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|Trip Style:
|Rio De Janeiro to Cuzco
|1 days
|Overland expedition vehicle, Boat
Hotels, Hostels, Guesthouses, Campsites, Wild Camps, Chalets
Brazil has a totally different feel to it than the other Latin American countries. The only Portuguese-speaking country in South America, it positively vibrates with a unique and dynamic energy of its own.
Most overland visitors start in the dazzling city of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil's most famous city and home to the famous Christ the Redeemer statue and some of the world's most fantastic and atmospheric urban beaches such as Copacabana and Ipanema.
Brazil's wildlife is legendary, and there is no greater place to spot animals and birds in South America than the wetlands of the Pantanal. Here, it's possible to go spotting for ocelots, jaguars, tapirs, jabiru storks, caiman, and many types of birds! The optional activities available in the region and the nearby eco-tourism capital of Bonito are as amazing as they are numerous, with boat trips, rafting, snorkelling through crystal-clear rivers, and caving being just a few of the many possibilities here.
Further to the south is one of the greatest natural highlights in the world, the majestic Iguazu Falls! These colossal waterfalls are amongst the most impressive on the planet and a phenomenal sight on anyone's overland travels through South America!
Near to Rio de Janeiro you'll find the idyllic colonial towns of Paraty and Ouro Preto, once hugely important for gold trading back in colonial times, and each with their own serene atmosphere today. In the interior, we will explore the bizarre futuristic capital city of Brasilia, a fascinating and somewhat unusual highlight of the country.
Further inland we find the incredible landscapes of the Chapada dos Guimarães National Park, dotted with stunning caves and waterfalls and providing some fantastic walking opportunities.
Rio is particularly famous for its huge annual party - the incredible Rio Carnival. The celebration of Mardi Gras (6 weeks before Easter) is a great Brazilian tradition - the whole city goes wild for a full 7 days in a whirlwind of music and colour. We have a range of packages that get you to the heart of the action!
To learn more about Rio Carnival and see all the optional activities available around carnival time, see our Rio Carnival 2019 Optional Extras Booklet (PDF)
Peru is is a wonderland of historical treasures, home to some of South America's most glorious landmarks, and has a seemingly endless selection of optional activities to partake in all over the country.
Peru is perhaps most famous as being the ancient homeland of the Inca civilisation. Cuzco was the ancient capital of the Inca empire, and even today many of its buildings have original Inca stonework as part of their structure. The Incas had a highly organised and labour intensive society.
They managed to conquer vast tracts of land and, through strong central and regional government, retained control over an empire that spanned South America, from mid Colombia in the north, to the middle of Argentina in the south - their domination over this region of South America lasted for over four centuries, and their legacy is evident all over this area.
The most famous Inca site is undoubtedly the spectacular ancient hilltop city of Machu Picchu, one of the New Seven Wonders of the World, and the Inca Trail through the Andes near to it. You can trek through the countryside making your way through the unspoilt land and view the breathtaking scenery that carries on to the horizon and beyond. When you reach Machu Picchu you will realise what a beautiful place it is - no photograph can really do the site justice. The long-forgotten city was rediscovered by Hiram Bingham in 1911, and is simply awe-inspiring and a real must-visit place in South America.
Other incredible historical sites in Peru include the mysterious Nazca Lines which were etched into the desert floor by the pre-Inca Nazca civilisation, the colossal Chimú-era adobe city of Chan Chan near Trujillo, and the phenomenal ancient city of Chavín de Huantar in the mountains of the Cordillera Blanca. Peru has some beautiful colonial towns to explore.
The capital is the chaotic city of Lima, founded by the Conquistador Pizarro in 1535 - and the beautiful cobbled streets and buzzing atmosphere of Cuzco and Arequipa make them towns that you'll never want to leave!
Peru is also flowing with fabulous landscapes, from the desolate northern deserts to the towering mountains of Huaraz, from the sweltering jungles of Puerto Maldonado to the serene beaches of Punta Sal, and from the breathtaking Colca Canyon to the colossal Lake Titicaca, the sheer variety of Peru's landscapes make it one of the world's most beautiful destinations.
Peru has a wide range of outdoor activities, from trekking in Cuzco to white-water rafting in Arequipa to sandboarding in the Huacachina Deserts, there are so many fun things for everyone to do. Peru also has a distinctive cuisine, including lomo saltado, maize soup, and of course the delicious ceviche on the coast.
The history and sites of Peru are outstanding, but also the friendly welcome visitors receive makes Peru one of the most enjoyable countries in the world to visit.
Border information: Welcome to Rio de Janeiro: If you are starting in Rio, enter Brazil at Rio de Janeiro Airport.
Today is an arrival day with a trip meeting at 18:00 hrs. There are no activities planned so you can arrive at any time. Your leader will leave a note in reception telling you where this important meeting will take place. Your leader will collect your kitty and check your passport and insurance details at this meeting. Tonight we stay in a good quality hotel.
Carnival departures (6th of March 2014 and 19th of February 2015) the joining hotel will be Hotel Paysandu http://www.paysanduhotel.com.br/. Hotel Paysandu is located only 5 minutes walk from Hotel Argentina and is our Overlanders Carnival Hotel.
Hotel Argentina
Rua Cruz Lima No. 30
Rio de Janeiro
Tel - +55 21 2558 7233
|Approximate Cost
Visit the world famous statue Christ the Redeemer
Take a cable car up Pão de Açúcar (Sugarloaf Mountain)
Rio de Janeiro has to be one of the most beautifully situated cities in the world. The stunning Pão de Açucar (Sugarloaf) Mountain rises up out of Guanabara Bay and the sandy beaches of Ipanema and Copacabana cut beautiful curves in the shoreline, all under the watchful gaze of the iconic Art Deco statue of Christ the Redeemer on Corcovado, one of the New Seven Wonders of the World.
This is a city with something for everyone - beaches, history, shopping, culture, fantastic food and amazing nightlife. For amazing views of this spectacular city, take the cable car up to the top of Pão de Açucar, ride the train to Corcovado or jump on the tram to the historic hillside neighbourhood of Santa Teresa. If you're interested in learning more about Rio and Brazil, there are several fascinating museums in the city and you'll see some fantastic architecture by wandering around the older parts of the city.
Kick back and relax on the famous urban beaches, enjoy a beer or caipirinha at one of the many street-side cafes and then when evening comes you can party the night away - Rio has some unbelievable bars and clubs in the buzzing areas of Lapa and Ipanema. If you need a bit of quiet time to recover, take a walk in the city's wonderful botanical gardens, or escape the city for the day on an excursion to the lush forests of nearby Tijuca National Park.
Rio is particularly famous for its huge annual party - the incredible Rio Carnival. The celebration of Mardi Gras (6 weeks before Easter) is a great Brazilian tradition - the whole city goes wild for a full 7 days in a whirlwind of music and colour. Samba schools compete with ever more awe-inspiring dance displays, floats and costumes, putting on marathon perfomances in the Sambadrome, and street parties are held all over the city.
We have a full day's drive to the beautiful old colonial mining town of Ouro Preto where we will set up camp for 2 nights in a campsite with facilities. Next day is a free day to have a look around town, exploring the cobble stone streets and maybe visit some of the many baroque churches. In and around town there are also several mines interesting to visit.
|Approximate Cost
Head underground into the gold mines of Ouro Preto
Time to explore unique colonial Ouro Preto and its architectural heritage
|Included in Kitty
Ouro Preto (meaning 'Black Gold') was founded in the 17th Century by Portuguese colonialists, and became the largest and most important city of the Brazilian Gold Rush of the 18th Century when gold was found in the surrounding area. Mines were built to extract the precious metal, and the tremendous wealth that resulted attracted Europe's intelligentsia and sparked a Baroque revival in the city - a heritage still very much evident in Ouro Preto's preserved colonial buildings and churches, art and sculptures (particularly the sculptures of Aleijadinho, one of Brazil's most famous artists).
In 1789, Ouro Preto became the birthplace of the Inconfidência Mineira, a failed attempt to gain independence from Portugal. The leading figure, Tiradentes, was hanged as a threat to any future revolutionaries. Ouro Preto is a fascinating place to explore - the surviving colonial buildings are fantastically preserved and the city is refreshingly free from modern development (any new buildings must be constructed in line with the town's historical aesthetic). There are several old mines that are open for visitors, providing a glimpse of how life was for the miners all those years ago.
Time to set off towards Chapada dos Guimarães, an overland journey of almost 1700km in total. We will find somewhere en route to set up camp for the nights, probably without facilities.
