Essential Information
Aircraft weight restrictions For the purposes of fl ight safety, it is essential that you adhere to the luggage weight restrictions imposed by the airline you are fl ying with, particularly when fl ying on internal fl ights on smaller aircraft.
Passports and visas
It is your own responsibility to ensure that you are in possession of a full passport, with at least six months validity from the end date of your trip plus suffi cient blank pages for visas and immigration stamps. Also, you are responsible for any visas and vaccination certifi cates necessary to enter or transit any countries involved in your trip. British passport holders require no visas or statutory vaccinations for any voyages in this brochure. However, if you are travelling via the US, it is compulsory for all travellers to provide their personal details online using the Electronic System for Travel Authorisation (ESTA) well in advance of travel (and not less than 72hrs before travel). If you are not a British national please check with the relevant embassy or consulate of the destinations you plan to visit.
Visa Swift Explore has partnered with Visa Swift, the experts in visa processing. Visit their website where you can download visa application forms, follow links to important embassy websites and enquire about their visa service. Visa Swift also offers a full range of passport services, including passport renewals, second passports and replacement passports. Please telephone 020 7405 1616 for more information or visit Visa Swift at
www.visaswift.com/explore.aspx
Foreign offi ce advice The Foreign and Commonwealth Offi ce (FCO) Travel Advice Unit (
www.gov.uk/ foreign-traveladvice) provides detailed information about your destination. We strongly recommend that you read their comments about the country you are planning to visit; both when you book and again just before you leave. We monitor FCO travel warnings and advice and based on them, may cancel tours before departure, or re-route or make other changes to tours operating in or through the country concerned.
Any decision we take about whether to operate or cancel a tour or make other changes will always be made in the interests of your safety and security. We will make these decisions at least four weeks before departure, unless we believe that local conditions will improve before the start of the tour.
Be prepared
Whilst we endeavour to provide as much information as possible in our brochure and individual Tour Notes regarding the areas our tours travel to, we would always recommend that you undertake some background research about the places you will be visiting and the type of climate and local conditions you can expect in order to get the most out of your holiday.
Our prices Prices shown in this brochure are per person in GBP. Prices are correct at time of going to print, however they may increase or decrease at any time during the life of the brochure. The price you pay may vary depending on when you book, as our operators occasionally run price promotions. The most current price for each polar
tour can be found at
www.explore.co.uk/polar. The lead-in prices for our ship-based tours, are usually based on quad or triple share. For our Churchill Bears tours, the lead-in price is based on twin share. Please contact our Polar Sales team to discuss cabin and room options.
What’s included in the price? See individual Tour Notes for detail on what is included in each trip. Normally all meals, Zodiac and tundra buggy excursions, and on-shore walks and hikes are included, but other activities must be pre-arranged and an extra charge will be made. Drinks and items of a personal nature such as laundry are not included in the voyage price. Tips for the crew are not included and are usually expected.
Explore’s price guarantee Once we have confi rmed your booking we guarantee the price won’t change: we will not pass on surcharges of any kind. Unlike most other tour operators we will not pass on unexpected additional costs like fuel surcharges and tax increases.
H
Caring for the Planet Explore are proud to support Cool Earth in their effort to reduce global carbon dioxide levels through the prevention of deforestation in the rainforests of South America. Cool Earth focus on areas in immediate danger of deforestation, supporting local communities to be forest guardians. To date 350,000 acres of rainforest has been protected. Saving rainforest also protects rare animals and plants, allows local forest communities to maintain their way of life, and protects a major source of oxygen and fresh water. When you travel on an Explore holiday we make a donation to Cool Earth that exceeds the impact of our customer’s fl ights each year.
Brochure and website accuracy
The information contained in our brochure and website is believed to be correct at the time of printing or publication. However, errors may occasionally occur and information may subsequently change. You must therefore ensure you check all details of your chosen holiday (including the price) with us at the time of booking.
The Association of Independent Tour Operators 5048
AITO is the Association for independent and specialist holiday companies. Its member companies, usually owner managed, strive to create overseas holidays with high levels of professionalism and a shared concern for quality and personal service. The Association encourages the highest standards in all aspects of tour operating.
Exclusive Membership AITO sets criteria regarding ownership, fi nance and quality which must be satisfi ed before new companies are admitted to membership. All members are required to adhere to a Code of Business Practice which encourages high operational standards and conduct.
Financial Security
An AITO member is required to arrange fi nancial protection for all holidays and other arrangements (including accommodation only) booked by customers with the member under the AITO logo. This fi nancial protection applies to customers who are resident in the UK at the time of booking and to most overseas customers who have booked directly with the member. In doing so, the member must comply with UK Government regulations. Members are required to submit details of their fi nancial protection arrangements to AITO on a regular basis.
Accurate Brochures / Websites
All members do their utmost to ensure that all their brochures and other publications, print or electronic, clearly and accurately describe the holidays and services offered.
Professional Service and Continual Improvements All members are committed to high standards of service and believe in regular and thorough training of employees. Members continually seek to review and improve their holidays. They listen to their customers and always welcome suggestions for improving standards.
Monitoring Standards
AITO endeavours to monitor quality standards regularly. All customers should receive a post-holiday questionnaire, the results of which are scrutinised by the Association.
Sustainable Tourism All members acknowledge the importance of AITO’s Sustainable Tourism guidelines, which recognise the social, economic and environmental responsibilities of tour operating.
Customer Relations All members endeavour to deal swiftly and fairly with any issues their customers may raise. In the unlikely event that a dispute between an AITO member and a customer cannot be settled amicably, AITO’s low-cost Independent Dispute Settlement Service may be called upon by either side to bring the matter to a speedy and acceptable conclusion. Explore is a member of the Association of Independent Tour Operators. To contact the association visit
www.aito.com
To book, go online or call our experts on 01252 888 755
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