China Southeast Asia & Beyond...
idays l Esco o H rted To ke urs • City Packages • Bespo AN INSPIRING COLLECTION OF PREMIUM TOURS AND BESPOKE HOLIDAYS TO CHINA, SOUTHEAST ASIA, INDIA, DUBAI AND EGYPT INCLUDING ACCOMMODATION IN LUXURY HOTELS AND A WEALTH OF INCLUDED EXTRAS
2014
Experts in af fordable lu xur y travel to China since 1980 w w w. RT h o l i d a y s .c o.u k
WELCOME Welcome to our 2014 programme of touring holidays. Each of our tours is inspired by our belief that travel is one of the greatest pleasures in life, presenting the opportunity to discover new places and cultures, widen our perspective on the world and recharge our batteries at the same time. We have designed our programmes with all this in mind, offering expertly crafted and great-value itineraries focused on extraordinary destinations. China, Southeast Asia, India and beyond As China specialists, this incredible land leads the way. Our Premiere China tours let you explore this wondrous country in added luxury, while our Classic China itineraries take you to its legendary sights in comfort and style. We also offer tours to Southeast Asia, India, Egypt and Dubai, plus exciting city packages that you can add to your tour or build into unique multi-centre holidays. Whichever you choose, you will enjoy our signature RT Holidays service: first-class hotels, extensive inclusions and superb sightseeing accompanied by knowledgeable guides. Take a look through our brochure and if you need advice or information, call our travel specialists on 0207 7484 8771 or visit rtholidays.co.uk Happy travels,
RT Holidays
TABLE OF CONTENTS Introduction Frequently Asked Questions ............................... Page 04~05
Destinations China Highlights ....................................................... Page 06 Southeast Asia Highlights ...................................... Page 07 India Highlights ......................................................... Page 08 Egypt Highlights ........................................................ Page 09 Dubai Highlights ....................................................... Page 09 Luxury hotels ............................................................ Page 10~11
PREMIERE CHINA Luxury China touring holidays Featuring 2 China Programmes ............................ Page 12~17
CLASSIC CHINA Classic China touring holidays Featuring 6 China Programmes ............................ Page 18~31
SOUTHEAST ASIA Southeast Asia touring holidays Featuring 4 Southeast Asia Programmes ........... Page 32~39
INDIA, EGYPT & DUBAI India, Egypt & Dubai touring holidays Featuring 4 Southeast Asia Programmes ........... Page 40~45
CITY BREAKS & EXTENSIONS China: Beijing, Shanghai, Xian, Guilin .................. Page 46 China & SE Asia: Chengdu, Hong Kong .............. Page 47 Bangkok, Chiang Mai SE Asia: Phuket, Hua Hin ....................................... Page 48 Ho Chi Minh City, Hanoi ac e, er Pal Summ
g Beijin
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION General Information & Conditions ...................... Page 49~51
Experts in affordable luxury travel since 1980
FAQS FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS Are you China specialists? Yes. We have over 30 years’ experience of organising tours to China and an intimate knowledge of its cities and sights, so are expert at creating imaginative and wellpaced tours around this wonderful country. We’ve also formed close relationships with our partners in China, helping to ensure we offer 5 star tours and superb value.
Why should I choose RT Holidays? We believe the best tours combine comprehensive itineraries with extensive inclusive sightseeing, top hotels and excellent value. So we’re proud to be one of the few travel companies to offer exactly this blend. And although it’s an overworked phrase, we are passionate about travel, leaving no detail untouched to ensure you enjoy the most fulfilling and seamless travel experience.
Is there an ideal time to visit China or your other destinations? We recommend visiting China between May and October, when the weather is at its most comfortable. For climate details on our other destinations, visit rtholidays.co.uk.
YOUR PEACE OF MIND
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TRAVEL INSURANCE
ATOL YOUR FINANCIAL PROTECTION
Enjoying your holiday to the full means knowing you’re completely protected against unexpected events. To enjoy this vital peace of mind, we strongly recommend you have the adequate travel insurance in place before you travel. ABTASure offers a full range of comprehensive travel insurance at competitive prices. For a 10% discount on single or annual multi-trip policies buy online at www.abtasure.co.uk or for a 5% discount call ABTASure on 0845 618 0380.
When you book a holiday with us, your money is completely secure thanks to the financial protection scheme of Air Travel Organiser’s Licensing (ATOL). The air holiday packages in this brochure are ATOL protected by the Civil Aviation Authority, which means that you are protected from losing money or being stranded abroad. With ATOL protection, all monies paid to us will be refunded to you and if necessary, arrangements will be made for your repatriation to the UK. For more information please visit www..atol.org.uk.
Can you tailor-make a tour for me?
What about your tour guides?
Yes. We’ll be delighted to work with you to create a custom-made itinerary that suits your needs. Simply call us on 0207 484 8771 or email your requirements to info@rftholidays.co.uk and we will get started.
On every RT tour to China with a minimum of 10 travellers (minimum 6 travellers for China Premiere Tours), you will benefit from a professional Tour Manager with indepth knowledge of the places and sights you’re visiting. They’ll take care of the logistical side of your trip and provide assistance whenever needed. We employ all our Tour Managers and are proud that they have been with us for an average of 10 years. In addition, you will enjoy the services of local English-speaking guides in many places you visit.
What are the advantages of escorted tours? Our tours include international and internal flights, guided sightseeing and excursions, plus many meals and extras – all of which would usually cost you much more if booked separately. And with all your travel arrangements taken care of and the pleasure of travelling with likeminded individuals, your tour promises to be stress-free, enjoyable and rewarding.
What hotels can I expect to stay in? We choose only the best hotels in the destinations we visit, handpicking them for their unrivalled comfort, service, facilities and locations. Plus we also regularly visit our hotels and our cruise lines to personally check on their standards.
ABTA OUR PROMISE OF HIGH STANDARDS We are a member of ABTA, the Association of British Travel Agents, membership number Y1472. ABTA is committed to maintaining high standards of trading practice for the benefit of its members, the travel industry at large, and you – our guests. For more information please visit www.abta.com
ABTA No. Y1472
Can I buy my own international flights? Yes. With all our escorted tours we offer a ‘land only’ option, which allows you to purchase your own international flights. Please bear in mind, however, that you will need to pay extra for airport transfers with this option.
What can I expect from my tour experience? We have designed our tours to showcase the must-sees of your destination and provide interesting excursions to some off-the-beaten-track places, too. Our itineraries also include breakfast each day, plus many lunches and dinners in hotels and local restaurants known for their excellent, authentic cuisine and high standards. You can also look forward to exciting, value-added extras, such as acrobatics shows in China and elephant rides in Thailand.
CHINA HIGHLIGHTS
Beijing
China’s vast capital is a world in itself, combining innovative 21st century architecture with energetic markets, bicycle-filled streets, sublime temples and great imperial monuments. At its heart is the unmissable Forbidden City, an immense walled complex of palaces and pavilions that was home to China’s Emperors. Other landmarks include massive Tiananmen Square, ancient ‘hutong’ alleyways, and to the north of the city, the magnificent Great Wall of China.
Chengdu
In cosmopolitan Shanghai, East and West don’t meet – they collide. A booming metropolis on the Huangpu River in China’s Yangtze delta, this electrifying port city is alive with contrasts. Witness the dizzying skyscrapers of the Pudong district, stroll through the exquisite classical Yu Garden, see teeming Nanjing Road and walk along the graceful Bund, admiring its pre-1950s colonial buildings.
Xian
The capital of Sichuan province, lively Chengdu is filled with shimmering high-rises, tree-lined parks and restaurants serving spicy Sichuan cuisine. Its biggest claim-to-fame is the Giant Panda Breeding Research Centre just outside the city. Here, you can see these rare and beautiful animals close-up, watching them roam and play in the spacious enclosures that replicate their bamboo-filled natural habitat.
An ancient capital of China and the seat of its most powerful dynasties, 3,000-year-old Xian was also the starting point of the Silk Road. Today its biggest drawcard is rooted in this age-old heritage – the breathtaking Terracotta Warriors. Marvel at this life-size clay army of 6,000 soldiers, which were carved in around 200 BC for burial with China’s first Emperor. Xian also offers up other illustrious sights, most notably its immense City Wall and beautiful Big Wild Goose Pagoda.
Guilin
Yangtze River
The scenery around picturesque Guilin has been described as the ‘most magnificent under heaven’. Here, the River Li winds past mist-wreathed karst towers, rock caves and verdant paddy fields, all akin to the scenes depicted in traditional Chinese scroll paintings. Other sights around the city include the stalactite- and stalagmite-filled chambers of the Reed Flute Cave and the traditional, bustling town of Yangshuo.
Hong Kong
Divided into four regions: Hong Kong Island, Kowloon, the New Territories and outlying islands, Hong Kong ranks as one of the world’s must-see cities. Returned to China by the British in 1997, its East-West ambience and dynamism is personified in its futuristic towers, sampan-filled harbours and sensational shopping and dining. Ride a tram up Victoria Peak, explore Aberdeen floating village, shop till you drop or relax on deserted islands – this is one city that has something for everyone.
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Shanghai
Flowing through 4,000 miles of lush valleys and plains from the Tibetan Plateau to the East China Sea, the Yangtze River has been China’s lifeblood for millennia. Cruising its spectacular Three Gorges section is one of the world’s epic river journeys, taking you through sheer cliffs, wooded mountains and serene landscapes that have inspired artists through the ages. The journey now also encompasses the extraordinary Three Gorges Dam, the massive hydroelectric dam that has transformed the landscapes and lives of millions around the river forever.
SOUTHEAST ASIA HIGHLIGHTS
Bangkok
Sometimes known as the ‘City of Angels’, Thailand’s capital is a melting pot of rich cultures, fascinating history and vibrant street life spread around a twist in the Chaophaya River. Scratch the surface of its gleaming malls and high-rises and you’ll discover the Bangkok of old, exemplified by the shining spires of the Grand Palace, lavish Buddhist temples, stilted canal houses and the evocative floating market of Damnoen Saduak.
Chiang Mai
Siem Reap - Angkor
The city of Siem Reap in Cambodia is the gateway to Southeast Asia’s most wondrous ancient treasure – Angkor. The famous ‘lost city’ of the Khmer empire, its age-old ensemble of temple complexes is staggering in its scale, age and beauty. Wonder at the jungle-entwined sanctuaries and shrines of Angkor Wat, the world’s largest religious monument, work your way around the incredible walled city of Angkor Thom and stand atop a temple to watch a fiery sun set over the Cambodian jungle.
Nestled in the foothills of northern Thailand, colourful Chiang Mai is Thailand’s second largest city and bursts with golden temples, buzzing markets and cultural jewels lodged against a luxuriantly beautiful backdrop. View its spectacular gold-coated Doi Suthep temple and venture into the jungle to visit hill tribes and take an unforgettable elephant-back safari.
Hanoi
Old and new Asia fuse into a captivating cocktail of sights and sounds in Hanoi, Vietnam’s capital. Delve into the enchanting old quarter, whose winding lanes are stuffed with ramshackle stalls, stroll along French-style boulevards and visit Ho Chi Minh’s Stilt House – built in the style of a traditional rural dwelling and once home to the revered leader.
Ho Chi Minh City
Often known by its former name of Saigon, frenetic Ho Chi Minh City never fails to beguile visitors. Check out the ancient lanes of the old city, peek into incense-scented temples, browse vibrant markets and witness the relics of the French colonial era in the shape of the impressive Notre Dame Cathedral and Post Office. Other sights include the infamous Cu Chi Tunnels, whose underground passages were used by the Viet Cong in the 1960s Vietnam War.
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INDIA HIGHLIGHTS
Delhi
India’s bustling capital of Delhi was the seat of many of India’s ruling dynasties and is divided into fascinating Old Delhi and New Delhi, the latter home to the monuments, parkland and avenues of the British capital established in 1911. Tour the frenetic streets of Old Delhi, visiting the Red Fort and splendid Jama Masjid Mosque, and see the colonial era jewels of New Delhi, including the magnificent India Gate and Parliament House.
Agra
The former imperial capital of India, Agra is sprinkled with architectural treasures dating from the Mughal Emperors, each of whom strove to outdo each other with ever more grandiose buildings. Highlights include the mighty Red Fort and an array of ornate Mughal tombs and mausoleums. Overshadowing them all is the heart-stopping Taj Mahal, the world’s greatest monument to love. Absorb the pearlescent beauty of this spectacular mausoleum, constructed from marble and semi-precious stones.
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Jaipur
Known as the ‘Pink City’ for its rose tinged sandstone buildings, the Rajasthani city of Jaipur is a feast for the senses with its hectic streets, exuberant bazaars and ethereal palaces and temples. See the intricately carved window screens of the wonderful Palace of the Winds, explore the City Palace in the old walled city and ride an elephant or jeep up to the epic, 17th century Amber Fort, which crowns a barren desert hill outside the city.
EGYPT & DUBAI HIGHLIGHTS
Aswan
Fringing the Nile and deserts of southwestern Egypt, relaxed Aswan is regarded as the country’s most picturesque town. Here, the Nile and white-sailed feluccas drift past high sand dunes, fine ancient temples and the Botanical Gardens of Elephantine Island. Stroll around the sublime Temple of Philae, view Aswan High Dam and wonder at the Unfinished Obelisk, still in place in the quarry where it was abandoned, due to cracks in the granite, thousands of years ago.
Luxor
DUBAI HIGHLIGHTS
Extravagant Dubai rises from the deserts of the United Arab Emirates, beckoning with glittering entertainments and futuristic sights. Overlooking its white beaches are plush hotels, gleaming high-rises and leisure activities galore, all punctuated by the waters of Dubai Creek, shimmering mosques, gold-filled souks, sophisticated restaurants and flashy shopping malls. Explore Old Dubai, lounge on the sands, cruise across the picturesque Creek and soak up the exciting nightlife and culinary scene.
Developed around the 4,000-year-old site of Thebes, Egypt’s ancient capital, buzzing Luxor is home to show-stopping temples and relics all framed by busy streets and souvenir bazaars. No visit would be complete without touring the vast, pillar-dotted Temple of Karnak commissioned by Ramses II, atmospheric Luxor Temple and the incredible Valley of the Kings, whose mountains are honeycombed with the hieroglyph-painted tombs of the Pharaohs.
Cairo
The largest city in Africa, Egypt’s capital intoxicates as it intrigues and surprises. Straddling the shining Nile, this enormous metropolis of near-chaotic streets and magnificent mosques, temples and monuments serves up amazing sights at almost every turn. Not to be missed are the mystical Pyramids and Sphinx at Giza, the treasures of Tutankhamun in the Egyptian Museum, Saladin’s mighty Citadel and the labyrinthine Khan El Khalili bazaar.
Nile River
One of the world’s longest rivers, the Nile courses through Egypt to the Mediterranean Sea and offers travellers a journey through 2,000 years of history. Cruising this romantic river is a magical way to witness many of Egypt’s major antiquities in comfort and style. Glide past peaceful palm groves and quaint villages, stopping to explore a string of treasures and sites, from the Temple of Edfu to the showpiece antiquities of Luxor and laid-back garden town of Aswan.
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WORLD - CLASS
HOTELS
From China to Cambodia, India to Egypt, our escorted tours open up a world of celebrated places and hidden gems. But we add an extra special touch – complementing our itineraries with the crème de la crème of hotels. We have chosen the first-class hotels and river cruise ships here for their impeccable service and top-notch facilities, as well as the ease and convenience that come with them. So when you have time free on your tour, you can relax in comfort and style, with all the little extras that can make a big difference.
Beijing, China Grand Hyatt
HHHHH
Hong Kong
Kowloon Hotel
Shanghai, China
Marriott City Center
HHHHH
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Beijing, China
Guilin, China
New Otani Hotel
Shangri-La Hotel
Hong Kong
Lhasa, Tibet, China
HHHHH
Royal Pacific Hotel & Towers
Xian, China
The Westin Hotel
HHHHH
HHH HH
Guilin, China
Sheraton Hotel
HHHHH
Shanghai, China
Jardin Secret Hotel
Hyatt on the Bund
HHHH
HHHHH
Xian, China
Yangtze River, China
HHHHH
HHHHH
Sheraton North City
Victoria Cruises
Bangkok, Thailand
Chiang Mai, Thailand
Chiang Rai, Thailand
Hua Hin, Thailand
Halong Bay, Vietnam
Hanoi, Vietnam
Dream Hotel
Sunway Hotel
Golden Central Hotel
Singapore
Siem Reap, Cambodia
Siem Reap, Cambodia
Dusit Thani
Hilton Hotel & Resort
Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia Inter Continental Hotel
Le Meridien
Sheraton Towers
Dusit Island Resort
Khemara Hotel
Saigon, Vietnam
Victoria Resort & Spa
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CHINA Premiere Tours Our Premiere tours of China come with exclusive extras to make your exploration of this spectacular country the best imaginable. As a Premiere guest, you will enjoy privileged access to China’s most extraordinary destinations, from exhilarating Shanghai to the incredible Great Wall. All together with VIP service and benefits that will make your travelling feel truly effortless and rewarding. Relax in sumptuous executive or club rooms in our 5 star hotels, indulge in executive suites on our Yangtze cruises and enjoy the intimate ambience of exclusive private dining and smaller tour groups. Add a range of inclusive extra touches and exceptional value and our Premiere tours bring you China in all its glory … in first-class comfort and style.
THE PREMIERE DIFFERENCE • • • • • • • •
Room upgrades to luxury executive or club rooms in our 5 star hotels, including daily breakfast Luxury suites on our Yangtze cruises from acclaimed Victoria Cruises Exclusive private dining at local restaurants Small groups of 20 or less for personal touring Services of an experienced tour manager throughout China with groups of 6+ guests Specialist local guides in major cities Special highlights including exclusive photo with Terracotta Warriors and farewell banquet party Included gratuities for local guides, drivers and porters
PLUS • • • •
Many meals at hotels and local restaurants Comprehensive sightseeing tours including entrance fees Expert local guides in major cities Comfortable, air-conditioned coach touring with professional drivers
Contents Majestic China ............................................................................... 14-15 12 Days 10 Nights
Beijing (3 nts), Xian (2 nts), Guilin (2 nts), Shanghai (3 nts) Tour code: LPH
Majestic China & Yangtze Cruise ................................................. 16-17 15 Days 13 Nights
Beijing (3 nts), Xian (2 nts), Guilin (2 nts) Yangtze River Cruise (3 nts), Shanghai (3 nts) Tour code: LPD
g
Beijin
Xian
Guili
ghai
Relax on our luxury
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Shan
Premiere tours
MAJESTIC CHINA 12 Days 10 Nights
Great Wall, Beijin
g
Tour Co
de: LPH
3) eijing ( Visit: B
- Xian
huo - Sha 2) - Yangs ( n i il u G (2 ) -
Li River, Guilin
nghai (3)
* * * *
Depart UK Sunday
Land + Air
Mar 09, 23 Apr 06, 20 May 04, 18 Jun 08 Jun 22 Jul 06, 20 Aug 10, 24 Sep 07, 21 Oct 05, 19
£2749 £2799 £2899 £2799 £2899 £2899 £2899 £2899 £2899
Land Only
£2149 £2199 £2299 £2199 £2249 £2249 £2149 £2249 £2249
Single Supp.
£870 £920 £1000 £970 £970 £880 £880 £1020 £1020
See page 50 for child prices Prices include all international and internal airfare based on London departures, fuel surcharges, taxes and fees Prices are per person in GBP based on two adults sharing one twin room Please visit www.rtholidays.co.uk for the most up- to-date prices
Join us on this entrancing 12-day journey, experiencing the majestic sights of Beijing, Xian and Shanghai and enjoying a boat ride along Guilin’s River Li - all in Premiere luxury and style. 5 HOTELS WITH ROOM UPGRADES • • • •
Beijing 3 nights: ............................................................... Club Room, Grand Hyatt Xian 2 nights: ............................................................................ Club Room, Westin Guilin 2 nights: ................................................................... Club Room, Shangri-La Shanghai 3 nights .................................................... Club Room, Hyatt on the Bund
YOUR HOLIDAY INCLUDES • • • • • •
All international and internal flights Overseas airport transfers on arrival and departure 10 hotel buffet breakfasts, 8 restaurant lunches, 8 hotel or restaurant Chinese or Western dinners Comprehensive sightseeing tours including entrance fees Services of an expert tour manager throughout China (for groups of 6+) & specialist local guides Air-conditioned coach touring
PREMIERE HIGHLIGHTS • • • •
BEIJING Sightseeing & Great Wall of China XIAN Terracotta Warriors, Exclusive Photo with Terracotta Warriors, Bicycle Ride along City Wall, Tang Dynasty Show GUILIN Li River Cruise SHANGHAI Sightseeing & Chinese Acrobatics Show
PREMIERE DINING • • •
Private dining in local restaurants Exclusive cocktail and happy hours for hotel club room guests 3 Special Banquets – Peking Duck Dinner in Beijing, Imperial Dumpling Lunch in Xian, Farewell Dinner in Shanghai
RECOMMENDED EXTENSION • 2-Night Hong Kong Extension staying at Kowloon Shangri-La in a luxurious Horizon Deluxe Room
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B: Buffet Breakfast D: Dinner DP: Dinner Party L: Lunch DH: Dinner and Hotel DS: Dinner and Show
1-2
UK A Beijing
Fly to Beijing, China’s capital. On arrival on Day 2, you will be met by your guide and transferred to your hotel. After checking in, the rest of the day is yours to explore and relax how you wish.
3
Beijing (B, L, DP)
4
Beijing (B, L, DH)
5
Beijing A Xian (B, L, D)H)
Beijing never fails to fascinate with its crowds, buzzing markets, austere Mao-inspired buildings and opulent palaces. On today’s sightseeing tour, you’ll see the immense Forbidden City, a 250-acre complex built as a residence for China’s Ming and Qing Emperors. You’ll also witness haunting Tiananmen Square, the world’s largest public square, and take photos of Beijing’s celebrated Olympics 2008 buildings, the Bird’s Nest stadium and Water Cube Aquatics Centre. Surpassing them in splendour is the stu ning UNESCO-protected Summer Palace, a fairytale-like imperial retreat of gardens, halls and bridges surrounding a glistening lake. Tonight enjoy a Peking Duck dinner party.
A highlight awaits today with a visit to the Great Wall of China. Believed to be over 2,600 years old, this gargantuan structure was erected to defend China from invasion and stretches over 5,500 miles. Walk along its high ramparts – you can almost touch the history and stirring views over China’s countryside from their heights. From here, continue to the seven-kilometre Sacred Way, a pathway edged by ornate marble animal statues, which leads to the Ming Dynasty Tombs nestling at the foot of Tianshou Mountain.
This morning visit the impressive Temple of Heaven, the world’s largest altar complex, whose 15th century shrines were used by China’s Emperors to pray for bountiful harvests. Extending over 675 acres, the site centres on the wooden Hall of Prayer, which is divided into circular and square sections to represent Heaven and Earth. Later, fly to Xian, one of China’s oldest cities and home to the stupendous Terracotta Warriors.
CHINA
Beijing
HONG KONG EXTENSION 3 days, 2 nights
Yellow Sea
Xian Shanghai East China Sea
Guilin Yangshuo
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Hong Kong
Taipei
Xian (B, L, DS)
Regarded as one of the four ancient capitals of the world, Xian was China’s capital for over 1,000 years and the original starting point of the fabled Silk Road. Today, all eyes fix on its proudest possession, the Terracotta Warriors. Numbering around 6,000 sculptures, this hand-carved, life-sized army consists of individually sculpted soldiers, horses and chariots, each distinct from the other. Wonder at the battalions, which were buried with Emperor Qin Shih Huang in around 200 BC, admiring their unique faces, headwear and hairstyles as you walk above the massive excavation pits. Later, continue to Xian’s immense City Wall, which dates to the 14th century Ming Dynasty, for an enjoyable bicycle tour. This evening brings a fantastic Tang Dynasty dinner show.
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Shanghai (B, L, DS)
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Shanghai (B, DP)
Boasting over 1,000 skyscrapers, Shanghai typifies the innovation and dynamism of 21st century China. Today brings a fantastic opportunity to see the city in all its historic and futuristic glory. Admire the languid beauty of the 16th century Yu Garden, see the handsome colonial buildings of the Bund waterfront, visit Shanghai Museum, a treasure chest of ancient and medieval art, and witness Nanjing Road, the city’s frenetic main shopping district. After dinner this evening, watch a thrilling Chinese Acrobatic show.
This morning enjoy a visit to the Big Wild Goose Pagoda, a 65-metre Buddhist temple recognised as the best preserved of its kind in all China. You will also see Xian’s Great Mosque, built in 742 AD and surrounded by a vibrant bazaar. At lunchtime, tuck into a delicious Imperial Dumpling Banquet before taking a short flight to the picturesque southern city of Guilin.
Today is free for you to explore and enjoy Shanghai under your own steam, perhaps visiting more of its landmarks, picking up souvenirs or designer treats in its fashionable stores or dipping into its world-class restaurant scene. Alternatively, why not join our optional excursion to the beautiful nearby city of Suzhou? Known as the ‘Venice of the East’ for its calm canals, classical gardens and cobblestoned walkways, your tour takes in the serene Humble Administrator’s Garden, the city’s largest garden, which has been declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site, as well as other key sights.
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12
7
Xian A Guilin (B, L, D)
Guilin B Yangshuo C Guilin (B, L, DH)
Today absorb the stunning views on a cruise along the graceful Li River. The timeless scenery along the riverbanks captures the China of traditional scroll paintings with lush rice paddies, farmers on bamboo rafts using cormorants to fish, and surreal, needle-shaped karst hills. Enjoy lunch on board and after disembarking at Yangshuo, stroll along its famous West Street, viewing its olde-worlde shops and quaint buildings.
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Shanghai A UK (B)
Today transfer to the airport for your return flight or continue your holiday in vibrant Hong Kong.
Why not make your China holiday extra special by adding time in Hong Kong? This former British Crown Colony mixes spaceage high-rises, colonial British influences and ancient Chinese customs and offers a myriad of attractions. Our 3-day extension is ideal for dipping your toes into this intoxicating city, whether it’s to unwind on its beautiful outlying islands, savour some of Asia’s finest cuisine or immerse yourself in amazing markets.
Arrival at HKG Thursday
Land + Air Price
Single Supp.
