The natural splendour and abundant wildlife make Alaska the perfect place to start our expedition through the Americas.

Anchorage is our meeting point and is Alaska’s only true city, but even here wild moose still chomp through suburban flower beds and graze alongside the highways. 

Please note that we depart Anchorage on day 1 of this expedition so if you want more time to see Anchorage we advise you to arrive a day or two early.

A short drive away from Anchorage we reach the tiny port town of Whittier which is set impressively amongst mountains, glaciers and a glistening fjord. From here you have the option to take a boat cruise and explore the Prince William Sound where breaching humpback whales, pods of orcas, porpoises, seals and sea otters are all common-place, as well as over 200 species of birds. Also keep an eye out for grizzly bears on the shore!

The quirky town of Talkeetna is a step back in time and is a great place to go flightseeing, rafting, hiking and fishing.

A thousand lakes and tundra capped hills line our way to the wonderful Denali National Park, alive with browsing bears, lone wolves and herds of grazing moose and caribou. We base ourselves here for a couple of days allowing time to explore the magnificent hiking and biking trails on offer.

We feel that our journey through Alaska would be incomplete without a visit to the far north so we continue on to the town of Fairbanks where we provision ourselves for the Dalton Highway. This desolate road has been made famous by the ice road truckers and will take us into the arctic circle, onto the tundra and up to the town of Prudhoe Bay where you have the option to take a tour around USA’s most productive oil fields. This northern route has proved to be a wildlife viewing highlight with grizzly bears, musk ox, arctic fox, caribou, moose and black bears spotted regularly.

Returning to the south we find the quirky settlement of Chicken. Fewer than 20 people reside here but travellers are well catered for at their infamous bar. Remember, what happens in Chicken stays in Chicken!

The Top Of The World Highway now takes us east to Canada.

Our first stop in Canada is Dawson City, made famous by the Klondike Gold Rush and once home to the author Jack London (his original house is now a museum you can visit). The town remains evocative of its past and a day is easily spent lounging around the wild–west bars that offer live music and can-can girls! 

From here the Klondike Highway takes us along a wonderful road running through almost utter wilderness where black bears and wood bison are in abundance by the roadside. This route also offers us the chance to soak ourselves in the Liard hotsprings, a soothing experience in an impressive natural landscape.

The river and mountain landscapes of the Skeena Valley now take us south towards the Canadian Rockies where Jasper National Park offers us wonderful hiking and stunning camping amidst craggy peaks, deep canyons and the world’s 2nd largest glacier-fed lake, Maligne.

Following the Parkway south we stop at numerous waterfalls before arriving at the massive Columbia Icefields where it is possible to visit the Athabasca Glacier from the comfort of an all-terrain Ice Explorer vehicle or walk to the glacier itself via the Toe of the Glacier trail.

We now visit 2 of Canada’s most picture-perfect destinations, Lake Louise and Lake Moraine, where you have time to wander the lakeshores and get those iconic photos of mountains reflecting in the water.

At Banff National Park you have the chance to go rafting, fishing, wildlife viewing, hiking or just relaxing at the hot springs. 

Calgary is a friendly city where we spend 2 nights for you to enjoy some of the country’s best bars and restaurants.

At Frank Slide you have the option to visit the interpretive centre to get a better understanding of this area where Canada’s deadliest landslide occurred in 1903.

Our final destination in Canada is at Head Smashed In Buffalo Jump, a UNESCO world heritage site where an interesting museum explains how the Blackfoot tribe used the natural features of this area to their advantage for over 5500 years by driving buffalo over a cliff edge to their deaths.

We now cross a remote border into Montana, USA.

After driving through the big sky state of Montana we arrive in Wyoming where we get to spend 3 nights in Yellowstone National Park, one of America’s most iconic parks! This is prime grizzly bear territory with bison, elk, moose and wolves also in abundance. This park accommodates more than half the world’s geysers which put on an amazing display, the most famous being Old Faithful.

Just south of here we enter Grand Teton National Park, a little known gem of a park offering great hiking amongst crystal-clear lakes, dramatic jagged peaks and wildlife rich plains.

Near to Salt Lake City we spend a night camping on Antelope Island with spectacular views of the Great Salt Lake. The island is also home to buffalo, pronghorns and coyotes.

The following morning we spend a few hours in Salt Lake City to give you time to explore the huge Mormon Tabernacle, the gleaming centrepiece of the city.

We continue to Zion National Park, a stunningly beautiful area where a highlight is to walk through the rivers that meander through the massive sandstone cliffs of cream, pink and red.

A few hours away we now reach Bryce Canyon National Park. Hiking through the canyons here is an amazing experience where you will see incredible red cliff formations, wondrous pinnacles and the odd formations known as hoodoos.

At Arches National Park we spend half a day exploring the beautiful red-rock wonderland of natural stone arches, soaring pinnacles, massive rock fins and giant balanced rocks.

Monument Valley is a setting straight out of the wild-west where you have the option to visit the towering sandstone pinnacles, mesas and buttes with a Navajo tour guide in a 4×4.

Our journey through Navajo lands now brings us to Antelope Canyon where you have the option to scramble through a series of narrow slot canyons where beams of sunlight shine down from small openings above and bring out the colours of this magnificent natural creation.

