Discover the best of the Indian Subcontinent and Southeast Asia on this 12 week budget overland tour, a great gap year trip or career break, suitable for all ages and anyone with a passion for true adventure travel! On this expedition you will visit iconic sights as well as remote areas of Nepal, India, newly opened Myanmar (Burma), Thailand, Laos, Vietnam, Cambodia, Malaysia and Singapore.
Price: £3495 Expedition Payment + $1500 Local Payment
Length: 12 weeks
Accommodation: 100% hotels/guest houses/hostels, no camping – yay!
Transport: 80% custom-built Madventure overland truck, 20% local transport
Age restrictions: none, all ages are welcome
Group size: 25 is average, minimum is 20, maximum is 40
Our proposed itinerary is here to give you an idea of where we will be going and what we will be doing during this expedition. This itinerary is the ideal route we would like to take providing all political and natural situations are acceptable during the time of our travels. Situations sometimes change during an expedition so please be prepared to take an alternative route in the event we encounter any problems. It’s all part of the adventure!
Our tour begins in Kathmandu, a traveller’s hub where trekkers swap stories in the lively bars and the Everest Steak House serves up delicious fillets of beef. The old town is steeped in history and the smell of incense wafts through the air as you marvel at the Pagodas and Temples adorning the squares. The scenic flight over Mt Everest is a must-do. Please note, as we depart Kathmandu on day 1 of this tour please arrive a few days early if you wish to see the sights and take the Mt. Everest flight.
Heading west we reach Pokhara at the foothills of the Himalayas. This mellow little town is situated around a beautiful sheltered lake and surrounded by snow capped mountains. A great place to relax and/or gear up for a trek into the stunning Annapurna range.
At our last stop in Nepal you have the option of exploring Bardia National Park on foot or even on elephant back allowing you to get up close to the rhinos, sloth bears and tigers that inhabit the area.
Delhi is the ultimate in hustle and bustle and facing the unrelenting throng of people is an experience you won’t forget in a hurry. Braving the city traffic has many rewards with great textile markets, wonderful monuments, imposing forts and amazing temples.
Our next destination is India’s most iconic site – the Taj Mahal. This monument to love is spectacular and will keep your camera clicking all day.
Varanasi is on the banks of the Ganges River where you have the option of an early morning boat trip that will definitely open your eyes. You will notice animal and human carcasses floating by as the multitudes flock down to this Holy river to wash away their sins each morning. On shore the funeral pyres known as ‘Ghats’ burn away all day and night as Holy men chant prayers. An unbelievable sight!
We now head into the remote areas of northeast India and spend a couple of days in Manas national Park where you have the option to explore the jungle which is inhabited by a multitude of animals including tigers, panthers, rhinoceros, leopards, elephants and sloth bears.
This mountainous region offers scenic drives as we head towards Myanmar and spend our last day in the pleasant town Imphal where we have time to visit the impressive Kangla Fort.
Having only recently opened their borders to overland tourism Myanmar is fresh and exciting. Our first few days are spent driving on rough tracks through remote areas before arriving in Mandalay where we get our first experience of Burmese city life. This is the last royal city in Burma and a day can easily be spent exploring the numerous pagodas and palaces around town.
The plains of Bagan are our next stop where thousands of pagodas of all shapes and sizes adorn the landscape best explored by bicycle and viewed from hot-air balloons.
At Inle Lake a day’s boating will get you to see the unique leg-rowing fishermen using baskets to catch their fish. The lake is also inhabited by locals and their stilted villages can be visited for a taste of their traditional way of life.
We continue south to Yangon where the gilded Shwedagon Pagoda rises above the city and creates an amazing skyline above Myanmar’s commercial hub.
Travelling via Bago and the region’s numerous giant Buddha’s we arrive at Mt Kyaiktiyo, our last stop in Burma. The mountain is famous for its huge gilded rock precariously balancing on a strand of Buddha’s hair!
Chiang Mai is one of Thailand’s most beautiful towns in the mountainous northern region. Explore elaborate temples within the old city walls and end the day with a Mai-Tai cocktail down on bar street.
Crossing into Laos we visit the extremely relaxed town of Luang Namtha and then you have the option to take boat trip through spectacular mountain scenery down to Luang Prabang. This architectural wonder is a must see, full of temples and tradition as well as wonderful markets.
Vang Vieng is our next stop and is a vibey little town set amongst awesome natural beauty. Outdoor activities abound with caving, climbing, kayaking and tubing being popular outings.
The amazing Kong Lo caves are an interesting stop as we head south. Other-worldly stalactites, spooky limestone formations, and ceilings over 300 feet tall make this flooded cave a highlight in Laos and is best explored by boat.
Please Note: Vietnam and Cambodia do not allow foreign vehicles to enter so this section of the expedition will be conducted on local transport and you will meet back up with the Madventure truck in Bangkok.
Our first stop in Vietnam is the old capital, Hue, home to the splendid tombs of the Nguyen emporers as well as beautiful pagodas and the remains of the old citadel.
The picturesque river town of Hoi An is well worth exploring with it’s amazing Vietnamese architecture and nearby villages specialising in pottery and wood-carvings. The cuisine here is excellent.
Further south we encounter the emerald waters and unspoiled beaches around Nha Trang and Mui Ne, perfect for spending the days sunbathing and the evenings out partying!
