Epworth Charity Challenge Heartsmart Rajasthan Cycle and Varanasi

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1 Cycle and Varanasi trip highlights Raising money for Epworth Medical Foundation Cycling backroads of rural India Cycling within Bharatpur Bird Sanctuary Sightseeing in Delhi and the Pink City of Jaipur Wildlife viewing at Sariska Tiger Reserve Sunrise at the ghats in Varanasi Trip Duration 12 days Trip Code: EP7 Grade Introductory to Moderate Activities Charity Challenge and 4 days cycle Summary 12 day India challenge (due to flights) Supporting Your Cause Epworth Medical Foundation Epworth Medical Foundation (EMF) opened in 1982 to raise much needed funds to ensure patients at Epworth Health Care receive the best possible care. Our work is vital, because Epworth is a charitable, not for profit hospital. We rely on your generosity to enable us to stay at the forefront of advancements in medical technology, for our patients. Epworth is a private, not for profit organisation. We receive very limited funding from government. Instead, we rely on funds raised by Epworth Medical Foundation to continue to provide our patients with the best possible facilities, equipment, surgical expertise and access to research. By taking part in the EMF Bike for Health, you will not only enjoy the adventure of a lifetime: you will also be helping to give vital support to hundreds of our patients. Your Huma Challenge Thank you for your interest in our Heartsmart Rajasthan. Huma Charity Challenge is a division of the worldwide adventure travel company World Expeditions. When joining a Huma Charity Challenge you embark on a remarkable journey to discover your inner philanthropist as you raise money for a Charity that is important to you. At the same time you take on the challenge of fundraising and partake in an adventure to discover new worlds, new landscapes and new cultures... perhaps you ll even discover how far your personal boundaries stretch as you take on a physical challenge like a cycling, trekking or a mountaineering adventure. We are passionate about off the beaten track travel experiences as they provide travellers with the thrill of coming face to face with untouched cultures as well as wilderness regions of great natural beauty. Our itineraries are well researched, affordable and tailored for the enjoyment of small groups. Our itineraries provide the very best travel experience, designed by people with vast local knowledge who share our vision of authentic exchange and real exploration with a responsible travel approach at the core World Expeditions Travel Group - Scott Pinnegar 1/15/ :29:04 AM

2 Feb - 14 Feb Trip Dates Charity Challenge Payments Joining Australia Travel/Fundraising Cost Twin Share: $6470 Non Refundable Registration Fee: $200 Optional Single Supplement: $590 All prices are per person Huma Challenge does not require single travellers to pay a surcharge for travelling alone. We will arrange for you to share accommodation with another traveller of the same gender and if we can not match you up we will provide a single room at no extra charge. If you prefer not to share a single supplement is payable to guarantee your own room. The cost of the single supplement is listed above. What Impact Will My Fundraising Have? Epworth Medical Foundation The difference you make When you donate to the Foundation, your generosity is used to directly benefit our patients. For example, more than half of all medical equipment at Epworth HealthCare is funded by the Foundation, and 80 percent of our medical research. Charitable funds are used to support: *state of the art medical equipment that ensures our patients receive the very best *world class facilities that maximise patient outcomes, safety and comfort *groundbreaking medical research projects and trials, shared with our patients *staff education and training opportunities to pass best practice on to our patients *support programs to care for our patients emotional and financial needs Your Adventure From the delights of Jaipur we adjust to the pace of the buffalo cart from handlebar level, savouring a way of life that is still in harmony with the seasons. The roads are flat, the days not unduly strenuous and we provide a backup vehicle for your convenience. There will be ample opportunity to witness the spectacular Taj Mahal at sunrise and explore Fatephur Sikri before experiencing the holy city of Varanasi on the banks of the River Ganges where the rituals of life,and death, are carried out on the steps of the ghats. An expert local guide will accompany you through the maze of winding streets to sights including the Bharat Mata Temple and the monkey temple of Durga. Fundraising Options There are a number of ways you can approach your fundraising: 1.Simply pay for it yourself, as you would any other holiday (although this will be a LOT more memorable than any other holiday!). If you do so, $2,500 of this cost will be tax deductible. 2.Fundraise some or all of the amount. When you do so, any donations that others make towards your challenge will be tax deductible. If you d like to fundraise for your trip but don t know where to start, our professional fundraisers will provide you with the support and resources to make it easy and stress free. Online Fundraising Portal When fundraising for the charity donation component of this challenge you must seek permission of your charity before beginning to fundraise in their name. The team at Epworth will be in touch with you upon registration to give you the details of the online fundraising page and permission to fundraise. The minimum fundraising target is $2,500 per person. You can do it! World Expeditions Travel Group - Scott Pinnegar 1/15/ :29:04 AM

