday
Val d’Orcia - the best hillwalking in Tuscany
Daily, optional & free of charge
Join Our Walks or Self-guide
All fitness levels
Our flexible walking holiday formula is your holiday itinerary. You choose day to day whether to join a longer rambling hike or an easier leisurely walk. This is perfect for parties with varying levels of fitness, as you can do different walks and still enjoy the same holiday. If you prefer to self-guide – regularly or just occasionally – we have everything you need for 20 beautiful local walks, plus details of numerous places of interest, including several classic medieval towns.
Collett’s was built on this formula. We want you to explore this paradise just as you wish. Whatever you choose to do, you will soon be glad you came, enchanted by the beauty and rich culture of the Val d’Orcia.
We believe the Val d’Orcia provides the best walking holiday in Tuscany. Other companies focus on northern Tuscany so that Florence and San Gimignano are easy to include, but the walking is unquestionably better in the south, far exceeding Chianti and the Val di Elsa. Here you can venture out on a labyrinth of gravel lanes called strade bianche (white roads), intertwined with farm and mule tracks, ancient pilgrimage paths and woodland trails.
You will meander through breathtaking rural landscapes, featuring pretty hilltop towns that date back to the Italian Renaissance, such as Montalcino (famed for Brunello wine), Montepulciano and Pienza. We also touch sections of the Via Francigena, the old pilgrimage route that linked Canterbury with Rome, and you can explore the more rugged Crete Senesi region.
Here are the details…
Enchanting walks in good company
Rolling hills, cypress trees, vineyards, olive groves and enchanting Tuscan villages
On a Collett’s walking holiday in Tuscany, you choose day to day whether to join an organised walk or to self-guide. Here are the walks we offer on a daily basis:
An Easier Moderate Walk
- Height Gain: 150m – 300m, 3-5 hours
- Perfect for the leisurely walker who seeks out the beauty of Tuscany
A Rambling Moderate & Longer Hike
- Height Gain: 300m – 600m, 4–6 hours
- Tracks that roll with the hills between picturesque medieval villages
Our organised walks are tried and tested gems. We pride ourselves on the quality of your walking experiences whilst on holiday with us. Your stay will surely be enhanced by the Collett’s Walks Team. You can join them and other guests day to day – except Wednesdays, our local day-off – on stunning walks. Simply drop in on Office Hour each early evening and choose the walk that takes your fancy – see ‘Planning your days’ below.
The atmosphere of our walks is relaxed and easy-going. Armed with a packed lunch (available daily and purchased by you locally) we set out at about 9am and, depending on the itinerary, return to our exquisite Tuscan base at Il Rigo in the mid/late afternoon, allowing you time to relax before dinner or Office Hour.
Everything you need to self-guide on up to 20 local walks
Daily access to our extensive local knowledge
Some days – or every day even – you might prefer to self-guide. Every day you will have access to our ever-helpful team. With their extensive knowledge, they will help you choose just the right self-guided walk. If you fancy a day off walking, they can also advise you a host of local historic towns and other treasures that characterise the Val d’Orcia.
Our invaluable ‘Ideas & Info’ files are also at your disposal on a daily basis, featuring our collection of carefully-researched walks, all of them winners. For each walk we give the duration, ascent, degree of difficulty and the relevant section of map. Here in Tuscany, our walks range from easy to moderate/long. You can also borrow on a daily basis an easy-to-carry Route Laminate for each itinerary. In addition, the files contain information on places of interest, bike rides and other days out. If self-guiding or visiting places of interest appeals to you, we recommend you have a car at your disposal during your stay.
Office Hour – planning your days
A popular Collett’s institution – enjoy your evenings with everything sorted for the next day
As with all our centre-based holidays, you plan your days each early evening at Office Hour, a popular Collett’s institution, which is far more informal and sociable than its name suggests. It takes place in the quaint courtyard and surrounding grounds of our gorgeous base, where vines and roses climb the walls unrestrained and everyone is lured into the slow-pace of Tuscan life. At Office Hour, over a relaxing pre-dinner glass of something from the bar, you can glean all the information you require, whether you choose to join our organised walks, self-guide or visit a certain place of interest. Then you can enjoy dinner with everything planned for the following day.
Southern Tuscany overflows with places of interest and things to stare at in awe. Almost every village and town is a haven rich in art, culture and fascinating architecture. Out in the countryside the landscapes are breathtakingly enchanting and so easy on the eye. We are within easy reach of Florence (2hrs), San Gimignano and Siena (1 hr), some of Italy’s most alluring towns and cities. You might be on a walking holiday, but your experience here should also be a historic, cultural and gastronomic fix.
San Quirico d’Orcia
5 minutes by car – 20 minutes on foot
Our local town, San Quirico d’Orcia is historically very important as a place of refuge for pilgrims on the ancient Via Francigena between Canterbury to Rome. As a result, San Quircio D’Orcia is still one of the main gateways to the wonderful walking in the Val D’Orcia. The narrow cobbled streets are lined with cafés and it is a charming and easy to stop here for refreshment after a walk before strolling back to Il Rigo to relax.
Bagno Vignoni
15 minutes by car – 90 minutes on foot
Often featured in the top 10 most beautiful villages in Italy, Bagno Vignoni has been on the radar since ancient times due to its hot and sulphurous waters. The central square is occupied by a large rectangular pool which is said to have cured illnesses such as leprosy. Nowadays, this square is also lined with cafés and bars and it offers a picturesque coffee stop. Some public pools are found at the southern end of town and it is lovely to dip your toes in the water at the end of a walk.
Pienza
15 minutes by car – 2hrs on foot
Originally called Corsignano, Pope Pius II came from Pienza. He decided to re-design the town to incorporate a number of piazzas for people to gather in – an early example of town planning. The town was awarded UNESCO World Heritage status in 1996 due to its rich Renaissance architecture. Pienza is also linked strongly with the ‘Pecorino’ cheese made from sheep’s milk, which is considered a delicacy locally.
Montalcino
30 minutes by car – 3hrs on foot
Montalcino is home to the world-famous Brunello wine. This hill-top town boasts many beautiful examples of Renaissance architecture as well as a 12th century castle and a number of art museums. Well worth a visit and perhaps a little taste of its most famous product!
Monte Olivetto Abbey
35 minutes by car
Dating back to 1313 AD, this Benedictine monastery, still in use today, is situated amongst the jagged clay hills of the Crete Senesi region on Tuscany. The Monastery has attracted many famous painters over the years and many pieces of work are on display here. However, perhaps the main attraction is a collection of 35 frescoes in the main cloister, which depict the life of St Benedict.
Sant’Antimo Abbey
35 minutes by car – 5hrs on foot
Dating back to the 12th century, this is another Benedictine monastery which is still in use. The monks here meet seven times a day to pray. They also perform the atmospheric Gregorian chant.
Monitcchiello
30 minutes by car – 4hrs on foot
Originally built as a stronghold against the republic of Siena, this stunning village still sits within the defensive walls surrounding its castles keep. The village church has a number of historic frescoes and was homw to the ‘Teatro Povero’ Montichiallo offers a beautifyul panorama of the Val d’Orcia and some of the best sunsets in the area can be enjoyed here.
