Family holiday in Southern India, Kerala and the Western Ghats Overnight in a houseboat on the Kerala Backwaters Tea plantation walk and visit the incredible temples at Madurai Elephant and tiger spotting at Periyar Nature Reserve 3 nights to relax and chill out on the Indian Ocean beach at Kovalam HOLIDAY CODE FSS India, Family, Discovery, 12 Days 1 night houseboat, 5 nights hotel with swimming pool, 5 nights hotel, 11 breakfasts, 11 lunches, 11 dinners, max group size: 16, 8 days sightseeing or wildlife watching and multi-activity / 2 days beach, swimming: on 5 nights our hotel has a pool and swimming available in the ocean, suitable for age 6+
PAGE 2 VIEW DATES, PRICES & BOOK YOUR HOLIDAY HERE Introduction This family adventure holiday in Southern India travels in a loop from Kochi out to the famous temples of Madurai and back to the beaches of Kovalam. The itinerary is jam packed full of interesting stops and fun activities. We begin in Kochi (Cochin), known as the Queen of the Arabian Sea, where our sightseeing tour includes a visit to the harbour area with its huge Chinese' fishing nets. Here we can attend a performance of the unique costumed dance form known as Kathakali. We drive up to the hill-station of Munnar in the Cardamom Hills and have a couple of days to explore amongst tea plantations and shola forest. There is also an opportunity to have a boat ride to see the elephants at Mattupetty Dam. Driving over the Western Ghats, we then visit the beautiful, colourful and unforgettable temples at Madurai before transferring to the tiger reserve at Periyar and enjoy wildlife spotting in this beautiful park, both from a boat on the lake and on foot. We have a cooking session with the chef on local dishes. Descending to the famous Keralan 'backwaters' we enjoy an overnight cruise on a splendid houseboat. The holiday ends with 2 days for relaxation at Kovalam, a charming and laid back beach resort. This holiday offers an endless visual feast and will entertain and amaze the whole family. Is this holiday for you? Suitable for children from 6yrs old This family adventure holiday in Southern India offers a colourful mixture of touring and sightseeing with a range of activities suitable for families. There are 1 or 2 days when we have included the option to do some walking; in the tea plantations around Munnar, in the Eravikulam National Park in the Western Ghats and at Periyar Tiger Reserve. These walks are likely to last no more than about 3 hours and the pace is leisurely, with lots of opportunities to stop, rest and admire the scenery. There are some long drives involved in the itinerary, and you should ensure your children are happy with this travel - it should be noted that there is never a dull moment in India so just watching out of the window can be entertainment enough! The holiday also includes a city tour of Kochi, a number of half-day drives, a houseboat cruise in the backwaters and two days at leisure on the beach. Holiday Itinerary Day 1: Meet at the group hotel in Kochi (Cochin). A single transfer from Kochi Airport is provided. Meet at the group hotel in Kochi (Cochin). KE land only package services start with a single group transfer from Kochi Airport in the morning. After a couple of hours rest, you can start your holiday with a stroll in the area of Fort Cochin, which is where our hotel is located. Time dependent there is also an optional sunset boat cruise in the backwaters near Mattancherry. HOTEL MEALS LD Day 2: Sightseeing of Kochi, including the Mattanchery Palace, the Fort, and the Chinese fishing nets.
