• > How Strenuous are these Trips?
• > Group Participants and Tour Leader
• > Private Tours and Custom Dates
• > Local Transportation
• > Accommodations
• > Meals
• > Climate
• > Travel Documents
• > Flights
• > Airline Tickets
• > Money
• > Health
• > Luggage & Clothing
• > Resources
• > Communication

How Strenuous are these Trips?

The challenge level of this trip is Intermediate. We camp for several nights on this trip. Count on an active pace, lots of walking and intensive nature explorations.

Group Participants and Tour Leader

Participants:   If International Group  MIN: 8 MAX: 20  Dutch tour leader.


Guide Service
The tour leader serves as logistics coordinator, not a lecturer. They provide information about the daily life and culture and practical tips regarding restaurants, transport, admission fees, activities, etc.  The tour leader organizes and accompanies some activities but participants also enjoy independent time.
 
In-Country Staff
Our land representatives are situated in the destination country you will visit. We work closely with them and they function as our liaison with the guide, drivers and hotels. They are also available in the case of an emergency and their number will be provided on your emergency contact list.
 
Problems or Emergencies
While you are away, should you have a problem, you have several points of contact. Your guide, our land representative, and of course, we are just a call or email away. We will provide contact numbers for you before you leave. Please distribute this list to family or to your contact person at home. If someone needs to reach you from home due to an emergency, but is having difficulty due to language or bad connections, they can call our office and we will assist in contacting you.
 

What To Expect When Traveling on an INTERNATIONAL GROUP TRIP

Djoser, Inc. is an offshoot of a  highly regarded, Dutch tour operator, established in 1985 in the Netherlands.  Djoser has operated in the U.S. since 1998.  We share an outstanding network of land representatives around the world, many of whom have worked with us since our beginnings.  Many of our trips are offered in cooperation with the Djoser, Netherlands office.

On our Price/Dates pages you will see that departure dates are denoted as being organized for  NORTH AMERICAN GROUPS or INTERNATIONAL GROUPS.  On INTERNATIONAL GROUPS trips you will join Dutch and Belgian travelers. This multi-cultural aspect is the draw for many regular Djoser travelers, but not the perfect fit for every traveler. We invite you to consider the description below when selecting to travel with an INTERNATIONAL GROUP or a NORTH AMERICAN GROUP. 

All Djoser adventures are designed for active travelers with emphasis on cultural interaction and nature explorations. The balance of guidance and freedom is also crucial to our journeys. Our International Group programs are some of our most adventurous and comprehensive. Some trips feature days spent in remote areas, with some long drive days, and a night or two in very basic or indigenous accommodations.

The group size ranges from 8 to 22 travelers of all ages, most from Holland.  You will find 1 to 5 North Americans participating in these groups. Almost every participant will have a superb command of English, but you are sure to hear plenty of Dutch. You may need to exert a bit more effort to make initial contact but usually in a day or two, the group warms up to one another. The success of the social interaction tends to depend more on the individual personalities in the group rather than nationalities, just as with any other tour group. 

On most trips, a Dutch tour leader will accompany the group and will speak both Dutch and English. In a few countries, a local guide will accompany instead or will assist the Dutch tour leader, such as in Japan or Syria. 

These are not lecture tours. The guide functions as a logistics coordinator and you will receive the important information. The guide will organize and accompany some activities and meals, but also gives suggestions so that participants can dine and explore independently.  Participants on these trips are rather independent-minded and welcome time on their own in addition to the group activity. Don't expect as much one-one-one attention from the guide as you would find on a North American Group tour.  

On our African safaris with camping accommodations, there will be an English-speaking, African guide with a camp courier assisting with food preparations.Most of the safaris with lodge accommodations will have a a Dutch tour leader.

If you have a travel partner, or if you are solo and can easily engage with others, and welcome the idea of an international mix and an active travel style, then this should be a fun experience for you. If you are traveling alone, or if you are more introverted, blending with the group may be more challenging. Again, so much  depends on the chemistry of the individual group members.

We want you to be happy and it is important that you select a trip style that fits.  If you are worried that you will feel like the "odd man out" then we suggest that you consider a North American group trip.  But if you welcome the added layer and occasional challenges of this added cultural experience, as well as the more adventurous nature of these trips, then these journeys are for you. 

Feel free to call us with your questions. 877-356-7376

Private Tours and Custom Dates

Local Transportation

From Darwin to Cairns vv we make a domestic flight with Qantas. On the path Alice Springs and Darwin vv we use a night train, the Ghan. We use air-conditioned buses that are suitable for the Outback in the summer. These are simple, not overly large buses with a luggage trailer. With their small size they are very suited to the often unpaved roads. The buses are operated by experienced Australian drivers who know the route well. The advantage of a private bus is also that we are flexible and can break what we like for a picnic on a beautiful spot to take pictures or to stop at a cozy local pub to have a refreshment. Be sure to keep in mind there are some very long distances that make for very long travel days.
 
