BEFORE YOU GOA little forethought and pre-planning will help to make your trip go a lot smoother. Take a look at our check list to see if there is anything you might have overlooked.But it is far beyond the scope of this page to list every detail that you will need to consider for your trip, but we hope to cover the basics and give the contacts of the people or the places that can help you more.
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YOUPASSPORT For all of our tours everyone needs a valid passport. If you haven’t already got one this should be the first thing on your list. You need to get the forms from your local Post Office who will also explain the rest of the procedure to you. More information can also be found at www.ukpa.gov.ukFor those of you who already have a passport it needs to have at least 2 pages free for the border stamps and should be valid for at least two weeks after your intended arrival back in your country of residence. VISAS We deal with so many nationalities that it is not viable to put a list here of what nationalities need a visa for which destination. However, everyone will need a visa for Russia and we have found that by far the best place to get all the paperwork sorted is Asla Travel. 01480 433783. Their website doesn’t look much, but these guys know everything! Ask questions here rather than the Russian consulate! But ask to be put straight through to the Russia desk. www.asla.co.uk For Croatia no Western European needs a visa. TRAVEL INSURANCE You will need European health insurance for travelling abroad, the E111 form is not adequate. Some companies will insure you for an off-roading holiday abroad, others will have restrictions and some will not insure you at all, especially if the off-roading is the main intention of the holiday. But, technically World 4x4 Adventures run driving tours, not off-roading as such, as we will be exploring unsealed roads, clasified by-ways etc. However some of the trails we do are extreme, but these are always optional and are attempted at your own risk! INOCULATIONS To see what inoculations you will need for the countries you intend to visit either contact your local doctor’s surgery or try these links. www.doh.gov.uk/traveladvice or www.tripprep.com or www.lonelyplanet.com You should also check with your doctor that you are up to date with your previous inoculations as some need booster injections at different intervals. CLOTHING Some of our tours will take place in some potentially extreme conditions, so make sure that you have the right clothing for the expected conditions. You will find more details on the individual tour pages. |
FOR PEOPLE PARTICIPATING ON A TOUR IN THEIR OWN VEHICLEYOUR VEHICLECAR INSURANCE You will all already have a car insurance policy and you will need to contact them and ask them to issue you with a Green Card, which is proof of insurance for driving in Europe. However every insurance company has different liberties and restrictions and some companies may consider an off-road tour a hazardous activity. You may need to tell them that you will be participating on a non-competitive off-roading holiday. Some companies might only cover you for 3rd party and some may charge for issuing a green card. For insurance purposes Croatia is considered a Category 2 country. This means that an UK policy automatically covers you in Croatia. Some insurance companies will try and persuade you that this is not the case, if this is so, I will contact them on your behalf. Russia: No insurance cover issued in Europe will stretch to Russia. You will need to buy insurance at the border for approximately £40, for a minimum of 15 days. For the Arctic Russia arranging this cover is included in the price of the tour. PREPARATION No major modifications are needed for you vehicle, but it will have to be fitted with recovery points at the front AND rear and at least All Terrain tyres, if not Mud Terrains. However, if you wish to add equipment have a look through any 4x4 magazine or any 4x4 related website. SERVICE Both long-distance driving and off-roading are considered hard driving conditions for your vehicle so we recommend that you give your vehicle a comprehensive service before you leave. BREAKDOWN COVER Consider taking out a European wide breakdown assistance policy. It is a long way to push your car back home!! EUROPEAN RULES Driving laws on the continent differ slightly from our own. Your vehicle must, by law, be equipped with a warning triangle, a first aid kit and a small fire extinguisher. You must also fit light deflectors to your headlamps. Ignorance of the law is no defence.
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GENERAL
EQUIPMENT
Apart from the items required by law to drive in mainland Europe
(first aid kit, fire extinguisher, warning triangle) we also request that you
bring your own tow-rope and shackles. A tool kit,
comprehensive enough to enable you to carry out emergency repairs and a few basic spares is
also a must have. Other things such as a torch, a pen knife, disposable lighters,
waterproof clothes and spare blankets will be very handy. Also Mill Services are now offering a Rent-a-Spare service where you only pay for what you use, plus a rental fee!! If your vehicle uses a specialised grade of oil it might be a good idea to take an extra supply as it might not be readily available where we are going. A tent and camping equipment to make camping a possibility.
PAPERWORK
Make sure that you take these essential documents with you and check this list
carefully: Tip: Photocopy all these documents twice before you leave. Leave one copy with a friend who has access to a fax machine, take the other set with you but keep another in a separate place to your originals.
And most important of all. Don’t forget your sense of adventure! |
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