Land of the Tiger Trip Notes

LAND OF THE TIGER TRIP NOTES

Trip Code: WIW (AIW) Country: India Amended: November 2013 Edition No: KT 01 2014 Valid from: 01 Jan 2014 - 31 Dec 2014

HIGHLIGHTS SUMMARY

India has a unique geography, climate and vegetation that supports • A comprehensive safari visiting the three best parks in a dazzling array of wildlife including the king of beasts, the mighty India for this striped cat tiger. On this unique trip we will visit Bandhavgarh, Kanha and Pench National Parks, each with a distinct character and ecosystem, to see • 15 included game drives in three beautiful national India's magnificent natural fauna. parks! The tiger, along with many other animals in India, has historically • Visit the Taj Mahal, a masterpiece of world heritage suffered as the population of the Indian-subcontinent grew, infringing on the natural habitat of this predator. The fall in tiger numbers • Experience travelling on India's world-famous railways and the loss of the great herds of Black buck that used to roam the northern plains until only 60 years ago, moved the government to promote conservation and the establishment of Project Tiger in 1973.

GAME DRIVE REGULATIONS - BOOK EARLY Away from the tiger parks the itinerary will include optional Please note, that due to new regulations in national parks, booking sightseeing in Delhi, a comprehensive tour of Agra and of course the game drives for groups has beome increasingly difficult. In order Taj Mahal, one of the world's most iconic buildings. to secure the game drives, and continue to operate the best This is an exciting trip for those with an interest in India and wildlife tiger trips, we have had to introduce some new guidelines and enthusiasts eager to see the tiger in its natural environment. conditions. These can be found on page 3 of these trip notes and we would ask that you please read these in full before booking with us.

Exodus Travels Grange Mills, Weir Road, London SW12 0NE Sales & Reservations: 0845 863 9626 E-mail: [email protected] 16.00 in order to meet the group prior to the onward transfer. In the late afternoon your journey really starts, as we drive to Pench National Park, a journey of approximately 3 hours. (D)

Day 2 (Day 3 Ex London) 2 game drives.

We make our first game drive today early in the morning and a second drive in the evening to increase our chances of seeing tiger. Game drives are undertaken in jeeps, normally with four passengers per jeep. Pench National park, nestling in the lower southern reaches of the Satpuda hills is named after Pench River, meandering through the park from north to south. The undulating terrain of Pench is covered with small hills and well stocked Teak (Tectona Grandis) forest. Pench is one of the tiger reserves included in Project Tiger. Besides tiger, there is a huge array of other wildlife such as leopard, monkey, deer, nillgai and bird life. Together with the scenery this makes for a fascinating and exciting day. (B,D)

Day 3 (Day 4 Ex London) 2 game drives.

Today we head back into the park for two more game drives in search of tigers, we return to the hotel for lunch. (B,D) Reasons to go! Day 4 (Day 5 Ex London) Transfer to Kanha National Park. National Parks - Bandhavgarh, Kanha and Pench National Parks all support tiger and a host of other animals and birds. By visiting all We depart in the morning and drive to Kanha National Park. Although three of these world famous tiger reserves our chances of seeing this the distance is not far, the poor road conditions mean that the journey elusive animal are greatly increased. will take approximately 4 hours. (B,D)