PAGE 3 Kochi is a wonderful and colourful city, built on a maze of canals and waterways. After breakfast, we set off on a sightseeing tour of the city including a visit to the Mattanchery Palace, built by the Portuguese in 1557 as a gift for the Raja of Kochi in exchange for trading rights. It was later rebuilt by the Dutch. Close by is a Jewish Synagogue which we also visit. Moving around to the seaward side of the peninsula of Fort Kochi, we will be able to see St. Francis Church, the oldest European church in India, where the Portuguese explorer Vasco da Gama was buried in 1524. In this area, the Kochi seafront is at its most exciting, with colourful stalls, selling trinkets, jewellery, puppets and ice-cream. Here, too, there is a picturesque row of enormous 'Chinese' fishing nets, introduced by traders in the 14th century. They are lowered into the sea every 10 minutes or so, each of them operated by a team of 5 or 6 fishermen. Rows of sleek fishing boats also line the beach and there is a fish market selling the catch. We return to our hotel for dinner and then in the early evening, we have the option to go to a local theatre to see a performance of the traditional Keralan dance form known as Kathakali, which involves beautifully attired, masked and made-up dancers. HOTEL Day 3: Transfer to Munnar in the mountains. Visit Eravikulam National Park for wildlife viewing. Today we transfer away from the coast and up into the hills of the Western Ghats, climbing around 1800m during our drive. We pass through tea and cardamom plantations and roads lined with eucalyptus trees, we travel for approximately 5 hours to reach the town of Munnar, once a 'hill-station' and summer resort of the British Government in South India. The town retains something of its former colonial charm with neat bungalows with manicured gardens that would not be out of place in a Sussex village. The first thing we notice after the heat of Kochi is the cool mountain air, saturated with the fragrance of fresh spices and the ubiquitous tea. After checking in at our hotel, we take a trip out into the hills to the north, to the Eravikulam National Park. Located on the slopes of Anamudi (2695m), the highest peak of the Western Ghats, this pocket-size national park was set up to protect the Nilgiri tahr, a stocky and endangered, mountain goat. There are many species of animals and birds here and we will take a short walk with a local ranger through an accessible part of the park - another opportunity to enjoy the picturesque landscapes of the Western Ghats. In February & March the Eravikulam National Park is closed. Instead we visit the beautiful Thattekad Bird Sanctuary. This is one of the most important bird sanctuaries in India covering an evergreen low-land forested area between 2 river branches. HOTEL Day 4: Optional boat ride to see elephants in the park. Tea factory visit and walk through estate. This morning we have an optional scenic boat ride at the Mattupetty Dam an area known for seeing visiting Elephants. After this we continue to the tea factory. The various processes of tea-making usually take place in different buildings - withering (drying), sifting, rolling, oxidation, drying, grading, packing. Within a day or so of being picked, the tea can be packed and ready for market. It is interesting and educational to see these processes being carried out and there will certainly be the chance, for those that wish, to sample the finished product. Munnar is surrounded by tea estates that climb the rolling hills of the Western Ghats. After our tour of the tea factory we transfer for just 15 minutes or so into the Lakshmi Hills and to the start of our tea estate walk. This is a great opportunity to stretch our legs on the 4WD drive tracks and tea-pickers' trails that connect the various patches of vibrant green tea bushes. Interspersed amongst the plantations are patches of native grassland and stands of rough 'shola' forest, home to many species of birds and animals. Our walk will take us through the ordered villages of the estate workers and, hopefully, we will also come across colourful groups of tea-pickers working in the 'fields'.
PAGE 4 HOTEL Day 5: Drive east and visit the temples of Madurai. After breakfast, we board our transport for the morning's drive eastwards. This is a fascinating drive, as we quickly leave the Western Ghats behind and find ourselves on a rich agricultural plain, with orchards and extensive rice fields. Passing a number of impressive rock outcrops and through lots of small towns, our destination today, is the town of Madurai, one of southern India's great temple towns, with a history stretching back to the time of the Great Tamil Era more than 2500 years ago. Centrepiece of the town is the Sri Meenakshi Temple, built between the 16th and 18th centuries. This is a dramatic example of Dravidian Architecture, with its 'gopurams' (pyramidal towers) covered with images of gods, goddesses, animals and mythological figures. It is around a 5-6hr journey. After checking in to our hotel in the city, we will have lunch, then set off on a sightseeing tour with a local guide. We will walk around the temple and surrounding bazaar area and also be invited by our guide to climb to the top of one of the 5-storey Kashmiri-run handicraft emporia which have viewing platforms on their roofs and do offer the best overview of the temple's towers. (There is no obligation to buy anything on your way down). Later we will enter the temple complex and mingle with the countless pilgrims who each day come to worship at the temple, to bathe in the Tank of the Golden Lotus and to wonder at the carvings of the Hall of a Thousand Pillars. As a taste of the Hindu religion, with all its colour and spectacle, this is hard to beat. Overnight at our hotel in Madurai. HOTEL Day 6: Transfer to Thekkady. Spice gardens tour. This morning, we drive back up into the Western Ghats (4hrs) and in so doing, cross back into the state of Kerala. We follow a part of the route that we drove yesterday, then continue southwards, through tea plantations and several small towns to the town of Thekkady, gateway to the Periyar Wildlife Reserve, where we check