Group Traveller Tailor Made Tours Exclusively for Groups - 2012/2013
United Kingdom
Europe
Worldwide
EverysingleTailoredTraveltouris tailormadetoyourgroup’srequirements... Wherever you want to go, whenever you want to go and whatever you want to do when you get there, we will tailor make your group tour to your exact requirements. Like the look of one of the tours we’ve included in this brochure but want to tweak it slightly? That’s fine. Tell us how you want to change it and we’ll send you a proposal for your tour.
Where do you want to go – UK, Europe or worldwide?
How long do you want to go for?
Don’t see a tour to your preferred destination? No problem. Tell us what you want and in consultation with you we’ll tailor make your group tour to your exact requirements. Have a look at this chart. No matter how you answer the questions, we will tailor make your group’s tour in accordance with them. Remember that there will be cost consequences to those answers but once we have sent you our initial offer, we can amend it as required by you until you have a tour with an itinerary and at a price which matches the interests and profile of your members.
Do you want to fly or travel by coach and/or train?
What is your best estimate of the group size?
Your Tailor Made Tour
Are all entrance fees and gratuities to be included?
Are all excursions and guided tours to be included or would you prefer some optionals?
What time of year do you want to travel?
How many will require single rooms?
Are there any sights, galleries or cities your group particularly wants to see?
Do you want to stay on half board or on bed & breakfast basis with or without a welcome or farewell dinner?
What standard of hotel do you require – 3*, 4* or 5*?
Do you require one free place per 10 paying (on UK & European tours) and per 15 (on worldwide tours)?
I have just returned from the tour to Italy and I am writing to say how brilliant the tour manager was. Nothing was too much trouble. I would also add that your organisation was excellent. JM Danbury
Yes we can! Dear Group Travel Organiser Everyone likes being able to say ‘Yes’. Life is so much easier and it makes you feel good, which is why we’ve built our business around saying ‘Yes’, with a commitment to service and quality that’s brought us success for the last 13 years. When you book a group tour with Tailored Travel, we love to say ‘Yes!’
Thank you so much for all your help with our trip to France. Everyone thoroughly enjoyed themselves. The variety of chateaux and gardens was just right and our tour manager was excellent. GW Canterbury
YES, you can go wherever you want to go, whether that’s in the UK, to Europe or even further afield. At Tailored Travel, we work with you to design a bespoke tour that suits the profile and interests of your group perfectly. That way, you and your group get exactly what you want, not just an off-the-shelf tour featured in a brochure. After all it’s your holiday, not ours. YES, you can have exactly the tour you want. The holidays, itineraries and destinations in this brochure are simply suggestions. Obviously, your group could choose one of the tours exactly as featured here, and they’re sure to have a fantastic holiday. But if you have your own ideas and want to change any of them, or your group wants to create a completely different itinerary, we’re happy to oblige. YES, we can tailor our service to suit your needs as the group travel organiser. Of course we want your group to enjoy a great holiday, but to us it’s just as important that you find the whole experience stress free, before, during and after a tour organised by Tailored Travel.
As a member of the committee that organised our trip to Madrid, I thought you would like to know that all the arrangements were very successful. The balance of the programme was just right for our sightseeing and Paul, our tour manager, was excellent. FW Swanland
So do you see something you like? Or do you have an idea that you don’t see here? We love a challenge, so no idea is too outlandish, no destination too far, no detail too much trouble. Give us a call and let us use our experience to tailor a tour to your exact requirements. Whatever the question, our answer is ‘Yes!’
John English Managing Director
Thanks for the excellent arrangements made to last week’s tour to Northumberland. It was a great success and this was due to an excellent itinerary planned in conjunction with your ever patient staff, wonderful accommodation, a first class guide and a great driver to add to our enjoyment. Thank you and well done! AM Cheam Thank you, Tailored Travel, for a first class trip to Holland - “The best trip we’ve ever been on” - “Absolutely super, best ever” -“We’ve never enjoyed a trip as much as this one” - to quote just a few of the comments I’ve received from the members. SF Maldon
This can only be hailed as a great success! For me it is a pleasure dealing with you and your staff for yet another holiday. Many thanks go to Sandy for sorting out the nitty gritty details so particularly. PT Stamford
Tailored Travel. 12 Jamaica Road, London SE1 2RN
Call: 020 7064 4970 info@tailored-travel.co.uk • www.tailored-travel.co.uk
020 7064 4970 • www.tailored-travel.co.uk
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10 reasons to book with Tailored Travel 1. Tailor made: Every single one of our tours is tailor made to your group’s exact requirements. Working closely with you, we will design a holiday with an itinerary, standard of accommodation and price level that are perfect for your group. 2. Exclusively yours: Whether there are 10 or 100 people in your group, your tailored tour will be yours and yours alone. Unlike other companies, we don’t ask you to tack onto another pre-planned holiday, mix in with another group or join public excursions. 3. Relax - more is included: Unless you request otherwise, all of our tours include a full programme of excursions, complete with pre-booked entries and a professional tour guide. This freedom allows you to relax and enjoy your holiday. 4. Free places: Because we specialise in group travel, we include one free place for every ten paying passengers on all UK and European tours and one free place for every fifteen paying passengers on all worldwide holidays.
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5. Personalised service: When you phone Tailored Travel you will not be speaking with someone who is simply reading from a brochure, but with a friendly and knowledgeable member of our experienced team. We will always combine your ideas with what we know has worked well for other groups, so your tour will be a success every time.
8. Hassle free booking: In keeping with the tailored spirit of our company, we will work with you to handle your bookings, deposits and paperwork in the way that best suits your group and makes life easiest for you. We can either accept individual booking forms (and deposits and paperwork) directly from your members or we can handle everything as a group via yourself.
6. Quick turnaround: The experienced team at Tailored Travel can offer you a provisional quote, including full itinerary, within 48 hours of your enquiry. Following this we will work closely with you to incorporate any changes you require to create a perfect holiday for your group. Then we will provide a final, fully costed quote.
9. Financial security: Tailored Travel holds an Air Travel Organisers Licence (ATOL 5605), issued by the Civil Aviation Authority, which ensures that all air holiday bookings are fully protected. Coach tours are secured by a professionally administered Trust Account which retains all monies paid to us until your group returns home.
7. Free marketing materials: We are happy to produce as many full colour personalised holiday brochures as you need to distribute to your group members. These contain the highlights of your chosen tour, detailed daily itineraries and booking forms for your members to return to you or (if you prefer) direct to us.
10. This is just the beginning: We enjoy long relationships with our clients, and more than 90% return year after year to book their group holidays with us. We are confident that you will return from your tailored holiday having had a wonderful time. And we will look forward to enthusiastically satisfying your group holiday needs for years to come.
And here’s another reason… The true worth of any relationship is tested in adversity. You will remember back in April 2010 the disruption to flights caused by the eruption of the Icelandic volcano. You may also remember the tales of woe from passengers left stranded by their tour operator for days and weeks on end. Well at Tailored Travel we believe that we are responsible for your complete care and welfare before, during and after your tour and so for those tours unable to get home we took the decision to accommodate, repatriate and communicate with our clients entirely at our expense. Out of adversity, we received unanimous praise from our clients including these articles appearing in U3A News and NADFAS Review.
on longest side Do not use larger than 270mm tint shadow Full colour version 75%
We very much appreciated your organising the bus to take us home from Dubrovnik during these troubled times. How very fortunate the U3A used your firm to book the holiday. The bus was comfortable the drivers excellent and the overnight accommodation also very good. When I see all the problems other travellers are still having we do realise how lucky we are.
I was one of the lucky people who went on the holiday to Dubrovnik last week. Everything was very good including Neda the excellent guide. My main reason for writing is to thank all at Tailored Travel for organising so efficiently our return by coach. It was a miracle so much was done in difficult circumstances. I knew already of TT's quality having visited the Palladian villas with you in 2008.
My wife and I would like to thank you for the way in which Tailored Travel responded to the cessation of air traffic due to the Icelandic volcano eruptions. You, your company and its agents showed great concern for your clients, quickly put together and executed an innovative plan to bring us back to from Istanbul and kept in touch with us throughout. This was an outstanding level of client service, particularly as you funded three extra nights in hotels and the coaches. Many thanks.
TN, Chepstow
PS, Chepstow
BT, Ingatestone ☎ 020 7064 4970 • www.tailored-travel.co.uk
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We’re travelling too… After 13 years in Croydon, we have moved to brand new offices just a stone’s throw from Tower Bridge on London’s South Bank. We are now 15 minutes from London Bridge, 2 minutes from the Design Museum, 5 minutes from the Greater London Assembly and just across the River from St Katharine Docks and the Tower of London. So, if you are in the area, we’d love you to pop in to see us. Our new address is:
12 Jamaica Road, London SE1 2RN Our new telephone number is: 020 7064 4970
We Are Here
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Inspiring group tours Here is a summary of the itineraries we’ve packed into this brochure, all of which are designed to provide inspiration for your own bespoke group holiday. We can customise any of these tours to your requirements. But these are just suggestions, so if you have an idea or a destination that we haven’t included here, we can do that too! Give us a call on 020 7064 4970 to discuss the perfect holiday for your group. We look forward to helping you plan your trip. UK & IRELAND
HOLLAND & BELGIUM
ITALY Delights of Tuscany & Umbria
6
Floriade 2012
26
Lake Garda, Venice & Verona
7
Florence & the Splendour of Tuscany
8
Amsterdam, Bruges & the Keukenhof Flower Festival
27
Discovering Hidden Umbria
8
Valkenburg, Cologne & the Belgian Ardennes
28
The Beautiful Italian Lakes
9
Cosmopolitan Brussels by Eurostar
28
The Cities of Flanders
29
Palaces & Palladian Villas of Northern Italy
10
Art & Palaces of Bologna, Ferrara & Ravenna
10
Grand Tour of Sicily
11
Sardinia & the Costa Smeralda
12
Classical Italy & the Amalfi Coast
12
Puglia & the Heel of Italy
13
FRANCE
SPAIN & SOUTHERN EUROPE
CENTRAL & EASTERN EUROPE
Art & Gardens of Cornwall
36
Palaces & Galleries of St Petersburg
Northumberland
37
Krakow
58
Liverpool & Manchester
38
Prague & Konopiste Castle
58
Bath, Bristol & Tyntesfield
38
Istanbul
59
The Beautiful Lake District
39
Historic Houses of Suffolk
40
Norfolk & Sandringham Estate
40
HOLY LAND & NORTH AFRICA The Treasures of Syria
60 60
30
Castles & Houses of Oxfordshire & the Thames Valley
Magical Marrakech
Classical Spain - Seville, Granada & Ronda
41
Israel & the Holy Land
61
Toledo, San Lorenzo de El Escorial & Madrid
31
Shropshire & the Heart of England
42
The History of Jordan & Petra
63
4* Northern Spain & the Picos Mountains
32
Castles, Houses & Gardens of Kent
42
Barcelona, Figueres & Monserrat
32
Historic Houses of Devon
43
Lisbon City Break
33
The History & Heritage of Yorkshire
44
Grand Tour of South Africa & the Kruger National Park
65
44
4* Imperial China
67
South American Grand Tour Chile, Argentina & Brazil
69
New Zealand Grand Tour
71
Paris & the Palace of Versailles
14
Portugal’s Douro River
34
The History & Houses of Lincolnshire
Châteaux of the Loire Valley
15
4* Croatia & the Istrian Riviera
34
Normandy & Calvados Country
16
The Heritage & Historic Houses of the Peak District
45
Dubrovnik & Croatia
35
Art, Countryside & Châteaux of Provence
16
The History & Heritage of Winchester & the New Forest
46
South West France & the Midi-Pyrenees
17
The History & Heritage of Cambridge
46
Annecy & the Beautiful Alps
18
Chester & the Welsh Borders
47
Monte Carlo, Nice & the Italian Riviera
18
Beautiful Jersey
48
Reims & Champagne Country
19
Isle of Wight
48
History & Heritage of the Isle of Man
49
Cardiff & South Wales
50
Caernarfon & North Wales
50
The Houses & Castles of the Scottish Borders
51
Shetland & Orkney Grand Tour
52
West Coast of Scotland & the Isle of Mull
52
GERMANY & AUSTRIA
56
Berlin & Dresden
20
The Art & History of Dresden, Meißen & Saxony ‘Switzerland’
21
Beautiful Black Forest
22
The Rhine & Moselle Valleys
22
The Castles & Lakes of Bavaria
23
Rudesheim, Heidelberg & Aachen Christmas Markets
Loch Lomond, Glasgow & Edinburgh
53
24
Derry - UK City of Culture 2013
54
Austrian Tyrol
24
Killarney & The Ring of Kerry
54
4* Vienna, Bratislava & Vienna Woods
25
Dublin, Killarney & the Ring of Kerry
55
WORLDWIDE
TAILOR MADE QUOTE REQUEST
72
We can tailor make any group tour for as few as 10 people. Simply for ease of reference and consistency in this brochure, the suggested tours are priced on early season departures with a minimum of 40 paying passengers and notional exchange rates of €1.25 and US$1.60 to the Pound. For smaller or larger groups to your chosen destination with your preferred itinerary and departure date, simply call us for a tailor made costing.
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Delights of Tuscany & Umbria Italy
6 days from £549 Featuring Full programme of included excursions Welcome dinner Professional tour manager Scheduled flights to Rome Executive coach in Italy ONE FREE PLACE PER 10 PAYING PASSENGERS What We Will See Orvieto Abbey of Monte Olivieto Maggiore - guided tour Pienza & Bagno Vignoni Siena & San Gimignano Florence - guided tour Perugia & Assisi Rome Your Hotel Five nights in the delightful family run 3* Hotel Villa Ricci in Chianciano Terme in the heart of Tuscany. Dinner is included at the hotel on the first evening and the next four are on bed and breakfast basis. All rooms are en suite and the hotel has a bar, restaurant, indoor pool and spa. Extras Single room supplement £59 Insurance Entrance fees to places of interest (State run museums free to over 65s) Optional dinnerl at Palazzo Bandino & guided tours of Rome & Siena
Venice
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Duomo, Florence
SUGGESTED ITINERARY Let us tailor make this tour to your group’s exact requirements Day 1 Orvieto Scheduled flight to Rome – transfer with our tour manager in our private executive coach to Orvieto and its stunning Duomo – check in to the 3* Hotel Villa Ricci in Chianciano Terme in Tuscany – dinner in hotel. Day 2 Abbey of Monte Olivieto Maggiore & Pienza Guided tour of the magnificent 41 frescoes of the Life of St Benedict at Abbey of Monte Olivieto Maggiore – enjoy the wonderful views from the walls of the charming small town of Pienza and relax in the central square where the cathedral and town hall are located – visit the delightful spa town of Bagno Vignoni – optional dinner at Palazzo Bandino, a traditional Tuscan farmhouse set in its own olive groves and vineyards.
Lake Garda, Venice & Verona Italy
8 days from £669 Featuring Full programme of included excursions Half board accommodation Professional tour manager Scheduled flights to Milan Executive coach in Italy ONE FREE PLACE PER 10 PAYING PASSENGERS What We Will See Tour of Lake Garda Venice Verona - guided tour Vicenza - guided tour Mantova & Desanzano Milan
Tuscany
Day 3 Siena & San Gimignano Optional guided tour of Siena taking in the Campo where the Palio horse race is run and the magnificent Gothic Duomo – San Gimignano is a beautiful Tuscan village set in the heart of the Chianti wine growing region and famous for its 13 defensive towers. Day 4 Florence Guided tour of Florence, the capital city of Renaissance art, taking in the River Arno, the Ponte Vecchio and the magnificent Duomo – free time to explore the Uffizi or see Michelangelo’s ‘David’ at the Accademia. Day 5 Perugia & Assisi Explore the medieval town of Perugia at your leisure with time to visit the Galleria Nazionale dell’ Umbria – see the frescoes by Giotto in the Basilica of St Francis in nearby Assisi depicting the life of this most popular of saints.
Day 6 Rome Time to see the Sistine Chapel, Vatican Museum and St Peter’s Square and Basilica with Michelangelo’s ‘Pieta’ in Rome – optional guided tour taking in the Coliseum, the Forum and the Trevi Fountain – transfer to the airport for our scheduled flight home.
TAILOR MAKE ANY OF THESE TOURS FOR YOUR GROUP
Your Hotel Seven nights on half board basis at the 3* Romeo Hotel in the village of Torri del Benaco on the eastern shore of Lake Garda. Just a five minute walk from the medieval centre and harbour, the hotel is ideally located to explore the delights of Lake Garda and northern Italy. Facilities include a bar, restaurant and a sun terrace. All rooms are en suite. Extras Single room supplement £79 Insurance Entrance fees to places of interest (State run museums free to over 65s) Optional Dolomites tour & farewell dinner
Like one of these tours but want to change it to suit your group’s budget or preferences? You could: • stay at different category hotel • on bed & breakfast or half board basis throughout • with fewer or different excursions • for more (or fewer) days • include all entrance fees & gratuities Call us so that together we can arrange your ideal group tour
Venice
Malcesine, Lake Garda
SUGGESTED ITINERARY Let us tailor make this tour to your group’s exact requirements Day 1 Garda Scheduled flight to Milan – transfer with our tour manager in our private executive coach to the good quality 3* Romeo Hotel in Torri del Benaco. Day 2 Lake Garda Coach and boat tour of Lake Garda to see the real beauty of the Lake and its villages including Sirmione, home to Maria Callas, Limone and Gardone Riviera. Day 3 Venice Pre-booked boat transfer along the Giudecca Canal – free time at leisure to explore Venice including the famous Rialto Bridge, Palazzo Ducale and St Mark’s Square and for art lovers the Accademia houses masterpieces by Venetian artists dating from 14th to 18th century.
Day 4 Dolomites Optional trip into the Dolomites – with truly magnificent scenery including the Passa Por Doi and Sella Pass, both over 2,200m high, this is some of the most spectacular scenery in Europe. Day 5 Verona Guided tour of the beautiful Romanesque city of Verona, Italy’s fourth classical city, and home to the Arena dating from 1st century BC and Shakespeare’s inspiration for ‘Romeo and Juliet’. Day 6 Vicenza Guided tour of Vicenza takes in Europe’s oldest indoor theatre, Palladio’s Teatro Olimpico – afternoon free for further sightseeing or shopping. Day 7 Mantova & Desanzano Mantegna’s ‘Camera degli Sposi’ in the magnificent Palazzo Ducale in Mantova – relax at the delightful town of Desanzano on the southern shores of Lake
Garda – optional farewell meal at our carefully selected Italian farmhouse. Day 8 Milan Visit the stunning Duomo of Milan – transfer to the airport for our scheduled flight home.
We had a truly great trip to Lake Garda. The hotel is even better than it was the last time we stayed there, I did not have a single grumble. Chiara was the ideal tour manager for us – her knowledge of art history is extensive and she is also humorous, very kind and thoughtful. All in all, an excellent time. HR Leek
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Italy
Florence & the Splendour of Tuscany
Discovering Hidden Umbria
6 days from £599
6 days from £599
Featuring 4* hotel All excursions included Half board accommodation Professional tour manager Scheduled flights to Pisa Executive coach in Italy ONE FREE PLACE PER 10 PAYING PASSENGERS
Featuring 4* hotel All excursions included Welcome dinner Professional tour manager Scheduled flights to Rome Executive coach in Italy ONE FREE PLACE PER 10 PAYING PASSENGERS
What We Will See Pisa Florence - guided tour Volterra & San Gimignano Arezzo & Montecatini Terme
What We Will See Spoleto - guided tour Spello & Montefalco Perugia & Assisi Gubbio & Palazzo dei Consoli Orvieto
Your Hotel Five nights at the 4* Park Hotel Le Sorgenti in Montecatini Terme in Tuscany. Four nights are on half board basis and one on bed & breakfast. All rooms are en suite and the hotel has a bar, restaurant and outdoor pool. Extras Single room supplement £69 Insurance Entrance fees to places of interest (State run museums free to over 65s) Optional farewell meal & Pisa guide
San Gimignano
SUGGESTED ITINERARY Let us tailor make this tour to your group’s exact requirements Day 1 Montecatini Terme Scheduled flight to Pisa – transfer with our tour manager in our private executive coach to the 4* Park Hotel Le Sorgenti in the charming village of Montecatini Terme. Day 2 Pisa Optional guided tour of Pisa – rest of the day free to explore at your leisure the many splendid buildings, including the Baptistry, the Duomo and, of course, the Leaning Tower.
Florence
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Day 3 Florence Guided tour of Florence to introduce us to the sights of the capital city of Renaissance art including the River Arno, the
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Ponte Vecchio and the magnificent Duomo followed by free time to explore the Uffizi or see Michelangelo’s ‘David’ at the Accademia. Day 4 Volterra & San Gimignano Situated on a high plateau and surrounded by the original Etruscan walls, Volterra offers fine views of the surrounding hills – its 13 defensive medieval towers in the Chianti wine growing region give San Gimignano the name ‘the Small Manhattan’. Day 5 Arezzo & Montecatini Terme Arezzo is famous
for its hanging flower baskets and Piero Della Francesca’s frescoes in the Church of San Francesco – afternoon in Montecatini Terme with time to take the cable car to enjoy the lovely views from the historic centre of this charming village – optional farewell dinner at the excellent Villa Pasquini.
Your Hotel Five nights at the 4* Albornoz Palace Hotel in Spoleto, located a flat walk of approximately 15 minutes to the historic town centre. Dinner is included on the first night and the remaining four nights are on bed and breakfast basis. All rooms in the hotel are en suite. Extras Single room supplement £79 Insurance Entrance fees to places of interest (State run museums free to over 65s) Optional guided tours & farewell meal
Day 6 Pisa to UK Transfer to Pisa Airport for our scheduled flight home. Orvieto
SUGGESTED ITINERARY Let us tailor make this tour to your group’s exact requirements Day 1 Spoleto Scheduled flight to Rome – transfer with our tour manager in our private executive coach to the 4* Albornoz Palace Hotel in Spoleto – dinner in hotel. Day 2 Spoleto Guided tour of Spoleto takes in sights such as the 14th century Ponte delle Torri and the magnificent Duomo – free time at leisure to explore Spoleto or simply to relax at a streetside cafe. Day 3 Spello & Montefalco Ancient fortified hill town of Spello and the 13th century Santa Maria Maggiore church in the main piazza – rest of the day is free in Montefalco to relax and explore or to visit the Museo
The Beautiful Italian Lakes Italy
7 days from £769 Featuring Full programme of included excursions Half board accommodation Professional tour manager Scheduled flights to Milan Executive coach in Italy ONE FREE PLACE PER 10 PAYING PASSENGERS What We Will See Lake Maggiore & the Borromean Islands Villa Cicogna Lake Como & Villa Balbianello Lake Orta & Omegna Milan
Assisi
Civico where the wonderful art collection includes Benozzo Gozzoli’s ‘Life of St Francis’. Day 4 Perugia & Assisi Time to relax in Perugia, a delightful Umbrian town dating from Etruscan times, or to visit its Galleria Nazionale Dell’Umbria, home to a wonderful collection of Umbrian art – optional guided tour of the Basilica of St Francis in Assisi and Giotto’s stunning frescoes depicting the life of St Francis. Day 5 Gubbio & Palazzo dei Consoli Optional guided tour of the medieval town of Gubbio taking in sights such as the Piazza della Signoria – visit the 14th century Palazzo dei Consoli, considered by many to be one of the finest expressions of medieval city architecture in Italy – optional farewell meal in our carefully selected Umbrian farmhouse.
Day 6 Orvieto Optional guided tour of the old Etruscan town of Orvieto and the stunning Duomo, with its wonderfully ornate façade – transfer to Rome for our scheduled flight home.
TAILOR MAKE ANY OF THESE TOURS FOR YOUR GROUP
Your Hotel Six nights on half board basis at the family owned 3* Hotel Della Torre in Stresa, just a short walk from the shores of Lake Maggiore and then along the promenade to the old town centre. Recently renovated, facilities include a restaurant, bar, lounge area and outdoor swimming pool. All rooms are en suite. Extras Single room supplement £99 Insurance Entrance fees to places of interest (State run museums free to over 65s) Optional Centovalli Railway & Locarno trip
Like one of these tours but want to change it to suit your group’s budget or preferences? You could: • stay at different category hotel • on bed & breakfast or half board basis throughout • with fewer or different excursions • for more (or fewer) days • include all entrance fees & gratuities Call us so that together we can arrange your ideal group tour
Lake Orta
Lake Como
SUGGESTED ITINERARY Let us tailor make this tour to your group’s exact requirements Day 1 Lake Maggiore Scheduled flight to Milan – transfer with our tour manager in our private executive coach to the 3* Hotel Della Torre in Stresa. Day 2 Borromean Islands Depart from Stresa on Lake Maggiore for our trip to the Borromean Islands – stop at Isola Madre, home to botanical gardens with exotic trees, azaleas and rhododendrons, and a beautiful villa dating back to 1590 – Isola dei Pescatori is a pretty fishing village – finish at beautiful Isola Bella with its 17th century palazzo and Baroque gardens built on ten terraces. Day 3 Villa Cicogna & Villa Balbianello The gardens and villa at Villa Cicogna in the hillside village of
Bischio are a hidden Renaissance treasure and have wonderful views of Lake Lugano and the Brevio Valley – at Lake Como we take a boat to Villa Balbianello, which dates back to 1787 and offers splendid views across the Lake. Day 4 Lake Maggiore A free day at leisure on Lake Maggiore with a chance to relax by the lake or take the local boat service to explore this enchanting lake. Day 5 Lake Orta & Omegna Half day visit to picturesque Lake Orta at the foot of the Alps and then Omegna for market day. Day 6 Centovalli Railway & Locarno Optional 90 minute train ride along the Centovalli Railway from the Italian town of Domodossola passing through breathtaking scenery to Locarno in Switzerland.
Day 7 Milan to UK Free time in Milan – transfer to airport for our scheduled flight home.
The purpose of our tour was to see something of the art of Tuscany and Umbria. What a wonderful holiday it was! We are all so very grateful for all your hard work on our behalf. We had a wonderful holiday and a fund of special, happy memories which we will treasure for years to come. Our most grateful thanks to you all at Tailored Travel for all your hard work and support. JM Cheltenham
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Italy
Palaces & Palladian Villas of Northern Italy
Art & Palaces of Bologna, Ferrara & Ravenna
6 days from £669
6 days from £599
Featuring 4* hotel All excursions & guided tours included Professional tour manager Scheduled flights to Verona Executive coach in Italy ONE FREE PLACE PER 10 PAYING PASSENGERS
Featuring 4* Bologna hotel All excursions & guided tours included Welcome dinner Guide for all transfers & excursions Scheduled flights to Bologna Executive coach in Italy ONE FREE PLACE PER 10 PAYING PASSENGERS
What We Will See Vicenza - guided tour Palazzo Leoni Montanari - guided tour Padova - guided tour Villa Barbaro at Maser - guided tour Mantova - Palazzo Ducale Verona Your Hotel Five nights on half board basis at the 4* Terme Roma Hotel in the spa town of Abano Terme near Padova. Facilities at the hotel include a restaurant, bar and an indoor and outdoor swimming pool. All rooms are en suite. Extras Single room supplement £99 Insurance Entrance fees to places of interest (State run museums free to over 65s)
What We Will See Bologna - guided tour Ravenna - guided tour Padova - Cappella degli Scrovegni Mantova - Palazzo Ducale Ferrara - Palazzo Schifanoia & guided tour
Villa Barbaro
SUGGESTED ITINERARY Let us tailor make this tour to your group’s exact requirements Day 1 Abano Terme Scheduled flight to Verona – transfer with our tour manager in our private executive coach to the 4* Terme Roma Hotel at the spa town of Abano Terme. Day 2 Vicenza Guided tour of the great Palladian city of Vicenza taking in the Teatro Olimpico, Europe’s oldest surviving indoor theatre and designed by Palladio in 1579 – guided tour of Palazzo Leoni Montanari, home to a collection of wonderful Russian icons and paintings from the Veneto region dating from the 18th century – rest of the day free to explore this charming city at your leisure.
Teatro Olimpico, Vicenza
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Day 3 Padova & Villa Barbaro at Maser Guided tour of Padova, one of Italy’s oldest university towns and the setting for Shakespeare’s ‘Taming of the Shrew’ – guided
tour of Villa Barbaro at Maser designed in the 1550’s by Palladio in collaboration with Veronese. Day 4 Mantova Guided tour of the Palazzo Ducale in Mantova, once one of Europe’s largest palaces and now housing a wonderful art collection including the frescoes in the ‘Camera degli Sposi’ by Mantegna – free time in Mantova in the afternoon for individual sightseeing.
Your Hotel Five nights at the 4* Tre Vecchi Hotel, located a ten minute walk from Bologna’s historic centre. Dinner is served at a restaurant close to our hotel on the first night and the remaining four nights are on bed and breakfast basis. All rooms are en suite. Extras Single room supplement £99 Insurance Entrance fees to places of interest (State run museums free to over 65s) Optional dinner on Day 2
Day 5 Verona Full day to explore the beautiful Romanesque city of Verona, Italy’s fourth classical city, home to the Arena dating from 1st century BC and inspiration for Shakespeare’s ‘Romeo and Juliet’. Day 6 Abano Terme Morning free in Abano Terme – transfer to Verona Airport for our flight back home.
Cathedral, Ferrara
SUGGESTED ITINERARY Let us tailor make this tour to your group’s exact requirements Day 1 UK to Bologna Scheduled flight to Bologna – transfer with our guide in our private executive coach to the 4* Tre Vecchi Hotel in Bologna – dinner at a local restaurant. Day 2 Bologna Guided tour of the buildings and porticoed streets of Bologna, home to medieval palaces and the oldest university in Europe – afternoon is free to explore and then make your own way back to the hotel – optional dinner at Restaurant Cesari to sample excellent Italian food. Day 3 Ravenna Guided tour of Ravenna, once the capital of Rome’s Western Empire and one of the great seats of Byzantine art in Europe, includes the burial place of Dante, the great Italian writer and politician,
Grand Tour of Sicily Italy
7 days from £829 Featuring All excursions & guided tours included Four dinners & one lunch included Professional tour manager Scheduled flights to Sicily Executive coach in Sicily ONE FREE PLACE PER 10 PAYING PASSENGERS
Bologna
the magnificent 6th century church of Sant’Apollinare Nuovo and the mosaics of St Vitale and the Mausoleo di Galla Placida. Day 4 Padova & Cappella degli Scrovegni Included pre-paid entry to Giotto’s Cappella degli Scrovegni in Padova – free time in Padova for lunch before returning to Bologna. Day 5 Mantova & Palazzo Ducale Guided tour of the Palazzo Ducale in Mantova, once one of Europe’s largest palaces and now housing a wonderful art collection including the frescoes in the ‘Camera degli Sposi’ by Mantegna – free time in the afternoon to explore Mantova. Day 6 Ferrara Guided tour of Palazzo Schifanoia with its wonderful Cycle of the Months fresco by Francesco Della Cossa and Ercole de’ Roberti –
city tour of Ferrara introduces us to one of the region’s greatest walled towns and one of Italy’s hidden gems with many attractive streets and medieval houses, a 12th century cathedral and the palaces of the d’Este dynasty – transfer to Bologna Airport for our scheduled flight home.