Games Drives - we now include 15 game drives in the itinerary. On all Days 5/7 (Days 6/8 Ex London) 5 included game drives in Kanha. game drives we try and only carry 4 group members per jeep, allowing you more space and comfort, however due to the restrictions on the Created in 1974 and often described as India's greatest wildlife numer of vehicles allowed in each park we can not guarantee this. reserve, Kanha is vast. Covering approximately 1,945 sq. km of There may be the opportunity for one or two optional game drives undulating terrain, the elevation ranges from 450m to 900m with during the trip, however we can't book these in advance as we need expansive grasslands, plateaus and dramatic rocky escarpments the flexability in the itinerary to secure the included game drives, providing a home to literally hundreds of species of wildlife. The your leader will ask you at the very start of the trip if you would like tiger population has been affected by poaching in recent years but to book these. Please note that the availability of these will depend on the huge abundance of animals make the game drives a memorable the park and the time of year you are travelling. experience. Kanha is an Indian wildlife park of the imagination whose atmosphere and apparently endless landscape can rightly Excellent Local Guides - our Indian team has proved very popular be described as Kiplingesque. The park signifies the start of India's with clients with their incredible knowledge, passion and hospitality attempt to protect the tiger and was the site of the first ever scientific adding greatly to the experience. There is no better way to experience study by the zoologist George Shaller. Nowadays the park is seen Indian culture than letting an Indian guide show you their country. throughout India as a model for excellent wildlife management. During our time in Kanha we include 5 game drives in the itinerary A Balanced Itinerary - the three incredible national parks are without (we will always do our best to secure three drives for Kanha Zone and doubt the highlight and focus of this itinerary; but this is a holiday two drives for Kisli/Sarahi zones). (B,D) to India, and you can't return home without seeing the incredible Taj Mahal; we therefore include sightseeing in Agra and optional Day 8 (Day 9 Ex London) Transfer to Bhandavgarh. sightseeing in Delhi. We leave Kanha National Park after breakfast and drive to Note: Seeing tigers is not a science and these elusive animals do Bandhavgarh, stopping en route for refreshments. This journey will not appear on demand. A wild tiger sighting is an unforgettable take approximately 6 - 7 hours. On arrival, the remainder of the day experience and although Exodus groups have seen many tigers in all and evening are at leisure. (B,D) three parks no guarantees can be given. Days 9/11 (Days 10/12 Ex London) 6 included game drives in Bandhavgarh. IS THIS TRIP FOR YOU? At only 437 sq. km. Bandhavgarh is one of the smaller National Activity Level: 1 (Leisurely). Parks and enjoys an impressive setting with a stunning cliff-top fort This tour is not physically demanding, and therefore graded leisurely, overlooking grasslands, birch forests and bamboo that provide cover however some of the days can be busy especially where travelling is for the plentiful indigenous wildlife. In common with many other combined with sightseeing. Please note there are a lot of very early parks, Bandhavgarh is home to a wide variety of game including morning starts as this is the best time to see tigers. leopard, sloth bear, gaur, sambar, chital, jungle cat, wild pig and of course tiger. The healthy population of approximately 60-70 animals There are some long days travelling, especially when taking the means that this park has the highest tiger density of any of India's overnight train and when driving from park to park; this is generally reserves. Aside from the game and the tigers, the park also plays host down to the condition of the roads. The roads are generally pretty to up to 150 species of birds including many on the migratory trail, good, but local traffic and/or road damage after the monsoon can such as the Steepe eagle. During our stay in this beautiful rugged sometimes slow us down; the road between Pench and Kanha is national park the itinerary includes 6 games drives (we will always known to be bad. We travel mainly on comparatively quiet roads for do our best to secure three drives for Tala Gate and three drives for at least half of the journey. Magdi gate). We will also visit the Exodus Bandhavgarh School Project during our stay. (B,D) LAND ONLY ITINERARY Day 12 (Day 13 Ex London) Drive to Katni; train to Agra. The entries in bold at the end of each day indicate the meals included This morning we drive to Katni Railway Station; this drive is (B=Breakfast, L=Lunch, D=Dinner). approximately 3 hours. We will stop for refreshments, conveniences Day 1 (Day 2 Ex London) Start Nagpur, transfer to Pench. and any photo opportunities along the way. This evening we will catch the overnight train to Agra. Overnight Sleeper Train (B) Those who are on the group flights will land in Nagpur in the afternoon. Those not on the group flights will need to be at Nagpur Airport by

2 Day 13 (Day 14 Ex London) Arrive Agra; sightseeing. and to ensure this we must work within the parameters of the Indian government’s current systems. Arriving in Agra in the morning we transfer to our hotel. Of course, no stay in Agra would be complete without a visit to the beautiful white marble Taj Mahal, built by the Moghul Emperor Shah Jahan in memory of his beloved wife, Mumtaz Mahal, who died in 1631. The Taj is serenely beautiful and never fails to amaze a first time visitor; the white marble exterior changes colour according to the position of the sun during the day and is matched by the rich interior detail. Within striking distance is the imposing Red Fort of Akbar, third of the Moghul Emperors, whose mighty sandstone walls enclose the beautiful white marble Pearl Mosque and the palaces, halls, courtyards and fountains of his sons and successors, Jehangir and Shah Jahan. It is here that the latter spent his last years, imprisoned by his own son Aurangzeb. (B)

Day 14 (Day 15 Ex London) Drive to Delhi; afternoon optional sightseeing.

