After reading through our experience itineraries and making your selection, the next step is to Contact Us at Aqua-Firma, either by using our online Contact Form, Live Chat or by telephone to:

        UK tel:  +44 (0)1428 620012
        US tel:   (+ 1) 857 250 0680 (UK office hours apply)

.... to discuss whether this, or perhaps another experience, would best match your travel aspirations.

Next you will need to complete our Booking Form which we can send to you by email, by post or you can download by clicking HERE.  Read the Booking Terms and Conditions and then complete the form using block capitals. It is important that you double check that all information has been written correctly in the appropriate fields; in particular that your name has been written exactly as it appears in your passport, since any errors may lead to an invalid flight ticket.  On the booking form you will have the opportunity to inform us of any special dietary requirements you have.

Please send the fully completed form and deposit, which can be in the form of a cheque made payable to 'Aqua-Firma Worldwide Ltd.' to:

Aqua-Firma Worldwide Ltd.
Square Sail House
Charlestown
Cornwall
PL25 3NJ
United Kingdom

You can also pay by internet banking / bank transfer to our £, US$, Euro, Australian, Canadian, New Zealand, Norwegian, Swedish, Danish, Swiss, South African, UAE, Qatar & Singapore currency accounts. Please contact us for details.

UK and European customers may pay deposits only by Visa or Master Card in £, US$ or Euro. The following card fees apply:

EU & UK consumer debit cards            0%
EU & UK consumer credit card payments    0%
UK commercial, business and corporate cards    0.7%

Card payments for Visa and Master Cards registered outside of the UK and EU can be used for any payment. A fee of 2.8% applies.

European cards which are not standard personal cards, then a fee of 1.9%. Examples of these would include:

o    Consumer or private Premium & Super Premium cards
o    Business cards
o    Corporate
o    Commercial

Upon receipt of payment we will send you a copy of your experience details and further information and flight details where appropriate.

The balance of payment, to be paid by cheque or internet bank, is usually due 10 weeks before departure (or 13 weeks or more for polar voyages and certain dive liveaboard trips). The exact date will be shown on your invoice.

Some of experiences require a minimum group number in order to operate. If your experience has not reached the minimum number at the final payment date, we will not take payment until your trip is confirmed. Aqua-Firma reserves the right to cancel your booking should the minimum number fail to be reached on a particular experience.

Important information

Accommodation

Where we can we like to provide comfortable accommodation that is designed in harmony with its surroundings and in locations with a high level of environmental interest.  Accommodation ranges from lodges and hotels offering a high degree of comfort to fully catered fly camps in the bush with an Out of Africa and under the stars feel to them.  Sometimes the going is more challenging such as our Amazon rafting expeditions which require tented shore side camping and the only contact with the outside world is by means of a satellite phone.

Some of the lodges may have services and infrastructure which do not reach western operational standards with regards to health and safety. We are working with local guides and operators to continuously improve standards and make them more environmentally sensitive.

Single room supplements

Many of our guests travel alone and we do not charge a single supplement where we can match you up with someone to share with.  If single occupancy of a twin or double room is desired, this can be arranged at an extra cost.

Food and drink

One of the delights of international travel is the opportunity to sample new and interesting local dishes. The quality and standard of food provided will vary depending on the specific experience, ranging from gourmet five star menus to wholesome, local and western cuisine.  For our more adventurous experiences such as the rafting expeditions, food would be classified as good expedition cuisine.

It should be noted that many experiences may offer only a set menu, with little opportunity for an alternative choice. We are however happy to accommodate special dietary needs if notified at time of booking.

Guides and representatives

For group experiences, you will be met by an Aqua-Firma representative when you arrive at your destination. This may be a local or international escort or guide. Guiding provision is specified in each individual experience itinerary.  If you have special guiding requirements such as expert birding guides then please Contact Us to discuss.

What to bring

We recommend that you travel as light as is practically possible, keeping to a minimum the number of items you take with you. In terms of baggage, soft bags or back packs are best, particularly for experiences aboard yachts and ships, to enable easy storage in limited spaces.

Practical outdoor wear is best, remembering waterproof and weather proof gear where appropriate.  A waterproof day pack, camera and a good pair of binoculars are advisable. When bringing along a digital camera it is important that you bring sufficient storage cards with you.

