Trip Notes. Alaskan Wildlife & Wilderness HIGHLIGHTS SUMMARY IS THIS TRIP FOR YOU?

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1 Trip Notes Trip Code: TAL Country: USA Amended: Oct 2013 Edition No: ARO Valid from: 01 Jan Dec 2014 Alaskan Wildlife & Wilderness HIGHLIGHTS Wildlife viewing and walking in one of the last great wilderness areas: the ultimate Alaskan adventure! Float plane trip deep into the wilderness to search for Black and Grizzly bears Cruise across the wonderful marine environment of Prince William Sound Walking around Mt McKinley and the glaciated ranges of Wrangall-St Elias N.P. Walking through diverse landscapes, from vast empty tundra plains to mountains, glaciers, rivers and forests SUMMARY Alaska is one of the great wilderness areas of the world, the last American frontier. For years it was the most neglected part of the Union, but now has a reputation firmly established for both oil and the tourism industry. The sheer size of Alaska is quite daunting, with well over 5,000 glaciers, including one the size of Switzerland, and vast areas of uninhabited wilderness. Its total area is over a million square kilometres, yet there are only about 600,000 permanent residents. It is by far the largest state of the USA, and encompasses vast empty tundra plains, mountains, glaciers, rivers and forests; all this combined with its fascinating history and legendary wildlife makes Alaska an ideal destination for the active traveller. This trip offers the chance to see the famous Mt McKinley, visit Denali National Park, go to the end-of-the-road (literally!) hamlet of McCarthy deep within Wrangell St. Elias National Park, observe the beautiful marine life around Prince William Sound and visit Kenai Fjords National Park. Perhaps the biggest highlight is likely to be a float plane trip deep into the wilderness to go bear viewing by boat on the legendary salmon runs. The first inhabitants of Alaska arrived from Asia during the last Ice Age and settled there over a long period; amongst these were the Aleuts and Eskimos. Europeans did not arrive in Alaska until 1728, after which the fur trade quickly became established, attracting the first adventurers. Although several European countries were interested in the fur trade, Russia gradually took control of most of the Alaskan coastline. When the fur trade went into decline at the end of the 19th century, the Russians sold Alaska for $7.2 million to the USA. Less than twenty years later gold was discovered, starting the second boom - the famous Klondike gold rush. This opened up parts of the interior for the first time, stretching all the way across the State to the Bering Sea and the settlement of Nome. The gold rush soon fizzled out and Alaska became an unimportant backwater until 1967, when oil was discovered in Prudhoe Bay. One hundred million acres of the state have now been designated as national parks and reserves, many of them outstandingly beautiful and with interesting wildlife such as caribou, moose, bears, wolves and various kinds of deer. It is in these parks and other areas with imposing scenery that we will do our walks, always on the lookout for wildlife. There are also great opportunities for bird watching both on land and at sea, and whales, Orcas and sea lions are often seen. IS THIS TRIP FOR YOU? Activity Level: 3 (Moderate). Please see the introductory pages of the trekking holidays brochure or our website for more important information on classification and grading. This trip includes 2 daywalks and up to 8 other shorter walks, all of which are optional. We always return to our base or vehicle to travel to our next destination, so you'll only need to carry the essentials (picnic lunch, jacket, camera, etc.) in a daybag. Walks vary in their Exodus Travels Grange Mills, Weir Road, London SW12 0NE Sales & Reservations: sales@exodus.co.uk

2 difficulty. In areas such as Denali National Park there are different options to choose from, so the group does not necessarily always walk together. Please note that due to federal laws in Denali, your tour leader can't walk with you. However, they will prepare you for all available walks. Because at times walkers have the flexibility to 'do their own thing' it is essential for participants to have a reasonable knowledge of the outdoors and to show a degree of common sense. Those not wishing to take part in all of the walks can take advantage of the many alternative optional outdoor activities available and the leader will also help advise with this. The trails vary a great deal; in some of the more developed parks some of the trails are well defined, whilst in most other areas there are no trails at all. Thus much of the walking will be of the cross-country variety with no set 'destination'. You will often need to cross small streams and walk on tundra so good boots are a must. All the walking is at moderate or low altitudes and therefore should not cause any altitude related problems. This