ETHIOPIA - ADDIS TO AXUM

Experience the ancient kingdom of Abyssinia

See the `Smoking Water` of the Blue Nile Falls & Lake Tana
Enjoy the beauty of Simien Mountain views
Journey to Axum and explore the ancient heart of Ethiopia
Visit the monolithic rock-hewn churches of Lalibela
HOLIDAY CODE: ATA

Ethiopia, Discovery, 13 Days

12 nights hotels and lodges, 12 days touring and sightseeing,
Max altitude - 3250 metres, Join in Addis Ababa, MEAL PLAN: All
breakfasts, 11 lunches and 11 dinners included
Max group size: 15

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Introduction
North of the pleasant capital of Addis Ababa, Ethiopia can boast a wealth of historical and cultural treasures unlike anything else on Earth. Our 'Northern
Circuit' starts out with a short flight to Bahir Dar, where we visit the Blue Nile Falls and take a cruise on Lake Tana. Proceeding to Gondar, we have a
day there to explore the Royal Enclosure, with its ruined fairy-tale castles. Heading north-east, we spend time in the Simien Mountains, famous for
far-reaching views and for rare wildlife species. Our next port of call is Axum, home to giant engraved obelisks, the Queen of Sheba's palace and the
Saint Mary of Zion Church, the resting place of the Ark of the Covenant. We have time to check out more of Tigray's amazing rock churches before
heading south to Lalibela, a medieval city that ranks amongst the wonders of the world, thanks to its outrageous complex of 12th century rock hewn
churches. The landscapes, people and history of northern Ethiopia are a revelation!

Holiday Summary and Grading

A touring holiday exploring the highlights of Ethiopia. Overall this trip falls
within our EASY grade. However, there are several long drives and some
days where we may clock up considerable walking time as we tour the
historic sites. Road conditions can be variable, so you should be
prepared for adventurous journeys and occasional delays. In the Simien
Mountains we will hike for approximately 3 hours to various viewpoints.
You should ensure that you are fit enough for this trip.

Domestic Flight Update

Included in the land only package are 2 domestic Ethiopian Airlines
flights. These domestic flights are priced against the international carrier
of arrival into Addis Ababa. If you are not arriving into Addis Ababa with
Ethiopian Airlines, the domestic flights included in the land only itinerary
will be subject to a surcharge of approximately 150 imposed by
Ethiopian Airlines. To avoid this surcharge we strongly suggest that you
choose to fly with Ethiopian Airlines internationally. If you have any
further questions about international flights or prices, please do contact
the office info@keadventure.com

Land Only Itinerary

Day 1. Arrive Addis Ababa
Rendezvous at the group hotel in Addis Ababa. A single timed group
transfer is provided in the morning (See Joining arrangements and
transfers). KE Land Only package services begin with lunch and
afterwards we set off on a city tour which includes its museums, churches
and the 'mercato'. Addiss central produce market is the largest in East
Africa and has an array of fascinating goods and colourful people. It is a
perfect place for exploration and people watching. At an altitude of over
2200 metres, in the foothills of Mount Entoto, Addis Ababa is one of the
highest capital cities in the world. On account of the need to acclimatise,
we will take it easy on our first day in the country. Overnight at the group
hotel. Meals are not included on this day.

