CHINA SPECIAL INTEREST TOURS 2016-2017
KEY DESTINATIONS
XIAPU CHENGDU ZHANGJIAJIE INNER MONGOLIA WUDANG MOUNTAINS YUANYANG RICE TERRACES
Your Road, Your Way The unique mix of an international and local team empowers Freedom Road Travel to deliver world-class service with local knowledge and experience in multiple languages, ensuring that our customers always gain the best knowledge and experiences during their time with us. We take pride in providing more than just tours. We tailor exciting and immersive travel experiences for travellers from around the world. Freedom Road Travel was founded in 2014 as a Shanghai based travel company focused on showing the best and most unique parts of China and Asia to the world. We provide our customers with enjoyable and authentic experiences in amazing destinations, and personal levels of service to guarantee that you have your own Freedom Road.
Our goal is to "Make the world a better place by enabling wonderful experiences".
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Ulanbataar
Beijing Seoul
Tokyo
Xian Shanghai
Taipei Hong Kong
Bangkok Ho Chi Minh
Introduction to China China is a vast country, a kaleidoscope of people, cultures, customs and landscapes. Although the present day People’s Republic of China only dates back to 1949, records spanning 5000 years show that China has had a long economic and cultural history, with warring states unifying and dividing multiple times. Throughout its turbulent history this country has had periods of immense cultural learning, artistic creativity and religious and philosophical development. China also expanded early continental trade routes, with the Han Dynasty (207 BC - 220 AD) breaking ground for what would become the famous Silk Road trade route to India. China’s culture is considered to be the oldest living A group of wooden carved monks in Shaolin
culture in the world. Her rich history of trade and arts, combined with the diversity of ethnic groups and their individual food and customs, makes China one of the most interesting places on earth to visit. Travel through China and you will not only re-live its history, you will understand how this immense country was born from small tribal states with their own languages and lives, how it evolved through centuries of upheaval, unification, and then liberation in 1949, to become the People's Republic of China.
A wonderful way to start your day in Luoping, Yunnan
From the immense modern city of Shanghai to the culturally rich Beijing, from the mountains in Xinjiang to the rice terraces of Guilin, China is a world in itself just waiting to be explored. Ancient pavilion along Hangzhou's West Lake
China Special Interest Tours | 3
W
hen was the last time you did something for the first time?"
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CEO Welcome Welcome to Freedom Road Travel’s Special
Interest Tours,
As a 100% foreign-owned travel company in China, we constantly strive to provide above and beyond international service standards through our personal and specialized approach. To us, ensuring all our customers feel like VIPs is a top priority, whether they travel with family, friends, or a new acquaintance they have met along the road. Our Special Interest Tours combine exceptional service with exceptional talent to give you a truly unique experience. We have selected the most renowned authorities in food, wine, martial arts, and photography to accompany you through China and their respective fields. Heidi Dugan has hosted a long running and widely viewed cooking program on Eastmeets-West cooking. Who better to show you the unique and wonderful world of China’s cuisine? Award-winning photographer Thierry Bornier is a leading landscape photographer in China. He travels and photographs China landscapes fulltime, so he can show you China and its photographic opportunities like no-one else can. Eddie McDougall is the leading expert on viticulture in Asia and has been seen around Australia on his television programs. Alongside introducing Chinese wine to the world, he grows his own collection of award-winning wines. Last, but not least, Master Zhang Yi is a leading martial artist whose career began when he was just seven-years-old. With his wide-ranging expertise and wealth of passion, he can provide an insider’s view of the many martial arts centres around China. As an Australian who has lived in China for more than 20 years, I am still constantly surprised by this awesome country; by the stunning places you can visit and the amazing people you can share experiences with. There’s a variety of landscapes, cultural richness, and history in China, more than what most of us would imagine, that’s just waiting to be uncovered. This is the goal of Freedom Road Travel - to share China and all its wonder with the rest of the world. This is my Freedom Road --- What’s Yours? David Keir
FREEDOM ROAD TRAVEL
翱 行 旅 行 Karst stones in Zhangjiajie, Hunan
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Table of
CONTENTS HEIDI DUGAN's
GRAND CHINA FOOD TOUR
12 THIERRY BORNIER's
THIERRY BORNIER's
YUNNAN & HUNAN
FRT News Terms & Conditions
16 EDDIE MCDOUGALL'S
MARTIAL ARTS TOUR
WINE & COUNTRY TOUR
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Responsible Travel
GUANGXI & YANGSHUO
MASTER ZHANGYI's
18
Our Travel Advisors
THIERRY BORNIER's
GUIZHOU & FUJIAN
14
7 8 24 26
20
17 FRT INSTAGRAM
22
OUR Travel Advisors Justine Drake Justine left her hometown of Sydney, Australia, 11 years ago with her husband and two kids and after living in Singapore and Hong Kong the family moved to Shanghai 5 years ago. Following on from 2 years volunteering as President of the Australian Shanghai Association she then completed a contract at AustCham Shanghai, before recently joining the Freedom Road Travel Team. Justine’s passions are cooking, skiing, sailing and travelling off the beaten path.
Colleen Xu After graduating from a rigorous training program, Colleen was certified as a General Manager for International Travel by the China National Tourism Administration in 2000. With 28 years in the travel industry, it has led her from organising events with the Mayor of Los Angeles, United Nations World Travel Organisation Delegation, to the Vice President of Nestle Coffee. Full of passion and devotion, Colleen treats every guest's trip as her own to ensure a memorable lifetime experience.
Thierry Bornier The premiere landscape photographer in China, has had a breakout in his fame over the last 4 years being published in The Telegraph, Wired, and other world famous publications, including having been nominated as Landscape Photographer of the Year in China 2015. Frequently among the highest rated photographers on National Geographic’s ‘Photo of the Day’ page, always on the road, unique in style, Thierry’s eye defines the perspective and elegance of photography.
Teresa Sun Teresa has been working for travel companies over 6 years as a profession. She was an operator in Gullivers Travel Association which runs an international and domestic hotel business. After GTA, she worked as a Travel Consultant in the product department of AQUA Travel, with her main job being to research and organise special interest itineraries in China. Her major is Tourism Management from Hengyang Normal University. Teresa is China Tour Guide certified and is an expert in hotel business negotiations and domestic travelling. Aside from travelling extensively throughout China, Teresa has visited Tibet and Inner Mongolia.
Janny Chyn Janny Chyn is the founder of Shanghai Pathways, a platform that engages people to learn and understand the city through unique cultural activities “off the beaten track.” She is a writer for The Courier magazine and has been a guest speaker for schools and organizations. Janny also provides training and consultation service for corporate clients such as P&G, Ipsos and Google. Her current work has been featured in media outlets including Los Angeles Times, Miami Herald, CNN go, Shanghai Morning Post, and Daily Secret.
Yangzi He Yangzi oversees special interest travel operations at Freedom Road Travel. He has a knack for making the optimal travel arrangements for clients with unique requirements, however unusual those may be. Yangzi has a passion for sampling the latest products on world’s leading airlines, and serves as our resident expert in airline and hotel loyalty programs. His previous career as a research scientist in biochemistry took him to the UK, Denmark, and the US for more than a decade combined. At Freedom Road Travel, he leverages his unique skill set to create once-in-a-lifetime experiences.
