General Information

Dragoman is a trading name for Dragoman Overland Overseas Travel Ltd, a company registered in England with limited liability. Registered office: Camp Green, Debenham, Suffolk, IP14 6LA. UK Reg. Number: 2732524. Dragoman Overseas Travel Ltd. is a UK based company and all contracts are subject to English law.

BOOKING FORM & CONDITIONS

When you book you will be agreeing and bound to the Dragoman Booking Conditions. Although you may not enjoy reading the small print, it does contain a lot of important information – thanks for taking the time to read them through. These can be found during the online booking process or if you prefer paper, you will find them from the links below.

GBP Booking Form Drago booking conditions forms suitability 2012 13.pdf
USD Booking Form Drago booking conditions forms suitability 2012 13.pdf
CAD Booking Form Drago booking conditions forms suitability 2012 13.pdf
EUR Booking Form Drago booking conditions forms suitability 2012 13.pdf
AUD/NZD Booking Form Drago booking conditions forms suitability 2012 13.pdf

TRIP SUITABILITY

Thank you for your interest in joining one of our trips. We want you to enjoy your trip to the fullest extent possible, so we ask you to take a moment to read through the following information and make sure you’re fully aware of the kind of trip you will be joining.
Dragoman trips and adventure travel in general can be quite demanding and there are risks and hazards that are inherent in such trips. Long driving days can sometimes be uncomfortable and tiring. Many of the places we visit are off the beaten track and so do not have the infrastructure that we are accustomed to in western society. Accommodation can vary greatly in standards and when wild camping on an Overland trip we rely entirely on our own provisions.
You will have the opportunity to take part in many exciting activities and excursions, some of which are included whilst others are optional (i.e. Hiking The Inca Trail, trekking to see Mountain Gorillas) these 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 to its fullest. Some activities may have higher risks than you are used to and you must judge whether or not you wish to, or have the physical ability to take part.

All travellers are also required to carry their own bag and lift it into storage areas, get on and off public transport or if on an Overland trip - be able to manage the 2 foot step on and off the Overland truck.

Weather conditions in certain areas can also make physical activity more challenging. This also applies to our trips that travel at altitude.

It is extremely rare for us to have to refuse anyone a space on our trips for medical reasons. However, for the benefit of yourself and your fellow travellers, it is vital that you inform us about any pre-existing medical conditions that you have and any medication that you’re currently taking so in the unlikely event of a medical emergency we’ll be able to provide you with as much assistance as possible.

Whilst we don’t want to put anyone off experiencing one of our trips, we ask that you read through the trip notes for the trip you have selected carefully and realistically self assess your ability to complete the trip as described.

Please consult with your doctor and/or us if you have any doubts.

A positive attitude and an open mind is just as important as your ability to get involved and fully participate on your group trip.

BOOKING YOUR TRIP

To secure your booking we require a non-refundable deposit of 10% of the tour price or £200 whichever is greater. Where travel is within 60 days of booking full payment is required.

Final payment is due no later than 60 days before you travel. Some trips require a non refundable deposit for trekking permits at the time of booking – please see trip details.

In addition to the trip price on our Overlanding trips you will also be required to pay a kitty as specified for the trip you are taking.

BOOKING YOUR FLIGHT

By booking your flight with Dragoman you will have support in the case of problems with your flight, there is also the added protection of our ATOL bonding….think ash cloud and strikes! In the UK Dragoman have access to some excellent fares with many different airlines to all continents. Please contact our sales team for a quote.

If you choose to book your flights independently, please bear in mind that by its very nature adventure travel on occasions needs to be flexible. Should we have to change the itinerary or cancel a trip you may need to amend or cancel your flights, therefore we strongly recommend that you check the charges for making amendments to your flights. We regret that we cannot accept liability for your connecting travel arrangements in the event of changes or cancellation to our trip.

The Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) is reforming Air Travel Organisers License (ATOL) regulations from 30 April 2012. The purpose of this reform is to extend ATOL protection for customers, particularly those booking their holiday components separately who were falling outside the previous scheme.

Customers booking directly with Dragoman and Imaginative Traveller have had their money protected in event of financial failure under our AITOT bond if they book a ‘land only’ trip (i.e. they book their flights elsewhere) or by our ATOL bond if they book their flights and trip with us.

Under the reform:

• ATOL protection is extended to include ‘Flight Plus’ holidays, defined as services comprising flights from and to the UK (i.e. not domestic flights) and accommodation/car hire, booked within a day of each other;

• ATOL holders including Dragoman and Imaginative Traveller will by October start issuing an industry-standard ATOL certificate to every customer buying an ATOL-protected product, whether package, Flight Plus or flight only.