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Day 2. Fly to Bahir Dar

Return to the airport for the internal flight to Bahir Dar (1840m) on the
shores of Lake Tana, the source of the Blue Nile. We visit the Blue Nile
Falls at Tisisat, meaning "smoking water" in Amharic. The spectacular
falls are 100m wide and plunge 45m when in full spate ending spray high
in the air and forming multi-rainbows. We have a 1 hour round trip walk
and cross a 17th century bridge to get a close-up view of the falls. We
then return to Bahir Dar for some lunch before heading into the colourful
market. Later in the afternoon we drive up Bezawit Hill for impressive
views over the town, the Blue Nile, and of Lake Tana with its island
monasteries. We aim to get here shortly before sunset to enjoy the
magnificent natural light show. Afterwards we return to our hotel for
dinner. Included meals: Breakfast, lunch and dinner. (B,L,D)
Day 3. Full-day boat cruise on Lake Tana
Today we have a full day of boat cruise on Lake Tana. Along the way we
stop to explore some of the 30 islands populated with churches and
monasteries, some containing relics and frescos dating from the 16th
century. After a day of cruising, we land at Gorgora on the north shore
where we meet our vehicle and drive north (35 kilometers/20 miles) to
Gondar to check into our hotel. (B,L,D)
Day 4. Sightseeing in Gondar
Gondar, founded by Emperor Fasilidas around 1635, has become one of
Ethiopia's largest and most impressive cities, with its walled Royal
Enclosure which contains several well-preserved and very
medieval-looking castles, dating from as early as 1650. The castles are
unusual for the Horn Of Africa, deriving their architectural style from the
Moors and the Portuguese. Additionally, Gondar has dozens of
churches, the most important being Debre Berhan Selassie (Trinity
Church of the Mountain of Light), which has an impressive hilltop
location. The yellow-robed priest there will explain the story of the many
paintings and carvings inside the churchthe interior of the church was

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covered in paintings by a famous artist called Haile Meskel and the

famous ceiling is covered with the winged heads of 80 Ethiopian cherubs.
Gondar is well-placed, watered by mountain torrents and sitting at an
altitude of 2300 metres. There are views from the city which extend
across the surrounding farmland back to Lake Tana. This is an historic
settlement with an atmosphere of mystery. In the afternoon, we will make
a sightseeing tour of Gondar to include a visit to the Royal Enclosure. We
spend a second night at the group hotel in Gondar. (B,L,D)
Day 5. Drive to Debark
We now make the highly scenic 2 to 3-hour drive from Gondar to Debark,
a small market town at an altitude of 2700 metres with a colourful and
busy market. Debark is close to the boundary of the Simien Mountains
National Park, which boasts one of the most spectacular landscapes in
the world and is listed by the UNESCO as a world heritage Site. Arriving
in Debark we check into a basic hotel. (B,L,D)
Day 6. Drive to Sankaber in the National Park
We start the day with a drive to the town of Sankaber inside the national
Park. En route, we pass through the foothills of the Simien Mountains,
with carefully tended fields and open pasture with grazing horses, stands
of trees and distant rocky peaks. At the high-point of the road, there are
superb views across the weirdly eroded foothills of the range. The Simien
chain of mountains is the steepest and most precipitous on the continent
and is often compared to the Grand Canyon. Its highest peak, Ras
Deshen, is 4543m above sea level which makes it the fourth highest
mountain in Africa. The area is also famous for being the habitat of three
large endemic mammals: Geladas, Ethiopian Wolf and Walia Ibex. From
Sankaber we will make a small trek in the company of a park guide who
will take us to local viewpoints, and we may also be lucky enough to spot
lammergeiers and Gelada Monkeys. Afterwards we return to our basic
hotel in Debark. (B,L,D)
Day 7. Drive across Tigray to Axum
Today we leave the Simiens and drive to Axum. The road snakes down
through the Simien foothills on one of the most dramatic roads in Ethiopia
losing close to 2000 metres elevation within just a couple of hours. We
descend to the Tigray region, the most northerly of the nine ethnic
regions of Ethiopia, famous for its rock-hewn churches and continue to
the town of Axum, once the capital of a mighty empire that ruled the
region from 400 BC to the 10th century. Arriving in Axum after a full day
of driving and sightseeing we check into our hotel. (B,L,D)
Day 8. Exploration around Axum
Listed as a UNESCO World Heritage, Axum is believed to date back over
2000 years and tradition has it that it was the Queen of Shebas own city.
We visit the Stelae Park, a collection of giant columns (stelae) each
carved from a single piece of granite. The stelae resemble tall, slender,
multi storey houses and are totally unique architecture. We will also visit

