TREASURES OF GUATEMALA AND BELIZE

Transcription

1 From Guatemala's volcanoes and ruins to the jungles and beaches of Belize Kayak on Lake Atitlan & climb Volcan Pacaya at sunset The Mayan ruins of Tikal, Yaxha, and the 'Crystal Maiden' of the ATM cave Snorkel with docile rays in the Caribbean sea at Shark Ray Alley Experience Belize s wild side at the Crooked Tree Wildlife Sanctuary HOLIDAY CODE GBL Guatemala, Belize, Discovery, Multi-Activity, 14 Days 2 nights lodge, 2 nights guesthouse, 10 nights hotel, 13 breakfasts, 6 lunches, 3 dinners, max group size: 14, 13 days touring / sightseeing / multi activity, max altitude metres VIEW DATES, PRICES & BOOK YOUR HOLIDAY HERE

2 PAGE 2 Introduction A journey from the highland volcanoes of Guatemala to the white Caribbean beaches of Belize, en route we ll enjoy volcano walks, kayaking, snorkelling, exotic wildlife spotting, cave exploration, Mayan ruins... and, of course, a little time to relax; this is a holiday after all! We begin in Guatemala, amongst the brightly painted colonial buildings of Antigua and the lively market at Chichicastenagno. We ll spend two nights at our stunning cliff side accommodation overlooking Lake Atitlan, where we ll explore by kayak and on foot. A sunset walk to the top of the active Volcan Pacaya is next, prepare for some impressive views and to get up close to the lava flows. Be careful not to melt your shoes! We ll visit the Mayan ruins of Tikal and Yaxha, before departing Guatemala and heading across the border to Belize. Our first stop here will be the mysterious caves at Actun Tunichil Muknal (ATM), where we'll go in search of the calcified remains of the enigmatic Crystal Maiden, a sacrifice to the Mayan Gods. Caribbean beaches await us on the coral island of Caye Caulker, where we can unwind by wandering barefoot amongst the pastel coloured posadas, along the bleached white beaches and swim in the translucent waters of the Caribbean. The Belizean barrier reef is one of the most impressive in the world and while we re here we ll have the opportunity to snorkel with docile rays and nurse sharks! Our holiday ends in the Belizean jungle with two nights at Crooked Tree Wildlife sanctuary. Crooked Tree is a bird lover s paradise; but there's more to this wildlife haven than its eclectic array of feathered friends; the marshlands and lagoons also shelter turtles, black howler monkeys, crocodiles and more. A truly wild way to end our colourful Central American adventure. Is this holiday for you? Walking, kayaking, snorkelling, exploring caves, and relaxing in hammocks; there s something everyone on this holiday. There is also a focus on wildlife (turtles, dolphins, monkeys, birds, crocodiles, rays and nurse sharks). To get the most out of this holiday you should be fit and healthy, but most importantly have a spirit of adventure. You can choose to opt out of any of the activities included in this holiday. The kayaking is at a level where previous experience is not required (although you must be able to swim at least 25m unaided). Any included walks are generally short (half a day or a little more). The sunset ascent of Pacaya, after a steep start, is for the most part straight forward, though the last section of the walk, up a volcanic ash scree slope, can be tricky. Please also bear in mind that this will be undertaken at dusk with a descent in the dark. In order to take part in the ATM cave tour you will need to be prepared to get wet and you must be able to confidently swim at least 25 metres. This tour will also require a reasonable amount of agility as you will be expected to swim, wade through water, squeeze through narrow sections of cave and climb over obstacles; this tour is not suitable for people with a fear of enclosed spaces. At Shark Ray Alley all snorkelling equipment, including life vests, will be provided. There are few long drives, considering the geographical distances we will be covering; so you can make the most of your holiday time. Holiday Itinerary Day 1: Meet at the group hotel in Antigua. A single timed transfer from Guatemala City Airport is provided. Meet at the group hotel in the beautiful old Spanish colonial city of Antigua, one of the oldest and most beautiful cities in the whole of Central America. After a long day travelling we will want to settle in for an early night in preparation for the fun packed days ahead. Drive Time: 1hr. Day 2: Explore the world famous market at Chichicastenagno. Drive to Lake Atitlan.