TAILOR MAKE ANY OF THESE TOURS FOR YOUR GROUP Like one of these tours but want to change it to suit your group’s budget or preferences? You could:
What We Will See Taormina - guided tour Mount Etna Siracusa - guided tour Piazza Armerina & Villa Romana del Casale - guided tour Valley of the Temples - guided tour & lunch Palermo - guided tour Monreale Abbey Your Hotels Three nights on half board basis at the 4* Caesar Palace Hotel in Giardini Naxos neat Taormina, one night on half board basis at the 4* Grand Hotel dei Templi in Agrigento and two nights on bed and breakfast basis at the 3* Tonic Hotel in the historic centre of Palermo. Rooms at all hotels are en suite. Extras Single room supplement £99 Insurance Entrance fees to places of interest (State run museums free to over 65s) Optional lunch on Day 3
• stay at different category hotel • on bed & breakfast or half board basis throughout • with fewer or different excursions • for more (or fewer) days • include all entrance fees & gratuities Call us so that together we can arrange your ideal group tour
Casale Roman Villa
Amphitheatre at Taormina & Mount Etna
SUGGESTED ITINERARY Let us tailor make this tour to your group’s exact requirements Day 1 Giardini Naxos Scheduled flight to Catania – transfer with our tour manager in our executive coach to the 4* Caesar Palace Hotel in Giardini Naxos. Day 2 Taormina & Mount Etna Guided tour of Taormina taking in sights such as the Santa Maria del Gesià Convent, the Palazzo Corvaia, the Duomo as well as the 4th century BC Greek amphitheatre – scenic excursion to Mount Etna, the highest volcano in Europe. Day 3 Siracusa Guided tour of Siracusa, home to the Temple of Apollo, Sicily’s earliest Doric temple, and the Parco Archeologico featuring the Teatro Romano, the Altar of Hieron II and the spectacular Teatro Greco – optional lunch at a working farm
winery – return to hotel to relax before dinner. Day 4 Piazza Armerina & the Villa Romana del Casale Guided tour of some of the finest surviving mosaics from Roman antiquity at Piazza Armerina and the Villa Romana del Casale – travel on to Agrigento and the 4* Grand Hotel dei Templi. Day 5 Valley of Temples Guided tour of the nine of the original ten Doric temples dating from the 5th century BC that are still visible at the Valley of Temples, one of the most impressive complexes of ancient Greek temples outside of Greece – the ancient Kolymbetra Gardens is the setting for our included open-air lunch – continue to the 3* Tonic Hotel in the historic centre of Palermo. Day 6 Palermo & Monreale Guided tour of Palermo taking in such sights as the Palazzo Abatellis (Regional Gallery), the 12th
century La Martorano Church and the Church of San Cataldo – the magnificent cathedral at Monreale is one of the great sites of Norman Sicily and is adorned with glittering Sicilian and Byzantine mosaics. Day 7 Palermo Morning at leisure in Palermo – transfer to Palermo Airport for our scheduled flight home.
A note to say thank you very much indeed for the very well organised trip in Bologna, Ravenna & Ferrara. It was very well done, everything ran smoothly and we were particularly impressed by the quality of our week long guide, Natalie, who was first class. Many thanks. JD Norfolk
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Italy
Sardinia & the Costa Smeralda
Classical Italy & the Amalfi Coast
8 days from £799
8 days from £799
Featuring All excursions & guided tours included Half board accommodation Guide for all transfers & excursions Return ferry crossings to Corsica & La Maddalena Scheduled flights to Alghero Executive coach in Sardinia ONE FREE PLACE PER 10 PAYING PASSENGERS What We Will See Costa Smeralda - San Pantaleo, Cala di Volpe & Porto Cervo Castelsardo - guided tour Santa Teresa di Gallura Corsica & Bonifacio - guided tour La Maddalena & Caprera Islands Your Hotel Seven nights on half board basis at the 3* Moresco Hotel at Santa Teresa di Gallura. Looking out across the Straits of Boniface, facilities at the hotel include a restaurant, bar and a private beach and all rooms are en suite. Extras Single room supplement £99 Insurance Entrance fees to places of interest (State run museums free to over 65s)
Porto Cervo
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Featuring 4* Sorrento hotel Full programme of included excursions Half board accommodation Guide for all transfers & excursions Scheduled flights to Naples Executive coach in Italy ONE FREE PLACE PER 10 PAYING PASSENGERS Sardinia
SUGGESTED ITINERARY Let us tailor make this tour to your group’s exact requirements Day 1 Santa Teresa di Gallura Scheduled flight to Alghero – transfer with our professional local guide in our private executive coach to the 3* Moresco Hotel at Santa Teresa di Gallura. Day 2 Costa Smeralda - San Pantaleo, Cala di Volpe & Porto Cervo Tour along the Costa Smeralda, one of the most stylish and cosmopolitan areas of the Mediterranean, includes San Pantaleo with its ornate town square, and Cala di Volpe, a Moorish style resort – guided tour of stylish Porto Cervo taking in the ornate multicoloured houses with time at leisure in the resort before returning to the hotel early this afternoon. Day 3 Castelsardo Guided tour of the beautifully preserved medieval town of Castelsardo, founded in the 12th century by the Genovese family of Doria and famous for its production of woven baskets, takes in sights such as the
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Cathedral with its high altar and the famous Madonna del Maestro di Castelsardo painting, and the Church of St Mary – return to Santa Teresa di Gallura this afternoon.
peninsula, and the majestic Citadel, constructed in the 9th century by Boniface II of Tuscany – after time at leisure to explore the marina area of the town, we take the return ferry to Sardinia.
Day 4 Santa Teresa di Gallura Day at leisure to relax on the beach and explore the resort of Santa Teresa di Gallura.
Day 6 Santa Teresa di Gallura Day at leisure at Santa Teresa di Gallura.
Day 5 Corsica & Bonifacio Take the ferry to Corsica and the city of Bonifacio, dating back to the Roman era – guided tour of Bonifacio takes in the Upper Town, built on a limestone
Day 7 La Maddalena & Caprera Islands, and Giuseppe Garibaldi Museum Take the ferry to the archipelago of Maddalena, awarded National Park status in 1996 – guided tour of La Maddalena, the only island on the archipelago with a town, includes a visit to the church in which Admiral Nelson donated a crucifix and two candelabras to the local populace – continue by road bridge to the island of Caprera and a visit to the museum which contemplates the life of Giuseppe Garibaldi who lived on the island until his death in 1882 – take the ferry back to Sardinia.
What We Will See Amalfi Coast Mount Vesuvius & Pompeii Paestum (Poseidon) Naples - guided tour Solfatara Your Hotel Seven nights on half board basis in the 4* Hotel Michelangelo in central Sorrento. All rooms are en suite and the hotel has a restaurant, bar and an outdoor swimming pool. Optional Capri Herculaneum & Oplontis Extras Single room supplement £149 Insurance Entrance fees to places of interest (State run museums free to over 65s)
SUGGESTED ITINERARY Let us tailor make this tour to your group’s exact requirements Day 1 Sorrento Scheduled flight to Naples – transfer with our Italian guide in our private executive coach to the 4* Hotel Michelangelo in Sorrento. Day 2 Amalfi Coast Tour the fabulous Amalfi Coast stopping at Positano for a stunning view and then Amalfi and Ravello with time for lunch. Day 3 Capri Optional visit to the island of Capri – after a boat transfer to the island, a guided tour of the major sights of this beautiful island is followed by time to wander through the maze of delightful streets and squares or simply to dine in one of the many trattorias.
Day 8 Sardinia to UK Transfer to Alghero Airport for our scheduled flight back home. Amalfi Coast
Day 4 Mount Vesuvius & Pompeii Stop to see Mount Vesuvius – rest of the day at Pompeii, the town
Puglia & the Heel of Italy Italy
8 days from £799 Featuring 4* hotel All excursions & guided tours included Half board accommodation Guide for all excursions & transfers Scheduled flights to Bari Executive coach in Italy ONE FREE PLACE PER 10 PAYING PASSENGERS
Neptune and Amphitrite, Herculaneum destroyed and then preserved by the eruption of Mount Vesuvius in 79AD giving us an amazing insight into ancient Roman life. Day 5 Paestum Paestum is the site of the temples of Hera, Neptune and Ceres from the city of Poseidon dating back to the 7th century and are considered to be amongst the best preserved examples of Doric temples anywhere in the world. Day 6 Naples & Solfatara Guided tour of Naples taking in sights such as the Royal Palace and Palazzo Plebiscito – free time to explore Museo Nazionale Archeologico which houses many pieces from Pompeii and Herculaneum – experience walking over the hot volcanic ground at Solfatara, a flat volcano that was thought in ancient times to be the entrance to the underworld. Day 7 Herculaneum & Oplontis Optional tour to the ancient towns of Herculaneum and
Oplontis that were also destroyed in the eruption of Vesuvius – in Oplontis we see Villa Poppea, home of Nero’s wife and his family which was preserved with its architecture and decorations in an excellent state. Day 8 Naples to UK Transfer to Naples Airport for our flight back home.
TAILOR MAKE ANY OF THESE TOURS FOR YOUR GROUP Like one of these tours but want to change it to suit your group’s budget or preferences? You could:
What We Will See Alberobello & Locorotondo Lecce - included lunch Ostuni Castel del Monte & Bitonto Matera & Altamura Castellana Grottoes & Polignano Your Hotel Seven nights at the 4* Grand Hotel la Chiusa di Chietri. Located 2km from the centre of the UNESCO listed historical centre of Alberobello, facilities at the hotel include a restaurant, bar and a swimming pool and all rooms are en suite. Six nights are on half board basis and one on bed & breakfast. Extras Single room supplement £99 Insurance Entrance fees to places of interest (State run museums free to over 65s) Optional farewell dinner
• stay at different category hotel • on bed & breakfast or half board basis throughout • with fewer or different excursions • for more (or fewer) days • include all entrance fees & gratuities Call us so that together we can arrange your ideal group tour
Matera
Alberobello
SUGGESTED ITINERARY Let us tailor make this tour to your group’s exact requirements Day 1 Alberobello Scheduled flight to Bari – transfer with our guide in our private executive coach to the 4* Grand Hotel la Chiusa di Chietri on the outskirts of Alberobello. Day 2 Alberobello & Locorotondo Guided tour of Alberobello to see the white washed conical shaped trulli houses for which the Puglia region is famous – Locorotondo is perched on a hill overlooking Valle d’Itria, a fertile and densely populated region dotted with trulli houses, and a visit to the beautiful church of Santa Maria della Greco is followed by wine tasting at a local winery. Day 3 Lecce In Lecce, the Baroque capital of Puglia, we see the Duomo, Santa Croce church and the papiermaché artisans’ shops – after an included lunch the afternoon is free to relax or explore Lecce. Day 4 Ostuni Ostuni has beautiful narrow streets, an enchanting cathedral
and the museum of pre-classical civilization – a tasting of the extra virgin olive oil at an underground oil mill amidst century old olive groves. Day 5 Castel del Monte & Bitonto The 13th century World Heritage listed Castel del Monte is a truly stunning piece of medieval military architecture and is acknowledged as one of the most majestic secular buildings of the Middle Ages – Bitonto’s old medieval town centre features impressive Renaissance and Baroque buildings and is home to one of Puglia’s most beautiful cathedrals (dated between 1175 and 1200) with a façade that features a richly decorated prothyrum and rose window. Day 6 Matera & Altamura Believed to be the best example of cave dwelling in the Mediterranean, Matera is famous for its Sassi dwellings carved out of stone with windows, doors, terraces and churches looking out from holes in the stone – Altamura, founded by Frederick II, is home to a magnificent cathedral dating from the 1300’s and the Museo Archeologico housing finds from Neolithic times.
Day 7 Castellana Grottoes & Polignano The limestone caves of Castellana Grottoes are the biggest in Italy and estimated to be 50 million years old – afternoon at the coastal village of Polignano a Mare – optional farewell dinner where you will taste the typical flavours of Puglia. Day 8 Bari to UK Transfer to Bari Airport for our scheduled flight home.
Our congratulations to all at Tailored Travel for giving us such a good holiday to Italy. The hotel was lovely. Our tour manager, Ludo, was exceptional and because of him I too actually had a holiday, which I don’t usually do! We can’t praise him enough, whatever you are paying him, he deserves double. SP Porthcawl
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Paris & the Palace of Versailles France
5 days from £389 Featuring All excursions & guided tours included Guide for all excursions Executive coach throughout P&O Channel crossing ONE FREE PLACE PER 10 PAYING PASSENGERS What We Will See Paris - guided tour Musée d’Orsay Palace of Versailles Monet’s Gardens Your Hotel Four nights on bed and breakfast basis at the good quality 3* Hotel Magellan in Paris. Located in the grand 17th District, the hotel is close to the Metro and there are several nearby restaurants. All rooms have en suite facilities. Extras Single room supplement £129 Insurance Entrance fees to places of interest Optional River Seine cruise
SUGGESTED ITINERARY Let us tailor make this tour to your group’s exact requirements Day 1 UK to Paris Board our private executive coach at the designated pick up points – P&O Ferries crossing from Dover to Calais – continue to Paris and check in to the 3* Hotel Magellan. Day 2 Paris city tour Guided coach tour of Paris taking in sights such as the Eiffel Tower, Champs Elysees, Arc de Triomphe and Notre Dame – afternoon free to explore Paris at your leisure.
Paris
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Palace of Versailles
Day 3 Musée d’Orsay Morning visit to the Musée d’Orsay with works by the great impressionists dating from 1848-
Châteaux of the Loire Valley France
6 days from £399 Featuring All excursions & guided tours included Welcome dinner Guide for all excursions Executive coach throughout P&O Channel crossing ONE FREE PLACE PER 10 PAYING PASSENGERS What We Will See Tours - guided tour Châteaux de Saumur & de Chenonceau Abbey Fontevraud & Château de Villandry Your Hotel Five nights at the 3* Hotel Turone in Tours, not far from the old town and ideally located to explore the surrounding areas of the Loire Valley. Dinner is served in the hotel on the first night and the remaining four nights are on bed and breakfast basis. All rooms are en suite and the hotel has a bar and restaurant. Eiffel Tower
1914 including famous canvases from Monet, Manet, Renoir, van Gogh and Cézanne – optional cruise along the River Seine. Day 4 Palace of Versailles In the splendour of the Palace of Versailles, built by Louis XIV in the 18th century, we see the magnificent King’s Apartments, the bedroom of Marie-Antoinette and the Hall of Mirrors lined on one side by 70m mirrors. Day 5 Monet’s Gardens Visit Monet’s Gardens at Giverny where Monet came repeatedly through his life, letting his imagination rove amid the complex interplay of light and water to paint his magnificent Waterlillies series – continue to Calais for our P&O Ferries
crossing to Dover and onward travel to our original pick up points.
Extras Single room supplement £99 Insurance Entrance fees to places of interest Optional tour & tasting at Gratien & Meyer wine cellars
TAILOR MAKE ANY OF THESE TOURS FOR YOUR GROUP
SUGGESTED ITINERARY Let us tailor make this tour to your group’s exact requirements Day 1 UK to Tours Board our private executive coach at the designated pick up points – P&O Ferries crossing from Dover to Calais – continue to Tours and check in to the excellent 3* Hotel Turone – dinner in the hotel. Day 2 Tours Guided tour of the medieval quarter of Tours, a showcase of Gothic architecture – afternoon free to explore Tours at your leisure.
Like one of these tours but want to change it to suit your group’s budget or preferences? You could: • stay at different category hotel • on bed & breakfast or half board basis throughout • with fewer or different excursions • for more (or fewer) days • include all entrance fees & gratuities Call us so that together we can arrange your ideal group tour
Château de Chenonceau
Château de Villandry
Day 3 Châteaux de Saumur & de Chenonceau Morning at leisure in Saumur where you can choose to visit Château de Saumur, built during the 14th century for the Ducs
d’Anjou or optional tour and tasting at the nearby Gratien and Meyer wine cellars – Château de Chenonceau is perhaps the most elegant of all châteaux in the Loire Valley and renowned for the arches that carry it across the water. Day 4 Abbey Fontevraud & Château de Villandry Abbey Fontevraud is the 12th century resting place of Henry II, Eleanor of Aquitaine and Richard the Lion Heart – Château de Villandry features famous 16th century three tiered gardens comprising the pond, the decorative gardens and the kitchen garden. Day 5 Tours Full day at leisure in Tours, a city rich with history and the original home of the French language,
where you may choose to visit Château de Tours or Musée des Beaux Arts. Day 6 France to UK Travel to Calais for our P&O Ferries crossing to Dover and onward travel to our original pick up points.
This can only be hailed as a great success! For me it is a pleasure dealing with you and your staff for yet another holiday. Many thanks go to Sandy for sorting out the nitty gritty details so particularly. PT Stamford
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France
Normandy & Calvados Country
Art, Countryside & Châteaux of Provence
5 days from £329
7 days from £739
Featuring All excursions & guided tours included Professional tour manager Welcome dinner Executive coach throughout P&O Channel crossing ONE FREE PLACE PER 10 PAYING PASSENGERS
Featuring All excursions & guided tours included Guide for all excursions & transfers Welcome dinner Scheduled flights to Marseilles Executive coach in France ONE FREE PLACE PER 10 PAYING PASSENGERS
What We Will See Guided tour of D-Day Beaches, D-Day Museum & Memorial at Caen Lisieux Caen - guided tour Bayeux Tapestry Museum Honfleur & Seine Estuary boat trip Deauville
What We Will See Aix-en-Provence - guided tour Châteaux de Lourmarin & d’Ansouis Avignon - guided tour Château de la Barben ‘In Cezanne’s footsteps’ tour Arles - guided tour Marseilles
Your Hotel Four nights in the 3* Grand Hotel de l’Espérance in Lisieux. Dinner is included on our first night and the remaining three nights are on bed and breakfast basis. Situated in the heart of the city close to the medieval cathedral, all rooms at the hotel are en suite.
Your Hotel Six nights at the 3* Hotel Le Galice with a welcome dinner on the first night and the other five nights on bed and breakfast basis. Located just 450 metres from the centre of Aix en Provence, the hotel boasts a bar, restaurant and outdoor swimming pool. All the bedrooms are en suite.
Extras Single room supplement £99 Insurance Entrance fees to places of interest
Honfleur Harbour
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Bayeux Tapestry
SUGGESTED ITINERARY Let us tailor make this tour to your group’s exact requirements Day 1 UK to Lisieux Board with our tour manager our private executive coach at the designated pick up points – P&O Ferries crossing from Dover to Calais – continue to Lisieux and check in to the excellent 3* Grand Hotel de l’Espérance – dinner in the hotel. Day 2 D-Day Beaches Guided coach tour focusing on the D-Day landings and taking in sights such as Pegasus Bridge and Arromanches, selected as one of the sites for two Mulberry Harbours built on the Normandy coast – visit the D-Day Museum overlooking the spot where one of the harbours was constructed and where its remains can still be
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seen today – continue to the Memorial at Caen, a museum serving as a powerful reminder of the precious and precarious nature of peace. Day 3 Lisieux, Caen & the Bayeux Tapestry Morning at leisure in Lisieux. Why not enjoy a coffee at a pavement café set alongside quaint half timbered houses or visit the Cathedral Saint Pierre? – guided tour of the thriving and dynamic city of Caen whose sights include the Men’s Abbey and Ducal Castle – the Bayeux Tapestry Museum houses the tapestry that recounts in great detail William the Conqueror’s invasion of England in 1066.
Day 4 Honfleur & Deauville Time at leisure to explore picturesque harbour town of Honfleur that inspired numerous French artists, to visit the Old Dock surrounded by pretty narrow houses or to admire the Lieutenancy and Saint Stephen's Church – boat trip along the beautiful Seine Estuary – continue on to Deauville, one of France’s most glamorous seaside resorts.
Extras Single room supplement £199 Insurance Entrance fees to places of interest
Day 5 France to UK Travel to Calais for our P&O Ferries crossing to Dover and onward travel to our original pick up points. Provence
SUGGESTED ITINERARY Let us tailor make this tour to your group’s exact requirements Day 1 UK to Aix-en-Provence Scheduled flight to Marseilles – transfer with our guide in our private executive coach to the 3* Hotel Le Galice in central Aix-enProvence – dinner in the hotel. Day 2 Aix-en-Provence Guided tour of the old town of Aix including the Bourg St-Sauveur and the City of Counts – afternoon to relax and explore Aix at leisure, the home of Cezanne and Emile Zola, or to visit the Musée Granet whose permanent collection makes it one of France’s richest provincial art galleries with works by French painters from the 16th to 20th centuries (including nine works by Cézanne). Day 3 Châteaux de Lourmarin & d’Ansouis Visit the Renaissance style Château de Lourmarin dating from the 15th century – free time for lunch in the village, one of the most beautiful in France – travel on to Cucuron Church and the lovely Château d’Ansouis and
South West France & the Midi-Pyrenees France
6 days from £649 Featuring All excursions & guided tours included Guide for all excursions & transfers Welcome dinner Scheduled flights to Toulouse Executive coach in France ONE FREE PLACE PER 10 PAYING PASSENGERS
Pont d’Avignon
fortress gardens which have been owned by the same family since the 11th century. Day 4 Avignon & Le Palais des Papes Guided walking tour of the UNESCO listed town of Avignon, taking in sights such as Le Pont St Bénezet, the ramparts, the Petit Palais and the Cathedral and a visit to Le Palais des Papes, a mighty symbol of the church’s influence throughout the western Christian world in the 14th century – rest of the day at leisure to explore Avignon or to visit Le Musée du Petit Palais with its outstanding collection of Italian and Provençal paintings or Le Musée Calvet, an 18th century private museum with a varied collection of paintings and sculptures. Day 5 Château de la Barben & ‘In Cezanne’s footsteps’ Visit the 11th century Château de la Barben containing furniture from the 17th and 18th centuries – tour of the village and the Church of Rognes – return to Aixen-Provence for an afternoon tour ‘In Cezanne’s footsteps’ to discover the life and landscapes
that inspired the great painter including a visit to his studio. Day 6 Arles Guided walking tour of Arles, home to the magnificent Roman cathedral of Sainte-Trophime and where Van Gogh is said to have eventually lost his sanity – free time to relax in this charming town. Day 7 Marseilles Time permitting, free time in Marseilles prior to our scheduled flight back home.
What We Will See Albi - guided tour Castres Carcassonne - guided tour Béziers Najac Cordes Toulouse - guided tour Your Hotel Five nights in the 3* Hotel Chiffre in Albi. Once an old coaching inn, the hotel is centrally located and just a short walk from the historic centre. Dinner is included the first night and the following four nights are on bed and breakfast. All the rooms are en suite and the hotel has a restaurant. Extras Single room supplement £89 Insurance Entrance fees to places of interest
TAILOR MAKE ANY OF THESE TOURS FOR YOUR GROUP Like one of these tours but want to change it to suit your group’s budget or preferences? You could: • stay at different category hotel • on bed & breakfast or half board basis throughout • with fewer or different excursions • for more (or fewer) days • include all entrance fees & gratuities Call us so that together we can arrange your ideal group tour
St Cecile Cathedral, Albi
Carcassonne
SUGGESTED ITINERARY Let us tailor make this tour to your group’s exact requirements Day 1 UK to France Scheduled flight to Toulouse – transfer with our guide in our private executive coach to the 3* Hotel Chiffre in Albi – dinner in the hotel.
14th century where old tanners' and weavers' houses overhang the river and best known as the home of famous socialist leader Jean Jaurès and for its major Goya Museum of Spanish paintings.
Day 2 Albi Guided walking tour of Albi to introduce us to the medieval streets of the old quarter and the enormous Gothic Cathedral of Sainte Cécile whose outer defensive architecture is in stark contrast to the sumptuous inner decoration – rest of the day is free to enjoy Albi at your leisure.
Day 4 Carcassonne & Béziers With its double battlemented walls, turreted towers and panoramic views over the countryside, the fortress at Carcassonne captures the atmosphere of medieval France – guided tour takes in the church of St Nazaire et Celse, the Old Bridge and 12th century Château Comtal – visit the medieval town of Béziers which rises in terraces from the banks of the River Orb and Canal du Midi.
Day 3 Castres Drive through the scenic Black Mountain region to the pretty riverside town of Castres, a centre of wool making since the
Day 5 Najac & Cordes The fortified village of Najac is set on a conical hill on a wide bend in the Aveyron Valley and its photogenic castle sits right on the
peak – free time in the unspoilt medieval walled town of Cordes with steep cobbled lanes, perched on a ridge above the river. Day 6 Toulouse Guided tour of Toulouse – transfer to Toulouse Airport for our scheduled flight home.
Thank you so much for all your help with our trip to France. Everyone thoroughly enjoyed themselves. The variety of chateaux and gardens was just right and our tour manager was excellent. GW Canterbury
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France
Annecy & the Beautiful Alps
Monte Carlo, Nice & the Italian Riviera
6 days from £629
6 days from £589
Featuring All excursions & guided tours included Guide for all excursions & transfers Welcome dinner Scheduled flights to Geneva Executive coach in France ONE FREE PLACE PER 10 PAYING PASSENGERS
Featuring All excursions & guided tours included Half board accommodation Professional tour manager Scheduled flights to Nice Executive coach ONE FREE PLACE PER 10 PAYING PASSENGERS
What We Will See Annecy - guided tour Gorges du Fier & Château de Montrottier Chamonix-Mont Blanc Aix-Les-Bains & Abbaye de Hautecombe Chambery - guided tour Geneva - guided tour Your Hotel Five nights at the 3* Best Western International Hotel at Annecy, located only a few minutes walk from the old town and Lake Annecy. On the first night dinner is included and the next four nights are on bed and breakfast basis. Facilities at the hotel include a restaurant, bar and a steam room. All rooms are en suite. Extras Single room supplement £129 Insurance Entrance fees to places of interest Optional farewell dinner
What We Will See Monte Carlo - guided tour Villa & Gardens of Ephrussi de Rothschild Rapallo & Portofino Genoa - guided tour San Remo Nice - guided tour Matisse Museum
Annecy
SUGGESTED ITINERARY Let us tailor make this tour to your group’s exact requirements Day 1 UK to Annecy Scheduled flight to Geneva – transfer with our guide in our private executive coach to the 3* Best Western International Hotel in Annecy – dinner in the hotel. Day 2 Annecy, Gorges du Fier & Château de Montrottier Guided walking tour of Annecy introduces us to this charming town lying at the northern tip of Lake Annecy surrounded by snow-capped mountains with a network of canals crisscrossing its centre – short trip to the magnificent Gorges du Fier, one of the greatest natural phenomena in the Alps – guided tour of the Château de Montrottier.
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Day 3 Chamonix-Mont Blanc Full day excursion to the Alpine resort of Chamonix-Mont Blanc with time at leisure to explore the boutiques or to take the cable car up into the mountains for a stunning view of Mont Blanc and the famous Mer de Glace glacier. Day 4 Aix-Les-Bains & Abbaye de Hautecombe Travel to Lake Bourget, France’s largest lake, and the spa town of
Aix-Les-Bains, featuring the ruins of the original baths first enjoyed by the Romans and also the chance to visit the small museum of Musee Faure, housing works by Degas, Renoir and other impressionists – visit the Abbaye de Hautecombe amongst the wine growing slopes of Lake Bourget. Day 5 Chambery Guided tour of Chambery, the former capital of the counts and dukes of Savoy during the 14th century, taking in its château and historic centre – optional farewell dinner at a carefully selected restaurant in Annecy. Day 6 Geneva Guided tour of Geneva taking in sights such as the water fountain, the Flower Clock and Saint Peter’s Cathedral – transfer to Geneva Airport for our scheduled flight home.
Your Hotel Five nights on half board basis at the 3* Hotel Kristall at Diano Marina on the Italian Riviera. Centrally located and just 50 metres from the beach, the hotel has a bar, restaurant and swimming pool. All rooms are en suite. Extras Single room supplement £59 Insurance Entrance fees to places of interest
Monte Carlo Casino
SUGGESTED ITINERARY Let us tailor make this tour to your group’s exact requirements Day 1 UK to Nice Scheduled flight to Nice – transfer with our tour manager in our private executive coach to the 3* Hotel Kristall at Diano Marina. Day 2 Monte Carlo & Villa and Gardens of Ephrussi de Rothschild Guided tour of Monte Carlo, the roulette capital of the world and winter shelter for the rich and famous, takes in the Casino and the cathedral where Princess Grace was married – continue to the Villa and Gardens of Baroness Ephrussi de Rothschild where, through the art dealers and experts she befriended, she transformed the villa at Saint-Jean Cap-Ferrat into a collector’s paradise. Day 3 Rapallo & Portofino Travel along the Liguarian coast to Rapallo, where two post-World War II treaties were signed, and a haven for writers such as DH Lawrence and Ezra Pound – continue to Portofino where once
Reims & Champagne Country France
4 days from £269 Featuring Centrally located Reims hotel All excursions & guided tours included Professional guides on Days 2 & 3 P&O Ferries Channel crossing Executive coach throughout ONE FREE PLACE PER 10 PAYING PASSENGERS
Port of Nice
only fishing boats docked in the narrow inlet, edged on three sides by high cliffs, but is now a berth for luxury yachts. Day 4 Genoa Guided tour of Genoa takes in sights such as Piazzo San Matteo, the Church of Gesù and Palazzo Ducale – guided tour of Palazzo Rosso introduces us to a wonderful art collection including 17th century frescoes by Genoese artists such as de Ferrari and Piola, and paintings by Dürer and Carravaggio – afternoon visit to Belvedere di Castelleto, offering a wonderful panoramic view across the city – guided tour of Palazzo Reale introduces us to the ornate Rococo interior and a fine collection of paintings including works by Parodi, Carlone and a ‘Crucifixion’ by Van Dyck. Day 5 San Remo Full day at leisure at San Remo, known as the city of flowers and sun, where you may choose to take a stroll along the famous palm lined promenade or visit Chiesa Russa, an authentic Russian Orthodox church in the city centre.
Day 6 Nice & Matisse Museum Guided tour of Nice takes in the narrow streets of the old town, the famous ‘Promenade’ and the heart of the city with its rich architectural and cultural heritage – the Matisse Museum boasts a wonderful collection of works left by Henri Matisse to the city of Nice where he lived from 1921 to 1954 – transfer to Nice Airport for our scheduled flight home.
What We Will See Guided tour of Reims Tour & tasting at Mumm Champagne House Marne Valley guided tour Epernay Tour & tasting at Mercier Champagne House Arras Your Hotel Three nights on bed and breakfast basis at the centrally located 3* Holiday Inn Garden Court Hotel in Reims, located within walking distance of the cultural district, cathedral and the well known champagne cellars. Facilities at the hotel include a restaurant and bar and all rooms are en suite. Extras Single room supplement £69 Insurance Entrance fees to places of interest Optional cruise along the Marne River
TAILOR MAKE ANY OF THESE TOURS FOR YOUR GROUP Like one of these tours but want to change it to suit your group’s budget or preferences? You could: • stay at different category hotel • on bed & breakfast or half board basis throughout • with fewer or different excursions • for more (or fewer) days • include all entrance fees & gratuities Call us so that together we can arrange your ideal group tour
Dom Perignon
Champagne Region
SUGGESTED ITINERARY Let us tailor make this tour to your group’s exact requirements Day 1 UK to Reims Board our private executive coach at the designated pick up points – P&O Ferries crossing from Dover to Calais – continue to Reims and check in to the 3* Holiday Inn Garden Court Hotel. Day 2 Guided tour of Reims & Mumm Champagne House Guided tour of Reims taking in sights such as the Cathedral Notre Dame, where the kings of France were crowned, and the Basilica – guided tour of the Mumm Champagne House, dating back to 1827, finishing with a tasting of the House’s signature
champagne, GH Mumm Cordon Rouge – free time to explore Reims and you may choose to visit Palais du Tau, the archbishop’s residence, or the Musée des Beaux Arts. Day 3 Marne Valley, Epernay & Mercier Champagne House Guided tour along the Marne Valley through champagne vineyards and picturesque villages – at Epernay, the centre of the Champagne industry, we see the famous Champagne Avenue and enjoy a tour and tasting at the Mercier Champagne House – free time at leisure in Epernay or you may choose to join our optional cruise along the idyllic Marne River on board the ‘Le Champagne Vallée’ paddle steamer from nearby Cumieres.
Day 4 Arras En route to Calais we stop at the historic town of Arras where we have time at leisure for lunch – continue to Calais for our P&O Ferries crossing to Dover and onward travel to our original pick up points.
Having returned from the holiday to France I would like to congratulate Tailored Travel on the wonderful and varied itinerary which was thoroughly enjoyed by all members of our group. EW Newbury
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Germany & Austria
Berlin & Dresden 5 days in Berlin from £529 Featuring 4* hotels Full programme of included excursions Guide for all excursions & transfers Scheduled flights to Berlin Executive coach in Germany ONE FREE PLACE PER 10 PAYING PASSENGERS What We Will See Guided tour of Berlin Reichstag & Story of Berlin Museum Jewish Museum Berlin & Museum Island Potsdam - Sanssouci Palace & Cecilienhof Palace Charlottenburg Palace Optional Dresden Add-on from £210 National Porcelain Museum Dresden New Green Vault - guided tour Your Hotels Four nights on bed and breakfast basis at the 4* Leonardo Royal Hotel in Berlin. Located in Berlin's central Mitte district and a 10 minute walk from Alexanderplatz, facilities at the hotel include a bar, restaurant, and a top floor spa and fitness area. For the Dresden add on, three nights on bed and breakfast basis at the 4* Ringhotel Residenz Alt Hotel. Rooms in both hotels are en suite. Extras Insurance Single room supplement - Berlin £99 - Berlin & Dresden £159 Entrance fees to places of interest Dresden add on - optional Pillintz Palace & boat cruise to Konigstein
Neuschwanstein Castle
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Sanssouci Palace
SUGGESTED ITINERARY Let us tailor make this tour to your group’s exact requirements Day 1 UK to Berlin Scheduled flight to Berlin – transfer with our guide in our private executive coach to the 4* Leonardo Royal Hotel. Day 2 Berlin city tour, the Reichstag & Story of Berlin Museum Guided coach tour of Berlin takes in sights such as the Brandenburg Gate, Check Point Charlie and Berlin Cathedral – prebooked coffee and cakes break in the Reichstag is followed by a tour of Sir Norman Foster’s great restoration – the Story of Berlin Museum looks back at Berlin’s history from the city’s origins in 1237 to the fall of the Berlin Wall. Day 3 Jewish Museum Berlin & Museum Island An audio tour of the exhibitions at the Jewish Museum Berlin covers two millennia of German Jewish history – free time to explore Museum Island, one of the finest museum complexes in the world, with the Pergamon Museum housing the huge Altar of Zeus from Pergamon, the Alte Nationalgalerie’s collection spanning the era between the French Revolution and the First World War and a marvellous Egyptian collection at the Altes Museum.
