LONDON TO SINGAPORE OVERLAND

Our expedition begins in Hammersmith, London, and after a short ferry crossing over the English Channel we are in France and on the European continent. Our first 2 days are spent driving through France, Belgium and Luxembourg before arriving in Germany where we visit the sobering WWII concentration camp of Dachau.

We continue on to Salzburg in Austria, birthplace of Mozart, where you have a day to explore this beautiful city or hike up a nearby mountain affording stunning views over the Austrian Alps.

In Hungary we start to notice a change as Western Europe begins to fade. A goulash in Budapest is a tasty treat on a day out exploring the city’s wonderful architecture and a boat trip on the Danube River is a great way to take it all in.

In Romania we visit Dracula’s Castle, perched high in the Transylvanian mountains before heading down to the capital Bucharest where you can visit the world’s second largest building – the Romanian Parliament House.

In Bulgaria we camp near the stunning town of Veliko Turnovo where you can visit the impressive Tsaravets Fortress before we cross over the rolling green foothills of the Balkans heading for Turkey.

Istanbul, the city that separates Europe from Asia has it all, and you will revel in the history and culture it offers. Take a boat trip up the Bosphorous, marvel at the Aya Sofya and explore the opulent Topkapi Palace. At the end of the day soak your aches away in the Turkish baths and tantalise your taste buds with Turkish delights!

The battlefields of Gallipoli are our next stop where we pay tribute to the thousands of Aussies, Kiwis, Brits and Turks who lost their lives here in 1915. A truly moving experience.

Historic Troy is an interesting stop on our way down the Turquoise coast to the great Roman ruins of Ephesus. Here we camp on the beach and have a day to explore the ruins as well as enjoy our first swim in the clear blue sea.

Further south we visit the Roman baths of Pammukale before reaching the beautiful lagoon of Oludeniz where Greek ghost towns and overgrown Roman amphitheaters hide in the surrounding forests. Saklikent gorge is only a moped ride away and skydiving and mountain biking are popular activities here for those who enjoy adrenalin!

A short drive away we find Olympos with it’s eternal flames glowing amidst the pine clad mountainsides that sweep down to its fine beaches. Here we stay in the tree-houses which have made this area so unique.

Inland on the plateau we reach the fairy-tale wonderland of Cappadocia with spectacular canyons, ancient caves and underground cities carved into the geologically diverse land. Belly dancing is a big affair up here and so is the local drink ‘Raki’, be warned!

Further east on our drive towards Iran you have the option of climbing up mount Nemrut Dagi to marvel at the huge stone heads that have lay there motionless for over a thousand years!

Skirting Lake Van we head for the border town of Dogubeyazit (more affectionately known as ‘Doggy Biscuit’). Here in the shadow of Mt Ararat we camp beneath the fabulous Ishak Pasha Palace and have a good excuse to party as alcohol is prohibited for the next two weeks in Iran.

Please note. Due to lack of Western Infrastructure from Eastern Turkey and throughout Iran and Pakistan, the expedition becomes more challenging – at times it will be hot, humid and our living conditions very basic – this is actually one of the highlights as it takes a bit of an effort to get through and the sense of ‘real travelling’ as opposed to ‘being on holiday’ is at it’s peak. With the right attitude these countries, along with being the most challenging, are always ultimately the most interesting and often will make up the majority of your travelling tales when the expedition is completed. They truly are a unique and fascinating experience but not for the faint-hearted!

It is unlikely we will encounter a friendlier, more welcoming race of people on our entire journey so enjoy the Iranian hospitality!

Our first taste of Iran is the fantastic pizza parlours in the lively town of Tabriz. Also famous for it’s famous Blue Mosque this town is rich in history too.

We continue on into the countryside where and reach Babak Castle where it is possible to hike up to this impressive ancient fortress.

Our journey now takes us on to one of the world’s largest bodies of fresh-water, the Caspian Sea, famous for it’s sought-after caviar and (unbelievably) it’s long grain rice growing in the surrounding paddy fields.

Further south we climb into verdant green mountains and spend a couple of days in the quaint town of Masuleh from where it is possible to explore the area’s natural beauty on foot.

Back on the Iranian plateau we head for Esfahan, Iran’s masterpiece. The impressive city square is full of intricately decorated mosaic Mosques, leisurely tea-shops and lavish carpet emporiums. Plenty of bargains can be found in the myriad of bazaars that lead off from the square and the city’s gorgeous bridges deserve all the time you can spare.

The Zagros mountains provide a stunning backdrop on our trip to the intriguing ruins of Persepolis. Once the summer capital of the Persian Empire, this is the site where Alexander the Great famously conquered the Persian armies stronghold.

We continue on to the small town of Yazd with its unique wind-towers and fabulous cake shops before heading east and desert camping our way towards the Pakistan border.

Well worth exploring and richly rewarding we enter the fabulous land of Pakistan. This is a country of huge contrasts and our first two days will be enjoyed passing through the Balochistan desert and its barren magnificence. Two lane highways are a thing of the past and the main roads are now ever deteriorating single-track corrugations.

The first town we reach is Quetta, a splendid melting pot of different cultures, a frontier town with vibrant markets and fantastic restaurants! A good place to re-charge as cold beer is again available.

We continue east and cross the mighty Indus River before reaching the bustling metropolis of Lahore which offers us a peek into Pakistani big city life and gives you have a chance to explore the museums, mosques, restaurants and nightclubs before departing for India.