3 PAGE 3 After breakfast at the hotel we'll have an early morning transfer to Chichicastenango and its world famous market, the largest and liveliest in the whole of Central America! After a few enjoyable hours exploring and browsing amongst the colourful stalls, we'll head out to beautiful Lake Atitlan; nestled amongst the mountains and volcanoes of the Sierra Madre. This is Central America's deepest lake and is formed from a collapsed caldera. With not one, but three, towering volcanoes looming over the lake, it's quite a visual spectacle. Our accommodation for the next two nights will be La Casa del Mundo, a stunning cliff side, lake front hotel. We'll have the evening free to settle in. Drive Time: 4hrs. MEALS B Day 3: Kayaking on Lake Atitlan and lake shore walk. A day to make the most of our beautiful surroundings. After taking breakfast at the hotel, we begin today with a kayak trip around the Lake to the indigenous village of San Marcos. From here, a gentle 2hr hike will take us along the lakes shores and ridges and back to our hotel, La Casa del Mundo. After an active morning the rest of the day is free to relax in the hammocks, read books and enjoy the beautiful gardens. Those with energy to spare might want to walk over to the neighbouring village of Santa Cruz la Laguna. MEALS BL TIME 2.5 HRS WALKING HOURS Day 4: Visit Panajachel. Guided tour of working coffee farm. Return to Antigua. After breakfast we'll head to the lakeside town of Panajachel, where we have a little time to browse the many textile stalls lining the streets, we'll take lunch here before meeting our transport and heading back to Antigua. On the way we will stop at a traditional coffee farm just outside Antigua for a tour. Here we will learn everything from how the coffee beans are picked to how the processed coffee is packaged, in other words we will follow the journey of the coffee bean from the plant, all the way to our cups! Arriving into Antigua in the afternoon, we will have some free time to explore this fascinating town. Drive Time: 2.5hrs. MEALS B Day 5: Guided tour of Antigua. Sunset tour to the lava flows of Volcan Pacaya. This morning we will enjoy a guided walking tour around Antigua, visiting some of the town's most important buildings, squares and churches. We'll stop off in local eatery for some lunch before setting of in the early afternoon for our sunset tour to Pacaya Volcano. It is a 1.5hr drive to the trail head. The walk starts steeply but then levels out as we as we wind our way up through woodland. The ascent culminates in a final, steeper section of trail on cinder scree, which will take us up to the impressive crater and lava flows - an absolute must see! Tonight we will take our dinner on the mountain, before returning down by the light of our head torches. We can expect to be back at our hotel in Antigua at around 9pm. Drive Time: 3hrs. MEALS B TIME 4HRS WALKING HOURS Day 6: Fly to Flores. Transfer to Tikal. Afternoon tour of the ancient Mayan city of Tikal. An early start today as we head back to Guatemala City Airport to catch the 1hr flight up to Flores (a light breakfast will be provided at the hotel). It is just a short transfer from Flores to Tikal and we can check in at the hotel before journeying into the National Park where we will enjoy an afternoon's guided archeological tour of Central America's most impressive Mayan ruins. Multiple entries to the site are permitted, so it will be possible to head

