Shoestring.co.uk

Vietnam — £269.00
Food: Vietnamese cuisine is very varied. There are around 500 different traditional meals, varying from exotic meats like cobra or bat flesh, to fantastic vegetarian dishes. The basis of a typical Vietnamese dish is steamed white rice (óm). Soup (phó), vegetables (rau), meat, fish (cà), herbs and sauces are served with steamed white rice (óm), the basis of any traditional dish. Soup is eaten with almost every meal. Meat, shrimp (tom), crab (cua) and fish play an important role in Vietnamese cuisine...

Brazil — £319.00
Brazilians go onto the streets as well dressed as they can afford. They expect the same of foreigners. Take comfortable cotton clothes and some items for more formal occasions. On the way to a beach such as Copacabana or Ipanema a Brazilian wears as little as possible. Girls and women wear a bikini over the minikini and a colourful shawl around the hips, which is used as a towel later and sandals on their feet. No one goes topless. The gentlemen stick to swimming trunks with a pair of shorts over...

Malaysia — £269.00
On day 11 you will meet with the beautiful island of Langkawi. Langkawi is in fact an archipelago consisting of 99 separate islands, covered with jungle and hemmed by beautiful bays and beaches. You will stay in a cosy hotel with pool, close to the beach. On this island, everything you can desire is possible, snorkel and dive in the clear coral filled ocean or take a canoe trip journeying through beautiful mangroves and jungle rain forests. You can take a boat trip to one of the surrounding (partly...

Moscow and St. Petersburg — £150.00
From today we will stay for three nights in Moscow. The most famous part of Moscow is Krasnaya Plosyad (Red Square), and this is a good place to start exploring the city. This is where, according to Russians, the Fatherland begins. If it could talk, this old square would have many a story to tell. This is where victories in war have been solemnly celebrated, as well as coronations and festivals. The Kremlin is here, the oldest historical monument in the city, towering over the square from its location...

Thailand, Laos, Vietnam & Cambodia — £269.00
Thailand, Laos, Vietnam and Cambodia are tropical countries, so thin cotton clothes are recommended. For the evenings, high collared and long sleeves T-shirts or thin cotton turtle necks are the order of the day, to provide protection from mosquitoes. Taking too little is preferable to taking too much, as any clothing you feel you lack can be bought very cheaply whilst on holiday. An umbrella is useful, as protection against the rain as well as for use as a sun parasol. A woolly jumper is necessary...

Rajasthan — £269.00
The most sacred city in India is situated on the banks of the river Ganges and is, according to legend, the oldest city in the world. The city is also known as Benares or Kashi, and is the city of Shiva of Viswanath (as he is known here), the most important of the Hindu gods. It has been the centre of theology since the dawn of mankind and there was a university here as far back as the time of Buddha. The city itself is dusty and chaotically busy, like all northern Indian cities. The number of buffalo...

Kenya & Tanzania — £150.00
This tour across the equator will mainly lead through highland and mountains with a moderate climate and nights that are sometimes cold. Bring thin, cotton clothes. In the evenings a high-necked long-sleeved T-shirt or a thin cotton roll-neck jersey will offer useful protection against mosquitoes. Be sure to have a sweater and a raincoat. A pair of worn-in walking shoes with good grip and strong soles is essential. Locust thorns can easily perforate soft soles. Sandals are comfortable on travel days...

South Africa & Swaziland — £150.00
A big part of this tour will take you through desert where the climate is harsh. Nights here can be very cold and days can be extremely hot during winter months. Bring thin clothes and a high-necked long-sleeved T-shirt or a thin cotton roll-neck jersey for the nights to protect you against mosquitoes. Also, bring a jersey or a sweater and a raincoat. An umbrella is of good use against the rain as well as the fierce sun. A pair of worn-in walking shoes with a good tread and strong soles is important...

Egypt in 3 weeks — £139.00
Egypt covers a relatively small area, yet is home to some 78 million people. About half of the population is under 18 years old. Outside the metropolis of Cairo life is lived in the towns and villages along the Nile or on the islands in the river. The Nile Valley is one of the most densely populated regions in the world. Almost a quarter of the population lives in and around the capital Cairo and there is a continuous drift from the country to the cities. The population is a mixture with origins...

Trans-Mongolian Express — £150.00
Beijing has long been the capital city of one of the largest empires in the world. In the 13th century, the city was founded by the Mongols to control their empire which stretched from Korea to Hungary, and was later the capital city of the Ming Dynasty. In the city and the surrounding area we can find some of the most famous locations in this immense nation, which is more that 60 times the size of England and has a population of 1,300,000,000! The heart of Beijing, and also China, is Tiananmen Square...

Southern India — £269.00
Shiva is one of the most important gods in Hinduism. He is often portrayed as an ascetic. He is dressed in a tiger skin or an elephant skin, as a reference to two demons he had once slain. His body is greyish or white, because he rubs himself with the ashes from incinerated bodies. He wears his hair in long braided strands, the style many ascetics in India have adopted for their hair. He has three eyes – the third embellishes the centre of his forehead. From this third eye he can evoke a destructive...

