Western Bonelli's Warbler in the pinewoods above our hotel, at Bormio in the Italian Alps Brian Small, Limosa

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1 Italy ALPS & APENNINES Western Bonelli's Warbler in the pinewoods above our hotel, at Bormio in the Italian Alps Brian Small, Limosa 2019 Thursday 6th - Thursday 13th June (8 days) Two-centre tour with Colin Bushell & Michele Viganò This delightful tour to Northern Italy will take you from the beautiful foothills of the Apennines south of Milan, north across the Po plain of Lombardy and high into the Italian Alps, close to the border with Switzerland. After Moltoni s Warbler, Black-headed Bunting and Lesser Grey Shrike in the rolling hills, it's the turn of Lammergeier, Nutcracker and Snowfinch amid the alpine landscapes of scenic Stelvio National Park. Add a host of wonderful butterflies - including the lovely Southern White Admiral, Escher s Blue and Great Banded Grayling - and join us for our fifth visit to this superb destination with Italian bird and wildlife expert Michele Viganò, who lives in Lombardy. Birdwatching in the majestic Italian Alps, Po plain & Apennine foothills 3 nights at Varzi, in the pretty Oltrepò Pavese region of lowland Lombardy Moltoni s Warbler, Lesser Grey Shrike, Black-headed Bunting, nesting Bee-eaters and Rollers Po Valley heronry with breeding Purple, Night and Squacco Herons, Glossy Ibis and Sacred Ibis 4 nights at Bormio, amid the dramatic mountain scenery of Stelvio National Park High Alps - Ptarmigan, Lammergeier, Nutcracker, Alpine Accentor, Snowfinch, Citril Finch Bewilderment of butterflies, too - including Berger s Clouded Yellow and Ilex Hairstreak Small party size - maximum of 10 participants Expertly led by Limosa's Colin Bushell and our Italian wildlife specialist 'Miki' Viganò What's Included? Limosa Tour Leader English-speaking Italian bird and wildlife guide, whose home is in Lombardy Return flights - London Heathrow to Milan, nonstop with British Airways 7 nights accommodation in Italy - 3 nts Varzi (agriturismo), 4 nts Bormio (good alpine hotel) All main meals included - with drinking water provided during the day Minibus transport All excursions, entry fees, tour based tips and taxes LIMOSA HOLIDAYS, West End Farmhouse, Chapelfield, Stalham, Norfolk NR12 9EJ (UK) TEL: +44 (0) info@limosaholidays.co.uk WEB: limosaholidays.co.uk

2 Outline Itinerary Day 1: Fly London Heathrow-Milan and transfer south to our first hotel, in the Oltrepò Pavese. Night Varzi Days 2-3: Birding in the Apennine foothills. Day 4: Two further nights Varzi Heading north, we cross the Po River to visit a large heronry amongst the rice fields. Tracking northeast past Milan, we enter the Italian Alps. Night Bormio Days 5-7: Alpine birding in the spectacular Stelvio National Park. Three further nights Bormio Day 8: Tour Overview Return to Milan, fly London Limosa has travelled to Italy on many occasions, but this summer trip to Northern Italy offers something different - taking you to the scenic Lombardy region, from the vineyards and fields of the rolling Oltrepò Pavese to the south-facing slopes of the high Italian Alps. With only one change of hotel during the week, our holiday will explore these two beautiful but contrasting areas for birds, butterflies and other wildlife. To the south of Milan lies the River Po, that rises close to the French border and heads east to Venice. After crossing the river, the attractive Apennine foothills of the Oltrepò Pavese region gradually appear - and these will be our home for a three-night stay near Varzi, where we are based in one of Italy's delightful agriturismi. The landscape is soft and rolling, characterised by hilltop settlements and birds such as Ortolan Bunting, Red-backed Shrike, Golden Oriole, Melodious Warbler, Roller and other species typical of the Mediterranean region. Numerous Nightingales sing through the night and one special bird that inhabits Lombardy's high hedgerows is the localised Moltoni s Warbler often by our hotel. We hope to see and hear them, plus the rare Black-headed Bunting, too. Having explored the foothills, we swing north via the rice fields and scattered wetlands along the Po River valley. With local help, we will again hope to find one of the last breeding pairs of Lesser Grey Shrikes in Italy. Gravel islands on the Po River are nesting sites for Little Terns - a long way from the sea. Here we visit one of the large heronries of the region, with hundreds of nesting birds, including Squacco and Purple Herons, Cattle Egrets, Little Bittern and a surprisingly large population of Sacred Ibis. Reed-fringed pools hold Ferruginous Ducks and Great Reed and Marsh Warblers. The