4 PAGE 4 back to Tikal to enjoy the sunset should you wish to. In the evening we can relax at the hotel, listening to the sounds of the surrounding jungle on our last full day in Guatemala. Drive Time: 1.5hrs. MEALS BL Day 7: Visit the mayan acropolis at Yaxha. Cross the border into Belize. Arrive San Ignacio. Today we journey across the border into Belize, where the official language is English. First though we break the journey with a visit to the ruins at Yaxha, the third largest set of Mayan ruins in Guatemala. These atmospheric ruins are smaller and quieter than Tikal. The name Yaxha in Mayan means "blue/green water", so it's no surprise that these ruins are located beside a lake. After some time to explore and take photographs, we'll head back to our vehicles and drive to last stretch to the Guatemala/Belize border. After taking care of any border formalities we've another hour's drive to San Ignacio, which will be our base for the next two nights. In the afternoon we will have a chance to explore around this small, but lively town. Drive Time: 2hrs. GUESTHOUSE MEALS BD Day 8: Free day San Ignacio or exploration of ATM Cave / Cave of the Crystal Maiden. Today we can choose to relax and explore San Ignacio or those looking for a challenge can head to Actun Tunichil Muknal (abbreviated to ATM) and also known as the Cave of the Crystal Sepulchre or the Cave of the Crystal Maiden. This Mayan sacrificial burial site is contained within a cave system so it's sure to be a thrilling day! A short jungle hike takes us to the entrance of the cave. From here, accompanied by our registered local guide and armed with our head torches, we'll have to climb over rocks, wade and at times swim short distances in order to reach the inner chambers. Here we'll find examples of Mayan pottery, ceramics, stoneware and of course the mysterious Crystal Maiden herself, who's calcified remains are covered in shimmering limestone crystals. We'll return to San Ignacio in the late afternoon. Drive Time: 1.5hrs. GUESTHOUSE MEALS BL Day 9: Transfer to Belize City and journey by boat to the Caribbean island of Caye Caulker. We'll take breakfast at our guesthouse before heading to our vehicles and departing for the beautiful Belizean coast. Arriving in Belize City, we'll jump straight on a boat to take us approx 30km out to the colourful limestone coral island of Caye Caulker, around a 45min journey. Checking into our hotel in the afternoon, we'll still have time to head out to wander around the streets where the colourful painted houses contrast with the pristine white beaches; there are no cars on this tiny island and it's not unusual to walk around in bare feet. Drive Time: 3hrs. MEALS BL Day 10: Free day to relax and enjoy Caribbean island life. A well deserved free day allows us time to soak up the Creole culture, warm sea breezes and relaxed Caribbean island vibe. There will be plenty of time to read a book on the beach, swim or simply wander around the town. After a day recharging our batteries we might even want to head out to enjoy the night! MEALS B

5 PAGE 5 Day 11: Morning boat trip and snorkelling at Hol-Chan Marine Reserve/Shark Ray Alley. After a leisurely breakfast, we'll take a morning boat trip to the world famous Hol-Chan Marine Reserve and Shark Ray Alley just off Ambergris Caye. Shark Ray Alley, is named one of the most world-class sites to see marine wildlife and here we will have the opportunity to snorkel with docile rays and nurse sharks up to 4-6 feet in length! A remarkable and unforgettable experience. It is important to remember that these are wild creatures and can be unpredictable in their behaviour; we would always advise observing them from a respectful distance. We can also hope to see sea turtles, dolphins and, if we are very lucky, even manatee today. We'll return to Caye Caulker in the early evening. MEALS BL Day 12: Boat back to Belize City. Transfer to Crooked Tree Wildlife Sanctuary. After another leisurely breakfast we will have one last chance to head out and enjoy the beach. In the early afternoon we take the a boat back to Belize City, where we will meet our transport and head north to the famous Crooked Tree Wildlife Reserve, a 300-year-old, 16,400-acre sanctuary and bird-lover's paradise. We'll have the afternoon free to explore around the lodge. Drive Time: 3hrs. LODGE MEALS BD Day 13: Guided tour of the wildlife reserve with naturalist guide. Today we head out with a local naturalist guide for a tour of the wildlife reserve, we'll also take the water on boats in order to get a better look at the bird life surrounding the lagoon. Crooked tree is one of the most important bird habitats in Belize, and home to rare species like chestnut-bellied herons, black-collared hawks, and huge Jabiru Storks (the largest flying bird in the Americas). We should also be on the look out for turtles, black howler monkeys, crocodiles, and iguanas, amongst other species. In the afternoon we will be free to explore on our own. You may want to hire kayaks/canoes and head back out on to the lagoon, or explore one of the many nature trails on the look out for more wildlife. LODGE MEALS BLD Day 14: Departure day. A single timed transfer back to Belize City airport is provided. After breakfast there will be a single timed transfer back to the international airport in Belize City. Drive Time: 45mins. MEALS B Holiday Information What's Included An experienced English-speaking local tour leader Single timed airport transfers on arrival and departure All accommodation as described All meals as described in the meal plan

