What's included in your 'Andes' holiday or expedition
Generally speaking the following items are included or not included, although minor exceptions do occur from trip to trip. See below the table for further details on certain items and the trip dossier for more specific details. If you are in any doubt about what is included in the price you are paying us for the trip you have chosen, please ask before you buy.
| INCLUDED | NOT INCLUDED |
|
All transport and accommodation in South America. All food while in the mountains. Services of an experienced European (normally British) leader. Provision of maps, guidebooks, route knowledge All communal camping and climbing equipment. All peak fees or permits necessary. |
Flights
and airport taxes. Restaurant and cafe meals Beers, phone calls etc. Optional sightseeing tours. Personal camping and climbing equipment |
Flights
Our quoted prices on the internet do not include flights, but we are very happy to organise flights for European customers through our travel agents Journey Latin America (ATOL 2828). When we organise flights it usually means that most of the group can fly out to South America and back home together. We make no charge for this service and most of our customers find this the most convenient way to book a flight. If you prefer you can arrange flights yourself, but in either case please note that flights to South America fill up early so please book promptly to avoid disappointment.
If you're joining us from elsewhere in the world it will be easiest for you to arrange your own flights locally. Please send us your schedule as soon as possible so that we can co-ordinate meeting up with you.
Please note that if booking flights yourself it is better to pay only a deposit in the short term in case we do not have sufficient fully paid customers to run the expedition.
Equipment
We provide top quality tents, stoves and climbing safety equipment manufactured by well known names such as Terra Nova, MSR, North Face. Expedition members are expected to have their own personal equipment though we can hire or loan selected small items. We send a full equipment list when you book; if you would like advice or information before then please phone or email us.
Equipment Hire
We can now hire a range of equipment to customers for a small fee, including ice-axes, crampons, helmets and harnesses as well as sleeping bags and down jackets. Please request our equipment hire form.
Accommodation
In cities we stay in mid range hotels which are clean, comfortable and secure. Normally you will be in a double room with private bathroom and a good supply of hot water. Breakfast is included with the accommodation, but is often just a simple portion of coffee and toast in South America. Single rooms are often available - we will simply charge you the extra that it costs us. Single females or single males on an expedition do of course get a single room at no extra cost. In remote villages accommodation can be a wee bit less luxurious and hot showers may not be possible. In the mountains we normally camp, using modern lightweight tents provided by us; again these are normally on a two person sharing basis, except where you are the only male or female on a trip. In the few areas where it is an option we also occasionally use huts.
Meals
A continental breakfast is included with all accommodation. In towns and cities customers are free to eat where they please; there is usually a wide choice of restaurants - these meals are at individual expense. In the mountains we cook and eat a mixture of fresh locally bought food and dried food, the cost of which is part of the price you pay. Our leaders are responsible for all the cooking, but clients often help out too.
Sightseeing excursions
The cost of sightseeing excursions on rest days are not included in our prices unless specifically mentioned in the dossier. This helps to keep the basic price of our holidays down and allows customers more flexibility to choose only the excursions which interest them.
Insurance
The cost of insurance is not included in our prices. All clients must be insured for medical costs, rescue and repatriation in an emergency. We strongly recommend having insurance for baggage and effects, personal liability and cancellation (if you are ill or unable to travel). Most good travel insurance policies will cover these items, but make sure you'll be covered for the trek or climb as well. If you'd like advice on insurance please ask us or contact the companies we recommend Snowcard or The BMC