Laura Gui Laura is a travel professional with over 10 years’ experience in inbound China tourism, including private trips, themed group tours, corporate travel and new product development. She leads our product development team in quality control and creating signature travel products with a unique combination of luxury, adventure, classic sightseeing and off the beaten path local knowledge. As a native of China, Laura has travelled extensively across this amazing country and takes pride in showing the best and most unique parts of China to the world.
Michael Zhou Michael has worked as a professional English guide for more than a decade in Yunnan and throughout China. His passion is to show his clients the melting pot of Yunnan’s vibrant minorities’ culture and landscape beauty that he sees every day. He enjoys a green, sustainable living lifestyle using alternative methods of transportation and energy. Michael ensures a top-level of quality and responsibility when travelling with his clients.
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Temple of Heaven in Beijing
Cellar full of wine barrels
Famous Beijing Duck
RESPONSIBLE Travel Delicious Xi'an soup dumplings
M
aintaining integrity and upholding principles of sustainable development is core to our travel company ethos and to us. Our values are ingrained in the culture of our business and in the design of our private and group tours. The people, their customs and the local environments at each destination are all considered when planning itineraries and conducting tours. Freedom Road Travel expects the same standards from all our travel partners across China. Our mission statement “to make the world a better place by enabling wonderful experiences� extends to everyone in the Freedom Road Travel environment; our clients (before, during and after travel), our staff, travel partners and, importantly, the people and destinations we visit.
Chinese lanterns of Jinli's Pedestrian Street
Here at Freedom Road Travel we support local communities and businesses by engaging local tour guides, businesses and experts wherever possible, contributing to local employment as well as ensuring our travellers gain a true insight into the local lives, customs and values of the places they visit. We ask all visitors to respect the different cultures and customs, to be aware of the environment and to take the time to try the foods or locals goods unique to the area. Our travel tours have a low impact on the environment since we keep groups smaller, which also helps us provide a more immersive experience with small vehicles and local accommodation. Freedom Road Travel strongly believes in giving back to the communities that we are a part of. We are proud to be a platinum sponsor of the Australian Shanghai Association, a volunteer organisation that raises funds and resources for those in need in Shanghai and rural areas of China. For details go to www.australian-shanghai-association.org
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WHAT MAKES US Different? Farmer tending to his rice terrace
We really listen to you when we ask: “What is your Freedom Road?”
A
t Freedom Road Travel, we take pride in our experiential approach when it comes to travel. We understand that every one of our clients is different. They are each on a unique journey, have their own preferences and set their own goals for travel. We are passionate about travel and sharing the best experiences from our own adventures. This is why we put our personal touches into the journeys we tailor for our clients.
The Big Wild Goose Pagoda in Xi'an
Whether you are travelling in a group, as a family or on your own, we respect your preferences and objectives. We listen to our customers, make sure all their needs are met, and treat everyone as a VIP. Our respect for the ‘individual’ extends to the amazing places we go and the people we meet along the way, each being an important element of your journey. Freedom Road Travel focuses on making each day a new exciting experience, be it a guide explaining the history and customs, a chef presenting the regional specialty, or a local craftsman showing his trade. China Special Interest Tours | 9
W
andering re-establishes the original harmony which once existed between man and the universe." ANATOLE FRANCE
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Rapeseed fields in Luoping
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Beijing
Xian Shanghai Chengdu
Heidi Dugan is best known in China as the host of the popular television program “You are the Chef”, an East-meets-West cooking show which has been running for 15 years and is broadcast across several continents. This culinary entertainment has endeared her to audiences across China and made her one of the most recognizable personalities on CCTV 9 and ICS. On her show, Heidi shares menus and good times with millions of households by showing how to easily prepare and serve beautiful, delicious meals. In 2003, after only two years on air, Heidi was awarded with “Best Foreign TV Host”, and later on the show was twice awarded “Best Foreign Language Program”. Heidi has been interviewed in Harper’s Bazaar, Shanghai TV Weekly, Shanghai Daily, China People’s Evening Newspaper and more. She has also been a guest on Culture Matters, Talk Talk, Da Qiu Bu Tong, and other TV shows to discuss nutrition, diets and food culture. After living in Shanghai for 20 years, Heidi calls the city her home.
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Hangzhou
HEIDI DUGAN's
GRAND CHINA FOOD TOUR 09-20 APR 2017
SMALL GROUP - MAX. 12 PEOPLE
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aste as much as you will see as China’s top TV foodie Heidi Dugan takes you on a gastro-journey through China’s most renowned cuisines. Between visiting the historical and scenic sights that are tied to unique tastes, she will take you to the best local restaurants to gorge on regional specialties.
DAY 1-4: SHANGHAI – HANGZHOU In Shanghai, learn to properly eat soupfilled xiaolongbao dumplings and other local delicacies. Explore Yu Yuan Garden, Shanghai’s restored old town, where you can try staple foods, shop handicraft markets and clothes stores. Then walk through the French Concession, where Western trends meet modern Chinese sensibilities in boutique stores and high-end restaurants that we will, of course, get a taste of. On Day 4, travel to Hangzhou and bask in city’s tranquil, natural beauty. Glide along the quiet waters of West Lake, then visit the Dragon Well Tea plantations, where rows upon rows of tea plants wrap around lush hills and misty mountains. After touring the fields, you can choose to experience tea leaf picking and a tea ceremony for yourself. Hotel: Hotel Indigo & Longjing Landison Resort DAY 5-8: CHENGDU – XI’AN On the morning of Day 5, fly out to Chengdu in Sichuan Province. Chengdu is famous for spicy ingredients and flavors, so ready your taste buds to try Sichuan hot pot, then get a cooking lesson in Sichuanese cuisine at the Sichuan Culinary Museum. Also, visit some of the city’s historic sites, like the city’s best preserved ancient temple, the Wenshu Buddhist Temple, which is filled with beautiful ponds, gardens and cultural relics. On the evening of Day 6, enjoy a private dinner at Yu’s Family Kitchen, named China’s “most creative restaurant” by CNN, before returning to the hotel. Your last day in Chengdu will start with a visit to the Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding, where, of course, you will get to interact with some pandas. Afterwards, it’s off to catch a flight to Xi’an. After arriving and checking
in, take the afternoon to relax in the park, or cycle on Xi’an’s ancient city walls while enjoying the sunset. Then, in the evening, hop on a Tuk Tuk for a culinary adventure through Xi’an’s bustling night market. On your second day in Xi’an, visit the greatest archaeological find of the 20th century, the Terracotta Warriors. In the afternoon, you can either visit the Great Mosque, a beautiful mix of Chinese and Middle Eastern architecture, or get a calligraphy lesson at Stele Forest, a museum dedicated to preserving artistically stone-carved scenes. Dinner will be a dumpling banquet of epic proportions. After all, Xi’an is the dumpling capital of the world. Hotel: Buddha Zen Hotel, Sofitel DAY 9-12: BEIJING In Beijing, discover the city’s rich history on a tour of its disappearing Hutong alleys, its massive Tiananmen Square and Forbidden City, filled with traditional Chinese art and architecture. Taste the town’s signature Peking Roast Duck, an ancient recipe that’s managed to stick around, thanks to its addictive, savory flavor.