6 PAGE 6 All transport involved in the itinerary All excursions mentioned in the itinerary What's Not Included Travel insurance Airport taxes (if applicable) Airport transfers other than group transfers Some meals as detailed in the Meal Plan Tips for local staff Miscellaneous personal expenditure Meal Plan 13 breakfasts, 6 lunches and 3 dinners are included in the holiday price. Food The cuisines of Guatemala and Belize have a strong reliance on indigenous foods like corn, beans, squash, sweet potato and, the more unusual root vegetable, cassava. We can expect a diverse and tasty experience during the trip as we experience the flavours of Mayan and Spanish cuisine in Guatemala with Creole and Caribbean influences creeping in as we travel into Belize and on to the coast. Corn will be the main staple, as in most Central American countries, and the tortilla and will feature heavily, as will as refried beans and various different forms of cooked plantain, most often served with grilled meat or fish. As we travel towards the Caribbean coast we will enjoy more seafood, the taste of coconut and plenty more rice and bean dishes. A wide variety of delicious tropical fruits will also make a welcome appearance! Not to worry if the local cuisine does not tickle your taste buds, the majority of restaurants now serve a variety of foods both local and international. Joining Arrangements & Transfers A single timed group transfer from Guatemala City Airport to the group hotel in Antigua is provided. This transfer will normally depart in the late evening after the arrival of the 2200 flight. At the end of the holiday there will be a single group transfer from Crooked Tree Wildlife Sanctuary in Belize to Belize City Airport. This transfer will be timed to arrive at the airport in time to check in for the 1100, late morning, flight. The trip leader or a representative of our local agent will assist with the transfers between the airport and group hotel. Hotel contact details together with an emergency number will be provided with your booking confirmation. Accommodation During this holiday the group will spend 2 nights at a comfortable and centrally located tourist hotel in Antigua, 2 nights at Casa del Mundo (perched on a secluded cliff above Lake Atitlan in the Guatemalan highlands), 1 night in a simple hotel at the Tikal (in Tikal the power is shut down at 9pm to conserve energy so there will be no a/c or ceiling fans here), 2 nights in a simple guesthouse (with a/c) at San Ignacio, 2 nights in a simple guesthouse on Caye Caulker (with a/c) and 2 nights in a jungle lodge at the Crooked Tree Wildlife Sanctuary. All rooms will have private bathrooms and all accommodation will be allocated on a twin-sharing basis. If you are travelling by yourself you will be paired up with another single client of the same sex. Depending on availability, it may be possible to book single accommodation for an additional cost.

7 PAGE 7 Group Leader & Support Staff The group will be accompanied throughout by a professional English-speaking local tour leader. Altitude This holiday involves going to moderately high altitude. During the course of your trip you will reach altitudes in excess of 2500 metres. Most people will have no difficulty with this level of altitude but before coming on the holiday, we recommend you read the advice on trekking at high altitude. You can also talk to one of our trekking experts if you have any concerns about altitude. Spending Money A total of US should be sufficient to cover your personal spending, including tips for drivers and staff, miscellaneous expenditure on drinks, souvenirs etc, and any border fees. You should expect to be paying around the equivalent of $-5-10 for lunch and $10-15 for dinner in a standard restaurant whilst in Guatemala and slightly more in Belize, where things are a little more expensive; budget and higher end dining options are of course available and you should adjust your budget accordingly if you intend to dine this way. You should expect to pay around $1-2 for bottled water and $2 for local beer. If you are planning to buy any expensive souvenirs during your stay you should budget accordingly. We would recommend that you travel with the majority of your spending money in US dollars cast, at this is most conveniently exchanged. It's also advisable to carry some cash in small denominations bills. With ATMs being widely available in major towns and cities, credit and debit cards are now an excellent way to access your money though you may be charged for your transactions. Please check with your bank before departure that your card will be accepted in the country you are travelling to and so that the bank is aware of your travel plans or they may cancel your cards after the first few international transactions. Guidance On Tipping Tips are an accepted way of saying thank you to your local staff. They do not form part of their wages. KE always pays local crews the best rates of pay, no matter what country they are in and any tips they receive are seen as a personal thank you from the group. On a group holiday of this nature, where you may have multiple local guides and drivers, tipping can be difficult to arrange. To make things easier for you we would suggest that, with the help of your guide, you arrange a tipping kitty to which everyone contributes around $40. Your guide can then make all the necessary tipping arrangements, keeping a record of these so you know how your money has been spent. Please note that this will not cover restaurant tips. As a simple guide you should look to tip $2-4 a day per person for additional local guides and $1-2 a day per person for your drivers. In addition to the above you may want to consider tipping your Tour Leader for a job well done. This is not compulsory and amount is entirely up to your personal preference and should be given to reflect your thanks for the service received throughout your trip. As a rough guide, $2-5 a day per person is a reasonable amount for your tour guide; you are of course free to adjust this amount how you see fit. Beat The Jet Lag Our holidays are normally designed with minimal 'down time' at the start of the trip, but having a day or two at the beginning will have the additional benefit of allowing you time to get over the stress of a long journey or travelling across time zones, leaving you refreshed and ready for your holiday. We can easily arrange for you to have additional nights and airport transfers. Free KE Gift

