Every year, our Expedition Officers organise at least one summer expedition. These trips travel across Europe and sometimes further afield, usually involving one to two weeks of backpacking alongside activities such as scrambling, climbing, wild camping and sightseeing.
Summer expeditions are open to UBES members and are a great opportunity to experience mountain areas outside the UK, develop outdoor skills and take on longer, more adventurous trips with other members.
You do not need extensive expedition experience to get involved. Expedition Officers and trip leaders provide guidance on planning, equipment, food and what to expect before departure.
We are conscious that international trips can be expensive, so Expedition Officers aim to keep costs as reasonable as possible by looking for good-value travel and accommodation. UBES can also provide much of the group equipment needed, including items such as tents and stoves, helping to reduce personal kit costs.
How to Get Involved
Summer expedition plans are normally introduced during the spring term. At this stage, destinations and itineraries may still be provisional, giving interested members an opportunity to discuss dates, routes and the overall format of the trip.
As planning develops, the Expedition Officers will provide further information on the proposed itinerary, travel arrangements, equipment and likely costs. The group will then agree the final details before members make any required individual travel bookings.
Closer to departure, participants will receive a detailed itinerary, recommended kit list and any other information needed to prepare for the expedition.
For an example of how previous summer expeditions have been planned, you can view the 2024 Summer Expedition slides.