We drive to Chapada dos Guimarães and set up camp in a campsite where we will be for 3 nights. Here we will meet up with our local guide who will be with us until Day 14. We have 2 full days of hiking around the stunning landscape of Chapada dos Guimarães. We will follow the popular waterfall trail offering waterfalls, natural pools and great views and also visit the Véu de Noivas (Portuguese for Bridal Veil) waterfall which is one of the postcard views of the Chapada. We will alsohike around the Rio Claro Valley and visit the Cidade de Pedra look-out point.
|Approximate Cost
Head out on a trekking trip around the spectacular landscapes, caverns and waterfalls of Chapada Dos Guimarães National Park
|Included in Kitty
Chapada is a Brazilian word that means a region of steep cliffs, usually at the edge of a plateau. The Chapada dos Guimarães is one of the oldest plateaus on earth and one of the most scenic areas in Mato Grosso. It begins to rise from the hot plains around Cuiabá some 50 kms from that city, reaching over 700 m altitude, and its sweeping savannahs are broken by patches of cerrado forest, curiously eroded rocks and many lovely grottoes, peaks and waterfalls - the landscape makes for some fantastic trekking opportunities.
Once the centre of an important diamond-prospecting region, today the area is a popular place for Cuiabános to escape the city and enjoy some stunning natural scenery. Chapada dos Guimarães lays claim to being the geodesic heart of the South American continent. The ground here shines with small crystals and the rocks are said to have peculiar energizing properties - this is not as far-fetched as it may at first seem, a local magnetic force that reduces the speed of cars has been documented here. Birdwatching here is fruitful, particularly as enthusiasts will find that the plateau, grassland and cerrado species complement those found in Alta Floresta and the Pantanal. Mammals, such as pumas, jaguarundis, giant river otters and black-tailed marmoset can also be occasionally seen.
An early start from Chapada dos Guimarães as we drive to Poconé, the gateway to the northern Pantanal. From here we will start our trip along the Transpantaneira road, hopefully spotting some wildlife along the way. We will spend 3 nights in the Pantanal, staying in lodges with all food included. During our 2 full days here we will explore the flora and fauna of these vast wetlands on foot and horseback as well as in boats and our overland vehicle.
The Pantanal is a vast wetland that covers much of inland central and southern Brazil - it is formed of a huge gently-sloping depression surrounded by rolling highlands, so the water from thousands of small rivers runs off from the highlands to collect in the basin before draining out into the Paraguay River. The Pantanal was a predominantly agricultural area, dotted with cattle ranches known locally as "Fazenda" - having realised the importance of their home as a unique habitat for wildlife, many of the Fazendas have opened up for eco-tourism in recent years and offer safaris and tours of the area.
The wildlife here is staggering, and there is probably nowhere else in South America where you'll be able to see as many indigenous species. There are over 250 different species of birds that have been recorded here, including parakeets, macaws, owls, kingfishers, ibis, storks, kites and hawks, hummingbirds and more, and there are prolific numbers of caiman, anacondas, iguanas, two species of anteaters, ocelots, jaguars, tapirs, giant river otters and thousands of marsh deer. One of the easier animals to spot is the capybara, a giant guinea-pig-type rodent that grows up to 60 kgs and lives in large herds in the swamps.
After breakfast we leave the Pantanal and head to Vila Bela da Santíssima Trinidade where we will spend 2 nights camping in a campsite with facilities. On our full day here we will go a boat trip on the Guaporé River in search of wildlife and visiting the Maroon communities.
The main activities here are based around the River Guapore, where you can spot some great wildlife and bird-life including capybara, anacondas, and most impressive of all the pink dolphins in the river. We spend the day with with our guide firstly exploring the beautiful colonial town of Vila Bela and learn how the Marrom community came about from the local tribes and fugitive slaves. We then take a boat down the river visiting a number of small hold farms to learn about the livestock, crops, fruit trees and vegetables that they grow.
|Approximate Cost
Explore the interesting town of Vila Bela to visit the local Maroon communities, and explore the River Guapore by boat in search of pink river dolphins
|Included in Kitty
Vila Bela is a small town at upper Guaporé River close to the border with Bolivia. Vila Bela was originally a Quilombo village, meaning that it originated as a refuge for runaway slaves - and there is a distinct African feel to the town. The enviroment is a mix of Amazonian rainforest and high grasslands. The town contains the ruins of the Igreja Matriz (a particular type of Portuguese church), which is the main tourist site in the town along with its small history museum. The town serves as a hub for trips to the Amazon jungle along the upper Guaporé River and the nearby nature reserve Parque Estadual da Serra de Ricardo Franco. An interesting fact is that Vila Bela da Santíssima Trindade is the Brazilian municipality with the longest name, with 32 characters.
Time to say good bye to our local guide and head off north towards the Peruvian border, a total journey of over 1800km. We will spend the nights camping en route wherever we find a space to pitch our tents.
Our last full day's drive in western Brazil to the village of Xapuri. We stay the night in a local pousada (Portuguese for inn) with full facilities.
Today we cross from Brazil over Rio Acre and enter Peru. Once through border formalities we drive on to Puerto Maldonado, the base of our upcoming jungle trip. Tonight we will stay in a small locally run hotel.
The small town of Puerto Maldonado is a remote outpost in the Peruvian Amazon rainforest. The setllement was founded in 1902 by rubber prospectors, looking to exploit the rainforest's natural abundance of rubber and provide a convenient base for transporting it to the Atlantic via the Amazon and its tributaries. Puerto Maldonado is still a busy jungle port town, but is most famous amongst travellers as being the gateway to many lodges and adventure companies providing trips deep into the wonderful Peruvian Amazon region.
From Puerto Maldonado we head 20 km to Tambopata River Port where a boat transfer will be waiting to take us on a 45-min ride to Posada Amazonas. The lodge will provide us with rooms for 3 nights as well as all food during our stay.
In our two full days here we have a full schedule of activities, including a walk to the scaffolding canopy tower where from the top you can enjoy spectacular views of the forest and the Tambopata River, a visit to visit Tres Chimbadas Lake to look for the resident family of giant river otters and other lakeside wildlife, and an ethnobotanical tour to learn about the traditional ways of using plants as medicines. At night there's also an option of going for a hike in the forest. This is a time when most mammals are active but rarely seen so expect to use your ears more than your eyes. One of the mornings we will visit a Parrot Clay Lick which is a twenty minute walk from the posada. If it's a clear morning you have the chance to see dozens of parrots and parakeets descend to ingest the clay on a river bank. We also go on a guided hike in the forest, learning about the natural history of the rain forest, and visit one of the farms in the community of Infierno and learn about the different Amazon crops grown here.
Peru has the second largest portion of the Amazon rainforest after the Brazilian Amazon. The Peruvian Amazon jungle area stretches from the eastern fringes of the Andes to the country's borders with Ecuador, Colombia, Brazil and Bolivia.
Although Peru is most famous for its Andean highlands, the Amazon rainforest regions comprise 60% of the country's and is marked by a huge degree of biodiversity. Most species that call the rainforest home have probably still not been discovered or adequately studied. As a nation, Peru has the largest number of bird species in the world and the third largest number of mammals.
The Peruvian Amazon is traditionally divided into two distinct ecoregions. The first being the lowland jungle (also known as Omagua region or Amazon basin), standing between 80 and 1,000m above sea level. It contains long and powerful rivers such as the Apurimac (the Amazon's biggest tributary), Mantaro, and Urubamba. The second is the highland jungle (also called Rupa-Rupa region or Andean jungle), which extends into the eastern foothills of the Andes between 1,000 and 3,800m above the sea level. The eastern slopes of the Andes are home to a great variety of fauna and flora due to the different altitudes and climates within the region. Temperatures are warm in the lowlands and colder in higher altitudes. There are many endemic fauna because of the isolation caused by the rugged terrain of this area.
Our visit to the region will be to the lowland jungle - our lodge here is a 45-minute boat ride from Puerto Maldonado, owned by the indigenous Ese-Eja community, and containing traditionally-constructed wood, bamboo and palm-leaf huts.
This morning we depart Posada Amazonas and drive onwards towards Cuzco. Today will be a long drive, heading towards the mighty Andes. The night will be spent camping without facilities.
A full day's drive brings us to the amazing town of Cuzco, gateway to the Inca Empire. We spend the night in a lovely hotel close to Plaza de Armas.
The Inca Empire was the largest empire in the pre-Columbian Americas - the civilisation arose in the early 13th Century CE under the leadership of the first Inca ruler Manco Capác, founding the city of Cuzco as their capital. The civilisation thrived in the area until 1438, when the new leader Pachacuti embarked on a massive campaign of expansion and used military conquest and peaceful assimilation to incorporate a massive portion of western South America under his control - at its largest, the Inca Empire stretched all the way from southern Colombia through Ecuador, Peru, Bolivia, northwest Argentina, all the way down to central Chile.
