What people have asked in the past.
 Will I feel awkward travelling on my own?
Definitely not! Although some clients come with friends or partners, a lot of people come alone; perhaps because their friends have different interests, travel styles, or don't have the same amount of time off, etc. You may come alone but when you leave you'll have several new friends for life.
What time should I arrive on Day 1?
We highly recommend that clients be at the joining point the night before the tour begins to collect the latest info from your tour crew. As most tours depart on Day 1, we recommend you allow some time in the departure city to take advantage of the sights and excursions available.
Will my Tour Leader be waiting for me at my joining hotel?
Due to people entering at all hours to the Bukima joining point you will find a welcome sheet from your Tour Leader outlining the information you will need.
Will altitude affect me?
Everyone who travels in the Andean areas of South America will be affected to some degree by altitude sickness, and each person is affected differently. The more you smoke or drink (alcohol) at altitude will affect the degree as well. Remember to drink plenty of bottled water and if you are starting your tour in La Paz (the highest capital city in the world, at 3636m) you should arrive a couple of days early to acclimatise. The local coca tea is also very helpful.
Is crime as bad as I'm led to believe?
Definitely NOT! We tend to hear the very worst news and nothing about the very friendly, helpful people and extraordinary cultures of the places we travel. Most crime is opportunistic rather than violent. Of course, it is possible to be in the wrong place at the wrong time, but on the whole, if you are sensible you will be less likely to be a victim of crime than in places like the US and Europe. Common sense will always prevail.
If I'm very independent, will I feel out of place on a group tour?
We encourage all our clients to be as independent as possible. After arriving in a new town you will have free time to go off on your own or with a few new friends and do your own thing. However, please remember that it is up to you to decide how much time you wish to spend with other group members. Even the most independent travellers don't like sitting alone; the joy of group travel is that there is always someone around to link up with when you want.
Couldn't I do this trip much cheaper on my own?
Many people think that they can backpack around with ease because they have managed to eslewhere. However, there are several factors we would like to point out about this: first of all, very few people speak English in certain parts of South America, and they will not understand you no matter how loud you speak! If you have a limited amount of time, you will not be able to do as much on your own due to mistakes with bus schedules, communication problems, arriving for an event on the wrong day, fully booked Hotels/Hostels in popular places, etc and all this means extra stress, extra time wasted and extra money spent. Africa and the Middle East can be difficult places to travel independantly as the public transport infrastructures are not as advanced as other continents.
What's the best way to carry my money?
Travellers’ cheque's are a safe way to carry your funds. Should you loose your travellers’ cheque's you can get them replaced as long as you have recorded the serial numbers. They are more difficult to change than cash so we recommend you bring as much US dollars in cash as you feel comfortable carrying. Bring US$ cash in small denomination bills that are in good condition as these will easier to change for local currency. Credit Cards and Debit Cards are a good backup plan but they can be unreliable and hard to use in some areas - but by all means bring along a card or two and use them when you can.
What type of transport is used?
We use many forms of transport on tours, but most used are specially designed overland tour vehicles. These tour vehicles carry all necessary equipment to let us get into those out of the way areas that make the countries we visit so spectacular. Each tour can involve different types of transport including but not limited to dugout canoes, trains, buses, boats and on foot. We select the form of transport to suit the tour and passenger expectations. You can read more about the trucks on our 'Bukima Style' page.
Do I need visas?
Visa requirements vary for different nationalities depending on the countries you will be visiting. Please take a look at the Visa and Climate section for an idea of the visas required for the tour you have selected. Please contact the countries’ Consulate or Embassy for the latest information. Obtaining the necessary visas is always your responsibility.
Do I need travel insurance?
Yes. You will need to provide your tour leader with details such as the Insurance Company, policy number and emergency contact number. It is also important to advise the insurance company of any pre-existing medical conditions.
Are meals included?
Most meals are provided while on tour; check out the specific tour you are interested in to see what meals are included and what meals are not. On the Overland Expeditions all meals are included when camping.
What is the Local Tour Payment (LTP)?
Most Overland tours have a Local Tour Payment, which is in addition to the actual Tour Cost. Through experience we have learnt that the vast majority of travellers prefer to pay a predetermined fixed cost to cover day to day group expenses - these costs are covered by the Local Tour Payment. The LTP (Local Tour Payment) ensures the Tour Leader has a ready supply of money in case access to banking facilities is limited or non existent. Paying this money locally also allows us to keep the cost of the tours competitive.. The Local Tour Payment is used to finance a portion of the local costs which an overland tour incurs. This includes things like meals, local guides, hotels/camping and some included excursions. This amount MUST be paid to your tour leader BEFORE departing the joining point.. Please remember the Local Tour Payment is a non-refundable amount and a component of the total tour cost. The currency of the LTP depends on the country travelled. Please take note when booking a Tour of the currency to take along for Local Tour Payment.
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