Extra Night Rate
Kowloon Shangri-La Hotel (Horizon Deluxe Room) Mar 20 - 31 £400 £280 Apr 01 - 09 £400 £250 Apr 10 - 30 £490 £340 May 01 - Sep 12 £400 £250 Sep 13 - Oct 09 £440 £280 Oct 10 - Nov 15 £490 £340
£280 £250 £340 £250 £280 £340
Itinerary Day 12 Day 13 Day 14
Shanghai – Hong Kong Transfer to hotel Hong Kong Half-Day Sightseeing Tour (B) Victoria Peak, Stanley Market, Repulse Bay, Aberdeen Floating Community Hong Kong –UK (B) Transfer to airport
Package Notes • Package prices are for land and air • Prices are per person based on 2 adults sharing a twin room • Includes 2 nights’ hotel accommodation with daily breakfast • Roundtrip Hong Kong airport transfers by shuttle bus • Minimum of 2 passengers is required • Extension can be added in the beginning of your holiday
Guilin A Shanghai (B, L)
Your explorations today include Elephant Trunk Hill, whose name reflects its elephantlike shape. You’ll also discover Reed Flute Cave, an ancient stalactite- and stalagmitefilled cavern, which derives it name from the local reeds used to make flutes. Later, fly to Shanghai, China’s largest and most cosmopolitan city. Shanghai Museum, Shanghai
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MAJESTIC CHINA & YANGTZE CRUISE 15 Days 13 Nights
Yangtze River © Vi c
Tour Co
de: LPD
3) eijing ( Visit: B
- Xian (2
) - Guil
r Cruise (3) - Y Yangtze Rive g n i q g n o in (2) - Ch
City God Bazaar, Shanghai
* * * *
ichang - Shanghai (3)
Depart UK Sunday
Land + Air
Land Only
Single Supp.
Mar 09, 23 Apr 06, 20 May 04, 18 Jun 08 Jun 2 Jul 06, 20 Aug 10, 24 Sep 07, 21 Oct 05, 19
£3299 £3299 £3499 £3399 £3499 £3399 £3499 £3599 £3599
£2699 £2699 £2899 £2799 £2849 £2749 £2749 £2949 £2949
£1200 £1250 £1400 £1300 £1300 £1200 £1200 £1400 £1400
See page 50 for child prices Prices include all international and internal airfare based on London departures, fuel surcharges, taxes and fees Prices are per person in GBP based on two adults sharing one twin room Please visit www.rtholidays.co.uk for the most up- to-date prices
Enjoy the comforts of Premiere as you travel to Beijing, Xian and Shanghai, sail Guilin’s breathtaking Li River and enjoy a 3-night cruise along the romantic Yangtze on this once-in-a-lifetime 15-day tour. 5 HOTELS WITH ROOM UPGRADES • • • • •
Beijing 3 nights: ............................................................... Club Room, Grand Hyatt Xian 2 nights: ............................................................................ Club Room, Westin Guilin 2 nights: ................................................................... Club Room, Shangri-La Yangtze River Cruise 3 nights: ................................... Victoria Jenna, Executive Suite Shanghai 3 nights .................................................... Club Room, Hyatt on the Bund
YOUR HOLIDAY INCLUDES • • • • • • •
All international and internal flights Overseas airport transfers on arrival and departure Luxurious Executive Suite with private balcony on Victoria Cruises river ship 13 hotel or cruise buffet breakfasts, 11 restaurant lunches, 11 hotel or restaurant Chinese or Western dinners Comprehensive sightseeing tours including entrance fees Services of an expert tour manager throughout China (for groups of 6+) & specialist local guides Air-conditioned coach touring
PREMIERE HIGHLIGHTS • • • • •
BEIJING Sightseeing & Great Wall of China XIAN Terracotta Warriors, Exclusive Photo with Terracotta Warriors, Bicycle Ride along City Wall, Tang Dynasty Show GUILIN Li River Cruise YANGTZE CRUISE Lectures on Chinese history & culture, Tai Chi classes, fashion shows SHANGHAI Sightseeing & Chinese Acrobatics Show
PREMIERE DINING • • •
Private dining in local restaurants Exclusive cocktail and happy hours for hotel club room guests 3 Special Banquets – Peking Duck Dinner in Beijing, Imperial Dumpling Lunch in Xian, Farewell Dinner in Shanghai
RECOMMENDED EXTENSION
• 2-Night Hong Kong Extension staying at Kowloon Shangri-La in a luxurious Horizon Deluxe Room
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B: Buffet Breakfast D: Dinner DP: Dinner Party L: Lunch DH: Dinner and Hotel DS: Dinner and Show
1-2
UK
toria Cruise
A Beijing
Fly to Beijing, China’s capital city. On arrival on Day 2, you will be met by your guide and transferred to your hotel. After checking in at your hotel, the remainder of the day is yours to relax or begin discovering this spellbinding city.
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Beijing (B, L, DP)
4
Beijing (B, L, DH)
5
Beijing
6
Xian (B, L, DS)
Intricate temples, skyscrapers, bustling markets and grandiose Mao-era buildings make Beijing one of the most historically and culturally rich cities on earth. Topping your sightseeing agenda today is the extraordinary Forbidden City, a palatial UNESCO-listed complex that housed China’s Ming and Qing Emperors and their concubines for over 500 years. Across the street, through the Gate of Heavenly Peace, is huge Tiananmen Square, the site of the famous 1989 protests. You will also enjoy photo stops at Beijing’s 2008 Olympics Bird’s Nest stadium and Water Cube Aquatics Centre. Another standout is the enchanting Summer Palace, a tranquil imperial retreat speckled with pagodas, lakes and bridges. This evening, take your seat for a delicious Peking Duck dinner.
This morning visit China’s greatest architectural achievement – the 5,500-milelong Great Wall. Dating back over 2,600 years, this remarkable edifice winds through northern China’s hills and was once defended by over a million soldiers. Retrace their steps by walking its huge ramparts, relishing the panoramas over the surrounding mountains. Continue from here to the Sacred Way, a seven-kilometre stone pathway sitting beneath Tianshou Mountain. This ancient road is skirted by marble statues of animals and was built to a curving design to confuse evil spirits.
A Xian (B, L, D)
After breakfast visit the 15th century Temple of Heaven, a massive complex of temples and shrines, including a main altar hall, where China’s Emperors hosted elaborate sacrificial ceremonies to secure good harvests. Later, board a short flight to Xian, once the ancient capital of China and origin of the Silk Road.
No visitor to China should miss the incredible Terracotta Warriors, unearthed
s
Beijing
CHINA
HONG KONG EXTENSION 3 days, 2 nights
Yellow Sea
Xian Shanghai Chongqing
B
Yichang
East China Sea
Guilin Yangshuo Hong Kong
near Xian back in 1974. Today marvel at these incredibly detailed figurines, which number around 6.000 warriors, horses and chariots, each created with unique features. The battalions were interred with China’s first Emperor Qin Shi Huang around 200 BC to guard him in his afterlife and make an astonishing sight. You’ll also visit Xian’s monumental City Wall for a bicycle ride along its huge ramparts. This evening, enjoy a spectacular Tang Dynasty dinner show.
7
Xian
A Guilin (B, L, D)
This morning enjoy a visit to the Big Wild Goose Pagoda, a 65-metre Buddhist temple recognised as the best preserved of its kind in all China. You will also see Xian’s Great Mosque, built in 742 AD and surrounded by a vibrant bazaar. At lunchtime, tuck into a delicious Imperial Dumpling Banquet before taking a short flight to the picturesque southern city of Guilin.
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Guilin B Yangshuo C Guilin (B, L, DH)
The surreal beauty of Guilin’s countryside is best experienced on a cruise along the Li River. Watch from deck as you sail past conical karst mountains, verdant paddy fields and peasants fishing using cormorants from bamboo rafts. Enjoy lunch on board and later, end your cruise in Yangshuo, where there’s time to savour the traditional handicraft shops and architecture of West Street.
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Guilin A Chongqing C Yangtze River Cruise (B, L, D)
Have your camera ready for Reed Flute Cave, a millennias-old cavern filled with strange rock formations and ancient inscriptions. Another highlight is Elephant Trunk Hill, on the banks of the Li, which is shaped like an elephant drinking from its waters. After flying to Chongqing, visit the city zoo, whose most impressive residents are giant pandas. Afterwards, board your Victoria Cruises ship, the Victoria Jenna, and settle into your luxurious Executive Suite, for your three-night Yangtze cruise.
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Yangtze River Cruise (B, L, D)
Enjoy the upgraded services on your ship as it glides towards Fengdu. Here, you’ll take a shore excursion to this ‘ghost city’, whose ancient shrines evoke the afterlife. Depending
on local conditions, you may enjoy an Taipei alternative excursion to Shibaozhai.
11
Yangtze River Cruise (B, L, D)
Today prepare to wonder at the beautiful Three Gorges, starting with the dramatically narrow Qutang Gorge, bounded by sheer cliffs, and also travelling through the Wu Gorge, known for its tranquillity and thickly forested mountains. You’ll also board a small boat to sail along the Shennong Stream and its beautiful Small Gorges. Later, your ship glides through the longest gorge, the Xiling Gorge, before negotiating the fascinating 5-stage Three Gorges Dam lock.
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Yangtze River Cruise B Yichang A Shanghai (B, L)
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Shanghai (B, L, DS)
A morning excursion to the epic Three Gorges Dam, the world’s largest hydroelectric project, where you can take snaps of this colossal edifice and learn how it generates environmentally responsible electricity. Later, cruise to Yichang where your cruise finishes and catch your flight to Shanghai.
China’s largest city, buzzing Shanghai lies on the Huangpu River and straddles the past and future. Here, soaring skyscrapers rub shoulders with classical gardens, elegant colonial architecture and cobbled passageways. Today, your tour includes the magical Yu Garden, a classical Chinese garden peppered with halls, ponds and pavilions, and the elegant Bund waterfront. You’ll also drive through the shopping mecca of the Nanjing Road and visit Shanghai Museum, with its world-class collection of Chinese antiquities. This evening enjoy a Chinese Acrobatic show after dinner.
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Shanghai (B, DP)
15
Shanghai
Spend today at your leisure, relaxing at your hotel or delving further into Shanghai. Revisit some of the sights you touched on yesterday, shop for souvenirs or discover the city’s fabulous restaurants. Your tour ends with a flourish tonight with a special Farewell Dinner.
A UK (B)
Today transfer to the airport for your return flight or continue your holiday in glamorous Hong Kong.
OPT for our fabulous three-day extension in Hong Kong and continue your Far East adventure in style. Once a British Crown Colony, this captivating metropolis offers teeming markets, old-world temples, incredible shopping and glittering skyscrapers all in an exotic East-meets-West atmosphere. Our extension offers time to enjoy its highlights, whether relaxing on its outlying islands, shopping for bargains or discovering its floating villages and dazzling culinary scene. Arrival at HKG Sunday
Land + Air Price
Single Supp.
Extra Night Rate
Kowloon Shangri-La Hotel (Horizon Deluxe Room) Mar 20 - 31 £400 £280 Apr 01 - 09 £400 £250 Apr 10 - 30 £490 £340 May 01 - Sep 12 £400 £250 Sep 13 - Oct 09 £440 £280 Oct 10 - Nov 15 £490 £340
£280 £250 £340 £250 £280 £340
Itinerary Day 15 Day 16 Day 17
Shanghai – Hong Kong Transfer to hotel Hong Kong Half-Day Sightseeing Tour (B) Victoria Peak, Stanley Market, Repulse Bay, Aberdeen Floating Community Hong Kong –UK (B) Transfer to airport
Package Notes • Package prices are for land and air • Prices are per person based on 2 adults sharing a twin room • Includes 2 nights’ hotel accommodation with daily breakfast • Roundtrip Hong Kong airport transfers by shuttle bus • Minimum of 2 passengers is required • Extension can be added in the beginning of your holiday
17
CHINA Classic Tours Our China tours offer comfort, service and value in perfect harmony. Designed around expertly created itineraries, we’ve taken care of the smallest detail so you can enjoy a smooth and inspiring holiday to this astounding destination. As a guest, you’ll experience China’s greatest cities and attractions, from fascinating Beijing to the breathtaking Terracotta Warriors. Plus you’ll stay in 5 star hotels and enjoy a range of valuable benefits such as the services of expert local guides that will make your holiday even more enlightening and enjoyable. And with a wide variety of tours to choose from, you’re certain to find the ideal itinerary, whether you’re a first-time traveller or seasoned explorer to this amazing country.
WHAT’S INCLUDED • • • • • • • • •
Superb 5 star hotel accommodation throughout, including daily breakfast* Many meals in hotels and local restaurants Executive cabins and all meals on our Yangtze cruises from acclaimed Victoria Cruises Guaranteed departures with minimum of 6 guests as a locally hosted tour Services of an experienced tour manager throughout China with groups of 10+ Specialist local guides in major cities Comprehensive sightseeing tours including entrance fees Comfortable, air-conditioned coach touring with professional drivers Special highlights & entertainments
* All 5 star hotels except the Lhasa Jardin Secret Hotel in Tibet (4 star)
Contents China Discovery ........................................................................... 20-21 10 Days 8 Nights Beijing (3 nts), Xian (2 nts), Shanghai (3 nts) Tour code: LDX
Beautiful China .............................................................................. 22-23 12 Days 10 Nights Beijing (3 nts), Xian (2 nts), Guilin (2 nts), Shanghai (3 nts) Tour code: LDZ
Yangtze Essence ........................................................................... 24-25 12 Days 10 Nights Beijing (3 nts), Xian (2 nts), Yangtze River Cruise (3 nts), Shanghai (2 nts) Tour code: LDV
China & Yangtze Discovery ......................................................... 26-27 16 Days 14 Nights Beijing (4 nts), Yangtze River Cruise (4 nts), Xian (2 nts), Guilin (2 nts), Shanghai (2 nts) Tour code: LDR
China Discovery & Chengdu ....................................................... 28-29 12 Days 10 Nights Beijing (3 nts), Xian (2 nts), Chengdu (2 nts), Shanghai (3 nts) Tour code: LDU
Tibet Highland & Yangtze Cruise ................................................. 30-31 16 Days 14 Nights Beijing (3 nts), Xian (2 nts), Lhasa (3 nts), Yangtze River Cruise (3 nts), Shanghai (3 nts) Tour code: LDT
Tibet
n
Beijing
Guili Yang tz
e Riv
er
The perfect balance of
comfort and value
CHINA DISCOVERY 10 Days 8 Nights
The Bund, Sha
Tour Co
de: LDX
n (2 ) (3) - Xia g n i j i e B Visit:
i (3 ) Shangha
Summer Palace, Beijing
* * * *
Depart UK Friday
Land + Air
Mar 07 Mar 21 Apr 04, 18 May 02, 16 Jun 06 Jun 20 Jul 04, 18 Aug 01, 15 Aug 29 Sep 12, 26 Oct 10, 24 Nov 07
£1399 £1449 £1499 £1599 £1599 £1599 £1599 £1699 £1699 £1699 £1699 £1499
Land Only
Single Supp.
£799 £849 £899 £999 £999 £949 £949 £949 £1049 £1049 £1049 £949
£250 £250 £300 £300 £250 £250 £250 £300 £300 £330 £330 £300
See page 50 for child prices Prices include all international and internal airfare based on London departures, fuel surcharges, taxes and fees Prices are per person in GBP based on two adults sharing one twin room Please visit www.rtholidays.co.uk for the most up- to-date prices
Discover the very best of China on this exciting 10-day tour, taking in enigmatic Beijing and the Great Wall, exploring electrifying Shanghai and admiring the magnificent Terracotta Warriors in Xian. 5 HOTELS • Beijing 3 nights: ..................................................................................... New Otani • Xian 2 nights: ........................................................................... Sheraton North City • Shanghai 3 nights: ................................................................... Marriott City Center
YOUR HOLIDAY INCLUDES • • • • • •
All international and internal flights Overseas airport transfers on arrival and departure 8 hotel buffet breakfasts, 4 restaurant lunches, 5 hotel or restaurant Chinese or Western dinners Comprehensive sightseeing tours including entrance fees Services of an expert tour manager throughout China (for groups of 10+) & specialist local guides Air-conditioned coach touring
HIGHLIGHTS • • • •
BEIJING Sightseeing & Great Wall of China XIAN Terracotta Warriors & Tang Dynasty Show SHANGHAI Sightseeing & Chinese Acrobatics Show 3 SPECIAL BANQUETS – Peking Duck Dinner in Beijing, Imperial Dumpling Dinner in Xian, Farewell Dinner in Shanghai
OPTIONAL EXCURSIONS & EXTENSION
• 1-Day Excursion to Suzhou including Grand Canal cruise, classical garden & silk factory visit • 2-Night Extension to Hong Kong
20
B: Buffet Breakfast D: Dinner DP: Dinner Party L: Lunch DH: Dinner and Hotel DS: Dinner and Show
1-2
nghai
UK A Beijing
Fly to Beijing, China’s capital city. On arrival on Day 2, you will be met by your guide and transferred to your hotel. The rest of the day is free for you to relax in your hotel or to start discovering this fascinating city.
3
Beijing (B, L, DP)
4
Beijing (B, L,)
5
Beijing A Xian (B, DH)
Today enjoy an introductory tour of Beijing, whose origins date back over 3,000 years. A city where ancient temples nuzzle up to 20th century communist monuments, it never fails to intrigue. See Tianmanen Square, the world’s largest public square, and the extraordinary Forbidden City, the imperial residence of 24 Ming and Qing Emperors. This UNESCO-listed complex is surrounded by 10-metre high walls and houses over 8,000 rooms, all exuding regal mystique. Later, visit the exquisite UNESCOprotected Summer Palace. Stroll around this graceful park, a masterpiece of Chinese landscaping, admiring its ornamental bridges, temples and pagodas, which encircle serene Kunming Lake. Your day also includes photo stops at the remarkable Bird’s Nest and Water Cube stadiums, which hosted the 2008 Olympics. Tonight, enjoy a Peking Duck banquet at a local restaurant.
This morning travel to the Great Wall or ‘Long Wall of Ten Thousand Li’ in traditional Chinese. This magnificent structure was constructed more than 2,000 years ago to protect against nomadic invasions from the north and snakes for over 5,500 miles across China like an imperial dragon. Walk the ancient steps and contemplate the stunning mountains and valley vistas. Afterwards, travel to the Sacred Way and walk along this stone pathway, admiring the intricate marble statues of animals, humans and mythical creatures that line it.
Your day begins at the Temple of Heaven, one of Beijing’s grandest medieval complexes. Constructed in 1420, it covers 675 acres and was used by China’s emperors to pray to heaven for good harvests. Admire the halls and temples before flying to Xian this afternoon. On arrival enjoy dinner at your hotel.
CHINA
Beijing
HONG KONG EXTENSION 3 days, 2 nights Yellow Sea
Xian
Suzhou Shanghai
East China Sea
Pacific Ocean
Taipei
6
Xian (B, L, DS)
7
Xian A Shanghai (B, DS)
Why not extend your holiday with three days in Hong Kong? Comprised of 236 islands, this former British Crown Colony has been part of China since 1997 and combines exotic markets, shiny high rises and beautiful harbours with incredible shopping and restaurants – all perfect for relaxing and exploring. Your package includes a half-day sightseeing tour, featuring highlights such as Aberdeen floating village and scenic Victoria Peak.
With a history dating back 3,100 years and once the eastern terminus of the legendary Silk Road, ancient Xian is home to the Terracotta Warriors, one of the world’s most incredible sights. Discovered by farmers in 1974, this extraordinary army of around 6,000 life-size figures, chariots and horses were interred to guard the tomb of Emperor Qin Shih Huang in around 200 BC. Standing in formation, each boasts individual facial features, giving them extra personality and poignancy.
This morning fly to Shanghai, a city of space-age towers and colonial-era architecture on the Huangpu River. Famed as the ‘Pearl of the Orient’, Shanghai is now China’s fastest developing and the world’s most populous city – a measure of its dynamism. Our tour reveals its highlights, from the tranquil beauty of the 16th century Yu Garden, with its pavilions and ponds, to the City God Temple Bazaar and Nanjing Road, the teeming main shopping street. This evening, watch an exhilarating Chinese Acrobatic Show after dinner.
Arrival at HKG Sunday Big Wild Goose Pagoda, Xian
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Shanghai (B, L)
9
Shanghai (B, DP)
Your sightseeing today starts at the Bund, Shanghai’s iconic riverside boulevard. Lined by stately colonial buildings, this grand avenue recalls Shanghai’s glory days as a colonial trading outpost and faces its futuristic skyscrapers across the Huangpu. Next, visit the Shanghai Museum to view its stunning displays of ancient Chinese art and antiquities. The rest of the afternoon is free to explore further as you wish.
A free day today provides plenty of opportunity for you to explore this pulsating metropolis further. Perhaps spend the day shopping and sampling the many enticing restaurants or join our optional excursion to Suzhou, otherwise known as the ‘Venice of the East’. Strategically positioned on a major trade route, this enchanting city has been an important centre of silk production since ancient times and is renowned for its picturesque canals, stone bridges and classical gardens. Our tour spotlights its main landmarks, taking you on a cruise along the Grand Canal and visiting the delightful Humble Administrator’s Garden and a silk factory. Enjoy a farewell banquet tonight.
10 Suzhou Canal
Shanghai A UK (B)
Transfer to Shanghai airport for your return flight or extend your trip with an added few days in Hong Kong.
Land + Air Price
Single Supp.
Kowloon Hotel or Royal Pacific Hotel & Towers Mar 07 - 30 £300 £170 Mar 31 - Apr 09 £310 £170 Apr 10 - 30 £350 £220 May 01 - Sep 02 £270 £130 Sep 03 - Oct 09 £310 £170 Oct 10 - 31 £350 £220 Nov 01 - 17 £310 £170 Nov 18 - Dec 18 £270 £130 Dec 19 - 22 £310 £170 Dec 23 - Jan 01 2014 £350 £220
Itinerary Day 10 Day 11
Day 12
Extra Night Rate
£170 £170 £220 £130 £170 £220 £170 £130 £170 £220
Shanghai – Hong Kong Transfer to hotel Hong Kong Half-Day Sightseeing Tour (B) Victoria Peak, Stanley Market, Repulse Bay, Aberdeen Floating Community Hong Kong –UK (B) Transfer to airport
Package Notes
• Package prices are for land and air • Prices are per person based on 2 adults sharing a twin room • Includes 2 nights’ hotel accommodation with daily breakfast • Roundtrip Hong Kong airport transfers by shuttle bus • Minimum of 2 passengers is required • Extension can be added in the beginning of your holiday
21
BEAUTIFUL CHINA 12 Days 10 Nights
Elephant Trunk H ill, Guilin
Tour Co i Visit: Be
de: LDZ
jing (3)
) - Xian (2
nghai (3) gshuo - Sha n a Y ) 2 ( - Guilin
Temple of Heaven, Beijing
* * * *
Depart UK Friday
Land + Air
Mar 07 Mar 21 Apr 04, 18 May 02, 16 Jun 06 Jun 20 Jul 04, 18 Aug 01, 15 Aug 29 Sep 12, 26 Oct 10, 24 Nov 07
£1649 £1699 £1799 £1849 £1849 £1899 £1899 £1999 £1899 £1999 £1999 £1749
Land Only
Single Supp.
£1049 £1099 £1199 £1249 £1249 £1249 £1249 £1249 £1449 £1349 £1349 £1199
£300 £300 £350 £400 £350 £350 £350 £350 £350 £430 £430 £350
See page 50 for child prices Prices include all international and internal airfare based on London departures, fuel surcharges, taxes and fees Prices are per person in GBP based on two adults sharing one twin room Please visit www.rtholidays.co.uk for the most up- to-date prices
A hugely memorable 12-day odyssey through beautiful China, including time in fascinating Beijing, Xian and Shanghai and a memorable boat ride along the winding Li River in mystical Guilin. 5 HOTELS • • • •
Beijing 3 nights: ..................................................................................... New Otani Xian 2 nights: ........................................................................... Sheraton North City Guilin 2 nights: ......................................................................................... Sheraton Shanghai 3 nights: .................................................................... Marriott City Center
YOUR HOLIDAY INCLUDES • • • • • •
All international and internal flights Overseas airport transfers on arrival and departure 10 hotel buffet breakfasts, 6 restaurant lunches, 6 hotel or restaurant Chinese or Western dinners Comprehensive sightseeing tours including entrance fees Services of an expert tour manager throughout China (for groups of 10+) & specialist local guides Air-conditioned coach touring
HIGHLIGHTS • • • • •
BEIJING Sightseeing & Great Wall of China XIAN Terracotta Warriors & Tang Dynasty Show GUILIN Li River Cruise SHANGHAI Sightseeing & Chinese Acrobatics Show 2 SPECIAL BANQUETS – Imperial Dumpling Dinner in Xian, Farewell Dinner in Shanghai
OPTIONAL EXCURSIONS & EXTENSION
• 1-Day Excursion to Suzhou including Grand Canal cruise, classical garden & silk factory visit • 2-Night Extension to Hong Kong
1-2
UK A Beijing
Fly to Beijing, China’s capital city. On arrival on Day 2, you will be met by your guide and transferred to your hotel. The rest of the day is free to relax in your hotel or to start discovering this charismatic city.
3
Beijing (B, L, DP)
4
Beijing (B, L,)
5
Beijing A Xian (B, DH)
6
Xian (B, L, DS)
Immerse yourself in Beijing on our fullday tour, admiring the landmarks of this intriguing capital. Bursting with crowded markets, whizzing bicycles, colourful temples and vast 20th century monuments, it offers up one fascinating sight after another. On your tour, you’ll see the incredible Forbidden Palace, a collection of imperial palaces that was home to the Ming and Qing Emperors for over 500 years and the Palace Museum. You’ll also walk across Tiananmen Square, the world’s largest public square, and visit the serene Summer Palace with its ornate bridges and pagodas. Other highlights include photo stops at Beijing’s iconic Olympic buildings, the Water Cube Aquatics Centre and Bird’s Nest stadium.
Today brings a visit to the Great Wall, probably the greatest man-made structure ever built. Follow in the footsteps of China’s ancient warriors as you walk a section of its historic ramparts, constructed to defend the country from northern marauders. After lunch, stroll along the famous Sacred Way, once believed to lead to heaven. Also called the Divine Road, the Way is lined with intricate animal statues and is slightly curved to confuse evil spirits.