Germany & Austria
The Art & History of Dresden, Meißen & Saxony ‘Switzerland’ 5 days from £619 Featuring 4* hotel All excursions & guided tours included Half board accommodation Guide for all excursions & transfers Scheduled flights to Dresden Executive coach in Germany ONE FREE PLACE PER 10 PAYING PASSENGERS Brandenburg Gate
Day 4 Potsdam - Sanssouci Palace & Cecilienhof Palace Potsdam is a town set amongst woodlands and lakes with opulent palaces and gardens – delightful Sanssouci Palace was created in 1744 by Frederick as his summer residence – Cecilienhof Palace built by Emperor William II for his eldest son, Crown Prince William, and Crown Princess Cecilie, was the venue of the Potsdam Conference between the victorious Allies in 1945. Day 5 Charlottenburg Palace At Charlottenburg Palace, set in a beautiful park and the favourite palace of Frederick the Great, we go from one breathtakingly splendid room to another – transfer to the airport for our scheduled flight home. TAILOR MAKE ANY OF THESE TOURS FOR YOUR GROUP Like one of these tours but want to change it to suit your group’s budget or preferences? You could: • stay at different category hotel • on bed & breakfast or half board basis throughout • with fewer or different excursions • for more (or fewer) days • include all entrance fees & gratuities Call us so that together we can arrange your ideal group tour
Or optional 3 night Dresden add on Day 5 National Porcelain Museum & Dresden Leave Berlin and en route to Dresden we stop at the National Porcelain Museum for an insight into the production process of this world renowned manufacturer – travel on to Dresden and the good quality 4* Ringhotel Residenz Alt Hotel. Day 6 New Green Vault Guided tour of the stunning New Green Vault at the Dresden Royal Palace, home to unique cabinet pieces made by the Dresden court jeweller, Dinglinger, and fascinating objects of gold, silver, ivory and mother of pearl. Day 7 Pillintz Palace & Konigstein Optional day trip to the Chinese style Pillintz Palace and Gardens, lying on the banks of the River Elbe and with flying buttresses and chimneys ornamented with crowns – boat cruise (with included light lunch) from Pirna along the River Elbe to Konigstein and a guided tour of Konigstein Castle.
What We Will See Dresden - guided tour Royal Palace & the New Green Vault - guided tour Pillnitz Castle & Gardens - guided tour Saxony Switzerland River Elbe paddle steamer cruise Meißen Porcelain Museum - guided tour Meißen Zwinger Palace & Old Masters Picture Gallery - guided tour Your Hotel Four nights on half board basis at the 4* Ringhotel Residenz Alt Hotel. Located four kilometres from the centre of Dresden and 200 metres from the nearest tram stop, the historic centre of Dresden is a fifteen minute tram ride away. Facilities at the hotel include two restaurants, a bar and a modern fitness area. All rooms are en suite. Extras Single room supplement £49 Insurance Entrance fees to places of interest Optional tour & tasting at vineyard
Day 8 Berlin to UK Transfer back to Berlin Airport for our scheduled flight back home. River Elbe, Dresden
Zwinger Palace
SUGGESTED ITINERARY Let us tailor make this tour to your group’s exact requirements Day 1 UK to Dresden Scheduled flight to Dresden – transfer with our guide in our private executive coach to the 4* Ringhotel Residenz Alt Hotel. Day 2 Dresden & New Green Vault Guided tour of Dresden taking in sights such as Semper Opera House, the Cathedral and a visit to the reconstructed Frauenkirche – guided tour of the Royal Palace and the New Green Vault with its collection of fine silver and jewellery. Day 3 Pillnitz Castle and Gardens, Saxony Switzerland & River Elbe cruise Guided tour of the Chinese style Pillnitz Castle and Gardens, lying picturesquely on the banks of the River Elbe and with flying buttresses and chimneys
ornamented with crowns – panoramic tour through the deeply cut Elbe Valley known as Saxony Switzerland taking in sights such as the Bastei Rocks and Königstein Fortress – paddle steamer cruise along the River Elbe from Königstein to Pirna to view the splendour of the Saxony Alps from a different perspective – optional tour and tasting at a carefully selected vineyard en route back to the hotel. Day 4 Meißen Porcelain Museum Guided tour of the Meißen Porcelain Museum gives an insight into the production process at this world renowned manufacturer – time at leisure in Meißen where you may choose to visit Albrechtsburg Castle or the Gothic cathedral. Day 5 Zwinger Palace Guided tour of the Old Masters Picture Gallery in the Zwinger Palace, the old fortress of
Dresden, introducing us to works by Rubens, Canaletto, Raphael, Titian, Rembrandt and Vermeer, as well as a wonderful Meiβen porcelain gallery – transfer to Dresden Airport for our scheduled flight home.
I write to say how successful and enjoyable I found the visit to Berlin you organised for our group. Travel arrangements, the excellent quality and most convenient location of the hotel and the programme of sightseeing could not have been better. Best of all, however, was our tour manager, Thomas – energetic, enthusiastic, erudite, entertaining. AG Aberdeen
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Germany & Austria
Beautiful Black Forest
The Rhine & Moselle Valleys
6 days from £589
6 days from £369
Featuring Half board accommodation All excursions & guided tours included Professional tour manager Scheduled flights to Basel Mulhouse Executive coach in Germany ONE FREE PLACE PER 10 PAYING PASSENGERS
Featuring Half board accommodation All excursions & guided tours included Professional tour manager Executive coach in Germany P&O Ferries Channel crossing ONE FREE PLACE PER 10 PAYING PASSENGERS
What We Will See Breitnau Titisee & Rhine Falls Constance & Island of Mainau Triberg & Villingen Freiburg - guided tour
What We Will See Cochem & Bernkastel-Kues Koblenz Rhine river cruise Boppard St Goar & Rüdesheim Trier
Your Hotel Five nights on half board basis at the 3* Best Western Hofgut Sternen Hotel at Breitnau. Located in a quiet park area, this typical Black Forest style hotel is an ideal base for our tour. All rooms have en suite facilities and the hotel has a bar. Extras Single room supplement £69 Insurance Entrance fees to places of interest
Freiburg
SUGGESTED ITINERARY Let us tailor make this tour to your group’s exact requirements Day 1 UK to Germany Scheduled flight to Basel – transfer with our tour manager in our private executive coach to the 3* Best Western Hofgut Sternen Hotel at Breitnau.
Island of Mainau
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Day 2 Breitnau, Titisee & Rhine Falls Morning visit to a traditional glass blowers and cuckoo clock workshop at Breitnau – time at leisure to stroll around the lakeside resort of Titisee or to take a boat cruise – located on the upper Rhine River just below Schaffhausen in northern Switzerland, the Rhine Falls is described as the most spectacular waterfall in central Europe.
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Day 3 Constance & Island of Mainau Guided tour of the medieval town of Constance – a memorable boat excursion on Lake Constance before visiting the nearby ‘flower island’ of Mainau, famous for its tropical plants, flowers and trees.
Day 4 Triberg & Villingen Morning visit to Triberg whose sights include the Black Forest Museum and Germany’s highest waterfall – rest of the day is spent in the charming resort of Villingen. Day 5 Freiburg Guided tour of the old university city of Freiburg which is dominated by the ruins of three castles perched high on surrounding slopes – rest of the day at leisure in Freiburg.
Your Hotel Five nights on half board basis at the 3* Scholz Hotel in Koblenz. Located a 25 minute walk from the historic centre of Koblenz, facilities at the hotel include a restaurant and bar. All rooms are en suite. Extras Single room supplement £49 Insurance Entrance fees to places of interest Optional evening river cruise
Day 6 Germany to UK Transfer to Basel Mulhouse Airport for our scheduled flight home.
Bernkastel
SUGGESTED ITINERARY Let us tailor make this tour to your group’s exact requirements Day 1 UK to Germany Board with our tour manager our private executive coach at the designated pick up points – P&O Ferries crossing from Dover to Calais – continue to Koblenz and check in to the 3* Scholz Hotel. Day 2 Cochem & Bernkastel-Kues The charming town of Cochem is dominated by the Reichsburg Castle rising more than 330 ft above the River Moselle – Bernkastel-Kues, with its beautiful Marktplatz of half-timbered, colourwashed houses with steep roofs and gables, is the ‘Pearl of the Moselle’ and high above the town stands the Landshut, the ruins of a 13th century castle. Day 3 Koblenz & Boppard Koblenz is the largest city on the
Germany & Austria
The Castles & Lakes of Bavaria 5 days from £619 Featuring 4* Berlin Half boardhotel accommodation Full programme of included excursions Guide for all tour excursions & transfers Professional manager Scheduled flights to Berlin Munich Executive coach in Germany ONE FREE PLACE PER 10 PAYING PASSENGERS PASSENGERS
Cochem Castle
Rhine and among its sights are the 12th century Church of Our Lady and the magnificent Kurfürstliches Schloss, one of the most beautiful Renaissance buildings in Germany – cruise along the Rhine from Koblenz to Boppard where the rest of the day is free time to relax and explore. Day 4 St Goar & Rüdesheim St Goar is on the most scenic stretch of the Rhine and you can take the train from the main shopping street up the hill to the museum in the ruins of Rheinfels Castle – continue along the Rhine to Rüdesheim, famous for the Drosselgasse, a narrow cobbled alley full of inns buzzing with the sound of revelry, but also boasting the remains of the 1,000 year old Bromersburg Castle. Day 5 Trier Trier is the oldest city in Germany and home to the famous Porta Nigra, a huge and still formidable mass of stone and the biggest
Roman gateway north of the Alps, and to the 12th century St Peter’s Cathedral containing many rich treasures including the so called ‘Holy Undivided Robe’ of Christ. Day 6 Koblenz to UK Travel to Calais for our P&O Ferries crossing to Dover and onward travel to our original pick up points. TAILOR MAKE ANY OF THESE TOURS FOR YOUR GROUP Like one of these tours but want to change it to suit your group’s budget or preferences? You could:
What We We Will Will See See What Guided tour of Berlin Herrsching Reichstag & Story of Berlin Museum Nymphenburg Palace Jewish Museum Berlin & Wieskirche Museum Fussen Island Potsdam - Sanssouci Palace & Neuschwanstein Cecilienhof PalaceCastle Linderhof CastlePalace Charlottenburg Oberammergau Passion Play Theatre – guided tour Optional Dresden Munich Add-on from £210 National Porcelain Museum Your Hotels Dresden Four half board basis at the New nights Greenon Vault family run 3* Hotel Seeblick in the village of Bernried, voted Bavaria’s Your Hotels village in 2006. most attractive Four nights on the bed shores and breakfast basis at Located near of beautiful the 4*Starnberg, Park Inn Hotel on Alexanderplatz Lake the hotel has a in Berlin and,bar forand the Dresden on, restaurant, an indooradd pool. three nightsare on en bedsuite. and breakfast basis All rooms at the 3* Ramada Hotel. Rooms in both hotels are en suite. Extras Single Extrasroom supplement £79 Insurance Insurance Entrance feessupplement to places of interest Single room Optional cruise on Lake Ammersee - Berlin £99 - Berlin & Dresden £159 Entrance fees to places of interest Optional Pillintz Palace & boat cruise to Konigstein
• stay at different category hotel • on bed & breakfast or half board basis throughout • with fewer or different excursions • for more (or fewer) days • include all entrance fees & gratuities Call us so that together we can arrange your ideal group tour
Linderhof Palace
Berlin
SUGGESTED ITINERARY Let us tailor make this tour to your group’s exact requirements SUGGESTED ITINERARY Day 1Let UKus to tailor Berlinmake this tour totoyour group’s Scheduled flight Berlin – transfer exact requirements with our guide in our private executive coach to the 4* Park Inn Day 1 Munich Hotel in theflight former West Berlin. Scheduled to Munich – transfer with our tourtour, manager Day 2 Berlin city the in our private executive coach to the Reichstag & Story of Berlin 3* Hotel Seeblick in the village of Museum Bernreid, voted Bavaria’s most Guided coach tour of Berlin takes attractive village in 2006. in sights such as the Brandenburg Gate,2Check Point Charlie Day Herrsching & and Berlin Cathedral –Palace prebooked Nymphenburg coffee cakesinbreak in the Time atand leisure the town of Reichstag followed tourour of Herrschingis or chooseby toajoin Sir Norman Foster’s great optional cruise on picturesque restoration – the –Story of Berlin Lake Ammersee the highlights Museum looks back at Berlin’s of the Baroque Nymphenburg history fromsummer the city’s origins inof Palace, the residence 1237Bavarian to the fall of the Berlin Wall. the monarchs, include the of Beauties’, Day‘Gallery 3 Jewish Museum Berlin commissioned by Ludwig I, the & Museum Island former of King LudwigatII An audiobedroom tour of the exhibitions and the impressive hall the Jewish Museumbanquet Berlin covers with fine ceiling two millennia of frescoes German by Jewish Johann Zimmerman. history Baptist – free time to explore Museum Island, one ofFussen the finest Day 3 Wieskirche, & museum complexes Castle in the world, Neuschwanstein with the Pergamon Wieskirche, an oval Museum Rococo housingdesigned the hugeinAltar church the of lateZeus 1740s from Pergamon, the Alte by Dominikus Zimmermann and Nationalgalerie’s collection regarded as his final masterpiece,
spanning the era between the French Revolution and the First World War and a marvellous Egyptian collection at the Altes was added to the UNESCO list in Museum. 1983 – time at leisure for lunch in the town-ofSanssouci Fussen, Daymedieval 4 Potsdam framed high mountain Palace by & imposing Cecilienhof Palace peaks andissituated at the southern Potsdam a town set amongst end of the Romantic Road – woodlands and lakes with opulent Neuschwanstein Castle is the palaces and gardens – delightful ‘castle of the fairytale king’ that Sanssouci Palace was created in was by the shyasKing Ludwig 1744built by Frederick his summer IIresidence in order –toCecilienhof withdraw from Palace public but seven weeksII after built bylife Emperor William for his his death in 1886 it was eldest son, Crown Princeopened William, to the public and today is one of and Crown Princess Cecilie, was the most popular of all Europe’s the venue of the Potsdam castles. Conference between the victorious Allies in 1945. Day 4 Linderhof Castle & Oberammergau Passion Day 5 Charlottenburg Palace Play Theatre At Charlottenburg Palace, set in a Built between 1874 and 1878 beautiful park and the favouriteand the smallest of King the Ludwig II’swe palace of Frederick Great, three royal Linderhof go from onecastles, breathtakingly Castle was originally intended splendid room to another – as a hunting laterfor he our transfer lodge to thebut airport declared it flight would be a new scheduled home. Versailles and the wonderful French Rococo interiors and beautiful parkland certainly reflect that ambition – guided tour of the Oberammergau Passion Play Theatre where once again in 2010 in a production involving more than 2,000 villagers, a full
OR OPTIONAL Neuschwanstein Castle
orchestra and a vast stage, the DRESDEN ADD ON villagers performed their world Day 5 National Porcelain famous Passion Play, a tradition Museum & Dresden which first started 1634.to Leave Berlin and eninroute Dresden we stop at the National Day 5 Munich Porcelain insightto Free time Museum in Munichforforanlunch, into the process of relax or production for sightseeing – transfer this world renowned to Munich Airport for our flight manufacturer back home. – travel on to Dresden and the good quality 3* Ramada Hotel.
I amGreen writingVault to say Day 6 New Guided tour of very the stunning how happy INew Green at the Dresden was Vault with the service I Royal Palace, home to unique cabinet received on my recent trip pieces made by the Dresden to Bavaria, and especially court jeweller, Dinglinger, and with theobjects assistance given to fascinating of gold, silver, ivory mother pearl. He meand by the tourofmanager. was7 very helpful and & Day Pillintz Palace attentive, and made the trip Konigstein Optional day trip the Chinese very special fortome. I have style Pillintz Palace tours and Gardens, been on other before, lying on the banks of the River but this was much more Elbe and with flying buttresses and satisfying, and I am with crowns chimneys ornamented recommending your light – boat cruise (with included lunch) Pirna along the River toursfrom to my Elbe to Konigstein and a guided friends and family. tour of Konigstein Castle. Day Berlin to UK LP8London
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Germany Germany & Austria
Rudesheim, Heidelberg & Aachen Christmas Markets
Austrian Tyrol
4 days from £259
8 days from £629
Featuring 4* hotel Half board accommodation All excusions & guided tours included Professional tour manager P&O Ferries Channel crossing Executive coach throughout ONE FREE PLACE PER 10 PAYING PASSENGERS
Featuring Half board accommodation Full programme of included excursions Professional tour manager Scheduled flights to Munich Executive coach in Austria ONE FREE PLACE PER 10 PAYING PASSENGERS What We Will See Kitzbuhel Salzburg - guided tour Innsbruck - guided tour Rattenberg Tratzberg Castle, Pertisau & Lake Achensee Kirchberg Zell am See - guided tour
Included Christmas Markets Rudesheim Heidelberg Aachen Your Hotel Three nights on half board basis at the excellent 4* Traube Aumueller Hotel in Rudesheim. The hotel is ideally located in the historic centre on the banks of the Rhine. The hotel has a restaurant and indoor pool and all rooms are en suite. Extras Single room supplement £49 Insurance Entrance fees to places of interest
Optional Tyrolean evening Lake Achensee cruise
Heidelberg
SUGGESTED ITINERARY Let us tailor make this tour to your group’s exact requirements Day 1 UK to Rudesheim Board with our tour manager our private executive coach at the designated pick up points – P&O Ferries crossing from Dover to Calais – continue to Rudesheim and check in to the family run 4* Traube Aumueller Hotel.
Heidelberg
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Day 2 Rudesheim Christmas Market Full day at leisure in Rudesheim to explore the Christmas Market – over 120 festively decorated chalets, representing 12 nations, sell all kinds of gifts from candles
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and jewellery to wood figures and festive foods, and there is an extensive music performance programme – why not also take a cable car to the Niederwald Monument or take lunch in a local restaurant? Day 3 Heidelberg Christmas Market Guided tour of Heidelberg taking in sights such as Altstadt, the Castle and the University – rest of the day is free to savour the sights and sounds of the 140 stalls of Heidelberg Christmas Market – the view of the Castle enjoyed over a cup of mulled wine, the festively decorated shops in the city centre and the typical, regional
gastronomic offerings across many squares all blend together wonderfully in creating a truly memorable seasonal atmosphere. Day 4 Aachen Christmas Market En route to Calais we visit the Christmas Market at Aachen which is set around the cathedral and the town hall – travel to Calais for our P&O Ferries crossing to Dover and onward travel to our original pick up points. There are Christmas Markets throughout Northern Europe. Call us for a costing for your preferred destination.
Your Hotel Seven nights on half board basis at the 3* Hotel Rosslwirt in the idyllic village of Kirchberg. Facilities at this traditional Tyrolean family run hotel include a restaurant and bar. All rooms are en suite. Extras Single room supplement £59 Insurance Entrance fees to places of interest
Salzburg
SUGGESTED ITINERARY Let us tailor make this tour to your group’s exact requirements Day 1 UK to Austria Scheduled flight to Munich – transfer with our tour manager in our private executive coach to the 3* Hotel Rosslwirt in Kirchberg. Day 2 Kitzbuhel Free time to wander through Kitzbuhel’s narrow cobbled streets, chic designer shops, coffee/cake houses and restaurants – cable car excursion to the top of the magnificent Hahennkamm Mountain which towers over the village – dinner in the hotel this evening is followed by the option of a night of traditional culture and dance at the Tyrolean evening. Day 3 Salzburg Guided tour of Salzburg, the home of Mozart and the ‘Sound of Music’, takes in the Hohensalzburg Fortress, the Cathedral, Mozart’s birthplace and the Mirabell Palace and Gardens – free time at leisure to explore.
Germany Germany & Austria
4* Vienna, Bratislava & Vienna Woods 5 days from £549 Featuring 4* Vienna hotel Full programme of included excursions Guide for all excursions & transfers Scheduled flights to Vienna Executive coach in Austria ONE FREE PLACE PER 10 PAYING PASSENGERS What We Will See Vienna - guided tour Melk Abbey & Dürnstein Mayerling Austrian Tyrol
Day 4 Innsbruck & Rattenberg Guided tour of Innsbruck, an enchanting medieval town set against the backdrop of the Austrian Alps and home to many art treasures such as the ‘Golden Roof’, the Cathedral St Jacob, the Imperial Palace and Ambras Castle – free time at leisure in the delightful medieval town of Rattenberg, the oldest in the Tyrol and famous for its glass crystal ware. Day 5 Tratzberg Castle, Pertisau & Lake Achensee Sitting atop a massive rock ledge with breathtaking views of the Inn Valley, a small train takes us to the entrance to the romantic medieval Tratzberg Castle and inside are the stunning Hapsburg Rooms, the Fugger Room with Renaissance art and a wonderful armoury collection – time to relax at Pertisau on Lake Achensee or an optional boat cruise on the Lake with a romantic steam journey on the Achensee train which dates back 120 years and offers breathtaking views of the surrounding mountain ranges.
Day 6 Kirchberg Day at leisure in Kirchberg. Day 7 Zell am See Guided tour of the picturesque lakeside resort of Zell am See taking in sights such as Constable’s Tower and Castle Rosenberg – rest of the day is at leisure to explore the town. Day 8 Austria to UK Free time in Kirchberg for last minute shopping or sightseeing – transfer to Munich Airport for our scheduled flight home. TAILOR MAKE ANY OF THESE TOURS FOR YOUR GROUP
Optional Schönbrunn Palace Dinner in the Danube Tower Devin Castle Evening concert Your Hotel Four nights on bed and breakfast basis at the 4* Hotel Ananas in Vienna. Located near a metro station, the historic centre of Vienna is under ten minutes away. Facilities at the hotel include a restaurant and bar and all rooms are en suite. Extras Single room supplement £129 Insurance Entrance fees to places of interest
Like one of these tours but want to change it to suit your group’s budget or preferences? You could: • stay at different category hotel • on bed & breakfast or half board basis throughout • with fewer or different excursions • for more (or fewer) days • include all entrance fees & gratuities Call us so that together we can arrange your ideal group tour
Melk Monastery
Schönbrunn Palace
SUGGESTED ITINERARY Let us tailor make this tour to your group’s exact requirements Day 1 UK to Vienna Scheduled flight to Vienna – transfer with our guide in our private executive coach to the 4* Hotel Ananas in Vienna. Day 2 Vienna Guided city tour of Vienna seeing some of the beautiful imperial buildings of Vienna from where the Hapsburgs ruled the AustroHungarian Empire – afternoon free for you to explore Vienna or optional excursion to Schönbrunn Palace, one of the most important cultural monuments in Austria and originally the residence of the Hapsburg Empress, Maria Theresa – optional dinner at the restaurant in the Danube Tower.
Day 3 Melk Abbey & Dürnstein Melk Abbey, dramatically perched high above the Danube, is one of Europe’s greatest Baroque creations – time to explore the tiny village of Dürnstein, where Richard the Lionheart was held captive in 1192, with its old burgher houses and 16th to 18th century townhouses and the exquisite Baroque cathedral. Day 4 Vienna Woods Scenic drive into the nearby Vienna Woods including a stop at Mayerling and the hunting lodge where Crown Prince Rudolph and his young mistress died in 1889 – optional concert this evening featuring music by Strauss and Mozart in the magnificent Schönbrunn Palace.
Day 5 Vienna to UK Transfer to Vienna airport for our scheduled flight home to the UK.
Having returned from our wonderful holiday in Austria, I would like to take this opportunity to say just how pleased we were with the whole holiday. We were very impressed with Tailored Travel - they had every part of our arrangements so well planned. I would have no problem recommending Tailored Travel to anyone. JM Ireland
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Holland & Belgium
Floriade 2012 Valkenburg & the Belgian Ardennes 5 days from £369 Featuring Half board accommodation All excursions & guided tours included Professional tour manager Pre-paid entrance to Floriade included Executive coach throughout ONE FREE PLACE PER 10 PAYING PASSENGERS What We Will See Floriade 2012 (entrance fee included) Aachen - guided tour Schloss Augustusburg at Brühl Valkenburg Chocolate Jacques - guided tour Caves of Remouchamps Ghent Your Hotel Four nights on half board basis at the good quality 3* Best Western Hotel Walram in Valkenburg near Maastricht. Located in a quiet square on the banks of the River Geul and only two minutes walk from the town centre, the hotel has a restaurant, indoor swimming pool and sauna. All rooms are en suite. Extras Single room supplement £64 Insurance Entrance fees to places of interest (other than to Floriade which is included)
Aachen Cathedral
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SUGGESTED ITINERARY Let us tailor make this tour to your group’s exact requirements Day 1 UK to Holland Board with our tour manager our private executive coach at the designated pick up points – P&O Ferries crossing from Dover to Calais – continue to Valkenburg near Maastricht and check in to the family run 3* Best Western Hotel Walram. Day 2 Aachen & Schloss Augustusburg Guided tour of the great Roman spa city of Aachen, home to one of Europe’s oldest and most dramatic cathedrals – the UNESCO listed Schloss Augustusburg at Brühl impressively demonstrates the extravagant lives that the court of Electors and Cologne archbishops once led, and is well known for its staircase created by Balthasar Neumann and the extensive Baroque gardens.
Holland & Belgium
Amsterdam, Bruges & the Keukenhof Flower Festival 5 days from £329 Featuring 4* Hotel All excursions & guided tours included Professional tour manager P&O Ferries Channel crossing Executive coach throughout ONE FREE PLACE PER 10 PAYING PASSENGERS What We Will See Ghent Delft Madurodam Model Village Amsterdam - guided tour Zaanse Schans Keukenhof Flower Festival (entrance fee included) Bruges Floriade
Day 3 Floriade 2012 Floriade, the highlight of our tour, is the World Horticultural Expo staged once every ten years in the Netherlands – the event is home to the world’s most exquisite and exceptional displays of flowers, plants, trees and fruit and vegetables across a 100 acre site – features a daily cultural programme of music, dance, literature, theatre and visual arts. Day 4 Valkenburg, Chocolate Jacques & Caves of Remouchamps Time at leisure in Valkenburg this morning and you may choose to explore the County Museum or visit the Marlstone Caves for which the town is famous – guided tour at Chocolate Jacques, where we can see chocolate producers at work and learn about the history of this fascinating product – the Caves of Remouchamps first opened to the public in 1912 and we visit a hall occupied by Palaeolithic hunters 8,000 years ago and take a boat
trip that glides mysteriously and without a sound along a winding subterranean river. Day 5 Ghent Free time in Ghent to explore its beautiful canals and wonderful cathedral, home to the famous ‘The Adoration of the Mystic Lamb’ – travel to Calais for our P&O Ferries crossing to Dover and onward travel to our original pick up points.
Amsterdam
Your Hotel Four nights on bed and breakfast basis at the 4* Park Hotel in The Hague. Located under a fifteen minute walk from the centre of The Hague, the hotel has a bar and all rooms are en suite. Extras Single room supplement £69 Insurance Entrance fees to places of interest (other than to Keukenhof which is included) Optional canal cruise of Amsterdam
TAILOR MAKE ANY OF THESE TOURS FOR YOUR GROUP
Day 1 UK to Ghent Board with our tour manager our private executive coach at the designated pick up points – P&O Ferries crossing from Dover to Calais – continue on to Ghent for free time to explore its beautiful canals and wonderful Cathedral, home to the famous ‘The Adoration of the Mystic Lamb’ – continue to The Hague and check in to the 4* Park Hotel. Day 2 Delft & Madurodam Model Village Guided tour of the Delftse Pauw factory which still produces hand painted original delftware – free time for lunch in Delft – visit the Madurodam Model Village, a miniature city built in 1952 and composed of typical Dutch buildings and landmarks found at various locations in the country.
Like one of these tours but want to change it to suit your group’s budget or preferences? You could: • stay at different category hotel • on bed & breakfast or half board basis throughout • with fewer or different excursions • for more (or fewer) days • include all entrance fees & gratuities Call us so that together we can arrange your ideal group tour
SUGGESTED ITINERARY Let us tailor make this tour to your group’s exact requirements
Bruges
Day 3 Amsterdam Guided coach tour of Amsterdam introducing us to the highlights of this beautiful city – optional cruise
to admire some of the city’s stunning architecture from the picturesque canals – free time to relax and explore Amsterdam or to visit the Rijksmuseum, the Van Gogh Museum or the Stedelijk Museum. Day 4 Zaanse Schans & Keukenhof Flower Festival Zaanse Schans is an old hamlet on the banks of the River Zaan with characteristic wooden houses, small bridges, tradesmen’s workshops and historic windmills – the afternoon is spent at the Keukenhof Flower Festival (entrance fee included) – set in 77 acres of wooded park and one of the world's most spectacular flower gardens, Keukenhof was established in 1949 as a showcase for Dutch bulb growers and now, every spring, more than seven million bulbs are planted resulting in a spectacular display of flowering splendour. Day 5 Bruges Famous for lace making, chocolate and its picturesque network of canals, Bruges’ historic city centre is included on
UNESCO’s World Heritage List – travel to Calais for our P&O Ferries crossing to Dover and onward travel to our original pick up points.
We all had a wonderful holiday to Holland. The hotel did us proud with excellent service and the food was second to none. Our tour manager and driver were excellent. They worked well together, their expertise, information and kindness could not be faulted. The itinerary ran like clockwork. If you are ever requested to repeat this holiday you could not do better – I certainly would be pleased to pass on any information to another group. MW Redhill
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Holland & Belgium
Valkenburg, Cologne & the Belgian Ardennes
Cosmopolitan Brussels by Eurostar
5 days from £329
5 days from £389
Featuring Half board accommodation All excursions & guided tours included Professional tour manager P&O Ferries Channel crossing Executive coach throughout ONE FREE PLACE PER 10 PAYING PASSENGERS
Featuring 4* central Brussels hotel All excursions & guided tours included Professional tour manager Eurostar train to Brussels Executive coach in Belgium ONE FREE PLACE PER 10 PAYING PASSENGERS
What We Will See Valkenburg Bastogne Maastricht, Liege & Aachen Cologne - guided tour Schloss Augustusburg Gardens of Annevoie
What We Will See Brussels - guided tour Museum of Ancient Art - guided tour Antwerp - guided tour Diamond Museum & Diamond Land Bruges - guided tour Waterloo & Wellington Museum
Your Hotel Four nights on half board basis at the good quality 3* Best Western Hotel Walram in Valkenburg. Located in a quiet square on the banks of the River Geul and only two minutes walk from the town centre, the hotel has a restaurant, indoor swimming pool and sauna. All rooms are en suite. Extras Single room supplement £59 Insurance Entrance fees to places of interest
Cologne Cathedral
SUGGESTED ITINERARY Let us tailor make this tour to your group’s exact requirements Day 1 UK to Valkenburg Board with our tour manager our private executive coach at the designated pick up points – P&O Ferries crossing from Dover to Calais – continue to Valkenburg and check in to the family run 3* Best Western Hotel Walram. Day 2 Bastogne The 101st Airborne Division fiercely defended Bastogne during the Battle of the Bulge and we visit the Bastogne Historical Centre with a unique collection of uniforms, vehicles and weapons involved in the battle – rest of the day is at leisure in Valkenburg to relax and explore this quaint Dutch town. Day 3 Maastricht, Liege & Aachen Tour of the Three Countries’ taking in The Netherlands, Belgium and Germany – Maastricht is one of the oldest towns in the Netherlands – the Belgian city of Liege, the capital of Ardennes, is located on the banks of the River Meuse and its many
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fine museums reflect the city’s artistic and architectural heritage – the great Roman spa city of Aachen is home to one of Europe’s oldest and most dramatic cathedrals. Day 4 Cologne & Schloss Augustusburg Guided tour of Cologne, the fourth largest city in Germany, takes in sights such as the Roman Tower, the Old Town Houses and the twin spired Gothic cathedral, containing many cultural and historical treasures including the 12th century Golden Shrine of the Three Magi – the UNESCO listed Schloss Augustusburg at Brühl impressively demonstrates the extravagant lives that the court of Electors and Cologne archbishops once led, and is well known for its staircase created by Balthasar
Neumann and the extensive Baroque gardens. Day 5 Gardens of Annevoie The classical Gardens of Annevoie, designed and laid out between 1758 and 1776 by Charles-Alexis de Montpellier, blend French 17th century rigour with English fantasy and Italian charm and are widely regarded as one of the best gardens in Belgium – travel to Calais for our P&O Ferries crossing to Dover and onward travel to our original pick up points.
