Tour Description

Discover the natural wonders of wild Patagonia on this nine-day Premium journey. Travel from Santiago through Torres del Paine National Park, take in stunning views of glaciers and icebergs and explore the incredible Perito Moreno Glacier – one of the few glaciers left in the world that isn’t shrinking! Along the way, keep your eyes open for sea lions, penguins, guanacos and pumas. Cruise past icebergs and glaciers and listen to the crack of the ice as it plunges into the waters below. This trip takes you into the heart of the drama and the calm of this vast wilderness with unique wildlife opportunities and striking natural landscapes.

Priced From:

$ 9596.00pp ^*

Valid From: 01JAN2025

Valid To: 31DEC2025

Start Location: Santiago

End Location: Ushuaia

Countries: Argentina, Chile,

Tour Advisors

Tiffany McCrea-Lennon

Managing Director

Chris McKinnel

Travel Specialist

Gaylyn Murdoch

Administration Manager

Russell Mein

Travel Specialist

Holly Skene

Travel Co-ordinator

Kim Thomas

Broker

Highlights

Settle in for three nights in your scenic Feature Stay – a sustainable hotel in Puerto Natales offering modern amenities and first-class views of the surrounding mountains and fjord and your gateway to Torres del Paine National Park.

Witness Argentina’s Perito Moreno Glacier and listen to the thundering ice cracking on this 30-km-long beast – one of the few glaciers left that isn’t shrinking!

Explore Torres del Paine National Park with a full day packed with incredible activities to see the best of the park – your day will be customised by your expert guide to perfectly suit the group’s fitness levels and interests.

Spend the day with the resident penguins on Martillo Island in the Southernmost city in the world - Ushuaia.

Travel with an expert local leader who will add another layer to your discoveries, taking care of the details and sharing stories about the scenery, wildlife and local culture.

Itinerary

Bienvenidos! Welcome to Chile. Your adventure begins in Santiago, where you’ll be met at the airport and transferred to your hotel. Here, you‘ll meet your fellow travellers and local leader at a welcome meeting at 6 pm tonight. If you arrive early, maybe head out for a self-paced walking tour and get to know your surroundings. After your meeting, head out for dinner at a local wine bar. Get to know your group over a multi-course meal matched with delicious local wines and learn more about your upcoming adventure in the wilds of Patagonia.

Today is a travel day so sit back, relax and enjoy the scenery. You’ll leave the hotel early in the morning (your departure time can vary depending on the flight) and fly from Santiago to Puerto Natales. From here, you’ll drive to your accommodation, passing views of the Patagonian landscape along the way. Look out for wildlife like guanacos and take the opportunity to get to know your group a little better. When you arrive, check into your Feature Stay hotel, which has been designed to blend into the landscape and make the most of the sweeping views. With amazing scenery right outside your window, this is the perfect spot to connect with nature and leave the rest of the world behind. After an orientation walk with your leader around Puerto Natales, you might like to join your group for dinner at a local restaurant.

With a full day to explore Torres del Paine National Park in Chilean Patagonia, you’re set for some great adventures today. Today’s activities will be customised based on the weather and your group’s fitness level and interests. You might see Grey Glacier and the surrounding icebergs, or head to the Salto Grande waterfall and see the Paine Massif. Maybe go on some short hikes – the great thing about this national park is its natural beauty can be seen from anywhere!

Today you’ll be exploring the Balmaceda and Serrano Glaciers within Bernardo O'Higgins National Park, which can only be accessed by sea. Cruise through the Ultima Esperanza fjord, passing by glaciers, waterfalls and small estancias, eventually arriving at the Balmaceda glacier. Continue to the end of the fjord and take a short walk to a viewpoint looking over the glacier before cruising back the way you came, keeping a look out for imperial cormorants and sea lions as you go. After your cruise, head to nearby Estancia Perales to enjoy lunch and amazing views. Tonight, perhaps head out for a dinner with your group in Puerto Natales and share stories about today’s adventures.

After a hearty breakfast to prepare you for a day of travel, cross the international border from Chile to Argentina and arrive at El Calafate. This is your gateway to the Glaciers National Park. As a major hub for adventurers headed to Perito Moreno, El Calafate has undergone a lot of development in recent decades. Located on the shore of the Argentino Lake and surrounded by the Andes range, this is a scenic place to spend a few days. After your long travel day, you may want to simply relax at your hotel.

