along the silk route - audley travel/media/files/group-tours/...introduction to our along the silk...

Along the Silk Route Escorted Group Tour 7 September 2017

Noodle soup, China

We are very proud to have received a number of awards over recent years from The Guardian and Observer, The Telegraph newspaper and Ultratravel magazine, and Wanderlust, as voted by their readers. We are a Which? Recommended Provider achieving the maximum five star rating across all categories and have also won awards with The Sunday Times Travel Magazine and Condé Nast Traveller. Additionally, we have achieved two stars from the Best Company organisation for our great working environment. These awards are widely recognised as being the most respected in the travel industry as they are professional surveys of the publications’ readerships. With over 500 travel companies for you to choose from in the UK alone, we hope you find these awards are an additional reassurance of the quality of service you can expect from Audley.

Contents

Introduction to tour ______________________________ 4

Day by day summary of Along the Silk Route arrangements__ 6

Price _________________________________________ 9

Why travel with us? ______________________________ 10

Introduction to the region _________________________ 11

Photographs of the region __________________________ 18

Your itinerary in detail ____________________________ 20

Accommodation information ________________________ 44

Charity support _________________________________ 51

General information ______________________________ 52

Terms and conditions _____________________________ 55

4

Introduction to our Along the Silk Route tour

4 Introduction to our Along the Silk Route tour

• Introduction to our Along the Silk Route group tour

Following in the footsteps of the great traders and explorers of old, this grand tour takes you along the route of the ancient Silk Road through western China and over the high passes into Central Asia to the fabled khanates of Bukhara and Samarkand. The tour combines the world-renowned cultural and historical sites of the Silk Route with some of the planet's most stunning scenery. En route you'll visit the magnificent Buddhist Grottoes at the oasis town of Dunhuang, haggle with the locals at the incredible Kashgar Sunday Market and cross the towering 3752m Torugart Pass into Kyrgyzstan, one of Asia's hidden gems. Commencing in Beijing, this three-week tour is timed to avoid the worst of the summer heat, and hopefully coincide with the alpine flowers in Kyrgyzstan. Much of the route is covered by private coach, though a few reliable domestic flights cover the great distances quickly and conveniently. Due to the remoteness of many of the regions, accommodation is often simple in nature, but always clean and comfortable.

• IS THIS TRIP FOR YOU?

Travelling in Central Asia requires flexibility, patience and understanding; flight timetables and other arrangements often change at short notice, accommodation is simple and there are long drives on unsealed roads. It should be remembered that Uzbekistan and Kyrgyzstan are still very much third world counties and western China is similarly still developing. If, however, you are looking for stunning scenery, fascinating culture and have a keen sense of adventure, this is absolutely the trip for you!

• Group size

The group size is kept to a maximum of 16, this ensures that the trip is a more personal experience and that you can always hear and speak to your guides. The small group size also ensures that your experience of a particular sight is not marred by the presence of too many people. Your main mode of transport will be a coach that seats 20-30, so there is plenty of space for everyone. Please note that on this trip there are quite a few long days travelling, due to the sheer distances you will be covering, often on poor roads so be prepared for some bumpy conditions. The amazing scenery should make the journeys worthwhile. There is a minimum requirement of 10 passengers to run this tour, so the first 10 people to book will be done so on a provisional basis until minimum numbers are reached. Deposits for those first 10 people will be fully refundable should the tour not operate.

• Single travellers

We welcome single travellers on tours. You have two options - you can choose to share a room with another single traveller on the tour and pay the standard tour price (this option will only be available if another single traveller of the same sex is also willing to share), or you can choose to guarantee the sole occupancy of your room, in which case a single supplement is payable.

• Group tour leader

An experienced English guide will meet you on arrival in China and travel with you throughout your group trip. Along the way we will also be using expert local guides who are carefully selected for their in-depth knowledge of the area.

• Meal arrangements

Daily breakfast is included at your hotel and a number of lunch and dinners are included (where stated) at the hotel, a local restaurant or, on occasions where you are travelling, as a simple packed lunch. Your tour leader or guides will be able make suggestions for dining where this is not included.

• Special dietary requirements

Special dietary requirements should be highlighted by you on the booking form. However, you must be aware that it is unrealistic to expect specialist diets to be catered for in some of the destinations we will be visiting. We will advise hotels and airlines of your request but we cannot guarantee their availability.

• Tour health & fitness requirements

To ensure that all participants get the most out of the tour, it is important that you are fully aware of the level of activity and fitness and medical health required to successfully complete this itinerary. Please read this dossier carefully prior to confirming your place on the tour, and having established the facts, it is your responsibility to contact us with any concerns regarding individual levels of fitness, health or ability. Please be aware that our tour leaders have the right to exclude

Introduction to our Along the Silk Route tour

Introduction to our Along the Silk Route tour 5

customers from the tour if they feel they are not sufficiently fit, healthy or able to complete the tour without affecting its safety, comfort or smooth progress. If you would like to discuss any of these issues further please contact us.

• Activity level - medium

A good level of fitness is required for this trip and you should be physically active. You should be aware and prepared for all or any of the following on this trip: • High altitude - the tour crosses passes at more than 3,500m. • Extremes of temperature - this will vary considerably depending on date of departure, but be prepared for possible highs of 35-40C (Turpan and Bukhara particularly) and lows of 0-5C (Kyrgyz passes). • Long drives on rough, occasionally bumpy roads, in a range of vehicles including coaches and 4x4 cars for up to 12 hours per day (and potentially more dependent on local conditions). • To carry or wheel your own luggage through airports and from the vehicles to hotels and vice versa. • To join all day walking tours of cities, monuments and historic sites. (All of these are optional). • Border crossings may require you to walk with your luggage. The longest of these is the Irkeshtam Pass between China and Kyrgyzstan, where a walk may be up to 7km long through No Man's Land. NB: This pass is only used in the event of the Torugart Pass closing and we shall endeavour to find alternative vehicular transport for this. This may involve hitching a lift with goods trucks. • Where significant changes to the itinerary are required (e.g. following closure of the Torugart Pass), accommodation may be simpler than specified with shared facilities. We will endeavour to ensure this does not happen but in some cases options are likely to be very limited.

Visas

China A visa is required by all visitors to China. The visa should be applied for at least one month before departure. Please note passports must be valid for six months from the day of issue of your Chinese visa and that you need at least one blank page in your passport for your visa. You will also need to have at least six months' validity on your passport from the date of your planned return.

If you are a UK citizen, all visas for China have to be made through the Chinese Visa Application Service Centres (CVASC) in Manchester and London. Applications can be made directly or by post. Please see www.visaforchina.org.uk for more information.

If you would like us to arrange the visas on your behalf, the Audley Travel visa service will send you the appropriate forms. Please note that as our visa agency also has to apply through CVASC, and pay the CVASC handling charge, the cost of applying in this manner is higher than applying directly through CVASC.

Kyrgyzstan UK citizens, along with citizens of the USA & Canada, do not currently require a visa for stays of up to 60 days in Kyrgyzstan. Your passport must be valid for six months after the date of departure from Kyrgyzstan, and we would advise you have two unused visa pages in your passport (i.e. a blank double page). Other nationalities need to apply for a visa in advance.

Uzbekistan Visas for Uzbekistan need to be arranged in advance of travel. If you wish, we can send you the documents in order to apply for this through a visa agency called Travcour for £113. Alternatively, you can arrange this by yourself. Ordinary single entry tourist visas are normally valid for one calendar month. Please note passports must be valid for six months from the date of departure from Uzbekistan.

Important Note: We cannot under any circumstances guarantee that your visa application for any country will be accepted. However, in our experience refusals are extremely rare. Visa information is given in good faith and is accurate to the best of our knowledge.

Day by day summary

6 Day by day summary

1 Thursday 07 September 2017

Depart London on the overnight flight to Beijing, via Istanbul. On board the aircraft

2 Friday 08 September 2017

Upon arrival into Beijing, you will be taken to your hotel. This evening, your welcome dinner is the traditional Peking Duck, in a nearby restaurant.

Novotel Peace Hotel, Beijing Superior room Dinner is included

3 Saturday 09 September 2017

Today you head out of Beijing to the spectacular Jinshanling section of the Great Wall. En route to the Great Wall you will visit the magnificent Forbidden City. Once at Jinshanling, there will be time to walk along and take in the incredible scenery as well as enjoying a Chinese lunch at a local restaurant.

Novotel Peace Hotel, Beijing Superior room Breakfast and a packed lunch are included

4 Sunday 10 September 2017

Today you board the high speed train to Xian. Upon arrival, you`ll be met by your guide and transferred to your hotel. In the afternoon, you visit the iconic Terracotta Warriors.

Mercure Hotel, Xian Standard room Breakfast is included

5 Monday 11 September 2017

This morning you visit Xian`s distinctive Bell and Drum towers, before driving to the airport for your flight on to Dunhuang. Here, you`ll be met and driven to the Silk Road Dunhuang Hotel.

Silk Road Dunhuang Hotel, Dunhuang Superior room Breakfast is included

6 Tuesday 12 September 2017

This morning you will visit the distinctive Mingsha sand dunes, visible from town. Once here there are a number of options for you to choose from to explore the expansive dunes, the most popular being walking and camel riding. In the afternoon you will be taken to the nearby Mogao caves to sample some of the finest Buddhist art in the world.

Silk Road Dunhuang Hotel, Dunhuang Superior room Breakfast is included

7 Wednesday 13 September 2017

You fly to Urumqi this afternoon, but still have the morning in Dunhuang, where you`ll be taken to visit the Dunhuang Museum. Once you arrive into the airport at Urumqi you will be met for the drive to the town of Turpan. This is a drive of around three hours which takes you through the desert and provides excellent panoramic views of the snow-capped Tian Shan Mountains. ** Please note, you`ll get into Turpan quite late this evening due to the late flight schedule between Dunhuang and Urumqi.

Huozhou Hotel, Turpan Standard room Breakfast and dinner are included

Day by day summary

Day by day summary 7


Today will be a busy day, during which we plan on visiting Jiaohe, Bezeklik, the Tombs of Astana, a small Uighur village in the Tuyaq Valley, and the striking Flaming Mountains. The higlight of the days is perhaps Jaohe, the best of Turpan`s desert cities. This is an ancient Buddhist town, comprised entirely of clay and set on a high escarpment which was eventually destroyed by Genghis Khan. You`ll explore the caves at Bezeklik and stop to photograph the Flaming Mountains scenery en route. You`ll also have the chance to stretch your legs in the Tuyaq Valley, taking a stroll through a traditional Uighur village. On the way back into Turpan you`ll stop at the Tombs of Astana and the beautiful Emin Minaret complex.

Huozhou Hotel, Turpan Standard room Breakfast is included


You will drive back to Urumqi today, in time for your flight to Kashgar. Here, you will be met and driven to your hotel where you stay for the next three nights. In the afternoon enjoy a tour of this intriguing, atmospheric city which will include the old town and Id Kah Mosque.

Barony Hotel, Kashgar Standard room Breakfast is included


This morning you'll head out of Kashgar to visit the Mo'er Pagoda, an ancient Buddhist monument. You'll return to the city at lunch, to dine with a local family in their home - a great opportunity to learn more about local Uighur life. The afternoon is free for you to explore Kashgar by yourself, or simply relax and recover after the trip so far!

Barony Hotel, Kashgar Standard room Breakfast and lunch are included


Today is a highlight where you will enjoy the excellent Sunday Market, thriving with animals of all kinds, old men in traditional clothing haggling over cows, donkeys, goats, & knife sellers wandering through the dusty aisles offering handmade produce.

Barony Hotel, Kashgar Standard room Breakfast is included


From Kashgar, you will be driven to the Torugart Pass (3752m) high in the Tian Shan mountains this morning where your Kyrgyz guide and driver will be waiting for you. Another day of driving but probably one of the most beautiful.

Hotel Khan Tengri, Naryn Standard room Breakfast, lunch and dinner are included


Today you will continue to drive through the Tian Shan towards Issyk Kul, Kyrgyzstan`s famous alpine lake, on to the town of Karakol.

Hotel Amir, Karakol Standard room Breakfast, lunch and dinner are included


Today you will drive from Karakol to Bishkek, a long journey taking between six and seven hours. There you will be taken straight to your hotel.

Silk Road Lodge, Bishkek Standard room Breakfast and lunch are included


You`ll embark on a tour of the city today, before being taken to the airport later for your flight to Tashkent. Here you`ll be taken to your hotel for a night.