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the 17th century church of saint Mary of Zion where the original ark of
covenant is said to reside. The archaeological Museum which houses
several stones bearing Sabean and Geez inscriptions, as well as many
other artefacts is next on the list, and in the afternoon we visit the hill
tombs of Kaleb and his son Gebre Meskal, and also Queen of Sheba's
palace. After a full day of sightseeing we return to our hotel in Axum.
(B,L,D)
Day 9. Drive via Yeha Temple to Hawzeen
After breakfast we drive across an arid landscape to visit the Yeha
Temple. The town of Yeha is one of the oldest sites in Northern Ethiopia,
probably predating Axum by a thousand years. The temple itself now a
ruin is certainly the oldest building in Ethiopia. We continue our drive via
visits to Adigrat and the rock-hewn Tigray church of Wukro before arriving
in the late afternoon at Hawzeen where we check into Gerhalta Lodge.
From the lodge we have panoramic views of the stunning rock formation
after which it is named. Please note: it is not always possible to confirm
rooms at Gerhalta Lodge due to the limited supply. Where we cannot
accommodate our groups at Gerhalta Lodge, the closest acceptable
accommodation is in the town of Mekele where we will use a hotel.
(B,L,D)
Day 10. Exploration around Hawzeen
We have allowed a full day to explore the fascinating rock-hewn temples
and famous Tigray churches of the area. The only way to see these
impressive structures or sculptures (depending on your point of view) is
on foot and so we have quite a bit of trekking to do today and it can be
hot work. At the end of the day we return to Gherhalta Lodge or our
Mekele Hotel.. (B,L,D)
Day 11. Drive to Lalibela
We have a long drive toady from Hawzeen to the city of Lalibela with the
spectacular Ambalage mountains as a backdrop. Lalibela is one of
Ethiopia's holiest cities and a centre of pilgrimage for much of the
country. It was built in the 12th century to be the New Jerusalem
following the capture of Jerusalem by Saladin, and was laid out to
resemble that city. Lalibela is most famous for its rock-hewn churches
which like those of Tigray, are literally carved out of the surrounding rock,
and which date back to the 12th century. In all there are 11 rock
churches, assembled in four groups. Bete Giyorgis (the Church of Saint
George) in the Western group is the best known and most impressive.
Described as the eighth wonder of the world the church is carved in the
shape of the cross and stands 12m high in a square cut hole in the rock
outcrop from which it is carved. Overnight in hotel. (B,L,D)

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Day 12. Sightseeing in Lalibela

It is impossible to see all that Lalibela has to offer in a single day and we
have scheduled a second day for sightseeing in and around this
fascinating town. (B,L,D)
Day 13. Fly to Addis Ababa
After breakfast, we transfer to the airport and take the short flight back to
Addis Ababa where, we have the use of day-rooms at the group hotel.
Meals other than breakfast on this day are not included in the trip price to
give the group freedom to choose the restaurant for the final dinner. KE
Land Only package services end with a single, timed group airport
transfer in the evening. (B)

Important: The above day-to-day holiday schedule should be

taken only as a general guide. Although we update our itineraries
on a regular basis, to take into account such things as changes to
trekking routes and changes in the routing or availability of local
transport, it is not possible to guarantee that any of our holidays
will run exactly according to the proposed itinerary. A variety of
factors, including adverse weather conditions, political instability,
or difficulties with transportation, can lead to enforced changes.
We recommend you download and print a final copy of the up to
date holiday dossier from our website a couple of days prior to
travel in case there have been changes that may affect your
plans. If during your holiday the itinerary is effected by immediate
or local circumstances, the leader will make any changes that are
necessary.

Holiday Details

assist with this transfer. The transfer is timed to the arrival of the
Ethiopian airlines flight from London Heathrow and will normally depart
the airport around 8.30 - 9.00 am. Anyone may use this transfer
regardless of flights. If you cannot take advantage of these group
transfers, you will need to make your own transfer arrangements at Addis
Ababa Airport. Ethiopian Airlines run a free shuttle bus into the city.
Metered and fixed-price taxis are also available. At the end of the trip
there will be a single group transfer from the group hotel to Addis Ababa
Airport in the late evening of the last day of the trip itinerary. Private
airport transfers each way can be arranged at an additional cost through
the KE office. Clients booking a Land Only Package MUST provide the
KE office with full details of their flights. . Hotel contact details and an
emergency number will be provided with your booking confirmation.

