Help and questions

The Indonesian rupiah (IDR). Take some cash for markets, small shops and food stalls. Let your bank know you are travelling, and check what your card costs to use for payments and withdrawals abroad.

The Singapore dollar (SGD). Keep some cash for hawker stalls and small shops, tell your bank before you travel, and check what your card charges for payments and withdrawals abroad.

The Thai baht (THB). Carry some cash for markets, street food and small shops, let your bank know you are travelling, and check what your card charges for payments and withdrawals abroad.

The euro (EUR). Keep some cash for small purchases, tell your bank you are travelling and check what your card charges for payments abroad.

Morocco uses the Moroccan dirham (MAD). Take some cash for the souks and small purchases, and check what your bank charges for using your card abroad.

Egypt uses the Egyptian pound (EGP). Keep some cash for markets and small purchases, and check what your bank charges for using your card abroad.

Read TravelHealthPro's Indonesia page and book a travel health appointment several weeks before you fly. Once there, guard against mosquito bites, take care with food and drinking water and use sun protection. Keep away from dogs, monkeys and other animals, as rabies is a risk in Indonesia.

Read TravelHealthPro's Nepal page and book a travel health appointment several weeks before you fly. Its advice covers food and water hygiene, insect bites, altitude illness and outdoor air quality, so do mention any trekking plans at your appointment.

It can be, above all from November to February, when colder weather and still air trap smoke near the ground and air quality is usually at its worst. If you have a heart or lung condition, mention your trip at a travel health appointment, and check local air quality reports during your stay.

Book a travel health appointment well before you go and read TravelHealthPro's Hajj and Umrah advice, as pilgrims have their own health entry requirements. In Makkah, drink plenty of water, keep out of direct sun where you can and wash your hands often.

Nyepi is the Balinese Hindu Day of Silence, marking the Saka new year, and its date changes every year. For 24 hours from 6am, work, travel and entertainment stop, visitors stay in their hotels and the island's airport closes. Please check the date before you book.

A shared dining space with many food stalls, where people from all walks of life sit down together. Hawker culture grew from Singapore's street food and draws on Chinese, Malay, Indian and other traditions. UNESCO added it to its list of intangible cultural heritage in 2020.

Yes. Singapore is known for strict laws: littering, smoking outside permitted areas, vaping and drug offences can bring fines or much heavier penalties. Please read the local laws section of the UK government's travel advice for Singapore before you go.

Modest clothing that covers your shoulders and legs. The Grand Palace is a place of reverence for Thai people and asks visitors to dress with respect: sleeveless or see through tops, shorts, mini skirts, and torn or tight trousers are not allowed. Dressing the same way for other temples is a good habit.

A Portuguese music genre whose roots can be traced to Lisbon in the early 19th century. UNESCO added it to its intangible cultural heritage lists in 2011.

Bikes are central to city life, so look out for cyclists as well as cars whenever you cross a street. On foot, keep to the pavement and stay out of cycle lanes and off the tram tracks.

Catalan and Spanish are both official languages here. A greeting or a thank you in either goes down well.

Yes. Every visitor is asked to cover their shoulders; men should wear long trousers, and women skirts below the knee or trousers. On a hot day, a light layer to put on at the door makes this easy.

Generally not. With few exceptions, mosques in Morocco do not admit non Muslims, and the Koutoubia Mosque is one of those that do not. You can still admire the Koutoubia's minaret from the streets around it.

Loose, modest clothing; women usually cover their arms, legs and hair. Remove your shoes before entering the carpeted prayer hall, and be respectful of people at prayer.

Clockwise. Buddhist pilgrims usually circle a sacred site clockwise, a practice called kora. You will see it at Boudhanath and Swayambhunath, so simply join the flow of people.

The Kathmandu Valley World Heritage Site is made up of seven groups of monuments: the Durbar Squares of Kathmandu, Patan and Bhaktapur, the stupas of Swayambhunath and Boudhanath, and the Hindu temples of Pashupatinath and Changu Narayan. All seven lie in the valley around the city.

Dress modestly and behave quietly and respectfully, above all in and around the mosques. Photograph people only with their permission, and never photograph government or military buildings.

That depends on your passport and why you are travelling. Check the official sources on this page before you book and again shortly before you go, as the rules can change. For any visa or arrival form, use only official Indonesian government websites: other sites may charge you to apply on your behalf.

That depends on your passport and why you are travelling. Check the official sources on this page before you book and again shortly before you go, as the rules can change. Singapore's Immigration and Checkpoints Authority also runs an official online arrival card: use only its own website or app.

That depends on your passport and why you are travelling. Check the official sources on this page before you book and again shortly before you go, as the rules can change. Thailand's Immigration Bureau also runs an official online arrival card; if you need one, use only the government's own website.