12D/11N
Price: from AUD 6,780 per person COST INCLUDES:
• Heidi’s expert guidance from Day 2 - Day 7 (Chengdu part) & Day 9 (Beijing dinner) - Day 11 • Accommodation with daily breakfast • Private English-speaking guides • Private drivers & air-conditioned vehicles • Pick-up and send-off services at the beginning/ end of the tour • Meals as stated during the trip (highest possible quality) • Entrance fees to tourist sites • Airfares Hangzhou - Chengdu - Xian - Beijing (economy class) • Train tickets Shanghai - Hangzhou (first class) • Entrance fees to tourist sites COST EXCLUDES:
• • • • • •
Airfares / Train tickets of arrival and departure Meals not specified in the itinerary Personal expenses and Alcoholic beverages Tips or gratuities for guides and drivers Medical services, travel insurance or visas Single room supplement
The day before you leave, visit the pristine Mutianyu section of the Great Wall, which winds up and down mountains and valleys that are carpeted in thick, green forest, leading you to spectacular panoramic views. Have lunch at the nearby farm-to-fork Schoolhouse canteen, then return to Beijing for a relaxing foot massage, farewell dinner and traditional Peking Opera Show. After breakfast the next morning, you will be taken to the airport for your departure flight. Hotel: The Opposite House
The published price is per person, based on 8-12 people, twin sharing. The prices listed are indicative based on current costs and exchange rates and maybe adjusted based on the travelling period and the number of travellerss in your group. To tailor-make/modify the trip, please indicate your personal interests, preferred travelling dates and number of travellerss, we will be happy to provide you with individually organized private tours. China Special Interest Tours | 13
Shanghai
Zhangjiajie
Kungming
Shanghai Thierry Bornier is China’s premiere landscape and high fashion photographer. His travel photography from China has been featured in The Telegraph, Wired and other world famous publications. In 2015, Thierry's work earned him a nomination for China’s Landscape Photographer of the Year. In addition, he is often among the highest rated photographers for National Geographic’s ‘Photo of the Day’ page, and he has won awards from Epson International and One Eyeland. His best photos sell for upwards of $10,000.00 and inquiries are constant. Always on the road and unique in style, Thierry’s eye embodies the power and elegance of photography and nature.
Xiapu
Guizhou
Xiamen
His success doesn't just come from technical know how, though. When he travels, Thierry does more than just photography. He connects with people, cultures and the landscapes themselves. Travel with him, and your photos will come alive with the same connections.
Shanghai
Xiapu Guilin Xiamen
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THIERRY BORNIER's
YUNNAN & HUNAN 12-25 FEB 2017
SMALL GROUP - MAX. 12 PEOPLE
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hierry Bornier has lived in Yunnan for the last six years and has travelled extensively throughout the magnificent Hani rice terraces of Yuanyang. In Hunan, see the towering and overgrown stone spires that inspired Hollywood's Avatar. Join him on this tour for some excellent sights and tips for photographing the regions' remarkable beauties.
FEB 12-17: KUNMING – YUANYANG After pick-up from Kunming International Airport and hotel check in, meet Thierry for dinner and a tour itinerary presentation. After breakfast on February 13th, take a coach to Yuanyang (6-7 hours). To pass the time, a Chinese guide onboard the bus will talk about the region and teach some Chinese that will impress and delight any locals that you meet. Upon arrival in the afternoon, have your first shoot with Thierry on the terraces, followed by dinner and group workshop on photos, techniques and critiques. February 14-17 will be spent in a similar fashion: waking early to catch the sunrise, shooting at different locations throughout the day, including local markets and other attractions, and then ending the day with dinner and a group workshop. FEB 18-19: LUOPING - KUNMING On February 18th, after one more shoot on the Yuanyang Rice Terraces, take a coach to Luoping, which will take the rest of the day. On the morning of February 19th, though, wake early to catch the sun rising over the eyepoppingly colorful landscape of rapeseed fields in Luoping. Later in the day, visit the roaring Jiulong Waterfall, and then return to Kunming in the afternoon. FEB 20-22: KUNMING – ZHANGJIAJIE After taking a day to rest in Kunming, catch an evening flight to Zhangjiajie. Upon arrival, check in at the hotel and call it a day. On February 21st, after breakfast, take a 1-hour coach ride followed by a cable car ride to reach the top of Zhangjiajie National Park. Check in at the hotel, which isn’t far from planned shoot locations, and then have the first Zhangjiajie shoot session that afternoon.
clouds will form around the peaks. In the late afternoon, take the cable car and then the coach to return to Zhangjiajie City for the night. FEB 23-25: FENGHUANG - SHANGHAI After an early morning shoot near Zhangjiajie City on February 23rd, take a 3.5 hour coach ride to the ancient town of Fenghuang. After checking into the hotel by the river, venture throughout Fenghuang for shoots. After two days of shooting Fenghuang and workshops each evening, it's time for departure via Changsha Airport. TOUR SNAPSHOT The Yuanyang Rice Terraces are located in the mountains south of Yunnan province, about 100 kilometers from the border with Vietnam. The rice terraces boast the technical ingenuity of the Hani people, who have cultivated a seemingly inhospitable land. Throughout all his travels in China, the Yuanyang Terraces have remained one of Thierry’s favorite stops. He has developed an in-depth knowledge of the weather patterns and best angles from which to view the terraces. He is also well known among the locals, and even owns a coffee shop in one of the main scenic areas, Laohuzui. You can expect stunning fields of deep reds, bright greens and stunning blues sequestered into soft, graceful slivers, climbing up and down mountains, some reflecting the sky with mirror clarity. In the course of this workshop, you will also get a chance to experience the traditional culture of the Hani and Yi people by visiting local markets,
14D/13N
Price: from AUD 7,400 per person RECOMMENDED TO BRING:
• • • • • • •
Camera Tripod Zoom lens 70mm to 200mm minimum Wide angle lens 14mm to 35mm 85mm + lenses for portrait Filter polarizer ND filters: 0.6 ND and 0.9 ND, soft and hard (if possible)
COST INCLUDES:
• • • •
Hotel accommodation with breakfasts Full board meals Private vehicle transportation Pick-up and send-off services at the beginning/ end of the tour • Photography tuition • Domestic flights in economy class taxes included (Kunming-Zhangjiajie & Changsha-Shanghai) COST EXCLUDES:
• • • • • •
International flights Entry visa fees Personal expenses and drinks Tips or gratuities for guides and drivers Medical services, travel insurance or visas Single room supplement
This trip has no bar for difficulty or experience in photography and is open to everyone. The price is per person, twin sharing. Single supplement available. For more information please contact us.
February 22nd will be spent shooting in the park for most of the day and hoping for rain so that
China Special Interest Tours | 15
THIERRY BORNIER's
GUIZHOU & FUJIAN 12-29 APR 2017
SMALL GROUP - MAX. 12 PEOPLE
T
rek through the beautiful Jiabang Terraces in remote Guizhou. Travel to Fujian to discover the charming fishing village of Xiapu, and uncover the tulou roundhouses, the most extraordinary buildings in China. All along the way, keep your camera at the ready to capture a wide range of Chinese beauty, from the natural, to the human.
