Click on a question to jump to the answer.

	What does flexible itinerary mean?
	Do I need to have camping experience?
	What are the buses like?
	What should I bring?
	Do most people travel alone?
	Can I take a shower every day?
	Can I take a bike on the bus?

	Can everyone sleep on the bus lying down?
	Can I smoke or burn anything on the bus?
	What is your alcohol policy?
	Does the bus leave from the hostel?
	How many people are on the bus?
	Can my child/teen ride the Green Tortoise?
	How many buses does the Green Tortoise operate?
	What does my food fund cover?
	What kind of people ride the bus? Age? Nationality?
	How much additional spending money should I bring on my trip?
	Do I need travelers insurance to ride?
	How much should I tip the driver?
	What is your Cancellation Policy?
	What kind of things can I do on my trip?
	What does "Combination Trip" mean?
	Are the trips guided?
	Who are our drivers?
	Are there bathrooms on the bus?
	Do you have rides from Seattle or Portland?

What does flexible itinerary mean?

	Flexible is wonderful! Many of the best parts of the trip were not even on the itinerary. Matthew, 30, USA

One of the most thrilling elements of adventure is the unexpected. Our adventure trip itineraries are general overviews. Unforeseen circumstances, including (but not limited to) weather and road conditions may result in the alteration of published itineraries to give you the best possible trip. Flexible itinerary does not mean that we will forgo major highlight attractions at random; however, we cannot guarantee the inclusion of specific minor attractions or activities and ultimately, your drivers will use their skill and experience to make final decisions regarding the route.

Do I need to have camping experience?
Camping experience is not necessary. The only equipment that is required is a sleeping bag. Contact the travel office about sleeping bag rental. A tent is recommended but not absolutely necessary, especially on shorter trips. The campsites we visit range from remote and rustic to full service with showers.

What are the buses like?

	I had a great time, meeting new people, seeing beautiful places and having an adventure. The bus provided a backdrop for all of us to be ourselves. Irene, 52, USA

Our converted sleeper coaches are custom designed, hand-made and comfortable. Personal reading lights and volume controls for our sound system are located throughout the bus. Most coaches are equipped with toilets although their use will be selective. The coach has the capacity for 36 passengers to sleep lying down. Though we often drive through the night, because of the vast mileage covered on some of our trips, it may sometimes be necessary to drive during the day.

What should I bring?
You are allowed to bring one checked piece of luggage, one carry-on, plus your sleeping bag/pillow and tent (if you opt to bring one). Your sleeping bag/pillow and tent do not need to fit inside of your checked piece. Our custom designed coaches do not have the same amount of storage space as standard coaches; please heed the luggage guidelines. After you make a reservation with our travel office you will be sent a complete list of things to bring.

Do most people travel alone?
Most of our riders are solo travelers but we also welcome couples, friends and families to hop on board.

Can I take a shower every day?
Showers will be available, but not always daily. There is no shower on the bus. We'll take no-soap baths wherever possible in waterfalls, rivers or lakes when developed campgrounds aren't available.

Can I take a bike on the bus?
Only on our buses to Burning Man. Please see our Burning Man information for further important details.

Can everyone sleep on the bus lying down?
Yes. Sleeping space is not assigned and you should expect to share close quarters with limited privacy.

Can I smoke or burn anything on the bus?
No, but we stop frequently for smoke breaks.

What is your alcohol policy ?
The Tortoise follows all prevailing laws concerning the consumption of alcohol (which vary from location to location). It is sometimes legal to drink alcohol on the bus, and usually okay to drink alcohol at camp. Please check with your drivers for rules regarding any particular location and respect your fellow passengers by consuming alcohol in moderate amounts."

Does the bus leave from the hostel?
Most buses depart from the corner of First Street and Natoma Street, in downtown San Francisco (see directions), unless otherwise noted on your ticket or reservation.

How many people are on the bus?
The coach has the capacity for 36 passengers. The average number of passengers is about 28. When the coach had seats it held up to 47 people.

Can my child/teen ride the Green Tortoise?
In a word, maybe. Generally, you will need to call us and speak to the office manager so we can make a decision on a case-by-case basis. For more details, we ask that you read our policies and advice on child passengers.

How many buses does the Green Tortoise operate?
Currently we have nine converted sleeper coaches criss-crossing North and Central America.

What does my food fund cover?
The food fund for most trips covers about 70% of your meals, though this varies according to each particular trip. At times when meals are not included, we will be in locations where there are restaurants or grocery stores for you to purchase a meal. You do not need to bring your own food or cooking items. The proceeds of the food fund also covers the costs of your camping as well as state and national park entrance fees wtihin the United States.

What kind of people ride the bus? Age? Nationality?

