FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

We are passionate travellers ourselves. Discovering the best routes, people and places is our aim and we are very excited to share these experiences with likeminded people. Being the hosts of your adventure is an honor and we will do the best to our capabilities to have great time all together!

Be aware! There is no typical adventure! Although, our tours are designed to capture the very best of each particular destination and we stay in charming well-located accommodations, still each adventure has its own character which depends mainly to the mood, the energy and desires that every team will bring. We are here to accommodate all the different aspects and we succeed by travelling at a comfortable pace, take time to absorb our surroundings and connect with the people with whom we share the experience with.

The logistics of organising tours can be very complex. We spend long hours researching destinations, routes, ground operations, people to work with and finding all the details that make up the soul of each place. All itineraries are screened without clients before they are added to our growing repertoire of adventures. Nothing is untested. This ensures our travellers' safety and maximum enjoyment during our guided tours .

That’s a very difficult question to answer in the prospect of an adventure… What we can give is the basic outline and feeling of the day. Waking up in a beautiful scenery, enjoying a filling breakfast, managing your anticipation for the exciting new discoveries of the day, stepping out to the unknown, embracing the unique, being inspired. At the end of the day, we share in a friendly environment, all the little things that happened around us by enjoying a full hearted dinner and getting ready for the next day to come! 

All our adventures are accompanied by a professional leader or a local guide selected on the basis of his or her experience and leadership skills. There will also be a local crew of drivers and other appropriate staff. We only appoint leaders who have consistently demonstrated that they can meet the high standards expected by us and by our clients.

Although most of our trips are created with adults in mind, many of our itineraries are suitable for strong and active teenagers but they need to be accompanied by an adult who will have the full responsibility of them during the whole length of the tour.

Yes you can. There is no upper age limit on any of our trips, although we do require those over the age of 70 to send a letter along with their booking to confirm that they fully understand the implications of the trip and that they are fit enough to participate fully.

A tailor-made holiday is an experience designed to suit your own personal requirements. We guide you in choosing your itinerary, style of accommodation, mode of transport and those elements you want to add to make your trip perfect.
Whether it’s a family adventure, fun holiday with a group of friends, university/school trip or break for two, we can help design an itinerary to suit your budget.

To help stimulate your creative juices, get in touch with us! 

Our unique style of off the beaten track, face-to-face travel is the only way to really experience a destination, but it also serves to keep the costs down. We spend your money providing an authentic experience, instead of on luxurious hotels and expensive gourmet meals. We pass these savings on to you with our low prices.

Travel insurance is compulsory on all our adventures and is a condition of booking with Panas Adventures. When selecting a travel insurance policy we require that at a minimum you are covered for the cost of emergency evacuation (by helicopter if necessary), medical expenses and repatriation. We strongly recommend that the policy also covers for any activities you will be taking part in on your trip, personal liability, trip cancellation, curtailment and loss of luggage and personal effects.

We recommend booking your travel insurance and travel arrangements the moment you receive our ‘Guarantee to Go’ email which will never be later than 60 days prior to the start date of the chosen tour.

No. Residents of the United Kingdom can apply for a European Health Insurance Card. This may cover the cost of some medical treatment in countries within the European Union. However it will not cover the cost of repatriation to the UK after an accident or medical emergency. You will still need to take out comprehensive travel insurance for your holiday.

You can apply for this card, free of charge, by:

1. Calling 0845 606 2030
2. Picking up an application form from your local post office
3. Online at www.ehic.org.uk

Each member of the family or individual requires their own card. For more information, a copy of ‘Health Advice forTravellers’ is also available at the post office. Please be aware that this cover operates with only certain member countries of the EU. EHIC cover should not be considered a substitute for travel insurance.

Since we are not really medical doctors, we can’t give medical advice regarding vaccinations necessary for specific destinations. We suggest that you visit The Center for Disease Control which has current information highlighting all required inoculations worldwide.

Although, we can say that Greece doesn’t have any compulsory vaccination requirement for 2017/2018.

