FAQs
Travel is one of those things that naturally gives rise to queries, concerns and doubts, so we’re here to put your mind at ease. Which trip is right for me? What do I do about visas? How does Arssah Travels manage COVID-19? How much do I tip? What should I have for lunch? For questions frequent and otherwise, this is the spot.
1. Trip styles
Are trips physically demanding?
Want to lie in a hammock and not move until cocktail hour? We’ve got a trip for that. Want to power up the side of a mountain at high altitude? We’ve also got a trip for that. To determine what type of trip suits you best, each of our trips comes with a Physical Rating to let you know how physically demanding it is… or isn’t.
2. Traveling with Children
Does Arssah Travels have family trips?
Arssah travels offers a wide range of Family Adventures around the globe. The minimum age (for Family trips) varies depending on the destination, and Arssah travels has set minimum ages to ensure that the included activities suit each age range. Additionally, you’ll notice that some of the more adventurous destinations have a higher minimum age. Please check out our Family Adventures for more information.
3. Traveling in a Group
Who are Arssah travellers?
Arssah travels adventures are for travellers with a yearning to get off the beaten track. Whether you’re travelling solo, with a group of friends, or are aged 18 or 70, there is an Arssah travels adventure to suit your interests and comfort level. Each Intrepid adventure has a physical and cultural grading to help you decide if the trip is right for you. No special skills are required for most adventures, just a sense of adventure and a curiosity about the world. Even on our camping adventures no previous experience is required; our tents are easy to set up, even for first-time campers.
How many people will be on my trip?
Good things come in small packages, which is why we keep our group sizes down. This means we’re small enough to remain flexible as we thread our way through communities without intimidating the locals. On most of our trips you’ll be part of an intimate group of 12-16 people, though our group sizes are on average 10 people. Our Overland trips are in purpose-built vehicles that can carry up to 24 travellers. Group sizes are displayed on each trip’s overview page on our website.
Are there age restrictions on your trips?
For the majority of our trips the minimum age is 15. An adult must accompany all children under the age of 18. Our Overland Adventures have a minimum age of 18. Younger children can join us on our Family trips and Short Break Adventures, but check each trip for its minimum age, which is located on the trip’s overview page on the website. Most of our trips don’t have a maximum age limit, but a Self-Assessment Form is required for all passengers 70 years and over.
Who will be my group leader?
While we can’t tell you who your leader is prior to departure, we can tell you they will be awesome. Our leaders are experts in their regions, some because they’ve been travelling there for years, others because they’re local to the region and can’t wait to show you around. On longer journeys, or ones that travel through more than one country, you may change leaders part way through – but this just means double the awesomeness.
Can I just do part of the trip?
Although you won’t be reimbursed for any portion of the trip unused, you can opt to sign off the trip if you need to leave a day or so earlier. If you let us know before travel that you’ll be arriving late or need to leave before the trip ends, we will notify our team on the ground to best accommodate your requirements.
Can I make any changes to the itinerary of my group trip, either before or during the trip?
Please make sure you are happy with your group trip itinerary before booking because we are unable to change them for individual travellers. However, if you and a group of friends, colleagues or even your school would like your own personally designed itinerary, get in contact with our very talented Tailor – Made Team; they can tailor an itinerary just for you.
Can I add an extra night at the beginning or end of my group trip?
You sure can. Just ask your adventure consultant at the time of booking.
4. Traveling Solo
I’m travelling alone – is that OK?
This is the beauty of the Arssah travels style of travel: many of our travellers join because they are travelling solo and want to meet and share experiences with like-minded people.
If I am travelling solo, will I be charged for having my own room?
On our trips rooming is organised on a twin-share basis. We pair up solo travellers with another traveller of the same gender as per the gender marker on each of their passports. If you’d like your own space, you also have the choice to pay for an individual room (available on the majority of our trips).
As a responsible tour operator, we strive to create a safe and inclusive environment for everyone. In the case that your gender identity differs from what is indicated on your passport, please contact us so that we can discuss rooming options with you.
On a small selection of itineraries some accommodations are booked on an open-gender, multi-share basis (for example on a felucca in Egypt or an overnight train in Vietnam). In those instances, it will clearly be stated in your Essential Trip Information prior to booking and travelling.
5. Rooming
How do you arrange room sharing on the trip and who will I have to share with?
On our trips rooms are assigned on a twin-share basis. We pair up solo travellers with another traveller of the same gender as per the gender marker on each of their passports. If you’d like your own space, you also have the choice to pay for an individual room (available on the majority of our trips).
