BEFORE YOU LEAVE

TRIP SELECTION

Our trips are not group trips, so the dates we list are not 'group departures' - just the dates when all the travel sectors fall into alignment for snag-free connections through remote areas.

DOING THE “RED” TAPE

We know the booking form is dull stuff, but in destinations where they love red tape, it's important that your travel documents match your personal details to the letter. Once you've sent this to us, we'll send you the Visa Application forms you'll need for your trip. Most visas can only be obtained in the ninety days prior to your arrival - we'll let you know when. Do not apply for visas until you have booked your trip with us - without the supporting documents we provide for you, your application will usually be rejected, resulting in wasted time and costs to you. We do all the visa-submission stuff - saving you the hassle of queuing for days at different Consulates.Because the Consulates only accept applications within the final 2-3 months, we'll be returning them to you 2- 3 weeks from this point. Along with your passport and visas, we'll be sending your travel documents too. Train tickets are only issued 'in-destination', so they'll be awaiting your arrival. We'll need to know the confirmed arrival details, flight number, train number and station, or bus details , no later than a week prior so we can meet you.

GETTING READY FOR THE BIG TRIP

We do all the visa-submission stuff – saving you days off work queuing outside a heap of different Consulates. Meantime you can put your feet up, and get stuck into your InfoPack – over 70 pages of background info about your destinations. There’s everything from “what to take” to cultural background stuff, so whilst none of it’s obligatory reading, you can leaf through to find what interests you. Meantime you can admire the lovely Invoice we’ll have sent you, confirming how much of your trip is already pre-paid, and how much is left to pay.

READY FOR LAUNCH

Because the Consulates only accept visa applications within the final 2-3 months, we’ll be returning them to you in the final 2-3 weeks once they’re done. Along with your passport and visas, we’ll be sending your travel documents too. Train tickets are only issued “in-destination”, so they’ll be awaiting your arrival. We’ll need to know the confirmed flight arrival details, no later than a week prior, so we can meet you off your flight.

Visa info for Russia: HANDY TO KNOW

(a) Russian visas are dated around the dates of your travel plans - the visa permits you to be in the country to complete your itinerary, but not for unscheduled extra activities. They give you a day's grace either side, but only for emergencies.

(b) Arriving /leaving by surface? Russia's so big its Western borders are more than a day's ride from the main cities... so we'll need to fix your entry-dates accordingly. Please let us know if this applies to you!

(c) When we submit your visa, we need to show what travel services have been booked – any dates you list that aren't evidenced with travel docs to match will be knocked back. It'll also delay your application whilst they do it.

(d) Your passport must be valid for travel (i.e. not expired, or within six months after the end of all services) If you have two passports please consider which one you will travel on when applying for your visas.

CHINESE & MONGOLIAN VISAS

Mongolian visas largely follow the same pattern as the Russian - we'll help you with the administration to ensure you get your visa in good time. Chinese visas are quite simple - but there are numerous old Travellers' Tales about them! They are good for 30 days travel in China. You have 90 days to enter China from the day of issue, when the clock starts ticking. You don't have to show any kind of proofs of accommodation or tour-packages to get the Chinese visa - even though the application would lead you to believe differently. Because the Chinese Visa is so much simpler than the other two, we leave this one to you - or if you want us to do it anyway, we'll charge you a Handling Fee of £30.00.

VISA FEES CHARGED BY OUR PRINCIPAL DESTINATION COUNTRIES

(subject to change by the issuing authorities without notice. Prices shown include courier delivery of your finished documents to your address)

*The Russian Consulate surcharges certain countries for visas – principally, countries which have raised their visa fees for Russians visiting in exchange. This list is constantly changing - please contact us for latest costs.