in at our hotel. After lunch we have a guided tour of the nearby spice gardens where we learn all about which plants the spices come from. Swimming: At the hotel pool. HOTEL WITH SWIMMING POOL Day 7: Walk in the Periyar Tiger Reserve. Optional boat ride in the park. Cooking demo. In the early morning we have an easy walk in the wildlife sanctuary or the surrounding area. A beautiful time of day to see the wildlife and enjoy the peace of the park. In the afternoon we have the option to explore the reserve area by boat. The construction of the Mullaperiyar Dam across the Periyar river at Thekkady in 1895 submerged large tracts of land and created a huge lake, which now forms the centrepiece of the Periyar Tiger Reserve. The optional leisurely cruise around the lake by motor boat, will be accompanied by a forest service guide who will point out any interesting birds and animals. We are very likely to see, for example, elephants, sambar deer and wild boar, which come down to the lake to drink. We return to our hotel and may have time to have a martial arts class or enjoy an Ayurveda massage (both optional). In the evening we have dinner with a local family who will also give us a cookery demonstration/class. Swimming: At the hotel pool. HOTEL WITH SWIMMING POOL
PAGE 5 Day 8: Drive to Alleppey, board houseboat. Cruise through backwaters. We drive out of the hills today and back towards the coast. Heading due west, we drop down into the hot and humid lowlands and, after 4-5 hours we arrive at the houseboat jetties at Alleppey. Here, we board a houseboat for a cruise on the famous backwaters, the unique web of lakes, lagoons, palm fringed canals and rivers that link the villages of this region. Previously the 'heavy goods vehicle' of the backwaters and known as kettuvallams, the converted, modern-day houseboats are air conditioned with twin berth cabins, showers and a veranda area at the front for sitting and watching the world go by. As we float serenely through this unique waterscape we can watch children going to school by boat, tody (coconut milk) tappers at work, and the everyday life of the villagers. Cruising the backwaters is a wonderful experience - both relaxing and stimulating as well as a great way of viewing local life. Our cruise is 4-5 hours. It's also a great way to spot the wonderful bird-life of the region, with kingfishers, cormorants and the snake-bird dipping in and out of the water in their hunt for prey. We eventually moor up for the night in Vembanadu Lake and go to sleep, rocked by the gentle lapping of the waters. HOUSEBOAT Day 9: Disembark boat, drive to Kovalam on the beach. After breakfast on the houseboat, we cruise back to Alleppey (approximately 1 hr). Here, we meet our transport and drive south through a number of small towns and villages, with glimpses through the palm trees of Indian Ocean beaches on our right hand side. We reach our hotel accommodation in the small seaside resort of Kovalam at lunchtime. Time for some total relaxation. Kovalam has a number of pleasant beaches, where fishermen set huge nets by boat and gradually pull these back onto the beach, before sharing the catch. There are also lots of small cafes along the seafront. Swimming: At the hotel pool. HOTEL WITH SWIMMING POOL Day 10: Free day at the palm tree lined beach, Kovalam. We have a couple of free days at the beach to take it easy, with the option to relax on the beach and swim in the warm sea. Swimming: At the hotel pool. HOTEL WITH SWIMMING POOL Day 11: A further free day at the palm tree lined beach, Kovalam. Another day at the beach. The name Kovalam derives from the Tamil word for coconut groves and it's easy to see why they chose this name. There is plenty of time for some exploration as well. The main beach at Kovalam is marked by a prominent red and white striped lighthouse and this pretty area is worth seeking out. We also have the opportunity to visit a local school. Swimming: At the hotel pool. HOTEL WITH SWIMMING POOL Day 12: Departure day. A single transfer to Trivandrum Airport is provided.
PAGE 6 KE Land Only group package services end after breakfast. A single group transfer will be provided to Trivandrum Airport, which is just a short drive up the coast from our Kovalam hotel. MEALS B Holiday Information What's Included An English speaking local guide throughout the tour Single timed airport transfer at Kochi and Trivandrum Airports are provided All overland transport and guided sightseeing tours using air-conditioned vehicles All accommodation as described Sightseeing tour of Kochi Tea Factory visit Cookery demonstration Meals as per the Meal Plan What's Not Included Travel insurance Indian Visa Tips for guides and trek staff Optional activities Miscellaneous expenses - drinks and souvenirs etc. Meal Plan All meals included from lunch on day 1 to breakfast on day 12. Food Part of the experience of a visit to South India is the truly amazing food on offer. South Indian food is very different to the dishes we are familiar with from Indian restaurants which usually serve Northern Indian or Bangladeshi cuisine. South Indian food is predominantly vegetarian, and a meal typically consists of several dishes, some highly spiced and others delicately flavoured, and this is always served along with rice and dhal (lentils). In most places that we stay it will also be possible to order more familiar northern dishes as well as western options. Joining Arrangements & Transfers On day 1 of the land only itinerary a single timed transfer from Kochi/Cochin Airport to the group hotel in Kochi is provided. This is timed for the arrival of the Emirates or Etihad flights arriving at 0800/0900 in the morning on day 1 of the land only itinerary. At the end of the holiday, on the last day of the Land Only itinerary a single timed transfer will be provided to the airport in Trivandrum. This will be timed for the Emirates or Etihad flights that depart at 0900/1000 in the morning. All clients need to provide their flight details and should inform the KE office if they do not wish to use the airport transfer on arrival or departure. Private transfers are available if your fights arrive/depart at different times.