That depends on your passport and why you are travelling. Rules change, so check the official entry requirements for Portugal before you book. If you are not an EU national, the EU's official Travel to Europe site explains the Entry/Exit System and the ETIAS travel authorisation.

That depends on your passport and why you are travelling. Rules change, so check the official entry requirements for the Netherlands before you book. If you are not an EU national, the EU's official Travel to Europe site explains the Entry/Exit System and the ETIAS travel authorisation.

That depends on your passport and why you are travelling. Rules change, so check the official entry requirements for Spain before you book. If you are not an EU national, the EU's official Travel to Europe site explains the Entry/Exit System and the ETIAS travel authorisation.

That depends on your passport and why you are travelling. Rules change, so check the official entry requirements for Italy before you book. If you are not an EU national, the EU's official Travel to Europe site explains the Entry/Exit System and the ETIAS travel authorisation.

That depends on your passport and why you are travelling. Rules change, so check the official entry requirements for France before you book. If you are not an EU national, the EU's official Travel to Europe site explains the Entry/Exit System and the ETIAS travel authorisation.

That depends on your passport and why you are travelling. Check the official entry information for Morocco before you book, and if you need a visa, use only official government channels.

That depends on your passport and why you are travelling. Check the official entry information for Egypt before you book, and if you need a visa, use only official government channels.

That depends on your passport and why you are travelling. Check the official sources on this page before you book and again shortly before you go, as the rules can change. The Nepal Tourism Board explains how tourist visas are issued, and Nepal's Department of Immigration runs an official online visa form.

That depends on your passport and why you are travelling. Check the official sources on this page before you book and again shortly before you go, as the rules can change. If you need a visa, apply only through India's official visa portal, run by its Bureau of Immigration.

No. Makkah is open only to Muslims. Visitors who are not Muslim may still travel to other parts of Saudi Arabia, such as Jeddah, if they meet the entry rules.

May to October, the driest months in the climate table, with August the driest of all. The heaviest rain falls from December to March, during the west monsoon, and January is usually the wettest month.

February to March and June to September usually see less rain, and February is often the driest month. November to January is the wettest time. Between the monsoons, from late March to May and in October and November, afternoon thunderstorms are common.

November to February, the cool, dry season with the fewest rainy days. March to May are the hottest months. The rainy season runs from around mid May to October, and September is usually the wettest month.

May, June and September are usually the most comfortable, warm and sunny. July and August are the hottest and driest months, and November and December the wettest.

May to August usually brings the mildest, sunniest weather, and spring tends to be drier than late summer and autumn. November to February is cold and grey. Rain can fall in any month.

May, June and September are usually warm and sunny without the peak heat of July and August. September and October are the wettest months, though rain falls on only about six days a month on average.

April, May, September and October, when warm days suit sightseeing. July and August are the hottest months, with average highs above 30°C; if you travel then, start early and plan indoor breaks.

May, June and September usually bring mild, fairly sunny days. July and August are the warmest months, and November to February are cool with little sunshine. Rain is possible at any time of year.

March to May and October to November, with average highs of about 23 to 29°C. July and August are the hottest months, averaging about 37°C, and winter nights can be cool.

October to March, with average highs of about 19 to 30°C. June to August are the hottest months, averaging about 35°C, and from March to May wind storms can carry Saharan dust.

October and November, after the monsoon, and March and April, before it, usually bring mostly dry, mild weather. December to February is dry too but cold at night, and most of the year's rain falls from June to September.

October to March, when the weather is dry and the warm days turn cool, and often foggy, from late November to February. May and June are the hottest months, and the monsoon brings most of the year's rain in July and August.

November to March is the mildest time, with average highs of about 24 to 31°C and cool nights in midwinter. From June to September average highs are about 42 to 44°C, so drink plenty of water and stay out of the midday sun.

For milder weather, December to February, when average highs are about 31 to 33°C. From May to September average highs reach about 42 to 44°C, so drink plenty of water and stay out of the midday sun. Umrah itself can be made through most of the year.

Public transport is the simplest choice. The network is made up of MRT and LRT trains, buses and taxis.

Rail is often quickest: the BTS Skytrain and MRT lines cover much of the city, and the Airport Rail Link runs to Suvarnabhumi Airport. River boats call at stops along the Chao Phraya. Metered taxis are easy to find, and tuk tuk fares are usually agreed before you set off.

Lisbon has a tram network and a Metro, which also runs to the airport. Some of the steepest parts of the city are served only by small trams, so expect hills and pack comfortable shoes.

The city's public transport company runs the trams, the Metro, buses and ferries. If you hire a bike, ride in the cycle lanes on the right side of the road and switch on front and back lights after dark.

