We've given each of our tours a comfort rating and a tour pace, walking or cycling grade to give you a general idea about the level of activity on each tour and the standard of accommodation you will be staying in at the end of your day's adventure.
Often you'll stay in different styles of accommodation during your tour; so we make an average rating across the entire tour. For more information on where you'll stay each night, please refer to the day by day tour itinerary.
While our intention is to adhere to the day-to-day route printed below, a degree of flexibility is built into the itinerary. There may be some minor deviation to the basic trail route, depending on season, weather and local conditions. For excellent additional information about rail travel worldwide including detailed descriptions of different trains and journeys we recommend the website www.seat61.com.
Trains times in particular are subject to change and this may necessitate changes to our itinerary.
Clients may pay in cash or with credit cards. On both the Budget and Classic Flights, you will be offered fruit and champagne (or soft drink if preferred) on completion, as well as a Flight Certificate. We would remind you that in the interests of safety and your enjoyment all balloon flights are subject to suitable flying conditions. Please ensure you wear warm clothing and secure footwear.
The following excursions and/or activities are usually available and may be arranged locally. Estimated costs are provided below for guidance only, are on a per person basis unless shown otherwise, and may depend on the number of participants. Prices quoted are correct as of the date these trip notes were originally issued but may change at any time due to currency fluctuations.
Local Costs
| |
UK |
Bulgaria |
Croatia |
England |
France |
Italy |
Serbia And Montenegro |
Slovenia |
Turkey |
| Tea/Coffee |
£1.50 |
£0.80 |
£1.50 |
|
€2.50 |
€3.00 |
£0.90 |
€1.20 |
£1.00 |
| Soft Drink |
£1.50 |
£0.80 |
£2.00 |
|
€2.50 |
€2.40 |
£1.00 |
€2.00 |
£1.00 |
| Bottled Water |
£1.50 |
£1.50 |
£1.50 |
|
€1.45 |
€2.40 |
£1.00 |
€1.00 |
£1.00 |
| Bottle of Beer |
£3.50 |
£2.50 |
£1.50 |
|
€3.50 |
€4.50 |
£1.50 |
€2.20 |
£2.00 |
| 2 Course Meal* |
£15.00 |
£10.00 |
£10.00 |
|
€15.00 |
€18.00 |
£8.00 |
€18.00 |
£7.00 |
| 3 Course Meal** |
£20.00 |
£18.00 |
£15.00 |
|
€25.00 |
€35.00 |
£12.00 |
€25.00 |
£13.00 |
| Bottle of Wine |
£14.50 |
£10.00 |
£8.00 |
|
€12.00 |
€18.00 |
£10.00 |
€18.00 |
£12.50 |
| Breakfast |
£5.00 |
£8.00 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
*Cheap local fare in a small cafe or restaurant.
**Typical food in a simple, reasonably comfortable mid-range restaurant.
Important Information
Travel Insurance
It is a condition of joining any of our tours that you must have valid travel insurance. It must indicate that you have cover for (at least) medical expenses and emergency repatriation in the event of illness or injury. We also strongly recommend your policy includes cancellation protection as all deposit paid are non-refundable.
If you require travel insurance for your tour, Explore Worldwide is an appointed representative of Campbell Irvine Limited, who is authorised and regulated by the Financial Services authority. Our travel insurance policy is specially tailored to the needs of the adventure traveller and will cover you for any included activity on any Explore trip. You can either purchase this at the time of booking or call us 0844 499 0901 after you have booked.
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Visa Requirements
France/Italy/Slovenia/Bulgaria/Croatia/ Serbia: Visas not usually required; South African passport holders usually require visas – please check with nearest relevant embassy.
Turkey: A visa can be purchased on arrival at the border crossing into Turkey by most nationalities; charges vary – please check with your nearest Turkish embassy. Some nationalities do not require a visa; again, please check with your nearest Turkish embassy. Holders of British passports should ensure they have a £10 available to purchase their visa.
Syria: A free visa will be arranged by Explore if Explore has received your passport details a minimum of 10 days before arrival, otherwise you should purchase a Syrian visa prior to departure. Please note that it is necessary for all customers included on the Syrian group visa to supply 2 photocopies of their passport to be handed over to the representatives upon arrival at the border. Please ensure that these copies are brought with you on the tour. If necessary, please contact Visa Swift and they can send you visa application forms. Alternatively, visit their website www.visaswift.com/explore.aspx where you can download visa forms. Syria levies a departure tax at the border of 500SYP per person. This will be collected at the departure point.
Please note: Visitors arriving with evidence of a visit to Israel (such as an entry stamp to Israel or an entry stamp into a neighbouring country at a point that indicates a visit to Israel would have to have been made) will be refused entry to Syria, even if the bearer holds a valid Syrian visa.
Jordan: The following information relates to EU passport holders and those who are travelling on group flights arranged by Explore:
Subject to a minimum group size of 5 persons, free visas can be arranged on arrival for all clients if Explore receive your passport details a minimum of 10 days before arrival. Unfortunately we will not know until the commencement of your tour whether the minimum number is attained, therefore we recommend that you allow JD15 (approx £11) in case an individual visa will need to be purchased on arrival.
The following information relates to EU passport holders and those who are travelling on non-group flights or Land Only:
Clients extending their stay, or who for any other reason will not be departing on group flights, will be required to purchase an individual visa on arrival. Visas can be bought on arrival at Amman’s Queen Alia Airport or any border crossing point (current cost JD15, approx. £11).
The Jordanian government levies on all travellers a departure tax of JD5 per person. For travellers departing by air this is usually included in the taxes on the airline ticket and thus nothing will be collected from you at the point of departure. For those travellers departing by land, this will be collected by the immigration authorities at the port of departure from Jordan.