Today, drive to the Perito Moreno Glacier – one of the few balanced glaciers in the world. At 3 km (1.8 mi) wide and 30 km (19 mi) long, it’s a spectacular sight. There are multiple viewing platforms overlooking Lake Argentino, and they provide an ideal vantage point to watch and listen to the crack of the ice as it plunges into the waters below. After you have watched the calving glacier, board your boat with an English-speaking guide for a glacier cruise that takes you even closer to the glacier. After an amazing day, you’ll head back to your accommodation for a relaxing evening.

Take to the skies on a flight from El Calafate to Ushuaia this morning. When you arrive, check in to your hotel, which is ideally located for exploring the city. After a walk around town with your leader to get your bearings, the rest of the day and night is yours to enjoy your own way. You could visit the Museo del Fin del Mundo (End of the World Museum) or take a stroll along the waterfront. Tonight, you might like to head out for drinks or a casual dinner with your group or enjoy a quiet night in.

After breakfast with your group, set off on a tour of Martillo Island where you’ll get to walk alongside the penguins that call this island home. Take a scenic drive with views of the Beagle Chanel and board a boat that will take you to the island where you can stroll beside hundreds of penguins. Keep an eye out for the island’s other wildlife as well, such as cormorants, petrels and Nordic skuas. On the way back to Ushuaia, you’ll stop at the Acatushun Museum to learn more about the animals that live in this remote part of the world. Tonight, maybe head out to celebrate the final night of your Patagonian adventure.

There are no activities planned for today, and you’re free to leave at any time after check out. If you’d like to spend more time in Ushuaia, just get in touch with your booking agent ahead of time to book additional accommodation. If you’d like to fly up to the Lake District, travel to Buenos Aires or join an Ocean Endeavor Antarctica sailing trip, your booking agent can also help with any ongoing travel arrangements.

Dates & prices

Dates

Prices

Availability

Departure Date :

24NOV2024

Return Date :

02DEC2024

11995NZD

not available

Departure Date :

28NOV2024

Return Date :

06DEC2024

12115NZD

not available

Departure Date :

01DEC2024

Return Date :

09DEC2024

11995NZD

not available

Departure Date :

10DEC2024

Return Date :

18DEC2024

12350NZD

available

Departure Date :

19DEC2024

Return Date :

27DEC2024

12950NZD

available

Departure Date :

03JAN2025

Return Date :

11JAN2025

12915NZD

available

Departure Date :

10JAN2025

Return Date :

18JAN2025

12915NZD

available

Departure Date :

24JAN2025

Return Date :

01FEB2025

13300NZD

available

Departure Date :

07FEB2025

Return Date :

15FEB2025

14285NZD

available

Departure Date :

14FEB2025

Return Date :

22FEB2025

12420NZD

available

Trip Notes

Last modified (date)

08 Aug 2024

Trip title

Premium Patagonia

Trip code

GGPU

Validity

Validity: 01 Jan 2025 to 31 Dec 2025

Introduction

Style

Premium

Themes

Explorer

Transport

Private Vehicle,Plane,Boat

Physical Rating

Physical preparation

We recommend that you undertake regular aerobic exercise in the months before you travel, particularly if you are not in the habit of regular exercise. Doing mountain walks or climbing long staircases with a pack is good preparation. Walking, jogging, swimming or riding a bike are all good ways to increase your aerobic fitness, which will allow you to enjoy the trekking to its fullest.

Joining point

Hotel Bidasoa

Avenida Vitacura 4873 Vitacura,

Santiago

CHILE

Joining point instructions

Please make sure that you provide your flight details no later than 14 days before departure to book your arrival transfer with us. For your confirmed arrival transfer, you’ll be met outside Gate 3 at Santiago de Chile International Airport (SCL) by a transfer representative holding an Intrepid sign. In case of flight cancellations, changes, if you experience severe delays at immigration, baggage collection or customs, or if you are not able to find the driver, please contact our local office on the number in the ‘Problems and emergency contact information’ section.

