The Adventure Bug - Useful Information

This section holds useful information on your Adventure Bug holiday - what to expect, what to bring with you, weather conditions, etc.

Pre-Trip Planning / Your Journey & Arrival / The Holiday Experience
What to Bring / The Weather / Insurance
You Are Not On Basic Training / Your Free Day / And Finally

PRE-TRIP PLANNING
From the moment you book a holiday with us we will provide you with an orientation package containing details of the itinerary and information on the areas you will be visiting. We will also be available to answer all your queries to ensure that you are prepared for the holiday that lay ahead!

YOUR JOURNEY & ARRIVAL
To ensure that your arrival in Malaga goes smoothly, we will be at the airport to greet you. Since our clients arrive on day one at different times between the hours of 10am and 4pm, we provide those waiting a few cost-friendly options for enjoying their first afternoon. For example, you may hop on the airport shuttle train for the 15 minute journey either to the nearby shops and beaches or into the historic city of Malaga - where the new Picasso museum had recently opened - both destinations are great ways to warm-up to the local culture!

THE HOLIDAY EXPERIENCE
From the airport we shuttle you by mini-bus along the scenic coastal highway to our mountain village base of Casares in the extreme south of the region (some Multi Adventure clients will head directly into the mountains to our other base near Granada). Whilst traveling, keep watch for the giant rock of Gibraltar and the stunning Atlas range of North Africa! Depending on your holiday choice, you will be involved in great activities on a daily basis with equally great evenings spent in tranquil settings loaded with charm and culture.

All our lodgings are of Spanish/Andaluz character and food is prepared according to local custom. The white villages you stay in are full of surprises day and night and the best way to witness this is by sitting in a café or pub in the central plazas with a glass of local wine! If you are a budding speaker of Spanish, you won't find better terrain for practicing - the locals are extremely friendly - particularly to our style of tourism.

WHAT TO BRING
This depends on what holiday you are on with us and what time of the year it is. But normally, you will need to bring the following items for all excursions:

Trekking Holidays	Sturdy yet comfortable hiking boots (already worn please!) A layer of warm weather hiking clothes (shorts / shirt / bathing suit) A layer of cool weather hiking clothes ( trousers / long sleeve shirt / vest / jumper) Gloves and a warmer hat if between December and early March A set of light weight waterproof clothing (just in case but useful for any high mountain activities) A hat, sun screen and sunglasses A day pack for walking and your camera Water bottle (and opt. holder) Walking stick (optional) Personal clothes for your relaxation time and day off!
Mountain Biking & Cycling Holidays	Your own bike if you prefer Cycle shoes or a good combo riding shoe for walking/riding Hiking boots (if your riding holiday includes trekking) Cycle shorts and whatever cycle clothing you are comfortable in for mild weather A helmet (optional if hiring bike) A layer of warm clothing for riding - including gloves, hat and a layer of waterproofs A personal tool kit and pump - if you prefer although we provide full mechanical backup! A hat, sun screen and sunglasses A day pack for walking and your camera Water bottles Personal clothes and a bathing suit for your relaxation time and day off!
Multi-Adventure & High-Altitude Holidays	Most of the elements from the above categories plus include clothing for a day of Skiing in the Sierra Nevada (or), a day trip to Morocco for site seeing.

Overall, please take with you only the essential items you will need for your trip's activities and your own relaxation. This will make your holiday more hassle free and lighter all around! If you are uncertain about certain items of clothing, etc., please do not hesitate to contact us for advice. If you are on any medication please ensure that you have enough for your holiday with us. On the other hand, if you are concerned, it's usually not a problem to obtain medicines here in Andalucia.

THE WEATHER
Andalucia has the best climate in all of Europe! It is characterized as dry, sunny and mild. This is due in part to its close proximity to both the Mediterranean and the Atlantic Ocean - in particular, the warm influx of air directly off the African continent.
Chart of Average Temperature in Malaga

Winters in our region are mild, sunny and generally pleasant. Rains and winds do come however but it's never to cold (sporadically between late November to March), but temperatures can still reach above 20 degrees Celsius in the day. Snow falls only high up on the Sierra Nevada but if we are lucky, we might enjoy a blanket of white in our own mountains for a short period in the winter! Evenings are cool but only require light jackets. Please note, when doing activities at higher altitude like Trekking and Skiing, weather can be more extreme and would naturally require additional clothing.

Autumn and Spring conditions are superb for our Adventures with great day time highs in the 20's and evening lows in the teens. Occasionally we may experience a rain storm and cloud cover. Summer in Andalucia is strikingly hot in the day and extremely pleasant at night. The Adventure Bug does not offer any full day excursions during the hottest periods of the day. Instead, we provide gentle morning activities and site seeing excursions that are not so demanding.

INSURANCE
Naturally in this day and age one must be covered in all aspects of adventure activities and travel in general. Prior to beginning a tour with us you must take out a personal policy that should insure you for mountain activities, expatriation / rescue, medical, baggage, cancellation and any usual coverage associated with travel.

Click here for further information on getting an insurance policy prior to your trip.

YOU ARE NOT ON BASIC TRAINING!
Concerned about the rigors of an Adventure Holiday? Tranquilo! All Adventure Bug holidays are designed with one feature in mind - one's general comfort level... We accept that you are on vacation and in need of a break. We are also aware that fitness activities in fresh air and exotic cultures - with great food and like-minded people is a fantastic tonic!

However, we do expect our guests to be prepared for their desired activities so that they are not disappointed. On the other hand, to ensure comfort for all on an excursion, we start the day off as we finish it - leisurely. Normally we set off around 9:30 am - giving you plenty of time to enjoy the terrace or to drag out your breakfast. During the day we take plenty of rest stops for interpretive moments, food, and to absorb the stunning views. By 4-5pm we tend to arrive at our next village only to begin experiencing yet more aspects of the fascinating culture.

Evenings are great too! You can wander through the crooked streets and plazas or acquaint yourself with the locals in a tavern. On some occasions we will have a live Flamenco show or be entertained by local musicians. In the warmer season, you'll want to take advantage of the many pools our hotels have as well. Really, the only work you have to do is follow along in the daytime with a light day pack and your camera - we do the rest - including transferring your baggage, arranging hotels, meal choices and opportunities for experiencing as much as possible.

YOUR REST DAY
On all of our 8 day excursions we have made provisions for a Rest Day. This allows you to virtually do what you please including visiting local towns of historical significance (ie. Ronda, Arcos or Granada), seeing geographical wonders such as pre-historic cave paintings and deep caverns or simply lying in or lounging around a pool. To make it simple for you, the free day is based in an area where public transport is available and inexpensive and well within reach of areas of interest.

Note - Our guides are not present on the Rest Day and guests will be independent at this time.

Additionally, If you are not interested in resting, we have a number of options for self guided treks, rides, etc. to keep the fitness levels up!

AND FINALLY..
We like to complete all of our Adventure Holidays with some sort of social event. Some excursions finish at our favorite mountain hide-a-ways, others in sea-side locations. No matter where though, we like to take the time out with you to reflect on the holiday and hear what you have to say - encouraging words we hope!

Overall, it is experience that has contributed to the successful design of our holidays. We know our region and we know how to make the most of your holiday in it - with the least impact! As an environmentally concerned tour operator (and former National Park employees), we are well versed on eco-friendly practices. Basically we practice what we preach. (For more information on our Eco-friendly Commitments please click here)