PAGE 7 Hotel contact details and an emergency number will be provided with your booking confirmation. Accommodation During the holiday the group will spend two nights on arrival at a hotel in Kochi (Cochin). There are 2 hotel nights in Munnar, 1 hotel in Madurai, 2 hotel nights with swimming pool in Thekkady close to the Periyar National Park, 1 night on a houseboat on the Kerala backwaters and 3 nights at a beach resort in Kovalam with swimming pool and situated next to the beach. All hotel accommodation is tourist 3* standard. On the houseboat, accommodation will be in twin berth cabins with electricity, air conditioning, and shared toilet and shower. Children of 11yrs and under will share with parents in a triple for a family of 3, or for a family of 4 have a double with 2 extra beds or 2 rooms. Children over 12 yrs will share with parents in a triple for a family of 3, or have 2 rooms for a family of 4. We will do everything to ensure that you are happy with your rooming allocation. Additional hotel nights are available pre and post the holiday. Hotels are subject to availability and prices may vary. Group Leader & Support Staff The group will be accompanied throughout the tour by a professional, English-speaking local tour leader. The group will also have the services of English speaking guides for the local tours and a driver. Altitude This holiday does not involve any significant ascent to altitude and we would not expect any altitude issues with this trip. Spending Money We recommend the average family (mum, dad and 2 kids) will need approximately 300 (or equivalent in USD or Euros) for miscellaneous expenses, including tips to local staff (allow approximately 50) and soft drinks, etc. It is not necessary to purchase local currency (Indian Rupees) before you travel. We recommend taking your spending money in the form of cash. Sterling and US dollars are readily exchanged in Kochi. Credit cards can be used to purchase some goods in major towns and are particularly useful for more expensive souvenirs. Optional Activities All prices are subject to change without notice. Boat ride at Mattapudy Dam 18 for upto 5 people on the boat, or private speed boat for 8 per person. Sunset Cruise near Mattancherry 30-35 for the boat,depending on group size and availability. Martial Arts 3 Guidance On Tipping For your tour guide we recommend that you give a tip if you feel that their services have met your satisfaction. As a rough guide we suggest a tip to your tour leader the equivalent of 10-15 per family member (with perhaps a little more for small groups of five or less). You may also wish to tip your driver(s) but we would suggest this should not be greater than half the amount you give to your tour guide. In hotels you should give a tip of around 20 rupees (25p) to hotel porters.
PAGE 8 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 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 24.95. Delivery outside of the UK will be charged. Baggage Allowance For this holiday you should take one piece of luggage and a daypack. Luggage with wheels is useful for this holiday. For international flights please check your baggage allowance with your airline. 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 India All nationalities require a visa. The visa fee is $60 and you need to apply for this online prior to departure at https://indianvisaonline.gov.in/visa/tvoa.html. Please download the detailed information document: Visa PDF India Health & Vaccinations You should contact your doctor or travel clinic to check whether you require any specific 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. Malarial prophylaxis is not usually required for trips in the mountains, however if you are visiting rural and remote low lying areas then
PAGE 9 they might be necessary. On holidays to more remote areas you should also have a dentist check up. A good online resource is Travel Health Pro. 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. 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 https://travelhealthpro.org.uk Currency The currency of India is the Indian Rupee. Electricity Supply & Plug We recommend you check if you require an adaptor for your electrical items at: http://www.worldstandards.eu/electricity/plugs-and-sockets/ Preparing For Your Holiday Our family adventures are specifically aimed at families who are experienced travellers and who are used to the outdoor environment. Although children will quickly adapt to new and unusual surroundings, they will be less happy if mum and dad are completely phased by the experience. There are certain things that you should expect on your family adventure. New sights and sounds Arriving in a new country will involve an element of 'Culture Shock'. This is what we travel for, after all - there would be no point in going to these places if they were exactly the same as home. New sights and sounds and smells abound. The local people may appear strange at first and may have very different customs and behaviour. Many countries particularly in the developing world, are more open to interaction with strangers than we are used to at home and will usually strike up conversations quite readily. In the more out of the way places they will probably be intrigued to see Western children in their local market-place or village and may approach you and your family. This is all part of the fun of adventure travel and as long as