mountains and upland valleys of Stelvio National Park are rightly famous for their wild and dramatic landscapes. Perched high on the borders of Lombardy, Trentino Alto Adige and Switzerland, the park is the largest in Italy. Sculpted by glaciers and post-glacial streams, the landscape at the time of our visit in early June will be busy with breeding alpine birds. Although rising to an altitude of 3900m (12,795 feet), we will be spending most of our time here birding between 2000 and 2800m (6,500-9,100 feet), where key alpine specialities include Lammergeier, Golden Eagle, Ptarmigan, Alpine Chough, Ring Ouzel, Water Pipit, Citril Finch and Snowfinch. Early summer is the best time to visit the Alps, with the prospect of fine weather, majestic scenery and wildflower meadows. If the spring weather has been good, the upland pastures around Lago di Cancano and the Gavia Pass can be a carpet of alpine flowers - with Globeflowers and a variety of deep blue gentians and primroses; Alpine Pasque-flowers often cover the slopes. Tumbling streams hold Dippers and Grey Wagtails, and the woods echo to the calls of chacking Fieldfares, chattering Common Redpolls and chipping Common Crossbills. This is a trip that will not only introduce you to some breath-taking Italian scenery and wildlife, but some delicious Italian home-cooking, too - and you may well be tempted to sample one or two of the local wines! Limosa has managed to find some amazing spots in Italy with super birds, wildlife and food - and with the help of our local expert Dr 'Miki' Viganò, whose home is in Lombardy, we think you'll agree we are on to another winner with this delightful holiday. Guide Colin Bushell led last year's trip here with Miki and our 2019 departure will be Limosa's fifth visit to this wonderful corner of Europe info@limosaholidays.co.uk

3 Daily Itinerary Day 1 FLY MILAN, SOUTH TO VARZI Our birdwatching tour to Northern Italy begins with a British Airways morning flight from London Heathrow to Milan Linate airport. We will be met by our local guide Michele and make the two-hour transfer south across Italy's scenic Po Valley to our welcoming hotel in Varzi. We'll stop along the way for lunch and maybe take a first look for Lesser Grey Shrike. Small stands of poplar are home to the last few birds left in the region all our groups have been successful, enjoying great views! Our destination this evening is one of Italy's delightful agriturismi, situated in the rolling hills near Varzi. Here the climate is warm, with the Mediterranean influence having a huge effect on the region's fauna and flora, allowing the cultivation of a variety of different grapes that give birth to some fine local wines. Night Varzi Days 2-3 OLTREPÒ PAVESE & APENNINE FOOTHILLS During some pleasant walks amid beautiful countryside, an excellent range of Mediterranean bird specialities awaits. The localised and recently split Moltoni's Warbler is found here, easily identified in summer by its salmon-pink underparts and unique and rattling Wren-like call. These can often be quite common in hedges close to our hotel. In June, the bushy hillsides are the haunt of breeding Cirl and Ortolan Buntings, Red-backed Shrike and Melodious Warbler, while in the skies high above we may be treated to the tell tale 'wing clapping' display of Honey Buzzard. On top of a beautiful small hill, we may find ourselves surrounded by hundreds of hunting Common Swifts as we search for the exotic Black-headed Bunting and, with much luck, Woodchat Shrike - two of Italy's rarest breeding species. A visit to the hills of Momperone, which lie partly in the neighbouring region of Piedmont, adds the possibility of Quail, Western Bonelli's Warbler and Stonechat along with nesting Beeeaters, Rollers and Hoopoes, too. Moving to a drier area, we will hope to find Tawny Pipit scurrying about on the open ground, and the air can be filled with the songs of Woodlark and Skylark. Italian Three-toed Skink and Southern Smooth Snake occur - and are attractive to the local Short-toed Snake Eagles, which spend the summer here! The butterflies of the region are superb and we will check warm sunny spots for the lovely Southern White Admiral, Spotted and Queen of Spain Fritillaries, and Pearly Heath. Great Banded Graylings should just be appearing and may alight on the road to gain warmth. Brilliant Escher s and Adonis Blues inhabit the Montalto Pavese, as well as many Marbled Whites. Tall stands of Lizard Orchid can be found in scrubby patches, as can various Ophrys species including Ophrys dinarica. Our base throughout our stay in Oltrepò Pavese will be a charming agriturismo set amidst the beautiful Oltrepò hills, forests and fields above