Summit to Sea Expedition in Scotland

It's important that you travel as light as possible for the mountain section of this journey, so you should only take true essentials for the first night in your hiking backpack. Please note that you will need to add your share of the cooking and camping equipment to your bag before you set off, so you will need to leave some room for this.

The rest of your luggage will meet you at the changeover point (from walking to canoeing) late afternoon on Day 2, so you can re-pack for this part of the expedition with fewer weight and space restrictions. You'll have a 60-liter drybag to pack your stuff into, which is ample space. You can leave any spare luggage in your host's vehicle when you get in the canoes and it will meet you once again at Spey Bay on Day 5.

On the morning of Day 1, please turn up ready to hike! Boots on, water filled up. Have your extra canoeing gear & spare traveling bags separated from your hiking pack. These will be returned to you on Day 2 after the hiking section of the expedition.

Absolutely! We recognize that you may want to leave some of the luggage you bring to Scotland somewhere safe before you start your expedition. You will be able to leave any non-essential items you don’t want to take on the boat with you at our host's local base.

Yes; this trip is a participatory expedition. Your host will provide all meals and snacks from the first lunch onward. During the expedition your host may ask the group to help collect firewood, boil some water for brews and help the guide set up the kitchen or chop vegetables. We believe that small things matter and getting involved around camp will help enrich your experience. This trip gives you a chance to take time out from your usual routine, make bonds and create memories. Mucking in and fostering a team spirit for the expedition is what it's all about, and will create the best atmosphere – and best chance for completing the expedition – with your fellow adventurers.

While outdoor toileting is all part of a wilderness adventure, it can negatively impact the surrounding environment if not practiced carefully. To avoid this, on most trips (for the canoeing section), your host provides a portable camping toilet for use at each of the wild camping spots. Small and packable, this camping toilet allows waste to be packed out and disposed of properly when facilities are available. Not only does this help to minimize impact on the countryside, but many adventurers find it a bit more comfortable! For those who have periods, we have also written this handy guide, to help you manage these while on adventures.

For comfort and safety reasons regarding the paddling element of this trip, unfortunately we are not able to accommodate people over 252 pounds (110 kilos). If you have questions regarding this, please speak to our customer experience team.

Midges are very tiny winged flies, often found in Northern Scotland between May and October when conditions are damp, humid, and warmish. While they don’t have a great reputation, they generally aren’t as bad as they are made out to be: they can be an annoyance, but they don’t carry any diseases. So they're pretty harmless, apart from a small itchy red bite.

They don't like direct sunlight and they can’t fly in anything more than a light wind, so on very sunny or breezy days you're unlikely to be bothered by them.

There are preventative measures you can take if you do find there are some midges around. Wear white or light-colored clothing – midges are drawn to dark colors. Use a repellent, such as Smidge (a DEET-free insect repellent developed in Scotland). Antihistamine creams or tablets will help with any itchy bites. While midges are so small that they can pass through a mosquito net, you can buy 'midge-proof' head nets made with a fine mesh that will keep them away.

Occasionally, participants may need to leave an expedition earlier than planned for various reasons. Although rare, when such occasions do arise, your hosts can generally arrange for you to be collected and returned to Inverness. This is subject to being able to reach an accessible location and the availability of a vehicle and driver, so it might not be immediate. Your host reserves the right to charge $150 to collect an individual (with those traveling with them) and return them to Inverness; this extra charge covers staff time and the use of a vehicle & fuel. Your host will be happy to provide a receipt for this, should you require it for insurance claim purposes and we recommend that you take out suitable travel insurance to cover vacation cancelation costs or instances like those described above. You are more than welcome to make your own arrangements to leave if necessary, however, please be aware that this trip operates in some very remote locations, and taxis/public transport are not always readily available.

At Much Better Adventures, we work hard to accommodate dietary requirements and allergies so your trip is safe, inclusive, and enjoyable. That said, options can vary by country, location, and lodging, and in some places, options may be limited or unavailable. The information below has been provided by your host so you’re fully informed about what will be possible on your trip, depending on your individual requirements. This information should be read carefully before your trip to ensure that you are adequately prepared for the situation ‘on the ground’.

Once you have booked your trip, please fill out your passenger information form ASAP with any dietary requirements. Once you complete your passenger information, your dietary needs and any allergies are automatically shared with your host and, in turn, your guide. Please submit this as early as possible so they can plan accordingly and deliver the best experience. Please also remind your guide about your dietary requirements upon arrival, as mentioning these in person allows your guide to comprehend individual preferences and limitations as soon as you arrive.

BACKGROUND

Special diets, intolerances, and allergies are generally well understood in the United Kingdom. All meals on this trip are prepared ‘in-house’ by the local team and they do a fantastic job, however, your guides are cooking for a large group in remote locations with limited facilities and supplies, so you should keep this in mind. Your host is based in the remote highlands of Scotland, and certain ingredients aren’t readily available at short notice. Therefore please note that if you inform your host about certain dietary requirements less than two weeks before your trip, then the options and variety of your meals could be more limited.

