cycle cuba - action challenge you are planning on travelling to cuba before the challenge or wish to...

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actionchallenge in Cuba

trip highlights● Visit Havana● Travel through the beautiful Yumuri valley● Take in the fascinating sites of Trinidad● Experience the sights of the local sugar mills● Dance the night away to hot Cuban rhythms● Visit Che Guevara’s mausoleum● Taste Authentic Cuban rum

● Activity: Cycling - Touring● Location: Havana, Cuba● Duration: 9 days / 5 days cycling● Difficulty: Moderate● Distance: 395 km● Group size: 15 - 25 people

at a glance

Action Challenge have been leading inspirational team adventures across the world for individuals, private groups,charities and corporate clients since 1999. Our trips enable people to experience the world’s most exhilarating locations,often in aid of charity. At the heart of every challenge is team spirit and fulfilment; together we take on once-in-a-lifetimeadventures, achieve formidable goals and forge friendships for life.

Our thrilling cycling adventure is a rare opportunity to experience Cuba’s stunning mountains, lush valleys, colonialcities, coastal scenes and the island’s heady nightlife. This trip is a magical week away from the office.

As a group, we wind our way through the stunning Yumuri valley, past villages and ranches nestled amongst the palmtrees and sugar cane plantations, before heading to the Peninsula of Zapata. Here we pedal through a vast wetland ofmangroves and swamps edged with deserted sandy beaches, looking out for the smallest bird in the world, the BeeHummingbird.

Together we take on the island’s exhilarating rollercoaster hills; climbing up through tobacco fields and swooping downpast sugar mills on our way to the glittering Caribbean coast. We visit the beautiful colonial cities of Trinidad and SantaClara where we explore their heritage, pay a visit to Che Guevara’s mausoleum and party to the beat of Cuban music.

Our journey culminates with a roof-top Cuban party to celebrate our epic cycle and the friendships we’ve made alongthe way. If your legs aren’t too tired you may even learn a dance step or two...

cycleCuba

March and November are ideal months tobe cycling in Cuba. Temperatures duringthese months vary from 21 °C to 27 °C.However expect the evenings to be a lotcooler so make sure you bring somewarm clothing.

This fully inclusive Cuban adventure begins as soon as you register. You will receive achallenge pack including a training guide, kit list and discounts for all the essentials youneed. If you are raising money for a charity, we will sort out the formalities so you canconcentrate on your own preparation and fundraising. We offer pre-challenge briefingsin the UK, where you can meet our challenge leaders and others in your group On theday of departure we meet our group and Action Challenge leader at the airport inLondon. Whether you’re joining the challenge on your own or with others, you willinstantly be made to feel welcome. As a team we will board the flight ready to take onthe cycling adventure of a lifetime!

introduction

brief itinerary

Day 1Day 2Day 3Day 4Day 5

Arrive in HavanaCycle to MatanzasMatanzas - Peninsula of ZapataTrinidadSancti spiritus

what’s included

Why not stay on after the challenge andexplore some more of Cuba’s highlights?

Extensions include:● 4 days in Havana City● 4 days visiting Vinales, Cuba● 4 days visiting luxury beaches

Please email us for more information

Please visit our website for more details

All inclusive trip cost from £1,749Initial £299 deposit to sign up

Three payment options available

· International flights· Action Challenge cycle guide· Full support team, including local guides· UK medic· High quality bike hire· Support vehicles· All accommodation· All meals, except in free time· Airline taxes· Treated drinking water· All transfers in local vehicles· National Park entrance fees· Celebration dinner· Invitation to a challenge briefing in London· Discounted training weekends· Fitness and training guide· Discounts from UK retailers· Reduced rates at Nomad Travel Clinics and Masta Health

+44 (0) 207 609 6695 www.act ionchal lenge.com events@actionchal lenge.com

This is a moderate challenge andrequires a good level of cycling fitness.The total distance cycled isapproximately 395 km and much of thisis on hilly areas and uneven groundmaking it a more daunting challenge.

Day 6Day 7Day 8Day 9

Cycle to Santa ClaraHavana TransferFree day in HavanaArrive UK

cyclecuba

Breakfast each morning will be in ourhotel whilst lunches will be en-route.Evening meals will be at the hotel or alocal restaurant, except in free time.

