COWBOYS AND INDIANS
Explore the real Wild West on this USA Family
Adventure Holiday
Sleep in cowboy wagons and a Native America Tepee
Activity options at our Ranch Resort
The Navajo of Monument Valley
Bryce Canyon, Death Valley and the Grand Canyon
HOLIDAY CODE: FCI
USA, Family, 13 Days
4 nights hotels, 2 nights cowboy wagons, 1 night tepee, 5 nights
camping, 12 days touring and activities, Join in Las Vegas, MEAL
PLAN: All meals included except for 2 lunches and 4 dinners
Max group size: 11
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Introduction
The western states of California, Utah and Arizona are famous for their astounding national parks and this great family adventure takes us to most of
them. Arriving in Las Vegas we visit the fierce desert environment of Death Valley (all hotels here have pools!) where the scenery is stunning and out of
this world. We then spend 2 days at a ranch resort in the heart of Utah's Canyon Country, sleeping in cowboy wagons and exploring at the nearby
reserve areas of Zion and Bryce Canyon. In Bryce Canyon we sleep in Native American tepees. Moving on, we spend time at Lake Powell and in
Monument Valley, the ancestral home of the Navajo Native Americans. Two days at the Grand Canyon allows us to explore some of the options here;
rafting on the Colorado River, biking or hiking on the canyon rim, or simply enjoying the sunset views. A final drive on 'Route 66' takes us by way of the
Hoover Dam to Las Vegas, with time to walk the 'Strip', with its outlandish hotels and casinos. As the Lone Ranger would say....."Hi ho Silver.. away!"
Holiday Summary and Grading
Suitable for childern from 8yrs old
During this family holiday, we travel some long distances, but often spend
at least 2 nights at the same accommodation. Exploring in the national
parks can be guided or self-guided. Some of the activities at the ranch
resort are optional and paid for locally. The swimming pool, hot tub and
various other games are included. We overnight in simple hotels, in
cowboy wagons, a tepee and have 5 nights camping. Many nights have
swimming pools. All family members are expected to help with camp
chores. If you wish to partake in any of the water activities you must be
able to swim.
Land Only Itinerary
Day 1. Arrive Las Vegas
Rendezvous at the group hotel in Las Vegas, which will is located just a
short distance from ‘the strip’! The hotel is family friendly and has a
swimming pool. KE Land Only package services begin with the overnight
stay at the hotel. A free airport shuttle is provided by the hotel. Overnight
hotel Las Vegas. Meals included: None
Swimming: In hotel pool
Day 2. Death Valley
We depart Las Vegas to explore the hottest deserts in North America Death Valley. After a picnic lunch at Scotty Castle we walk along the
mystical rim of Ubehebe crater. We then go to explore the ghost town of
Rhyolite. This was once a booming gold mining town, and boasted the
only opera house between San Francisco and Denver! We look around
the ruins of the opera house as well as the school house, railroad depot
and a famous house made from beer bottles! We can pretend we are in a
real western movie here! We then continue to Mesquite Dunes. These
rise nearly 100ft and in the late afternoon the light accentuates the ripples
and patterns on the sands making it very beautiful. Of course there is
also always fun to be had in the sand…roll down them, dig holes and see
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if we can find damp sands, and look for tracks of the kangaroo rate. We
then check into our hotel in Beatty where we can escape the desert heat
with a dip in the pool. Approximate drive time 3hrs. Note that all drive
times in this description include stops for breaks and photos! Meals
Included: Breakfast and Lunch (B,L)
Swimming: In hotel pool
Day 3. Death Valley to Las Vegas
After breakfast and a quick dip in the hotel swimming pool we drive to
Dante’s View for the best panoramas of the Valley. We stop at Furnace
Creek where we can have an optional horse ride or wagon ride. Our
second stop is Golden Canyon where we have a short walk and explore
the side canyons. This is great fun for the children as they can scramble
on the rocks and pretend they are in Star Wars as this is where much of it
was filmed. We then continue our drive before stopping at ‘Artist’s
Palette’. As the name suggests these rocks are covered in an array of
different colours from reds and yellows through to blues and purples. We
continue to Badwater, which is the lowest place in the whole of North
America, at 282ft below sea level. Our last stop on our journey back to
Las Vegas is at the amazing eroded gulleys and mud hills at Zabriskie
Point. Approximate drive time 3hrs. Overnight Las Vegas. (B,L)
Swimming: In hotel pool
Day 4. Zion National Park
We make an early start to catch the cool of the morning as we drive
through the desert to reach Zion National Park. The principal feature of
Zion National Park is the red sandstone canyon of the Virgin River,
together with towering red sandstone walls, pretty stands of pine
woodland, delicate waterfalls and emerald pools. We can hike “The
Narrows” (weather permitting), a deep chasm in the canyon or take up
the option of one of a number of activities, which can be arranged locally,
such as tubing (floating down the Virgin River on one-person inflatable
rafts), horseback riding or rock climbing. The public shuttle takes us to all
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the sights inside the canyon. In late afternoon we head to our Adventure
Ranch, the Zion Ponderosa Resort, in the cool hills above Zion. For the
next 2 nights we’ll stay in simple but functional cowboy wagons. Made of
wood, each wagon has a curved roof and traditional wooden wagon
wheels and they are sited on the vast grounds of this fun adventure
resort. One wagon will be allocated per family, and all meals are
provided. Note that bathrooms are communal, camp-ground style.