Your Hotel Four nights on bed and breakfast basis at the 4* Scandic Grand Place Hotel in Brussels. Located a five minute walk from Grand Place, facilities at the hotel include a restaurant and bar. All rooms are en suite. Extras Single room supplement £129 Insurance Entrance fees to places of interest
Bruges
SUGGESTED ITINERARY Let us tailor make this tour to your group’s exact requirements Day 1 Eurostar to Brussels Board the Eurostar train at your choice of either London St Pancras International or Ebbsfleet Station for the journey to Brussels in standard class coaches – transfer with our tour manager in our private executive coach to the centrally located 4* Scandic Grand Place Hotel. Day 2 Brussels & Museum of Ancient Art Guided coach tour of Brussels taking in the city’s main districts including the Grand Place, the Royal District and the Louise District – guided tour of the Museum of Ancient Art, housing a vast collection of paintings, sculptures and drawings from the 15th to the 18th century, the majority of which were confiscated and deposited by the French State during the revolutionary period. Day 3 Antwerp, Diamond Museum & Diamond Land Guided tour of Antwerp takes in
Holland & Belgium
The Cities of Flanders 5 days from £339 Featuring Welcome dinner All excursions & guided tours included Professional tour manager P&O Ferries Channel crossing Executive coach throughout ONE FREE PLACE PER 10 PAYING PASSENGERS
Grand Place, Brussels
sights such as the Great Market Square, Town Hall, Butcher’s Guild House and the Cathedral of our Lady – at the Diamond Museum we discover the significance of the industry to Antwerp’s economic success since the 15th century and contemplate the origin of diamonds and the glittering ornamental gems they become – at Diamond Land we learn about the diamond grading process. Day 4 Bruges Guided tour of Bruges, famous for lace making, chocolate and its picturesque network of canals and whose historic city centre is included on Unesco’s World Heritage List – a short cruise on the picturesque canals of Bruges (not included in the cost of the tour) enables us to see the city from a different perspective – rest of the day free at leisure in Bruges. Day 5 Waterloo & Wellington Museum The Visitor Centre at Waterloo is home to the ‘Panorama of the Battle’, a canvas dating back to 1912 offering a panoramic view measuring 110 metres long and
12 metres high – option of climbing the 226 steps to the top of the Lion’s Mound, a monument commemorating the battlefield of Waterloo – the Wellington Museum, located in an inn dating back to the start of the 18th century which were the headquarters of the Duke of Wellington, traces the events of the era and perpetuates the memory of the nations and men who participated in the battle – return to the station in Brussels for our Eurostar train home.
What We Will See Bruges - guided tour Ghent - guided tour ‘In Flanders Field’ Museum ‘The Last Post’ at Ypres Antwerp - guided tour Diamond Museum & Diamond Land St Omer & Cristallerie d’Arques Your Hotel Four nights at the centrally located 3* Ramada Hotel in Ostend. Located in the centre of Ostend near the beach and casino, facilities at the hotel include a restaurant and bar and all rooms are en suite. A welcome dinner is served on the first evening and the remaining three nights are on bed and breakfast basis. Extras Single room supplement £79 Insurance Entrance fees to places of interest
SUGGESTED ITINERARY Let us tailor make this tour to your group’s exact requirements Day 1 UK to Ostend Board with our tour manager our executive coach at the designated pick up points – P&O Ferries crossing from Dover to Calais – continue to the 3* Ramada Hotel in Ostend – dinner in the hotel tonight. Day 2 Bruges Guided tour of Bruges, famous for lace making, chocolate and its picturesque network of canals and whose historic city centre is included on Unesco’s World Heritage List – a short cruise on the picturesque canals of Bruges (not included in the cost of the tour) enables us to see the city from a different perspective – rest of the day free at leisure in Bruges.
TAILOR MAKE ANY OF THESE TOURS FOR YOUR GROUP Like one of these tours but want to change it to suit your group’s budget or preferences? You could: • stay at different category hotel • on bed & breakfast or half board basis throughout • with fewer or different excursions • for more (or fewer) days • include all entrance fees & gratuities Call us so that together we can arrange your ideal group tour
Ghent
Menin Gate
Day 3 Ghent, ‘In Flanders Field’ & ‘The Last Post’ Guided tour of Ghent, once the
ancient capital of Flanders and birthplace of Emperor Charles V – at the ‘In Flanders Field’ interactive museum we get an impression of life during the First World War through the use of historical objects, documentary films, audio visual reminders and scale models – at Ypres the day concludes with a visit to ‘The Last Post’, a deeply moving ceremony which takes place under the vast arch of the Menin Gate. Day 4 Antwerp, Diamond Museum & Diamond Land Guided tour of Antwerp takes in sights such as the Great Market Square, Town Hall, Butcher’s Guild House and the Cathedral of our Lady – at the Diamond Museum we discover the significance of the industry to Antwerp’s economic success since the 15th century and contemplate the origin of diamonds and the glittering ornamental gems they become – at Diamond Land we learn about the diamond grading process.
Day 5 St Omer & Cristallerie d’Arques Time at leisure in St Omer to explore its bourgeois 17th century buildings and Flemish style architecture – the glass factory at Cristallerie d’Arques employs 11,000 people and produces 5 million items of glassware each day - travel to Calais for our P&O Ferries Channel crossing to Dover and onward travel to our original pick up points.
Thank you, Tailored Travel, for a first class trip to Holland - “The best trip we’ve ever been on” - “Absolutely super, best ever” - “We’ve never enjoyed a trip as much as this one” - to quote just a few of the comments I’ve received from the members. SF Maldon
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Spain & Southern Europe
Classical Spain Seville, Granada & Ronda 7 days from £799 Featuring 4* hotels throughout All excursions & guided tours included Professional tour manager Scheduled flights to Malaga Executive coach in Spain ONE FREE PLACE PER 10 PAYING PASSENGERS What We Will See Granada - guided tour Alhambra Palace - guided tour Cordoba & The Mesquita Seville - guided tour Museo de Bellas Artes - guided tour" Cádiz Ronda - guided tour Your Hotels Two nights at the 4* Hotel Ma Gran Luna, located a fifteen minute walk from the centre in the suburbs of Granada. Four nights in Seville at the 4* Tryp Macarena Hotel, a short bus ride or 25 minute walk from the Cathedral. Facilities at both hotels include a restaurant and bar and all rooms are en suite. At each hotel we stay on bed and breakfast basis. Extras Single room supplement £149 Insurance Entrance fees to places of interest
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SUGGESTED ITINERARY Let us tailor make this tour to your group’s exact requirements Day 1 UK to Granada Scheduled flight to Malaga – transfer with our tour manager in our private executive coach to Granada – a short orientation tour of the delightful maze of winding streets in its old Christian and Gypsy quarters – check in at the 4* Hotel Ma Gran Luna. Day 2 Alhambra Palace Guided tour of the 14th century Alhambra Palace, recognised as the world’s greatest monument to Moorish culture – with gardens, fortifications and sumptuous palaces, it was the home of many of the Arabic Sultans who ruled the whole province. Day 3 Cordoba & The Mesquita Visit the Moorish capital of Cordoba, once famous for its Jewish community and now known for The Mesquita, the grandest Mosque ever constructed by the Moors – travel on to Seville and check in to the 4* Tryp Macarena Hotel.
Spain & Southern Europe
Toledo, San Lorenzo de El Escorial & Madrid 6 days from £689 Featuring 4* Madrid hotel All excursions & guided tours included Professional tour manager Scheduled flights to Madrid Executive coach in Spain ONE FREE PLACE PER 10 PAYING PASSENGERS
Alhambra Palace
Day 4 Seville Guided tour of Seville, the capital of Andalusia made famous by the Conquistadors and now home to the world’s largest cathedral and the Reales Alacazares, a stunning Moorish palace which was the Spanish kings’ royal residence for seven centuries. Day 5 Museo de Bellas Artes Guided tour of Seville’s Museo de Bellas Artes, one of Spain’s finest galleries with a particular focus on artists from Seville including works by Goya, Murillo, Millan, Zurbaran and Ribera – rest of the day at leisure in Seville. Day 6 Cádiz Founded by the Phoenicians around 1100 BC, Cádiz is one of the oldest settlements in Spain and during our day at leisure you may wish to visit the Baroque and Neo-Classical Cathedral Nueva, one of Spain’s largest with stalls from a Carthusian monastery, or just enjoy wandering the old town with its narrow alleys and twisted streets.
Day 7 Ronda Lying within an amphitheatre of limestone hills and standing above 120 metre cliffs, our guided tour of Ronda explores one of the most dramatically sited towns in Spain with the Moorish part of the town divided from the modern part by the extraordinary Tajo, a 90 metre gorge with the river flowing below – transfer to Malaga Airport for our flight home.
What We Will See Madrid - guided tour Museo del Prado Toledo - guided tour Aranjuez San Lorenzo de El Escorial Avila Segovia Museo Thyssen-Bornemisza Your Hotel Five nights on bed and breakfast basis at the 4* Agumar Hotel in Madrid. The hotel is close to the Parque del Retiro and is approximately a twenty minute walk from the Museo del Prado and Museo ThyssenBornemisza. Facilities include a restaurant and bar and all rooms are en suite. Extras Single room supplement £169 Insurance Entrance fees to places of interest
TAILOR MAKE ANY OF THESE TOURS FOR YOUR GROUP Like one of these tours but want to change it to suit your group’s budget or preferences? You could: • stay at different category hotel • on bed & breakfast or half board basis throughout • with fewer or different excursions • for more (or fewer) days • include all entrance fees & gratuities Call us so that together we can arrange your ideal group tour
Alcázar de Segovia
Alcázar de Segovia
SUGGESTED ITINERARY Let us tailor make this tour to your group’s exact requirements Day 1 UK to Madrid Scheduled flight to Madrid – transfer with our tour manager in our private executive coach to the 4* Agumar Hotel in Madrid. Day 2 Madrid & Museo del Prado Guided tour of the city taking in the Royal Palace and Puerta del Sol, marking the centre of Madrid and Spain – visit the Museo del Prado, housing the world’s greatest assembly of Spanish paintings especially works by Goya and Velazquez as well as works by Italian and Flemish masters. Day 3 Toledo & Aranjuez Guided tour of Toledo takes in Charles V’s fortified palace of Alcazar and the magnificent 6th century cathedral, one of the largest in modern Christianity – afternoon in Aranjuez where we visit the Royal Palace and its 740 acre gardens, Spain's most important of the Hapsburg period.
Day 4 San Lorenzo de El Escorial & Avila San Lorenzo de El Escorial set in the foothills of the Sierra de Guadarrama and built in honour of Saint Lawrence contains museums, chapterhouses, a church, library and sumptuous apartments and houses some of the most important works of art of the royal Hapsburg collections – the beautiful city of Avila is surrounded by the finest preserved medieval walls in Europe with 88 turrets and nine gateways protecting its beautiful palaces and churches. Day 5 Segovia With its narrow streets and beautiful mansions, Segovia is best known for its Roman churches, aqueduct, cathedral and plaza – on the north west extreme of its medieval walls is the famous Alcazar Castle where Queen Isabel promised Columbus the financial backing he needed to discover America – to the south east is the world renowned Roman aqueduct, one of the largest and best preserved of its kind.
Day 6 Madrid Visit the Museo ThyssenBornemisza, housed in the Palacio de Villahermosa, whose collection of some 800 paintings including masterpieces by Titian, Goya, Van Gogh and Picasso is regarded by many as the most important privately assembled art collection in the world – transfer to Madrid Airport for our flight back home.
As a member of the committee that organised our trip to Madrid, I thought you would like to know that all the arrangements were very successful. The balance of the programme was just right for our sightseeing and Paul, our tour manager, was excellent. FW Swanland
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Spain & Southern Europe
4* Northern Spain & the Picos Mountains
Barcelona, Figueres & Monserrat
5 days from £529
5 days from £529
Featuring 4* hotel Half board accommodation All excursions & guided tours included Professional tour manager Scheduled flights to Santander Executive coach in Spain ONE FREE PLACE PER 10 PAYING PASSENGERS
Featuring
What We Will See Guggenheim Museum, Bilbao - guided tour Castro Urdiales Picos Mountains & Potes Santillana del Mar & Comillas Santander
What We Will See
Your Hotel Four nights on half board basis at the 4* Olimpo Hotel at Playa de Isla. Located on a promontory in a huge estate and with direct access onto private beaches, the hotel is ideally situated to explore Cantabria and the Picos Mountains. Facilities include a restaurant, bar, outdoor swimming pool, gymnasium, tennis court and a sauna. All rooms are en suite.
Your Hotel
Extras Single room supplement £59 Insurance Entrance fees to places of interest Optional Fuente Dé Cable Car
Guggenheim, Bilbao
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All excursions & guided tours included Guide for all excursions & transfers Scheduled flights to Barcelona Executive coach in Spain ONE FREE PLACE PER 10 PAYING PASSENGERS
Barcelona - guided tour Girona Figueres Montserrat
Picos Mountains
SUGGESTED ITINERARY Let us tailor make this tour to your group’s exact requirements Day 1 UK to Isla Scheduled flight to Santander – 40 minute transfer with our tour manager in our private executive coach to the 4* Olimpo Hotel at Playa de Isla. Day 2 Guggenheim Museum at Bilbao & Castro Urdiales Guided tour of the Guggenheim Museum in Bilbao, designed by the renowned American architect Frank O. Gehry and displaying a wonderful collection of modern and contemporary art – travel the scenic coastal road to the fishing town of Castro Urdiales for free time or to visit the Santa Maria Church which is located on a high promontory above the port. Day 3 Picos de Europa, Potes & Fuente Dé Cable Car The beautiful Picos de Europa
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mountain range were reputedly christened the ‘Peaks of Europe’ by returning sailors for whom this was often the first sight of their homeland – Potes is a small ancient town with old balconied houses lining the river and a main square dominated by a 15th century defensive tower – option of taking the 900 metre ascent up the Fuente Dé Cable Car (subject to favourable weather conditions) from where you are rewarded with spectacular panoramic views across the Picos’ peaks and valleys. Day 4 Santillana del Mar & Comillas Santillana del Mar, one of the prettiest towns in Spain, established
around a monastery and is surrounded by an ensemble of 15th to 17th century golden stone houses and you may choose to visit the Romanesque La Colegiata Church or explore the rustic Plaza Mayor – the pretty resort of Comillas is famed for its unusual buildings designed by Catalan Modernista architects Antonio López y López.
Four nights on bed and breakfast basis at the 3* AB Viladomat Hotel in Barcelona, located a fifteen minute walk from the Ramblas and close to the Barcelona Metro system. Facilities include a restaurant and bar, whilst all rooms are en suite. Extras Single room supplement £89 Insurance Entrance fees to places of interest
Day 5 Santander Spend the morning exploring Cantabria’s capital, Santander – transfer to Santander Airport for our flight back home. Parc Guell
SUGGESTED ITINERARY Let us tailor make this tour to your group’s exact requirements Day 1 UK to Barcelona Scheduled flight to Barcelona – transfer with our guide in our private executive coach to the 3* AB Viladomat Hotel in Barcelona. Day 2 Barcelona Half day guided coach tour of Barcelona introducing us to the city and particularly the influence of Gaudi with visits to Parc Guell, the house of Gaudi and to view the outside of his great unfinished masterpiece, the church of La Sagrada Familia – free time to explore the Gothic area just off the Ramblas, the main hub of life in Barcelona, or to take a leisurely lunch. Day 3 Girona & Figueres Girona is one of Catalonia’s most important cities, with its dominant
Spain & Southern Europe
Lisbon City Break 5 days from £499 Featuring All excursions & guided tours included Guide for all excursions & transfers Scheduled flights to Lisbon Executive coach in Portugal ONE FREE PLACE PER 10 PAYING PASSENGERS What We Will See Lisbon - guided city tour Sesimbra, Palmela & Parque Natural da Arrábida Palacio de Queluz, Cascais & Palacio da Pena, Sintra Museu Gulbenkian - guided tour
La Sagrada Familia cathedral and ancient medieval streets – at Figueres, the home town of Salvador Dali, we visit the Museo Teatro which as well as housing works by Dali is also his mausoleum. Day 4 Montserrat Beautiful drive to Montserrat – clinging to craggy mountains that rise to over 1,000 metres, Montserrat's Benedictine monastery affords dramatic views over Catalonia and a cable car climbs the steep slopes to the summit from where we admire the basilica's Gothic cloisters, La Moreneta (the Black Virgin) and El Greco, Dalí and Picasso originals in the museum – rest of the afternoon at leisure in Barcelona. Day 5 Barcelona Free morning for further sightseeing in Barcelona or to take the cable car to Montjuic Hill, a spectacular vantage point across the city and, while there, to visit
the Museu Nacional d’Art Catalunya or the Joan Miro Foundation, a permanent collection of graphics, paintings and statues by the surrealist artist Joan Miro – transfer to Barcelona Airport for our scheduled flight home.
Your Hotel Four nights on bed and breakfast basis at the 3* Hotel Eduardo VII. Centrally located next to the beautiful Eduardo VII Tropical Park, there are many restaurants in the immediate vicinity. The hotel has a cocktail bar and all rooms are en suite with air conditioning. Extras Single room supplement £89 Insurance Entrance fees to places of interest
TAILOR MAKE ANY OF THESE TOURS FOR YOUR GROUP Like one of these tours but want to change it to suit your group’s budget or preferences? You could: • stay at different category hotel • on bed & breakfast or half board basis throughout • with fewer or different excursions • for more (or fewer) days • include all entrance fees & gratuities Call us so that together we can arrange your ideal group tour
Torre De Belem
Palacio da Pena, Sintra
SUGGESTED ITINERARY Let us tailor make this tour to your group’s exact requirements Day 1 UK to Lisbon Scheduled flight to Lisbon – transfer with our guide in our private executive coach to the central 3* Hotel Eduardo VII. Day 2 Lisbon city tour Half day guided tour of Lisbon taking in such sights as Pedro Square, the old medieval quarter of Alfama and the beautiful 16th century cathedral of Mosteiro dos Jeronimos – free time to relax in one of the many bars, cafes or shops or to take in further sightseeing such as visiting the Torre de Belem, the tower built as a fortress in 1515-21. Day 3 Sesimbra, Palmela & Parque Natural da Arrábida At Sesimbra, a picturesque fishing village once occupied by the Romans and later the Moors, we visit the Moorish Castle offering wonderful panoramic views from the ramparts – continue to the small hill town of Palmela with
time at leisure to relax and explore the sights or you may choose to join our optional tour and tasting at a local wine cellar – return to Lisbon via the scenic Parque Natural da Arrábida, established to protect the wild and beautiful landscape. Day 4 Palacio de Queluz, Cascais & Palacio da Pena at Sintra Explore the exuberant Baroque and Rococco architecture and gardens at the 18th century Palacio de Queluz which have earned the palace the name of ‘Portuguese Versailles’ – travel along the picturesque Atlantic coastline en route to the fishing village of Cascais – head inland to the idyllic mountain town of Sintra, described by Lord Byron as ‘perhaps in every respect the most delightful in Europe’, where we visit the UNESCO listed Palacio da Pena, the summer residence of the Portuguese royal family during the 15th and 16th centuries and the best preserved medieval palace in Portugal.
Day 5 Museu Gulbenkian Guided tour of Museu Gulbenkian, one of Europe's unsung treasures, introduces us to masterpieces by Frans Hals, Rubens, Rembrandt, Fragonard and Gainsborough – transfer to Lisbon airport for our scheduled flight back home.
We were very pleased with the holiday to Spain and the Picos Mountains. We found the organisation to be faultless and the hotel superb. We were particularly impressed by your tour guide, Paul, who was fully prepared and informative and who rapidly established a very good relationship with the members of the party. FW Swanland
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Spain & Southern Europe
Portugal’s Douro River
4* Croatia & the Istrian Riviera
6 days from £849
8 days from £689
Featuring 6 day cruise in upper cabins aboard MS Magellan All meals on board Scheduled flights to Porto Assisted overseas airport/port transfers ONE FREE PLACE PER 10 PAYING PASSENGERS
Featuring 4* hotel Half board accommodation Full programme of included excursions Guide for all excursions & transfers Scheduled flights to Trieste or Rijeka Executive coach in Croatia ONE FREE PLACE PER 10 PAYING PASSENGERS
What We Will See Porto & Regua Ferradosa & Vega de Teron Pinhao & Bitetos
What We Will See Rovinj Pula - guided tour Opatija Porec
Your Ship Five nights on full board basis in the middle deck cabins on the beautiful MS Magellan. There is an evening programme of entertainment and a welcome cocktail on the first night. All cabins have en suite shower and wc, a large window and are equipped with TV, radio, safe, hairdryer and air conditioning. Extras Single cabin supplement £209 Upper deck cabin supplement £20 per person Insurance Full programme of optional excursions Gratuities
Douro River
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Optional Postojna Caves & Lipica Stud Farm Boat trip to the Brijuni Islands
Cruising the Douro River
SUGGESTED ITINERARY Let us tailor make this tour to your group’s exact requirements Day 1 UK to Porto Scheduled flight to Porto – assisted coach transfer to our ship, the MS Magellan – after a welcome cocktail and dinner, there is an optional visit to the illuminated old town. Day 2 Porto & Regua Optional excursion to discover the winding lanes and magnificent churches of Porto, Portugal’s second largest town and one of the most ancient in Europe, and the great port cellars in Villa Nova de Gaia where you have the opportunity to taste the wines – return to the ship for lunch and the start of our cruise – admire the wonderful landscapes up to
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Regua and pass the locks of Crestuma and Carapatello (the highest in Europe at 35 metres) – evening with a folk group or walk by night in Regua. Day 3 Ferradosa & Vega de Teron Optional excursion to the Porto wines on the vineyards road with an opportunity to taste the port in a Quinta – rejoin the ship in Ferradosa for lunch – pass through the locks of Valeria and Pocinho and arrive at Vega de Teron in the evening – dinner and an evening's entertainment on board in Vega de Teron. Day 4 Salamanca & Vega de Teron Optional excursion to Salamanca, a UNESCO World Heritage site with Roman, Arabic and Christian
architectural treasures – following lunch in Salamanca we rejoin the ship in Vega de Teron. Day 5 Pinhao, Regua & Bitetos Arrive at Pinhao for lunch – optional excursion to Villa Real with its beautiful 14th century cathedral – option of joining a lovely walk in the beautiful gardens of Solar de Mateus before joining the ship in Regua – passing amidst wild landscapes and impressive rocky outcrops along the way, we arrive in Bitetos this evening – dinner is followed by a folk evening on board our ship.
Your Hotel Seven nights on half board basis at the 4* Hotel Eden in the coastal town of Rovinj in the north of Croatia. The hotel is in a beautiful setting with attractive seafront paths leading into the heart of Rovinj. All rooms have private facilities with air conditioning. Extras Single room supplement £114 Insurance Entrance fees to places of interest
SUGGESTED ITINERARY Let us tailor make this tour to your group’s exact requirements Day 1 UK to Croatia Scheduled flight to Trieste or Rijeka – transfer with our guide in our private executive coach to the 4* Hotel Eden in the beautiful coastal town of Rovinj. Day 2 Rovinj Free day to explore the fascinating ancient resort of Rovinj, one of Croatia’s most picturesque coastal towns featuring narrow medieval alleyways and many shops, restaurants and cafes. Day 3 Pula Guided tour of the arena at Pula – free time to relax and explore this historic destination with its fascinating Roman ruins including the impressive amphitheatre.
Day 6 Porto to UK Return to Porto and disembark the vessel – transfer to Porto Airport for scheduled flight home. Opatija
Day 4 Slovenia Optional day visiting Slovenia – visit the stalactites and stalagmites
Spain & Southern Europe
Dubrovnik & Croatia 7 days from £689 Featuring All excursions & guided tours included Half board accommodation Guide for all excursions & transfers Scheduled flights to Dubrovnik Executive coach in Croatia ONE FREE PLACE PER 10 PAYING PASSENGERS What We Will See Dubrovnik - guided city tour Mostar - guided tour Trsteno & Ston Montenegro Dubrovnik Rovinj
at one of the world’s largest caves at Postojna – Lipica is home of the stud farm where pure blooded Lippizaner horses are bred for equestrian sports and classic riding. Day 5 Opatija The old fashioned resort of Opatija, with its narrow and labyrinthine streets, is placed at the beginning of the splendid Hapsburg Walk that for 25 kilometres goes along the promenade across luxuriant gardens of exotic trees, parks, courtyards and 19th century villas. Day 6 Brijuni Islands Optional boat trip to the National Park consisting of the beautiful Brijuni Islands, an archipelago known for its mild climate and rich vegetation that has been inhabited since Roman and Byzantine times and where the ruins of Roman villas can still be found.
Day 7 Porec Time to explore the UNESCO listed old Roman town of Porec, famous for its beautiful natural landscape, where you may choose to visit the Basilica or take a stroll through the old town. Day 8 Croatia to UK Transfer to the airport for our return flight home.
Your Hotel Six nights on half board basis at the excellent 3* Hotel Argosy located on a peninsula just 5km from Dubrovnik’s historic centre. All the rooms are en suite and the hotel has a restaurant, bar and an outdoor pool and is near to the beach. Extras Single room supplement £119 Insurance Entrance fees to places of interest
TAILOR MAKE ANY OF THESE TOURS FOR YOUR GROUP Like one of these tours but want to change it to suit your group’s budget or preferences? You could: • stay at different category hotel • on bed & breakfast or half board basis throughout • with fewer or different excursions • for more (or fewer) days • include all entrance fees & gratuities Call us so that together we can arrange your ideal group tour
Mostar
SUGGESTED ITINERARY Let us tailor make this tour to your group’s exact requirements Day 1 UK to Dubrovnik Scheduled flight to Dubrovnik – transfer with our guide in our private executive coach to the excellent 3* Hotel Argosy in the Mediterranean oasis of Babin Kuk, a peninsula just 5 km from Dubrovnik's city centre. Day 2 Dubrovnik Coach drive along the coastal highway for a panoramic view of Dubrovnik’s walls and ancient rooftops – guided walking tour through the UNESCO listed ancient town including a visit to The Dominican Monastery and Museum and The Franciscan Monastery Museum with its 14th century pharmacy. Day 3 Mostar Full day tour to Mostar introducing us to the varied cultures and religions that over the centuries have left their mark – drive along the coast to the town of Neum and then through
the mountainous areas of Herzegovina – drive along the Neretva River Valley to Mostar where a guided tour of the city that was an important trade centre during Turkish rule introduces us to the city highlights including an old Bazaar and the Mosque – return drive takes us to Pocitelj, a picturesque fortress town rich in oriental architecture. Day 4 Dubrovnik Free day at leisure to explore the charming town of Dubrovnik. Day 5 Trsteno & Ston With its exotic vegetation and plants including giant plane trees, palms and camphor trees, the Arboretum at Trsteno is a delight – head for Ston, one of the first towns in Europe to be built to a definite urban plan and attracting hundreds of visitors to its 5 kilometre long stone walls – visit the old Saltpan where salt is still being produced and the famous oyster and mussel farm. Day 6 Montenegro About one hour from Dubrovnik, the Montenegro Littoral provides
stunning natural beauty and an abundance of historic sites – drive to the mouth of the Bay of Kotor through the most beautiful parts of the Bay to the towns of Risan and Perast to Kotor – our descent from the heights takes us to Cetinje, the one time seat of Montenegro rule with time for sightseeing – return to the coast with a short stop above Sveti Stefan and Budva before we take a ferry ride across the bay back to Dubrovnik. Day 7 Dubrovnik to UK Morning free in Dubrovnik – transfer to the airport for our scheduled flight back home.
Thank you all at Tailored Travel for a most enjoyable holiday. A lot of work and care had gone into make our holiday most interesting. Thank you again. MS Skipton
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UK & Ireland
Art & Gardens of Cornwall 5 days from £369 Featuring All excursions & guided tours included Half board accommodation Executive coach throughout ONE FREE PLACE PER 10 PAYING PASSENGERS What We Will See Tate St Ives - guided tour Barbara Hepworth Museum Eden Project - guided tour Lost Gardens of Heligan St Michael’s Mount - guided tour Kingston Lacy Mansion, Wimborne Your Hotel Four nights on half board basis at the good quality 3* Cliff Head Hotel at Carlyon Bay on the beautiful south coast of Cornwall. Located just a twenty minute walk from nearby Charlestown and a short drive to the Eden Project, facilities at the hotel include a restaurant, bar and indoor swimming pool. All rooms are en suite. Extras Single room supplement £49 Insurance Entrance fees to places of interest (NT properties free to NT members) Minack Theatre (summer months only)
Stonehenge
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Tate St Ives
SUGGESTED ITINERARY Let us tailor make this tour to your group’s exact requirements Day 1 Carlyon Bay Board our private executive coach at the designated pick up points – travel on to Cornwall where we stay at the 3* Cliff Head Hotel at Carlyon Bay. Day 2 Tate St Ives & Barbara Hepworth Museum Guided tour with one of the local gallery guides of the Tate St Ives – visit the Barbara Hepworth Museum – free time for lunch and to explore St Ives prior to returning to our hotel for dinner – during the summer months there is the option of enjoying an evening production at the open air Minack Theatre which is built into the cliff face with the Atlantic as its dramatic backdrop. Day 3 Eden Project & Lost Gardens of Heligan Pre-booked guided visit to the
UK & Ireland
Northumberland 5 days from £329 Featuring All excursions & guided tours included Half board accommodation Blue Badge Guide in Northumberland Executive coach throughout ONE FREE PLACE PER 10 PAYING PASSENGERS What We Will See Hardwick Hall, Derbyshire Durham Cathedral Beamish Open Air Museum Alnwick Castle & Cragside House Lindisfarne Castle & Farne Island Harrogate Eden Project
Eden Project housing plants, crops and landscapes from the humid tropics and warm temperate regions including olives, vines and citrus fruit from the Mediterranean, South Africa and California – visit the award winning Lost Gardens of Heligan, some eighty acres of walled gardens and a huge kitchen garden. Day 4 St Michael’s Mount Guided tour of the enchanting island and medieval castle at St Michael’s Mount introducing us to the converted 12th century castle and former Benedictine monastery that is now owned by the St Aubyn family and run by the National Trust (access is along a causeway at low tide or, during the summer months only, by boat at high tide - boat costs approximately £3pp payable direct) – return to our hotel in the afternoon where we have free time at leisure.
Day 5 Kingston Lacy Mansion Guided tour en route home of another National Trust property such as Kingston Lacy Mansion in Wimborne dating from the 17th century with one of the greatest family picture collections in the UK and with beautiful interiors and garden.
Your Hotel Four nights on half board basis at the Park Head Hotel just outside Bishop Auckland, an excellent base for our excursions. The hotel has a bar and restaurant and all rooms are en suite. Extras Single room supplement £69 Insurance Entrance fees to places of interest (NT properties free to NT members) Boat fare to Farne Island
TAILOR MAKE ANY OF THESE TOURS FOR YOUR GROUP
SUGGESTED ITINERARY Let us tailor make this tour to your group’s exact requirements Day 1 Hardwick Hall Board our private executive coach at the designated pick up points – visit a carefully selected National Trust property en route such as Hardwick Hall and Gardens, an Elizabethan treasure house dating from 16th century – travel on to the good quality Park Head Hotel just outside Bishop Auckland. Day 2 Durham & Beamish Open Air Museum Visit Durham and its Cathedral with our Blue Badge Guide – explore the Beamish Open Air Museum, set in over 300 acres of beautiful countryside and vividly recreating life in the North of England in the early 1800s and 1900s.
