• > 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?

Group adventures (with our Dutch groups) tend to be longer programs and are often more challenging than our private journeys in several ways. Participants, of all ages, take hearty hikes and will rent bikes to explore. The Dutch have spent their entire lives on bikes so even older travelers are good endurance. Be sure to ask the guide the nature of any hike and opt out if you feel it will be too much.  (This is also a great argument to lobby for bike paths in the States!). The infrastructures in many of the countries we visit can be very undeveloped compared to the States. Long road trips on bumpy roads can be uncomfortable for some travelers. On several of these trips, we spend a day or two in remote areas that may require a willingness to “rough it”. Roosters will crow, lights may dim, and a cold shower may be expected on these days. On some of our group adventures, we stay for a night or two in indigenous lodgings which can be basic or very primitive. Some have no formal bath facilities. Be sure to check the weather conditions for the dates you are considering at worldweather.org, and pack appropriate shoes and clothing for these trips. At most hotels there is no porter service and you must be able to carry your own luggage.

India is a challenging destination for some travelers due to the lack of infrastructure, the level of poverty, crowds and city notice. But for those who have realistic expectations, this is very rewarding.

Our semi-private and private trips are less challenging. While these trips are also quite active, there are fewer physical challenges. Also some hotels and modes of transport are upgraded for the private/semi-private trips, and there is a little more one-on-one assistance from the guide.

Group Participants and Tour Leader

 Please consider the descriptions below before booking a trip with an international group.
On these trips, you will travel with groups of 8 to 20 travelers, of all ages, mostly from Holland and Belgium. These trips are great for our more active, independent minded travelers who welcome the added element, and occasional challenges of cultural immersion. This adds another element to your international experience. There are usually only one to four North Americans on any trip. We found that an even split of Dutch and North Americans sometimes created a cultural divide, and our intention is to blend travelers and to maintain the European feeling of these trips. True to the European style of travel is a diversity of ages represented in our groups. These active  travelers blend well and participants of all ages take hearty hikes, bike rides and welcome independent explorations.
The Dutch are typically very social and have a great command of English. It is inevitable that the participants will lapse into Dutch from time to time at meals and on the bus, until they get to know you. The guide will help to integrate you, but you will enjoy this trip more if you are the type of person who is also comfortable initiating conversations, from time to time. If you have a travel partner, it will be easier to find your way into the conversations or at least to have a buffer during times when the group is chatting in Dutch. After a day or two, you will normally get your rhythm.  You can probably expect lively conversations about world politics, especially in today’s climate.  Depending on your personal politics, this can be lots of fun, or not. The Dutch tend to be fairly liberal minded.
If this description sounds daunting or unappealing, then these trips are probably not for you and you may wish to consider our private and semi-private journeys, instead. They  offer plenty of excitement without some of the challenges. Please call us with questions.  Over half of our travelers prefer to travel the “Dutch way” booking these programs again and again.

Guide
The Dutch guide (a logistics coordinator, not a lecturer) will address the group in both Dutch and English. You will hear more Dutch than English, but you will get the important information. Guides will organize and accompany some activities and meals, but not all. They will offer suggestions for you so that you can also explore and dine safely on your own. These groups welcome these opportunities.
Our guides go through a period of training at our headquarters office in the Netherlands. In each country, they are in close contact with our land agents. Most of our land agents have worked with Djoser for 10 or more years. Their staff is there to help and are on call in the event of an emergency.

Private Tours and Custom Dates

For this trip, you may book a custom date for this trip for your private group of ten or more people.  Ask about discount rates for larger groups.

Local Transportation

Travelers will be met at the airport in Delhi by a Djoser representative and taken to the hotel. In India, a locally hired bus is at our disposal. During the months of April through August the bus is air-conditioned. Our bus is comfortable and we can make stops where and when we want. Please keep in mind that roads are busy and the distances can be long. Conditions vary considerably so it is difficult to give exact travel times. From Agra to Varanasi we will use a night train where bunks are reserved in second class. Use the following link to view slides of the transportation we use:
http://www.djoserusa.com/transportation

Accommodations

Some of our hotels have an atmosphere dating back to earlier times, especially in Rajasthan and provide a pleasant retreat from the busy Indian street life. The hotels we use are centrally located, comfortable tourist-class hotels. Rooms have private bathrooms. Hotels are basic and some have a lovely characteristic atmosphere, like the former royal palace, which we use in Jaipur. Our hotels are always equipped with a good restaurant. During the Palace tour the accommodations are one of the attractions on this tour: magnificent palaces interchange with imposing forts. The most beautiful palaces are usually located in the surroundings of small villages allowing you to get a wonderful impression of life in the countryside. In India all rooms are equipped with air-conditioning or ceiling fans. Most hotels in Northern India have a swimming pool for a refreshing swim or relaxed afternoon. We do not lodge in any American chain hotels. Do not expect the same amenities as in the States (ice-makers, candy machines, workout rooms, mini-bars, etc.). A flashlight is quite useful as electricity is not always reliable. We have made reservations for double rooms. Use the following link to view some of our lodgings:
http://www.djoserusa.com/hotels

