Country Information

Capital: Chisinau

Time zone: GMT + 2

Telephone services: Country Code: 373
Outgoing Code: International calls go through the operator

Emergency telephone numbers: Consult hotel on arrival.

Tourist information: Moldova – Tur, 4 Stefan cel Mare, 2058 Chisinãu, Moldova Tel: (2) 262 569 Fax: (2) 262 586.

Passport information: Valid passport required by all – must be valid for 6 months from date of arrival required by all. In certain cases additional documentation may be required. Requirements may be subject to short-term change. Contact the relevant authority before departure.

Visa information: Required by all except nationals of the former Soviet Union.

Health information: Other Health Risks: Rabies, Hepatitis B.

Food & drink: Water is considered drinkable, normal precautions should be observed with food

Currency: 1 Leu (l) = 100 bani Exchange: Foreign currencies can be exchanged in hotels or bureaux de change. Moldova is essentially a-cash only economy.
Credit cards and travellers cheques (US$) are accepted on a limited basis
ATM availability: Unavailable

Cost of living: Reasonably inexpensive

Languages: Russian. Romanian.

Weather: The climate is pleasant and mild. The autumns are crisp and sunny and there is sometimes snow in the winter.

Electricity: 1220 volts AC, 50 Hz.

Post: All mail to and from Moldova is subjected to long delays of up to 6 weeks. It is advisable to send recorded delivery to avoid loss.

Transport: ROAD: the road network covers 10 000km. TAXI: These can be found in front of the main hotels housing foreigners. Fares should be negotiated in advance although drivers prefer to charge per hour. Taxis run mostly on liquid gas hence the bottles, which are stored in the boot leave little room for luggage. CAR HIRE: Is available. DOCUMENTATION: IDP is required.

Special information: Dress should be casual but conservative. Expensive jewellery and cameras should be kept out of sight. Travel to Transdniestria should be avoided, since it is not under Moldovan government control and the security situation is not under control. Do not share taxis with strangers.

Capital: Antananarivo

Time zone: GMT + 3

Telephone services: Country Code: 261
Outgoing Code: 16

Emergency telephone numbers: Not present

Tourist information: Antananarivo, Madagascar Tel: + [2612] (20) 22 27749, Fax: + [2612] 022 26690 email: ukembant@simicro.mg British Consulate in Toamasina: email: sealtmm@bow.dts.mg

Passport information: Valid passport required by all. Return Ticket required. Requirements may be subject to short-term change. Contact the relevant authority before departure.

Visa information: Visa required by all.

Health information: Polio, Typhoid: Vaccination recommended
Malaria: Exists in the falciparum variety all year and throughout the country. The highest risk is along the coast. Resistance to chloroquine has been reported.
Yellow Fever: A vaccination certificate is required from everyone arriving from areas considered by the Malagasy authorities to be infected.
Other Health Risks: Bilharzia, Cholera, Rabies, Hepatitis A, B and E are endemic. Dysentery and many viral diseases have been reported.

Food & drink: Water is untreated and not safe to drink. Avoid dairy products as they are not pasteurised. Fruit and vegetables should be peeled before consumption. Observe strict food hygiene to guard against cholera.

Currency: Malagasy Franc (MGFr) = 100 centimes NOTE: Non-residents can not export local currency.
Credit cards are accepted in the capital’s major hotels. Travellers cheques can be exchanged at banks and major hotels, French francs preferred.

Cost of living: Relatively inexpensive. Hotels vary from international prices to cheaper guest-houses.

Languages: Malagasy and French. Local dialects are also spoken. Very little English is spoken

Weather: Generally hot and subtropical. Nov – Mar is the raining season and Apr – Oct is the dry season. The South and West are hot and dry. During Dec to Mar the monsoon may cause storms and cyclones. Mountainous regions are hot and thundery from Nov to Apr and dry, cool and windy the rest of the year.

Electricity: Mostly 220 volts AC, 50 Hz. Plugs are generally 2 pin.