Like one of these tours but want to change it to suit your group’s budget or preferences? You could: • stay at different category hotel • with fewer or different excursions • for more (or fewer) days • include all entrance fees & gratuities Call us so that together we can arrange your ideal group tour
Alnwick Casrtle
Durham Cathedral
Day 3 Alnwick Castle & Cragside House Blue Badge Guide accompanies us
to Alnwick Castle, the second largest inhabited castle in England, the first being Windsor Castle, and home of the Percys, Earls and Dukes of Northumberland since 1309 – Cragside House and Gardens, a wonderful Victorian mansion described as ‘the palace of a modern magician’, features state of the art hydraulics powering a revolutionary lift system and internal telephones which mesmerised visitors in its time. Day 4 Lindisfarne Castle & Farne Island The National Trust’s Lindisfarne Castle on Holy Island is a romantic 16th century castle with spectacular views that was transformed by Lutyens into an Edwardian holiday home – boat trip to Farne Island, which during the breeding season of May to July is one of Britain’s most important bird sanctuaries and home to puffins, eider duck and four species of tern.
Day 5 Harrogate Stop off en route home in Harrogate or at another National Trust property depending on your location where we have time for a light lunch before travelling on to our original pick up points.
Thanks for the excellent arrangements made to last week’s tour to Northumberland. It was a great success and this was due to an excellent itinerary planned in conjunction with your ever patient staff, wonderful accommodation, a first class guide and a great driver to add to our enjoyment. Thank you and well done! AM Cheam
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UK & Ireland
Liverpool & Manchester
Bath, Bristol & Tyntesfield
4 days from £289
5 days from £339
Featuring 4* central Liverpool hotel All excursions & guided tours included Guided tours at every destination Executive coach throughout ONE FREE PLACE PER 10 PAYING PASSENGERS
Featuring Centrally located 4* hotel All excursions & guided tours included Half board accommodation Executive coach throughout ONE FREE PLACE PER 10 PAYING PASSENGERS
What We Will See Liverpool - guided city tour Walker Gallery Port Sunlight Village Lady Lever Art Gallery Speke Hall The Lowry
What We Will See Dyrham Park Bristol - guided tour Tyntesfield Bath - guided tour Wells Cathedral - guided tour Montacute House SS Great Britain - audio tour
Your Hotel Three nights on bed and breakfast basis at the 4* Radisson SAS Hotel, centrally located near the Royal Liver Building. Facilities include a restaurant, bar and swimming pool. All rooms are en suite.
Your Hotel Four nights on half board basis at the centrally located 4* Thistle Grand Hotel in Bristol. Facilities at the hotel include a restaurant, bar and swimming pool. All rooms are en suite.
Extras Single room supplement £89 Insurance Entrance fees to places of interest (NT properties free to NT members)
The Lowry, Salford
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Albert Dock & Royal Liver Building
SUGGESTED ITINERARY Let us tailor make this tour to your group’s exact requirements Day 1 Liverpool Board our private executive coach at the designated pick up points – guided tour on arrival in Liverpool taking in sights such as the Liverpool Anglican Cathedral with the world’s highest Gothic arches, the Metropolitan Roman Catholic Cathedral and the Albert Docks – check in to the centrally located 4* Radisson SAS Hotel. Day 2 Walker Gallery & Albert Docks Guided tour of the Walker Gallery, featuring one of the finest collections of fine and decorative art in Europe including works by Rembrandt, Poussin and Degas, 20th century works by artists such as Lucian Freud, David Hockney
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and Gilbert and George and one of the most important sculpture collections outside London – time at leisure for lunch and to explore the Albert Docks or to visit Tate Liverpool. Day 3 Port Sunlight Village & Speke Hall Guided tour of Port Sunlight Village, built by the Lever family for their
workers and featuring over 900 listed and preserved buildings, wide streets and gardens – guided tour of the Lady Lever Art Gallery – guided tour of the National Trust’s Speke Hall, one of the country’s most famous timbered houses.
Extras Single room supplement £59 Insurance Entrance fees to places of interest (NT properties free to NT members)
Day 4 The Lowry Travel to Manchester for a guided tour of The Lowry, set in a magnificent waterside location and an architectural flagship at the heart of the redeveloped Salford Quays – head home to our original pick up points.
Royal Crescent, Bath
SUGGESTED ITINERARY Let us tailor make this tour to your group’s exact requirements Day 1 Dyrham Park & Bristol Board our private executive coach at the designated pick up points – visit the National Trust’s Dyrham Park near Chippenham, containing fine textiles and paintings, as well as items of Delftware, reflecting the contemporary taste for Dutch fashions – check in at the 4* Thistle Grand Hotel in Bristol. Day 2 Guided tour of Bristol & Tyntesfield Guided tour of Bristol takes in the Clifton Suspension Bridge, the symbol of the city designed by Isambard Kingdom Brunel – the National Trust’s Tyntesfield property survives with its original Victorian interior intact and an unrivalled collection of Victorian decorative arts, an insight into below stairs and a sumptuously decorated private chapel.
UK & Ireland
The Beautiful Lake District 5 days from £319 Featuring All excursions & guided tours included Half board accommodation Blue Badge Guide in the Lake District Executive coach throughout ONE FREE PLACE PER 10 PAYING PASSENGERS What We Will See Tatton Park, Cheshire Wordsworth’s House & Gardens Boat trip on Ullswater Sizergh Castle & Gardens Hill Top House Cruise on Lake Windermere Lakeside & Haverwaite Steam Railway Holker Hall Moseley Old Hall, Staffs Tyntesfield
Day 3 Guided tour of Bath Walking guided tour of Bath takes in sights such as the Roman Baths, the Assembly Rooms and the Royal Crescent – afternoon at leisure to explore the city with time to visit the Roman Baths Museum or the Jane Austen Centre. Day 4 Wells & Montacute House Guided tour of Wells, the smallest city in England, introducing us to the famous Gothic cathedral with its fine medieval statuary, stained glass, chapter house and astronomical clock, the 13th century Bishop's Palace and the Vicar's Close, a complete medieval street – guided tour of the National Trust’s Montacute House, a magnificent Elizabethan house which featured in the award winning film ‘Sense and Sensibility’.
Day 5 SS Great Britain Explore the beautifully recreated First Class Dining Saloon, steerage quarters and Engine Room of Brunel’s SS Great Britain, the world’s first great ocean liner, and an audio tour of passengers' lives and authentic smells helps bring the 19th century experience alive.
Your Hotel Four nights on half board basis at the 3* Cumbria Grand Hotel in Grange Over Sands, located approximately 6 miles from Lake Windermere. Set in 20 acres of private gardens and woodlands and overlooking Morecambe Bay, the hotel has a bar and restaurant and all rooms have private facilities. Extras Single room supplement £59 Insurance Entrance fees to places of interest (NT properties free to NT members) Train & boat tickets
TAILOR MAKE ANY OF THESE TOURS FOR YOUR GROUP Like one of these tours but want to change it to suit your group’s budget or preferences? You could:
SUGGESTED ITINERARY Let us tailor make this tour to your group’s exact requirements Day 1 Tatton Park & Grange Over Sands Board our private executive coach at the designated pick up points – visit a carefully selected National Trust property en route such as Tatton Park in Cheshire, one of the great country estates – check in at the 3* Cumbria Grand Hotel in Grange Over Sands near Lake Windermere. Day 2 Wordsworth’s House & Ullswater Morning visit with our local Blue Badge Guide to Wordsworth‘s House and Gardens – trip to Keswick and a cruise on Ullswater (cruise ticket extra) sailing from Pooley Bridge down to Glenridding.
• stay at different category hotel • with fewer or different excursions • for more (or fewer) days • include all entrance fees & gratuities Call us so that together we can arrange your ideal group tour
Grasmere
Sizergh Castle
Day 3 Sizergh Castle & Hill Top House Visit with our local Blue Badge Guide the National Trust’s Sizergh Castle and Gardens, a medieval house extended in Elizabethan times and surrounded by beautiful grounds – time for lunch in Kendal – Hill Top House is the home of Beatrix Potter (again owned by the National Trust) with many original watercolour paintings by the author. Day 4 Lake Windermere, Steam Railway & Holker Hall 45 minute cruise on Lake Windermere from Bowness-onWindermere affording us wonderful views of the Lake and its shores – arrive at Lakeside & Haverthwaite Steam Railway taking us through the Levan Valley, one of the Lake District’s most beautiful valleys – Holker Hall is home to Lord and Lady
Cavendish as well as beautiful gardens and the Lakeland Motor Museum (all tickets extra). Day 5 Moseley Old Hall En route home we stop at another National Trust property such as 17th century Moseley Old Hall in Staffordshire, once a haven for Charles II.
We had a simply marvellous holiday – everything went according to plan and I have not heard a single word of complaint. I have to thank you for choosing the itinerary, as well as the wonderful hotel for our base. TO Rickmansworth
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UK & Ireland
Historic Houses of Suffolk
Norfolk & Sandringham Estate
5 days from £299
5 days from £319
Featuring All excursions included Half board accommodation Blue Badge Guide in Suffolk Executive coach throughout ONE FREE PLACE PER 10 PAYING PASSENGERS
Featuring All excursions & guided tours included Half board accommodation Blue Badge Guide in Norfolk Executive coach throughout ONE FREE PLACE PER 10 PAYING PASSENGERS
What We Will See Audley End House & Gardens Bury St Edmunds & Ickworth House Cruise on the River Orwell Constable Country & Bridge Cottage Snape Maltings & Aldeburgh Sutton Hoo Gainsborough’s House
What We Will See Anglesey Abbey - guided tour Norwich - guided city tour Norfolk Broads cruise Alby Craft Centre Blickling Hall & Gardens - guided tour Sandringham Estate - guided tour & entrance fee included Ely
Your Hotel Four nights on half board basis at the 3* Novotel Ipswich, located a five minute walk from the town centre. Facilities at the hotel include a restaurant and bar and all rooms are en suite. Extras Single room supplement £59 Insurance Entrance fees to places of interest (NT properties free to NT members)
Ickworth House gardens
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Flatford Mill
SUGGESTED ITINERARY Let us tailor make this tour to your group’s exact requirements Day 1 Audley End House & Gardens Board our private executive coach at the designated pick up points – visit English Heritage’s Audley End House and Gardens near Saffron Walden to discover the sumptuous splendour enjoyed by royalty and the aristocracy in one of England’s grandest stately homes – check in at the 3* Novotel Ipswich. Day 2 Bury St Edmunds & Ickworth House Guided tour of Bury St Edmunds takes in St Edmundsbury Cathedral, a place of worship for nearly 1,000 years, and the Theatre Royal, a rare and outstanding example of a Regency playhouse – the National Trust’s Ickworth House, located in 70 acres of stunning gardens and
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1,800 acres of idyllic ‘Capability’ Brown parkland, is dominated by its huge central Rotunda dating from 1795 and is home to a fine collection of Old Master paintings, silver and Regency furniture. Day 3 River Orwell cruise, Constable Country & Bridge Cottage Scenic cruise taking in the most beautiful wooded stretches of the River Orwell – afternoon spent in Constable Country – choose to visit the Sir Alfred Munnings Museum or the Arts and Crafts centre at Dedham – the National Trust’s Bridge Cottage at Flatford is located upstream from Flatford Mill and houses an exhibition on John Constable, several of whose paintings famously feature the mill. Day 4 Snape Maltings, Aldeburgh & Sutton Hoo Snape Maltings was one of the largest barley maltings in East Anglia in the 19th century and
today is home to a shopping complex and a reputable concert hall – travel the short distance to the picturesque 16th century fishing village of Aldeburgh where we have time at leisure for lunch and to take a stroll along the unspoilt promenade – the National Trust’s Sutton Hoo is an Anglo Saxon royal burial site where the priceless Sutton Hoo treasure was discovered in a huge ship grave in 1939.
Your Hotel Four nights on half board basis at the 3* Holiday Inn Hotel on the outskirts of Norwich. The hotel has a restaurant, bar and swimming pool. All rooms are en suite. Extras Single room supplement £49 Insurance Entrance fees to places of interest (NT properties free to NT members)
Day 5 Gainsborough’s House En route home we visit the 16th century Gainsborough’s House at Sudbury, the birthplace of the famous painter, and whose outstanding collection of more of Gainsborough’s work than any other gallery is shown together with 18th century furniture.
Sandringham Estate
SUGGESTED ITINERARY Let us tailor make this tour to your group’s exact requirements Day 1 Anglesey Abbey Board our private executive coach at the designated pick up points – visit a carefully selected National Trust property en route such as Anglesey Abbey with time for a guided tour and a light lunch – check in at the 3* Holiday Inn Hotel on the outskirts of Norwich. Day 2 Norwich & Norfolk Broads cruise Guided tour of Norwich, England’s best preserved medieval city, takes in sights such as the Norman Castle, the city’s two cathedrals and the City Hall – time at leisure in Norwich for lunch before continuing to Wroxham for our 90 minute cruise on the Norfolk Broads.
UK & Ireland
Castles & Houses of Oxfordshire & the Thames Valley 5 days from £389 Featuring 4* hotel All excursions & guided tours included Half board accommodation Executive coach throughout ONE FREE PLACE PER 10 PAYING PASSENGERS What We Will See Hampton Court Palace Kingston Bagpuize House - guided tour The Vyne Oxford - guided city tour Hughenden Manor Windsor Castle Cliveden Blenheim Palace
Blickling Hall
Day 3 Alby Craft Centre & Blickling Hall Situated on the edge of the beautiful Broads, Alby Craft Centre is home to some of Norfolk’s finest craftspeople and the attractive brick and flint Norfolk farm buildings also accommodate a gallery, gift shop and a tea room – guided tour of the National Trust’s Blickling Hall and Gardens, one of England’s greatest Jacobean houses, famed for its spectacular long gallery, superb plasterwork ceilings and fine collections of furniture, pictures, books and tapestries. Day 4 Sandringham Set in 60 acres of splendid gardens and the much loved country retreat of the Queen, we have a guided tour of the house at Sandringham Estate which was built for Edward VII in 1870 and once described as ‘Britain’s most
comfortable house’ – the museum houses extraordinary collections of royal vehicles, rare ceramics, photographs and memorabilia. Day 5 Ely En route home we stop at Ely where we have time to visit its magnificent cathedral.
Your Hotel Four nights on half board basis at the 4* Four Pillars Hotel at Witney. Located ten miles from the famous university city of Oxford, the hotel reflects the charming architectural style of the nearby Cotswolds. Facilities include a restaurant, lounge, bar and swimming pool and all rooms are en suite. Extras Single room supplement £69 Insurance Entrance fees to places of interest (NT properties free to NT members)
TAILOR MAKE ANY OF THESE TOURS FOR YOUR GROUP Like one of these tours but want to change it to suit your group’s budget or preferences? You could: • stay at different category hotel • with fewer or different excursions • for more (or fewer) days • include all entrance fees & gratuities Call us so that together we can arrange your ideal group tour
Radcliffe Camera, Oxford
Windsor Castle
SUGGESTED ITINERARY Let us tailor make this tour to your group’s exact requirements
of King Henry VIII, reflect the changing style, fashions and tastes of its owners over the last five hundred years.
Day 1 Hampton Court Palace Board our private executive coach at the designated pick up points – the elegance and romance of Hampton Court Palace, famously associated with the flamboyant Henry VIII who extended and developed the property in grand style after he acquired it from Cardinal Wolsey in the 1520’s, owes much to the Baroque buildings commissioned by William III and Mary II at the end of the 17th century – check in at the 4* Four Pillars Hotel in Witney.
Day 3 Oxford guided tour & Hughenden Manor Guided tour of Oxford, the City of Dreaming Spires, exploring the architecture and traditions of the university and the city’s other famous buildings and institutions – the National Trust’s Hughenden Manor was the home of Benjamin Disraeli from 1848 until his death in 1881 and most of his furniture, books and pictures remain in this, his private retreat from the rigours of parliamentary life in London.
Day 2 Kingston Bagpuize House & The Vyne Guided tour of Kingston Bagpuize House taking in the Entrance Hall with its impressive cantilevered staircase, the Drawing Room furnished with English and French furniture and the impressive gardens – the interiors, garden and landscaping at the National Trust’s The Vyne, an enchanting house originally built by a courtier
Day 4 Windsor Castle & Cliveden Windsor Castle is the oldest and largest occupied castle in the world and the official residence of Her Majesty The Queen – the National Trust’s Cliveden property, whose magnificent formal gardens overlook the River Thames, was once the exclusive haunt of the rich and famous.
Day 5 Blenheim Palace The imposing scale of Blenheim Palace, home of the 11th Duke of Marlborough and birth place of Sir Winston Churchill, is beautifully balanced within by the intricate detail and delicacy of the carvings, the hand painted ceilings and the amazing porcelain collections, tapestries and paintings displayed in each room and all set in beautiful parkland landscaped by ‘Capability’ Brown in the 1760’s.
I am emailing to thank you for organising the most amazing holiday we have experienced in a very long time. I feel that it is appropriate to compliment you for every part of the holiday. I will not hesitate to recommend Tailored Travel to others and will definitely book with you again in the near future. RM Warrington
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UK & Ireland
Shropshire & the Heart of England
Castles, Houses & Gardens of Kent
5 days from £299
5 days from £329
Featuring All excursions & guided tours included Half board accommodation Blue Badge Guide on days 3 & 4 Executive coach throughout ONE FREE PLACE PER 10 PAYING PASSENGERS What We Will See Shugborough Estate Ironbridge Gorge Shrewsbury - guided tour Attingham Park Bridgnorth Stokesay Castle Stratford Upon Avon Your Hotel Four nights on half board basis at the 3* Best Western Tillington Hall Hotel. Located a fifteen minute walk from the centre of Stafford, facilities at the hotel include a restaurant, bar and gymnasium. All rooms are en suite. Extras Single room supplement £49 Insurance Entrance fees to places of interest (NT properties free to NT members) Optional Severn Valley Railway steam train excursion
Featuring 4* hotel All excursions & guided tours included Half board accommodation Blue Badge Guide in Kent Executive coach throughout ONE FREE PLACE PER 10 PAYING PASSENGERS
Ironbridge
SUGGESTED ITINERARY Let us tailor make this tour to your group’s exact requirements Day 1 Shugborough Board our private executive coach at the designated pick up points – Shugborough near Stafford is set on the banks of the River Sow, with a magnificent 17th century mansion house, along with working Victorian servant’s quarters and a Georgian park farm with watermill – continue to the 4* Best Western Tillington Hall Hotel at Stafford. Day 2 Ironbridge Gorge Full day at Ironbridge Gorge begins with a visit to the Blists Hill Victorian Village, a recreation of life in a Victorian community with working factories, shops and cottages as well as the ‘townsfolk’ – Ironbridge, the great symbol of the success of the iron industry, was cast in 1779 by Abraham Darby and its great arch enthralled visitors who came from all over the world to admire its construction, as they still do today.
Stokesay Castle
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Day 3 Shrewsbury & Attingham Park Guided tour of Shrewsbury takes in sights such as the Norman Castle and St Mary’s Church, dating from 960 AD and boasting one of the tallest spires in England – morning at leisure to explore Shrewsbury, famous for its breezy black and white ‘magpie’ houses so typical of the Welsh Marches – the National Trust’s Attingham Park, an elegant 18th century mansion, is home to a fine collection of ambassadorial silver, Italian furniture and Grand Tour paintings. Day 4 Bridgnorth, Severn Valley Railway & Stokesay Castle The historic town of Bridgnorth, once a thriving port along the banks of the River Severn, was described by Charles I as offering ‘the finest view in all my Kingdom’ – optional one way 16 mile steam train excursion from Bridgnorth to Kidderminster on
the Severn Valley Railway is the best way to explore the beauty of the River Severn (those not opting for the train excursion continue by coach to Kidderminster) – continue to English Heritage’s Stokesay Castle, a perfectly preserved medieval fortified manor house dating back to the 11th century nestling in a green valley in the heart of the Shropshire countryside. Day 5 Stratford Upon Avon Guided tour of Stratford Upon Avon taking in such sights as the Holy Trinity Church, where Shakespeare is buried, and the Royal Shakespeare Theatre – time at leisure offers a chance to visit Shakespeare’s Birthplace with an exhibition which provides an introduction to his life and the traditional English garden.
What We Will See Hever Castle Canterbury - guided city & Cathedral tour Leeds Castle Sissinghurst Castle Garden Great Dixter House & Gardens Dover Castle White Cliffs of Dover Visitor Centre Walmer Castle Ightham Mote Your Hotel Four nights on half board basis at the 4* Ashford International Hotel on the outskirts of Ashford. Facilities at the hotel include a restaurant, bar and swimming pool. All rooms are en suite. Extras Single room supplement £69 Insurance Entrance fees to places of interest (NT properties free to NT members)
Ightham Mote
SUGGESTED ITINERARY Let us tailor make this tour to your group’s exact requirements Day 1 Hever Castle Board our private executive coach at the designated pick up points – visit Hever Castle, the childhood home of Anne Boleyn and dating back as far as 1270 – check in at the 3* Ashford International Hotel at Ashford. Day 2 Canterbury, Canterbury Cathedral & Leeds Castle Guided tour of the UNESCO listed city of Canterbury taking in the city walls – Canterbury Cathedral, dating back to 597AD when St Augustine established his seat in Canterbury, was the site of Archbishop Thomas Becket’s murder in 1170 and ever since the Cathedral has attracted thousands of pilgrims, as told famously in Geoffrey Chaucer's ‘Canterbury Tales’ – Leeds Castle, set in 500 acres of beautiful parkland and offering over 1,000 years of history, has Norman foundations, a medieval gatehouse, a Tudor tower and a 19th century country house, all of
UK & Ireland
Historic Houses of Devon 5 days from £359 Featuring 4* hotel Full programme of daily excursions Half board accommodation Executive coach throughout ONE FREE PLACE PER 10 PAYING PASSENGERS
Leeds Castle
which were substantially refurbished in the 20th century by the last private owner of the castle, Lady Baillie, the heiress to an American fortune. Day 3 Sissinghurst Castle Garden & Great Dixter House & Gardens The National Trust’s Sissinghurst Castle Garden is developed around the surviving parts of an Elizabethan mansion and provide outstanding design and colour throughout the season – Great Dixter House and Gardens was once the family home of the late Chrsitopher Lloyd who devoted his life to creating one of the most experimental, exciting and constantly changing gardens of our time. Day 4 Dover Castle, White Cliffs of Dover Visitor Centre & Walmer Castle Guarding the Straits of Dover, English Heritage’s Dover Castle is one of the mightiest of fortresses in Western Europe and occupies a site that has witnessed more than 2,000 years of history – the National Trust’s White Cliffs of Dover Visitor Centre introduces us to five miles of spectacular
coastal scenery through imaginative displays and interpretation – English Heritage’s Walmer Castle and Gardens was transformed from a Tudor castle into the elegant home and residence of the Lord Warden of the Cinque Ports. Day 5 Ightham Mote The National Trust’s Ightham Mote is a superb moated manor house and garden dating from 1330 whose main features span many centuries and include the Great Hall and Tudor Chapel with painted ceiling.
TAILOR MAKE ANY OF THESE TOURS FOR YOUR GROUP
What We Will See Exeter - guided city tour Knightshayes Court Powderham Castle & Buckland Abbey Dartmouth & Coleton Fishacre Killerton Optional Dartmouth river cruise Steam train to Paignton Your Hotel Four nights on half board basis at the 4* Thistle Rougemont Hotel in Exeter. Facilites at this centrally located hotel include a restaurant and bar. All rooms are en suite. Extras Single room supplement £99 Insurance Entrance fees to places of interest (NT properties free to NT members)
Like one of these tours but want to change it to suit your group’s budget or preferences? You could: • stay at different category hotel • with fewer or different excursions • for more (or fewer) days • include all entrance fees & gratuities Call us so that together we can arrange your ideal group tour
Knightshayes Court
Buckland Abbey SUGGESTED ITINERARY Let us tailor make this tour to your group’s exact requirements Day 1 Exeter Board our private executive coach at the designated pick up points – travel on to the 4* Thistle Rougemont Hotel in Exeter. Day 2 Exeter & Knightshayes Court Guided tour of Exeter followed by time at leisure to explore Exeter’s historic quayside – visit the National Trust’s Knightshayes Court, a Victorian country house with rich interiors, giving an atmospheric insight into grand country life. Day 3 Powderham Castle & Buckland Abbey Powderham Castle, located in a picturesque setting beside the Exe estuary and dating back to 1391, is currently owned by the 18th Earl and Countess of Devon and is one of the oldest family houses
in England – a scenic drive across Dartmoor takes us to the National Trust’s Buckland Abbey, a 700 year old building which has rich associations with Elizabethan seafarers Sir Francis Drake and Sir Richard Grenville. Day 4 Dartmouth, Coleton Fishacre & steam train to Paignton Travel to Totnes for an optional river cruise to Dartmouth (those not opting for the cruise continue by coach to Dartmouth) – after free time in Dartmouth for lunch, we take the ferry to Kingswear where we rejoin our coach – travel the short distance to the National Trust’s Coleton Fishacre, an Arts and Crafts style house with elegant Art Deco influenced interior situated in a spectacular coastal setting – at Kingswear Station you have the option of taking a one way steam train journey to Paignton (those not opting for the train continue by coach to Paignton).
Day 5 Killerton Visit the National Trust’s Killerton property, a fine 18th century house containing a fascinating collection of 18th to 20th century costumes.
Just to let you know that the tour went very smoothly and I received many compliments from my group for Tailored Travel and our tour manager. I have organised many group tours and would confirm the professionalism of your organisation and tour manager was exemplary. RP Flitwick
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UK & Ireland
The History & Heritage of Yorkshire
The History & Houses of Lincolnshire
6 days from £359
5 days from £329
Featuring All excursions & guided tours included Half board accommodation Executive coach throughout ONE FREE PLACE PER 10 PAYING PASSENGERS
Featuring All excursions & guided tours included Half board accommodation Executive coach throughout ONE FREE PLACE PER 10 PAYING PASSENGERS
What We Will See Hardwick Hall, Derbyshire Harrogate - guided tour Fountains Abbey & Studley Royal Water Garden Eden Camp Whitby Harewood House York Belton House, near Grantham
What We Will See Grantham Doddington Hall Lincoln - guided tour Medieval Bishops’ Palace Tattershall Castle Brodsworth Hall & Gardens Gainsborough Old Hall Newark on Trent - boat cruise Workhouse at Southwell Southwell Minster Woolsthorpe Manor
Your Hotel Five nights on half board basis at the 3* Cairn Hotel in Harrogate, located under a ten minute walk from the centre of the spa town of Harrogate. Facilities at the hotel include a restaurant and a bar and all rooms are en suite. Extras Single room supplement £79 Insurance Entrance fees to all places of interest (NT properties free to NT members) Optional North Yorkshire Moors Railway trip
Harewood House
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Fountains Abbey
SUGGESTED ITINERARY Let us tailor make this tour to your group’s exact requirements Day 1 Hardwick Hall Board our private executive coach at the designated pick up points – visit en route a suitable National Trust property such as Hardwick Hall and Gardens in Derbyshire, an Elizabethan treasure house dating from 16th century, where we have free time for refreshments – check in at the 3* Cairn Hotel in Harrogate. Day 2 Harrogate & Fountains Abbey & Studley Royal Water Garden Guided tour of Harrogate taking in sights such as the Royal Hall and Montpellier Gardens – afternoon visit to the National Trust’s Fountains Abbey & Studley Royal Water Garden which, together with the Cistercian abbey, Georgian water garden, medieval deer park, Elizabethan hall and
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Victorian church, offer an unparalleled opportunity to appreciate the range of England’s heritage at this World Heritage Site. Day 3 Eden Camp, Pickering & Whitby Eden Camp is a former prisoner of war camp which uses audio visual technology to depict the history of World War II – continue to Pickering for an optional nostalgic steam train journey on the North Yorkshire Moors Railway through the picturesque moors to Whitby (those not opting for the train excursion, continue by coach to Whitby) – rest of the day in Whitby, a resort dominated by the cliff top ruins of a beautiful 13th century abbey and with old cobbled streets, picturesque houses and a sandy beach.
Day 4 Harewood House The home of the Queen’s cousin, the Earl of Harewood, Harewood House is located just outside Leeds in a 1,000 acre ‘Capability’ Brown landscape and is renowned for its stunning architecture, exquisite Adam interiors and Chippendale furniture and a fine art collection. Day 5 York Day at leisure in York with time to enjoy a cruise on the River Ouse, visit the National Railway Museum or explore York Castle Museum with its recreated Victorian street, Kirkgate.
Your Hotel Four nights on half board basis at the 3* Holiday Inn in Lincoln. Located just a five minute walk from the city centre, facilities at the hotel include a restaurant and bar. All rooms are en suite. Extras Single room supplement £69 Insurance Entrance fees to places of interest (NT properties free to NT members)
Day 6 Belton House Visit a suitable National Trust property en toute home such as Belton House near Grantham, a crowning achievement of Restoration country house architecture containing important collections of paintings, furniture, tapestries and silver. Carving at Lincoln Castle
SUGGESTED ITINERARY Let us tailor make this tour to your group’s exact requirements Day 1 Grantham & Doddington Hall Board our private executive coach at the designated pick up points – time at leisure for lunch in Grantham – continue to Doddington Hall, a family home that has never been sold since it was built in 1595 and whose mellow brick exterior with its walled courtyards has barely changed while the interior was redecorated in Georgian times in a light and elegant style – continue to the 3* Holiday Inn Hotel in Lincoln. Day 2 Lincoln, Medieval Bishops’ Palace & Tattershall Castle Guided tour of Lincoln takes in sights such as the Castle and the Cathedral – continue to the Medieval Bishops’ Palace, set dramatically in the shadow of Lincoln Cathedral and with a superb contemporary Heritage Garden reflecting its historical setting – the National Trust’s Tattershall Castle is a vast fortified
UK & Ireland
The Heritage & Historic Houses of the Peak District 5 days from £329 Featuring 4* hotel All excursions & guided tours included Half board accommodation Blue Badge Guide Executive coach throughout ONE FREE PLACE PER 10 PAYING PASSENGERS
Lincoln Cathedral
and moated tower built for Ralph Cromwell, Lord Treasurer of England from 1433 to 1443, and restored by Lord Curzon between 1911 and 1914. Day 3 Brodsworth Hall and Gardens & Gainsborough Old Hall English Heritage’s Brodsworth Hall and Gardens has been preserved with the patina of wear, showing how a wealthy family and their servants really lived during 150 years of occupation – Gainsborough Old Hall, one of the best preserved medieval manor houses in England dating back to the late 15th century, has a kitchen with an enormous fireplace, a noble great hall and an imposing lodgings tower. Day 4 Newark on Trent, River Trent cruise, Workhouse at Southwell & Southwell Minster Time at leisure in Newark on Trent, home to one of the finest Georgian market squares in England – included short cruise on the River Trent introducing us to the town and its picturesque surrounding countryside – the National Trust’s Workhouse at
Southwell survives from hundreds that once covered the country and is the least altered today – Southwell Minster, with its majestic Norman nave and glorious 13th century chapter house, is one of the lesser known jewels in the crown of Nottinghamshire. Day 5 Woolsthorpe Manor The National Trust’s Woolsthorpe Manor near Grantham is a modest 17th century Lincolnshire manor house and the birthplace and family home of Isaac Newton.
TAILOR MAKE ANY OF THESE TOURS FOR YOUR GROUP
What We Will see Sudbury Hall Bakewell - guided tour Haddon Hall Arkwright’s Mill Visitor Centre Crich Tramway Village Bolsover Castle Chatsworth House Buxton - guided tour Stamford Your Hotel Four nights on half board basis at the 4* Tankersley Manor Hotel at Tankersley, a 17th century manor house located in a countryside setting with the Peaks and the Dales nearby. Facilities at the hotel include a restaurant, bar and swimming pool. All rooms are en suite. Extras Single room supplement £69 Insurance Entrance fees to places of interest (NT properties free to NT members) Optional theatre excursion
Like one of these tours but want to change it to suit your group’s budget or preferences? You could: • stay at different category hotel • with fewer or different excursions • for more (or fewer) days • include all entrance fees & gratuities Call us so that together we can arrange your ideal group tour
Sudbury Hall
Chatsworth House
SUGGESTED ITINERARY Let us tailor make this tour to your group’s exact requirements Day 1 Sudbury Hall Board our private executive coach at the designated pick up points – visit the National Trust’s Sudbury Hall, a grand 17th century family home with richly decorated interiors, including woodcarving by Grinling Gibbons, and the Great Staircase, one of the most elaborate of its kind – continue to the 4* Tankersley Manor Hotel at Tankersley. Day 2 Bakewell, Haddon Hall & Arkwright’s Mill Guided tour of Bakewell, famous for the production of the ‘tart’, or Bakewell Pudding as it is known locally – Haddon Hall, a fortified manor house dating back from the 12th century, is surrounded by terraced Elizabethan gardens – designed by Richard Arkwright and built in 1771, Arkwright’s Mill at Cromford is a world famous cotton spinning mill that is now home to a visitor centre, cafeteria and various shops.
