Our travel expert answers queries on routes and destinations around the world

Q: I am planning a holiday to Greece in August and I want to go with some friends to Oktoberfest in Munich, Germany, in September. Could I get one Schengen visa to cover both trips or would I have to apply for two separate visas? - Geoff Mowatt

A: It depends on which type of visa you get. You need a short-term visa (C visa) to spend more than five days as a tourist in Schengen countries.

There are three types of C visa, based on the number of entries permitted - one entry, two entries and multiple entries.

A single-entry visa allows you to spend up to 90 days in the Schengen territories, but once you travel outside of these countries you may not use the visa to re-enter.

For your purposes, you need to apply for either a two-entry or a multiple-entry visa, which would allow you to leave the Schengen territory and then return for as long as your visa is still valid.

Visas are usually issued for the duration you specify on the application form, with a maximum of six months and a limit of 90 days' stay. This means that, while your visa could be valid for 180 days, you may not spend more than a total of 90 days in the Schengen countries.

Get more information at www.immihelp.com .

Q: There is a small town in the Ionian area of Greece called Preveza town. It has a small airport with irregular flights operating only on certain days during the summer season. Do you know how one can get to Preveza from Athens - by bus or train perhaps? - Barbara Lundy

A: The easiest way to travel the 370km between Athens and Preveza is by bus. There are five departures daily - at 7.30am, noon, 1.30pm, 5pm and 8pm. The journey takes four hours and 30 minutes. The buses depart from Terminal A at 100 Kifissou Avenue in Athens. You cannot buy these tickets online or pre-book them, you just have to take your chances at the bus station, so it makes sense to arrive as early as possible to help your chances of getting a ticket. For details, go to www.athensinfoguide.com.

Q: While in Peru in July, we would like to do an "explorer" cruise for a few days on the Amazon River. Could you give me some details and recommend any operators? - Rheese Williams

A: Most of the cruises along the Amazon start at Iquitos, the main port city of the river and the largest city in the Peruvian jungle. Iquitos is so remote that it can only be reached by air or water. The easiest way to get there from Lima is by flying, which takes 90 minutes.

A four-night cruise on the Delfin riverboat will transport you deep into the forest, the natural habitat of thousands of species of insects, birds, monkeys and the mysterious pink dolphins. It takes you to the Pacaya-Samiria National Reserve and the Yanalipa Private Reserve. Off-board excursions allow you to meet locals and get a glimpse of life on the river.

The boat has accommodation for only 14 passengers in comfortable cabins with private bathrooms. There is also an observation lounge, a library and a dining room. Prices, which include meals and excursions, range from $2108 (about R16200) to R2686 (R20700) per person sharing.

Check out the website at www.delfinamazoncruise.com .

Or try the M/V Aqua (www.aquaexpeditions.com), which holds 24 passengers in luxurious suites.

A seven-night cruise takes in the Amazon and three powerful tributaries, the Marañón, the Ucayali and the Puinahua, and also visits several black-water lakes. It costs $5250 (about R40000) per person, which includes all meals, beverages and excursions.

Q: I am interested in walking the Frances Camino Pilgrimage route in Spain. Do you have information on this subject or websites relating to the best time of the year, routes, airports before and after the walk and accommodation? - Susie Wilkie

A: There are a number of websites that deal with the Camino Frances, which is one of the main routes on the very famous pilgrim trail to the city of Santiago de Compostela. One of the best is the www.santiago-compostela.net website, which has a section on the Frances trail. It divides the 725km route into 30 stages, starting from St-Jean-Pied-de-Port. All along the route, there are refugios - similar to youth hostels - that provide shelter for pilgrims for a minimal fee or contribution. You should budget for at least à25 (about R260) a day, as a bed in a refugio costs à4 to à10 a night and substantial "pilgrim menus" at restaurants on the route cost à7 to à10. Bottled water, sandwiches and fruit along the route are not expensive. If you decide to take a break along the route, you can usually find a cheap hotel for à25 to à35. For a list of refugios (also known as alberques), go to www.caminodesantiago.me.uk.

Your most convenient airport from South Africa would probably be Paris, but the arrival/departure airport is not that important as there are good train links to airports in France and Spain.

People walk the trail all year, but the refugios are very crowded in summer. The best time to go is during spring (April/May) or autumn (September/October).