varied trip takes in the best of Alaskan scenery: ice-clad mountains and snow peaks, lakes, spruce forests and vast glaciers. The opportunities for wildlife spotting and the spectacular coastal scenery during the boat trips and float plane flights complete the adventure. We can usually be flexible with each day's schedule as there are more than 20 hours of daylight in the summer! Road conditions are mostly very good and all road travel is by private minibus. The road into the Wrangell Mountains is a dirt road. bear near to the roadside and Dall's sheep on the mountain slopes. In the middle of the park is the snow-clad Mt. McKinley - on a clear day we are likely to have excellent views. Day 3 (Day 4 Ex London) Denali N.P. For our second day in the Denali area, there are various optional walks and activities. The leader will usually organise a morning walk from the Denali Visitors Centre that will follow the Mt Healy Overlook Trail, a 7.3km loop of approx. 3-4 hours duration with dramatic views. Please note the leader cannot walk with you due to park regulations. Day 4 (Day 5 Ex London) Alaskan Range We head into the heart of the Alaska mountain range where we then spend the night in rustic cabins. Here we experience the quiet lakes of the tundra and look out for grazing caribous. This is a birder's paradise with many species often sighted and there is a chance to experience excellent fishing for grayling. This range is actually the highest mountain range in North America and includes Mount McKinley - the highest peak in North America. Tonight's accommodation is in cabin lodges with multi-share rooms. (B,L) Day 5 (Day 6 Ex London) Wrangell-St Elias National Park We drive to McCarthy, a historic town at the centre of this mass of mountains, glaciers and wilderness. Our route passes through some amazing scenery, including the dramatic Copper River Valley, so there are plenty of opportunities for photo stops. We'll also stop en route for a short walk on the Liberty Falls Trail, just off the Edgerton Highway (moderate 4km round trip, approx hours duration). The last part of the journey is the 96km gravel road to the small town of McCarthy (population 40 in the summer, rest of the year 17!). This quaint town will be our base for the next two nights. The leader cannot walk with the group on the Liberty Falls Hike as is against park regulations. (L,D) Day 6 (Day 7 Ex London) Wrangall-St Elias National Park LAND ONLY ITINERARY The entries in bold at the end of each day indicate the meals included (B=Breakfast, L=Lunch, D=Dinner). Day 1 (Day 2 Ex London) To Denali N.P. via Talkeetna At 8am we'll meet in the hotel lobby for a briefing. Leaving Anchorage, we enjoy an incredible walk at the Flattop Mountain area where on a clear day, you can enjoy 360º views of the Alaska Range, Chugach Range, Cook Inlet and of course Anchorage. This explains why Flattop Mountain is one of the most accessible and popular peaks in Alaska. If you prefer to take it easier on day 1 you have the option of completing the first half of the walk only. The full trail is a 5km roundtrip, approx. 2 hours walking with a 380m elevation gain. En route to Denali we stop at Talkeetna for the opportunity to try a local snack, Reindeer Sausage. Denali National Park is home to the highest mountain in North America, the legendary Mt McKinley (6,194m). It covers 6 million acres and houses some of the most unspoilt wilderness and spectacular scenery in the whole of Alaska. Unlike most national parks, visitors are encouraged to get off the beaten track and leave the trails. Within the park there's a huge diversity of wildlife including birds, caribou, Dall's sheep, moose, Grizzly bears and wolves. (L,D) Day 2 (Day 3 Ex London) Denali N.P. We have two days scenic bus-pass to explore the park with drivers making regular stops to hit the trails and explore for wildlife. There will be plenty of opportunities to take short walks (of approx. 2-4 hours duration, 5-10km) for the best views - there are no marked walking trails once the bus gets further into the park, so the opportunity for shorter/longer walks is quite flexible. As the wildlife is fairly habituated to park buses, we should be able to see moose and The Wrangell-St Elias Park and Preserve contains nine of the sixteen highest peaks in the United States, including the second highest, Mt. St. Elias (5,488m) and is the most glaciated region in the North American continent. An imposing area of glaciers, mountains, forest and wilderness, with wonderful wildlife viewing opportunities - Dall's sheep, mountain goats, caribou, moose, Grizzly and Black bears are just some of the parks inhabitants. We spend the day walking in the mountains and valleys of this beautiful area on the Bonanza Mine Trail (approx. walk of 6-8 hours in duration, 6.6 miles- strenuous) Day 7 (Day 8 Ex London) To Valdez Our journey continues towards Valdez, passing through the Chugach Range of mountains. En route we'll stop at the famous Worthington Glacier, adjacent to the Thompson Pass, where we'll have a short walk (approx. 