Please note: over the last few years the political situation in Pakistan has been unstable and although we have not encountered any trouble we would like you to be aware of the fragile state of affairs. We do not take any risks so it is very likely that we will cross Pakistan in police convoy. If you do not feel comfortable crossing Pakistan in the truck you have the option to fly over at your own expense and meet the truck once it arrives in India.

Every day at the close of the India Pakistan border the guards from both sides put on an amazing show as they parade up and down kicking their legs unbelievably high into the air and face off against each other in a mark of independence and honour. This will be our first taste of India!

Close by we visit Amritsar, home of the Sikh religion with their spectacular Golden Temple as the centre-piece.

A day’s drive away we reach Dharamsala, exile home of the Dalai Lama. Amongst the cobbled streets filled with the chants of Buddhist monks are wonderful art galleries and a sobering museum dedicated to the plight of the Tibetans.

Delhi is a city that you have to see for yourself in order to believe that such a place can exist. The streets are a slow moving mass of every conceivable mode of transport, with the sacred cows having right of way over everyone! Delhi is the ultimate in hustle and bustle and facing the unrelenting throng of people is an experience you won’t forget in a hurry. Braving this city does have its rewards with great textile markets, wonderful monuments, imposing forts and amazing temples.

Moving south we reach the ‘Pink City’, Jaipur. With the Amber Fortress as it’s focal point this beautiful town exudes an energy all its own. Camels and rickshaws weave their way through the narrow streets of the old city and an array of spicy smells attack your senses as you wander the back streets in search of that perfect curry.

Our next stop is a definite highlight, Agra and the Taj Mahal. This monument to love is spectacular and will keep your camera clicking all day.

Heading east we reach Varanasi on the banks of the Ganges River where you have the option of an early morning boat trip that will definitely open your eyes. You will notice animal and human carcasses floating by as the multitudes flock down to this Holy river to wash away their sins each morning. On shore the funeral pyres known as ‘Ghats’ burn away all day and night as Holy men chant prayers. An unbelievable sight!

Nepal is a breath of fresh air with a lot less people and a lot more open spaces. At our first stop you have the option of exploring Royal Chitwan National Park on elephant back allowing you to get up close to the rhinos, sloth bears and tigers that inhabit the park.

Heading north we reach Pokhara at the foothills of the Himalayas. This mellow little town is situated around a beautiful sheltered lake and surrounded by snow capped mountains. A great place to relax and/or gear up for a trek into the stunning Annapurna range.

The tourist mecca of Kathmandu is our next stop. Travellers swap stories in the lively bars and the Everest Steak House serves up delicious fillets of beef which are a welcome change from the buffalo steaks we have endured throughout India. The old town is steeped in history and the smell of incense wafts through the air as you marvel at the Pagodas and Temples adorning the squares.

Our last stop in Nepal is at Borderlands where you will have a chance to brave a bungy-jump from a suspension bridge far above a raging river.

Our first stop in the fabulous land of Tibet is definitely our ‘biggest’ reason to stop, Mt Everest! A snaking rough track makes it possible for us to drive up to base camp and the Tibetan side offers us a stunning view of the north face. You can also send a letter from the world’s highest post box and visit the world’s highest Buddhist monastery, Rongphu.

Joining back up with the Friendship Highway we continue on to Shigatse where you have the chance to visit the marvellous Tashilhunpo Monastery.

From Shigatse we travel along one of the world’s most spectacular roads visiting the distinctly Tibetan town of Gyantse where the Pelkhor Chode monastery houses Tibet’s largest stupa, Kumbum Chorten, with 9 tiers, 108 chapels and excellent murals. The beautiful Yamdrok-Tso Lake is a fantastic sight en-route to Lhasa.

As we enter the spiritual home of Tibet, Lhasa, we are filled with a sense of awe as this Holy city rises out of a barren wilderness of stone and sand to be crowned by the Potala Palace, home of the Dalai Lamas. Tibet’s holiest shrine, the golden roofed Jokhang Temple, is also a spectacular sight in the town. Norbulingka, the former summer palace of the Dalai Lama and Drepung Monastery are also great places to visit.

We now head east winding our way through the Himalayas along one of the world’s most scenic roads. Along the way we get to visit some authentic Himalayan towns and experience the beauty of bush camping on the roof of the world!

As we descend out of the Himalayas the varied terrain of Tibetan peaks and tropical rainforests makes this area an alluring destination and it is here that you have the option to visit the beautiful Tiger Leaping Gorge, one of the world’s deepest gorges, where you can either hike through it over 1 or 2 days or just spend a leisurely day seeing the highlights from the comfort of a bus.

Close by the town of Lijiang lies nestled in a beautiful valley. Luring us in with its cobbled streets and Chinese lanterns we spend a day here relaxing and soaking up the atmosphere.

Next we visit the laid back town of Dali which is situated on the lovely Lake Erhai Hu with the beautiful 3 Pagodas nearby, one of Chinas finest ancient Buddhist architectural displays.

Vast tracts of jungle, tropical vegetation and thickly forested mountains – home to elephants, bears, snakes, rare birds and even tigers – now lead us south as we explore this last stretch of China’s Yunnan Province.

We now enter an enchanted land where you have the option of boarding a boat at Nong Khiaw which takes you through spectacular mountain scenery down to our first stop, Luang Prabang. This architectural wonder is a must see, full of temples and tradition as well as wonderful markets.

Vang Vieng is our next stop and is a vibey little town set amongst awesome natural beauty. Outdoor activities abound with caving, climbing, kayaking and tubing being popular outings.

The amazing Kong Lo caves are an interesting stop as we head south. Other-worldly stalactites, spooky limestone formations, and ceilings over 300 feet tall make this flooded cave a highlight in Laos and is best explored by boat.