Ho Chi Minh City (formerly Saigon) has many highlights but the War Remnants Museum is surely the most sobering. Get a guide and learn all about the atrocities committed during the futile Vietnam war. The Reunification Palace and Notre-Dame Cathedral are also worth a visit and the Mekong Delta day tour is highly recommended.
From HCMC it is also possible to take a trip to the Cu Chi Tunnels, an area with an elaborate underground network that housed thousands during the war.
Please note: Cambodia does not allow foreign vehicles to enter so this section of the expedition will be conducted on local transport and you will meet back up with the Madventure truck in Bangkok.
Phnom Penh is a compact little town spectacularly located on the confluence of three rivers. The Royal Palaces and Silver Pagoda are great day outings, and the sobering ‘Killing Fields’ and Tuol Sleng Museum are a stark reminder of this country’s recent history under the brutal regime of Pol Pot.
Next stop is one of the most inspiring sites in the world – Angkor Wat. These temples are monumental constructions, the largest religious buildings in the world. The intricacy of the carvings is incredible and the site is well worth 2 days exploration.
Bangkok has its fair share of Palaces and Pagodas but it is surely most infamous for its sex shows and lady-boys, so expect the unexpected! From Bangkok you also have the opportunity to visit the ‘Bridge on the River Kwai’ on a day tour and get a good insight into what really happened here during the war.
Further south we catch a ferry over to the tropical island of Ko Samui. Here you can either put your feet up for a few days or you have the option of easily visiting the smaller islands of Ko Pha-Ngan and Ko Tao. The islands have some of the world’s finest beaches and the numerous great dive spots will take you into a vibrant underwater paradise filled with exotic fish and coral gardens.
Georgetown has a rich history and is a great introduction to this wonderfully diverse country. Visit the Fatt Tze Mansion and Kapitan Keling Mosque, and then sample some of the unique Malaysian street food on offer.
Next we visit the futuristic city of Kuala Lumpur with the Islamic-style Petronas Towers dominating the city’s skyline. Chinatown market is a remnant of the past and contrasts the initial feel of the place. You will even find a British colonial atmosphere lingering amongst some of the architecture and some interesting museums hold the city’s history within their doors.
Further south we visit the port town of Melaka where we have the time to visit the maritime museums and discover what the place was like 400 years ago when it was an important stop on the spice route.
Singapore is our last stop on the Asian continent and is a distinctly clean and modern island. With an abundance of fine dining options and shopping malls this is the place to treat yourself before flying home. So get down to Raffles, order a Singapore Sling and celebrate completing an amazing Asian expedition – Kathmandu to Singapore Overland!
If you would like to extend your trip to either start in Central Asia and/or end in Indonesia or Australia please feel free to contact us. We are happy to create a bespoke itinerary and price for you.
How to book
To make a booking please fill in our online booking form and then pay a £300 deposit by direct transfer or Paypal, or call us to pay using your credit or debit card over the phone. Once we receive your online booking form and deposit we will confirm your booking by email and send you all relevant information necessary for your expedition preparations.
Expedition payment
The Expedition Payment of £3495 is the main bulk payment for your expedition and is payable in the U.K. in GBP (£ Sterling). In order to reserve a place on this expedition you must pay £300 as a deposit. The balance of your expedition payment (£3195) must then be paid in full at least four months prior to the expedition start date. If you book within 4 months of the departure date the full Expedition Payment of £3495 should be paid upon booking. The expedition payment can be paid by direct transfer or via Paypal.
Direct transfers:
NOTE: Please use your full name as a reference when paying by direct transfer.
Bank: HSBC
Account name: Madventure Ltd.
Sort code: 40-08-10
Account number: 91618415
IBAN : GB74MIDL 400810 91618415
Swift/BIC: MIDLGB22
Bank address: HSBC Bank, 6 High Street, Abingdon, Oxfordshire, OX14 5AZ, United Kingdom
Paypal
Paypal account name: info@madventure.co.uk
Local Payment
This is a cash payment of USD $1500 that must be paid to your expedition leader at the beginning of your trip and will be used to pay for all expenses while you are on the road.
Please bear in mind that this is not a kitty and is not refundable. The local payment is simply a way for us to get cash to the expedition leaders so they can run the trip.
Please bring your local payment in new unmarked $100 bills if possible.
Although all local payment amounts are advertised in USD you may be asked to bring the equivalent amount in either Euros or GBP.
We realise that not everyone is going to visit every site or partake in every activity along the way so we have left most of these activities as optional and therefore kept the expedition payment to a minimum.
Included
Not Included
Below is a list of the most popular optional excursions along with the most recent prices. Prices can of course change and are not controlled in any way by Madventure so please use the list below as an approximate guide only.