In 1526, the Spanish conquistador Francisco Pizarro first entered Inca territory from his expedition through Colombia. After quickly determining that it was evidently a civilisation of great wealth and power, he quickly received royal permission to conquer the empire - he decisively kidnapped and later executed the Inca ruler Ayahualpa in 1533 and installed their own puppet ruler, Manco Inca Yupanqui. The new leader quickly turned on the invaders and briefly took control of Cuzco for the Incas again, until the Spanish finally pushed them back permanently from the city. The remnants of the civilisation formed a Neo-Inca state centred around Vilcabamba in the mountains above Lima until the Spanish invaded them completely in 1572, ending the last major resistance to their rule in Peru.
Any adventure tour to Peru naturally centres around the stunning city of Cuzco - it is world-famous as the gateway to the spectacular ruins of Machu Picchu and the various Inca trails through the Peruvian highlands. However, the city is a fantastic destination in its own right, and many of its buildings still retain some of the original Inca stonework as part of their structure. This unique and intricate stonework was an ingenious construction method that prevented damage from earthquakes - examples of their amazing building techniques can still be seen in and around Cuzco, including the famous 'twelve-sided stone', now part of the logo of Cuzco's native Cusqueña beer!
A good place to start your explorations is the majestic main plaza, surrounded by cobbled streets lined with attractive colonial buildings. Head up the hill into the neighbourhood of San Blas and you will discover another hidden square with a quiet laid-back feel. All the streets are lined with shops, bars and restaurants, from small local cafes to five star dining experiences. There are also some fantastic museums and historical sites in and around the city, showcasing the wonderful history and culture of the Incas.
The trip ends this morning. No accommodation is provided for tonight.
Border information: If you are leaving in Cuzco, exit Peru at Cuzco Airport.
|Approximate Cost
White-water rafting and mountain biking in the
The routes, activities and places visited described in these trip notes are intentions and are meant as a rough guide only.
These trip notes have been compiled to help you prepare for your journey once you have booked. They include the full itinerary and dates, and information about kit lists, meeting hotels, insurance, vaccinations, visas, and other information that will help you get ready for your trip.
We update these notes regularly, so please ensure you have an up-to-date version of these trip notes.
We intend to follow the planned route but exact night stops and inclusions cannot be guaranteed. It sometimes happens that we decide to make a change to our planned itinerary. This may be for a variety of reasons - climatic, road or bureaucratic conditions may demand it. By their very nature, overland itineraries need to be flexible and the regions that we are travelling through are often unpredictable. We run adventure journeys in off the beaten track areas, which often have poor infrastructure. You should expect that some of these areas do not adhere to 'Western' safety standards.
Many countries that we visit on our travels will require visas to enter. Some are best obtained before you leave home, and others can be obtained en-route. Whilst the ultimate responsibility for obtaining visas is yours, we will endeavour to assist you wherever possible.
The visa requirements for your trip vary depending on where you are from and where you are going. The information provided is given in good faith and we do try to keep the visa information as up to date as possible. Please read the information very carefully to make sure everything is clear and you aware of what you need to do. Please also be aware that rules surrounding visas do change, often suddenly, and without prior warning. This is why it is important that you also double-check the information we provide for yourself.
For visas that are needed in advance, you may wish to submit the applications directly to the relevant embassy or consulate. If you require any supporting documentation for your visa applications, Dragoman will obtain this on your behalf as part of your trip price - we will contact you to request additional information in order to make this application for you.
However, for trips that involve multiple visas, you may find it beneficial to use a specialist visa agency to assist you with your applications. While this does sometimes increase the cost, it usually makes the process much easier for you.
As you will often need to submit your passport together with your applications, we recommend that you avoid making any travel plans in the weeks leading up to your departure.
Most countries require that your passport is valid for at least 6 months after your entry into the country.
For trips that are not yet guaranteed, you may find yourself in the position whereby you will need to start the visa application process prior to your trip being guaranteed - in this situation we still advise you not to purchase flights until your trip is guaranteed. However, you can start your visa application process, ensuring that when applying for your visas or letters of invitation that you allow several days before and after your entry into the country to allow for delays, availability of flights, etc.
Citizens of the UK, Ireland, New Zealand, Switzerland, South Africa and all EU countries will not need a visa to visit Brazil as a tourist for up to 90 days.
Citizens of Australia, Canada, Japan, Mexico, Russia, South Korea and the USA will need a visa to visit Brazil. You will need to obtain the visa in advance. You can arrange this in advance of your travel by applying directly yourself with your nearest Brazilian Consulate, or by hiring a specialist visa agency to make the application on your behalf. Please note that most Brazilian consulates do not accept postal applications, so require either you or a visa agent to make an appointment in person – there are also strict rules regarding where you can apply for your visa, and the application will be rejected if it is not made at the consulate nearest to where you are 'resident', so please check the consulate's jurisdiction before your application.
Another option to obtain the visa is by applying at the Brazilian Embassy in Buenos Aires, Argentina. This is possible for most foreign tourists, but you will need to allow at least 3 working days for the visa to be processed, and you must make an appointment and fill out a visa request form online prior to your arrival at the embassy, and there are strict requirements for what supporting documents you will need – please visit the embassy's website here for more information and to set up your appointment: http://www.conbrasil.org.ar/CONSBRASIL/visas_otros01engl.asp
Citizens of other countries should check with the relevant consulates as to whether a visa is required. If a visa is required, you will need to obtain it in advance.
Citizens of the UK, Ireland, Australia, New Zealand, USA, Canada and all EU countries will not need a visa to visit Peru as a tourist for up to 183 days.
Citizens of other countries should check with the relevant consulates as to whether a visa is required. If a visa is required, you will need to obtain it in advance. Only a very small number of nationalities will require a visa.
If your flight to Central or South America goes via the USA, then you must obtain an Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA) before travel (except for citizens of Canada, who will not require this). Citizens of the UK, Ireland, Australia, New Zealand, Japan, South Korea, Taiwan and most EU countries are part of the USA's Visa Waiver Scheme and are eligible to obtain an ESTA.
An ESTA must be obtained online and in advance via the following link and paying the appropriate fee - https://esta.cbp.dhs.gov/esta/ - please note that you will be denied boarding your flight if you do not have this arranged.
If you are not eligible for an ESTA, then you will have to obtain a B-1/B-2 visa for temporary visitors, and you will need to obtain it in advance. In this case it would be advisable to book flights that do not go via the USA.
Please note that if you have travelled to Iran, Sudan, Iraq or Syria since March 2011, or hold dual-nationality with one of these countries, then you will not be eligible for an ESTA and must instead apply for a visa. There are some exceptions to this, please see the following link for more details - http://www.state.gov/r/pa/prs/ps/2016/01/251577.htm.
Similarly, if your flight to Central or South America goes via Canada, then you must obtain a Canadian Electronic Travel Authorisation (eTA) before travel (except for citizens of the USA, who will not require this). Citizens of the UK, Ireland, Australia, New Zealand, most EU countries, South Korea and Japan are part of Canada's Visa Waiver Scheme and are eligible to obtain an eTA.
An eTA must be arranged online and in advance – please go to http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/visit/ , apply and pay the appropriate fee.
If you are not eligible for an eTA, then you will have to obtain a Temporary Resident Visa, and you will need to obtain it in advance. In this case it would be advisable to book flights that do not go via Canada. Please note that several Eastern European nationalities will need a visa.
It is not really worth trying to buy local currencies before you travel. Bear in mind that many countries have strict regulations about the amount of their own local currency you are allowed to import - if you are found with amounts in excess of the allowed amounts, it may well be confiscated!
For obvious security reasons we hesitate to recommend you bring lots of cash with you, a sensible mix of cash and ATM cards is best. Most of our past passengers have said they wished they had been told to bring more cash. Apart from the convenience of being able to change money in many more places, you will sometimes get a much better exchange rate for cash.
More and more people are choosing to travel with cash passports such as TravelEx cards (you can visit www.cashpassport.com for further information on these). This is a very secure way of carrying your money whilst travelling. You treat them exactly like an ATM card and draw out local currency from an ATM within each country.
Travellers cheques have become increasingly difficult to change in South America with passengers and our leaders experiencing huge frustration and numerous hours spent trying to find a bank which will change travellers cheques. For this reason we no longer accept them on our trips and do not recommend that you bring them for your personal spending money.
You should take a mixture of denomination notes. Banks and moneychangers in most countries will now only accept bills with a metallic strip running top to bottom of the bill and which are no more than 8 years old. You should not take worn or damaged notes, or any that have been written on. Brazil can be difficult for changing money, so it's handy to have a cash card as backup. Please bring a mixture of small and large denominations as in more remote areas it can be hard to change amounts over USD50.
Please note that due to a recent counterfeit scam central banks in several South American countries (Ecuador, Peru, Bolivia and Chile) have temporarily banned the circulation of USD100 notes bearing a series 2001 production date and a serial number starting with the letters CB or CF and ending in B2. The serial number is printed in green on the emblem.