Please Note: Vietnamese and Cambodian bureaucracy frequently make it impossible for foreign vehicles to enter so this section of the expedition (Vietnam and Cambodia) will be conducted on local transport while our vehicle transits to Bangkok where it will meet you.

Our first stop in Vietnam is the old capital, Hue, home to the splendid tombs of the Nguyen emporers as well as beautiful pagodas and the remains of the old citadel.

The picturesque river town of Hoi An is also worth exploring with it’s amazing architecture and nearby villages specialising in pottery and wood-carvings.

Further south we encounter the emerald waters and unspoiled beaches around Nha Trang and Mui Ne before delving into the chaos of Ho Chi Minh City.

Before leaving we have the chance to hop aboard a boat in the Mekong Delta and explore the floating markets and stilted villages that occupy the region.

Please note: Cambodian bureaucracy frequently makes it impossible for foreign vehicles to enter so this section of the expedition will be conducted on local transport while our vehicle transits to Bangkok where it will meet you.

Having only recently opened its borders to tourism, Cambodia is fresh and exciting. Our first stop is Phnom Penh, a compact little town spectacularly located on the confluence of three rivers. Riverside restaurants serve up steamy dishes and the Royal Palaces and silver pagoda are great day outings. The sobering ‘Killing Fields’ and Tuol Sleng Museum are a stark reminder of this country’s recent history under the brutal regime of Pol Pot.

Leaving the capital we travel through lush jungle vegetation to reach one of the most inspiring sites in the world – Angkor Wat. These temples are monumental constructions with Angkor Wat being the largest religious building in the world. The intricacy of the carvings is incredible and the site is well worth 2 days exploration. Truly amazing!

Our first stop here is Bangkok where we meet up with our truck again. This modern metropolis has a deservedly infamous reputation – noisy, polluted, hot and humid with a booming sex industry that puts Amsterdam to shame, this city is a must see!

At the next stop we visit the actual site of the ‘Bridge on the river Kwai’ and get a good insight into what really happened here during the war.

Heading south we hug the coast on the sliver of land called the Isthmus of Kra before catching a ferry across to the stunning island of Ko Samui. Here you can either put your feet up for a few days or you have the option of easily visiting the smaller islands of Ko Pha-Ngan and Ko Tao. The islands have some of the world’s finest beaches and the numerous great dive spots will take you into a vibrant underwater paradise filled with exotic fish and coral gardens.

Sticking to the western part of the Malaysian peninsula our first visit is to the futuristic city of Kuala Lumpur with the Islamic-style Petronas Towers dominating the city’s skyline. Chinatown market is a remnant of the past and contrasts the initial feel of the place. You will even find a British colonial atmosphere lingering amongst some of the architecture and some interesting museums hold the city’s history within their doors.

Further south we visit the port town of Melaka where we have the time to visit the maritime museums and discover what the place was like 400 years ago when it was an important stop on the spice route.

The distinctly clean and modern island of Singapore is our final destination on this Asian expedition. A Singapore Sling at Raffles is a fitting end to an unforgettable expedition – LONDON TO SINGAPORE OVERLAND!

If there are any political problems during our expedition that may hamper our progress they are most likely to occur in Iran and/or Pakistan. If problems do arise we may have to avoid certain countries and possibly take a more northerly route through Georgia, Azerbaijan, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan to reach China. This would mean we may have to bypass Iran, Pakistan, India and Nepal. From Lhasa in Tibet the expedition would then continue as normal.

We have never had to use an alternative route in the past so it is unlikely we will have to on your expedition, but please be aware that it is a possibility.

Sometimes our routes within certain countries have to be altered due to political unrest, natural disasters, road-works, etc. so please be aware that we may have to alter routes occasionally.

If problems arise in any other areas along the route we travel there are always alternatives and we always make it one way or another!

How to book

To make a booking please Book a Trip then fill in our online booking form and click ‘Submit Form’. Then pay a £300 deposit by Paypal, direct deposit or cheque and your booking is confirmed. Once we receive your online booking form and deposit we will create a personal account for you and email you the login details. You will then be able to access your account anytime using the Client Login area on our website allowing you to view all the information pertaining to your expedition, such as payments made, balance owing, what to bring, visas, vaccinations, travel insurance and other pre-departure information.

Expedition payment

The Expedition Payment £4195 is the main bulk payment for your expedition and is payable in the U.K. in GBP (£ Sterling). In order to reserve a place on this expedition you must pay £300 as a deposit. The balance of your expedition payment (£3895) must then be paid in full at least four months prior to the expedition start date. The expedition payment can be paid by Paypal, direct deposit or cheque.

Paypal: Account name - info@madventure.travel

NOTE: An additional 3.4% charge will be added to any payment made via Paypal and payments from outside of the UK may incur additional Paypal fees of up to 1.5%.

Direct deposits:

Local Payment

This is a cash payment of £1795 that must be paid to your expedition leader at the beginning of your trip.

The local payment is the cash fund that will be used while you are on the road, i.e. to pay for camping, hotels, food, ferry and train tickets, entrance fees to included National Parks etc.

Please bear in mind that this is not a kitty and is not refundable.

Although all local payment amounts are advertised in GBP Sterling, depending on which expedition you are joining, you may be asked to bring the equivalent GBP amount in either Euros or US Dollars.

Personal budget

We recommend a budget of £70 – £100 per person per week to live comfortably during this expedition. This budget should cover day to day things like lunches, snacks, soft drinks, meals when not camping, the odd few beers, etc.

