What is included in the trip cost?

All trips are ‘full board’ so, include all lodging, three meals a day and includes some alcoholic beverages with dinner*. Our trip prices do not include flights, or any other pre or post trip travel expenses. Additional incidentals such as hotel mini bars or additional snacks outside of meals are also not included.

*some house wine + beer will be provided with evening meals. If you wish to order something fancier, we ask that you put it on a separate bill.

What is the deposit, and when is the balance due?

Your deposit will be 25% of the total trip price. The balance is due 60 days before the trip start date. Deposits are non-refundable but can be transferred to another departure up to 24 months after the cancellation date.

What happens if I need to cancel my trip?

In the unfortunate event you should need to cancel your booking, you must notify us ASAP by emailing us at info@scalata.cc. Once we receive your cancellation notice we will follow up with a confirmation email. Some cancellation fees will apply: > 60 days prior to departure; you can transfer your balance to another trip or we will credit the balance. NB: deposits are non refundable, but transferable. 60 > 31 days prior to departure; you will be charged 50% of the trip fee 30 > 0 days you will be charged 100% of the trip fee.

How do I contact you to ask questions about a trip?

Please email us at info@scalata or call us at +39 340 931 7973

Single Vs Double Occupancy. What does it mean?

Single occupancy is standard on all our departures. This means you get a room to yourself. Double occupancy is where you share a room with either two single beds or a double bed (if requested). Double occupancies are slightly more economical and ideal for partners or friends travelling together that don’t snore. Please note for double occupancies you must book as a pair.

Do you offer bespoke trips?

Yes! Whether you want 5 star hotels and Michelin star restaurants with support vehicles galore or just a van and a mechanic to transport your luggage we can tailor your trip to suit you, and your budget. Email info@scalata.cc to get the discussion going!

Do I need travel insurance?

Although it is not legally required to travel with us we cannot recommend strongly enough that you purchase comprehensive travel insurance that covers ‘extreme’ sports.

Can you help with travel arrangements?

We are happy to try and help you with your pre/post trip logistics but we cannot make any additional travel arrangements or hotel reservations on your behalf.

How many guests are on a trip and on rides?

Trips run with a minimum of 6 guests. Groups are usual mixed gender.

What is your trip format?

Randonnées are our main trip type. Randonnées are a point to point journeys staying in a different location every evening. These trips are usually based around traversing a particular mountain range and are therefore very challenging and designed for the more experienced rider.

What do I need to bring to ride?

We do not currently offer hire bikes. Therefore you will need to bring your bike and everything else you usually ride with. Inc. crash helmet, lights, cycling shoes, saddle bag(spare tube/levels/multitool), GPS device and groupset specific spares eg. chain, ETap chargers in a suitable (ideally soft) travel case. We will have some basic Shimano/Sram spares, and provide additional inner tubes / tyres and co2 cartridges when necessary.

What clothing should I pack?

For the riding, we suggest that you bring three sets of kits as laundry cannot be offered every evening. The weather in the mountains can be very temperamental so you should pack for variable weather conditions including very wet and cold, even in high summer. Off the bike, you should bring some casual clothing to relax on the post ride. You may wish to pack a shirt for dinner but casual to smart casual dress is fine. Though our trips are in the summer months, it can get cold in the evenings so we recommend bringing something warm to wear should you want to go for an evening stroll or if the restaurant is a short walk away. You should also pack a swimsuit...just in case!

Do I need a GPS device?

YES! Although there will be a guide and support vehicle on the road with you, it is recommended that you are confident in using the route guidance feature of your GPS device for routing.

How fit do I need to be for the trip?

This is often, and understandably the most frequent question raised. Our trips are designed to be challenging for a more experienced rider, but completely achievable with our roadside support. Generally speaking if you are an active person who loves to challenge themselves, our trips are designed for you.

How do you handle guests with varying levels of fitness?

There will always be a natural divide in ability with a mixed group. We try to mitigate large gaps by re-grouping at the top or bottom of climbs so that the support vehicle isn’t too far away from anyone in case of an emergency and so everyone gets serviced equally. In reality this isn’t always the case and large time gaps can form. We don’t want this to impact your ride at either ends of the group, so we do our best to manage these situations on a day by day basis.

What kind of ride support do you offer?

Depending on group size there will be 1-2 guides on the road, and 1-2 support vehicles. Within the team there will be a professional mechanic and soigneur. The support vehicle is a multi purpose vehicle which is primarily used to keep additional wet/cold weather gear and stocks plenty of water, fresh ride nutrition, spare tubes, mechanics toolkit and a comprehensive first aid kit in case of an emergency.

Can I bring a non-riding guest?

All our stock trips are heavily cycling orientated and therefore unsuitable for non-riding guests. If you would like to do a trip with a more relaxed cycling itinerary and includes off the bike activities please get in touch about our bespoke service.

What is the tipping etiquette?

If you feel like the staff have gone above and beyond to give you the best experience possible then you can recognise this by tipping. We are a team, and just like the pro race teams winnings, any gratuities are split equally between staff. The industry standard is anything from 5-10% of the cost of the trip price.

frequently asked questions