Finish point

Cilene del Faro Suites and Spa

Yaganes 74, Tierra del Fuego Province

Ushuaia

9410

ARGENTINA

Phone: +54 1143430080

Important information

1. A complimentary airport arrival transfer is included; valid if you are arriving on Day 1 or if you have booked pre-tour accommodation through us. You must provide your flight details to your booking agent at least 14 days prior to travel. 2. A single supplement is available if you’d prefer not to share a room on this trip. The single supplement applies to all nights of your trip and is subject to availability. Please speak to your booking agent for further information. 3.We highly recommend you take US Dollars with you to Argentina and change it locally. While ATMs are widely available, there is a daily limit for withdrawals and the exchange rate does fluctuate. 4.The optional mini trek on Perito Moreno glacier is possible on this itinerary. Please see the itinerary above for full details of this activity. Places are limited and we recommend you book in advance. Please inquire when booking your trip to book this optional activity. Full passport details are required to hold space.

Group leader

All group trips are accompanied by one of our group leaders. The aim of the group leader is to take the hassle out of your travels and to help you have the best trip possible. Premium leaders are Intrepid’s most experienced, with in-depth knowledge and extensive local networks to make it a trip of a lifetime. Your leader will provide information on the places you are travelling through, offer suggestions for things to do and see, recommend great local eating venues and introduce you to our local friends. While not being guides in the traditional sense, you can expect them to have a broad general knowledge of the places visited on the trip, including historical, cultural, religious, and social aspects. At Intrepid we aim to support local guides who have specialised knowledge of the regions we visit. When not already included in your trip, your leader will be able to recommend a local guide service who can share more detailed or specialised information at specific sites should you be interested in delving deeper.

Safety

Most national governments provide regularly updated foreign travel advice on safety issues involved with international travel. We recommend that you check your government's advice for their latest travel information before departure and ensure that your travel insurance covers you for all destinations and activities on your trip. Please refer to our website's safety page for links to major travel advisories and updates on safety issues affecting our trips here: https://www.intrepidtravel.com/travel-alerts We strongly recommend the use of a neck wallet or money belt while travelling, for the safe-keeping of your passport, flight tickets, cash and other valuable items. Leave your jewellery at home - you won't need it while travelling. Many of our hotels have safety deposit boxes, which is the most secure way of storing your valuables. A lock is recommended for securing your luggage. Your group leader or local representative will accompany you on all included activities, however, during your trip you'll have some free time to pursue your own interests or relax and take it easy. While your group leader or local representative will assist you with the available options in a given location, please note that any optional activities you undertake are not part of your Intrepid itinerary, and Intrepid makes no representations about the safety of the activity or the standard of the operators running them. Please use your own good judgement when selecting an activity in your free time. Please also note that your group leader or local representative has the authority to amend or cancel any part of the trip itinerary if it's deemed necessary due to safety concerns. Intrepid's operational safety policies can be viewed on our website at the link below. We recommend that you take a moment to read through this information before travelling, and would appreciate any feedback on how safety is being managed on our trips.

https://www.intrepidtravel.com/safety-guidelines

PETTY THEFT AND PERSONAL SAFETY While travelling there is always the risk of pick-pocketing and petty theft, particularly in the more touristy cities. We recommend that you exercise caution when walking alone at night and encourage you to walk together and only on main, well-lit thoroughfares. Be particularly vigilant on public transport. Simple measures like carrying your day pack on your front, not hanging your bag over the back of your chair or on the floor and wearing a money belt will reduce any chance that your valuables should go missing.

MONEY WITHDRAWAL: In order to avoid fraud and theft, it is advisable that you withdraw money from ATMs located inside banks or guarded shops during business hours only.

SEAT BELTS: Please be aware that local laws governing transportation safety may differ from those in your home country and not all the transport which we use is able to provide seat belts.