As a responsible tour operator, we strive to create a safe and inclusive environment for everyone. In the case that your gender identity differs from what is indicated on your passport, please contact us so that we can discuss rooming options with you.
On a small selection of itineraries some accommodations are booked on an open-gender, multi-share basis (for example on a felucca in Egypt or an overnight train in Vietnam). In those instances, it will clearly be stated in your trip’s Essential Trip Information prior to booking and travelling.
Can I book a single room?
Most trips have an individual room available – check a trip’s overview page on our website to see whether an individual room is offered. If so, please request this at the time of booking.
Can we book a triple room?
You may be able to request a triple room depending on the trip style you choose. You can request a triple room at the time of booking, though as our bookings are made well in advance, room requests can’t be guaranteed.
Do I still have to pay for an individual room if I’m the only solo person of my gender?
If you happen to be the only solo person of your gender on the trip, you may be given your own room. We can’t guarantee this will be the case as we may have travellers book onto a trip last minute.
I’m travelling with a partner, can I make sure we have a double bed?
If you’re travelling with a partner, just let us know you want to share a room (and a bed) at the time of booking. We can’t guarantee a double bed, but we’ll do our best to accommodate you. In some destinations, the option may be two single beds pushed together to form a ‘double’.
I’m travelling with a friend and want to share a room with them but make sure we have separate beds. Can I do this?
As most of our trips are organised on a twin-share basis, if you’ve booked with a friend you’ll automatically be bunked into a room together – unless you pay for individual rooms. Most twin rooms are set up with two single beds, but please let us know you want separate beds at the time of booking so we can pass this information on to the accommodation provider.
6. Food, drinks and dietary requirements
I have special dietary requirements – will they be catered for?
We will try our very hardest to accommodate all dietary requirements but in some out-of-the-way places it can be very difficult to guarantee. We will let you know if there are places on your itinerary where this is the case. Please let us know at the time of booking of any food requirements or allergies and we’ll pass the information onto your leader. It is also a great idea to bring a card with your dietary requirements written in the local language for those times you are eating away from the group.
What will the food be like on my trip?
Food is one of the most exciting parts of travel. There may be some familiar fare but often you’ll be confronted with the new, interesting and downright weird of the culinary world but we like to think of it as an adventure for all the senses. In addition to this, our flexible itineraries often allow you to eat with the group or branch out on your own – this means you can eat to suit any budget or desire.
Can I drink the water in the countries I visit?
In some destinations it may not be wise to drink the local water.
7. Bookings
If you book a trip that is on request, it means we can’t confirm your booking immediately as we need to check if space is available with our local operators.
The reason we need full payment for on request trips is because our local operations team confirm various services such as on-tour transport and accommodation as they go. If space is available, you’ll be good to go. If not, we’ll provide you with a full refund.
If you have booked an on request trip, we’ll email you with an update in 2 to 4 business days. Please don’t book any non-refundable travel arrangements in the meantime.
Why has the Price or a Trip I wanted to book changed?
Oh no! Sorry to hear you missed out. Our promotions run for a limited time only, so you need to get in there quickly to snag a good deal. Make sure you’re signed up to our email list so that you’re in the know for future sales.
Booking an individual Room
How can I add a single room to my booking and make sure I’m not sharing with someone else?
Most of our trips have the option to pay a fee to ensure you have your own room. You can request an individual room when booking a trip via phone or live chat, or get in touch to update an existing booking.
What room type will I get when I pay for an individual room?
Individual rooms typically have a double or single bed, but the standard of accommodation will vary depending on the trip style you’ve chosen, i.e. whether it’s Basix, Original, Comfort or Premium.
I want to book flights, airport transfers, extra accommodation or insurance for my trip. How can I do this?
Our adventure consultants can help you book transfers and extra accommodation. They may also be able to assist with insurance and flights.* Get in touch via phone or whatsapp after you’ve booked your trip to request a quote. It’s better to get extras locked in as soon as possible to avoid missing out.
*These services are available in some regions.
I paid for a trip but haven’t received confirmation, is it going ahead?
We know you’re probably itching to see that confirmation email land in your inbox, but hold tight! It can take us a couple of days to process your booking. We’ll send you an update in 2 to 4 business days.
If you booked an on request trip and space is unavailable, we’ll let you know via email and provide you with a full refund.
I booked trip extras but haven’t received confirmation, how long should this take?
It can take a few days for our team to confirm airport transfers, pre/post-trip accommodation and other extras with our local suppliers on the ground. Please give us 2 to 4 business days to email you an update.