Wyndham Tashkent Standard room Breakfast and dinner are included

Day by day summary

8 Day by day summary


After an early morning flight to Urgench, from where you transfer to Khiva, you spend a full day exploring the maze of streets within Khiva`s city walls with your guide.

Hotel Malika, Khiva Standard room Breakfast is included


Leave Khiva for Bukhara this morning, travelling through the vast Kyzyl Kum desert and crossing the mighty Amu Darya en route. Expect to arrive into `the Holy City of Bukhara` late this afternoon.

Minzifa Hotel, Bukhara Standard room Breakfast, lunch and dinner are included


Explore some of the many highlights of Bukhara with your guide today, including the ominous Ark where Connolly and Stoddart famously met their fate in June 1842.

Minzifa Hotel, Bukhara Standard room Breakfast is included


This morning you leave Bukhara and set out on the road to Samarkand. You'll travel via the UNESCO World Heritage city Shakhrisabz, the birth place of Timur the Lame.

Hotel Sultan Boutique, Samarkand Standard room Breakfast and lunch are included


Visit the mighty Registan, Avenue of Tombs and Bibi Khanym mosque with your guide today - likely to be another highlight of your trip.

Hotel Sultan Boutique, Samarkand Standard room Breakfast is included


You leave Samarkand this morning and drive to Tashkent airport in time to catch your return flight. The road takes you past the towering Pamir mountains and through some of Uzbekistan`s most fertile land before finally reaching Tashkent. Here, you embark on a half day tour of the city, then in the evening you`ll be taken to a local restaurant for a farewell dinner. As your flight is very early tomorrow morning, you will be transferred to the airport during the night.

Wyndham Tashkent Standard room Breakfast and dinner are included


Your return flight leaves in the early hours of this morning.

Prices

Prices 9

Arrangements as specified per person ____________________________________________________ £6,495

..........................................................................................................................................................................................................................

Please note the following supplements and/or upgrade options per person:

Single supplement __________________________________________________________________ £960

Single entry tourist visa for China _______________________________________________________ £226

Single entry visa for Uzbekistan ________________________________________________________ £115

..........................................................................................................................................................................................................................

Per person deposit required to confirm these arrangements _________________________________ £975

Optional carbon off-setting for your flights per person (see General Information section for further details) ____ £15

The deposit required is detailed above and relates to the itinerary detailed in this quotation. In most cases the deposit is 15% of the total cost or £200 per person (whichever is the greater), however in some instances a larger deposit is required in order to secure particular services. Please refer to the Terms and Conditions section at the back of this booklet. Please note if you confirm your booking within 60 days of your departure date full payment is required at the time of booking. By paying the deposit you are confirming you have read and agree to our Terms and Conditions on behalf of all persons named on the booking.

How to book If you have any questions regarding the tour or would like to hold a no obligation option for a place on the tour, please feel free to contact our Silk Route team on 01993 838 235 who will be delighted to assist you. To confirm an option, please send us a completed booking form and the deposit specified above. The deposit can be paid by cheque, bank transfer or credit / debit card. Please make cheques payable to Audley Travel. Please see below for more information on paying by credit card. Payment by credit card Please note that we do not charge a fee on deposit payments by credit card, except when a deposit is more than 15%. In this situation a charge will apply. Credit card fees are detailed on the booking form. Balance or full payment is subject to a 1.3% fee on most credit cards, except for AMEX which is 2%. We make a credit card fee due to the high fees charged to tour operators by the credit card companies: we do not make a profit on this charge. We have chosen to make this transparent rather than including it within the trip price. You may therefore wish to pay the balance by bank transfer, debit card or personal cheque. Terms and Conditions The Terms and Conditions that apply to all of our holidays are detailed at the back of this booklet. By paying the deposit you are confirming you have read and accept the Terms and Conditions on behalf of all persons named on the booking.

Included in the price

• All flights as specified in the itinerary

• Twin share accommodation as specified

• All transfers and excursions as specified

• Services of experienced local guides

• Sightseeing and entrance fees

• Meals as specified in the itinerary Not included in the price

• Meals not indicated within your itinerary.

• Where applicable, local airport departure taxes; payable locally on departure in some locations.

• Where applicable, locally payable car hire related charges, including optional excess reduction.

• Items of a personal nature such as laundry, drinks, etc..

• Tips for your guide and driver (discretionary).

• Any camera or video fees at any sites.

• Entrance fees and other costs when on 'free time’.

• Travel insurance (see general information section).

Why travel with us?

10 Why travel with us?

The New Mill, our offices on the outskirts of Witney in west Oxfordshire

Reputation and quality

Well over 80% of our clients have travelled with us in the past or have had Audley recommended to them. When you book with us you are assured of quality arrangements if only for the fact that we simply cannot afford to risk our excellent reputation. Our service has been recognised by the readers of well-known publications including the Guardian & Observer, the Daily Telegraph and Wanderlust magazine, where we have consistently featured in their ‘best tour operator’ awards for a number of years. Personal service

We are committed to offering you a very personal service, with all your arrangements being handled by one country specialist. They will remain your one point of contact and will take responsibility for the smooth operation of your trip. They are supported by a team of specialists for that region and a professional administration and management team. From the moment you contact us, we are here to answer your questions accurately and honestly, be they about specific arrangements or any more general queries you may have. We are experienced travellers with a thorough and in-depth knowledge of our specialist destinations, and the benefit of this experience is yours throughout. When we do not know the answer to a question we will endeavour to find out and get back to you as soon as possible.

Quality service when you are travelling

We take a good deal of care when choosing our travel partners overseas, taking into account their quality of service, guides and vehicles. We have built up many long-standing relationships, ensuring that they deliver the level of service demanded by Audley clients. Our local guides and drivers, where appropriate, are the people you will meet. In many cases we know them personally, in all cases we ensure that they are of the highest calibre. They are there to do much more than show you specific sights and provide factual information. They will be able to tell you about local life, culture, cuisines and customs; and, where applicable, act as translator. In certain parts of the world a specialist guide is more appropriate, for example, a wildlife expert.

First class guides

A smooth journey

We have procedures in place for dealing quickly and efficiently with mishaps from minor flight time alterations to more fundamental changes. If problems do occur we will rapidly rearrange your itinerary to make best use of your time given the changed circumstances, not simply cancel part of your trip or leave you sitting in an airport waiting for hours for a rescheduled flight. Importantly, in these situations we will do everything possible to minimise any extra costs involved – in the vast majority of cases no extra charges will be made. If a problem does occur while you are travelling you can contact us on our 24 hour number. We will do everything in our power to rectify the problem immediately rather than allow it to spoil your trip.

Detailed travel documents

Approximately two to three weeks before you travel we will send you all your travel documents presented in a convenient travel organiser. As well as your full itinerary and travel documents, there will also be additional information such as recommended restaurants and practical tips. A few days before you travel your specialist will call you to have a final talk through your itinerary and answer any last minute questions you may have.

Responsible travel

We have a firm commitment to minimising the environmental and social impact of travel, and strive to ensure that a visit from an Audley client has a positive effect on the destination. We have a firm commitment to the principles of ‘responsible travel’ and have been awarded AITO 5 star status (the highest achievable) for our policies and practises. We continue to work with AITO, and a number of other bodies, to improve our policies. For more details please refer to our website (www.audleytravel.com/rt) where you will find details of our responsible travel policy and also our Travellers’ Code. If you are particularly interested in these issues, your country specialist will be able to tell you more. Legal liability

We are a UK company and hence must fully comply with English law. When booking with us you can rest assured that your arrangements are carefully planned as we have a reputation to maintain and are legally liable for any omissions or negligent acts. You may not find you have this level of reassurance if you make your own travel arrangements independently.

[

Introduction to China

Introduction to the region 11

Key facts:

Population: 1344.13 million

Land area: 9.60 million square kilometres

Major languages spoken: Mandarin (Chinese), Yue

(Cantonese) and Wu (Shanghainese)

Currency: Chinese Yuan (also known as Renminbi)

Time difference: GMT+8 hours

Capital city: Beijing

Introduction

Home to more than a billion people and a thousand landscapes, China's beauty and contradictions have fascinated visitors since the days of Marco Polo and the Silk Route. It is the relics of 3,000 years of history - the Great Wall, the Forbidden City and the Terracotta Army - that draw us in, and the magical landscapes we discover that capture the soul and make us long to return.

Eternal China finds its contrast in the futuristic Olympic park built for the 2008 Beijing Olympics, and the modern metropolises of Shanghai and Hong Kong. Embracing the global economy at a breakneck speed whilst clinging to a communist and Confucian past makes for one of the most fascinating societies in the world, and nowhere else can offer such diversity of people, places and history, or show us such marvels of man-made and natural splendour.

Vehicles in China There are a wide variety of vehicles available in China, some of good quality, some of not so good quality. In major cities, Audley's clients can expect as a minimum to be driven in clean, well-maintained vehicles of five years or less in age, all equipped with seat belts. There are a few areas where this is not the case, which are detailed below. Typically, the kind of vehicle used for two people is a mid-sized saloon such as a Volkswagen Santana or (Chinese brand) Red Flag. The only exceptions to this are Shanghai, Guilin and Huangshan, where people carriers are generally used, typically a Hyundai Refine. These types of vehicles are also used throughout China for groups of three to five people.

In the city of Chengdu, vehicles may be up to six years old; in more remote locations such as Yunnan and Xinjiang (for the Silk Route) vehicles may also be older and not in such good condition.

In most locations, larger and more luxurious vehicles are available - please ask your country specialist for more details if you would like to upgrade your vehicle.

Volkswagen Santana and Hyundai Refine

Beijing

J F M A M J J A S O N D

Avg Max Day Temperature (0C)

Avg Min Night Temperature (0C)

Avg Hours of Sunshine

Monthly Rainfall (mm) 2 4 7 18 29 65 152 143 42 18 7 2


12 Introduction to the region

Dunhuang






Kashgar






Introduction to Kyrgyzstan


Key facts:


Land area: 199.90 thousand square kilometres

Major languages spoken: Kirghiz, Uzbek and Russian

Currency: Kyrgyzstan Som

Time difference: GMT + 6 hours

Capital city: Bishkek

Introduction

Kyrgyzstan is perhaps the friendliest of the new Central Asian republics. The people here, largely Kyrgyz but with sizeable Russian and Uighur minorities, are extraordinarily welcoming and warm. There are some truly memorable experiences to be had throughout the country, right from the moment you arrive. Bishkek, the leafy capital, sits at the foot of the impressive Alatau range with the superb Ala-Archa Canyon nearby. To the east lies one of the world's deepest alpine lakes, Issyk-Kul, which never freezes over and provides the main coastal towns with a pleasant climate. Further south, a smaller lake, Song-Kol, occupies what many say is the country's most beautiful spot, with nomadic yurts dotted around its edge. From Song-Kol south is one of the world's grandest journeys: across the mighty Torugart Pass into western China. In the southwest lies the ancient caravan town of Osh with its kaleidoscopic bazaar. As if all that wasn't enough, in the northeast, accessible only by helicopter, is one of the greatest glaciers on earth, Inylchek, squashed between Khan Tengri and Pik Pobedy.

Travel in Central Asia - what to expect When thinking of travelling to any Central Asian country, it is important to bear in mind that despite best laid plans, things can sometimes change, often at the last minute and sometimes whilst you are en route. Flight schedules in this part of the world are subject to cancellations, meaning we may have to rearrange your itinerary accordingly. Hotels can have a somewhat cavalier attitude to reservations and occasionally cancel confirmed reservations at the last minute, meaning we have to source alternative accommodation. This is something that happens rarely, but nevertheless can happen. We will always try to source alternative accommodation of a similar standard.

In addition, you should bear in mind that Central Asia is very much a developing area and one that is, moreover, remote, with difficult terrain. This is, to an extent, part of the attraction of visiting the region, but you should be prepared for a small amount of discomfort, and for the fact that there are very few hotels of more than a three star standard throughout the region. If you are prepared for this, the region will more than reward with its stunning scenery, friendly people and fascinating history and culture.

You should be aware that all domestic airlines that operate in Kyrgyzstan have been put on an aviation blacklist by the European Union (EU) as a result of an International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) audit. The airlines on this list are banned from operating within the EU, as the EU has concluded that they are operating below essential safety levels. In the majority of cases we are able to use alternative airlines which are registered outside of Kyrgyzstan and are therefore not affected by the ban. If we are not able to do this, then you will be informed accordingly. If you do not want to use any of these airlines and there are no alternatives available, then we will not be in a position to provide this itinerary. The majority of travel insurance policies are not affected by the EU banned list, but it is essential that you check this with your insurance provider.