Crossing into Arizona we now visit Horseshoe Bend where you have a spectacular view of the Colorado River carving a horseshoe-shaped bend into Glen Canyon.

Our final destination in the USA is the Grand Canyon where nature has carved a truly massive slice into the desert floor. Hiking trails along the canyon rim and even down to the canyon floor offer you spectacular views of one of nature’s most awesome creations!

Our journey now continues south towards Mexico.

Hugging the Gulf of California our first stop in Mexico is at Los Mochis where you have the option to take an epic train trip on the famous Chihuahua al Pacifico. The journey takes you through the spectacular scenery of the Sierra Madre and Copper Canyon before reaching the small towns of Divisadero and Creel where you have time to explore the area on foot or fly across the canyon on the world’s longest zip-line!

Winding roads with vertical sided canyons now lead us up into the beautiful colonial heartland of Mexico where we pass through numerous sleepy villages en-route to Zacatecas. This compact cobble-stoned town is a delight with historic churches, fascinating museums and traditional restaurants.

The ruins of Teotihuacan are our next stop and are mysterious relics of an ancient civilisation where we also find the world’s 3rd largest Pyramid.

We continue to Mexico City, a busy metropolis where the ancient and modern worlds collide with a fantastic display of gorgeous plazas, tranquil canals, glorious palaces, historic museums and sublime restaurants. Ride the open-top bus for a couple of days and you will see all the highlights.

Cactus-filled valleys and wide open plains lead us to the charming city Oaxaca, a mixture of colonial glory and indigenous market-places. This world heritage site is crammed full of culture with wonderful museums, churches and markets. The surrounding area offers inspiring archaeology in the form of the Monte Alban Ruins, featuring pyramids, terraces, tombs, staircases and sculptures, all remnants of the ancient capital of the Zapotec culture.

We now head for the Chiapas highlands and the Sumidero Canyon where you can take an exhilarating boat ride through the steep sided cliffs giving you the chance to pass by several waterfalls, enter caves and get close to some quite large crocodiles.

The quaint town of San Cristobal de las Casas is close by and a real relic of the past. A day spent here wandering the cobbled streets offers us an insight into a real Mexican gem.

After a short swim in the turquoise waters of Agua Azul we continue to Palenque, Mayan ruins set amongst lush jungle and perhaps the most beautiful of all the Mayan ruins in Mexico.

We now head into the Yucatan Peninsula and visit the ruins of Uxmal, Chichen Itza and Tulum, 3 of Mexico’s most impressive Mayan relics.

The Yucatan is also famous for its Cenotes and it is here that we visit Dos Ojos Cenote, 2 crystal-clear natural swimming holes that are part of the world’s longest underwater cave system.

Our journey along the coast now takes us towards Belize.

At Orange River a boat trip through the jungle will afford you the opportunity to see crocodiles, iguanas, turtles, coati, howler monkeys and plenty of birds but the real adventure is arriving at the Lamanai ruins hidden in the dense jungle at the end of the boat journey.

Belize City will be our next base where you have the option to explore the beautiful Caribbean-style island cayes just offshore. This is a fantastic spot for diving and fishing. Those who stay on the mainland can visit the close-by baboon sanctuary or just laze on the beach.

Moving inland we find a wonderful sanctuary protecting the native jaguars, pumas, snakes, monkeys, crocodiles, tapirs and more.

From here we continue towards Guatemala.

We enter Guatemala in the lush lowland jungles where we can explore the once lost Mayan cities and pyramids of Tikal that lie hidden beneath the tree canopy.

A winding route through the Central Highlands now leads us to Lake Atitlan, commonly referred to as the most beautiful lake in the world. The two volcanoes and numerous traditional villages that surround the lake are best explored by boats which traverse the lake daily. The colourful market town of Chichicastenango is also close by offering some bargain buys and interesting Mayan shrines.

Continuing east we reach the charming town of Antigua. Cobbled streets, colonial architecture and friendly faces make this a great place to relax for a couple of nights. 

From here we wind our way through coffee plantations to the pacific coast and El Salvador.

Crossing into this lively and perhaps most friendly of the Central American countries we follow the coastline and base ourselves at the beaches close to La Libertad where surfing and fishing are the order of the day.

The once war-torn capital San Salvador is now a laid-back place where you have time to explore the museums and markets that make this such an interesting region of Central America.

On our way out of San Salvador we will visit Suchitoto, a treasured colonial town and buzzing cultural centre, before heading towards Honduras.

Known as the Paris of the Mayan World, our first destination is the magnificent ruins of Copan. This ancient Mayan city was well preserved after being swallowed up by the jungle and contains the longest known Mayan inscription with over 1250 hieroglyphics.

We now head for the wonderful Bahia de Honduras where we base ourselves in the town of La Ceiba. From here you have the option of visiting the nearby Bay Islands where the diving is spectacular. White sandy beaches, coconut palms and gentle sea breezes typify these islands and the clear waters, rich reefs and intriguing underwater caves make this an idyllic location to undertake a scuba diving course. Those who choose to stay ashore can keep busy with jungle trekking and boat tours.

Lake Yojoa is Honduras largest natural lake where you have the opportunity to hike to beautiful waterfalls and kayak through incredible caves.

We now journey across Honduras en-route to the Nicaraguan border.