Approximate drive time 3hrs. (B,L,D)
Swimming: In the swimming pool at the ranch
Day 5. Home on the Ranch
We’ll spend today on the ranch, which offers a wide range of optional
activities for families including rock climbing, horse back riding,
canyoning, quad bike rides, trampoline bungee, zip line, wagon ride &
Dutch oven dinner and jeep tours. Today is a free day to enjoy these
activities or you can accompany the tour leader on a hike in Zion National
Park. Ranch activities must be paid for locally, and prices vary depending
upon your chosen activity. The ranch also has a very nice swimming pool
for those who just want to spend the day relaxing. Overnight at the
adventure Ranch. (B,L,D)
Swimming: In the swimming pool at the ranch
Day 6. Explore Bryce Canyon
Today we head out to explore Bryce Canyon National Park, considered
one of the most photogenic parks in the USA. Bryce Canyon is a unique
natural spectacle, created by the erosion of colourful bedrock, which
includes both limestone and sandstone, into a bewildering array of spires,
fins and pinnacles which are known as 'hoodoos'. At an altitude of around
2500 metres (8200 feet), the many thousands of rock features are
clustered into a number of canyons, which are cut into the eastern edge
of Utah's Paunsaugunt Plateau. Predominant rock colours include red,
orange, yellow and pink. We have most of the day to hike through the
weird and wonderful rock formations. Tonight we overnight in a Native
American Tepee in Bryce Canyon Village. These beautiful wigwam tents
are erected and ready for us to enter. Each tent sleeps 8 people so it is
likely we will share the tent with our fellow travellers tonight. Approximate
drive time 2hrs. (B,L,D)
Swimming: In the swimming pool at camp ground
Day 7. Antelope Canyon
After packing up our sleeping bags from our tepee and having breakfast
(maybe fitting in a quick swim!), we drive to Lake Powell. Here, the
Colorado River was dammed creating an astounding shoreline of 3000
km, longer than the entire west coast of the USA. We make our next
camp close to the lake shore. After lunch we have a guided walk through
Antelope Canyon. This is a mystical, narrow slot canyon carved into dark
red sandstone by flowing water, and is a photographer’s dream.
Thousands of years, wind and water have eroded this narrow canyon,
which is 400 yards long and 130 feet deep. The rich colours and textures
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of this remarkable rock feature have made it one of the most
photographed places in the desert states. We are guided during our
canyon visit by a Native American. We’ll spend the next 2 nights at a
campground near the shores of the lake. Approximate drive time 3.5hrs.
(B,L,D)
Swimming: In Lake Powell
Day 8. Lake Powell Activities
There are 96 major canyons to explore at Lake Powell. The river below
Lake Powell is generally considered flat water but the scenery is very
impressive, with huge sandstone cliffs and crystal blue-green waters. It is
possible to rent kayaks, stand up paddle boards, take a lake cruise or
simply enjoy some relaxing and swimming. If you have heaps of energy
then we can also arrange a half-day white water rafting expedition on the
Colorado River. There is also an ‘explorer’ program which has fun-filled,
educational, age-appropriate activities designed for parents and children
to do together. The activities include discovery hikes, word puzzles, a
field trip to Glen Canyon Dam visitor centre and an Alphabet Hunt. It has
been created to teach children about Lake Powell as a natural resource,
its flora and fauna, and safety. The Lake Powell Explorer pack includes
maps, a badge and a completion certificate. (B,D).