Nepal
Mt Everest flight, Kathmandu £110
3 day Poon Hill Trek, Annapurna Mountains £150
Paragliding, Pokhara £100
1 day rafting trip, Pokhara £30
Elephant safari, Bardia NP £20
Walking safari, Bardia NP £10
India
India Gate, Delhi Free
Humayun’s Tomb, Delhi £4
River Lotus Temple, Delhi Free
Outb’minar (Stone Tower), Delhi £4
Taj Mahal, Agra £10
Ganges sunrise boat trip £5
Manas NP day safari £20
Myanmar
Mandalay sites 3 day pass £15
Bagan sites 3 day pass Free
Inle lake boat tour £12
Shwedagon Pagoda, Yangon £5
Mt Kyaiktiyo Golden Rock tour £15
Laos
Slow boat to Luang Prabang £20
Royal Palace Museum, Luang Prabang £2
Tubing, Vang Vieng £10
Kong Lo Cave tour £7
Vietnam
Perfume River Boat Trip, Hue £2
Hue Ancient Citadel £3
Japanese Bridge, Hoi An Free
Vinpearl Island waterpark, Nha Trang £15
Booze cruise, Nha Trang £10
Mui Ne half day tour £6
Kitesurfing (per hour), Mui Ne £40
Mekong Delta day tour, Ho Chi Minh City £10
War Remnants Museum, Ho Chi Minh City £3
Cu Chi Tunnels excursion £15
Cambodia
Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum (S21), Phnom Penh £3
Killing Fields, Phnom Penh £4
Royal Palace & Silver Pagoda, Phnom Penh £3
National Museum of Cambodia, Phnom Penh £2
Angkor Wat (One Day/Three Day Pass), Siem Reap £15/40
Thailand
Grand Palace, Bangkok £5
National museum, Bangkok £3
Bridge On The River Kwai Day Tour £20
Boat dive, Ko Samui £50
Beach dive, Ko Samui £20
4 day PADI dive course, Ko Samui £200
Malaysia
Georgetown walking tour Free
KL viewing tower, Kuala Lumpur £10
Melaka duck tour £15
Singapore
Singapore Sling at Raffles £10
Singapore Zoo £15
Hop on hop off bus tour £15
We will be travelling in a purpose-built Madventure overland vehicle for approximately 80% of the time on this expedition. A standard bus simply wouldn’t be able to tackle many of the roads we travel on. For the other 20% of the time, mainly in Vietnam and Cambodia, we will be travelling on local buses, boats, trains and ferries.
The overland vehicle we use is a custom-built 8×4 Scania expedition truck which can accommodate up to 40 people although most of our expeditions travel with approximately 25 people.
Comfort and safety is of course a big factor during expeditions of this length and nature so all our vehicles have high-backed coach seats with safety belts. The seating is on the upper level of the vehicle giving you an almost 360° view of the surrounding scenery.
Our vehicles are designed to allow sufficient luggage storage and are also equipped with lockers to keep all your all your gear safe.
Our long range diesel and water tanks ensure our self sufficiency in remote areas and the equipment we take with us is also of vital importance. In case of a breakdown we are equipped with a good selection of spare parts as well as a comprehensive tool kit to undertake any necessary repairs on our own as and when we need to.
There may also be times when we get stuck in the sand or mud when travelling off road so all necessary recovery equipment such as sand mats, cables, ropes, shovels and pickaxes are also on board.
We usually carry 500 litres of treated drinking water and should we ever decide to cook on the truck we are equipped with a good kitchen which includes all cutlery, plates, cups, pots and pans, utensils, gas cooker, BBQ grate, etc.
Comfortable fold up chairs are provided for outdoor seating and we also have a large tarpaulin to keep us dry on those rainy days.
Our vehicles have a 12V and a 240V power supply for charging any of your personal travel equipment such as cameras, laptops, batteries, etc.
We carry a comprehensive first aid kit for emergencies but we do recommend you bring your own for general use.
Eating well is a very important factor on our expeditions and good food is vital for everyone’s health and well-being. We always strive to provide you with one healthy, wholesome and plentiful meal every day, usually breakfast at the hotel.
Occasionally we may decide to cook lunch or dinner using our own kitchen on the truck but in general you are responsible for your own lunches and dinners.
For lunch we usually stop at a cheap local restaurant giving you a chance to taste the local fare. In the evenings once we are checked into our hotel you are free to choose where you want to eat.
Local food is generally very cheap so if you are on a budget then eat what the locals eat. Western restaurants tend to be more expensive.
You will spend 100% of your time on this expedition staying in local hotels, guest houses and hostels. There is no camping – yay!
We always try to use decent, clean budget hotels, guest houses and hostels, however, taking into consideration the sometimes unpredictable nature of this expedition and the remoteness of some of the areas we visit, please be aware that in some circumstances we just have to take what we can get – good or bad. When staying in hotels/guest houses/hostels you can expect to share your room with other expedition members of both sexes.
There is usually an opportunity for anyone to upgrade to a single room or a superior room if they so wish. All accommodation upgrades are at your own expense.
1: A deposit of £300 is payable at the time of booking. The deposit is non-refundable unless Madventure is unable to offer you a place or you cancel within 14 days of the initial booking date. Madventure guarantees not to increase the trip price once the deposit has been received.
2: A booking is made in the name of the client and is not transferable to another person. You are only permitted to transfer your deposit once to a future expedition, after that a further £300 non-refundable deposit will be required. Please note that you will be affected if you have transferred and there is a price increase as you will have to pay the ‘current expedition price’ at the time that the expedition balance payment is due.
3: The balance of the expedition payment is due no later than 4 months before the date of departure. If the full payment is not received 4 months prior to departure Madventure may deem the booking cancelled and the deposit forfeited. If you book within the 4 month period prior to departure the full expedition payment must be received upon booking.
4: Cancellation of a booking must be notified in writing and when received by Madventure the deposit is forfeited. You acknowledge that payment for the trip is an intrinsic part of the trips income and contributes towards the overall costs of equipment, vehicle running costs, staff administration etc. and Madventure will have incurred a large part of its costs before the actual departure date. You will not receive a refund of any amount after the balance of your expedition has been paid (which is due no later than 4 months prior to the expedition departing), nor are you able to transfer to another expedition therefore we recommend you take out your travel insurance from the date you make your expedition balance payment, 4 months prior to departure, so you are insured if you have to withdraw off the trip. If the reason for your cancellation is covered under the terms of your insurance policy you may be able to reclaim these charges but it is your sole responsibility to do so and we accept no liability for any acts or omissions of your insurance company.