After breakfast we will leave for Delhi. En route we will stop for lunch, and we will arrive at our hotel in the afternoon. You are then free to relax, explore the sites of New and Old Delhi (an optional sightseeing trip will be organised if you wish) or you can do some last minute ACCOMMODATION AND FOOD shopping! (B) In Pench, Bandhavgarh and Kanha National Parks we will stay in Day 15 (Day 16 Ex London) End Delhi. forest lodges with fully equipped modern facilities and attached bathrooms. Please note that at times if our lodge/hotel is overbooked Those on the flight inclusive package will depart for London the accommodation will be arranged in well-made comfortable tents this morning for the daytime flight back to London; Land Only fitted with electric lights and attached toilet with shower with hot and arrangements will finish after check-out from the hotel. (B) cold water readily available.

For those on group flights, these depart in the afternoon and will Overnight Train Journeys - The overnight train from Katni to Agra arrive in the UK the same day. will be booked in 2-Tier sleeper A/C. There are many excellent trains in India; however the standard of seating and sleeping is not in line GAME DRIVE REGULATIONS FOR LAND OF THE TIGER with European standards. All seats are pre-allocated at the time the tickets are issued, meaning that we are not able to guarantee the The management of national parks by the Indian authorities and the whole group are together on the train. Your leader will manage this system for booking game drives has changed significantly in the last as best as possible and will always check on you during the journey. 18 months. As a result the number of jeeps that can now enter national At times the trains do get delayed; this is usually due to extreme parks has been reduced, and all game drives need to be booked and weather conditions such as heavy fog; there is usually a higher risk paid for much further in advance. In addition, we must provide a list of this during winter months (December-January). Indian trains are of client names and passport details at the time of booking each safe to travel on; however we would recommended that you keep any game drive. Once game drives are booked, they are non-refundable valuables with you at all times. Snacks are often offered on board (at and name changes are not permitted. Due to these on-going changes an additional cost) but you may wish to purchase your own food prior in the system, the following guidelines and conditions now apply to to the journey. Whilst some trains have western-style facilities, the all bookings: majority of services are equipped with squat toilets.

1) We cannot guarantee the operation of any departure until we Breakfast and 11 dinners are included. You should allow around have the necessary game drives secured. Our aim is to secure game £3 (US$5) per day for lunch and £10 (US$15) for dinner (when not drives from a variety of gates/zones as per the itinerary, but please included). You can eat out very cheaply in India, but if you go to the be aware that this is subject to availability. The date at which we book more expensive restaurants, you will spend more than the suggested the game drives will vary depending as to when the booking system amount. In Agra and Delhi there is a good choice of restaurants and a allows us to do so for your departure. choice between Indian and Western style food. If you are a vegetarian India is probably one of the best destinations to travel to with a wide 2) It will sometimes be possible to book clients on to a departure range of dishes on offer; whilst at the national parks there are usually of this tour after the game drives have been booked, but large some non spicy curries but these are in limited supply. Tea and soft supplements are likely to be incurred. If we have made initial game drinks are very cheap. A (large!) bottle of beer is approximately £3 drive bookings for a departure we may need to wait until we have a (US$5). Mineral water is widely available. Please note that service in further 3 or 4 clients ready to book before we can secure an additional restaurants can be quite slow. jeep. Single Accommodation: 3) At the time of booking we will ask you for the standard Exodus deposit plus £400 towards the game drives as once these are booked, Single rooms are available for a supplement from £310 (or approx. they are non-refundable. If for any reason we are unable to secure the US$550); the price will depend on the season you are travelling. This game drives and we have to cancel the trip, you will of course receive does not include the overnight sleeper train journey. Please advise a full refund. the sales team at the time of booking if you wish to add this to your booking and they will confirm the price for you. 4) We want to encourage all clients to book this trip as far in advance as possible; we are confident that we should be able to Extra Accommodation: secure the game drives needed on most occasions if clients book 4/5 We can arrange additional accommodation for you prior to your trip, months in advance of the departure date. in Nagpur, or after your trip, in Delhi. The hotels we use in Delhi change for each departure, and the start hotel is only confirmed 4 5) It is important that we have your correct passport details at weeks prior to departure, due to operational reasons. Therefore, if the time of booking. If you end up travelling on a different passport you would like us to book additional accommodation for you, please it is imperative that you carry your old passport, or a photocopy of it, contact our sales department who will be able to give you further with you. If this isn’t possible you will need a letter from the passport information. agency regarding the change of passport, specifying the details of the old passport and the details of the new passport issued.