This morning admire the Temple of Heaven, a huge religious complex where China’s Emperors would pray for good harvests. Later, transfer to the airport for your short flight to Xian, the easternmost terminus of the Silk Road and home to the remarkable Terracotta Warriors. The rest of the day is yours to relax or explore.
Known as the ‘Eternal City’, Xian is famed for its Terracotta Warriors, an extraordinary
22
B: Buffet Breakfast D: Dinner DP: Dinner Party L: Lunch DH: Dinner and Hotel DS: Dinner and Show
Beijing
CHINA
HONG KONG EXTENSION 3 days, 2 nights
Yellow Sea
Xian
Suzhou Shanghai
Taipei Guilin
Yangshuo
collection of 6,000 clay warriors, horses and chariots sculpted and buried with China’s first Qin Emperor in around 200 BC. Marvel at this life-sized army massed in excavation pits before enjoying lunch and visiting Xian’s colossal City Wall. This evening, sit down to an Imperial Dumpling Banquet followed by a Tang Dynasty folklore show.
7
Xian
A Guilin (B, L)
On your final day in Xian, you’ll visit the Big Wild Goose Pagoda, a 65-metre-high Buddhist temple, and the Grand Mosque, one of the oldest and best preserved of its kind in China. Next, board your flight to Guilin to experience its wondrous natural landscapes.
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Guilin B Yangshuo Guilin (B, L, DH)
C
This morning heralds another highlight: a cruise along the Li River. Watch spellbound as you glide past mystical karst peaks, fields dotted with water buffalo, and fisherman using cormorants to dive for fish from bamboo rafts - ethereal scenes that will have you clicking your camera non-stop. After your cruise ends at Yangshuo, you’ll walk through this charming town, strolling along famous West Street – a quaint road lined with traditional shops and restaurants.
9
Guilin
Pacific Ocean
garden sprinkled with halls, teahouses and ornamental ponds. Next, drive past the colonial buildings of the Bund waterfront, see bustling Nanjing Road and visit the Shanghai Museum, filled with over 110,000 historical artefacts. Your day ends with dinner and a Chinese Acrobatics show.
11
Shanghai (B, DP)
Today you can explore Shanghai independently - perhaps shopping and sampling its restaurants - or join our optional tour of nearby Suzhou. Renowned for its canals and gardens, your visit to the ‘Venice of the East’ includes time at the fabled UNESCO-listed Humble Adminstrator’s Garden, regarded as southern China’s finest, a scenic cruise along the picturesque Grand Canal and a visit to a silk factory to learn how this precious fabric is made. This evening enjoy a special Farewell Banquet.
12
Shanghai
A UK (B)
Today transfer to the airport for your return flight or continue your holiday in exciting Hong Kong.
This former British Crown colony was returned to China in 1997 and is one of the world’s most vibrant cities, with buzzing markets, glorious harbours, superb shopping and dining and idyllic outlying islands to enjoy. Add three days here as a finale to your China tour, enjoying a half-day sightseeing tour including Aberdeen floating village, Stanley Market and a tram journey up Victoria Peak. Arrival at HKG Tuesday
Day 12 Day 13
Day 14 Oriental TV Tower, Shanghai
Land + Air Price
Single Supp.
Kowloon Hotel or Royal Pacific Hotel & Towers Mar 07 - 30 £320 £170 Mar 31 - Apr 09 £330 £170 Apr 10 - 30 £370 £220 May 01 - Sep 02 £290 £130 Sep 03 - Oct 09 £330 £170 Oct 10 - 31 £370 £220 Nov 01 - 17 £330 £170 Nov 18 - Dec 18 £290 £130 Dec 19 - 22 £330 £170 Dec 23 - Jan 01 2014 £370 £220
Itinerary
A Shanghai (B, DP)
After breakfast, you’ll head for the legendary Reed Flute Cave, where spectacular rock formations and wall inscriptions dating from 792 BC fill an ancient limestone cavern. Next, continue to Elephant Trunk Hill, a longstanding symbol of Guilin, which bears an uncanny resemblance to an elephant with its trunk dipped in water. This afternoon, your tour continues with a short flight to Shanghai.
10
East China Sea
Extra Night Rate
£170 £170 £220 £130 £170 £220 £170 £130 £170 £220
Shanghai – Hong Kong Transfer to hotel Hong Kong Half-Day Sightseeing Tour (B) Victoria Peak, Stanley Market, Repulse Bay, Aberdeen Floating Community Hong Kong –UK (B) Transfer to airport
Package Notes
• Package prices are for land and air • Prices are per person based on 2 adults sharing a twin room • Includes 2 nights’ hotel accommodation with daily breakfast • Roundtrip Hong Kong airport transfers by shuttle bus • Minimum of 2 passengers is required • Extension can be added in the beginning of your holiday
Shanghai (B, DS)
Once dubbed the ‘Paris of the East’, Shanghai is China’s biggest and most cosmopolitan city and perfectly embodies the pace of the country’s economic revolution. Your sightseeing begins at the exquisite Yu Garden, a Ming Dynasty Terra Cotta Warriors, Xian © CNTO
23
YANGTZE ESSENCE 12 Days 10 Nights
Victoria Cruises on Yangtze Riv e
Tour Co
de: LDV
3) eijing ( Visit: B
- Xian
2) ang - Shanghai ( iver (3)- Yich R e z t g n a Y ngqing (2) - Cho
Qutang Gorge, Yangtze River
* * * *
Depart UK Wednesday
Land + Air
Mar 05 Mar 19 Apr 09, 23 May 14 May28 Jun 11 Jun 25 Jul 09, 23 Aug 06, 20 Sep 10, 24 Oct 08, 22 Nov 05
£1749 £1899 £1899 £1999 £1999 £1899 £1999 £1999 £2099 £2099 £2099 £1899
Land Only
£1199 £1299 £1299 £1399 £1399 £1299 £1349 £1349 £1349 £1449 £1449 £1349
Single Supp.
£450 £450 £490 £550 £520 £450 £450 £450 £500 £570 £570 £500
See page 50 for child prices Prices include all international and internal airfare based on London departures, fuel surcharges, taxes and fees Prices are per person in GBP based on two adults sharing one twin room Please visit www.rtholidays.co.uk for the most up- to-date prices
Gaze at the Terracotta Warriors and Great Wall, explore historic Beijing and spellbinding Shanghai, and slow the pace on a wonderful 3-night Yangtze cruise – all on this unforgettable 12-day China odyssey. 5 HOTELS • • • •
Beijing 3 nights: ..................................................................................... New Otani Xian 2 nights: ........................................................................... Sheraton North City Yangtze River Cruise 3 nights: ................... Victoria Anna (Executive Superior Cabin) Shanghai 2 nights: .................................................................... Marriott City Center
YOUR HOLIDAY INCLUDES • • • • • • •
All international and internal flights Overseas airport transfers on arrival and departure Executive Deck Cabin with private balcony on Victoria Cruises river ship 10 hotel buffet breakfasts, 7 restaurant lunches, 7 hotel or restaurant Chinese or Western dinners Comprehensive sightseeing tours including entrance fees Services of an expert tour manager throughout China (for groups of 10+) & specialist local guides Air-conditioned coach touring
HIGHLIGHTS • • • • •
BEIJING Sightseeing & Great Wall of China YANGTZE CRUISE Lectures on Chinese history & culture, Tai Chi classes, fashion shows XIAN Terracotta Warriors & Tang Dynasty Show SHANGHAI Sightseeing & Chinese Acrobatics Show SPECIAL BANQUET – Imperial Dumpling Dinner in Xian
RECOMMENDED EXTENSION • 2-Night Extension to Hong Kong
24
B: Buffet Breakfast D: Dinner DP: Dinner Party L: Lunch DH: Dinner and Hotel DS: Dinner and Show
1-2
UK A Beijing
Fly to Beijing, China’s capital city. On arrival on Day 2, you will be met by your guide and transferred to your hotel. After check in, the rest of the day is yours to relax or acquaint yourself with the city.
3
Beijing (B, L, DP)
4
Beijing (B, L,)
5
Beijing A Xian (B, DH)
Today savour Beijing’s rich history and culture on a tour beginning at Tiananmen Square, which takes its name from its Gate of Heavenly Peace. Wonder at the vast expanse of the square and walk past Chairman Mao’s Memorial Hall to the Forbidden City, a massive 15th century palace complex that was home to China’s Ming and Qing Emperors for over 500 years. Next comes the enchanting Summer Palace, a garden of lakeside hills, marble bridges and temples designed as a summer retreat for China’s imperial rulers. You will also enjoy photo stops at two of Beijing’s newer attractions – the superb Bird’s Nest stadium and Water Cube Aquatics Centre, both of which hosted events at the 2008 Olympics.
After breakfast you’ll head for one of the Seven Wonders of the World - the Great Wall of China. This 5,500-mile edifice winds across northern China and dates back over 2,600 years. Walk a section of its ramparts in the shadow of the million soldiers who once manned it. After lunch, continue to the Sacred Way, sometimes known as the Divine Road and once believed to lead to heaven. Walk along this stone pathway, which is lined by willow trees and remarkable marble-carved statues of animals.
Before leaving Beijing visit the magnificent Temple of Heaven, a huge temple complex used by China’s Emperors to pray for bountiful harvests. At the heart of the site is the Hall of Prayer for Good Harvests, a circular wooden hall built entirely without nails and topped with blue tiles symbolising heaven. Later, take your short flight to Xian, a cradle of ancient Chinese civilisation often known as the ‘Eternal City’.
r
Beijing
HONG KONG EXTENSION 3 days, 2 nights
CHINA Yellow Sea
Xian
Chongqing
B Yangtze River
Shanghai Yichang
East China Sea
Taipei
6
Xian (B, L, DS)
Today come face-to-face with one of China’s star attractions – the extraordinary Terracotta Warriors. Discovered in 1974, this staggering collection of around 6,000 soldier, horse and chariot figurines was hand-crafted over 2,200 years ago on the orders of the first Emperor and buried with his tomb. Ponder the unique faces and clothing of the warriors – each statue is finely detailed down to the studs on the archers’ shoes. After lunch, visit Xian’s huge City Wall, built in the Ming Dynasty, and the Big Wild Goose Pagoda, a Buddhist temple reaching 65 metres in height. This evening, take your seat for a sumptuous Imperial Dumpling Banquet dinner followed by a Tang Dynasty show.
7
Xian A Chongqing C Yangtze Cruise (B, L, D)
Leaving Xian behind today you’ll fly to Chongqing where your Yangtze River cruise begins. Nestled amid mountains, this booming city is famed for its zoo, which houses giant pandas. Visit the panda enclosure to view these beautiful animals and stop for photos at Chongqing’s Great Hall of the People. Afterwards, board your Victoria Cruises ship, the Victoria Anna, and settle into your comfortable Executive Deck cabin for your three-night Yangtze cruise.
8
Yangtze Cruise (B, L, D)
This morning cruise downstream towards Fengdu for a shore excursion to this intriguing ‘ghost city’. Built over 1,800 years ago, this haunting place bursts with strange temples and statues dedicated to the underworld. Depending on weather conditions, an alternative excursion may be arranged to Shibaozhai to see its 12-storey wooden pagoda, built without a single nail.
9
picturebook Small Gorges of Shennong Stream, where the cliffs are dotted with caves. After rejoining your ship, continue to the longest and deepest gorge, the Xiling Gorge. Later, your ship makes it way through the incredible Three Gorges Dam locks.
10
Yangtze Cruise B Yichang A Shanghai (B, L)
Your day begins with a shore excursion to the astonishing Three Gorges Dam. The world’s biggest hydroelectric project, the sight of this monolith is breathtaking, yet tempered by the knowledge that its construction has transformed the Yangtze’s landscapes forever. Afterwards, continue cruising to Yichang, where you’ll disembark and enjoy a brief city tour before flying to Shanghai.
11
Shanghai (B, DS)
Shanghai lives up to its status as the world’s fastest growing and most exciting city. Here, space-age skyscrapers tower over teeming shopping avenues, traditional temples, stately pre-1950s buildings and poetic gardens. Today our sightseeing reveals the best this pulsating city has to offer, taking in the exquisite Yu Garden, with its Ming Dynasty chambers and ponds, together with the elegant waterfront Bund, bustling Nanjing Road shopping district and colourful City God Temple bazaar.
12
Shanghai
Why not stretch out your Far East odyssey in Hong Kong? This exhilarating city, once a British Crown Colony, is an EastWest melting pot of British influences and traditional and ultramodern Chinese life, all set against a stunning mountain-andsea backdrop. Our three-day extension lets you relax and explore as you wish, and includes a half-day tour of highlights such as picturesque Aberdeen harbour, Victoria Peak and Stanley Market. Arrival at HKG Sunday
Single Supp.
Kowloon Hotel or Royal Pacific Hotel & Towers Mar 07 - 30 £300 £170 Mar 31 - Apr 09 £310 £170 Apr 10 - 30 £350 £220 May 01 - Sep 02 £270 £130 Sep 03 - Oct 09 £310 £170 Oct 10 - 31 £350 £220 Nov 01 - 17 £310 £170 Nov 18 - Dec 18 £270 £130 Dec 19 - 22 £310 £170 Dec 23 - Jan 01 2014 £350 £220
Itinerary Day 12 Day 13
A UK (B)
Today transfer to the airport for your return flight or continue your holiday in exciting Hong Kong.
Land + Air Price
Day 14
Extra Night Rate
£170 £170 £220 £130 £170 £220 £170 £130 £170 £220
Shanghai – Hong Kong Transfer to hotel Hong Kong Half-Day Sightseeing Tour (B) Victoria Peak, Stanley Market, Repulse Bay, Aberdeen Floating Community Hong Kong –UK (B) Transfer to airport
Package Notes
• Package prices are for land and air • Prices are per person based on 2 adults sharing a twin room • Includes 2 nights’ hotel accommodation with daily breakfast • Roundtrip Hong Kong airport transfers by shuttle bus • Minimum of 2 passengers is required • Extension can be added in the beginning of your holiday
Yangtze Cruise (B, L, D)
Today drink in the epic Three Gorges, which form the most scenic stretch of the Yangtze. Contemplate the scenery as you sail through the spectacularly narrow Qutang Gorge and 25-mile Wu Gorge, skirted by forested mountains and precipitous cliffs. You’ll also board a small boat to travel along the Temple of Heaven, Beijing
25
CHINA & YANGTZE DISCOVERY 16 Days 14 Nights
Yangtze River,
Tour Co
de: LDR
nghai (2) uilin (2) - Yangshuo - Sha g - Xian (2) - G n i q g n o h C er (4) ngtze Riv ang - Ya Depart UK h c i Y ) Land + Air Land Only Single Supp. ijing (4 Saturday Visit: Be Mar 15 £2099 £1499 £550 Mar 29 £2199 £1599 £550 Apr 26 £2399 £1799 £600 May 10, 24 £2499 £1899 £650 Jun 14 £2399 £1799 £600 Jun 28 £2499 £1849 £600 Jul 12 £2499 £1849 £600 Jul 26 £2599 £1849 £600 Aug 16 £2599 £1849 £600 Aug 30 £2499 £1849 £600 Sep 13, 27 £2599 £1949 £700 Oct 11, 25 £2599 £1949 £700 Nov 08 £2299 £1749 £600
1-2
UK A Beijing
Fly to Beijing, China’s capital. On arrival on Day 2, you will be met by your guide and transferred to your hotel. After checking in, enjoy the rest of the day to relax or acquaint yourself with this captivating city.
3
Beijing (B, L, DH)
4
Beijing (B, L,)
5 HOTELS
Enjoy the passing landscapes as you travel to the Great Wall to explore a section of what is one of the Seven Wonders of the World. Built to protect China from northern invaders, this massive edifice snakes for over 5,500 miles and commands magnificent views from its ramparts. Afterwards, continue to the Sacred Way, a curving road skirted with fine marble statues of animals once believed to lead to heaven.
YOUR HOLIDAY INCLUDES
5
Beijing (B)
Great Hall of the People, Chongqing
* * * *
See page 50 for child prices Prices include all international and internal airfare based on London departures, fuel surcharges, taxes and fees Prices are per person in GBP based on two adults sharing one twin room Please visit www.rtholidays.co.uk for the most up- to-date prices
Gaze at the Terracotta Warriors and Great Wall, explore historic Beijing and spellbinding Shanghai, and slow the pace on a wonderful 3-night Yangtze cruise – all on this unforgettable 12-day China odyssey. • • • • • • • • • • • •
Beijing 4 nights: ..................................................................................... New Otani Yangtze River Cruise 4 nights: .................. Victoria Jenna (Executive Superior Cabin) Xian 2 nights: ........................................................................... Sheraton North City Guilin 2 nights: ......................................................................................... Sheraton Shanghai 2 nights: .................................................................... Marriott City Center All international and internal flights Overseas airport transfers on arrival and departure Executive Deck cabin with private balcony on Victoria Cruises river ship 14 hotel or cruise buffet breakfasts, 9 restaurant lunches, 9 hotel or restaurant Chinese or Western dinners Comprehensive sightseeing tours including entrance fees Services of an expert tour manager throughout China (for groups of 10+) & specialist local guides Air-conditioned coach touring
HIGHLIGHTS • • • • • •
BEIJING Sightseeing & Great Wall of China YANGTZE Cruise Lectures on Chinese history & culture, Tai Chi classes, fashion shows XIAN Terracotta Warriors & Tang Dynasty Show GUILIN Li River Cruise SHANGHAI Sightseeing & Chinese Acrobatics Show 2 SPECIAL BANQUETS – Imperial Dumpling Dinner in Xian, Farewell Dinner in Shanghai
RECOMMENDED EXCURSIONS & EXTENSIONS • 2-Night Extension to Hong Kong
26
China
B: Buffet Breakfast D: Dinner DP: Dinner Party L: Lunch DH: Dinner and Hotel DS: Dinner and Show
Beijing is an extraordinary city, where ancient and modern co-exist in the shape of traditional teahouses, massive flyovers, colossal Mao-era monuments, old alleyways and ornate palaces, all thronged with bicycles and people. Today you’ll experience the city’s must-sees, visiting 34acre Tiananmen Square and the phenomenal Forbidden City, a walled complex of palaces, halls and gardens inhabited by the Ming and Qing Emperors. Other standouts today include the graceful Summer Palace, whose exquisite gardens frame a shimmer lake, and photo stops at the Beijing 2008 Olympic masterpieces – the Bird’s Nest stadium and Water Cube Aquatic Centre.
Spend today at your leisure, perhaps exploring Beijing further and shopping for souvenirs. You may also want to join an optional Hutong tour, riding a rickshaw along the ancient alleys to experience the sights, sounds and traditional architecture of these age-old neighbourhoods.
6
Beijing A Yichang Cruise (B,D)
B
This morning visit the Temple of Heaven, home to splendid Ming temples where China’s Emperors would pray for good harvests. Next comes a short flight to Yichang to join your Yangtze cruise ship, the Victoria Jenna. If time allows, enjoy a brief tour of 4,000-year-old Yichang before settling into your Executive Deck cabin for your four-night cruise.
Beijing
HONG KONG EXTENSION 3 days, 2 nights
CHINA Yellow Sea
Xian
B
Shanghai
Chongqing
Yichang
East China Sea
Taipei Guilin Yangshuo
7
Yangtze Cruise (B, L, D)
Your cruise begins with a visit to the Three Gorges Dam, the world’s largest ahydroelectric dam. Next, continue upstream, passing through the fascinating 5-stage Three Gorges Dam locks and sailing the breathtaking Xiling Gorge, the longest of the fabled Three Gorges.
8
Yangtze Cruise (B, L, D)
Transfer to a small boat today to sail through the stupendously beautiful Small Gorges before returning to your ship and cruising the Wu Gorge, famed for its sheer cliffs and 12 mystical mountains. Later, you’ll glide through the awe-inspiring Qutang Gorge, slipping between the emerald terraced hillsides of this dramatically narrow passage.
9
Yangtze Cruise (B, L, D)
Step ashore today to explore the ‘ghost city’ of Fengdu, a treasure trove of Confucian, Buddhist and Taoist temples and shrines dedicated to underworld demons and devils. Alternatively, you may visit Shibaozhai depending on weather conditions.
10
Yangtze Cruise B Chongqing A Xian (B, DH)
Your cruise ends this morning as you disembark at the cliffside city of Chongqing. Here, you’ll visit Chongqing Zoo to see its resident giant pandas and take photos of the People’s Grand Hall before flying to Xian, capital of the Shaanxi Province.
11
Xian (B, L, DS)
China’s ancient capital of Xian houses one of its greatest treasures, the remarkable Terracotta Warriors, unearthed by local farmers in 1974. Marvel at the ranks of these intricate sculptures, which number around 6,000 soldiers, horses and chariots, each hand-carved and buried with China’s first Qin Emperor in around 200 BC. You will also visit the Big Wild Goose Pagoda before enjoying an Imperial Dumpling banquet followed by a Tang Dynasty show tonight.
12
Xian
After arriving at your hotel, enjoy the rest of the day free.
13
Guilin B Yangshuo Guilin (B, L, DH)
C
Wonder at Guilin’s magical landscapes as you cruise the Li River, winding past paddy fields, otherworldly needle-shaped karsts and waters bobbing with bamboo rafts used for fishing with cormorants. After lunch on board, leave your cruise at picturesque Yangshuo and wander along its famous West Street, lined with quaint buildings and shops.
14
Guilin A Shanghai (B, L)
15
Shanghai (B, DS)
Today visit Reed Flute Cave, an ancient cavern boasting stunning rock formations, and Elephant Trunk Hill, so-called for its resemblance to an elephant drinking water. Later, board a short flight to Shanghai, once known as the ‘Pearl of the Orient’.
Shanghai showcases China’s economic revolution hand-in-hand with its fascinating past, with everything from the elegant Bund waterfront to soaring skyscrapers and classic teahouses. Today experience the best of the city, starting with the enchanting Yu Garden, an idyll of Ming Dynasty landscapes, bridges and pavilions. Other highlights include the Bund, the shopping mecca of Nanjing Road, the City God Temple Bazaar and Shanghai Museum. Tonight enjoy a breathtaking Chinese Acrobatic show after dinner.
16
Shanghai
Make the most of the Far East by adding three days in Hong Kong to your China tour. A meeting point of East and West, this fastpaced city offers countless must-sees. Relax on its outlying islands, browse its chic stores, sample local specialities at top restaurants and street food stalls and enjoy a half-day sightseeing tour showcasing scenic Victoria Peak, lovely Repulse Bay and fascinating Aberdeen floating village. Arrival at HKG Sunday
Single Supp.
Kowloon Hotel or Royal Pacific Hotel & Towers Mar 07 - 30 £300 £170 Mar 31 - Apr 09 £310 £170 Apr 10 - 30 £350 £220 May 01 - Sep 02 £270 £130 Sep 03 - Oct 09 £310 £170 Oct 10 - 31 £350 £220 Nov 01 - 17 £310 £170 Nov 18 - Dec 18 £270 £130 Dec 19 - 22 £310 £170 Dec 23 - Jan 01 2014 £350 £220
Itinerary Day 16 Day 17
A UK (B)
Transfer to the airport for your return flight or continue your holiday in exhilarating Hong Kong.
Land + Air Price
Day 18
Extra Night Rate
£170 £170 £220 £130 £170 £220 £170 £130 £170 £220
Shanghai – Hong Kong Transfer to hotel Hong Kong Half-Day Sightseeing Tour (B) Victoria Peak, Stanley Market, Repulse Bay, Aberdeen Floating Community Hong Kong –UK (B) Transfer to airport
Package Notes
• Package prices are for land and air • Prices are per person based on 2 adults sharing a twin room • Includes 2 nights’ hotel accommodation with daily breakfast • Roundtrip Hong Kong airport transfers by shuttle bus • Minimum of 2 passengers is required • Extension can be added in the beginning of your holiday
A Guilin (B, L)
Admire Xian’s mighty City Wall and Great Mosque before flying to Guilin, whose surrounding countryside is described by the Chinese as unmatched under heaven’. Li River, Guilin
27
CHINA DISCOVERY & CHENGDU 12 Days 10 Nights Tour Co
de: LDU
ijing (3) Visit: Be
- Xi
nghai (3) u (2) - Sha d g n e h C an (2 ) -
Panda, Chongqing Zoo
* * * *
Depart UK Friday
Land + Air
Mar 07 Mar 21 Apr. 04, 18 May 02, 16 Jun 06 Jun 20 Jul 04, 18 Aug 01, 15 Aug 29 Sep 12, 26 Oct 10, 24 Nov 07
£1899 £1899 £1899 £1899 £1899 £1999 £1999 £2099 £1999 £1999 £1999 £1799
Land Only
Single Supp.
£1199 £1299 £1299 £1299 £1299 £1349 £1349 £1349 £1349 £1349 £1349 £1249
£330 £330 £380 £380 £330 £330 £330 £380 £380 £410 £410 £380
See page 50 for child prices Prices include all international and internal airfare based on London departures, fuel surcharges, taxes and fees Prices are per person in GBP based on two adults sharing one twin room Please visit www.rtholidays.co.uk for the most up- to-date prices
View rare Giant Pandas in Chengdu, marvel at the Terracotta Warriors in Xian and discover the ancient and modern treasures of Shanghai and Beijing on this captivating 12-day adventure. 5 HOTELS • • • •
Beijing 3 nights: ..................................................................................... New Otani Xian 2 nights: ........................................................................... Sheraton North City Chengdu 2 nights: .............................................................................. Crowne Plaza Shanghai 3 nights: .................................................................... Marriott City Center
YOUR HOLIDAY INCLUDES • • • • • •
All international and internal flights Overseas airport transfers on arrival and departure 10 hotel buffet breakfasts, 5 restaurant lunches, 5 hotel or restaurant Chinese or Western dinners Comprehensive sightseeing tours including entrance fees Services of an expert tour manager throughout China (for groups of 10+) & specialist local guides Air-conditioned coach touring
HIGHLIGHTS • • • • •
BEIJING Sightseeing & Great Wall of China XIAN Terracotta Warriors & Tang Dynasty Show CHENGDU Visit to Chengdu Giant Panda Breeding Research Centre SHANGHAI Sightseeing & Chinese Acrobatics Show 3 SPECIAL BANQUETS – Peking Duck Dinner in Beijing, Imperial Dumpling Dinner in Xian, Farewell Dinner in Shanghai
RECOMMENDED EXCURSIONS & EXTENSIONS
• 1-Day Excursion to Suzhou including Grand Canal cruise, classical garden & silk factory visit • 2-Night Extension to Hong Kong
28
B: Buffet Breakfast D: Dinner DP: Dinner Party L: Lunch DH: Dinner and Hotel DS: Dinner and Show
1-2
UK A Beijing
Fly to Beijing, China’s capital city. On arrival on Day 2, you will be met by your guide and transferred to your hotel. The rest of the day is at your leisure to relax in your hotel or begin delving into this extraordinary city.