All meals are full of carbohydrates, proteinand nutrients to keep us well fuelledthroughout the trip.

We can cater for all dietary requirementsif informed in advance.

• Seven nights in comfortable 2/3* hotelsalong the ride.

All accommodation is on a twin/triple-share, single-sex basis and we will pairyou with someone of a similar age, wherepossible. If you wish to share a room withsomeone you are travelling with, pleasespecify this on your registration form.

itinerary

DAY 1 - Arrive Havana

DAY 2 - Matanzas

We board our flights and arrive in Havana to transfer to our central hotel. This is the cityof Che and Castro, of the Afro Cuban All-stars and of Hemmingway. After we have hadtime to refresh and stretch our legs a little, there will be a briefing with our local guidesand a bike fitting. We end the day with a typical Cuban meal with our new friends.

Meals: D Accom: Hotel

After breakfast we transfer to Guanabo, for the start of our first ride. This magical routewinds its way through the beautiful Yumuri valley, past typical villages, farms andranches. The roads have been neglected over the years so it’s a bumpy ride (some maysay a baptism of fire!) but the roads improve after this stretch. We fuel up with lunch ata country restaurant before cycling over the only real hills of the day to the colonialMatanzas City and along the coastline to our hotel, just outside town.

Meals: B,L,D Accom: Hotel Distance: 60km / 5hours

DAY 3 - Peninsula of Zapata

Today we cycle directly from the hotel, through Matanzas to the Peninsula of Zapata.The route travels inland from north to south crossing many citrus orchards. This nationalpark area is a vast wetland of mangroves, marshes and swamps – a place teeming withwildlife. If you look carefully you may be lucky enough to spot the smallest bird in theworld – the Bee Hummingbird. We end our ride in the town of Pedro Betancourt wherewe have a late lunch before transferring to Cienfuegos for dinner and to rest our heads.

Meals: B,L,D Accom: Hotel Distance: 80km / 5-6hours

DAY 4 - Trinidad

This morning is an exhilarating rollercoaster ride over a short stretch of hills on bumpyroads that have seen better days. The cooler morning temperatures make our cycleeasier and, once we’re over the hills, the route flattens out to a gentle ride. The rest ofthe day is spent cycling along the southern coast of Cuba through stunning naturallandscapes until we reach the World Heritage town of Trinidad, famous for its summercarnivals and the sound of salsa and meringue. We explore the fascinating sites ofTrinidad before enjoying a traditional evening of Cuban music and dancing in one of themany music bars.

Meals: B,L,D Accom: Hotel Distance: 96km / 6-7 hours

If you decide that you would like to haveyour own room on the challenge, we canaccommodate this in the majority ofplaces.


• Insurance - approximately £60• Tourist Visa - £15• Vaccinations - up to date on boosters.• Tips for local staff - recommended

amount £30• Airline fuel surcharge / supplement as

applied by airlines. Please note that thisis capped at a maximum of £150.

cyclecuba


A kit list will be sent to you on receipt ofregistration. Many everyday items can beused on this challenge, and we offer a kithire service to keep costs down.

DAY 6 - Santa Clara

DAY 7 - Havana

Our final day of cycling is a tough ride through green pastures west. Exhausted butexhilarated we roll into our penultimate city, the vibrant Santa Clara. Santa Clara isfamed for Che Guevara’s final resting place, its monuments and eclectic nightlife -perfect for people watching and soaking up the atmosphere. Here we visit themausoleum of Che Guevara before returning to our hotel to relax.

Meals: B,L,D Accom: Hotel Distance: 82km / 6 - 7hours

Today we travel by bus to Havana city, arriving just in time to grab ourselves somelunch. In the evening we walk into the heart of Old Havana for a celebratory dinner andparty on the famous roof terrace of the Ambos Mundos hotel. Tonight, overlooking thecity of Havana in the hotel where Hemmingway wrote one of his novels, we celebratethe end of our amazing journey with a Cuban buffet, live Cuban rhythms from a localband and learning the basic steps of the Cuban salsa, mambo, cha cha cha and rumba.

Meals: B,L,D Accom: Hotel

DAY 8 - Night Flight

We have a free morning to enjoy Havana; we can choose from visiting the Museum ofthe Revolution, sampling the local art or taking a stroll down the Malecon. We latertransfer to the airport in time for our flight home.