Swimming: In Lake Powell
Day 9. Monument Valley
Today we continue our journey through the south-eastern corner of Utah
to Monument Valley. Along the way we stop off at horse-shoe bends
which shows off some of the best views of the Colorado River
meandering around the immensely red sandstone. It’s pretty stunning
here. As we enter the famous Monument Valley we will recognise it
instantly from the many films that the classic scenery with the clusters of
red rocks sticking out of the plateau. Here, there is the option (paid
locally) to take a jeep tour with a Navajo guide which will include some of
the finest viewpoints in this sacred place. Camping in Monument Valley.
Approximate drive time 2.5hrs. (B,L,D)
Swimming: In the swimming pool at camp ground
Day 10. Colorado River to the Grand Canyon
Leaving Monument Valley we drive the to the Grand Canyon, the ultimate
attraction on a West USA holiday. We stop at the Cameron trading post
for some lunch, which has an interesting native art and artefact gallery.
We drive along the south rim and have plenty of opportunity to admire the
views before arriving at our campground near the Grand Canyon Village.
There is an Imax cinema here and we have the option to watch a film of
flying over the Grand Canyon. Overnight camping Grand Canyon Village.
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Approximate drive time 4hrs. (B,L,D)
Holiday Details
Day 11. The Grand Canyon
We have allowed a full day at the Grand Canyon, the final highlight of the
journey. This is the greatest of the world's canyons, as its name implies.
There are other contenders, but none has the sheer scale, colour and
spectacle of the Grand Canyon. Up to 10 miles across and 5000 feet
deep, it is impossible to get a true perspective of the canyon without
spending a bit of time here. As the sun moves across the sky, the colours
and shadows of the canyon change ceaselessly until it sets with a
spectacle of changing colours. There is the option to take it easy, hike
into the canyon or enjoy a short hike along the canyon rim or even to
book a helicopter ride over the canyon (at additional cost - paid locally).
There are also a few walking options on this day, one of these would be
the Kaibab Ridge a 3-4 hr walk covering around 5km. We return to the
campground for dinner and overnight. (B,D)
Day 12. Las Vegas here we come!
Its well worth getting up early for a sunrise walk. Alternatively it is
possible to book a helicopter ride over the Grand Canyon for a memory of
a lifetime (optional). In the late morning we drive on Route 66 via the
magnificent Hoover Dam to reach the bright lights of Las Vegas. Here we
check into a comfortable hotel. 270 miles/450kms driving, approximately
4.5 hours. You can relax by the pool or take a walk along the strip which,
with its outrageous themed hotels and casinos is something of a culture
shock after our time in the desert. We will enjoy a final evening amongst
the bright lights of Las Vegas, the city that never sleeps! (B,L)
Day 13. Leaving Las Vegas
KE Land Only package services end after breakfast. The hotel provides a
complimentary airport shuttle.
Important: The above day-to-day holiday schedule should be
taken only as a general guide. Although we update our itineraries
on a regular basis, to take into account such things as changes to
trekking routes and changes in the routing or availability of local
transport, it is not possible to guarantee that any of our holidays
will run exactly according to the proposed itinerary. A variety of
factors, including adverse weather conditions, political instability,
or difficulties with transportation, can lead to enforced changes.
We recommend you download and print a final copy of the up to
date holiday dossier from our website a couple of days prior to
travel in case there have been changes that may affect your
plans. If during your holiday the itinerary is effected by immediate
or local circumstances, the leader will make any changes that are
necessary.
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Group size and Holiday Status
For each of our group adventures, there is a minimum number of
participants required to enable the trip to go ahead. Once the minimum
number is reached, the trip status will normally change from 'Spaces' to
'Guaranteed to Run'. You can check the trip status by accessing our
website at www.keadventure.com Other than in exceptional
circumstances, we will not cancel a trip once it has achieved this
guaranteed to run status and so you are free to proceed with your
international flight booking and other travel arrangements.
Joining Arrangements and Transfers
Airport transfers are not provided by KE, however the group hotel
provides a free 24hr airport shuttle service. You should aim to be at the
hotel at 5pm of the first day of the land only itinerary for a briefing with the
gruide, and then the group can all go out for dinner. Full details together
with hotel contact information and an emergency telephone number, will
be provided with your booking confirmation.