We take a serious approach to our clients’ health and safety and abide by the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) guidelines. We do not send clients to places that the FCO advise against, whether that is a whole country or part of a country, and we minimise risk by designing itineraries that avoid regions or areas which pose significant safety concerns. You can stay fully informed of any political unrest, crime and health issues by visiting www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice (UK citizens) or http://travel.state.gov/content/passports/english/country/kyrgyzstan.html (US citizens) before travelling. Your country specialist will also be happy to offer personalised advice based on your trip and the areas you are visiting.

Bishkek






Introduction to Kyrgyzstan


Karakol






Naryn






Introduction to Uzbekistan


Key facts:


Land area: 447.40 thousand square kilometres

Major languages spoken: Uzbek, Russian and Tajik

Currency: Uzbekistan Som

Time difference: GMT+5 hours

Capital city: Tashkent

Introduction

The Silk Route, perhaps the most important trade artery in world history, is more accessible to the senses than anywhere else in Uzbekistan. Thankfully, it is no longer necessary to don a disguise and to bring greetings from the Queen in order to experience the cities of Khiva, Samarkand and Bukhara. They are more welcoming to travellers now than at any time in their long history. Writers and poets have eulogised at length about these cities over many hundreds of years, but truly nothing compares to seeing the great monuments of this fascinating region at first hand; and they are unlikely to disappoint. Colourful majolica, intricate brick-work and soaring minarets come together in structures of epic proportions, whilst traders barter endlessly in chaotic bazaars. There is another, parallel, history here: of Russian imperialism and Soviet control, both of which have left their strong imprints on Uzbek society - in the lingua franca, in the new cities and, most of all, in the ethnic mix of the country, from Uzbeks, Tajiks and Turkmen to Germans, Koreans and Kurds.

Travel in Central Asia - what to expect When thinking of travelling to any Central Asian country, it is important to bear in mind that despite best laid plans, things can sometimes change, often at the last minute and sometimes whilst you are en route. Flight schedules in this part of the world are subject to cancellations, meaning we may have to rearrange your itinerary accordingly. Hotels can have a somewhat cavalier attitude to reservations and occasionally cancel confirmed reservations at the last minute, meaning we have to source alternative accommodation. This is something that happens rarely, but nevertheless can happen. We will always try to source alternative accommodation of a similar standard.

In addition, you should bear in mind that Central Asia is very much a developing area, and one that is remote, with difficult terrain. This is, to an extent, part of the attraction of visiting the region, but you should be prepared for a small amount of discomfort, and for the fact that there are very few hotels of more than a three star standard throughout the region. If you are prepared for this, the region will more than reward with its stunning scenery, friendly people and fascinating history and culture.

We take a serious approach to our clients’ health and safety and abide by the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) guidelines. We do not send clients to places that the FCO advise against, whether that is a whole country or part of a country, and we minimise risk by designing itineraries that avoid regions or areas which pose significant safety concerns. You can stay fully informed of any political unrest, crime and health issues by visiting www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice (UK citizens) or http://travel.state.gov/content/passports/english/country/uzbekistan.html (US citizens) before travelling. Your country specialist will also be happy to offer personalised advice based on your trip and the areas you are visiting.

Bukhara






Khiva








Samarkand







18 Photographs of the region

Top: Terracotta Warriors, Xian

Left: Forbidden City, Beijing

Lower left: Mingsha Singing Sand Dunes, Dunhuang


Photographs of the region 19

Top: Madressah domes

Left: Xian skyline from Little Goose Pagoda

Right: Dunhuang, China

Itinerary in Detail

20 Itinerary in Detail

Thursday 07 September, 2017

London Heathrow to Istanbul Terminal: 1 Turkish Airlines - Flight No: TK1986 - Dep: 16:30 - Arr: 22:15 - (same day) - Duration: 10hr 05min; Class: Economy; Non-stop flight

Friday 08 September, 2017

Novotel Peace Hotel, Beijing Breakfast is included

Forbidden City, Beijing

Istanbul Terminal: I to Beijing Terminal: 3 Turkish Airlines - Flight No: TK 20 - Dep: 01:05 - Arr: 15:05 - (same day) - Duration: 09hr; Class: Economy; Non-stop flight

Beijing introduction Although the earliest records show that Beijing had settlements around 1,000BC, the city itself has only been China’s capital for the past 700 years. As the country's political and cultural centre, and with a population of over 15 million people, Beijing is a very active, rapidly changing city. The capital is a tourist paradise, providing a vast array of historical and religious sites along with masterful architecture, demonstrating both the artistic and cultural side of China.

Unfortunately, Beijing's transport infrastructure hasn't yet caught up with its rapid development, and travelling in Beijing can be a cause of frustration due to the high volume of traffic in the city. The new metro line has eased the situation slightly, but it's still best to be prepared for traffic jams. When compiling itineraries in Beijing, we do our best to ensure sightseeing follows the most logical routing to keep the time sitting in traffic to a minimum.

The Forbidden City

Meet and greet your local guide at the airport Group tour meet-and-greet service at the airport You will be met by a local guide at the airport.

Transfer from airport to hotel Group tour transfer with your guide Transfer from the airport to your hotel.

Welcome Peking Duck Dinner Group tour dinner with your guide No visit to Beijing would be complete without trying the traditional Beijing Duck feast. In the evening you will be taken to the Hua Jia Yi Yuan Restaurant which specialises in Chinese duck cuisine. A variety of dishes will be served, the most famous being duck-filled pancakes with plum sauce. Vegetarians can also be catered for.

Itinerary in Detail

Itinerary in Detail 21

Saturday 09 September, 2017

Novotel Peace Hotel, Beijing Breakfast is included

The Great Wall at Simatai

Visit to the Forbidden City Group tour excursion with an English speaking guide The transfer to your hotel will take in a visit to the Forbidden City.

Closed to the world for over 500 years, and home to emperors from the Ming and Qing Dynasties, the Forbidden City is a truly fascinating place. The buildings are mostly empty as most of the contents have now been removed and placed in museums. However, the architecture and history of the city provides a detailed insight into the curious lives and customs of the past emperors who ruled from within its walls. The curators of the site usually hold extensive exhibitions that showcase various elements of the Forbidden City's magnificent past, such as its opulent jewellery or staggering art. The vast site is filled with stunning treasures and intricately detailed, magnificent architecture, making a visit to the Forbidden City a once in a lifetime experience.

Rooftops in Forbidden City in Beijing

Excursion to the Great Wall at Jinshanling Group tour excursion with English speaking guide Built over the course of two thousand years to defend against the ‘barbarians’ of the north and west, the wall is extremely well preserved in some sections, less so in others. There are several sections open to the public and we opt for a visit to the quieter section at Jinshanling, which though further from Beijing (approximately two hours' drive), offers the visitor a far more atmospheric and impressive experience. It's quite possible that you won't see anyone else at this section; certainly you will avoid the coach parties of visitors at other sections such as Badaling, approximately one hour from Beijing.

You will be driven out of Beijing on a good quality expressway, arriving at the Wall one to two hours later. Once there, it is a walk of around 20 minutes up to the wall itself, up some gentle steps. You will have plenty of time on the wall itself to walk a little way along, see some of the turrets, take photographs and generally take in some of the spectacular views of the wall snaking over the horizon. Your guide will also tell you some of the history of the wall and its construction.

You will also enjoy a Chinese lunch served at a local restaurant in Jinshanling.

Itinerary in Detail


Great Wall of China at Jinshanling

Sunday 10 September, 2017

Mercure Hotel, Xian Breakfast is included

The Little Goose Pagoda, Xian

Transfer from hotel to station Group tour transfer with your guide You will be transferred from your hotel to the station for your train journey today.

Train journey Beijing to Xian Group tour train journey accompanied by your tour leader The high-speed train from Beijing to Xian takes between five and six hours, depending on its departure time. There is designated space to store your luggage on board and the journey is a good way to see some of the countryside between the two cities.

Bullet train, Beijing

Beijing to Xian By Train Train: G651 - Dep: 07:00 - Arr: 12:52 - (same day) Class: Economy Class

Xian introduction Xian (or Chang'an as it was originally known) is China’s ancient capital, and the starting point of the Silk Road. Though it has faded from prominence since the halcyon days of the Tang dynasty, it remains the pivotal centre of politics, economy and culture for northwest China.

Xian is the capital of Shaanxi Province and boasts a population of eight million. A

Itinerary in Detail


small percentage of its people are Islamic, and the mosques and markets hidden in the back streets of the Muslim Quarter make up one the city’s most interesting attractions.

The city is one of only a handful in China that retains their original city walls, dating back to the time of the first Ming emperor, Hong Wu. Despite these other attractions, however, Xian remained a relative backwater until the unearthing of the Terracotta Army in the early 1970s. It now draws visitors from all over the world, and rates as one of China’s most celebrated destinations.

The Bell Tower, Xian

Transfer from station to hotel Group tour transfer with a local guide You will be transferred from the station to your hotel.

Terracotta Warriors excursion Group tour excursion with an English-speaking guide Leaving the city, visitors drive to the area where the army was first discovered in 1974. What was finally unearthed proved to be one of the 20th century’s greatest archaeological finds, and ranks with the Great Wall and the Forbidden City as one of China’s most potent images. During years of excavation, rank after rank of life-size terracotta warriors were discovered, each unique, built over 2,000 years before to guard the tomb of Emperor Qin Shihuang. In the brief and tyrannical 14 year reign of the Qin dynasty, Emperor Qin Shihuang succeeded in unifying the Chinese empire for the first time, beginning the construction of the Great Wall and producing a tomb of such scale that even now new vaults are waiting to be unearthed. Such was the cruelty and severity of his regime, however, that he was soon overthrown, making way for the Han dynasty, which was to last for 400 years.

After seeing the army, a small film is viewed in a 360 degree auditorium. The film depicts life during the Qin dynasty, with battles and ceremonies reconstructed, giving visitors a fascinating insight in to the period. The Terracotta Warriors are viewed around the edges of the vast pit. Plaques explain the intricate detail of the warriors, horses and chariots. After the discovery of the main army, two more chambers were discovered, which are also on display.

Itinerary in Detail


Terracotta Army

Monday 11 September, 2017

Silk Road Dunhuang Hotel, Dunhuang Breakfast is included

Bell & Drum towers Group tour excursion with your guide Xian's Bell and Drum Towers date back to the 14th century and were both moved and rebuilt in the 1700s. Traditionally the Bell Tower was used to ring in the dawning of a new day and the Drum Tower nightfall.

Transfer from hotel to airport group tour transfer with your guide

Xian to Dunhuang China Eastern Airlines - Flight No: MU2215 - Dep: 12:30 - Arr: 15:00 - (same day); Class: Economy Class; Non-stop flight

Dunhuang introduction Between the southern Gobi desert and the Taklamakan, lies Dunhuang. Its relative isolation over the centuries has made it a repository of cultural treasure, and also an important oasis for traders along the Silk Route. Both the southern and northern Silk Routes essentially converge at Dunhuang - in one direction it was the last provisions stop before Hami or Cherchen, and in the other direction, a sign that the great Han cities of the east were not far away.

There are two principal reasons to come here, with some interesting side trips for those with more time. About 25 kilometres southeast of Dunhuang, between the sand dunes and the western reaches of the Qilian Mountains, are the Mogao Caves. Inside, are some spectacular frescoes, most well over 1,000 years old. There has been restoration here, but much of what is visible is original.

Some of the caves were used by fleeing White Russian soldiers as temporary accommodation - look out for the blackened sections, resulting from the soldiers' cooking fires. Also near Dunhuang are some enormous sand dunes known as the Singing Mountains. Around the town are some interesting excursions to the Western Thousand Buddha Caves, the Yumen Pass and Yadan Geological Site.

The city itself is small and neat, with a good selection of shops, cafés, restaurants and views of the sand dunes.

Itinerary in Detail


Dunhuang, China

Transfer from Aiport to Hotel Group tour transfer Transfer from the airport to your hotel.

Tuesday 12 September, 2017

Silk Road Dunhuang Hotel, Dunhuang Breakfast is included

Mingsha sand dunes, Dunhuang

Excursion to Mingsha Mountains and Mogao caves Group tour excursion About four kilometres out of town, and visible throughout the region, are the mighty sand dunes known locally as the Mingsha Mountains. The highest dune here reaches 1715 metres, though the majority of visitors seem to prefer to look up at the peaks rather than down from them. The morning light on the dunes as the sun rises is a superb sight. Camel rides are available here, from the dunes to the small Crescent Moon Lake, which has never dried up. It is a photogenic spot, prompting thoughts of archaeologists struggling through the shifting sands searching for lost cities - though you should be aware that it is becoming increasingly popular with domestic tourists.