Services Included
An experienced English-speaking local guide
Addis Ababa Airport single timed transfers
Internal flights and associated airport transfers
All land transport involved in the itinerary
All accommodation as described in the trip dossier
Meals as detailed in the Meal Plan
Entrance fees and local guides for all mentioned excursions.

Services Not Included

Travel Insurance
Visa
Airport transfers (other than for preferred group flights)
Meals as detailed in the Meal Plan
Addis Ababa Departure tax (if applicable)
Tips for staff
Miscellaneous personal expenses - drinks and souvenirs etc.

Meal Plan

Group size and Holiday Status

All meals except 2 lunches and 2 dinners are included

For each of our group adventures, there is a minimum number of

participants required to enable the trip to go ahead. Once the minimum
number is reached, the trip status will normally change from 'Spaces' to
'Guaranteed to Run'. You can check the trip status by accessing our
website at www.keadventure.com Other than in exceptional
circumstances, we will not cancel a trip once it has achieved this
guaranteed to run status and so you are free to proceed with your
international flight booking and other travel arrangements.

Joining Arrangements and Transfers

Food
Meals during the trip are provided from breakfast on day 2 to breakfast on
Day 13. Breakfasts consist of bread and jam, porridge, omelette or
pancake, tea and excellent Ethiopian coffee. Depending on the days
activity we may eat at a restaurant or have a picnic lunch of sandwiches
(cheese, egg or ham) and fresh fruit. Dinner will be a variety of local and
international dishes. A local speciality is Injura, a flat bread made from a
grain grown in the highlands called Tef. It's served in a big basket, and

You must rendezvous with the group at the hotel in Addis Ababa,
preferably by lunchtime on Day 1. A single group transfer from the airport
is provided and the trip leader or a representative of our local agent will

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eaten with an array of different lentil and meat curries.

Spending Money
Approximately 150 - 200 (or equivalent in Euros or Dollars) should be
allowed for miscellaneous expenses. This should be sufficient to cover
the non-included meals and staff tips as well as miscellaneous personal
spending. If you expect to buy considerable quantities of soft drinks or
beer, you should make an allowance for this. It is not necessary to
purchase local currency (Ethiopian birr) prior to travel and sterling, euros
and US dollars are all readily exchanged in Addis Ababa. We suggest
you carry your travel money in the form of cash as it can be difficult to
change travellers cheques in Addis Ababa and there are no bank ATMs
currently in service. If you are intending to buy expensive souvenirs, you
should also budget accordingly. Credit cards can be used to purchase
goods and services and it is a good idea to carry one in case of
emergency.

Guidance on Tipping
Tipping should not be seen as something you have to do but in Ethiopia
as in many parts of the world it is an appropriate way of saying thank you
for a service well done. For each of your drivers and guides on this trip
we would recommend an equivalent of 5 - 10 per day from the group
as a whole.

Accommodation
During this trip the group will spend 1 night at a tourist class Hotel in
Addis Ababa. We also have the use of day-rooms in this hotel during our
final day in the capital. In Bahir Dir we have 1 night in a centrally located
hotel where rooms are in separate bungalows set in a peaceful garden. In
Gondar we stay 2 nights at a tourist class hotel. We stay 2 nights in
Debark in a basic hotel (there are few accommodation options here) and
2 nights in Axum in a modern tourist standard hotel. We have 2 nights in
the Gheralta Lodge in Hawzeen: please note that it is not always possible
to confirm rooms at Gheralta Lodge. When this is not possible, you will
be accommodated in a hotel in the town of Mekele. In Lalibela we have 2
nights in a comfortable tourist class hotel close to the town's major sites.
It pays to remember that Ethiopia is a developing country and that
accommodation can be basic in comparison to European standards. All
accommodation is based on twin sharing. If you are travelling by yourself
you will be paired up with another single client of the same sex.
Depending on availability, it may also be possible to book a single room
for the hotel nights. For single supplement please refer to the dates and
prices page of the trip on our website. Hotels are subject to availability
and prices may vary.

General Information

Group Leader and Support Staff

Language

The group will be accompanied by an experienced English-speaking local

guide plus drivers and various local support staff.

We provide an Equipment List for each of our holidays. These highlight

any specialised equipment you will require and also act as a packing
check list. You can find the Equipment List at the end of the dossier.