We regret that these measures are necessary, but we are of course keen to ensure that we secure the game drives as early as possible

3 TRANSPORT Flights from London We normally use the scheduled services of Jet Airways (depending We use a combination of private minibus, SUV's and a train for our on availability). As flight timings and schedules change regularly we journey as well as using jeeps in the national parks. All vehicles will recommend you call one of our specialist sales staff or your agent to be air-conditioned. confirm up-to-date timings. Please note timings may change at a later Train journeys: the overnight train from Katni to Agra will be booked date and cannot be confirmed until approximately two weeks before in second-class (2 tier) A/C sleeper (occasionally we may have to use departure. 3 tier if this is unavilable). See accommodation section for further Please note that when transferring in Mumbai you will need to pass information. through immigration, collect your luggage and transfer to another Game drives: At Pench, Kanha and Bandhavgarh, we use jeeps (Please building before proceeding for your ongoing flight. Please approach note we try and only put 4 group members in each jeep allowing you members of staff from Jet Airways if you have any questions. extra space and comfort however we can't guarantee this). Please also be aware that the layover in Mumbai can vary in length depending on the dates you are travelling. Flight schedules do change WEATHER AND SEASONALITY and sometimes the wait in Mumbai can be quite long. We will always try and get the best flight routing for the group.

UK Regional Flights The Flight Inclusive price is based on a London departure, but we are happy to tailor this to your local or regional airport. Please visit www.exodus.co.uk/regionaldepartures for a useful overview of the options available, and contact our sales team for expert advice.

If booking regional flights other than with Exodus, you must allow a minimum connecting time (in addition to the international check in time) of 1 hour at Gatwick, and 1½ hours at Heathrow; this is longer than the official minimum, but baggage handling is known to be subject to delays.

JOINING THE TRIP IN NAGPUR 15 days, normally start Nagpur Sat, end Delhi Sat Itinerary Start

Your trip starts at Nagpur Airport on the afternoon of Day 1 of the itinerary. PLEASE NOTE that if you are not travelling on the group flights you will need to be at Nagpur Aiport arrivals area by 16.00; the group flight will arrive at around 16.30. Once everyone has arrived we will then depart for Pench National Park.

If you are not booked on the group flights and you do not get to Nagpur Airport on time you will need to pay for an additional transfer to Pench National Park locally in order that you can catch up with the group. Group flights can be rescheduled, so you must check the group flight details 2 weeks before departure.

Airport Transfers

If you would like us to organise a private transfer to Pench National Park please ask your sales consultant for a quote. Please ensure that you provide us with all relevant information at least 2 weeks before departure.

Full joining instructions including local emergency numbers will be sent to you as part of your Final Joining Instructions. If you do not receive these at least a week before departure, or require them earlier, please contact our office or your travel agent.

