TRAVELERS' INFORMATION


Reservations
Early reservations are recommended, since group size is limited to 24 persons and some trips require adequate preparation time. Since our trips are very popular, we advise you to book at least 4 months in advance. When we receive your completed trip application and a $500 deposit, we will confirm your space. You may also reserve a space by calling us at 1 [800] 777-8183 and charging your deposit to your American Express, VISA, or MasterCard credit card. The balance of the land cost may be paid by check or credit card.

 Payment Schedule

  All Departures
 At time of reservation   $500 per person
70 days prior to departure or upon receipt of invoice  Balance plus airfare

 

An entire Geographic Expeditions scheduled catalog departure may be reserved by submitting a nonrefundable deposit of $1,000. Payment schedules for boat trips vary. See detailed itinerary for specific information.

Upon receiving your deposit we will send you a confirmation letter, detailed trip itinerary, visa applications, medical, health, and insurance information, clothing and equipment list, suggested reading list, and general information on the countries you are visiting.

Your air tickets, trip roster, and final trip briefing (with contact numbers and group meeting locations) will be sent out 3 weeks prior to departure.

Land Cost
Prices listed in this brochure are subject to change. Many of our trips are planned more than a year in advance, and as the departure date nears we receive up-to-date figures on land expenses and currency exchange. We endeavor to keep our prices the same as published.

The land cost is based on 10 to 16 full-paying trip members. Trip physicians, staff, or guests of Geographic Expeditions are not included (e.g., travel writers/photographers and leaders in training) in determining the tier price. On some of our trips there is a higher land cost for smaller groups. If there are fewer than 10 people, the expenses per person are simply higher (e.g., a charter vessel costs us the same whether there are 6 or 10 people on board). Our clients usually prefer paying a bit more rather than having the trip canceled.

Land cost includes the following: Deluxe or first-class twin sharing accommodations with private bath where available (except at en route stopover cities); baggage and hotel porterage; airport and ground transportation for members using Geographic group flight arrangements; camp meals and sightseeing as outlined in the trip itinerary; entrance fees and permits; services of English-speaking leaders and agents; special permits, costs of research, itinerary development, and documentation. In the field, porters, pack animals, and community equipment. In China, overnight train transportation in "soft berth'' accommodations. Itemization of costs will not be provided.

The land cost does not include: En route accommodations at stopover cities at the beginning and end of your trip (a standard routing that minimizes travel time is recommended in each itinerary; trip lengths include travel days); international airfare except as noted; domestic airfare on certain trips, excess baggage fees, passport, visas, airport departure fees; most meals in some countries (to allow for individual choice of restaurants); alcoholic beverages, end-of-tour gratuities which are not compulsory but customary, laundry and other items of a personal nature; medical, hospital, and evacuation expenses not covered in the land cost; expenses resulting in delays due to bad weather, trail, river, and road conditions, sickness, government action, and flight delays.

Transfers, Cancellations, and Refunds
If it becomes necessary for you to cancel your trip (or any portion thereof), you should notify your travel agent or Geographic Expeditions in writing or by FAX immediately. Geographic Expeditions will assess a cancellation charge to cover loss of nonrefundable advance payments made to land operators and government agencies; communication expenses; and the loss of time that may permit resale of your space. The following cancellation charges will apply:

 Cancellation Charge
 Brochure Departures
 Nonrefundable cancellation charge
 $100 pp
 61-90 days prior to departure
 $400 pp
 31-60 days prior to departure
 50% of land cost
 30 days or less to departure
 No refund
 At or after trip departure
 No refund

 

Cancellation charges on air-inclusive packages apply to the entire cost. Additionally, cancellation charges for safaris, cruises, and custom trips may vary. See detailed itinerary for specific information. Geographic will not grant partial refunds for any unused trip arrangements after the trip has commenced or any refunds to trip members who do not complete any portion of the itinerary.

We strongly recommend you purchase trip cancellation/interruption insurance to protect your travel investment at the time of sign-up. This coverage will offset cancellation charges in the event of illness before or during the trip. Trip cancellation/interruption and baggage insurance is available at a supplemental cost. Details and an application will be sent to you upon receipt of your trip deposit.

Geographic Expeditions provides each trip member with supplementary medical expense, evacuation, and 24-hour consultation assistance insurance coverage at no charge.

Geographic Expeditions reserves the right to cancel trips that are below the trip minimum (usually 5 persons). All trip members will be notified a minimum of 30 days before the trip departs and will receive a full refund. In the event of trip cancellation, Geographic Expeditions is not responsible for additional expenses incurred by trip members (e.g., nonrefundable "advance purchase'' air tickets, medical expenses, passport and visa expenses).

Late Bookings and Overseas Clients
Travelers domiciled outside of the United States and those who book within 30 days of departure are subject to a $100 per person charge due to the extra communications and delivery costs of making last-minute arrangements.

Service Charge for Itinerary Changes
Geographic Expeditions is pleased to assist clients with changes in itineraries which occur after initial planning and issuance of invoice. Due to the overseas communication expenses and staff time required to change logistics, we must assess a service charge of $50 per revision. Trip members are responsible for all additional costs associated with en route itinerary changes.

