• > 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 Moderate
Count on an active pace, lots of walking and nature explorations.

Group Participants and Tour Leader

Participants:  International Group  MIN: 8 MAX: 20

Traveling 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. Socializing 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 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.

Private Tours and Custom Dates

Custom dates can be arranged for your private group of 10 or more. Please inquire about discounts for larger groups.

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.  

When we leave Athens we will travel with our own comfortable bus driven by a local driver. In Greece the distances between our destinations are not great; in general it takes only a few hours to drive from one place to another. The longest drive of the tour, from Ioannina to Olympia, takes about seven hours. Further you will have the option, in several places that we visit, to rent a moped or a car to for example search for nice villages in the area. Do bring your driver’s license! During the tour of the Greek islands we will often make use of ferries, this is THE best way to travel from island to island. On almost all ferries you can enjoy the sun and the sea from the sundeck. The crossovers take anywhere from 1½ to 5 hours. 

IN-CITY TRANSPORT
Once we make a stop, we explore cities and villages on foot and by using the local modes of transport.

Accommodations

"On the Greek islands nights we clean tourist class (3-star) hotels, which often convenient walking distance of the port are located. The reserved rooms are clean and have a private shower and toilet. In Athens we stay in a simple but clean hotel that is centrally located. We spend one night on the ferry. During this 10-hour crossing, we stay in reclining chairs. 
"
 
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

Only breakfast is included in the tour price, so that you can pick your own choice of restaurants for lunch and dinner. The guide can make recommendations. Greece is rightfully known for its especially varied kitchen. Besides dishes with broiled meat and stews and oven dishes with meat and vegetables (like moussaka) there is an enormous choice of fish that is fished from the Greek waters. Greece is further known for its delicious wines and ouzo, the aperitif with an anise seed taste.

Climate

Greece has a stable Mediterranean climate with a pleasantly warm springtime from March to June and dry, warm summers from June through October. In general it is warmer and dryer along the coast and in the capital Athens than it is in the inland areas that are situated at a higher altitude.

Travel Documents

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:
 
Land program begins in:   Athens
Land program ends in: Athens

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

Hotel available 1PM. Dutch group flight scheduled to arrive: on Day 1 at 1:45 PM
On the final day, the flight for the Dutch participants is scheduled to leave at:
5:05 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

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=Euro
ATM Machines:    Located many places
Charge Cards:   Charge Cards Frequently accepted.
Types of Cash Accepted: 
 
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. 

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