RESPONSIBLE TOURISM

September to April is the ideal time to visit these areas of northern Tourism can be a real help to local communities, providing income, India. Days are normally warm to hot and nights cool or mild. positive cultural exchanges and a financial incentive to protect Humidity is very low and little or no rain can be expected. In March/ their natural environment. Ours is a 'total approach' to responsible April and September/October it can get very hot during the day. tourism, covering everything from the way we plan and operate our Evenings in Delhi and at the game parks can be surprisingly cool, so trips to the practices of Exodus as a company. bring a jumper or lightweight fleece as well as sun hat, sun cream and sunglasses. It gets very cold in the early mornings and evenings We have an excellent long-term relationship with the local operator between December and February and you should be prepared for who employ and train all leaders. We provide refresher training with this. You should bring additional warm clothing such as good fleece a focus on Responsible Tourism, so our local leaders can educate jackets, gloves and a scarf as it can drop to near freezing. our clients locally on helping to preserve the way of life in their area. Many local restaurants and shops are also used to purchase items JOINING THE TRIP IN THE UK throughout this trip which benefits the local community. 16 days, normally depart London Fri, return Sat Bandhavgarh, India Bandhavgarh, partly due to its inaccessibility and its reliable watercourses, is home to one of the last few viable Itinerary Start concentrations of tigers on Earth. However it is not immune to the The group flight from London is an overnight flight departing the day twin threats of poaching and encroachment by the many villages that before Day 1 of the itinerary. surround the park. Exodus believes by providing assistance to both the park directly and the surrounding villages, the local population

4 see real practical benefits that simply would not be there without the close presence of the tigers and the visitors who come to see these most magnificent of all big cats. For further information please visit http://www.exodus.co.uk/responsible-travel/our-projects/india- bandhavgarh-project and http://www.exodus.co.uk/worth-more- alive-III

For full details of our Responsible Tourism Policy please visit:

www.exodus.co.uk/responsible-travel

PRACTICAL INFORMATION Passports and Visas All nationalities require a full passport that must be valid for 6 months beyond the intended length of stay. It is your responsibility to have the correct personal documents and to obtain your own visa, if one is necessary, in accordance with the regulations of the country you are to visit. The information below is primarily for UK passport Insurance - are you adequately covered? holders, and other nationalities should check with their travel agent You must have adequate travel insurance, and if you are joining a or the relevant embassies. We are not responsible for the actions of trip which goes to high altitude, you must check that you are covered local immigration and customs officials, whether at points of entry or up to the maximum altitude of the trip. If you are resident in the UK otherwise, and any subsequent effects. we strongly recommend Exodus travel insurance, which is specifically Visas are required if you are British and for most other nationalities. designed to cover all activities on your trip. To apply for the Indian visa yourself you will need to go through the If you are a UK citizen and travelling in Europe you should obtain the Indian High Commission's VF service (http://in.vfsglobal.co.uk). The European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) from your Post Office. This current visa fee for British passport holders is £80 (plus a service gives free medical care in many European countries, but should not charge and consular fee amounting to £12.20), and if using Travcour be considered a substitute for adequate insurance. there will be an additional £30 service charge plus £9 postage (Royal Mail Special Delivery within UK). The visa fee for most other passport Local Time holders is much lower. We suggest that you carry a photocopy of your GMT +5hrs 30mins. passport information page, your visa and your insurance document. Electricity Visa regulations can change without notice: please check the current 230/240 volts AC, 50 Hz. There are recharging facilities at all the regulations in good time to obtain a visa if one is required. hotels and jungle cottages, the electricity supply is not 100% reliable Vaccinations and Health but it is usually only off for short periods of time.

Travel health can often be something people forget about before Group, Staff and Support going away, but a little preparation and knowledge can go a long way The group will generally be between 4 and 16 people. There will be a to help you stay fit and healthy while abroad. local leader and drivers and local guides where needed. There are no mandatory vaccination requirements for this trip. Excellent local guides - our Indian team has proved very popular with Recommended vaccinations for this trip are: Polio, Tetanus, clients with their incredible knowledge, passion and hospitality adding Diphtheria, Typhoid, Hepatitis A. greatly to the experience. There is no better way to experience Indian culture than letting an Indian guide show you around their country. Malaria prophylaxis is essential on this trip, and we suggest that you seek advice from your GP or travel health clinic about which malaria The minimum age of clients on this trip is 16 years. Please note tablets to take. that anyone aged under 18 must be accompanied by (and share accommodation with) a parent or legal guardian. Dengue fever is a known risk in places visited on this trip. It is a tropical viral disease spread by daytime biting mosquitoes. There is currently no vaccine or prophylaxis available for Dengue, and MONEY MATTERS therefore the best form of prevention is to avoid being bitten. We Currency Information recommend you take the usual precautions to avoid mosquito bites. The national currency of India is the Indian Rupee (INR), with an The above information can change at short notice; as we are not exchange rate of 90 to the UK£ and 60 to the US$. qualified to answer all your questions about travel health we strongly Exchange rates are correct at the time of publication. recommend you contact your Medical Professional or a Travel Health Clinic at least 8 weeks prior to departure for up-to-date information. It is illegal to import or export rupees. Do not accept torn or (very) dirty Indian banknotes from banks or in change as they will almost certainly not be accepted as legal tender in India. Please ask for low denomination notes of 100 Rupees, as 500 Rupee notes will be more difficult to use.