2 hours, 3.5km). This area holds all of Alaska's snowfall records! On the rivers, fish wheels have been built to catch salmon migrating up-stream to spawn. We plan to arrive in Valdez in the late afternoon. Day 8 (Day 9 Ex London) Valdez We have a full day to explore the seaside town of Valdez, a return to civilisation after the mountainous isolation of McCarthy. Valdez is a new town, a major earthquake having destroyed the old one in It is a busy port where the Trans Alaska Pipeline ends and oil is thereafter transported by ship. A large oil spill occurred in 1989, but fortunately virtually no signs of this disaster remain. There are various walking trails in and around Valdez for optional walks (the 6 hour/16km Mineral Creek Trail or the 2 hour/4km Keystone Canyon Pack Trail are both popular), or you can visit the historical museum and learn about the Native Culture, gold rush history and the pipeline. There is also an optional sea kayaking excursion available today or you can book a half or full day salmon or halibut fishing charter. Day 9 (Day 10 Ex London) Cross Prince William Sound; to Seward Today we board the Alaska State ferry, leaving Valdez behind and crossing Prince William Sound to reach Whittier. Prince William Sound is undoubtedly one of the highlights of any visit to Alaska; the views 2

3 of the mountains, bays, fjords, islands and glaciers as we travel across the Sound are unforgettable. The water is home to a unique array of marine life and harbour seals, sea otters and sea lions, as well as plenty of sea birds have been spotted on previous trips. From Whittier we drive to Seward, passing the Portage Glacier. There will be a chance to explore the small fishing town of Seward and its busy port before we head to our campsite. Day 10 (Day 11 Ex London) Wildlife Cruise At 10am we join a full day (8.5 hour) wildlife cruise around Resurrection Bay and the Alaska Maritime National Wildlife Refuge. With the help of an excellent onboard wildlife guide, it's possible that we'll see Stellar sea lions, otters, Dall's porpoise and an endless variety of seabirds including puffins and eagles in this area. Orcas are often spotted and if we are lucky, Humpback whales could even make an appearance! We'll stop at Fox Island for a National Park Ranger presentation and a salmon and prime rib dinner (included, vegetarian options available). Day 11 (Day 12 Ex London) Kenai Fjords National Park The staggeringly beautiful Kenai Fjords National Park offers wonderful wildlife and bird watching opportunities amidst dramatic fjords and glaciers. Within the park is the huge Harding Icefield, claiming 300 square miles in its entirety. Exit Glacier is one of the 30 frozen rivers flowing off the icefield. If weather conditions permit, we'll do a spectacular walk from Exit Glacier to the Harding Icefield. The full walk, known as the Harding Icefield Trail (total walking distance approx. 6-8 hours round trip, 12km) gives views of deep crevasses and huge seracs on the glacier, and takes us 900m up to a lookout point over the icefield. This walk is strenuous and entirely dependent on weather conditions; if there is too much snow and ice on the trail, it may be impassable. If the weather conditions are not good or the group doesn't want to do the full hike, there's an easier option available today, using an accessible trail to reach a different viewpoint of the glacier (approx. 1.5 hour round trip). If the full hike isn't possible or the group splits in two, the leader will normally join the short walk and then return to Seward, returning later to collect those doing the full hike. For those with some free time in Seward it's possible to visit the impressive Sea Life Centre, which houses a remarkable public aquarium and ocean wildlife rescue centre. Day 12 (Day 13 Ex London) Float plane trip and bear observation This morning we drive to Soldotna, our launch site for the bear float plane activity. Float planes are a way of life for many of the more remote Alaskan communities, particularly those who still have no road access and too little wealth or space amongst the mountains to build runways. Float planes generally seat 10 max, we may need to split into two groups for the flight) and take to the air for a beautiful flight across the Cook Inlet. We will land in the Big River Lakes area and transfer to the waiting boats to explore the river and lake system keeping our eyes open for bears. The chance of sightings is excellent and we can usually see Brown (Grizzly) or Black bears. The lakes are just on the fringe of the Lake Clarke Park & Wilderness Reserve but a long way from any roads and civilisation. Perhaps this is the quintessential Alaska - almost completely untouched wilderness with ice-clad mountains and active volcanoes as the backdrop. We may see thousands of salmon pushing up stream to spawn and if lucky we'll see bears catching and feeding upon them. The guides who are local fisherman can give you an insight into the local area; feel free to ask them questions as they know the area. Please note, due to the nature of wildlife this excursion involves waiting for the bear and wildlife to turn up, and being a remote location toilet facilities are non-existent. The bearwatching excursion will take about 5 hours and we will return to the planes in the afternoon. see the beautiful Eskimo handicrafts being made. The National Parks Centre also has some excellent displays. The tour ends for Land Only bookings upon arrival in to Anchorage at approx. 