8 . TRIP CANCELLATIONS AND REFUNDS
I want to cancel my booking, how can I do this?
Please get in touch via live chat to cancel. We can only process cancellations when we have received written confirmation from you. You may also be charged a cancellation fee depending on the departure date – please see our Privacy Policy for more information. Or find out more information about cancellations, credits and refunds on our Privacy Policy page.
I requested trip extras but don’t need them anymore. What are my options?
Trip extras (e.g. airport transfers and extra accommodation) are non-refundable, but you can cancel up to 56 days before departure and save the amount as a credit for future travel with us. To cancel your extras please get in touch via phone or whats app.
I booked a trip last week and now it’s on sale, can I have the difference refunded?
Unfortunately, we can’t refund the difference of a trip that is now on sale. When you book a trip, you agree to our Booking Conditions, including the total price of the trip at the time of booking. To book the trip at the sale price, you would need to forfeit the non-refundable credit and re-pay your deposit to secure the discounted price, which may or may not work out in your favour.
I want to cancel my booking, can I get a full refund?
We don’t offer full refunds for cancellation by you. However, you can cancel your booking up to 56 days before departure and either transfer your deposit to another trip, or hold onto it as credit for future travel. For most of our trips, credits don’t have an expiry date. We can also provide you with a letter for a travel insurance claim if your policy covers trip cancellation.
If you want to make changes to your booking less than 56 days before departure you may incur a cancellation fee as per our Booking Conditions.* We strongly advise taking out cancellation insurance at the time of booking, which may cover cancellation fees.
*A number of trips including Polar, Adventure Cruises and select Tailor-Made itineraries have different conditions. Please see our Special Conditions or your Essential Trip Information for more information.
I can no longer go on my trip due to ill health, can I get a refund?
We’re sorry to hear that. Please get in touch with our friendly adventure consultants to review your circumstances and discuss your options.
If you contract COVID-19 before you leave, or if government-imposed travel restrictions related to COVID-19 mess up your plans, you can cancel your trip right up until departure day. Just let us know (with a medical certificate, if applicable) and we’ll give you a 100% credit of what you’ve already paid. This credit has no expiry unless you are travelling on an Antarctica voyage.
How long will it take for my refund to be credited to my credit card?
We try to process refunds as quickly as possible, but it may take 14 to 21 days depending on your bank and external systems that are out of our control. If the funds aren’t back in your account within 21 days, please contact your bank.
7. PAYMENTS
Is there a surcharge when paying by a Credit card?
No surcharges apply when paying for your trip with a credit card, but there may be restrictions on which card you can use depending on your location.
Why do you take full payments?
The reason we request full payment for some trips is because we need to confirm each part of your adventure with our local operators and suppliers as we go (e.g. on-tour transport, activities and accommodation). If your place on the trip is unavailable, we’ll provide you with a full refund.
Why is the deposit for my trip non-refundable?
The reason we need a deposit is because our operations team start booking your services with our local suppliers straight away. Many of these services (e.g. on-tour activities like hiking permits) are non-refundable and can’t be transferred or used by another traveller. Even if services can be cancelled, they might incur a cancellation or admin fee which is covered by your deposit.
I booked a trip with friends, can I pay my share of the deposit only?
If you’d like to keep your finances organised and pay your share of the deposit only, please contact our friendly adventure consultants via phone or live chat so they can send you a secure payment link for the deposit amount you wish to pay.
8. Before you depart
Do I need to buy travel insurance?
Travel insurance is compulsory on all our trips if you’re travelling internationally. Minimum coverage may differ from trip to trip, so make sure you check the Travel Insurance section in your Essential Trip Information. You will not be permitted to join the group until your leader has sighted your insurance policy number and the insurance company’s 24-hour emergency contact number – it’s really important there are no barriers to getting emergency assistance for you.
Do I need insurance for a domestic trip?
If you’re travelling within your home country or region, please confirm before departure that you are entitled to access the public medical system easily should an accident occur. Please get in touch via live chat or phone so we can update your file.
What kind of insurance do I need?
Minimum coverage may differ depending on the trip, so make sure you check the Travel Insurance section in your Essential Trip Information. At a minimum, your policy needs to cover medical expenses including emergency repatriation (excluding Polar*). We strongly recommend all travellers have a policy that also covers personal liability, cancellation, curtailment and loss of luggage or personal effects.
*Because our Polar voyages are quite remote, it’s essential that you have comprehensive personal travel insurance. We encourage you to take the highest level of coverage possible to cover all eventualities. Refer to your Essential Trip Information to find out the level of insurance required.