Money change facilities are available on arrival at Mumbai's international airport; please change most of your money here rather than waiting until you get to Nagpur or Pench where it is much harder to do.

You can change money back from Rupees into Pounds or Dollars at Delhi airport; this has to be done before you go through security and please note that only 1 or 2 small outlets accept Rupees in the departure lounge (the Duty Free shop does not accept Rupees), you must produce an exchange receipt showing that you changed money in India.

5 ATM availability/Credit Card Acceptance/Travellers cheques Cotton Scarf or Bandana ATM machines are now widely available in the main towns and are Torch generally reliable (Visa and MasterCard are best); you should not rely Trainers/Walking shoes on these 100% of the time though so please take some cash with Sandels/Flip-flops you as well. Please inform your bank before departure that you are Anti-bacterial hand gel travelling to India and carry the relevant telephone number with you Small personal first aid kit in case they put a block on your card. Additional warm base layer (for Winter departures) Scarf (for Winter departures) You can pay with credit cards in bigger shops all over India Gloves (for Winter departures) Mens and womens clothing should cover shoulders and be on or As this trip spends a lot of time in more remote areas where ATM below the knee. Women especially should always dress conservatively machines will not be available please make sure you carry enough to avoid unwanted attention and not to cause offence; vests, tight cash with you. You should be able to withdraw cash in Agra farily fitting trousers, short skirts and shorts are not recommended. easily. It doesn't matter what type of bag or case you use on this trip Well known brands of travellers cheques can be exchanged but this although it is preferable to use a soft holdall (with wheels if necessary) can take time and banks are not always open when you need them. or rucksack/travelsack as they tend to be easier to manage on the You can bring Sterling or US Dollars. overnight trains. You should also bring a small day bag for your valuable items. Extra Expenses and Spending Money It is recommended that you allow at least £5 (US$8) per day for Optional items: personal expenditure such as stamps, postcards and soft drinks. Light waterproof There are shopping opportunities throughout this tour and we Earplugs suggest that you take money for souvenirs - even if you are generally Money belt not a keen shopper we have found that most people succumb to some Travel pillow of the wide variety of handicrafts on offer. India has very good opportunities for shopping, especially for locally Baggage and Baggage Allowance made goods, and during your trip it is highly likely that your local At time of writing the standard weight limit for hold baggage on guides will take you to emporiums as well as workshops where these the recommended international carrier for this trip is 20kg. We goods are made. Many people find this a great opportunity to buy recommend packing only one piece of checked baggage. local handicrafts, silk, jewellery and carpets. Guides will often assume that visitors will want to go shopping, it is very much part of the As advice about luggage allowances for both hand and hold luggage culture, but if you do not wish to go please make this clear to your is subject to change, we suggest you check www.baa.com and/or the local guide at the time. airline's website for the latest information prior to your departure.