The Metro, buses and trams, which share one fare system with some commuter trains, set by the metropolitan transport authority. The Metro lines are run by two operators between them.

Rome's Metro has three lines, A, B and C, and buses and trams fill the gaps. Line C runs from Colosseo station, close to the Colosseum.

Usually the Métro. The RER suburban rail network was built to complement it and reaches further out, including to Charles de Gaulle Airport.

Yes. The Cairo Metro has been running since 1987, and some carriages on every train are kept for women.

They stand at Giza, on the west bank of the Nile, within greater Cairo, together with the Great Sphinx. The Grand Egyptian Museum is about 2 km from the pyramids, so you can plan the two together.

The Delhi Metro is a practical way across the city, and its lines also reach neighbouring cities such as Gurugram, Noida and Faridabad. For shorter journeys, taxis are easy to hail, and auto rickshaw fares are usually agreed with the driver before you set off.

The high speed railway links the two cities by way of Jeddah, with a branch to Jeddah's main airport. You can also make the journey by road.

By Metro. Lisbon Airport (LIS), officially Humberto Delgado Airport, has a Metro station at the edge of the Terminal 1 arrivals area. The airport is about 7 km northeast of the historic centre.

By train. Schiphol Airport (AMS) has a railway station directly beneath the terminal, with intercity trains to Amsterdam Centraal. The airport is about 9 km southwest of the city.

Metro line 9 connects both terminals of Barcelona El Prat Airport (BCN) with the city, and a commuter train leaves from Terminal 2. Buses also run to the centre, which is about 15 km northeast of the airport.

By train. An express runs without stopping from Fiumicino Airport (FCO) to Termini station in the centre, and a regional line serves other stations. The airport is about 30 km from Rome.

Two main airports: Paris Charles de Gaulle (CDG), about 23 km northeast of the centre, and Paris Orly (ORY), about 13 km south. Both have rail links into the city, the RER B from Charles de Gaulle and Métro line 14 from Orly.

Marrakesh Menara Airport (RAK) is about 3 km southwest of the city centre.

Tribhuvan International Airport (KTM). Nepal also has international airports at Pokhara and near Lumbini.

Indira Gandhi International Airport (DEL). The Delhi Metro's Airport Express line, also known as the Orange Line, connects the airport's Terminal 3 with New Delhi station.

Madinah has its own international airport, Prince Mohammed bin Abdulaziz International Airport. You can also arrive by high speed railway from Jeddah or Makkah.

Makkah has no airport of its own. The nearest international airport is in Jeddah, about 70 km away on the Red Sea coast, and Madinah also has an international airport; a high speed railway links all three cities. Please read GOV.UK's travel advice for Saudi Arabia before you book, as it can advise against travel to some airports.

Umrah itself is performed in Makkah, and many Muslims also visit Madinah to pray at the Prophet's Mosque. Pilgrims use Nusuk, the official Saudi platform, for Umrah information and permits. The rules change, so please check it before you book.

Umrah permits are issued through Nusuk, the official Saudi platform of the Ministry of Hajj and Umrah, on its app and website. Permits and the rules around them change, so check Nusuk and the official travel advice before you book and again before you travel.

Umrah is a pilgrimage to Makkah that Muslims can make through most of the year. Hajj, by contrast, takes place on set dates in the Islamic calendar, and during the Hajj season Umrah is limited to those performing Hajj.

Guided coach tours led by our own representatives, city breaks and holidays with flights and hotel, and trips planned around your own dates. On this website you can also search and book flights, hotels and holiday packages, and our team arranges transfers, accommodation and Umrah journeys.

Holidays that include flights are protected under the ATOL scheme (ATOL 10895, held by Nelson London Ventures Ltd), and you receive an ATOL Certificate when you book: please check that everything you booked is on it. We are also a Member of ABTA (P6749). Some arrangements, such as hotel only or flight only bookings, may not be protected; we tell you what applies before you pay.

Yes. Our Umrah page has our packages, the seasons and the visa rules. Call or WhatsApp +44 208 900 1624, or send us your dates. Please read the latest FCDO travel advice for Saudi Arabia before you book.

Go to Manage booking and enter your booking reference and email address. You can see your booking there and ask us for a change, and our London team will reply.

Call us on +44 208 900 1624 or email sales@ncltours.co.uk. We will work with the airline, hotel or other supplier to put things right as quickly and fairly as we can, in line with the rules that apply to your booking.

We recommend it for every trip. Before you travel, please also check your passport, any visa you need and the latest FCDO foreign travel advice for each country on your itinerary.

Call or WhatsApp +44 208 900 1624, 9am to 6pm, seven days a week, or email sales@ncltours.co.uk. Our office is at Commercial House, 406 to 410 Eastern Avenue, Gants Hill, IG2 6NQ.