APRIL 15-21: SHANGHAI – GUIYANG – JIABANG – GUIYANG April 15th, meet Thierry at the hotel near Shanghai Hongqiao Airport and catch the flight to Guiyang with him. Upon arrival in the afternoon, you will be picked up from the airport and taken to the hotel in Guiyang for check in. Then have dinner and watch a presentation on the tour plan. April 16th, after breakfast, transfer to Jiabang by coach (7 hours), check in at the hotel in Jiabang, and then have dinner in the evening. April 17-20 will be as follows: wake early every morning to catch the sunrise over the terraces (exact location dependent on weather), then return to the hotel for a rest and lunch, and then on to the second location of the day (again, exact location dependent on the weather) for more shooting on the terraces and throughout the villages. At the end of each day, have dinner and group discussion in the evening to exchange ideas and suggestions and analyze the pictures taken that day. On Apr 21st, do a bit of rice terrace shooting in the morning, and then return to Guiyang by coach (7 hours). APRIL 22-29: GUIYANG – XIAMEN – XIAPU – SHANGHAI On April 22nd, fly to Xiamen in Fujian Province, and then take a coach to the Tulou Hotel. On this first evening in Fujian, have dinner and then a presentation about the itinerary for the week. Zheng Dexiong, a famous local Photographer and friend of Thierry’s, will also present his twenty years of work in the area. On April 23rd, spend the day exploring the tulou, looking for perfect scenes and moments to capture on camera, and then spend one more night in the Tulou Hotel. Apr 24th, travel to Xiapu by coach (7 hours), followed by the first shooting session in Xiapu, and then dinner.
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Apr 25-28 will have the following schedule, with different shoot locations throughout each day: wake early each day to catch the sunrise over the water, travel to the morning next shoot location, break for lunch at the hotel and then head to the afternoon shoot location. Every evening, have dinner and a group discussion where Thierry will critique photos and discuss technique. The Shoots at Xiapu are a great opportunity to improve photography technique, as there are so many different locations and lighting options. During these evening discussion groups, Thierry and Zheng Dexiong will be on hand with advice and guidance. On Apr 29, there will be a final shoot in the morning, and then a train back to Shanghai by in the afternoon, in time for you to catch your flight home or to stay one night in Shanghai. TOUR SNAPSHOT Guizhou is home to the Miao, Zhuang, Dong, Yao, and Shui ethnic groups. The costumes, songs, and architecture of these groups and their villages have their own unique and beautiful characteristics. During our trip in Guizhou, we will have the opportunity to take beautiful portraits and lifestyle shots of these minorities working through an average day like any other from a few hundred years ago. Fujian's round tulou, constructed from the 12th century right up to the 20th, are typically three to five story structures with a thick earthen wall and a single entrance. They tend to be vast, wellfortified buildings, capable of housing up to 800 people. They function as village units that offer safety, shelter and a sense of community. In 2008, the Fujian’s tulou were named as UNESCO World Heritage Sites. Among the thousands of tulou buildings, the Zhengcheng Tulou is considered one of the most famous and is popularly known as “The Prince of the Tulou”.
12D/11N
Price: from USD 5,062 per person RECOMMENDED TO BRING:
• • • • • • •
Camera Tripod Zoom lens 70mm to 200mm minimum Wide angle lens 14mm to 35mm 85mm + lenses for portrait Filter polarizer ND filters: 0.6 ND and 0.9 ND, soft and hard (if possible)
COST INCLUDES:
• • • •
Hotel accommodation with breakfasts Full board meals Private vehicle transportation Pick-up and send-off services at the beginning/ end of the tour • Photography tuition • Domestic flights in economy class taxes included (Shanghai-Guiyang and Guiyang–Xiamen) • Train in second class seats (Xiapu-Shanghai) COST EXCLUDES:
• • • • • •
International flights Entry visa fees Personal expenses and drinks Tips or gratuities for guides and drivers Medical services, travel insurance or visas Single room supplement
This trip has no bar for difficulty or experience in photography and is open to everyone. The price is per person, twin sharing. Single supplement available. For more information please contact us.
THIERRY BORNIER's
GUANGXI & FUJIAN 2-16 JUN 2017
SMALL GROUP - MAX. 12 PEOPLE
T
ravel through the Dragon’s Backbone Rice Terraces, admire the amazing karst landscapes of Guilin and explore the charming Yangshuo. Discover the mysterious Tulou buildings and then wander the tranquil fishing village of Xiapu.
JUN 2-5: LONGJI - YANGSHUO On June 2nd, meet Thierry at the hotel near Shanghai Hongqiao Airport, then leave together for the flight to Guilin. Upon arrival at Guilin Airport in the afternoon, transfer to Longji (4 hours) in a coach. After check in at the hotel, have dinner and a presentation on the itinerary. From June 3-4, wake early every morning to catch the sunrise on the terraces (where exactly depends on the weather), then return to the hotel for lunch and some rest before heading to the day’s second location (dependent on the weather) for more shooting on the terraces, and then the day will end with dinner and a group discussion to hash out ideas, suggestions and analysis on the day's photos. On June 5th, do a quick rice terrace shoot in the morning, then transfer to Yangshuo by coach and check in at the hotel there. JUN 6-10: YANGSHUO – XIAMEN June 6-9 will be another few days of early morning shoots, afternoon shoots, locations all depending on the weather, then dinner and discussion in the evening. On the afternoon of June 9th, return to Guilin airport, fly to Xiamen in Fujian Province and then transfer to a Tulou Hotel. On the first night in Fujian, have dinner and a presentation on the week’s plan. Also, Zheng Dexiong, a famous local photographer and friend of Thierry’s, will present his twenty years of photography work in the area. Spend June 10th, exploring the tulou with your cameras during the day, and then spend one more night in the Tulou Hotel. JUN 11-16: XIAMEN – XIAPU – SHANGHAI On June 11th, we transfer to Xiapu by coach (7 hours), followed by the first shoot session in Xiapu and then dinner.
June 12-15 will have a familiar rhythm: an early morning start to catch the sunrise over the water, then spend every morning and afternoon in a different shoot location. Every evening, have dinner and group discussion. The shoots at Xiapu are a great opportunity to improve photography technique, as there are so many different locations and lighting options. During these evening discussion groups, Thierry and Zheng Dexiong will be on hand with advice and guidance. On June 16th, have a final shoot in the morning, then travel back to Shanghai by train in the afternoon, in time for you to catch your flight home or to stay one night in Shanghai. TOUR SNAPSHOT Xiapu, located in the northeastern Fujian, is known as China’s most charming fishing village. After the Yuanyang rice terraces, the fishing village of Xiapu is Thierry’s next favorite location to shoot in China.