5: It is unlikely that we will have to make any changes to your trip, but we do plan all trips many months in advance. Occasionally, we may have to make changes and we reserve the right to do so at any time. Most of these changes will be minor and we will advise you of them at the earliest possible date. We also reserve the right in any circumstances to cancel your trip. For example, if the minimum number of clients required for a particular trip is not reached, we may have to cancel it. However, we will not cancel your trip less than 60 days before your departure date, except for reasons of Force Majeure or failure by you to pay the final balance. If we are unable to provide the trip, you can either have a refund of all monies paid or accept an offer of an alternative trip of comparable standard from us, if available (we will refund any price difference if the alternative is of a lower value). It is understood that a minimum of 20 expedition members are required to run this Madventure expedition and less than that may result in the cancellation of the expedition. In the event of this happening, all monies paid by you towards the expedition cost only will be refunded. Madventure is not responsible for reimbursing equipment, flights, cost of visas, vaccinations and medication etc. purchased by yourself in the event of a cancellation.
6: We reserve the right at any time prior to the departure date, without prior consultation with yourself, to merge your trip with one or more other trips travelling at the same time. This will not constitute a major change and would usually just mean swapping vehicles.
7: In the unlikely event of Force Majeure we will not pay you compensation if we have to cancel or change your trip in any way because of unusual or unforeseeable circumstances beyond our control. These can include, for example, war, riot, industrial dispute, terrorist activity and its consequences, natural or nuclear disaster, fire, epidemics or health risks, closed or congested airports, ports or stations, poor local infrastructure, changes imposed by re-scheduling or cancellation of transport by the transport supplier such as flights by airlines or main charterer, the alteration of transport or transport types, adverse weather conditions (actual or threatened), avalanche and technical failure with transport, Foreign and Commonwealth Office advice changing and advising against travel to the trip destination.
8: The expedition payment and local payment cover the costs of transport, accommodation, some relating ferry and train tickets, meals and national park entry fees as specified on the website, as well as the running, repair and maintenance of our vehicle and of the replacement of equipment.
9: The local payment must be paid in cash on the day of departure. The local payment will pay for all expenses during the trip. The expedition leader has sole responsibility for the local payment. The local payment is not a kitty and is not refundable. Any local payment monies or stock remaining at the trip end are non-refundable.
10: You undertake to comply with the laws and regulations, whether in respect of health, immigration, currency exchange control or any other matter of all the countries visited during the expedition.
11: You undertake to obtain a valid passport and have enough blank pages in the passport for the trip and your specific passport and visa requirements, and other immigration requirements are your responsibility and you should confirm these with the relevant embassies and/or consulates. We do not accept any responsibility and shall not be liable if you cannot travel or cannot participate in any part of the trip because you have not complied with any passport, visa or immigration requirements. You are responsible for obtaining and having available the necessary documents (including but not limited to full, current passport with enough blank pages to complete the trip and valid for at least 9 months from the last day of the trip and visas for all periods, countries and territories within the trip) enabling you to participate in the trip and shall comply with all local legislation and regulations of the countries in which the trip takes place (including immigration requirements, customs regulations and currency exchange). You shall indemnify us against any loss or expense that we may incur or suffer as a result of breach of this condition by you. We cannot guarantee visa prices and availability of visas. Ultimately visas are your own responsibility to obtain.
12: Madventure reserves the right to deviate from the advertised expedition route if in their reasonable opinion such deviation is necessary for the safety or wellbeing of any or any one of the members of the expedition or for the satisfactory progress of the expedition. In the event of it becoming necessary to fly over a country or countries in order to satisfactorily and safely continue the expedition, all costs of your flights will be borne by yourself.
13: Madventure accepts no responsibility for matters arising out of political disputes, border closures, epidemics, natural disasters, climate, armed robbery, terrorism, etc. Should it become necessary to abandon an expedition because of such an event Madventure will be entitled to retain such monies received as is necessary to cover costs incurred.
14: You accept that owing to the nature of countries visited, all expeditions involve an element of personal risk and are of a potentially hazardous and unpredictable nature. In many countries visited the basic infrastructure, such as roads, is very poor and therefore less safe than that familiar to people from many western countries. In particular, lack of road markings or warning signs, unmarked speed bumps, seasonal flooding of roads and bridges, local vehicles which are poorly maintained and driven and which are hazardous to other road users etc. are factors beyond the control of Madventure. You accept that in some areas we drive off-road and that this involves personal risk when the expedition vehicle can be negotiating rough terrain. Madventure owns and operates many of its own expedition vehicles and employs its own crew. Where stated, locally arranged transport and crew, including trains, ferries, buses or coaches are used. Where Madventure’s own vehicles and/or crew are not used for the above services, you agree that the obligation of Madventure to yourself is to select normally competent, independent sub-contractors to provide the necessary services related to the trip and to exercise reasonable care in selecting such suppliers to provide these. You also accept that you undertake this expedition at your own risk and your participation is your own decision and does not form any part of your contract with Madventure. Madventure does not take responsibility for cancellations, unreliability of services or safety of operators, agents or contractors.