Taxi scams are very common at the Santiago Airport. Taxi drivers will often use radios or cell phones to offer to call your transfer driver, and report that they are unable to arrive, so you will need to take a taxi and pay in cash or credit card. The drivers then use the confusing exchange rate to charge travelers very high rates without them realizing. Scam taxi drivers will look at the legitimate signs with passengers’ names, then call out those names to pretend they are waiting for specific passengers. Make sure you only leave with a driver who has an Intrepid sign. If you need to call to find your driver, dial the number and talk to our staff yourself. If you have not arranged a transfer and need to book a taxi we recommend to use TAXI TURISMO OFICIAL located in the first floor of International arrivals hall. The prices will be around USD $25 (CLP 20K-25K)

Visas

PASSPORT You’ll need a valid passport to travel internationally and most countries require your passport to have a minimum of 6 months validity, so remember to check the expiry date. We need your passport information to get everything ready for your trip so it’s important that the information on your booking matches your passport exactly. Please take care to provide the correct details. We recommend carrying a copy of the photo page of your passport while travelling and leaving a copy at home with family or friends. VISAS & ENTRY REQUIREMENTS Many countries require a visa and obtaining the correct visa for your trip and any countries you may transit through is your responsibility. We recommend you check your visa requirements as soon as you have booked your trip. This will ensure you have time to prepare your documents and for your visa application to be processed. You can check the entry requirements for your nationality on your government's foreign travel advisories, consular websites or on our page here: www.intrepidtravel.com/visa-entry-requirements

Why we love it

Witness Argentina’s Perito Moreno Glacier and listen to the thundering ice cracking on this 30-km-long beast – one of the few glaciers left that isn’t shrinking!

Spend the day with the resident penguins on Martillo Island in the Southernmost city in the world - Ushuaia.

Travel with an expert local leader who will add another layer to your discoveries, taking care of the details and sharing stories about the scenery, wildlife and local culture.

Is this trip right for you

Weather in Patagonia can be wild, so it's important to prepare for all elements. Rain, wind and extreme cold are all part of the adventure. As a result of this wild weather the hikes and activities within Torres del Paine National Park may not always be possible, but if you are prepared to be a little flexible, you will have a great time.

Health

GENERAL HEALTH All travellers need to be in good physical health in order to participate fully on this trip. For the safety and wellbeing of yourself and others, if you are unwell prior to travelling, please stay at home and contact us to make alternative arrangements. When selecting your trip please make sure you have read through the itinerary carefully and assess your ability to manage and enjoy our style of travel. Please note that if in the assessment of our group leader or local representative a traveller is unable to complete the itinerary without undue risk to themselves and/or the rest of the group, we reserve the right to exclude them from all or part of a trip without refund. You should consult your doctor for up-to-date medical travel information or for any necessary vaccinations before departure. We recommend that you carry a first aid kit as well as any personal medical requirements in their original packaging as they may not easily be obtained while travelling. If you are carrying medication, ensure you check your government's foreign travel advice for any local restrictions or requirements. MOSQUITO-BORNE ILLNESSES: Some regions of Central & South America can experience outbreaks of dengue fever. There is no vaccination against it, but there are preventative measures that you can take such as wearing long clothing, using repellent, and being indoors particularly around dusk and dawn. If you have a fever or feel unwell, please let your group leader or local representative know right away. Protect yourself against mosquito-borne illnesses such as malaria by taking measures to avoid insect bites. ZIKA VIRUS: There have been reports of transmission of the mosquito-borne Zika virus in this region and we advise all travellers to protect themselves from mosquito bites. Given possible transmission of the disease to unborn babies, and taking a very cautious approach, we recommend all women who are pregnant or trying to get pregnant to consult with their doctors before booking their trip. YELLOW FEVER 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.

Food and dietary requirements

While travelling with us you'll experience the vast array of wonderful food available in this region. Your group leader or local representative will be able to suggest restaurants to try during your trip. To give you the maximum flexibility in deciding where, what and with whom to eat, generally not all meals are included in the trip price. This also gives you more budgeting flexibility. As a rule, our groups tend to eat dinner together to enable you to taste a larger variety of dishes and enjoy each other's company. There's no obligation to do this though. DIETARY REQUIREMENTS Please let us know your diet requirements before your trip starts. Generally speaking, in bigger cities/towns vegetarians can expect a reasonable range of vegetarian venues and/or vegetarian options within tourist restaurant menus. However, vegetarianism is not the norm in this part of the world so options can be limited when eating at homestays, small local restaurants, street stalls, markets, etc. More restrictive diet requirements (vegans, coeliac, gluten intolerance, fructose intolerance, lactose intolerance, etc.) can also be accommodated along this trip but you should expect a lesser variety than what you can expect at home. We recommend that, if possible, to bring your own supply of snacks with you. For those on strict Kosher or Halal diets, we understand your dietary requirements are important, however, sometimes due to cultural and language differences these are not always easy to convey when you are travelling. Your guide will do their best to assist you in translating your needs when eating out, but please be aware that these diets are almost unheard of in much of the continent and the best they may be able to accommodate is no pork and shellfish. If this will be a concern for you you may need to consider opting for vegetarian or vegan meals for the included meals in your itinerary. We recommend researching kosher or halal options in your destination country prior to travel to see if you are able to buy snacks once there, otherwise consider bringing some from home.

