Expedition Advice 101

Expedition Advice 101

So your headed out an an expedition? A trip of a life time? Or maybe just traveling on a whim.
Well you have come to the right place, this compilation of advice should cover the basics. But whom I am I to give your advice? I have written this article based the experience of travelling to over 30 developing countries, including completing 14 “expeditions”, so I hope these tips are a help.....Enjoy!

Pre-departure preparation 5 top tips
1.Check FCO advice
The foreign office website (Here) regularly updates their site with useful information, such as inoculations & visa information for the country your planning on traveling to. If they are recommending you not to travel, then doing so could invalidate your insurance. Fit for travel is another useful site regarding jab’s and can be found (here)

2. Sort your documentation!
Read your insurance policy, and check it covers you, they all have loop holes. Check your passport has 6 months validity. Make several photocopies of your important documents, as well as passport size photo’s; keep the copies in different places, one copy with someone back home. Write down important phone numbers such as the local police, the embassy, contacts back home, your bank etc.

3. Money
Your best bet is normally to carry some cash (the American $ is king) and some on cards. Search the high-street to find the best exchange rate. Make sure that the notes are not damaged and are denominations are not bigger than $20. A small wedge of $1’s can be useful, especially if traveling through lots of different countries. Whenever in public or in transit keep the money your not using hidden, preferably in a money belt, worn under your cloths. Once you land get a little bit of local currency to tide you over, however don’t change too much as airports rarely do the best rates. Hide some emergency cash about your belongings. Check your bank fees for overseas withdrawals, many credit cards don’t charge for chip and pin transactions abroad, but your normally better off using the debit card for ATM withdrawals. It’s worth checking with all the banks, as occasionally they have special offers for new accounts that drop overseas charges. Use your cards in the airport before departure (even if it is just to check your balance) and the same when you land. This way your bank is much less likely to block your card when you first withdraw money. Keep your cards separate and hidden.

 4. Equipment
This is likely to be one of your bigger concerns. Better to tackle it early on. Go to outdoor shops to research what you need, and your size, and then see what savings you can make by getting on ebay. If you want to buy new, and with consumer confidence then Snow&rock will match any on-line price that you can find. Click here to see a basic list of equipment that you might need for a trekking expedition.

 5. Research
Even if your on an organised exped’ then doing some research into the culture, the language, places to stay, and things to do, can enrich your traveling experience. Lonely planet are your best bet for a guidebook, but don’t always do exactly what it recommends.

5 more tips for when your ‘out there’

 6. Embrace problems

      You will have problems such as lost passports, delayed transport, overcharged for food. Expeditions are a challenge, life presents many problems that need to be overcome, this is part of the challenge and provides excellent learning opportunities.


7. Not becoming a victim of crime
Statistically your most likely to get mugged, or pick-pocketed, or scammed etc. in the first 24hrs, whilst in big towns. This is because you look like a tourist or should I say a target. Take the airline tag off your baggage as soon as it arrives off the conveyor, choose an official taxi, with a respectable looking driver. Agree a price before hand, and make sure the driver knows the destination, also make sure he gets out and helps you put your rucksack into the boot (So he can’t drive away with your bags). Avoid walking alone, and at night in quite streets. Walk with purpose, keep your valuables hidden, avoid flashing your cash. If you have a big expensive camera, try keeping it in an old-duck-tape-covered case. In busy streets, crowds, public transport and when watching street performers be alert to pick-pockets, you could wear your day bag in-front and keep your hands in your pockets. When out in town stay in groups, preferably mixed gender. In some countries such as India it could be worth young female travelers to wear a fake wedding ring. If threatened forcefully or with a weapon, then do not resit, just handover your wallet, no great loss, most of you money and bank cards are hidden in your money belt, presides that’s why you have travel insurance.

 8. Getting about
Make sure your walking boots are ‘broken-in’. Turn up to international flights 3hrs in advance. Check that your bags are under the weight allowances, and that you haven’t packed your pen knife in hand luggage! If you are in charge of booking transport (youth expeditions) research and book in advance for bus and train journeys.

  9. Keep a lasting memory
Take lot’s of photos, and back them up whenever you have a chance. Bring a spare camera battery, memory card and camera cable. In-fact bring a spare camera if you can. Keep a diary.

 10. Enjoy it
Remember to take time out to enjoy the situation, surroundings, culture, your team, the environment, the experience.