Single Travelers
We honestly do not like to assess an additional charge for the single traveler and will make every effort (if you so desire) to match you with a same-sex roommate when we receive your application. If there is no one with whom you can share accommodations, you will be charged the single supplement fee. If a single room must be assigned to you due to last-minute roommate cancellation or incompatibility or for any other reason, the single supplement charge (or applicable pro-rated charges) will be assessed.

Custom Trips
If our catalog departures do not fit your schedule, or should you wish the privacy of your own group, we can prepare a Private Journey for you. Because we operate in some of the most remote places in the world, and still insist on quality and safety, we may require your trip to be accompanied by a Geographic Expeditions leader. You should understand that the creation of custom itineraries is very time-consuming and these trips are typically more expensive than our catalog departures. Geographic Expeditions charges an initial development fee according to the size of the group and the length of the trip. This fee will be credited toward the final payment of your trip, and is not refundable should you decide to cancel your trip.

 1-14 Days  15 Days or More
 $500  $1000

 

If a Private Journey is canceled more than 60 days prior to departure, there is a nonrefundable cancellation charge of the itinerary development fee plus $100 per person. For cancellations less than 60 days prior to departure, please refer to our regular cancellation/refund schedule in this catalog insert.

Geographic Expeditions has collaborated with a number of corporations, nonprofit groups, research organizations, museums, and educational institutions to create private trips. Please contact our special groups coordinator for more information and client references.

Medical and Health Precautions
It is essential that trip members take the necessary health precautions before traveling overseas. All trip members will receive a booklet entitled Travel Health Companion. It is essential that you read this booklet. Each trip member will have to fill out a Medical Questionnaire. If you have a medical or psychological condition that might affect your welfare or the group's welfare, you must let us know on the Medical Questionnaire. Geographic Expeditions reserves the right to disqualify anyone at any time before or during the trip for medical or psychological reasons. No refunds will be given once the trip commences.

Some trips require a medical certificate from your physician(s). Please contact us before you sign up regarding which trips require medical certificates.

Trip Physicians
Geographic Expeditions seeks qualified physicians to serve as medical officers on remote trips. Physicians who participate will receive a 20%-50% discount on the land cost. Please contact our office for details.

Air Transportation
Geographic Expeditions has a full-service, in-house, air ticketing department with many years of experience arranging complex travel to remote areas. Unless you are working with a travel agent or specify otherwise, we will assume that you want us to make all domestic and international air reservations according to the trip itinerary. We recommend you contact our air department as soon as you book your Geographic trip. Early reservations ensure the most desired airlines, routings, and departure times.

If you are not using Geographic for your air travel, it is your responsibility to give us your air schedule at least 60 days prior to departure, so that we may confirm your arrival and departure hotels. For those individuals not arriving or departing on the group schedule, airport transfers are not included in the land cost.

A note of caution regarding discount air brokers, consolidators, and "bucket shops.'' First, you should not expect the same level of service from a discount company that you receive if you book your air travel through Geographic or your travel agent. Discount agencies sell a large volume of tickets and typically do not offer professional travel planning consultation. Additionally, a number of our clients have reported substantial accuracy and credibility problems in dealing with some budget travel companies. Clients have been informed they were confirmed on flights and had air tickets issued, only to discover upon arrival at the airport that they were in fact wait-listed for their flight. In other cases, clients have found it impossible to obtain frequent flyer credits on tickets issued by certain companies. In the long run, you get what you pay for and if you choose the budget alternative, be extremely careful which company you select and reconfirm all reservations directly with each airline.

General Information
For Detailed Trip Information Please Call:
1 [800] 777-8183 : 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Monday-Friday Pacific Time
or email to: info@geoex.com

Change of Address
If you are moving and would like to continue to receive the Geographic catalog and newsletter, please give us a call or write us a note.

Duplicate Mailings
If you are receiving more than one catalog, we would appreciate it if you could send us the mailing labels and let us know which one you prefer.

Comments and Suggestions?
Our staff strives to continually improve our trips and service. Suggestions and trip ideas are welcomed, and your thoughts are greatly appreciated. Should you ever have a problem, I encourage you to write or call me. James Sano, President.

The InnerAsia Travel Group
Geographic Expeditions, Inc., Geographic Travel, Inc., and InnerAsia Marketing Services are divisions of the InnerAsia Travel Group, Inc.

Affiliated Companies
Geographic Expeditions acts as representative for Exum Mountain Guides, the mountain climbing concession in Grand Teton National Park. Exum is the oldest climbing school and mountain guide service in North America. It also organizes international mountain climbing expeditions throughout the world.

Other InnerAsia companies include: The InnerAsia Consulting Group, an international trade development company specializing in technology transfers and joint ventures between North America and Asia; InnerAsia Development Company, an investment company with interests in China and the Pacific Islands; and InnerAsia Trading Company, manufacturer of Gangchen Carpets and wool products in Tibet.

Copyright © All rights reserved by Geographic Expeditions
Use or reproduction of text is prohibited without
specific permission from Geographic Expeditions.

Geographic Expeditions
2627 Lombard Street, San Francisco, CA 94123, USA
PH: 1-415-922-0448 or 1-800-777-8183
Established 1981

 

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