15: You accept that local emergency facilities are usually of a very limited nature. Hospitals outside of large cities often have no accident and emergency facilities and emergency transport facilities can be non-existent.
16: If you have a problem during your trip please inform the expedition leader immediately who will endeavour to put things right. If your complaint is not resolved locally please follow this up by writing to our registered office giving all other relevant information and, where possible, evidence. We must receive any such complaint not later than 28 days from the date of completion of your trip. Please keep your letter concise and to the point. This will assist us to quickly identify your concerns and speed up our response to you. We do not accept any liability or responsibility for any personal possessions (including but not limited to cameras, jewellery, valuables and money) which is carried on or in our vehicles, carried on public transport or transport supplied by independent subcontractors, left in accommodation provided by us or our suppliers during a trip or left in our care during a trip. Such items are carried and/or left at your own risk.
17: Excursions or other tours that you may choose to book or pay for whilst you are on a trip are not part of your trip arrangements provided by us. For any excursion or other tour that you book your contract will be with the operator of the excursion or tour and not with us. We are not responsible for the provision of the excursion or tour or for anything that happens during the course of its provision by the operator. You accept that the prices quoted for optional activities are approximate as local prices can and do change. Any of the optional activities listed are not necessarily endorsed or recommended by Madventure. You also accept that you undertake any activity at your own risk and your participation is your own decision and does not form any part of your contract with Madventure. Madventure does not take responsibility for cancellations, unreliability of services or safety of operators, agents or contractors.
18: Whilst a trip is in progress you will at all times be expected to act in accordance with all reasonable instructions from us and/or the expedition leader. We may exclude you from the trip or any part thereof at any time (including during the trip itself) if we are of the opinion that you are likely to prejudice the good order, discipline or safety of the trip, including as a result of failing to comply with the expedition leader’s instructions, breaking any law or regulation of any country where the trip takes place or failing to adhere to the trip code of conduct, provided that we exercise our discretion reasonably in this regard. In such an event you shall reimburse to us any reasonable costs, losses or expenses which we incur or suffer as a result of our decision to exclude you from the trip, and Madventure shall cease to have any responsibility to/for you. No refund will be given for any unused services.
19: By completing the declaration on the booking form you confirm that you appreciate the risks involved in the trip and that you do not suffer (or have ever suffered) from any pre – existing medical condition that may actively prevent you from actively participating in the trip other than those that have been declared to us. It is your responsibility to ensure that you are medically fit enough to undertake the trip and to ensure that you have received the necessary inoculations and medications (and taken them as prescribed by your doctor) relevant to the destination country. Unless informed otherwise in writing we will assume that you are in good health and are not aware of any reason why you may be unsuited to taking part in the trip. We recommend that you consult your doctor before making a booking to ensure that you are medically fit and are fully aware regarding the immunizations and medical issues related to your destination countries. If you have any pre-existing medical condition, illness or disability, are undergoing medical treatment or, since entering into the contract, develop any medical condition, illness or disability or undergo any medical treatment; you will give us full particulars at the earliest opportunity and at the latest sixty (60) days before the departure date. If it is later discovered that a pre-existing condition was not declared within the specified time, and such condition would, if we had knowledge of it, have led to our refusal to accept or to cancel your booking, we reserve the right to withdraw you from the trip without any refund or recompense. In such event, you shall reimburse to us any reasonable costs, losses or expenses which we incur or suffer as a result. In the event of you being withdrawn from a trip, no refunds will be given and we will not be responsible for (and you agree to indemnify us against) any costs, claims, losses and expenses arising including costs of repatriation e.g. flights and legal expenses. By agreeing to these conditions, you provide your consent to us and our insurers obtaining your medical records should we consider it necessary. You will be responsible for any charges for the provision of the information. We reserve the right to inspect your vaccination book at any time and to withdraw you from the trip in the event that you have not received and/or taken all the requisite inoculations and/or medication. If the information provided by you is incorrect and we discover that the correct information affects your suitability to take part in the trip, we may terminate the contract and withdraw you from the trip without refund or recompense, including during the trip. You agree and acknowledge that certain activities undertaken whilst you are on the trip may be inherently hazardous and have risks associated with them. You agree to abide by all instructions given to you whilst you are on the trip and you acknowledge that we cannot be held responsible for any injuries that may arise as a result of you failing to comply with such instructions.
20: You must be covered by personal travel insurance. This must cover you fully against the cost of cancellation by you, medical care and repatriation should you become too ill to continue and must above all cover you against the cost of air evacuation should sickness or injury necessitate such a course of action. You should also note that passenger liability insurance covering vehicles, particularly in third world countries, may be inadequate. It is therefore important that your insurance cover makes sufficient provision for your dependants in the event of an accident. Please note however that we have no control over the availability or standard of medical and repatriation services and facilities in the areas we visit and these do not form any part of our contract with you. Please remember that many of the areas we visit are not as developed as the UK and the availability and standard of such services may well be lower. Please read your policy details carefully and take them with you when you travel. It is your responsibility to ensure that the insurance cover you purchase is suitable and adequate for your particular needs. We do not check individual insurance policies for suitability.
21: In many countries we visit, the local vehicle accident insurance includes either very limited passenger liability or none at all. Madventure has passenger liability insurance for some countries through which we travel but the client acknowledges that in many countries the expedition vehicle does not have the benefit of passenger liability insurance. The client agrees to indemnify Madventure against any claim or demand made in respect of any accident, personal injury or loss of life caused to, contracted or suffered by the client during the course of the expedition.