IN-CITY TRANSPORT
Once we make a stop, we explore cities and villages on foot and by using the local modes of transport.
 

Accommodations

The hotels where we stay are richly diverse. In cities we use centrally located, comfortable hotel. Some of the hotels are air-conditioned and in most rooms you coffee or tea. In some remote places you sleep in a simple, but cozy "pub'-hotel, a typical Australian accommodation. In Coober Pedy we stay in a simple guesthouse, which is carved into the rocks.We sleep a total of four nights in tents at campsites. Djoser provides the necessary camping gear: dome tents, mats, chairs etc. You will need to bring a sleeping back and perhaps an extra pad.  You can also rent a sleeping bag fo approximately $25. All Australian camp facilities have showers and toilets. Often there is a washing machine and dryer  a shop, pub and a restaurant.
 
SINGLE TRAVELERS
In Coober Pedy, a single room is not possible.
 
Extension city front: Sydney
Cost per person double (front): 75
Cost per person for single (front): 120
Extension city back: Cairns
Cost per person double (back): 75
Cost per person single (back) 120

Meals

The meals during camping nights  are included in the price. Participants are expected to help with the preparation and clean-up of meals. During the rest of the trip you can determine what, and with you would like to eat.  Dine with the group or independently. Its’ up to you. Because of the remoteness of some sites and the sometimes largely uninhabited areas we traverse it is not always possible to eat in restaurants. The guide can often offer travel tips for a good restaurant or a nice cafe. Almost all international cuisines are represented so you always have a wide choice of restaurants. Be sure to try the seafood platters loaded with a variety of delicacies from the sea. Meat lovers can also taste delicious kangaroo steak.

Climate

The climate in Australia has four seasons and in the States. Being situated on the southern hemisphere, the distribution of the seasons is opposite to ours. In our summer it is winter in Australia. Within the country there are large climatic differences. During the trip you will experience differences in temperature and humidity. The tropical north has basically two seasons: a dry and a wet period, with temperatures all year round at 30 ° C. The dry season is from May to October. The rainy season is from December to April, then there's the occasional rain. Central Australia has a desert climate.The drought and heat, make the earth color red, hence the nickname "The Red Center". In the (Australian) summer temperatures can rise above 40 ° C in the night and the weather is very cool. Because of the low humidity you experience the heat very differently than  at home so the temperature is tolerable. Another aspect is the seasonal presence of the annoying "bush-flies", which you are sure to get in the summer. The Australian wave '(the fanning gesture for your face) and the famous' cowboy hats with corks on strings "offer a solution to these flies. The climate in the south has relatively cold winters with snow in the Snowy Mountains and warm, dry summers. But even within this area there are regional differences. Sydney's climate is very mild making it a subtropical zone.
 

Travel Documents

U.S. citizens must enter with an Australian visa or, if eligible, through Electronic Travel Authority (ETA)
 
Be sure to check with the Department of State for the most recent document requirements for travel to your destinations. Be sure that your passport is valid for at least six months after departure from your destination. Also make sure there are extra pages in your passport.  When completing VISA applications, be sure to confirm whether you will need a SINGLE or DOUBLE entry tourist visa. We will provide you in-country contact information for your visa application. The website for the Dept. of State is:  http://travel.state.gov/travel/travel_1744.html.
 

Flights

Booking Flights From / To the U.S.

As we provide only the LAND PORTION of the trip, you will need to book your own flights from and to the United States. Book your flights into and out of the cities listed below:
 
Land program begins in:   Sydney
Land program ends in: Cairns

Please note the estimated arrival and departure times listed below for the Dutch participants. When you book a trip we will confirm their flight times so you can book your flights times to correspond.

Dutch participants are scheduled to arrive on Day 1,  8:10PM
On the final day, the flight for the Dutch participants is scheduled to leave at:
3:15 PM

USEFUL LINKS FOR BOOKING YOUR FLIGHTS
ORBITZ:   http://www.orbitz.com/
EXPEDIA: http://www.expedia.com/

BEFORE YOU FINALIZE YOUR FLIGHT, GET TRIP CONFIRMATION!
Do not book your flight prior to written or e-mail notification from Djoser that the trip is a "go". For instance, group trips must meet the required minimum enrollment. We will notify you of the status of enrollment upon request. Also, on very rare occasions, an unforeseen itinerary or date change can occur.  We advise you to take out travel insurance. Before booking your flight, make sure that you are aware of your flight provider's penalties for changes or cancellations.  We are not liable for penalties incurred for flight changes or cancellations. 