SPECIAL DIETS

**Vegetarian -Vegetarian diets can be catered for on this trip, provided that your host is made aware in advance. Each expedition guide has their own menu style, but you can expect hearty homemade dishes like veggie chili or bolognese for main meals, and plenty of non-meat-based ingredients for breakfasts, lunches, and snacks.

**Vegan -Vegan diets can be accommodated on this trip, provided that your host is notified in advance. Each expedition guide has their own menu style, but you can expect homemade dishes like veggie chili or bolognese, made with vegan ingredients. Vegan alternatives will be provided when necessary, e.g. ingredients for making lunches, or at breakfast time.

Kosher -Kosher diets can be catered for on this trip, provided that your host is made aware in advance. However, it should be noted that sourcing Kosher ingredients in the Scottish Highlands is not always possible, so it cannot be guaranteed. Where this is the case, vegetarian or vegan options can often be the most reliable alternative, if this is acceptable to you. Please read the related sections above.

Halal -Halal diets can be accommodated on this trip, provided that your host is notified in advance. However, it should be noted that sourcing Halal ingredients in the Scottish Highlands is not always easy, or even possible, so it cannot be guaranteed. Where this is the case, vegetarian or vegan options can often be the most reliable alternative, if this is acceptable to you. Please read the related sections above.

INTOLERANCES

Gluten Free (for Celiac, please see Allergies section below) -Gluten-free diets can be accommodated on this trip, provided that your host is notified in advance. You can expect group meals made with gluten-free ingredients, or where necessary, gluten-free alternatives will be provided - for example, gluten-free wraps at lunchtimes, or gluten-free pasta.

Lactose Free -Lactose-free diets can be accommodated on this trip, provided that your host is notified in advance. You can expect group meals that are made with lactose-free ingredients, or where necessary, lactose-free alternatives will be provided - for example, cheese alternatives for lunches, milk alternatives for coffee/tea, or for adding to oatmeal at breakfast time.

ALLERGIES

Your host has confirmed that they are able to accommodate mild allergies to the 14 allergens identified by the UK Food Standards Agency, where these are disclosed in advance. However, if you have a severe or life-threatening food allergy, please get in touch with our CX team before booking to discuss whether your requirements can be accommodated safely on this trip. This will allow us to carefully consider the sensitivity and severity of your allergy, the available provision on the trip, and the accessibility of medical care should a reaction occur. Your safety is always our top priority. **Please note that when traveling overseas, local ingredients, food preparation methods, and labeling standards may vary, particularly in remote areas. It is also worth noting that any allergies may result in more limited options and repetitive provision in some areas. While your guide will help communicate dietary requirements where possible, customers remain responsible for managing their own allergies during the trip.

Sure can! Over 70% of our travellers travel solo, it’s a great way to meet like-minded people.

Our team of Adventure Hunters co-create exclusive adventures which are run by highly vetted, specialist hosts. The trip is run by our trusted host partner in the destination. We only work with independent, local, in-destination experts who know the very best places to explore and how to stay safe. Read more information about the local teams we partner with. You’ll be introduced to the host straight after making a booking via the Much Better Adventures platform.

Much Better Adventures refer to the UK Government’s official travel advice when designing trips and monitoring trip operations. We recommend that all customers review the practical information available on the UK Government’s FCDO website, where you can find up-to-date advice by searching for your destination(s).

If you are based in the United States, you can also check the latest travel advisories from the U.S. Department of State.

For customers joining from other international locations, we recommend checking the official travel advice issued by your country of residence, as guidance may vary.

We recommend checking out the country-specific information and also talking to a travel nurse.

We automatically convert prices from the local currency that a host receives to your chosen currency. We update our exchange rates daily, so prices displayed on the site are subject to currency fluctuations, which is why you may see them change over time.

If you wish to change the currency you pay in, head to the bottom of the page.

All of our group adventures are specially designed for adults to enjoy as we want these adventures to bring together outdoorsy people who are truly like-minded. You must be over 18 to join one of our trips.

You're always in good company on one of our adventures.

Our trips typically consist of a mix of solo travelers and small groups of 2 or 3 friends, with most in their 30s-50s.

Our sociable adventures are solo-friendly by design and naturally attract outdoorsy people with a shared mindset; a love for adventure, a desire to push themselves, and meet awesome, like-minded people along the way.

It’s this camaraderie that has so often turned a great adventure into a life-changing one.

Don't just take our word for it:

• 95% of people rate the group dynamics on our trips 5/5
• 90% of people recommend joining a trip to make new friends
• 75% of people have met people on our trips that they would now consider friends

See here for more info about the Much Better Adventures tribe.

The Scottish summer is usually warm but you can expect some rain, even if it's just a little. Prepare for anything and think ‘layers.’ Conditions in April and May will be slightly cooler, with the potential for frost at night. Gear-wise, the main thing is a warm sleeping bag – bring an additional sleeping bag liner if you feel the cold more.