Services Included
Local English-speaking driver / guide
All required ground transport except airport transfers and optional
excursions
All accommodation as described in the trip dossier
Meals as described in the Meal Plan
All camping equipment except personal equipment
Entrance fees to National Parks and Monument Valley
Services Not Included
Travel insurance
Visas (if required)
Optional activities and excursions
Miscellaneous personal expenses - drinks etc.
Meal Plan
All breakfasts are included in the holiday price. Lunches will normally be
packed or picnic lunches and these will be made up before setting out by
each family from bread, cold meats, sausage, cheese, fruit and snacks
which will be provided. There are 2 lunches which are not included.
These are on your free day in Lake Powell and the Grand Canyon. There
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are many options available depending on what you choose to do on
these days. Dinners are taken either in hotels or nearby restaurants or
cooked at campgrounds. 4 evening meals are not included (on the 4 hotel
nights in Las Vegas and Beatty). There is a wide variety of dinning
options in these cities and towns and your trip leader will make
recommendations on restaurants. We recommend that you budget $20 $35 per person for each of these non-included meals.
Food
Breakfast is sometimes included with the hotel lodging, other times it
must be acquired in a restaurant or taken in camp. Hotel "continental
breakfasts" are usually very basic: coffee, tea, toast, jam, cereal, though
they sometimes include waffles, fruit, muesli and yogurt. Whilst camping,
the tour leader will prepare breakfast and dinner, although everyone is
expected to lend a hand! This is usually a fun and sociable event. Lunch
provisions are also provided by your tour leader. Everyone will prepare
their own lunch in advance each morning, so that it can be eaten on the
day's outing. Bread, sausage, cheese, fruit and snacks are provided for
this purpose. Beverages are not included. Dinner will sometimes be taken
in the hotel or in nearby restaurants. Your tour leader will make
restaurant recommendations.
Spending Money
We estimate that a total of around £150 to £200 per family member - or
equivalent in dollars - should be allowed for personal spending and the
non-included meals. This amount should also be sufficient to cover any
miscellaneous expenses and tips to local staff. If you are intending to
buy expensive souvenirs, you should budget accordingly (credit cards
can be useful in this respect). Also, if you expect to buy considerable
quantities of soft drinks or beer, you should make an allowance for this.
Note that many of the activities on this tour are optional, and depending
on which you choose to participate in, you will need to budget accordingly
in addition to the sum we recommend above. Please see the separate
section on Optional Activities for further information. We recommend you
carry your travel money in the form of currency (US$ cash) as travellers
cheques are not readily exchanged and it can be difficult to convert
currency into dollars outside of the big cities. We recommend that you
take a credit card with you – preferably Visa or MasterCard. Note that
there are many ATMs accessible throughout the tour and that credit
cards are widely accepted as payment. Small fees are sometimes
charged for using them. Diners Club and American Express are not
accepted as universally as Visa or MasterCard.
Horse ride, 1 hr: $45
Wagon ride: $30
ZION PONDEROSA
There is a voucher system available at the ranch. You buy 10 vouchers
for $109 and activities cost a certain amount of vouchers. Below is an
indication of prices/vouchers:
Wagon Ride & Dutch Oven dinner: Adults $35, Children $20 (pre-tour
reservation essential)
1 hr horse ride: $45 (3 vouchers)
3 climbs: $15 (1 voucher)
Canyoneering full/half day: from $100 depending on group size (pre-tour
reservation essential)
Trampoline Bungee: 5 minutes, 1 voucher
Zip line: 2 rides, 1 voucher
LAKE POWELL
Kayaking rental, per day: $45
Stand up paddle board, per day: $90
Lake Cruise: From $45 to 125$ depending on the cruise
Half-day rafting on the Colorado River: Adults $91, Children $81
MONUMENT VALLEY
Jeep tour with Navajos, 2-3hrs: From $85
GRAND CANYON
Imax cinema: Adults $15, Child $10
Helicopter ride, 45mins: $280 per person
Guidance on Tipping
Tipping is the accepted way of saying ‘thank you’ for good service. It is
important to remember that tipping is voluntary and should be dependent
on good service. On this trip we recommend that you give a tip to your
tour leader. We estimate that $50 to $80 per family member, depending
on his/her performance, will be sufficient for these tips. Note that in the
USA it is the norm to tip for most services and it is recommended that you
set aside a few dollars each day, per person, to allow for this.
Group Leader and Support Staff
The group will be accompanied by a professional English-speaking tour
leader who will also act as a guide on the walks and driver for the group
vehicle.