12D/11N
Price: from AUD 6,580 per person RECOMMENDED TO BRING:
• • • • • • •
Camera Tripod Zoom lens 70mm to 200mm minimum Wide angle lens 14mm to 35mm 85mm + lenses for portrait Filter polarizer ND filters: 0.6 ND and 0.9 ND, soft and hard (if possible)
COST INCLUDES:
• • • •
Hotel accommodation with breakfasts Full board meals Private vehicle transportation Pick-up and send-off services at the beginning/ end of the tour • Photography tuition • Domestic flights in economy class taxes included (Shanghai-Guilin and Guilin–Xiamen) • Train in second class seats (Xiapu-Shanghai) COST EXCLUDES:
Due to the peaceful waters and abundance of sunshine, the Xiapu mudflats are rich in kelp, laver, oyster and yellow croakers, and so a fishing and farming community has flourished. The local fishermen insert bamboo poles, fishnets and stone columns into the mudflats to dry their catch, creating a vast and striking spider web of black and white outlines. As the sun rises and sets, the tide rises and falls, bamboo poles, fishing nets and fishing boats come in and out to make a spectacular scene that looks like an old traditional Chinese ink painting. For this reason, Xiapu is regarded as a photographer’s paradise. At the time of our visit in April, it will be the height of seaweed season, so there will be plenty of fishing activity to capture.
• • • • • •
International flights Entry visa fees Personal expenses and drinks Tips or gratuities for guides and drivers Medical services, travel insurance or visas Single room supplement
This trip has no bar for difficulty or experience in photography and is open to everyone. The price is per person, twin sharing. Single supplement available. For more information please contact us.
China Special Interest Tours | 17
Zhang Yi was selected to study Traditional Chinese Kung Fu at seven years old, spent 4 years training at the Shanghai Kung Fu Academy, and was accepted into the prestigious Shanghai Sports Institute, where he trained for eight hours a day, six days a week, for over ten years. With his dedication, he has won many awards and reached high expertise in several other martial arts. With more than 20 years of teaching experience, he has had students of many backgrounds, cultures, ages and abilities. He has taught at the Shanghai Kung Fu academy, and has also taught the Shanghai Army and Japan's National Tai Chi team Zhang Yi now runs the Hong Wu Kung Fu Centre, which has become a hub for all those interested in learning more about Chinese culture through Tai Chi and Kung Fu. His wealth of knowledge, experience, and passion attract tourists and locals alike, while his inspiring, down-to-earth personality keeps them there. Travel with Zhang Yi to learn more about his fascinating background and martial arts.
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Beijing
Xian
Wudang Mountain
Shanghai Hangzhou
MASTER ZHANGYI's
MARTIAL ARTS TOUR 07-18 MARCH 2017 | 25 JULY - 5 AUGUST 2017
SMALL GROUP - MAX. 12 PEOPLE
E
very step and strike in Chinese martial arts follows a mountain and a valley, a tradition and a story. With the guidance of master martial artist Zhang Yi, discover how the marks that martial arts leaves in today’s cultural landscape can be traced back through China’s actual landscape.
DAY 1-4: BEIJING Join Master Zhang Yi in Beijing’s Ritan Park as he meets early-rising locals practicing tai chi and sword dancing against a perfect backdrop of quietly rustling willow trees and lapping pond waters. Tour the city’s quaint but disappearing hutong alleys, and stand in awe at its massive Tiananmen Square and Forbidden City. Then, just outside the city, journey up and down the pristine Mutianyu Great Wall, one of the best preserved and most scenic sections of the wall, with breathtaking vistas of wide open and green scenery, of lush mountains and valleys and of the wall itself winding along the topography and into the distance. On Day 4, take a highspeed train to Xi’an. Hotel: Ritan Hotel DAY 5-6: XI’AN In Xi’an, take part in an exchange program at a local martial arts institute, watching and learning different kinds of martial arts performances. Visit the Terracotta Warriors, whole legions of life-like, life-sized clay soldier and horse statues, known as the greatest architectural find of the 20th century. Drive up to Xi’an’s high plateau to visit some old villages and a blacksmith workshop run by an artisan who still makes traditional swords and halberds. Watch him hammer away as he shares stories about his craft and the martial arts history behind his weapons. On Day 6, take a flight to Shiyan. Hotel: Grand Park Xi’an
the day on the mountain with a Taoist Welcome Ceremony, followed by an introduction to Taoist culture, and then learn Wudang Martial Arts from a master practitioner. In the afternoon, visit the Purple Heaven Palace, the largest and most ornate temple on the mountain. Then, in the evening, either have a practice session with Master Zhang Yi, or see a Wudang Martial Arts performance show. On Day 8, after a workshop on Taoist health and wellbeing, catch a flight to Hangzhou. Hotel: Jianguo Hotel DAY 9-12: HANGZHOU – SHANGHAI Take deep breaths of Hangzhou’s fresh air during Master Zhang Yi’s Kungfu Workshop, facing the spectacularly green expanse of the Dragon Well Tea Plantations. Take a boat ride along the smooth waters of West Lake, which, for more than a thousand years, has inspired Chinese painters and poets with is enduring beauty. At the end of your day in Hangzhou, take a high speed train to Shanghai. In Shanghai, follow Master Zhang Yi’s lead in workshops on Shanghai’s spectacular Bund waterfront, and then in his own studio on the Tianzifang Arts Street. Between those workshops, discover Shanghai’s unique mix of old and new and east and west through its recreated old towns (Yu Yuan Garden) and cosmopolitan districts (French Conession). Hotel Landison Longjing Resort & Astor Hotel
12D/11N
Price: from AUD 5,660 per person COST INCLUDES:
• Zhangyi’s martial arts expert guide from Day 2 to Day 11 • Accommodation with daily breakfast (nearby local parks for morning practice or witness locals exercise) • Private English-speaking guides • Private drivers & air-conditioned vehicles • Pick-up and send-off services at the beginning/ end of the tour • Meals as stated during the trip (highest possible quality) • Entrance fees to tourist sites • Airfares Xian – Mt. Wudang – Hangzhou (economy class) • Train tickets Beijing – Xian, Hangzhou - Shanghai • Entrance fees to tourist sites COST EXCLUDES:
• • • • • •
Airfares / Train tickets of arrival and departure Meals not specified in the itinerary Personal expenses and Alcoholic beverages Tips or gratuities for guides and drivers Medical services, travel insurance or visas Single room supplement
DAY 7-8: SHIYAN, WUDAN MOUNTAINS All of Day 7 will be spent on the Wudang Mountains, where a whole complex of Taoist monasteries and temples lies shrouded in mist among scattered clearings of thick forest. Start
The published price is per person, based on 8-12 people, twin sharing. The prices listed are indicative based on current costs and exchange rates and maybe adjusted based on the travelling period and the number of travellerss in your group. To tailor-make/modify the trip, please indicate your personal interests, preferred travelling dates and number of travellerss. We will be happy to provide you with individually organized private tours. China Special Interest Tours | 19
Eddie McDougall is the award-winning winemaker, judge, columnist and media personality behind The Flying Winemaker. He holds a Bachelor of International Business from Griffith University and a Post Graduate Diploma of Wine Technology & Viticulture from the University of Melbourne. He was also awarded a scholarship to the Len Evan’s Tutorial, regarded as the one of the most prestigious global wine programs. He has more than a decade of winemaking experience, having worked with some of the most influential wineries in the New and Old World, including the likes of Vietti, Mas de Daumas Gassac, Giant Steps, and The Urban Project (Hong Kong’s first winery). In 2007, Eddie started his own brand of Eddie McDougall Wines, which has now branched out into multiple varietals and collaborate labels. His wines regularly earn 90+ ratings and medals at international wine competitions. Besides developing his own stable of wines, Eddie has pioneered unique and flourishing media properties, such as The Flying Winemaker TV series (Host and Executive Producer), the pan-Asia wine event Rose Revolution, e-commerce sites winetomydoor.com and flyingwinemaker.asia, and the Asian Wine Review (Lead Judge and Chairman). Eddie appeals to Asian and global wine lovers not only with his deep expertise, but also with his humble, no-frills attitude and cross-cultural background in Hong Kong and Australia. Time Out has named Eddie as one of the “Top 20 People Changing the Way We Eat and Drink”.