3
Beijing (B, L, DP)
4
Beijing (B, L)
5
Beijing
Today your sightseeing tour serves as a fascinating introduction to Beijing, whose roots stretch back more than 3,000 years. The city is a hypnotising blend of stark Mao-era monuments, wooden temples, noisy markets, palaces and glass high-rises. See Tiananmen Square, the world’s largest public square, and the extraordinary Forbidden City, the imperial residence of 24 Ming and Qing Emperors. This UNESCO-listed gem is bounded by 10-metre high walls and houses over 8,000 rooms, all exuding regal mystique. Later, visit the exquisite UNESCOprotected Summer Palace, a serene park with ornamental bridges, temples and pagodas set around a tranquil lake. Other highlights today include photo stops at the Bird’s Nest and Water Cube stadiums, two of Beijing’s iconic 2008 Olympic sites. Tonight, sit down to a delicious Peking Duck banquet dinner.
This morning venture to the Great Wall of China or the ‘Long Wall of Ten Thousand Li’ in old Chinese. This monumental structure was built over 2,600 years ago and winds over 5,500 miles across China like an imperial dragon. Walk its ramparts, admiring the stunning mountains and valley vistas. Afterwards, head for the Sacred Way, once believed to lead to heaven. There’s time to wander along this ancient stone pathway to view the ornately carved marble statues of animals and mythical creatures that line it.
A Xian (B, DH)
Your day begins at the Temple of Heaven, one of Beijing’s grandest medieval complexes. Constructed in 1420, it covers 675 acres and focuses on a magnificent circular wooden hall built without using a single nail, which was used by China’s emperors to pray to heaven for good harvests. Later today, take your short flight to Xian.
Beijing
CHINA
HONG KONG EXTENSION 3 days, 2 nights
Yellow Sea
Xian Shanghai East China Sea
Chengdu
Pacific Ocean
Hong Kong
6
Xian (B, L, DS)
With a history dating back 3,100 years and the original starting point of the legendary Silk Road, ancient Xian is home to the Terracotta Warriors, perhaps the world’s greatest archaeological discovery. Unearthed by local farmers in 1974, this extraordinary army of around 6,000 life-size sculptures of soldiers, chariots and horses were interred to guard the tomb of Emperor Qin Shih Huang in around 200 BC. Standing in formation, each statue boasts individual facial features, giving them enormous poignancy. After lunch, continue to Xian’s ancient City Wall and Big Wild Goose Pagoda. An Imperial Dumpling Dinner and vibrant Tang Dynasty Show await this evening.
7
Xian
A Chengdu (B)
Today you will transfer to the airport for your flight to Chengdu, the capital of Sichuan province. This booming city is renowned for its spicy Sichuan cuisine, fine teahouses and Giant Panda Breeding Research Centre, which houses over 50 species of giant and red pandas. On arrival at your hotel, you have the rest of the day to spend at your leisure.
8
Chengdu (B, L)
Your sightseeing starts at Wu Hou Shrine, an ornately carved temple honouring important statesmen of the Three Kingdoms period. From here, continue to the Giant Panda Breeding Research Centre, a 92acre lakeside reserve filled with bamboo groves to replicate these rare creatures’ natural habitat. Stroll around the grounds to observe these hugely adorable and endangered animals at close quarters. Your next stops are Chengdu’s Wide and Narrow Lanes, two quaint alleyways dating to the Qing Dynasty, which mirror old and new Chengdu with traditional courtyards, cultured teahouses and boutique shops and restaurants.
9
Taipei
its celebrated landmarks, starting with the peaceful slopes, pavilions and pools of the classical 16th century Yu Garden in the heart of the city. Also on the agenda are the colourful City God Temple Bazaar and frenetic Nanjing Road shopping district. This evening dinner is followed by a breathtaking Chinese Acrobatic Show.
10
Shanghai (B, L)
Your explorations continue today at the Bund, Shanghai’s handsome riverside boulevard, which is graced by pre-1950s buildings testifying to its previous golden age. Next, visit the Shanghai Museum to view its impressive ancient Chinese art and antiquities. The rest of the afternoon is free to explore at your own pace.
11
Shanghai (B, DP)
A free day today gives you plenty of opportunity to get to know Shanghai further. Shop for designer and duty-free goods in its fashionable shopping streets, discover its fine restaurants, wander through its markets – the choice is yours. Alternatively, seize the opportunity to visit nearby Suzhou on our optional full day excursion. Nicknamed the ‘Venice of the East’, this lovely city has been a hub of silk production for centuries and is crisscrossed with picturesque canals, stone bridges and classical gardens. Our tour spotlights its key landmarks with a cruise along the Grand Canal, time at the delightful Humble Administrator’s Garden and a visit to a silk factory. Enjoy a Farewell Banquet dinner in Shanghai tonight.
12
Shanghai
With a name meaning ‘Fragrant Harbour’, Hong Kong is packed with attractions. So why not visit this high-octane city as a grand finale to your tour? Our package delivers the best of this glittering place, from the stupendous views of Victoria Peak to the floating communities of Aberdeen. Plus you’ll have time to unwind and discover in your own way, admiring the junk-dotted harbour, scenic Kowloon and enjoying amazing shops and restaurants. Arrival at HKG Tuesday
Single Supp.
Kowloon Hotel or Royal Pacific Hotel & Towers Mar 07 - 30 £320 £170 Mar 31 - Apr 09 £330 £170 Apr 10 - 30 £370 £220 May 01 - Sep 02 £290 £130 Sep 03 - Oct 09 £330 £170 Oct 10 - 31 £370 £220 Nov 01 - 17 £330 £170 Nov 18 - Dec 18 £290 £130 Dec 19 - 22 £330 £170 Dec 23 - Jan 01 2014 £370 £220
Itinerary Day 12 Day 13
A UK (B)
Transfer to Shanghai airport for your return flight or extend your trip with a stay in exhilarating Hong Kong.
Land + Air Price
Day 14
Extra Night Rate
£170 £170 £220 £130 £170 £220 £170 £130 £170 £220
Shanghai – Hong Kong Transfer to hotel Hong Kong Half-Day Sightseeing Tour (B) Victoria Peak, Stanley Market, Repulse Bay, Aberdeen Floating Community Hong Kong –UK (B) Transfer to airport
Package Notes
• Package prices are for land and air • Prices are per person based on 2 adults sharing a twin room • Includes 2 nights’ hotel accommodation with daily breakfast • Roundtrip Hong Kong airport transfers by shuttle bus • Minimum of 2 passengers is required • Extension can be added in the beginning of your holiday
Chengdu A Shanghai (B,L)
This morning board your flight to China’s most cosmopolitan city, Shanghai. Situated on the Huangpu River and once known as the ‘Pearl of the Orient’, this huge metropolis is the world’s most populous and juxtaposes old and new in thrilling fashion. Your sightseeing concentrates on
Punning Temple, Chengdu
29
TIBET HIGHLAND & YANGTZE CRUISE 16 Days 14 Nights
Potala Palace,
Tour Co
de: LDT
ijing (3) Visit: Be
– Xian (2
) – Lhas
gtze River gqing – Yan n o h C – ) a (3
Jokhong Monastery, Lhasa
* * * *
nghai (3) (3) - Yichang - Sha
Depart UK Saturday
Land + Air
Mar 22 Apr 12 May 03, 17 Jun 07 Jun 28 Jul 19 Aug 16 Sep 06, 27 Oct 18 Nov 08
£2499 £2599 £2699 £2599 £2699 £2699 £2899 £2799 £2799 £2499
Land Only
Single Supp.
£1899 £1999 £2099 £1999 £2049 £2049 £2149 £2149 £2149 £1949
£550 £650 £700 £650 £650 £650 £750 £750 £700 £600
See page 50 for child prices Prices include all international and internal airfare based on London departures, fuel surcharges, taxes and fees Prices are per person in GBP based on two adults sharing one twin room Please visit www.rtholidays.co.uk for the most up- to-date prices
Experience dazzling scenery and cultures on this fabulous 16-day tour, seeing incredible Beijing, Xian and Shanghai and topping everything with a visit to captivating Tibet and a 3-night cruise through the Yangtze’s Three Gorges. 4 & 5 HOTELS • • • • •
Beijing 3 nights: ..................................................................................... New Otani Xian 2 nights: ........................................................................... Sheraton North City Lhasa 3 nights: ..................................................................................... Jardin Secret Yangtze River Cruise 3 nights: ................................... Victoria Anna, Executive Deck Shanghai 3 nights: .................................................................... Marriott City Center
YOUR HOLIDAY INCLUDES • • • • • • •
All international and internal flights Overseas airport transfers on arrival and departure Executive Deck cabin with private balcony on Victoria Cruises river ship 14 hotel or cruise buffet breakfasts, 7 restaurant lunches, 7 hotel or restaurant Chinese or Western dinners Comprehensive sightseeing tours including entrance fees Services of an expert tour manager throughout China (for groups of 10+) & specialist local guides Air-conditioned coach touring
HIGHLIGHTS • • • • • •
BEIJINg Sightseeing & Great Wall of China XIAN Terracotta Warriors & Tang Dynasty Show CHENGDU Visit to Chengdu Giant Panda Breeding Research Centre YANGTZE CRUISE Lectures on Chinese history & culture, Tai Chi classes, fashion shows SHANGHAI Sightseeing & Chinese Acrobatics Show 3 SPECIAL BANQUETS – Peking Duck Dinner in Beijing, Imperial Dumpling Dinner in Xian, Farewell Dinner in Shanghai
RECOMMENDED EXCURSIONS & EXTENSIONS
• 1-Day Excursion to Suzhou including Grand Canal cruise, classical garden & silk factory visit • 2-Night Extension to Hong Kong
30
B: Buffet Breakfast D: Dinner DP: Dinner Party L: Lunch DH: Dinner and Hotel DS: Dinner and Show
Lhasa
1-2
UK A Beijing
Fly to Beijing, China’s capital city. On arrival on Day 2, you will be met by your guide and transferred to your hotel. The rest of the day is yours to relax or begin delving into this enthralling city.
3
Beijing (B, L, DP)
4
Beijing (B, L,)
5
Beijing
6
Xian (B, L, DS)
Beijing surpasses all expectations with its shimmering high-rises, bicycle-filled streets, vast 2oth century architecture and ornate palaces. Your tour begins at 34-acre Tiananmen Square before heading to the magnificent Forbidden City. This stunning, 8,000-room collection of palaces was home to 25 Emperors for five centuries. You will also visit the Summer Palace, whose glorious gardens and pools were an idyllic imperial retreat. Lastly, enjoy photo stops at Beijing’s iconic 2008 Olympic Bird’s Nest stadium and Water Cube Aquatics Centre. Tonight, take your seat for a Peking Duck dinner.
Today wonder at the Great Wall of China, perhaps the world’s greatest man-made structure. Built over 2,600 years ago, this 5,500-mile edifice traces the hills, mountains and plains of China’s northern borders. Follow in the footsteps of its ancient guards by walking its ramparts, immense enough to keep marauding tribes at bay for centuries. After lunch, visit the Sacred Way, a pathway lined with elaborate statues once believed to be the road to heaven.
A Xian (B, DH))
Your day starts at the Temple of Heaven, a colossal religious complex where China’s Emperors would pray for fruitful harvests. Next, take your short flight to Xian, dubbed the ‘Eternal City’ and renowned as a cradle of Chinese civilisation.
China’s capital for over 1,000 years, Xian’s star attraction is the staggering Terracotta Warriors. Consisting of around 6,000 life-size statues of warriors, horses and chariots, this ancient army grouped in excavation pits is nothing less than breathtaking. Peruse the individual figurines, which were interred with China’s first Emperor around 200 BC. Next, visit Xian’s immense City Wall and towering Big Wild Goose Pagoda. This evening enjoy a mouth-watering Imperial Dumpling Banquet before a Tang Dynasty show.
Beijing
CHINA
Yellow Sea
Xian Suzhou Lhasa Chongqing
B
East China Sea
Shanghai Yichang
Hong Kong
7
HONG KONG EXTENSION 3 days, 2 nights
Pacific Ocean
Taipei
Xian
A Lhasa (B, DH)
Today fly to myth-shrouded Lhasa or ‘Holy City’, the capital of Tibet. 13,000 feet above sea level, this remote city is framed by spectacular mountain ranges. After checking in at your hotel, the day is yours to relax and let your body acclimatise.
8
Lhasa (B, D)
Exciting discoveries await today as you explore this immensely spiritual city, whose crowning glory is the extraordinary Potala Palace. Dominating the slopes of Red Mountain, this gigantic, 1,300-year-old building is the former residence of the Dalai Lama and an architectural wonder. Next, visit bustling Barkhor Street and the pilgrims’ mecca of Jokhang Monastery, Tibet’s ‘House of the Lord’.
9
Lhasa (B, L, D)
This morning visit Yamdrok Lake, one of Tibet’s holy lakes for a memorable picnic lunch. Tuck into your food while feasting your eyes on the surrounding craggy mountains and still turquoise waters. Back in Lhasa, the rest of the day is at your leisure.
10
Lhasa A Chongqing C Yangtze Cruise (B, D)
Fly to Chongqing, the picturesque city where your Yangtze cruise begins. Here, admire the giant pandas at Chongqing Zoo and snap photos of the People’s Grand Hall before boarding your Victoria Cruises ship, the comfortable Victoria Jenna and settling into your Executive Deck cabin, for your three-night cruise.
11
Yangtze Cruise (B, L, D)
After breakfast enjoy a shore excursion to the ‘ghost city’ of Fengdu, an eerie mountain complex of shrines dedicated to the underworld. Depending on local conditions, you may enjoy an alternative excursion to Shibaozhai.
12
Return to your ship to enter Xiling Gorge and the fascinating Three Gorges Dam locks.
13
Yangtze Cruise B Yichang A Shanghai (B, L)
14
Shanghai (B, DS)
Today’s shore excursion takes you to the stunning Three Gorges Dam, the world’s biggest hydroelectric project, where you’ll learn about its construction and how it has transformed the Yangtze’s landscapes. Leaving your ship at Yichang, enjoy a brief city tour before flying to the ‘Pearl of the Orient’, Shanghai.
Sitting on the Huangpu Rover and home to more than 23 million people, Shanghai is an electrifying fusion of soaring highrises, boutique shops, intricate teahouses and elegant European architecture. Today your sightseeing reveals its highlights, starting with the 16th century Yu Garden, a paradise of ponds, bridges and pavilions. Other must-sees include the graceful Bund waterfront, City God Temple Bazaar and buzzing Nanjing Road. Tonight enjoy dinner followed by a Chinese Acrobatics show.
15
Shanghai (B, DP)
Spend the day at your leisure perhaps delving deeper into this charismatic city or join our optional excursion to nearby Suzhou. Dubbed the ‘Venice of the East’, this delightful canal city is UNESCO-listed and offers such attractions as the serene Humble Administrator’s Garden and a picturesque Grand Canal. This evening enjoy a grand Farewell Dinner party.
16
Shanghai
A UK (B)
Transfer to Shanghai airport for your return flight or extend your trip with time in cosmopolitan Hong Kong.
Yangtze Cruise (B, L, D)
Soak up the wonderfully scenic Three Gorges as you cruise through the breathtakingly narrow Qutang Gorge and 25-mile Wu Gorge, which snakes through forested mountains. You will also transfer to a small boat to see the Small Gorges of the Shennong Stream, whose emerald waters are enclosed by spectacular, cave-dotted cliffs. Small Gorge, Yangtze River
Make the most of the Far East by adding three days in Hong Kong to your China tour. A meeting point of East and West, this fastpaced city offers countless must-sees. Relax on its outlying islands, browse its chic stores, sample local specialities at top restaurants and street food stalls and enjoy a half-day sightseeing tour showcasing scenic Victoria Peak, lovely Repulse Bay and fascinating Aberdeen floating village. Arrival at HKG Sunday
Land + Air Price
Single Supp.
Kowloon Hotel or Royal Pacific Hotel & Towers Mar 07 - 30 £300 £170 Mar 31 - Apr 09 £310 £170 Apr 10 - 30 £350 £220 May 01 - Sep 02 £270 £130 Sep 03 - Oct 09 £310 £170 Oct 10 - 31 £350 £220 Nov 01 - 17 £310 £170 Nov 18 - Dec 18 £270 £130 Dec 19 - 22 £310 £170 Dec 23 - Jan 01 2014 £350 £220
Itinerary Day 16 Day 17
Day 18
Extra Night Rate
£170 £170 £220 £130 £170 £220 £170 £130 £170 £220
Shanghai – Hong Kong Transfer to hotel Hong Kong Half-Day Sightseeing Tour (B) Victoria Peak, Stanley Market, Repulse Bay, Aberdeen Floating Community Hong Kong –UK (B) Transfer to airport
Package Notes
• Package prices are for land and air • Prices are per person based on 2 adults sharing a twin room • Includes 2 nights’ hotel accommodation with daily breakfast • Roundtrip Hong Kong airport transfers by shuttle bus • Minimum of 2 passengers is required • Extension can be added in the beginning of your holiday
31
SOUTHEAST ASIA Tours Southeast Asia takes you on a journey through the senses. This incredible region is rooted in some of the world’s oldest civilisations and presents everything from gold-tipped temples to lush paddy fields and ancient relics sitting alongside soaring skyscrapers and teeming streets. Our tours are handpicked to showcase the best of this enthralling destination and provide you with the most fulfilling and comfortable holiday. From riding elephants through the jungles of Chiang Mai to cruising serene Halong Bay and delving into mysterious Myanmar, they will uncover everything that makes Southeast Asia such an intoxicating and unforgettable destination.
WHAT’S INCLUDED • • • • • • • •
Luxury hotel accommodation throughout, including daily breakfast Many meals in hotels and local restaurants Guaranteed departures with minimum of 2 guests as a locally hosted tour (minimum 6 guests required for LAA tour) Services of expert tour managers in Thailand, Myanmar, Singapore & Malaysia with groups of 10+ Specialist local guides in major cities Comprehensive sightseeing tours including entrance fees Comfortable, air-conditioned coach touring with professional drivers Special highlights & entertainments
Contents Indochina Excursion ..................................................................... 34-35 13 Days 11 Nights
Hanoi (2 nts), Halong Bay (2 nts), Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon) (2 nts), Siem Reap (3 nts), Bangkok (2 nts) Tour code: LAA
Tantalising Thailand ............................................................................ 36 12 Days 10 Nights Bangkok (3 nts), Hua Hin (2 nts), Chiang Mai (3 nts), Chiang Rai (1 nt), Bangkok (1 nt) Tour code: LAM
Thailand & Angkor .............................................................................. 37 11 Days 9 Nights Bangkok (3 nts), Hua Hin (2 nts), Siem Reap (3 nts), Bangkok (1 nt) Tour code: LAF
Hidden Gems of Myanmar (Burma) ........................................... 38-39 11 Days 9 Nights Yangon (2 nts), Bagan (2 nts), Mandalay (2 nts), Pindaya, Inle Lake (2 nts), Yangon (1 nt) Tour code: LAY
Hin, Hua land Thai
ai, ng M Chia iland Tha Ang Camb kor, odia
Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam
INDOCHINA EXCURSION 13 Days 11 Nights
Halong Bay, V ie
Tour Co
de: L A A
)-H anoi (2 Visit: H
along B
ay ( 2
( Sa i Minh City ) - Ho Ch
k (2 ) m Reap (3) - Bangko igon) (2) - Sie Depart UK Thursday
Land + Air
Land Only
Single Supp.
Feb 20 £2399 £1699 £660 Mar 13 £2399 £1699 £660 Apr 03, 24 £2399 £1699 £660 May 08, 22 £2399 £1699 £660 Jun 19 £2399 £1699 £660 Jul 17 £2399 £1699 £660 Aug 21 £2399 £1699 £660 Sep 04,18 £2399 £1699 £660 Oct 16 £2399 £1699 £660 Nov 06 £2399 £1699 £660 * All departures are guaranteed with a minimum of 6 persons
Cu Chi Tunnel © Indochina Services
* * * *
See page 50 for child prices Prices include all international and internal airfare based on London departures, fuel surcharges, taxes and fees Prices are per person in GBP based on two adults sharing one twin room Please visit www.rtholidays.co.uk for the most up- to-date prices
This intriguing 13-day journey takes you to Vietnam’s frenetic cities and surreally beautiful Halong Bay before showcasing the stupendous temple complex of Angkor and culminating in exotic Bangkok. HOTELS • • • • •
Hanoi 2 Nights ......................................................................................... Sunway Hotel Hanoi Halong 2 Nights ....................................................................................... Halong Dream Hotel Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon) 2 Nights ............................................. Golden Central Hotel Saigon Siem Reap 3 Nights ............................................................................... Khemara Angkor Hotel Bangkok 2 Nights .......................................................................................... Dusit Thani Hotel
YOUR HOLIDAY INCLUDES • • • • • •
All international and internal flights Overseas airport transfers on arrival and departure 11 hotel buffet breakfasts, 8 restaurant lunches, 6 hotel or restaurant dinners Comprehensive sightseeing tours including entrance fees Specialist local guides in each city Air-conditioned coach touring
HIGHLIGHTS • • • • •
34
HANOI Sightseeing including Ho Chi Minh Stilt House, Mausoleum & Temple of Literature HALONG BAY Full day long-tail boat cruise including lunch on board HO CHI MINH (SAIGON) Sightseeing & Cu Chi Tunnels ANGKOR Angkor Wat & Angkor Thom BANGKOK Sightseeing including Grand Palace, Ayutthaya & Grand Pearl cruise
B: Buffet Breakfast D: Dinner DP: Dinner Party L: Lunch DH: Dinner and Hotel DS: Dinner and Show
t n am
1-2
UK A Hanoi, Vietnam
Fly to Hanoi, the capital of Vietnam. On arrival on Day 2, you will be met by your guide and transferred to your hotel. The rest of the day is free to relax or to explore this charming city, the second largest in Vietnam.
3
Hanoi (B, L, D)
The Vietnamese capital flanks the Red River and fuses tree-lined boulevards, traditional backstreets and peeling French colonial buildings. Today admire the main sights, visiting the 11th century Temple of Literature, lotus-shaped One Pillar Pagoda and Mausoleum where Vietnam’s hallowed founder, Ho Chi Minh, lies in state. You’ll also call at the humble Stilt House, where Ho Chi Minh lived, and dive into the atmospheric Old Quarter, brimming with artisans and stallholders. Tonight enjoy a traditional water puppet performance.
4
Hanoi C Halong Bay (B, L, DH)
This morning is free to relax and explore as you wish, perhaps delving deeper into Hanoi. Later, board a comfortable coach to travel to UNESCO-listed Halong Bay, travelling through rural Vietnam en-route. On arrival, check in to your hotel.
5
Halong Bay (B, L, D)
Today brings a highlight– a cruise on Halong Bay. After breakfast, you’ll board a traditional long-tail boat to spend the day sailing this emerald bay, where 1,969 stone islands rise like jewels from the waters. The result is a mystical waterscape recalling old Asian scroll paintings. Enjoy lunch on board as you cruise around the hidden grottoes and caves. You’ll drop anchor at one of the most beautiful, Titov Island, and on your way back, glide past ramshackle floating villages and lone fishermen casting their nets in the clear waters.
CHINA MYANAMR
Hanoi
LAO
Indian Ocean
6
Hong Kong
Halong South China Sea
THAILAND
VIETNAM Siem Reap Pacific Pacific Bangkok Ocean CAMBODIA Ho Chi Minh CityOcean (Saigon)
Ayutthaya
Halong C Hanoi A Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon) (B, L)
This morning return to Hanoi and fly to Ho Chi Minh City, better known as Saigon. After checking in at your hotel, the remainder of the day is yours to relax and discover this frenetic city.
documenting the Vietnam War. Afterwards, continue to Notre Dame Cathedral, the Central Post Office, City Hall and Opera House. You’ll also visit Ben Thanh Market, a whirlwind of stalls selling food, ornaments and all manner of other items. This afternoon, fly to Siem Reap.
9
Siem Reap, Cambodia (B, L)
A guided tour of the ancient walled city of Angkor Thom today. Admire its spectacular relics, which date to the 9th to 13rd centuries, including the stunning Elephant Terrace, Terrace of the Leper King, Baphuon, Royal Enclosure and Phimeanakas. You’ll also see the basreliefs at the majestic Bayon complex before watching the sunset from the top of a temple.
10
7
Ho Chi Minh Ciity (Saigon) (B, L)
Ho Chi Minh is Vietnam’s economic powerhouse and brings together faded colonial grandeur, teeming markets and soaring glass skyscrapers. Today you’ll drive to the haunting Cu Chi Tunnels, a 124-mile network built in the 1940s in the battle against the French. The handdug tunnels included command posts, shelters and field hospitals and were extended by the Viet Cong in the 1960s. Learn more about the Viet Cong’s daily life and explore part of the tunnels before returning to Saigon, where you have the rest of the day at your leisure.
8
Siem Reap (B, L, D)
Today explore Angkor Wat, the best known of all the complexes in Angkor. All crumbling towers and rich shrines, highlights include Ta Prohm temple, which is still largely as it was when first discovered and entangled with jungle – adding to its sense of magic. Your tour also features the Ta Keo, Chau Say Tevoda and Roluos Group Temples. Next comes Les Chantiers Ecole, a vocational centre celebrating Khmer handicrafts. Meander around the stone-carving and woodcarving workshops to see the local artisans at work, and visit a pewter factory.
11
Siem Reap A Bangkok (B, DH) Today fly to Bangkok, Thailand’s capital. Resting on the Chaophaya River, the city is an assault on the senses, with colourful floating markets, hooting tuk-tuks, goldtipped temples and exotic restaurants. Today you’ll visit the spectacular Grand Palace, the former residence of Siamese kings, to wander through its lavish temples and ornate halls. The centrepiece, is the exquisite Emerald Buddha Temple, home to a 14th century, 26-inch Buddha carved from a single piece of jade.