Do you only accept travel insurance provided by certain insurers?
We accept any travel insurance provider as long as we have a policy number, the company’s 24-hour emergency contact number and confirmation that you have the minimum coverage specified in your Essential Trip Information. If you’re booking your trip from the Asia-Pacific region*, our adventure consultants can help you find travel insurance – get in touch after you’ve booked to request a quote.
Is insurance provided via my credit card sufficient?
Yes, but if you go this route, you’ll need to provide the details of the participating insurer/underwriter, your coverage level, policy number and 24-hour emergency contact number to your group leader – this is not the same as your bank name and credit card details.
Entry and Health requirements?
Find out more about the latest information on travel documents and visa requirements, plus local government COVID-19 vaccination and quarantine policies here. Destination-specific general vaccination requirements can be found under the Medical and Health Information of each trip’s Essential Trip Information.
How do I find out about the visa requirements for the trip I am interested in?
We always recommend that passengers check with their local embassy as visa rules can change without warning. Embassy websites in your home country will always have information about requirements and visa costs and will provide the required forms. If you are uncomfortable with the visa process, you can request for a travel agent from us who can arrange these for you at a cost.
How do I organise my visa?
Please contact the relevant local embassy, or visit a travel agent, to organise your visa/s.
Do you help with visas?
Arssah Travels can assist with visa/s in some instances. Please contact us to find out more.
How safe are my belongings whilst on the trip?
While we take all the precautions we can to make sure your belongings are safe, we are travelling to some exciting destinations that are sometimes home to some pretty skilled thieves. Travel insurance is a must and a lockable bag or money belt will always help too.
What is the best way to carry money?
We recommend having access to money from a variety of sources – cash, cards and travel money cards are all commonly used.
Will refrigeration be available for medicines? eg. Insulin
Availability of refrigeration cannot be guaranteed. As a general rule, many of our city hotels provide access to small fridges; however, outside of this, especially when trekking or in homestay environments, you cannot rely on access to refrigeration.
What are the medical and vaccination requirements?
Medical and general vaccination requirements differ between nations, and as we are not medical practitioners, unfortunately we cannot advise on this issue. Please see your local GP or travel doctor for details and advice about current vaccination requirements. Information about COVID-19 vaccination requirements is available below.
What if I get ill or injured on the trip and am unable to continue?
Our leaders are trained to deal with these situations and we’ll endeavour to get you help as quickly as possible. If you must leave the trip early due to illness, our local offices will help you find appropriate medical care and ensure someone at home is aware of the situation. We will do whatever we can to get you home or on your onward journey. Your travel insurance, which is compulsory on all our trips, should cover any costs incurred if illness occurs.
9. On your trip
What time can I check in at my arrival hotel?
Check-in times can vary from hotel to hotel and region to region. Generally, they are between midday and 2pm. If you do arrive earlier, you’ll be able to store your luggage with the hotel and head out to explore for a couple of hours.
Can I request an early check-in?
We can’t confirm an early check-in, but our sales team can assist in booking you a night of pre-accommodation at the same hotel. If you don’t wish to pay for the extra night, you can try your luck locally (they may let you in early if the room is free) or you can store your luggage.
Can I opt out of certain activities if I want to?
Absolutely. If there are included or optional activities that you don’t wish to participate in, you can do your own thing instead. The exception to this is when we are trekking or travelling from one destination to the next. Please note that if you choose to opt out of an included activity, no reimbursement can be made.
Do I get any free time?
The beauty of travelling with Arssah travels is that we encourage travellers to explore at their own pace. When you get to a destination, your leader will offer options on what you can do. Some of the group will do one activity, others will opt for something completely different while others may just choose to lie in a hammock and read a book.
Is tipping commonplace in other parts of the world?
Yes, in most places tipping is expected. At your welcome meeting, ask your leader about the local custom and advice on how much is recommended at restaurants or with local guides.
At the end of your trip, if you’re happy with the service you received, providing a tip for the leader – though not compulsory – is appropriate. While it may not be customary to you, it’s of great significance to the people who will take care of you during your travels, inspires excellent service, and is an entrenched feature of the tourism industry across many destinations.
9. COVID 19
We recognise the immense privilege that it is to travel and will continue to act on our moral obligation and duty of care to the communities we visit.