The colonial town of Leon is our first stop and is the base camp to the world’s only volcano boarding tours. It is definitely a black run!

Occupying the caldera of an extinct volcano Lake Apoyo is possibly one of the most beautiful lakes in the world where you have the opportunity to swim, kayak, hike and relax for a few days. From here you also have the opportunity to visit Volcan Masaya, one of Central America’s most active volcanoes.

Our last stop in Nicaragua is the charming town of Granada where you can spend the day wandering the cobbled streets of this colonial gem.

On our way to Costa Rica we now hug the shores of the vast Lake Nicaragua, a freshwater lake full of saltwater fish that don’t exist in any other lake in the world.

In Los Chiles you have the opportunity to visit the Cano Negro Wildlife Refuge and take a boat tour on the Rio Frio to look for the sloths, caiman, howler monkeys and the various species of birds that inhabit this lush area.

From our base in La Fortuna you have the option of undertaking numerous wonderful excursions including volcano trekking, riding the sky-tram, rappelling, bungy jumping, horse riding and sloth watching.

The pristine cloud-forests of Monteverde are our next stop where hanging bridges offer dramatic walks through the jungle canopy. For those seeking more adrenalin you can even go Sky Trekking and fly by zip-wire through the forest.

Back down on the Pacific coast our last stop in Costa Rica is at the well-renowned Manuel Antonio beach area where you have the option of spending the day in the National Park with plenty of wildlife and pristine beaches on offer.

From here we now continue our journey towards Panama.

We head straight for the beach here in Panama and our first stop is at Playa Farallon, a palm-fringed white sand beach dotted with thatch umbrellas and divine seafood restaurants.

On our way to Panama City we will cross over the Panama Canal, affectionately known as The Big Ditch! This engineering marvel is considered to be the world’s greatest shortcut and is something that has to be seen to be believed.

Panama City is our final destination where you will find a modern capital with great restaurants, American style malls and a museum explaining the construction of the Panama canal. For something more historic take a walk through the Casco Viejo area where you will find a charming community of old churches, cobbled plazas and magnificent palaces, a cultural ending to an extraordinary road trip from Alaska to Panama!

Please note that this tour ends after breakfast on the final day of the tour so you can make your onward travel arrangements accordingly.

If you would like to extend your trip after Panama City this tour continues to South America so you can add on Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, Bolivia, Chile, Argentina,  Uruguay, Paraguay or Brazil should you wish to.

We are happy to create a bespoke itinerary and price for you so please feel free to contact us to discuss all options.

If you can’t do the whole tour you are welcome to do a shorter section of your choice so please get in touch and we will be happy to work out a bespoke itinerary and reduced price for you.

HOW TO BOOK

To make a booking please fill in our online booking form and then pay a £300 deposit by Bank Transfer, Paypal, Wise or Credit/Debit Card. 

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 £5609 is the main bulk payment for your expedition and is payable in the UK in GBP (£ Sterling). In order to reserve a place on this expedition you must pay a £300 deposit. Eight months prior to departure a further payment of £2000 must be paid to secure your booking. The final balance of your Expedition Payment £3309 must then be paid in full at least four months prior to the expedition start date. If you book between 4 to 8 months prior to the departure date a deposit of £2300 should be paid upon booking. If you book within 4 months of the departure date the full Expedition Payment of £5609 should be paid upon booking.

The Expedition Payment can be paid by Bank Transfer, Paypal, Wise or Credit/Debit Card.

Bank Details for Direct Transfers

Please use your full name as a reference when paying by direct transfer.

Bank: HSBC

Account name: Madventure Ltd.

Sort code: 400810

Account number: 91618415

IBAN : GB14HBUK40081091618415

Swift/Bank BIC: HBUKGB4B

Branch BIC: HBUKGB4116A

Bank address: HSBC Bank, 6 High Street, Abingdon, Oxfordshire, OX14 5AZ, United Kingdom

Paypal

Please use your full name as a reference when paying by Paypal.

Paypal account name: info@madventure.co.uk

Don’t have a Paypal account? Create one now – www.paypal.com

Wise

Please use your full name as a reference when paying by Wise.

Wise offers a cheap and fast international money transfer service where you can choose to make a payment using either your bank account or credit/debit card.

Don’t have a Wise account? Create one now – www.wise.com

Credit/Debit Card Payments

Call us on +44 7712 225 438 in order to make a Credit/Debit Card payment over the phone.

LOCAL PAYMENT

This is a cash payment of USD $2500 that must be paid to your expedition leader at the beginning of your trip and will be used to pay for 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 can bring the equivalent amount in either EUROS or GBP.

INCLUDED

• Services of your expedition leader/driver
• Transportation in custom-built Madventure overland trucks and use of all equipment
• Local transportation costs (if required)
• Diesel, mechanics, shipping and any other costs relating to the vehicle
• Ferry tickets (when travelling together as a group)
• 111 breakfasts, 73 evening meals
• All accommodation costs (35% hotels, guest houses and hostels, 65% camping)
• National Park entry fees when we enter as a group with our vehicle

 NOT INCLUDED

• Personal travel insurance
• Personal spending money (£120 – £150 per week recommended)
• Visas (approximately £100 depending on nationality)
• Lunches and evening meals when in hotels, guest houses and hostels
• Lunches when camping
• Accommodation upgrades
• Entrance fees to optional sites and national parks
• Any optional activities and excursions
• International and domestic flights
• Tent, roll mat, sleeping bag and pillow
• Tips (USD $120 per crew member recommended)

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. Prices are shown in USD.

