General Information

1) Planning your holiday
Detailed information is available in our brochure and on our website. We also have a selection of maps available for our destination countries, as well as a many pamphlets and brochures for the individual hotels and lodges we use.

Most people arrange their holiday with us by telephone. However personal visits to our offices are most welcome. You will find us at Riverbank House, 1 Putney Bridge Approach, London, SW6 3JD. Office hours are 8.00am to 7.00pm, Monday to Friday. Saturday appointments can be made by prior arrangement.

2) How to book
Once your holiday has been planned and you wish to book – please advise us by telephone or email. You will then be asked to give us a deposit of 15% of the cost of your holiday. Once this deposit has been received (not before), we will make the reservations necessary to confirm your holiday and send you a confirmation invoice. A contract will then exist. Please ensure you have read this general information and our booking information as these form basis of this agreement.

Three months before you are due to depart, you will be invoiced for the final balance. About two weeks before departure you will receive your travel documentation including a final itinerary and air tickets.

3) Passport & Visas
Passengers must carry passports valid for 6 months on their return date. Holders of passports which are not British should take particular care as visa requirements may differ and it is essential that your passport contains the correct visa for your journey. If you let us know at the time of booking, what kind of passport you hold, we will be pleased to advise you accordingly. Ultimately however it is the your personal responsibility to make sure your passport is valid and contains the necessary visa your journey.

Visitors to Asia must have at least two blank pages in their passports.

4) Health
If you are arriving in Asia from Sub-Saharan Africa or other yellow-fever areas, Asian health regulations require that you present evidence of vaccination against yellow fever. If you do not have such proof, you could be subjected to immediate deportation or a six-day detention in the yellow-fever quarantine centre.

Health and vaccination requirements change frequently and it is advisable to check the up-to-date position before departure. We suggest that you contact your General Practitioner for up to date advice. You can also contact the Medical Advisory Service for Travellers Abroad (MASTA) on their ‘travellers' health line’ telephone number 0906 550 1402 or visit www.masta.org.

5) If you are disabled
We are happy to give advice and to assist you choosing a holiday that will meet your requirements. The nature of our holidays does however mean that they are often not suitable for those with disabilities, or those who are not independently mobile. Please advise us before booking if you have any disability or pre-existing medical conditions that you feel might be relevant and we will be happy to advise you accordingly.

6) Foreign Office advice
The Foreign Office (FCO) provides information to British Nationals. Travel advice notices for the countries featured in this brochure can be obtained before you book your holiday from the Foreign Office Travel Unit. For the latest information visit www.fco.gov.uk/travel. Once you have booked a holiday with us, we recommend that you sign up for the FCO’s automatic update feature. This will enable you to receive automatic updates if there are any changes to FCO travel advice for the specific countries you are visiting on your holiday.

7) Travelling in Asia
Many of our trips visit remote areas of Asia and it is important to recognise that no matter how well we plan our trips, things will not always run as planned. If you travel with us it is imperative you realise this, and have positive approach recognising specific local conditions and that on occasion people will have a more relaxed approach to time-keeping than we are used to.

Due to the remoteness of many of the areas to which we operate, some of the properties do not conform to British health and safety standards. With this in mind, we recommend that you take a few sensible precautions at your hotel or lodge (such as checking where the nearest fire exit is and exercising caution when entering the swimming pool).

Crimes against people and property are a fact of life throughout the world and you should take the same care of valuables and personal safety as you would do at home. Walking or driving at night should be avoided as it is unlikely you will be familiar with local surroundings, avoid wearing expensive jewellery or watches and do not leave valuables visible in vehicles or hotel rooms.

8) Difficulties whilst abroad
If you experience any difficulties that cannot be solved by the hotel or lodge where you are staying, then please contact our local representatives. Their contact details will be on your itinerary. If they cannot be contacted, then please telephone us in London. We will be happy to refund the cost of the call. Please remember, we are unable to help if you only voice problems after the holiday has ended.

In the event of a medical emergency, it is essential that you use the emergency telephone number provided to you by your travel insurers. In the event of any other situation that might give rise to a claim under your travel insurance – consult your individual policy for the correct course of action. Any instances of theft should be reported to the local authorities and a report obtained.

9) Air Travel
Specific seat request are usually accepted, but never guaranteed, by most of the international airlines we use. Please let us know your seat preferences at the time of booking. Please note that most airlines have now introduced total smoking bans.

The prices quoted in this brochure are all based on scheduled flights using special ‘inclusive tour airfares’. These offer excellent value but are very inflexible. Changes to tickets before departure are not always allowed, and when they are, an amendment fee is usually charged by the airline. Should you wish to extend or shorten your holiday after departure, you will have to pay an amendment fee to the local office, or purchase a new ticket.

10) Premium Economy, Business and First Class Travel
We can offer very competitive upgrades. Premium Economy, Business Class and First Class travel can greatly enhance the comfort and enjoyment of a holiday. Benefits can include limousine transfers, dedicated check-in desks, extra luggage allowance, pre-departure lounges, much more space on the flight, and superior food and in-flight entertainment. As with economy fares, restrictions do still exist on these tickets and if a flexible ticket is required please ensure this is mentioned at the time of booking.