We believe vaccinations play a key role in saving lives and helping to keep people safe. Around 70% of the world is vaccinated against COVID-19 but vaccination rates remain low in some of the destinations and communities we visit. We continue to support global vaccine equity and continue to strongly encourage all travellers and leaders to get fully vaccinated against COVID-19.
We also follow recommendations from the World Health Organization and the World Travel Tourism Council’s (WTTC) Safe Travel protocols.
All our itineraries undergo a comprehensive risk assessment and audit and our leaders and operators complete ongoing COVID-19 health and safety training and adhere to COVID-19 standards. In addition, the hotels, transport providers and other suppliers that we use must meet enhanced COVID-19 standards.
Trips from 1 January 2023 onwards
From 1 January 2023, Arssah Travels will no longer require travellers to provide proof of vaccination against COVID-19.
However, we continue to strongly recommend that all travellers and leaders get vaccinated to protect themselves and other
Specific proof of testing or vaccination may still be required by your destination or airline. Please ensure you check travel and entry requirements carefully.
This policy excludes all Polar trips and select adventure cruises, where testing and vaccination remains a requirement.
What type of COVID -19 tests do you accept?
We accept a number of different tests:
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Nucleic acid amplification tests (NAATs) such as the RT-PCR test. These are typically collected by nasopharyngeal swabs.
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Rapid antigen test. These can be either:
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Self-administered
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Administered by a medical professional
You must be able to produce a verifiable test result (paper or digital). This may be in the form of a test result, a medical certificate or a travel certificate/ “fit to fly” certificate.
What happens when someone on the trip shows COVID -19 symptoms?
If a customer feels unwell during their trip, they should access medical care. This may include facilitating COVID-19 testing if requested by the customer and we also encourage customers to bring their own RAT tests from home as a precaution.
Will my trip continue if someone on the trip tests positive for COVID -19 symptoms?
If a customer tests positive for COVID-19, they will be assisted to leave the trip and access medical care (if required).
Depending on the destination, they may be required to isolate for a period of time. Whether the rest of the group can continue on the trip will be managed on a case by case basis.
Our goal is to keep the trip going wherever possible unless we are required to end the trip in line with local regulations.
How do you decide which trips will operate?
To ensure a trip is safe for travellers and the local communities, we look at a number of factors including:
- Government safety and travel advice
- Real time reviews and updates of current regulations by our local offices globally
- COVID-safe requirements and protocols
- Entry and exit requirements for travellers, including testing and quarantine
- Current medical facility and healthcare availability within a destination
- Flight and airline accessibility in and out of a destination
- Ability for our travellers to get travel insurance protection for, and regularly scheduled, reasonably priced flights to, our destinations
- Accessibility to everyday services, such as restaurants, public transport, cultural sites, etc.
- Our ability to deliver the same or comparable service, while recognising that this is a dynamic operating environment and some adjustments might need to be made to itineraries.
Masks must be worn by all travellers throughout the trip whenever required by local health authorities.
We recommend that all travellers, leaders and crew wear masks:
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To help reduce the spread of COVID-19
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As a normal part of interacting with other people
Masks are mandatory for travellers, leaders, crew and suppliers in any situation or destination when it is required by local government advice. In many countries, this includes (but is not limited to):
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Public and private transport
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Crowds or places where physical distancing is difficult
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Indoors (particularly in places with poor ventilation)
Local laws and regulations regarding masks apply to all travellers, leaders crew and suppliers in the destination, regardless of their vaccination status. Vaccinated travellers are not exempt from wearing masks unless this is specified in local regulations.
We advise you to contact your airline as well as check the foreign travel advice for your destination before travelling regarding wearing masks. You will need to bring your own supply from home to cover the duration of your travels. While our leaders carry masks as part of their first aid kits, we are unable to provide masks for daily use for travellers.
Are there any additional measures on Marine trips ?
Due to the smaller spaces and types of activities, marine trips have some additional protocols, including:
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All boats and yachts will have enhanced sanitation protocols in place in line with local regulations.
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All travellers, leaders and crew must agree to any additional health screening measures on board (rapid antigen testing, temperature checking, etc.). These may vary on different boats in line with local regulations.
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Our sailing trips are on board a sailing yacht, so living spaces, bathrooms and cabins are shared with other travellers and sleeping quarters can be quite compact. This makes it difficult to maintain physical distancing.
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Single supplements are available for purchase on all trips if you prefer a cabin to yourself.
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Travellers are encouraged to bring their own snorkelling gear, if possible.
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All snorkelling gear available for traveller use/hire must be thoroughly cleaned and disinfected. Travellers will be given one set of snorkelling equipment for use for the entire trip.