Visas

A visa is not required for your trip to Kazakhstan or Kyrgyzstan (Passport Validity can be no less than 6 months). Further advice should be sought from the applicable tourist authority for other nationalities and for general queries. We strongly advise you check your destinations- Tourist Board or Embassy for the most up-to-date guidelines regarding passport validity.

Please note that if you are travelling on the Main Tour only, we will require your passport information at least 30 days prior to departure. if you are travelling on the Shymkent Extension also, then passport information will be required at least 45 days prior to departure. Failure to provide this information could result in an impact on the tour.

Insurance

We strongly recommend that you and all members of your party are suitably insured as soon as you book your holiday. It is a condition of booking that you must have suitable travel insurance. It is important that you purchase travel insurance that suitably covers your participation in whatever activities you may undertake at the time that you make your booking. To assist you with this, we have arranged travel insurance in partnership with Holiday Extras. To arrange your travel insurance with Holiday Extras, please call 0800 781 4237 and quote 'WK830' for preferential rates. Please ensure you provide us with the name of your insurer, policy number and their 24-hour emergency contact number as soon as possible. Mercury Holidays will not be liable for any costs incurred by you due to your failure to take out suitable travel insurance from the date of booking.

Payment

If booking more than 10 weeks before departure a deposit of €300pp will need to be paid at the time of booking with the full amount payable at 10 weeks prior to departure. The deposit applies to adults and children. If you are within 10 weeks of travel then the full balance of the holiday will be payable.

Flight Information

Your initial flight is to Nursultan International Airport via Istanbul with Turkish airlines departing from London Heathrow Terminal 2.
Each passenger is entitled to 20KG of hold luggage plus 1 item of hand luggage not exceeding (Max 7kg - 55cm/40cm/ 23cm) in size Weight restrictions will be finalized on final documents. Should you wish to take additional luggage you will need to pay extra at check - in. Check-In should be at least 3 hours before departure.
IMPORTANT: Please note that final flight details will be confirmed on your final documentation which will be sent to you approximately 10 days before departure. A printed E-ticket is no longer required at check-in, all you need to do is present your passport to the staff at the desk and your boarding pass will be given to you.
If you wish to arrange Airport car parking or accommodation at preferential rates, we recommend you book this in advance with Holiday Extras on 0871 360 2000, quoting HX313.

Health and Vaccinations

It is your responsibility to check any health and vaccination requirements applicable to your booked arrangements. We can only provide general information about this. Health and hygiene facilities and disease risks vary from country to country. You should take health advice about your own needs as early as possible and in good time before your departure. Sources of information include; www.fco.gov.uk, www.travelhealthpro.org.uk, www.hpa.org.uk, your General Practitioner or a specialist clinic.

Physical Accessibility

This tour is accessible to most people with a good level of fitness and normal mobility. It involves climbing of steep stairs and getting on and off coaches and boats. This tour is not suitable for anyone with walking difficulties.

Group Size

The minimum number of travellers in your group will be 10 and the maximum will be 30. In the unlikely event there are fewer than 10 passengers booked on your tour date, you may be asked to change to a different date. A full refund will be made available to you should this alternative not be suitable.

Tour Guide

This is a fully escorted tour meaning that you will be met by a local guide in each of the cities that you visit, ensuring that you have first-hand knowledge at all times.

Currency Information

Kazakhstan
The currency in Kazakhstan is the Kazakhstani tenge, we recommend that you exchange your cur-rency before you leave the UK. Cash machines are available in all the major cities to withdraw money in the local currency.
Kyrgyzstan
The currency in Kyrgyzstan is the Kyrgyzstani som, we recommend that you exchange your curren-cy before you leave the UK. Cash machines are available in all the major cities to withdraw money in the local currency.

Personal Expenses

Tipping is not compulsory and is at your discretion. We would recommend $2-3 pp per day for the guide and $1-2 pp per day for driver. Should you wish to tip, this will be collected by your guide at the end of your stay in each destination for your convenience.
You will need to take some extra money with you to cover any meals that are not mentioned on your itinerary and personal purchases, such as souvenirs, extra drinks and snacks. Approximately £400-£500 per person should be sufficient for the duration of your tour.