Peru & Bolivia — £179.00
Altitude sickness: About half of the people who stay at heights above 3500 metres will suffer from altitude sickness to some degree. It is a reaction of the body to the decreasing oxygen content in the air. The danger is in the accumulation of fluid in the lungs or brain. Altitude sickness is potentially deadly. Be sure to be alert to the symptoms. Before giving a description of the symptoms, note that contracting the illness is not dependent on your physical fitness or routine when walking at altitude...

Adventurous Nepal — £119.00
We shall leave Kathmandu today by bus and travel to Pokhara, a drive of around 125 miles. Pokhara is the only place in the world where mountains rise up to heights of over 4.5 miles. From the sub-tropical valley in which Pokhara is situated, the north side of the mountains rise straight up to the highest peaks in the world. Nothing, anywhere can compare to this landscape. In the middle of this spectacle of rock, ice and snow is the Macchapuchare, which is one of the smallest peaks in the region at...

Adventurous Tanzania — £150.00
From the Serengeti we’ll travel to see one natural wonder that has no serious rival, the incomparable Ngorongoro crater. When we arrive we’ll descend into the crater by jeep. You’ll need to prepare yourself to be stunned! As we reach the flat bottom of the crater you may well lose yourself in this wonderful paradise. Herds of antelope and elephants, prides of lions and ever-solitary rhino live together in this small area. This is a potted Africa, a microcosm where seemingly every type of animal comes...

The Mayan Treasure-Trail — £269.00
This tour leads us through tropical lowland and mountainous areas, the latter has a moderate climate, but nights can be cold. Bring along thin, cotton clothes. For the evening, a closed neck long-sleeved T-shirt or a thin cotton roll neck sweater is recommended to protect yourself against mosquitoes. Also bring a jersey or sweater and a rain jacket. Nights in San Cristóbal can be quite cold! Do not forget an umbrella to protect against rain and too much sun. A pair of good-quality, worn-in walking...

East Africa: Kenya, Tanzania & Zanzibar — £150.00
This tour across the equator will mainly lead through highland and mountains with a moderate climate and nights that are sometimes cold. Bring thin, cotton clothes. In the evenings a high-necked long-sleeved T-shirt or a thin cotton roll-neck jersey will offer useful protection against mosquitoes. Be sure to also have a sweater and a raincoat. A pair of worn-in walking shoes with a good tread and strong soles is essential. Locust thorns can easily perforate soft soles. Sandals are comfortable footwear...

More tour information — £179.00
The holiest city in India is situated on a large bend in the river Ganges and is, according to legend, the oldest city in the world. It is also known as Benares or Kashi, and is the city of Shiva, the most powerful of the Hindu gods. As far as recorded memory goes back, this city has been the most theologically important city. There has been a university here since the days of Buddha, 2,500 years ago. The city itself is dusty and hectic, like all cities in northern India. The number of buffalo and...

Costa Rica 'on a — £269.00
This tour leads us through tropical lowland as well as high mountainous areas, the latter enjoying a moderate climate, which may include cold nights. Therefore, bring along thin, cotton clothes. For the evening, a closed neck long-sleeved T-shirt or a thin cotton roll neck sweater is recommended to protect against mosquitoes. Also, bring along a jersey or sweater and a rain jacket. Nights in Costa Rica can be quite cold! Do not forget an umbrella as protection against rain and too much sun. Bring...

South-Peru — £179.00
Altitude sickness: About half of the people who stay at heights above 3500 metres will suffer from altitude sickness to some degree. It is a reaction of the body to the decreasing oxygen content in the air. The danger is in the accumulation of fluid in the lungs or brain. Altitude sickness is potentially deadly. Be sure to be alert to the symptoms. Before giving a description of the symptoms, note that contracting the illness is not dependent on your physical fitness or routine when walking at altitude...

Shoestring - Cuba — £179.00
This tour leads us through tropical lowlands as well as through mountainous areas with a moderate climate which may include cold nights. We therefore recommend that you bring thin clothing plus a closed neck, long-sleeved T-shirt or cotton shirt for the cooler evenings and to protect against mosquitoes. We also recommend that you bring a jersey or sweater and a waterproof mac. Do not forget an umbrella for protection against rain and too much sun. With regards to footwear, you will need a pair of...

Indonesia: Bali & Lombok — £229.00
Then we will travel through a variety of interesting scenery to Ubud, itself set in picturesque surroundings. We’ll stay in a cosy hotel with a swimming pool in the heart of this arts and crafts town before setting off to explore the surrounding area. And there’s a lot to see and do! You can rent a bike or moped to visit Monkey Forest or one of the elegant neighbouring temples. You can take a walk along the narrow sawa dikes. You can enjoy delicious local foods like smoked duck or shrimp satay at...

Background information on Adventurous Thailand — £100.00
Don’t bring too much baggage. Clothing can always be bought cheaply in Thailand and almost every hotel has a laundry service. Thailand is a tropical country, so thin, cotton clothing is most pleasant. However don’t walk around with too much bare flesh showing. A sweatshirt can be useful in the cooler evenings, especially in the winter months. All you need for your feet are a pair of good, worn-in walking shoes or hiking boots and a pair of flip flops. Remember that when entering sacred buildings...

