• > 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-Advanced. Count on an active pace, lots of walking and intensive nature explorations.

Group Participants and Tour Leader

PARTICIPANTS:  International Group  MIN:8  MAX: 20

IF YOU BOOK A TRIP WITH AN INTERNATIONAL GROUP
When you book one of our international group adventures, you will join an active group of travelers of all ages, most from Holland and Belgium. Depending on the trip, there will be only one to five North Americans on the trip. Most of the European participants have a superb command of English but you are likely to hear lots of Dutch spoken. The Dutch tour leader will address the group in Dutch and English. These are not lecture tours and you will get the important information.  On our African camping safaris, a local English-speaking local guide will accompany the group. Participants of these groups are extremely independent-minded  and embrace opportunities to explore or dine on their own, in addition to group activity.
 
Traveling with an international group adds another dimension to your trip. Compatibility has more to do with individual personalities of group members. Socializng can be more challenging for solo travelers and may require more effort on your part to initiate contact. The Dutch are usually quite social and often, very direct. Their politics tend to lean towards the liberal side. The European participants, of all ages, are typically very active and most everyone is up for a hearty hike or bike ride.
 
Trust your instincts....if this description sounds appealing, these trips are probably a great match for you. But if you feel that it may be too active, that you prefer more one-on-one attention, or that that the idea of being in the minority is not appealing, then a private trip or travel with our North American groups may be more suitable for you.


GUIDE SERVICE
A Dutch tour leader will accompany this trip and will address the group in Dutch and in English. The tour leader serves as logistics coordinator, not a lecturer. They provide information about the daily life and culture and practical tips regarding restaruants, transport, admission fees, activities, etc.  The tour leader organizes and accompanies some activities but participants also enjoy independent time. A local guide travels with us on the boat. We travel with the guides by motorized canoes or on foot. On board also is a the captain, a sailor and a cook, who magically put delicious meals on the table each day.
 
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 EMERGENCY
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.

Private Tours and Custom Dates

Local Transportation

Land Program
Djoser provides the LAND PROGRAM only. You will need to book your own flights from the United States to the destination and back.   

Transportation
We travel in this area mostly by boat. From Belem to Monte Alegre and Santarem on the trip on the Rio Negro, we sail on a private boat line.  The circumstances are very basic but but the beautiful surroundings and the atmosphere in the typical Amazon boats make your trip unforgettable. To cover the land portions we hire local buses. The roads in this area can be very rough. We make three domestic flights: Fortaleza - Belém, Santarém - Manaus and Manaus - Fortaleza.
 
Once we make a stop, we explore cities and villages on foot and by using the local modes of transport. 

Accommodations

We stay mostly on the boats, for the most part, sleeping in  hammocks. On the liner of Belem to Santarem is a limited number of compartments available where you sleep in a communal situation with your fellow travelers. Some cabins have private sanitary facilities, but generally you will share the bathroom with fellow travelers. On the boat on the Rio Negro, you can only sleep in hammocks. On this trip through the Amazaon, prepare for a lack of privacy on the boats. Also, the facilities very simple, the number of toilets and washing facilities is limited. In Belém, and Manaus in the middle we stay hotels on the island Marajó and Monte Alegre and around Santarém (Santa Luzia) in nice, simple pousadas. In Vale do Paraíso we stay in wooden houses around a lake. For full groups, in Monte Alegre the group is split between two hotels. In Fortaleza, we stay in a nice hotel, near the beach.
 
SINGLE TRAVELERS
If you are traveling solo, we will match you with a same-sex roommate. On our international group trips, if you request a roommate and there is not a roommate available, unless otherwise noted, there is no supplementary charge for the single room.  On most trips, you can request single accommodations for a reasonable charge. If you would like single accommodations, please indicate your preference on your booking form.   
 

Meals

Breakfast is included in the fare. In the hotels, there is often an extensive buffet breakfast, with fruit, juices, breads, cakes and of course strong but delicious Brazilian coffee.

Climate

The rainforest has a very high humidity and can be quite hot. Seasons are barely distinguishable throughout the year since the area lies on the equator. At night in the jungle or on the boat, it is surprisingly pleasant, thanks to the coolness of the forest and the breeze on the open water areas. In the rainy season from January to March, we do not schedule  departures. You are sure to experience the tropical rain bursts throughout the year.
 

Travel Documents

A visa is needed for Brazil.
 
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

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:

Please note the arrival and departure times listed for the Dutch participants when planning your flights.
 

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
 
Local Currency:  Currency=Real
ATM Machines:   Found in major cities
Charge Cards:   Major charge cards accepted in larger cities
Types of Cash Accepted:  Cash
 
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 and hiking or cycling can be tiring. It is important to be in good condition and fully equipped for the journey. Take care that you eat properly, drink plenty of water and get lots of rest. For country specific health advice, please consult the Center for Disease Control website at www.cdc.gov.

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.


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: 110V and 220V

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