Cash machines are readily available in most areas but are not always reliable therefore we recommend that you do not rely on them as your only source of cash. ATMs can be difficult to find sometimes in remote areas, especially in Patagonia. Credit cards such as Visa, MasterCard and American Express are the most commonly accepted, but be prepared for very high commission charges. Please do not rely on cards for daily use, as they are not always accepted outside of larger towns and cities.
Overland Lifestyle and Trip Suitability
Dragoman was founded in 1981, and has had many years of experience of leading overland trips across 4 continents. Overlanding is all about sharing a great travelling experience with like-minded people. On your trip you'll travel in one of Dragoman's purpose-built iconic expedition vehicles on an off the beaten track adventure along rugged roads, experiencing the sights, sounds and smells of the world up-close. Your journey will be overland, sometimes across vast distances, so some long days spent driving are inevitable - but these will be interspersed with breaks of a day or two at a destination or activity. On an overland journey, you are more than just a passenger and everyone gets involved setting up camp - we supply the tent but it's up to you to pitch it! As part of your trip, you will be assigned a truck job which could be collecting firewood or water, luggage loading, organising food, stores, etc.
Like all great adventures, the more you put in the more you'll get out!
We are looking forward to welcoming you on one of our overland journeys, but before we do there are a few things we would like to draw to your attention.
Our groups are made up of people from around the world, and are always an interesting mix of nationalities and ages. On average there is a pretty even split between males to females, and between solo travellers, couples and small groups of friends. We believe that overlanding should be open to as many people as possible, and so although we have a minimum age limit of 18 (or 7 on our Family Trips), as long as you are fit, healthy and passionate about travel, we are happy to take you, whatever your age is. One of the wonderful aspects of group travel is the camaraderie and friendships that are formed along the way, and the variety of people that you will meet.
The maximum group size we take on our overland journeys ranges from 19 to 22 depending on the geographical location; however the average number of passengers is more likely to be around 16.
Please note that there is an overlap of 2 trips in Cuzco and during the Inca Treks. This means a group starting a trip in Cuzco will embark on the Inca Trail at the same time as a group finishing in or travelling through Cuzco. In practical terms this means there could be more than 22 group members in Cuzco and on the Inca Trail at the same time.
Please note that there is also an overlap of 2 trips in Zanzibar. This means a group starting a trip in Nairobi, for example, will visit Zanzibar at the same time as a group starting their trip there. In practical terms this means there could be more than 22 group members in Zanzibar at the same time.
Please also note that on some departures there may be more than one truck doing the same route. This means that you will be in the same hotel or campsite as another Dragoman group on some days. To ensure that you are not always at the same place at the same time as another group, your itinerary will most likely be slightly altered from the itinerary advertised in these trip notes.
Our crew are passionate about travel and are always up for adventure. It takes someone special to become a Dragoman leader. Our crew undergo the most intensive training program of all the overland companies, spending 8 weeks learning the ropes at our base in Suffolk, UK, and then up to 6 months on the road as a trainee. Our crew are trained to manage and operate the trip safely and efficiently and their duties include: planning the trip according to the itinerary, driving and maintaining the truck, securing services of local guides, general logistics, health and safety, liaising with bureaucracy, dealing with issues where needed and offering advice and support to our customers. In addition they have a basic knowledge of the places visited and will be able to offer suggestions of things to do and see. Dragoman endeavours to provide the services of experienced crew, however, due to the seasonality of travel, situations may arise where your tour leader is new to a particular region or training other crew, new to the area.
On all Dragoman overlanding trips, we usually have 2 western crew but please be aware that there may be times when one crew member has to leave the trip due to unforeseen circumstances such as visa issues, illness of a group member, etc. On some of our trips we have 1 western crew and 1 local driver instead of 2 western crew. On trips south of Nairobi in East and Southern Africa we will also have an African camp master/cook who is in charge of running the camp and organising all of the meals. Their knowledge of the local produce makes shopping at the markets great fun and you will learn how to prepare and cook some unusual dishes.
On the majority of our trips in Ethiopia, Sudan, Central Asia, China and South East Asia, in addition to our crew we will have a local guide on board who will travel with us for the entire duration of our time within one country. In these cases, the local guide becomes a third crew member and is able to offer their local knowledge as well as an insight into their country and the lives of the local people.
In most other areas of Africa, the Americas, India and Turkey, in addition to our crew we will employ local guides in specific locations of interest (for just a few hours up to a few days).
Your crew have a duty of care to all members of the group and therefore they have the authority to ask you to leave the trip if you require serious medical assistance, you are behaving in an anti-social manner or refuse to comply with local laws and customs. In all matters relating to the trip, the leader's decision will be final and we appreciate your respect of this.
Dragoman's overland trips are designed for shared accommodation, whether camping or staying in hotels or hostels, and therefore do not involve a single supplement. Whilst our crew will do their best to accommodate couples travelling together in twin rooms, all our travellers should expect to stay in multi-share accommodation when staying in hostels, gers or yurts.
The type, variety and standard of accommodation will vary greatly depending on what options are available at the time; hotels can vary from very basic rooms without electricity or running water to high standard hotels with good facilities! Generally in hotels most rooms will be single sex, twin-share, but in South America many rooms are triple/quad-share. Hostels, gers and yurts are nearly always multi-share and may be mixed sex.
The campsites will range from rather basic to those with excellent facilities, including swimming pools, restaurants and bars. In some cases it may also be possible to upgrade locally to bungalows, lodges or even tree-houses. One of the highlights of overlanding is that in more remote areas we wild camp away from the tourist crowds. Occasionally on some of our trips we are able to stay in villages or local homestays allowing us to get close to the indigenous population and ensuring that our money stays within the local community.
In addition to the trip price on our overlanding trips, you will also be required to pay a kitty specified for your trip (please note that there is no kitty on our Family Trips). The kitty is payable in installments at the start of each section of the trip for combination trips, and in full at the start of the trip for individual trips. Each customer joining a trip pays their kitty into a central fund. The fund is managed by the Dragoman crew and the kitty accounts can be viewed by all throughout the trip.
The kitty covers all things that the whole group does, such as:
The kitty system is unique to overlanding and allows us to have flexibility and transparency on our trips. You can see exactly how your money is being spent and ensure that you are getting the best value by buying locally. It also helps to keep the costs competitive and save on administration costs so that we can pass the saving on to you. Dragoman makes NO PROFIT on kitties, as they are the group's fund. If there is money left in the kitty at the end of your trip, then this is divided between the group and you receive a refund.
Once you book your trip it is very important that you check our website on a regular basis and just before departure for any changes to the kitty amount. We constantly update the kitty prices on our website and the kitty advertised in the brochure is an estimate at the time of printing. Prices can go up or down with no notice, and exchange rate fluctuations will affect costs.
The kitty is payable in full at the start of your trip (in instalments at the start of each individual trip on combination trips). Alternatively you can pay in advance via a bank transfer 3-4 weeks before the start of your trip - please see http://www.dragoman.com/files/Kitty_doc_v10.pdf for more details - this information sheet will also be sent in your booking confirmation upon booking a trip and can be found on www.dragoman.com/overlanding/planning-your-trip/money. Please also note that prepayment is not available for our trips to West Africa, Iran, Tajikistand and any trip in Africa north of Nairobi.
If you are bringing the kitty out in cash, please ensure your USD notes (EUR notes if your trip goes through West Africa) are clean and undamaged and no more than 8 years old. If needed, your tour leader will be able to accept some of the kitty in local currency, and they will let you know the exchange rate locally. In most destinations you can withdraw local currencies from ATM machines, using either a cash passport or a credit/debit card. However, please bear in mind that most cards have a maximum withdrawal amount per day, local ATMs may run out of cash, and your bank could block the card despite you warning them of your travel plans, so it could be impractical to try to get the entire kitty out from an ATM.
We cannot accept traveller's cheques on our trips.
On an overland journey you are more than just an individual passenger - you're part of the team. You are expected to pitch in to set up camp, shop for food, cook and generally help out. As part of your trip you will be assigned a truck job which could be collecting water and firewood, sweeping out the truck, loading the back locker, etc. While camping on overland journeys, the meals are included in the kitty. This means that you will have to work together to cook for everyone in your group. You will be divided into smaller units of 3-4 people and take it in turns to cook for the whole group according to a rota system. When it is your group's turn to cook you will have to plan the meal, shop for the ingredients in local markets or supermarkets and then prepare the meal for the whole group. The secret to cooking for 20+ people using a basic camping kitchen is to keep it simple! (On trips south of Nairobi we have a cook on board the truck; however you will still be required to help them to prepare meals).