Greece, has made arrangements for granting access to the country based on mutual agreements between Greece and your country of origin. If you are not familiar with the agreement made with your country of residence you can visit the official site of the Greek Ministry of Foreign Affairs in order to obtain all the necessary information.
In the case you need to get a visa issued, it is important to note that you will need to make the necessary arrangements ahead of time by contacting your local Greek consular authorities and not leave this pending for the last minute as the process can take several days to complete. 

British nationals require a full passport and this should be valid for at the time of your travel. If you are not a British national, other regulations may apply to you and you should check with the nearest embassy of the country you intend to visit.

If you have booked a trip that is at the upper end of your capabilities, its logical to have questions like ‘am I fit enough?‘ and what kind of training do I need to do?’ because you want to know that you have done all you can to prepare. The truth is that only you know your current fitness levels and capabilities, and can prepare according to the options available to you. To prepare for several consecutive days walking with major ascents and descents, then you should start walking as often as you can prior to departure. Increase the walking time a little each day.  Be sure to include ups and downs if you are preparing for a mountain trek. 

Independent of what other activities might be involved; you should also focus on increasing your fitness by doing some aerobic exercises prior departure. Then you will feel ready to deal with anything that is to come.

We always recommend packing as light as possible however the specific requirements for your tour will vary widely depending on where and when you are travelling. In the 'Confirming your Booking' email, you will a receive a detailed 'Kit List'. The checklist is tour specific and based upon the experience of our ground staff. This list details many of the items you should consider, as well as prompting consideration of items you may have forgotten. Of course no list is foolproof. We may encourage you to take waterproofs, and it will turn out to be the driest year on record. But if we don’t suggest it, you can be sure it’s going to rain! Or the other way around…..

If you have a technical query about specialist equipment such as walking boots, sleeping bags or jackets, then we recommend speaking to a specialist retailer. However, we are happy to offer general advice by getting in touch with us.

We strongly recommend bringing a backpack or duffel bag, as suitcases can be cumbersome and difficult to store in buses, under seats, sailing boat etc.. Keep in mind that you will normally have to carry your own luggage on and off buses and trains and up and down staircases on accommodations. Suitcases with wheels may not work well on dirt or cobblestone roads. 

For all active trips, your tour leader will be first aid trained, and will carry an adequate first aid kit or medical kit. However, we recommend that clients carry a small first aid kit for personal use.

For some items you may need to consult your doctor for a prescription. If you are travelling to remote areas, you may also like to consider taking a sterile needle kit (please be careful to pack this in your hold luggage for airport security).

In the 'Confirming your Booking' email, you will a receive a detailed 'First Aid Kit List'.

Greece is a member of the EU. Therefore, the official currency is Euro as for most European countries. If you haven't converted youe currency before your arrival in Greece that is not a problem. If we travel in area with limited ATM access it will noticed at the trip notes. All Greek banks as well as exchange offices can easily and quickly exchange your national currency to Euro using the official exchange rate. You can also use credit cards at most of places.

You will need to take enough money to cover the cost of meals not included in the trip cost and of drinks, tipping and other incidentals including shopping and optional activities. A general advice on the amounts required and the best currency to take is given in the trip notes.

For the latest information on world currencies, you could visit the International Currency Exchange (ICE) website  to order commission-free foreign currencies with next working day delivery.

In some cases it's difficult to join a tour after it has begun and in some others is not a problem. It is also possible to leave a tour early. In both cases, however, you will be responsible for your own arrangements from the moment you decide to come late or leave early of the tour. You will be responsible for all costs involved and unfortunately we cannot give discounts in such cases. Please get in touch with us before you book your adventure so we can coordinate with the best way.

Our adventures are built for small groups, with a maximum of 12 travellers on each guided tour. Each group is diverse, comprised of men and women of many different nationalities and ages. By travelling in small groups we cause little disruption to the native life and are able to gain a better appreciation for our surroundings. Small numbers also allow greater flexibility and spontaneity!

