Enquiries and Contact

Wind, Sand and Stars
PO Box 58214
London
N1 2GJ

Telephone: 0870 757 1510
Fax: 0870 757 1520
Mail: office@windsandstars.co.uk

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Areas of Interest:

Parentes Tantum
Solar Eclipse
Three Peaks Trek
Summer Expedition
Affective Leadership
Bespoke Journey

Historical Odyssey & Camel Trek
Charity Challenges 100KM
Team Building Journeys
Adventures in Education
Bi-Annual Newsletter

Specific Information:

Wind, Sand & Stars are committed to upholding the eight Data Protection Principles of good information handling and will not disclose your information to any third party other than our agents and sub contractors where necessary.

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Booking and Advice

We are aware that most people in England are unfamiliar with desert travel. Our paramount concern is that clients are able to enjoy the different environment with full confidence in the experience of our guides and our utmost care for safety.

Below are a selection of questions we are asked most frequently by people thinking about coming on a journey with us. If your questions do not appear please feel free to call us (020 7359 7551), email us (office@windsandstars.co.uk), or visit the contact us page and we will be happy to help.

How do I book?

Once you have decided which journey you would like to join, please contact the office for a full brochure with booking form and other specific information relating to your journey or expedition. After filling the form in send it back to us, together with the appropriate deposit cheque made payable to Wind, Sand & Stars Ltd.

Are there any age limits?

Most of our journeys are designed to be within the capabilities of anyone who is reasonably fit and healthy, although the mountain treks will indicate the level of fitness required. We have no age limits and make every effort to ensure that anyone wanting to join a journey is able to do so. For our own peace of mind and to help ensure the well being of all our clients, we ask each client to complete the confidential medical form on the back of the booking form. We do reserve the right to ask for medical evidence of fitness to travel and to refuse a booking if insufficient evidence is given. If you have any questions or concerns, please give us a call.

We also arrange journeys and expeditions for school/youth groups as well as charities and for clients looking to create their own adventure.

Click Here to view the Journeys page

Are Wind, Sand & Stars responsible operators in a desert environment with tribal peoples?

Yes. Over twelve years we have build a unique relationship with the Bedouin and a deep understanding of the desert. Please take a look at our non-commercial involvement in the Sinai and our understanding of the values underlying our trading relationships in the area.

Click Here to view our Project Work.

Flights/Special Arrangements/Requests

We are able to organise flights for you under ATOL no: 5474.

Passports and visas

Most of our journeys will require a visa.

Clients are responsible for ensuring that they have a valid passport which is not due to expire at least 6 months after return. British passport holders do require an Egyptian entry visa for most of our journeys but please check your itinerary and final invoice or ring the office. Note: The visa requirements differ depending on nationality. To obtain a visa application form, you need to send a SAE to: The Egyptian Consulate General, 2 Lowdnes Road, London SW1 9ET. Applications can then be made in person (same day - check Consulate is open) or by post (1 to 6 weeks). The cost is currently £15.00. For further information, please call the 24 Hr Visa Helpline 0891 887777 or the Consulate direct on 020 7235 9719.

What about financial security?

Wind, Sand & Stars Limited holds its own Civil Aviation Authority ATOL no: 5474

Insurance

Insurance can be organised for you, please contcat us regarding this.

Vaccinations

It is the responsibility of each client to obtain the recommended vaccinations. The current recommendations are: tetanus, typhoid, polio and hepatitis A & B, please check with your doctor.

Money

Although everything specified on your itinerary is included in the price of your journey or expedition, you may want to bring some money for postcards, presents and drinks etc. You will be able to buy Bedouin craft work and there is a good book shop at St. Catherine's Monastery. The local currency is Egyptian pounds. It is best to exchange sterling in the UK (at your local bank or at the Airport) as you may not have the opportunity to exchange money in Sinai. Travellers cheques and credit cards can be taken as a back up although they are only accepted in a very limited number of places. Small denomination notes are best.

Desert Travel

Guides

Most of our pre-arranged journeys are accompanied by a Wind, Sand & Stars leader and a local English speaking guide. There are some exceptions for small family groups and individuals when we provide only a local English speaking guide. Wind Sand & Stars is very experienced in desert and mountain travel, as well as experience in specialist youth work, corporate training and personal development if you are looking for specific forms of leadership and facilitation. We are also specialist in the Sinai and all its related aspects. The leader and guides will introduce you to Sinai, its desert landscape, its people and its past, sharing their knowledge and experience with you.

Local Support

The local guide, jeeps (modern 4 wheel drive Toyota land cruisers), drivers and equipment that we use are provided by our agent company in Egypt. The company is owned by a Coptic Christian family with whom we have close business ties. They are very experienced in desert travel, having worked in Sinai with the Bedouin since the area was first returned to the Egyptians in the early 1980's and we both trust and enjoy the relationship which has flourished over the last twelve years.

Bedouin

We have been working with the Bedouin of South Sinai for many years. We are old friends with many of the Bedouin families. They are very honourable and hospitable people, always offering our clients a warm welcome. It is a privilege to travel with them through their desert lands.

Accommodation

Each itinerary will specify the accommodation for the journey. In the desert we normally sleep 'under the stars', the most beautiful way to sleep in Sinai as the night skies are remarkable. Clients are required to bring their own sleeping bag and mat, otherwise all equipment is provided. Some itineraries include hotel accommodation on the Red Sea and at St Catherine's. Requests for single rooms (a supplement is payable) should be included on your booking form. Where there are odd numbers of clients on a journey with hotel accommodation, the last clients booking may be required to pay a supplement for a single room. We choose our accommodation carefully depending on the standard and style of the particular tour. However, travellers should understand that in certain more remote areas where facilities are limited accommodation may be simple.

Meals & Water

In the desert we provide two cooked meals and a picnic lunch each day and water for drinking. Clients are required to bring their own water bottle. The food is a mix of local and European, plentiful and hygienically prepared. There are normally vegetarian options available.

Trekking

Camels: The camels are provided and led by local Bedouin. The saddles are well padded and there are regular rests.

Mountains: Although we walk along mountain paths, it can be rough and rocky underfoot. The itinerary will indicate the level of walking and average walking hours per day. We are accompanied by a local Bedouin mountain guide with camels to carry all luggage and equipment, except your daypack. (Unless you join one of our working expeditions which may have more remote treks without camel support, this will be explicit on the individual information).

Journey Numbers

For adult groups the numbers range normally between 10 and 20 people. For most journeys, the itinerary will state a minimum number. We do reserve the right to cancel a journey due to insufficient numbers but, if that were to happen, we would give at least 6 week's notice.

School groups regularly come with numbers ranging from 10 - 50. The group size is the choice of the school or charity involved.

Itineraries

Due to the nature of our journeys, changes may be necessary or advisable due to weather and other local factors. We do our utmost to limit the impact of any changes.

Equipment List & Further Journey Notes

An equipment list and further journey notes will be sent to you with your booking confirmation.

Further Information & Slide Evening

We are always happy to answer questions and talk more about our journeys, so please do not hesitate to call us. Each year we have a series of evening slide shows. Please contact the office for the next date (020 7359 7551).