17:00. Flight Inclusive bookings have an extra night in Achorage included (no guide). If you are booking Land Only and plan on flying out tonight, then please don't book a flight before 21:00 (B,L) For those on group flights, these depart in the morning and will arrive in the UK the following day. ACCOMMODATION AND FOOD The hotel in Anchorage is comfortable and in a central location, with rooms organised on a twin share basis with private facilities. When camping, two-person tents and all cooking equipment and eating utensils are provided. You will need to bring a sleeping bag but sleeping mats are provided. We will camp at organised sites with good facilities. Showers are available at all of the sites and some have laundry facilities, however, please note that campgrounds in Alaska tend to be much more rustic than those in the rest of the United States. Some campsites will charge $4-6 for a hot shower and although this is not too common, you should be aware in case this does occur. One night is spent at in lodge when at the Alaska Range, we usually stay in shared cabins that each sleep 4 people. Food in Alaska is of good quality, but because of the high standard of living and the cost of transporting food to far away places, it is more expensive than in Europe; this particularly applies to eating out in restaurants. There is no lack of fresh produce with the exception of a few places far inland. There is an abundance of excellent fresh fish so if you like seafood, you can eat your heart out! Camp meals are western style, plentiful and can be as varied as the group likes. The trip cost covers meals whilst camping, but you will need to allow about US$100 for meals in Anchorage and the same again for McCarthy. Please note when eating group meals a tip of approximately 20% is automatically added by American restaurants to all bills. Single Accommodation: Single accommodation is available in hotels in Anchorage only. Please enquire at the time of booking for up-to-date prices and availability. TRANSPORT We use a 15-seater van with a trailer or roof rack for all luggage, food and camping equipment. Vehicles have a high ground clearance allowing us to drive on graded dirt roads and access places that do not have paved roads. When it is a full group, space inside the vehicle can be a little tight, but these vans are the standard small group transportation in the USA. WEATHER AND SEASONALITY Day 13 (Day 14 Ex London) Alyeska to Anchorage After packing up camp and having breakfast, we drive for a couple of hours to Alyeska in the Chugach Mountain Range which is ideal for a final walk (approx. 3-4 hours, 4km). We will then continue to the state's capital, Anchorage. Containing around half the population of the state, Anchorage in some ways looks just like any other sprawling American town and after nearly two weeks in the small towns and villages it will likely feel busy and bustling. There are points of interest, including several art galleries and craft shops where you can Alaska has quite a pleasant climate in the summer, with generally sunny days and long, light evenings: in the far north the sun does not set at all in June! There are, however, great differences between the weather on the coast and in the interior. Average daytime 3

4 temperatures will be around 16ºC to 18ºC on the coast, a few degrees higher inland; however, temperatures in the high 20's are not unusual. Night time minimum temperatures are around 12ºC, but a little colder inland and during June (occasionally as low as OºC) and towards the end of August. June is typically drier than July and August, but on all departures you should be prepared for times of potentially heavy rain, particularly on the coast, where rainfall is higher than inland. RESPONSIBLE TOURISM Tourism can be a real help to local communities, providing income, positive cultural exchanges and a financial incentive to protect their natural environment. Ours is a 'total approach' to responsible tourism, covering everything from the way we plan and operate our trips to the practices of Exodus as a company. When hiking we stick to marked trails wherever possible to reduce our impact on the local environment, and we camp in the designated grounds. At campgrounds (and throughout the trip) we employ a 'leave no trace' policy in regard to litter - everything taken