	The adventure is fantastic for anyone that likes community and nature no matter what age. Being a little older than the average, I found the more strenuous hikes were too much for me yet there were plenty of moderate hikes that were beautiful...thank you for the vacation of a lifetime! Carol, 54, USA

A lot of folks wonder if the Tortoise is only for young people. While there are certain trips that tend to specifically attract a younger crowd — spring break trips, summer cross country trips, and Mardi Gras — our culturally engaging winter trips tend to invite a more mature crowd. We value the diversity of experience brought by passengers of all ages. Families traveling with small children should consult our travel office prior to making a reservation. Though we have no age limits, all passengers should be reasonably fit, able to care for themselves and their belongings, and comfortable sharing space on one of our unconventional sleeper coaches. International travelers gravitate toward our trips year round. Check out our guest map to view recent traveler's by country.

How much additional spending money should I bring on my trip?
We have eliminated the frills of overindulgent, hotel-a-day, never-leave-the-pavement type tours, because we believe that true adventure travel should challenge your senses, not your wallet. However, our trips are not all inclusive. Every trip includes a large array of activities at no additional cost, as well as optional paid activities. On certain trips, hotel/hostel stays are required and you will not be able to stay with the bus. The cost of hotel/hostel accommodation is at your expense. For trips with overnight stays in Los Angeles and Las Vegas, hostel choices and contact information is included with your ticket, and we recommend making advance reservations. For trips with overnight stays in Los Angeles and Las Vegas, you will not be able to stay with the bus. For other trips with overnight stays (such as Mexico and Alaska), we do not recommend making advance reservations, and you may overnight on the bus if necessary. For a complete breakdown of additional expenses or more information about overnight stays, contact our travel office.

Do I need travelers insurance to ride?
We do not require that you have travelers insurance in order to ride the Green Tortoise. However, we do strongly encourage you to purchase a policy that adequately covers both yourself and your belongings. Please keep in mind that our insurance does not cover you while you are off the bus, and it is limited in any coverage of your belongings.

How much should I tip the driver?
Most people tip between $2 and $7 per driver, per day, depending on the service you feel was provided. Tipping is optional, but chances are the drivers helped provide you with a lifelong memory, as well as great food, good times and safe passage. Please don't forget them!

What is your Cancellation Policy?
Please read our cancellation policy.

What kind of things can I do on my trip?

	I had an incredible time on this trip! I'm sure like everybody else who does one of these for the first time I had no idea what to expect, especially what the other people would be like. But I can honestly say that at the end of the trip my new friends and I all wished we had longer to hang out together and visit some cool places. It exceeded my expectations! Kelly, 23, Ireland

Our adventure trips are geared towards activities such as hiking, swimming, rafting and horseback riding. Whether you're on a budget or not, there will always be a variety of activities included in the cost of your trip. Participation in all activities is optional. One of the best things about our mid-sized groups is that there will always be a small group or individual interested in doing activities with you. Contact our Travel Office for a complete listing of the activities on the trip that interests you.

What does "Combination Trip" mean?
We have combined some of our trips to provide you with more travel options. For example, the National Parks Loop is made up of two 8 day trips. The combined itineraries listed in this catalog include the National Parks Loop, Northern Pioneer, Western Trail, Cross Country Loops and Maya Dream Weeks.

Are the trips guided?

	The GT concept seems to be the right mixture of a guided tour by people who really know the places you go with room in the structure for individuality and independence...a good mix of urban experiences and time spent in nature. It works for me! John, 37, UK

No. We will bring you to beautiful places and provide you with all the resources to make a fantastic adventure. When we arrive at our destinations, please be prepared to organize with and look after your fellow passengers to make the most of your trip.

Who are the drivers?

	Everything was so well organized and clear, and took all the "where shall I go / how will I get there / where will I stay / what will I eat" hassle out of traveling - LOVELY!! Megan, 34, New Zealand

All Green Tortoise drivers are fully licensed commercial drivers with CPR certification. Your drivers are facilitators, advisors and maybe even your friends. But they are not parents, camp counselors, or policemen. Your drivers don't enjoy bossing people around (who does?). Please respect their position and efforts. Tips are welcomed as a great way to show your appreciation for their hard work.

Are there bathrooms on the bus?
Most of the coaches are equiped with toilets, but their use will be selective (mostly for emergencies). We stop frequently to use the restroom, even in the middle of the night.

Do you have rides from Seattle or Portland?
We used to have regularly scheduled North/South buses with pick ups in Seattle, Portland and Eugene, but no longer. We discontinued our commuter service from San Francisco to Seattle back in 2001 in order to better concentrate our efforts on our legendary adventure camping trips. We still have a great hostel in Seattle but unfortunately, no buses connecting the two hostels. If you are looking for an alternative to Greyhound, you might have some luck on the Craigslist bulletin board. Check out rideshares/carpool on www.craigslist.org.