Gallery
Cookery classes
A fantastic option for your mid-week rest day
Lorenza, the mother of Il Rigo, is an award winning Tuscan chef and she offers traditional Tuscan cookery classes from her family home in the centre of San Quirico d’Orcia. She just requires at least 48 hours notice in order to ensure fresh ingredients and a minimum group size of 4. The class starts at 10:45am at a price of €70 per person. Wine is available but not included in the price of the class.
With Lorenza’s expert guidance you will prepare together a four-course menu, including the preparation of hand made fresh pasta. Recipes change according to the season, but they are always traditional and Tuscan. Aprons are provided, as is water, coffee, an aperitif and a small appetizer, before the group sits at the table and enjoys the fruits of its labour over a four course lunch.
Any Questions? Speak to someone with extensive knowledge of our walks and destinations.
Call 01799 513331 or enquire here or use the messenger service – bottom right.
Agriturismo Il Rigo
An overdose of charm and a real taste of Tuscany
Our base in Tuscany is Agriturismo Il Rigo and it blends seamlessly into its heavenly location. Comprised of 2 gorgeously converted farmhouses – Casabianca and Poggio Bacoca – you will quickly fall in love with it.
Il Rigo is owned and run by our friends, Matthias and Luisa. Their hospitality touches, warm personalities and attention to detail will make you feel welcome and special. Luisa is an award-winning pasta chef and a gastronomic genius. On your midweek rest day, she offers cookery classes and pasta making demonstrations. Matthias might spend his time in the surrounding fields as a farmer, but he is also quick to serve you a spritz or a glass of wine at the bar. Il Rigo has been passed down several generations of Luisa’s family and you will also see her parents, Lorenza and Vittorio, pottering about the estate taking care of this and that. And if you want to know anything about the local wines, just ask Lorenza!
The family has made Il Rigo a beautiful place to stay and relax, the perfect escape. They have stylishly furnished the bedrooms, each with its own warm colour themes, embroidered bed linen, antique furniture – and light, airy en suite bathrooms. There are delightful views of the countryside from their rooms and from their pretty gardens and terraces. In their elegantly furnished sitting rooms, you can relax and help yourself to complimentary tea and coffee.
The two Farmhouses at Il Rigo are 600m apart. Casabianca is the main farmhouse. This is where we host Office Hour and enjoy dinner each evening. With 10 bedrooms, it is an old stone building, full of character and carefully preserved to reflect its original structure. One of the walls has a coat of arms dating back to 1572 when it belonged to the Hospital Santa Maria della Scala. In the courtyard is a wood-fired oven where the family make bread. At the front of the house you can sit under a vine-covered pergola with a relaxing drink and enjoy enchanting views.
Poggio Bacoca is the annexe, a typically Tuscan terracotta farmhouse with 7 bedrooms that have been recently renovated with brand new spacious bathrooms. Originally built in the 1930’s for families working on the estate, it is named after the apricot trees that used to grow around it. These have made way for panoramic views from its hilltop location opposite Casabianca.
We know you will thrive at Il Rigo with its endless charm and exquisite Tuscan backdrops, but perhaps the biggest highlight of your stay will be the food. Each evening Luisa provides four courses of traditional Tuscan food, which you can enjoy in the good company of other guests and our own hosts in the dining room of Casabianca. Stand by for the famous local speciality known as pici pasta, served with garlic and tomato sauce, not to mention panzanella, saffron rabbit, Luisa’s special roast pork, almond biscotti, chocolate salami and many more outstanding dishes. Luisa’s ingredients will always be ‘in season’ and will include fresh local produce and organic products with herbs, fruit and vegetables from the gardens. It goes without saying that an excellent and complimentary local wine is provided at dinner.
The Accommodation Gallery
Any Questions? Speak to someone with extensive knowledge of our walks and destinations.
Call 01799 513331 or enquire here or use the messenger service – bottom right.
Getting to Tuscany is easy
Saturday to Saturday trips – Spring and Autumn
- Closest airports – Pisa or Florence, but consider Rome and Bologna also
- Transfers available from Pisa Airport & Siena Railway Station
- Fly-drive, self-drive or use public transport
On a walking holiday in Tuscany you travel to us independently.
You can arrange your travel now or after you have booked your holiday. Please contact us if you need help or advice. Most guests fly to Pisa and book a Collett’s transfer to the Val d’Orcia. Many fly-drive, using their hire car as a means of access to local places of interest, perhaps Montalcino, Montepulciano or even Siena and San Gimignano. Others drive from the UK or arrive by public transport. The choice is yours. Either way, you will be warmly welcomed on your arrival.
Your Travel Options...
Collett’s Airport Transfers
Pisa airport
Journey Time: 2hrs 30mins
Pisa airport
Journey Time: 2hrs 30mins
Saturdays
Depart Pisa various times throughout the day
£80 return per person
Reductions for parties of more than 4
Return Transfer – your flight home must depart after 1100
Private Airport Transfers
Pisa Airport
Journey Time: 2hrs 30mins
Pisa Airport
Journey Time: 2hrs 30mins
Approx. €240 each way for up to 8 people
Please contact us to book with as much notice as possible.
Contact us for private transfer prices from other airports
Fly-driving
via Pisa, Florence, Roma, Bologna
via Pisa, Florence, Roma, Bologna
This affords you complete flexibility during your stay and on your days of travel. It also allows for scenic drives and visiting places of interest at leisure. Free parking available. Scroll down to ‘Car Hire’ below for a quote
Drive from the UK
via the Mont Blanc tunnel
via the Mont Blanc tunnel
Allow 15-17 hours from Calais.
Discounts on P&O Ferries – contact us for details.
Free parking available.
Rail
via Paris
via Paris
Our nearest railway station is Buonconvento – 30 minutes bus ride to San Quirico d’Orcia. Or you can travel to Pisa Airport or Siena Railway Station and meet a Collett’s transfer.
Visit eurostar.com – then raileurope.co.uk for onward journey
Other useful sites – www.seat61.com/Italy.htm
Supplementary Travel Information...
Car Hire
Fly-driving is popular and most of our guests choose this option. Having a car in the mountains gives you complete flexibility during your stay and also on your days of arrival and departure.
Collett’s have teamed up with AutoEurope so that you can search the web for car hire quotes from all the big name brands (as well as some of the lesser known local suppliers), at some of the most competitive prices available anywhere on the internet.
We have also teamed up with Worldwide Insure who can offer you Excess Reimbursement Insurance from only £2.50 per day, click here to find out more.
Driving in the EU
You do not need an International Driving Permit to drive in any EU and EEA country, or Switzerland, for stays of up to 12 months. For more information see www.gov.uk/driving-abroad/international-driving-permit
Any Questions? Speak to someone with extensive knowledge of our walks and destinations.
Call 01799 513331 or enquire here or use the messenger service – bottom right.
Prices – 2021
All prices include participation in our daily organised walks and everything required for self-guiding on up to 20 magnificent local routes from easy to moderate and long.