Varzi. Homemade evening meals featuring local produce and classic Lombardy dishes are a feature of this distinctly Italian 'farmhouse hotel'. Two further nights Varzi Day 4 PO PLAIN WETLANDS We have a fair bit of ground to cover today as we swap the gentle, rolling countryside of the Apennine foothills for the majestic high mountains of the Italian Alps. But there's plenty to see along the way! With breakfast inside us, we will make a relatively early start, dropping down from the hills and journeying north towards Milan, crossing the Po River en route to one of the largest heronries in the region. As the Apennine foothills of Oltrepò Pavese fade to our south, we will notice the large numbers of birds flying to and from the trees - like bees round a hive: Little and Cattle Egrets, Squacco, Night and Purple Herons, and surprisingly even Sacred Ibises breed in good numbers. Reedy fringes host a plethora of other wetland species, including Marsh and Great Reed Warblers, Cuckoo and Marsh Harrier. Brightly coloured Italian Yellow Wagtails breed on open pools nearby, where we also hope to info@limosaholidays.co.uk

4 find handsome Red-crested Pochard, white-eyed Ferruginous Duck and elegant Garganey, while Hobbies hunt for dragonflies that are numerous here, cruising low over the water. Skirting round Milan, we will plan to have lunch near one of the lakes beyond the city perhaps famous Lake Como, before completing the last leg of our journey east into the Italian Alps. Standing a little over 4,000 ft above sea level, Bormio is a small alpine town situated at the edge of the stunning Stelvio National Park, and our base for the next four nights. We may arrive in time to enjoy some initial birding in the valley, where summer residents include Black and Common Redstarts, Serin and Crag Martin. In the evening, we can look forward to a super home-cooked Italian meal made from local produce. Night Bormio Days 5-7 THE ALPS: STELVIO NATIONAL PARK From our base in scenic Bormio, we will travel out to explore different valleys in this sublime national park. Visiting sites up to 3000m (9800 feet) in altitude at the Stelvio and Gavia Passes, we will enjoy a landscape that is constantly changing - from snow-capped mountains and barren 'moonscapes', to tranquil alpine forests and cascading streams. If the spring weather has been warm, in early June the upland meadows are transformed by wildflowers, especially around the picturesque shores of Lago di Cancano, where Alpine Ibex and Chamois can also be found. Michele has even seen Brown Bear on the slopes above the lake! Stelvio's birdlife is rich and varied, and home in summer to the full gamut of alpine specialists. Golden Eagle, Lammergeier, Alpine Chough and Rock Thrush frequent the open areas above the treeline, with Citril Finch, Nutcracker, Crested and Willow Tits, Firecrest and Lesser Redpoll in the pine forests lower down. We may be lucky to see a Goshawk soaring overhead, while babbling streams hold bobbing Dippers. Come June, snow is often restricted to the highest mountain peaks. In the wild rocky places, we have a great chance of seeing the 'hoar-frosted' alpine race of Ring Ouzel, pale Northern Wheatears, Water Pipits, Whinchats and Rock Buntings. Playful schools of Alpine Choughs sail across the blue upland skies as we scour the boulder-strewn slopes for a glimpse of the furtive Ptarmigan, with its 'creaking door' voice. Crag Martins are often to be seen, zapping around the park's bridges, bluffs and alpine villages. In the highest places, Snowfinches and Alpine Accentors will be nesting, too. In such a rich environment there is much to look for beyond the birds. On sunny days in early June, the first butterflies can be out and about Alpine Grayling, Berger s Clouded Yellow and bright Adonis Blues are often on the lower slopes. In small ponds and vegetated lakes, we will look for a number of special dragonflies - including the very rare Northern Emerald, a relict from the last period of glaciation - as well as Alpine Newt. Golden Eagles quarter the slopes and we will no doubt hear the bird-like whistling alarm calls of Alpine Marmots and find them lolloping about their upland home. And if the season is right this year, Stelvio's alpine meadows can be truly spectacular with wildflowers. Three further nights Bormio Day 8 RETURN TO MILAN, FLY LONDON An early breakfast and departure from our hotel sees us heading back south along the autostrada today, past the romantic Italian lakes to Milan. Bidding farewell to 'Miki' here, we catch an afternoon flight to London Heathrow, where our birdwatching tour of Northern Italy concludes. Trip Information Group Size Max of 10 participants & 2 leaders Birds species Butterflies species (weather permitting) Given fine weather, there should be good numbers of butterflies and dragonflies about, especially in the lower, Oltrepò Pavese region to the south. Good all-round wildlife interest on this tour, with a wealth of wildflowers to enjoy info@limosaholidays.co.uk