The official language of Ethiopia is Amharic although there are several

regional languages throughout the country. You will find that a lot of
people in the cities speak some English, certainly enough for you to buy
souvenirs, order in restaurants etc. In the countryside you are unlikely to
find people who speak any more than just a few words of English. We do
recommend that you take a pocket phrase book and learn some basics
such as common greetings

Baggage Allowance

Climate

The weight allowance on this trip is governed by the internal flight

baggage allowance which is usually 20kg. We ask you to restrict your
luggage to one main bag (your KE trek bag) and a small daypack.

Ethiopia has a wet season from June to September and a dry season for
the rest of the year. Following the wet season, the country is lush and
green, with lots of flowers and growing crops. Thereafter, the country
dries out progressively until the next rains. The climate of the Simien
Mountains has been likened to the perfect English summer day with
temperatures around 15C / 59F to 20C / 68F. In the lowlands we will
find daytime temperatures of 25C / 77F to 35C / 95F.

Equipment

KE Trek Bag
All KE clients will receive a FREE KE trek bag. These have been
specially made to stand up to the rigours of adventure travel. Your KE
bag will be posted to you when your trip is guaranteed to run or on receipt
of your booking if the trip is already guaranteed. If you have travelled with
us before, already have a KE trek bag and would prefer a KE T-shirt or
baseball cap, please be sure to tick the appropriate box when you are
making your booking.

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Visa Requirements
A valid passport (with at least 6 months remaining validity), and a visa are
required. The easiest way to obtain your visa is on entry at Addis Aaba.
You will need 2 passport photos, 20 US dollars, and will have to fill out a
visa form. This facility is available to citizens of the UK, Australia, New
Zealand, South Africa, Switzerland, and most EU countries. Full details of
visa requirements for Ethiopia will be sent with your booking confirmation.

Vaccinations
You should attend your own doctor and dentist for a check-up. Your
doctor will have access to the most up to date information on the required
vaccinations for the country you are visiting. In general we recommend
vaccinations against the following: Polio, Tetanus, Typhoid, & Hepatitis
'A'. Malaria prophylaxis is not recommended for this trip.
A very good online resource is the NHS travel website at
www.fitfortravel.nhs.uk

all KE travellers take a look at the FCO Travel Advice for their chosen
destination on the official FCO website: www.fco.gov.uk. North
Americans can also check out the U.S. Department of State website:
www.travel.state.gov for essential travel advice and tips.
KE treat the safety and security of all clients as the most important aspect
of any trip we organise. We would not run any trip that we did not
consider reasonably safe. Should the FCO advise against travel for any
reason, we will contact everyone booked to travel to discuss alternatives.
We receive regular updates direct from the FCO and are in constant
touch with our contacts on the ground. If you have any questions about
government travel advice, please call our office.

Reference Books and Maps

Books

A medical kit will accompany each group. You should also bring your own
personal first aid kit, which should include the items listed in the
equipment list at the end of this dossier.

Ethiopia & Eritrea. Lonely Planet

Guide to Ethiopia. Phillip Briggs.
Ethiopia. The Bradt Travel Guide.
Lonely Planet. Trekking in East Africa.
In Ethiopia with a Mule. Dervla Murphy
The Sign & The Seal. Graham Hancock

Altitude

Maps

This holiday involves going to moderately high altitude. During the course
of your trip you will reach altitudes in excess of 2500 metres. Most people
will have no difficulty with this level of altitude but before coming on the
holiday, we recommend you read the advice on trekking at altitude on our
website which can be viewed via the link below. You can also talk to one
of our trekking experts if you have any concerns about altitude.
www.keadventure.com/page/altitude.html

ITMB - International Travel Maps. 1;20,000,000

Indexed road map with historical information about the
country and a basic plan of Addis Ababa. Contours and
altitude colouring show the general relief. Road network
includes seasonal tracks and oxcart paths, with
intermediate driving distances on main roads. Also
indicated are border crossings, bus stations, police,
medical facilities, banks, places of interest including the
national parks, accommodation (hotels, campsites, rest
houses, etc.). Latitude and longitude are marked at
intervals of 1°. Map legend is in English.