Deposit – £100 per person – Balance due 8 weeks prior to departure.
Our Day Off – Wednesday – No organised walks; no office hour; no dinner – guests eat out locally.
Agriturismo Il Rigo |
£895 | |
Agritursimo Il Rigo – Easter Week |
£940 |
All half-board prices are per person per week based on two people sharing a twin or double room.
Half-board includes 7 nights bed & breakfast; 6 evening meals – 3 courses with wine included – except Wednesday.
Discounts & Supplements |
|
Single Occupancy |
Contact us for details |
2 Week Stays |
5% discount* |
Triple Occupancy |
10% per occupant* |
Group Walking Holidays |
Reductions apply for groups of 12+ |
- CONTRACT:Please read these booking conditions carefully as they, together with the specific information in your booking confirmation, form an important part of your contract with Collett’s Limited (company number: 03467538 whose registered office is at Market House, 10 Market Walk, Saffron Walden, Essex, CB10 1JZ) trading as Collett’s Mountain Holidays.
- PRICES:We reserve the right to alter any of our advertised prices. Our prices were set on 31 October 2019, and the reference exchange rate was 1.1598 (as published by the Bank of England). You will be advised of the current price of the holiday that you wish to book before your contract is confirmed. All prices quoted are fully inclusive of non-optional charges.
- SUPPLEMENTS:We reserve the right to apply a supplement to your holiday after you have booked in the event of increases to the costs of supplying your holiday, which might result from changes in the cost of fuel or other power sources, accommodation costs, costs of compliance with local rules and laws, exchange rate fluctuations and/or government action (including changes in any levels of taxation such as VAT). Supplements will not be applied within 28 days of your arrival date. We will absorb any increase equivalent to 2% of the price of your holiday and any increase will be capped at 8% of the price of your holiday.
- MAKING A BOOKING AND PAYMENT:When you have chosen your accommodation and you make a request to us to book it, you must pay a deposit of £100 (or £150 for our ‘point to point’ holidays either in the UK or abroad – which includes all our Ski Safari, Camino de Santiago, Kitzbuhel to Cortina, Mountains to the Med, Basque County Hillwalking and all Hut to Hut holidays), or if you are booking within 4 weeks of your arrival date the full cost of the booking. Your booking is only confirmed and a contract between us will only exist when a) your party leader has ticked the box on our client portal confirming that they accept our terms and conditions; b) we have received in cleared funds a deposit of £100 or £150 (as appropriate) per person; and c) we have issued our confirmation by email. Please check your confirmation carefully and report any incorrect or incomplete information to us immediately.
- FINAL BALANCES:If you have paid a deposit, the ‘final balance’ of the cost of your holiday is due 28 days (4 weeks) before departure. If the balance is not received on time, we will remind you that it is overdue. If you then do not pay within 7 days of this reminder we reserve the right to cancel your booking and retain your deposit.
- INSURANCE:It is your responsibility to ensure that you are adequately insured. Adequate travel insurance is essential and is a condition of your contract with us. You must be satisfied that your insurance fully covers all your personal requirements including pre-existing medical conditions, cancellation charges, medical expenses and repatriation in the event of accident or illness. If you choose to travel without adequate insurance cover, we will not be liable for any losses howsoever arising, in respect of which insurance cover would otherwise have been available. We recommend that your policy is as extensive as our recommended insurance policy, details of which can be found on our website.
- BOOKING CHANGES:After our confirmation has been issued, any requests for changes must be sent to us in writing by e-mail or post, by the person that made the booking. We cannot guarantee that we will be able to accommodate your request but we will try to do so. If you change the number in your party, the accommodation price will be re-calculated. If the party size is reduced, this is likely to mean the remaining members paying more due to under-occupancy.
- CANCELLATIONS BY YOU:
If you want to cancel your booking: the person who made the booking must send this in writing to us, by email or post. You will be charged a cancellation fee as follows: If you cancel (this is the date on which we receive your written notice of cancellation during the hours of 9am to 5.30pm):
More than 28 days before your arrival date: deposit only;
Within 28 days of arrival date: 100%
Charges are shown as a percentage of your total holiday cost (including any excursions).
Covid-19: If you cancel your holiday within 28 days of your arrival date because you or your travelling companion / any member of your booking party tests positive for COVID-19 or you are required to self-isolate (in accordance with then applicable UK coronavirus government guidance) (a “COVID-19 reason”), whilst the above cancellation fees will still apply, most travel insurance policies now include such cancellation due to a COVID-19 reason and for this reason alone we strongly recommend that you purchase adequate travel insurance which includes the appropriate COVID-19 cover.
If you need to cut your holiday short (curtailment): If you are forced to return home early, we cannot refund the cost of any services you have not used. If you cut short your holiday and return home early in circumstances where you have no reasonable cause for complaint about the standard of accommodation and services provided, we will not offer you any refund for that part of your holiday not completed,or be liable for any associated costs you may incur. Depending on the circumstances, your travel insurance may offer cover for curtailment and we suggest that any claim is made directly with them.
This clause 8 outlines the rights you have if you wish to cancel your booking. Please note that there is no automatic statutory right of cancellation under the Consumer Contracts (Information, Cancellation and Additional Charge) Regulations 2013 (Directive 2011/83/EU).
- CANCELLATIONS BY US
We may occasionally have to make changes or cancel your booking and we reserve the right to do so at any time.
Changes: If we make a major change to your holiday, we will inform you as soon as reasonably possible if there is time before your departure. You will have the choice of accepting the change of accommodation, or you can take any alternative accommodation we are able to offer you (you will pay the increase in cost if the replacement is advertised at a higher price than your original booking, or receive a refund of the difference if it is less expensive), or a refund. These options don’t apply for minor changes. Examples of minor changes include, but are not limited to, change of accommodation to another of the same or higher standard, temporary withdrawal of facilities or seasonal unavailability of amenities.
Cancellation: We will not cancel your travel arrangements less than four weeks before your departure date, except for reasons beyond our control (also known as force majeure as defined below) or failure by you to pay the final balance. If your holiday is cancelled you can either have a refund or accept an offer of alternative accommodation of comparable standard from us, if available (we will refund any price difference if the alternative is of a lower value). Any amendment or cancellation fees you incur in terms of other arrangements you have made with other providers under separate contracts are not claimable from us. Please note that if a change or cancellation occurs because of circumstances beyond our control, for example as a result of the UK’s decision to leave the European Union, war, riot, industrial dispute, actual or threatened terrorist activity and its consequences, natural or nuclear disaster, fire, adverse weather conditions, flood, epidemic or pandemic illness and all similar situations we will have no further liability to you. No compensation, costs, damages, losses, expenses or any other sums, including the cost of securing alternative transport or accommodation will be paid by us.