5 Accommodation 7 nights accommodation in Italy, based at two different but equally charming hotels - family run and each serving delicious home-cooked meals. All rooms are en suite. Our tour begins with a three-night stay at a comfortable Italian Agriturismo - a peaceful former farmhouse restaurant - amid the rolling hills above Varzi, in the lovely Oltrepò Pavese region, south of Pavia. We spend the next four nights at the spa town of Bormio, in a super little hotel with a great restaurant set among fantastic scenery - high in the Italian Alps (1225m/4,000ft above sea level), at the gateway to the famous Gavia and Stelvio Passes. Meals All main meals are included in the tour price, commencing with lunch in the Po Valley on Day 1 and concluding with lunch on Day 8. Each morning will start with a continental breakfast of fresh homemade products from the hotel. Dinners at the hotels feature delicious nostrano (homemade) foods, and there's also a good selection of locally grown wines to tempt you - though please note wine is not included in the tour price. Lunches will usually be picnics made with tasty local cheeses and cured meats, fresh fruit and tomatoes. Walking Easy. Short walks over mainly easy terrain. Comfy waterproof walking shoes with stout corrugated soles for grip are advised. Much of the Stelvio National Park is accessible by road and we will reach a maximum elevation of ca. 2900m (9500ft) and take short walks up there. Weather In early June, expect largely sunshine but perhaps some showers, with temperatures in the highlands being cooler. Weather in all high mountain areas is unpredictable of course, but by early June conditions in the Italian Alps are usually settled. In the Oltrepò foothills, summer weather is typically warm and sunny with temperatures set fair at around C (68-77F). For the second part of our holiday, in the mountains around Bormio, daytime temperatures at this time average around 15 C (59F), and on sunny days it can feel much warmer than this. Conversely, it can be much colder at Stelvio so please come prepared for the possibility of cool or even cold conditions with some rain (occasionally even snow) in the High Alps and pack warm and weatherproof clothing, just in case. Flights We fly London Heathrow to Milan Linate Airport nonstop with British Airways. Ground Transport By minibus. Photos Good photo opportunities on this tour - birds, wildflowers, butterflies and other wildlife, plus some fine landscapes and scenery, too. Tour Cost 2019 (8 days): 1795 (inc flights from London) Land only cost: 1670 Deposit: 300 Single Supp: 130 Cost includes Services of expert Limosa guide English-speaking Italian bird guide Return flights London Heathrow-Milan Linate 7 nights hotel accommodation in Italy All main meals (with drinking water provided) Minibus transport All excursions, entry fees, tour based tips and taxes Map & Limosa checklist of birds Cost excludes Insurance, drinks, airport/in-flight meals and snacks & other items of a personal nature. About Your Guides Colin Bushell A birder since his teens, Colin presently lives in Lancashire, where he works as both a professional bird tour guide and freelance ornithologist for ecology consultancies. His first forays into overseas birding were to Majorca, Austria, Greece and Morocco - before the lure of the tropics became irresistible. After exploring Africa and the Far East, Colin immersed himself in South American birding, becoming a frequent visitor there (particularly to Peru and Brazil) and info@limosaholidays.co.uk

6 amassing a wealth of experience leading bird tours to the 'Bird Continent' over the last 25 years. He joined the Limosa team in 2015 and was an instant hit with participants on our trips to Spain, and Hungary & Slovakia, quickly following those up with trips to Costa Rica, Brazil, Taiwan and Thailand. Colin has led tours across Europe and the Middle East, Africa, Asia and Central and South America. He led our June 2018 tour to the Italian Alps with Miki, and our June 2019 trip will be Colin's second visit there. Michele Viganò Dr Miki is an experienced English-speaking Italian bird tour guide. Born and raised in Northern Italy, he developed an early interest in nature, watching birds since childhood and learning to appreciate every component of the natural world. He recently completed his PhD studies in Natural Sciences, producing