Meals: B

If you are planning on travelling to Cubabefore the challenge or wish to organiseyour own flights, we do offer a land onlyoption, with a significant discount off thetrip price. You will be required to meetyour group at the hotel on day two of theitinerary.


• Personal kit / equipment• Airline fuel surcharge / supplement as

applied by airlines. Please note that thisis capped at a maximum of £150.

DAY 9 - Arrive UK

We set off on a ride through a scenic valley of sugar mills and tobacco fields and headfor the market town of Sancti Spiritus. The route today is challenging with plenty ofundulations! We arrive at our hotel and enjoy a relaxing evening soaking up oursurroundings.

Meals: B,L,D Accom: Hotel Distance: 77km / 6 hours

DAY 5 - Sancti Spiritus

We arrive back in the UK after a fantastic trip.


cyclecuba

payment optionsATOL is a scheme that protects you fromlosing money or being stranded abroad ifyour travel company collapses. ActionChallenge is 100% ATOL bonded, whichprovides you with full financial protection.On receipt of your registration fee, you willreceive an ATOL certificate explainingyour protection.

A REGISTRATION DEPOSIT of £299 (for 2015) is required to secure your place. Weoffer 2 deposit payment options:

OPTION 1: •Deposit paid in full, by card at the time of registration.

OPTION 2: •Deposit paid in two 50/50 split payments. The first 50% is paid when youregister and the second is charged to your payment card at the end of the followingmonth. For this option, a £10 supplement will be charged with the first instalment.

Once registered, there are 3 PAYMENT OPTIONS to fund the balance of the trip cost.Full details are on our website.

1) SELF FUNDED

For anyone who wants to pay for the entire trip themselves. It’s then completely up toyou whether or not you choose to raise any money for a charity of your choice.

The total all inclusive cost of this trip is £1,749 (for 2015), which, after you pay the £299Registration Deposit, leaves a balance of £1,450. This final balance is due for payment10 weeks before your departure along with any fuel surcharges levied by the airline.

2) SPONSORSHIP FUNDED

This is for anyone who wants to take on this challenge and will link it with fundraising asignificant sum of money for a charity of their choice. You would have to raise at least£2,900 (for 2015) via sponsorship and donations from friends, family and colleagues,and be confident at the outset that you can achieve this total.

Pay the Registration Deposit and nominate a charity to fundraise for. All fundraisinggoes directly to your charity and providing that you raise at least £2,900 (for 2015), yourcharity will pay for the balance of your trip costs to Action Challenge. That balance, paidby your charity, is £1,450 (the same as if you were you were ‘Self Funded’) - the charitywill retain at least £1,450 to help fund their work. You will have to pay any airline fuelsurcharges 10 weeks prior to departure.

3) MIXED FUNDED

A mix of the 2 options above! You pay about half the trip cost yourself, and alsofundraise for your charity. They pay the remaining balance of your trip costs. Ideal foranyone who wants to take on the challenge and also fundraise for a charity, BUT ishappy to pay a reasonable proportion of the trip cost themselves, which with yourregistration deposit, is set at a level that covers at least the costs of flights &accommodation; perfect for those who feel more at ease asking for sponsorship inrespect to the ‘challenge’ component of their trip.

Pay the Registration Deposit and nominate a charity to fundraise for. All fundraisinggoes directly to your charity and providing that you raise at least £2,150 (for 2015), yourcharity will pay a portion of your trip cost to Action Challenge. That balance, paid by yourcharity, is £850. At the same time, you will be required to pay the remaining balanceyourself, which will be a figure of £600 (These two amounts add up to the same as the‘Self Funded’ final balance) - the charity will retain at least £1,300 to help fund theirwork. You will have to pay any airline fuel surcharges 10 weeks prior to departure.

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Action Challenge UK LtdUnited HouseNorth RoadLondonN7 9DPUnited Kingdom

how to book

To book on to this challenge, please visitour website; www.actionchallenge.comfor a full list of prices and all availabledates.


If you are a charity, business, school orprivate group with a minimum of 10people and fancy your own bespoke trip,please call us on +44(0 )20 7609 6695or you can send us an email toevents@actionchal lenge.comfor more information.

private groups

cyclecuba

cycle cuba - action challenge you are planning on travelling to cuba before the challenge or wish to...

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