Force majeure: Except where otherwise expressly stated in these Booking Conditions, we will not be liable or pay you compensation if our contractual obligations to you are affected by “unavoidable and extraordinary circumstances” meaning any event beyond our control, the consequences of which could not have been avoided even if all reasonable measures had been taken. Examples include warfare and acts of terrorism (and threat thereof), civil strike, significant risks to human health such as the outbreak of serious disease including any mutation or variation of, and the ongoing effects of, Covid-19 or SARs-COV2, or natural disasters such as floods, earthquakes or weather conditions which make it impossible to travel safely to the travel destination or remain at the travel destination, the act of any government or other national or local authority including port or river authorities, industrial dispute, lock closure, natural or nuclear disaster, fire, chemical or biological disaster, unavoidable technical problems with transport and all similar events outside our or the supplier(s) concerned’s control.
- YOUR RESPONSIBILITY FOR YOUR BOOKING:When you make a booking you guarantee that you have the authority to accept and do accept on behalf of your party the terms of these booking conditions. This means that you are responsible for making all payments due, notifying us if any changes or cancellations are required and for receiving the confirmation and keeping your party informed.
- OUR RESPONSIBILITY FOR YOUR BOOKING:We have a duty to select accommodation providers with reasonable skill and care. We have no liability to you for the actual provision of the accommodation, except in cases where it is proved that we have breached that duty and damage to you has been caused. Therefore, providing we have selected the provider with reasonable care and skill, we will have no liability to you for anything that happens at the accommodation or any acts or omissions of the provider or others. We also have no liability in the following situations: (a) where the accommodation cannot be provided as booked due to force majeure (see clause 8 for a definition of what constitutes force majeure); (b) where you incur any loss or damage that could not have been foreseen at the time of your booking, based on the information provided by you; (c) where you incur any loss or damage that relates to any business activity (d) where any loss or damage relates to any services which do not form part of our contract with you.
Our liability, except in cases involving death, injury or illness, shall be limited to a maximum of two times the cost of your holiday package with us. Our liability will also be limited in accordance with and/or in an identical manner to: (a) the contractual terms of the companies that provide the travel services that make up your holiday package. These terms are incorporated into this booking; and (b) any relevant international convention, which limit the amount of and conditions under which compensation can be claimed for death, injury, delay to passengers and loss, damage and delay to luggage. We are to be regarded as having all benefit of any limitation of the extent of or the conditions under which compensation is to be paid under these or any conventions. You can ask us for copies of the travel service contractual terms, or the international conventions.
Other than as set out above, and as is detailed elsewhere in these booking conditions, we shall have no legal liability whatsoever to you for any loss or damage.
- ROOM ALLOCATIONS:All accommodation is allocated by us. We will not accept liability for any complaints based on one bedroom being deemed less attractive than another on account of its size, views, character and/or location. The provision of a bedroom with a balcony will only be guaranteed if a balcony is requested verbally at the time of booking by you, then, if available, in writing on the booking form and finally confirmed in writing by us. We reserve the right to change your accommodation, provided the accommodation allocated is of the same or superior category to that originally booked.
- SPECIAL REQUESTS:Any specific requests by you, such as matters concerning diet or allergies, must be advised to us on the booking form. Whilst endeavouring to fulfil all such requests, we shall not be liable to you if we fail to do so.
- BEHAVIOUR:When you book a holiday with us, you accept responsibility for the proper conduct of all members of your party during your stay. We reserve the right at any time to terminate the stay of any party member(s) whose behaviour is such, in our reasonable opinion, as to cause or to be likely to cause danger, upset or distress to anyone else or damage to property. Full cancellation charges will then apply and no refund will be given. Furthermore, we shall be under no obligation whatsoever to pay compensation or meet any costs or expenses (including but not limited to alternative accommodation) you may occur as a result of your stay being terminated. In addition, you agree to fully reimburse any accommodation provider concerned for the cost of any damage you cause to the accommodation in which you are staying before the end of your stay if the cost has been established by then or as soon as it has been established if later. You must also indemnify us for the full amount of any claim (including all legal costs) made against us by the accommodation provider or any third party as a result.
- FINANCIAL PROTECTION:The monies you pay to us for your holiday are protected by means of an ABTA bond provided by Travel & General Insurance Services Limited. This means that, if in the unlikely event of our insolvency your holiday can’t be provided, you will receive your money back or, if your stay has started, arrangements will be made for you to be able to continue as planned.
- DATA PROTECTION:Please be assured that we have measures in place to protect the personal booking information held by us. This information will be passed on to the principal and to the relevant suppliers of your travel arrangements. The information may also be provided to public authorities such as customs or immigration if required by them, or as required by law. Our policy can be viewed at www.colletts.co.uk
- ABTA:We are a Member of ABTA, membership number W6883. We are obliged to maintain a high standard of service to you by ABTA’s Code of Conduct. We can also offer you ABTA’s scheme for the resolution of disputes which is approved by the Chartered Trading Standards Institute. If we can’t resolve your complaint, go to www.abta.comto use ABTA’s simple procedure. Further information on the Code and ABTA’s assistance in resolving disputes can be found on www.abta.com.
- SKI SAFARI:Your guide, itinerary and accommodation shall be supplied by MSA srl trading as Arabba Holidays, for which Collett’s Limited acts as an agent. Consequently each Ski Safari is neither run nor controlled by Collett’s Limited and we are therefore not responsible/liable for its provision or for anything that happens during the course of its provision by Arabba Holidays. You therefore acknowledge that Collett’s Limited acts as the disclosed agent of Arabba Holidays, and you agree that in the unlikely event that you need to make a claim, you shall make this against Arabba Holidays, and not Collett’s Limited.
- CONDITIONS OF SUPPLIERS:Many of the services which make up your holiday are provided by independent suppliers. This is particularly relevant to all of our “Point to Point” holidays where your transport, baggage transfer, accommodation and food will be supplied by third parties and for whom Collett’s Limited acts as an agent. You therefore acknowledge that Collett’s Limited acts as the disclosed agent of these third party suppliers. Those suppliers provide these services in accordance with their own terms and conditions which will form part of your contract with us. Some of these terms and conditions may limit or exclude the supplier’s liability to you, usually in accordance with applicable International Conventions. Copies of the relevant parts of these terms and conditions are available on request from us or the supplier concerned.
- LIFT CLOSURES: We will not be held responsible for the closure of lifts during the winter season for any reason. In the event of lack of snow, we cannot be held liable, but will endeavour to make mutually suitable arrangements, and these may incur additional costs to you.
- EXCURSIONS:Excursions or other tours that you may choose to book or pay for whilst you are on holiday are not part of your package holiday or contracted arrangements provided by us. All excursions are supplied by third party suppliers and are subject to their own terms and conditions. For any excursion or other tour that you book, your contract will be with the operator of the excursion or tour and not with us. We are not responsible for the provision of the excursion or tour or for anything that happens during the course of its provision by the operator.
- DELAYED TRAVEL:Collett’s can take no responsibility for repercussions concerning delayed flights or other travel arrangements. If your flight, bus or train is delayed, your allocated transfer will wait for up to 60 minutes – but no longer. We cannot wait any longer because our drivers are on time limits. So, if the delay exceeds 60 minutes, we will either (1) allocate you to a later Collett’s transfer free of charge subject to seats being available or (2) in the event of there not being a later transfer, we will endeavour to book you a taxi transfer, although this will be at your expense. We thank you in advance for your patience and understanding in the event of your transfer being delayed due to the delayed flight of other guests.