22: We shall ensure that appropriate security measures are in place to protect your personal data (as defined in the Data Protection Act 1998). When you make a booking, you consent to all the information you provide being passed on to our suppliers, agents, subcontractors, employees or volunteers whether based inside or outside of Europe for the purposes of us providing you with the trip.
23: By agreeing to these terms and conditions you consent (unless otherwise stated on your application form) to our staff taking photographs and or video footage of you during the trip and that these images may be used by us for publicity and training purposes including, but not limited to, brochures, websites, marketing material and in the media.
24: We shall be entitled to novate or assign the contract or any part of it to any third party. You shall not be entitled to assign the contract or any part of it. This contract is made on the terms of these conditions, which are governed by English law, and subject to the provisions of condition you agree to the exclusive jurisdiction of the English courts. If any of these conditions is found by any court or other competent authority to be wholly or partly unfair or unenforceable the validity of the rest of the booking conditions and the rest of the condition in question shall not be affected and shall remain valid and enforceable to the extent permitted by law. A reference in these conditions to a statute, convention or regulation shall be as a reference to that statute convention or regulation as amended, re-enacted or extended at the relevant time. The headings in these conditions are for convenience only and shall not affect their interpretation. Where the context otherwise requires, words importing the singular meaning shall include the plural meaning and vice versa and words denoting the masculine gender shall include the feminine and neuter genders. Where the context so admits, words denoting persons shall include natural persons, companies, corporations, firms, partnerships, limited liability partnerships, joint trips, trusts, voluntary associations and other incorporated and/or unincorporated bodies or other entities (in each case, whether or not having separate legal personality) and all such words shall be construed interchangeably in that manner.
25: The information given in the brochure and other literature supplied is given in good faith but no warranty is given that it is correct.
26: No servant, agent or authorized representative of Madventure has authority to commit Madventure to any liability whatsoever and Madventure will not be bound by any statement or representation unless it is in writing and signed by one of the directors.
27: Your contract is with Madventure Limited, a company registered in England and Wales whose registered office is at 93 Lashford Lane, Dry Sandford, Abingdon, Oxfordshire, OX136EB (Company No. 6809461 ).
28: Privacy Policy – We do not store credit card details nor do we share financial details with any 3rd parties.
Personal budget
We recommend a budget of £100 – £120 per person per week to live comfortably during this expedition. This budget should cover day to day things like lunches, dinners, snacks, soft drinks, the odd few beers, etc.
Budget approximately £250 for your visas, security clearances and letters of invitation.
Souvenirs are something that can be very cheap or very expensive so if you are going to be buying things like silk carpets you should budget for it.
Please also have a look at our Optional Excursions list as you may want to budget for a few of those activities too.
Travel money
We recommend you bring 1/3 of your money in cash US Dollars and the rest of your money on your Visa or Mastercard credit/debit card.
They generally accept all major currencies for exchange but US Dollars are accepted everywhere.
ATM’s are widely available for you to draw local currency using your Visa or Mastercard credit/debit card.
To keep your money/credit cards/ipod/camera/laptop safe we recommend you purchase a ‘Pacsafe Travelsafe’ product. They offer various size portable anti-theft bags that can be attached to the vehicle when travelling and also attached to the toilet/bed/closet in your hotel room when off the vehicle.
Below is general information and recommendations regarding visas and passports. Visas are ultimately your own responsibility to obtain and visa requirements may vary according to your nationality and place of application, so use the information below as a guide only. Madventure is in no way responsible for obtaining your visas or passports.
We recommend you obtain the following visas in your passport before departure – India and Myanmar.
All other visas can be obtained en-route.
You can either obtain visas yourself or use the services of a visa agency such as www.thevisamachine.com
Some nationalities may also require Letters of Invitation in order to apply for certain visas. Visa agencies like www.thevisamachine.com can often provide these for you for a fee.
Approximately 3 months prior to departure you will be sent the information required in order to complete your applications and apply for your visas (there are often time restrictions on visas so you can not apply earlier). We recommend that you make your passport available 2 months before departure in order to obtain your visas comfortably.
Budget approximately £250 for all your visas and letters of invitation.
Please ensure you have 10 free pages in your passport in order to accommodate all the visas and ensure your passport is valid for at least 10 months after your departure date.
You will need approximately 8 passport photos for the duration of the expedition.
Vaccination requirements are constantly changing so we recommend you seek the latest professional medical advice at least 8 weeks before departure to ensure you allow yourself enough time to obtain all necessary vaccinations. Nomad Travel’s website has up-to-date information on vaccinations, malaria and other general medical advice for all the countries we will be visiting and they also administer vaccinations at their Travel Clinics in various locations within UK.
Alternatively speak with your local Health Professionals for current accurate information. You will need to make an appointment with your GP or Travel Clinic and take a list of the countries you are visiting and the approximate dates when you will be there.
Medically fit and able
You need to be in good general health for this expedition and be reasonably fit and able. The main concern is that everyone is able to pitch in equally and do their fair share when it comes to group activities like the communal cooking and cleaning up, packing gear in and out of the truck, erecting your own tent, etc. You do not need to be super-fit by any means and all ages are welcome. We always attract a very broad age range on these expeditions, from people in their 20’s through to people in their 70’s.