USA

Prince William Sound boat trip $210

Mt Denali flightseeing tour with glacier landing $400

Denali National Park bus pass $30

Prudhoe bay oilfield tour $70

Canoes (per hour), Grand Teton National Park $15

Monument Valley 4×4 tour $50

Helicopter flight over Grand Canyon $250

Aeroplane flight over Grand Canyon $190

CANADA

Mt. Edith Cavell hike $50

Columbia Icefields tour $85

Frank Slide interpretive centre $15

Head Smashed In Buffalo Jump $15

MEXICO

Copper Canyon train tour $400

Copper Canyon zip-line $60

Cable car ride, Zacatecas $5

Teotihuacan ruins $5

Mexico City open top bus tour $15

Mexico City Anthropology Museum $5

Monte Alban ruins $5

Sumidero Canyon boat trip $15

Palenque Mayan ruins $10

Uxmal ruins $30

Chichen Itza ruins $35

Dos Ojos cenote swim $20

Tulum ruins $5

BELIZE

Lamanai ruins boat excursion $60

Islands of Belize, per day (max. 3 days) $40

Belize Zoo animal sanctuary $15

GUATEMALA

Tikal ruins $20

Lake Atitlan boat tour $20

EL SALVADOR

Fishing trip, La Libertad $25

Surfing lessons, La Libertad (per hour) $20

Museum of Art, San Salvador $2

HONDURAS

Copan ruins $15

Bay Islands, per day (max. 3 days)  $40

Scuba diving, Bay Islands (per dive) $50

Lake Yojoa boat tour $20

NICARAGUA

Volcano-boarding $35

Masaya volcano tour $25

COSTA RICA

Rio Frio boat tour $60

Arenal Volcano National Park $15

Arenal volcano hike $50

Sloth watching tour $50

Cloudforest zip-line tour $70

Cloudforest suspension bridge trail $50

Manuel Antonio National Park $20

PANAMA

Panama Canal full transit boat tour $270

Sailing trip from Panama to Colombia – 5 days $500

We will be travelling in a purpose-built Madventure overland vehicle 100% of the time on this expedition. A standard bus simply wouldn’t be able to tackle many of the roads we travel on. 

The overland vehicle we use is a custom-built expedition truck which can accommodate up to 36 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 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 spend a lot of nights around the campfire so we take along good axes and saws for the times when we have to replenish our wood supply.

We usually carry 400 litres of treated drinking water and we are equipped with a good kitchen which includes all cutlery, plates, cups, pots and pans, utensils, gas cooker, BBQ grate, etc.

Our vehicles are equipped with a small fridge which is used for the cook group’s breakfast and dinner food only. For personal food and drinks we have cooler boxes for everyone to use.

Comfortable fold up chairs are provided for outdoor seating and we also have a large tarpaulin to keep us dry on those rainy days.

We carry a portable shower and shower tent so you can take a shower every day on this tour if you like, even when we are wild camping in remote areas.

Our vehicles are equipped with USB charging points only so try and bring all of your important electronic devices such as telephone, tablet and head-torch to charge from a USB socket. We do not have a 120V or 240V power supply on the vehicle but you will have the opportunity to charge your 120/240V electronic equipment at the hotels we stay at.

We carry a comprehensive first aid kit for emergencies but we 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. When we are camping we usually cook breakfast and the evening meal on the vehicle. For lunch we usually stop at a cheap local restaurant giving you a chance to taste the local fare. Occasionally we may prepare lunch on the vehicle when we are in remote areas.

When staying in hotels (usually in cities) we always strive to provide you with one healthy, wholesome and plentiful meal every day, usually breakfast at the hotel. Lunches and evening meals are at your own expense when we stay in hotels. 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.

When it comes to shopping and cooking while camping we will divide ourselves up into groups of 3 or 4 people (depending on group size) who will do their own fresh food shopping, prepare the day’s meals and clean up at the end. This will work out that you roughly get to cook once every 10 days (depending on the group size).

Fresh food is generally available daily so when we are camping we try to eat meat and vegetables for every main evening meal. We do cater to vegetarians but we do not cater to vegans or fussiness. In these group situations everybody must appreciate we cannot cater to restrictive diets or individual likes and dislikes.

Don’t worry if you are not a gourmet cook as your crew are also always there to give advice.

Our vehicles are equipped with a small fridge which is used for the cook group’s breakfast and dinner food only. For personal food and drinks we have cooler boxes for everyone to use.

Cleanliness plays an important role throughout this expedition and your crew will make sure an acceptable level of general hygiene is maintained throughout your journey to ensure the wellbeing of the group.

You will spend 35% of the time on this expedition staying in local hotels, guest houses and hostels. The other 65% of the time you will be in your tent camping.

Quite often we will wild camp by ourselves out in the bush or in the desert and other times we will use designated campsites with amenities. The majority of our wild camp locations are usually very scenic and we always strive to find the perfect spot on the banks of a river, overlooking a canyon, behind a dune in the desert, on a remote beach, etc. but sometimes we just have to camp wherever we can find a spot.