- PASSPORT, VISA & IMMIGRATION REQUIREMENTS:Your specific passport and visa requirements, and other immigration requirements are your responsibility and you should confirm these with the relevant Embassies and/or Consulates. We do not accept any responsibility if you cannot travel because you have not complied with any passport, visa or immigration requirements.
- ACCURACY: The information contained in our brochures, on our website and in our other advertising material is believed correct to the best of our knowledge at the time of printing or publication. However, errors may occasionally occur and information may subsequently change and we reserve the right to correct prices and other details in such circumstances. You must therefore ensure you check all details of your chosen holiday (including the price) with us at the time of booking. Please note that swimming pools are not always available throughout the entire periods of availability detailed on our website and in our brochures, and are periodically closed for maintenance and cleaning. Any view expressed on the website is the personal view of a member of our staff. Whilst our staff will express personal opinions based on first-hand knowledge of the resort, the final choice of holiday remains yours. We will not accept responsibility for any verbal statement made by a member of our staff unless it is confirmed in writing prior to the start date of your holiday with us.
- COMPLAINTS:In the unlikely event of any dissatisfaction with the accommodation or any of the services provided during your holiday, the matter must be reported immediately to our resort manager who will endeavour to put things right. You should also try to find a solution whilst you’re on holiday. Unless the opportunity for rectification of complaints is given to our resort manager whilst you are in the resort, we will not accept responsibility at a later date. We will not accept liability for complaints unless a complaint form has been obtained from the resort manager by you, and then completed and signed by both you and the resort manager. If we are unable to resolve the complaint satisfactorily during your stay, please follow this up within 28 days of your return home by writing to Tom Collett at Market House, 10 Market Walk, Saffron Walden, Essex, CB10 1JZ giving your booking reference and all other relevant information. We will not accept liability for complaints made outside this period. Please keep your letter concise and to the point. If you fail to follow the requirement to report your complaint in resort we will have been deprived of the opportunity to investigate and rectify it and this may affect your rights under this booking. Please also see clause 17 above on ABTA.
- DISPUTES:Any dispute or claim arising out of this contract that can’t be settled between us can be referred by you to ABTA’s dispute resolution (see clause 17) or court.
- JURISDICTION:You agree that the courts of England and Wales have exclusive jurisdiction and that English law shall apply.
- FOREIGN & COMMONWEALTH OFFICE TRAVEL ADVICE:You should always check FCO advice on travel to the country you are visiting prior to travelling at https://www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice. Advice from the Foreign Office to avoid or leave a particular country may constitute Force Majeure (see clause 8).
- UPDATES AND CHANGES : These Booking Conditions were published on 6th April 2021 and are current. These Booking Conditions may be updated from time to time, so please check here for the latest version of our Booking Conditions that apply at the time we issue your Booking Confirmation, or request a printed version.
Any Questions? Speak to someone with extensive knowledge of our walks and destinations.
Call 01799 513331 or enquire here or use the messenger service – bottom right.
Other Information
Please read before you book
Your own Collett’s Portal – Soon after you book your holiday, you will have access to your own online portal, via which we provide everything you need to know in the run-up to your holiday: packing suggestions, arrival instructions etc. You can also upload information to your portal, such as dietary requirements, special requests and travel details. We want you to hit the ground running when you arrive at the start of a plain-sailing and memorable holiday experience.
Our Day Off – Wednesday is our day-off and a midweek rest day for you. There are no organised walks nor Office Hour. Breakfast is served as normal. Dinner is not provided and this gives you an opportunity to eat out locally. On Tuesday evening at office hour, we can propose local restaurants and help you make arrangements. A special day of cooking with Lorenza is available and if this is of interest, visit the tab at the top of the page entitled Itinerary.
At Your Own Risk – Please scroll down to read notes under the heading – At Your Own Risk. These are important and refer to our organised walks and to any walks proposals we might give you, either verbally or through our ‘Ideas & Info’ files.
Transport during your holiday – Some of our walks will start from (and end at) Il Rigo. Where transport is required at either end of an organised walk, this is arranged by us and included in the price of your stay. We generally use a mix of taxis and local buses. Il Rigo is quite rural, 15 minutes on foot from the small town of San Quirico. Consider having a car at your disposal if you intend to self-guide or you want to fit in visits to local places of interest around your walks and at your leisure.
Special Dietary Requirements & Severe Allergies – It is important you tell us about any special dietary requirements (vegetarian, gluten free etc.) when you book your holiday. Please only tell us about requirements, not preferences, as most hotels, particularly smaller establishments, can only cater for essential requests. If you have a ‘severe food allergy’ that represents a health threat of any sort, we strongly recommend that you are carrying the necessary medication during your holiday with us.
Walking Holiday & Travel Insurance – We recommend you buy a good insurance package at the time of booking (or certainly prior to purchasing flights or booking ferries etc.), so that you are covered in the unlikely event of you having to cancel for an ‘insurable’ reason. For more information on Walking Holiday & Travel Insurance – Click here
General Information – Queries relating to passports or visas should be directed to the Italian embassy on 0207 7312 2200 or www.amblondra.esteri.it
For general information on healthcare whilst travelling, visit www.bit.ly/HealthcareAbroad
For pre-travel information visit www.gov.uk/knowbeforeyougo
Or use the ABTA information line on 020 3117 0599 or visit www.abta.com
Organised Walks – At Your Own Risk
You join us on our organised walks at your own risk, responsible for your own safety, as part of an autonomous group, in which each member has a duty of care to each other.
You will be asked to sign a disclaimer in this respect. This is an explanation of the status of our organised itineraries whether they involve walking, snowshoeing or skiing. We refer to such itineraries as organised, not guided. They are available on a basis of goodwill so that you might enjoy an itinerary you might not otherwise discover. They are nothing more than an opportunity to go out in beautiful scenery in company. It is a fact that mountains, mountainous areas and activities undertaken in them are associated with personal injury and death. By coming to such areas, you are exposing yourself and your party to the possibility of personal injury or even death. In such an event, Collett’s will not be held responsible for your interest in mountainous areas and your involvement in mountain pursuits, which can occasionally have tragic consequences.
In these days of litigation it is important you know that every time you (and each member of your party) join us on an organised itinerary you do so at your own risk as part of an autonomous group, in which each member of that group has a duty of care to the other. This is no different from the responsibilities you have on a casually arranged weekend walk with friends or family in the UK. Our hosts all have experience of the mountains, some more than others. Some have qualifications relevant to mountain activities, but they are not qualified mountain guides. We recruit and train our outdoor staff in line with a Health & Safety Policy, which is based on risk assessment and recognised mountain safety procedures.