Optional Activity Costs:
Please note that these prices are correct at time of writing, but are
subject to change without warning.
FURNACE CREEK
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Equipment
General Information
We provide an Equipment List for each of our holidays. These highlight
any specialised equipment you will require and also act as a packing
check list. You can find the Equipment List at the end of the dossier.
Baggage Allowance
There is no weight limit on this trip other than that imposed by your
international carrier (normally 20kg). However, we do ask you to restrict
your luggage to one trek bag and one small daypack per person due to
restricted space on the tour vans. Note that during the tour there many
laundromats with washing machines and dryers where you can do your
laundry for a small charge
KE Trek Bag
The United States does not have an official language; however, the
majority of the population speaks English as a native language (some
82%). The variety of English spoken in the United States is known as
American English; together with Canadian English it makes up the group
of dialects known as North American English. Spanish is the second
most common language in the country, and is spoken by over 12% of the
population. The United States holds the world's fifth largest
Spanish-speaking population, outnumbered only by Mexico, Spain,
Argentina, and Colombia.
Climate
All KE clients will receive a FREE KE trek bag. These have been
specially made to stand up to the rigours of adventure travel. Your KE
bag will be posted to you when your trip is guaranteed to run or on receipt
of your booking if the trip is already guaranteed. If you have travelled with
us before, already have a KE trek bag and would prefer a KE T-shirt or
baseball cap, please be sure to tick the appropriate box when you are
making your booking.
Accommodation
The climate is generally very stable, with plenty of sunshine and warm
days during the summer. It is a dry heat with little to no humidity. Daytime
temperatures vary greatly with altitude, but will usually range in mid
summer between 20°C and up to 35°C. In early July and later in
September, temperatures will be 4 or 5 degrees of Celsius lower than
this. At night, at our highest camps on the holiday it can be chilly but the
temperature will rarely fall below 10°C.
Electric Supply and Plug
During the holiday the group will spend a total of 4 nights in comfortable
3-star hotels in Las Vegas and Beatty with swimming pools. The hotel
rooms have 2 queen sized beds in them. If you are a family of 3 or 4 you
will share 1 room and the 2 beds. There are 2 nights sleeping in a
cowboy wagon. Each wagon has a double bed and 2 single beds.
Families of 3 or 4 will be in 1 wagon and families of more will be in 2
wagons. We have 1 night in a Native American Tepee. These are basic
tepees and will provide the camping equipment (except sleeping bags).
Each tepee sleeps 8 people, so it is likely that you will be sharing a tepee
with another family from the group. Our 5 nights camping are in tents.
These are either 3 or 4 man tents. We will do everything to ensure that
you are happy with your rooming allocation.
Additional hotel nights at the beginning or end of your holiday are
available. Details of your first night's hotel together with an emergency
number will be provided with your booking confirmation.
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Language
110-120 Volts, 60 Hz. Primary Socket Type: North American Grounded.
Type A or type B plugs can be used.
Visa Requirements
Citizens of the UK, Australia, New Zealand, France, Germany, Italy,
Switzerland etc. do not need a visa for a stay of up to 90 days in the
United States of America. You do, however need an onward airticket and
a machine-readable passport. A British passport is machine readable
when there are two lines of letters, numbers and chevrons (>>>>>)
printed across the long edge of the personal information page (the page
with photograph and personal details).
From January 12th 2009 travellers to the US, exempt from US visa
requirements (US Visa Waiver Programme), in addition to having a
machine-readable passport must also use the new US Electronic System
for Travel Authorisation (ESTA). This is an online electronic travel
authorisation and this process must be completed before boarding a US
bound aircraft. Please visit the ESTA website for further details.
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longer day-hikes and other activities.
If you are travelling to the US from a country that is not part of the US
Visa Waiver Programme please contact your nearest US Consulate for
full details regarding the visa application process.
Vaccinations
You should attend your own doctor and dentist for a check-up. Your
doctor will have access to the most up to date information on the required
vaccinations for the country you are visiting. For the USA and Canada, in
general, you do not require any vaccinations other than standard travel
jabs (Polio, Tetanus, and Hepatitus A etc). A very good online resource is
the NHS travel website at www.fitfortravel.nhs.uk
First Aid
A medical kit will accompany each group. You should also bring your own
personal first aid kit, which should include the items listed in the
equipment list at the end of this dossier.
Some considerations from a family perspective
Know Before You Go!