Day 3 Crich Tramway Village & Bolsover Castle Crich Tramway Village, a lovingly restored period village that is also home to the National Tramway Museum and its world renowned archives, is nestled high up in the heart of Derbyshire overlooking the famous Derwent Valley – Bolsover Castle, a unique survival of a Stuart ‘prodigy house’, was designed solely for pleasure and extravagant display, a fashionable retreat into an imaginary golden age of chivalry – this evening there is the option of attending a theatre production in Sheffield. Day 4 Chatsworth House & Buxton Chatsworth House, the home of the Duke and Duchess of Devonshire, is one of Britain’s best loved historic houses and estates, is set in the magnificent landscape of Derbyshire’s Peak District National Park and is seen in the film of ‘Pride and Prejudice’ – guided tour of Buxton followed by time at leisure in this spa town.
Day 5 Stamford Renowned as the ‘best stone town in England’, Stamford is architecturally outstanding with numerous medieval buildings, as well as fine Georgian streets and squares.
I've been on many organised tour holidays and your tour manager was the most professional I've ever encountered. The tour flowed seamlessly. This is the first time I have ever written to thank a company. I look forward to travelling with your company in the future and would be happy to recommend your services. Many thanks. CG Oxford
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UK & Ireland
The History & Heritage of Winchester & the New Forest
The History & Heritage of Cambridge
5 days from £349
5 days from £349
Featuring 4* hotel All excursions & guided tours included Half board accommodation Blue Badge guide on Days 2 & 4 Executive coach throughout ONE FREE PLACE PER 10 PAYING PASSENGERS What We Will See Highclere Castle Winchester Cathedral - guided tour Petworth House Historic Dockyard at Portsmouth HMS Victory, HMS Warrior & the Mary Rose Museum Uppark House National Motor Museum, Beaulieu Mottisfont Abbey Salisbury Cathedral - guided tour Stonehenge Your Hotel Four nights on half board basis at the 4* Norton Park Hotel located in a countryside setting on the outskirts of Winchester. Facilities at the hotel include a restaurant, bar and swimming pool. All rooms are en suite. Extras Single room supplement £69 Insurance Entrance fees to places of interest (NT properties free to NT members) Optional train trip on the Watercress Line
Stonehenge
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Featuring 4* hotel All excursions & guided tours included Half board accommodation Blue Badge guide on Days 2 to 4 Executive coach throughout ONE FREE PLACE PER 10 PAYING PASSENGERS
Winchester Cathedral
SUGGESTED ITINERARY Let us tailor make this tour to your group’s exact requirements Day 1 Highclere Castle Board our private executive coach at the designated pick up points – recently featuring on the BBC drama ‘Downton Abbey’, Highclere Castle was designed in 1842 by Sir Charles Barry, the architect also responsible for building the Houses of Parliament, and is set in a ‘Capability’ Brown park – check in to the 4* Norton Park Hotel on the outskirts of Winchester. Day 2 Winchester Cathedral & Petworth House Guided tour of Winchester Cathedral which originates back to the 7th century when a Christian church was first built on this site – an optional one way train journey from Alresford to Alton, on the picturesque Watercress Line, runs through the heart of Hampshire – the National Trust’s Petworth House is a magnificent late 17th century mansion containing the National Trust’s finest and largest collection of pictures including works by Turner, Van Dyck, Reynolds and Blake.
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Day 3 Historic Dockyard at Portsmouth & Uppark House Our tickets at the Historic Dockyard at Portsmouth enable us to explore three ships, visit the Royal Navy Museum and take a Harbour Tour – HMS Victory stands today as the world's oldest commissioned warship and has seen over 220 years of almost continuous naval service – HMS Warrior 1860 was launched during a period of uneasy peace between Britain and France and in her heyday was the most formidable warship the world had ever seen – the Mary Rose was Henry VIII's favourite warship built between 1510-1511 and yet she sank on a fine summer day in 1545 as she sailed into action against the French fleet – the National Trust’s Uppark House is a fine late 17th century house, set high on the South Downs with magnificent views to the sea, and the complete servants’ quarters in the basement are shown as they were in Victorian days.
Day 4 National Motor Museum & Mottisfont Abbey Beaulieu, in the heart of the glorious New Forest, is home to the world famous National Motor Museum including over 250 vintage, veteran and classic cars from some of the earliest examples of motoring to legendary world record breakers like Bluebird and Golden Arrow – the National Trust’s Mottisfont Abbey Garden, House and Estate, once a 12th century Augustine priory and now a handsome house set amidst glorious countryside along the River Test, boasts an interesting collection of modern art and grounds offering a magnificent collection of trees, walled gardens and a National Collection of old fashioned roses. Day 5 Salisbury Cathedral & Stonehenge Guided tour of Salisbury Cathedral, a beautiful historic building, an international symbol of Christianity and a world class heritage attraction – the great stone circle at Stonehenge was begun around 3000 BC in the late Stone Age and continued to evolve until about 1600 BC in the mid Bronze Age.
What We Will See Anglesey Abbey Cambridge - guided tour National Horseracing Museum Bury St Edmunds - guided tour Ickworth House Ely Cathedral - guided tour Wimpole Hall Audley End House and Gardens Your Hotel Four nights on half board basis at the 4* Cambridge Belfry Hotel located on the outskirts of Cambridge. Facilities at the hotel include a restaurant, bar, indoor swimming pool and sauna. All rooms are en suite. Extras Single room supplement £69 Insurance Entrance fees to places of interest (NT properties free to NT members)
SUGGESTED ITINERARY Let us tailor make this tour to your group’s exact requirements Day 1 Anglesey Abbey Board our private executive coach at the designated pick up points – the National Trust’s Anglesey Abbey near Cambridge, a Jacobean style house built on the site of a 12th century Augustinian priory, contains a priceless art collection and one of the National Trust’s largest collections of clocks – check in at the 4* Cambridge Belfry Hotel. Day 2 Cambridge & National Horseracing Museum Guided tour of Cambridge covers the most important aspects of the city, University and colleges – after a 30 minute guided tour of the gallops on board our coach, we visit the award winning National Horseracing Museum at Newmarket depicting the story of the horses, people, events and scandals that have made the sport so colourful.
Anglesey Abbey
UK & Ireland
Chester & the Welsh Borders 5 days from £349 Featuring 4* hotel All excursions & guided tours included Half board accommodation Blue Badge Guide on Day 3 Executive coach throughout ONE FREE PLACE PER 10 PAYING PASSENGERS What We Will See Attingham Park, Shropshire Chester Cathedral - guided tour Llangollen Bodnant Gardens & Plas Newydd Erddig & Chirk Castle Powis Castle Cambridge
Day 3 Bury St Edmunds & Ickworth House Guided tour of Bury St Edmunds takes in St Edmundsbury Cathedral, a place of worship for nearly 1,000 years, and the Theatre Royal, a rare and outstanding example of a Regency playhouse – the National Trust’s Ickworth House, located in 70 acres of stunning gardens and 1,800 acres of idyllic ‘Capability’ Brown parkland, is dominated by its huge central Rotunda dating from 1795 and is home to a fine collection of Old Master paintings, silver and Regency furniture. Day 4 Ely Cathedral & Wimpole Hall Guided tour of Ely Cathedral, known locally as ‘The Ship of the Fens’ and internationally famous for its Octagon and Lantern Towers – time at leisure in Ely and you may choose to visit the Stained Glass Museum, a hidden treasure within the Cathedral, displaying over 100 original stained glass panels dating from the 13th century – the National
Trust’s Wimpole Hall is a magnificent 18th century house featuring work by Gibbs, Flitcroft and Soane. Day 5 Audley End House and Gardens At English Heritage’s Audley End House and Gardens near Saffron Walden we discover the sumptuous splendour enjoyed by royalty and the aristocracy in one of England’s grandest stately homes.
Your Hotel 4 nights on half board basis at 4* Ramada Plaza Hotel in Wrexham. Located on the outskirts of Wrexham, facilities at the hotel include a restaurant, bar, sauna and a mini-gym. All rooms are en suite. Extras Single room supplement £59 Insurance Entrance fees to places of interest (NT properties free to NT members) Optional canal cruise
TAILOR MAKE ANY OF THESE TOURS FOR YOUR GROUP Like one of these tours but want to change it to suit your group’s budget or preferences? You could: • stay at different category hotel • with fewer or different excursions • for more (or fewer) days • include all entrance fees & gratuities Call us so that together we can arrange your ideal group tour
Plas Newydd
The Rows, Chester
SUGGESTED ITINERARY Let us tailor make this tour to your group’s exact requirements
built by Thomas Telford between 1795 and 1805.
Day 1 Attingham Park Board our private executive coach at the designated pick up points – visit en route a suitable National Trust property such as Attingham Park in Shropshire, an elegant 18th century mansion, and home to a fine collection of ambassadorial silver, Italian furniture and Grand Tour paintings – check in at the 4* Ramada Plaza Hotel in Wrexham.
Day 3 Bodnant Gardens & Plas Newydd The 80 acre National Trust property at Bodnant Gardens, one of the world’s most spectacular gardens, features huge Italianate terraces and stunning views across Snowdonia – continue to the 18th century National Trust property and gardens at Plas Newydd, one of the United Kingdom’s finest mansion house settings and the home of the Marquess of Anglesey.
Day 2 Chester Cathedral & Llangollen Guided tour of Chester Cathedral, one of the best preserved examples of a Benedictine abbey in England – at Llangollen there is free time at leisure or an optional canal boat excursion through the beautiful Vale of Llangollen and across the famous Pontcysyllte Aqueduct
Day 4 Erddig & Chirk Castle The National Trust’s Erddig property is one of the most fascinating houses in Britain with an evocative range of outbuildings and state rooms displaying most of their original 18th and 19th century furnishings – visit the National Trust’s Chirk Castle, a magnificent medieval fortress with elegant state rooms and fine furniture.
Day 5 Powis Castle The world famous garden at National Trust’s Powis Castle was laid out under the influence of Italian and French styles and retains its original lead statues, while the medieval castle contains one of the finest collections of paintings and furniture in Wales.
I am writing to thank you for a wonderful holiday. We were both most impressed (I have never been moved to write thus before, and you can quote us as a testimonial should you wish to do so!) and we look forward to travelling with you again SS Sturminster Newton
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UK & Ireland
Beautiful Jersey
Isle of Wight
5 days from £489
5 days from £349
Featuring All excursions & guided tours included Half board accommodation Blue Badge Guide in Jersey Scheduled flights to Jersey Executive coach in Jersey ONE FREE PLACE PER 10 PAYING PASSENGERS
Featuring All excursions & guided tours included Half board accommodation Blue Badge Guide in Isle of Wight Return Wightlink ferry crossing from Portsmouth Executive coach throughout ONE FREE PLACE PER 10 PAYING PASSENGERS
What We Will See Full day Island tour Jersey Pearl Centre Living Legends Jersey Experience Glass Church & Jersey War Tunnels St Helier Mount Orgueil Castle Jersey Potteries Samares Manor
What We Will See Mottisfont Abbey Garden, House & Estate, Hants The Needles, Alum Bay & Cowes Osborne House Godshill & Steam Railway trip Ryde Newport, Sandown & Rosemary Vineyard Kingston Lacy, Wimborne
Your Hotel Four nights on half board basis at the 3* Metropole Hotel, located just a few hundred yards from St Helier’s shops. Facilities at the hotel include a restaurant, bar, coffee shop and swimming pool and all rooms are en suite. Extras Single room supplement £89 Insurance Entrance fees to places of interest
Mount Orgueil Castle
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St Aubin’s Bay
SUGGESTED ITINERARY Let us tailor make this tour to your group’s exact requirements Day 1 St Helier Scheduled flight to Jersey – transfer by executive coach to the 3* Metropole Hotel at St Helier. Day 2 Island tour, Jersey Pearl Centre and the Living Legends Jersey Experience Full day panoramic island tour with our Blue Badge Guide taking in St Aubin's Bay, St Brelade's Bay, Corbiere Lighthouse, St Ouen's Bay, Greve de Lecq, the Northern Coastline, Gorey Harbour, La Rocque Harbour and St Clement's Bay – stop during the tour for photographic opportunities and refreshments together with visits to the Jersey Pearl Centre and the Living Legends Jersey Experience and Craft & Village Centre, one of the island's top tourist attractions. Day 3 Glass Church, Jersey War Tunnels & St Helier St Matthews Church at Millbrook, known as the Glass Church, boasts opalescent panels,
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magnificent altar cross, glass font, Jersey lily motif and the perfectly angelic Art Deco angels – continue to the Jersey War Tunnels, a network of tunnels first created to protect arms and troops from bomb attacks by the Allies and now a superb multimillion pound interactive exhibition that tells the true life stories of the islanders and its foreign prisoners – afternoon at leisure in St Helier where you may choose to see the Occupation Tapestry produced to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the island’s liberation. Day 4 Mount Orgueil Castle, Jersey Potteries & Samares Manor Built in the thirteenth century to protect the island against the French, the dramatic and wonderfully preserved Mount Orgueil Castle towers over the harbour at Gorey and is one of the most photographed sites on the island – lunch stop at Jersey Potteries – Samares Manor, a beautiful house dating in part to
Norman times, is surrounded by exceptional gardens originally constructed in the 1920s by Sir James Knott featuring the Japanese Garden, rock and water gardens, formal gardens, large ponds with islands and camellia plantations. Day 5 Home Morning at leisure – transfer to Jersey Airport for our scheduled flight back home.
Your Hotel Four nights on half board basis at the 3* Shanklin Hotel, commanding a wonderful position in Shanklin overlooking Sandown Bay. The restaurant, bar and lounge all enjoy panoramic views, whilst extensive leisure amenities include a swimming pool, sauna and bowls. All rooms are en suite. Extras Single room supplement £69 Insurance Entrance fees to places of interest (NT properties free to NT members)
Osborne House
SUGGESTED ITINERARY Let us tailor make this tour to your group’s exact requirements Day 1 Mottisfont Abbey Garden, House & Estate Board our private executive coach at the designated pick up points – visit en route a suitable National Trust property such as Mottisfont Abbey Garden, House and Estate near Romsney, a 12th century Augustine priory that is now a handsome house whose grounds offer a magnificent collection of trees, walled gardens and a National Collection of old fashioned roses – Wightlink ferry crossing from Portsmouth to Fishbourne – check in to the 3* Shanklin Hotel in Shanklin. Day 2 Island tour & Osborne House Circular tour of the island with our Blue Badge Guide taking in The Needles, Alum Bay and the historic port of Cowes – Osborne House was demolished after Queen Victoria and Prince Albert bought Osborne and its estate in 1845 and a new three-storey
UK & Ireland
History & Heritage of the Isle of Man 5 days from £589 Featuring 4* Douglas hotel All excursions & guided tours included Half board accommodation Blue Badge Guide on Days 2 & 3 Scheduled flights to the Isle of Man Executive coach in Isle of Man ONE FREE PLACE PER 10 PAYING PASSENGERS
The Needles
pavilion was built which is now owned and managed by English Heritage. Day 3 Godshill, steam railway trip & Ryde Time at leisure in Godshill to explore the historic village, to visit the 14th century church that sits on a small hillock overlooking the village or to explore the model village – at Wootton we take a ride on the Isle of Wight's restored steam railway in Victorian and Edwardian carriages dating back to 1876, a unique way to experience the atmosphere of bygone train travel – finish the day at the resort of Ryde with its sweeping sandy bay and delightful pier. Day 4 Newport, Sandown & Rosemary Vineyard Visit the beautiful and historic town of Newport – time at leisure to explore the resort of Sandown with its beautiful sandy beach that slopes gently into the sea – tour and tasting at the Rosemary Vineyard, one of the largest vineyards in England at some thirty acres.
Day 5 Kingston Lacy Wightlink ferry crossing from Fishbourne to Portsmouth – en route home visit a suitable National Trust property such as Kingston Lacy Mansion in Wimborne, dating from 17th century with beautiful interiors and garden and one of the greatest family picture collections in the UK.
What We Will See Manx Electric Railway ‘Lady Isabella’ Water Wheel Guided tour of the TT Race Track Manx Museum Castletown Steam Railway Castle Rushen Nautical Museum Peel Cregneash Village Folk Museum Douglas Your Hotel Four nights on half board basis at the 4* Hilton Isle of Man, located on the promenade at Douglas and just a ten minute walk from the town centre. Facilities at the hotel include a restaurant, bar and swimming pool. All rooms are en suite. Extras Single room supplement £69 Insurance Entrance fees to places of interest
TAILOR MAKE ANY OF THESE TOURS FOR YOUR GROUP Like one of these tours but want to change it to suit your group’s budget or preferences? You could: • stay at different category hotel • with fewer or different excursions • for more (or fewer) days • include all entrance fees & gratuities Call us so that together we can arrange your ideal group tour
‘Lady Isabella’ Water Wheel
Castle Rushen
SUGGESTED ITINERARY Let us tailor make this tour to your group’s exact requirements Day 1 Douglas Scheduled flight to the Isle of Man – transfer in our private executive coach to the 4* Hilton Isle of Man in Douglas. Day 2 Manx Electric Railway, ‘Lady Isabella’ Water Wheel & TT Race Track One way journey between Ramsey and Laxey on the Manx Electric Railway, one of Britain’s longest vintage narrow gauge railways – dating back to 1854, the Laxey Wheel, known locally as ‘Lady Isabella’ after the wife of the island’s governor at that time, is the largest water wheel in the world and was designed by Robert Casement to pump water from the mineshafts – we follow part of the route of the world famous TT races. Day 3 Manx Museum, Castletown Steam Railway, Castle Rushen & the Nautical Museum The Manx Museum contemplates the natural history, archaeology and social development of the
island – a 3 foot one way narrow gauge steam railway, opened in 1874 and still running with its original locomotives and carriages and the longest line of its type in Britain, takes us from Douglas to Castletown – the origins of Castle Rushen, standing in the old Manx capital of Castletown and one of England's best preserved medieval fortresses, can be found when Norse Kings fortified a strategic site guarding the entrance to the Silverburn River, and the castle was taken by Robert the Bruce in 1313 who occupied the Isle of Man briefly whilst attempting to invade Ireland – the Nautical Museum, located in a fine 18th century harbourside house and once home to the prominent Quayle family, displays many fascinating maritime artefacts including the 'Peggy', George Quayle's clinker-built yacht which was walled up for more than a century and a half before her discovery. Day 4 Peel & Cregneash Village Folk Museum Morning is at leisure in Peel, one of the world’s smallest cathedral cities with just 3,800 residents, where you may choose to visit
the House of Manannan heritage visitor centre or explore the narrow lanes leading from the working harbour with their specialist and antique shops – nestling under Meayll Hill and overlooking the Calf of Man, the Cregneash Village Folk Museum provides a living, working illustration of the traditional customs, crafts and skills which characterised the Manx crofter’s way of life. Day 5 Douglas Morning at leisure in Douglas – transfer to the airport for our scheduled flight home.
Thank you for a really lovely holiday. We hadn't been on a holiday of this type before, but were delighted that everything was organised so well. We will be very happy to recommend Tailored Travel holidays to our family and friends. WD Warminster
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UK & Ireland
Cardiff & South Wales
Caernarfon & North Wales
5 days from £319
5 days from £329
Featuring
Featuring
All excursions & guided tours included
All excursions & guided tours included
Half board accommodation
Half board accommodation
Executive coach throughout
Executive coach throughout
ONE FREE PLACE PER 10 PAYING PASSENGERS
ONE FREE PLACE PER 10 PAYING PASSENGERS
What We Will See
What We Will See
Lacock Village, Wiltshire
Attinghham Park, Shropshire
Cardiff & Cardiff Bay Visitors Centre
Caernarfon Castle - guided tour
National Museum & Art Gallery of Wales
Plas Newydd Llechwedd Slate Caverns - guided tour
Museum of Welsh Life - guided tour
Festiniog Railway
Castell Coch
Portmeirion Village
Llancaiach Fawr Manor - guided tour
Bodnant Gardens Conwy Castle - guided tour
Your Hotel Four nights on half board basis at the centrally located 3* Thistle Parc Hotel in Cardiff. Facilities at the hotel include a restaurant and bar and all rooms are en suite. Extras Single room supplement £59 Insurance Entrance fees to places of interest (NT properties free to NT members)
Castell Coch
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Your Hotel Millennium Centre, Cardiff Bay
SUGGESTED ITINERARY Let us tailor make this tour to your group’s exact requirements Day 1 Lacock Village & Cardiff Board our private executive coach at the designated pick up points – visit en route a suitable National Trust property such as the 13th century Lacock Village in Wiltshire where we have time for lunch – check in at the 3* Thistle Parc Hotel in Cardiff. Day 2 Cardiff & National Museum and Art Gallery of Wales Guided tour of Cardiff with a visit to the Cardiff Bay Visitors Centre, designed to resemble a futuristic telescope looking out over the panoramic view across Cardiff Bay – guided audio tour (fee extra) of
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the National Museum and Art Gallery of Wales takes us through a wonderful collection from Wales and across the world, including one of the best collections of Impressionist works outside Paris. Day 3 Museum of Welsh Life Set in 100 acres of parkland, with over forty original buildings, our guided tour of the Museum of Welsh Life in St Fagans gives an insight into the rich heritage and culture of Wales and how its people have lived, worked and spent their leisure time over the last five hundred years.
Day 4 Castell Coch & Llancaiach Fawr Manor Castell Coch, meaning Red Castle in Welsh, is a perfect fairytale castle with an authentic medieval look to the exterior but an interior of pure Victorian fantasy – guided tour of the fortified Llancaiach Fawr Manor dating from 1530.
Four nights on half board basis at the 3* Celtic Royal Hotel located in the centre of Caernarfon. Facilities at the hotel include a restaurant, bar, swimming pool, gymnasium, sauna and a Jacuzzi. All rooms are en suite. Extras Single room supplement £99 Insurance Entrance fees to places of interest (NT properties free to NT members)
Day 5 Cardiff to home Head back to our original pick up points with carefully selected stops en route.
SUGGESTED ITINERARY Let us tailor make this tour to your group’s exact requirements Day 1 Caernarfon Board our private executive coach at the designated pick up points – visit en route a suitable National Trust property such as Attingham Park in Shropshire where we have time for lunch – check in at the 3* Celtic Royal Hotel in central Caernarfon. Day 2 Caernarfon Castle & Plas Newydd Morning in Caernarfon and a guided tour of the castle – rest of the day at Plas Newydd, a beautiful 18th century house owned by the National Trust with wonderful views of Snowdonia.
Conwy Castle
UK & Ireland
The Houses & Castles of the Scottish Borders 5 days from £379 Featuring All excursions & guided tours included Half board accommodation Blue Badge Guide on days 3 & 4 Executive coach throughout ONE FREE PLACE PER 10 PAYING PASSENGERS What We Will See Durham Cathedral - guided tour Mellerstain House - guided tour Traquair House - guided tour Alnwick Castle & Cragside House Bamburgh Castle & Chillingham Castle Lindisfarne Castle
Caernarfon Castle Day 3 Llechwedd Slate Caverns, Festiniog Railway & Portmeirion Village Guided tour of the mines at Llechwedd Slate Caverns – take the Festiniog Railway from Blaenau Festiniog and travel to Minffordd Station where we are met once again by our coach – transfer the short distance to charming Welsh village of Portmeirion for free time to explore and relax. Day 4 Bodnant Gardens & Conwy Castle Visit the 80 acre National Trust property at Bodnant Gardens – guided tour of Conwy Castle – at any time from 12.00 to 16.30 (cannot take large groups) you can visit independently the National Trust property of
Aberconwy House in Conwy dating from 14th century. Day 5 Home Make our way back to our original pickup points with carefully chosen comfort stops en route.
Your Hotel Four nights on half board basis at the 3* Bluebell Hotel at Belford. Located in Market Place at Belford, the hotel is ideally situated to visit the sights and attractions which Northumbria has to offer. Facilities at the hotel include a restaurant and a bar and all rooms are en suite. Extras Single room supplement £49 Insurance Entrance fees to places of interest (NT properties free to NT members)
TAILOR MAKE ANY OF THESE TOURS FOR YOUR GROUP Like one of these tours but want to change it to suit your group’s budget or preferences? You could: • stay at different category hotel • with fewer or different excursions • for more (or fewer) days • include all entrance fees & gratuities Call us so that together we can arrange your ideal group tour
Durham Cathedral
Cragside House
SUGGESTED ITINERARY Let us tailor make this tour to your group’s exact requirements Day 1 Durham Cathedral Board our private executive coach at the designated pick up points – travel to Durham for a guided tour of the Cathedral, once described as ‘one of the great architectural experiences of Europe’ and a renowned masterpiece of Romanesque architecture – check in at the 3* Bluebell Hotel in Belford. Day 2 Mellerstain House & Traquair House Guided tour of Mellerstain House, an exquisite Robert Adam stately home built between 1725 and 1778, taking in the library which is regarded as one of Robert Adams finest creations and a fine collection of paintings and period furniture – dating back to 1107, Traquair House is said to be the oldest inhabited house in Scotland and our guided tour reveals its colourful historical associations such as the Jacobite Risings and visits by 27 monarchs, including Mary Queen of Scots.
Day 3 Alnwick Castle & Cragside House Our Blue Badge guide accompanies us to Alnwick Castle, the second largest inhabited castle in England, the first being Windsor Castle, and home of the Percys, Earls and Dukes of Northumberland since 1309 – described as ‘the palace of a modern magician’, the National Trust’s Cragside House and Gardens is a wonderful Victorian mansion dating from the 19th century whose interior features state of the art hydraulics powering a revolutionary lift system and internal telephones which mesmerised visitors in its time. Day 4 Bamburgh Castle & Chillingham Castle Bamburgh Castle overlooking the Farne Islands was once home to the kings of ancient Northumbria and is now is home to a fine collection of armour, porcelain, furniture and art – the 12th century Chillingham Castle was King Edward I’s base camp for the 1298 conquering attack on William Wallace and our guided
tour takes in the ‘Long Galleries’ added by the Elizabethans and the Italian garden laid out in the 19th century by Sir Jeffrey Wyatville. Day 5 Lindisfarne Castle The National Trust’s Lindisfarne Castle on Holy Island is a romantic 16th century castle with spectacular views that was transformed by Lutyens into an Edwardian holiday home.
Just had to let you know how very much we enjoyed our recent trip. We have never travelled with you before but we were all very impressed by the whole thing: advertising, admin, quality of accommodation food and/comfort and very helpful and considerate tour manager. DL Bristol
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UK & Ireland
Shetland & Orkney Grand Tour
West Coast of Scotland & the Isle of Mull
9 days from £979
5 days from £399
Featuring All excursions & guided tours included Half board accommodation Blue Badge Guide on Days 2 to 8 Ferries to/from Shetland & Orkney Executive coach throughout ONE FREE PLACE PER 10 PAYING PASSENGERS What We Will See Edinburgh Hamnavoe, Scalloway & Lerwick Shetland Croft House Museum, Old Scatness Iron Age Village & Jarlshof Bod of Gremista & Weisdale Mill Churchill Barriers, Highland Park Distillery & Kirkwall Orkneyinga Saga Centre, Skara Brae & Maeshowe Stromness & Perth Your Hotels One night at the Park Head Hotel in Bishop Auckland, two nights at the 3* Shetland Hotel in Lerwick, three nights at the family run 3* Kirkwall Hotel in Kirkwall and one night at the 3* Best Western Queens Hotel in Perth. Half board accommodation at all hotels except the first night in Kirkwall as dinner is served on the ferry. All rooms at each hotel are en suite. Overnight crossing with en suite cabin on NorthLink Ferry to Shetland and mid-afternnon crossing with dinner included on NorthLink Ferry to Orkney. Extras Single room/cabin supplement £169 Insurance Entrance fees to places of interest
Old Man of Hoy
SUGGESTED ITINERARY Let us tailor make this tour to your group’s exact requirements
and the archaeological site of Jarlshof reveal more ancient history – final visit is to Sumburgh Head where puffins roost.
guided tour of Kirkwall taking in sights such as Tankerness House Museum and Gardens and St Magnus’ Cathedral.
Day 1 Northumberland Board our private executive coach at the designated pick up points – suitable comfort stops with free time for lunch – check in at a convenient hotel such as the Park Head Hotel located on the outskirts of Bishop Auckland.
Day 5 Bod of Gremista & Weisdale Mill The Bod of Gremista is a restored 18th century fishing Bod famous as the birthplace of Arthur Anderson, co-founder of the P&O Shipping Line – the restored Weisdale Mill was built in 1855 and is now home to the Bonhoga Gallery and the Shetland Working Textile Museum – mid-afternoon crossing aboard the MV Hrossey for the Orkney Isles arriving at Kirkwall later that night – check in at the 3* Kirkwall Hotel.
Day 7 Orkneyinga Saga Centre, Skara Brae & Maeshowe Orkneyinga Saga Centre charts Orkney’s Norse heritage – the Neolithic village of Skara Brae, a group of roofless 5,000 year old stone built houses which pre-date the Egyptian Pyramids, is regarded as one of the most remarkable monuments in Europe – Maeshowe is the finest Stone Age tomb in Europe – final visit is to the amazing Stone Circles of Brodgar and Stennes.
Day 2 Edinburgh & ferry to Shetland Travel on to Edinburgh and then to Aberdeen where we meet our Blue Badge Guide – check in for our overnight NorthLink Ferries crossing to the Shetland Islands with dinner onboard. Day 3 Hamnavoe, Scalloway & Lerwick Arrive into Lerwick and continue to the picturesque fishing village of Hamnavoe – guided tour of Scalloway taking in Scalloway Museum and the ruins of Scalloway Castle – check in at the 3* Shetland Hotel at Lerwick. Day 4 Shetland Croft House Museum, Old Scatness Iron Age Village & Jarlshof The thatched living quarters, byre, barn and drying kiln of Shetland Croft House Museum give a fascinating glimpse into how croftsmen lived in the 19th century – the Old Scatness Iron Age Village
Circle of Brodgar
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Day 6 Churchill Barriers, Highland Park Distillery & Kirkwall The Churchill Barriers are a series of 11/2 mile causeways built in the 1940s as naval defences to protect the anchorage at Scapa Flow – tour and tasting at the Highland Park Distillery –
Day 8 Stromness & Perth Free time in Stromness – board our ferry back to the Scottish mainland, with views of the Old Man of Hoy en route, arriving at Scrabster in the early afternoon – continue through the highlands to the 3* Best Western Queens Hotel at Perth.
Featuring All excursions & guided tours included Half board accommodation Blue Badge Guide on Days 2 to 4 Ferries to Isle of Mull & Iona Executive coach throughout ONE FREE PLACE PER 10 PAYING PASSENGERS What We Will See Hill House Arduaine Gardens - guided tour Ardfern & Oban Isle of Mull & Iona - guided tour Inveraray Castle & Inveraray Jail Cruachan Power Station - guided tour Falkirk Wheel Your Hotel Four nights on half board basis at the 3* Argyll Hotel in Inveraray. Overlooking Loch Fyne in the centre of Inveraray, facilities at the hotel include a restaurant and a bar. All rooms are en suite. Extras Single room supplement £69 Insurance Entrance fees to places of interest
Day 9 Home Taking carefully selected comfort stops en route we return to the designated pick up points.
Tobermory, Isle of Mull
SUGGESTED ITINERARY Let us tailor make this tour to your group’s exact requirements Day 1 Hill House Board our private executive coach at the designated pick up points – Charles Rennie Mackintosh’s Hill House at Helensburgh is considered to be one of his finest domestic creations and the feel of the house is of restrained elegance combined with dazzling architecture – check in to the 3* Argyll Hotel at Inveraray. Day 2 Arduaine Gardens, Ardfern & Oban Guided tour of the National Trust for Scotland’s Arduaine Gardens with fantastic views of Asknish Bay and the Sound of Jura and where the rhododendrons bring enthusiasts from far and wide – Ardfern, where we have time for lunch and to explore at our leisure, is a busy marina village on Loch Craignish set amidst fantastic scenery – rest of the day is at leisure in Oban, gateway to the islands.