Not being professionally responsible for you on organised itineraries does not mean we ignore safety, nor does it make us exempt from owing a duty of care to each person who joins us on an organised itinerary. Your safety is paramount and we therefore take our own measures to maximise safety. We do this in line with legal requirements pertaining to duty of care. We apply Codes of Practice to the procedures carried out by our outdoor staff. We assess, manage and communicate risk. We try to make people aware of the importance of mountain safety and to highlight their responsibilities when part of a group.
Our Codes of Practice should not really be taken into consideration by you when deciding to join an organised itinerary, for at the heart of our procedures are basic mountain safety measures, which should be undertaken by every individual when preparing for a day in the mountains. Finally, during your stay you act at your own risk on any ideas, information and opinions you might acquire from our hosts or from material prepared by us to help you get the most from the area. Thank you for your understanding on all of the above.
- CONTRACT:Please read these booking conditions carefully as they, together with the specific information in your booking confirmation, form an important part of your contract with Collett’s Limited (company number: 03467538 whose registered office is at Market House, 10 Market Walk, Saffron Walden, Essex, CB10 1JZ) trading as Collett’s Mountain Holidays.
- PRICES:We reserve the right to alter any of our advertised prices. Our prices were set on 31 October 2019, and the reference exchange rate was 1.1598 (as published by the Bank of England). You will be advised of the current price of the holiday that you wish to book before your contract is confirmed. All prices quoted are fully inclusive of non-optional charges.
- SUPPLEMENTS:We reserve the right to apply a supplement to your holiday after you have booked in the event of increases to the costs of supplying your holiday, which might result from changes in the cost of fuel or other power sources, accommodation costs, costs of compliance with local rules and laws, exchange rate fluctuations and/or government action (including changes in any levels of taxation such as VAT). Supplements will not be applied within 28 days of your arrival date. We will absorb any increase equivalent to 2% of the price of your holiday and any increase will be capped at 8% of the price of your holiday.
- MAKING A BOOKING AND PAYMENT:When you have chosen your accommodation and you make a request to us to book it, you must pay a deposit of £100 (or £150 for our ‘point to point’ holidays either in the UK or abroad – which includes all our Ski Safari, Camino de Santiago, Kitzbuhel to Cortina, Mountains to the Med, Basque County Hillwalking and all Hut to Hut holidays), or if you are booking within 4 weeks of your arrival date the full cost of the booking. Your booking is only confirmed and a contract between us will only exist when a) your party leader has ticked the box on our client portal confirming that they accept our terms and conditions; b) we have received in cleared funds a deposit of £100 or £150 (as appropriate) per person; and c) we have issued our confirmation by email. Please check your confirmation carefully and report any incorrect or incomplete information to us immediately.
- FINAL BALANCES:If you have paid a deposit, the ‘final balance’ of the cost of your holiday is due 28 days (4 weeks) before departure. If the balance is not received on time, we will remind you that it is overdue. If you then do not pay within 7 days of this reminder we reserve the right to cancel your booking and retain your deposit.
- INSURANCE:It is your responsibility to ensure that you are adequately insured. Adequate travel insurance is essential and is a condition of your contract with us. You must be satisfied that your insurance fully covers all your personal requirements including pre-existing medical conditions, cancellation charges, medical expenses and repatriation in the event of accident or illness. If you choose to travel without adequate insurance cover, we will not be liable for any losses howsoever arising, in respect of which insurance cover would otherwise have been available. We recommend that your policy is as extensive as our recommended insurance policy, details of which can be found on our website.
- BOOKING CHANGES:After our confirmation has been issued, any requests for changes must be sent to us in writing by e-mail or post, by the person that made the booking. We cannot guarantee that we will be able to accommodate your request but we will try to do so. If you change the number in your party, the accommodation price will be re-calculated. If the party size is reduced, this is likely to mean the remaining members paying more due to under-occupancy.
- CANCELLATIONS BY YOU:
If you want to cancel your booking: the person who made the booking must send this in writing to us, by email or post. You will be charged a cancellation fee as follows: If you cancel (this is the date on which we receive your written notice of cancellation during the hours of 9am to 5.30pm):
More than 28 days before your arrival date: deposit only;
Within 28 days of arrival date: 100%
Charges are shown as a percentage of your total holiday cost (including any excursions).
Covid-19: If you cancel your holiday within 28 days of your arrival date because you or your travelling companion / any member of your booking party tests positive for COVID-19 or you are required to self-isolate (in accordance with then applicable UK coronavirus government guidance) (a “COVID-19 reason”), whilst the above cancellation fees will still apply, most travel insurance policies now include such cancellation due to a COVID-19 reason and for this reason alone we strongly recommend that you purchase adequate travel insurance which includes the appropriate COVID-19 cover.
If you need to cut your holiday short (curtailment): If you are forced to return home early, we cannot refund the cost of any services you have not used. If you cut short your holiday and return home early in circumstances where you have no reasonable cause for complaint about the standard of accommodation and services provided, we will not offer you any refund for that part of your holiday not completed,or be liable for any associated costs you may incur. Depending on the circumstances, your travel insurance may offer cover for curtailment and we suggest that any claim is made directly with them.
This clause 8 outlines the rights you have if you wish to cancel your booking. Please note that there is no automatic statutory right of cancellation under the Consumer Contracts (Information, Cancellation and Additional Charge) Regulations 2013 (Directive 2011/83/EU).
- CANCELLATIONS BY US
We may occasionally have to make changes or cancel your booking and we reserve the right to do so at any time.
Changes: If we make a major change to your holiday, we will inform you as soon as reasonably possible if there is time before your departure. You will have the choice of accepting the change of accommodation, or you can take any alternative accommodation we are able to offer you (you will pay the increase in cost if the replacement is advertised at a higher price than your original booking, or receive a refund of the difference if it is less expensive), or a refund. These options don’t apply for minor changes. Examples of minor changes include, but are not limited to, change of accommodation to another of the same or higher standard, temporary withdrawal of facilities or seasonal unavailability of amenities.
Cancellation: We will not cancel your travel arrangements less than four weeks before your departure date, except for reasons beyond our control (also known as force majeure as defined below) or failure by you to pay the final balance. If your holiday is cancelled you can either have a refund or accept an offer of alternative accommodation of comparable standard from us, if available (we will refund any price difference if the alternative is of a lower value). Any amendment or cancellation fees you incur in terms of other arrangements you have made with other providers under separate contracts are not claimable from us. Please note that if a change or cancellation occurs because of circumstances beyond our control, for example as a result of the UK’s decision to leave the European Union, war, riot, industrial dispute, actual or threatened terrorist activity and its consequences, natural or nuclear disaster, fire, adverse weather conditions, flood, epidemic or pandemic illness and all similar situations we will have no further liability to you. No compensation, costs, damages, losses, expenses or any other sums, including the cost of securing alternative transport or accommodation will be paid by us.
