• > 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?

Djoser participants enjoy an active style of travel. On a Djoser tour, we do lots of walking. There are hearty nature walks and more strenuous hikes for the more energetic travelers. On the Peru (21-day) you have an option to reserve a place for a demanding hike on the Inca Trail. You can also forgo these activities for a more leisurely activity. In Peru, high altitudes could be problematic for those with respiratory problems. Check with your doctor prior to booking.  Our hotels are often located so that you can walk to the nearby sites. Once in a city, we will only take transport to sites that are far away.  You must be capable and willing to carry your own luggage from the bus to the hotel, as usually, there is no porter.

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.

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.  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 the 21-day Peru trip, private groups can be arranged for 10 or more. Ask about discounts for larger groups.  

Local Transportation

We fly to Lima, Peru. Travelers will be met at the airport in Lima by a Djoser representative and taken to the hotel. In Peru and Ecuador a locally hired bus is at our disposal. The buses are air-conditioned. Our bus is comfortable and we can make stops where and when we want. Please keep in mind that roads can be busy, distances can be long and road conditions may not be optimal.  

Accommodations

The hotels we use are centrally located, comfortable, local hotels. Hotels are basic and some have a lovely characteristic atmosphere. 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.) Where necessary, rooms are air-conditioned. In the jungle we stay in a very primitive gas-lit lodge. A useful thing to bring is a flashlight 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

If you are traveling alone you will be matched with a roommate of the same sex.  For the 21-day Peru trip, there is no additional charge if we cannot match you with a roommate.

Meals

Group members usually eat breakfasts together at the hotels and will take this time to discuss the day’s activities. This leaves you lots of freedom to go out and look for restaurants of your choice, of course with the tour leader's assistance, or you can join other travelers for meals.  Peruvian food can be hot and spicy. There is a wide selection of vegetables and fruits and wonderful seafood dishes. Pisco Sour is a famous local drink made from a strong grape brandy. The local wines and beers are excellent. In the jungle, a cook will prepare food. Although primitively prepared, it is quite tasty! The cost of your meals is included in the cost of the trip. There are a few small restaurants on the islands.

Climate

The warmest months in Lima, Peru are November to March with pleasant temperatures in the 70s and 80s. June through August lows may dip to the 50s. Galapagos is in the mid-70’s consistently throughout the year. You can check the weather chart in our website in the Peru section for more details.

Travel Documents

You will need a passport for Peru which must be valid six months after exit from these countries. A visa is not required. If you are in a hurry, an expeditor can process your passport quickly for a fee. We recommend a service called It’s Easy, located in New York. You can check their website http://www.itseasypassport.com for passport 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.

 
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

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.

Sample flight with Continental:

Usual flight times – subject to change

As you can see the costs of our trips are listed for trips from Los Angeles or Miami. We can provide flights from other cities within the United States at competitive prices. These “Add-on” cities and prices can be found on our website (www.djoserusa.com) within the destination section. The costs of these add-ons are added to the base price from either Los Angeles or Miami. The flight routing will not necessarily go through that city, but the list price will serve as a baseline for your total cost.

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

Please refer to www.exchangerate.com for current exchange rates. In Peru the currency is the New Sol (Sl.) which = 100 centimos. U.S. dollars can be exchanged everywhere and most shops will readily accept dollars. Charge cards may be limited to use in Lima. Likewise, exchange of traveler checks can be difficult.

In Peru and Ecuador, for meals, drinks, entry fees, souvenirs, and such you can count on a minimum of $270 per week. Of course, this is an average and depends on your spending patterns. It is always sensible to bring some extra cash for the unexpected.   

The airport exit taxes will apply in this region, which you will pay yourself at the airports. Please see the price chart for estimated amounts, which are subject to change.

Tipping
At the beginning of the trip, the tour leader will collect a sum of approximately $25-$30 per traveler (for the main portion of the trip). This will cover tips for drivers, hotel staff, and others who assist us along the way. A tip for your tour leader would be greatly appreciated at the end of your trip. The amount is, of course, based on your discretion and the tour leader’s performance. In restaurants in Peru, service charges of 15% are added to the bill. An additional tip of 5% is expected. Taxi drivers do not usually expect tips in Ecuador or Peru.

Health

You can read about travel issues on the Center for Disease Control website at http://www.cdc.gov/travel/. Further questions may be directed to the CDC at 1-800-311-3435. There is a CDC traveler’s information call line at Travelers Health 1-877-394-8747 if you need information faxed to you. Internet is the best mode of communication. Here are the current CDC recommendations:

•    Hepatitis A or immune globulin (IG)
•    Hepatitis B,
•    Tetanus-diphtheria booster
•    Typhoid
•    Yellow fever
•    Malaria tablets     

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 web site www.cdc.gov is very comprehensive with vaccine recommendations as well as helpful health precautions.

It is important 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.

Luggage & Clothing

In view of the limited space for luggage in and on the bus we ask that you bring a soft duffle bag or a backpack and that you limit your luggage to about 30 pounds. We recommend that you bring along sufficient clothing for the different types of weather without packing your entire wardrobe. Airy cotton clothing will do for the lower regions such as Arequipa and the coast of Peru, but in general you will need warm clothes. Especially in the period of May to October it will be very cold in the Peruvian highlands. In these winter months temperatures will go below freezing most of the time. Therefore it is advisable to bring along well-insulated clothing and in the Peruvian winter also a warm winter coat or a warm sweater with a windbreaker. Even if the sun is shining during the day, you still need a warm sweater. Clothing in layers will be handy, such as a T-shirt, blouse, sweater and windbreaker. You will be able to have your laundry done in many hotels. Closed walking shoes with good tread will serve you well when you walk on the steep paths at Machu Picchu. Sneakers are not good for hiking and climbing, as they can be slippery. Some hotels don’t provide towels, so we recommend that you pack two towels. It will also be handy to bring along a flashlight in case of power failure. Gloves, hats and scarves are easy to get locally. You also want to bring a small daypack for the overnights at Machu Picchu, when the bulk of the luggage will stay behind in the hotel. If you want to walk the Inca trail, we recommend that you bring a warm sleeping bag for camping overnight. These are also for rent in Cuzco. To spend the night in Amantani you may bring a sheet bag, because the lodging is rather simple, but there will be enough blankets. Be sure to bring sun screen!

Voltage: 220 Volt.
Electrical outlets: the American model.We recommend you bring along a duffel bag or a frameless backpack as your luggage. If you bring a suitcase, stick to a mid-sized bag. This will make transporting your luggage easier for yourself as well as for the tour operator. A small day-pack is also useful to carry water and essentials. We request that you try to keep your luggage under thirty pounds as the luggage compartment in the bus is not always spacious. In several hotels en route you can have your clothes washed so do not over pack. Pack lightweight cottons and lines and bring rainwear. A jacket is recommended for mountain areas. Snorkeling equipment is usually available to rent on the boat but we are told that is small to find flippers for small feet.

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

Phone: available almost everywhere.
Internet cafes: in most places.
Cell Phones: reasonable reception. Inquire with your provider before you leave.