First Aid

Preparing For Your Holiday

This is not a trekking trip but it makes a lot of sense to spend some time
before coming on any adventure holiday getting some additional
exercise. The fitter you are, after all, the more enjoyable you will find the
experience. Although the walking on this holiday is not difficult, the heat
and altitude can make this much harder than the same distances back
home. We suggest that you take regular exercise walks in the period
leading up to departure, and also try to fit in at least a couple of longer
walks (2 3 hours) preferably in hilly country.

Know Before You Go!

As a reputable tour operator, KE supports the British Foreign &
Commonwealth Offices Know before you go! campaign to enable British
citizens to prepare for their journeys overseas, and we recommend that

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Click here to order Books and Maps on our website

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Flight Information
On our website we display a UK Flight inclusive package price and Land only package price for the majority of our holidays. For some destinations we
have chosen to sell the holiday on a Land Only package basis only (for example, these are mainly trips to the Alps and Morocco where you can take
advantage of booking your own flights direct with low cost carriers).

Booking Your Own Flights from the UK

The LAND ONLY dates and prices are for the itinerary joining in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. For clients making their own flight arrangements, Addis Ababa
International airport is the most convenient for transfers to the group hotel. Please refer to the 'Joining arrangements & transfers' section in the trip
dossier for further details.
Domestic Flight Update
Included in the land only cost are 2 domestic Ethiopian Airlines flights. Please note, clients not travelling with Ethiopian Airlines internationally will incur a
surcharge on the domestic flights of approximately 150, which will be confirmed at the time of booking. As this surcharge, imposed by Ethiopian
Airlines and is beyond our control we strongly advise travelling with Ethiopian Airlines internationally to avoid any extra charges.
Flights SHOULD NOT be booked until you have received your booking confirmation and the trip is showing 'Guaranteed to Run' or 'Limited'.

Booking a Flight Inclusive Package from the UK

The FLIGHT INCLUSIVE dates and prices are based on UK flights from London (Heathrow) to Addis Ababa with Ethiopian Airlines. Outbound flights
will depart from the UK in the evening, arriving in the morning of the following day (day 1 of the Land Only itinerary). Return flights will depart in the very
late night (after midnight) of the last day of the itinerary, arriving in the UK the following morning. Regional departures and/or alternative carriers are
available on request.
Please be aware that there are often only a limited number of seats available at the advertised price. To avoid paying flight supplements, we
recommend that you book as early as possible, especially during peak times. If we are unable to secure seats at the price shown, or you have
requested regional departures, we will contact you with an alternative quote. Please note that you may be asked to pay for your flights in advance of
your final holiday balance. Note that if you book a package including flights with KE you will benefit from full financial protection.

Flight Options for the US

You can book your flights through a travel agent, directly with an airline, or online using a variety of travel search engines and consolidator sites.
For help and advice with booking your flights, we recommend you consult our friends at Exito Travel, airfare specialists since 1994. The air team at Exito
are familiar with our destinations and know the airports, best airlines and potential pitfalls. If there is ever a flight change, cancellation or air-related issue
before or during your travels, it's nice to know you have someone on the Exito air team looking after you. Isaac Hilpman deftly manages the flight
requests for many of our U.S. travelers. Please contact Isaac at: keadventure@exitotravel.com &/or via phone at: 800.655.4053 ext. 8507. If Isaac is
traveling or unavailable, any of Exito's air agents can assist.
Alternatively we can recommend Luxury Adventure Trips, particularly if you are in the north west of the USA as they are based in Seattle. Contact
Susan Kelly, Luxury Adventure Trips toll free on 866-318-5396 or on Seattle 206-361-7334 or by email at cruzinsusan@comcast.net.

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Online Options for US and Other Worldwide Clients

There are many websites offering deals on air tickets which can be booked directly online. In addition many airlines operate their own online booking
facilities. If you are considering buying flights online, we recommend kayak.com. While Kayak.com does not sell flights, it quickly searches several
hundred websites to find the best deals available.

