Phone Calls & Using Your Phone
Some hotels will have phone where you can dial out, however, please be aware that the cost of these calls may be expensive and rates will vary between hotels. It is possible to use mobile phone applications such as Skype and WhatsApp through an internet connection to contact friends and family back home free of charge.
E-SIM cards can be pre purchased in Australia or at most major airports, kiosks, street vendors and shops in the major cities. Some of these cards can be used in multiple countries.
If you wish to use your own sim card from Australia, we recommend that you contact your mobile provider if you intend to use international roaming during your holiday and ensure you investigate all associated costs before you leave home. Most major providers have an optional add-on charged by the day to use your phone for calls and internet when overseas.
Australia: To call Australia, the international access code is 00, followed by the country code 61, then the landline or mobile number (omitting the first 0).
Postage
We recommend that you use the Post Offices, rather than your hotel to post items, as these are often more expensive and unreliable. We advise you to use a courier service from Post Offices to send anything valuable or important.
Internet and Email
Free Wi-Fi connections are available in most hotels in main cities and tourist destinations. Please note that (where available), the internet speed will not be consistent throughout each country. In remote areas, you will rarely be able to access phone or internet facilities and mobile phones are not likely to have reception. We advise that you let friends and family at home know that you will be out of phone contact during these sections of your itinerary.
Censorship and Social Media
There are some restrictions on access to certain websites, usually those which include social media and forum style discussions. Therefore, you may find that access to Facebook, Instagram, Youtube, Twitter and other social network sites may not be available everywhere.
Time Difference
Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan are 4 hours behind Australian Eastern Standard Time.
Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan and Tajikistan are 5 hours behind Australian Eastern Standard Time.
Georgia, Armenia and Azerbaijan are 6 hours behind Australian Eastern Standard Time.