8 PAGE 8 We give you a free gift as a way to thank all our clients who book a KE holiday. Choose from KE T-shirts, buffs, KE trek bags* (where applicable) plus many more. Alternatively you can choose to make a 10 donation to the Juniper Trust Charity. You can make your selection in your My KE account after booking. * A trek bag is not required for this holiday. You can however purchase a KE trek bag for Delivery outside of the UK will be charged. Baggage Allowance There is no restriction on the weight of your trek bag other than that imposed by your airline. However, you will have a more comfortable travel experience if you pack as light as possible. We do ask you to restrict your luggage to one main bag and a small day pack. We recognise that for some of our holiday and for some of our travellers, the KE Trek Bag (see below) may not provide the best solution when packing for your trip, a bag with fitted wheels or a large backpack may be more appropriate. Group Size & Holiday Status For each holiday there is a minimum number of participants required to enable it to go ahead. Once the minimum number is reached, the trip status will change from 'Available' to 'Guaranteed to run'. You can check the trip status for each departure in Dates and Prices table. Other than in exceptional circumstances, we will not cancel a trip once it has achieved this guaranteed to run status and so you are free to proceed with your international flight booking and other travel arrangements. General Information Passport & Visas A passport with 6 months remaining validity at the end of your stay is generally required for visits to countries outside the EU. The information that we provide is for UK passport holders. Please check the relevant embassy or consulate for other nationalities. It is your responsibility to ensure that you have the correct travel documents and visas for your holiday. Visa requirements and charges are subject to change without notice. If you are travelling outside the EU you should have at least 2 blank pages in your passport for each country that you visit. Visa Guatemala UK and USA passport holders do not require a visa for short stays. Transit Via USA You will require an ESTA (Electronic System for Travel Authorisation), and you must get this before boarding any US-bound aircraft or ship, or entering on a land border. The fee is USD$14 and you should apply for it at With the ESTA complete, the majority of British Citizen passport holders can enter the US under the Visa Waiver Programme, VWP. As of 1st April 2016 you will be required to have a passport with an intergrated chip. Note that if you have travelled to Iraq, Syria, Iran or Sudan in the last 5yrs you will have to apply for a visa rather than the Visa Waiver Programme. NOTE: This is required if you are transiting through the USA Visa Belize UK and USA passport holders do not require a visa for short stays.

9 PAGE 9 Health & Vaccinations You should contact your doctor or travel clinic to check whether you specific require any vaccinations or other preventive measures. You should be up to date with routine courses and boosters as recommended in the UK e.g. diphtheria-tetanus-polio and measles-mumps-rubella), along with hepatitis A and typhoid. A certificate of yellow fever vaccination is required if travelling from countries with risk of yellow fever transmission and for travellers having transitted for more than 12 hrs through an airport of a country with risk of yellow fever transmission. On holidays to more remote areas you should also have a dentist check up. A good online resource is Travel Health Pro. Zika virus has been confirmed as active in this country. It is a tropical viral disease spread by daytime biting mosquitoes, like dengue and malaria. There is currently no vaccine or prophylaxis available and therefore the best form of prevention is to avoid being bitten. We recommend you take the usual precautions to avoid mosquito bites. The mosquitoes that transmit ZIKV are unlikely to be found above 2,000m altitude. For more information, visit the website of the National Travel Network and Centre (NaTHNaC) at Dengue fever is a known risk in places visited. It is a tropical viral disease spread by daytime biting mosquitoes, like malaria. There is currently no vaccine or prophylaxis available and therefore the best form of prevention is to avoid being bitten. We recommend you take precautions to avoid mosquito bites. Currency The unit of currency in Belize is the Belizean Dollar. The unit of currency in Guatemala is the Quetzal (named after the national bird). Electricity Supply & Plug We recommend you check if you require an adaptor for your electrical items at: Preparing For Your Holiday It makes a lot of sense to spend some time before coming on an active holiday getting some additional exercise. Whilst regular hiking in hill or back country is the best preparation, running, cycling and swimming are also good for developing better cardiovascular fitness and stamina. Travel Aware As a reputable tour operator, KE supports the British Foreign & Commonwealth Offices' Travel Aware campaign to enable British citizens to prepare for their journeys overseas. The 'Travel Aware' website provides a single, authoritative source of advice for all kinds of travellers and we recommend that prior to travel, all KE clients visit the official UK Government website at travelaware.campaign.gov.uk and read the FCO Travel Advice for their chosen destination. North Americans can also check out the U.S. Department of State website: for essential travel advice and tips. KE treat the safety and security of all clients as the most important aspect of any trip we organise. We would not run any trip that we did not consider reasonably safe. Should the FCO advise against travel for any reason, we will contact everyone booked to travel to discuss the situation. We receive regular updates direct from the FCO and are in constant touch with our contacts on the ground. If you have any questions about government travel advice, please call our office. Books Beyond the Mexique Bay, Aldous Huxley