Money matters

Chile currency information: The official currency of Chile is the Chilean Peso (CLP). Argentina currency information: The unit of currency in Argentina is the Argentinean peso (ARS). TIPPING Tips are included on all Intrepid Premium trips, covering hotel staff, local guides and the people who will take care of you during your travels. This amount does not include a tip for your leader, so you may wish to set aside some funds for this. It is customary to tip your leader for outstanding service provided during your trip. You are free to tip more or less as you see fit, depending on your perception of service quality and the length and involvement of your leader on your trip. Tips are greatly appreciated as a gesture of thanks for their professionalism and leadership during your trip. The amount is entirely a personal preference; however, as a guideline, US$6-8 per person (in a currency relevant for your destination), per day can be used. SPENDING MONEY When it comes to spending money on the trip, every traveller is a little different. You know your spending habits better than we do, so please budget an appropriate amount for things like optional meals, drinks, shopping, optional activities, and laundry. Make sure you have read the itinerary and inclusions thoroughly so you know what is included in the trip price and what you may need to pay for while travelling. CONTINGENCY FUNDS We try to plan for every eventuality, but there are still some things beyond our control. We reserve the right to change an itinerary after departure due to local circumstances or a Force Majeure Event. In such emergency circumstances, the additional cost of any necessary itinerary alterations will be covered by you. Please note we are not responsible for any incidental expenses that may be incurred as a result of the change of itineraries including but not limited to visas, vaccinations or non-refundable flights. Make sure you have access to an extra US$500 for emergencies (e.g. severe weather, natural disasters, civil unrest) or other events that result in unavoidable changes to the itinerary (e.g. transport strikes or cancellations, airport closures). Sometimes these things necessitate last-minute changes to enable our trips to continue to run, and as a result, there may be some extra costs involved. The recommended amount is listed in USD for the relatability of universal travellers, however, local currency may be needed once in the country to cover these costs. ARGENTINA The local currency is the Argentinian Peso (ARS). USD cash is the easiest currency to exchange. We recommend you take USD cash with you to Argentina and change it locally. While ATMs are widely available, there is a daily limit for withdrawals and the exchange rate does fluctuate. ATMs are widely available in major towns and cities across Latin America. Credit cards can generally be used in tourist shops and restaurants. Visa and Mastercard are preferred. Smaller venues take cash only.

What to take

ESSENTIAL: - Closed-in shoes will help to protect your feet from cuts and scratches when walking through cities as well as bush/grass-lands, and will also act as a barrier protection in rare cases against bites or stings - Sun protection - hat, sunscreen, sunglasses

CLIMATE & CLOTHING: Weather in Patagonia is unpredictable. While this trip only runs during the warmer months of the year, temperatures can fluctuate from 30 to 0 degrees Celsius (86 to 32 Fahrenheit) within a trip or even a day. Please make sure you pack enough warm clothing.

What you need to bring will vary according to the trip style you have chosen, the countries you are visiting and when you are travelling. We recommend you pack as lightly as possible, ensuring that you are able to carry and lift your own luggage and walk with it for short distances or up or down a flight of stairs. Help will be on hand in most locations, but there may be times you need to handle your own luggage, for example in airports and train stations. A lockable suitcase with wheels is ideal for this trip. It is recommended that you keep your main luggage weight around 15kg and certainly no more than 20kg. A small or medium-sized backpack (45-50 litres) is another good option. You'll also need a day pack/bag to carry water, camera, jacket, etc. when you’re exploring during the day. Below is a link to our ultimate packing list, a guide to get you started:

https://www.intrepidtravel.com/packing-list

Climate and seasonal

The weather in Patagonia is unpredictable. While this trip only runs during the warmer months of the year, temperatures can fluctuate between 0 and 30 degrees celcius (32 to 86 fahrenheit) within a tour or even over the course of a day! Please make sure you have packed appropriate clothing that can be layered up to accommodate these temperatures and that your sleeping bag is an all seasons bag that will keep you warm in freezing night time temperatures.