Budget approximately £550 for your visas, security clearances and letters of invitation.

Souvenirs are something that can be very cheap or very expensive so if you are going to be buying things like Persian carpets you should budget for it.

Please also have a look at our Optional Excursions list as you may want to budget for a few of those activities too.

Travel money

We recommend you bring half of your money in cash and half of your money on your Visa or Mastercard credit/debit card.

With your cash we suggest you bring Euros or US Dollars. They generally accept all major currencies for exchange but to be safe you may want to bring along a bit of each.

When travelling on our vehicles there is a safe for you to lock away your cash, credit cards and passports but for times when you are away from our vehicle we recommend you bring along a money belt to carry these valuables items.

ATM’s are widely available for you to draw local currency using your Visa or Mastercard credit/debit card, except in Iran and Pakistan where you will have to exchange cash for local currency.

We realise that not everyone is going to visit every ruin, raft every river and hike every trail along the way so we have left most of these activities as optional and therefore kept the payment to a minimum.

Included

• Services of your expedition leader and driver
• Use of our own custom-built expedition vehicle and equipment
• Diesel, mechanics, shipping and any other costs relating to the vehicle
• Ferry tickets (when travelling as a group)
• An average of 2 meals a day while camping (usually breakfast and the evening meal)
• All accommodation costs (approx. 60% camping, 40% hostels/guest-houses)
• National Park entry fees when we enter as a group with our vehicle
• Local transportation costs in Vietnam and Cambodia

Not Included

• Personal travel insurance
• Personal spending money (£70 – £100 per week recommended)
• Visas (£550 approx.)
• Lunches
• Meals while staying in hotels/hostels/guest houses
• Accommodation upgrades
• Entrance fees to optional sites and parks
• Any optional activities
• Any unforseen contingency route expenses
• Any flights
• Tents

Below is a list of the most popular optional excursions along with the most recent prices. Prices can of course change and are not controlled in any way by Madventure so please use the list below as an approximate guide only.

All approximate costs are in GBP (£)

We will be travelling in a purpose-built Madventure overland vehicle for approximately 85% of the time on this expedition. A standard bus simply wouldn’t be able to tackle many of the roads we travel on. For the other 15% of the time, mainly in Vietnam and Cambodia, we will be travelling on local buses, boats, trains and ferries.

The overland vehicle you travel on will depend on the group size. Among the vehicles we currently use are Scania and Mercedes 4×4’s, 6×6’s, 6×4’s and 8×4’s. Our vehicles can accommodate between 24 to 40 passengers.

Comfort and safety is of course a big factor during expeditions of this length and nature so our all our vehicles have high-backed coach seats with safety belts. The seating is on the upper level of the vehicle giving you an almost 360° view of the surrounding scenery.

Our vehicles are designed to allow sufficient luggage storage and are also equipped with lockers to keep all your all your gear safe.

Our vehicles also have a hidden communal on-board safe for you to lock away your money and passports. Our 2 key system ensures no-one person ever has access to the safe thereby ensuring complete peace-of-mind for all travelers.

Our long range diesel and water tanks ensure our self sufficiency in remote areas and the equipment we take with us is also of vital importance. In case of a breakdown we are equipped with a good selection of spare parts as well as a comprehensive tool kit to undertake any necessary repairs on our own as and when we need to.

There may also be times when we get stuck in the sand or mud when travelling off road so all necessary recovery equipment such as sand mats, cables, ropes, shovels and pick axes are also on board.

As most of our cooking is done on wood fires where possible and gas when it isn’t, we take along good axes and saws and on some expeditions even a chainsaw, which comes in really handy should we ever need to cut down trees to clear a path or build a bridge.

We usually carry between 400 and 800 litres of treated drinking water and we are equipped with a good kitchen which includes all cutlery, plates, cups, pots and pans, utensils, gas cooker, BBQ grate, etc.

Comfortable fold up chairs are provided for outdoor seating and we also have a large tarpaulin for those rainy days.

Our vehicles have a 12V and a 240V power supply for charging any of your personal travel equipment such as cameras, laptops, batteries, etc.

We carry solar showers and a toilet tent with us for those times when we are bush camping without amenities.

We carry a comprehensive first aid kit for emergencies but we do recommend you bring your own for general use.

Eating well is a very important factor on our expeditions and good food is vital for everyone’s health and well-being so we always strive to prepare healthy, wholesome and plentiful meals.

We will be cooking a lot of meals from our own kitchen on the truck. When we are camping we usually eat breakfast and the evening meal from the truck. For lunch we usually stop at a cheap local restaurant giving you a chance to taste the local fare too. Lunches are at your own expense. When we are staying in hostels/hotels (usually in cities) it is often impractical to cook on the truck so we do not provide any meals at these times.

When it comes to shopping and cooking we will divide ourselves up into groups of 3 or 4 people (depending on group size) who will shop for and prepare the days meals and clean up at the end. This will work out that you roughly get to cook once a week (depending on numbers).

Fresh food is generally available daily so we try and eat meat and vegetables for every main evening meal. We do also cater for vegetarians but we cannot cater for fussiness. In these group situations everybody must appreciate we cannot cater for individual likes and dislikes.

Don’t worry if you are not a gourmet cook as the truck has a Madventure recipe book with a list of meals that are suitable for overland cooking, ie. the type of food that is available and affordable, cooking for groups, cooking on fires etc., and your crew are also always there to give advice.

Cleanliness plays an important role throughout this expedition and your crew will make sure an acceptable level of general hygiene is maintained throughout your journey to ensure the well-being of the group.