Force majeure: Except where otherwise expressly stated in these Booking Conditions, we will not be liable or pay you compensation if our contractual obligations to you are affected by “unavoidable and extraordinary circumstances” meaning any event beyond our control, the consequences of which could not have been avoided even if all reasonable measures had been taken. Examples include warfare and acts of terrorism (and threat thereof), civil strike, significant risks to human health such as the outbreak of serious disease including any mutation or variation of, and the ongoing effects of, Covid-19 or SARs-COV2, or natural disasters such as floods, earthquakes or weather conditions which make it impossible to travel safely to the travel destination or remain at the travel destination, the act of any government or other national or local authority including port or river authorities, industrial dispute, lock closure, natural or nuclear disaster, fire, chemical or biological disaster, unavoidable technical problems with transport and all similar events outside our or the supplier(s) concerned’s control.
- YOUR RESPONSIBILITY FOR YOUR BOOKING:When you make a booking you guarantee that you have the authority to accept and do accept on behalf of your party the terms of these booking conditions. This means that you are responsible for making all payments due, notifying us if any changes or cancellations are required and for receiving the confirmation and keeping your party informed.
- OUR RESPONSIBILITY FOR YOUR BOOKING:We have a duty to select accommodation providers with reasonable skill and care. We have no liability to you for the actual provision of the accommodation, except in cases where it is proved that we have breached that duty and damage to you has been caused. Therefore, providing we have selected the provider with reasonable care and skill, we will have no liability to you for anything that happens at the accommodation or any acts or omissions of the provider or others. We also have no liability in the following situations: (a) where the accommodation cannot be provided as booked due to force majeure (see clause 8 for a definition of what constitutes force majeure); (b) where you incur any loss or damage that could not have been foreseen at the time of your booking, based on the information provided by you; (c) where you incur any loss or damage that relates to any business activity (d) where any loss or damage relates to any services which do not form part of our contract with you.
Our liability, except in cases involving death, injury or illness, shall be limited to a maximum of two times the cost of your holiday package with us. Our liability will also be limited in accordance with and/or in an identical manner to: (a) the contractual terms of the companies that provide the travel services that make up your holiday package. These terms are incorporated into this booking; and (b) any relevant international convention, which limit the amount of and conditions under which compensation can be claimed for death, injury, delay to passengers and loss, damage and delay to luggage. We are to be regarded as having all benefit of any limitation of the extent of or the conditions under which compensation is to be paid under these or any conventions. You can ask us for copies of the travel service contractual terms, or the international conventions.
Other than as set out above, and as is detailed elsewhere in these booking conditions, we shall have no legal liability whatsoever to you for any loss or damage.
- ROOM ALLOCATIONS:All accommodation is allocated by us. We will not accept liability for any complaints based on one bedroom being deemed less attractive than another on account of its size, views, character and/or location. The provision of a bedroom with a balcony will only be guaranteed if a balcony is requested verbally at the time of booking by you, then, if available, in writing on the booking form and finally confirmed in writing by us. We reserve the right to change your accommodation, provided the accommodation allocated is of the same or superior category to that originally booked.
- SPECIAL REQUESTS:Any specific requests by you, such as matters concerning diet or allergies, must be advised to us on the booking form. Whilst endeavouring to fulfil all such requests, we shall not be liable to you if we fail to do so.
- BEHAVIOUR:When you book a holiday with us, you accept responsibility for the proper conduct of all members of your party during your stay. We reserve the right at any time to terminate the stay of any party member(s) whose behaviour is such, in our reasonable opinion, as to cause or to be likely to cause danger, upset or distress to anyone else or damage to property. Full cancellation charges will then apply and no refund will be given. Furthermore, we shall be under no obligation whatsoever to pay compensation or meet any costs or expenses (including but not limited to alternative accommodation) you may occur as a result of your stay being terminated. In addition, you agree to fully reimburse any accommodation provider concerned for the cost of any damage you cause to the accommodation in which you are staying before the end of your stay if the cost has been established by then or as soon as it has been established if later. You must also indemnify us for the full amount of any claim (including all legal costs) made against us by the accommodation provider or any third party as a result.
- FINANCIAL PROTECTION:The monies you pay to us for your holiday are protected by means of an ABTA bond provided by Travel & General Insurance Services Limited. This means that, if in the unlikely event of our insolvency your holiday can’t be provided, you will receive your money back or, if your stay has started, arrangements will be made for you to be able to continue as planned.
- DATA PROTECTION:Please be assured that we have measures in place to protect the personal booking information held by us. This information will be passed on to the principal and to the relevant suppliers of your travel arrangements. The information may also be provided to public authorities such as customs or immigration if required by them, or as required by law. Our policy can be viewed at www.colletts.co.uk
- ABTA:We are a Member of ABTA, membership number W6883. We are obliged to maintain a high standard of service to you by ABTA’s Code of Conduct. We can also offer you ABTA’s scheme for the resolution of disputes which is approved by the Chartered Trading Standards Institute. If we can’t resolve your complaint, go to www.abta.comto use ABTA’s simple procedure. Further information on the Code and ABTA’s assistance in resolving disputes can be found on www.abta.com.
- SKI SAFARI:Your guide, itinerary and accommodation shall be supplied by MSA srl trading as Arabba Holidays, for which Collett’s Limited acts as an agent. Consequently each Ski Safari is neither run nor controlled by Collett’s Limited and we are therefore not responsible/liable for its provision or for anything that happens during the course of its provision by Arabba Holidays. You therefore acknowledge that Collett’s Limited acts as the disclosed agent of Arabba Holidays, and you agree that in the unlikely event that you need to make a claim, you shall make this against Arabba Holidays, and not Collett’s Limited.
- CONDITIONS OF SUPPLIERS:Many of the services which make up your holiday are provided by independent suppliers. This is particularly relevant to all of our “Point to Point” holidays where your transport, baggage transfer, accommodation and food will be supplied by third parties and for whom Collett’s Limited acts as an agent. You therefore acknowledge that Collett’s Limited acts as the disclosed agent of these third party suppliers. Those suppliers provide these services in accordance with their own terms and conditions which will form part of your contract with us. Some of these terms and conditions may limit or exclude the supplier’s liability to you, usually in accordance with applicable International Conventions. Copies of the relevant parts of these terms and conditions are available on request from us or the supplier concerned.
- LIFT CLOSURES: We will not be held responsible for the closure of lifts during the winter season for any reason. In the event of lack of snow, we cannot be held liable, but will endeavour to make mutually suitable arrangements, and these may incur additional costs to you.
- EXCURSIONS:Excursions or other tours that you may choose to book or pay for whilst you are on holiday are not part of your package holiday or contracted arrangements provided by us. All excursions are supplied by third party suppliers and are subject to their own terms and conditions. For any excursion or other tour that you book, your contract will be with the operator of the excursion or tour and not with us. We are not responsible for the provision of the excursion or tour or for anything that happens during the course of its provision by the operator.
- DELAYED TRAVEL:Collett’s can take no responsibility for repercussions concerning delayed flights or other travel arrangements. If your flight, bus or train is delayed, your allocated transfer will wait for up to 60 minutes – but no longer. We cannot wait any longer because our drivers are on time limits. So, if the delay exceeds 60 minutes, we will either (1) allocate you to a later Collett’s transfer free of charge subject to seats being available or (2) in the event of there not being a later transfer, we will endeavour to book you a taxi transfer, although this will be at your expense. We thank you in advance for your patience and understanding in the event of your transfer being delayed due to the delayed flight of other guests.