You will also visit the Mogao Caves. Here you will find some of the finest examples of Buddhist art in the world. There are over 4000 square metres of murals to savour, though the most rewarding visits take in around seven or eight of the best caves, where you will be guided by one of the site's qualified guides. Photography is not allowed inside the caves (or, indeed, anywhere within the site), but you can buy a book on the caves from the museum on site. The best caves are probably those dating from the Tang period, when this region was at its zenith. A couple of the caves house large statues of the Buddha - one, at over 34 metres high, is one of the world's tallest.

Wednesday 13 September, 2017

Huozhou Hotel, Turpan Breakfast is included

Visit to the Town Museum Group tour with your vehicle, driver and guide You will visit the museum in Dunhuang with your guide.

Transfer from Hotel to Airport Group tour transfer Transfer from your hotel to the airport.

Itinerary in Detail


Mosque, Urumqi

Dunhuang to Urumqi China Southern Airlines - Flight No: CZ6896 - Dep: 16:35 - Arr: 18:15 - (same day); Class: Economy Class; Non-stop flight

Urumqi introduction This shiny new city has risen seemingly from nowhere, in only a few decades. There have been settlements in the region for some considerable time, but the evidence of this is presumably buried beneath the skyscrapers and office blocks of Xinjiang's capital. The population is around 40% Chinese, with also some Kazakhs and Uighurs. For those contemplating China's meteoric rise, this is an interesting place.

The capitalist boom has been built largely on the back of oil and minerals, and has spread across a city clearly hungry for growth and investment. There are only a few places of real interest for tourists, apart from the Xinjiang Provincial Museum, which is rightly regarded as the best museum west of Dunhuang.

Urumqi

Drive from Urumqi Airport to Turpan Group tour transfer The drive from Urumqi to Turpan passes through some barren and rocky desert scenery. There are good views along the ridge of the northern Tian Shan, and later the road passes right through the middle of an enormous wind farm. In total the drive takes about three hours.

Turpan introduction Turpan sits inside the world's second lowest depression. It is the hottest town in China, and receives almost no precipitation. However, there is plenty of water underground, flowing down from the Tian Shan glaciers. This incredible irrigation system is unique to central Asia and, these days, can be seen only in Afghanistan, Iran and western China. An interesting exhibition on the local karez, all 5,000 kilometres of them, can be seen on the outskirts of town - next to a large area of grape vines, which thrive in the local climate.

Nearby, is the austere and majestic Emin Minaret and mosque, made entirely of mud brick. Sights out of town include the rather forlorn Bezeklik caves, the Flaming Mountains and the superb ruined cities of Gaochang and Jiaohe. Also worth a look is the local bazaar, which has a fascinating section devoted to birds - the local Uighurs are famous pigeon fanciers and look terribly serious as they weigh up the merits of each specimen.

Itinerary in Detail


Jiaohe ruins, Turpan


Huozhou Hotel, Turpan Breakfast is included

Bezeklik, Turpan

Excursion to Tuyaq Valley and the Tombs of Astana Group tour excursion The Tuyaq Valley snakes its way through the flaming mountains, contrasting the scorched, sun-blemished mountain scenery with the lush green of the oases that flow through it. The valley is eight kilometres long and your walk will take you along its steep sides. From the car park you will first pass through a small Uighur village, past a mosque and then you will follow the southern bank of the valley. From here the path crosses a stream and a waterfall before following a boardwalk and the northern bank for another 10-15 minutes. The path finally rises steeply to a small collection of grottoes, which you may be able to see if there is someone on hand to open the gates. Once again, it is the scenery en route, not the frescoes, which is the highlight.

The village itself is a wonderful example of the sleepy way of life here in the heat of rural Xinjiang. You may well be asked to look around some of the villagers' houses, which is a lovely opportunity to learn more about the way of life here. Built from clay, the houses are warm in the winter and cool in the summer, although during the summer months most villagers move their beds outside to sleep in the fresh air. There are no mosquitoes here, and no chance of rain, which makes this an excellent option!

After visiting the Tuyaq Valley, you will head to the Astana tombs around 35 kilometres east of Turpan. The complex itself consists of three tombs which are open to tourists, each accessible by a flight of stairs leading to the chamber, which is about six metres underground. Of particular note is the last tomb you come to, which holds the mummified bodies of two local dignitaries which have been amazingly preserved due to the searing heat and lack of moisture.

Itinerary in Detail


Tuyaq Valley, Turpan, China

Excursion to Jiaohe Group tour excursion You will return to Turpan for lunch and then this afternoon head to Jiaohe.

The ruins of Jiaohe are arguably the best within the Turpan region, although they usually avoid the large numbers of tourists that Gaochang attracts. The ruins themselves are of an ancient garrison town that was established by the Chinese Buddhists during the Han dynasty. Towards the end of the 13th century and the beginning of the 14th century it was invaded and finally taken over by Muslims, who nevertheless left the Buddhist temple and pagoda standing. The town was eventually decimated by the might of Genghis Khan, however, the outlines of buildings and the city walls remain. Combining this with the fact that it is located in an excellent spot between two rivers makes for a pleasant afternoon excursion.

Jiaohe ruins, Turpan

Excursion to Bezeklik and the Flaming Mountains Group tour excursion The Flaming Mountains were first described so by a Chinese monk, Xuan Zang, who passed through the region. It formed the basis of his classic book 'Journey to the West'. They do vaguely look like they are on fire through the midday heat haze and are quite photogenic. Also in the area are the caves at Bezeklik; a number of

Itinerary in Detail


grottoes dug into the mountainside which contain several Buddhist murals. The history of this site is quite sad as the frescoes here were robbed, vandalised then painted over - all in the last 100 years. The scenery outside, however, is marvellous, so for this alone it is worth the journey.

Excursion to Bezeklik and the Flaming Mountains,Turpan


Barony Hotel, Kashgar Breakfast is included

Kashgar musician

Transfer from Hotel to Urumqi Airport Group tour transfer You will be transferred from your hotel to Urumqi Airport for your onward flight.

Urumqi to Kashgar Sichuan Airlines - Flight No: 3U8525 - Dep: 12:40 - Arr: 14:30 - (same day); Class: Economy Class; Non-stop flight

Kashgar introduction Just where you least expect it, sandwiched between a vast sand sea and some of the world's highest mountains, lies Kashgar, one of the greatest cities along the Silk Route. The initial shock of seeing a drab new Chinese city soon turns to wonder at the sights found within the Uighar portion of the town. Uighar style homes and labyrinthine alleyways sprawl outwards from the central mosque - the second largest in China. Local craftsmen make Central Asia's finest musical instruments, hawkers push trolleys laden with fruit through the streets, old men with long grey beards 'aksakals' sip tea on carved wooden balconies and everywhere the sound of money changing hands. This is China's 'Wild West', with a culture unrelated to the rest of the country. Indeed from Kashgar it is a shorter distance to Turkey than to Beijing. The prime attractions are some beautiful and moving tombs, a large and venerable mosque and, most of all, one of the great markets of the world.

Itinerary in Detail


Kashgar, China

Transfer from Airport to Hotel Group tour transfer You will be transferred from the airport to your hotel.

Kashgar City Tour Group tour excursion The old part of town is an intriguing place. Much of it is caught in a seemingly eternal time-warp, to the chagrin of the Chinese authorities, who want to knock the whole place down. Indeed, there is very little left now of the traditional residential districts. The surviving streets are, however, very atmospheric. Particular sights worth seeing include Id Kah Mosque - standing since 1442, and some ancient sections of the medieval city walls. Near to the city is a beautiful and moving mausoleum to a local missionary, Abakh Hoja. The tile work here is amongst the best in western China.

Kashgar

Itinerary in Detail




Spice stall, Kashgar market

Excursion to the Mo'er Pagoda Group tour excursion Around 30 kilometres to the north east of Kashgar sits the Mo’er Pagoda, an ancient Buddhist structure which dates back to the 7th century. This is part of an ancient ruined city within the Shule Kingdom, where monks and Buddhist pilgrims lived to come and worship at the pagoda. The city walls were around three kilometres long, although very little of this remains today. The pagoda itself is 12 metres tall and is comprised of three layers. The journey out to the pagoda will take around an hour each way.

Lunch with a local family Group tour excursion The predominant population in most parts of Xinjiang is the Uighur minority. Uighur people are Muslim, and can trace their history back over two millennia to nomads in the vicinity of Lake Baikal. While visiting a Uighur family at their home, you’ll have the opportunity to learn more about their culture, religion, and lifestyle through impromptu discussions. Weather permitting, you’ll dine outdoors under a grape trellis, and feast on a traditional, home-cooked meal.

Afternoon at leisure



Kashgar market

Kashgar Sunday Market Group tour excursion There's nothing like it to the east and little to rival it to the west. The town's population swells by more than 80,000 on Sundays - usually far more. These unquantifiable hordes - of Uighur, Kazakh, Pakistani, Afghan, Chinese, Dungan, Kyrgyz, Mongol and Russian complexion - put together one of China's most engaging spectacles.

In the livestock section, on the outskirts of town, goats, sheep, cows, donkeys and horses get put through their paces by buyers looking for something special - or just a trusty old beast for the apple cart - whilst 'middle-men' - ever on the make - busy themselves with the closing of deals. In the second section the stalls sprawl for more than 2 kilometres through the town.

When looking around the bazaar it is important to remember that it is primarily for local consumption. Local tastes change over time and although 20 years ago - when the livestock bazaar was the main event - you could feel yourself at the ends of the earth, this is now unlikely to be the case. There is still the frisson of excitement at seeing large crowds of Uighur men, all in traditional clothing, haggling over a particularly fine cow, but you are just as likely to see T-shirts, pots and pans and spare tyres on sale now. The magic of the event is as a focal point for southwest Xinjiang and the adjoining countries - Pakistan and Kyrgyzstan in particular.

Itinerary in Detail


Traditional goods for sale


Hotel Khan Tengri, Naryn Breakfast is included

At Kashgar market

Transfer Kashgar to Naryn via Torugart Pass Group tour transfer with border crossing This overland journey, one of the grandest in Central Asia, is a memorable way to depart China. It wasn't so long ago that the trip was rendered impossible for various political reasons, but it is now open season on the Torugart. The brief grace period between the heavy snows allows all kinds of traffic across - including tourists. Precaution should be the byword of the trip. Even if the weather is crystal clear on leaving Kashgar you should take warm clothes, sun cream, sunglasses and water. As you cross the border in to Kyrgyzstan, the landscape opens up in to a vast, grassy plateau surrounded by snow-capped mountains. Look out for golden eagles and Himalayan vultures circling high on the thermal air currents and the ubiquitous and endearing marmot scampering for cover as you drive past.

Beyond the Chinese immigration post, the road is mostly gravel and you should expect a bumpy 3 hours or so until the road climbs steeply up to the Torugart Pass at 3,752 metres. The Kyrgyz side of the pass is bumpier still as the rubble road crosses the plateau on a journey of around 5-6 hours to Naryn.

Naryn introduction Naryn is locally famous for its shyrdaks (felt carpets), although the prices tend to be higher here. Some of the surrounding mountain scenery is starkly beautiful, with the best light just after dawn.

Along Naryn road, Kyrgyzstan

Itinerary in Detail



Hotel Amir, Karakol Breakfast is included

Altyn Arashan,. Karakol

Naryn to Karakol via Jeti Oghuz Group tour transfer This long journey takes you through the Tian Shan towards Issyk Kul, Kyrgyzstan's famous alpine lake. You'll drive via the Jeti Oghuz valley, which winds gently upward with steep wooded hillsides regularly giving way to open, yurt-dotted pasture used by local shepherds during summer for grazing their flocks of sheep and goats and herds of horses. If approached with your guide, most local people will be happy to stand and chat and show you the inside of an authentic yurt. In a spirit of hospitality they are likely to want to share their kymyss (fermented mare's milk) with you also, so be warned!

After your stop in Jeti Oghuz you'll continue towards Karakol, only 30 minutes away. When you reach the lake you head along the southern shore to the eastern town of Karakol. Provided the weather is clear, the mountains on the southern shore are perhaps more beautiful - and certainly more stark - than those on the northern shore.

This will be a very long day in total.