a detailed study of the taxonomy of Spotted Flycatchers in the region, the result of which has been the renaming of those on the western Mediterranean islands as a new species Mediterranean Flycatcher! Michele is a member of the Italian Rarities Committee (COI) and has co-led tours to Morocco, Tunisia and Turkey as well as his native Italy, of course. He lives in Lombardy, Northern Italy and designed and leads this tour exclusively for Limosa. What You Say... Colin and Miki were great guides, helpful and fun too. A very enjoyable birdwatching and wildlife holiday - one of the best we have been on! Fabulous wildlife, scenery and food! Don't change this trip. MS, Italy Alps & Apennines tour Both leaders really good company, as well as excellent in expertise. Delightful to see their enthusiasm for the wildlife of all kinds. A super trip from start to finish. Thanks for dealing so well with the flight cancellation [Italian industrial action] - really enjoyed the 'bonus' night and time in Milan! CG, Italy Alps & Apennines tour I thoroughly enjoyed the trip, not only for the birdwatching but seeing all the butterflies, flowers etc. Fantastic! MS, Italy Alps & Apennines tour Financial Security Limosa Holidays is a fully bonded Tour Operator and a member of the Association of Independent Tour Operators (AITO). We hold an ATOL (Air Tour Operators Licence) granted by the CAA, providing for your protection in the event of Limosa Holidays' insolvency. Our ATOL licence number is ATOL For tours not including the cost of a flight from the UK or for holidays booked by you as Land Only, all payments made to us are fully bonded through the Association of Bonded Travel Organisers Trust Limited (ABTOT). Our ABTOT membership number is For details please see our brochure or website: Limosa Loyalty Discount We are proud of the number of loyal customers who travel regularly with us. As our way of saying thank you, we offer a Frequent Travel Discount. Under the scheme, everyone who takes four trips with us is entitled to claim a 5% discount on their 5th trip. *1 *1 Conditions: This offer applies to the basic tour cost only and excludes certain commissionbased trips, extra costs such as additional flights or accommodation, private extensions and cancellations. Discounts cannot be given in lieu of tour deposits or off the cost of single room supplements. Please note discount must be requested at time of booking! How To Book Check availability on our website or with our office. We are happy to hold Provisional Reservations for up to 7 days. After this, we do require a Booking Form and deposit to confirm your place on tour. Any unconfirmed space will be released info@limosaholidays.co.uk

7 Book Online, by Phone or by Post You can book and pay the deposit simply and securely Online via our website, using the Book This Tour button on the relevant tour page or the Booking tab at the top of the page. Telephone bookings must be confirmed in writing by completion of a Booking Form (there's one tucked inside every brochure or as a PDF download from our website), which can be mailed to us in the time honoured way. Be sure to read our Booking Conditions and General Information (found at the back of our brochure, on our website or available from our office on request) prior to booking. When to Book Early booking is advised since flights and accommodation are much more easily secured well in advance. To encourage early booking, we are pleased to offer an Early Bird Discount - see our current brochure or website for details. All our tours are limited to small group sizes. So they can fill up quickly - sometimes even before our new brochure comes out! Single rooms in particular can often be in short supply and among the first to go, so do try to plan well ahead if you definitely require one of these. Last-minute Bookings: We inevitably receive a few unexpected cancellations over the course of a season so it is always worth enquiring about vacancies on any tour - even for those departing in just a few weeks! Payments Deposit: The amount of booking deposit per person is shown alongside every tour. We accept deposit payments by electronic bank transfer (please ask for our bank details), UK debit card and cheque (made payable to Limosa Holidays and drawn on a UK bank in GBPounds Sterling). We also accept Visa and MasterCard credit cards for payment of Booking Deposits only. Balance: Full payment of the tour balance is due not later than 12 weeks prior to departure (20 weeks in the case of certain tours such as cruises or those involving rail travel). We will send you an invoice before the balance is due. We accept balance payments and any additional payments (e.g. interim flight deposits, flight upgrades, extra hotels etc) by electronic bank transfer (BACS), UK debit card or cheque. Payment by overseas customers These must be in GB Pounds Sterling and may be made by electronic transfer direct to our bank (please ask for our bank details). We do not accept cheques on US Banks in US Dollars, or cheques in Euros or Eurocheques. Credit cards - please note: (i) We do NOT accept credit cards or overseas debit cards for balance payments (including any additional or interim payments) from customers living within the UK or European Economic Area (the EEA is the EU countries plus Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway). (ii) For customers living in North America, Australia and all other areas outside of the UK and the European Economic Area we are able to accept payment by Visa and MasterCard credit cards or overseas debit card but with a charge of 2.5% of the transaction amount to help offset card company charges. Late Booking Payments: In order for us to guarantee your airline seats, hotels etc., full payment is required at time of booking for all late bookings (i.e. bookings made within 12 weeks of departure). Other Things You Need To Know Passports & Visas For UK passport holders, your passport must be valid for the proposed duration of your stay. No additional period of validity beyond this is required, but when travelling anywhere overseas info@limosaholidays.co.uk

8 we always recommend that your passport has a minimum of 6 months left to run after your intended date of return home in case of unforeseen delay. Brexit - Important Note! The rules for travel to most countries in Europe will change IF the UK leaves the European Union (EU) with no deal. After 29 March 2019: 1. You should have at least 6 months left on your passport from your date of arrival. 2. If you renewed a 10 year adult passport before it expired, extra months may have been added to your new passport s expiry date, making it valid for more than 10 years. Any extra months on your passport over 10 years may not count towards the 6 months that should be remaining for travel to most countries in Europe. The new rules will apply to passports issued by the UK, Gibraltar, Guernsey, the Isle of Man and Jersey. VISA NOT REQUIRED by British nationals holders to enter Italy. Holders of non-uk passports should contact the nearest Italian embassy or consulate to enquire whether or not they require a visa. If a visa is required, you need to apply locally. If the embassy or consulate requires you to provide a letter confirming that you are booked on an allinclusive tour, please contact our office and we will be happy to provide one. Note: The UK and EU have agreed the full legal text of the draft Withdrawal Agreement in principle. This sets out that there will be no change to entry requirements for British Citizens travelling to the EU or for EU citizens travelling to the UK during the Implementation Period (30 March 2019 to 31 December 2020). In the event of changes to entry requirements after the UK leaves the EU on 29 March 2019, this page will be updated as soon as information is available. Health & Vaccinations Compulsory vaccinations: None. Recommended vaccinations: For travel everywhere (even within the UK), we recommend you check you are up-to-date with protection against tetanus, polio and hepatitis A. The above information, together with that contained within our Travel Information sheets (sent to everyone who books), outlines health requirements for this tour. Please note that these details are given for guidance only - and are only for certain diseases - and you must consult your doctor in good time prior to travel as to what immunisations (if any) are needed for your chosen holiday. For full and up-to-date health information we urge everyone to consult The National Travel Health Network and Centre (NaTHNaC) website prior to booking any overseas holiday. NaTHNaC is funded by the UK Government s Health Protection Agency and provides health information for both health professionals and travellers, with information compiled by its own clinical and scientific team. You can search for individual country requirements, which are updated regularly. Your Safety & Travel Advice An unavoidable aspect of travelling abroad nowadays is the risk it may pose to your safety and security. The best advice on current risks is provided by the UK Foreign & Commonwealth Office (FCO). In order to assess and protect against any risks in your chosen destination we strongly recommended that you refer to the relevant FCO Travel Advice - both prior to booking and regularly before you travel. See It is standard Limosa policy for our office to send a copy of the relevant FCO Travel Advice about the tour to all participants along with their Final Letter (ca. 2-3 weeks prior to the trip). Travel Aware - staying safe and healthy abroad - is a travel safety campaign run by the FCO, and another useful resource. Go to: info@limosaholidays.co.uk

