Adventure Tours

Introduction and suitability

Adventure Tours are designed to suit travellers who love being able to travel on many different forms of transport with local people. There is a certain amount of involvement needed, which will mean carrying your own bags to the bus or train station or even helping the driver throw everyone’s packs onto the roof. If you enjoy meeting and interacting with local people and don’t mind roughing it occasionally, then these tours will be just right for you.

If you choose this style of travel it is important that you are open to travelling with a range of different age groups. You must also satisfy yourself that you are fit enough to complete the itinerary as there are no refunds if you choose to leave the tour. Based on the nature of this travel style, Adventure Tours are generally suitable for people aged between 18 and 60 years old. If you have any questions about this please contact us or speak to your travel consultant.

Degree of difficulty/ fitness

Adventure Tours suit people who are fit and active. Although no experience is required there are many walks between bus/train terminals and hotels and travellers must be able to carry their own luggage over various terrains as well as lift up luggage onto the tops of buses so do not pack more than you can comfortably carry.

Accommodation: Pleasant hotels

Our ‘Pleasant’ class accommodation is generally the equivalent in comfort and amenities of a 2 star hotel. We stay in small hotels, hostels and guest houses which are usually situated close to the main sights and town centres. They are chosen for their local ambience rather than star rating and we look for attributes like character, location, atmosphere, cleanliness and security. Although sometimes simple, you will find clean comfortable rooms with ensuite facilities (occasionally bathrooms may be shared but this is rare), friendly staff and often a bar and restaurant attached or nearby. Please be aware that accommodation in this range sometimes has erratic services like lack of hot water or no central heating, staff members don’t always speak English and sometimes our reservations are “lost”! In general, facilities are very good but please be prepared for the occasional mishap, which is all part of the travelling experience.

All accommodation is included from the arrival day until check out time on the final day of the tour. Travellers will share rooms with other group members of the same gender. Mostly this will be in twin rooms
although sometimes in triples depending on the group composition and hotel rooming structure. When staying in the Amazon jungle, on Amantaní Island, on the Annapurna Trek, on the hill tribe trek in Thailand, in the Mekong Delta and in the Mongolian gers, accommodation is rustic and on a shared basis. On the Yangtze River boat and Halong Bay junk, rooms are clean and simple. We sleep in tents (in some cases on a multi-share basis) on the Inca Trail trek, while on camel safaris in Jaisalmer and at the Bedouin camp.

Overnight transport

Overnight buses tend to offer reclining seats, regular toilet stops with snack stalls and air-conditioning or ventilation. Overnight trains generally feature reclining seats with air-conditioning or ventilation and Western or squat style toilets. Some trains offer flat-sleeper beds with sheets in multi-share cabins and onboard restaurants. Overnight ferries feature multi-share cabins with beds, toilets, onboard shop and ventilation. Please note facilities vary by destination and transport operator.

Single supplements

Travellers wishing to have their own room are able to pay a single supplement on most Adventure Tours. On certain occasions it may not be possible to have single occupancy, for example in the Amazon jungle in Peru, on the Inca Trail Trek, the Amantaní Island excursion and in the Iberá wetlands.For more details about whether a tour has single supplements, see the tour dossier of a particular tour.

Pre and post tour accommodation

Pre and post tour accommodation is available if you would like to spend more time exploring your joining and departure cities. You will find the details of Adventure Tours pre and post tour accommodation details under Prices on the appropriate tour page. It is best to book your pre and post tour accommodation at the same time you book your tour. Please contact us or speak to your travel consultant for more information.

Accommodation is included from 1pm on day 1 until checkout time on the morning the tour ends. If you wish to use the services of a room before or after checkout time, or you are arriving very early in the morning of day 1, you will need to book an extra night, which we can arrange for you. All rooms are on a bed only basis unless otherwise indicated. There is an extra charge if you change your hotel or transfer reservations once booked or if you add a hotel / transfer reservation to your booking within one month of the tour departure date. Please refer to the booking conditions for more information.

Meals

Meals are generally not included on Adventure Tours, so you can get out there and experience the best local cuisine on offer according to your own tastes and budget. Meals are sometimes included on overnight
excursions such as safaris, boat trips and trekking. Please see the country dossiers for more information about the local food you can experience on tour and see the tour dossier for information about the number of meals included on your itinerary.

Excursions

Adventure Tours offer a variety of included excursions, such as visits to national parks, local communities, ancient ruins, museums, and other natural and cultural highlights. The Inca Trail Trek, Lares Valley Trek and Amazon Jungle must be booked in advance of travel, but you can opt out in advance if you prefer to have some free time instead. Some excursions may operate as a pooled service or in very small groups. There is also a range of optional activities available during your tour which you can book locally with help from your tour leader, as listed in the optional excursions guides on our website. Please contact us or speak to your travel consultant for more information.

Transport

See the world in an authentic way and travel the way local people do. On Adventure Tours we use a variety of transport depending on the region in which we are travelling and the length of your tour. Vehicles can range from buses filled with local people and their many possessions to private minibuses and comfortable air-conditioned coaches, from a train ride through Siberia, to a motorised canoe journey in the Amazon jungle.

Sometimes you could be travelling on ferries, speedboats or motor launches and at other times take a short flight, a taxi or even walk.

Our aim is not simply to get you from A to B, but to help you to experience each destination as a genuine traveller, not as a first class tourist. A word of warning – buses in many countries are modern and very comfortable but please remember that travelling conditions can sometimes be cramped and seating is not always guaranteed, especially in Central America. This may mean having to stand for some time in cramped conditions or share a seat with 5 others! This adds to the experience and is all a part of travelling with the locals but if this is not quite you, then please consider travelling on one of our Discovery Tours or an Independent Travel package.

Travel times

Due to the vast distances covered by some Adventure Tours, please be prepared for occasional long travelling days. This time spent travelling is unavoidable but you will not be disappointed once you arrive! Please also note that there are many short travel days and many non travel days which leave you free to explore at your leisure.

Transfers

Airport transfers are not included in group tours but can be booked through Tucan Travel at an additional cost. If you would prefer to make your own way to and from your hotel, you can find details on public transport and taxis in the joining letter for your tour.

Group size

The average group size is 8 to 12 travellers with a maximum of 18, however on some included excursions the group may occasionally be larger.

Staff

Adventure Tours are accompanied by a Tucan Travel tour leader. You may be assisted at other times by Tucan Travel reps, local guides and local reps.

Tucan Travel tour leaders are genuine travel addicts and will share their passion for their destination with you. A tour leader will accompany you on your tour and will be responsible for the day-to-day running of the tour, so you are free to sit back, relax and enjoy the journey.

Tucan Travel drivers are an integral part of the group and are of varied nationalities. They are used to the varied road conditions of our destinations. Safe driving is their priority and they are experienced in vehicle maintenance.

Tucan Travel representatives will escort you at times when your tour leader may not be available.

Local representatives own and operate their own local businesses and on occasion they are responsible for transfers.

Local guides accompany many of our excursions, such as visits to archaeological sites and the Inca Trail Trek. Their knowledge of the local area and familiarity with its customs and history will enhance your experience and lift your journey out of the ordinary.