An example of a typical camp breakfast might be toast with spreads, fruit and cereal as well as tea and coffee. When time allows it will also be possible to serve something hot such as eggs or pancakes. Lunch is almost always a sandwich heaped high with healthy salad and assorted fillings, with fruit to follow. Dinner might be a BBQ, risotto or pasta dish and there is always the chance to try some local cooking. Generally our passengers find the more they put into a trip, the more they benefit from it.
If you have any dietary requirements please tell us at the time of booking and tell your crew at your welcome meeting. Our crew will try to cater for any particular dietary requirement or food intolerance whenever possible. However, it must be remembered that it may not always be possible and the variety of dishes may be severely limited in comparison to those available to others. If there is anything in particular you require in your diet, that you would miss from home, or because of an allergy would miss out on, it would be best to bring this with you. Depending on your particular requirements, you may need to allow yourself some extra spending money to allow you to purchase extra food items.
Our itineraries are developed and published with the best of intentions, however travel in more remote areas of the world is unpredictable – borders can close, there can be extreme adverse weather, strikes or maybe mechanical issues that affect the running of your trip, but equally due to the nature of our trips we can often spontaneously include a local festival or event into the itinerary. This being said, the safety of our passengers, leaders and operators is a priority for us. With this in mind we monitor world events very closely. By the very nature of the adventure travel that we take, there are risks and hazards that are inherent in our itineraries. We make operational decisions based on informed advice from a number of sources, including the British Foreign and Commonwealth Office travel advice, reports from other travel companies and local suppliers, leaders' reports from off the road and local contacts we have built up over many years of experience.
British Foreign Office Travel Advice and Warnings
Dragoman follows the British Foreign Office Travel advice when deciding where and where we are unable to travel. We will base our decisions on itineraries and alterations to published routes based on their advice rather than the advice of other governments. We will advise you of any significant changes in advice before travel or whilst you are overseas.
However, we recommend you check the latest travel advisories from your own government for the country you are travelling to before you book and prior to departure. If there are any travel warnings present for the region you will travel to, as well as considering whether you are happy to travel despite the warning you must also check to ensure that it is not invalidating your travel insurance. Here are a few useful addresses:
UK - www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice
Australia - http://www.smartraveller.gov.au/
New Zealand - http://www.safetravel.govt.nz/
United States - https://travel.state.gov/content/passports/en/country.html
Canada - http://www.voyage.gc.ca/countries_pays/menu-eng.asp
We also recommend that you check out the UK Travel Aware website before you travel at https://travelaware.campaign.gov.uk/. This website offers straightforward travel advice, top tips, and up-to-date country information to help you plan a safe trip.
You need to be in good physical health in order to participate fully in our trips. When selecting your trip please make sure you have read through the itinerary carefully and assessed your ability to cope with our style of travel. To help you assess if this trip is suitable, please refer to the physical rating. The ratings for each trip are a good indication of how challenging they are and in some cases you should be prepared for some long driving days and possibly limited facilities. We are always happy to give extra advice if you have additional concerns. Please note that if, in the opinion of our leader, you are unable to complete the itinerary without undue risk to yourself and/or the rest of the group, Dragoman reserves the right to exclude you from all or part of the trip without a refund.
You should consult your doctor for up-to-date medical travel information prior to travel, particularly if you have a pre-existing medical condition. We also advise you to declare any pre-existing medical conditions to your travel insurers upon purchase.
Some pre-existing medical conditions are known to severely worsen at high altitude and be difficult to adequately treat on the ground, leading to more serious consequences. It is imperative that you discuss your pre-existing medical condition/s with your doctor. We understand certain medications are reported to aid acclimatising to high altitude; please discuss these options with your doctor. For trips that travel to areas of high altitude, the tour leader will issue you with a self-assessment altitude questionnaire which allows you to monitor how you are coping with the altitude and informs you of danger signals so that you can reports these as soon as possible, either to the tour leader or a medical professional.
A valid international certificate of vaccination against Yellow Fever is required in many countries. You may need to present this on arrival at the airport or border crossing. Some countries will refuse entry if you are unable to present your certificate. It's also quite common for your home country to request a Yellow Fever certificate on your arrival back home.
It is your responsibility to check with your doctor well in advance of leaving home about the Yellow Fever requirements for the countries you'll be visiting.
There is a risk of contracting malaria in some areas which we travel through. If your trip goes to a areas with malaria it is always best to get expert advice before travelling about the types of malaria pills available, whether they are recommended, and take any that are prescribed as instructed. Consult your GP or travel clinic for the most up-to-date requirements.
Other mosquito-borne diseases such as yellow fever, dengue fever, chikungunya and Zika are continuing to spread and are becoming a bigger problem around the world. Mosquito bite prevention is vital to avoid contracting any of these diseases, as there are no vaccines or specific treatments available. Health professionals have issued warnings for pregnant women travelling to areas affected by the Zika virus. For more information about Zika please visit:
The Anopheles mosquitoes that transmit malaria usually bite between the hours of dusk and dawn, whereas the Aedes mosquitoes that transmit yellow fever, dengue fever, chikungunya and Zika bite both during the day and the night. To prevent being bitten, it is recommended to cover up by wearing long-legged and long-sleeved clothing, preferably light-coloured and buttoned at the wrists. Do not sleep without closing your windows, tent door, etc. and use a mosquito net in hotels or if sleeping outside where there are mosquitoes present. Use mosquito repellent applied directly to your skin or soaked into your clothing. Treating clothes and mosquito nets with a Permetherin solution also provides significant protection. It should be available at most travel stores. Mosquito coils are useful on still nights and in hotel rooms, but cannot be used inside the tents. For more advice on how to avoid bites please see: www.travelhealthpro.org.uk/factsheet/38/insect-and-tick-bite-avoidance
Recommended vaccinations and other health protections vary according to different regions and recent bulletins issued by health authorities. It is essential to get the latest specific health advice on the regions and countries you are planning to travel in, so please check with either your doctor or travel clinic in good time before you travel. The following websites are also a helpful resource: www.nathnac.net and www.fitfortravel.nhs.uk
In the UK, we have been working with Nomad Travel for many years and their website has comprehensive, up-to-date vaccination and health information. You will receive a 10% discount off all vaccinations given at Nomad Travel clinics.
At Dragoman your safety is of paramount importance and we will do our best to ensure that your travel with us is safe and trouble-free, but we do ask that you take that little bit of extra care whilst you are away and to understand about the nature of this style of travel.
Of course we want you to have an enjoyable time, but you must also remember that part of the enjoyment of travel is experiencing a different way of life and cultures. This may also mean experiencing different safety and hygiene standards than those you are normally used to.
Therefore, please take note of the following safety tips and follow any local safety advice or briefings delivered by our crew or any third-party suppliers we use during your trip.
Personal Safety
One of the real advantages of overland travel is that the vehicle provides a very real level of security when travelling. There is no doubt that a properly-equipped overland vehicle, with safes, fully lockable doors and windows is an obvious advantage when travelling in much of the world. Generally speaking, you will not be travelling on local public transport and will have the added security of travelling in a group with experienced crew on-hand to offer advice. We have come up with a few pointers that we recommend you follow:
You will have the opportunity to take part in many exciting activities and excursions, some of which are included (e.g. hiking the Inca Trail, trekking to see Mountain Gorillas, visiting the Taj Mahal, etc.), whilst others are optional (e.g. white water rafting in Uganda, zip-lining in Costa Rica, etc.). Some of these activities require a certain level of fitness, so it's important that you read through the trip notes thoroughly and make your own conclusions as to whether you feel that you are fit and healthy enough to enjoy this trip and its activities to their fullest.
Some activities may have higher risks than you are used to and you must judge whether or not you wish, or have the physical ability, to take part.
Optional activities mentioned by Dragoman are not included in the trip price or kitty, and do not form part of your contract with Dragoman. As such you accept that any assistance given by Dragoman crew members or local representatives in arranging optional activities does not render us liable for them in any way. The Dragoman crew are assisting you in arranging these activities for your added enjoyment whilst on your trip. The operators of these services and optional extras are local suppliers who contract directly with the client 'on the road', subject to and in accordance with their own terms and conditions. Dragoman accepts no liability for any action or activity undertaken by the client which is arranged independently of Dragoman while on tour. Crew may take part in an optional activity but do so as private individuals and not as company representatives.
Please use your own good judgement when selecting an activity in your free time.
Ensure that you use the appropriate equipment on optional activities, including life jackets, helmets, etc. This is especially important on activities such as horse riding, white-water rafting, etc.
Always ensure that your travel medical insurance covers you for all included and optional activities that you wish to participate in.
Included activities are listed in the day-to-day itinerary, all other activities are optional and at your own expense. If you choose not to participate in the included activities on this itinerary, the cost will not necessarily be refunded; this is something you will need to check with your leader.