10 PAGE 10 Time Among the Maya, Ronald Wright Our Man in Belize, Richard Timothy Conroy The Last Flight of the Scarlet Macaw, Bruce Barcott Flight Information Flight Inclusive Or Land Only? On our website we display a UK Flight inclusive package price and Land only package price for the majority of our holidays. Flight Inclusive Notes The FLIGHT INCLUSIVE dates and prices are based on UK flights from London (Heathrow) with United Airlines to Guatemala City and return flights from Belize. Outbound flights will depart from the UK in the late morning, arriving the evening of the same day (day 1 of the Land Only itinerary). Return flights will depart Belize in the late morning of the last day of the land only itinerary, arriving in the UK the following morning. Regional departures and/or alternative carriers are available on request. Please be aware that there are often only a limited number of seats available at the advertised price. To avoid paying flight supplements, we recommend that you book as early as possible, especially during peak times. If we are unable to secure seats at the price shown, or you have requested regional departures, we will contact you with an alternative quote. Please note that you may be asked to pay for your flights in advance of your final holiday balance. Note that if you book a package including flights with KE you will benefit from full financial protection. Land Only Notes The LAND ONLY dates and prices are for the itinerary, joining in Guatemala City & Returning from Belize. For clients making their own flight arrangements, Guatemala City airport is the most convenient for transfers to the group hotel.(and Belize City airport is the most convenient for return transfers) Please refer to the 'Joining arrangements & transfers' for further details. Flights SHOULD NOT be booked until you have received your booking confirmation and the departure is showing 'Guaranteed to Run' or 'Limited'. Why Choose KE Adventure Travel? Why Choose KE Adventure Travel? Experience KE has 34 years experience of adventure travel worldwide. All of our holidays are accompanied by an experienced leader, some of whom have worked with KE groups for many years. Many are professional guides and instructors with an unrivalled knowledge of the areas in which they work. In many parts of the world, we recruit local guides with appropriate training and experience. In addition to having the technical skills to ensure your safety, KE expects its leaders to be active members of the group. A leader should be fun to travel with and ready to share with you their enthusiasm for adventure travel and their knowledge of the area. Alongside the group leader, there will be a local support crew, which could be just a driver, or a complete team of guides, drivers, porters, muleherders and cooks. The hard work of our support crews, along with the fascinating insight they can offer into their local culture, is integral to providing you with the very best adventure travel experience.

