• > 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
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How Strenuous are these Trips?

The challenge level of this trip is INTERMEDIATE. Count on an active pace with lots of walking and nature explorations. Keep in mind the high altitudes and mountainous terrain make walks more challenging.

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

The time difference with China from the East Coast is 13 hours later and 10 hours on the West Coast. During the trip we use several modes of transportation. Because of the long distances, we use some internal flights times throughout the trip. We also travel on sleeper trains, a typical Chinese way of traveling. Chinese sleeper trains are separated in the so-called hard seats, (you can only sit,) hard sleepers and soft sleepers. During all train trips, we use the hard sleepers. This entails that you sleep in an open compartment with six hard sleeping facilities. In these hard sleepers, you are provided with sheets, blankets and pillows, however a sheet lining might come in handy. In addition, you will find a thermos with hot water so bring your own mug.  The major chatter and the rustling of tea cups abruptly ends when the lights are turned off and you are slowly rocked to sleep by the movement of the train. The rest of our travel is with our own locally hired bus. The travel days can sometimes be long; distances are great and roads are not always good.You will be amazed by the amount of bikes you see in the cities as well as in the rural area. To explore some areas, the bike is by far the best form of transportation. There are also taxis, mini-buses, and rickshaws that can take you almost everywhere very inexpensively.  Once we make a stop, we explore cities and villages on foot and by using the local modes of transport. 

Accommodations

Hotels. Comfortable tourist class (mostly 3-star). Air-conditioned or fans where needed, with rare exception. In several Chinese hotels you can exchange money and you can get a western breakfast. Most hotels offer opportunities to have your clothes washed. In Tibet, in Lhasa, Gyantse and Shigatse, we stay in good, basic hotels, again with private bath. 
 
Singles
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

Even though the Chinese prepare delicious lunches, snacks and dinner, many tourists are not very enthusiastic about the Chinese breakfast of rice, pork, fried peanuts and pickled vegetables accompanied by a glass of beer. In quite a few of our hotels, there is also a western breakfast served or there are lighter alternatives available. In restaurants outside of the hotels you often find pancakes or yogurt on the menu. For food lovers a trip through China is one big culinary adventure. Every region has their own specialties, which becomes evident in the food preparation and use of spices. In Beijing one would eat the famous Peking Duck. The cuisine of the Szeuhuan province is famous because of its distinct use of spices. The Cantonese are known to use all sorts of animals on their dishes such as dogs, cats, monkeys and muskrats. Of course you also find familiar dishes on the menu. A favorite lunch for the average westerner is noodle soup, rich Mie soup with various vegetables and/or meat. At night you can choose from a great variety of dishes that arrive at the table “family style”. Everyone eats from these platters (with chopsticks). Another fun dish is a hotpot that is similar to fondue. You can cook your own vegetables, meat and fish in a small pot with boiling bouillon stock on the table. It can be very practical to learn a couple of key words or to take along a small phrase book or dictionary so you can select the food you are in the mood for. Tea is the national drink and will be served automatically in many places. In addition, mineral water, soft drinks and beer are available almost everywhere. In Tibet you will not forget the special taste of the Tibetan yak butter tea!

Climate

Because of the huge size of the country, you come across very diversified weather conditions. The summers in a large part of China are warm with an average temperature above 85 degrees farenheit, with the exception of the areas with high latitudes. Rain occurs during the entire year. You can expect a few rain showers, especially in the south. In the highlands of Tibet you experience bitter cold such as in Dali and Lijing, located at a higher altitudes. In the winter time in Beijing  the temperatures can drop far below zero. From the middle of November until the end of February, we don’t organize trips to China because of the cold weather. The Tibet trips take place in the period from April until October because in the winter months, the passes are closed due to snow. In Tibet, the sun is fierce but on the passes, the altitude and the wind create a biting cold throughout the entire season. In the rainy season (July-August,) you need to be aware that road as may be slippery in the mountains and that delays are very possible. Rain often falls at the end of the day and during the night.  The rain showers are usually short and intense and cloud cover is usually heavy during those periods.

Travel Documents

A visa is needed for China
 
Be sure to check with the Department of State for the most recent document requirements for travel to your destinations.

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.

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. 

The website for the Dept. of State is:  http://travel.state.gov/travel/travel_1744.html.
 

Flights

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:   Beijing
Land program ends in: Hong Kong

Please note the arrival and departure times listed for the Dutch participants so that you can schedule your flights. 

Hotel extension recommended for earlier arrival. on Day 1    8:55 AM
On the final day, the flight for the Dutch participants is scheduled to leave at  11:05 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

For all Djoser programs if there are internal flights or connecting trains, the tour leader will handle these tickets and disperse them to you 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

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 bag. Hard suitcases are difficult to pack on the vehicle.  Be sure to bring good walking shoes that are comfortable and already broken in. Make sure any equipment that you bring is in good working order.

It is recommended that you bring a universal adapter plug and extra batteries for your flashlight, in the event of power outages.  The voltage is 220.

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