Karakol introduction Located at the eastern tip of Lake Issyk-kul, Karakol is the largest town in the area and the administrative hub of the region. Around the town are the apple orchards for which the area is famous, and beyond these the snow-capped Terskey Alatau mountains cut the horizon. The main reason to come here is the superb scenery nearby, with trekking and horse-riding possibilities as well as multiple opportunities for photography. In the town itself there are a few sights of interest, including a peculiar mosque that looks like a Chinese temple and a pretty Orthodox Church that fills up on Sundays. The mosque is made of wood and uses no nails whatsoever. On Sundays Karakol has one of the region's more interesting markets. Local farmers, often wearing traditional 'kelpek' hats, pop down, trailing a few goats or cows, and fill up a field on the north edge of town.

Karakol, Kyrgyzstan


Silk Road Lodge, Bishkek Breakfast is included

Karakol to Bishkek via the southern shore of Lake Issyk-Kul Group tour transfer This will be another lengthy drive of around seven hours as you take the road south of Lake Issyk-Kul back to Bishkek.

Itinerary in Detail


Karakol, Kyrgyzstan

Bishkek introduction This is Kyrgyzstan's financial and political capital, and the country's international face. The city is small and manageable, and no less striking for that. Taking a walk around sometimes feels like strolling through a forest with a few buildings here and there. The city's inhabitants are a friendly bunch, and in the evenings, locals can be seen promenading along the central streets.

The main attractions of the city are its size and lack of pretension, as well as a couple of fine museums, and a beautiful Russian cathedral. Also here, are the enormous 'Osh' bazaar and a giant statue of Lenin, that someone has clearly forgotten to remove! It is in the capital where the greatest ethnic mix can be found: Kyrgyz, Russians, Koreans, Uighurs, Kazakhs and Dungans all seem to mingle quite happily.

Bukhara, Bishkek


Wyndham Tashkent, Tashkent Breakfast is included

Ala Archa, Bishkek

Bishkek City Tour Group tour excursion A tour of this congenial capital makes for an interesting and relaxing day. Although there is nothing to compare to some of Central Asia's more famous destinations, the city can offer a poignant National History Museum, with exhibits on Kyrgyz victims of Stalin as well as some interesting displays on Kyrgyz applied arts. Also worth seeing are some of the Soviet-era relics that remain - such as Lenin's giant statue defiantly pointing at the nearby parliament building, and the old department store, Zum. Bishkek's main market, confusingly called the Osh Bazaar, sprawls across the centre of the city with hawkers selling everything from fake brand-name clothes to sheep's heads. The State Museum of Fine Arts is the place to go for fans of Kyrgyz 'shyrdak' rugs. The Orthodox church is worth a visit too, and is a moving and fascinating experience.

Itinerary in Detail


Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan

Transfer from Hotel to Airport Group tour transfer You will be collected from your hotel and taken to the airport in time for your flight.

Bishkek to Tashkent Uzbekistan Airways - Flight No: HY780 - Dep: 18:40 - Arr: 19:00 - (same day); Class: Economy; Non-stop flight

Tashkent introduction Virtually flattened in an earthquake in 1966, Tashkent has now been rebuilt and is the capital of the most interesting of the Central Asian countries. Although most buildings date back to the Soviet era, if you venture into the old part of the city you may be surprised at the culture and history that remains. The skyline is dominated by concrete apartment blocks decorated with traditional Uzbek motifs, but on the ground you will find parks, monuments, tree-lined avenues and an interesting older town with a vibrant market and shady courtyards. Particular points of interest here include the country's finest museums, the Alisher Navoi Opera House and the fascinating Soviet-era Metro stations, all with art-deco designs (and the trains are on time).

Independence Square, Tashkent, Uzbekistan

Itinerary in Detail


Transfer from Airport to Hotel Group tour transfer You will be transferred from the airport to your hotel.


Hotel Malika, Khiva Breakfast is included

Minaret at Kukeldash Madrassa, Tashkent

Transfer from Hotel to Airport Group tour transfer You will be transferred from your hotel to the airport.

Tashkent to Urgench Uzbekistan Airways - Flight No: HY1055 - Dep: 07:40 - Arr: 09:20 - (same day); Class: Economy; Non-stop flight

Urgench introduction With little to interest the visitor and unspectacular accommodation and restaurants, many westerners wonder why they have made the effort to travel to Urgench. On visiting nearby Khiva, they realise that the journey was worthwhile. Urgench is best used as a transport hub to explore this less visited area of the country.

Khiva, Uzbekistan

Urgench to Khiva Group tour transfer The drive from Urgench to Khiva takes around 30-45 minutes, travelling along a good surfaced road. As you approach Khiva the road passes through residential areas before winding around and through the old city walls to arrive in the old town itself.

Khiva introduction Uzbekistan's western flank forms the Autonomous Republic of Karakalpakstan. This hot dry region bordering Turkmenistan is home to a fascinating history, under the Khans of Khorezm, typified by the walled city of Khiva. The name itself is most often associated with slavery, in this case of Russians, who were captured within the boundaries of the khanate and taken to the walled city as indentured labourers. This rather sordid historical episode has a lighter end; many slaves were freed by the surprising intervention of two British officers, Lieutenant Richard Shakespear and Captain James Abbott. Other activities for which the khanate was known include the rather harsh use of minarets as execution towers, plus some interesting forms of punishment for transgressors of local law. Attractions in Khiva are

Itinerary in Detail


numerous, including the superbly preserved and renovated city walls and dozens of mosques and medressas. The city is particularly atmospheric in the evening when the sun begins to dip; the fading light makes for some beautiful photography.

Man in Madrassah

Exploring Khiva Group tour excursion Khiva is a walker's town, with most of the monuments within a short distance of each other. The Ichon Qala citadel, its giant defensive wall dominating the skyline, marks out the old town from the new town, which sprawls out towards the desert on all sides. For most visitors the citadel walls are a place of fascination in their own right. Starting at the West Gate your guide will take you to the chief points of interest. First up are the Kalta Minor minaret and the Mohammed Amin Khan Medressa. The former is a stunning example of majolica techniques and looks slightly eccentric due to being left unfinished. Also nearby are The Ark - with a charming display on dungeons in a side room - and the Mohammed Rakhim Khan Medressa, a lovely building often overlooked by large tour groups. A look inside the Juma mosque is worthwhile - the pillars here support the huge ceiling without artificial assistance. An interesting building to the north is the Tosh-Khovli Palace - the former royal harem - with stunning tile work and some interesting design motifs. The highlights to either side of the central street include the Pahlavon Mohammed Mausoleum and the Islom-Huja mosque and minaret. The latter is Khiva's highest point and, if you can climb all 118 steps, you will be rewarded with a panoramic view of the town and the desert beyond.

Itinerary in Detail


Khiva, Uzbekistan


Minzifa Hotel, Bukhara Breakfast is included

Khiva, Uzbekistan

Khiva to Bukhara Group tour transfer The journey from Khiva to Bukhara is a long and hot one through the Kyzyl Kum desert - one of the world's most inhospitable places. There are animals here, and you may occasionally catch sight of some - including monitor lizards and eagles - but generally there is not an awful lot to see along the way. It is possible to stop and take a photo of the Oxus River (Amu Darya) and, from the road, there are one or two colossal gas refineries. Otherwise, drink plenty of water and relax for what is usually an eight or nine hour journey.

Bukhara introduction Bukhara, Central Asia's holiest city, is also one of its most manageable. Most of the hotels and guesthouses are dotted amongst the well-preserved old town and the principal monuments of interest are almost all within walking distance of each other. There is an informal saying about Bukhara - that two visits here are worth one to Mecca - and you can see why. There are more than one hundred officially preserved monuments, including medressas, mausoleums, mosques, minarets and a handful of caravanserais. Indeed there is so much to see that one day is simply not enough. Due to the old town's separation from the new city next door Bukhara has a wonderfully laid-back atmosphere.

Bukhara, Uzbekistan

Itinerary in Detail



Minzifa Hotel, Bukhara Breakfast is included

Bukhara, Uzbekistan

City tour of Bukhara Group tour excursion The sheer quantity of sights here means most visitors cannot see everything. The true highlights of the city are detailed below, though if you know exactly what you want to see, feel free to make suggestions to the guide.

One of the city’s most recognisable monuments is the Kalon mosque and minaret complex. Climbing up this 46 metre ornamental minaret rewards you with a stunning view over the whole city and the biggest Friday mosque in Bukhara. The minaret has stood for 850 years. It was, unbelievably, spared by Genghis Khan and later bombed by the artillery of the Red Army Commander Mikhail Frunze. Around 150 metres away is the Ark, an ancient citadel that was the home of the rulers of the region for more than 1,000 years. The Emirs who ruled from here were infamous for their depraved regime and the summer palace, on the edge of town, shows evidence of their elaborate lifestyle. Other recommended sights include the famous four-domed Chor Minor, the Spring of the Prophet Job, and the Ismail Samani Mausoleum - one of the most beautiful monuments in Central Asia. One fascinating addition to a city tour is the small Jewish synagogue just south of the Lyabi Hauz. There have been Jews living in Bukhara for more than 800 years and their dwindling community is centred around this building.

Bukhara mosque and minaret complex


Hotel Sultan Boutique, Samarkand Breakfast is included

Bukhara, Uzbekistan

Bukhara to Samarkand (via Shakhrisabz) Group tour transfer From Bukhara, the road veers off toward Termez. Just south of the Zerafshan Mountains and within sight of the Fan Mountains is Shakhrisabz, the birthplace of Tamerlane. The monuments in this town are a testament to the glorious architecture that flowered in the region in Tamerlane's time. They may also remind some visitors of Shelley's poem Ozymandias - the giant statue of Tamerlane alongside the ruins of what he built certainly makes for an interesting comparison. Perhaps the most poignant sight is the tomb of the tyrant's beloved eldest son, Jehangir. After Shakhrisabz, the drive to Samarkand is remarkably scenic.

Including your time in Shakhrisabz, this will be a full day, arriving in to Samarkand late in the afternoon.

Itinerary in Detail


Hairpin bend on the road to Shakhrisabz

Samarkand introduction Sandwiched between desert wastes and the High Pamir, and drained by the Zerafshan River, Samarkand is, undoubtedly, one of the greatest cities of the Orient. A brief rollcall of some of the city's many visitors reveals the importance of the place: Alexander the Great, Genghis Khan, Babur, Tamerlane, Ulughbek and Marco Polo. There is, perhaps, nowhere better in central Asia to see the sweep of human history.

The Registan ensemble, the finest public square in the world, according to Lord Curzon, dominates the Old Town, along with the gigantic proportions of Bibi Khanym Mosque. A short walk away lie the old street of tombs, the Shahr-i-Zindah, and the remains of the ancient city conquered by the Macedonians over 2,000 years ago. Elsewhere, there is a fine and colourful bazaar, and the ornate splendour of Tamerlane's tomb at Gur Emir.

Shah-i-Zindah, Samarkand, Uzbekistan


Hotel Sultan Boutique, Samarkand Breakfast is included

Samarkand City Tour Group tour excursion Unlike Bukhara, where walking from site to site is possible, Samarkand's attractions are spread right across the city. Starting in the centre, the Mosque of Bibi Khanym dominates the skyline. It was once the biggest mosque in the world and has been partially rebuilt with UNESCO's help. Inside is an enormous Qur'an stand, under which women yearning for lots of children are reputed to crawl, seeking heavenly

Itinerary in Detail


The Zerafshan Mountains between Samarkand and Shakhrisabz

help. Not far away from here, set back from the street, is the Registan Square. It is indescribably beautiful - a monument to majesty covered in majolica tiles of awesome complexity and craftsmanship. The square is made up of three buildings, one of which dates back to the early 15th century. High up on the façade of the Sherdor Medressa are two giant lions - though the artists had clearly never seen any before - flouting, in a very public way, Islamic doctrine on the depiction of live animals. About a kilometre west is Gur Emir, the mausoleum of Tamerlane. The atmospheric interior is covered in golden tiles with inscriptions proclaiming the status of the occupant. The large slab of jade that marks the tyrant's tomb is, by convention, simply a headstone, with the body buried in a separate chamber below.

Heading east you come to the Old Town with its tangled alleyways and hidden courtyards. Extending along the northern side of the Old Town is the Shahr-i-Zindah, one of the city's main cemeteries. Standing on either side of a preserved medieval street here are some exquisite mausoleums, with majolica patterns and colours that are quite distinct from anything else in the country. Heading along the Tashkent road out of town you come to Samarkand's best archaeological sight - Marakanda. This was the city that the Macedonians conquered more than 2,000 years ago and is now an open archaeological dig, occasionally used as goat pasture by local shepherds. To the north lies the tomb of Daniel - he of the lion's den - and, a little further away, the Ulughbek Observatory, the remains of a massive astrolabe used to determine the precise position of the stars.