- PASSPORT, VISA & IMMIGRATION REQUIREMENTS:Your specific passport and visa requirements, and other immigration requirements are your responsibility and you should confirm these with the relevant Embassies and/or Consulates. We do not accept any responsibility if you cannot travel because you have not complied with any passport, visa or immigration requirements.
- ACCURACY: The information contained in our brochures, on our website and in our other advertising material is believed correct to the best of our knowledge at the time of printing or publication. However, errors may occasionally occur and information may subsequently change and we reserve the right to correct prices and other details in such circumstances. You must therefore ensure you check all details of your chosen holiday (including the price) with us at the time of booking. Please note that swimming pools are not always available throughout the entire periods of availability detailed on our website and in our brochures, and are periodically closed for maintenance and cleaning. Any view expressed on the website is the personal view of a member of our staff. Whilst our staff will express personal opinions based on first-hand knowledge of the resort, the final choice of holiday remains yours. We will not accept responsibility for any verbal statement made by a member of our staff unless it is confirmed in writing prior to the start date of your holiday with us.
- COMPLAINTS:In the unlikely event of any dissatisfaction with the accommodation or any of the services provided during your holiday, the matter must be reported immediately to our resort manager who will endeavour to put things right. You should also try to find a solution whilst you’re on holiday. Unless the opportunity for rectification of complaints is given to our resort manager whilst you are in the resort, we will not accept responsibility at a later date. We will not accept liability for complaints unless a complaint form has been obtained from the resort manager by you, and then completed and signed by both you and the resort manager. If we are unable to resolve the complaint satisfactorily during your stay, please follow this up within 28 days of your return home by writing to Tom Collett at Market House, 10 Market Walk, Saffron Walden, Essex, CB10 1JZ giving your booking reference and all other relevant information. We will not accept liability for complaints made outside this period. Please keep your letter concise and to the point. If you fail to follow the requirement to report your complaint in resort we will have been deprived of the opportunity to investigate and rectify it and this may affect your rights under this booking. Please also see clause 17 above on ABTA.
- DISPUTES:Any dispute or claim arising out of this contract that can’t be settled between us can be referred by you to ABTA’s dispute resolution (see clause 17) or court.
- JURISDICTION:You agree that the courts of England and Wales have exclusive jurisdiction and that English law shall apply.
- FOREIGN & COMMONWEALTH OFFICE TRAVEL ADVICE:You should always check FCO advice on travel to the country you are visiting prior to travelling at https://www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice. Advice from the Foreign Office to avoid or leave a particular country may constitute Force Majeure (see clause 8).
- UPDATES AND CHANGES : These Booking Conditions were published on 6th April 2021 and are current. These Booking Conditions may be updated from time to time, so please check here for the latest version of our Booking Conditions that apply at the time we issue your Booking Confirmation, or request a printed version.
Any Questions? Speak to someone with extensive knowledge of our walks and destinations.
Call 01799 513331 or enquire here or use the messenger service – bottom right.
Walk in Tuscany
Testimonials
Carole Murray
A wonderful week In Tuscany
February 24, 2021
A wonderful week In Tuscany
We had a tremendous walking week in Tuscany. The team, the accommodation the food, all were exquisite.
We will be back.
Alan Ford
November 12, 2019
Yet again... wonderful
Wonderful week walking in Tuscany. First the accommodation. Having been to Andalucia last May, this was heaven! Unbelievably thoughtful hosts in a delightful simple, quiet house, with exceptional food, not flashy or haute cuisine, but local and always interesting.
Walking was gentle but always interesting, and the other walkers we(Read more...)
Graham & Liz
November 11, 2019
Wonderful Tuscany
We have returned from a week in Tuscany staying at Il Rigo, what a fantastic place for walking, eating and drinking! The food was fantastic and with special dietary requirements nothing was too much trouble. Collett's staff, Charlie, Ben, Claire and Caroline were fantastic guilds and full of fun. All that you need for another fantas(Read more...)
Bruce Forsyth
November 5, 2019
Tuscany 12 to 19 October - Tuscany
Another brilliant holiday with Collett's - our 5th. It’s a great formula, please don’t change. Our thanks to Ben, Caroline, Claire and Charlie - nothing was too much trouble for them and thanks as well to all at Il Rigo. Can’t decide which location is best. We might have to do them all again!!
Peter and Helena McGovern
June 9, 2019
Great walking and great cookery
This was our third holiday with Collett's and as always the staff, George, Rachel, Duncan and Ben were amazing. The accommodation was spectacular and the walks were beautiful and not too challenging, across lovely countryside and quaint towns and villages. The other guests were great company too.
The most memorable feature for us wa(Read more...)
Mrs June Vince
April 25, 2019
Tuscany was a fantastic experience
Tuscany was a fantastic experience,with beautiful scenery. The accommodation in the Annex was very comfortable, with a touch of luxury. It had a lovely rustic charm. The family and their helpers were friendly and the food was very good, a self-service breakfast and a plentiful evening meal.
Last of all, I can't praise George, Duncan,B(Read more...)
Karen Jones
April 24, 2019
Excellent
I had a fabulous walking holiday in Tuscany and will certainly happily travel with Collett's in the future.
Tom Low
April 24, 2019
Outstanding Tuscany
Reason for coming with Collett's - The Walking, Tuscan Scenery, walking with Collett's, Historic Towns, Village Destinations, Food & Wine. The interaction between various members of staff was particularly impressive, both in the office and in-country. The repeat Collett's walkers gave great advice on where else to go. They are your be(Read more...)
Fiona Godden
April 24, 2019
Excellent Tuscany
The staff were all fantastic as usual, both during office hour and on the walks. A great choice of walks in a beautiful location. We are regular customers who love the Collett's formula. Thank you for introducing walking in Tuscany in the spring and autumn. We had an excellent holiday as usual.
Sally Chambers
April 24, 2019
Walking in Tuscany
We enjoy walking and have done many guided walking holidays. Collett's were advertising in Ramblers magazine (I think) and a specialist walking company. Had a great holiday. Planning to join you again next year. In Tuscany only 6 out of 22 guests were new to Collett's! Many recommendations were for Dolomites, winter and summer, so that’s next!
Margaret Waghorn
April 24, 2019
A huge thank you!
As always admin staff in the office friendly, helpful and informative when making pre-holiday enquiries.
Fabulous location and welcoming and friendly staff. Wow factor view from our room. Fantastic food. We thoroughly enjoyed our stay at Il Rigo. Enjoyed the wine tasting too! Thank you. The walks were fabulous, well researched giving(Read more...)
Stewart Barr
April 23, 2019
Outstanding Tuscan Holiday Experience with Collett's
I'd like to thank Collett's and its outstanding staff for such an amazing first experience of a Collett's holiday. My partner and I had a wonderful first experience of your company from the very start. The on-site staff were exceptionally knowledgeable, friendly, welcoming and attentive. Ben, Rachel, Duncan and George could not have d(Read more...)