BEFORE YOU DEPART
What type of transportation is used?
Magallen promises on making no compromise on the comfort of our customers therefore all major travelling is done in air-conditioned vehicles. All our drivers have been with us since we started-out, and we have developed a close-knit connection with them so your safety is also their top most priority. Comfortable seats and lots of leg space for our tall travelers, we take into account everything.
Can I come on the trip with my conveyance?
Yes, you can come by your conveyance but do inform us before 24 hours of the trip. Please do inform at your home, Magellan Travels will not be responsible in case of any incident.
Will we be provided with a list of our hotels?
Yes, a list of hotels are usually provided before the official dates of travel. However, only the hotel names are provided, room allocation is done on arrival for all of our trips, so we ask for your support and patience during that time.
As Magellan likes to support numerous local businesses, we often have a few places in each city that we can alternate our groups between. For this reason, we can’t give you a full list before you travel. At the welcome meeting on Day 1, your leader may be able to provide you with this so you can email friends and family back home with the details.
What standard of accommodation should I expect?
The standard of accommodation depends on the availability of the hotels and the season as prices largely vary during winters relative to summers.
Is accommodation air-conditioned/ heated?
To ensure that our customers have the most comfortable overall experience we make sure if you’re heading to a hot climate we provide air-conditioned rooms. Similarly, if you are travelling to a cold area, there will always be either a gas heater or inverter present in the hotels. Of course, if you are staying in remote areas or at home stays, you will need to expect the facilities to be a little more basic.
What communication facilities will be available?
With communication always improving many hotels and public places already have Wi-Fi so it’s usually possible to keep in touch with family and friends. In remote places or on treks or home stays, communication might not be readily available. Your tour guide will usually inform you before you leave a place so you can send a message if you wish. Phone cards are easily available for any networks; however, no guarantee can be taken on the availability of signals.
In case of an emergency, or unavailability of networks how do our families reach us?
If family and friends are unable to contact you in an emergency through email or phone, they can contact Magellan directly. Emergency contact details (for your destination) will be listed on your Event Page so you need not worry because one of our representatives will always be available at your disposal.
Will I get internet coverage everywhere?
Some places have Wi-Fi hot spots everywhere and other places will have no coverage at all. If you stumble into the latter, take the rare chance to just sit back and get to know your fellow travelers the old-fashioned way.
Will I be able to charge my electrical appliances?
In most places you’ll be able to recharge your appliances at the hotel. However, we would recommend you carry a travel adapter with you, just in case. Most vehicles come with their own power supply and you should be able to recharge onboard as well. If you’re bringing a personal camera, bring a spare battery to be on the safe side.
Are we expected to make generous tips?
Yes, in most places tipping is expected. At the orientation session, your tour guide will explain you about the local custom and advice now how much it’s recommended to pay at local restaurants and local guides.
Any specific time for check-ins?
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 or relax in your rooms.
Can I request an early check-in?
We can’t confirm an early check-in, but if you let us know a night beforehand, we might be able to pre-book a room for you. 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.
What is the name of the hotel where my trips starts?
This information will be provided to you a few days before you leave for your journey along with all other relevant information that you might need.
CHOOSING A TRIP
I wish to travel alone – will that be OK?
This is the beauty of the Magellan style of travel: many of our travelers join because they are travelling solo and want to meet and share experiences with like-minded people. We guarantee you the same level of attention and care, with the freedom of travelling as you like.
If I am travelling solo, will I have to share accommodation?
As a solo traveler, you will be paired up with another passenger of the same gender. If you’re not comfortable sharing a room with someone of the same gender, you also have the choice to pay for a single room (available on the majority of our trips).
I have special dietary requirements – will they be catered for?
We will try our best to ensure all dietary requirements are catered to but in some remote places it can be very difficult to guarantee. We will let you know if there are places on your itinerary where this might be the case so you can make arrangements beforehand.