into the park is taken out to preserve the local environment. We recycle wherever possible on the trip and all leaders are trained in responsible tourism to enable them to follow best practice and enforce our 'leave no trace' policy. Local shuttle services are used for transportation within the parks. For full details of our Responsible Tourism Policy please visit: PRACTICAL INFORMATION JOINING THE TRIP IN THE UK 16 days, normally depart London Sat, return Sun Itinerary Start The group flight from London is an overnight flight departing the day before Day 1 of the itinerary. Flights from London We normally use the scheduled services of United Airlines or Icelandair (depending on availability). As flight timings and schedules change regularly we recommend you call one of our specialist sales staff or your agent to confirm up-to-date timings. Please note timings may change at a later date and cannot be confirmed until approximately two weeks before departure. UK Regional Flights The Flight Inclusive price is based on a London departure, but we are happy to tailor this to your local or regional airport. Please visit for a useful overview of the options available, and contact our sales team for expert advice. If booking regional flights other than with Exodus, you must allow a minimum connecting time (in addition to the international check in time) of 1 hour at Gatwick, and 1½ hours at Heathrow; this is longer than the official minimum, but baggage handling is known to be subject to delays. Airport Transfers Airport arrival and departure transfers are not organised by Exodus for this trip. The hotel offers a 24 HOUR FREE SHUTTLE. Contact the hotel upon arrival using the hotel phone in the baggage claim area, or call the hotel directly. This being the US, it is normal to tip the free shuttle driver $2 per person. JOINING THE TRIP IN ANCHORAGE 13 days, normally start Anchorage Sun, end Anchorage Fri For Land Only clients, the tour begins at 07:30hrs on the morning of day 1 of the itinerary and ends at approximately 17:00hrs on day 13 of the itinerary, as such we recommend that you book flights to arrive the day before the tour starts, and to depart the day after the itinerary ends. We may be able to book pre and post tour accommodation for you at our start/end hotel should you wish - for further details please contact our Sales team. If you are planning to fly on the last day of the itinerary (day 13) please do not book a flight that departs before 21:00hrs as we can not guarantee that you will make it in time to catch your flight. Passports and Visas All nationalities require a full passport that must be valid for 6 months beyond the intended length of stay. It is your responsibility to have the correct personal documents and to obtain your own visa, if one is necessary, in accordance with the regulations of the country you are to visit. The information below is primarily for UK passport holders, and other nationalities should check with their travel agent or the relevant embassies. We are not responsible for the actions of local immigration and customs officials, whether at points of entry or otherwise, and any subsequent effects. British, New Zealand, Swiss and most EU passport holders do not need a visa (and enter the country under the Visa Waiver Program), provided they are in possession of an onward air ticket when entering the USA. Visas for the USA are required by some nationalities, including South African, Greek and Portuguese passport holders. All passengers travelling to and from the U.S. under the Visa Waiver Program (VWP) are required to hold a machine-readable passport (MRP). A MRP has the holder's personal details, e.g. name, date of birth, nationality and their passport number contained in two lines of text at the base of the photo page. This text may be read by machine. The US now charges $14 for the visa waiver program and must be paid by credit card. The US authorities have introduced a mandatory requirement for all passengers travelling under the Visa Waiver Programme to register for an Electronic Travel Authority. For additional specifics about the VWP please consult the VWP information on the U.S. Embassy London website. More information and all necessary Internet links can be found at Visa regulations can change without notice: please check the current regulations in good time to obtain a visa if one is required. Vaccinations and Health Travel health can often be something people forget about before going away, but a little preparation and knowledge can go a long way to help you stay fit and healthy while abroad. Details of your start and end hotels will be confirmed within your final joining instructions which you will receive approximately 2 to 3 weeks prior to your departure date. 4