You will spend 60% of your time on this expedition in your tent camping and 40% of your time staying in local hostels, hotels and guest houses.

Quite often we will camp by ourselves out in the bush or in the desert and other times we will use designated camp sites with amenities. The majority of our bush camp locations are usually very scenic and we always strive to find the perfect spot on the banks of a river, overlooking a canyon, behind a dune in the desert, etc. but sometimes we just have to camp wherever we can find a spot.

From past experience on expeditions of this length and nature we have found that people prefer to supply their own tents as they are then not forced to share and they can pick a tent that suits their needs. As a general rule, try and choose a good quality lightweight and waterproof free-standing tent that is easy to erect, take down and carry.

When we are not camping (usually in cities) we always try to use decent, clean budget hostels, hotels and guest houses, however, taking into consideration the sometimes unpredictable nature of this expedition and the remoteness of some of the areas we visit, please be aware that in some circumstances we just have to take what we can get – good or bad. When staying in hostels/hotels/guest houses you can expect to share your room with other expedition members of both sexes.

Below is general information and recommendations regarding visas and passports. Visas are ultimately your own responsibility to obtain and visa requirements may vary according to your nationality and place of application, so use the information below as a guide only. Madventure Ltd. is in no way responsible for obtaining your visas or passports.

We recommend you obtain 3 visas before departure – Iran, Pakistan and India. All other visas can be obtained en-route. You can either obtain these visas yourself or use the services of a visa agency such as www.thevisamachine.com

Note: Those who are travelling on non-European passports may require additional visas to travel through Europe so please check your requirements with the relevant embassies.

Approximately 10 weeks prior to departure you will be sent the information required in order to complete your applications and apply for your visas (there are time restrictions on each visa so you can not apply earlier).

Note: it has recently become increasingly difficult for UK residents to obtain their Pakistan visas in the UK so we recommend you use the services of www.thevisamachine.com as UK residents also usually need to obtain a Sponsor Letter before they can apply for their visa and they can arrange this for you, for a fee, through their agent in Pakistan. This Sponsor Letter must usually accompany your Pakistan visa application.

If you do not wish to visit Pakistan, or can’t obtain a visa, you can fly from Iran to India and meet the truck when it arrives approximately 10 days later. Any time away from the truck will be at your own expense.

You will also need to get Iranian security clearance (often referred to as an ‘authority number’) before you can apply for your Iranian visa and www.thevisamachine.com can arrange this for you, for a fee, through their Iranian agent in Tehran. If you do not have an Iranian Consulate in your country please contact www.thevisamachine.com and they can arrange for your Iranian visa to be issued in another nearby country before departure (eg. Ireland) or in Istanbul while on the trip (a popular option for many travellers on this trip).

USA and Israeli passport holders, as well as anyone with an Israeli stamp in their passport, are not currently being issued Iranian visas (so if you have an Israeli stamp in your passport you would have to obtain a new one for the expedition). This is subject to change but if you are not permitted into Iran you will have to fly over Iran and meet the truck in Pakistan or India. Any time away from the truck will be at your own expense.

Budget approximately £800 for all your visas, sponsor letters and security clearances.

Please ensure you have 15 – 20 free pages in your passport in order to accommodate all the visas and ensure your passport is valid for at least 1 year after your departure date.

You will need approximately 16 passport photos for the duration of the expedition and females will need an additional two photos wearing a dark coloured headscarf with face only showing for the Iranian visa application.

Vaccination requirements are constantly changing so we recommend you seek the latest professional medical advice at least 8 weeks before departure to ensure you allow yourself enough time to obtain all necessary vaccinations. Nomad Travel’s website has up-to-date information on vaccinations, malaria and other general medical advice for all the countries we will be visiting and they also administer vaccinations at their Travel Clinics in various locations within UK.

www.nomadtravel.co.uk

Alternatively speak with your local Health Professionals for current accurate information. You will need to make an appointment with your GP or Travel Clinic and take a list of the countries you are visiting and the approximate dates when you will be there.

Medically fit and able

You need to be in good general health for this expedition and be reasonably fit and able. The main concern is that everyone is able to pitch in equally and do their fare share when it comes to group activities like the communal cooking and cleaning up, packing gear in and out of the truck, erecting your own tent, etc. You do not need to be super-fit by any means and all ages are welcome. We always attract a very broad age range on these expeditions, from people in their 20’s through to people in their 60’s.

Please inform us of any medical conditions that you have before departure so that your crew know how to deal with a medical situation if it should arise. All information will be kept confidential unless you request us to inform your fellow travelers. For example, it may be wise to inform fellow travelers if you are allergic to something like bee-stings so they know what to do if you get stung.

First aid kit

We carry a comprehensive first aid kit aboard the vehicle but it is recommended that you bring your own basic first aid kit for general use. Many of our clients get their first-aid kits from Nomad Travel www.nomadtravel.co.uk who have stores in various locations across UK.

It is compulsory that every person who travels with Madventure obtain travel insurance for the complete duration of the expedition. Proof of travel insurance must be shown before joining an expedition.

There are various travel insurance companies to choose from and a Google search will bring up a vast selection but for clients who are resident in UK we recommend a London based company named Campbell Irvine, www.campbellirvine.com, tel. 020 7938 1734. Speak with Anthony Kaye at Campbell Irvine as he is familiar with what we do, so mention our name and the expedition you are travelling on and he will provide excellent cover for you.

If you choose to obtain your travel insurance through another company please ensure you read the small-print and make sure you are covered for Medical Repatriation.

