 Booking Advice
We are aware that many people are unfamiliar with desert travel. Our paramount concern is that clients are able to enjoy the very different environment of Sinai while having full confidence in the experience of our guides and our utmost care for your safety.
Below are questions that we are asked most frequently by people thinking about coming on a journey with us. If you have any further questions, please feel free to contact us by telephone, email or through the enquiry form on this website, and we will be happy to help.
Booking Process
Once you have decided that you would like to travel with us, please contact the office for a full brochure with booking forms and other specific information relating to your journey or expedition. After filling in the form, please send it back to us together with the appropriate deposit cheque made payable to Wind Sand & Stars Ltd.
Age and health
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 us ensure the well being of all clients we ask each client to complete the confidential Medical Form on the back of the Booking Form, notifying us of any existing medical conditions. We cannot confirm bookings until this has been completed. We may wish to ask for further medical information to help us to manage any particular condition whilst in Sinai. If you have any questions or concerns, please contact us.
We also arrange journeys and expeditions for schools and youth groups, as well as charities and for groups, businesses or individual clients looking to create their own adventure.
Flights and Financial Security
We are able to organise flights for you under our ATOL licence (Air Tour Operators Licence) from the Civil Aviation Authority. Our ATOL number is 5474.
Visa requirements
Clients are responsible for ensuring that they have a valid passport which is not due to expire until at least 6 months after return.
Some of our journeys will require a visa. British passport holders require an Egyptian entry visa for journeys of two weeks or more and for some of the areas to which we travel during shorter journeys. Your itinerary will indicate whether a visa is required, or if in doubt please contact the office. Please note that visa requirements differ depending on nationality. Full details are given on the Egyptian Consulate website and you can download a visa application form from there. Applications can then be made in person (same day - check the Consulate is open) or by post (1 to 6 weeks). The cost is currently £15.00. For further information please call the 24 Hour Visa Helpline 09065 508933 or the Consulate direct on 020 7235 9719. If you have any questions, please contact the office.
Insurance
Insurance can be organised for you, please contact us regarding this.
Vaccinations
It is the responsibility of each client to obtain the recommended vaccinations. The current MASTA recommendations are for tetanus, typhoid, polio and hepatitis A. You may also wish to consider Hepatitis B, Rabies, TB and diphtheria. Please check with your doctor.
Money
Although everything specified on the itinerary is included in the price of your holiday, you may want to bring some money for postcards, presents and drinks etc. You will be able to buy Bedouin craftwork 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. Small denomination notes are best. Travellers' cheques and credit cards can be taken as a back up although they are only accepted in a limited number of places.
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. Details of our safety measures are available here.
Local Support and travel in Sinai
The local guides, drivers, vehicles (4-wheel drive Toyota Land Cruisers) 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 and aware of issues associated with road safety, desert travel and other local environmental hazards in Egypt, having worked in Sinai with the Bedouin since the area was first returned to the Egyptians in the early 1980’s.
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, sleeping mat and water bottle, 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. If you have specific dietary requirements, please contact us.
Camel trekking
Camels are provided and led by local Bedouin, saddles are well padded and there are regular rests.
Mountain trekking
As 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 usually accompanied by a local Bedouin mountain guide with camels to carry all luggage and equipment except your daypack. However some of our expeditions may have more remote treks without camel support - this will be explicit on the individual information provided.
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 12 weeks’ notice.
School groups regularly come with numbers ranging from 10 - 50. The group size is the choice of the school 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
We are always happy to answer questions and talk more about our journeys, so please do not hesitate to contact us.
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