As a reputable tour operator, KE supports the British Foreign &
Commonwealth Offices Know before you go! campaign to enable British
citizens to prepare for their journeys overseas, and we recommend that
all KE travellers take a look at the FCO Travel Advice for their chosen
destination on the official FCO website: www.fco.gov.uk. North
Americans can also check out the U.S. Department of State website:
www.travel.state.gov for essential travel advice and tips.
KE treat the safety and security of all clients as the most important aspect
of any trip we organise. We would not run any trip that we did not
consider reasonably safe. Should the FCO advise against travel for any
reason, we will contact everyone booked to travel to discuss alternatives.
We receive regular updates direct from the FCO and are in constant
touch with our contacts on the ground. If you have any questions about
government travel advice, please call our office.
Our family adventures are specifically aimed at families where parents
are experienced travellers and who are used to the outdoor environment.
Although children will quickly adapt to new and unusual surroundings,
they will be less happy if mum and dad are completely phased by the
experience. There are certain things which you should expect on your
family adventure.
New sights and sounds… This is what we travel for, after all - there would
be no point in going to these places if they were exactly the same as
home. New sights and sounds and smells abound.
Hotels and overland transport… We choose hotels which will provide
comfortable accommodation and which reflect the character of the area
we are visiting. Minivans are used for overland transport, but you should
be prepared for some long journeys on this tour. We advise you come
prepared with books, ipods with headphones, games, hand-held games
consoles headphones and inflatable pillows!
Hygiene and childrens’ health… The avoidance of sickness is a priority
for everyone. Children may be more prone to non-serious traveller’s
sickness than adults – this sort of tummy upset is easily picked up on the
hands and children may need extra encouragement to wash their hands
before mealtimes. Thankfully, children are also normally quick to recover
from these minor tummy troubles.
Get in shape… Our family adventures are designed to have flexible
itineraries and none of them involves a sustained element of trekking.
However, these are active adventures and will provide a reasonable
challenge, with their combination of sightseeing excursions, short and
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Flight Information
On our website we display a UK Flight inclusive package price and Land only package price for the majority of our holidays. For some destinations we
have chosen to sell the holiday on a Land Only package basis only (for example, these are mainly trips to the Alps and Morocco where you can take
advantage of booking your own flights direct with low cost carriers).
Booking Your Own Flights from the UK
The LAND ONLY dates and prices are for the itinerary joining in Las Vegas. For clients making their own flight arrangements, Las Vegas Airport is the
most convenient for transfers to the group hotel. Please refer to 'Joining Arrangements and Transfers' in the trip dossier for further details.
Flights SHOULD NOT be booked until you have received your booking confirmation and the trip is showing 'Guaranteed to Run' or 'Limited'
Booking a Flight Inclusive Package from the UK
The FLIGHT INCLUSIVE dates and prices are based on UK flights from London to Las Vegas. Outbound flights will usually depart from the UK in the
morning, arriving the late afternoon of the same day (day 1 of the Land Only itinerary). Return flights will usually depart in the afternoon of the last day of
the itinerary, arriving in the UK the following morning. Regional departures and/or alternative carriers are also available on request.
Please be aware that there are often only a limited number of seats available at the advertised price. To avoid paying flight supplements, we
recommend that you book as early as possible, especially during peak times. If we are unable to secure seats at the price shown, or you have
requested regional departures, we will contact you with an alternative quote. Please note that you may be asked to pay for your flights in advance of
your final holiday balance. If you book a package including flights with KE you will benefit from full financial protection.
Flight Options for the US
You can book your flights through a travel agent, directly with an airline, or online using a variety of travel search engines and consolidator sites.
For help and advice with booking your flights, we recommend you consult our friends at Exito Travel, airfare specialists since 1994. The air team at Exito
are familiar with our destinations and know the airports, best airlines and potential pitfalls. If there is ever a flight change, cancellation or air-related issue
before or during your travels, it's nice to know you have someone on the Exito air team looking after you. Isaac Hilpman deftly manages the flight
requests for many of our U.S. travelers. Please contact Isaac at: keadventure@exitotravel.com &/or via phone at: 800.655.4053 ext. 8507. If Isaac is
traveling or unavailable, any of Exito's air agents can assist.
Alternatively we can recommend Luxury Adventure Trips, particularly if you are in the north west of the USA as they are based in Seattle. Contact
Susan Kelly, Luxury Adventure Trips toll free on 866-318-5396 or on Seattle 206-361-7334 or by email at cruzinsusan@comcast.net.