1. A deposit of £300 is payable at the time of booking. The deposit is non-refundable unless Madventure Ltd. is unable to offer the client a place or the client cancels within 14 days of the initial booking date after receiving the pre-departure information within the Madventure Client log in area.

2. A booking is made in the name of the client and is not transferable to another person. You are only permitted to transfer your deposit once to a future expedition, after that a further £300 non-refundable deposit will be required. Please note that you will be affected if you have transferred and there is a price increase as you will have to pay the ‘current expedition price’ at the time that the expedition balance payment is due.

3. The balance of the expedition payment is due no later than 12 weeks before the date of departure. If the full payment is not received 12 weeks prior to departure Madventure Ltd. may deem the booking cancelled and the deposit forfeited.

4. Cancellation of a booking must be notified in writing and when received by Madventure Ltd. the deposit is forfeited. The client acknowledges that payment for the trip is an intrinsic part of the trips income and contributes towards the overall costs of equipment, vehicle running costs, staff administration etc. and Madventure Ltd. will have incurred a large part of its costs before the actual departure date. You will not receive a refund of any amount after the balance of your expedition has been paid (which is due no later than 12 weeks prior to the expedition departing), nor are you able to transfer to another expedition therefore we recommend you take out your travel insurance from the date you make your expedition balance payment, 12 weeks prior to departure, so you are insured if you have to withdraw off the trip. If the reason for your cancellation is covered under the terms of your insurance policy you may be able to reclaim these charges but it is your sole responsibility to do so and we accept no liability for any acts or omissions of your insurance company.

5. It is unlikely that we will have to make any changes to your trip, but we do plan all trips many months in advance. Occasionally, we may have to make changes and we reserve the right to do so at any time. Most of these changes will be minor and we will advise you of them at the earliest possible date. We also reserve the right in any circumstances to cancel your trip. For example, if the minimum number of clients required for a particular trip is not reached, we may have to cancel it. We also reserve the right at any time prior to the departure date without prior consultation with you to notify you in writing that the trip will be merged with one or more other trips travelling at the same time.  This will not constitute a major change. However, we will not cancel your trip less than 60 days before your departure date, except for reasons of Force Majeureor failure by you to pay the final balance. If we are unable to provide the trip, you can either have a refund of all monies paid or accept an offer of an alternative trip of comparable standard from us, if available (we will refund any price difference if the alternative is of a lower value). It is understood that a minimum of 15 expedition members are required to run any Madventure Ltd. expedition and less than that may result in the cancellation of the expedition. In the event of this happening, all monies paid by the client towards the Expedition Cost only will be refunded. Madventure Ltd. is not responsible for reimbursing equipment, flights, cost of visas, vaccinations and medication etc. purchased by the client in the event of a cancellation.

6. Force Majeure – This means that we will not pay you compensation if we have to cancel or change your trip in any way because of unusual or unforeseeable circumstances beyond our control. These can include, for example, war, riot, industrial dispute, terrorist activity and its consequences, natural or nuclear disaster, fire, epidemics or health risks, closed or congested airports, ports or stations, poor local infrastructure, changes imposed by re-scheduling or cancellation of transport by the transport supplier such as flights by airlines or main charterer, the alteration of transport or transport types, adverse weather conditions (actual or threatened), avalanche and technical failure with transport, Foreign and Commonwealth Office advice changing and advising against travel to the trip destination.

7. The trip cost and local payment cover transport, some relating ferry and train tickets and accommodation, meals and national park entry fees as specified on the website as well as the repair and replacement of camping equipment including stools, cooking equipment & utensils.

8. The expedition leader has sole responsibility for the local payment. Madventure Ltd. guarantees not to increase the trip price once the deposit has been received. Any Local Payment monies or stock remaining at the trip end are non-refundable.

9. The client undertakes to comply with the laws and regulations, whether in respect of health, immigration, currency exchange control or any other matter of all the countries visited during the expedition.

10. The client undertakes to obtain a valid passport and have enough blank pages in the passport for the trip and your specific passport and visa requirements, and other immigration requirements are your responsibilityand you should confirm these with the relevant Embassies and/or Consulates. We do not accept any responsibility and shall not be liable if you/the participant cannot travel or cannot participate in any part of the trip because you/the participant have not complied with any passport, visa or immigration requirements. For full information on any passport or visa requirements, see the UK Passport Office website – www.passport.gov.uk  You are responsible for obtaining and having available the necessary documents (including but not limited to full, current passport with enough blank pages to complete the trip and valid for at least 9 months from the last day of the trip and visas for all periods, countries and territories within the trip) enabling you to participate in the trip and shall comply with all local legislation and regulations of the countries in which the trip takes place (including immigration requirements, customs regulations and currency exchange). You shall indemnify us against any loss or expense that we may incur or suffer as a result of breach of this condition by you.  We cannot guarantee visa prices and availability of visas. Ultimately visas are the clients own responsibility to obtain.

11. Madventure Ltd. reserves the right to deviate from the advertised expedition route if in their reasonable opinion such deviation is necessary for the safety or wellbeing of any or any one of the members of the expedition or for the satisfactory progress of the expedition. In the event of it becoming necessary to fly over a country or countries in order to satisfactorily and safely continue the expedition, all costs of client’s flights will be borne by the client.

12. Madventure Ltd. accepts no responsibility for matters arising out of political disputes, border closures, epidemics, natural disasters, climate, armed robbery, terrorism etc. Should it become necessary to abandon an expedition because of such an event Madventure Ltd. will be entitled to retain such monies received as is necessary to cover costs incurred. Any excess will be refunded.

