No. The itineraries, hotels and experiences on the site are there to inspire you and help you decide what you are looking for. They are not a definitive list of what we do, as most of our best ideas are kept up our sleeves. If you have seen a hotel or an area that is not listed, ask us and we can almost certainly help.

Our specialist destinations are India, Nepal, Bhutan, Sri Lanka, the Maldives, Morocco, Egypt, Oman, Jordan and Myanmar (Burma). If you have your heart set on somewhere else, such as South-East Asia, the Gulf or the Indian Ocean, do ask. For Africa, Europe and the Americas we are less of a specialist, but we work with trusted operators and will happily steer you the right way.

All our journeys are private, and can depart on any day you want. We do not run fixed-departure group tours: your trip is just for you and your party.

As a guide, trips start from about £2,500 per person for a week in most of our destinations. Bhutan is higher. The final price depends on your hotels, the pace and style of travel, the time of year and your flights, so the best thing is to tell us roughly what you have in mind and we will give you an honest figure.

The earlier the better, particularly for small boutique hotels and busy seasons. That said, we have organised trips at very short notice, so do get in touch even if your dates are close.

Yes. We are based in London, so if you are too we can easily meet over a coffee and go through your itinerary together. Otherwise we are happy to talk by phone or video.

Once you have an idea of where and when you want to travel, give us a call or send an enquiry. A destination specialist will start designing a tailored trip with you. The page on how it works sets out the whole process, from first conversation to the day you return.

Yes. Our website assistant, Fred, is an AI assistant who can answer quick questions about our destinations and how we work, and can pass you to a member of the team. For anything involving planning your actual trip, a destination specialist will take over.

A destination specialist with first-hand knowledge of where you are going. We have spent many months living and working in the areas we cover, and we will always tell you the positives and the negatives so you know exactly how your trip will unfold. You can meet them on the Our Travel Specialists page.

We send a detailed itinerary with plenty of useful information, and we are always on hand to answer questions and advise on packing and local customs. We will often tell you which restaurants are currently getting the best reviews and what is happening during your stay.

The deposit is shown on your quotation (or advised by your travel consultant) and is paid when you book. The balance is due not less than two calendar months before departure. If you book within two months of departure, full payment is due at confirmation. For some arrangements a supplier needs full payment at the time of booking, and we will tell you before you book if that applies.

By bank transfer, or by debit or credit card, including Visa, Mastercard and American Express. Please ask us about any card fees when you pay, as these depend on the type of card.

Please tell us in writing as soon as possible and we will do our best, though we cannot guarantee every change. You will be given a quote showing any extra costs from our suppliers, plus our amendment fee of £75 per person. Some elements, such as certain airline tickets, cannot be changed without considerable cost.

Your deposit is non-refundable. If you cancel two months or more before departure, you will pay the greater of your deposit or 20% of the full holiday price. If you cancel within two months of departure, the full price remains due. Cancellations must be made in writing by the party leader. Please read clause 3 of our Terms and Conditions for the full details, and make sure your travel insurance covers cancellation.

Sometimes. A place can be transferred to someone you nominate if all our suppliers accept the change of name, the new traveller accepts our terms and provides insurance details, and the transfer authorisation is signed. Airline tickets are rarely transferable. Any supplier costs and a £75 amendment fee will apply.

Yes. Flights and flight-inclusive holidays are protected by the ATOL scheme (our ATOL number is T7596). Where flights are not included, your holiday is protected through our membership of the Travel Trust Association (membership number Q4406), which holds customers’ funds in a trust account supervised by an independent trustee. ATOL does not cover every element of every trip, so please ask us to confirm what protection applies to your booking. Full details are on our financial protection page.

We strongly advise it. When you arrange cover, make sure your insurer knows your destination and any higher-risk activities you plan, such as safaris, mountain trekking or scuba diving, and check that the cancellation limit is high enough for the cost of your trip. We ask you to give us your insurer’s details and policy number. See clause 6 of our Terms and Conditions.

These are the party leader’s responsibility, and we will always point you in the right direction for each destination. Please make sure every traveller’s name on the booking matches their passport exactly, and check your passport’s validity for the countries you will visit.

Our terms allow prices to change in line with changes in transport costs and in taxes or fees such as landing and embarkation charges, with any increase or decrease passed on as a surcharge or refund. Please see clause 5 of our Terms and Conditions for the conditions that apply.

We are here for you throughout, both through our excellent partners on the ground and by phone, 24 hours a day.

We handpick the drivers and guides we work with around the world. They are there to do more than show you the standard sights: they bring local life, culture, cuisine and customs to life, and open doors that would otherwise stay closed.

We love small, boutique hotels with character and charm, from heritage hotels off the beaten track to interesting corners of town. We also offer the full range of luxury, from the great old hotels to resorts and palaces. We will always suggest what suits you and your style of travel.