5 There are no specific health risks on this trip. The above information can change at short notice; as we are not qualified to answer all your questions about travel health we strongly recommend you contact your Medical Professional or a Travel Health Clinic at least 8 weeks prior to departure for up-to-date information. Insurance - are you adequately covered? You must have adequate travel insurance, and if you are joining a trip which goes to high altitude, you must check that you are covered up to the maximum altitude of the trip. If you are resident in the UK we strongly recommend Exodus travel insurance, which is specifically designed to cover all activities on your trip. If you are a UK citizen and travelling in Europe you should obtain the European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) from your Post Office. This gives free medical care in many European countries, but should not be considered a substitute for adequate insurance. Legal Note: all group members joining this tour will be asked to sign a liability waiver at the start of the holiday Customer s Acknowledgement of Risk. This document limits the liability of our main supplier and is standard practice in the United States and on all their tours. As a client of Exodus Travels Ltd, your rights under the Package Travel Regulations (1992) are unaffected, and Exodus remains liable for the actions of our sub-contractors. A copy of this document is available from Exodus if required. Local Time GMT/BST - 9 hours Group, Staff and Support The group will generally be between 5 and 13 people. There will be a local leader and drivers and local guides where needed. The minimum age of clients on this trip is 18 years. MONEY MATTERS Currency Information The national currency of USA is the US Dollar (USD), with an exchange rate of 1.6 to the UK. Exchange rates are correct at the time of publication. We advise bringing some US$ cash (US$200 each would be a good start) and also a credit/debit card which can be used in the USA. ATMs are only available in the larger population centres in Alaska. The leader will advise how much you will be likely to need for each stage of the trip. ATM availability/credit Card Acceptance/Travellers cheques ATMs are widely available in the USA, but less so in Alaska. Please advise your bank that you are traveling prior to departure to help reduce the chance of them blocking your card whilst abroad. Credit cards are widely accepted in shops and restaurants. Extra Expenses and Spending Money Most food is included in this itinerary, but for those meals that aren't, we suggest bringing about US$200 to cover them and more for drinks and any excursions you may want to join. Optional Excursions (approximate costs, depending on group sizes) There are many optional activities available during this tour! Denali: White water rafting on the Nenana River: US$80 approx. Mt Mckinley scenic flights: from US$190 - US$390. There are a few different flights options to choose from including a flight that lands on a glacier on Mt Mckinley. Mountain bike hire: $US25 - US$45 half day or full day hire. National Parks Bus service: US$ per person depending on destination visited in the park Visiting the Dog Sled Kennels: free! Wrangall-St Elias: Guided glacier hike (1/2 day): US$85 Guided ice climb (full day): US$125 There is also the opportunity to take a scenic flight over the mountains and glaciers of Wrangall-St Elias National Park. Prices range from US$150 - US$300. Valdez: Kayaking half/full day US$94/$220 Fishing half/full day US$175/$375 Tipping (leader and local staff) Tipping is a way of life in North America and, while obviously not compulsory, it is expected. We recommend a tip of approximately US$5-10 from each client per day for the tour leader(s). If any optional excursions are taken and you thought that the guides did a good job, a tip of 10% of the excursion cost is appropriate. WHAT TO TAKE Essential Equipment and Clothing Warm jacket; warm sweater; waterproof jacket and trousers; waterproof lightweight walking boots; gaiters; warm socks; 3 or 4- season sleeping for the June departure; 3-season sleeping bag for the July/August departures; water bottle (should hold at least 1 litre); sun protection. You will also need a good insect repellent. Cutters or Muskol are recommended and these are available in Alaska. It is worthwhile remembering that mosquitoes are attracted to dark colours, so it is best to take light coloured clothing. Long sleeves and light trekking style trousers are reccommended, and a mosquito net hat can come in useful in the evenings. 5 Baggage and Baggage Allowance At time of writing the standard weight limit for hold baggage on the recommended international carrier for this trip is 20kg. We recommend packing only one piece of checked baggage. Internal flights in the destination country are subject to a weight limit of 20kg. As advice about luggage allowances for both hand and hold luggage is subject to change, we suggest you check and/or the airline's website for the latest information prior to your departure. Reading List: Alaska, (Insight Guides), General guidebook with lots of good photographs.