A couple of rules

Intrepid won't tolerate any kind of violence, harassment (whether physical, verbal or sexual), or disrespect toward fellow travellers, our teams or local communities. To ensure the wellbeing of everyone on the trip, decisions made by your group leader are final. Romantic relationships between travellers and group leader or local representative are not permitted while on trip. Any behaviour that prevents your leader from continuing the itinerary as planned, breaks local laws or opposes any of these guidelines may result in Intrepid denying your booking or removing you from the trip. If something concerns you during your travels, please speak to your group leader immediately. Alternatively, you can contact us on the emergency contact number detailed in the Problems and Emergency Contact Information section of this Essential Trip Information.

Feedback

Can’t stop thinking about your adventure? Tell us all about it! We read each piece of feedback carefully and use it to make improvements for travellers like you. Share your experience with us at: http://www.intrepidtravel.com/feedback/

Emergency contact

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 local representative 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 or local representative may not be able to resolve a situation to your satisfaction - if this is the case, please ask the group leader or local representative to speak to their direct manager. You may also choose to provide details in your online feedback, which we ask you to complete within 30 days of the end of your trip. Please do be aware that it is very difficult for us to provide any practical help after the trip is completed, so informing us while still travelling will give us the opportunity to resolve the issue in real-time. For general contact details please use the following page: https://www.intrepidtravel.com/contact-us In case of a genuine crisis or emergency, you can reach our local office on the numbers below: BOOKING ENQUIRIES / ISSUES For general enquiries or questions about your booking, please contact your agent or adventure specialist, or visit us at: http://www.intrepidtravel.com/au/contact-us Available for phone call or WhatsApp call on +51 996 055559 Lima, +51 940 512701 Cusco

Responsible travel

Our Responsible Travel Policy outlines our commitment to preserving the environment, supporting local communities, protecting the vulnerable, and giving back to the places we travel. All our trip group leaders or local representatives, suppliers, and staff are trained on these principles and are core to us delivering sustainable, experience-rich travel. Explore the different parts of our Responsible Travel Policy by visiting: https://www.intrepidtravel.com/responsible-travel Latin Americans can be very conscious of appearance so try to be casual but conservative in your dress. Outside of beach areas halter tops and very short shorts should not be worn. When visiting churches or religious sites shoulders and knees should be covered.

The Intrepid Foundation

Our non-profit, The Intrepid Foundation, gives travellers more opportunities to make a positive impact in the places they visit. We have over 50 Intrepid Foundation partners across the globe addressing four key focus areas: protecting the environment, taking a stand for wildlife, addressing inequality and empowering communities. Intrepid matches all post-trip donations dollar for dollar and takes care of the admin fees – this doubles your impact and ensures every cent goes to our partners on the ground. Visit our website for more info: http://www.theintrepidfoundation.org/ This trip supports Torres del Paine Legacy Fund, helping to preserve, support and celebrate the Torres del Paine National Park and its surrounding communities. Donations help Torres del Paine's trail restoration and conservation work in the Última Esperanza province of Chile. Intrepid will double your impact by dollar-matching post-trip donations made to The Intrepid Foundation. To find out more or make a donation, visit: www.theintrepidfoundation.org/t/tdplf

Accommodation notes

The style of accommodation indicated in the day-to-day itinerary is a guideline only and may change. On some occasions, alternative arrangements may need to be made due to the lack of availability of rooms in our preferred accommodation. In these cases, we will use a similar standard of accommodation. Throughout the trip, we request that our properties prepare rooms in time for our arrival, especially if we're arriving prior to normal check-in time. However, this isn't always possible which means we won't be able to check-in immediately on arrival at some hotels. Instead, we can store our luggage and explore our new destination or on some trips, have use of shared day rooms until all rooms are available.

