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IMPORTANT INFORMATION & HOW TO BOOK
What’s included in the price
We offer two types of events:
- Zarka Centre’s own programme of courses
- "Private" bookings where an event-leader organises
and brings his/her own group.
1. Zarka Centre courses
The price listed for Zarka Centre courses (including the early
booking discounted price) covers:
- 7 nights accommodation, which we will allocate in traditional
houses in the vicinity of the Centre. Most bedrooms are twin or
double, and all accommodation has bathrooms and cooking facilities.
Occasionally accommodation may be provided in the new village
of Zarakes or in a hotel in a small sea-side town nearby, and
guests will be transported to the Centre each day. You will be
advised of accommodation arrangements early in the booking process.
(Please note that smoking is not permitted inside any Centre buildings,
inside accommodation or on the minibus. It is allowed outside
buildings as long as it does not annoy other guests and all materials
are safely disposed of in the outside bins.)
- All meals, apart from on two evenings which are left open for
you to experience cuisine at local tavernas specialising in meat
and fish. Meals served at the Centre will be vegetarian (locally
sourced and organic where possible) and menus will include many
traditional Greek dishes. Evening meals at the Centre include
wine or beer. On the excursion day, guests will leave after breakfast
and will be supplied with a packed lunch; the same applies to
any all-day field-trips. We will do our best to cater for special
diets; please use the booking form to let us know about any special
requirements.
- For most courses, 5 days of tuition plus a ‘day off’ during
the course when a free excursion will be available to a local
beauty spot, beach or archeaological site (please see the section
on Typical Course Day below). This schedule may not apply
to some courses involving several field-trips during the week.
For most events, participant numbers are limited to 20 maximum
(variations are specified in the course details) to ensure a degree
of personal attention from course leaders and Centre staff.
- Full use of the Centre’s facilities: swimming pool (due for
completion during the 2006 season); grounds; a small number of
mountain bikes; materials for creative activities. These will
all be available during your free time. When completed, the pool
will be unattended and guests are recommended to use it only when
there are other people nearby.
We will do our best to meet any special requirements you have if
you let us know about them well in advance.
2. "Private" groups
Unless otherwise indicated in the Calendar of Events, these are
open to other applicants, who should contact the event leader direct
in order to book a place. The same type of facilities will be available
as in Zarka Centre courses above, although the course schedule may
well be different, and an excursion may not be included. Please
contact the event leader for full details.
What’s not included in the price of Zarka Centre courses?
- Your travel to Greece
- Your transfer to and from Athens/airport to the Zarka Centre
- Your travel insurance
- Two evening meals during each week-long course
- Where avalaible, individual sessions which you can book with
teachers or other staff members – see Optional Extras below.
Zarka Centre courses – typical daily schedule
Most Zarka Centre courses (but not all – please see the particular
course you are interested in) run from the start of Tuesday to the
end of Sunday, with a day off, usually on the Friday.
Guests arrive on Monday afternoon/evening for a welcome dinner,
and depart on the following Monday morning after breakfast.
A typical Centre-based course has the following type of daily schedule;
course leaders will agree exact timings with the group. Arrangements
for courses with several field-trips will be different.
- 7.30 - 8.00am pre-breakfast exercise/yoga/meditation,
etc (every day or some days. Led by the course teacher or self-guided).
- 8.00 – 9.30am breakfast and free time
- 9.30am – 12.30 or 1.00pm course session
- 1.00-2.00pm lunch
- 2.00 - 5.30 or 6.00pm free time
- 5.30 or 6.00pm -7.30pm course session (every day or some
days)
- 8.00-9.00pm dinner (on 5 of the 7 evenings)
- 9.00pm onwards – informal course session or free time
Optional extras available
- A small number of single rooms are available. If we advise that
these are all full, guests can opt to pay a single-use supplement
for a larger room if available (£75 for a week-long event; £20
for a weekend).
- If you would like to extend your stay, we would be happy to
arrange accommodation for you if available.
- Some event leaders will offer individual sessions such as massage,
aromatherapy, etc during the free time, using the Centre’s therapy
rooms. The Centre has a resident practioner in Chinese acupressure
massage and acupuncture, a counsellor and a resident stress therapist.
Prices will be available on request.
Who are courses suitable for?
Courses are suitable for adults over the age of
16. We regret that they are not suitable for those who cannot take
full responsibility for themselves due to physical, emotional, psychological,
or medical conditions. The Centre is at the top of a hill approximately
10-15 minutes walk from village accommodation, along unmade roads
and uneven paths/steps. The weekly excursion and courses with field-trips
all involve walking over uneven ground (please check the full course
details for any further physical requirements). Very regrettably,
we are unable to provide access support for those with mobility
difficulties. If you suffer from any minor condition which may impact
on the course you would like to do, please let us know so that the
teacher can be advised and can gear his/her teaching accordingly.
Courses themselves are not suitable for those seeking in-depth
individual support. However, some leaders and Centre staff will
offer individual sessions. All leaders are mindful of the limitations
imposed by a relatively short course-experience, and respect the
needs of the group as a whole, as well as those of individuals within
it.