A selection of optional activities is listed in the day-to-day itinerary. This list is designed to be a helpful guide as to what is commonly available in each location, and is neither an exhaustive list, a guarantee that the activity is available, or an endorsement or recommendation. Please note that certain activities may not be available on your particular visit if they are overbooked, underbooked, out of season, or for any other reason - the list of activities is made according to our latest information and in the best faith, but please be aware that things may change between our last visit and your arrival. Please also note that it may not be possible to do all the activities listed in the time available at each destination, and it is recommended to give yourself extra time in your joining or ending city if you would like to participate in some optional activities there.
Prices listed are for entrance only and do not include transport costs to and from the sites or local guides unless indicated - again, these prices are displayed according to our latest information and in the best faith, but prices do fluctuate due to exchange rates, season, numbers of participants, and simple increases from the operator - any prices listed are a guide only and certainly cannot be guaranteed.
Optional activities are not necessarily endorsed or recommended by Dragoman nor included in the price of this trip. If you do any optional activities, you do so at your own risk and it must be clearly understood that your participation is your own decision and does not form part of your contract with Dragoman. You may be required to sign/complete a waiver form or optional activity form for some optional activities.
It is a condition of booking that you have comprehensive travel insurance. Without evidence of valid travel insurance you will not be allowed to start the trip.
We recommend that any policy has a minimum medical (including repatriation) cover of £5,000,000. We recommend that any policy also has a minimum level of cover for Personal Liability of £2,000,000 and for Cancellation and Curtailment of £5,000 (or the full cost of your trip). Cover for loss of baggage, personal effects, money and other inclusions are down to personal choice although please bear in mind that personal effects are more likely to go missing whilst travelling and you should ensure that your policy is adequate to cover the value of your personal effects e.g. cameras, tablets, phones, ipods, etc. Please note that Dragoman is not responsible for your personal effects and is not insured for their loss. Please note that you should be insured for trip postponment or cancellation purposes immediately upon paying a deposit.
Whatever policy you choose, you must ensure that it is designed for adventure/overland travel and make sure it covers any activity that you intend to undertake (whether included or optional). As such it must cover you for adventure activities such as white water rafting, trekking, horse-riding, etc., and that the 24-hour Emergency Assistance Company must be experienced in handling situations in developing countries - for example, that they have the ability to arrange repatriation from remote areas such as the Sahara or if you were trekking in the Andes. On activities or side trips that are not recommended by us, please ensure you are happy with the safety of the activity before participating.
Please note that in the case of credit card travel insurance we will require details of the participating insurer, the insurance policy number and emergency contact number prior to travel rather than just the bank's name and credit card details. It is up to you to ensure that these policies have the cover you require, as many of these policies are not able to cope with adventure travel to remote areas and many are not valid for travelling outside your country of residence or outside the EU.
Dragoman has comprehensive passenger vehicle liability protection and tour operator insurance. These policies have total indemnities of £5,000,000 and £10,000,000 per incident respectively. This is in addition to local vehicle insurance and your personal travel insurance.
We have an out of office hours number you can call which should only be used once you have left your home country to start the trip and in the event of a real emergency. Should you need to call the number, we will do what we can to help but please bear in mind that real progress or action may not be possible until normal office hours. If you can not get through please leave a message with you name, reference number, contact details and a message with the help that you need and we will get back to you.
If your flight is delayed or cancelled, please let us know and then make your way to the joining hotel as instructed in these trip notes. If you cannot get through leave a message and a contact number as these will be regularly checked and the crew informed if necessary.
Although you will not have to carry your main bag for long distances, you will need to help load and unload them onto the truck. For this reason we recommend that you use a backpack or soft bag rather than a heavy suitcase. During your trip your main luggage will be kept in the truck's back locker which will be inaccessible during a drive day, so you will also need a small daypack. This can be used to carry your camera, water bottle and other personal effects for daily use. Please be aware that due to the constant dust and vibrations your luggage bag will be subject to extreme wear and tear.
The size of baggage that can be brought on this tour is limited by the locker space on the truck. We recommend that your bag be no larger than a large rucksack with a capacity of about 80 litres (approximately 70cm high, 40cm wide, and 40cm deep). The weight limit for luggage on all trucks is a maximum of 20kg.
Your clothes and equipment should be appropriate for the conditions you are travelling in, which will vary depending on which part of the world you're heading to. On overland trips, Dragoman will provide all camping equipment apart from sleeping bags and ground mats, so you'll need to bring those with you if your trip includes camping nights.
Think about the climate and altitude of the areas you'll be travelling to - there's nothing worse than being cold at night so it's worth investing in a decent sleeping bag if it's likely to get cold. And remember that even when it's warm during the day, it can often get cold at night, particularly in desert regions.
For a general idea of what you need, this list provides a guide:
Cold weather
For trips going through mountainous areas, deserts, high altitude regions and Patagonia, you should be prepared for cold weather, especially at night. Ensure you bring:
Hot weather
For trips going through tropical areas you should be prepared for hot and humid weather. Ensure you bring:
Trips with trekking
For trips including treks, ensure you bring:
Sleeping Bags
A sleeping bag's rating typically indicates the lowest temperature at which it will keep the average sleeper warm enough to sustain them but not necessarily make them warm enough to feel comfortable. For example, with a 0°C bag, you should be able to stay in 0°C temperature but you will not necessarily be able to sleep comfortably.
For European sleeping bags there are the following standards:
The transition zone, in between the comfort and lower temperature, is usually considered as the best purchase guideline.
All of our trucks have a standard motorist's first aid kit on board for use in emergency situations only. The first aid kit is in compliance with UK standards for first aid provision within motor vehicles, and contain supplies to treat road side injuries. We do not carry prescription medications, therefore in addition to this we recommend that you purchase your own personal medical kit.
In the UK we have teamed up with Nomad Travel Stores and Clinics to produce travel medical kits. They have been designed in conjunction with the truck kits and contain everything you would need for any minor incidents and health issues. For more details please visit their website:
Global Survival Kit - http://www.nomadtravel.co.uk/p/2712/Global-Survival-Kit
Ultimate Medical Kit (POM) - http://www.nomadtravel.co.uk/p/2909/Ultimate-Medical-Kit-(POM)
Check that your passport will still be valid for 6 months after the end of your trip - this is important as some countries WILL refuse entry to anyone whose passport is due to expire. A temporary or 'visitor's' passport is not valid on our trips. You will need to provide us with your passport details prior to departing for your trip. If you change your passport, please remember to inform us as soon as possible - however, please be aware that changing your passport can cause big problems if you need to apply for visas or permits (such as the Inca Trail or Gorilla Trekking) in advance.
Pre and Post Trip Accommodation and Airport Transfers
At Dragoman we believe you should make the most of the places you visit, so if you would like to see more of the joining or finishing point cities, why not book additional accommodation to extend your stay? Dragoman can take away the hassle of time zones and language barriers by making the booking for you. This accommodation is only available at the joining or finishing city of your trip, immediately before or after the trip you are travelling on.
While Dragoman is happy to assist with booking your pre and post trip accommodation, it is important that you understand that you may be able to book your own room at a cheaper rate directly through the hotel or on the internet. Our additional accommodation prices are based on the hotel's rate plus an administration fee. Please note our rates do not reflect last minute walk-in rates or internet specials.
We can also book arrival airport transfers for you as long as we have your flight arrival details. These are normally payable in cash upon arrival; however we do have pre-paid transfers in a few destinations.
Please contact our reservations team for details of the accommodation and transfers that we can offer, as not all hotels offer this service.
Having an amazing trip and met a great group of people? Having too much fun to go home yet? If you're on one of our trips and decide that you would like to continue with us, then why not speak to your trip leader who can advise you of the cost and availability of continuing your journey.
Sometimes, civil or political unrest, or reasons beyond Dragoman's control (e.g. a natural disaster), can mean that an itinerary is disrupted and we have to make a contingency plan. This may involve hiring alternate transport or even the whole group flying over an area. Although Dragoman will help organise travel arrangements, in circumstances outside Dragoman's control you will be required to contribute the additional costs involved and therefore we ask you to bring along a 'Contingency Fund' of USD400. In almost all cases trips run smoothly and this fund is therefore never used. We also recommend that you take along an internationally recognised credit or charge card with a decent limit in case of emergencies, such as medical treatment en route, or even the need to be repatriated; though these occurrences are rare. Remember that travel insurance policies usually only refund you for expenses after you have already paid out.
Dragoman is committed to ensuring that we have a positive impact on local communities and that we implement policies to minimise any negative impact on the local environment. We are dedicated to making sure that we adopt a responsible attitude to the areas through which we travel and believe that our trips should benefit the local people and their environment. Dragoman recognises that we are guests of local communities and strive to make these communities our partners, so that they benefit directly from our visit. You can find full details of Dragoman's Responsible Tourism policy from the link below:
The sale of bottled water contributes to an enormous environmental problem around the world. In addition to the water in the bottle, the production of a 1 litre plastic bottle takes 2 litres of water and 200ml of oil. A large proportion end up in limited landfill or discarded in waterways and natural environments.
