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Home > Destinations > Specialty
Travel > Custom Trip Planning
Simple Procedures for Planning Custom and
Family Group Itineraries to Wildland Adventures Destinations
Many Wildland Adventures travelers prefer to design their
own departures as individuals, families or with their own
traveling companions. We enjoy working with you on this basis.
For most of our destinations we can custom design an itinerary
that offers the same high standard of operation and leadership
we use on our regular trips. You choose your preferred standard
of accommodations, travel dates and the amount of time to
spend at the various sites along the way. With advance planning
we can match a specific guide to your group's interests.
Planning this type of trip for a few people is usually 10-25%
more expensive than a group departure for 8-12 people. Our
custom private arrangements are often less expensive than
other companies' large group departures. You will find incomparable
value in the personal service we provide, the knowledgeable
experience we apply to designing your trip and in the flexibility
you will enjoy in the final itinerary carefully tailored
to your own interests.
To help us assist you in planning your trip we have developed
a set of Custom Trip Planning Guidelines. We like to establish
a sequence of planning for private departures that efficiently
uses your time and resources. These procedures are rooted
in our commitment to provide the best service and value possible.
1. DISCUSS FEASIBILITY, COST
In consultation with you by phone or in person, we identify
the feasibility and approximate cost of the itinerary in
which you are interested. We share, free of charge or obligation,
information about specific components such as airfares
and schedules, visa or immigration formalities, seasonality,
festivals or other specific knowledge we have readily available
in our office. We will send you background materials such
as destination information as well as accommodations, yachts,
etc. we have available that relate to the components of
your itinerary as we may have them outlined in our existing
Trip Planners.
2. EMPHASIZE EXACTLY WHAT YOU WANT
Tell us as accurately and completely as you can about your
interests and preferences. If you know in advance, inform
us of specific sites you want to visit, the level of activity
you prefer (ie trekking or easy day hikes), dates and number
of travel days, type of accommodations and any other details.
Give us an idea for the kind of experience you want and
if you have any special interests we can plan into your
trip. The most enjoyable aspect of custom trip planning
for us is an itinerary connecting you with our local guides
and outfitters who will carry out a trip that exceeds your
expectations and meets your special interests. We particularly
enjoy arranging private romantic honeymoon adventures,
family adventures, or private group trips to special places
we may not normally use for our own small groups. It is
always best if you express your ideas and possible itinerary
in writing by email or fax. We can respond more confidently
and decisively to your requests. For groups of three or
more people at different locations, it is best if one person
acts as the spokesperson to make itinerary decisions on
behalf of the group and with whom we can expect to communicate.
3. DEVELOP ITINERARY
If, based on this consultation and information we send you,
you decide to have us go ahead and plan a private trip,
you will authorize us to begin by sending a $50 non-refundable
custom trip planning deposit by check or credit card charge.
This charge is applicable as credit to your final trip
cost. At this stage we need your firm dates, preferred
itinerary, and accommodations. This can be done by phone
although it is preferable to send it in writing by email
or fax. We will make the overseas inquiries with our guides
and outfitters to construct a suggested itinerary for your
trip. You will receive by mail, email, or fax a day-by-day
descriptions of the proposed trip, information about the
daily activities and sites included, probable lodging,
and a price quote for land and air arrangements, with a
statement of what is and what is not included in the trip.
4. MAKE DEPOSIT, REVISE TRIP
Should you accept the itinerary as it stands and ask us to
confirm the reservations, you need to submit a deposit
of $300 per person (plus any additional deposits to hold
specific accommodations) and a Reservation Form. This,
plus your $50 custom trip planning fee, will be credited
toward your total trip costs. Advancing this deposit with
a signed Reservation Form acknowledges your acceptance
of our Terms and Conditions.
If you decide that the prospective trip itinerary you receive
requires modification we will revise the itinerary and cost
and return it to you for final approval. If we capture the
essence of your proposed trip on the second iteration of
the itinerary, you can initiate confirmation of your trip
by sending the Reservation Form and $300 per person deposit
as noted above.
If after receiving the first itinerary you do not wish to
pursue the trip, or wish to postpone further consideration,
you and Wildland Adventures will have no further obligation.
If we do not hear from you within 15 days of sending the
initial prospective itinerary, we will cancel any tentative
arrangements or scheduling that we may have made. We will
re-quote the same itinerary for you at any time in the future
at no additional charge, though we cannot guarantee cost
estimates or space availability.
5. CONFIRM RESERVATIONS
After we have received your $300 deposit with your signed
Reservation Form, we will act immediately to secure land
and air arrangements for your trip. Acceptance of a deposit
is not a guarantee that we can confirm all reservations,
though usually we are able to do so. Please be aware that
unless you send your $300 immediately after approving your
itinerary, space may become unavailable between the time
we initially formulate an itinerary and when we receive
your deposit to confirm reservations. In the event we are
unable to confirm land and air reservations according to
the proposed itinerary, or otherwise to your satisfaction,
we will retain only the $50 planning fee, and refund all
other moneys that are not specifically non-refundable deposits
previously advanced with your permission to the airlines
or overseas suppliers. Should you choose to cancel your
trip for any reason, cancellation fees apply as outlined
in our Terms and Conditions. We offer cancellation insurance
that covers various contingencies.
After we receive your deposit you will be sent a pre-departure
packet for your trip. This will include the following items
which pertain to your trip:
• Custom itinerary
• Trip insurance application
• Balance due invoice
• Flight schedule/fares
• Destination background
• Equipment or packing checklist
• Health and immunization information
• Any required visa forms
• Other materials to help you prepare for your trip
6. PRE-DEPARTURE CONSULTATION
Call us toll-free any time regarding your trip and preparation
for departure. We can help you recruit friends to join
you, offer advice on additional extensions and help you
complete any forms needed. Of course, we make any ongoing
changes in your itinerary as may be necessitated by changes
in airline schedules, confirmation of primary reservations
that might have been waitlisted, or for the addition of
more individuals to the itinerary.
7. ITINERARY REVISIONS
Should you or a member of your party wish to revise any aspect
of the itinerary that has been confirmed, it may be possible
to do so. Itinerary revisions after an itinerary has already
been confirmed by a $300 deposit and signed Reservation
Form are subject to a $25 fee per revision. It may not
be possible to confirm all requested revisions. Any costs
associated with traveler-proposed changes are the responsibility
of the traveler.
8. IT REALLY IS EASY!
It is actually very easy working with us to design your custom
trip. It takes effort, creativity and persistence to make
reliable individual arrangements. But if you give us enough
lead time, (4-6 months in some destinations) and a clear
sense of your travel goals, we have state-of-the-art communication
capabilities with very bright, responsive, resourceful
and enthusiastic people all over the world who will participate
in planning your trip. All of us are ready to make your
custom Wildland Adventure a reality!
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