• ATOL holders must have new written agreements in place with their agents, clarifying the relationship between agents and suppliers. For further information on ATOL and its reform please visit atol.org.uk.

INSURANCE

Valid Travel Insurance is compulsory on all trips as a condition of booking. As our trips are not your standard bucket and spade holiday it is important that you don’t buy a standard insurance. When selecting your policy, you must ensure that it is specifically designed for adventure/overland travel. Check that it covers you for overland travel and all adventure activities you may plan to do eg. white water rafting, horse riding and if you will be travelling to altitude check that this is also covered.

We recommend that any policy has the following minimum levels of cover:

Medical Expenses (including repatriation) £2,000,000
Personal Liability £2,000,000
Cancellation and Curtailment £3,000

It is also extremely important that you check the full extent of your cover related to 24 hour Medical Emergency Assistance. In the event of you needing medical treatment you want to know that you have the best cover available to you.

On the first day of your trip your leader will ask to see your insurance policy, to check the policy number, validity and medical emergency 24hr telephone numbers. Please ensure that you have these details with you, otherwise you will not be able to start your trip. You are also strongly advised to take out cancellation insurance at the time of booking.

PRE-EXISTING MEDICAL CONDITIONS & FITNESS/ABILITY

Make sure you declare any pre existing medical conditions for yourself, others travelling with you or anyone else who will affect your travel plans, to your travel insurance company when you purchase the policy. Failure to do so may invalidate your insurance of any associated claim. (Your declaration should include anyone whose illness or death will mean you having to cancel or curtail your trip).

All our trips require some level of active participation from all group members, particularly on our Overlanding trips where it is a case of what you put in, you get out.

Please be aware that should you not be sufficiently, fit, healthy or able to participate in your trip we may have to request that you leave the trip. Please see the Terms and Conditions for further details.

To make sure you choose a trip that meets your fitness levels please make sure you look carefully at the Comfort and Adventure ratings on our trips and make your choice accordingly. If you have any questions about your ability to travel on the trip please discuss it with your sales agent before booking. At the time of booking or before your departure we request that details of any medical condition that may affect you on your trip be provided to us in full. Please see the Terms and Conditions.

If your trip travels to altitude (as stated on the trip notes) please make sure you read the advice concerning high altitude and if you have any doubts make sure you consult a medical professional for advice.

PASSPORT & VISAS

It is your own responsibility to ensure that are in possession of a full passport with at least 6 months validity from date of your return. You will also need to make sure that you have sufficient blank pages for any visa stamps.

All visa information is provided in good faith and is believed to be correct, however requirements/ recommendations can change at very short notice.

It is your responsibility to ensure that you have the correct and current information before your trip and to obtain the necessary visas for either entry or transit (ie flights through the USA)

For more details please see your trip notes and the website.

HEALTH & VACCINATIONS

Recommended vaccinations and other health protection measures vary according to region and recent bulletins issued by health authorities. It’s essential to get the latest advice on the region(s) you’re planning to travel in, and that you check with either your doctor or a travel clinic in good time before you leave. As a tour operator we’re unable to give medical advice so refer you instead to either the World Health Organisation www.who.int or National Travel Health Network & Centre www.nathnac.org for further details or to contact a professional medical travel clinic.

We’ve been working with Nomad Travel in the UK for years, and Dragoman customers are entitled to 10% off all Nomad vaccinations at any Nomad Travel Clinic as well as 15% off kit and equipment purchased at Nomad online or instore.

PRICING & WHAT YOU GET FOR YOUR MONEY

All prices in the brochure are correct at the time of printing, but may vary during the year. Up to date prices can be found on the website.
Prices shown in this brochure are based on a per person basis, based on shared accommodation where applicable.

Many of our trips involve two payments:

Trip Price which is payable to Dragoman or your Travel Agent before departure.
Kitty payment which is payable to your Tour Leader when you join your trip. Please note on a combination trip where your trip is made up of several trips, you will need to pay the kitty in instalments.

What is a kitty?

Each customer joining a trip pays their kitty into a central fund. The fund is then jointly managed by the group and the Dragoman crew

We believe that by doing this we have a flexible system, run by the group for the trip, the system is also transparent and you can see exactly what is being paid for, it also helps to keep the costs competitive and save on administrative costs so that we can pass the savings on to you.

We constantly update the kitty prices on our website, however prices can go up with no notice and exchange rate fluctuations will also effect costs. However, 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. At least half of your kitty should be paid in cash, if you wish to carry some of your money in Travellers cheques this is your choice but you will then need to exchange the cheques and pay the kitty in cash during your trip.

Please make sure you check the website for your up to date kitty before your departure.

