FAQs

You are required to obtain a Tourist Visa to enter Nepal. This can either be obtained in advance from the Embassy of Nepal, or on arrival at Kathmandu airport. To aid the process at the airport, you can apply online for a visa on arrival up to 15 days prior to arrival, here: Nepal Department of Immigration. Present the submission receipt at the airport, where you pay the visa fee in US dollars and have the visa endorsed in your passport. For our Journey Through the Himalayas and Wonders of India & Nepal tours you will require a 15-day Tourist Visa, currently costing USD $30.00. For our Treasures of Nepal & Bhutan – Exclusively Solos tour you will require a 30-day multiple entry Tourist Visa, currently costing USD $50.00.

Alternatively, if you would prefer to have the visa process managed by an expert visa company, we recommend The Travel Visa Company.

For more information on passport information and entry requirements please visit the Government Passport Office website UK Passport Office and the Foreign Office website: UK Foreign Travel Advice

Please note entry requirements may change and it is your responsibility to ensure you are in possession of all necessary travel, passport, visa and other entry requirements before departure. All costs incurred in obtaining such documentation must be paid by you. We regret we cannot accept any liability if you are refused entry onto any transport or into any country due to failure on your part to obtain and carry all required documentation.

The information provided is for British citizens only. Holders of a British Subject passport, non-British citizens and holders of a passport endorsed in any way should check immigration requirements with the relevant embassy or consulate of the country to be visited, as should clients with dual nationality or renounced citizenship.

Booking is easy. Call us on the freephone number at the top of this web page. We will take you through the booking process in about 10 – 20 minutes. It would be useful if you have your passport and insurance details handy at the time of booking. If you don’t have these, don’t worry, we can always take those details at a later date.

If you are travelling outside of 90 days, to confirm your booking and secure your place on your chosen tour we will need to take a deposit from you. Deposits are taken over the phone and can be paid by debit or credit card. There are no additional fees incurred for using a credit card. We cannot accept payments on American Express.

Deposit Amounts All tours* (except for all India & Sri Lanka tours)

£1,000 per person if traveling Economy Class

£1,950 per person if travelling Premium Economy

£3,750 per person if travelling Business Class

* except for the Mekong River Explorer tour and all African multi-day rail tours, which requires the following deposit amounts

Mekong River Explorer tour: Deposit Amounts

£2,295 per person if traveling Economy Class

£3,145 per person if travelling Premium Economy

£4,945 per person if travelling Business Class

African Rail Adventure, Namibian Rail Safari & South African Rail Discovery: Deposit Amounts

£1,750 per person, Pullman Suite; £2,250 per person, Deluxe Suite if traveling Economy Class

£2,700 per person, Pullman Suite; £3,200 per person, Deluxe Suite if travelling Premium Economy

£4,500 per person, Pullman Suite; £5,000 per person, Deluxe Suite if travelling Business Class

Grand African Rail Journey: Deposit Amounts

£2,250 per person, Pullman Suite; £2,750 per person, Deluxe Suite if traveling Economy Class

£3,200 per person, Pullman Suite; £3,700 per person, Deluxe Suite if travelling Premium Economy

£5,000 per person, Pullman Suite; £5,500 per person, Deluxe Suite if travelling Business Class

Deposit Amounts for India and Sri Lanka*

£500 per person if traveling Economy Class

£1,000 per person if travelling Premium Economy

£1,500 per person if travelling Business Class

* except for The Brahmaputra River & Darjeeling tour, which requires the following deposit amount

The Brahmaputra River & Darjeeling tour: Deposit Amounts

£1000 per person if traveling Economy Class

£1,500 per person if travelling Premium Economy

£2,000 per person if travelling Business Class

If your travel date from the UK is within 90 days, or 130 days if travelling on a African multi-day rail tours, then full payment will be required when you make your booking.

The balance of your holiday is due 90 days, or 130 days if travelling on a African multi-day rail tours before you depart from the UK. Don’t worry we’ll send you a reminder approximately 10 days before it’s due to be paid, along with the remaining amount due.

It is a condition of travel that you take out sufficient and appropriate travel insurance. We recommend you do this at the time of booking so that in the event of cancellation, providing covered by your policy, your deposit (less any applicable excess) is covered. Distant Journeys has partnered with Staysure, so for a quote on a holiday insurance policy just visit Staysure and enter the code DJ15 at the checkout for a 15% discount on your base premium.

Baggage allowance
You are entitled to carry one suitcase per person. Total dimensions for each piece must not exceed 158cm (62in) and weight must not exceed 20kg (44lbs). Dimensions for luggage are calculated by adding together the length, height and depth of the piece of baggage. In most instances this will be less than the airlines permitted allowance and is restricted to accommodate for coach and, or train capacity, domestic flights and where applicable local health and safety laws. We are unable to accommodate more than one suitcase per person, or any oversized pieces of luggage. Personal and valuable items such as cameras, medication, money / credit cards etc. should be carried in a travel bag or on your person.

Australia
If travelling on our Wonders of Australia or Very Best of Australia tours it is important to note that due to space restrictions on The Ghan passengers are required to carry an overnight bag for all your requirements whilst on board. The remainder of the luggage will be checked into a dedicated luggage compartment.

Canada
If travelling to Knight Inlet or Klahoose Wilderness Resort as access is by floatplane, you will be restricted to one piece of luggage weighing no more than 14kg. We suggest taking a small bag for this trip and arranging storage for your main luggage.

