Domes & Deserts of the Indus

Check out our Q&As

• What currencies are required for this tour?

  The currency unit for Pakistan is the Pakistani Ruppe (Rs, or PKR). As a general rule it is best to bring your spending money in a combination of cash US dollars, pre-paid travel currency cards and debit/credit cards. Make sure that all your notes are in good condition. Old, torn or marked notes are often refused by the banks and shops. Spending Money From past trips and traveller feedback we would recommend changing US$100 to US$150 (or GBP equivalent) to local currency while you are in Islamabad. This will pay for any extra drinks, snacks and a few souvenirs during the trip. Peronal spending habits and budgets can vary greatly from person to person, but generally there isn't a lot to spend your money on during our Pakistan tours as most things are already included. If you plan on buying more expensive souvenirs, such as a carpet, then budget for this separately. US Dollars would be the best currency for this. Changing money Change your money only at banks, hotels, airports or forex bureaus. It is illegal to change money on the street, and people offering this service may be opportunistic thieves or undercover police. Your guide will advise you where & when you can change money & with what means. It is also a good idea to have a small CASH emergency fund, to allow for the unexpected. Credit & Debit Cards If you are intending using your credit or debit card, we suggest taking more than one card with you as you may find that your card is not accepted in the first ATM you try. Visa or Mastercard are preferred rather than American Express. We recommend that you inform your bank that you will be using your card abroad to avoid it being blocked. Pre-Paid Travel Currency Cards These cards are similar to normal Credit and Debit cards but they can be pre loaded with cash before you travel with a set amount allowing you to withdraw this cash using the card at normal ATMs. It is a more secure way to access cash on your trip, but again do not rely on these as your sole means of funds on a trip. Several banks and companies now offer these cards, but be sure to look into the rates for withdrawing cash when making your decision. When using these cards abroad you will use them to withdraw the local currency from an ATM and not the currency that you loaded onto the card.

• Do you require a visa for this holiday?

  All nationalities will need to arrange their Pakistan tourist visa in advance. To apply for your visa, you will need to obtain a 'Letter of Invitation' (LOI) and show some other information about the local arrangements for your tour. Once you have received the LOI and this information you will be able to apply for the visa at your nearest Pakistan embassy or Consulate. We will provide you with your Letter of Invitation and all the other information required as part of your tour price. Details for this process will be emailed to you several months before the trip departs. You should apply for your visa at least one month before you are due to arrive to allow for processing time and possible checks of your documentation. Costs will vary depending on your nationality and the embassy at which you apply for your visa. The information below is to be used only as a guide and may change without prior notice. It is advisable to contact the relevant embassy in plenty of time before the trip departs to check the current visa requirements. It is your responsibility to ensure you have all the relevant visas you require.

• What is the tipping policy?

  Tipping is often expected and relied upon. It is often more than a reward for services well done, but, as wages are extremely low, it is an accepted means of supplementing an income. If you would like to leave a tip for any activity/individual, you could organise this as a group and give a tip at the end. Your guide will be able to advise and will sometimes leave tips for your local restaurant meals, as part of your trip price. Because it can be difficult to know what to tip, and because it has such importance in some areas both economically and culturally, there may be times and activities for which your guide will make it clear what level of tipping is 'customary/expected'. This is motivated by the knowledge of how important tipping can be, and the offence or confusion that can be caused when local people are tipped poorly. In the end, tipping remains at the discretion of the individual and their budget, but our guides will continue to advise on normal or average rates, and we would ask you to carefully consider the economic or personal impact of being seen as 'under tipping'. We know that many who travel with us are on a tight budget, but ask you to consider that many local people face financial hardship, and also work very hard to try to give you unrivalled service/experiences. In the past we have been asked by travellers about tipping your guide. If you choose to do this, it would be budgeted separately from the above. Our guides work very hard at making your trip a great travel experience. Working overseas can often be challenging and they are pretty much on call for you 24 hours a day, so it's appreciated as a thank you for hard work and good service, but of course not mandatory or expected. Our suggestion is to budget around US$3 to US$6 per person per day, again subject to your budget and your satisfaction with the service provided.

• Are vaccinations required for this tour?

  You should ensure you are fully insured for medical emergencies including emergency evacuation and repatriation. Recommended vaccinations and other health protection measures vary according to the country you are visiting and where you are travelling from. We recommend you contact your GP/medical practitioner or a travel clinic for current information on vaccinations needed for your destination. You should ensure that you are up to date with vaccines and boosters recommended for your normal life at home, including for example, vaccines required for occupational risk of exposure, lifestyle risks and underlying medical conditions. In addition, additional courses or boosters normally recommended for the countries in this region are: Pakistan: Additional vaccinations: Diptheria, Hepatitis A, Polio, Tetanus, Typhoid. Malaria map. Yellow Fever certificate: Yellow fever rules for India are quite complicated and lengthy. Please read the WHO guidance. Malaria: Vaccinations are not available against Malaria, which is a disease transmitted by mosquitoes that can be very serious and sometimes fatal. You should avoid mosquito bites by covering up bare skin with clothing such as long sleeves and long trousers and applying insect repellents to exposed skin. When necessary, sleep under a mosquito net. Mosquitoes are most active during and after sunset. You should consult with your GP/medical practitioner/travel clinic about the most appropriate malaria prophylactic medication to take for the regions you are visiting. In general Malaria is present throughout the year in all areas of Pakistan below 2000m except the Punjab and the city of Karachi. Risk is highest in rural areas from July to December. Areas of high risk include much of the south, and western part of the country including Chitral. Areas of low risk include the northern mountains and Eastern areas. Here malaria prophylactics are often not advised for short trips. Yellow Fever: This disease is spread by infected mosquitoes that bite during the day. A Yellow Fever Certificate of vacinnation may be required as a condition of entry depending on which country you are arriving from, or that you have travelled or transitted through recently (including connecting flights with stopovers of over 12 hours). You can view this US CDC information about where the virus is present and follow the links to further information detailing which countries need you to have a Yellow Fever vaccination as part of their entry requirements. Please ensure you have this certificate with you and to hand if necessary. Please inform us of any pre-existing conditions such as diabetes or asthma and any prescription medicine you may be taking. We also need to know about any food allergies or physical disabilities that you may have.

• Is travel insurance compulsory?

  Yes! Travel insurance is compulsory on all of our tours and needs to cover personal accident & liability, medical expenses and repatriation, travel delay & abandonment. We also strongly recommend that you take out cover against cancellation and lost/stolen baggage. Personal medical insurance does not normally provide sufficient cover and is generally not suitable for travel on our tours. You will not be able to join your tour if you have not provided us with details of your insurance or if you arrive without cover in place (no refunds will be due in this event).