Our travellers share a common love for outdoor adventure. They are typically active, but come from a variety of fitness levels. Most are looking for a physical and cultural experience in an unfamiliar destination. Each group is diverse, comprised of men and women of different ages and nationalities. Ages range from 20-60, although we occasionally get younger and older travellers as well. Although there are a few die-hard triathletes and marathon runners, most of our clients are regular mortals in good physical condition, who exercise regularly and are invigorated by a personal challenge. Some of the activities may be entirely new to you, but a keen spirit of adventure and an open mind will ensure you gain the skills you need.

If you're interested in meeting others who have booked on your upcoming trip, why not request to participate in a social media group (WhatsApp, Viber or Facebook)? 

If that’s your desire, please get in touch with us!

Team bonding is one of our priorities. We believe that there is no greater experience coming out even from the most beautiful places, if there is no sharing with other likeminded people! Evenings are definitely the perfect time for such bonding to take place and we will always support communal relaxing time leading to a family like atmosphere during meals. Your guide will also be with you during these scheduled meals. If you desire some independent time, you are always welcome to do your own thing and your guide will let you know the best places to dine but we strongly recommend joining with the others and dining together.

Depending on the chosen adventure, there are many different types of accommodations that can be used. It can vary between comfortable local guesthouses and lodges to sailing boats, mountain huts, camping sites! This may not meet Western standards (ex. At mountain huts cases only dormitory accommodation may be available). This is all part of the experience of an adventure holiday and a flexible approach is required. We believe that our nights should be equally memorable with the days of adventure, so we make sure to choose the right locations known for their hospitality.

Many of our travellers (both men and women) join as singles. If you are a solo traveller, we pair you with another traveller of the same gender. If we can't find you a roommate, you get your own room at no additional charge. A single private room supplement fee is only required if you specifically request a confirmed private room for the duration of the trip, although this depends on availability and it might not be an option.

We offer both single hotel rooms and single tents for a supplementary cost (depending on availability) for most of our trips. Get in touch!

Yes, in most cases we can arrange additional accommodation at our starting or ending hotels. If we are unable to provide you with the extra nights we will give you the name of a hotel you can contact directly. Please get in touch with Panas Adventures for more details.

We will do our best to accommodate every special dietary requirement. Please, fill in the booking form that we will send you with the ‘Confirming your Booking’ email.

We understand that muscle-powered journeys require some amounts of food. We consider our meals to be an essential ingredient to the success of our trips. We guarantee that you will have plenty of fuel to stoke the fire. Vegetarian meals are also accommodated.

Some meals will be included and some others not. Please check each tour‘s description on this website to give you an indication of the meals you may need to buy. More information can be found in the trip notes. If meals are not included then you will need to pay for lunches and dinners at the places we stay or close by. 

All of our holidays include the following services, as described in our brochure and trip notes and as detailed on this website: land transport (as specified), accommodation, meals (as specified), leaders and support staff and special equipment needed.

Cost of visas, vaccinations, tips for guides and other staff, bar bills, drinks with meals, laundry, telephone calls, souvenirs, other personal expenditures, meals other than those specified in the relevant trip notes, entrance fees to some historical sites, certain national parks and peak fees - as highlighted in our brochure/website, travel insurance, personal clothing and equipment, foreign airport taxes, excess baggage charges and flights.

All transport during the trip is included starting from the joining place, whether private or public, road transport and transfers as per the itinerary. (Please note that airport transfers at the beginning and end of a trip may not be included in the price.)Please get in touch with us for any inquiries.

The cost of our trips does not include international airfare. Ensure that you have booked your own flights in order to be present at the joining place at the appointed time. Please, proceed on booking your airfare after we have sent you the ‘Guarantee to Go’ email.

Most of our adventures do not include airport transfers and so we recommend you arrange your own way to the joining place. Although, sometimes a transfer can be included, so please get in touch with us for more information. 