Please inform us of any medical conditions that you have before departure so that your crew know how to deal with a medical situation if it should arise. All information will be kept confidential unless you request us to inform your fellow travelers. For example, it may be wise to inform fellow travelers if you are allergic to something like bee-stings so they know what to do if you get stung.
First aid kit
We carry a comprehensive first aid kit aboard the vehicle but it is recommended that you bring your own basic first aid kit for general use.
It is compulsory that every person who travels with Madventure obtain travel insurance for the complete duration of the expedition. Proof of travel insurance must be shown before joining an expedition.
There are various travel insurance companies to choose from and a Google search will bring up a vast selection but for clients who are resident in UK we recommend a London based company named Campbell Irvine, www.campbellirvine.com, tel. 020 7938 1734. They are familiar with what we do, so mention our name and the expedition you are travelling on and they will provide excellent cover for you.
If you choose to obtain your travel insurance through another company please ensure you read the small-print and make sure you are covered for Medical Repatriation.
Backpack/sports bag/suitcase: We recommend you carry your luggage in a backpack but irrespective if you prefer a sports bag or a suitcase you are restricted to a maximum 100 liter volume.
Day bag: You are also permitted to bring a day bag with a maximum 40 liter volume that you can carry in the overhead luggage rack on the back of the truck with you.
Pacsafe: in order to keep your valuables safe we recommend a Pacsafe product. They make a range of anti-theft bags which vary in sizes and can accommodate your money, credit cards, passport, camera, laptop, etc. They can be attached to the overhead luggage rack on the back of the vehicle when travelling and/or to a fixed item in your hotel.
Headtorch: an invaluable investment! Check out the Petzl Tika Plus.
Water purifier – quite a handy thing to have to purify contaminated water and avoid ‘Delhi Belly’. Check out the range of Lifestraw products.
Kindle: optional but great to keep all your travel guides and books in 1 place.
Laptop: certainly not necessary but many places have wifi available these days so having your own laptop will save you hanging around internet cafes.
Camera: completely up to you but most people bring one.
Toiletries: available everywhere but start with some toilet paper, toothpaste, toothbrush, dental floss, deodorant, soap and shampoo.
Towel: a microfiber travel towel is a good option as dries quickly and packs down small.
First aid kit: only a basic one is recommended but should include plasters, antiseptic cream, bandage, pain relief tablets, scissors and safety pins.
Passport photos: please bring along 8 passport photos for the duration of the expedition.
Clothes & shoes:
1 pair of flip flops
1 pair of walking shoes, trainers or boots
4 pairs of socks
4 pairs of undies
4 bras
4 t-shirts and/or vest tops
2 pairs of zip-off trousers which can be worn long or short
1 swimming trunks/bikini
1 lightweight long sleeve top
1 decent fleece top or fleece jacket
1 wet weather jacket
1 light-weight dress/skirt for the ladies
1 collared shirt for the blokes
As our expeditions are not your average run of the mill overland tours we would like to go through every aspect of the trip with you to ensure that you are as informed and prepared as possible. At Madventure we believe in giving you the nitty-gritty details as well as the obvious highlights, as in our opinion these are just as important and we want to explain the expedition in as much detail as possible so you can be sure you are suited and prepared for one of our overland adventures. If after reading this, you decide that this expedition is not for you then, as long as it is within 14 days of your initial booking, you can cancel off the expedition and receive a full refund of your deposit.
The following may sound a little negative at times, but it’s just so we are secure in the knowledge that we have provided you with as much information as possible, the good and the bad, to ensure everybody is completely aware exactly what type of trips we run for the benefit of you, us and your fellow expedition members as there is nothing worse than getting someone booking on the trip when it is not what they actually wanted or expected as our expeditions are too long and too full on. You need to know what you are in for and be able to handle it!
At times you will be exposed to intense humid heat and as wonderful as places like India are, they do not have a western infrastructure and their acceptable level of hygiene standards are very different to ours.
Mucking In: This is a full participation expedition so you need to be able to participate fully in all aspects of the trip including digging your vehicle out of bogs and clearing and rebuilding roads if necessary! (It’s not ‘planned’ to happen but if it does then it’s all hands on deck).
We get everyone to agree that you are medically fit and able and can physically participate fully in all aspects required. Don’t worry, you don’t need any prior experience or knowledge or to be a fitness freak, just to be happy to do your share and have a willingness to get stuck in when necessary.
When things go wrong: The only thing we can guarantee is that at some point things will not go according to plan! We have to follow the legislation of each individual country and they may all have different regulations and attitudes towards us. Generally everyone is always friendly and it’s usually obstacles such as breakdowns, bad roads and natural disasters that have a bearing on the expedition. Everything changes from trip to trip depending on what the current situation or problem is, so it’s not ‘if’ something goes wrong, it’s ‘when’.
Please be prepared to expect the unexpected and accept that things will go wrong from time to time. These instances are usually the stories that remain with everyone so enjoy the experience. An easy-going approach will help the situation immensely. Moaning about every little thing that doesn’t go our way will not!
Attitude & Group Living: A good, easy-going attitude will help you get through this trip and ensure you are liked by your fellow travelers as well as the locals. The one thing that is extremely detrimental to an expedition such as this is your common ‘moaner’. It has nothing to do with age, sex or nationality, it just matters that although they signed up for this ‘in theory’ they cannot cope ‘in practice’ and it’s always got to be someone’s fault. It sounds a bit harsh but by weeding out any moaners early on we can have a chat with them and ensure your expedition is as good as it can be. It’s hard enough at the best of times without in-house problems so by ensuring everyone is on the same page from the get go will start us off in good stead.