Indonesia: the Sunda Islands — £269.00
Indonesia is a tropical country, so bring thin, cotton clothes with you. For the evenings, a high-collared T-shirt with long sleeves or a thin roll-necked sweater will help reduce insect bites. It is better to bring too little than too much clothing, as anything you feel you are lacking can be bought very cheaply in Indonesia. An umbrella and a raincoat can come in handy, and the umbrella can provide protection against the bright sun as well as the rain. A good, worn-in pair of walking shoes/hiking...

Adventurous Morocco — £179.00
The cultural differences between Europeans and Moroccans are so vast that one could write a book about them. Below you will find an overview of the most important points. Moroccans tend to be rather modest, reserved people who will not admit strangers into their private sphere. However, their initial stiffness may disappear very suddenly, and then they are known to display a level of hospitality that is so overwhelming that it makes Europeans feel uneasy rather than honoured. We will explain more...

Egypt total — £150.00
Egypt covers a relatively small area, yet is home to some 78 million people. About half of the population is under 18 years old. Outside the metropolis of Cairo life is lived in the towns and villages along the Nile or on the islands in the river. The Nile Valley is one of the most densely populated regions in the world. Almost a quarter of the population lives in and around the capital Cairo and there is a continuous drift from the country to the cities. The population is a mixture with origins...

South Thailand — £195.00
Don’t bring too much luggage. Clothing can always be bought cheaply during the holiday and almost every hotel has a laundry service. Thailand is a tropical country, so thin, cotton clothing is advisable. However, don’t walk around with too much bare flesh on display. A sweatshirt can be useful in the cooler evenings, especially in the winter months. All you need for your feet are a pair of good, worn-in walking shoes or hiking boots and a pair of flip flops. Remember that you must remove your shoes...

Shoestring - Egypt — £150.00
On day 4 we’ll take a day train (with air-conditioning) along the verdant Nile valley to Luxor. Ever since the discovery of the tomb of Tutankhamun in 1923, this friendly city on the Nile has been world-renowned. On the eastern bank of the Nile, where our small and pleasant hotel is situated, you’ll find the beautiful temples of Luxor and Karnak, obelisks, and towering monuments to ancient pharaohs and gods (and those who thought they were both!) The temples are transformed at night for you to experience...

one trip where you won’t need your mummy — £150.00
Day 4 takes us to the oases of the Western Desert, where date palms grow and farmers ride their donkeys through lush overgrown fields. We’ll visit a natural hot spring and see the unique Crystal Mountain, a small hill that sparkles like crystal due to its countless shards of quartz. We’ll spend the night in the desert surrounded by enormous white limestone ‘mushrooms’ before heading for the Dakhla Oasis to enjoy a walk under the shade of date palms. Then we’ll follow a beautiful route to Kharga and...

Majestic China — £269.00
At dusk on day 4 we’ll board the night train to Pingyao and settle in our pre-booked couchettes. Travelling by train in China is an experience in itself - an excellent way to get to know the country and its inhabitants. The following morning we arrive in Pingyao, to spend one day and one night in this picturesque city before continuing Xi'an, a city with an impressive history. We’ll visit the famous Terracotta Army, thousands of life-size sculpted soldiers guarding the underground mausoleum of Emperor...

South Africa, Namibia & Botswana — £200.00
The Damara form one of the oldest population groups in Namibia. Traditionally they are livestock owners, though it is known that they also grew tobacco and pumpkins on a small scale. Currently the Damara farm maize and vegetables. Originally, they lived in the more central parts of Namibia, but other population groups like the Herero replaced them. The current Damaraland has been proclaimed as a kind of homeland by South Africa in 1974, as South Africa considered Namibia as part of its territory...

Syria & Jordan — £229.00
Damascus is the largest city in Syria, and maybe the world’s longest continually populated city. There was a settlement in this area as far back as 5,000 BC, situated on the River Barada. These days, Damascus is still home to mysterious old eastern bazaars and elegant monuments. The epicentre of Damascus’ charm is the old region of the city, surrounded by a Roman wall with many gateways. In the small streets and alleyways you will encounter markets, madrasa (Koran schools), hammam (public baths)...

Imperial Morocco — £150.00
The cultural differences between Europeans and Moroccans are so vast that one could write a book about them. Below you will find an overview of the most important points. Moroccans tend to be rather modest, reserved people who will not admit strangers into their private sphere. However, their initial stiffness may disappear very suddenly, and then they are known to display a level of hospitality that is so overwhelming that it makes Europeans feel uneasy rather than honoured. Further on, under the...

South India 'on a — £179.00
Shiva is one of the most important gods in Hinduism. He is often portrayed as an ascetic. He is dressed in a tiger skin or an elephant skin, as a reference to two demons he has once slain. His body is greyish or white, because he rubs himself with the ashes from incinerated bodies. He wears his hair in long braided strands, the style many ascetics in India have their hair. He has three eyes – the third embellishes his forehead. From this third eye he can evoke a destructive fire, to destruct the...