11 PAGE 11 The team of KE office staff is amongst the most experienced in the business, with the proven ability to set up and operate a worldwide programme of adventures. Every one has adventure travel at heart and joins at least one trip a year. It is this depth of experience that makes KE stand out from other adventure travel operators. When you contact KE, by phone or , or visit our office, you will find the help and advice you need, from someone who has actually done the trip and can give you the benefit of their first-hand experience. KE can guarantee the very best in trek support, excellent food, a good standard of hotel and camp accommodation, plus the back up of one of the most respected companies in the business. Client satisfaction is at the top of our agenda and almost 50% of our bookings each year come from repeat business. If you are looking for adventure then look no further than KE. RESPONSIBLE TOURISM AND AWARDS Responsible Tourism has always fitted naturally with KEs travel ethic. It is important to us that our clients are not the only beneficiaries of the travel experience, but that we share a two-way relationship with the areas that we visit. We make sure that our local staff are well treated and well paid, we respect indigenous cultures, take care to protect the environment and make the most of every opportunity to make a positive contribution wherever we travel. In addition to holding an AITO 5-star Sustainable Tourism rating, we are recipients of AITO s Achievement in Sustainable Tourism Award in recognition of the work carried out over the past 20 years, giving back to the communities and areas we visit. We have been awarded Highly Commended status in the Best Tour Operator category of the Virgin Holidays Responsible Tourism Awards, and were named Best Trekking Operator on Earth by National Geographic Magazine, whose criteria included commitment to responsible tourism. We continue to travel responsibly, and more information on our policy, practice, and specific projects can be found at and on the website of our partner charity the Juniper Trust: KEs Mountain Code is issued to our staff, trek leaders and overseas agents, and we recommend it to our clients, too! Your Complete Financial Protection KE Adventure Travel is a fully licensed and bonded tour operator. We are a member of the Association of Independent Tour Operators (AITO), bonded with the CAA (ATOL 2808) and ABTA licensed (W4341). You can book your trip with KE Adventure Travel in complete confidence that all monies you pay for a trip are fully protected. BOOKING YOUR HOLIDAY Making a Booking The easiest way to make your booking is online. You will need to pay a deposit at the time of booking. This is normally 200 but for some holidays with special permit fees or internal flights, this may be more. The amount of deposit required for an individual holiday is given on the dates and prices page of the holiday. Late bookings will require full payment. We cannot confirm any booking until we receive your fully completed booking form. Adventure Travel Insurance IMPORTANT - It is a condition of joining any of our trips that you are insured against medical and personal accident risks (to include repatriation costs, air ambulance and helicopter rescue services). We also strongly recommend that you take out holiday cancellation insurance, as all deposits paid are non-refundable. Please

12 PAGE 12 ensure that your insurer is aware of your KE Adventure itinerary and can agree to cover the activities being undertaken. You will then need to advise us of your policy details and complete an Insurance Declaration Form. CAMPBELL IRVINE DIRECT travel insurance is available to EU residents and will cover the majority of KE Adventure holidays. It has been designed to provide cover for activities normally excluded by other insurers such as trekking, mountain biking and climbing. Please note that certain activities may attract a higher premium. In addition Campbell Irvine Direct cannot provide cover for KE climbing trips above 6000m. Cover for these can be obtained through either the British Mountaineering Council (BMC) or Snowcard. TRAVELEX is a USA based insurer offering travel insurance, which can be used by US citizens and US residents only. KE recommends the "Travelex Select" package for our holidays. If your holiday involves using mountaineering equipment (ropes, harness or crampons), for climbing or glacial travel, you should consider the "Adventure Plus Pak" optional upgrade on the Travelex Select Plan. Please refer to the 'Description of Coverage' for a summary of the terms, conditions, exclusions and limitations of the applicable Protection Plan. This policy will also cover KE climbing trips above 6000m. We hope that this trip notes has answered most of your questions. Please feel free to contact us and speak to one of our experts.

13 PAGE 13 Equipment List The following checklist should help you with your packing. As a general rule, you should always try to keep the weight of your equipment to a minimum. You Must Bring The Following Items: Walking boots Trainers for travelling Socks Trekking trousers Shorts Underwear Casual shirts and/or T-shirts 1 fleece / warm layer and jacket Light weight waterproof jacket Lightweight waterproof overtrousers Sunhat Sunglasses Daypack 25 litres Headtorch and spare batteries Sun protection (including total bloc for lips, nose etc.) Water bottles 1 Litre x2 Travel clothes Washbag and toiletries Antibacterial handwash Swimwear Beach towel Insect repellent Small padlock (to lock your KE trek bag) Basic First Aid Kit including the following: antiseptic cream, throat lozenges, diarrhoea treatment (Imodium), painkillers, plasters and blister treatment, Insect repellent, and re-hydration salts (Dioralite). Glucose tablets and multi-vitamin tablets are also a good idea The Following Items Are Optional: Sandals

14 PAGE 14 Spare laces Gaiters Trekking poles Pen-knife (note: always pack sharp objects in hold baggage) Repair kit (eg. needle, thread, duct tape) Camera Notes During this holiday there are a number of occasions when you will need to carry your luggage for short distances. It is preferable that a piece of luggage with wheels or a large backpack, or something that you can easily carry, makes sense for this holiday and is more user friendly for this type of holiday than a duffle bag or holdall. Please note: This document was downloaded on 30 Jan 2018, and the trip is subject to change.