We have no age restrictions and if there is one thing we have come to realize, through experience, is that it’s the mental attitude that counts the most and a broader age range is better on a long trip as it stops the stereotyping – the more in the mix the better.
There will be parties and there will be quiet nights. There are no set rules and it always sorts itself out depending on the individual personalities of who’s on board.
Laziness and selfishness will also be spotted early on so we advise everyone to pull their weight. We can guarantee that at some stage during the expedition you will have to just fit in and go with the flow when it’s not what you personally wanted to do. When situations arise where we can’t please everybody we always aim to please the ‘majority of the group’ not the individual.
Please be aware that if any particular person is constantly causing the rest of the group (or the crew) grief due to their behavior they will be warned and then asked to leave the expedition if nothing improves and no refund will be given. This is obviously the most extreme situation but we will not let one or two lazy or selfish individuals spoil it for everybody else. Everybody knows the score from the start and this is for everyone’s benefit. Usually everybody who does our trips has a relaxed approach and everybody gets on very well and any unsuitable people do not last long and leave on their own accord.
This is a once in a lifetime experience so let’s all enjoy it!
Drive times, routes and proposed itineraries: We are driving a fair distance in a restricted time frame, so yes, there are going to a lot of drive days and some of them will be long. This is where you have to be able to take pleasure in the scenery or a good book from time to time.
As a general rule on a drive day we leave in the morning around 7-8am (after breakfast) and pull up just before dusk, but this really depends on the distance between destinations.
Sometimes it will be a full day’s drive between destinations and you’ll have the following day free. On rare occasions it will be a 2 – 3 day long drive where you’ll leave early, stop late and then have a few free days at your destination. Sometimes it’s only a few hours between locations. Driving is a huge part of the trip so be prepared for a lot of it and expect the odd long drive into the night.
Please note: At times we may placed under military or police escort when travelling through troubled areas. If this occurs then we are at their mercy and they make the decisions with regard to driving hours and routes. We do not argue with those who are trusted to ensure our safety so please be aware that sometimes the pace will be much faster than we would personally choose and the route they pick will be the one we follow, regardless of our proposed itinerary.
Delays: We always strive to arrive at our destinations on time but if we experience any delays we will adjust our itinerary accordingly. If we experience any major delays our end date can be extended to suit our needs.
Our one real exception to the rule are our dates to enter Myanmar. We will make those dates regardless of what we have to miss to get there. The Myanmar government is not flexible so we must enter on time as our permits take months to arrange and are not easily changed.
The proposed itinerary is just that, ‘proposed’, and can and will change at the crew’s discretion if need be.
Drugs: In a lot of the countries we travel through drugs such as marijuana and hashish are in abundance and readily available. Please be aware that they are still illegal and some countries hold the Death Penalty as punishment for being caught in possession. Obviously you are free to do whatever you want to do in your own free time but there is NEVER to be any illegal drugs onboard the expedition vehicle at any time.
If you are caught with any kind of illegal drugs on the expedition vehicle, regardless of the amount, you will be asked to leave the expedition immediately and no refund will be given. This is a very serious rule as any inconsideration can lead to the vehicle being impounded, the expedition cancelled and other innocent party’s arrested. We will not hesitate to remove someone if we have to so please respect your other expedition members.
Your Crew: You will normally have a crew of 1 experienced person who fills the role of being the driver/expedition leader. Sometimes our crew prefer to work with a partner so there may occasionally be 2 crew who share the roles of driver and expedition leader. On some expeditions we may also have a cameraman who is there to help market our tours and update our social media accounts.
Your crew member will drive and maintain the vehicle as well as sort out all the accommodation, permits, border crossings and generally ensure the smooth running of the expedition. Your crew member is not a tour guide and will not be giving you the history and facts of every country you travel through. Apart from the odd optional extra that needs to be organized in advance, we leave most of that stuff to you guys, this way ensuring you get to do what you want, at the price you are happy to pay.
You do the reading up on the places we are going to in advance and decide how you want to spend your time and what activities you want to do. Apart from some basic truck rules this is not a trip where we hold your hand, it’s an expedition and we expect that you will want to be as independent as possible when it comes to your free time.
Your crew will be hand-picked and trained by Madventure and will have experience of overland travel but they may or may not have done this expedition before. They will however have detailed notes from previous expeditions and backup from the office in UK.
Tipping: Tipping the crew at the end of your expedition is always appreciated. As this is a long expedition, but also a budget one, we recommend you tip your driver/expedition leader a minimum of £100 at the end of the trip. Thank you.
For more on our travel offers, click these links to the many services we offer – American Budget Overland Adventure Tours – Africa Budget Overland Adventure Tours – 5 Stans & Central Asia Budget Tours – Silk Road Overland Tours – Central Asia Overland Tours – Silk Road Group Tours – Central Asia Group Tours – Iceland Overland Budget Tour – Silk Road Budget Tours – Central Asia Budget Tours – Gap Year Adventure Tours – Budget Overland Adventure Tours – Overland Tours – About Adventure Travel – Adventure Tours
Madventure Ltd.
10 Ablett Close
Oxford, OX4 1XH
United Kingdom
Copyright Madventure 2023 / UK company no. 6809461 / VAT no. 947398564 | All Rights Reserved | ABTA | FINANCIAL PROTECTION |TERMS & CONDITIONS |