UK & Ireland
Loch Lomond, Glasgow & Edinburgh 5 days from £339 Featuring 4* hotel All excursions & guided tours included Half board accommodation Blue Badge Guide in Scotland Executive coach throughout ONE FREE PLACE PER 10 PAYING PASSENGERS What We Will See Royal Yacht Britannia - audio tour Edinburgh Hill House Tarbet & Loch Lomond Falkirk Wheel Glasgow & the Burrell Collection Inveraray Castle
Day 3 Isle of Mull & Iona Take the ferry from Oban to the largest of the Hebridean Islands, the Isle of Mull, where a guided tour including a ferry crossing to the island of Iona introduces us to the rich cultural heritage of these beautiful Islands. Day 4 Inveraray Castle, Inveraray Jail & Cruachan Power Station Inveraray Castle is a remarkable and unique piece of architecture incorporating Baroque, Palladian and Gothic and featuring four imposing French influenced conical spires – located in the former courthouse and prison for Argyll, Inveraray Jail recreates the story of the men, women and children who were tried in the original courtroom and served their sentences in the prison – Cruachan Power Station on the shores of Loch Awe is hidden deep within the mountain of Ben Cruachan and a guided coach tour takes us to the viewing gallery where the generating hall that
houses the four generators producing electricity from water can be seen. Day 5 Falkirk Wheel The Falkirk Wheel links two canals with water levels 115 feet apart, avoiding the traditional flight of 11 locks and the visit incorporates a memorable boat cruise - travel on to the original designated pick up points.
Your Hotel Four nights on half board basis at the 4* Westerwood Hotel at Cumbernauld, 12 miles to the east of Glasgow and 35 miles to the west of Edinburgh. Facilities at the hotel include a restaurant, bar and indoor swimming pool and all rooms are en suite. Extras Single room supplement £64 Insurance Entrance fees to places of interest (NT properties free to NT members) Optional Loch Lomond cruise
TAILOR MAKE ANY OF THESE TOURS FOR YOUR GROUP Like one of these tours but want to change it to suit your group’s budget or preferences? You could: • stay at different category hotel • with fewer or different excursions • for more (or fewer) days • include all entrance fees & gratuities Call us so that together we can arrange your ideal group tour
Edinburgh Castle
Loch Lomond
SUGGESTED ITINERARY Let us tailor make this tour to your group’s exact requirements Day 1 Cumbernauld Depart in our private executive coach from the designated pick up points with comfort stops en route to Scotland – check in to the 4* Westerwood Hotel at Cumbernauld. Day 2 Royal Yacht Britannia & Edinburgh Serving the Royal Family for over forty years, the Royal Yacht played a leading role in some of the defining moments of recent history and the audio tour takes in the State Dining Room, the Bridge and the Queen’s Sitting Room – free time in central Edinburgh to visit Holyrood House, the world famous Princess Street, the Castle
or the National Gallery of Scotland. Day 3 Hill House, Tarbet & Loch Lomond Charles Rennie Mackintosh's Hill House in Helensburgh sits high above the Clyde and the feel is of restrained elegance combined with dazzling architecture – lunch in the picturesque village of Tarbet – optional short cruise on Loch Lomond. Day 4 Falkirk Wheel, the Burrell Collection & Glasgow The Falkirk Wheel is the world's first and only rotating boatlift – Pollok Country Park to the south of Glasgow houses the Burrell Collection, a collection of over 9,000 works of art gifted to the city by Sir William Burrell – free time in Glasgow.
Day 5 Home Stop at a carefully selected National Trust property determined by your location – travel on to the original designated pick up points.
Thank you SO much for the really excellent trip to the Shetlands you organised for my gang. It was a huge success. Our guide was excellent and we would thoroughly recommend her. A job very well done by you and appreciated by all of us. MS Amersham
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UK & Ireland
Derry UK City of Culture 2013 including Belfast & The Giant’s Causeway
Killarney & The Ring of Kerry
5 days from £559
7 days from £549
Featuring 4* central Derry hotel Half board accommodation All excursions & guided tours included Blue Badge Guide in Northern Ireland Scheduled flights to Belfast Executive coach in Northern Ireland ONE FREE PLACE PER 10 PAYING PASSENGERS What We Will See Belfast - guided city tour Derry - guided city tour The Tower Museum Giant’s Causeway Bushmills Whiskey Distillery – guided tour Marble Arch Caves & Ulster American Folk Park The Argory & Armagh Your Hotel Four nights on half board basis at the 4* City Hotel in Derry. Located on the banks of the River Foyle and a five minute walk from the historic city walls, facilities include a restaurant, bar and swimming pool. All rooms are en suite. Extras Single room supplement £79 Insurance Entrance fees to places of interest (NT properties free to NT members)
Featuring Half board accommodation Full programme of included excursions Guide on Days 3, 4 & 5 Executive coach in Ireland Stena Line ferry crossings ONE FREE PLACE PER 10 PAYING PASSENGERS
Giant’s Causeway
SUGGESTED ITINERARY Let us tailor make this tour to your group’s exact requirements Day 1 Guided tour of Belfast Scheduled flight to Belfast – guided tour of Belfast with our Blue Badge Guide taking in sights such as St Anne’s Cathedral, Titanic Quarter and Stormont Castle – transfer in our private executive coach to the 4* City Hotel in Derry. Day 2 Guided tour of Derry & The Tower Museum Guided tour of Derry, the UK’s very first City of Culture in 2013, takes in the city walls, completed in 1618 and amongst the best preserved city fortifications in the Western world – relax at leisure in Derry or visit The Tower Museum, depicting the story of Derry’s history from its geological formation millions of years ago to the Plantation, through to the Siege of Derry and the city’s troubled political past.
Parliament Building, Stormant
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Day 3 Giant’s Causeway & Bushmills Whiskey Distillery Board a train at Derry to take us through wonderful scenery to Coleraine – the National Trust’s Giant’s Causeway, a World Heritage Site internationally acclaimed for its outstanding natural beauty, resulted from lava eruptions over 60 million years ago and many rich traditions have grown in explanation of its strange rock formations – guided tour and tasting at Bushmills, Ireland’s oldest whiskey distillery dating back to 1608. Day 4 Marble Arch Caves & Ulster American Folk Park The Marble Arch Caves are one of Europe’s finest show caves with a fascinating, natural underworld of rivers, waterfalls, winding passages and
lofty chambers – the outdoor Ulster American Folk Park is a museum telling the story of emigration from Ulster to America in the 18th and 19th centuries, highlighting the reasons from religious dissenters to pure poverty and portraying how they lived before and after crossing the Atlantic. Day 5 Argory & Armagh The cluttered interiors of the National Trust’s Argory, a handsome 1820s house unchanged since 1900, evoke the Bond family’s Edwardian taste and interests, whilst the estate offers a wonderful rose garden – free time at leisure in Armagh, the ecclesiastical capital of Ireland, and the legendary seat of the Celtic kings of Ulster – transfer to the airport for our scheduled flight back home.
What We Will See Blarney Castle & Blarney Woollen Mills Killarney Dingle Peninsula The Ring of Kerry Muckross House Glengariff Queenstown Story Visitor Centre Jameson Whiskey Heritage Centre Tenby Your Hotels First and last evenings on half board basis at the 3* Ramada Viking Hotel on the outskirts of Waterford and the remaining four nights on half board basis at the 3* Holiday Inn, a ten to fifteen minute walk from the centre of Killarney and ideally situated to explore the Killarney National Park and the famous Ring of Kerry. Facilities at both hotels include a restaurant and a bar. All rooms are en suite. Extras Single room supplement £114 Insurance Entrance fees to places of interest Optional jaunting car tour & Garnish Island boat excursion
Dunquin Bay
SUGGESTED ITINERARY Let us tailor make this tour to your group’s exact requirements Day 1 UK to Waterford Board our private executive coach at the designated pick up points – travel to Fishguard for our Stena Line ferry crossing to Rosslare – on arrival continue to the 3* Ramada Viking Hotel on the outskirts of Waterford. Day 2 Blarney Castle & Blarney Woollen Mills Blarney Castle is one of Ireland’s oldest and most historic and is famous for its stone which is traditionally believed to have the power to bestow the gift of eloquence to all those that kiss it – time at leisure to shop at Blarney Woollen Mills before checking in at the 3* Holiday Inn in Killarney. Day 3 Killarney & Dingle Peninsula Relaxing morning in Killarney or join an optional jaunting car excursion taking in the splendour of Killarney National Park and Ross Castle – tour the Dingle Peninsula with more breathtaking views of sea and mountains – enjoy time at leisure in beautiful Dingle which maintains its old fishing village atmosphere and is Europe's most westerly town.
UK & Ireland
Dublin, Killarney & the Ring of Kerry 7 days from £679 by air (or 8 days from £629 by coach) Featuring All excursions & guided tours included Half board accommodation in Killarney Welcome dinner in Dublin Guide on Days 2, 3, 5 & 6 Scheduled flights Executive coach throughout ONE FREE PLACE PER 10 PAYING PASSENGERS Lakes of Killarney
Day 4 The Ring of Kerry Tour the spectacularly beautiful coastline of the famous Ring of Kerry starting in the village of Kenmare and continuing to Molls Gap for the most fantastic view, Killorglin, Caherciveen and Glenbeigh. Day 5 Muckross House & Glengariff Visit Muckross House, the fourth house that successive generations of the Herbert family have occupied at Muckross over a period of almost two hundred years – taking in breathtaking scenery en route, enjoy some free time in Glengariff, one of Ireland’s most picturesque villages – optional cruise to Garnish Island, host to a multitude of plant variations and a blanket of summer plants. Day 6 Kinsale, Queenstown Story Visitor Centre & Jameson Whiskey Heritage Centre First part of the day at leisure in the historic town of Kinsale – visit Cobh and the Queenstown Story Visitor’s Centre to discover one of the most important maritime naval bases in 19th century Europe that also served as the main Irish emigration centre to North America and Australia – continue to the Jameson Whiskey Heritage
Centre in Middleton for a tour of one of the country’s most historic and revered distilleries – check in at the 3* Ramada Viking Hotel in Waterford. Day 7 Tenby Take the Stena Line ferry crossing from Rosslare to Fishguard – time at leisure in Tenby this afternoon and you may choose to visit the National Trust’s Tudor Merchant’s House, a late 15th century town house characteristic of the area and time when Tenby was a thriving port – onward travel to our original pick up points.
TAILOR MAKE ANY OF THESE TOURS FOR YOUR GROUP Like one of these tours but want to change it to suit your group’s budget or preferences? You could:
What We Will see Dublin - guided tour Wicklow Mountains Killarney Ring of Kerry Dingle Peninsula Blarney Castle & Blarney Woollen Mills Your Hotels Three nights at the 3* Academy Hotel, centrally located near O’Connell Street. Facilities include a restaurant and a bar and all rooms are en suite. Dinner is included on the first evening and the remaining two nights are on bed and breakfast basis. Further three nights on half board basis at the 3* Holiday Inn Killarney, a ten to fifteen minute walk from the centre of Killarney and ideally situated to explore the Killarney National Park and the famous ring of Kerry. Facilities at both hotels include a restaurant and a bar whilst all rooms are en suite. Extras Single room supplement £119 Insurance Entrance fees to places of interest
• stay at different category hotel • on bed & breakfast or half board basis throughout • with fewer or different excursions • for more (or fewer) days • include all entrance fees & gratuities Call us so that together we can arrange your ideal group tour
Ha’penny Bridge, Dublin
SUGGESTED ITINERARY Let us tailor make this tour to your group’s exact requirements Day 1 UK to Dublin Scheduled flight to Dublin – transfer with our guide in our private executive coach to the 3* Academy Hotel in the centre of Dublin – dinner in our hotel. Day 2 Dublin Guided tour of Dublin giving us a great introduction to the city of writers and poets and taking in such sights as Trinity College, O’Connell Street and Christ Church Cathedral – rest of the day free to enjoy Dublin at your leisure or to visit the James Joyce Cultural Centre or the Dublin Writers Museum in Parnell Square or the National Gallery. Day 3 Wicklow Mountains Travel with our guide into the Wicklow Mountains, known as the ‘garden of Ireland’ – Glendalough
Dingle Peninsula
is a 6th century monastic site founded by St Kevin and once a major seat of learning in medieval Europe – Avoca is the subject of Thomas More’s ‘The Meeting of the Waters’ - Powerscourt Gardens is set in 14,000 acres with delightful lakes and ornamental gardens. Day 4 Killarney Leave Dublin and travel through beautiful countryside with carefully selected comfort stops en route to Killarney in the south west – check in to the 3* Holiday Inn Killarney. Day 5 Ring of Kerry Tour along the spectacularly beautiful coastline of the famous Ring of Kerry through Molls Gap for the most fantastic view, Killorglin, Caherciveen and Glenbeigh. Day 6 Dingle Peninsula Tour the Dingle Peninsula with more breathtaking views of sea
and mountains – time at leisure in beautiful Dingle which maintains its old fishing village atmosphere and is Europe's most westerly town. Day 7 Blarney Castle At Blarney Castle there is the opportunity to kiss the famous Blarney Stone and visit the Woollen Mills – continue on to Cork Airport for our scheduled flight home.
Following our trip to Ireland, I must pass on our thanks on behalf of my group. Everyone thoroughly enjoyed the week. We will certainly travel with you again. MR Milton Keynes
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Central & Eastern Europe
Palaces & Galleries of St Petersburg 6 days from £799 Featuring All St Petersburg excursions & guided tours included Guide for all excursions & transfers Scheduled flights All entrance fees included Executive coach in Russia ONE FREE PLACE PER 15 PAYING PASSENGERS What We Will See Full day guided tour of St Petersburg Pavlovsk Palace Pushkin - Catherine Palace & Alexander Palace The Hermitage - guided tour Russian Museum & Peter & Paul Fortress Peterhof Optional Moscow add on First class overnight train to Moscow Guided city tour Return flight from Moscow
Church of Our Saviour on the Spilled Blood, St Petersburg
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Your Hotels Five nights on bed and breakfast basis at the good quality 3* Dostoevsky Hotel, located near Nevsky Prospect, St Petersburg’s most famous thoroughfare. The hotel has a restaurant and bar and all rooms are en suite. For the Moscow add on, we have reserved first class two berth compartments on the overnight express train from St Petersburg to Moscow and one night on bed and breakfast basis in the 3* Hotel Cosmos in central Moscow. The hotel has a restaurant and all rooms are en suite. Extras Moscow add on from £269 Single room supplement - St Petersburg £99 - St Petersburg & Moscow £169 - Overnight train £129 Insurance Visa fee Optional guided tours in Moscow
The Hermitage
Central & Eastern Europe Catherine Palace
SUGGESTED ITINERARY Let us tailor make this tour to your group’s exact requirements Day 1 UK to St Petersburg Scheduled flight to St Petersburg – transfer with our guide in our private executive coach to the 3* Dostoevsky Hotel. Day 2 St Petersburg Full day guided tour taking in such sights as the Church of St Nicholas, St Isaacs Cathedral, the Smolny Institute and the Strelka from where we are afforded excellent views of the River Neva – the Church of Our Saviour on the Spilled Blood is the iconic Russian style church built on the spot where Emperor Alexander II was assassinated in March 1881, with its beautiful multi-coloured domes.
Day 3 Pavlovsk, Catherine & Alexander Palaces Head for the countryside to visit the 18th century Pavlovsk Palace, the imperial residence of Catherine the Great’s son – continue on to Pushkin, home of the Imperial family and former summer residence of the aristocracy, where we visit the sumptuous Catherine Palace built in Baroque style and boasting a 300 metre façade – visit Alexander Palace, residence of Nicholas II and his family.
Day 5 Russian Museum & Peter and Paul Fortress Guided tour of the Russian Museum housing a fine display of artefacts and some of Russia’s greatest works of art that are little known outside the country – visit Peter and Paul Fortress, the oldest building in St Petersburg, and the Baroque interior of the St Peter and St Paul Cathedral with its landmark golden needle spire which is the final resting place for many Russian Tsars including Peter the Great.
Day 4 The Hermitage Guided tour of some of the many highlights at the magnificent Hermitage, one of the world’s greatest art galleries located in the Winter Palace founded by Catherine the Great – rest of the day is free to explore The Hermitage at your leisure.
Day 6 Peterhof Time to wander the lavishly adorned interiors and grand avenue of terraces and pools leading to Peter the Great’s sumptuous coastal Grand Palace at Peterhof – after an included lunch we transfer to the airport for our flight back home.
OR Depart for Moscow add on from £269 Day 6 St Petersburg to Moscow After the morning in St Petersburg, we board our late afternoon train and our first class sleeper cabins for the overnight journey to Moscow (meals are extra on the train). Day 7 Moscow On arrival in Moscow transfer to 3* Hotel Cosmos for breakfast – sightseeing tour of the city taking in Red Square, St Basil’s Cathedral, the Olympic Stadium and much more – optional tour of one of the city’s beautiful Metro stations with sculptures, mosaics and chandeliers. Day 8 Moscow to UK Free time to explore Moscow at your
leisure or an optional guided tour of the Kremlin – transfer to Moscow Airport for our flight back home.
TAILOR MAKE THIS TOUR FOR YOUR GROUP Like this tour but want to change it to suit your group’s budget or preferences? You could: • stay at a 4* or 5* hotel • on half board basis throughout • with fewer or different excursions • for more (or fewer) days • include all gratuities Call us so that together we can arrange your ideal group tour
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Central & Eastern Europe
Krakow
Prague & Konopiste Castle
5 days from £499
5 days from £499
Featuring Full programme of included excursions Guide for all excursions & transfers Scheduled flights to Krakow Executive coach in Poland ONE FREE PLACE PER 10 PAYING PASSENGERS
Featuring 4* Prague hotel Half board accommodation Full programme of included excursions Guide for all excursions & transfers Scheduled flights to Prague Executive coach in the Czech Republic ONE FREE PLACE PER 10 PAYING PASSENGERS
What We Will See The Jewish Quarter Krakow - guided tour Jagiello University Wieliczka Salt Mines - a World Cultural & Heritage Site
What We Will See Guided tour of Prague Rückl Crystal Glassworks & Pilsner Urquell Brewery Konopiste Castle - guided tour
Your Hotel Four nights on bed and breakfast basis at the 3* Wyspianski Hotel in central Krakow, just a few minutes from the old town. Facilities at the hotel include a restaurant and bar and all rooms are en suite. Extras Single room supplement £89 Insurance Entrance fees to places of interest Optional excursion to Auschwitz
Krakow
SUGGESTED ITINERARY Let us tailor make this tour to your group’s exact requirements Day 1 UK to Krakow Scheduled flight to Krakow – transfer with our guide in our private executive coach to the 3* Wyspianski Hotel.
Wieliczka Salt Mines
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Day 2 The Jewish Quarter & guided city tour Morning tour of Krakow’s Jewish Quarter with our guide – guided city tour of Krakow taking in the important sights of the city including: the splendid Cloth Hall, the world's oldest shopping mall having been in business in the middle of the Grand Square for 700 years; St Mary's Basilica, Krakow's principal church since the 14th century famous for its
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wooden altar carved by Veit Stoss; Wawel Royal Castle, home to three dynasties of Poland's monarchs and a matchless collection of 16th century monumental Flemish tapestries; and Wawel Cathedral, the coronation site of Polish monarchs and home to a wonderful art collection from Gothic to Modern.
Pope John Paul II – established in 1978 as a UNESCO World Cultural & Heritage Site, nine centuries of mining at the magnificent Wieliczka Salt Mines have produced 200 kilometres of passages and 2,040 caverns and an underground cathedral where the wall decorations, altar, religious statues, floor, ceiling and even the chandeliers are all made of salt.
Day 3 Jagiello University & Wieliczka Salt Mines Visit with our guide the 630 year old Jagiello University buildings, including the Collegium Maius (The Grand College), rebuilt in the 15th century as a splendid late Gothic edifice around a vast courtyard with surrounding arcades and whose alumni include the astronomer Copernicus and
Day 4 Auschwitz A free day to enjoy Krakow at your leisure or join our optional guided tour of Auschwitz, the most notorious of German concentration camps in the World War II.
Your Hotel Four nights on half board basis at the 4* Villa Hotel in Prague. The hotel is less than a five minute walk from the nearest Metro station which offers easy access into the historic centre of Prague. Facilities at the hotel include a restaurant and bar and all rooms are en suite. Extras Single room supplement £49 Insurance Entrance fees to places of interest Optional classical concert & folklore evening
Day 5 Krakow to UK Travel to the airport for our flight back home. Prague
SUGGESTED ITINERARY Let us tailor make this tour to your group’s exact requirements Day 1 UK to Prague Scheduled flight to Prague – transfer with our guide in our private executive coach to the 4* Villa Hotel. Day 2 Prague Guided tour of Prague taking in such sights as Wenceslas Square, the Jewish quarter and Charles Bridge – rest of the day free to explore the Castle Complex and St Vitus Cathedral, visit the National Gallery or just relax in Wenceslas Square – option of attending a wonderful classical concert this evening. Day 3 Rückl Crystal Glassworks & Pilsner Urquell Brewery Visit the small town of Nižbor for a guided tour of the famous Rückl Crystal Glassworks that
Central & Eastern Europe
Istanbul 5 days from £649 Featuring 4* Istanbul hotel Full programme of included excursions All entrance fees included Professional tour manager Scheduled flights to Istanbul Executive coach in Turkey ONE FREE PLACE PER 10 PAYING PASSENGERS What We Will See Istanbul - guided tour Tour of the Golden Horn Topkapi Palace Covered Bazaar in Istanbul
Prague
manufacture an extensive range of cut 24% leaded crystal to discover the individual processes of producing glass crystal by hand, from the furnace, designing and polishing stages – at the museum at the Pilsner Urquell Brewery we learn about the production of beer from ancient times to the present day and the tour of the brewery shows the production process of Pilsner Urquell and Gambrinus beer and concludes with a tasting. Day 4 Konopiste Castle & Prague Half day guided tour of Konopiste Castle, once the palatial residence of the ill fated Arch Duke Franz Ferdinand – return to Prague where the rest of the day is free to explore – optional folklore evening sampling some traditional Czech culture, a lovely way to say farewell to Prague.
Day 5 Prague to UK Morning free in Prague for shopping or sightseeing – late afternoon transfer to the airport for our scheduled flight home.
Your Hotel Four nights on bed and breakfast basis at the centrally located 4* Kent Hotel. Located under a ten minute walk from the Grand Bazaar, facilities at the hotel include a restaurant and bar. All rooms are en suite. Extras Single room supplement £114 Insurance Optional River Bosphorus cruise Optional farewell dinner
TAILOR MAKE ANY OF THESE TOURS FOR YOUR GROUP Like one of these tours but want to change it to suit your group’s budget or preferences? You could: • stay at different category hotel • on bed & breakfast or half board basis throughout • with fewer or different excursions • for more (or fewer) days • include all entrance fees & gratuities Call us so that together we can arrange your ideal group tour
Grand Bazaar
Blue Mosque
SUGGESTED ITINERARY Let us tailor make this tour to your group’s exact requirements Day 1 UK to Istanbul Scheduled flight to Istanbul – transfer with our tour manager in our private executive coach to the 4* Kent Hotel in central Istanbul. Day 2 Guided tour of Istanbul Guided tour of the old city taking in the magnificent Byzantine Church of St Sophia, among the finest architectural works in the world, and the Blue Mosque dating from the 17th century and a feature of the Istanbul skyline – the Underground Cistern was built in the 6th century and supplied water throughout the city during the Byzantine and Ottoman times – a driving tour of
the Golden Horn and the great walls of Constantinople introduces us to the imperial history of the city.
oldest and largest in the world – optional farewell meal at a carefully selected restaurant in Sultanahmet this evening.
Day 3 Cruise the River Bosphorus Optional cruise on the River Bosphorus – board the boat at Sariyer, a charming fishing village where the Bosphorus meets the Black Sea, giving a perfect vantage point to see the Sultan’s palaces and Rumeli Fortress – lunch and a visit to the Spice Bazaar also included.
Day 5 Istanbul to UK Transfer to the airport for our scheduled flight home.
Day 4 Topkapi Palace & Covered Bazaar Topkapi Palace, the former Palace of Ibrahim Pasa, is now a museum of the old Turkish way of life – with 60 alleyways and 3,000 shops in the heart of the city, the Covered Bazaar of Istanbul is the
Many thanks to you and your team for setting up the arrangements for our stay in Prague – all the spadework was definitely worthwhile. I certainly hope we can combine on some further successes. SP Bookham
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Holy Land & North Africa
The Treasures of Syria
Magical Marrakech
9 days from £1,779
5 days from £599
Featuring 4* & 5* hotels Half board accommodation All excursions, guided tours & entrance fees included Professional tour manager Scheduled flights to Damascus Executive coach in Syria Pre-paid entry visas for UK nationals ONE FREE PLACE PER 15 PAYING PASSENGERS
Featuring 4* central hotel All excursions & guided tours included Two lunches included Guide for all transfers & excursions Scheduled flights to Marrakech Executive coach in Morocco ONE FREE PLACE PER 15 PAYING PASSENGERS Palmyra
What We Will See Maalula, Krak des Chevaliers & St George’s Monastery Saladin’s Castle & Ugarit Monastery of Simon Aleppo - Citadel, Great Mosque, Covered Bazaar & Christian & Armenian Quarter Apamea & Hama Palmyra - Temple of Bel, Valley of the Tombs, Great Colonnade and the Agora Damascus - National Museum, Hamidiyah Bazaar, Omayyad Mosque, Mausoleum of Saladin, St Ananias Church, Old City Gate Your Hotels Stay in 4* or 5* hotels for the duration of the tour: 5* Dedeman Hotel, Damascus - Day 1 4* Riviera Hotel, Lattakia - Day 2 4* Riga Hotel, Aleppo - Days 3 & 4 4* Dedeman Palmyra Hotel, Palmyra - Day 5 5* Dedeman Hotel, Damascus - Days 6, 7 & 8 All rooms are ensuite. The first evening of our tour is on bed and breakfast basis, and dinner is included at our hotel on the remaining seven nights. Extras Single room supplement £399 Insurance Gratuities Amalfi Entry visas for non UK nationals PAGE 60
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SUGGESTED ITINERARY Let us tailor make this tour to your group’s exact requirements Day 1 UK to Damascus Scheduled flight to Damascus Airport – transfer with our tour manager in our private executive coach to the 5* Dedeman Hotel at Damascus. Day 2 Maalula, Krak des Chevaliers, St George’s Monastery & Lattakia Maalula is an enchanting village where yellow stone and silvery blue painted fairytale houses are stacked up against a sheer cliff – the first fortress at Krak des Chevaliers, described by TE Lawrence as ‘the finest castle in the world’, was built by the emir of Homs in 1031 – guided tour of St George’s Monastery takes in the New Church dating from 1857 – check in at the 4* Riviera Hotel at Lattakia. Day 3 Saladin’s Castle & Ugarit Saladin’s Castle, set high in the Jebel Daryous mountain range, is considered to be one of the most prestigious castles of the medieval period and was named in honour of the great Arab warrior to commemorate the capture of the fortress in 1199 – Ugarit is the birthplace of one of the world’s earliest alphabets and once the
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most important city on the Mediterranean coast – check in at the 4* Riga Hotel in Aleppo. Day 4 Monastery of Simon & Aleppo At the Monastery of Simon, dating back to the 5th century, there are remains of two monasteries, a church, the bazaar and a monumental arch – guided tour of Aleppo takes in the Citadel, the Great Mosque, the Covered Bazaar and concludes in the Christian and Armenian Quarter. Day 5 Apamea & Hama The ruinous site of Apamea is one of the unmissable highlights of Syria – in Hama, one of Syria’s most attractive towns, we see the Water Wheels that are 20 metres in diameter and were constructed to scoop water from the river and into aqueducts – check in at the 4* Dedeman Palmyra Hotel. Day 6 Palmyra Guided tour of Palmyra begins at the Temple of Bel, the single most impressive part of the ruins and the most complete structure – the Valley of the Tombs contains a series of freestanding square based towers that were constructed as multi-storey burial chambers – the Great Colonnade is an avenue of almost 1km, stretching between the city’s main funerary temple in the west and the Temple of Bel in the east – the
tour concludes with the Bath of Queen Zenobia, the Theatre and the Agora, once the hub of Palmyrene life – check in at the 5* Dedeman Hotel in Damascus. Day 7 Damascus Guided tour of Damascus, thought to be the oldest continuously inhabited city in the world – the National Museum’s collection contemplates the preClassical, Classical and Islamic history of Syria – after visiting Hamidiyah Bazaar, we see the Omayyad Mosque, Syria’s most significant religious structure – the nearby Mausoleum of Saladin is the resting place of the famed adversary of the Western Crusaders who died in Damascus in 1193 – after visiting the Spice Market we continue to St Ananias Church, housed in a cellar and reputedly the house of Ananias, an early Christian disciple – the Old City Gate purportedly marks the spot where the disciples lowered St Paul out of a window in a basket – tour concludes with a panoramic view of the city from Qassioun Mountain.
What We Will See Guided tour of Marrakech Ouirka Valley Essaouria Your Hotel Four nights on bed and breakfast basis at the 4* Hotel Elanalous, located within walking distance of the historical Djemâa El Fna Square, the Koutoubia Minaret and the Congress Palace. Facilities at the hotel include several restaurants, a bar and swimming pool. All rooms are en suite with air conditioning. Extras Single room supplement £69 Insurance Entrance fees to places of interest Optional dinner at Chahramane Palais
SUGGESTED ITINERARY Let us tailor make this tour to your group’s exact requirements Day 1 UK to Marrakech Scheduled flight to Marrakech – transfer with our guide in our private executive coach to the 4* Hotel Elanalous in Marrakech. Day 2 Marrakech guided tour Half day city tour takes in the outside of 12th century Koutoubia Mosque, Morocco’s most famous and whose minaret is regarded as a symbol of Marrakech, the beautiful carvings of the Saadian Tombs, the fine architecture of the ancient Bahia Palace and the Menara Basin, built for military exercises in the 12th century – included lunch at a carefully selected restaurant in the main square – afternoon in the Souks, a maze of hundreds of shops, small
Day 8 Damascus Day at leisure in Damascus. Day 9 Damascus to UK Transfer to Damascus Airport for our scheduled flight home. Marrakech
Holy Land & North Africa
Israel & the Holy Land 7 days from £849 Featuring 4* hotels Half board accommodation All excursions, guided tours & entrance fees included Guide for all excursions & transfers Scheduled flights to Tel Aviv Executive coach in Israel ONE FREE PLACE PER 15 PAYING PASSENGERS
streets and narrow alleyways and a feast for the senses with row after row of spices, perfumed oils, magic potions, silver and gold, leather goods, carpets and rugs.
a mixture of French, Portuguese and Berber architecture and a thriving port, old defensive walls, charming streets and famous markets.
Day 3 Ourika Valley Full day in the peaceful Ourika Valley, located approximately 60 kilometres from Marrakech in the foothills of the Atlas Mountains – the small mud houses dotted along the valley give no clue to the 21st century life we have just left behind and included lunch is at an authentic berber house powered by a water mill – optional evening meal of traditional Moroccan cuisine and entertainment at the excellent Chahramane Palais.
Day 5 Marrakech to UK Transfer to Marrakech Airport for our scheduled back home.