Kenya
When travelling on our Very Best of Kenya tour, luggage is restricted to one soft sided bag per person. Total dimensions must not exceed 136cm (53in). It must weigh less than 15kg (33lbs).

South America
When travelling on our Very Best of Peru, Very Best of South America, luggage is restricted to one carry-on bag not exceeding 8kg per person on our overnight stay in Aguas Calientes (Machu Picchu), or when travelling on one of our Amazon Holiday Extensions. Your main luggage will be stored.

Hotel porterage for one piece of luggage per person (weighing no more than 20kg) is included in the price of your holiday.

With many airlines you can pre-book your seats prior to check in to guarantee your seating and give you a wider choice of seat selection. Please note, many airlines now charge for this service.

We offer a fair system of seat rotation to allow all passengers to experience a variety of views. Exceptions cannot be made to this policy.

If you have any pre-existing medical conditions or walking difficulties, you should inform us at the time of booking.

It is your responsibility to ensure that any medication you are carrying is permitted to be taken into the countries you are visiting. We recommend you consult with your GP and relevant embassy before booking or travelling. Always carry medicines in their original, labelled packaging and in your hand-luggage along with a copy of your prescription. Whilst we recommend only carrying enough for the duration of your time away, a small spare supply can be useful. Check that the expiry dates of your medicines will be valid for the duration of your visit abroad.

If you wish to take your own mobility scooter or other mobility aid please be aware each airline has their own restrictions in regards to what they will carry. This can include, but is not limited to, battery wattage, size and weight. It is your responsibility to ensure you have checked that you meet the airlines requirements. We cannot accept any liability if you are refused boarding or unable to take intended equipment.

Australia Tours: If you are taking your own wheelchair when travelling on The Ghan you will be required to use one of the local supplier’s wheelchairs for the duration of the journey on the train.

Canada Tours: If you are taking your own wheelchair when travelling on the Rocky Mountaineer train it will need to fold down into pieces of 50lbs or less.

Alaska Cruise: If you are taking your own wheelchair when travelling on board the Holland America Cruise it needs to meet the following criteria Width: 23” Max unless collapsible to a width of 23. Weight: 100 lbs. max excluding battery. Batteries must be gel or dry cell or AGM (absorbed glass mat) only.

Smoking, including electronic cigarettes, is not allowed at any time onboard our coaches or any flight. Within hotels, smoking and the use of electronic cigarettes may be restricted to designated areas. We’ll endeavour to ensure there are frequent stops on any coach trip, however we can’t guarantee smoking facilities will always be available. It is also worth noting some countries are beginning to ban the use of electronic cigarettes. We recommend you check for up-to-date information before you travel.

During your tour, you can book onto a range of additional excursions. These tours are at an additional cost, subject to availability and seasonal operations, and may be subject to minimum / maximum numbers. Where possible we allow for these to be booked locally with your Tour Manager, however, in some instances pre-booking will be required. You will be advised in advance of your departure from the UK if any excursions require pre-booking. All Freedom Day experiences may be found on our website alongside the itineraries of each individual tour.

Travel documents, which include electronic air tickets and a final itinerary will be sent to you via the Distant Journeys app approximately 2-3 weeks prior to your departure. Luggage labels will be sent via post at the same time.

Please Note: If you are travelling on the Alaskan Inside Passage cruise with Holland America, you will need to check in on-line and print off your own luggage labels and boarding pass. We suggest you do this before departing from the UK. For more information about how to check-in for your cruise, please see our Alaska FAQ’s.

Yes, all the flight-inclusive holidays on our website are financially protected by the ATOL scheme. Our ATOL number is 10913. When you book, you will be supplied with an ATOL Certificate. For more information about financial protection and the ATOL Certificate go to www.atol.org.uk/ATOLCertificate

To help you put the finishing touches to your holiday, Holiday Extras can supply a range of UK airport hotels, UK airport lounges, UK airport parking and airport transfers.

For more information click here

Many of our itineraries include sightseeing tours which may involve walking for medium to long periods of time and over uneven surfaces. Steps may also feature, either as part of a tour or within your accommodation. Different modes of transport, such as safari vehicles, houseboats, sampans and rickshaws may also be used. This is not an exhaustive list and it is therefore a condition of booking that you are fit and able to take care of yourself for the duration of the tour.

You must have a level of fitness suitable for your chosen tour and must recognise that if you do have any disabilities or walking difficulties you may find access to certain attractions and/or parts of your tour restricted.

We regret that we cannot provide individual assistance to a customer for walking, dining, pushing their wheelchair, getting on and off motor coaches or other transportation vehicles or other personal needs. Therefore, customers who need such assistance, or customers with disabilities or special needs must be accompanied by a companion capable of providing all assistance required. For any further information, or to discuss a tour’s suitability in more detail, please contact our Reservations Team.

Although Hong Kong is part of the People’s Republic of China, it is considered a Special Administrative Region (SAR) with its own immigration rules. British Citizens can visit Hong Kong for up to 6 months without a visa.

Plastic Bags

It is illegal to bring any plastic item that can be considered single use into East African countries. This includes carrier bags, zip-lock bags, baggies, laundry bags (from a dry cleaner), plastic knives, forks, spoons and straws. Travellers importing these items could face fines. You should avoid packing these items and surrender any you might have on
arrival.

Disposable Plastic Water Bottles

Plastic water bottles are prohibited in most East African countries and travellers are encouraged to bring their own reusable water bottles which can be refilled in our safari vehicles or at the lodges and camps whilst on safari.