How fit will I need to be?
Explorers World expeditions are suitable for any averagely fit and able person. As an indication of the level of fitness required, you should feel capable of walking several miles across country.
If you have any doubts about your health or physical ability please do contact us to discuss the matter in confidence before deciding against travelling with us.
Do I need any special qualifications or experience?
Our aim is to make genuine exploration open to anyone who is reasonably fit and willing to ‘give-it-a-go’.
You will not therefore need any special qualifications or previous experience for the great majority of our expeditions. If any are needed, for example on some diving or mountaineering expeditions, details of what level of qualification/experience is required are given in the expedition’s information section.
How much risk and discomfort might be involved?
Expeditions by their very nature present a degree of risk. However, the actual risks are likely to be far less than you might anticipate - and the excitement and benefits of this kind of travel invariably outweigh any minor discomforts. Please read our thoughts on Risk and Reward.
We have had more than 25 years experience of running expeditions and have clocked up many thousand days of travel in remote and challenging parts of the World without major injury or incident. Great care is taken to minimise dangers by careful planning and preparation. Safety is a key consideration in anything we do.
Each expedition is accompanied by expert staff, experienced in working in the environment and first-aid trained. They will handle any emergency situations. Casualty evacuation procedures are in place should anyone require further medical assistance and your insurance covers the cost of hospital treatment and repatriation if appropriate.
As far as discomforts are concerned, frankly, we try hard to avoid these! Inevitably there are some discomforts in travelling in the remote places we go to, but they never spoil the experience. Each expedition’s itinerary will give you some idea of what to expect but, if you want to find out more about likely conditions, do ring us.
Will I require a visa?
It
is your responsibility to ensure your travel documentation is in order,
including meeting any requirement for visas. The requirements vary from
country to country and may also depend on your nationality. We can
offer some advice but you must make your own checks on up-to-date
requirements. In the United Kingdom many websites offer information on
visa requirements, including www.fco.gov.uk
Can I be contacted whilst on the Expedition?
Most people prefer not to be! Part of the enjoyment of remote travel is being out of reach of telephones, e mails and in-trays for a time. However for certain nights (see itinerary) we are in hotels and from these you will normally be able to access international telephone networks.
In the event of an emergency at home, you can be contacted through our office in the UK. We will do our best to ensure you receive any such message as soon as possible, although there can be a delay depending on time zone differences and where you are at the time etc. The last stage of the communication chain may be very infrequent or even, for periods of time, non-existent when the expedition is far off the beaten track.
Where we carry emergency communication equipment (for example, satellite phones) these are generally not available for non-emergency communication. It is best therefore to not expect or plan to be in contact with home at all until your return to ‘civilisation’.
What might I usefully do to prepare myself?
There is no specific preparation required. You may wish to raise your level of fitness - if you think this necessary - or read about the area you are travelling to. You might like to bring with you equipment such as cameras to record your experiences and it can help to practice using these before the event. There are few things worse than seeing that once-in-a-lifetime sunset or animal behaviour only to mess up the photo.
What personal clothing and equipment do I need to provide?
A full suggested kit list will be sent to you after you have booked. In general, reasonably robust and loose outdoor working clothes with good boots and a large rucksack are the key elements.
How much money will I need to bring?
What is included is detailed in the expedition itinerary. The only money you will need whilst on your expedition therefore is for your personal spending on items such as drinks, extras, telephone calls, gifts and gratuities. You will need to bring money and an international credit card for your travel before and after the expedition.
What inoculations and medication might I need?
You should check with your own Doctor before travelling which inoculations and medication you should have for the country in which you are travelling. You should explain that you will be travelling in the most remote areas, without immediate access to medical facilities. Any prescribed personal medication you use should be brought with you on your expedition.