General Flight Information

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Why Choose KE Adventure Travel?
Experience

KE has 31 years experience of adventure travel worldwide. All of our holidays are accompanied by an experienced leader, some of whom have worked
with KE groups for many years. Many are professional guides and instructors with an unrivalled knowledge of the areas in which they work. In many
parts of the world, we recruit local guides with appropriate training and experience. In addition to having the technical skills to ensure your safety, KE
expects its leaders to be active members of the group. A leader should be fun to travel with and ready to share with you their enthusiasm for adventure
travel and their knowledge of the area. Alongside the group leader, there will be a local support crew, which could be just a driver, or a complete team of
guides, drivers, porters, mule-herders and cooks. The hard work of our support crews, along with the fascinating insight they can offer into their local
culture, is integral to providing you with the very best adventure travel experience.
The team of KE office staff is amongst the most experienced in the business, with the proven ability to set up and operate a worldwide programme of
adventures. Every one has adventure travel at heart and joins at least one trip a year. It is this depth of experience that makes KE stand out from other
adventure travel operators. When you contact KE, by phone or e-mail, or visit our office, you will find the help and advice you need, from someone who
has actually done the trip and can give you the benefit of their first-hand experience.
KE can guarantee the very best in trek support, excellent food, a good standard of hotel and camp accommodation, plus the back up of one of the most
respected companies in the business. Client satisfaction is at the top of our agenda and almost 50% of our bookings each year come from repeat
business. If you are looking for adventure then look no further than KE.

Responsible Tourism and Awards

Responsible Tourism has always fitted naturally with KEs travel ethic. It is important to us that our clients are not the only beneficiaries
of the travel experience, but that we share a two-way relationship with the areas that we visit. We make sure that our local staff are well
treated and well paid, we respect indigenous cultures, take care to protect the environment and make the most of every opportunity to
make a positive contribution wherever we travel.
In addition to holding an AITO 5-star Responsible Tourism rating, we are recipients of AITOs Achievement in Responsible Tourism
Award in recognition of the work carried out over the past 20 years, giving back to the communities and areas we visit. We have been
awarded Highly Commended status in the Best Tour Operator category of the Virgin Holidays Responsible Tourism Awards, and were
named Best Trekking Operator on Earth by National Geographic Magazine, whose criteria included commitment to responsible tourism.
We continue to travel responsibly, and more information on our policy, practice, and specific projects can be found at keadventure.com,
and on the website of our partner charity the Juniper Trust: junipertrust.co.uk. KEs Mountain Code is issued to our staff, trek leaders and
overseas agents, and we recommend it to our clients, too!

The KE Mountain Code

Protect the environment its flora, fauna and landscapes
Respect local cultures traditions, religions and built heritage
Benefit local communities both economically and socially
Conserve natural resources from office to destination
Minimise pollution through noise, waste disposal and congestion

Carbon Offsetting
www.climatecare.org
After asking you for your opinion on Carbon Offset schemes KE have decided to lend our support
to Climate Care and provide you with a simple and effective way of balancing the CO2 emissions
from your flight. Although we believe that travel has huge global benefits, we all have a
responsibility to try to limit our impact on the environment. Climate Care works to reduce an
equivalent amount of CO2 on your behalf through a range of projects in renewable energy, energy
efficiency and rainforest restoration which not only fight climate change but bring benefits to
communities round the world.

Your Complete Financial Protection

KE Adventure Travel is a fully licensed and bonded tour operator. We are a member of the Association of Independent Tour Operators (AITO), bonded
with the CAA (ATOL 2808) and ABTA licensed (W4341). You can book your trip with KE Adventure Travel in complete confidence that all monies you
pay for a trip are fully protected.

www.keadventure.com

UK: +44(0)17687 73966

US (toll-free):1-888-630-4415

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Booking Your Holiday
Reserving Your Place

Having read this dossier, if you require further information, please don't hesitate to contact our office staff. The next step is to check the availability of
places on your trip either by checking the trip status on the KE website, or by e-mailing or telephoning us. We can usually hold you a place for 7 days
while you make a final decision.