3 Itinerary at a Glance DAY 1 DAY 2 DAY 3 DAY 4 DAY 5 DAY 6 DAY 7 DAY 8 DAY 9 DAY 10 DAY 11 DAY 12 FRIDAY 3RD FEBRUARY DEPART AUSTRALIA SATURDAY 4TH FEBRUARY ARRIVE DELHI SUNDAY 5TH FEBRUARY JAIPUR MONDAY 6TH FEBRUARY JAIPUR TUESDAY 7TH FEBRUARY CYCLE JAIPUR WEDNESDAY 8TH FEBRUARY CYCLE SARISKA PARK THURSDAY 9TH FEBRUARY CYCLE RAJGARH - DRIVE TO BHARATPUR FRIDAY 10TH FEBRUARY CYCLE TO FATEHPUR SIKRI SATURDAY 11TH FEBRUARY AGRA, VISIT TAJ MAHAL, OVERNIGHT TRAIN TO VARANASI SUNDAY 12TH FEBRUARY ARRIVE VARANASI, CITY TOUR AND FAREWELL DINNER MONDAY 13TH FEBRUARY EXPLORE VARANASI, FLY TO DELHI TUESDAY 14TH FEBRUARY ARRIVE AUSTRALIA What s Included Economy return International Airfare with Thai Airways ex Australian cities. Domestic flight Varanasi to Delhi Trip escorted by Epworth Medical Foundation representative $2,500 fundraising amount, tax deductible Use of a Huma/World Expeditions trek pack which includes a quality sleeping bag and insulated mat (valued at over US$500) Experienced bi lingual guide on whole tour All meals Airport transfers Group medical kit All accommodation in good central hotels and 1 night all inclusive camping Private vehicles through out Overnight train in 2nd class sleeper Sariska Park Safari in canter (truck) on sharing basis Entry to Keoladeo Bird Sanctuary Bharatpu. Fatehpur Sikri. Taj Mahal and Agra Red Fort Day use hotel in Agra before overnight train sleeper Morning boat ride at Varanasi Bikes during cycle section and support vehicle Old Varanasi sightseeing Delhi Sightseeing Detailed Itinerary DAY 1 Friday 3rd February Depart Australia After all the planing and preparation the wait is finally over! Please make your way to your Australian gateway airport for your flight to Delhi. Flight details will be sent once you register. meals: NIL World Expeditions Travel Group - Scott Pinnegar 1/15/ :29:04 AM

4 Fast Facts Countries Visited: India Visas: Yes* Group Size Min: 14 Group Size Max: 35Singles: A single supplement is available for this trip* Leader: Expert Local Leader & Escort Responsible Travel The environments we travel through are fragile. It is our responsibility as visitors to minimise the impact of our presence. World Expeditions were the proud recipients of the inaugural Australian National Travel Industry s Environmental Achievement award for our Responsible Travel Guidebook. This detailed guide to responsible & sustainable travel is provided to all World Expeditions clients before they travel. Please ask your consultant if you have not received your copy of our award winning book. Alternatively, you may like to download a copy from our website Trip grading Introductory to Moderate Our Rajasthan Cycle trip is rated introductory to moderate and therefore requires a reasonably good level of fitness. Cycling experience is also required. In preparation for your trip you should be doing at least 30 minutes to one hour of good cardiovascular exercise, 2 3 times per week for approximately 2 3 months prior to your trip. Cycling should also form part of your training. Remember the fitter you are the more enjoyable your experience will be. DAY 2 Saturday 4th February Arrive Delhi On arrival in Delhi you will be met by our crew and transferred to your group hotel, for a chance to freshen up and a quick lunch. From here we explore Delhi, the fabulous mix of colonial architecture and religious monuments. We will take a short walking tour past the most famous buildings such as The Red Fort and the Jama Masjid. This evening we will meet in the hotel lobby at approximately 7.00pm for a group meeting and trip briefing before we head out to enjoy our first meal together. meals: L,D DAY 3 Sunday 5th February Jaipur We board our private coach early morning and travel to Jaipur, reaching Jaipur by lunchtime, giving us the afternoon to wander the city. The famed Pink City of Jaipur is the capital of the state of Rajasthan, and was founded in the early 18th century by Maharajah Jai Singh, who moved from Amber to this new site on the plains. DAY 4 Monday 6th February Jaipur Today is a full day to explore further the city of Jaipur. We visit the City Palace and the Jantar Mantar - the remarkable observatory reflecting Jai Singh s passion for astronomy. There is also the Old City with its bazaars and the Hawa Mahal - the Palace of the Winds, originally built as part of the City Palace complex to allow the ladies of the Royal household to watch the everyday life in the city without themselves being observed. DAY 5 Tuesday 7th February Cycle Jaipur Departing through the outlying settlements of Jaipur and with the Amber Fort as our backdrop, we commence the cycling.your leader will give a briefing on cycling in India and handling your bike as well as making time for adjustments before we progress along the Ramgargh road, one of the quieter veins leading out of Jaipur. The route twists through small farming settlements, where we provide endless entertainment to the villagers who are intrigued at the notion of westerners riding bikes through India. By noon we arrive at Ramgarh Lake and enjoy a lunch respite under a huge Banyan tree. After lunch we cycle on to our overnight camp spot; located in a true rural setting, with small rudimentary dwellings and endless fields of crops. 50 km cycling DAY 6 Wednesday 8th February Cycle Sariska Park We continue riding through timeless India, with lush flowering mustard plantations flanked by overhanging willow trees, before reaching the gates to the Sariska Tiger Reserve. After a drink stop we continue on to our camp inside the park where we will have lunch. This was once home to a significant population of tigers, until a few seasons ago, when poaching significantly reduced their numbers. However there are many other animals in the park, and the atmosphere and natural surrounds make the visit very much worthwhile. 52 km cycling DAY 7 Thursday 9th February Cycle Rajgarh - Drive to Bharatpur Our ride this morning takes us through numerous small villages as we make our way to Rajgarh. Stopping for lunch we continue a further 15km in the afternoon before we board our vehicle to drive us the last section of the day to Bharatpur via Mahua. 38 km cycling World Expeditions Travel Group - Scott Pinnegar 1/15/ :29:04 AM