parents are relaxed about this the kids are usually fine and will quickly make friends with children of their own age. Hotels and overland transport We choose hotels which will provide comfortable accommodation and which reflect the character of the area we are visiting. Some of these hotels away from the major cities will not be up to Western standards. Similarly, although we insist upon the very best available overland transport, some of this transport may be less comfortable than you would expect to find in Europe or North America. Hygiene and children s health We use reputable hotels with excellent standards of hygiene. However, general standards of hygiene are not always quite as good in the developing world and the avoidance of sickness is a priority for everyone. It is important that you do not drink tap water and you should be careful when choosing to eat fruits or salads. In general, food that is hot and freshly prepared is safe everywhere. Children may be more prone to non-serious traveller s sickness than adults this sort of tummy upset is easily picked up on the hands and children may need extra encouragement to wash their hands before mealtimes. Thankfully, children are also normally quick to recover from these minor tummy troubles. 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
PAGE 10 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: www.travel.state.gov 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. Climate Due to its long coastline and the mountains of the Western Ghats, Kerala experiences more rainfall but less dramatic season changes and than other South Indian states. During July, August and October temperatures on the coast will be in the range 29-32ºC and around 22ºC in the hills. At this time of the year it is possible to encounter some heavy rain in the late afternoon and is the wettest time of the year. During the April departure all areas are usually dry but it can be quite hot and humid on the coast, with temperatures in the mid thirties Celsius, with a cooler climate in the hills of around 24ºC. The winter months, from the latter part of November to the middle of February, have the least rainfall. Temperatures on the plain at this time range from 18 28ºC and in the hills typical daytime temperatures are 20ºC with chilly evenings around 10ºC. 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 to Kochi (Cochin) with Emirates Airlines or Etihad Airways. Outbound flights will depart the UK in the early afternoon, arriving in the morning of the following day (day 1 of the itinerary). Return flights will depart Trivandrum airport in the morning of the last day of the itinerary, arriving in the UK later the same day. 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 Kochi (Cochin). For clients making their own flight arrangements, Kochi (Cochin) Airport is the most convenient for transfers to the group hotel. The return flight is from Trivandrum. Please refer to 'Joining Arrangements and 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'.
PAGE 11 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. 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 e-mail, 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 www.keadventure.com, and on the website of our partner charity the Juniper Trust: www.junipertrust.co.uk. KEs Mountain Code is issued to our staff, trek leaders and overseas agents, and we recommend it to our clients, too!
PAGE 12 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 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.
PAGE 13 Equipment List Please try to keep the weight of your baggage to a minimum. See the baggage allowance section for further details. You Should Bring The Following Items: Strong shoes Trainers or sandals Socks Underwear Trekking trousers Lightweight waterproof jacket Lightweight waterproof overtrousers Shorts* Swimwear T-shirts and casual shirts Loose-fitting, long-sleeved shirt Fleece jacket or warm jumper Sunhat with wide brim Warm hat Sunglasses Daypack 20 to 30 litres (depending on how much of the children's stuff you need to carry) Sun protection (including total bloc for lips, nose etc.) Water bottles 2 x 1 Litre Selection of dry bags (to keep trek bag contents dry) Washbag and toiletries Small towel Antibacterial handwash Wet wipes Headtorch and spare batteries Basic First Aid Kit Antiseptic cream, throat lozenges, diarrhoea treatment (Immodium), painkillers, plasters, and blister treatment, Insect repellent (DEET), antihistamine cream and tablets, and re-hydration salts (Dioralite). Glucose tablets and multi-vitamin tablets are a good idea.
PAGE 14 The Following Items Are Optional: Travel clothes Pen-knife (note: always pack sharp objects in hold baggage) Repair kit (eg. needle, thread, duct tape) Small padlock (to lock your KE trek bag) Camera Toys / games / books / kite etc. Notes: *Please be culturally sensitive. In many places in India shorts, tank tops and figure-hugging clothing is inappropriate wear. Although for children it is not usually an issue. Madurai Temple: When visiting this temple we need to wear full clothing to cover legs, shoulders and arms. No shorts, skirts, socks or jeans are allowed. Cameras, ipads and laptops are not allowed inside the temple complex. You can use a mobile phone camera inside the temple if you pay a fee of around Rs50 on arrival. Please note: This document was downloaded on 4 May 2018, and the trip is subject to change.