Travel insurance

Travel insurance is compulsory on all our trips for those travelling internationally. We require that at a minimum you are covered for medical expenses including emergency repatriation. If you are travelling within your home country or region please confirm before travel that you are entitled to access the public medical system easily should an accident occur. We strongly recommend all travellers have a policy that also covers personal liability, cancellation, curtailment and loss of luggage or personal effects. For international trips, you will not be permitted to join the group until evidence of travel insurance and the insurance company's 24-hour emergency contact number has been sighted by your group leader or local representative. If you have credit card insurance your group leader or local representative will require details of the participating insurer/underwriter, the level of coverage, policy number, and emergency contact number rather than the bank's name and your credit card details. Please contact your bank for these details prior to arriving in-country. For travellers who reside within the European Union, Switzerland or USA the requirement to purchase travel insurance cannot be compulsory. However the purchase of travel insurance is still highly recommended, and travellers from these regions who decline travel insurance when travelling outside of their home region must sign a Travel Insurance Waiver Form at the Group Meeting, recognizing personal responsibility for emergency medical and repatriation costs should they arise. For assistance with travel insurance or other services, please visit the link below: https://www.intrepidtravel.com/booking-resources/our-services

Your fellow travellers

As you travel on a group trip you will be exposed to all the pleasures and maybe some of the frustrations of travelling in a group. Your fellow travellers will probably come from all corners of the world and likely a range of age groups too. We ask you to be understanding of the various needs and preferences of your group - patience with your fellow travellers is sometimes required for the benefit of everyone's travel experience. Remember too that you have responsibilities to the group. If you are requested to be at a place at a certain time, ensure that you don't keep the rest of the group waiting. We have found time and time again that the very best trips we operate are those where the dynamics within the group work well - this takes just a little effort on your part. Due to privacy reasons, we are unable to provide you with contact details and any personal information about your fellow travellers booked on your trip prior to departure. SOLO TRAVELLERS On our trips, rooming is organised on a twin-share basis. We pair up solo travellers with another traveller of the same gender, as per the gender marker on each of their passports. We also offer an optional single supplement on most trips for travellers who prefer to have their own room. This only applies to accommodation during the tour. Pre-trip and post-trip accommodation booked through us will always be on a single-room basis. On a small selection of trips some accommodation will be open-gender and multishare, such as a felucca in Egypt or an overnight train in Vietnam. Please review the Accommodation section of the Essential Trip Information for details about your trip. LGBTQIA+ TRAVELLERS We strive to create a safe and inclusive environment for everyone. If your gender identity differs from what is indicated on your passport, please contact us so that we can discuss rooming options with you.

Itinerary disclaimer

ITINERARY CHANGES Our itineraries are updated regularly throughout the year based on customer feedback and to reflect the current situation in each destination. The information included in this Essential Trip Information may therefore differ from when you first booked your trip. It's important that you review this information prior to travel so that you have the latest updates. Due to weather, local conditions, transport schedules, public holidays, political unrest or other factors, further changes may be necessary to your itinerary once in-country. Your group leader or local representative will keep you up to date with any such changes once your trip is underway. OPTIONAL ACTIVITIES A selection of optional activities that have been popular with past travellers are listed in the day-to-day itinerary. This isn't an exhaustive list and should be used as a guide only for some of what might be available. Prices are approximate, are for entrance fees only, and don’t include transport to and from the sites or local guides unless indicated. All activities are subject to availability, and maybe on a join-in basis. It may not be possible to do all the activities listed in the time available at each destination, so some pre-planning for what you are most interested in is advised. When it's recommended that travellers pre-book these activities, look for a note in the Special Information section of the day-to-day itinerary. For most, they can either be organised independently on the day, or let your group leader or local representative know you are interested at the Welcome Meeting and they can assist. Where activities are considered medium or high risk, we work with operators whose safety and credentials we have sighted and assessed. Although it is possible that you may find the same activity cheaper with another operator on the ground, we cannot vouch for the safety or quality of that operator. Medium and high-risk activities not listed above have not been assessed by us and as such our staff and group leader or local representative are unable to assist you with organising these activities. Activities that contravene our Responsible Travel policies are also not listed. Please remember that the decision to partake in any activity not listed is at your own discretion and risk.

Accommodation

Comfortable Hotel (5 nights),Feature Stay (3 nights)

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