13. The client accepts that owing to the nature of countries visited, all expeditions involve an element of personal risk and are of a potentially hazardous and unpredictable nature. In many countries visited the basic infrastructure, such as roads, is very poor and therefore less safe than that familiar to people from many western countries. In particular, lack of road markings or warning signs, unmarked speed bumps, seasonal flooding of roads and bridges, local vehicles which are poorly maintained and driven and which are hazardous to other road users etc. are factors beyond the control of Madventure Ltd. The client accepts that in some areas we drive ‘off road’ and that this involves personal risk when the expedition vehicle can be negotiating rough terrain. Madventure owns and operates its own expedition vehicles and employs its own crew. Where stated, locally arranged transport and crew, including trains, ferries, buses or coaches are used. Where Madventure’s own vehicles and/or crew are not used for the above services, the client agrees that the obligation of Madventure to the client is to select normally competent, independent sub-contractors to provide the necessary services related to the trip and to exercise reasonable care in selecting such suppliers to provide these.

14. The client accepts that local emergency facilities are usually of a very limited nature. Hospitals outside of large cities often have no accident and emergency facilities and emergency transport facilities can be non-existent.

15. If you have a problem during your trip please inform the Expedition Leader immediately who will endeavour to put things right. If your complaint is not resolved locally please follow this up by writing to our registered office giving all other relevant information and, where possible, evidence. We must receive any such complaint not later than 28 days from the date of completion of your trip. Please keep your letter concise and to the point. This will assist us to quickly identify your concerns and speed up our response to you.   We do not accept any liability or responsibility for any personal possessions (including but not limited to cameras, jewellery, valuables and money) which is carried on or in our vehicles, carried on public transport or transport supplied by independent subcontractors, left in accommodation provided by us or our suppliers during a trip or left in our care during a trip; such items are carried and/or left at your own risk.

16. Excursions or other tours that you may choose to book or pay for whilst you are on trip are not part of your trip arrangements provided by us. For any excursion or other tour that you book your contract will be with the operator of the excursion or tour and not with us. We are not responsible for the provision of the excursion or tour or for anything that happens during the course of its provision by the operator. Clients accept that the prices quoted for optional activities are approximate as local prices can and do change. Any of the optional activities listed are not necessarily endorsed or recommended by Madventure Ltd.  Clients also accept that they undertake any activity at their own risk & their participation is their own decision & does not form any part of their contract with Madventure Ltd.  Madventure Ltd. does not take responsibility for cancellations, unreliability of services or safety of operators, agents or contractors.

17. Whilst a trip is in progress you will (or where a parent or legal guardian has entered into this contract on behalf of a participant they will ensure that the participant will) act at all times in accordance with all reasonable instructions from us and/or the trip leader. We may exclude you/the participant from the trip or any part thereof at any time (including during the trip itself) if we are of the opinion that you (or the participant) are likely to prejudice the good order, discipline or safety of the trip, including as a result of you failing to comply with the trip leader’s instructions, breaking any law or regulation of any country where the trip takes place or you (or the participant) fail to adhere to the trip code of conduct, provided that we exercise our discretion reasonably in this regard. In such event you shall reimburse to us any reasonable costs, losses or expenses which we incur or suffer as a result of our decision to exclude you/the participant.

18. In the event of you/a participant being excluded from a trip under the provisions of this condition, no refunds will be given and we will not be responsible for and you agree to indemnify us against any costs arising including costs of repatriation e.g. flights and losses or expenses.

19. By completing the declaration on the booking form you confirm that you appreciate the risks involved in the trip and that you (or where you are the parent or legal guardian, the participant) do/does not suffer (or has ever suffered) from any pre – existing medical condition that may actively prevent you/them from actively participating in the trip other than those that have been declared to us.  It is your responsibility to ensure that you/the participant are medically fit enough to undertake the trip and to ensure that you have received the necessary inoculations and medications (and taken them as prescribed by your doctor) relevant to the destination country. Unless informed otherwise in writing we will assume that you are in good health and are not aware of any reason why you (or the participant) may be unsuited to taking part in the trip. We recommend that you/the participant consult your/their doctor before making a bookingto ensure that you/the participant are medically fit and are fully aware regarding the immunizations and medical issues related to your/the participant’s destination country. If you/the participant have any pre-existing medical condition, illness or disability, are undergoing medical treatment or, since entering into the contract, develop any medical condition, illness or disability or undergo any medical treatment; you will give us full particulars at the earliest opportunity and at the latest sixty (60) days before the departure date. If it is later discovered that a pre-existing condition was not declared within the specified time, and such condition would, if we had knowledge of it, have led to our refusal to accept or to cancel your booking, we reserve the right to withdraw you/the participant from the trip without any refund or recompense. In such event, you shall reimburse to us any reasonable costs, losses or expenses which we incur or suffer as a result. In the event of a participant being withdrawn from a trip, no refunds will be given and we will not be responsible for (and you agree to indemnify us against) any costs, claims, losses and expenses arising including costs of repatriation e.g. flights and legal expenses. By agreeing to these conditions, you provide your consent to us and our insurers obtaining your/the participant’s medical records should we consider it necessary. You will be responsible for any charges for the provision of the information. We reserve the right to inspect your/the participant’s vaccination book at any time and to withdraw you/the participant from the trip in the event that you/the participant have not received and/or taken all the requisite inoculations and/or medication. If the information provided by you is incorrect and we discover that the correct information affects your/the participant’s suitability to take part in the trip, we may terminate the contract and withdraw you/the participant from the trip without refund or recompense, including during the trip. In such event, you shall reimburse to us any reasonable costs, losses or expenses which we incur or suffer as a result. In the event of a participant being withdrawn from a trip, no refunds will be given and we will not be responsible for (and you agree to indemnify us against) any costs claims losses and expenses arising including costs of repatriation e.g. flights and legal expenses. You agree and acknowledge that certain activities undertaken whilst you are on the trip may be inherently hazardous and have risks associated with them. You agree to abide by all instructions given to you whilst you are on the trip and you acknowledge that we cannot be held responsible for any injuries that may arise as a result of you failing to comply with such instructions.