From past experience on expeditions of this length and nature we have found that people prefer to supply their own tents as they are then not forced to share and they can pick a tent that suits their needs. As a general rule, try and choose a good quality lightweight and waterproof free-standing tent that is easy to erect, take down and carry.

At some of the campsites there are upgrade options available so should you prefer not to camp or you just want some time alone you can sometimes rent yourself a private room at your own expense.

When we are not camping (usually in cities) 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 and 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. Your contract is with Madventure Limited, a company registered in England and Wales (Company No. 6809461) whose office is at 10 Ablett Close, Oxford, OX4 1XH, United Kingdom.

2. 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 tour price once the deposit has been received.

3. 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 tour, after that a further £300 non-refundable deposit will be required to book another tour. 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 tour price at the time that the tour balance payment is due.

4. Eight months prior to departure a further payment must be received to cover 50% of the total tour price in order to secure your booking. This payment is non-refundable unless we can not provide the tour. The final 50% balance of your tour payment must then be paid in full at least four months prior to the tour start date at which time the tour will be confirmed to run. Once the tour is confirmed to run you will not receive any refunds of any monies paid. If the full payment is not received 4 months prior to departure Madventure may deem the booking cancelled and all monies paid will be forfeited. If you book within the 4 to 8 month period prior to departure a non-refundable 50% deposit of the total tour price should be paid upon booking. If you book within the 4 month period prior to departure the full non-refundable 100% tour payment must be paid upon booking.

5.  Cancellation of a booking must be notified in writing and when received by Madventure any monies paid will be forfeited. You acknowledge that payment for the tour is an intrinsic part of the tour’s income and contributes towards the overall costs of equipment, vehicle running costs, staff administration, travel permits, 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 tour has been confirmed to run (which will usually happen no later than 4 months prior to the tour departing). We therefore recommend you take out your travel insurance from the date you make your final tour balance payment, 4 months prior to departure, so you are insured if you have to withdraw off the tour. 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.

6. It is unlikely that we will have to make any changes to your tour, but we do plan all tours 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 tour. For example, if the minimum number of clients required for a particular tour is not reached, we may have to cancel it. However, we will not cancel your tour less than 4 months before your departure date (except for reasons of Force Majeure). If we are unable to provide the tour for any reason you can either have a full refund of all monies paid within 14 working days of the tour being cancelled or accept an offer of an alternative tour of comparable standard from us, if available (we will refund any price difference if the alternative is of a lower value).  In the event of the tour being cancelled prior to departure, all monies paid by you towards the tour cost only will be refunded. In the event of a cancellation Madventure is not responsible for reimbursing equipment, flights, visa costs, vaccinations, medication, etc. purchased by yourself so we therefore recommend you have suitable travel insurance to ensure these types of expenses are covered under the terms of your insurance policy as 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.

7. In the unlikely event of a Force Majeure situation that forces us to cancel the tour within 4 months of the planned departure date because of unusual or unforeseeable circumstances beyond our control, you can either have a full refund of all monies paid within 14 working days of the tour being cancelled or accept an offer of an alternative tour of comparable standard from us, if available (we will refund any price difference if the alternative is of a lower value). In the unlikely event of a Force Majeure situation that forces us to cancel or change the tour while it is underway because of unusual or unforeseeable circumstances beyond our control we will not refund you or pay you compensation, so we therefore recommend you have suitable travel insurance as if the reason for the tour cancellation while underway 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. Force Majeure situations can include, for example, war, riot, industrial dispute, terrorist activity and its consequences, natural or nuclear disaster, fire, epidemics, pandemics, health risks, closed or congested airports, ports or stations, poor local infrastructure, changes imposed by rescheduling 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 & Commonwealth Office advice changing and advising against travel to the tour destination.

8. If you choose to leave the tour for any reason on your own accord once the tour is underway you will not receive any compensation from Madventure including any refunds of the tour payment and/or the local payment. We therefore recommend you have suitable travel insurance as if the reason for your departure 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.

9. We reserve the right at any time prior to the departure date, without prior consultation with yourself, to merge your tour with one or more other tours travelling at the same time. This will not constitute a major change and would usually just mean swapping vehicles.

10. The tour payment and local payment cover transport, accommodation, some related ferry and train tickets, meals and national park entry fees as specified on the website, repair of our expedition vehicle as well as repair and replacement of camping equipment including stools, cooking equipment & utensils.

11. The tour leader has sole responsibility for the local payment. Any local payment monies or stock remaining at the tour end are non-refundable.

12. You undertake to comply with the laws and regulations, whether in respect of health, immigration, currency exchange control, dress or any other matter of all the countries visited during the tour.

13. You undertake to obtain a valid passport and have enough blank pages in the passport for the tour and your specific passport and visa requirements. 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 tour 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 tour and visas for all periods, countries and territories within the tour) enabling you to participate in the tour and shall comply with all local legislation and regulations of the countries in which the tour 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.

14. Madventure reserves the right to deviate from the advertised tour route if in their reasonable opinion such deviation is necessary for the safety or well-being of any or any one of the members of the tour or for the satisfactory progress of the tour. In the event of it becoming necessary to fly over a country or countries in order to satisfactorily and safely continue the tour, all costs of your flights will be borne by yourself.