Please avoid the purchase of bottled water by using the chemically sterilised water stored in the purpose-built storage tank on your overland vehicle. You are free to refill your bottle as many times a day as you like. You are helping the environment and your pocket!
Your vehicle will be usually equipped with a 12-Volt socket, so to charge your iPod, MP3 player, camera, laptop and mobile phone you will need a DC 12V adapter - the type that can be used from a cigarette lighter in your car. Please be aware that only one piece of equipment can be charged at a time and it will not be allowed if there is a risk of running the vehicle's batteries low. Batteries may also be recharged from hotel room wall sockets and the majority of the campsites we stay at have electricity points, so please bring along your normal charging adapters as well. You will need to ensure that you have the correct country adapter for your specific charger.
For mobile phones, please note that most countries in the Americas operate at 850 MHz and 1900 MHz which is not the same frequencies used in Europe, Africa, Asia and Australia. Most modern tri-band and quad-band mobile phones will be able to operate on these frequencies but please check your mobile phone specifications before travelling to ensure that you'll be able to use your phone in the Americas.
It is one of our core values to treat all people we encounter with respect, including the local people who make our destinations so special. We have therefore set down a number of rules to which our customers must adhere.
Engaging in commercial or exploitative sexual activities, committing acts of violence or threatening violence towards local people, other group members or any member of our staff is not allowed. Any customer engaging in such activities will be required to leave the trip immediately with no refund of the trip price.
You must at all times comply with the laws, customs, foreign exchange and drug regulations of all countries visited and conduct yourself in accordance with our responsible travel policy. Any customer found contravening such laws or regulations will be required to leave the trip immediately with no refund of the trip price.
Although we are aware that in some parts of the world taking, carrying or selling drugs, carrying weapons, or engaging in commercial or exploitative sexual activities may be legal, it is not acceptable for Dragoman customers and our tour leaders have the right to ask you to leave the trip immediately with no refund of the trip price if you are found to be engaging in such activities.
While we always endeavour to provide the best possible holiday experience, due to the nature of travel and the areas we visit sometimes things can and do go wrong. Should any issue occur while you are on your trip, it is imperative that you discuss this with your group leader or our local partner straight away so that they can do their best to rectify the problem and save any potential negative impact on the rest of your trip.
We recognise that there may be times when your group leader may not be able to resolve a situation to your satisfaction. If this is the case please contact our customer relations department on
You may also choose to provide details in your feedback questionnaire which we ask you to complete at the end of your trip, but we do ask you to be aware that it is very difficult for us to provide any practical help after the trip is complete.
Tipping is entirely voluntary. The Dragoman crew may be travelling with you for many weeks and usually they become good friends with most members of the group. It is sometimes easy to forget that they do work hard to ensure that you do have a great trip. If you feel you would like to tip them, they certainly would appreciate it.
On a number of our trips, we also use a local guide as well as our own Dragoman crew. These guides live and travel with you through their home country and it is usual to tip them when they leave. We recommend USD 1 to USD 4 per person per day, but check with your crew for an appropriate amount.
After your travels, we want to hear from you! We rely on your feedback. We read it carefully. Feedback helps us to understand what we are doing well and what we could be doing better, and it allows us to make improvements for future travellers.


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The few small studies that have looked at coconut oil for weight loss suggest that coconut oil may help reduce waist size, but it doesn't lead to significant weight loss or improved body mass index (BMI).
Coconut oil is a tropical oil that's made from the dried fruit (nut) of the coconut palm tree. Proponents say that it contains a healthy type of saturated fatty acid (lauric acid) that your body quickly burns for energy.
The oil extracted from fresh coconut contains a relatively large amount of medium-chain fatty acids, which don't appear to be stored in adipose tissue as readily as do long-chain fatty acids. This in part is why some people started looking at coconut oil as a weight-loss aid.
However, coconut oil is still high in calories and saturated fat. Coconut oil has more saturated fat than lard does. Short-term studies have suggested medium-chain fatty acids, such as lauric acid, do not raise serum low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol as much as do long-chain fatty acids. However, there are few long-term studies looking at the relationship between coconut oil and heart health. In addition, 1 tablespoon contains 13.6 grams of fat and 117 calories.
Consuming too much will give you extra calories — and that can signal to your body that it's time to store more fat. Even if the stored fat doesn't come directly from the coconut oil, high doses of coconut oil could still indirectly contribute to the very problem you are trying to address.
Although eating coconut oil in moderation isn't going to result in great harm to your health, it's not likely to help you lose weight either. For successful, long-term weight loss, stick to the basics — an overall healthy-eating plan and exercise.
Katherine Zeratsky, R.D., L.D.
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Adding Pattern: Renewing the Look of a Painted Room with Stencils
Are your walls getting you down? Tired of looking at the same paint color, but have no desire to repaint? Why not consider sprucing up the look of your space by adding pattern with stencils?
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If you're unsure about your DIY capabilities, consider testing your hand at stencils on a piece of furniture or small statement wall before you tackle an entire room. Perhaps one of these images will spark your creativity and inspire you to tackle your less-than-inspiring space.
1. Triangle Repeat Pattern Nursery Wall, Betz Design Studio.
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10. Chris and Hannah's Spectacular Reclaimed Loft, Apartment Therapy.


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This Tempura Rack / Strainer which fits over the wok, is a handy utensil used for keeping tempura and other fried foods warm while draining excess cooking oil. Dimensions: width 14 inches, length 7 inches, and about 1/2 inch in height. Product of China. Wok is for display only.
Copyright © 2004 - 2018 GroceryThai.com


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Welcome to Region 22 of the National Labor Relations Board. We conduct elections, investigate charges of unfair labor practices, and protect the rights of workers to act together, serving northern New Jersey from our office in Newark. If you have questions or wish to file a charge or petition for election, please visit our office or call and ask for the Information Officer on duty. We can arrange to have someone speak with you in the language of your choice. We are also happy to provide speakers and materials to promote a greater understanding of the National Labor Relations Act.
Region 22 Director J.


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Green madness has already hit the streets of New York as the city gears up for its St. Patrick's Day celebrations. Considering the stereotypical association with Ireland's national Catholic holiday and being completely off your head drunk we asked New Yorkers if they would consider a sober St. Patrick's Day.
Their answers were a little worrying. They said that's "like a contradiction in terms. How is that even possible."
A couple of the respondents felt it was utterly impossible to separate the Irish national Catholic festival day, which is meant to celebrate the patron saint of Ireland, St. Patrick, from booze.
They even went as far as saying that St. Patrick's Day is utterly synonymous with alcohol.
One woman said, "The point of the day, to see how much you can drink. Thanksgiving is how much you can eat, St. Patrick's Day, how much can you drink."
Another man compared an alcohol free St. Paddy's Day to "a Christmas with no presents, or Easter without chocolate, like a Tooth Fairy that leaves nothing under your pillow."
Even an Irish tourist in Times Square said, "That would be against the religion of the Irish. You have to have a few drinks. The shamrock has to have a good drowning."
Although these answers may not be particularly surprising, it seems that the message of St. Patrick's Day is not being entirely lost. One local illustration of this was last week when the Lepre-Con pub crawl, the replacement from the Hoboken St. Patrick's Day parade, took place. This fabricated boozy culture of St. Patrick's Day seems to be taking the feast day away from its community roots.
Other Irish groups in New York are working on saving St. Patrick's Day from this alcohol fuelled image. In fact the Sober St. Patrick's Day event, featured in this week's Irish Voice newspaper, is now in its second year and interest is continuing to grow.
Some of those New Yorkers we stopped realized the meaning behind this week's question. One man replied, "I don't know enough about St. Patrick's Day to give an answer but I know what it has become which probably means that it has nothing to do with what it actually stands for."
Another added, "The idea of St. Patrick's Day has kind of slipped away from a lot of Americans."
Check out our IrishCentral Video here


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GLENDORA, Calif. --
Only items or components currently approved by NHRA may be used in competition. If a vehicle is found to be using any item or component that is different from that which is approved, including an item or component that has been modified or altered from the approved configuration, then the driver will be penalized with a minimum $25,000 fine and deduction of 75 points. Multiple violations and/or flagrant disregard for this policy may result in additional penalties as determined by NHRA in its sole and absolute discretion. Such additional penalties may include disqualification, suspension or loss of season points. Among items and components that are subject to inspection and penalty if found to be different, altered, modified or otherwise not the same as the item or component that is approved, are the following: injector hats; supercharger cases (excluding end plates); supercharger inserts; supercharger rotors; cylinder heads (intake valve sizes may be increased to 2.470" max.); engine blocks; magnetos; ignition systems; data acquisition systems; safety shutoff system; event data recorder; front wings; rear wings; tires; and nitromethane.