Samarkand majolica tilework


Wyndham Tashkent, Tashkent Breakfast is included

Earthquake memorial in Tashkent, Uzbekistan

Samarkand to Tashkent Group tour transfer From Samarkand the road skirts the Pamir Mountains, marking a natural border with Tajikistan, before pushing through some arid, flat scrubland to Tashkent. The journey usually takes between four and five hours.

Half day tour of Tashkent Group tour excursion Tashkent sprawls in all directions from its focal point, Amir Temur Square. It is here that you can see Uzbekistan's curious elevation of Tamerlane to national hero. The tyrant's defiant posture atop a huge horse is certainly engaging. In the evenings the square fills up with chess players, who will happily play anybody. From here looking west is the Zerafshan - a popular jumble of cafés, restaurants and shops. At the other end of this is a fascinating sight - the last palace of the Romanovs in Central Asia. The building was abandoned to the Bolsheviks during the revolution and, for that reason alone, retains considerable atmosphere. Unfortunately you can't go inside - it is now used, ironically enough, by the Uzbek Foreign Ministry. On the other side of the stadium is the ankhor - Tashkent's central canal. You are

Itinerary in Detail


highly likely to see boys and men of all ages leaping in and out of this fast-flowing channel during the hotter months. Along the banks are some very pleasant tea houses - chaykhanas in Uzbek - where you can find shade and a fresh pot of the local brew.

One of the finest ways to get around the city is by using the Metro. The style throughout is very Moscow circa 1937, though the oldest stations were constructed only 40 years ago. It is not clear which parts are original and which parts have been renovated, though some stations - in particular, Alisher Navoi and Amir Timur - are very fine indeed. Near the latter is Tashkent's pretty opera house, with nightly performances between September and May.

The museums in Tashkent are the best in the country. For carpets and fabrics the best place is the Fine Arts Museum of Uzbekistan, swiftly followed by the Museum of Applied Arts. For those interested in the Soviet era the Geology Museum is an interesting visit. The structure itself, and the staff inside, are so utterly Soviet you would think you were in some sort of time warp. Inside you can find mineral and rock samples from all over Central Asia, as well as a complete dinosaur skeleton. Near here is the national parliament and concert hall - though neither are of any distinction.

Older attractions in the city include the Kukeldash Medressa, a fine old pile near the bazaar, and Khast Imom, home to what is thought to be the world's oldest extant Qur'an.

Kukeldash Madrassa, Tashkent

Farewell dinner Group tour dinner As tonight is your last night on the group tour, you'll be taken to a local restaurant for a farewell dinner with your tour leader.


Transfer from Hotel to Airport Group tour transfer You will be transferred from your hotel to the airport.

Tashkent Terminal: 2 to Istanbul Terminal: I Turkish Airlines - Flight No: TK 371 - Dep: 03:10 - Arr: 06:25 - (same day) - Duration: 05hr 15min; Class: Economy; Non-stop flight

Itinerary in Detail


Istanbul Terminal: I to London Heathrow Terminal: 2 Turkish Airlines - Flight No: TK1979 - Dep: 07:55 - Arr: 10:05 - (same day) - Duration: 04hr 10min; Class: Economy; Non-stop flight

Important Notes

• Flight times and the daily order of sightseeing are subject to change. • Transfer times are approximate and subject to local conditions at the time of travel. • All flight times are local.

Accommodation

44 Accommodation

OUR ACCOMMODATION GRADING SYSTEM

Your accommodation is described on the following pages. Please do not hesitate to call us if you require any further information about any of the properties. We classify accommodation into the following categories. These are for your guidance only, they are based on the opinions of our staff and are therefore quite subjective.

Basic: Very primitive accommodation where we are not aware of anything better in the region.

Simple: Clean and simple but limited facilities.

Medium: A good standard of accommodation, reasonable range of facilities.

First Class: A high standard of accommodation with a wide range of facilities.

Deluxe: Superb accommodation with facilities and service to match.

Opulent: The world’s most unashamedly luxurious hotels, resorts and lodges.

Accommodation

Accommodation 45

NOVOTEL PEACE HOTEL, BEIJING First Class

The Novotel Peace Hotel is a four star joint-venture hotel, located in the very heart of Beijing’s famous Wangfujing shopping district, and close to Tiananmen Square. The 344-room hotel offers all the usual facilities visitors expect, including a variety of restaurants serving Chinese and European cuisine, and even a Korean barbecue.

Our opinion: A long-standing Audley favourite, the Peace Hotel has an ideal location in the bustling Wangfujing shopping and entertainment district, and is walking distance from Tiananmen Square and the Forbidden City. Rooms here are comfortable and spacious, making this an excellent choice.

MERCURE HOTEL, XIAN Medium

The Mercure Hotel is a comfortable, elegantly appointed hotel, situated ideally on the grounds of Renmin Square. In total, there are 103 rooms, each with modern facilities, and tastefully decorated. Guests can also make use of the facilities of nearby Sofitel Hotel. Our opinion: The Mercure is positioned in a great location, as part of a complex of five hotels.

Accommodation

46 Accommodation

SILK ROAD DUNHUANG HOTEL, DUNHUANG Medium

Located on the edge of town, overlooking the dunes of the Gobi Desert, the Dunhuang Silk Road Hotel offers probably the best quality accommodation in the area. The hotel has a roof top cafe with panoramic views of the desert. Rooms are beautifully decorated to reflect the character of the region and both the cafe and the restaurant offer good, reasonably priced food.

Our opinion: Whilst there are new hotels being built in the area, this hotel offers some of the best accommodation in the area in great surroundings. The breakfast bar offers fantastic views over the sand dunes that make this hotel very special.

HUOZHOU HOTEL, TURPAN Medium

This is the best hotel option in Turpan, centrally located by an attractive lakeside park, plenty of restaurants and the Turpan Museum. This is a hotel typical of provincial China and not a particularly inspiring place to stay, though is currently the best option.

Our opinion: This hotel is the best option for accommodation in Turpan but serves rather poor quality food for breakfast and dinner.

Accommodation

Accommodation 47

BARONY HOTEL, KASHGAR Medium

This hotel was originally built for oil executives who needed to overnight in the town. The rooms are comfortable with adequate bathrooms. Hotel facilities include a simple spa and two restaurants. On our last visit we couldn't find a hotel that was better in the town, though it's best not to expect too much!

Our opinion: This is a basic quality hotel so it's best not to expect too much, it is however the best quality hotel in the city that we can find.

HOTEL KHAN TENGRI, NARYN Simple

This simple hotel is new to Naryn and is comfortable enough for an overnight stay with no frills in this remote part of Kyrgyzstan. It's in a quiet area, a short walk from the town centre, and has good views of the mountains surrounding Naryn. The rooms are large but basic, with western facilities. The hotel also has a traditionally decorated restaurant in an adjacent building, which offers local and western dishes.

Accommodation

48 Accommodation

HOTEL AMIR, KARAKOL Medium

A new and distinctive hotel designed in Switzerland and owned by a Swiss couple, the hotel is starkly different to anything else you are likely to encounter in Kyrgyzstan, being of modern European style. The hotel has Internet access and English-speaking staff, and there is also a nice terrace where you can enjoy a drink whilst watching the sun go down.

SILK ROAD LODGE, BISHKEK Medium

In a suburb of Bishkek, within walking distance of the National Parliament, is this 3-star hotel. The facilities and rooms here are basic but nicely done, with plenty of space for those in the middle of a long journey.

Accommodation

Accommodation 49

WYNDHAM TASHKENT, TASHKENT Medium

The centrally-located Dedeman Hotel, offers amongst the best quality accommodation in Tashkent. Rooms are international business style and of a reasonable size, though those front facing can be a little noisy. Other hotel facilities are smart and modern, with a good quality breakfast buffet available.

Our opinion: Room quality at this hotel can be a little disappointing compared with the lobby and exterior renovations. Having said that, it's still one of the best quality accommodations on offer in the city.

HOTEL MALIKA, KHIVA Medium

This hotel is superbly situated, just 50 metres away from the west gate of the Ichon Qala, and is the best hotel in town. The rooms are simple and comfortable, surrounding an indoor courtyard. The restaurant here serves up a mixture of Uzbek and Turkish food, and occasionally puts on performances of traditional music.

Accommodation

50 Accommodation

MINZIFA HOTEL, BUKHARA Medium

This beautiful boutique hotel, situated to the south of the Lyabi Hauz pond, is a restored former merchant's home. As with much of the old Jewish Quarter, some of Bukhara's best houses were here, and many are now opening their doors to visitors.

The rooms are en suite, and have satellite television, and the hotel has a small restaurant and an ayvan - Uzbek colonnaded terrace.

HOTEL SULTAN BOUTIQUE, SAMARKAND Medium

This is a pleasant boutique hotel, built in 2014, located next to Gur Emir Mausoleum and an easy walk away from the Registan. Decorated in a traditional Uzbek style, the hotel has 17 rooms.

The hotel's rooftop terrace offers fantastic views of Gur Emir Mausoleum and is a great place to relax in the evening after a busy day's sightseeing.

Charity support

Charity support 51

Audley has been supporting carbon reduction projects through Friends of Conservation since 2005 and in addition to this each individual department also supports a charity of their choice with a yearly financial donation. This charity is one that is close to their hearts and the team often chooses to fundraise to add to this amount. Please ask your specialist if you would like to find out more as in most instances they will have visited the charity themselves, or one of their colleagues will have. The Christina Noble Children’s Foundation and Audley’s Contribution

The Christina Noble Children's Foundation (CNCF) is dedicated to helping children in need with education, medical care, social opportunities and job placement. Located in the country’s capital, the foundation conducts outreach work in and around Ulaan Bataar offering housing for poor and single parent families as well as medical care, shelter and schooling for street children. In 1997 the foundation established a permanent centre here with the aim of creating a stable home for as many orphaned children as possible. Today the charity’s ‘Sunshine Ger Village’, boasts a number of residential gers (the traditional felt tent of the Mongolian people) and other facilities which serve as a stable home for 60 children and young adults ranging in age from 2 to 24 years old. Each residential ger is staffed by an adopted ger mother, often a single parent herself, who creates a loving home for all of the children within her care. At school age the children are enrolled alongside their peers at the local district school: learning within the community and gaining vital qualifications for later adult life. Children below school age attend the Foundation’s kindergarten, constructed in 2002 on land adjacent to the ger village. The kindergarten also serves the wider community and provides invaluable pre-school education to children of local families.

Our contribution

As part of their outreach work in the capital CNCF also administer the ‘Give a Ger’ fund, an emergency fund established to provide families in danger of becoming homeless with a secure and comfortable place to live. This has proved an essential lifeline for many in a country which is renowned for its particularly harsh winters where temperatures drop as low as -40C, conditions which often drive whole families beneath the city’s streets as they find refuge in central heating pipes and vents. In 2008 our department made a £500 donation to the charity which bought a ger for a nomadic family who had been living in what can only be described as a primitive hut in the heart of the city’s slum district. In 2009 we decided to strengthen our support for the charity by committing our annual donation to sponsor a child through his secondary education. Delgerbat is an, ambitious 15 year old young man who we have been supporting through the Christina Nobel Children’s Foundation Child sponsorship programme. We donate an annual amount to the foundation each year which goes towards ensuring that he is able to attend school and provides the funds for his family to purchase the supplies he needs. Delgerbat is from a single parent family and when we started to sponsor him, he, his mother and his older sister were surviving on less than $100 a month and were living in a run-down rented ger on the outskirts of Ulaan Bataar. The sponsorship money has helped to ensure that he continued to attend school and as a result he has flourished, learning Chinese and Russian and taking pleasure in reading, becoming the class librarian. He has always had high hopes, when we first met him, through the foundation’s annual reports, he just wanted to be the boss, now he hopes to be an economist, an ambition which we wholeheartedly hope he realises. If you would like further information please speak to your specialist or visit www.cncf.org

General information

52 General information

Travel insurance It is advisable to take out your travel insurance at the time of booking your trip as cover will commence for pre-departure cancellation from the policy issue date. This will, therefore, provide cover should you have to cancel your trip for an insured reason such as illness or serious accident.

