2012 Eclipse Itinerary2012/13 Standard Itinerary

Local Costs

	UK	USA
Tea/Coffee	£1.50	$1.70
Soft Drink	£1.50	$1.70
Bottled Water	£1.50	$1.70
Bottle of Beer	£3.50	$6.00
2 Course Meal*	£15.00	$22.00
3 Course Meal**	£20.00	$32.00
Bottle of Wine	£14.50	$30.00
Breakfast	£5.00	$10.00

*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

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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Please note: Please note that flights on the tour may transit through the USA. According to US law, passengers will have to disembark, collect luggage and clear immigration before re-boarding for the onward flight.

Holders of the UK, AUS, NZ, CAN and several EU country passports can enter the United States without a visa under the Visa Waiver Program (VWP) if they hold a machine readable passport. They must also be entering the country by sea or air on a carrier participating in the visa waiver scheme, holding a return/onward ticket. As well as being machine readable, if your passport was issued on or after 26 October 2005, it must contain both a digital photograph of the holder and also an integrated circuit chip that stores biographic information.

All passengers travelling to the USA under the Visa Waiver Programme must provide their details online no later than 72 hours prior to travel. British travellers who have not registered before their trip are likely to be detained and sent home. In addition to passport information, you must also supply the full address of your first night’s accommodation in the USA. This information can be obtained from your joining instructions which are sent out approximately 3 weeks before travel.

Anyone applying for ESTA (Electronic Travel Authorisation) to travel under the Visa Waiver system will be charged a fee of 14USD (9GBP).  

For more information, and to apply online, please visit the following website at https://esta.cbp.dhs.gov. Once obtained, the application will be valid for a period of two years, or for the validity of your passport (whichever is shorter).

For more information about who is eligible for the VWP, or any other questions you may have regarding your eligibility, or machine readable passports, please contact your local consular office, or visit www.usembassy.org.uk

Other nationalities should consult the relevant consulate.

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Vaccinations & Protection

Nothing required. Tetanus recommended.

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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.

Visa and vaccination requirements are subject to change and should be confirmed before departure.

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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

There is considerable variation in temperature year round, accentuated by the altitude. Blessed by clear skies for the majority of the year; be prepared for hot daytime temperatures (27 to 35°C) and cool evenings from July to September. Days and nights will be cold from February to April and October to November but this is an ideal time to visit.

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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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Bring only the bare essentials, - one main bag plus daysac for walking and for personal items. Main luggage cannot be accessed during the day. Soft luggage is more practical. Bring plastic bags to keep things dry. Total allowance: 30lbs/14kgs, as it is stored in the trailer during travel.

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Clothing

Pack essentially for ‘Hot Conditions’ for July and August departures, otherwise pack for ‘All Tours’. In the colder months – February to April – warm clothing is essential. Dress is informal. A warm fleece or sweater is essential for cooler nights in the desert or at higher altitudes. Include a long sleeved shirt and warm trousers. Also a light-weight waterproof jacket, swimwear, sunglasses and a sun-hat.

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Footwear

Lightweight hiking boots, trainers and/or sandals for travelling.

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Equipment

Bring a water bottle, high factor sunblock.

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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

The Colorado plateau lies at an average elevation of around 6000 feet and is the site of some of the most amazing and accessible scenery on the face of the planet. Its surface is split by deep and dramatic canyons. This region is one of the most sparsely populated in the country and contains the USA's largest concentration of National Parks. This short hotel/motel accommodated tour is designed to show you the natural highlights of this remarkable area – from the heights of the sheer rock faces of Zion to the depths of the Grand Canyon and the deep blue of Lake Powell against the blood red rock. Although the main focus of this tour is scenery, there is also a strong cultural element – the once forgotten ‘Route 66’, the epic struggle of the Mormons settling in this harsh landscape and of course the tribal land of the Navajo Nation. Be prepared for some early starts and for some long days – there is an enormous amount to see en route to our destination on a daily basis.

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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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