20. All participants must be covered by personal travel insurance. This must cover you fully against the cost of cancellation by you, medical care and repatriation should you become too ill to continue and must above all cover you against the cost of air evacuation should sickness or injury necessitate such a course of action. You should also note that passenger liability insurance covering vehicles, particularly in third world countries, may be inadequate; it is therefore important that your insurance cover makes sufficient provision for your dependants in the event of an accident. Please note however that we have no control over the availability or standard of medical and repatriation services and facilities in the areas we visit and these do not form any part of our contract with you. Please remember that many of the areas we visit are not as developed as the UK and the availability and standard of such services may well be lower. Please read your policy details carefully and take them with you when you travel. It is your responsibility to ensure that the insurance cover you purchase is suitable and adequate for your particular needs. We do not check individual insurance policies for suitability.

21. Data Protection – We shall ensure that appropriate security measures are in place to protect your/the participant’s personal data (as defined in the Data Protection Act 1998). When you make a booking, you consent to all the information you provide being passed on to our suppliers, agents, sub-contractors, employees or volunteers whether based inside or outside the European Economic Area for the purposes of our providing you with the trip.

22. Promotional Materials – By agreeing to these terms and conditions, you/the participant consent (unless otherwise stated on your application form) to our staff taking photographs and or video footage of you/the participant during the trip and that these images may be used by us for publicity and training purposes including, but not limited to, in brochures, websites, marketing material and in the media.

23. Discount – The 10% discount offer is only valid for bookings made after 01 August 2011 and is only valid for bookings made 6 months or more prior to the departure date and does not apply to any other special offer or discount offered.

24. Where relevant it is understood that on any Madventure expedition the section of the expedition that travels through EU countries, USA and/or Canada is provided to you free of charge. You will not have to pay any additional fee to travel through EU countries, USA and/or Canada with us but it is understood that we do not operate for hire and reward in these areas. We do this purely as a legality in order to operate our specialised overland vehicles in these areas legally.

25. General – We shall be entitled to novate or assign the contract or any part of it to any third party. You shall not be entitled to assign the contract or any part of it. This contract is made on the terms of these conditions, which are governed by English law, and subject to the provisions of condition you agree to the exclusive jurisdiction of the English courts. If any of these conditions is found by any court or other competent authority to be wholly or partly unfair or unenforceable the validity of the rest of the booking conditions and the rest of the condition in question shall not be affected and shall remain valid and enforceable to the extent permitted by law. A reference in these conditions to a statute, convention or regulation shall be as a reference to that statute convention or regulation as amended, re-enacted or extended at the relevant time. The headings in these conditions are for convenience only and shall not affect their interpretation. Where the context otherwise requires, words importing the singular meaning shall include the plural meaning and vice versa and words denoting the masculine gender shall include the feminine and neuter genders. Where the context so admits, words denoting persons shall include natural persons, companies, corporations, firms, partnerships, limited liability partnerships, joint trips, trusts, voluntary associations and other incorporated and/or unincorporated bodies or other entities (in each case, whether or not having separate legal personality) and all such words shall be construed interchangeably in that manner.

In many countries we visit, the local vehicle accident insurance includes either very limited passenger liability or none at all. Madventure Ltd. has passenger liability insurance for some countries through which we travel but the client acknowledges that in many countries the expedition vehicle does not have the benefit of passenger liability insurance. The client agrees to indemnify Madventure Ltd. against any claim or demand made in respect of any accident, personal injury or loss of life caused to, contracted or suffered by the client during the course of the expedition.

26. If the expedition leader considers the actions or conduct of any client is likely to prejudice the safety or wellbeing of all or any members of the trip or satisfactory progress of the trip then he/she shall be entitled to order the client to leave the trip immediately with no refund of the trip price or local payment and all liability and responsibility that Madventure Ltd. may bear to the client will immediately cease, including any provision for alternative transport. The decision of the expedition leader will be final on all matters relating to the satisfactory progress, organization and wellbeing of the expedition. Clients must comply with all reasonable requests of the tour leader. If, in the opinion of Madventure Ltd. expedition leaders or directors, the health or conduct of a client at any time before or after departure appears likely to endanger the safe, comfortable or happy progress of a trip, the client may be excluded from all or part of the trip without refund or recompense. In the case of ill-health Madventure Ltd. may make such arrangements as it sees fit and recover the costs thereof from the client. If a client commits an illegal act the client may be excluded from the trip and Madventure Ltd. shall cease to have responsibility to/for them. No refund will be given for any unused services.

27. The information given in the brochure and other literature supplied is given in good faith but no warranty is given that it is correct.

28. No servant, agent or authorized representative of Madventure Ltd. has authority to commit Madventure Ltd. to any liability whatsoever and Madventure Ltd. will not be bound by any statement or representation unless it is in writing and signed by one of the directors.

29. Your contract is with Madventure Limited, a company registered in England and Wales whose registered office is at 93 Lashford Lane, Dry Sandford, Abingdon, Oxfordshire, OX136EB (Company No’ 6809461 ).