15. Madventure accepts no responsibility for matters arising out of political disputes, border closures, epidemics, pandemics, natural disasters, climate, armed robbery, terrorism, etc. Should it become necessary to abandon a tour because of such an event Madventure will be entitled to retain all monies paid. We therefore recommend you have suitable travel insurance as if the reason for 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.

16. You accept that owing to the nature of countries visited, all tours involve an element of personal risk and are of a potentially hazardous and unpredictable nature. In many countries we visit, 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 subcontractors to provide the necessary services related to the tour and to exercise reasonable care in selecting such suppliers to provide these. You also accept that you undertake this tour 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.

17. 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.

18. If you have a problem during your trip please inform the tour leader immediately who will endeavour to put things right. If your complaint is not resolved locally please follow this up by emailing or writing to our office giving all other relevant information and, where possible, evidence. We must receive any such complaint no later than 28 days from the date of completion of your tour in order to take appropriate action. 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.

19. 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 tour. Such items are carried and/or left at your own risk.

20. Excursions or other tours that you may choose to book or pay for whilst you are on our tour are not part of your tour 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.

21. Whilst a tour is in progress you will at all times be expected to act in accordance with all reasonable instructions from us and/or the tour leader. We may exclude you from the tour or any part thereof at any time (including during the tour itself) if we are of the opinion that you are likely to prejudice the good order, discipline or safety of the tour, including as a result of failing to comply with the tour leader’s instructions, breaking any law or regulation of any country where the tour takes place or failing to adhere to the tour 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 tour, and Madventure shall cease to have any responsibility to/for you. No refund will be given for any unused services.

22. By completing the booking form you confirm that you appreciate the risks involved in the tour and that you do not suffer (or have ever suffered) from any pre-existing medical condition that may prevent you from actively participating in the tour other than those that have been declared to us. It is your responsibility to ensure that you are medically fit enough to undertake the tour and to ensure that you have received the necessary vaccinations 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 unsuitable to take part in the tour. 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 an 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 tour, 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, eg. 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 tour 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 tour, we may terminate the contract and withdraw you from the tour without refund or recompense, including during the trip. You agree and acknowledge that certain activities undertaken whilst you are on the tour 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 tour 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.

23. You must be covered by personal travel insurance to undertake any Madventure tour. We recommend you take out a travel insurance policy that covers you fully against the cost of tour cancellation by you or by Force Majeure, medical care and repatriation should you become too ill to continue and above all covers 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 travel insurance cover makes sufficient provision for your dependents 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 travel insurance 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.

24. It is understood that on the Madventure tours where we use our own expedition vehicles the sections of the tour that travel through Europe, USA, Canada and Mexico are provided to you free of charge. You will not have to pay any additional fee to travel through Europe, USA, Canada and Mexico with us but it is understood that we do not operate for hire and reward in these areas. We do this purely as a legality in order to operate our specialised overland vehicle in these areas legally.

25. Privacy & Data Protection – we shall ensure that appropriate security measures are in place to protect your personal data (as defined in the European GDPR act 2018 and the UK Data Protection Act 2018) and we do not store our customers financial details. When you make a booking, you do however 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 tour.

26. 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 tour 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.

27. 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.

28. The information given on the website, on social media, in newsletters, in the brochure and other literature supplied is given in good faith but no warranty is given that it is correct.

29. No servant, agent or authorised 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.

30. ABTA – We are members of ABTA, membership no. Y6801. We are obliged to maintain a high standard of service to you by ABTA’s Code of Conduct. We can also offer you ABTA’s scheme for the resolution of disputes which is approved by the Chartered Trading Standards Institute. If we can’t resolve your complaint, go to www.abta.com to use ABTA’s simple procedure. Further information on the Code and ABTA’s assistance in resolving disputes can be found on www.abta.com

31. Financial Protection – In accordance with the UK Package Travel & Linked Travel Regulations 2018, Directive (EU) 2015/2302 or the local applicable law in the country of residence of the passenger(s) booking with Madventure Ltd are fully protected for the initial deposit and subsequently the balance of all monies received by us, including repatriation costs and arrangements, arising from cancellation or curtailment of your travel arrangements due to the insolvency of Madventure Ltd.

The respective laws according to the country of residence of the passenger(s) usually only requires us to provide cover for Package & Linked Travel Arrangements, there is no requirement for Financial Protection of day trips or single elements, and none is provided unless the local law requires such. If you have questions on this then please contact Madventure Ltd.

Madventure Ltd has taken out an insurance provided by International Passenger Protection Ltd (IPP) with Liberty Mutual Insurance Europe SE (LMIE) trading as Liberty Specialty Markets, a member of the Liberty Mutual Insurance Group. LMIE’s registered office: 5-7 rue Leon Laval, L-3372, Leudelange, Grand Duchy of Luxembourg, Registered Number B232280 (Registre de Commerce et des Sociétés).  LMIE is a European public limited liability company and is supervised by the Commissariat aux Assurances and licensed by the Luxembourg Minister of Finance as an insurance and reinsurance company. This insurance is only valid for passengers who book and pay directly with/to Madventure Ltd.

