Questions

Start by completing the Request a Place form on the journey page, or contact us if you would like to talk through the trip first.

Because our groups are small and personally managed, places are not confirmed automatically. Once we receive your request, we will contact you personally to confirm availability, answer any questions, and explain the next steps.

Your place is confirmed once your registration has been accepted and the required deposit has been received.

Not at this stage.

Grassroots journeys are small-group, carefully planned trips, and we prefer to confirm each traveller personally. This helps us make sure there is space available, that the journey is the right fit, and that any practical details are clear before money is paid.

We will review your request and contact you personally.

Submitting the form does not automatically confirm your place. Your place is only confirmed once Grassroots has accepted your registration and the required deposit has been received.

If there is space available, we will send you the next steps, including deposit details, booking conditions, payment timing, and any journey-specific information you need.

If a departure is still being finalised, or if places are limited, we may add you to an interest list or waitlist and keep you updated.

Many Grassroots journeys are planned well ahead of departure, and small groups can fill early.

We recommend getting in touch as soon as you are seriously considering a journey. This gives us the best chance of securing accommodation, transport, local guides, permits, flights if applicable, and other arrangements.

Most Grassroots journeys require a deposit once your registration has been accepted.

The deposit amount can vary depending on the journey, departure date, supplier requirements, flights if applicable, and timing. We will confirm the exact deposit before you commit.

Once your place has been accepted, we will send you the payment details, including the amount due, payment reference, and due date.

Some trips require staged payments because accommodation, flights, permits, transport, or local services need to be secured in advance. We will clearly explain the payment schedule for your journey before your booking is confirmed.

We do our best to price each journey clearly and realistically.

However, international travel costs can be affected by exchange rates, airline pricing, local supplier changes, fuel costs, taxes, permits, and other factors outside our control. If a significant adjustment is required, we will explain this clearly before final payment.

Cancellations must be made in writing.

Cancellation terms depend on the timing of your cancellation and what costs Grassroots has already paid or committed to on your behalf, such as accommodation, flights, permits, transport, local guides, or other services.

We will provide the relevant booking conditions before your place is confirmed.

Yes. Comprehensive travel insurance is required for Grassroots journeys.

Your insurance should cover cancellation, medical expenses, emergency assistance, baggage, personal belongings, travel disruption, and any risks relevant to your journey.

We recommend arranging insurance as soon as you make your first payment, in case you need to cancel for an insurable reason.

Your policy should be appropriate for the destination and style of travel.

At minimum, it should cover overseas medical care, emergency assistance, cancellation, trip interruption, lost or delayed baggage, and personal liability.

Depending on the destination, you may also need cover for higher-altitude travel, remote regions, walking, boating, rail journeys, domestic flights, or specific activities included in the itinerary.

Our journey prices are usually based on land arrangements only. International flights are not included in the advertised trip price.

Internal flights that form part of the itinerary are included unless stated otherwise in the journey information.

Many travellers choose to fly with the group, and we can organise international flights through our ticketing agent if requested. This can be helpful if you would like coordinated travel arrangements, group arrival timing, or support choosing suitable flights.

You are also welcome to arrange your own international flights. Please check with us before booking, as arrival times, transfers, internal flights, and itinerary logistics can affect what flight arrangements will work best.

We may need passport details or a passport copy once your place is confirmed, especially if flights, permits, visas, train tickets, or local operators require them.

For security and privacy, we do not ask for passport documents until they are actually needed for the arrangements being made.

Travellers are responsible for ensuring they have a valid passport, any required visas, and any required vaccinations or health documentation for the whole journey.

Grassroots will provide guidance where possible, but requirements can change and each traveller is responsible for checking their own situation.

Grassroots journeys are small, personal, and carefully considered.

We are not a mass-market tour company. Our trips are designed for travellers who want to experience the best of a country without feeling rushed, over-managed, or overly touristy.

We focus on thoughtful routes, good local connections, characterful places to stay, shared meals, real culture, and enough flexibility for the journey to feel human.

Grassroots travellers are curious, open-minded, and good company.

They tend to enjoy scenery, local life, conversation, food, culture, history, and the unexpected moments that happen along the way. Many people travel solo, and many return for future journeys.

Yes. Many Grassroots travellers join on their own.

Where appropriate, we will do our best to pair solo travellers with another traveller in a twin room. Single rooms may be available on some journeys at an additional cost, depending on the destination and accommodation.

Accommodation varies by journey.

We look for places that are comfortable, well-located, and suited to the destination. Where possible, we prefer accommodation with character, local connection, and good practical standards rather than large anonymous chain hotels.

In remote or less-developed regions, accommodation may be simpler, but we aim to choose the best practical options available.

Activity levels vary by journey.

Some trips involve gentle walking and general sightseeing, while others may include longer travel days, uneven ground, stairs, remote areas, altitude, heat, or more active experiences.

Each journey page should give a realistic indication of the pace and physical demands. If you are unsure whether a trip is right for you, please contact us before requesting a place.

You do not need to be an athlete, but you do need to be comfortable with the practical realities of small-group travel.

This may include walking through towns, carrying your own day bag, getting in and out of vehicles, handling stairs, managing luggage at times, and coping with full travel days.

Some destinations require a higher level of mobility than others.

Please tell us before booking.

We will always try to advise honestly about whether a journey is suitable. Some destinations can accommodate dietary, mobility, or medical needs more easily than others.

For travellers with significant ongoing medical conditions, or for travellers where a destination may be physically demanding, we may request medical clearance before confirming a place.

Often, yes — but it depends on the person and the journey.

Age alone is not the issue. The important factors are health, mobility, stamina, destination conditions, and the ability to manage the pace of the trip.

For some journeys, we may request additional information or medical clearance before confirming a place.

Most Grassroots journeys are led by a Grassroots tour leader, with local guides or representatives used where appropriate.

Depending on the journey, the Grassroots leader may travel with the group from Auckland or meet travellers at the first destination. We will explain the joining arrangements clearly before departure, including flight options, arrival details, and where the Grassroots leader will meet the group.

Grassroots groups are deliberately small.

Group size varies by journey, but the aim is always to keep the experience personal, manageable, and enjoyable. Small groups travel more easily, connect more naturally, and allow for a more relaxed style of travel.

Most Grassroots journeys are designed to be highly inclusive, so travellers are not constantly paying extra along the way.

Inclusions vary by journey, but our trips usually include accommodation, transport, local guides, sightseeing, entry fees, planned activities, many meals, internal flights where they are part of the itinerary, and the services of a Grassroots tour leader.

We aim to be clear upfront about what is included and what is not, so there are no unpleasant surprises or constant add-on costs during the trip. Each journey page will outline the specific inclusions for that departure.

Personal expenses, some meals, travel insurance, visas, optional activities, drinks, tips, and other individual costs may not be included unless specifically stated.

International flights are not included unless stated.

Yes.

Once your place is confirmed, we will provide further information about payments, flights if applicable, packing, insurance, passport or visa requirements, health considerations, and practical travel details.

Yes. International travel can be affected by weather, transport disruption, local conditions, supplier changes, political events, health requirements, and other factors beyond our control.

Grassroots journeys are carefully planned, but flexibility is part of real travel. If changes are required, we will make decisions with traveller safety, practicality, and the quality of the journey in mind.

Contact us directly. We are happy to talk through a journey before you request a place.

Email: adriana@grassroots.net.nz