6 Alaska and the Klondike, A. Heilprin (Pearson), An account of the exploration of Alaska and the Klondike Gold rush. Exodus Travel Essentials Store: If you are interested in any of these books then you can order them from our very own Exodus shop, 'Exodus Travel Essentials' in partnership with Amazon. If you are interested in any of these books then you can order them from our own Exodus shop, 'Exodus Travel Essentials', JOIN THE EXODUS ONLINE COMMUNITY Don't forget to visit the Community area on our website. You can view the range of Exodus videos and podcasts, read trip write-ups which have featured in the national media and take advantage of some special deals on travel gear and equipment. In the Compass Café forum you'll find the Departure Lounge where you can discuss your trip with fellow travellers before you depart. When you get back from your holiday remember to upload your images to the relevant trip page on our website. This helps other people see what our holidays are really like and you'll be entered automatically into our monthly photo competition. To make full use of the Compass Café you'll need to join My Exodus. It's free, registration is simple and easy, so what are you waiting for? Full joining instructions including local emergency numbers, and details of how to reach the start point, will be sent to you approximately 2 to 3 weeks prior to departure. If you do not receive these at least a week before departure, or require them earlier please contact our office or your travel agent. The information in these Trip Notes is given in good faith. Where differences exist between the Trip Notes and our current brochure, the Trip Notes supersede the brochure. All holidays can be subject to unexpected changes; in order to enjoy them you should be prepared to be flexible where necessary. Occasionally, as stated in our brochure, it may not be possible to follow the itinerary as planned. This may be for a variety of reasons - climatic, political, physical or other. In these circumstances we will make the best possible alternative arrangements that maintain the integrity of the original itinerary. As fuel prices, airport taxes and exchange rates fluctuate, and airlines manage their rates to match demand, it is proving harder than ever to guarantee our Flight Inclusive prices. Although we endeavour to keep our website as accurate as possible, daily fluctuations mean that our Flight Inclusive price may be out of date. For accurate prices we recommend that you contact one of our Travel Experts, or your Travel Agent. Prices and exchange rates were correct at the time of publication. The most up-to-date prices can be found on the Exodus website. Exodus Travels Ltd. ATOL 2582/FTO IMPORTANT INFORMATION FOR ALL CLIENTS Exodus operates a 24 hour duty office for emergencies, which can be contacted on 0044 (0) Every time that you travel abroad you should take the time to read the warnings in the essential information in the brochure or at www. exodus.co.uk/about-exodus/essential-information? HOW TO BOOK YOUR TRIP 1. Check availability Go online to check availability, or contact us by phone or Secure your place You can provisionally hold a place on this trip, usually for between three and seven days. 3. Complete your booking and payment When you re ready to book, go to for online booking, book over the phone or you can complete a booking form (available online or on request by calling us). We accept all major credit and debit cards, or you can pay be cheque. Book with confidence: Exodus is fully licensed and bonded as a tour operator. We hold Air Traffic Organisers Licence (ATOL) number 2582 issued and bonded with the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA). We are also bonded to the International Air Transport Association (IATA) and we are members of the Federation of Tour Operators (FTO) and ABTA - The Travel Association. This means you can book your Exodus holiday with confidence, as all monies paid to us for your trip are fully protected. 6