5 Adventure Travel By its very nature Charity Challenges involve an element of the unexpected. In remote and developing countries do not expect standards you are used to at home. Remote areas are sometimes unpredictable and itineraries may be altered. To get the most out of your adventure it is important that you are suitably fit, flexible, positive and eager to take on all the challenges that arise. If you are uncertain about your suitability for this trip we recommend that you speak with your charity representative or one of our team. Important Note These trip notes represent the most current information for this itinerary, and may supersede any other supplied information, including but not limited to the itinerary and price. The itinerary should be seen as a guide only. This itinerary may change at any time due to inclement weather, forces of nature and other circumstances beyond our control. DAY 8 Friday 10th February Cycle to Fatehpur Sikri Today we cycle to the Bharatpur Bird Sanctuary. Our bikes provide a wonderful mode of transport to move around and explore the park, where swamp lands provide habitats for hundreds of bird species. After lunch in the park we travel in our vehicle for about 20km to Fatehpur Sikri, where we can explore Akbar s deserted capital, before continuing on to Agra. 34 km cycling DAY 9 Saturday 11th February Agra, visit Taj Mahal, overnight train to Varanasi In the early morning we have a sunrise visit to the Taj Mahal, Shah Jahan s mausoleum for his wife Mumtaz Mahal. We continue to Agra Fort, a fitting testimony to the Great Moghuls - Akbar, Jahangir and Shah Jahan - during the era when Agra was the capital of the Moghul empire. From the Red Fort we ll have more views of the Taj Mahal. This evening we board our overnight sleeper train (2nd Class) to Varanasi. DAY 10 Sunday 12th February Arrive Varanasi, city tour and farewell dinner Upon arrival in Varanasi you will be transferred from the train station to our hotel. Varanasi is steeped with religious history and culture and the great temples and mosques provide for a fascinating insight into the heart of Indian culture. The city tour will include visits to a range of temples including: the temple of Bharat Mata which is dedicated to Mother India; Durga Temple with its hundred of monkeys; the white marble temple of Tulsi Mana and Banaras Hindu University. We will enjoy a farewell celebrating dinner tonight. DAY 11 Monday 13th February Explore Varanasi, Fly to Delhi Early this morning you will visit the ghats for an unforgettable sunrise over the River Ganges. The rest of the day will be full of sightseeing activities including the old city which stands on the west bank of the sacred Ganges and extends back from the ghats in a winding maze of narrow streets. A principle attraction is the long string of bathing ghats where pilgrims make their morning cleansing wash in the river. Also there are the burning ghats where cremations are undertaken. The late afternoon we fly to Delhi for our connecting flight home. meals: B,L DAY 12 Tuesday 14th February Arrive Australia We arrive back home in Australia after a life-changing journey to one of the most fascinating countries in the world. What a wild ride! meals: NIL This itinerary is subject to change with any modifications in Community regulations as well as Governmental changes and natural circumstances beyond our control World Expeditions Travel Group - Scott Pinnegar 1/15/ :29:04 AM