Holiday Status
For each of our group holidays, there is a minimum number of participants required to enable the trip to go ahead. Once the minimum number is
reached, the trip status will normally change from 'Available' to 'Guaranteed to Run' on the website. Other than in exceptional circumstances, we will not
cancel a trip once it has achieved guaranteed to run status and so you are free to proceed with your international flight booking and other travel
arrangements.

Making a Booking
The easiest way to make your booking and our preferred method, is online through the KE website. You will need to pay a deposit at the time of
booking. This is normally 200 but for some holidays with special permit fees or internal flights, this may be more. The amount of deposit required for an
individual holiday is given on the dates and prices page of the holiday. It is also possible to reserve your place over the telephone, by mail, or email.
(Note that you will also need to complete a booking form to confirm your place). We cannot confirm any booking until we receive your fully completed
booking form. Any unreasonable delay in submitting your booking form may jeopardise your place on your chosen holiday.

Adventure Travel Insurance

Important notice.
It is a condition of joining any of our trips that you are insured against medical and personal accident risks (to include repatriation costs,
air ambulance and helicopter rescue services). We also strongly recommend that you take out holiday cancellation insurance, as all
deposits paid are non-refundable. Please ensure that your insurer is aware of your KE Adventure itinerary and can agree to cover the
activities being undertaken. You will then need to advise us of your policy details and complete an Insurance Declaration Form.
CAMPBELL IRVINE DIRECT travel insurance is available to EU residents
and will cover the majority of KE Adventure holidays. It has been designed to
provide cover for activities normally excluded by other insurers such as
trekking, mountain biking and climbing. Please note that certain activities
may attract a higher premium. In addition cover cannot be provided by
Campbell Irvine Direct for KE climbing trips above 6000m. Cover for these
can be obtained through either the British Mountaineering Council (BMC) or
Snowcard. Please click on the logo for a quote.
TRAVELEX is a USA based insurer offering travel insurance which can be
used by US citizens and US residents only. KE recommends the "Travelex
Select" package for our holidays. If your holiday involves using
mountaineering equipment (ropes, harness or crampons), for climbing or
glacial travel, you should consider the "Adventure Plus Pak" optional
upgrade on the Travelex Select Plan. Please refer to the 'Description of
Coverage' for a summary of the terms, conditions, exclusions and limitations
of the applicable Protection Plan. This policy will also cover KE climbing trips
above 6000m. Please click on the logo for a quote.

We hope that this dossier has answered most of your questions.

Please feel free to contact us and speak to one of our experts.

KE Adventure Travel, 32 Lake Road, Keswick, Cumbria, CA12 5DQ, UK

www.keadventure.com

UK: +44(0)17687 73966

US (toll-free):1-888-630-4415

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PAGE 11
Equipment

The following checklist should help you with your packing. As a general rule, you should always try to keep the weight of your equipment to a minimum.

You must bring the following items:

Lightweight boots or strong walking shoes
Trainers or sandals
Socks
Lightweight trousers / pants
Warmer trekking trousers / pants
Underwear
T-shirts
Lightweight UV and insect-proof safari shirt
Warm fleece jacket or jumper
Lightweight windproof/waterproof jacket
Sunhat
Eyewear - sunglasses
Daypack c.20 litres 1200 cu in
Head torch (lamp) with spare batteries
Sun protection (including for lips)
Insect repellent (DEET)
Basic First Aid Kitincluding: A broad spectrum antibiotic, antiseptic cream, throat lozenges, diarrhoea treatment (Imodium), altitude (Diamox),
painkillers, plasters (band-aids) and blister treatment, insect repellent, and re-hydration salts (Dioralite). Glucose tablets and multi-vitamin tablets are
also a good idea.

The following items are optional:

Water bottle 1 litre / 1 quart
Washbag and toiletries
Antibacterial handwash
Small towel
Selection of dry bags (to keep trek bag contents dry)
Small padlock (to lock your KE trek bag)
Travel washing line
Spare laces
Shorts
Swimwear (for hotel pools)
Binoculars (for the game drive)
Camera with telephoto lens (at least 200mm recommended)
Pen-knife
Nailbrush
Travel clothes

This document was last updated 22nd December 2014

www.keadventure.com

UK: +44(0)17687 73966

US (toll-free):1-888-630-4415