Day 4 Essaouria Two and a half hour drive to the coastal port of Essaouria on the Atlantic Ocean, one of North Africa’s most beautiful cities with
The tour of Syria fulfilled all our expectations. From the guide, Amir, to the hotels, to the fascinating sights, history and the warm charming people we encountered. Thank you once again Tailored Travel – you are number 1 as far as our group is concerned VC Cardiff
What We Will See Jordan River Mount of Beatitudes - site of ‘The Sermon on the Mount’ Tabgha - site of the ‘Feeding of the 5000’ Capernaum Cruise on the Sea of Galilee Wedding Church at Cana Nazareth & the Basilica of the Annunciation Mount Tabor - site of Jesus’ transfiguration Mount Carmel Caesarea, Roman capital of Judea Jaffa Jerusalem - two guided city tours Mount of Olives, Garden of Gethsemane & Mount Zion Bethlehem & the Church of the Nativity Dead Sea Qumran - site of the discovery of the Dead Sea Scrolls Jericho & Mount Temptation Your Hotels Three nights on half board basis at the 4* Rimonim Nazareth Hotel in Nazareth and three nights on half board basis at the 4* Jerusalem Gate Hotel in Jerusalem. Facilities at both hotels include a restaurant and bar and all rooms are en suite. Extras Single room supplement £159 Amalfi Insurance
Dome of the Rock, Bethlehem
SUGGESTED ITINERARY Let us tailor make this tour to your group’s exact requirements Day 1 UK to Nazareth Scheduled flight to Tel Aviv – transfer with our guide in our private executive coach to the 4* King Solomon Hotel in Tiberias. Day 2 Mount of Beatitudes & Capernaum Visit the Jordan River to see where John the Baptist immersed Jesus – continue to the Mount of Beatitudes where we recall the ‘Sermon on the Mount’ looking out over the Jordan Valley and the Sea of Galilee – Tabgha is the site of the miracle of the loaves and fishes which is commemorated in the mosaic floors of the historic church – at Capernaum we see the remains of an early church, the ruins of Peter's House and walk inside the ancient stone synagogue where Jesus preached – an included cruise across the tranquil waters of the Sea of Galilee recalls the miracle of walking on water and the calling on Peter and Andrew to become 'fishers of men'. Day 3 Cana, Nazareth & Mount Tabor Visit the Wedding Church at Cana, where Jesus performed his
first miracle transforming water in to wine – in Nazareth, where Jesus grew up, we visit the Basilica of the Annunciation, the place that Angel Gabriel told Mary that she would ‘bring forth a son’ – finally visit Mount Tabor where Our Lord was transfigured. Day 4 Mount Carmel & Caesarea Mount Carmel is where the prophet Elijah was instrumental in the defeat of the prophets of Ba'al – continuing along the Mediterranean coastline we visit the spectacular ruins of Caesarea, once the home of Pontius Pilate and the site of the trial of the Apostle Paul – check in at the 4* Jerusalem Gate Hotel in Jerusalem. Day 5 Guided tour of Jerusalem & Bethlehem Guided tour starts with a panoramic view of Jerusalem from the Mount of Olives and takes in the Chapel of the Ascension, the Church of Eleona and walk along Palm Sunday road to the Church of Dominus Flevit Chapel where Jesus wept over Jerusalem – continue to the Church of All Nations, one of the most inspiring works of Christian architecture and home to the Garden of Gethsemane – at Mount Zion we visit the Last Supper room and
the Tomb of David – in Bethlehem we visit the Church of Nativity where Jesus was born, Manger Square and the Shepherd's Field where the birth of Jesus was announced. Day 6 Guided tour of Jerusalem & the Church of the Holy Sepulchre Guided tour of Jerusalem’s Old City takes in the Western Wall of the Temple, currently Judaism’s holiest site – continue to Mount Moriah, site of the first and second Jewish temples and now the Dome of the Rock – recall the final hours of Jesus' life at Pilate's Judgment Hall, the Chapel of Flagellation and the Arch of the Ecce Homo ‘Behold, the man’ – walk along the Via Dolorosa, the ‘Stations of the Cross’ – finish at the indescribably moving Church of the Holy Sepulchre built over Golgotha, where Jesus was crucified. Day 7 Dead Sea & Jericho After an opportunity to bathe in the warm waters of the Dead Sea, continue to Qumran, the place where a shepherd boy discovered the scrolls – Jericho is the oldest city in the world and we view Mount Temptation – transfer to Tel Aviv airport for our scheduled flight home.
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Holy Land & North Africa
The Treasury, Petra
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Included Jerash Dead Sea (with included lunch) Madaba Mount Nebo Kerak Petra Wadi Rum with 4x4 jeep drive Amman - city tour Desert Castles Your Hotels Four nights at the 4* Hotel Bristol in Amman. Ideally situated in the heart of the business and diplomatic district for seeing the sights of the city, the hotel features a restaurant and outdoor pool. Three nights in the 4* Taybet Zaman, a village style hotel 12 km away from the rose-red city of Petra featuring indoor and outdoor pools, health centre and Turkish bath. At both hotels we stay on half board basis and all rooms are en-suite. Extras Single room supplement £189 Insurance Gratuities
The History of Jordan & Petra 8 days from £1,299 SUGGESTED ITINERARY Let us tailor make this tour to your group’s exact requirements Day 1 Amman Scheduled flight to Queen Alia International Airport in the south of Amman – transfer with our tour manager in our private executive coach to the 4* Bristol Hotel in Amman for a two night stay. Day 2 Jerash & the Dead Sea Drive north of Amman to the Greco-Roman Decapolis city of Jerash, an ancient city boasting an unbroken chain of human occupation dating back more the 6,500 years, where we visit sights such as the ruins of the Triumphal Arch, the Amphitheatre, the Forum and the Hippodrome as well as walking down the Street of Columns, the Roman Cardo and the Oval Market – included lunch at the Dead Sea Spa, at 1,306 feet below sea level, the lowest spot on earth – enjoy the bizarre and delightful experience of ‘floating’ on the surface of buoyant waters, four times saltier than regular seawater. Day 3 Madaba, Mount Nebo & Kerak Head to the south of Amman to the ancient Moabite city of Madaba where we see a selection of the mosaics for which the city was famous during the Byzantine period and visit the well known Saint George's Church with the 6th century mosaic map of the Holy Land – Mount Nebo is the site of Moses’ last camp after the Exodus and the
Kerak, the 12th century crusaders’ castle used to control the ancient caravan roads from Egypt to Syria, which after Saladin’s defeat of the crusaders at Hittin in 1187 passed into Moslem hands – continue to the 4* Taybet Zaman Hotel near Petra for a three night stay. Day 4 Petra The vast rose-red city of Petra was carved into the sheer rock face by the Nabataeans, an industrious Arab people who settled there more than 2,000 years ago, turning it into an important junction for the silk, spice and other trade routes that linked China, India and southern Arabia with Egypt, Syria, Greece and Rome – enter the city through the Siq, a narrow 1 kilometre gorge with 80 metres high cliffs with a variety of colours and formations – towards the end of the Siq catch your first glimpse of the early 1st century Al-Khazneh, known as The Treasury, a massive façade, 30m wide and 43m high, carved out of the sheer, dusky pink, rock face and dwarfing everything around it – choose between returning to the hotel to relax or spend more time exploring Petra.
• stay at 5* hotels
arrange your ideal group tour
Day 7 Desert Castles The Desert Castles, Qasr Amra, Qasr Kharaneh and Qasr Azraq, built by the early Islamic Umayyad Caliphs in the 7th and 8th centuries AD are some of the best preserved examples of Umayyad art and architecture, including fortifications, baths, mosques, water and agricultural systems, mosaic floors and painted wall frescoes.
What a wonderful holiday you organised for us in Petra – it was really special and we all enjoyed it so much. The hotels were good. Elias our guide was quite splendid – spoke English well and had a good knowledge of the holiday and of life in Jordan. Many thanks again for organising such a varied and enjoyable holiday.
Like this tour but want to change it to suit your group’s budget or preferences? You could:
Mount Nebo
Day 6 Amman guided tour Return to Amman for a city tour visiting important sights of the Greco-Roman Empire – visit the Jordan Archaeological Museum at the Citadel and both the Jordan Museum of Popular Traditions and the Jordan Folklore Museum at the Roman Amphitheatre – return to the 4* Bristol Hotel for a two night stay.
Day 8 Amman Transfer to airport for our scheduled flight back home.
TAILOR MAKE THIS TOUR FOR YOUR GROUP
summit whichbasis he surveyed • onfrom full board throughoutthe Holy Land before his death visit the 4th century memorial church for • with– fewer or different excursions Moses andmore the simple Franciscan chapel covering the • for (or fewer) days • include gratuities remains of thealloriginal 4th century church and 6th century basilica continue through Wadi Mujib to Call– us so thatsouth together we can
Day 5 Wadi Rum Morning free to relax in the hotel – head south from Petra to Wadi Rum for pre-booked four by four wheel drive jeeps to explore the Land of Lawrence of Arabia, an unusual desert terrain that resembles a pastel pink lunar landscape, with towering limestone and granite cliffs shooting out of the sandy desert floor.
Jerash Ruins, Gera
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Holy Land & North Africa
Featuring 4* hotels Half board accommodation All excursions, guided tours & entrance fees included Professional tour manager Scheduled flights to Amman Executive coach in Jordan ONE FREE PLACE PER 15 PAYING PASSENGERS
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Cape Town
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What We Will See Cape Town Cape Peninsula Cape Winelands Oudtshoorn & BBQ dinner at an ostrich farm. Cango Caves & Outeniqua Mountain Pass Knysna Featherbed Nature Reserve Plettenberg Bay & Tsitsikamma National Park Port Elizabeth Johannesburg Pilgrim’s Rest Sightseeing tour of Mpumalanga Kruger National Park & ‘Big 5’ game drive City tour of Pretoria
Your Hotels Good quality hotels on bed & breakfast basis (half board at the Kruger National Park): • Capetonian, Cape Town two nights • Protea Stellenbosch Hotel one night • Protea Riempie Estate Hotel, Oudtshoorn - one night • Protea Knysna Quays two nights • Protea Tsitsikamma Village one night • Westcliff Hotel, Johannesberg two nights • Protea Kruger Gate Lodge three nights (half board) All rooms have en suite private facilities. With restaurants in or very close to the hotels, dining out in the evening is very easy. Porterage is included. CALL US FOR A COSTING FOR 5* HOTELS FOR THIS TOUR Extras Single room supplement £299 Insurance Entrance fees to places of interest Optional trips Gratuities
Optional Sunset cruise on board the Nauticat Open top game viewing in the Kruger National Park Tour of Soweto
Grand Tour of South Africa & the Kruger National Park
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Features Full programme of included daily excursions ‘Big Five’ game drive Professional tour manager Scheduled flights to Cape Town, returning from Johannesburg Executive coach in South Africa ONE FREE PLACE PER 15 PAYING PASSENGERS
15 days from £2,149 SUGGESTED ITINERARY Let us tailor make this tour to your group’s exact requirements Day 1 Depart UK Overnight scheduled flight to Cape Town. Day 2 Cape Town Morning arrival in Cape Town where we are met by our tour manager who will accompany us throughout our tour – coach tour of the city, a cable car to the top of Table Mountain and tour along Camps Bay, Cllifton and Sea Point – check in to the Capetonian Hotel. Day 3 Cape Peninsula Tour along Cape Peninsula, one of the world’s great marine drives – drive to the fishing village of Hout Bay for a short boat ride to see the hundreds of seals at Seal Island – continue to Simon’s Town to Boulder's Beach to see the African Penguin – drive through the Cape of Good Hope Nature Reserve with its flowering plants and antelope to Cape Point, where the Indian and Atlantic Oceans merge – visit the beautiful Kirstenbosch Botanical Gardens on the eastern slopes of Table Mountain – optional sunset cruise on board the Nauticat. Day 4 Cape Winelands Full day excursion to the Cape Winelands with visits to Paarl, Franschoek and Stellenbosch and an included cellar tour and two wine tastings during the day – check in to the the Protea
TAILOR MAKE THIS TOUR FOR YOUR GROUP Like this tour but want to change it to suit your group’s budget or preferences? You could: • stay at 5* hotels
Day 5 Oudtshoorn Travel via Montague along Route 62 to Oudtshoorn – check in to the Protea Riempie Estate Hotel in Oudtshoorn – visit an ostrich farm in the Little Karoo where we have a BBQ dinner. Day 6 Knysna Guided tour of the Cango Caves, a fabulous collection of dripstone formations – travel through the awe inspiring Outeniqua Mountain Pass through to Knysna – check in to the Protea Knysna Quays. Day 7 Featherbed Nature Reserve Morning visit to Featherbed Nature Reserve which includes a boat ride from Knysna – evening free to enjoy the setting of the Knysna Quays. Day 8 Tsitsikamma National Park Continue along the Garden Route, past Plettenberg Bay – Tsitsikamma National Park is an almost untouched natural landscape with indiginous Yellowood trees and diverse birdlife – check in to the Protea Tsitsikamma Village. Day 9 Port Elizabeth & Johannesburg Cross over the Storms River Bridge and on to Port Elizabeth for our flight to Johannesburg – on arrival at Johannesburg International Airport, we are met by our coach and transfer to the Westcliff Hotel.
Day 10 Pilgrim’s Rest & Mpumalanga En route to Mpumalanga we stop at Pilgrim’s Rest, a finely restored original gold mining village retracing the wagon routes of Percy Fitzpatrick and his famous dog, Jock of the Bushveld – continue on a scenic sightseeing tour of Mpumalanga, via the Panorama Route taking in God's Window, Bourke's Luck Potholes and the Blyde River Canyon – check in to the Protea Kruger Gate Lodge and dinner in the hotel. Day 11 Kruger National Park Early morning departure for the Kruger National Park for one of the highlights of our tour, a full day game viewing by coach – today we will be tracking the ‘Big 5’ but hunting only for great photographs and extraordinary wildlife memories – return to the Lodge in the late afternoon for dinner. Day 12 Kruger National Park Spend full day at leisure or optional second day of game viewing in the Kruger National Park but this time on an open top safari vehicle, a whole new experience – dinner at the Lodge. Day 13 Pretoria & Johannesburg Travel to Pretoria for a city tour taking in the Voortrekker Monument, the Union Buildings, the administrative headquarters of the government, Church Square and Melrose House and Kruger House – travel on to Johannesburg and check in to Westcliff Hotel. Day 14 Johannesburg to UK Most of the day free until a late afternoon departure for the airport and our scheduled flight back to the UK – time to take an optional tour of Soweto. Day 15 Arrive UK
Stellenbosch Hotel.basis throughout • on half board • with fewer or different excursions • for more (or fewer) days • include all gratuities Table Mountain
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Forbidden City, Shanghai
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Included Shanghai city tour Shanghai Chinese acrobatics show Beijing city tour & Forbidden City Beijing opera show Great Wall of China & the Ming Tombs Peking duck banquet Temple of Heaven Xi’an city tour Terracotta Warriors Great Wild Goose Pagoda Imperial Dumpling Banquet & Dynasty Stage Show Entrance fees as per itinerary
Your Hotels Good quality 4* hotels on full board basis dining in the hotel or local restaurants: • Ocean Hotel, Shanghai four nights • Guangxi Plaza, Beijing two nights • Aurum International, Xi’an - two nights CALL US FOR A COSTING FOR 5* HOTELS FOR THIS TOUR Extras Optional Yangtze River Cruise add on from £599 Single room supplement: - Main tour £209 - Cruise £239 Insurance Optional half day tour of Zhujiajiao Gratuities Visa fees Local departure tax
Optional Yangtze River Cruise Internal flights 4 nights full board Three Gorges Dam Project Lesser Three Gorges
4* Imperial China Beijing • Xi’an • Shanghai 10 days from £1,649 Optional Yangtze River Cruise from £599 SUGGESTED ITINERARY Let us tailor make this tour to your group’s exact requirements NB: B - Breakfast L - Lunch D - Dinner Day 1 Depart for Shanghai Scheduled flight to Shanghai. Day 2 Arrive Shanghai (D) On arrival in Shanghai we are met by our tour manager who will accompany us throughout our tour – transfer to the 4* Ocean Hotel. Day 3 Shanghai (B, L, D) Half day city tour of Shanghai, China's largest city whose modern culture dates back to the early 1900's and is an eclectic mix of East and West, takes in Yu Garden, bustling Nanjing Road and the pristine waterfront Bund – as night falls, we enjoy an amazing performance of Chinese acrobatics. Day 4 Shanghai - Beijing (B, L, D) Fly from Shanghai to Beijing – full day tour of Beijing taking in the expansive Tiananmen Square, the world's largest public square, the Forbidden City and the Summer Palace, a place of rest and relaxation just minutes from Beijing – check in to the 4* Guangxi Plaza – this evening enjoy the marvellous Beijing opera show.
Our group tour to China was a complete success. You all did a wonderful job. The organisation was excellent, the guides very good, sightseeing fantastic, coaches of a high standard and your tour manager worked so hard to make sure things ran smoothly. My group are not easily impressed, but you won them over with this wonderful holiday. Thank you so much The Great Wall of China
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Featuring 4* hotels on full board basis All excursions & entrance fees included Professional tour manager Scheduled flights to Shanghai All internal flights in China Executive coach in China ONE FREE PLACE PER 15 PAYING PASSENGERS
JR Egypt
Day 5 Beijing (B, L, D) China's magnificent Great Wall spans thousands of miles across Northern China and you have ample time to traverse the ancient steps before visiting the famed Ming Tomb Museum – return to the city to enjoy an impressive Peking duck banquet. Day 6 Beijing - Xi’an (B, L, D) Visit the historic Temple of Heaven, widely regarded as the noblest example of religious architecture in China and where emperors came to pray for a bountiful harvest – short flight to Xi’an and in the afternoon we visit Xian’s ancient city walls – check in to the 4* Aurum International. Day 7 Xi’an (B, L, D) Xian is home to the life-sized Terracotta Warriors of Qin Shi Huang, which were designed to protect China's first emperor even in death and discovered by a farmer in 1974 – return to Xi’an and visit the Great Wild Goose Pagoda – this evening, enjoy a special Imperial Dumpling Banquet which is followed by an exciting Dynasty Stage Show. Day 8 Xi’an - Shanghai (B, L, D) Fly back to Shanghai – check in to the 4* Ocean Hotel – the rest of the day is free to enjoy Shanghai at your leisure. Day 9 Shanghai (B, L, D) Free day in Shanghai for shopping or to explore the city at our leisure or why not join our optional half day tour of Zhujiajiao which includes lunch and still leaves you time for shopping. Day 10 Shanghai - UK (B) Transfer to the airport for our direct scheduled flight back home.
OR Depart for optional Yangtze River Cruise add on by taking internal flight to Yichang - refer below. OPTIONAL YANGTZE RIVER CRUISE ADD ON Day 9 Shanghai - Yichang (B, L, D) Internal flight from Shanghai to Yichang for the cruise – transfer to our 5* cruise boat for preboarding where we stay for four nights on full board basis. Day 10 Cruise (B, L, D) Set sail for the magnificent Three Gorges Dam Project, sailing by Gezhouba, the ship lock Xiling Gorge and the five-stage Big Dam Shiplock. Day 11 Cruise (B, L, D) Visit the Lesser Three Gorges (sometimes called the Daning River) or the Shennongxi Lesser Gorges (sometimes called the Shennong Stream) – the ship passes through Wu Gorge. Day 12 Cruise (B, L, D) Cruise to Shibaozhai, sailing by the beautiful White King City and Qutang Gorge. Day 13 Cruise (B, L, D) Disembark at Chongqing this morning for a city tour – internal flight to Shanghai – check in to 4* Ocean Hotel. Day 14 Shanghai to UK (B) We transfer back to the airport for our scheduled flight back to London Heathrow. TAILOR MAKE THIS TOUR FOR YOUR GROUP Like this tour but want to change it to suit your group’s budget or preferences? You could: • stay at 5* hotels • on half board basis throughout • with fewer or different excursions • for more (or fewer) days • include all gratuities
Terracotta Warriors
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Worldwide
Rio de Janeiro & statue of Christ the Redeemer
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South American Grand Tour Chile, Argentina & Brazil
Worldwide
Featuring Scheduled flights to Santiago, returning from Rio de Janeiro Three internal flights in South America Private executive coaches throughout All excursions as specified in the itinerary Local English speaking guide in each country Good 3* and 4* hotels Lunches & dinners as specified in the itinerary
Santiago • The Andes • Buenos Aires • Iguazu Falls • Rio de Janeiro 17 days from £2,299
ONE FREE PLACE PER 15 PAYING PASSENGERS Your Hotels 14 nights on bed & breakfast basis in good 3* and 4* standard hotels in Chile, Argentina & Brazil • Novotel Vitacura, Santiago – three nights • Grand Hotel Mendoza – three nights • 4* Saint George, Iguazu – two nights • 4* Hotel Wilton, Buenos Aires – four nights • Augustos Copacabana, Rio de Janeiro – three nights All hotels rooms are en suite 5 lunches & 3 dinners included CALL US FOR A COSTING FOR 4* OR 5* HOTELS FOR THIS TOUR Extras Single room supplement £299 Insurance Optional excursions Local airport departure taxes Visa fees Entrance fees to places of interest
SUGGESTED ITINERARY Let us tailor make this tour to your group’s exact requirements NB: B - Breakfast L - Lunch D - Dinner Day 1 UK to Chile Overnight scheduled flight to Santiago via Buenos Aires. Day 2 Santiago, Chile (B) On arrival in Santiago we are met by our guide for the coach transfer to the Novotel Vitacura. Day 3 Santiago (B, D) Guided tour of Santiago taking in sights such as the historic Presidential Palace, the Plaza de Armas, the Cathedral and San Cristobal Hill with breathtaking views over Santiago – dinner and folklore show this evening. Day 4 Santiago (B, L) Head over mountain ranges and through fertile farmland to the port of Valparaiso to visit the New Parliament of Chile, Fisherman’s Wharf, the Naval Academy and take the cable car to the top of one of the 42 hills on which the town is built to visit the Naval Museum – included lunch – travel along the coast to the seaside resort of Vina del Mar. Day 5 Mendoza, Argentina (B) Travel into Argentina – guided tour of Mendoza including a visit to General San Martin’s Park, Cerro de la Gloria and the surrounding area – check in to the central Grand Hotel Mendoza in Mendoza. Day 6 Mendoza (B) With its high altitude, the shelter of the Andes and the fertile soil of the huge plains of the River Maipu, Mendoza is the wine capital of Argentina – our tour today introduces us to the wines of the region at a local Bodega before an optional lunch.
Iguazu Falls
Day 7 Iguazu Falls, Argentina (B) Fly from Mendoza to the magnificent Iguazu Falls – situated at the meeting point of three countries (Brazil, Paraguay and Argentina), the Iguazu Falls are one of the world’s largest natural wonders and are higher than Niagara, wider than Victoria and consist of 275 separate falls– guided tour of the Argentinian side of the Falls – transfer to the 4* Saint George in Iguazu.
Day 13 Rio de Janeiro, Brazil (B) Fly to Rio de Janeiro – check in to the Augustos Copacabana in Rio, located just two blocks away from the famous Copacabana Beach.
Day 8 Iguazu Falls (B) Choose to relax in Iguazu or join our optional excursion to explore the natural beauty of the Iguazu National Park in an open vehicle followed by a forest trek of 600 metres and a cruise in boats up the Iguazu Canyon to almost beneath the Falls. Day 9 Buenos Aires, Argentina (B) Fly to Buenos Aires – transfer to the 4* Hotel Wilton. Day 10 Buenos Aires (B, L) Guided tour of this beautiful city takes in the Playa de Mayo Square, Government House, the Metropolitan Cathedral, the Cabildo, the Recoleta where the tomb of Evita Peron can be seen and 9 de Julio Avenue (the widest avenue in the world) – included lunch at a typical Buenos Aires restaurant.
Day 14 Rio de Janeiro (B, L) Full day tour begins at the foot of the Sugarloaf cable car for a wonderful ride up one of the world's most famous landmarks – continue through the traditional suburbs of Cosmo Velho taking the cogwheel train up through the trees to enjoy the marvellous panoramic view of the city below – climb the steps leading up to the Statue of Christ the Redeemer for breathtaking views of the city of Rio and the expanse of the Atlantic Ocean. Day 15 Rio de Janeiro (B, L, D) Drive south of Rio to the fishing village of Itacuruca and board a schooner for a relaxing – farewell dinner at Pampa Oceano followed by a show at Plataforma. Day 16 Rio de Janeiro (B) Transfer to the airport for our scheduled flight home via Buenos Aires. Day 17 Arrive UK
Day 11 Buenos Aires (B, L) Head into the countryside and enjoy a typical “asado” barbecue lunch at a ranch with folk music and dancing and gaucho skills on horses – time to stroll in the gardens after lunch or, for the more adventurous, to ride on the Pampas with the gauchos! Day 12 Buenos Aires (B, D) Choose from a day of leisure or join our optional cruise around the islands of the Delta of the Parana River with its many clubs, restaurants and the houses on stilts which are typical of the area – dine at one of Buenos Aires’ elegant restaurants followed by a tango show in the San Telmo area.
TAILOR MAKE THIS TOUR FOR YOUR GROUP Like this tour but want to change it to suit your group’s budget or preferences? You could: • stay at 4* & 5* hotels • on half board basis throughout • with fewer or different excursions • for more (or fewer) days • include all gratuities Call us so that together we can arrange your ideal group tour
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New Zealand
Mount Cook & Pukaki Lake
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Included Auckland Waipoua Kauri Forest & Bay of Islands Bay of Islands Hamilton & Te Awamutu Waitomo & Rotorua Taupo & Wellington Picton & Christchurch Arthur’s Pass & Franz Josef Franz Josef & Haast Pass Queenstown Milford Sound & Te Anau Dunedin Mount Cook Accommodation 15 nights accommodation in good 3* to 4* hotels in rooms with private bathrooms 1 night farm stay Breakfast every morning 3 evening meals & 1 lunch Extras Single room supplement £499 Insurance Optional excursions Local airport departure taxes Visa fees (not required for UK passport holders) Flights to New Zealand are via Los Angeles, Hong Kong or Singapore. Why not add a stopover on your outbound and/or return flights?
New Zealand Grand Tour 20 days from £2,999 SUGGESTED ITINERARY Let us tailor make this tour to your group’s exact requirements Days 1 & 2 UK to Auckland Fly (via Los Angeles or Hong Kong or Singapore) to Auckland. Day 3 Auckland Met by our coach driver – transfer to the Copthorne Anzac Avenue Hotel for a two night stay – welcome to New Zealand dinner at the hotel with beers and local wines included. Day 4 Auckland Morning sightseeing tour of Auckland taking in the downtown business district and Viaduct Basin, which was for 8 years home of the Americas Cup yacht fleet, then Kelly Tarlton’s Underwater World and Antarctic Encounter, the Auckland War Memorial Museum where there is a superb collection of Maori artefacts including a magnificent carved Maori war canoe constructed in 1836 – stop to take in the panoramic views from the Skytower, the tallest building in the Southern Hemisphere – afternoon free or join the optional harbour cruise. Day 5 Waipoua Kauri Forest & Bay of Islands Drive north across the Harbour Bridge and through the North Shore – time for lunch at the excellent Matakohe Timber Museum where the gum digging and timber milling history of this Northland Region is on show – travel up the west coast to the Waipoua Kauri Forest to see Tane Mahuta, which is the largest of all the giant kauri trees – drive around Hokianga Harbour, a popular fishing ground for local Maori, and on through Kaikohe township to the lovely Bay of Islands – two nights at the Kingsgate Autolodge Hotel. Day 6 Bay of Islands Morning cruise through the lovely Bay of Islands to Cape Brett and the Hole in the Rock – on the return voyage we stop at Otehei Bay on pretty Urupukapuka Island – in the afternoon visit the Waitangi Treaty House where in 1840 the Maori and British signed the treaty which gave birth to the nation of New Zealand. Day 7 Hamilton & Te Awamutu Travel to Whangarei for a visit to Clapham’s Clock Museum – cross the Brynderwyn Hills and drive on down the Hibiscus Coast and through Auckland City – on to Hamilton, New Zealand’s largest inland city to see the excellent Hamilton Gardens,142 acres featuring a variety of theme gardens – drive on to Te Awamutu in the heart of prosperous dairy farming country to meet our farmer hosts and go home with them (4 people to each farm) for a wonderful opportunity to meet the friendly Kiwis and enjoy home cooked dinner with our hosts.
Day 8 Waitomo & Rotorua Guided tour of the famous Waitomo limestone caves as we glide silently on an underground stream into the Glowworm Grotto, lit only by the lights of thousands of tiny glowworms – through picturesque farmlands to Longlands Farm near Matamata for included lunch – continue into Rotorua for a two night stay at Lake Plaza Hotel. Day 9 Rotorua Guided tour of Whakarewarewa Thermal Reserve to see the geysers and the Maori Arts and Crafts Institute, where young Maori are being taught traditional carving and weaving skills – visit lovely Rainbow Springs to see trout and rare kiwis, and the popular Agrodome sheep show – afternoon is free – this evening we enjoy a powhiri (welcome), hangi (dinner) and concert of traditional Maori song and dance at Tamaki Tours Marae (Maori Village). Day 10 Taupo & Wellington Drive south through forests and farmlands to Wairakei to view the spectacular Huka Falls on the Waikato River – continue to the popular holiday resort of Taupo, famous around the world for its trout fishing, and around Lake Taupo, New Zealand’s largest lake – cross the Desert Road to Waiouru with good views of the three main volcanic peaks in Tongariro National Park where the scenes of Mordor from the Lord of the Rings trilogy were filmed – visit Southwards excellent vintage car collection at Paraparaumu – drive on into Wellington City, New Zealand’s capital city built around a magnificent natural harbour – one night stay at the Mercure Wellington Hotel. Day 11 Picton & Christchurch Take the Inter Islander ferry and cross Cook Strait to Picton in the South Island with the last part of the cruise through the Marlborough Sounds being especially scenic – late morning arrival into Picton – board the Tranz Coastal train and travel through Blenheim and the Marlborough and Kaikoura on the Pacific Coast, and across the Canterbury Plains into Christchurch – two night stay at the Holiday Inn on Avon. Day 12 Christchurch Morning sightseeing tour of New Zealand’s ‘Garden City’ includes the city centre with its Gothic style Cathedral, the Canterbury Arts Centre, Museum and lovely Botanical Gardens and the International Antarctic Centre to learn about the exploration of the great southern continent – afternoon and evening are free. Day 13 Arthur’s Pass & Franz Josef Drive inland through scenery with high snow capped mountains and native beech forests to Arthur’s Pass in the heart of the Southern Alps – cross the Alps and descend to the West Coast for a visit to Shantytown for an opportunity to try your hand at gold panning and ride the bush railway – travel south to Franz Josef through forests and farmlands with vistas of the Tasman
Sea to the west and the mighty Southern Alps rising sharply to the east – check in to the Franz Josef Glacier Hotel (Graham Wing) for a one night stay. Day 14 Franz Josef & Haast Pass Time this morning to view the Franz Josef Glacier, a huge river of snow and ice flows from vast snowfields high in the Southern Alps almost to sea level – drive south through the rainforests of Westland National Park and across the Haast Pass through the Southern Alps – two nights at the A-Line Hotel in Queenstown, located on a hillside just a few minutes walk to the town centre. Day 15 Queenstown Morning sightseeing tour of Queenstown by coach includes historic Arrowtown, the site of a major 1860s gold rush – drive out past lovely Lake Hayes to the Gibbston Valley winery to sample some of the excellent estate wines – afternoon is free – for dinner this evening, there is the option of taking the gondola to the Skyline Restaurant on Bob’s Peak from where there are panoramic views. Day 16 Milford Sound & Te Anau The scenery of the Fiordland World Heritage National Park is stunning with high mountains and deep valleys, clear rushing streams and waterfalls set in magnificent native rainforest – afternoon cruise down the spectacularly beautiful Milford Sound past Mitre Peak before returning to Te Anau via the Cleddau Gorge, Homer Tunnel and pretty Eglinton Valley – one night stay at the centrally located Luxmore Hotel. Day 17 Dunedin Drive across the Southland and Otago farmlands to the university city of Dunedin, originally settled by the Scots and retaining a good deal of its tartan heritage – drive out to the Otago Peninsula for a visit the Royal Albatross Colony, the only mainland nesting place in the world for these magnificent seabirds – travel on to Penguin Place to see the rare Yellow Eyed Penguins from especially constructed ‘hides’ – one night stay at the centrally located Scenic Circle City Hotel. Day 18 Mount Cook Drive north across the Dunedin Hills and up the Pacific Coast – stop en route at Moeraki to see the unusual giant marble like boulders on the beach and visit the old port area at Oamaru, famous for its limestone buildings – turn inland to the Mount Cook National Park including Mount Cook itself (12,349 ft), New Zealand’s highest mountain – afternoon free to relax and enjoy the magnificent alpine scenery – one night stay at The Hermitage (Mount Cook Wing), one of the world’s best-known alpine retreats. Day 19 Christchurch to UK Transfer to Christchurch for our flight to back to UK (via Auckland and Los Angeles or Hong Kong or Singapore). Day 20 Arrive UK
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New Zealand
Featuring Return scheduled flights to New Zealand Assisted transfers Executive air conditioned coach throughout Experienced driver who provides touring commentary Inter Island ferry across Cook Strait Tranz Coastal train from Picton to Christchurch All excursions as specified in the itinerary ONE FREE PLACE PER 15 PAYING PASSENGERS
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