12
Bangkok C Ayutthaya E Bangkok (B, L)
This morning set off for Ayutthaya, stopping en-route at the Bang Pa-In Summer Palace, an elaborate royal complex. Continue to Ayutthaya, the ruined capital of ancient Siam, which reached its height between the 14th and 17th centuries and is home to splendid historic temples and statues. After exploring here, board a Grand Pearl liner to cruise back to Bangkok, passing enchanting sights along the way and enjoying a sumptuous lunch buffet on board.
13
Bangkok A UK (B)
Today transfer to the airport for your return flight to the UK.
Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon) A Siem Reap (B, D)
This morning enjoy a sightseeing tour of this entrancing city, including the fascinating War Remnants Museum
Angkor Wat, Siem Reap
35
TANTALISING THAILAND
Chiang Saen
Ayutthaya
a Hi n (2 ) haya - Hu t t u y A 4) ngkok ( Visit: Ba
1) (3) - Chiang Rai ( Chiang Mai
1-2
Elephant Camp, Chiang Mai Depart UK Saturday
Land + Air
Land Only
Single Supp.
Feb 15 £1599 £899 £400 Mar 01, 22 £1599 £899 £400 Apr 05, 19 £1599 £899 £400 May 03,17 £1599 £899 £400 May 31, Jun 21 £1599 £899 £400 Jul 12 £1599 £899 £400 Aug 02, 23 £1599 £899 £400 Sep 06, 20 £1599 £899 £400 Oct 04, 18 £1599 £899 £400 Nov 08, 22 £1699 £999 £400 Dec 06, 27 £1799 £1099 £400 * All departures are guaranteed with a minimum of 2 persons * * * *
See page 50 for child prices Prices include all international and internal airfare based on London departures, fuel surcharges, taxes and fees Prices are per person in GBP based on two adults sharing one twin room Please visit www.rtholidays.co.uk for the most up-to- date prices
HOTELS
• Bangkok 3 nights: .................. Dusit Thani Hotel • Hua Hin 2 nights: ............ Hilton Hotel & Resort • Chiang Mai 3 nights: ...................... Le Meridien • Chiang Rai 1 night: ......................... Dusit Resort • Bangkok 1 nights: ................. Grand Four Wings
YOUR HOLIDAY INCLUDES
• All international and internal flights • Overseas airport transfers on arrival and departure • 10 hotel buffet breakfasts, 6 restaurant lunches, 5 hotel or restaurant dinners • Comprehensive sightseeing tours including entrance fees • Services of an expert tour manager and specialist local guides • Air-conditioned coach touring
HIGHLIGHTS
• BANGKOK Sightseeing including Grand Palace, Ayutthaya & Damnoen Saduak floating market • HUA HIN Sightseeing • CHIANG MAI & CHANG RAI Sightseeing, hill tribes visit and jungle elephant safari
OPTIONAL EXCURSIONS
• Chiang Mai – Golden Triangle Boat Trip along Mekong River, visiting Laos & Myanmar
36
B: Buffet Breakfast D: Dinner DP: Dinner Party L: Lunch DH: Dinner and Hotel DS: Dinner and Show
UK A Bangkok
Fly to Bangkok, Thailand’s capital. On arrival on Day 2, you will be met by your guide and transferred to your hotel. The rest of the day is free to relax or delve into this beguiling city.
3
Bangkok (B, L, DH)
Overlooking the Chaophaya River, Bangkok has been Thailand’s capital since the 18th century and bursts with floating markets, fine palaces, soaring high-rises and age-old Buddhist temples. Today you can dig into its colourful past and present on our city tour, ticking through its celebrated sights. Marvel at the Grand Palace, perusing its lavish Coronation Hall, Ananta Samakhom Throne Hall and majestic Temple of the Emerald Buddha, home to a 26-inch Buddha statue carved from a single piece of jade. You’ll also view some of Thailand’s coveted precious stones at a gems gallery.
4
Bangkok C Ayutthaya E Bangkok (B, L)
This morning brings a full day visit to Ayutthaya, the ruined Siam capital, north of Bangkok. A thriving kingdom from 1350 until 1767, its amazing ruins include nearintact temples, Buddha statues and colossal monasteries. On the way, you’ll stop at the beautiful Bang Pa-In Summer Palace whose Thai, Chinese and Gothic mansions including a tiered-roof floating pavilion. Your day ends with a Grand Pearl cruise back to Bangkok along the Chaophaya, enjoying the fascinating sights along its banks and a delicious lunch buffet on board.
5
Gulf of Tonkin
THAILAND
Bangkok Grand Palace, Bangkok © TAT
de: L AM
Chiang Rai
Chiang Mai LAO
12 Days 10 Nights Tour Co
Golden Triangle
Bangkok C Hua Hin (B, L, DH)
6
Hua Hin (B, L)
Rise early for one of Bangkok’s highlights – the fascinating Damnoen Saduak floating market. Board a long-tail boat to glide along labyrinthine canals packed with boats piled with fresh produce and foods – your camera will be working overtime. Afterwards, board your comfortable coach to travel to Hua Hin, once the favoured summer resort of Thai monarchs. Today your explorations start at Hua Hin railway station, home to an intricate wooden station house that was once a royal pavilion. Next, you’ll continue to the charming Palace of Love and Hope, the former summer residence of Thailand’s King Rama VI, whose golden teak buildings are connected by stilted verandahs. The remainder of the day is yours to soak up the beaches and atmosphere of Hua Hin.
Hua Hin
7
Gulf of Thailand
CAMBODIA
Hua Hin C Bangkok A Chiang Mai (B, DS)
8
Chiang Mai (B)
9
Chiang Mai (B, L, DH)
This morning, drive back to Bangkok for your flight to Chiang Mai, Thailand’s ‘Rose of the North’, located in the heart of the beautiful Golden Triangle region. After arriving at your hotel you’re welcomed by a Khantoke Lanna dinner and show this evening. 700-year-old Chiang Mai is a vivid fusion of cultures, customs and street life that will instantly enchant you. This morning visit the mountainside Doi Suthep Temple, a sacred shrine commanding soul-stirring views over Chiang Mai below. Your next stop is a Thai Handicraft Village, where you can watch local artisans handcraft everything from painted umbrellas and primitive paper to precious Thai silks. Elephants have been prized in Thai culture for millennia and this morning you’ll witness these magnificent creatures close-up. Visit an Elephant Camp to learn how skilled ‘mahouts’ have trained their charges through the centuries and take an unforgettable jungle elephant ride. Next, continue through the resplendent hill country to visit the local hill tribes, including the Long Neck Karen and Big Earring tribes, who have lived here since ancient times.
10
Chiang Mai C Chiang Rai (B, L, D)
11
Chiang Rai A Bangkok (B)
12
Bangkok A UK (B)
This morning you’ll travel to Chiang Rai, passing through rainforest-coated hills and stopping en-route at Mae Khachan Hot Springs. On arrival you’ll visit the ruins of Chiang Saen, the one-time capital of the Lanna Kingdom and Golden Triangle. This afternoon is free to enjoy as you wish Alternatively, why not join our optional boat trip on the Mae Khong, or Mekong? As well as seeing the ‘Golden Triangle’ meeting point of the Mekong and Ruak Rivers, you can soak up the idyllic scenery from the Mekong’s banks in Myanmar. You’ll also cross into Laos, stopping at local villages to witness daily life and shop at traditional markets. Today fly back to Bangkok, where you’ll transfer to your hotel and enjoy the rest of the day at your leisure.
Transfer to the airport for your return flight to the UK.
LAO
THAILAND & ANGKOR
THAILAND Ayutthaya
11 Days 9 Nights
Bangkok Hua Hin
Angkor Wat, Siem Reap
Tour Co
de: L AF
Hua Hin tthaya u y A ) 4 ngkok ( Visit: Ba
(3 eap (Angkor) (2) - Siem R
Bayon, Siem Reap Depart UK Saturday
Land + Air
Land Only
Single Supp.
Feb 15 £1899 £1199 £450 Mar 01, 22 £1899 £1199 £450 Apr 05, 19 £1899 £1199 £450 May 03, 17 £1899 £1199 £450 May 31 £1899 £1199 £450 Jun 21 £1899 £1199 £450 Jul 12 £1899 £1199 £450 Aug 02, 23 £1899 £1199 £450 Sep 06, 20 £1899 £1199 £450 Oct 04, 18 £1899 £1199 £450 Nov 08, 22 £1899 £1199 £450 Dec 06 £1899 £1199 £500 Dec 27 £1899 £1199 £530 * All departures are guaranteed with a minimum of 2 persons
Fly to Bangkok, Thailand’s capital. On arrival on Day 2, you will be met by your guide and transferred to your hotel. The rest of the day is free to relax or explore this multi-faceted city.
* * * *
See page 50 for child prices Prices include all international and internal airfare based on London departures, fuel surcharges, taxes and fees Prices are per person in GBP based on two adults sharing one twin room Please visit www.rtholidays.co.uk for the most up-to- date prices
HOTELS
• Bangkok 3 nights: .................. Dusit Thani Hotel • Hua Hin 2 nights: ............ Hilton Hotel & Resort • Angkori 3 nights: ... Victoria Angkor Resort & spa • Bangkok 1 night: ................... Grand Four Wings
YOUR HOLIDAY INCLUDES
• All international and internal flights • Overseas airport transfers on arrival an departure • 11 hotel buffet breakfasts, 8 restaurant lunches, 5 hotel or restaurant dinners • Comprehensive sightseeing tours including entrance fees • Services of an expert tour manager in Thailand (for groups of 10+) & specialist local guides • Air-conditioned coach touring
HIGHLIGHTS
• BANGKOK Sightseeing including Grand Palace, Ayutthaya & Damnoen Saduak floating market • HUA HIN Sightseeing • ANGKOR Visits to Angkor Wat & Angkor Thom
OPTIONAL EXCURSIONS
• Chiang Mai – Golden Triangle Boat Trip along Mekong River, visiting Laos & Myanmar B: Buffet Breakfast D: Dinner DP: Dinner Party L: Lunch DH: Dinner and Hotel DS: Dinner and Show
Bangkok (B, L, DH)
Flanking the Chaophaya River, Bangkok has been Thailand’s capital since the 18th century and serves up gold-spired temples, ornate palaces, bustling streets and floating markets. Today your tour reveals its key landmarks, including its vast Grand Palace. The most celebrated of all Bangkok’s sights, this remarkable complex was the Siamese kings’ residence and seat of power for 150 years. Wonder at its lavish Coronation Hall, marbled Ananta Samakhom Throne Hall and stunning Temple of the Emerald Buddha. This extravagant shrine represents the spiritual heart of Thailand and houses a miniature jade Buddha dating to the 14th century. Later, visit a gems gallery to view some of Thailand’s prized precious stones.
4
Bangkok C Ayutthaya E Bangkok (B, L)
Today is dedicated to Ayutthaya, the ruined second capital of Thailand, which at its height in the 17th century, was the world’s largest city with a million inhabitants. Explore its haunting temple compounds, statues and courtyards, which would have been thronged with people until 1767, when the Burmese captured the city. On the way to Ayutthaya, you’ll stop at the beautiful Bang Pa-In Summer Palace, whose mansions, towers and buildings include a fairytale floating pavilion. Afterwards, board a Grand Pearl liner to cruise back to Bangkok, passing the fascinating banks of the Chaophaya and enjoying a generous lunch buffet on board.
5
Bangkok C Hua Hin (B, L, DH)
An early start is required today to experience the fascinating Damnoen Saduak floating market just outside Bangkok. Travelling along winding canals by traditional long-boat, you’ll glide through jostling throngs of boats stuffed with fresh foods, flowers and drink, each steered by vendors plying their centuries-old trade. Afterwards, board your comfortable coach to drive to Hua Hin, a seaside resort once favoured by Thai monarchs and characterised by serene sandy beaches.
6
VIETNAM Siem Reap
CAMBODIA
)
1-2 UK A Bangkok Taipei 3
Gulf of Tonkin
Hua Hin (B, L)
station house is a former royal pavilion and considered the most beautiful in Thailand. Next comes the delightful Palace of Love and Hope. Built in 1923, its golden teak buildings are joined by stilted verandahs and provided an idyllic summer retreat for King Rama VI. The rest of the day is free for you to enjoy the attractions of Hua Hin.
7
Hua Hin C Bangkok A Siem Reap (B)
8
Siem Reap – Angkor (B, L)
9
Siem Reap – Angkor (B, L, D)
This morning drive back to Bangkok and fly to Siem Reap, the gateway to Cambodia’s spectacular Angkor temples. On arrival, you’ll transfer to your hotel for your three-night stay. Today brings a highpoint of your adventure – a visit to Angkor. Surrounded by jungle and exuding mystique from every stone, the world’s greatest concentration of architectural treasures never fails to fascinate. Gaze at the massive 12th-century temple of Angkor Wat, the world’s largest Hindu temple, which took 37 years to construct and was still never completed. Next, delve into the immense, fortified city of Angkor Thom, which is enclosed by five colossal gates and a moat. See its awe-inspiring, 50-towered Bayon temple, Baphuon, Terrace of Elephants and the Terrace of the Leper King. End your visit admiring the glowing sunset over the Cambodian jungle from atop an ancient temple. The spotlight remains on Angkor again today, starting with Ta Prohm, a temple left largely untouched since its discovery in the 19th century. Tropical trees, vines and foliage swathe its walls, providing a unique glimpse into how these building appeared when first found. From here, continue to Ta Keo, Chau Say Tevoda and the Roluos Group temples before visiting Les Chantiers Ecole, a handicrafts and vocational centre teaching traditional Khmer crafts. Potter around the silkweaving, wood and stone-carving workshops where you can watch skilled local artisans demonstrating their talents and dexterity.
10
Siem Reap A Bangkok (B)
11
Bangkok A UK (B)
Today fly back to Bangkok, where you’ll transfer to your hotel and enjoy the rest of the day at your leisure.
Transfer to the airport for your return flight to the UK.
Today visit Hua Hin railway station, whose
37
HIDDEN GEMS OF MYANMAR 11 Days 9 Nights
Fisherman, Inle
Tour Co
de: L AY
)-B ngon (3 Visit: Ya
agan
ndala opa - Ma (2) - Mt.P
y (2) - Heho Depart UK Thursday
ake (1) Pindaya (1) - Inle L Land + Air
Land Only
Single Supp.
Feb 06 £2299 £1599 £500 Feb 20 £2399 £1699 £500 Mar 06, 20 £2399 £1699 £500 Apr 03, 17 £2399 £1699 £500 May 01, 15 £2399 £1699 £500 May 29 £2399 £1699 £500 Jun 12, 26 £2399 £1699 £500 Jul 10, 24 £2399 £1699 £500 Aug 07, 21 £2399 £1699 £500 Sep 04, 18 £2399 £1699 £500 Oct 02, 16 £2399 £1699 £500 Oct 30 £2299 £1599 £500 * All departures are guaranteed with a minimum of 2 persons
Shwedagon Pagoda, Yangon
* * * *
See page 50 for child prices Prices include all international and internal airfare based on London departures, fuel surcharges, taxes and fees Prices are per person in GBP based on two adults sharing one twin room Please visit www.rtholidays.co.uk for the most up- to-date prices
Hidden from the world for decades, Myanmar is home to many secrets and treasures. Uncover its highlights on this unforgettable 11-day tour, visiting Yangon, Bagan and Mandalay and sailing on magical Inle Lake. HOTELS
• 4standard hotels in each destination (please see website for current hotel list)
YOUR HOLIDAY INCLUDES • • • • • •
All international and internal flights Overseas airport transfers on arrival and departure 9 Buffet breakfasts in hotels Comprehensive sightseeing tours including entrance fees Services of an expert tour manager (for groups of 10+) & specialist local guides Air-conditioned coach touring
YANGON Sightseeing BAGAN Sightseeing MANDALAY Armarapura, Mandalay Hill & U Bein bridge at sunset PINDAYA Caves INLE LAKE Boat ride & Sightseeing INDEIN Pagoda & stupa tour
• 2-Night Extension in Hong Kong
hto, da Pa
Anan B: Buffet Breakfast D: Dinner DP: Dinner Party L: Lunch DH: Dinner and Hotel DS: Dinner and Show
UK A Yangon
Fly to Yangon, formerly known as Rangoon, the colonial capital of Burma. On arrival on Day 2, you will be met by your guide and transferred to your hotel.
3
Yangon (B)
4
Yangon A Bagan (B)
Only just emerging into the travel spotlight, Yangon, formerly known as Rangoon, is an alluring cocktail of Victorian architecture, beautiful gardens, noisy markets, gleaming Buddhist temples and technicolour street life. Your city tour unveils the best of this little-known city, including the 46-metrehigh golden Sule Pagoda, the long reclining Buddha at Chaukhtatgyi Pagoda and the interesting National Museum. You’ll also stroll around idyllic Kandawgyi Lake, also called the Royal Lake, and visit Bogyoke Aung San Market, formerly called Scott Market, to view its stalls selling exotic foods, handicrafts and spices.
Today you’ll fly to Bagan, often dubbed the ‘City of Four Thousand Pagodas’ for its glorious collection of age-old Buddhist temples. Your sightseeing tour focuses on the city’s most important sites - the 11th century Schwezigon Pagoda, mural-coated Gubyaukhyi Temple at Wetkyi-Inn and the gold-towered Ananda Pahto, where four gigantic standing Buddhas each face north, east, south and west. Other highpoints include the Manuha Temple and the graceful Shwesandaw Paya pagoda topped by an octagonal belltower. You’ll also visit a lacquerware workshop and end your day catching the stunning sunset views from an elevated pagoda terrace.
Bagan C Mount Popa C Bagan (B)
6
Bagan A Mandalay (B)
After breakfast you’ll travel through fascinating rural landscapes and hamlets to Mount Popa, a volcanic mountain crowned by a revered monastery. Climb the winding stairway to the top, observing the cheeky monkeys on the way, for spectacular views over the surrounding countryside. Afterwards, return to Bagan for the rest of the day at your leisure.
OPTIONAL EXTENSION
38
1-2
5
HIGHLIGHTS • • • • • •
Lake
n
Baga
This morning fly to Mandalay, your base for two nights. Considered the centre of
Mandalay Amarapura Sagaing Inwa Bagan Mt. Popa
Andaman Sea
Pindaya Heho
Inle Lake
Yangon
Myanmar culture, this modern city was the capital of the last independent Burmese kingdom. After arriving at your hotel, your tour reveals the major landmarks. Topping the list is the beautiful Mahamuni Paya pagoda, which houses Mandalay’s holiest – and gold leaf covered - Buddha statue. You’ll also see the teak-built Shwenandaw Kyaung monastery and Kuthodaw Paya, the latter home to the ‘world’s largest book’ 729 minutely inscribed marble slabs. Your day also includes a journey up famous Mandalay Hill to drink in breathtaking views of the city below.
7
Mandalay (B)
Today uncover more about Myanmar’s intriguing past at three of its former royal capitals. You’ll visit the intriguing 18th19th century capital of Amarapura, site of the first British embassy and best known for its U Bein teak bridge, which is built on hundreds of teak piles driven into a lake. Your explorations then continue at Sagaing, a picturesque city famed for its 600 cream-coloured temples. Next, after a ferry ride across the river to Inwa, you’ll ride a horse and cart to beautiful Bagaya Kyaung monastery, which stands on 267 teak stilts. You’ll also see the traditional Maha Aung Myay Bon Zon monastery, where Buddhist monks still work and pray. Later, as dusk approaches, head for Amarapura’s U Bein bridge to join hundreds of monks as they gather to watch a radiant sunset.
8
LAO VIETNAM
THAILAND
around 8,000 Buddha statues, largely placed here in the 18th and 19th centuries. You’ll also visit the remarkable, Buddha-filled Shwe U Min Paya pagoda, built within a stunning cave. Other stops include include a local market to browse for souvenirs and a paper umbrella workshop.
9
Pindaya C Inle Lake (B)
After breakfast today’s excursion head for Inle Lake, the highest in Myanmar. Enjoy a memorable boat ride on the lake, soaking up its unspoilt landscapes and mirror-glass waters, which are laden with floating farms and stilted villages. You’ll also visit Paung Daw Oo Pagoda, the holiest in Shan State and stop at Inn Paw Khon village to see a weaving workshop turning out delicate silks. You’ll also make your way to the stilted wooden monastery of Nga Phe Chaung, where the Buddhist monks have trained cats to jump through hoops.
10 Monks in Yangon
HONG KONG EXTENSION 3 days, 2 nights
MYANMAR
Inle Lake C Heho A Yangon (B)
Today you’ll travel by boat to the banks of Inle lake, where a hillside stairway leads up to the hidden ruins of Indein. This mystical collection of relics consists of an age-old pagoda and over 1,000 crumbled stupas, many of which are wrapped in vines and plants, adding to their mysterious quality. Later, transfer to Heho to catch your flight to Yangon for an overnight stay.
11
Yangon A UK (B)
Vibrant and colourful, Hong Kong is a truly fascinating destination. So why not extend your holiday with time in this energetic metropolis, which still retains its British character despite its return to China in 1997. Our extension lets you soak up its towering skyscrapers, bustling harbour, teeming markets,world-class restaurants and incredible shopping. Plus it includes a half-day tour taking in Victoria Peak, the floating community of Aberdeen and other must-sees. Arrival at HKG Sunday
Land + Air Price
Single Supp.
Kowloon Hotel or Royal Pacific Hotel & Towers Mar 07 - 30 £300 £170 Mar 31 - Apr 09 £310 £170 Apr 10 - 30 £350 £220 May 01 - Sep 02 £270 £130 Sep 03 - Oct 09 £310 £170 Oct 10 - 31 £350 £220 Nov 01 - 17 £310 £170 Nov 18 - Dec 18 £270 £130 Dec 19 - 22 £310 £170 Dec 23 - Jan 01 2014 £350 £220
Itinerary Day 11 Day 12
Transfer to the airport today for your return flight to the UK or extend your holiday in exhilarating Hong Kong. Day 13
Extra Night Rate
£170 £170 £220 £130 £170 £220 £170 £130 £170 £220
Yangon – Hong Kong Transfer to hotel Hong Kong Half-Day Sightseeing Tour (B) Victoria Peak, Stanley Market, Repulse Bay, Aberdeen Floating Community Hong Kong –UK (B) Transfer to airport
Package Notes
• Package prices are for land and air • Prices are per person based on 2 adults sharing a twin room • Includes 2 nights’ hotel accommodation with daily breakfast • Roundtrip Hong Kong airport transfers by shuttle bus • Minimum of 2 passengers is required • Extension can be added in the beginning of your holiday
Mandalay A Heho C Pindaya (B)
Catch a flight to Heho and travel to the small town of Pindaya, famous for its maze of limestone hill caves. Explore the main, southern cavern, which is packed with Temples Field in Bagan
39
INDIA, EGYPT & DUBAI Ancient and futuristic, mysterious and exotic, India, Egypt and Dubai will enchant the most experienced traveller. From the kaleidoscopic colours and contrasts of India to the age-old ruins of Egypt’s glorious past, we have handcrafted our tours to reveal the most beautiful sights and iconic landmarks of these great places. Cruise along the timeless Nile to explore the sunbaked temples of the great pharaohs. Gaze at Tutankhamun’s burial treasures and the stunning pyramids of Giza in Cairo. Or journey through India’s magnificent Golden Triangle, soaking up bustling Delhi, the ravishing Taj Mahal and pink city of Jaipur. Dubai, by contrast, dazzles with space-age high-rises, pearly white beaches, glittering gold souks and a feast of shopping, dining and entertainments.
WHAT’S INCLUDED • • • • • • • • • •
Deluxe hotel accommodation, including daily breakfast Many meals in hotels and local restaurants Comprehensive sightseeing tours including entrance fees 4-night Nile cruise on 5 star MS Tamr Henna with shore excursions on Egypt tours Services of an expert tour manager in India and Egypt with groups of 10+ Specialist local guides in major cities Maximum group size of 35 persons Guaranteed departures with minimum of 6 persons (minimum 2 persons required for LGD tour) Comfortable, air-conditioned coach touring with professional drivers Special highlights & entertainments
Contents India Discovery & Dubai .................................................................... 42 10 Days 8 Nights
Dubai (2 nts), Delhi (2 nts), Jaipur (2 nts), Agra (1 nt), Delhi (1 nt) Tour code: LIB
India Discovery ................................................................................... 43 8 Days 6 Nights
Delhi (2 nts), Jaipur (2 nts), Agra (1 nt), Delhi (1 nt) Tour code: LID
Egypt Discovery & Dubai ................................................................... 44 12 Days 10 Nights
Dubai (2 nts), Cairo (2 nts), Nile Cruise (4 nts), Cairo (2 nts) Tour code: LGB
Egypt Discovery .................................................................................. 45 10 Days 8 Nights
Cairo (2 nts), Nile Cruise (4 nts), Cairo (2 nts) Tour code: LGD
i
Duba
t
Egyp India
Egyp
t
IRAN
INDIA DISCOVERY & DUBAI
PAKISTAN Jaipur
Dubai
UAE
10 Days 8 Nights
Gulf of Oman
Arabian Sea
Taj Mahal, India
Tour Co ub Visit: D
de: LIB
elhi (3) ai (2 ) - D
- Jaipur (
1) 2) - Agra (
Amber Fort, Jaipur, India © TCI Depart UK Wednesday
Jan 29 Feb 26 Mar 26 Apr 23 May 21 Sep 24 Oct 22 Nov 19 Dec 03 Dec 31
* * * *
Land + Air
Land Only
Single Supp.
