HOW it works
When you first contact us, you can be armed with nothing but a vague idea about where you would like to travel, or a very specific list of criteria and ideas. Your personalised trip manager will then get straight back to you with a suggested itinerary for that destination. The itinerary will include costs and full details about the destination and the trip. The same trip manager will work with you through the whole planning process, whether they get exactly what you are looking for first time, or whether it comes together after they demonstrate a few options and suggestions to you.
As the trip develops we can guide you through our safety management policy, and provide detailed risk assessments, as well as help with all the fiddly details such as packing lists, contact details, airline information etc.
On the trip, the excellent Indago guides will meet you at the destination ready to join you for a fantastic week. The guide is there to lead the group according to the customised program and requirements of the teaching staff, look after the students, entertain and inspire all the participants and organise all the logistics of the day to day running of the trip. They are always happy to step up and take charge, or equally happy to step back and support you where preferred.
SOME FAQ’s
Sounds great. What do I do now?
Get in touch! Contact us on info@indagotravel.com, or by using the contact button in the corner. Give us as much or as little information as you want about what you’re looking for, and your personal trip advisor will be in touch very soon with a suggested itinerary and offer.
How much do your trips cost?
As soon as we send you a sample itinerary it will have a clear price on it. We then work with you to make any changes or modifications, with very clear guidelines about how any change will affect the price along the way. As each trip can be tailored to the wishes of the school, there is no simple answer to this question, which is why we don’t have prices on the website. Indago is committed to providing a high class service, in quality accommodation, at the best possible price. We also have very clear guidelines on what is included (or not included) in the offer, as nobody likes nasty surprises!
Are teachers free?
Is there a minimum or maximum group size?
We make offers for trips based on a minimum of 15 students for most destinations to help keep within budget. As we customise the program for the school, we do not usually mix school groups. If you wish to run a trip with less than fifteen then please contact us to discuss the options available. There is no maximum number of students on most trips unless we are in specialist accommodation. Though with particularly large numbers we may recommend splitting into smaller groups for some of the trip, such as on public transport and in restaurants.
What if we have CAS, subject specific or other themes to include in the program?
Teachers and students are often looking to achieve certain goals from Indago trips. As all our trips are tailor made to the school, it is very easy for us to work with the school to ensure that any specific requirements or goals can be fulfilled.
Perhaps the most obvious example is meeting the Creativity, Action and Service (CAS) requirements for the IB program. We feel that this important part of the program is about so much more than just “ticking off the hours” but should be a vital period of planning, thought and self-reflection for each student. We work with a number of schools to come up with ways of using our trips to encourage students to approach CAS in an enjoyable and thought-provoking way. From constructing schools out of recycled waste to creating artwork in Amsterdam or to surfing in Australia, all elements can easily be introduced into our programs.
Perhaps you are organising a trip with a specific subject in mind, or even a certain part of the curriculum for that subject. For example you may be an art teacher who particularly wants certain elements of post-impressionist art to be covered whilst on a trip to Paris. Or a teacher who would particularly like engineering, cookery, drama or any other subject introduced to a trip. Whatever your requirements or goals, please let us know and we can help you realise those goals in the most appropriate, fun and exciting way.
I heard about your plastic bottle school. Can you tell me more?
We are ALWAYS excited to talk about the plastic bottle school, so please get in touch and we can tell you much more. With our partner charity in Cambodia, HUSK, we helped to create Asia’s first building made out of plastic bottles. The bottles are collected by hotels around Siem Reap after being discarded by tourists. These bottles are then filled with plastic waste that isn’t recyclable in most villages to become eco-bricks. Thousands of the “bricks” stack together to create the walls, with fantastic insulation, that become essential buildings. In the last few years we have built a school, a library, a health centre, a job-training centre and a micro-business workshop in this way, all of which are used year round to improve the facilities for villagers in Siem Reap. Please get in touch to find out more.
I don’t know much about you. Do you have any testimonials or references?
Absolutely. We have a whole list of teachers who have travelled with us over the years and would be happy to tell you what it’s like. Check out some of the quotes here, or let us know if you would like direct contact details for teachers who can tell you more.
Can you cater to specific dietary requirements?
Yes we can. We will ask you for the dietary requirements of the group in advance of the trip, and can make sure there are exciting meals for everyone. We eat fantastic local food on the trips, and don’t want anybody to miss out, so just let us know the requirements and we will find a way to keep everyone happy and full.
Can you help with our risk assessment?
Yes we are very helpful when it comes to risk assessments and other pre-trip planning. Our range of safety management and risk assessment documents will help to demystify the whole process, and provide you with clear and simple information about your trip.
What about visas, vaccinations, packing lists and everything else that has put me off running a trip before. Can you talk me through what to do?
Can I have a job?
Maybe! At Indago we pride ourselves on the quality of our staff, demanding exceptionally high standards at all times from everyone who works for us. We expect all our staff to be professional, enthusiastic and knowledgeable, whether working in the office or out on the trips. Trip leaders must be confident to lead groups in situations that can be stressful and complicated, whilst providing inspiration to the students, supporting the accompanying teaching staff and of course keeping a smile.
We offer a range of employment opportunities to our team of young, international staff, ranging from the odd week to fit around your schedule to longer term contracts. If you think you are up to the challenge, and would like to apply for a rewarding and exciting job as part of the Indago team, then please contact us with a covering letter and CV detailing your experience and other relevant information
All our staff must have a valid first aid qualification including CPR, and provide a report from the Criminal Records Bureau (or your country’s equivalent) showing a clean record. Indago provides in-house and on site training for all staff prior to running or assisting on a trip. We look forward to hearing from you soon.
Why have you spelled Indago wrong?
Perhaps our most frequently asked question on trips! In our case Indago isn’t the colour, but comes from the Latin verb to explore or investigate. Make sure you don’t forget the A in the middle of the word when you email us.