20 | China Special Interest Tours
Beijing Yinchuan
EDDIE MCDOUGALL's
WINE & COUNTRY TOUR 24 JUNE – 2 JULY, 2017 | 26 AUGUST – 3 SEPTEMBER, 2017
SMALL GROUP - MAX. 12 PEOPLE
F
ollow The Flying Winemaker, Eddie McDougall, as he takes you on a journey through China’s growing embrace of global wine culture. Meet China’s own homegrown winemakers and vineyards, discover perfect pairings of wine and Chinese cuisine, and perfect pairings of wine and breathtaking Chinese scenery.
DAY 1-4: BEIJING – HEBEI In Beijing, roll up and down Beijing’s historic hutong alleys on a rickshaw tour, walk through bustling street food and crafts markets, have a wine & cheese picnic atop the Great Wall and see how Eddie pairs Beijing’s famous Peking duck with a red or white. In Hebei, Major Chinese wine brands, such as Dragon Seal, Great Wall and Rongchen, have rooted their wineries in the town of Huailai because it’s at the same latitude as Bordeaux. After touring some of Huailai’s vineyards and wineries, it’s back to Beijing for an evening stroll through the lively Wangfujing Market. Hotel: Red Wall Garden Inn DAY 5-6: YINCHUAN, TENGGER DESERT, INNER MONGOLIA On the morning of Day 5, fly from Beijing to China’s fastest growing wine region, Yinchuan. The city’s Silver Heights Winery, started by a Bordeaux-trained Chinese winemaker, is a prime example of China’s homegrown wine industry. After a tour of their facilities and a dinner with wine pairing, let it all digest with a walk through Yinchuan’s People’s Square. Day 6 will take you out to the best sights in the breathtaking Tengger Desert, where you can find an old, weathered section of the Great Wall. The Ming Great Wall, which cuts through some of the area’s greener regions, but is nonetheless weathered and stunning.
Price: from AUD 4,986 per person
outside with a bonfire dinner and wine pairing. Hotel: Kempinski Hotel DAY 7-9: YINCHUAN Start Day 7 with a visit to the Shuidonggou Ruins, one of the oldest ruins in China. The structures date back 30,000 years, to the Paleolithic Age, and they remain a magnificent sight; a city of caves surrounded by desert, yet colored green by the nearby Yellow River. For lunch, venture out onto the red and yellow sands of the Maowusu Desert for a picnic lunch with a bottle of wine, surrounded by the breathtaking remains of watchtowers and ancient cities. In the evening, tour the Jiabeilan Winery and enjoy a dinner of local cuisine with a wine pairing before returning to the hotel for the night. Day 8 will first take you to the Baisikou Twin Pagodas, built during the nearly forgotten Tangut Empire. Then, discover the ancient rock engravings on Helan Mountain, a verdant and sloping natural meeting place for the nomads and farmers that made the carvings more than 3,000 years ago.
9D/8N
COST INCLUDES:
• • • • • • • • •
Wine expert guide from Day 2 to Day 8 Accommodation with daily breakfast Private English-speaking guides Private drivers & air-conditioned vehicles Pick-up and send-off services at the beginning/ end of the tour Meals as stated during the trip (highest possible quality) Entrance fees to tourist sites Airfares Beijing – Yinchuan - Beijing (economy class) Entrance fees to tourist sites
COST EXCLUDES:
• • • • • •
Airfares / Train tickets of arrival and departure Meals not specified in the itinerary Personal expenses and Alcoholic beverages Tips or gratuities for guides and drivers Medical services, travel insurance or visas Single room supplement
In the evening, enjoy a farewell dinner with local winemaker enologists at Kempinski Hotel. After breakfast on Day 9, take a private car to the airport for your departure flight.
Also, journey to a desert oasis in Inner Mongolia, where you can chase the sunset up and down sand dunes ridges while riding a camel. Once the sun goes down, you can return to the hotel or, weather permitting, camp
The published price is per person, based on 8-12 people, twin sharing. The prices listed are indicative based on current costs and exchange rates and maybe adjusted based on the travelling period and the number of travellerss in your group. To tailor-made/modify the trip, please indicate your personal interests, preferred travelling dates and number of travellerss, we will be happy to provide you with individually organized private tours. China Special Interest Tours | 21
FREEDOM ROAD TRAVEL news
D
istance is not the obstacle it once was, especially when it comes to widening your perspective with new places and new experiences. This fact was one of the driving forces when I decided to found Freedom Road Travel, and it continues to push us today. We want people to discover a part of China that is not as
impossible as it seems, but is nonetheless a deep well of beautiful memories waiting to be made. On a recent trip to Yunnan, a region full of raw, untarnished natural beauty, we filmed a series of short videos to capture what we experienced. From walking among grazing cattle in serene, grassy prairies amidst breathtaking mountain ranges, to trekking
above a roaring river that has carved its way into a deep, stunning gorge, Yunnan’s landscape possesses some of China’s most unforgettably gorgeous terrain. When you see these videos, we believe you will find yourself looking at a part of China you never considered going to before, or even heard of, until now. And it’s not nearly impossible to be there.
Follow us on Instagram http://www.instagram.com/freedomroadtravel
Stay tuned for our upcoming videos on YouTube http://youtube.com/c/Freedomroadtravel
22 | China Special Interest Tours
WHAT IS EXPERIENTIAL TRAVEL?