£1499 £1499 £1499 £1399 £1399 £1399 £1499 £1499 £1499 £1699
£899 £899 £899 £799 £799 £799 £899 £899 £899 £899
£440 £440 £440 £320 £320 £320 £470 £470 £470 £470
See page 50 for child prices Prices include all international and internal airfare based on London departures, fuel surcharges, taxes and fees Prices are per person in GBP based on two adults sharing one twin room Please visit www.rtholidays.co.uk for the most up-to- date prices
HOTELS
• Dubai 2 nights: ........... Grand Millennium Hotel • Delhi 2 nights: .................. Crowne Plaza Okhla • Jaipur 2 nights: .................. Country Inn & Suites • Agra 1 night: ............................... Radisson Agra • Delhi 1 night: ............... Crowne Plaza Gurgaon
YOUR HOLIDAY INCLUDES
• All international and internal flights • Overseas airport transfers on arrival and departure • 8 hotel buffet breakfasts, 5 restaurant lunches, 4 hotel or restaurant dinners • Comprehensive sightseeing tours including entrance fees • Services of an expert tour manager in India (for groups of 10+) & specialist local guides • Air-conditioned coach touring
HIGHLIGHTS
• DUBAI Sightseeing & lunch at the iconic Burj Al Arab hotel • DELHI Sightseeing including cycle rickshaw ride to Jama Masjid Mosque • JAIPUR Sightseeing including elephant or jeep ride to Amber Fort, turban- and sari-tying demonstration • FATEHPUR Sikri Sightseeing • AGRA Sightseeing including ‘tonga’ horse-drawn carriage ride to and guided excursion of Taj Mahal
OPTIONAL EXCURSIONS
• Desert safari in Dubai including dune bashing, camel rides and barbecue dinner & belly dancing show for £80 per person (minimum 2 passengers required)
42
B: Buffet Breakfast D: Dinner DP: Dinner Party L: Lunch DH: Dinner and Hotel DS: Dinner and Show
1-2
UK
A Dubai, UAE
Fly to Dubai, one of the seven emirates of the United Arab Emirates. On arrival on Day 2, you will be met by your guide and transferred to your hotel. This rest of the day is free to relax and explore this ultramodern city, famed for its neck-craning skyscrapers, gold souks, cutting-edge entertainments and brilliant white beaches. Later, why not join us for an exciting desert safari? Our optional evening excursion includes a thrilling dune drive, time at a Bedouin desert camp, camel rides and a delicious barbecue buffet dinner and bellydancing display under the stars.
3
Dubai (B, L)
4
Dubai
5
Delhi (B, L, D)
Today your sightseeing tour introduces you to the highlights of this exhilarating city, including the soaring Emirates Towers, amongst the highest buildings in the world, the Dubai World Trade Center and the Sheikh Mohammad and Rashid Palaces. You’ll also visit Al Fahidi Museum and stop for photos at shimmering Dubai Creek, which you’ll cross by boat to stroll through the bustling spice and gold souks. Later, continue to the stunning, sailshaped Burj Al Arab hotel for lunch at Junsui, its swish Far East Asian restaurant. Afterwards, enjoy the remainder of the day at your leisure.
A Delhi (B)
After breakfast transfer to the airport to catch your flight to Delhi. After arrival at your hotel, you’ll receive the traditional Indian welcome of ‘aarti tikka’, where your forehead will be marked with a red ‘tikka’. You’ll also have the rest of the day free to relax or explore this frenetically paced city as you wish. Vibrant Delhi is one of the world’s fastest growing cities and encompasses two districts – New Delhi, built as India’s imperial capital by the British in the early 20th century and Old Delhi, the original city. Keep your camera ready as your tour reveals New Delhi, taking you to the impressive India Gate, designed by Sir Edwin Lutyens, the Presidential Palace, Parliament House and the Secretariat Buildings. Continuing on, you’ll see Humayun’s Tomb, a splendid example of 16th-century Mughal architecture, and the UNESCO-listed Qutub Minar. Your explorations also take you to Old Delhi’s exuberant streets and bazaars. Take a cycle rickshaw to Jama Masjid, India’s oldest mosque, see the simple Raj Ghat memorial to Mahatma Gandhi and wow at the mighty Red Fort, overlooking the Yamuna River.
6DrinkDelhi C Jaipur (B, L, DH) in the passing scenes of rural India
Delhi Agra Fatepur Sikri
INDIA
on your journey by road to Jaipur today. On arrival, check in to your hotel, enjoy lunch at a local restaurant and spend the rest of the day relaxing or getting to know the city independently.
7TodayJaipur (B, L) is dedicated to the exotic rose-hued
capital of Rajasthan whose buildings were painted pink on the orders of Maharajahs. Begin with an unforgettable elephant or jeep ride up to the spectacular Amber Fort, a fortress crowning desert hills outside the city. Step inside this magnificent palace - an impressive fusion of red sandstone and white marble designed in Mughal and Hindu architectural styles. You’ll also pause to admire the Hawa Mahal, otherwise known as the Palace of the Winds, whose intricate wood-screened windows allowed the ladies of the court to observe life on the streets while remaining invisible to the outside world. After lunch continue to the City Palace, whose gardens and buildings occupy one-seventh of walled, old Jaipur. Next, walk to Jantar Mantar, a huge 18th century observatory, before attending a fascinating demonstration of the art of sari- and turban-tying.
8ThisJaipur C Agra (B, L, DH) morning travel by road to Agra. On the
way, you’ll stop at Fatehpur Sikri or the ‘City of Victory’, built in the 16th century and abandoned a few years after its construction. This eerie place is composed of elaborate pavilions, halls and courtyards, once showpieces of the wealth of the Mughal Emperor Akhbar. On arrival in Agra, India’s former imperial capital, check in at your hotel and this evening, take a ‘tonga’ horse-drawn carriage ride to the Taj Mahal. One of the Seven Wonders of the World, this incredible domed mausoleum was commissioned by Emperor Shah Janan in memory of his wife, Mumtaz, and makes a sublime sight.
9This Agra C Delhi (B, DH) morning your sightseeing continues at
Agra Fort, a formidable 15th century fortress that once enclosed the mosques and palaces India’s Mughal rulers. Afterwards, watch an intriguing demonstration of intricate marble inlay handiwork, a local cottage industry whose skills have been passed down through the centuries. Later, travel by road back to Delhi for an overnight stay.
10
Delhi
A UK (B)
Today transfer to the airport for your return flight to the UK.
CHINA
INDIA DISCOVERY 8 Days 6 Nights
Delhi Agra Jaipur
ur @ Palace of Winds, Jap
Tour Co
INDIA
India Tourism
de: LID
aipur (2) lhi (3) - J Visit: De
1-2Taipei UK A Delhi, India
- Agra (1)
Fly to Delhi, India’s colourful capital. Taipei On arrival on Day 2, you will be met by your guide and transferred to your hotel, where you’ll receive the traditional Indian welcome of ‘aarti tikka’, where your forehead will be marked with a red ‘tikka’. The rest of the day is free to relax or get acquainted with this incredible city, which offers layer after layer of ancient, imperial and modern history and monuments.
Traditional Meal, India Depart UK Monday
Jan 27 Feb 24 Mar 24 Apr 21 May 19 Sep 22 Oct 20 Nov 17 Dec 01 Dec 29 * * * *
Fatepur Sikri
Land + Air
Land Only
Single Supp.
£1899 £1899 £1899 £1699 £1699 £1699 £1899 £1949 £1949 £2199
£1299 £1299 £1299 £1099 £1099 £1099 £1299 £1349 £1349 £1499
£680 £680 £600 £480 £440 £480 £660 £690 £690 £780
See page 50 for child prices Prices include all international and internal airfare based on London departures, fuel surcharges, taxes and fees Prices are per person in GBP based on two adults sharing one twin room Please visit www.rtholidays.co.uk for the most up-to- date prices
HOTELS
• Delhi 2 nights: .................. Crowne Plaza Okhla • Jaipur 2 nights: .................. Country Inn & Suites • Agra 1 night: ............................... Radisson Agra • Delhi 1 night: ................ Crowne Plaza Gurgaon
YOUR HOLIDAY INCLUDES
• All international and internal flights • Overseas airport transfers on arrival and departure • 6 hotel buffet breakfasts, 4 restaurant lunches, 4 hotel or restaurant dinners • Comprehensive sightseeing tours including entrance fees • Services of an expert tour manager in India (for groups of 10+) & specialist local guides • Air-conditioned coach touring
HIGHLIGHTS
• DELHI Sightseeing including cycle rickshaw ride to Jama Masjid Mosque • JAIPUR Sightseeing including elephant or jeep ride to Amber Fort, turban- and sari-tying demonstration • FATEHPUR Sikri Sightseeing • AGRA Sightseeing including ‘tonga’ horse-drawn carriage ride to and guided excursion of Taj Mahal
B: Buffet Breakfast D: Dinner DP: Dinner Party L: Lunch DH: Dinner and Hotel DS: Dinner and Show
3
Delhi (B, L, D)
Delhi is composed of two distinct and equally fascinating segments: atmospheric Old Delhi, the original city dating back 5,000 years, and New Delhi, created by the British as their seat of power and India’s capital in 1911. Today, delve into both districts, starting with a tour of New Delhi’s imperial monuments, tree-lined boulevards and stately government buildings, many designed by Sir Edward Lutyens. Drive past India Gate, the memorial honouring Indian soldiers killed in World War I, the fine Presidential Palace, Secretariat Buildings and Parliament House. You’ll also view Humayun’s Tomb and the seven-storey, 72-metre Qutub Minar, a finely decorated 12th century tower. Your next focal point is Old Delhi, with its labyrinth of nooks, alleyways and chaotic markets. Ride a cycle rickshaw to the vast mosque of Jama Masjid, enjoy a tour of the huge Red Fort and visit the serene Raj Ghat, the candle-topped memorial to Mahatma Gandhi.
4
Delhi
5
Jaipur (B, L)
C Jaipur (B, L, DH)
Today soak up spellbinding views of India’s landscapes, peoples and villages as you travel by road to the glorious ‘Pink City’ of Jaipur, the capital of Rajasthan. Reputedly built in only eight years, buildings within its walled inner city were painted terracotta pink by decree of the Maharajahs. After checking in at your hotel in Jaipur, the time is your own to relax, explore or browse for souvenirs in the bustling shopping streets.
Get acquainted with Jaipur’s most celebrated sights on your tour today. Your morning begins with an unforgettable elephant or jeep ride up to the world-famous Amber Fort just outside the city. Standing on a rocky desert hill, this staggering, fortified palace overlooks Maota Lake and is built in Mughal and Hindu styles from both red sandstone and white marble. Following your visit, you’ll make a photo stop at the beautiful Hawa Mahal, otherwise known as the Palace of the Winds, whose latticework window screens enabled ladies of the court to observe everyday life without being
seen from the other side. Other highlights include the historic City Palace and a walk to Jantar Mantar, which houses a precisionbuilt 18th century observatory. Later, enjoy a turban- and sari-tying demonstration, seeing first-hand the skills and dexterity needed to arrange and secure these traditional Indian garments.
6
Jaipur
7
Agra
8
Delhi
C Agra (B, L, DH)
This morning, you’ll journey by road to Agra, home to the magnificent Taj Mahal. En-route, you’ll visit Fatehpur Sikri or the ‘City of Victory’, a fortified city built by the Mughal Emperor Akhbar in the 16th century but abandoned soon after its construction due to lack of a water supply. Explore its ornate pavilions, courtyards and halls, many of which remain untouched over 400 years later. After checking in at your hotel in Agra, you’ll take a ‘tonga’ horsedrawn carriage ride to the Taj Mahal. One of the Seven Wonders of the World and the greatest monument to love ever built, this architectural wonder was commissioned by Emperor Shah Jahan as a mausoleum for his beloved wife, Mumtaz, and took 20,000 worker 20 years to complete. Set in romantic classical gardens and stunning from every angle, its beauty was such that the Emperor ordered the hands of its craftsmen to be cut off after its completion to ensure its beauty could never be replicated.
C Delhi (B, DH)
This morning brings a visit to Agra Fort, situated near the gardens of the Taj Mahal. This 16th century sandstone fortress was commissioned by Emperor Akhbar in 1565 and where he imprisoned his father, Shah Jahan, in sight of the Taj – the mausoleum to his wife. Tour its exquisite palaces, mosques and buildings and watch a demonstration of marble inlay craftsmanship – a skill passed down through the ages to Agra’s artisans of today. Later, travel by road back to Delhi for an overnight stay. On arrival, you’re free for the rest of the afternoon to relax, explore or do some last-minute shopping.
A UK (B)
Today transfer to the airport for your return flight to the UK.
43
EGYPT DISCOVERY & DUBAI
IRAQ
IRAN
Cairo
EGYPT
12 Days 10 Nights
Luxor Nile River Cruise Aswan
Dubai
SAUDI ARABIA
UAE
Sphinx of Giza, Cairo
Tour Co
d e : LG B
ro (4) 2) - Cai ( i a b u Visit: D
e Nile Cruis
(4 )
Bruj Al Arab Hotel, Dubai Depart UK Wednesday
Jan 29 Feb 26 Mar 26 Apr 23 May 21 Sep 24 Oct 22 Nov19 Dec 03 Dec 31
* * * *
Land + Air
Total Price
Total Price
£1599 £1599 £1599 £1649 £1499 £1499 £1699 £1699 £1699 £2049
£1099 £1099 £1099 £1149 £999 £999 £1199 £1199 £1199 £1349
£430 £430 £430 £450 £330 £330 £450 £450 £450 £560
See page 50 for child prices Prices include all international and internal airfare based on London departures, fuel surcharges, taxes and fees Prices are per person in GBP based on two adults sharing one twin room Please visit www.rtholidays.co.uk for the most up-to- date prices
HOTELS
• Dubai 2 nights: .................... Grand Millennium • Cairo 2 nights: .............................. Cairo Conrad • Nile River Cruise 4 nights: ........ MS Tamr Henna • Cairo 2 nights: .................... Fairmont Heliopolis
YOUR HOLIDAY INCLUDES
• All international and internal flights • Overseas airport transfers on arrival and departure • 4-night Nile cruise on MS Tamr Henna with shore excursions • 10 hotel and cruise ship buffet breakfasts, 7 restaurant lunches, 4 hotel, restaurant or cruise ship dinners • Comprehensive sightseeing tours including entrance fees • Services of an expert tour manager in Egypt (for groups of 10+) & specialist local guides • Air-conditioned coach touring
HIGHLIGHTS
• DUBAI Sightseeing & lunch at Burj Al Arab • CAIRO Sightseeing including guided tours of Pyramids & Sphinx at Giza & Egyptian Museum • NILE CRUISE Sightseeing including guided tours of Luxor & Karnak Temples, Valleys of the Kings & Queens, Temple of Philae & felucca boat trip on Nile in Aswan • NILE CRUISE Special entertainments on MS Tamr Henna including Belly Dancing & Nubian folklore shows, Egyptian Costume Party and daily afternoon tea on board
OPTIONAL EXCURSIONS
• Desert safari in Dubai including dune bashing, camel rides and barbecue dinner & belly dancing show for £80 per person (minimum 2 passengers required) • Full-day air excursion to UNESCO World Heritage Site Abu Simbel
44
B: Buffet Breakfast D: Dinner DP: Dinner Party L: Lunch DH: Dinner and Hotel DS: Dinner and Show
1-2
UK
A Dubai, UAE
Fly to Dubai, the best known of the seven emirates of the United Arab Emirates. On arrival on Day 2, you will be met by your guide and transferred to your hotel. This rest of the day is free to relax and explore this cosmopolitan city, famed for its manmade wonders, world-class entertainments and superlative beaches. Later, you’re invited on a memorable desert safari, including an exhilarating dune drive, a visit to a Bedouin desert camp, camel rides and a starlit barbecue dinner and belly-dancing show.
3
Dubai (B, L)
Today your sightseeing reveals the landmarks of this extravagant city, including the Dubai Museum, Jumeirah Public Beach and Palm Island. Other highlights include a boat ride across the picturesque Dubai Creek and time at the city’s busy spice and gold souks. Later, continue to the spectacular, sail-shaped Burj Al Arab hotel for lunch at Junsui, its stylish Far East Asian restaurant. After a shopping stop to the luxurious Dubai mall the rest of the day is spent at your leisure.
4
Dubai
A C airo (B)
Fly to Egypt’s spellbinding capital of Cairo today. The largest city in Africa, this vast metropolis is home to perhaps the world’s greatest array of ancient treasures. After arriving, transfer to your hotel for check-in and enjoy time free to relax or start delving into the city around you.
5
C airo (B, L)
Today starts at the mighty Pyramids and Sphinx of Giza, which stand on a plateau overlooking the Nile. Wonder at these age-old monoliths, each testifying to the technical prowess of their builders and their faith in immortality. Nearby is the mysterious Sphinx, whose lion body and human head is still a source of puzzlement to visitors. Next, visit the atmospheric Egyptian Museum to see the artefacts of Pharaohs such as Ramses II and the glorious burial treasures of Tutankhamun including his serene golden death mask. Other must-sees include the Citadel of Saladin, the Mosque of Mohammed Ali and Khan El Khalili bazaar, whose tangled streets are alive with the clamour of traders hawking exotic goods and foodstuffs.
6
C airo A Luxor B Nile Cruise (B, L, D)
Fly to Luxor where you’ll board your comfortable Nile cruise ship. After lunch on board, you’ll visit Luxor Temple, whose entrancing halls and sanctuaries sit beside the bustling corniche. You’ll also explore awe-inspiring Karnak – a gigantic temple complex that is the world’s largest religious site. Marvel at its spectacular Hypostyle Hall, where 134 huge columns tower high above like a forest.
7
Nile Cruise
B (B, L, D)
8
Nile Cruise
B (B, L, D)
9
Nile Cruise
B (B, L, D)
This morning admire the huge statues of the Colossi of Memnon, two 1,000-tonne sculptures of the Pharaoh Amonhotep III, which once guarded his long-gone mortuary temple. Next, continue to the incredible Temple of Queen Hatshepsut and Valley of the Kings, where the desert mountains are riddled with hieroglyphcoated corridors leading to the burial chambers of the Pharaohs. Enjoy dinner on board your ship. Today sail to Edfu to visit its magnificent temple. Dedicated to the falcon-headed god Horus, this beautifully preserved complex is Egypt’s largest after Karnak. After lunch on board your ship, you’ll sail to Kom Ombo where you’ll step ashore to view its beautiful riverside temple dedicated to both the crocodile Sobek and falcon-headed Horus. Your ship docks in Kom Ombo overnight. Cruise to Aswan this morning, passing great sand dunes and arid desert. Considered the prettiest of Egypt’s riverside towns, this laid-back place has a delightfully relaxed atmosphere. After lunch on your ship, enjoy a felucca ride around Elephantine Island, famous for its Botanical Garden, and the striking Mausoleum of the Aga Khan. Your ship docks in Aswan tonight.
10
Nile Cruise C airo (B, L)
11
C airo (B)
B Aswan A
Spend this morning at leisure or join our optional excursion to Abu Simbel and the Great Temple of Ramses II. This gargantuan edifice is fronted by four statues of Ramses and was dismantled at its original site and reassembled at its current location between the 1960s and 1980s to protect it from rising Lake Nasser. In Aswan, your day features visits to the Aswan High Dam, the island Temple of Philae and the Unfinished Obelisk, still lying in an ancient quarry. Later today, leave your cruise ship and fly to Cairo. A free day to relax and enjoy Cairo. Browse its bustling bazaars, churches or monuments or return to some of the sights visited yesterday. Alternatively, you may want to join our optional excursion to Alexandria. Overlooking the Mediterranean, this attractive city was established by Alexander Great 2,000 years ago and boasts a plethora of sights. Admire its white marble Roman amphitheatre, triumphal Pompey’s Pillar and 15th century Qaitbay Fort, the latter located where the city’s lighthouse, one of the wonders of the ancient world, once stood.
12 C airo A UK (B) Today transfer to the airport for your return flight to the UK.
EGYPT DISCOVERY
Cairo
10 Days 8 Nights
Luxor
SAUDI ARABIA
Nile River Cruise
EGYPT
Aswan
y pt The Giza Pyramid, Cairo, Eg
Tour Co
d e : LG D
i se Nile Cru ro (4) i a C : t i V is
1-2 UK A C airo, Egypt Fly to Cairo, Egypt’s immense and fascinating
(4 )
Taipei
capital. On arrival on Day 2, you will be met by your guide and transferred to your hotel. This rest of the day is free to relax and explore this animated and captivating city, home to probably the world’s greatest collection of ancient treasures.
Felucca Ride on Nile River, Aswan Depart UK Monday
Jan 27 Feb 24 Mar 24 Apr 21 May 19 Sep 22 Oct 20 Nov 17 Dec 01 Dec 29 * * * *
Land + Air
Total Price
Total Price
£1999 £1999 £1949 £1999 £1799 £1799 £2049 £2099 £2099 £2599
£1499 £1499 £1449 £1499 £1299 £1299 £1549 £1599 £1599 £1899
£670 £670 £620 £600 £440 £480 £650 £650 £650 £870
See page 50 for child prices Prices include all international and internal airfare based on London departures, fuel surcharges, taxes and fees Prices are per person in GBP based on two adults sharing one twin room Please visit www.rtholidays.co.uk for the most up-to- date prices
HOTELS
• Cairo 2 nights: ............................. Cairo Conrad • Nile River Cruise 4 nights: ....... MS Tamr Henna • Cairo 2 nights: ................... Fairmont Heliopolis
YOUR HOLIDAY INCLUDES
• All international and internal flights • Overseas airport transfers on arrival and departure • 4-night Nile cruise on MS Tamr Henna with shore excursions • 8 hotel and cruise ship buffet breakfasts, 6 restaurant lunches, 4 hotel, restaurant or cruise ship dinners • Comprehensive sightseeing tours including entrance fees • Services of an expert tour manager (for groups of 10+) & specialist local guides • Air-conditioned coach touring
HIGHLIGHTS
• CAIRO Sightseeing including guided tours of Pyramids & Sphinx at Giza & Egyptian Museum • NILE CRUISE Sightseeing including guided tours of Luxor & Karnak Temples, Valleys of the Kings & Queens, Temple of Philae & felucca boat trip on Nile in Aswan • NILE CRUISE Special entertainments on MS Tamr Henna including Belly Dancing & Nubian folklore shows, Egyptian Costume Party and daily afternoon tea on board
OPTIONAL EXCURSIONS
• Desert safari in Dubai including dune bashing, camel rides and barbecue dinner & belly dancing show for £80 per person • Full-day air excursion to UNESCO World Heritage Site Abu Simbel B: Buffet Breakfast D: Dinner DP: Dinner Party L: Lunch DH: Dinner and Hotel DS: Dinner and Show
3 C airo (B, L) Today your sightseeing showcases the best
of this beguiling city. Topping the agenda are the instantly recognisable Pyramids and Sphinx of Giza, which sit in splendour on a plateau above the western bank of the Nile. Marvel at these ancient monoliths, each testifying to the technical skills of their builders and their faith in immortality. Nearby is the enigmatic Sphinx, whose lion body and human head still has the power to bewitch and bewilder. Next, continue to the Egyptian Museum, a treasure chest of Pharaonic mummies and artefacts, including the burial riches and stunning golden funerary mask of Tutankhamun. Your tour also takes in the atmospheric streets and exotic stalls of Khan El Khalili bazaar, the imposing Citadel of Saladin and the Mosque of Mohammed Ali, whose great dome and minarets tower over the city.
4
C airo A Luxor B Nile Cruise (B, L, D)
Fly to Luxor to embark on your four-night Nile cruise. After boarding your comfortable cruise ship and lunch on board, your next stops are Luxor and Karnak temples. Luxor Temple is a magical ensemble of pillared chambers that was once linked to Karnak by an avenue of sphinxes. At Karnak, marvel at the massive collection of kiosks, obelisks and chambers, which date from the second millennium BC. Its wonders include the Hypostyle Hall, where 134 towering columns resemble a man-made forest.
5 Nile Cruise B (B, L, D) This morning is dedicated to the West Bank
and its stunning mortuary complexes and monuments. First is the huge Colossi of Memnon, a pair of 1,000-tonne statues depicting the Pharaoh Amonhotep III, which once guarded his mortuary temple. Next, continue to the stupendous Temple of Queen Hatshepsut and Valley of the Kings, where the mountains hide the burial places of some of Egypt’s most famous Pharaohs. Enter the corridors to some of the tombs and admire the stunning hieroglyphics intended to assist the dead in their journeys to the afterlife. Enjoy dinner tonight on your ship.
6 Nile Cruise B (B, L, D) Cruise to Edfu this morning to view its
Buried under sand for 2,000 years, this beautiful site is the largest Ptolemaic temple in Egypt and dedicated to the falcon-headed god Horus. After lunch on your ship you’ll sail to Kom Ombo to explore its fascinating temple, sitting in a beautiful spot beside the Nile. This Ptolemaic-Roman temple contains twin sanctuaries, one honouring the falcon god of Horus and the other the crocodile Sobek. Your ship docks in Kom Ombo overnight.
7DriftNile Cruise B (B, L, D) past arid desertscapes this morning as
you cruise to Aswan, Egypt’s most southerly city. This picturesque town sits on one of the prettiest stretches of the Nile, where whitesailed feluccas glide past lush islands and cave-dotted hills. After lunch on board, take a leisurely felucca ride around Elephantine Island, famed for its shady Botanical Garden, and the striking Mausoleum of the Aga Khan. Your ship docks in Aswan tonight.
8
Nile Cruise C airo (B, L)
B Aswan A
Spend this morning as you wish, perhaps enjoying your ship or exploring Aswan independently. Alternatively, take our optional excursion to Abu Simbel and the Great Temple of Ramses II. This gargantuan temple is fronted by four statues of Ramses and was moved to its current spot between the 1960s and 1980s after being dismantled at its original site, which was threatened by the rising Lake Nasser. In Aswan, your sightseeing includes the Aswan High Dam, which provides irrigation and electricity for all Egypt. Afterwards, admire the lovely Temple of Philae on Agilika Island and see the Unfinished Obelisk. The largest known ancient obelisk, this huge pillar still lies in its quarry after being abandoned by its cutters. Later, leave your cruise ship to fly back to Cairo.
9 C airo (B) A free day to relax and enjoy Cairo. Browse
its bustling bazaars, churches or monuments or return to some of the sights visited yesterday. Alternatively, you may want to join our optional excursion to Alexandria. Overlooking the Mediterranean, this attractive city was established by Alexander Great 2,000 years ago and boasts a plethora of sights. Admire its white marble Roman amphitheatre, triumphal Pompey’s Pillar and 15th century Qaitbay Fort, the latter located where the city’s lighthouse, one of the wonders of the ancient world, once stood.
10 C airo A UK (B) Today transfer to the airport for your return flight to the UK.
wonderfully preserved Temple of Horus.
45
City Packages & Extensions
Extend or create your perfect holiday.
Fancy visiting Hong Kong or another exciting city before or after your tour? Want to lounge on the beach after your sightseeing? Or keen to jet off on an amazing multi-centre holiday? Whatever you have in mind, we make it easy to create your ideal holiday with a range of fantastic city breaks that let you stretch out your tour or build a dream itinerary from scratch.