In the event of our insolvency please make contact as soon as practically possible giving full details of what has happened quoting the name of your Travel Operator:

For UK & Worldwide excluding EU Passengers

IPP Claims at Sedgwick

Telephone: +44 (0) 345 266 1872

Email: Insolvency-claims@ipplondon.co.uk

or online at http://www.ipplondon.co.uk/claims.asp

For EU Passengers

IPP Claims at Sedgwick

Telephone: +31 103120666

Email: ippclaims@nl.sedgwick.com

or online at https://www.ipplondon.co.uk/claims.asp

PERSONAL BUDGET

We recommend a budget of £120 – £150 per person per week to live comfortably during this expedition. This budget should cover day to day things like lunches, snacks, soft drinks, meals when not camping, the odd few beers, etc.

Budget approximately £100 for your visas.

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 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 credit/debit card.

To keep your money/credit cards/ipad/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.

For North Americans and Europeans most visas on this expedition can easily be obtained at borders and most are currently free. Other nationalities may require a couple of visas before arrival at a border and these are best obtained en-route just before entering.

All passport holders should budget approximately £100 for visas and border fees.

Please ensure you have 5 blank pages in your passport in order to accommodate all the visas and stamps, and ensure your passport is valid for at least 10 months after your departure date.

You will need approximately 4 passport photos for the duration of the expedition.

You will need a digital colour copy of your passport, a digital colour passport photograph and Covid 19 vaccinated travellers will need a digital colour copy of your Covid 19 vaccination certificate with QR code (all 5 – 100 Kb in size) downloaded onto your phone/tablet/laptop in order to apply for some visas and to cross some borders.

VACCINATIONS

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 in the UK.

www.nomadtravel.co.uk

Alternatively speak with your local health professionals for current accurate information. You will need to make an appointment with your doctor or travel clinic and take a list of the countries you are visiting with the approximate dates when you will be there.

It is not a requirement to be vaccinated against Covid 19 to join this tour but please be aware that travellers who are not vaccinated against Covid 19 may be required to show a negative PCR test at certain borders before being allowed to enter the country. This requirement has become less necessary over the last year but please bear in mind that Madventure is not responsible for border control procedures so if you are asked to show a negative PCR test that would be your own responsibility.

Travellers who are vaccinated against Covid 19 should bring an up to date Covid 19 vaccination certificate displaying a valid QR code with you as it may be required to enter some countries on this trip. Please also have a digital colour copy of your Covid 19 vaccination certificate with QR code downloaded to your phone/tablet/laptop in order to show health officials at some borders.

An up to date Yellow Fever Vaccination Certificate should be brought with you as it is sometimes required to enter certain countries on this tour.

MEDICALLY FIT & 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 vehicle, 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 travellers. For example, it may be wise to inform fellow travellers 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.

Tent: A good quality lightweight and compact waterproof free standing tent is recommended for this expedition. A removable fly-sheet will help you stay cool on warm dry nights. If you are travelling on your own you are restricted to a 1-2 man sized tent. If you are sharing a tent, you are restricted to a 2-3 man sized tent.

Sleeping bag: It can get cold on this tour so we recommend a good quality 4 season sleeping bag with a ‘Mummy Hood’. Please make sure that your sleeping bag has a ‘crush bag’ so it can be compacted down.

Sleeping bag liner: A Thermal Fleece or Silk Liner will bring your sleeping bag up a season when it’s cold and they are good to use on their own when it’s too hot for your sleeping bag.

Roll Mat: A compact inflatable Thermarest roll mat is recommended. A non-compact mat will not be permitted as they take up too much room.

Pillow: If you do wish to take a pillow (although most just bring a pillow case and stuff their fleece in it at night) then Thermarest makes a good stuff pillow that compacts down small.

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 litre volume. 

Day bag: You are also permitted to bring a day bag with a maximum 40 litre volume that you can carry in the overhead luggage rack or under your seat on the vehicle 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 a fixed part on the back of the vehicle when travelling and/or to a fixed item in your hotel room. 

Headtorch: An invaluable investment! Check out the Petzl range of USB rechargeable headlamps. 

Water purifier: Quite a handy thing to have to purify contaminated water and avoid stomach bugs. Check out the range of Lifestraw products.

Kindle: Optional but great to keep all your travel guides and books in one place.

Ipad/Tablet: Not a necessity but many places have WiFi available these days so having your own Ipad or Tablet will save you hanging around internet cafes.

Smartphone: Not a necessity but a smartphone is very convenient for storing all your digital documents, emailing, taking photos, mapping and calling home using local sim cards.

Camera: Completely up to you but most people use their phone.

Toiletries: Available everywhere but start with some toilet paper, toothpaste, toothbrush, dental floss, deodorant, soap and shampoo.

Sunblock: Minimum SPF 15 recommended.

Towel: A microfibre travel towel is a good option as it dries quickly and packs down small.

Sunglasses: Polarised lenses offer great protection.

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: You will need approximately 4 passport photos for the duration of the expedition.

Digital passport photo: Please have a digital colour passport photograph (5 – 100 Kb in size) downloaded to your phone/tablet/laptop as it may be required at some borders or when applying for certain visas.

Digital passport copy: Please have a digital colour copy of your passport (5 – 100 Kb in size) downloaded to your phone/tablet/laptop as it may be required at some borders or when applying for certain visas.

Digital Covid 19 vaccination certificate: If you are vaccinated please have a digital colour copy of your Covid 19 vaccination certificate with QR code (5 – 100 Kb in size) downloaded to your phone/tablet/laptop as it may be required at some borders or when applying for certain visas.