Unless you request a single room, you will be matched with a roommate of the same sex. If you request a roommate, and we are unable to match you, for the following trips, you will be charged one half of the usual single supplement, which you can find listed on the departure dates/prices page: For the 17 and 22-day trips (International Groups), if you request a roommate and we cannot match you, there will be no additional charge for the single room

Meals

Meals are not included on the tour. This leaves you plenty of freedom to go out and look for restaurants of your choice, with the tour leader's assistance. In India, a “thali” could be your meal choice, which is a Hindi word, literally translated as “plate”. On it you find different types of food to be eaten with rice and bread. A special yogurt drink, lassie, sometimes mixed with fruit is surprisingly refreshing in warm weather. Good, cheap Indian meals are found in every place, but often pastas and pizza are on the menu.

Climate

	January	April	August
Delhi	60s	80s	90s
Kathmandu	50s	70s	Mid 70s
Lhasa	30s	40s	60s

The weather in India and Nepal can vary greatly depending on the season. In winter, daytime temperatures are pleasant and nights can be refreshing, even cold. In summer, temperatures can reach tropical highs, but humidity is low and the heat is surprisingly easy to bear. In summer it is wise to start the day early, take it easy around noon and go out again at the end of the day.  The monsoon season in India lasts from July to the end of August. Starting in the south, the monsoon reaches the north in the middle of July. Traveling in the rainy season does not have to adversely affect your holiday. The rains usually do not last long and nature flourishes.


Check the weather for your destination: Check temperature and rainfall for specific cities on your trip, during your month of travel at www.worldweather.org

Travel Documents

You will need passport and visas for entry to India. Over the last couple of years there have been frequent changes with embassies requiring fees and documentation requirements. Therefore we ask that you request your forms directly from the embassy so you can get the most up-to-date requirements. There are several Indian embassies in the U.S. You will need to contact the appropriate embassy for appropriate rates and forms needed depending on the state that you reside in. (See list below).

If you need rush service for your passport or India visa, we recommend a service called It’s Easy, located in New York. You can check their website http://www.itseasypassport.com for passport and visa requirements and to download the current forms and rates and processing fees. Or you can call them to fax you forms if you do not have Internet. Please indicate you were referred by Djoser, Inc for a 10% discount on the processing fee. They provide rush service for an additional fee.

It’s Easy  (Passport & Visa Service)
Satellite Airline Terminal
125 Park Avenue
New York, NY 10017
Phone - (212) 286-8500,
Fax (212)-490-3224

Website    http://www.itseasypassport.com
E-mail    mail@itseasypassport.com


INDIA ENTRY REQUIREMENTS:
U.S. citizens require a passport and visa to enter and exit India for any purpose. Visitors, including those on official U.S. government business, must obtain visas at an Indian Embassy or Consulate abroad prior to entering the country. There are no provisions for visas upon arrival. Depending on your state of residence, you will need to contact the embassy for your region to get the proper forms. For further information on entry requirements, please contact the Embassy of India at 2536 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, D.C. 20008, telephone (202) 939-9849 or 939-9806 or the Indian consulate in Chicago, New York, San Francisco, or Houston. The Internet address of the Embassy of India is www.indianembassy.org/. Outside the United States, inquiries should be made at the nearest Indian embassy or consulate. A list of Indian consulates and embassies can be found at http://passport.nic.in/missions.htm.

Type of Visa	For US Nationals*	For Other Nationals
Transit Visa (15 days – single/double entry) APPLY IN PERSON ONLY	$30	$10
Six months Tourist(T) / Entry(X) /Business (B) Visa - Multiple Entry	$60	$40

As of 1-10-06. Check with consulate for current rates before mailing in forms.

NEW YORK
Consular Jurisdiction: Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Puerto Rico, Rhode Island, Vermont, Virgin Islands. Address: 3 E 64th St, NY, NY 10021, Tel 212-774-0600, website: http://www.indiacgny.org, e-mail: passport@indiacgny.org

SAN FRANCISCO
Consular Jurisdiction: Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Hawaii, Idaho, Montana, Nebraska, New Mexico, Nevada, Oregon, Utah, Washington, Wyoming. Address: 540 Arguello Boulevard San Francisco, CA 94118 Tel: (415) 668-0662, Fax: (415) 668-9764. Website: http://www.indianconsulate-sf.org/. General E-Mail: INFO@IndianConsulate-sf.org. Passport/Visa Inquires: VCPV@IndianConsulate-sf.org.

CHICAGO
Consular Jurisdiction: Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, North Dakota, South Dakota, and Wisconsin. Address: 455 North Cityfront Plaza Drive, #850, Chicago, IL 60611, U.S.A., Tel: (312) 595-0405, website: http://chicago.indianconsulate.com/.

HOUSTON
Consular Jurisdiction: Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Kansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Oklahoma, and Texas.
Address: 1990 Post Oak Blvd. #600, 3 Post Oak Central, Houston, TX 77056, Tel: 713-626-2148/9, Fax: 713-626-2450, E-mail: cgi-hou@swbell.net, Website: http://www.cgihouston.org/.