Some experiences have special equipment and clothing requirements such as Polar Expeditions. Specific details of what is needed will be sent to you upon receipt of the booking form and trip deposit.
 
During canoeing and kayaking safaris and expeditions, lifejackets and helmets are supplied. Guests are expected to bring personal items such as wet weather gear, sunglasses, sun hat, sunscreen, waterproof bags and wet sandals such as Tevas.  Unless otherwise stated, all of our experiences which involve camping are fully catered so there is no need to bring any equipment.  See Special Information - Scuba Diving for further details.

Fitness

Please refer to each itinerary or one of our travel consultants for advice.  Many of our experiences require little more than an ability to travel and get around.  Other experiences require a reasonable to good level of fitness to enjoy to the full.

Passports and visas

A passport with at least 6 months remaining validity is essential for all Aqua-Firma experiences.  Please remember that some visas may take up to three weeks to process depending on your destination and require a full page of your passport.

It is important that you contact the destination consulate in advance of booking with us to ensure that visa requirements have not changed. Visas are the responsibility of the individual. You will be responsible for all costs and cancellation charges in the event that you cannot travel due to not having the necessary travel documents.

Travel Insurance

It is a condition of your booking and essential for your personal protection that you have adequate insurance cover.  It is essential that you provide us with details of the insurance cover you have purchased, including the name of the insurance company, policy number and an emergency contact telephone number. It is your responsibility to make sure that you read the details of your insurance policy and make sure that it covers all of the activities you will be participating in on your AF trip, covers the full duration and is adequate for your personal needs.  Specifically, you must make sure that your insurance includes satisfactory cover for helicopter rescue, air ambulance, repatriation and cancellation*.

*We STRONGLY recommend that your travel insurance includes cancellation and curtailment cover in the event that you cannot complete part, or all your trip due to illness including COVID, such as circumstances whereby you test positive for COVID and you are consequently unable to leave your home country, or you are unable to enter a destination or location, or board a boat, or board a plane etc. Aqua-Firma will not be liable to provide any refunds under these circumstances.

We do not review alternative insurance policies.  Please make sure that you bring full details of your insurance policy with you on your trip.

Health and Safety

It is the nature of both the remote locations we visit and the adventurous activities we undertake which present an element of risk and unpredictability to many Aqua-Firma experiences. Whilst we strive for the highest of safety standards on all our trips, the safety standards and regulations are those of the host country and therefore not necessarily equivalent to those of the UK.

Expert and up to date advice on your chosen destination can be found on www.fco.gov.uk/travel or by calling the Foreign & Commonwealth Office in UK on 0845 850 2829.

COVID Vaccination

You must be fully vaccinated against COVID in order to join any Polar Voyage. You should assume the same for all other trips, but please contact us to discuss exceptions. If at any stage a country you are hoping to visit requires COVID vaccination, or any other inoculation, then it will be your responsibility to comply. Refunds will not be granted.

Special Information - Scuba Diving

• Participants should be qualified divers with a recognised professional body e.g. PADI, BSAC, NAUI, SSI etc. A certificate or C-card will need to be presented to dive operators on location.
• Any dive packages booked through Aqua-Firma, including specific diving courses, cannot be changed upon arrival at your destination.
• There is no refund for any unused dives.
• Equipment included is the hire of tanks, air fills and weight belts unless otherwise stated.  The hire of further dive equipment will be at an additional charge.
• It is the individual's responsibility to be medically fit to scuba dive in the conditions presented.
• We recommend that a refresher is taken in a pool if you have not been diving in the last 6 months. We reserve the right to charge for a refresher should there be uncertainty regarding your ability and its impact upon safety and the underwater environment.
• The Aqua-Firma Diving Code of Conduct should be followed at all times. An important element of this is our policy of No Touch, be that by hand, and especially poor buoyancy control leading to fins colliding with the sea bottom or coral reefs. We reserve the right to cancel your diving without refund if we deem that your diving is causing damage to marine ecosystems.
• All regulations stipulated by the recognised diving authority e.g PADI / BSAC and as part of your insurance etc must be strictly adhered to.
• Aqua-Firma experiences do not schedule dives within 24 hours of flying.
• Diving programmes are subject to constraints of weather and other conditions. Dive itineraries, particularly in relation to liveaboards, need to be flexible to adapt to changes in diving sites or suspension of diving, for which no refund can be given.