All nationalities should consult the relevant consulate.
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All visa information is subject to change. You should confirm all visa related issues with the relevant Embassy prior to departure.
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Vaccinations & Protection
Nothing compulsory, but we recommend protection against typhoid, tetanus, infectious hepatitis and polio.
Special Note: Vaccination requirements are subject to change and should be confirmed before departure.
The above is not an exhaustive list. Further information regarding vaccinations and travel health advice can be found by following the NHS and NaTHNaC links at http://www.explore.co.uk/Travelhealth/ and from your local healthcare provider.
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Know before you go
We strongly recommend that you check your government’s travel advisory for up-to-date information and advice about your destination: safety and security, entry requirements, health, local laws and customs, including advice re: the legality of and local attitudes towards same-sex relationships. For UK Foreign and Commonwealth Office Advice follow the link at http://www.explore.co.uk/Traveladvice/
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Preparing for your tour
Climate
Eastern Europe: Has a continental climate, with warm summers and the possibility of some rain in the Alps. Average of 5-6 hours of sunshine in April, May & Sep, 7-8 hours in July & August.
Turkey: Summers are hot and humid; spring and autumn Mediterranean temperatures are incentive enough for swimming. At altitude sharp contrasts exist and temperatures are likely to drop suddenly especially when the sun goes down.
Jordan: During April-November days are generally sunny and hot without rain (some showers December-March) with temperatures around 32°C. Spring and autumn evenings can be cool and night temperatures can drop suddenly especially in the desert. Expect cold nights in winter (Dec - Feb) when temperatures can drop to around zero degrees celsius. Some rain should also be expected at this time of year.
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Seasonal weather patterns can be unpredictable. For up-to-date information on the weather worldwide please visit www.bbc.co.uk/weather.
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Packing for your tour
To assist with packing for your tour, we have detailed some of the essential items you should take with you.
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Luggage
Unfortunately it does occasionally happen that luggage does not always reach its destination on the same flight as its owner, or possibly it may be damaged in transit. If you are unlucky enough for this to occur, it is important that you file a PIR (Property Irregularity Report) with the airline before leaving the airport. This is essential when you come to make a claim either against the airline or from your travel insurance company
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One main piece of baggage (not a suitcase) and a daysac. Total allowance: 44lbs/20kgs. Remember that you are expected to carry your own luggage – so don’t overload yourself. Space on trains is limited. We cannot stress these points enough.
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Trek Kit Bag
For an exclusively designed Explore Trek Bag, follow the relevant link at www.nomadtravel.co.uk/explore
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Clothing
Pack essentially for ‘All Tours’ plus ‘Hot Conditions’. Clothing should be lightweight. However, a wind/waterproof jacket and a warm fleece or sweater is advisable, as nights can be cold and If you’re travelling early or late in the season lightweight rainwear is advisable. Winters can be cold. Moslem people, particularly in remoter areas, are offended by the wearing of brief shorts and swimwear in the street. Women should not enter mosques in shorts, slacks or revealing clothing. A headscarf cover and wrap-around skirt are useful in such circumstances. Don’t forget your swimwear.
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Footwear
Comfortable walking shoes/trainers and sandals, waterproof sandals are useful for the Dead Sea.
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Equipment
Bring a water bottle, torch, sunhat, sunglasses, insect repellent and sunscreen.
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Personal First Aid Kit
For an exclusively designed Explore Medical Kit, visit www.nomadtravel.co.uk/explore
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Need help on Clothing or Equipment?
Then we suggest you contact Nomad Travel, our equipment partner, who specialise in kitting people out for adventurous travel. You receive a special 10% discount in-store or online. Visit one of their stores, phone 0845 260 0044, or visit their website www.nomadtravel.co.uk/explore for further information.
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General Information
Trip Summary
When Agatha Christie’s first husband left her, for a woman who played golf, she booked herself a berth on the Orient Express and travelled alone to Baghdad. This was the golden age of international rail travel, an era when the rich and famous travelled throughout Europe and beyond. Our journey of discovery follows in Agatha’s footsteps, part of the way at least, travelling across some of the most picturesque landscapes in Europe, through the Balkan States to the very edge of Christendom. We travel via cities that evoke memories of lost empires from a bygone age; Paris, Venice, Belgrade, Istanbul and then cross into the lands of the Crusades and Lawrence of Arabia. Stopping off along the way to visit the awe inspiring, other world landscape of Cappadocia in central Turkey, before travelling to the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan. Travelling along old trade routes we arrive in Petra, one of the archeological wonders of the world, before continuing down to the Red Sea port of Aqaba, via the truly spectacular desert landscape of Wadi Rum.
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Please note:
11th August – 9th September Please note that Ramadan is a month of fasting observed by Muslims throughout the world, during which time the followers of Islam should not eat or drink between sunrise and sunset. There may be some limitations to services and disruptions to schedules during Ramadan, but generally our tours still operate effectively during this period and food is available to non-Muslims throughout the day in most countries.
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RLA02APR10 ONWARDS Please note that we have made amends to the single room option availability on this tour.
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Electric Supply & Plugs
For comprehensive information regarding voltages and plug types in use in the countries visited, follow the relevant link at http://www.explore.co.uk/Traveladvice/
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Toll Free USA - 1 800 715 1746 
Toll Free Canada – 1 888 216 3401
This is the UK and European website
Man originally conquered the air with the hot air balloon and it is still possible to recreate that sense of wonder those first aviators enjoyed – and what a location! There can be few places around the world that can rival the incredible, eroded landscapes of Cappadocia as you float almost silently above the strange moonscape below – a wonderful, lighter than air experience! Two different flights are on offer, both bookable through Goreme Balloons. 