Flights

We book our flights with top airlines. Most airlines will honor earned mileage. You will need to submit your mileage credit yourself upon receipt of your flight information. For airlines that allow advance seating reservations, we typically request aisle and adjoining seats unless otherwise instructed on your registration form. It is vital that you arrive at the airport early, according to the airline (often 3 hours prior to flight time). We do provide airport transfers (airport pick-up and drop off) in our destination country for those who book the Land/Air package. Flight times are subject to change. It is recommended that you book your domestic Add-on (connecting) flights through Djoser in association with the international flight. To avoid penalties for flight changes do not book your own domestic add-on (connecting flight) without first receiving a printed copy of your flight record from Djoser confirming your actual departure and return flight times. Below you will find the usual flight times for the airline indicated.

Sample: Air France

Depart NY	Return NY
7:45 PM. Arrival Delhi next day at 11 PM	Depart Delhi 1:20 A.M. Arrive same day 9:15 AM
Sample: American
Depart LAX	Return LAX
Depart LA 12:21 PM. Arrive next day Delhi 9:35 PM.	Depart at 1:15 AM. Arrive LA same day at 11:28 AM.

Usual flight times – subject to change

Airline Tickets

You will receive your tickets or E-tickets 10-12 days prior to your departure date.
In case the airline uses E-tickets you will receive two documents:

•    A document that shows the E-ticket number & flight itinerary (sent by email & mail).
•    A receipt of the E-ticket (sent by mail).

The first document listed is needed to check in at the automated kiosks. If you check in at the E-ticket desk you don’t need any of the provided documents, you can simply show your passport and you’re good to go. Both the automated kiosk and the e-ticket desk insure a much faster check in than at the regular check in desks. It is important to hold on to your e-ticket receipt, as you might need it to claim your mileage credits (if the airline awards mileage for this particular flight).

Money

In India and Nepal, the currency is called the rupee (R’s). We recommend taking along traveler’s checks since they are insured against loss and theft. In addition it is very handy to bring a small amount of cash dollars in small denominations. In some places you can use your credit card to get cash from an ATM machine. Outside of the largest cities in Nepal and Tibet, you may not be able to use your credit card or traveler’s checks so make sure you have enough currency. In most large restaurants, souvenir shops and hotels, major credit cards are accepted. As mentioned in our literature the tour cost does not include meals and personal expenses. On the price chart, you will find the estimated amount that you should budget for meals, drinks, entry fees, souvenirs, and such. However, this is an average and depends on your spending patterns. It is always sensible to bring some extra cash for the unexpected.

Tipping  
It is customary in India, to tip ten percent in large restaurants and only small change anywhere else. While tipping your driver and guides is not mandatory, it would be greatly appreciated. The amount is up to you. Some guides will collect a tip pot at the beginning of the trip to take care of the driver and other individuals who help the group along the way.

Health

It is not safe to drink tap water in these countries. Buy bottled water, avoid drinks with ice cubes and only eat well-cooked food. Vaccinations are not mandatory but are suggested. Contact the Center for Disease Control and Prevention where you can get the latest update regarding recommended vaccinations. They can be reached at 404-639-3311. Their website is comprehensive with vaccine recommendations as well as helpful health precautions. Websites: India & Nepal www.cdc.gov/travel/indianrg.htm. It is crucial that you consult with your doctor regarding necessary vaccines. Do not assume that you need everything listed below. Your doctor will advise you based on time of year, regions visited and your particular circumstances. At the time of this printing, the CDC recommendations were:

•    Hepatitis A or immune globulin (IG)
•    Hepatitis B, if you might be exposed to blood (for example, health care workers) have sexual contact with the local people, or be exposed through medical treatment.
•    Typhoid vaccination
•    Tetanus-diphtheria and measles booster
•    One-time dose of polio for adults
•    Japanese encephalitis (usually limited to visits of 4 weeks or more to rural areas)
•    Rabies  (if you might be exposed to wild or domestic animals)
•    It is also recommend that you take malaria tablets. (Inquire about possible side effects)

Luggage & Clothing

Do not forget to bring your hiking boots, a small alarm clock and a small backpack for day-tours. A sleeping bag is not necessary; however, a sleeping bag liner or long underwear is advised for colder seasons. Please try to limit your luggage to about thirty pounds. The storage compartments on the bus are limited so frameless backpacks or mid-sized bags are preferred.

Resources

It is extremely useful to pick up a good travel guidebook. We highly recommend Lonely Planet. You will find a wealth of practical information regarding money issues, maps, local customs, history, activities, and much more. There are always great travel journals, historical and political books at your local bookstore as well. The internet is also invaluable for researching and finding great photos. Be sure to check out this trip’s Slide Show (see link above) to get a good feeling for the trip, lodgings and modes of travel.

Communication

With all the modern communications these days, you are very reachable throughout the world. We will also provide a list of phone numbers for the accomodations you will be staying in as well as Djoser’s emergency contact numbers while you are away. In most places you will find Internet cafés where, for a fee, you can send and receive emails. Mobile phone access is possible based on your phone instrument and provider.