We strongly recommend that you and all members of your party are adequately insured, providing financial protection against unforeseen circumstances. Cover should include medical expenses and repatriation in the event of accident or illness. In addition, we strongly recommend that you have cover for personal belongings, delay at your outward or homeward point of departure, personal liability, overseas legal expenses and cancellation. If you are undertaking any sports or adventurous activities, including trekking, on your trip you should also make sure that your policy covers these. Please also ensure you read the policy conditions and exclusions.

The type of trips we create and the requirements of Audley clients vary greatly. We have therefore listed below a number of companies who offer policies which may suit these varying requirements. You can find links to the companies' websites, at www.audleytravel.com/insurance. Other companies and policies are also available. We are unable to provide you with more detailed information and you should contact the company concerned directly for this. Please note this is general information only. We are not providing any specific advice on travel insurance or recommending any particular policy or insurer.

Trips of up to £5,000 pp A large number of companies offer insurance policies which include cover for cancellation charges of up to the full holiday cost.

Trips over £5,000 pp It can be more challenging to get insurance which includes cover for cancellation charges of up to the full holiday cost for higher value trips. A number of companies do, however, offer such policies. Thomson (in partnership with AXA) (0845 366 2212) offer cancellation cover up to £20,000 per person, American Express (0800 232 277) offer cancellation cover up to £12,500 per person and Insure and Go (0844 888 2787) offer cancellation cover up to £7,500 per person.

This information can also be found on our website www.audleytravel.com/insurance with links to the insurers’ websites.

Clients over 65 years of age Many companies now offer cover to people over 65 years of age. However, if you are finding it difficult to get cover you could try Age UK (0845 600 3348) or Saga (0800 015 0757) both of whom currently have no upper age limit on their policies. See also the companies referred to under pre-existing medical conditions below. This information can also be found on our website www.audleytravel.com/insurance with links to the insurers’ websites.

Pre-existing medical conditions If you have a pre-existing medical condition, there are a number of companies that may be able to help you. P J Hayman / Free Spirit (0845 230 5000) will consider most pre-existing medical conditions and they have no upper age limit on single trip policies. Age UK (0845 600 3348) and Insure and Go (0844 888 2787) will also consider a number of pre-existing conditions and may be able to help. Cancer Travel Insurance Services (0845 880 0163) specialise in travel insurance for people with non-terminal cancer and have no upper age limit on their policies. This information can also be found at www.audleytravel.com/insurance with links to the insurers’ websites.

Non-UK residents If you are not a UK resident you will usually need to get insurance in your country of residence. Some insurance companies, such as Columbus Direct (0845 888 8893), will consider policies for non-UK residents. This information can also be found on our website www.audleytravel.com/insurance with links to the insurers’ websites.

Once you have a travel insurance policy in place, please let your specialist know who your insurance company is and your policy number.

The above information is provided in good faith and is correct to the best of our knowledge. No liability is, however, accepted for any errors and all information must be checked directly with the insurance company.

Financial security We hold an Air Travel Organiser's Licence (ATOL) issued by the Civil Aviation Authority (ATOL number

4817). All the flight-inclusive holidays* that we provide are financially protected by the ATOL scheme. When you pay, you will be supplied with an ATOL Certificate. Please check to ensure that everything you booked is listed on it. Please see our booking conditions for further information about financial protection and www.atol.org.uk/ATOLCertificate for further information on the ATOL Certificate. *The flight inclusive holidays we arrange are ATOL protected providing they are made available in the UK. For further information, visit the ATOL website at www.atol.org.uk

Not all holiday or travel services offered and sold by us will be protected by the ATOL scheme. Those package arrangements which are not protected by our

ATOL are covered by ABTOT, the Association of Bonded Travel Organisers Trust. This insurance means your money will be refunded or you will be returned to the starting point of your contracted arrangements if already abroad in the unlikely event of our being unable to provide your holiday due to our insolvency. (For more details please see Section 12 of the Terms and Conditions.) In these instances you will not receive an ATOL certificate with your invoice. Health It is essential that you see your GP or a travel clinic before booking your trip and before travelling to make sure that you have taken all the necessary health precautions. Some vaccinations require more than one visit with a period of weeks between injections. You should visit your GP at least six weeks before departure. For up to date medical advice you may wish to use the Medical Advisory Service for Travellers Abroad (MASTA).

MASTA Traveller’s Health Brief Before travelling abroad, you can visit www.masta-travel-health.com to obtain a ‘Health Brief’ specifically tailored to your journey. Your brief will give information about immunisations and malaria as well as any Foreign Office advice and the latest health news.

General information

General information 53

Other health information services are available, including www.nathnac.org and www.fitfortravel.nhs.uk

Deep vein thrombosis (DVT) The majority of international airlines now issue advice on how to lessen the risk of DVT, however, if you have any concerns, we recommend that you consult your doctor.

Pre-existing medical conditions/Disabled passengers It is essential that you advise us before booking if you have any disability or pre-existing medical condition which may affect your holiday, or any special requirements as a result of any disability or medical condition (including any which affect the booking process) so that we can assist you in considering the suitability of the arrangements and/or making the booking. It will also enable us to make sure you receive the relevant level of assistance when you fly. Full details must be confirmed in writing at the time of booking and whenever any change in the condition or disability occurs. You must also promptly advise us if any medical condition or disability which may affect your holiday develops after your booking has been confirmed. The nature of many of the destinations we travel to means that in the majority of cases they are unsuitable for those who are wheelchair-bound or have a lack of mobility. We will be delighted to discuss the feasibility of creating a tailor-made itinerary for you that takes into consideration your level of mobility. On our escorted group tours the Tour Leader is, unfortunately, unable to offer additional assistance to passengers with limited mobility and all such assistance will need to be provided by whoever the passenger is travelling with. We may request that you provide a letter from your doctor confirming your fitness to travel.

High altitude Your itinerary may include sections where the altitude exceeds 10,000 feet (3,048 metres). If you suffer from circulation, heart or respiratory problems we advise that you consult with your doctor before confirming your booking.

Smoking Airlines do not permit smoking on the aircraft. At the request of the majority of our clients we do not allow smoking on any form of transport used for our escorted group tours. Stops are regularly made where you will be able to smoke. For smokers travelling on a tailor-made tour we request that you check with your driver or guide whether smoking is permitted in the vehicle. Health and safety standards Each country has its own regulations and enforcement levels relating to health and safety standards. These do not always match the very high standards we are used to in the UK. We therefore recommend that you follow a few precautionary safety procedures. Always check where the nearest fire exit is and how to raise the fire alarm. Do not enter a swimming pool before checking the water depth first. For more suggestions please see the Important Information section in your Travel Organiser. Passport and visa information for British Citizens Passengers must hold a passport which is valid for at least six months following the return date of your holiday. British passport holders (full British Citizens) currently require visas, in advance of travel, for the following destinations featured in our brochures and on our website: Australia, Bhutan, Burma, China, Cuba, India, Kenya, Mongolia, Papua New Guinea (also available on arrival), Russia, Tanzania, Tibet, Uganda, the USA*, Uzbekistan and Vietnam**. Visas may be required for other countries but can be arranged on arrival. * British Citizens travelling to the USA require an ESTA – please speak to your specialist for more information ** Visitors to Vietnam can obtain a visa on arrival but require a letter of authorisation from ourselves – please speak to your specialist We are normally able to obtain visas on your behalf, please ask for details at the time of booking. Non-British passport holders should check with the relevant embassies as visa requirements may be different to those of British passport holders. It is your responsibility to ensure you have the correct documentation and visa stamp(s) for all sectors of your journey. Failure or inability to obtain all required visas for whatever reason does not entitle you to cancel without paying the applicable cancellation charges.

Travel advice The Foreign and Commonwealth Office Travel Advice Unit monitors all overseas destinations and offers advice to British travellers. In order to be fully informed of safety issues, crime rates, political stability and local customs you can view the advice at www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice. Flights and airlines The difference between a direct flight and a non-stop flight can cause confusion. To clarify, on a direct flight no change of aircraft is scheduled but touchdowns will be made en route either to refuel or to board or disembark passengers. On non-stop flights no change of aircraft is required and no stops are made en route. Exact details of your route will be given in your itinerary.

Premium Economy, Business and First Class If you require business or first class flights these can be arranged on most airlines at very competitive rates. Premium economy can be arranged on certain airlines, please call us for details.

Specific seat requests We will do all we can to try to reserve a specific seat for you, if you have a preference. However, whilst airlines may allow us to request seats, they will not guarantee any specific seat reservation. If this is important to you, it is always best to arrive for your flight early, regardless of having made this request in advance. Please make it clear on your booking form if you have a specific request.

Flight amendments We generally use special ‘inclusive tour’ fares when we purchase your air tickets from the airlines. While these fares are very good value they are inflexible in terms of changes and offer no refunds once the tickets are issued. Once your flight is confirmed the airlines will charge an amendment fee or insist on the purchase of a completely new ticket if you make changes.

Internal flights Smaller local airlines are often more likely to change their schedule at short notice. We will endeavour to inform you of any changes in advance of travelling but this may not always be possible.

General information

54 General information

Frequent Flyer Clubs If you collect points through any of the airline frequent flyer clubs please provide your membership details on the booking form and we will ensure that these are recorded against your flight reservation. Please note that on some of our specially negotiated ‘inclusive tour’ fares points are not always awarded. Carbon offsetting Please let your specialist know if you would like to carbon offset your flights. We work with Friends of Conservation (FOC) and all offsetting payments are donated through them. For more details visit www.audleytravel.com/offset. The suggested contributions are based on the approximate levels of CO2 expended on an average flight, with the cost per tonne of carbon taken from industry averages. Flight information previously provided by TICOS, now part of Beyond Carbon. UK airport hotels, car parking and lounges We are able to arrange airport hotel accommodation, car parking, meet and greet services and airport lounge access in the UK, subject to availability. To arrange any of these services please call us on 01993 838 051. Hotel information There is often confusion over the terminology used for bed arrangements in hotel rooms. A ‘double’ is recognised as meaning a room with a double bed, this may be two single beds pushed together. A ‘twin’ is a room with two single beds. Please note that all rooms are allocated at the discretion of the hotel and cannot be guaranteed.

Single rooms Single rooms tend to be smaller than double or twin rooms, however, many hotels do not have single rooms, in which case you will be allocated a twin or double room. Special dietary requirements Special diets should be requested on the booking form; however, it is unrealistic to expect special diets to be catered for in some of the destinations we feature. We will advise the hotels and airlines of your request but we cannot guarantee their availability. If you have an airborne nut allergy you must make us aware at the time of booking as most airlines require this information in advance of travel.

Accuracy of information We thoroughly check all the information that is included within our brochures, website and individual tour itineraries, however, changes do occur and errors are occasionally made. Airlines may change their schedules, roads may close and government regulations may alter. Should there be any changes to the travel arrangements you have booked we will do our best to keep you informed of the situation prior to departure. Travel in the developing world Many of our destinations are in the developing world where attitudes, infrastructure, priorities, lifestyles and cultures are very different from our own. This is often the very reason to visit the destination but certain aspects may be frustrating. We always advise that the first thing you should pack is your sense of humour. This can prove invaluable when travelling over rougher roads, waiting for a delayed aircraft and communicating with hotel staff whose first language is not English. Data Protection Act We will hold your name, address and any other details you supply us with on our database. This information will be used to make your travel arrangements and to send you information about Audley Travel. In order to make your travel arrangements we will need to pass your details to companies and individuals outside the EU where less stringent data protection controls may be in place. We will not pass on your details to third parties for any other purposes. AITO Quality Charter: The Association of Independent Tour Operators

AITO is the Association for independent and specialist holiday companies. Our member companies, usually owner-managed, strive to create overseas holidays with high levels of professionalism and a shared concern for quality and personal service. The Association encourages the highest standards in all aspects of tour operating. Exclusive membership AITO sets criteria regarding ownership, finance and quality which must be satisfied before new companies are admitted to membership. All members are required to adhere to a Code of Business Practice which encourages high operational standards and conduct.