Post: No information available at present

Transport: FLIGHTS: Most of Madagascar can be reached by air. Air Madagascar’s ‘Air Tourist Pass’ is available and allows unlimited travel for certain periods. SEA/RIVER/CANAL: There are many coastal transport services. RAIL: Services operate in the East, North and South. ROAD: The road network is need of repair and many are impassable during the raining season. BUS: Services are often unreliable. A flat fare is charged irrespective of length of journey. TAXI / RICKSHAW / STAGECOACH: Available.

Special information: The locals are very welcoming and have a very relaxed attitude towards time. To offer money for board and lodging could be considered an insult; tact is required. Respect should always be paid to local taboos. Carry a photocopy of your passport and leave the original in a safe place. PHOTOGRAPHY: Do not take photographs of military establishments or the police.

Capital: Skopje

Time zone: GMT +1 (GMT + 2 during the summer)

Telephone services: Country Code: 389
Outgoing Code: 99

Emergency telephone numbers: Police – 92, Fire – 93, Ambulance – 94

Tourist information: See Embassy or the Foreign and Commonwealth Travel Advice Unit (020 7270 3000 – switchboard).

Passport information: Valid passport required by all. Requirements may be subject to short-term change. Contact embassy before departure.

Visa information: Visa Required by all except: Nationals of EU countries (except nationals of Greece who do need a visa). Nationals of Argentina, Bolivia, Bulgaria, Chile, Costa Rica, Croatia, Cuba, Czech Republic, Iceland, Hungary, Japan, Liechtenstein, Malaysia, Malta, Monaco, Poland, Romania, Russian Federation (except Uzbekistan), San Marino, Slovenia, Switzerland, Turkey and Yugoslavia (Serbia and Montenegro). Nationals of Algeria, Bangladesh, Bosnia – Herzegovina, Botswana, India, Niger, Pakistan, Philippines, Tunisia, Zambia, and Zimbabwe provided holding prior approval from the ministry of Internal Affairs.

Health information: Other Health Risks: Rabies, Tick-borne encephalitis

Food & drink: Water is untreated and not safe to drink. Take local advice.

Currency: Macedonian Denar = 100 deni Credit cards are accepted on a limited basis, in the capital only. Travellers cheques, preferably in German Deutschmarks or US Dollars, are easily exchanged.
ATM availability: 7 locations.

Cost of living: Macedonia is the poorest of the former Yugoslav republics. Tourists can expect to pay more for goods than the locals.

Languages: Macedonian. Albanian, Turkish, Roma and Serbo – Croat are also used by ethnic groups

Weather: Continental climate with hot summers and very cold winters

Electricity: 220 volts AC, 50 Hz.

Post: 2 – 3 days within Europe, except for Serbia and Greece, with which communications are currently uncertain.

Transport: The situation is subject to change at short notice due to political uncertainty. Contact the Foreign and Commonwealth Travel Advice Unit for up-to-date information. RAIL ROAD: Are currently operating but are crowded and slow moving.

Special information: EXTREME RISK: The British Foreign Office advises against travel at this time. If you intend to travel, despite these warnings you should be aware that apart from safety considerations, accommodation is extremely difficult to obtain. Travellers should be vigilant – avoid travel in the areas close to the border and should not cross into Serbia. Day-to-day business often moves very slowly or not at all, due to the local bureaucracy.

Capital: Bamako

Time zone: GMT

Telephone services: Country Code: 223
Outgoing Code: 00

Emergency telephone numbers: Not present

Tourist information: Ministry of Industry, Handicrafts and Tourism BP 1759, Bemako, Mali Tel: 228 058. Fax: 230 261

Passport information: Valid passport required by all except nationals of Benin Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Chad, Côte d’Ivoire, Guinea, Mauritania, Morocco, Niger, Senegal, Togo and Tunisia in possession of a valid ID or a passport expired not more than five years. Return Ticket Required. Requirements may be subject to change at short notice. Consult embassy before departure.

Visa information: Required by all except the nationals exempt from passport requirements.