Browse our affordable city packages here and add them as a pre-tour or post-tour break to extend your time away. Or why not combine them into one amazing multi-centre holiday? Almost anything and everything is possible – just speak to our travel specialists who will help put together your perfect getaway.
BEIJING — 4 Days 3 Nights
Your itinerary
* Day 1: Airport meet & transfer to hotel * Day 2: Full-day tour & lunch: Forbidden City, Temple of Heaven, Summer Palace * Day 3: Tour & lunch: Great Wall Badaling, Ming Tombs Museum * Day 4: Airport transfer
XIAN — 3 Days 2 Nights
China’s fascinating capital offers awe-inspiring sightseeing, from the imposing Forbidden City to the majestic Great Wall.
Home to the remarkable Terracotta Warriors, walled Xian offers much more besides, from soaring pagodas to grand monuments.
Arrival Date
Arrival Date
Package Single Extra Price Supp. Night
New Otani (5H) Mar 01~31
£250
£140
£95
Apr 01~Aug 29
£230
£120
£80
Aug 30~Nov 15
£250
£140
£95
Nov 16~Mar 15, 2015 £210
£100
£70
£300
£200
Grand Hyatt (5H) Apr 01~May 31
£410
Jun 01~Aug 29
£350
£240
£160
Aug 30~Sep 30
£410
£300
£200
£310 * Price is per person based on double Oct 01~05 £410 occupancy and shared coach travel Oct 06~Nov 15 * 3 nights’ hotel stay, including Nov 16~Feb 28, 2015 £310 daily breakfast * Sightseeing tour excludes Tiananmen Square * Private touring available for £70 per person (includes a stop at Tiananmen Square)
£200
£130
£300
£200
£200
£130
Features
Grand Noble (5H)
Your itinerary
* Day 1: Airport meet & transfer to hotel * Day 2: Tour & lunch: Terracotta Warriors, Big Wild Goose Pagoda, Bell Tower * Day 3: Airport transfer * Price is per person based on double occupancy and private sightseeing tour * 2 nights’ hotel stay, including daily breakfast
* Day 1: Airport meet & transfer to hotel * Day 2: Full-day tour: Yu Garden, Bund, Jade Buddha Temple, Nanjing Road, Shanghai Museum * Day 3: Airport transfer
Features
* Price is per person based on double occupancy and private sightseeing tour * 2 nights’ hotel stay, including daily breakfast * Optional tour to Suzhou, visiting Humble Administrator’s Garden, Grand Canal & Silk Factory, for £60 per person on a shared coach basis, including lunch. Minimum 2 persons required
46
£160
£40
£40
Apr 01~29
£170
£55
£55
Apr 30~May 31
£190
£70
£70
Jun 01~Aug 30
£170
£55
£55
Aug 31~Oct 31
£190
£70
£70
Nov 01~Feb 27, 2015
£160
£40
£40
Feb 28~Mar 30, 2015 £160
£40
£40 £55
Mar 01~31
£170
£55
Apr 01~29
£190
£70
£70
Apr 30~May 31
£210
£95
£95
Jun 01~Aug 30
£190
£70
£70
Aug 31~Oct 31
£140
£95
£95
Nov 01~Feb 27, 2015
£170
£55
£55
Feb 28~Mar 30, 2015 £170
£55
£55
GUILIN — 3 Days 2 Nights
Exciting Shanghai is the world’s fastestgrowing city and has the spaceage skyscrapers and intoxicating atmosphere to match.
Your itinerary
Mar 01~31
Sheraton North City (5H)
Features
SHANGHAI — 3 Days 2 Nights
Arrival Date
Package Single Extra Price Supp. Night
Famed for its magical karst landscapes, Guilin is a scenic showstopper and offers one of the most beautiful river journeys on earth.
Package Single Extra Price Supp. Night
Arrival Date
Marriott City Center (5H) Mar 01~31
£200
£90
£90
Apr 01~May 31
£210
£100
£100
Jun 01~Aug 30
£230
£90
£90
Aug 31~Nov 30
£200
£100
£100
Dec 01~Feb 28, 2015 £200
£90
£90
Package Single Extra Price Supp. Night
Sheraton Hotel (5H)
Your itinerary
* Day 1: Airport meet & transfer to hotel * Day 2: Li River cruise with lunch on board * Day 3: Half-day tour: Reed Flute Cave, Elephant Trunk Hill, followed by airport transfer
Features
* Price is per person based on double occupancy and shared coach travel * 2 nights’ hotel stay, including daily breakfast * Private tour surcharge of £80 per person
Mar 01~31
£200
£80
£80
Apr 01~Aug 30
£210
£90
£90
Aug 31~Oct 31
£230
£110
£110
Nov 01~Mar 31, 2015 £200
£80
£80 £100
Shangri-La Hotel (5H) Mar 01~31
£220
£100
Apr 01~Aug 30
£230
£110
£110
Aug 31~Oct 31
£260
£140
£140
Nov 01~Mar 31, 2015 £220
£100
£100
City Package Features • • • • • •
All our city breaks include hotel accommodation and daily breakfast, plus sightseeing tours as specified & round-trip airport-hotel transfers No airfares included – to add international or domestic flights, call us on 0207 484 8771 or email: info@rtholidays.co.uk Prices based on minimum requirement of 2 persons Additional nights available on per-room basis, including daily breakfast for 2 people Sightseeing tours and transfers on seat-in-coach or shared coach basis Private sightseeing tours available for extra charge on request
CHENGDU — 3 Days 2 Nights
BANGKOK — 4 Days 3 Nights
Chengdu is best known for its Giant Panda Breeding Research Centre, where you can see these rare creatures close-up, and its spicy local cuisine – two great reasons to visit.
Your itinerary
* Day 1: Airport meet & transfer to hotel * Day 2: Tour & lunch: Giant Panda Centre, Wuhou Shrine, Wide & Narrow Lanes * Day 3: Airport transfer
Arrival Date
Experience enchanting Bangkok, sailing through floating markets, visiting the Grand Palace and absorbing its exotic culture. Arrival Date
Package Single Extra Price Supp. Night
Crowne Plaza Hotel Chengdu Jan 01~Aug 30
£230
£95
£95
Sep 01~Oct 31
£250
£110
£110
Nov 01~Dec 31
£230
£95
£95
Features
* Price is per person based on double occupancy and shared coach travel * 2 nights’ hotel stay, including daily breakfast * Additional charges for stays during trade fairs may apply
Package Single Extra Price Supp. Night
Dusit Thani Bangkok
Your itinerary
* Day 1: Airport meet & transfer to hotel, welcome dinner show * Day 2: Half-day tour & lunch: Damnoen Saduak Floating Market * Day 3: Sightseeing tour & lunch: Grand Palace, Emerald Buddha Temple, Reclining Buddha Temple, Gems & Thai Silk Factory * Day 4: Airport transfer
Features
Mar 01~29
£230
£130
£120
MAr 30~Oct 29
£240
£140
£120
Oct 30~Mar 31, 2015
£250
£150
£120
Sofitel Sukhumvit Bangkok Mar 01~29
£280
£180
Mar 30~Oct 29
£280
£180
£120 £120
Oct 30~Mar 31, 2015
£300
£200
£130
The Peninsula Bangkok Mar 01~29
£540
£440
£295
Mar 30*~Oct 29*
£400
£300
£200
Oct 30~Dec 24
£540
£440
£295
* Price is per person based on double Dec 25~Jan 02, 2015 occupancy and shared coach travel Jan 03~Mar 29, 2015 £540 * 3 nights’ hotel stay, including daily breakfast
BLACK OUT
£440
£295
* Special period requires at least 90 days advance booking
HONG KONG — 3 Days 2 Nights Arrival Date
Kowloon Hotel
Soak up exhilarating Hong Kong, sampling its dazzling shopping and food scene and visiting its most celebrated landmarks.
Your itinerary
Mar 07~30 Mar 31~Apr 09 Apr 10~30 May 01~Sep 02 Sep 03~Oct 09 Oct 10~31 Nov 01~17 Nov 18~Dec 18 Dec 19~22 Dec 23~Jan 01, 2015 Jan 02~19, 2015 Jan 20~Mar 05, 2015 Mar 06~Mar 30, 2015
Apr 01~30 May 01~Sep 12 * Price is per person based on double Sep 13~Oct 10 occupancy and shared coach travel Oct 11~Nov 15 * 2 nights’ hotel stay, including daily Nov 16~Dec 22 breakfast Dec 23~31 * Airport-hotel transfers by hotel or Jan 01~14, 2015 airport shuttle bus or airport Jan 15~Feb 27, 2015 Feb 28~Mar 30, 2015 express train
Discover Thailand’s charming northern capital, witnessing its stunning mountain landscapes and cultural riches and riding an elephant through its lush forests.
Package Single Extra Price Supp. Night £210 £220 £270 £180 £220 £270 £220 £180 £220 £270 £220 £180 £220
£170 £170 £220 £130 £170 £220 £170 £130 £170 £220 £170 £130 £170
£170 £170 £220 £130 £170 £220 £170 £130 £170 £220 £170 £130 £170
£270 £240 £270 £320 £240 £320 £320 £240 £270
£320 £270 £240 £270 £320 £240 £320 £320 £240 £270
* Day 1: Airport meet & transfer to hotel * Day 2: Half-day sightseeing tour: Victoria Peak, Stanley Market, Repulse Bay, Aberdeen Floating Kowloon Shangri-La Hotel Community Mar 01~31 £370 £320 * Day 3: Airport transfer
Features
CHIANG MAI — 4 Days 3 Nights
£310 £390 £310 £370 £390 £370 £370 £290 £310
Your itinerary
* Day 1: Airport meet & transfer to hotel, Khantoke Lanna welcome dinner show * Day 2: Full-day sightseeing & lunch: Doi Suthep Temple, Thai Handicraft Village * Day 3: Half-day elephant camp tour & lunch: see elephants demonstrate their skills with 30 min. elephant ride in jungle * Day 4: Airport transfer
Arrival Date
Package Single Extra Price Supp. Night
The Empress Chiang Mai Mar 01~Apr 15
£190
£70
£55
Apr 16~Oct 29
£180
£60
£55
Oct 30~Mar 31, 2015
£190
£70
£70 £110
Le Meridian Chiang Mai Mar 01~Apr 15
£280
£160
Apr 16~Oct 29
£260
£140
£95
Oct 30~Mar 31, 2015
£280
£160
£110
Features
* Price is per person based on double occupancy and shared coach travel * 3 nights’ hotel stay, including daily breakfast
47
City Packages & Extensions City Package Features Extend or create your perfect holiday. • • • • • •
All our city breaks include hotel accommodation and daily breakfast, plus sightseeing tours as specified & round-trip airport-hotel transfers No airfares included – to add international or domestic flights, call us on 0207 484 8771 or email info@rtholidays.co.uk Prices based on minimum requirement of 2 persons Additional nights available on per-room basis, including daily breakfast for 2 people Sightseeing tours and transfers on seat-in-coach or shared coach basis Private sightseeing tours available for extra charge on request
PHUKET — 4 Days 3 Nights
HANOI — 4 Days 3 Nights
Relax amid the white beaches, turquoise waters and upbeat markets and temples of Phuket, Thailand’s most popular holiday island.
Enliven your senses in evocative Hanoi, Vietnam’s capital, enjoying its French colonial boulevards, monuments and bewitching old quarter.
Arrival Date
Arrival Date
Package Single Extra Price Supp. Night
Novotel Phuket Resort near Patong Beach Mar 01~31
£290
£220
£150
Apr 01~Oct /29
£200
£130
£90
* Day 1: Airport meet & transfer to hotel * Day 2: City tour & lunch: Wat Chalong temple, Downtown Phuket, Rawai Beach & Promthep Cape * Day 3: At your leisure * Day 4: Airport transfer
Oct 30~Dec 17
£250
£180
£120
Dec 18~Jan 20, 2015
£350
£280
£190
Jan 21~Mar 29, 2015
£290
£220
£150
Features
Mar 01~31
£370
£300
£200
Apr 01~Oct 29
£270
£200
£130
Oct 30~Dec 17
£330
£260
£170
Dec 18~Jan 20, 2015
£610
£540
£360
Jan 21~Mar 29, 2015
£400
£330
£220
Your itinerary
* Price is per person based on double occupancy and shared coach travel * 3 nights’ hotel stay, including daily breakfast
* Dec 24~Jan 10, 2015 Minimum 7 night stay required * Dec 24 & Dec 31 Compulsory Gala Dinner not included
Hilton Phuket Arcadia Resort & Spa
* Dec 24~Jan 10, 2015 Minimum 7 night stay required * Dec 24 & Dec 31 Compulsory Gala Dinner not included
Pullman Hanoi Hotel
Your itinerary
Apr 01~Mar 29, 2015
* Day 1: Airport meet & transfer to hotel * Day 2: Sightseeing tour & lunch: Temple of Literature, Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum, Ho Chi Minh’s Stilt House, Museum of Ethnology, Hoan Kiem Lake, Ngoc Son Temple, Tortoise Pagoda. Pass by Opera House & St Joseph’s Cathedral. * Day 3: Free at leisure * Day 4: Airport transfer
£270
Sheraton Hanoi Hotel
£120
£80
Mar 01~31
£320
£200
£130
Apr 01~Mar 29, 2015
£280
£160
£110
£180
£120
Hilton Hanol Opera Mar 01~Mar 29, 2015 £340
Features
* PPrice is per person based on double occupancy and shared coach travel * 3 nights’ hotel stay, including daily breakfast
SAIGON (HO CHI MINH CITY) — 4 Days 3 Nights
HANOI & SAIGON (HO CHI MINH CITY) 6 Days 5 Nights
Explore the historic sights, colonial grandeur and teeming streets and bazaars of spellbinding Saigon, Vietnam’s largest city.
Savour the landmarks and street theatre of Hanoi, Vietnam’s historic capital, before discovering bustling Saigon on this incredible two-in-one package.
Arrival Date
Hanoi Pullman Hanoi & Saigon Renaissance Riverside Hotel
Arrival Date
Package Single Extra Price Supp. Night
Your itinerary
Mar 01~29
£320
£240
£160
Mar 30~Mar 29, 2015 £330
£240
£160
£240
£160
£260
£170
* Day 1: Airport meet & transfer to hotel * Day 2: Half-day sightseeing tour: Sofitel Saigon Plaza Reunification Palace, Emperor Mar 01~31 £360 of Jade Pagoda, Notre Dame Apr 01~Mar 29, 2015 £370 Cathedral, Post Office, Ben Thanh Market and pass by City Hall and Opera House * Day 3: Half-day tour: Cu Chi Tunnels * Day 4: Airport transfer
Features
* Price is per person based on double occupancy and shared coach travel * 3 nights’ hotel stay, including daily breakfast
Package Single Extra Pre-night Pre-night Price Supp. Night Hanoi Saigon
Mar 01~Mar 26, 2015 £650
Renaissance Riverside Hotel Saigon
48
Package Single Extra Price Supp. Night
£270
£270
£80
Hanoi Sheraton Hotel & Saigon Sofitel Plaza Mar 01~Mar 26, 2015 £680
£350
£350
£130
Hanoi Hilton Opera & Saigon Sofitel Plaza
Your itinerary
Mar 01~Mar 26, 2015 £760
£370
£370
£120
£160 £170 £170
* Day 1: Meet at Hanoi airport, transfer to hotel * Day 2: Sightseeing tour visiting Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum, Ho Chi Minh Stilt House, Ho Chi Minh Memorial complex, Temple of Literature, Museum of Ethnology, Hoan Kiem Lake, Ngoc Son Temple, Tortoise Pagoda, plus drive past Opera House & St. Joseph’s Cathedral * Day 3: Day free to explore at your leisure * Day 4: Airport transfer and flight to Saigon. Airport meet and sightseeing tour visiting Dong Khoi Street, Notre Dame Cathedral, Central Post Office, Reunification Palace, War Remnants Museum, Emperor of Jade Pagoda, plus drive past City Hall & Opera House. Afternoon sightseeing tour visiting Chinatown (Cholon), Binh Tay Market, Thien Hua Pagoda, Ben Thanh Market * Day 5: Excursion to Cu Chi Tunnels * Day 6: Airport transfer
Features
* Price is per person based on double occupancy and shared coach travel * 5 nights’ hotel stay, including daily breakfast
GENERAL INFORMATION & CONDITIONS THESE ARE THE TERMS AND CONDITIONS WHICH SHALL APPLY TO YOUR BOOKING. PLEASE READ THEM CAREFULLY AS YOU WILL BE BOUND BY THEM.
1. INTRODUCTION- YOUR HOLIDAY CONTRACT
Your contract is with Ritz Tours Ltd. trading as RT Holidays (registered No. 05427487) whose registered address is 8 Duncannon Street, Golden Cross House, London, WC2N 4JF. Your contract shall incorporate these terms and conditions and by making a booking with us you confirm your acceptance of these terms and conditions to the exclusion of any other terms and conditions which you may seek to apply to the contract. In these Terms & Conditions references to “you” and “your” include the first named person on the booking and all persons on whose behalf a booking is made or any other person to whom a booking is added or transferred. By making a booking, the first named person on the booking agrees on behalf of all persons detailed on the booking that:• He/she has read these terms and conditions and has the authority to and does agree to be bound by them; • He/she consents to our use of information in accordance with our Privacy Policy; • He/she is over 18 years of age and a resident in the United Kingdom and where placing an order for services with age restrictions declares that he/she and all members of the party are of the appropriate age to purchase those services. A booking is made with us when a) you tell us that you would like to accept our written or verbal quotation; and b) you pay us a deposit (If you are booking within 60 days of departure, full payment is due at the time of booking); and c) we issue you with a booking confirmation. We reserve the right to return your deposit and decline to issue a confirmation at our absolute discretion. A binding contract will come into existence between you and us as soon as we have issued you with a booking confirmation that will confirm the details of your booking and will be sent to you or your travel agent. If your confirmed arrangements include a flight, we (or if you booked via an authorised agent of ours, that agent) will issue you with an ATOL Certificate and a confirmation invoice. Upon receipt, if you believe that any details on the ATOL Certificate or confirmation invoice or any other document are wrong you must advise us immediately as changes cannot be made later or may result in additional costs. Any money paid to an authorised agent of ours in respect of a booking covered by our ATOL is held by that agent on behalf of and for the benefit of the Trustees of the Air Travel Trust at all times, but subject to the agent’s obligation to pay it to us for so long as we do not fail financially. If we do fail financially, any money held at that time by the agent or subsequently accepted from the consumer by the agent, is and continues to be held by that agent on behalf of and for the benefit of the Trustees of the Air Travel Trust without any obligation to pay that money to us.
2. LAW AND JURISDICTION
These terms and conditions and any agreement to which they apply are governed in all respects by English law. We both agree that any dispute, claim or other matter which arises between us out of or in connection with your contract will be dealt with by the Courts of England and Wales only.
3. BOOKING YOUR HOLIDAY
• Many airlines require the full name of all passengers travelling. We will therefore ask you at the time of booking to provide us with the full name of each passenger as it appears in the passport. • Special Requests, such as meal, room type, or flight seat requests should be indicated over the phone or in writing. We will pass your request on to the hotel, airline or relevant supplier but cannot guarantee that it will be accommodated. We recommend that you check directly with the airline once your tickets have been issued to confirm dietary requests. RT Holidays shall not be held liable if any Special Request is not met. The provision of any Special Request does not constitute a term of your contract with us unless we have confirmed your request in writing. • It is important for you to check the details on the confirmation invoice as soon as you receive it. • If your booking is made through a Travel Agent, RT Holidays will address all communications to your travel agent, who acts as an agent for all communications from us to you. All payments made to the travel agent will be held by the travel agent until the payment is forwarded to RT Holidays. • `Before making a booking we advise you to check advice on your preferred destination issued by the Foreign & Commonwealth Office by visiting their website: https://www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice or calling the Foreign Office Travel Advice Unit on 0845 850 2829.
4. FINANCIAL PROTECTION
RT Holidays is a member of the International Air Transport Association (IATA no. 91-2-84362), ABTA (ABTA no. Y1472) and we hold an ATOL Licence (ATOL no. 9513) granted by the Civil Aviation Authority. We provide financial security for flight inclusive Packages and ATOL protected flights. We do this by way of a bond held in favour of the Civil Aviation Authority under ATOL number 9513. When you buy an ATOL protected flight or flight inclusive holiday from us you will receive an ATOL Certificate. This lists the flight, accommodation, car hire and/or other services that are financially protected, where you can get information on what this means for you and who to contact if things go wrong. For further information, visit the ATOL website at www.atol.org.uk. The price of our flight inclusive arrangements includes the amount of £2.50 per person as part of the ATOL Protection Contribution (APC) we pay to the CAA. This charge is included in our advertised prices. Not all holiday or travel services offered and sold by us will be protected by the ATOL Scheme. ATOL protection extends primarily to Customers who book and pay in the United Kingdom. We, or the suppliers identified on your ATOL Certificate, will provide you with the services listed on the ATOL Certificate (or a suitable alternative). In some cases, where neither we nor the supplier are able to do so for reasons of insolvency, an alternative ATOL holder may provide you with the services you have bought or a suitable alternative (at no extra cost to you). You agree to accept that in those circumstances the alternative ATOL holder will perform those obligations and you agree to pay any money outstanding to be paid by you under your contract to that alternative ATOL holder. However, you also agree that in some cases it will not be possible to appoint an alternative ATOL holder, in which case you will be entitled to make a claim under the ATOL scheme (or your credit card issuer where applicable). We provide financial security for holidays not including flights by way of a bond held with ABTA.
5. PAYMENT
• Deposit Requirement: A deposit of £300 per person is required at the time of booking of the reservation, payable by credit card, debit card, bank transfer, or cheque. The reservation will automatically be cancelled if the deposit is not received by RT Holidays within 7 days after booking the reservation. • Final Payment: Final payment of the total tour fare is due 60 days prior to your departure date. If you book less than 60 days before your departure date, final payment is due upon booking. If your payment is not received by the due date, the reservation will be subject to cancellation and deposit will be forfeited. • Payments may be made by credit card, debit card, bank transfer, or cheque (please allow 5 working days from the time we receive it for the cheque to clear). • No additional charges will be applied for payments made by debit card. Payments made by credit card will be charged an additional 2% of the total payment due.
6. IF YOU CANCEL YOUR HOLIDAY
As we incur costs from the time we confirm your booking, the following cancellation charges will be payable. Booking fees, insurance premiums and amendment charges are not refundable in the event of the person(s) to whom they apply cancels their reservation.
The following fee will be assessed per person accordingly when you cancel your reservation: A. £50 120 or more days prior to departure B. £100 60 - 119 days prior to departure C. £150 30 - 59 days prior to departure D. £250 15 - 29 days prior to departure E. £500 3 - 14 days prior to departure F. Full tour fare Within 48 hours prior to departure & no shows on day of departure • Written notice of cancellation must be received by RT Holidays either by mail, fax, or e-mail. Your notice of cancellation will only be effective when it is received in writing by us and acknowledged. • In addition to the above stated cancellation charges, if tickets for airlines, cruises, hotels or trains have already been issued or final confirmation has been received at the time of cancellation (regardless of number of days prior to departure), the traveller will be wholly liable for any additional airline, hotel, cruise line, or train cancellation penalty/s and service charge/s pursuant to the supplier’s rules and regulations. • In the event of cancellation by your travel companion or roommate, you will be responsible for the additional resultant single supplement • Note: Certain arrangements may not be amended after they have been confirmed and any alteration could incur a cancellation charge of up to 100% of that part of the arrangements.
7. IF WE CANCEL YOUR HOLIDAY
It is unlikely that we will have to make any changes to your travel arrangements, but we do plan the arrangements many months in advance. Occasionally, we may have to make changes and we reserve the right to do so at any time. Most of these changes will be minor and we will advise you or your travel agent of them at the earliest possible date. We also reserve the right in any circumstances to cancel your travel arrangements. For example, if the minimum number of clients required for a particular travel arrangement is not reached, we may have to cancel it. However, we will not cancel your travel arrangements less than 60 days before your departure date, except for reasons of force majeure or failure by you to pay the final balance. Most alterations will be minor and while we will do our best to notify you or your travel agent of any changes as soon as reasonably possible if there is time before your departure, we will have no other liability to you. Examples of “minor changes” include the following when made before departure: • Any change in the advertised identity of the carrier(s), flight timings, and/or aircraft type. • A change of outward departure time or overall length of your holiday of twelve hours or less. • A change of accommodation to another of the same standard or classification. Occasionally we may have to make a major change to your confirmed arrangements. ”Examples of “major changes” include the following, when made before departure; • A change of accommodation area for the whole or a significant part of your time away. • A change of accommodation (including cruise ships) to that of a lower standard or classification for the whole or a significant part of your time away. • A significant change to your itinerary, missing out one or more destination entirely. If we have to make a major change or cancel, we will tell you as soon as possible and if there is time to do so before departure, we will offer you the choice of: • (for major changes) accepting the changed arrangements, • having a refund of all monies paid; or • accepting an offer of alternative travel arrangements of comparable standard from us, if available (we will refund any price difference if the alternative is of a lower value). You must notify us of your choice within 7 days of our offer. If you fail to do so we will assume that you have chosen to accept the change or alternative booking arrangements. Very rarely, we may be forced by “force majeure” (see clause 34) to change or terminate your arrangements after departure. If this situation does occur, we regret we will be unable to make any refunds (unless we obtain any from our suppliers), pay you compensation or meet any costs or expenses you incur as a result. If we become unable to provide a significant proportion of the services that you have booked with us after you have departed, we will make alternative arrangements for you at no extra charge.