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Message Board
John M. Ford Message Board
Talk about the novels, new and used books that Ford has written!
Author Ford's Book Reviews
The Last Hot Time
A long, long time ago, back when man was still hunting and gathering on the plains, the elves left our world to return to Elfland. About thirty years after JFK was president, they returned. They were horrified to see what humans had been doing in their absence and immediately started to change the world. One of the first things they did was to get rid of television. From there they established themselves throughout the world, making places like the "Leve...


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Sheila Dixon and John Paterakis
Former Baltimore mayor Sheila Dixon enjoyed the game from inside the H&S Bakery suite with JR Paterakis, H&S Bakery vice president and his father, John Paterakis, H&S Bakery president. As the game got under way, Dixon did a little prognosticating. "I hope they're not about next week's game. They need to focus on this one."
Sloane Brown, Baltimore Sun
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T.I. Says Nicki Minaj & Iggy Azalea Are Not "In Each Other's Lane"
Earlier this week, Lil Kim remixed Beyonce's "Flawless" and claimed the title of "Queen Bee" is hers alone. "Am I tripping or did this ho just say my name?" Kim raps. "Queen of Rap? Fuck outta here / Queen's back, fuck outta here / Time to get this wack bitch up outta here."
Shortly after, Kim released another diss track in the form of "Identity Theft" in which the veteran emcee again alleges that Minaj's style is borrowed. "I gave birth to your style, now try to speak to ya mammy/ Your team can't fuck with my family," she raps.
Speaking about the self-applied "Queen of Rap" label and the women's competing claims about their place in the industry, T.I. said that the nature of the disagreement may make it hard to resolve.
"Just because you heard another person say that you gonna be on edge," he said. "I feel like that's more of the case with Kim and Nicki, even though I don't know what started any of this, it's a little more complicated to put to bed because of that fact."
T.I. added that this type of public rift in Hip Hop isn't exclusive to female artists—"this is something that can happen to men too," he said—and also spoke briefly on the possibility that Nicki Minaj is defensive after long being compared to Kim.
"It's gonna put a chip on your shoulder in a different way too," he said of Nicki Minaj.
On a rumored beef between Nicki Minaj and his own label signee Iggy Azalea, T.I. largely shrugged off the possibility despite a perceived slight from Minaj at the recent BET Awards.
"That's a little more preposterous, like, 'what the fuck?' because they're not even in each other's lane," he said of the two female artists.
Nicki Minaj is currently prepping her new album The Pink Print, set to be released before the end of the year. Earlier this weekend Lil Kim announced the release date for her frequently delayed mixtape Hardcore 2k14.


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Law School Discussion
Deciding Where to Go
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Did I make the right decision?
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Did I make the right decision?
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Did I make the right decision?
July 14, 2013, 07:19:46 PM »
So I ended up getting off of the waitlist at Fordham and begged and pleaded for some scholarship money, but as expected, no dice. It was definitely my top choice from the start of the application process and after I got waitlisted, I figured I had no shot anyway. I ended up using leverage to get a 45k a year scholarship to Brooklyn Law and decided to go there over Cardozo initially. When I got into Fordham, it was the toughest decision of my life (seriously), but I couldn't fathom being in the enormous amount of debt - roughly 250k including living in NYC - after graduating. I still have the intention of doing big law, which out of BLS is going to be tougher than out of Fordham, and maybe if I do well enough this year I can try to transfer to NYU/Columbia/Penn, but just was looking for some reassurance. Feel free to be as honest as possible. I do not mind criticism no matter how harsh you may end up being.
Background: Went to U of Michigan undergrad and have lived in NY suburbs my entire life.
Re: Did I make the right decision?
Reply #1 on:
July 16, 2013, 06:11:20 PM »
First off realize this is your life and you know better than any anonymous internet poster giving advice on this board or others myself included. With that said I am an attorney and think there are some factors that every 0L should consider when choosing a law school. These factors are in the following order (1) Location (2) Cost (3) Personal Feelings about the School (4) What you want out of your legal career (5) U.S. News Rankings and not necessarily a factor, but understanding the reality of legal education. Each of these factors are analyzed below.
1) Location
It does sound like you have this pretty well established and you will be studying in New York. I see many students consider Gonzaga or Miami and not understanding the vast differences between the two locations. So this is not as big a factor in your decision, but living in New York I imagine you realize the difference between attending a law school located in upper Manhattan v. Bedstudy Brooklyn, but this goes more to factor 3 than 1.
2. Cost
This is a major factor and the scholarship is something to consider Brooklyn is 48k per year and Fordham is actually cheaper at 47k per year according to LSAC, but 45k pear year from Brooklyn will result in almost no debt for you, which would be amazing. However,
this often mislead law students. Many law schools will give you a condition such as you must maintain a 3.0 GPA or finish in some percentage of the class. The 3.0 requirement is usually the most tricky almost every incoming law student at any ABA school obtained a 3.0 while in undergrad in their sleep. Therefore, 100% of 0L's believe they will get a 3.0 in law school. However, unlike undergrad law school has a curve typically schools allow only 35% of their class to have a 3.0 GPA at the end of first year. Everybody could do A work, but only 35% of the class will get A's bottom line.
Even knowing that 100% of incoming law students at any ABA school are smart, hard-working, and motivated and on the first day 100% of students will truly believe they will be in the top 10% and there is no way they could finish outside the top 35%, but that will be the case for 65% of the students. So bottom line check out what if any conditions are part of this Brooklyn Scholarship. If it is a full ride no conditions attached that is really something to consider, but schools like everyone else don't generally hand out 100k without some stipulation. So I would ask as many questions about the condition as possible if you don't ask they won't tell you. Additionally this NY times article does a good job explaining the system.
3) Personal Feelings about the School
In your situation with Location and cost being a major issue I don't know if this is an important, but it is something to consider. Each school has a culture to it as 0L there were many schools I liked and others I didn't. I have been to both Fordham and Brooklyn Law school and the campuses are very different as are the cultures of each school. I think Fordham is a much more prestigious school and if you want to be in a BigLaw environment etc that is probably the better environment for you. More of a streetfighter type litigator etc might prefer Brooklyn. I don't know you personally and nobody knows what will suit your style better than yourself so visit both schools talk to professors, students, tour the campus, etc and see what school feels right for you.
4) What you want out of your legal career
You mention Big Law aspirations and certainly Fordham will provide more BigLaw opportunities than Brooklyn although I don't think Fordham competes with Harvard, Yale, NYU, Columbia etc, so odds are you will not land a big law job from either school, but Fordham will provide a fighting chance Brooklyn probably not.
However, I know plenty of people that wanted Big Law and went into it and couldn't stand it. If you pass up the money for Fordham you may be stuck in a job you hate. I would try and reach out to some big law lawyers and see if it really is something you want. The paychecks sound great, but many are utterly misreable I have many Harvard friends who left after a year or two to go in-house, work for the AG, or various other jobs and they might have been better served taking scholarship money opposed to the Harvard education. Again, it is up to you.
5) U.S. News Rankings:
Remember this is a for-profit unregulated magazine offering an opinion nothing more so don't make a life altering decision based on it. To be perfectly honest I don't even know if Fordham is ranked higher than Brooklyn, but I know the campus is much nicer at Fordham, which shows how much ranking matters in the real world. You can certainly consider it, but the rankings change so much year to year and the rankings are truly based on nothing other than people filling out scantrons of 1-5 on schools they never interacted with. That is the system so don't take it to seriously.
6) Reality of Legal Education
A final point to understand is that at any ABA school you will learn the same thing. Whether you attend Fordham or Brooklyn your first year will consist of Torts, Contracts, Property, Civil Procedure, etc and in these courses you will read Supreme Court cases. Palsgraf f to learn proximate cause in Torts, Pennoyer v. Neff to learn about Notice in Civ pro, International Shoe to learn about personal jurisdiction, Hadley v. Baxendale to learn about contract remedies so on and so on. So there really isn't a "better education" the law is the law.
At the end of your three years you will then sign up for Barbri or Kaplan to help you with Bar Review then you will sit in a class with law students from Touro, NYLS, Brooklyn, Fordham, NYU, Columbia, and Cardozo then you after months of studying you will go into a room with 1,000 or so other bar takers from the same schools and hope you pass the exam. If you do you will then be granted a bar card whether you attended Touro or Columbia if you fail you will be given one. If you get one you will have a license to practice law and what you do with that will depend much more on you than the name of the school on your diploma.
I am some guy on the internet and this decision will impact 3 years of your life, 100k + of your money, and shape your legal career. Therefore, I will not even think of telling you what to do, but find out what the scholarship conditions are first and foremost then consider the factors above along with anything else you deem important when making your choice.
Congrats on your acceptances to law school and good luck in your legal career.
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