Health information: Polio, Typhoid: Vaccination recommended
Malaria: Exists throughout the year in the falciparum variety. Resistance to chloroquine has been reported.
Yellow Fever: A vaccination certificate is required by travellers over one year of age arriving from all countries.
Other Health Risks: Bilharzia, Cholera and Rabies.

Food & drink: Water is untreated and not safe to drink. Avoid dairy products as they are not pasteurised. Fruit and vegetables should be peeled before consumption.

Currency: XOF Franc (XOF Fr) = 100 centimes Exchange: should be available from most banks however sufficient time must be allowed. French Franc notes are sometimes accepted in cash transactions.
Limited use of MasterCard and Visa. They are accepted in the capital city only. Travellers cheques: French francs are the preferred currency.
ATM availability: Unavailable

Cost of living: Mali is one of the poorest countries in the world and is looking to develop a tourist industry.

Languages: French and some African languages are also spoken.

Weather: Jun – Oct is the rainy season. Oct – Feb = Cool season. Mar – May = Hot season.

Electricity: 220 Volts Ac, 50 Hz. Larger towns in Mali have their own locally generated supply.

Post: Airmail takes approximately two weeks to Europe. International post is limited to main towns and central post offices.

Transport: FLIGHTS: Limited provision. ROADS: Range from moderate to very bad. Driving can be difficult during the raining season. Police check points frequently interrupt journeys.

Special information: There has been a rapid increase in violent incidents in Northern Mali. Three Dutch citizens were found murdered on 7 March in the north-east and Western aid workers have been attacked. The FCO advise against travel in the Kayes region near the border with Mauritania and in the area near the border with Niger. Religious customs should be respected. The people are very proud of their traditions. Discussion of politics should be avoided. Travel to the north of the country should be avoided; and in some cases visitors should only travel in groups.

Capital: Yangon (Rangoon)

Time zone: GMT + 6.30

Telephone services: Country Code: 95
Outgoing Code: 0

Emergency telephone numbers: Not present.

Tourist information: Myanmar (Burma) Travel Ltd., 95 Lillie Rd., London, SW6 7SX. Tel (020) 7610 3779 or Burma (Myanmar) Travel Services, 36c Sisters Avenue, London SW11 5SQ, Tel/Fax: (020) 7223 8987.

Passport information: Valid passport required by all. Return ticket required. Requirements may change at short notice. Contact the embassy before departure.

Visa information: Required by all.

Health information: Polio, Typhoid: Vaccination recommended
Malaria: Exists in certain areas especially below 1000m in the Falciparum variety, which is reported as being highly resistant to chloroquine with resistance to Sulfadoxine/pyrimethamine.
Yellow Fever: A vaccination certificate will be required if arriving from an infected area.

Other Health Risks: Cholera is a serious risk, Japanese Encephalitis, Plague, Filariasis, Dengue fever and Rabies. Trachoma is present.

Food & drink: Water is untreated and not safe to drink. Avoid dairy products as they are not pasteurised. Fruit and vegetables should be peeled before consumption.

Currency: Kyat (MMK) = 100 pyas NOTE: Import and export of local currency is prohibited. Only 25% of foreign currency changed to Kyats can be re converted on exit. Keep receipt for customs checks on exit.
Credit cards are not accepted, but travellers cheques can be exchanged.
ATM availability: Unavailable.

Cost of living: Can be high when compared with South East Asian countries standards especially when considering the low cost tourism facilities Myanmar has to offer.

Languages: Burmese. Over 100 district languages are spoken. English is often spoken in business circles.

Weather: Monsoon climate with 3 main seasons: Feb – May = hottest season with little or no rain. May – Oct = Rainy season. Oct – Feb = cooler.

Electricity: 220/230 Volts Ac 50 Hz

Post: Up to 1 week to Europe. It is recommended that correspondence is taken to the post office and registered for which a small fee will be charged.