Airline Tickets

If internal flights, trains or boats are used during a Djoser program, the tour leader will handle the tickets and disperse them to group participants at the appropriate time. 

Money

The cost of the land packages includes city-to-city transport, guide assistance, lodging as described, and only meals listed in the price inclusive section. You should budget for out-of-pocket expenses for other meals, fees for optional excursions and activities, in-city transport and other personal expenses.  See our prices for the estimated out of pocket expenses.

Currency & Cash
On your trip you will want to make sure you are prepared with the proper form of currency. ATMs can be scarce and charge cards are not always accepted.  You will want to exchange money for the local currency.  Before you go, you can check the most current conversion rates, and you can also print out a handy currency exchange "cheat sheet" at: http://www.oanda.com/convert/cheatsheet
 
Currency: Australian Dollar
ATMS: found in the the larger towns
Cash accepted: Euros, Australian Dollars
Credit cards: Accepted in many restaurants and shops.
 
Tipping
On our international group trips, for your convenience, the tour leader will organize a tip pot at the beginning of the trip. At the beginning of the trip, each participant will donate a few dollars per day to the pot. The  amounts will be disbursed to drivers, local guides, hotel staff, and others along the way.  If there are funds remaining at the end of the trip, they will be divided among the group.  The tip pot does not include a tip for your tour leader. On our private trips, tipping is up to you.

Health

Check with your doctor or local health authorities for the latest recommendations. Be mindful of what you eat. We recommend you carry a first aid kit and be sure to be equipped with your personal medications, painkillers, and medicines to prevent diarrhea and stomach disorders. The tour leader will also carry a first aid kit in case of emergencies. Keep in mind that travel can be tiring. It is important to be in good health, in good condition and fully equipped for the journey. Take care that you eat properly, drink plenty of water and get lots of rest. Those who travel on our more physically active trips, including our   Walking Tours or Biking Tours, should have higher level of fitness and stamina. For country specific health advice, please consult the Center for Disease Control website at www.cdc.gov.

TRAVEL INSURANCE
For piece of mind, we highly recommend that you procure travel insurance.  Make sure that you are covered in the event of illness or injury. If adequate treatment is not readily available in the area,  emergency evacuation is often required by private carrier and can be exorbitantly expensive. Also, unforeseen events at home can prevent you from going, such as the illness of an immediate relative. Even things like delayed or missed flights or lost luggage can be costly. You are free to choose your own insurance provider. Over the years, we have recommended TRAVELEX. They offer a variety of plans and most importantly, they are responsive. Should you choose to go with TRAVELEX, you will contact them directly and the cost of your coverage will depend on the plan you choose. The cost will be based over the total cost of your trip and flights, and the amount is also subject to your age. Ask about the TRAVEL PLUS plan and the more economical TRAVEL LITE plan.  Their website is www.travelexinsurance.com and phone number is 1-800-228-9792.  It is important to get travel insurance immediately after booking as most companies have a brief window (10 days from booking) for coverage of pre-existing conditions, for example, coverage of cancellation due to a chronically sick relative.

Luggage & Clothing

Please limit your luggage to 35 pounds. We recommend a soft, rolling duffle as the hard suitcases are difficult to pack on the vehicle. Be sure to bring good comfortable walking shoes with good tread, and already broken in. Sneakers can be slippery. Keep in mind that most hotels will not have porter service.

VOLTAGE
240V

It is recommended that you bring a universal adapter plug and extra batteries for your flashlight, in the event of power outages. The voltage in this destinations is:

WHAT TO BRING
During your trip you will be able to wash you clothes in several places.  Be sure to pack for opposite seasons to home.. Especially in the Australian winter, it is important that you have enough warm clothes with you, as temperatures in the desert at night significantly reduced daytime and with cool breezes. In the summer months in the desert, nights are cool so bring at least one set of warm clothes: shirt, long pants, wind jacket. Think further to include the necessary sleeping bag (it is also possible to rent), a daypack, good walking shoes, sunscreen, hat, sunglasses, insect repellent and swimsuits.

Resources

A good guidebook is invaluable. We recommend the Lonely Planet series as well as the DK Guidebooks.

Communication

Mobile telephone use is limited. Internet cafes can often be found in larger cities but count on a slow connection. Check with your phone provider before departure regarding coverage or consult the following webpage: www.gsmworld.com/roaming/gsminfo/index.shtml