9 Travel Insurance Good travel insurance is essential before setting off on any overseas trip. In common with all responsible tour operators, it is a condition of booking that all clients are fully and adequately insured before travelling overseas with us. Be aware that some destinations may require you to produce proof of comprehensive travel insurance (e.g. valid insurance certificate) at immigration on arrival in the country, so you should carry your documentation with you. Your travel insurance should cover against cancellation, curtailment, missed departure, delay, personal accident, death, loss of baggage and valuables (see note below), personal liability and legal expenses. Most importantly, your insurance must cover you fully in respect of medical care and repatriation should you become too ill to continue with the tour, including the cost of emergency evacuation by helicopter or air ambulance should this be necessary. Note that passenger liability insurance covering the transportation that we hire, particularly in Third World countries, may be inadequate; it is therefore important that your insurance cover includes sufficient provision for your dependents in the event of an accident. We recommend that you obtain travel insurance as soon as possible after booking your holiday to ensure you are protected right from the word go in the event of unexpected cancellation prior to departure due to accident or illness. You must inform your insurers of any pre-existing medical conditions (including those of persons not necessarily travelling but upon whom your holiday may depend) that may require treatment during a period of overseas travel or might cause you to cancel the trip. Once you have arranged your insurance, please be sure to send us the following essential details: name and contact details of your insurance provider, your policy number, expiry date and your insurers 24hr Emergency Assistance number. Important Things to Note about Insurance Travel Insurance does not normally provide sufficient cover for valuable optical equipment, which is often best protected under your own household insurance policy. If in doubt ask your insurers for advice prior to travel. Most travel insurance policies limit the amount of cover, typically up to a maximum tour cost of 5000 per person. If the cost of the tour you are booking exceeds this amount, additional cover can usually be provided upon payment of additional premium. We recommend all travellers check their individual policy limit to ensure the full cost of their holiday is covered. Arranging Your Insurance: due to UK Government legislation, under Financial Services Authority (FSA) regulations, we are not allowed to offer or recommend travel related insurance to customers. Premiums can vary widely according to your age, needs, health, choice of destination and other factors, while many people nowadays have Annual Travel Insurance cover. For these reasons, we leave you free to shop around and pick your own policy, one best suited to your own individual needs. General Information Our website gives easy access to detailed tour itineraries (Tour Info Packs), trip reports, trip photos and the latest Limosa News. Special Diets & Other Requests We pass on all such requests to the airlines, hotels and other suppliers, and do our best to ensure (but of course cannot guarantee) that your needs will be met. Please be sure to tell us about these (in as much detail as possible) at the time of booking, to allow good time to make the necessary arrangements. Smoking Almost all of our clients prefer a smoke-free info@limosaholidays.co.uk

10 environment. For the enjoyment and comfort of all, we ask that smokers refrain from smoking in proximity to the group and respect our NO SMOKING policy in the vehicle, at meal times and when watching wildlife. Any Questions? If you have any questions at any time, you ll find our office staff friendly, efficient, approachable - and just a phone call away, eager to assist you in every way. Our office is open hrs Mon-Fri, and can also be reached by . In the event we are unable to take your call, please leave a message on our answerphone (24 hrs) and our office will contact you as soon as we can. Thank you for your interest in our tours. We do hope that you will be able to join us - and we look forward to hearing from you again! revck info@limosaholidays.co.uk