Online Options for US and Other Worldwide Clients
There are many websites offering deals on air tickets which can be booked directly online. In addition many airlines operate their own online booking
facilities. If you are considering buying flights online, we recommend kayak.com. While Kayak.com does not sell flights, it quickly searches several
hundred websites to find the best deals available.
General Flight Information
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Why Choose KE Adventure Travel?
Experience
KE has 31 years experience of adventure travel worldwide. All of our holidays are accompanied by an experienced leader, some of whom have worked
with KE groups for many years. Many are professional guides and instructors with an unrivalled knowledge of the areas in which they work. In many
parts of the world, we recruit local guides with appropriate training and experience. In addition to having the technical skills to ensure your safety, KE
expects its leaders to be active members of the group. A leader should be fun to travel with and ready to share with you their enthusiasm for adventure
travel and their knowledge of the area. Alongside the group leader, there will be a local support crew, which could be just a driver, or a complete team of
guides, drivers, porters, mule-herders and cooks. The hard work of our support crews, along with the fascinating insight they can offer into their local
culture, is integral to providing you with the very best adventure travel experience.
The team of KE office staff is amongst the most experienced in the business, with the proven ability to set up and operate a worldwide programme of
adventures. Every one has adventure travel at heart and joins at least one trip a year. It is this depth of experience that makes KE stand out from other
adventure travel operators. When you contact KE, by phone or e-mail, or visit our office, you will find the help and advice you need, from someone who
has actually done the trip and can give you the benefit of their first-hand experience.
KE can guarantee the very best in trek support, excellent food, a good standard of hotel and camp accommodation, plus the back up of one of the most
respected companies in the business. Client satisfaction is at the top of our agenda and almost 50% of our bookings each year come from repeat
business. If you are looking for adventure then look no further than KE.
Responsible Tourism and Awards
Responsible Tourism has always fitted naturally with KEs travel ethic. It is important to us that our clients are not the only beneficiaries
of the travel experience, but that we share a two-way relationship with the areas that we visit. We make sure that our local staff are well
treated and well paid, we respect indigenous cultures, take care to protect the environment and make the most of every opportunity to
make a positive contribution wherever we travel.
In addition to holding an AITO 5-star Responsible Tourism rating, we are recipients of AITOs Achievement in Responsible Tourism
Award in recognition of the work carried out over the past 20 years, giving back to the communities and areas we visit. We have been
awarded Highly Commended status in the Best Tour Operator category of the Virgin Holidays Responsible Tourism Awards, and were
named Best Trekking Operator on Earth by National Geographic Magazine, whose criteria included commitment to responsible tourism.
We continue to travel responsibly, and more information on our policy, practice, and specific projects can be found at keadventure.com,
and on the website of our partner charity the Juniper Trust: junipertrust.co.uk. KEs Mountain Code is issued to our staff, trek leaders and
overseas agents, and we recommend it to our clients, too!
The KE Mountain Code
Protect the environment its flora, fauna and landscapes
Respect local cultures traditions, religions and built heritage
Benefit local communities both economically and socially
Conserve natural resources from office to destination
Minimise pollution through noise, waste disposal and congestion
Carbon Offsetting
www.climatecare.org
After asking you for your opinion on Carbon Offset schemes KE have decided to lend our support
to Climate Care and provide you with a simple and effective way of balancing the CO2 emissions
from your flight. Although we believe that travel has huge global benefits, we all have a
responsibility to try to limit our impact on the environment. Climate Care works to reduce an
equivalent amount of CO2 on your behalf through a range of projects in renewable energy, energy
efficiency and rainforest restoration which not only fight climate change but bring benefits to
communities round the world.
Your Complete Financial Protection
KE Adventure Travel is a fully licensed and bonded tour operator. We are a member of the Association of Independent Tour Operators (AITO), bonded
with the CAA (ATOL 2808) and ABTA licensed (W4341). You can book your trip with KE Adventure Travel in complete confidence that all monies you
pay for a trip are fully protected.
www.keadventure.com
UK: +44(0)17687 73966
US (toll-free):1-888-630-4415
COWBOYS AND INDIANS
PAGE 10
Booking Your Holiday
Reserving Your Place
Having read this dossier, if you require further information, please don't hesitate to contact our office staff. The next step is to check the availability of
places on your trip either by checking the trip status on the KE website, or by e-mailing or telephoning us. We can usually hold you a place for 7 days
while you make a final decision.