To protect the group and the Centre, we reserve the right to refuse
a booking or to debar a person from a course if, in our opinion,
their conduct is likely to cause distress or damage. This includes
any guest who has failed to advise us of a medical condition which
interferes with their full participation in the course; under these
circumstances no refund will be made.
Local environment and what to bring
Please see our Venue page for detailed
information on facilities at the Centre, in the nearby village,
and further afield. There are many interesting walks that you can
do in the immediate vicinity. The village is a 20 minute walk from
the Centre, and approximately 10 minutes from your accommodation.
The nearest beach is about a 40 minute walk away.
We can assist in your booking a local taxi - rates are approximately
€30 for a round trip to one of a beauty spot or town in the area,
usually shared between several guests. The Centre has a small number
of mountain bikes for the use of guests; local roads and tracks
are quiet. Those who prefer the flexibility of having their own
transport can arrange car hire from one of the outlets at Athens
airport, or from a city centre company who may arrange for you to
collect the car near the airport. Getting Here
page
If you are booking on a course involving outdoor activities or
field-trips, or if you intend to walk independently, we suggest
you bring: good walking boots or shoes; lightweight long trousers
so you can walk through areas of thorny shrubs; a lightweight waterproof
jacket and a day pack to hold water, picnic lunch, etc. During the
warmer months, you will need a sunhat, sunglasses and protective
sunscreen.
Average air temperatures in °C for this part of Greece:
- January 10.0
- February 10.5
- March 12.5
- April 16.0
- May 20.5
- June 25.0
- July 28.0
- August 27.5
- September 24.0
- October 19.5
- November 15.5
- December 12.0
All accommodation will provide bed linen and bathroom towels. Please
bring your own beach towel, and consult the full course details
for any other items you will need.
Visitors need to bring their European Health Insurance Card (EHIC,
which now replaces the E111 form) – this entitles you to use Greek
public health service facilities. You must also have comprehensive
travel insurance which covers you against having to cancel for any
good reason, medical needs and personal accident, repatriation,
theft and loss.
How to Book
You may wish to check the availability of places on your chosen
course by phoning or emailing us, or you can simply complete and
submit the booking form.
When we receive your booking form, we will contact you to tell
you whether a place is available, and explain how to pay your non-refundable
deposit of 25% of the booking fee. If the course is full we can
place you on the waiting list in case of any cancellations.
Two months before the course start date - or earlier if possible
- we will confirm that the course is going ahead (confirmation stage)
and require you to pay the rest of the fee. If requested, receipts
will be issued as soon as the deposit and balance of payment are
received. Full directions to the Centre and any further course information,
if appropriate, will be sent to you at this stage.
If the outstanding balance is not paid on time, we reserve the
right to cancel your place and retain your deposit. Bookings can
be accepted until the date of departure, if space allows; immediate
payment in full will be required.
Although we do everything within our power to ensure all events
take place as advertised, we reserve the right to cancel or to make
changes to a holiday course. We reserve the right to cancel a course
at the confirmation stage due to low enrolments, and the right to
cancel a course if necessary (due to factors outside of our control)
at any time. In either case, a full refund of any monies paid will
be made. No compensation is available for guests’ travel bookings
and you are advised not to make any travel bookings until after
the confirmation stage.
If a major change is necessary to a course (such as a change in
the course topic, teacher or type of accommodation), we will advise
you as soon as possible and give you the option to withdraw and
accept a full refund of all monies paid, or to choose an alternative
course, subject to availability. If the price of this alternative
course is lower we will refund the difference.
Deposits are non-refundable. Once paid, the full fee is 50% refundable
should you cancel up to 30 days before the course begins. (Cancellations
need to be made in writing please.) Thereafter no refund will be
made. Depending on your reason for cancelling, your insurance policy
may cover cancellation fees. Please note that failing to disclose
relevant information we request can invalidate your insurance and
your contract with us.
You may apply (in writing please) to transfer your booking to a
different course; any transfer is subject to availability on the
course to which you wish to transfer. If the course to which you
wish to transfer costs more than your original course, you will
need to pay the difference. We will refund the difference if it
costs less. If we receive your transfer application at least 60
days before the start date of your original course, an administration
charge of £25 will be required. A transfer application received
between 30 and 60 days before the start date of your original course
involves a transfer fee of £50. For a transfer application received
within 30 days of the original start date, the transfer fee is £100.
If you apply (in writing please) to transfer your booking on a
course to another person, this requires an administration charge
of £25. The person to whom the holiday is transferred must submit
a booking form before the transfer can be effected.
Any transfer or cancellation will take effect from the date on
which written notification is received by us.
If you have a complaint while at the Centre, please talk to the
course leader or Centre managers at the time and they will do their
very best to resolve the problem.
We do not accept liability for:
- changes to events which are beyond our control
- loss or damage to your personal property
- medical or psychiatric conditions developing during or after
your holiday.
Please contact us if there is any more information you need.
If you agree with the above terms and conditions, please click here to fill in the Booking Form»
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