Yellow Fever vaccination certificate: An up to date Yellow Fever vaccination certificate is sometimes required to enter certain countries.

Passport: Please ensure you have 5 blank pages in your passport to accommodate all the visas and stamps required on this tour, and ensure your passport is valid for at least 10 months after your departure date.

Clothes & shoes: 

1 x flip flops

1 x walking shoes, trainers or boots

4 x socks

4 x underwear

1 x thermal underwear

1 x thermal gloves

4 x t-shirts

1 x lightweight long sleeve top

1 x fleece top or fleece jacket

1 x waterproof jacket

2 x zip-off  trousers which can be worn long or short

1 x thermal beanie or woolly hat

1 x baseball cap

1 x swimming trunks/bikini

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. 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 your booking 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 for the benefit of you, us and your fellow expedition members. There is nothing worse than booking on the trip when it is not what you wanted or expected, our expeditions are too long and too full on. You need to know what you are in for and be able to handle it!

Weather: As we are travelling from the Arctic to the tropics on the Alaska to Panama Overland tour you can expect all kinds of weather, from freezing cold to stifling heat, so be prepared for all the elements and you will be comfortable.

Altitude:  We travel through the Andes mountain range on this tour so although we don’t go very high, if you do suffer from altitude sickness be prepared for it and have altitude-sickness tablets with you.

Hygiene: As wonderful as the Americas are, some of the places we visit do not have a western infrastructure and their acceptable level of hygiene standards may be very different to ours, so be prepared to accept that things may not be as clean as they are back home.

You must also maintain your own personal hygiene and ensure that you and your clothes are washed regularly. If anyone stinks or is noticeably unclean the tour leader will have a word with that person to ensure a decent level of personal hygiene is maintained by everyone aboard the vehicle.

Group diversity: We have no restrictions when it comes to age, gender or nationality and if there is one thing we have come to realise it is that the more that is in the mix the better.

Mucking in: This is a full participation expedition so you need to be able to participate fully in all aspects of the trip including cooking, cleaning, carrying water, collecting firewood, digging your vehicle out of sand and bogs, pitching your own tent, etc.

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 and you don’t need to be super fit, just 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 all have different regulations which can sometimes slow us down. It is however usually obstacles such as bad roads, border closures, breakdowns and natural disasters that have a bearing on the expedition. 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 travellers 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, gender or nationality, the reality is they signed up for this expedition in theory  but they can not 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 start will put us in good stead.

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 group or the crew grief due to their behaviour they will be warned and then asked to leave the expedition if nothing improves. No refund will be given if this happens. This is obviously the most extreme situation but we will not let one or two selfish lazy individuals spoil the tour for everyone else. 

Usually everybody who joins our expeditions has a relaxed approach to life and gets on well with other people. Aggressive antisocial behaviour will not be tolerated. This is a once in a lifetime experience so let’s all enjoy it!

Drive times, routes & proposed itineraries: This trip is designed to allow plenty of free time in all the places of interest but we are driving a fair distance across the Americas in 16 weeks so yes, there are going to be 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.

Generally on a drive day we leave in the morning around 7 – 8 AM (after breakfast) and arrive at our destination before dusk in daylight, but this really depends on the distance between destinations and the road conditions.

Sometimes it will be a full day’s drive between destinations and you’ll have the following day or two free. On rare occasions it may be 2 or 3 drive days in a row where you’ll leave early, stop overnight at a wild camp or hotel and then continue early again the next morning. Some areas can be remote and the pleasure is in the scenery. Sometimes however it’s only a few hours drive between destinations.

Our proposed 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. If a border closes unexpectedly then we have to try and find a safe alternative route which may not be to everyone’s liking. In the worst case scenario we may get stuck with no way forward and at that point we would have to decide whether to fly over the obstacle and continue on local transport or abandon the trip. We have never had to abandon any trip before but we want you to be aware of the worst case scenario.

Please note that we may be placed under military or police escort when travelling through troubled areas. This has never happened on this tour but if this does occur then we follow their directions 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 if this happens the pace may be faster or slower 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.

The proposed itinerary is just that, ‘proposed’, and can change at the crew’s discretion if need be.

Drugs & alcohol: Please be aware that drugs such as marijuana and cocaine are illegal in most countries we visit on this trip and they enforce severe punishment for being caught in possession. NEVER carry illegal drugs on your person or on the vehicle during this tour as you would not only jeopardise your own freedom but also the well-being of the entire group if you are caught in possession.

If you are caught with any kind of illegal drugs on this tour, regardless of the amount, you will be asked to leave the tour immediately and no refund will be given. Any inconsideration can lead to the tour being cancelled and innocent people arrested. We will not hesitate to remove someone if we have to.

Aggressive or abusive drunk behaviour will not be tolerated during this tour and if anyone is constantly abusing alcohol and causing trouble we will not hesitate to remove them from the tour and no refund will be given.

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, ensure the food and hygiene is to a high standard  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 organised 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 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 the UK.

Tipping: Tipping the crew at the end of your expedition is always appreciated. As this is a fairly long expedition we recommend you tip your driver and/or tour leader a minimum of $120 each if you are happy with their service. Thank you.