6 Cycling This itinerary allows for four days of cycling with average daily distances of approximately 50 kms but there is plenty of scope to cycle more or less, depending on your fitness level. Due to distances between destinations on several days, we will actually travel around kilometers per day, with the balance of the journey being by bus. This is not designed to be a marathon event so no one needs to feel any pressure to perform. The passenger bus will make several stops en route (approx every 15kms) to provide bottled water and fresh fruit. This is also a good way of re grouping and sharing different experiences you may have encountered along the way. The bike support bus will always travel behind the last cyclist. If you wish to take a break from riding, simply wait at the side of the road in an appropriate place to stop and you will be picked up. Above all else, the emphasis is on seeing India, not training for the Tour de France. Travelling by bike is just a great way to meet the people and absorb something of the village life that few appreciate during their time in India. All your gear, our camping equipment, food and supplies are carried on the bus. Our group leader and assistant leader will cycle with you, while our cook and assistants will prepare a host of snacks and refreshments that are served throughout the day. At night camp will be established and tea will be prepared, with plenty of time for a wash and a visit to the local village before the evening meal is served. Country Information India has fascinated travellers for thousands of years. It s exotic, romantic and geographically diverse from the Himalayan mountains and wide deserts in the north to lush rainforests and sandy beaches in the south. Its people (now numbering over a billion) are predominantly Hindu, still living according to an ancient and complicated caste system which is believed to preserve a sense of order and calm among the chaos of modern Indian life; ancient influences and the modern world are constantly blending and evolving in a way that can only be described as natural. Muslims are also an integral part of the Indian community; they came to India in the 12th century and there are almost as many mosques as temples in India today. Some of the most magnificent temples have been built by the smaller Jain and Buddhist communities. Although more than a thousand languages are spoken, English is the second language and is widely taught in Indian schools. Climate Expect daytime temperatures ranging from 15 to 30 degrees on average. Whilst rainfall is at a minimum it is worth bringing a rain jacket for the odd shower you may encounter. Dietary Requirements Provided we are advised in advance of your departure we are able to cater for vegetarian diets and can assist with medically recommended diets (allergies and intolerances). Please ensure you discuss your requirements with us well in advance (at least 1 month prior to your trip) to determine whether we can cater to such dietary requirements on your chosen adventure. Please note that options are likely to be limited in very remote locations or alternatives may be more expensive or unavailable. There may be times when those with special requirements may need to provide their own food. We are unable to guarantee a peanut free or allergen free trip, and therefore, we strongly encourage that travellers with life threatening or severe allergies take all necessary medical precautions to prepare for the possibility of exposure. Passengers must travel with all necessary medications for food allergies and be capable of self administering these medications World Expeditions Travel Group - Scott Pinnegar 1/15/ :29:04 AM

7 Accommodation on the Trip Good central located 3 star hotels, and excellent cycle camps. What You Carry In your daypack you will need to carry a rainjacket, water bottle, camera gear, valuables and personal items such as sunscreen, lip eze etc. A torch is also recommended as streets can be dark at night. Equipment Required A bike helmet is compulsory on this trip. We also highly recommend bike pants, gloves and a gel seat cover for your own comfort. A full gear list will be provided on booking. Vehicles & Safety During the course of your trip, we will use a variety of vehicles, all which are fit for purpose and the conditions encountered. It should be noted that laws governing transportation safety may differ from those in your home country and on occasion some vehicles may not have seat belts fitted. While game viewing within a national park could be one example. Whilst we do not include animal rides on most of our trips, there are occasions where it may be possible to undertake them optionally and to do so is at your own risk. Note that helmets and professional riding equipment are not available in all circumstances. What s Not Included Indian visa Travel insurance Items of personal nature Tips and gratuities Info Nights Come and join us on one of our free Info Nights and learn more about your Charity Challenge. Whether registered or still deciding whether to take the challenge you ll find these evenings informative and inspiring and are hosted by our most experienced and passionate travel experts and representatives from the relevant charity. Register at How To Book To register on this Charity Challenge please complete the registration form and return to Huma Charity Challenge, Attention Scott Pinnegar. scott@worldexpeditions.com.au Post: Huma Charity Challenge, Level Little Bourke Street, Melbourne Victoria 3000 Otherwise you can make your booking online by using the REGISTER NOW button found at the bottom of the relevant Charity Challenge page on our website au World Expeditions Travel Group - Scott Pinnegar 1/15/ :29:04 AM

8 The Epworth Medical Foundation staff are able to answer any questions you may have as well as provide you with all the support you need as you fundraise for your challenge. Please contact Jayne Coates on telephone or who will be happy to talk with you World Expeditions Travel Group - Scott Pinnegar 1/15/ :29:04 AM