Optional Excursions (approximate costs, depending on group Please remember that you are expected to carry your own luggage at sizes) times, so don't overload yourself. If any optional game drives are available they will cost approximately £65 - £90 (US$105-145) per jeep depending upon the zones/gates you will access in the park (based on 1- 4 persons per jeep). Recently, the park charges have been revised and some zones have been declared as premium zones with higher entrance charges. This has been done to regulate the game drives and the park managements aim at reducing pressure on the park. All optional game drives should be booked and paid for locally. Elephants are sometimes available at some points in the parks for 'Tiger Shows' where groups of 2-4 ride with a Mahout to see tiger, at times this activity is not allowed though so we can't guarantee it will be available to you. This optional activity is booked and paid for locally and you should allow approximately £9-12 (US$15-20) per person including tipping the Mahout. (Please note the cost of game drives can change without our knowledge: the prices are correct at the time of publication). Many sites now charge a small fee for cameras and you should allow another £5 (US$8) for a still camera. There is also a fee for the use of video cameras in the parks and you should allow approximately £25 (or US$40).

Tipping (leader and local staff) Our local staff are paid well and fairly for their work with Exodus. Tipping is of course entirely at your discretion, but is customary in India. The local staff will probably expect some gratuity at the end of the trip and we suggest you allow about £2 to £3 (US$3-5) per day for the local staff.

In addition to this, with the permission of the group, your tour leader will collect a kitty of approximately 2000 rupees to cover tips for hotel staff, toilet attendants, porters, drivers etc.

WHAT TO TAKE JOIN THE EXODUS ONLINE COMMUNITY Essential Equipment and Clothing Sunhat Don't forget to visit the Community area on our website. You can view Sun cream and lip salve with sun protection the range of Exodus videos and podcasts, read trip write-ups which Sunglasses have featured in the national media and take advantage of some Light casual clothing special deals on travel gear and equipment. Warm sweater/fleece

6 In the Compass Café forum you'll find the Departure Lounge where Prices and exchange rates were correct at the time of publication. The you can discuss your trip with fellow travellers before you depart. most up-to-date prices can be found on the Exodus website. When you get back from your holiday remember to upload your © Exodus Travels Ltd. ATOL 2582/FTO images to the relevant trip page on our website. This helps other people see what our holidays are really like and you'll be entered automatically into our monthly photo competition.

To make full use of the Compass Café you'll need to join My Exodus. It's free, registration is simple and easy, so what are you waiting for? http://www.exodus.co.uk/community

IMPORTANT INFORMATION FOR ALL CLIENTS

Exodus operates a 24 hour duty office for emergencies, which can be contacted on 0044 (0) 1582 644 100.

Every time that you travel abroad you should take the time to read the warnings in the essential information in the brochure or at www. exodus.co.uk/about-exodus/essential-information?

Full joining instructions including local emergency numbers, and details of how to reach the start point, will be sent to you approximately 2 to 3 weeks prior to departure. If you do not receive these at least a week before departure, or require them earlier please contact our office or your travel agent.

The information in these Trip Notes is given in good faith. Where differences exist between the Trip Notes and our current brochure, the Trip Notes supersede the brochure. All holidays can be subject to unexpected changes; in order to enjoy them you should be prepared to be flexible where necessary. Occasionally, as stated in our brochure, it may not be possible to follow the itinerary as planned. This may be for a variety of reasons - climatic, political, physical or other. In these circumstances we will make the best possible alternative arrangements that maintain the integrity of the original itinerary.

As fuel prices, airport taxes and exchange rates fluctuate, and airlines manage their rates to match demand, it is proving harder than ever to guarantee our Flight Inclusive prices. Although we endeavour to keep our website as accurate as possible, daily fluctuations mean that our Flight Inclusive price may be out of date. For accurate prices we recommend that you contact one of our Travel Experts, or your Travel Agent.

HOW TO BOOK YOUR TRIP

1. Check availability

Go online to check availability, or contact us by phone or email.

2. Secure your place

You can provisionally hold a place on this trip, usually for between three and seven days.

3. Complete your booking and payment

When you’re ready to book, go to www.exodus.co.uk for online booking, book over the phone or you can complete a booking form (available online or on request by calling us). We accept all major credit and debit cards, or you can pay be cheque.

Book with confidence: Exodus is fully licensed and bonded as a tour operator. We hold Air Traffic Organisers Licence (ATOL) number 2582 issued and bonded with the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA). We are also bonded to the International Air Transport Association (IATA) and we are members of the Federation of Tour Operators (FTO) and ABTA - The Travel Association. This means you can book your Exodus holiday with confidence, as all monies paid to us for your trip are fully protected.