Transport: FLIGHTS: Is the most efficient way to move around Myanmar, but delays are frequent and scheduled flights are limited. Following two fatal crashes in 1998 British Government employees have been instructed NOT to use Myanma Airways (NOTE: this is a different company from Myanma Airways International) SEA/RIVER: Regarded as the best way to see Myanmar but as delays are frequent allow plenty of time. ROAD: DOCUMENTATION: IDP is required. BUS: There are long distance buses but these are not recommended due to their condition and the condition of the roads. RAIL: Several good services operate. Tickets should be purchased 2 hours in advance.

Special information: HIGH RISK: in travel to Tachilek and Mai Sai border areas. Keep to officially designated tourist areas. All internal travel must be by train road or air. Cycling and hitchhiking are strongly discouraged. Do not photograph military personnel or installations. Political tension is high causing risk of sectarian violence. Avoid discussion of politics. Respect towards religious beliefs should be shown.

Capital: New Delhi

Time zone: GMT + 5.30

Telephone services: Country Code: 91
Outgoing Code: 00

Emergency telephone numbers: Contact the hotel reception.

Tourist information: Government of India Tourist Office, 7 Cork Street, London W1X 2LN Tel: (020) 7437 3677 or (01233) 211 999 (brochure request line). Fax: (020) 7494 1048.

Passport information: Valid passport required by all. Requirements may be subject to short-term change. Contact the relevant authority before departure.

Visa information: Visa required.

Health information: Polio, Typhoid: Vaccination recommended
Malaria: Exists in the vivax variety throughout the year in the whole country excluding parts of Himachal Pradesh, Jammu and Kashmir and Sikkim. High resistance to chloroquine has been reported in the falciparum variety.
Yellow Fever: A vaccination certificate is required from everyone coming or who have transited through infected areas
Other Health Risks: Bubonic plague, meningitis, tick-borne relapsing fever, dengue fever, visceral leishmaniasis, filariasis and Hepatitis B.

Food & drink: Water is untreated and not safe to drink. Avoid dairy products as they are not pasteurised. Fruit and vegetables should be peeled before consumption.

Currency: Rupee = 100 paise
Exchange: At banks or authorised exchangers.. NOTE: Import and export of local currency is prohibited.
All major credit cards are accepted. Travellers cheques can be widely exchanged. Pound sterling and US dollars are the preferred currencies.
ATM availability: Over 150 locations.

Cost of living: Caters for all visitors and budgets. Accommodation ranges from international standard to youth hostels. All commodities are inexpensive, in comparison with other countries.

Languages: The universal national language is English. There are 14 official languages in India. About 50% of the population are Hindi speakers. The Muslim population generally speak Urdu.

Weather: Hot tropical weather with variations from region to region. Coolest weather lasts from November to mid March, with cool fresh mornings and evenings and dry sunny days. Really hot weather occurs between April and June. Monsoon rains occur in most regions during the summer

Electricity: Usually 220 volts AC, 50 Hz. Plugs are of the round 2 and 3 pin type.

Post: Airmail to Western Europe takes up to 1 week. Stamps are sold in hotels.

Transport: AIR: The domestic airline connects over 70 cities. Special fares are available throughout the year. SEA/RIVER: Services are often seasonal and suspended during the monsoon period. One particularly attractive route is the ‘backwaters’ excursion in the vicinity of Cochin. RAIL: The network covers much of the country and is relatively inexpensive.

Special information: NOTE: The Travel Advice Unit of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office advises against travelling to the Kashmir Valley and Jammu because of civil unrest. SPECIAL PRECAUTIONS: Following the Earth Quake in January visitors should stay away from the GUJARAT STATE and other affected areas until normal services are restored. Major tourist destinations are quiet. However there is a serious risk of kidnapping in the state of Jammu and Kashmir. Foreigners have been held at gun-point and therefore visitors are advised against travelling to this area. Possesion of even the smallest quantity of drugs of any kind results in very long jail sentences with long detention before trial. Footwear should be removed when entering houses or places of worship. Many Hindus are vegetarian. Religion plays a large role in everyday life and visitors are expected to respect the customs followed by the Indian people. Beware of confidence tricksters; particularly in Jaipur and Agra. Special care is required on beaches as no local warnings are given of trecherous undercurrents.