W
hat makes a trip unforgettable are those rare, sudden moments when your thoughts pull away from whatever you’re doing. Whether it’s sipping wine among the vines it came from, stepping on a high and misty rice terraces, or enjoying a home cooked dinner a long way from home, your thoughts pull away, you stop and take a long look around with a deep, deep breath. You breathe in long and slow as if the air carries the moment itself, and you want to take it all in, feeling much more than just your lungs filling up. These rare moments can only come out of travelling as an active participant, rather than an observant tourist. Experiential travel, also called insider or immersion travel, is all about active participation and making a real, personal connection with the place you visit, rather than treating it like your go-to lunch take out. Instead of lounging on the same beach every summer, try something different, and actually try, rather than just watch. It’s worth the effort. The benefits of experiential travel go beyond kicking back and getting pampered. They venture into greater fulfilment, worldly emotional intelligence and even ethical economics. These tenets line up with how people’s travel needs have evolved in the age of the internet and social media. When nearly everything is readily available online, experiences in the real world become rarer, more valuable and more fulfilling. People want a thing that they can’t deliver to their door or download to their phone. They want to try an unrecognizable fruit, or share an unknown artisan. Experiential travel delivers these things by focusing
on small groups, undiscovered attractions, and locally-sourced activities. But the traveller is not the only person who wins in experiential travel. Small groups and local-sourcing benefit the local environment and small businesses. At the same time, experiential travel’s social-consciousness appeals to travellers who want to leave something good behind. This is not the only way that experiential travel can reshape the world, though. People have long known that if everyone immersed themselves in a faraway culture, society would be a radically better place. While the label of ‘experiential travel’ is relatively new, the eye-opening spirit behind it is old news. Fourth-century theologian St. Augustine once said, “The world is a book and those who do not travel read only one page.” Sixth-century philosopher Lao Tzu remarked, “A good traveller has no fixed plans and is not intent on arriving.” In the 19th century, Mark Twain wrote, “Broad, wholesome, charitable views of men and things cannot be acquired by vegetating in one little corner of the earth all one’s lifetime.” So, for as long as people have been travelling, we’ve known that a focus on the experience itself is vital to living a full life and understanding and empathising with the lives of others. It’s just that now, the internet and social media have driven a renewed focus on real experiences during travel. At Freedom Road Travel, we steer people away from overcrowded destinations, mass-produced “must-see” packages, and hokey tourist traps. Instead, we encourage you to keep an open mind and heart, to venture into distant corners. Unexpected moments of real nature, humanity, and experience await your discovery. China Special Interest Tours | 23
Terms & Conditions Freedom Road Travel Ltd (FRT) is committed to taking great care of our guests, our agents, our suppliers, our service providers and our wonderful staff. It is really important that you take the time to read and understand the following general conditions of booking and travelling with FRT. Whilst the following are general important terms and conditions, there will be more detailed information outlined in your travel confirmation documents, giving the kind of experience you are booking with FRT. Please read the FRT Trip Summary relating to your travel prior to booking with FRT to ensure that you understand the itinerary and the style of trip you are undertaking. Thank you!
OUR CONTRACT For all bookings made with FRT, travel confirmation documents will be issued and you are deemed to have read and agreed to the Booking Conditions (which constitutes the entire agreement between you and FRT), and your booking will be accepted by FRT on this basis. Any detailed services or specific terms and conditions to be provided will be referred to in your confirmation documents. VALIDITY Dates, itineraries and prices are valid from 01 January 2017 until 31 December 2017. Beyond 31 December 2017 dates, itineraries and prices are indicative only. ACCEPTANCE OF BOOKING AND PAYMENTS You will be required to pay a non-refundable deposit of USD$50 per person per trip for your booking to be confirmed. Upon accepting your booking, FRT will issue a confirmation document; a contract will then exist between both parties, from the date the invoice is issued. Please refer to your booking confirmation document for details regarding the payment schedule, terms and conditions. YOUR PERSONAL DETAILS In order for FRT to confirm your travel arrangements you must provide all required details at the time of deposit payment. Necessary details include full name as per passport, date of birth, nationality, passport number, passport issue and expiry date and any pre-existing medical conditions you have which may affect your ability to complete your travel arrangements. Your booking will only be confirmed with provision of these details. CANCELLATION BY THE TRAVELLER If you cancel some or all portions of your booking, cancellation fees could or will apply. For a cancellation notice to be effective it must be received in writing by FRT to then confirm. Unless otherwise indicated to you by your respective travel consultant, after confirmation by FRT, if you cancel a portion or all of your travel, the terms and conditions in the confirmation documents will apply. Some general aspects that apply to all confirmed bookings include: • If you leave a trip for any reason after it has commenced, FRT are not obliged to make any refunds for unused services. • If you fail to join a tour, join it after departure, 24 | China Special Interest Tours
or leave it prior to its completion, no refund can be made. FRT strongly recommends that you take out appropriate travel insurance at the time of booking to cover cancellation fees. The cancellation fees, in addition to any FRT fees, may also be levied by accommodation providers, travel agents, or third party tour, transport operators or other service providers. CANCELLATION BY FRT FRT may cancel a trip at any time up to 60 days before departure. FRT may cancel a trip at any time prior to departure if, due to terrorism, natural disasters, political instability or other external events, it is not viable for FRT to operate the planned itinerary. If FRT cancel your trip, you can transfer amounts paid to an alternate departure date or alternatively receive a full refund. In circumstances where the cancellation is due to external events outside our reasonable control, refunds will be less any unrecoverable costs. FRT are not responsible for any incidental expenses that you may have incurred as a result of your booking including but not limited to visas, vaccinations, travel insurance excess, excess baggage or non-refundable flights. Please note that different cancellation conditions may apply to some styles of trips, your booking consultant will advise if differences apply. BOOKING AMENDMENTS If you wish to make any changes to your confirmed booking or transfer your booking to a third party you must notify FRT at least 30 days prior to the proposed departure date. Any changes may incur fees from hotels, ground operators, airlines or other providers. Transfers to a third party are only permitted where the transferee meets all the requirements in relation to the trip, and transfers to another departure can only be made to a departure within the current validity period. CONSULAR ADVICE Prior to making your booking, FRT highly recommends that you review information provided by the Foreign Affairs Bureau of your nationality. FRT strongly suggests that you familiarize yourself with the latest Government Consular advice and information. INCLUSIONS The land price as outlined in the travel confirmation document as applicable & listed to your trip summary includes accommodation, transport, sightseeing, meals and services of a group leader (for groups of 9 or more). EXCLUSIONS The land price of your trip does not include: • International or internal flights unless specified • Airport, taxes and excess baggage charges unless specified • Meals other than those specified in the Trip Summary • Visa and passport fees • Travel insurance • Tips & Gratuities • Some drinks and all alcoholic beverages