As part of our ongoing work to provide the best quality adventure tours possible we would very much like to receive feedback about your experiences with Panas Adventures. Your comments are extremely valuable to us. With your help we will become stronger, more informed and knowledgeable at performing with your best interests at heart. As part of our drive to minimise environmental impact, we prefer all feedback to be submitted electronically, therefore we will send you a Questionnaire via email a few days after your arrival back home.  

Plentiful clean drinking water is of course a requirement to stay healthy in any country. Wherever we are, we make sure to have access to drinkable water.  Certain trips in remote areas may require our clients to provide a system of water purification themselves; if this is the case, it will be clearly explained in the trip notes.

Your tour leader will outline the basic precautions, but even the most careful travellers can still pick up bugs. Personal hygiene and sensible eating and drinking are the best precautions, but you may wish to take rehydration salts to aid your recovery should you become unwell.

What if I need to change my booking?

If you wish to make any changes to your booking, please let us know as soon as possible. Please check the relevant clause (number 4) at Booking Conditions

What if I need to cancel my booking?

If you need to cancel your booking, please let us know as soon as possible. This is required in writing and you should refer to the relevant clause (number 5) at Booking Conditions 

Conditions with regards to any cancellation charges that may apply. 

What if we change your trip?

If for any reason we need to change your trip we will contact you immediately after the decision is taken. Please check the relevant clause (number 10) at Booking Conditions

What if we cancel your trip?

If for any reason we need to cancel your trip we will contact you immediately after the decision is taken. Please check the relevant clause (number 11) at Booking Conditions

In some of our trips we have optional and/or included excursions or activities that are being carried out by other providers. They are provided by local operators or other providers who are entirely independent of us. Please check the relevant clause (number 14a and 14b) at Booking Conditions

Check the ‘How to Book’ section for a detailed explanation.

Every tailor made trip is just for you! So we confirm availability individually and book all your accommodation and options, then send you final confirmation as soon as everything is confirmed.

If we are unable to accommodate you on your confirmed dates/tour or an alternative of your choice your deposit is fully refunded.

The important thing is not to book flights or travel until you get your final confirmation email. Most of the time, there will be no problem though!

We suggest you book as soon as you decide on your dates. Each trip has busy seasons, and due to remote locations, accommodations can get full.

Not if you are coming from within the European Union, Canada, USA, Australia, New Zealand, S witzerland and many other countries. Please check with your embassy if you are coming from other nationalities.

Tipping is considered optional in Greece. Tipping extra for good service is a personal choice, please act according to the level of satisfaction for the food or service received. 

Internet access is good in Greece and internet cafes are easily found in most cities and major towns.Wifi connection is available in most of places. 

Mobile phone coverage is generally very good on mainland Greece, but less so on some of Greece’s more remote islands or mountains. Ensure global roaming is activated before you arrive and contact with your provider to check on possible charges.

Western-style, flushable toilets are the standard in Greece. Expect to pay a small fee when using public toilets in some parts of Greece. Please be ensured that you are using the provided bins to deposit any paper. 

Takeaway souvlaki = 2-3 Euro

Greek coffee in a cafe = 4 Euro
Beer in a bar or cafeteria = 4-6 Euro
Simple meal at a restaurant = 12 Euro

Drinking water from taps in Greece is considered safe, unless otherwise marked (tap water may not be of drinkable quality on some of Greece’s small and remote islands or places).

Major credit cards are widely accepted by stores in Greece. Smaller cafes and shops may not accept credit cards so ensure you carry enough cash to cover small purchases.

ATMs are common in Greece, so finding one won't be a problem in all towns and cities and some villages.

1 Jan New Year's Day

6 Jan Epiphany

27 Feb Orthodox Ash Monday

25 Mar Independence Day

14 Apr Orthodox Good Friday

8 Apr Orthodox Easter Sunday

9 Apr Orthodox Easter Monday

1 May Labour Day

28 May Orthodox Pentecost

5 Jun Orthodox Whit Monday

15 Aug Assumption Day

28 Oct Ochi Day

25 Dec Christmas Day

26 Dec 2nd Day of Christmas

Please note these dates are for 2018. For a current list of public holidays in Greece go to: Public Holidays in Greece