Please let us know at the time of booking of any food requirements or allergies you may have so that we can make sure to avoid them. 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. Most of the times we will have familiar food items 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. Besides, the culture and tradition of any place lies in their food.
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. We will make sure to inform you if this is the case. Every place we visit has mineral water that can be bought from stores so shortage of drinkable water will never be the case. It’s also advisable to carry a personal water bottle with you at all times.
Are political conditions of the place considered before a trip?
The safety of our passengers, leaders and operators is a major priority for Magellan. With this in mind, we monitor national and international events very closely and Magellan makes operational decisions based on informed advice from a number of sources.
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 may be travelling to areas that might have skilled thieves so it’s no harm to keep extra care of your luggage. 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 would recommend carrying cash at all times because most of the places on our itinerary don’t have ATMs and therefore credit cards are rendered useless.
You need not carry a large sum of money because almost everything will be paid for except the activities independent of the tour and your lunch.
What if I get ill or injured on the trip and unable to continue?
Our leaders are trained to deal with these situations and we will endeavor 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 get you your required rest.
What can I do if anyone sexual misconduct?
If anyone faces sexual misconduct on the trip can directly come to the tour operator for the complaint, Magellan travels will inquire and take strict action with preparatory.
Lost Items:
Please take care of your things while traveling. Magellan Travels will not responsible for any loss of anything from your belongings.
Who are Magellan travelers?
Magallen usually attracts travelers that have a hunger to explore the world and yearn to get off the beaten track. Whether you’re travelling solo, with a group of friends, or are aged 18 or 70, there is a Magellan adventure to suit your interests and comfort level.
No special skills are required for most adventures, just a sense of adventure and a curiosity about the world. Most of our activities have no special requirement and are suitable for all age groups. Magellan encourages young people to travel and take part on all the life-changing experiences our country has to offer.
How many people will be on my trip?
The amount of people varies in all our trips and we always look for more registrations however we put a cap where we believe it might compromise on our quality. We have had trips with small intimate groups as well as groups of 150+ people, it all depends on the location and availability of resources. Our main motto is to never put in jeopardy our customer’s experience, so we always accommodate only as many people as we can cater to.
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 place, you may change leaders part way through – but this just means double the awesomeness.
Can I leave my trip in between?
Reimbursement for any portion of the trip unused is not provided, but you can always 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 trips 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 travelers.
However, if you and a group of friends, colleagues or even your school would like your own personally designed itinerary, we can do that as well. Here you will have complete liberty to design your trip however way you desire and can make as many changes as you want before the trip.
Does Magellan have family trips?
Magellan offers a wide range of Family Adventures around the globe. The minimum age (for Family trips) varies depending on destination, and Magellan 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 view our family adventures for more information
TERMS & CONDITIONS
Special Note:
• Only 14 Kg of weight is allowed. Every member is responsible and have to carry their own luggage.
• Member must have to behave ethically with all the group members
• Magellan Travels is not responsible for personal injuries and accidents.
• Magellan Travels is not responsible for loss of any kind of valuable item.
• Magellan Travels may cancel booking at any time. If this is done, the participant(s) will be refunded the whole amount that has been submitted.
• Magellan Travels may alter/change the itinerary in case of any unforeseen event such as road blockages, political/military activity, natural calamity etc. The itinerary will be altered in the best way possible.
• Magellan Travels may change terms and conditions at any time.
• Personal weapons and intoxicants(drugs) are strictly not allowed.
• I understand to abide by the rules & regulation & by-laws of Magellan Travels, to be enforced from time to time.
• I understand that the adventure/outdoor activities carry a potential risk of personal injury. I further undertake that neither
I nor my heirs or legal representatives shall raise any compensation against Magellan Travels.
– 50% refund of paid amount if cancellation is at least 15 days before the event starts
– 30% Refund of paid amount if cancellation is at least 10 days before the event starts
– 0% Refund if cancellation is less than 10 days before the event starts