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FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
What is a typical day like?
An average day of travel begins at dawn with a wake- up cup of tea or coffee. Guests pack their gear, taking along with them only a daypack of essential items. Support teams carry everything else to ensure safety and comfort. Several hours of travel are planned in the morning, and lunches are provided en route. Lunch locations are chosen for either their natural beauty or cultural significance. Following lunch, you hit the trail again for several
more hours. At the campsite or lodge, you will be greeted with an afternoon snack. As time allows, you will have an opportunity to explore the nearby area on your own, to soak up the local sites and sounds.
Dinner is always an exciting time to relive the days' adventures and share your experiences with the group. Your trip leader will also take this time to brief you for the next day. Take your time in the evening to enjoy the atmosphere, update your journal, or just relax.
While camping, sites are chosen their safety and unsurpassed beauty, and prepared for your arrival each day. Comfortable tents, sleeping bags and pads, dining and toilet tents and all other necessary camping gear are provided. You will be given a list of recommended personal gear depending on the trip you choose. As often as possible, there will be an opportunity to take a shower, and do laundry.
When travel entails lodging, local accommodations are chosen for their quality standards and atmosphere. Our staff oversees the preparation of all food to ensure its' quality. All bedding and other necessary equipment will be provided.
On especially demanding trips, rest days are planned to allow guests to acclimatize, catch up on sleep and gather energy.
Who are your guides?
Aspera guides are, above all else, in love with the areas in which they travel. They are amongst the most experienced explorers and travelers in their region. Depending on the type of travel, they are professional ecologists, naturalists, historians, photographers, area specialists, and, of course, rafters, trekkers, riders, and guides. They speak the local language fluently, and in most cases, several dialects, in order to solve any issues as they arise, as well as facilitate our guests interaction with local people.
These guides understand that the most effective way of dealing with an emergency is to avoid it altogether. All of our guides for active adventures are trained to make immediate decisions regarding guests' health and their capacity to continue on a trip if they should become ill. In addition, these guides have received emergency, outdoor medical training, and are trained to deal with emergencies in the case that they should arise, while evacuation
measures are being arranged.
Please refer to our detailed itineraries which include guide profiles, or call to ask more about your guide.
How many people are in a group and who are they?
We strictly limit our groups to a maximum of 14 people, and in most cases, the groups are 6 - 8. We want to encourage as much interaction with local cultures as possible at the same time as limiting the cultural and environmental impact that a larger group may have.
The majority of our guests travel as individuals or in pairs, and they are, like you, people who want to experience new cultures and environments. We will be happy to provide you with contacts for other guests so that you can contact them prior to the trip, if you so wish.
How difficult are your trips and how will I know if I am fit enough?
We rate the level of difficulty according to the following system to be used in combination with each type of travel. For example, trips are rated as "easy overland" or "moderate rafting" or "most challenging trekking." Detailed information about the difficulty of each trip will be provided within itineraries, but a general guideline is as follows:
- easiest: no camping, overnights in comfortable lodging, all overland or optional hiking on well- traveled trails
- easy to moderate: some camping, optional day activities such as hiking with few climbs or descents, or riding, or kayaking
- moderate: some camping, difficult overland journeys, may be some mandatory activity and non-conventional travel such as riding or rafting, trekking elevations less than 10,000 ft. (3,000 m.)
- rigorous: mostly wilderness camping, elevations up to 15,000 ft. often with steep climbs and descents, if rafting, Class IV-V rapids, other non-conventional transport such as horse treks, camel safaris
- most challenging: the most demanding trips to remote locations, with extreme conditions and/or altitudes over 15,000 ft, and occasionally requiring technical skills
- exploratory: only for the true explorer, join us on a scout for new itineraries in uncharted territory. Be prepared for fewer creature comforts, come with a sense of humor, and enjoy the discounted price.
Of course, for any active trip, the better your level of fitness, the more comfortable you will be. But the most important aspect of any explorer is the desire to truly experience, and the willingness to push oneself to new limits. In fact, often a less fit traveler with a positive attitude will find a challenging trip more enjoyable than a more experienced trailblazer.
Guests with special needs should contact us directly for more information about custom trips.
What experience is required?
The majority of our trips are open to travelers of all levels of experience. When, however, there may be special requirements, such as technical climbing skills, specific riding experience, or any type of special licenses, they will be listed on the detailed itineraries, and proof of such experience must be presented before one is accepted for the trip.
Are your trips dangerous?
All adventure travel, because of the unpredictability of weather, animals, rivers, and other realities in remote locations, has its' inherent dangers. All of our guides and leaders operate with your safety foremost in mind, but we cannot guarantee that accidents won't happen. However, one of the benefits of organized group travel is the presence of a trip leader with the experience to deal with dangerous situations should they arise. But ultimately, each person must decide if the rewards of discovering new lands and cultures outweigh the risk. Please contact our office with any specific concerns you may have.
How comfortable will I be on my trip?
No matter what type of trip you decide to take, we will make it as comfortable as possible. When camping, this means 2 people sleeping in comfortable 3 person tents, dining tents, toilet tent, shower tent, morning wake-up with tea or coffee, and other such amenities. On overland trips, we stay in the most comfortable lodges available, with the safest and best food choices. In order to be able to meet as many personal needs and preferences as possible, we ask that all of our guests fill out an information form following their registration on a trip.
Do I have to carry my own equipment?
Guests carry only a light backpack with essentials for the day - such as water bottles, camera and film, rain gear, and other small personal items. Depending on the type of trip, porters, vehicles or pack animals are employed to carry the rest of your equipment, ensuring that they will be safely transported to the next nights' location and there upon your arrival that evening.
What kind of food do you serve?
Our meals are a combination of tasty local specialties and international favorites using the freshest ingredients available. While camping, our experienced cooks serve 3 hearty meals per day, plus mid-morning and afternoon snacks to keep your energy up and taste buds satisfied. When we are in larger cities, we have some planned group meals, but allow some freedom for guests to explore local delicacies. When possible, we give choices of food to meet differing tastes.
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