The kitty covers things that the whole group does, such as:

Hotel accommodation/ campsite fees
Meals while camping
Activities – eg. National Park entrances, excursions, local guides

The trip price/kitty does not include:

Optional extras or travel insurance
Connecting flights, transportation or any costs while not on the trip
Passports, visas, vaccinations, personal taxes (including personal border taxes)
Extra accommodation or upgrades
Contingency route expenses in case of war/flood etc

PERSONAL SPENDING

This is up to you! It depends on how many extra activities you want to do. All hotel food, drinks, laundry, souvenirs, taxis and restaurants are part of your personal spending. You may also want to include some money for local tips. Good local guides and crew members can transform your trip experience from just good to exceptional and where this is the case a tip (even a modest one!) is always hugely appreciated.

A rough spending guide is included in the ‘trip notes’ on the website.

OPTIONAL ACTIVITIES

In the brochure, trip notes and on the website we give an indication of optional activities that you may wish to do whilst on your trip. These activities can be arranged whilst you are on your trip and the Dragoman crew may be able to assist you in arranging these. All payments for these activities are made whilst you are overseas, usually directly with the activity supplier.

Optional activities mentioned by Dragoman but not included in the trip price 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.

HOTELS & EXCURSIONS

Don’t forget that Dragoman can book you pre and post trip hotel accommodation for many of our trips, this makes it much easier for when you start your holiday.

There are also extra excursions or trips that you might want to add to your trip. Just ask your sales agent for more information.

FOREIGN OFFICE TRAVEL ADVICE

The Foreign & Commonwealth Office (FCO) www.fco.gov.uk/travel provides destinational travel advice for UK nationals. Dragoman monitors the advice from the FCO and any decisions taken regarding a trips safety and security will use the vast experience of the company’s 30 years of operating as well as the FCO advice.

We strongly recommend that you read the information about the country you are planning to visit – each country has a summary and general information as well as advice on safety & security, local laws & customs, entry requirements and health.

If you are not a UK national please make sure you have checked your own country’s travel advice for your destination(s).

KIT

Your clothes and equipment should be appropriate for the conditions you’ll be travelling in, which will vary depending on which part of the world you're heading to, and when. Dragoman will provide all camping equipment though you’ll need to bring your own sleeping bags and ground mats (except on our “In Depth” overland trips in Southern & Eastern Africa between Nairobi and Cape Town, which have ground mats already provided). 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 even when it's warm during the day, it can often get cold at night, particularly in desert regions.

We’ve been working with Nomad Travel in the UK for years, and Dragoman customers are entitled 15% off kit and equipment purchased at Nomad online or instore as well as 10% off all Nomad vaccinations at any Nomad Travel Clinic.

Nomad’s website includes their comprehensive overlanding kit list (as well as comprehensive, up to date vaccinations and health information) but here’s what we recommend as a guide:

Sleeping bag - Check the expected climate en route. Nights in desert and mountain regions can be very cold in winter months
Mattress or compressed foam
A day pack is useful for short hikes in the countryside, wandering around cities, etc and also for keeping inside the vehicle for items used during the day
2 sets of comfortable travelling clothes (light, easily washable cotton clothes are best)
1 set of casual but smart clothes for evenings out. Women should bring a skirt that covers their knees and a scarf for visiting places of worship
2 pairs of shorts
Sun hat or warm hat if trekking
1 pair of sunglasses
Warm sweater/fleeces
1 waterproof jacket with hood
1 pair of comfortable walking shoes/boots (or ankle height canvas jungle boots)
1 pair of sandals or flip-flops
Underwear and socks (thermals are also a good idea if you are travelling to altitude or to the desert as it can get very cold at night)
Swimwear
2 small towels
Washing kit, including a small mirror
Clothes washing detergent, small scrubbing brush & washing line (just a length of cord)
Head torch/flashlight with spare batteries & bulbs (only the 3 standard sizes of round 1.5v batteries are widely available en route)
Passport photos (average of 2 per country for which visas will be applied for en route)
Good water bottle at least 1 litre
A pouch or money belt worn inside your clothing, or unobtrusive pocket sewn into the inside of a pair of loose fitting trousers, is a must.
Alarm clock
Pocket calculator (useful when exchanging money)
Writing materials & notebook/diary
Multi purpose knife
Cotton sheet sleeping bag (or sheet folded and sewn up on 2 sides). It will help keep your sleeping bag clean, and can be used on its own on warm nights.
Mosquito net - The tents supplied by us have mosquito netting and you will only need a net if you think you will sleep out under the stars a lot of the time.
"Wet Ones" (moistened tissues) and hand gel
Toilet paper – this can be purchased almost everywhere en-route but one roll is worth packing
Assorted sized plastic bags - protects clothing and equipment from dust and damp