• Optional activities and all personal expenses PRICES & SURCHARGES Our trip prices are subject to the variable and seasonal pricing of FRT’s providers, which are standard practice within the travel industry. FRT reserve the right to adjust pricing up to 60 days before departure due to changes in exchange rates, increases in airfares or other transportation costs, increases in local operator costs, taxes, or if government action should require FRT to do so. If any surcharge results in an increase of more than 10% of the trip price (prior to 60 days prior to departure) you may cancel the booking within 14 days of notification of the surcharge and obtain a full refund. HOTEL DESCRPTIONS, MAPS & PICTURES Hotel descriptions featured in this brochure are based on current hotel guides provided by suppliers and contractual agreements. Any facilities described are subject to change at any time. Maps and photographs are included for general information only and may not necessarily reflect actual routings, locations or services. FRT have made reasonable enquiries to verify that the descriptions and details are accurate. AGE & HEALTH REQUIREMENTS All travellers under the age of 18 must be accompanied by a legal guardian, or in lieu of a legal guardian, by an escort over the age of 18, appointed by their legal guardian. The legal guardian or their designee will be responsible for the care of travellers under the age of 18. Please be aware that most tour programs are focused on aspects that are of interest to adults and there is no or little access to any childcare or support facilities, so this is why generally most non-student FRT tour programs are not suitable to families with children younger than 12 years of age. Whilst FRTs tour programs seek to be accommodating to as many interested persons as possible, travellers over the age of 18 cannot participate on any non-student tour programs on a ‘willing to share’ basis. Guests under the age of 18 must be either accompanied by a legal guardian, or in lieu of a legal guardian, by an escort over the age of 18, appointed by their legal guardian. If unable, they must pay a single supplement. For children aged 12 - 17, it needs to be noted there are no discounts off the published price. Any triple share needs must be requested in advance of confirmation, but are subject to availability of the accommodation providers. Interconnecting or adjacent rooms for single share can be requested prior to confirmation, but cannot be guaranteed. Maximum General Policy: For the majority of our trips FRT have no upper age limit though FRT remind you that our trips can be physically demanding and passengers must ensure that they are suitably fit to allow full participation. FRT are able to provide details on mandatory health requirements; however, FRT are not medical experts. It is your responsibility to ensure that you obtain proper and detailed medical advice at least two months prior to travel for the latest health requirements and recommendations for your
Terms & Conditions destination. TAXES As certain taxes are mandatory in various countries or provinces, there may also be additional local taxes charged at some airports. All taxes included in the current pricing are subject to change without notice. CHANGE OF ITINERARY While FRT endeavors to operate all trips as described, FRT reserves the right to change the trip itinerary, if necessary. Please refer to our website before departure for the most recent updates to your itinerary. If FRT make a major change (only if necessary) FRT will inform you as soon as is reasonably possible. The definition of a major change is deemed to be a change affecting at least one day in five days of the itinerary. FRT reserves the right to change an itinerary after departure due to local circumstances or events outside of its control. In such emergency circumstances additional costs may be necessary. Please note FRT is not responsible for any incidental expenses that may be incurred as a result of the change of itinerary such as visas, vaccinations or non-refundable flights. AUTHORITY ON TOUR For any FRT group tours, these are run by the appointed group leader. The decision of the group leader is final on all matters likely to affect the safety or well-being of any person participating in the trip. If a participant fails to comply with a decision made by a group leader, or interferes with the well-being or mobility of the group, the group leader may request the individual to leave the trip immediately, with no right of refund. All participants must at all times comply with the laws, customs, foreign exchange and drug regulations of all countries visited, and you also agree to travel in accordance with our responsible travel guidelines. ACCEPTANCE OF RISK You acknowledge that the nature of the trip may involve strenuous activity and participation involves a degree of personal risk. You may be visiting places where the political, cultural and geographical attributes present dangers and physical challenges greater than those present in our daily lives. FRT uses information from government foreign departments and reports from our own contacts in assessing whether the itinerary should operate. However it is also your own responsibility to acquaint yourself with all possible relevant travel information and the nature of your itinerary. You acknowledge that your decision to travel is made in light of consideration of this information and you accept that you are aware of the personal risks attendant upon such travel. LIMITATION OF LIABILITY FRT contract with a network of companies, government agencies and individuals to assist in the running of our trips as agent for these third parties. FRT are not responsible for the acts and omissions of these third parties. To the fullest
extent permitted by law: • Any liability for any loss, death, injury or damage which you may suffer (directly or indirectly) in connection with or arising out of your participation in a trip, or any breach of the Booking Conditions. • You release FRT and our officers, employees, agents and representatives from any liability and expressly waive any claims you may have against FRT arising out of or in connection with your participation in a trip. • Any condition or warranty which would otherwise be implied by law into these Booking Conditions (Implied Warranty), is excluded. To the extent an Implied Warranty cannot be. PASSPORT AND VISAS You must carry a valid passport and have obtained all of the appropriate visas, permits and certificates for the countries in which you will visit during your trip. Your passport must be valid for 6 months beyond the duration of the trip. It is your responsibility to ensure that you are in possession of the correct visas, permits and certificates for your trip; please refer to the Trip Summary for details. FRT are not responsible if you are refused entry to a country because you lack the correct passport, visa or other travel documentation. TRAVEL INSURANCE Travel insurance is compulsory for all our travelers and should be taken out at the time of booking. Your travel insurance must provide cover against personal accident death, medical expenses and emergency repatriation with a recommended minimum coverage of USD$200,000 for each of the categories of cover. FRT also strongly recommend it covers cancellation, curtailment, personal liability and loss of luggage and personal effects. Your insurance details must be supplied to FRT at the time of booking. If you fail to provide the requested insurance information prior to travel as well as on arrival during registration, FRT reserves the right, acting in our sole discretion, to cancel bookings and apply charges as per our cancellation policy. If you obtain travel insurance through FRT you acknowledge that you are satisfied with the level of insurance FRT have arranged. OPTIONAL ACTIVITIES Optional activities not included in the trip price do not form part of the trip or this contract. You accept that any assistance given by your group leader or local representative in arranging optional activities does not render FRT liable for them in any way. The contract for the provision of that activity will be between you and the activity provider. CLAIMS & COMPLAINTS If you have a complaint about your trip, please inform your group leader or our local representative at the time, in order that they can attempt to rectify the matter. If satisfaction is not reached through these means, then any further complaint should be put in writing to FRT within 48 hours of the end of the tour, and sent to FRT at contactus@freedomroadtravel.com.
SEVERABILITY In the event that any term or condition contained in these Booking Conditions is unenforceable or void by operation of law, or as being against public policy or for any other reason, than such term or condition shall be deemed to be severed from this contract or amended accordingly, only to such extent necessary to allow all remaining terms and conditions to survive and continue as binding. PHOTOS AND MARKETING Should you consent to FRT using images of you taken during the trip, these may be used for advertising and promotional purposes in any medium FRT choose. You grant FRT a perpetual, royalty-free, worldwide, irrevocable license to use such images for publicity and promotional purposes. PRIVACY POLICY Any personal information that FRT collect about you may be used for any purpose associated with the operation of a trip, or to send you marketing material in relation to our events and special offers. The information may be disclosed to our agents, service providers or other suppliers to enable FRT to operate the trip. FRT will otherwise treat your details in accordance with our privacy policy (available for viewing on our website). APPLICABLE LAW The laws of Commonwealth of Australia governs these Booking Conditions to the fullest extent allowable. Any disputes in connection with a trip or these Booking Conditions must be initiated in the courts of Australia. UPDATING OF TERMS & CONDITIONS The Company reserves the right to update and/ or alter these terms and conditions at any time, and it is the clients responsibility to be familiar with them. The latest terms and conditions can always be found on the Company website www. freedomroadtravel.com and will supersede any previous versions. BROCHURE FRT has exercised reasonable care to ensure that the contents of the brochures are correct, accurate and up-to-date at the time of printing. Please note that the contents of the brochures are based on information supplied to FRT by third-party suppliers and FRT does not have, and cannot be reasonably expected to have, personal knowledge about all of the facilities or services provided by each supplier; and facilities or services may change after the date of printing. Prior to making a booking, you should ask your travel consultant about any changes to the published information of which FRT may be aware. Excluded, our liability in respect of the Implied Warranty is limited to (in our absolute discretion): (I) the provision of a similar trip to an equivalent value; or (ii) a refund of the total amount received by FRT from you in connection with your booking. Any claim by you is excluded to the extent that it is for indirect or consequential loss, loss of profits or economic loss, however it arises, or for indirect, special, punitive or exemplary damages. China Special Interest Tours | 25
26 | China Special Interest Tours
Y
ou can use martial arts to tell a different story." JET LI
China Special Interest Tours | 27
For Booking Enquires E: enquiry@freedomroadtravel.com
FREEDOM ROAD TRAVEL
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