8. PRICE POLICY
All prices quoted in this brochure are in UK Pounds Sterling and are based on tariffs and rates of currency exchange in effect on 1 November 2013. These prices are subject to change as deemed necessary and fair by RT Holidays before you book. The price of your confirmed holiday is subject at all times to changes in transport costs such as fuel, and any other airline cost changes which are part of our contracts with airlines (and their agents), cruise ship operators and any other transport provider; and to changes in the currency exchange used to calculate your arrangements and to rates, dues, taxes or fees chargeable for services such as landing taxes or embarkation or disembarkation fees at ports and airports any or all of which may result in a variation of your holiday price. We will absorb and you will not be charged for any increase equivalent to 2% of the price of your travel arrangements, which excludes insurance premiums and any amendment charges and/or additional services or travel arrangements. You will be charged for the amount over and above that, plus an administration charge of £1.00 per person together with an amount to cover agents’ commission. If this means that you have to pay an increase of more than 10% of the price of your confirmed travel arrangements (excluding any insurance premiums, amendment charges and/or additional services or travel arrangements), you will have the option of accepting a change to another holiday if we are able to offer one (if this is of equivalent or higher price you will not have to pay more but if it is of lower quality you will be refunded the difference in price), or cancelling and receiving a full refund of all monies paid to us, except for any insurance premiums and any amendment charges and/or additional services or travel arrangements. Should you decide to cancel for this reason, you must exercise your right to do so within 14 days from the issue date printed on your final invoice. There will be no change made to the price of your confirmed holiday within 30 days of your departure nor will refunds be paid during this period. Should the price of your holiday go down due to the changes mentioned above, by more than 2% of your confirmed holiday cost, then any refund due will be paid to you. However, please note that travel arrangements are not always purchased in local currency and some apparent changes have no impact on the price of your travel due to contractual and other protection in place.
9. DEPARTURE GUARANTEE
If the total number of tour members should fall below ten persons, then RT Holidays reserves the right operate as a locally hosted tour and clients may join other tour members arriving from the United States on the same tour itinerary. (LPH, LPE, LDX, LDZ, LDV, LDR, LDU, LDT, LAA, LIB, LID, LGB require a minimum of 6 passengers to depart. LAM, LAF, LAY, LGD require a minimum of 2 passengers to depart.) Many tours with departure dates that are not guaranteed may be operated as private tours for an additional surcharge; please check with your agent at time of booking if this is possible.
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GENERAL INFORMATION & CONDITIONS 10. AIR TRANSPORTATION
All tours include international airfare based on London departures. All clients are responsible for purchasing their own airfare from their hometown city to London. Clients may choose to use the services of RT Holidays to purchase domestic add-on flights from gateways outside of London or any other additional flights. • Please consult your travel agent or RT Holidays regarding a quote for UK domestic add-on airfare if you are departing from any city other than London. • Clients purchasing their own UK domestic air add-ons do so at their own risk. RT Holidays reserves the right to change the airline(s) used at any time. • Airline selection and air routing is at the sole discretion of RT Holidays for all tour packages and may be subject to change at any point up until airline tickets have been issued by RT Holidays • Domestic China, Southeast Asia, Cambodia, Myanmar (Burma), India and Egypt airfare is included for all tours unless otherwise stated • All fuel surcharges and government taxes/fees associated with airline tickets are included in the tour package price and are subject to change at any time during the year at the discretion of the airlines and/or relevant government authority. Clients are responsible for any such extra charges should they occur (see clause 8). • Air fare is subject to availability at time of booking. • City packages do not include any international or domestic air fare unless otherwise specified.
11. HOTEL ACCOMMODATION
• Hotel accommodation is based on two adults sharing one twin bedded room. • A customer who travels alone is required to pay a single supplement rate. A single room is subject to availability based on prior request. • When the hotel listed in the brochure is not available, a similar category hotel will be substituted without prior notice. • Check-in-time is 14:00 at the hotel on the first day of the tour and may vary for each hotel. • Check-out-time is 12:00 at the hotel on the last day of the tour and may vary for each hotel.
12. MEALS
Meals will be provided in hotels, local restaurants, on board cruise ships or on board domestic or international flights as specified in the itinerary.
13. SIGHTSEEING
While the sightseeing programme is specified in the itinerary, its final arrangements will be determined by the tour manager or local tour escort based on local circumstances which are beyond the control of RT Holidays, such as weather, acts of God, dangers, incidents at sea, fire, breakdown in machinery or equipment, acts of government or authorities and wars under local conditions. However, we will try to adhere to the original itinerary as accurately as possible.
14. ADMISSIONS/ENTRANCE FEES
All necessary main entrance fees for the programmes or places specified in the itinerary will be included.
15. AIRPORT TRANSFERS
Roundtrip airport-hotel transfers are included with all escorted tour packages. For clients who elect to purchase land only packages which do not include return international airfare, overseas airport arrival and departure transfers will not be included in the tour package and may be purchased at an additional cost.
16. TOUR FARE DOES NOT INCLUDE:
Airfare from your hometown to London; tips; meals not mentioned in the brochure; insurance premiums; charges arising from deviation; any expenses due to delay or changes of schedule, overbooking of accommodation, default of any third parties, sickness, weather, strike, acts of God, acts of terrorism, force majeure, acts of governments, civil disturbances, war, quarantine, customs regulations, epidemics, criminal activity or for any other cause beyond RT Holidays’ control; any personal charges such as passport and visa fees, excess baggage charges, phone bills, postage, laundry, drinks, etc.
17. TRAVEL INSURANCE
We strongly recommend that you have appropriate travel insurance for events such as medical emergencies, personal injury, repatriation expenses, medical expenses, travel and baggage delay and to cover loss of personal belongings. The cost of the tour fare does not include insurance. We are an Introducer Appointed Representative of ABTASure (Citybond Suretravel) for the purchase of travel insurance and have negotiated a special 10% discount on the Single Trip and Annual Multi-Trip policies when purchased online. For a quotation please visit www.abtasure.co.uk or, alternatively, please call 0845 6180380 to receive a 5% discount on all policies. You will need to quote reference RTH01 in all communications. See details of coverage in this brochure or at www.abtasure.co.uk. It is your responsibility to ensure that the insurance cover you purchase is suitable and adequate for your particular needs. RT Holidays accepts no responsibility for cost, which may occur as a result of a client failing to secure adequate insurance coverage. Generally, your health insurance does not cover expenses outside the UK.
GENERAL CONDITIONS 18. UNUSED SERVICES
Any unused services or tour features either on air transportation or for land arrangements are not refundable or exchangeable.
19. SPECIAL REQUESTS & MEDICAL CONDITIONS
If you have any special request, you must advise us at the time of booking. Although we will endeavour to pass any reasonable requests on to the relevant supplier, we regret we cannot guarantee any request will be met. Failure to meet any special request will not be a breach of contract on our part. Confirmation that a special request has been noted or passed on to the supplier or the inclusion of the special request on your confirmation invoice or any other documentation is not confirmation that the request will be met. Unless and until specifically confirmed, all special requests are subject to availability. We regret we cannot accept any conditional bookings, i.e. any booking which is specified to be conditional on the fulfilment of a particular request. All such bookings will be treated as “standard” bookings subject to the above provisions on special requests. If you or any member of your party is pregnant or has any medical condition or disability which may affect your holiday, please tell us before you confirm your booking so that we can advise as to the suitability of the chosen arrangements. In any event, you must give us full details in writing at the time of booking. If we reasonably feel unable to properly accommodate the particular needs of the person concerned, we must reserve the right to decline their reservation or, if full details are not given at the time of booking, cancel when we become aware of these details. Clients may bring a fully collapsible wheelchair or walker on tour. Non-collapsible wheelchairs and walkers cannot be carried on tour buses, due to space limitations. We regret that we cannot provide individual assistance to a tour member for walking, dining, getting on/off tour buses and other transportation vehicles, or other personal needs. A qualified travel companion must accompany travellers who need assistance. Motor coaches and other transfer vehicles are not equipped with wheelchair ramps. RT Holidays reserves the right to exclude passengers who are physically or mentally unfit to undertake long trips, in the interest of the whole tour group.
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20. BAGGAGE
Baggage is at owner’s risk throughout and baggage insurance is recommended. RT Holidays is not responsible for loss, theft, damage or delay to passenger’s luggage. For up-to-date baggage allowance restrictions, always check with the appropriate airline for the latest regulations. Baggage allowance varies by airline and is subject to change at any time. Some airlines may impose additional charges if you choose to check in any baggage. Please contact your airline or refer to its website for detailed information regarding your airline’s checked baggage policies prior to departure. Baggage allowance on China or overseas internal flights may vary from baggage allowance on international flights. Excess baggage charge and insurance is at the owner’s responsibility. Please ask RT Holidays if you would like a list of your confirmed carriers for China or overseas internal flights prior to departure in order to check baggage restrictions.
21. TOUR MANAGER
When the group size is more than 10 persons, a tour manager throughout the tour (from arrival in the first city until departure in the last city on the tour programme) will be included for China, Southeast Asia, India and Egypt tours. Hong Kong programmes are locally guided and will not include services of a throughout guide. When the tour size should fall below 10 persons, the tour will be locally hosted with a local guide in each city.
22. TRAVEL DOCUMENTS/TICKETS
In general, all travel documents will be sent to you approximately 21 days prior to departure via first class post. Overnight delivery can be arranged at additional cost. If we obtained the entry visa for you, the passport will be sent with the travel documents by special or recorded delivery. The issuance of tickets and vouchers to you shall be deemed to be consent to the Terms and Conditions. If you would like your documents shipped to an additional address a fee of £10 will be charged per additional address. RT Holidays is not responsible for any lost or mis-delivered packages or packages for which the incorrect shipping address has been provided.
23. DEVIATION CHARGE
One change is allowed free of charge after your reservation is confirmed, based on availability. £50 will be charged for each of the subsequent changes. Once documents / tickets have been issued, no change is permitted.
24. PASSPORT & VISAS
All clients must be in possession of a valid passport required for entry, departure and travel through each destination along the itinerary of the tour. All passports must be valid for at least 6 months past the return date of your trip. Please consult with your travel agent or RT Holidays if you have a non-UK passport. Entry visa is required for UK passport holders going to China, Cambodia, India, Egypt, Myanmar and Vietnam. The client accepts full responsibility for obtaining all necessary documents, visas and permits prior to the tour departure, and is solely responsible for any adverse consequences resulting from missing proper documentation. Other requirements and fees may be applicable for non-UK passport holders. China: Visa and processing fees of £95 for a single entry China visa with validity of 3 months from the issuance date and valid for a stay of up to 30 days from the date of entry. Mail original passport along with one passport size colour photo and completed China visa application form to RT Holidays at least 45 days prior to departure. Cambodia: You can obtain a visa on arrival at most ports of entry (payment in USD only). Visitors must bring 2 colour passport photos. Alternatively you may apply for an “e-visa” online at http://evisa.mfaic.gov.kh/ for $28USD. India: Passengers must apply for their India visa themselves by completing the online application at http:// in.vfsglobal.co.uk and submitting all necessary documents. After procuring your India entry visa, please scan and email us a copy of your entry visa. Egypt: Visa and processing fees of £45 for a single entry Egypt visa with validity of 6 months from the issuance date and valid for a stay of up to 60 days from the date of entry. Mail original passport along with two passport size colour photos (with the name of applicant written on the back of each photo) and completed Egypt visa application form to RT Holidays at least 45 days prior to departure. Alternatively you may obtain a visa upon arrival for $15 USD or equivalent in Egyptian pounds. Myanmar: Visa and processing fees of £45 for a single entry visa with a validity of 3 months from the issuance date and valid for a stay of up to 4 weeks from the date of entry. Mail your original passport along with 2 valid passport photos (photo must have been taken in the past 6 months) and completed visa application form to RT Holidays at least 45 days prior to departure. Vietnam Visa and processing fees of £85 for a single entry visa with validity of 30 days from the date of entry. Mail the original passport along with 1 passport size colour photo and completed visa application form to RT Holidays at least 45 days prior to departure. No visa is required for the following countries: Hong Kong (6 months), Thailand (30 days), Singapore (length of stay determined at the discretion of the immigration officer; typically 30 days), UAE/Dubai (30 days), Malaysia (3 months). Visa and processing fees are subject to change at any time and will be quoted at time of booking. RT Holidays is not responsible for the client’s visa or passport requirements, nor will a refund of unused services be made, nor reimbursement of any additional expenditure, if a client is denied entry to a country for this or any other reason. For more information please visit www.fco.gov.uk.
25. LATE BOOKINGS
Last minute booking (within 60 days prior to departure) is subject to availability, will incur a £50 per person surcharge and will be taken only with full payment.
26. CHARGE FOR CHILDREN
For children 11 years old and under, if they share a room with parents or two (2) adults and do not ask for an extra bed, the cost is 75% of the regular adult price; if they need a bed in the same room with parent(s) or adult(s), the cost will be 90% of the regular adult price. Children 12 and older will be charged at the regular adult price. Some of the tours operated by us do not include a child discount.
27. SHOPPING
To meet your shopping needs, certain shopping stops during the tour have been arranged by the local handling agency. Although RT Holidays’ tour directors will be happy to assist you with any shopping requirements, we do not take any responsibility for any items purchased at shops on the tour. Any after sales correspondence must be between the customer and the shops. RT Holidays accepts no responsibility for value, reliability, quality or authenticity of any goods purchased while on tour or for any mailing, freight or shipping arrangements.
28. CURRENCY
All tour fares shown are per person and are based on the present value of foreign currencies in relation to the U.K. Pound Sterling in effect on 1 November 2013, and in current tariffs on the same date and are subject to change.
29. CLAIMS AND COMPLAINTS
If a client has a complaint against RT Holidays during the tour concerning any part of the services provided by RT Holidays, the client must inform the tour manager or local guide at the earliest opportunity to allow the grievance to be resolved. If satisfaction cannot be reached through these means on tour, then further complaints must be put in writing to our office, quoting your booking number, at the earliest opportunity and no later than 30 days after your return. All complaints must be sent to info@rtholidays.co.uk or RT Holidays, 8 Duncannon Street, Golden Cross House, London, WC2N 4JF. In the unlikely event that a complaint cannot be settled by us you may refer to ABTA’s arbitration scheme. Full details about this scheme are available from ABTA, 30 Park Street, London SE1 9EQ, Tel: 020 3117 0581 or www.abta.com.
30. BROCHURE VALIDITY
The prices in this brochure and website are based on rates and costs in effect at time of printing the brochure. This brochure was printed in November, 2013.
31. ERRORS AND OMISSIONS
Although RT Holidays makes a concerted attempt to verify the accuracy of statements made herein, RT Holidays is not responsible for typographical or printing errors, omissions or unintentional misrepresentations made in this brochure or on the website.
32. LIABILITY
35. FORCE MAJEURE
Except where otherwise expressly stated in these Terms & Conditions we will not be liable or pay you compensation if our contractual obligations to you are affected by any event which we or the supplier(s) of the service(s) in question could not, even with all due care, foresee or avoid. These events can include, but are not limited to war, threat of war, civil strife terrorist activity and its consequences or the threat of such activity, riot, the act of any government or other national or local authority including port or river authorities, industrial dispute, lock closure, natural or nuclear disaster, fire, chemical or biological disaster and adverse weather, sea, ice and river conditions and all similar events outside our or the supplier(s) concerned’s control. Advice from the Foreign Office to avoid or leave a particular country may constitute Force Majeure.
(1) We will accept responsibility for the arrangements we agree to provide or arrange for you as an “organiser” under the Package Travel, Package Holidays and Package Tours Regulations 1992 as set out below. Subject to these Terms & Conditions, if we or our suppliers perform or arrange your contracted holiday arrangements negligently, taking into consideration all relevant factors (for example following the complaints procedure as described in these conditions and the extent to which ours or our employees’ or suppliers’ negligence affected the overall enjoyment of your holiday), we will pay you reasonable compensation. Please note that it is your responsibility to show that we or our supplier(s) have been negligent if you wish to make a claim against us.
36. CONDITIONS OF SUPPLIERS
(2) We will not be responsible or pay you compensation for any injury, illness, death, loss, damage, expense, cost or other claim of any description if it results from:-
(3) We limit the amount of compensation we may have to pay you if we are found liable under this clause:
If you or any member of your party misses your flight or other transport arrangement, it is cancelled or you are subject to a delay of over 3 hours for any reason, you must contact us and the airline or other transport supplier concerned immediately. The Package Travel etc Regulations 1992 provide that in the event that you experience difficulty on the occurrence of circumstances described in clauses 32 (2) (a) (b) (c) or (d) of these booking conditions, we will provide you with prompt assistance. Where you experience a delay which is not owing to any failure by us, our employees or subcontractors, this prompt assistance is likely to extend to providing help in locating refreshments, accommodation and communications but not paying for them. Any airline or other transport supplier may however pay for or provide refreshments and/or appropriate accommodation and you should make a claim directly to them. Subject to the other terms of these conditions, we will not be liable for any costs, fees or charges you incur in the above circumstances, if you fail to obtain our prior authorisation before making your own travel arrangements.
(a) loss of and/or damage to any luggage or personal possessions and money, The maximum amount we will have to pay you in respect of these claims is £25 per person in total as you are assumed to have adequate insurance in place to cover any losses of this kind.
We cannot accept liability for any delay which is due to any of the reasons set out in clause 10 of these booking conditions (which includes the behaviour of any passenger(s) on any flight who, for example, fails to check in or board on time).
(b) Claims not falling under (a) above and which don’t involve injury, illness or death
The carrier(s), flight timings and types of aircraft shown in this brochure or on our website and detailed on your confirmation invoice are for guidance only and are subject to alteration and confirmation. We shall inform you of the identity of the actual carrier(s) as soon as we become aware of it. The latest flight timings will be shown on your tickets which will be despatched to you approximately two weeks before departure. You should check your tickets very carefully immediately on receipt to ensure you have the correct flight times. If flight times change after tickets have been dispatched we will contact you as soon as we can to let you know.
• the act(s) and/or omission(s) of the person(s) affected; • the act(s) and/or omission(s) of a third party unconnected with the provision of the services contracted for and which were unforeseeable or unavoidable; or • unusual or unforeseeable circumstances beyond ours or our supplier(s) control, the consequences of which could not have been avoided even if all due care had been exercised; or (d) an event which either ourselves or suppliers could not, even with all due care, have foreseen or forestalled.
The maximum amount we will have to pay you in respect of these claims is twice the price paid by or on behalf of the person(s) affected in total. This maximum amount will only be payable where everything has gone wrong and you or your party has not received any benefit at all from your booking. Where this relates to destruction, delay, loss of and/or damage to luggage and/or other personal possessions then the Company’s liability will not exceed £600. The Company will not at any time be liable for any loss of or damage to valuables of any nature. The Client is precluded from making a double recovery by making the same claims and seeking recovery against the Company and its suppliers, contractors or other third parties.
33. CLAIMS IN RESPECT OF INTERNATIONAL TRAVEL BY AIR, SEA AND RAIL, OR ANY STAY IN A HOTEL
i) The extent of our liability will in all cases be limited as if we were carriers under the appropriate Conventions, which include The Warsaw/Montreal Convention (international travel by air); The Athens Convention (with respect to sea travel); The Berne/Cotif Convention (with respect to rail travel) and The Paris Convention (with respect to hotel arrangements). You can ask for copies of these Conventions from our offices. Please contact us. In addition, you agree that the operating carrier or transport company’s own ‘Conditions of Carriage’ will apply to you on that journey. When arranging transportation for you, we rely on the terms and conditions contained within these international conventions and those ‘Conditions of Carriage’. You acknowledge that all of the terms and conditions contained in those ‘Conditions of Carriage’ form part of your contract with us, as well as with the transport company and that those ‘Conditions of Carriage’ shall be deemed to be included by reference into this contract. ii) In any circumstances in which a carrier is liable to you by virtue of the Denied Boarding Regulation 2004, any liability we may have to you under our contract with you, arising out of the same facts, is limited to the remedies provided under the Regulation as if (for this purpose only) we were a carrier. iii) When making any payment, we are entitled to deduct any money which you have received or are entitled to receive from the transport provider or hotelier for the complaint or claim in question. (4) It is a condition of our acceptance of liability under this clause that you notify any claim to ourselves and our supplier(s) strictly in accordance with the complaints procedure set out in these conditions. (5) Where any payment is made, the person(s) receiving it (and their parent or guardian if under 18 years) must also assign to ourselves or our insurers any rights they may have to pursue any third party and must provide ourselves and our insurers with all assistance we may reasonably require. (6) Please note, we cannot accept any liability for any damage, loss or expense or other sum(s) of any description which on the basis of the information given to us by you concerning your booking prior to our accepting it, we could not have foreseen you would suffer or incur if we breached our contract with you; or (b) any business losses. (7) We will not accept responsibility for services or facilities which do not form part of our agreement or where they are not advertised in our brochure. For example any excursion you book whilst away, or any service or facility which your hotel or any other supplier agrees to provide for you. RT Holidays reserves the right to decline to accept, or retain any person as a tour participant, should such a person’s health, mental condition, physical infirmity or general deportment impede the operation of the tour or the rights, welfare or enjoyment of any other tour participant. RT Holidays reserves the right to substitute hotels, and alter the itinerary, withdraw any tour and make any desirable alteration for the convenience of the operation of tours. The general conditions under which you agree to utilize the services of RT Holidays may not be amended in any way, except in writing, by an authorized officer of RT Holidays. By utilizing the services of RT Holidays, you agree that these terms and conditions are subject to English law and the exclusive jurisdiction of the English courts.
34. PROMPT ASSISTANCE
If the contract we have with you is not performed or is improperly performed as a result of failures attributable to a third party unconnected with the provision of the services, or as a result of failures due to unusual and unforeseeable circumstances beyond our control, the consequences of which could not have been avoided even if all due care had been exercised, or an event which we or our suppliers, even with all due care, could not foresee or forestall, and you suffer an injury or other material loss, we will offer you such prompt assistance as is reasonable in the circumstances.
Many of the services which make up your holiday are provided by independent suppliers. Those suppliers provide these services in accordance with their own terms and conditions which will form part of your contract with us. Some of these terms and conditions may limit or exclude the supplier’s liability to you, usually in accordance with applicable International Conventions. Copies of the relevant parts of these terms and conditions are available on request from ourselves or the supplier concerned.
37. DELAYS, MISSED TRANSPORT ARRANGEMENTS AND OTHER TRAVEL INFORMATION
Please note the existence of a “Community list” (available for inspection at http://ec.europa.eu/transport/air-ban/ list_en.htm) detailing air carriers that are subject to an operating ban with the EU Community. Under EU Law, you have rights in some circumstances to refunds and/or compensation from the airline in cases of denied boarding, cancellation or delay to flights. Full details of these rights will be publicised at EU airports and will also be available from airlines. If the airline does not comply with these rules you should complain to the Civil Aviation Authority at www.caa.co.uk/passengers. Reimbursement in such cases is the responsibility of the airline and will not automatically entitle you to a refund of your holiday price from us. If, for any reason, you do not claim against the airline and make a claim for compensation from us, you must, at the time of payment of any compensation to you, make a complete assignment to us of the rights you have against the airline in relation to the claim that gives rise to that compensation payment. A delay or cancellation to your flight does not automatically entitle you to cancel any other arrangements even where those arrangements have been made in conjunction with your flight. This brochure is our responsibility, as your tour operator. It is not issued on behalf of, and does not commit the airlines mentioned herein or any airline whose services are used in the course of your travel arrangements.
38. ABTA
We are a Member of ABTA, membership number Y1472. We are obliged to maintain a high standard of service to you by ABTA’s Code of Conduct. We can also offer you an arbitration scheme for the resolution of disputes arising out of, or in connection with this contract. The arbitration scheme is arranged by ABTA and administered independently. It provides for a simple and inexpensive method of arbitration on documents alone with restricted liability on you in respect of costs. The scheme does not apply to claims for an amount greater than £5,000 per person. There is also a limit of £25,000 per booking form. Neither does it apply to claims which are solely in respect of physical injury or illness or their consequences. The scheme can however deal with compensation claims which include an element of minor injury or illness subject to a limit of £1,500 on the amount the arbitrator can award per person in respect of this element. Your request for arbitration must be received by ABTA within eighteen months of the date of return from holiday. Outside this time limit arbitration under the Scheme may still be available if we agree, but the ABTA Code does not require such agreement. For injury and illness claims, you can request the ABTA Mediation Procedure and we have the option to agree to mediation. Further information on the Code and ABTA’s assistance in resolving disputes can be found on www.abta.com.
39. DATA PROTECTION
In order to process your booking and to ensure that your travel arrangements run smoothly and meet your requirements we, Ritz Tours Ltd. (trading as RT Holidays) need to use the information you provide such as name, address, any special needs/dietary requirements etc. We take full responsibility for ensuring that proper security measures are in place to protect your information. We must pass the information on to the relevant suppliers of your travel arrangements such as airlines, hotels, transport companies etc. The information may also be provided to security or public authorities such as customs/immigration if required by them, or as required by law. Additionally, where your holiday is outside the European Economic Area (EEA), controls on data protection in your destination may not be as strong as the legal requirements in this country. We will not however, pass any information onto any person not responsible for part of your travel arrangements. This applies to any sensitive information that you give to us such as details of any disabilities, or dietary/religious requirements. (If we cannot pass this information to the relevant suppliers, whether in the EEA or not, we cannot provide your booking. In making this booking, you consent to this information being passed on to the relevant persons.) Please note that where information is also held by your travel agent, this is subject to your agent’s own data protection policy. RT Holidays may wish to contact you by post, email, and or telephone with news or special offers on our holidays and for market research purposes. If you prefer not to be contacted for the purposes set out above please contact us at: RT Holidays, 8 Duncannon Street, Golden Cross House, London, WC2N 4JF. You are entitled to a copy of your information held by us. If you would like to see this please contact us at the address listed above. RT Holidays may make a small charge for supplying this information as permitted by law. Availability of tour packages at listed prices in this brochure is limited. For the most up to date prices, please check our website www.rtholidays.co.uk.
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China Southeast Asia & Beyond...
lidays Esco rted To ke Ho urs • City Packages • Bespo AN INSPIRING COLLECTION OF PREMIUM TOURS AND BESPOKE HOLIDAYS TO CHINA, SOUTHEAST ASIA, INDIA, DUBAI AND EGYPT INCLUDING ACCOMMODATION IN LUXURY HOTELS AND A WEALTH OF INCLUDED EXTRAS
2014
Experts in affordable lu xur y travel to China since 1980 w w w. RT h o l i d a y s .c o.u k
www.RTholidays.co.uk With 34 years of experience of providing escorted tours, RT Holidays offers travellers a unique combination of affordable luxury, specialist knowledge and excellent value, with: Imaginative tours featuring the best of some of the world’s most extraordinary destinations Luxury accommodation with many meals included Comprehensive sightseeing tours, excursions and extras Professional tour managers and specialist local guides Dedicated personal service From China to Cambodia, India to Myanmar
110813/10M
To make a booking or request a brochure please call 0207 7484 8771 or visit www.RTholidays.co.uk Printed in U.K. © 2014 RT Holidays Inc.