Holiday Status
For each of our group holidays, there is a minimum number of participants required to enable the trip to go ahead. Once the minimum number is
reached, the trip status will normally change from 'Available' to 'Guaranteed to Run' on the website. Other than in exceptional circumstances, we will not
cancel a trip once it has achieved guaranteed to run status and so you are free to proceed with your international flight booking and other travel
arrangements.
Making a Booking
The easiest way to make your booking and our preferred method, is online through the KE website. You will need to pay a deposit at the time of
booking. This is normally £200 but for some holidays with special permit fees or internal flights, this may be more. The amount of deposit required for an
individual holiday is given on the dates and prices page of the holiday. It is also possible to reserve your place over the telephone, by mail, or email.
(Note that you will also need to complete a booking form to confirm your place). We cannot confirm any booking until we receive your fully completed
booking form. Any unreasonable delay in submitting your booking form may jeopardise your place on your chosen holiday.
Adventure Travel Insurance
Important notice.
It is a condition of joining any of our trips that you are insured against medical and personal accident risks (to include repatriation costs,
air ambulance and helicopter rescue services). We also strongly recommend that you take out holiday cancellation insurance, as all
deposits paid are non-refundable. Please ensure that your insurer is aware of your KE Adventure itinerary and can agree to cover the
activities being undertaken. You will then need to advise us of your policy details and complete an Insurance Declaration Form.
CAMPBELL IRVINE DIRECT travel insurance is available to EU residents
and will cover the majority of KE Adventure holidays. It has been designed to
provide cover for activities normally excluded by other insurers such as
trekking, mountain biking and climbing. Please note that certain activities
may attract a higher premium. In addition cover cannot be provided by
Campbell Irvine Direct for KE climbing trips above 6000m. Cover for these
can be obtained through either the British Mountaineering Council (BMC) or
Snowcard. Please click on the logo for a quote.
TRAVELEX is a USA based insurer offering travel insurance which can be
used by US citizens and US residents only. KE recommends the "Travelex
Select" package for our holidays. If your holiday involves using
mountaineering equipment (ropes, harness or crampons), for climbing or
glacial travel, you should consider the "Adventure Plus Pak" optional
upgrade on the Travelex Select Plan. Please refer to the 'Description of
Coverage' for a summary of the terms, conditions, exclusions and limitations
of the applicable Protection Plan. This policy will also cover KE climbing trips
above 6000m. Please click on the logo for a quote.
We hope that this dossier has answered most of your questions.
Please feel free to contact us and speak to one of our experts.
KE Adventure Travel, 32 Lake Road, Keswick, Cumbria, CA12 5DQ, UK
www.keadventure.com
UK: +44(0)17687 73966
US (toll-free):1-888-630-4415
COWBOYS AND INDIANS
PAGE 11
Equipment
The following checklist should help you with your packing. As a general rule, you should always try to keep the weight of your equipment to a minimum.
You must bring the following items:
Strong shoes or walking boots
Socks
Teva-type sandals or Crocs (for water adventures)
Underwear
Lightweight trousers / pants
Shirts (at least one long-sleeved with collar) and T-shirts
Warm jacket (for chilly evenings)
Lightweight waterproof jacket
Sunhat
Eyewear – Sunglasses
Sleeping bag (rated to +5°C)
Daypack 20 - 25 litres
Headtorch / headlamp with spare batteries
Sun protection (including total bloc for lips, nose etc.)
Insect repellant
Water bottles 1 litre / 1 quart (x2)
Washbag and toiletries
Small towel
Small padlock (to lock your KE trek bag)
Basic personal first aid kit : You should bring your own personal first aid kit consisting of the following: Antiseptic cream, throat lozenges, diarrhoea
treatment (Immodium), painkillers, plasters (band-aids), and blister treatment, Insect repellent, antihistamine cream and tablets, and re-hydration salts
(Dioralite). Glucose tablets and multi-vitamin tablets are a good idea
The following items are optional:
Shorts
Swimwear (for the hotel pools)
Wet wipes
Antibacterial handwash
Pocket-knife (remember to pack sharp objects in hold baggage)
Repair kit – (eg. needle, thread, duct tape)
Camera, media, spare batteries
Dry bag for your camera
Travel clothes
Toys/games
This document was last updated 6th January 2015
www.keadventure.com
UK: +44(0)17687 73966
US (toll-free):1-888-630-4415