Financial security An AITO member is required to arrange financial protection for all holidays and other arrangements (including accommodation only) booked by customers with the member under the AITO logo. This financial protection applies to customers who are resident in the UK at the time of booking and to most overseas customers who have booked directly with the member. In doing so, the member must comply with UK government regulations. Members are required to submit details of their financial protection arrangements to AITO on a regular basis Accurate brochures and web sites All members do their utmost to ensure that all their brochures and other publications, print or electronic, clearly and accurately describe the holidays and services offered. Professional service and continual improvement All members are committed to high standards of service and believe in regular and thorough training of employees. Members continually seek to review and improve their holidays. They listen to their customers and always welcome suggestions for improving standards. Monitoring standards AITO endeavours to monitor quality standards regularly. All customers should receive a post-holiday questionnaire the results of which are scrutinised by the Association. Sustainable tourism All Members acknowledge the importance of AITO’s Sustainable Tourism ethos, which recognises the social, economic and environmental responsibilities of tour operating. Customer relations All members endeavour to deal swiftly and fairly with any issues their customers may raise. In the unlikely event that a dispute between an AITO member and a customer cannot be settled amicably, AITO’s low-cost Independent Dispute Settlement Service may be called upon by either side to bring the matter to a speedy and acceptable conclusion. Audley Travel is a member of the Association of Independent Tour Operators. To contact the Association, visit www.aito.com or call 020 8744 9280.

Terms and conditions

Terms and conditions 55

Please read the following conditions carefully. All holidays are sold by us subject to these conditions and the other general information in this booklet, our brochures and quotations.

Audley Travel Group Ltd (whose administrative offices are at New Mill, New Mill Lane, Witney, Oxon OX29 9SX) are members of the Association of Independent Tour Operators. Audley Travel Group Ltd (hereafter referred to as ‘we’, ‘us’, ‘our’) offers a number of products and the trading names we use are ‘Audley’, and ‘Audley Travel’. In these Terms & Conditions, ‘you’ and ‘your’ means all persons named on the booking, or any of them as applicable (including anyone who is added or substituted at a later date).

Your contract with us and all matters arising out of it are governed by English law. We both agree that any dispute, claim or other matter which arises out of or in connection with this contract or your holiday, will be dealt with by the AITO Arbitration Scheme - see clause 9 or the Courts of England and Wales only unless, in the case of Court proceedings, you live in Scotland or Northern Ireland. In this case, proceedings may be brought in the Courts of your home country. If proceedings are brought in Scotland or Northern Ireland, you may choose to have your contract governed by the law of Scotland/Northern Ireland as applicable. If you do not so choose, English law will apply. 1. Paying for your holiday (i) The procedure for making a booking is shown in your itinerary quotation and on our website. All bookings are subject to these terms and conditions and by asking us to confirm your booking, and by paying a deposit, the person who makes the booking is taken to have accepted these booking conditions on behalf of all persons named on the booking. Once we have received the applicable payment(s) due at the time of booking (see below), we will, subject to availability of the requested arrangements, send you your invoice. It is at the point when we issue this to you that a valid contract will come into existence between us. Please check your confirmation/invoice and all tickets/documents carefully as soon as you receive them and contact us immediately if you think any details are incorrect. We regret we cannot accept any liability if we are not notified of any inaccuracies (for which we are responsible) in any document within ten days of our sending it out (five days for tickets).We will do our best to rectify any mistake notified to us outside these time limits but you must meet any costs involved in doing so.

(ii) The deposit is part payment of the holiday. The deposit required will be shown on the quotation page of your itinerary. In addition to the deposit, full or part payment of certain elements of your holiday (such as flights) may be required at the time booking or at some point between booking and balance due date. Also see clause I (iv). The deposit and all such additional payments are non-refundable except as set out in clause 4. The balance must be paid not later than the date specified on the invoice. This is normally no less than 8 weeks before the departure date. However, there are a few destinations or trip components that require payment no less than 90 days before the departure date which will be specified on your invoice and quotation. Please note if we do not receive all payments due (including any surcharge where applicable) in full and on time, we are entitled to assume that you wish to cancel your booking. In this case, we will be entitled to keep all amounts paid or due at that date. If we do not cancel straight away because you have promised to make payment, you must pay the cancellation charges shown in clause 3 depending on the date we reasonably treat your booking as cancelled. (iii) Full payment is required at the time of booking for all bookings made after balance due date as above. (iv) On occasions, we may be asked by suppliers to make payment to them earlier than normal. Such requests may, for example, be made in order to secure accommodation and other services during periods of peak demand. Whilst suppliers may have no contractual right to make such requests, failure to comply with them may result in the loss of confirmed arrangements. Where this situation arises, we reserve the right to ask you to make payment of the requested sum within a stipulated period and prior to balance due date. We will of course endeavour to avoid doing so if we can. Any such early payment will be non refundable except as set out in clause 4. (v) If you are booking your holiday through one of our authorised travel agents the balance must be paid to the agent two weeks prior to the applicable balance due date as specified on the invoice and quotation. All payments made to one of our authorised travel agents for the arrangements

we have contracted to provide will be held by them on our behalf. If you book your holiday through a travel agent who is not a member of ABTA, all payments must be made to us directly and not your travel agent. 2. If you change your holiday If, after the contract between us has come into existence, you want to change your holiday we will do our best to pass your request to the relevant supplier, however we cannot guarantee that such changes can be made. Where a change can be made, we will charge for any additional costs incurred including any costs imposed or incurred by any of our suppliers, and including for example cancellation charges that may be incurred for sectors cancelled. You should note, for example, that a change of name on or other alteration to an airline ticket will usually incur a 100% cancellation charge and full rebooking fee. 3. If you cancel your holiday If you have to cancel part of the booking or cancel the entire booking once it has been confirmed by us, written notification must be sent to us by recorded delivery post or by email. As proof of receipt by email of your notification to cancel you must receive and retain written acknowledgement from Audley Travel. Charges will be applied from the date the letter is received, or the email is acknowledged by Audley Travel, according to the scale below. The charges are applied as a percentage of the total holiday cost excluding any amendment charges and any amounts paid in addition to the deposit at the time of booking or before balance due date (see clauses 1(ii) and I(iv)) which are non-refundable in the event of cancellation. The following cancellation charges apply if your final balance due date is 8 weeks prior to departure. Please note, different cancellation charges apply in relation to certain products – please see your quote for details. Period before departure Cancellation date within which written Charge notification is received at Per Person our offices Up to balance due date Deposit only Balance due date-43 days 30% 42-29 days 60% 28-3 days 90% Within 2 days 100% Alterations or cancellations by you after commencement of travel and unused services We will do our best to implement any changes to your arrangements you request once they have commenced, but we cannot guarantee this will be possible. In the event of such amendments being made you will be liable for any cancellation charges that may be levied for the services originally booked, and for the cost of booking the revised arrangements and the arrangements themselves. As a basic principle, no refunds will be paid to clients who do not complete a tour. However where we ourselves are able to obtain a refund from hotels or principals for services not used, we will pass this on to you, less any reasonable administration charges. THE IMPORTANCE OF TRAVEL INSURANCE If you have taken out holiday insurance you may, depending on the detail of your policy, be able to recover the cancellation charges, check your policy for details. Never travel without insurance, the unexpected can always happen. It is your responsibility to ensure you are adequately covered by insurance for all elements of your trip. Please read your policy and take it on holiday with you. 4. If we change your holiday We start planning the holidays we offer many months in advance. Occasionally, we have to make changes to and correct errors in itineraries and other details both before and after bookings have been confirmed and cancel confirmed bookings. Whilst we always endeavour to avoid changes and cancellations, we must reserve the right to do so. However, we promise we will only cancel your confirmed booking after balance due date where you have failed to comply with any requirement of these booking conditions entitling us to cancel (such as paying on time) or where we are forced to do so as a result of ‘force majeure’ as defined in clause 5 below. We will not cancel after this date for any other reason. Most changes are minor. Occasionally, we have to make a ‘significant change’. A significant change is a change made before departure which, taking account of the information you give us at the time of booking and which we can reasonably be expected to know as a tour operator, we

can reasonably expect to have a major effect on your holiday. Significant changes are likely to include the following changes when made before departure; a change of accommodation to that of a lower official classification or standard for the whole or a major part of the time you are away*, a change of accommodation area for the whole or a major part of the time you are away, a change of UK outward departure time or overall length of time you are away of twelve or more hours, or a change of UK departure airport to one which is more inconvenient for you (except as between Gatwick and Heathrow). *Please note: A change affecting a stay in a hotel during a tour where the hotel itself is not the focus of the tour, does not constitute a significant change. If we have to make a significant change or cancel, we will tell you as soon as possible. If there is time to do so before departure, we will offer you the choice of the following options:- (a) (for significant changes) accepting the changed arrangements or (b) purchasing an alternative holiday from us, of a similar standard to that originally booked if available. Please note: Due to the original and individual nature of our holidays it frequently may not be possible to offer you a comparable holiday to that originally booked. (c) cancelling or accepting the cancellation in which case you will receive a full and quick refund of all monies you have paid to us. You must advise us of your decision within 7 days of the date on which we notified you of the significant change or cancellation. Please note, the above options are not available where any change made is a minor one. A minor change is any change which, taking account of the information you have given us at the time of booking or which we can reasonably be expected to know as a tour operator, we could not reasonably expect to have a significant effect on your confirmed holiday. If we have to make a significant change or cancellation we will pay you the compensation set out below subject to the following exceptions. Compensation will not be payable and no liability beyond offering the above mentioned choices can be accepted where (1) we are forced to make a change or cancel as a result of unusual and unforeseeable circumstances beyond our control, the consequences of which we could not have avoided even with all due care or (2) we have to cancel because the minimum number of bookings necessary for us to operate your holiday has not been reached - in this case we will notify you no less than 60 days before departure. Please note: all escorted group trips are based on group arrangements involving a given minimum number of passengers. No compensation will be payable and the above options will not be available if we cancel as a result of your failure to comply with any requirement of these booking conditions entitling us to cancel (such as paying on time). Period of notification of Compensation change before scheduled per person departure date More than 60 days Nil 60-43 days £10 42-29 days £20 28-15 days £30 14-0 days £40 In the unlikely event that we become unable to provide a significant proportion of the services you have booked after you depart, we will make alternative arrangements for you at no extra charge, or, if this is impossible, or you do not accept these alternative arrangements for a good reason, we will provide you with transport back to the point where your holiday arrangements with us commenced. If we are forced by ‘force majeure’ (see clause 5) to change or terminate your holiday after departure but before the scheduled end of your time away, we regret we will be unable to make any refunds (unless we obtain any refunds from our suppliers), pay you any compensation or meet any costs or expenses you incur as a result except as set out above. 5. Force majeure Except as set out in these terms and conditions, we cannot accept liability or pay any compensation where the performance or prompt performance of our contractual obligations is prevented or affected, or you otherwise


56 Terms and conditions

suffer any loss or damage (as more fully described in clause 7 (i) below) as a result of circumstances amounting to ‘force majeure’. In these terms and conditions ‘force majeure’ means any event or circumstances which we or the supplier of the services in question could not foresee or avoid even with all due care. Such events and circumstances may include, whether actual or threatened, war, insurrection, riots, strikes, civil action, decisions by governments or governing authority, technical or maintenance problems with transport, changes of schedules or operational decisions of air carriers, terrorist activity, industrial action, natural or nuclear activity, epidemics/pandemics, adverse weather conditions, fire and all similar events outside our control. 6. Surcharges Once the price of your chosen holiday has been confirmed at the time of booking, we will only increase or decrease it in the following circumstances. Price increases or decreases after booking will be passed on by way of a surcharge or refund. A surcharge or refund (as applicable) will be payable, subject to the conditions set out in this clause, if transportation costs (e.g. fuel, scheduled airfares and any other airline surcharges which are part of the contract between airlines (and their agents) and the tour operator) or dues, taxes or fees payable for services such as landing taxes or embarkation or disembarkation fees at ports or airports change. Even in the above cases, only if the amount of the increase in our costs exceeds 2% of the total cost of your holiday (excluding any amendment charges), will we levy a surcharge. If any surcharge is greater than 10% of the cost of your holiday (excluding any amendment charges), you will be entitled to cancel your booking and receive a full refund of all monies you have paid to us (except for any amendment charges) or alternatively purchase another holiday from us as referred to in clause 4 ‘If we change your holiday’. Please note that travel arrangements are not always purchased in local currency and some apparent changes have no impact on the price of your travel due to contractual and other protection in place. A refund will only be payable if the decrease in our costs exceeds 2% as set out above. Where a refund is due, we will pay you the full amount of the decrease in our costs.

You have 14 days from the issue date printed on the surcharge invoice to tell us if you want to cancel or purchase another holiday where applicable. If you do not tell us that you wish to do so within this period of time, we are entitled to assume that you will pay the surcharge. Any surcharge must be paid with the balance of the cost of the holiday or within 14 days of the issue date printed on the surcharge invoice, whichever is the later. We reserve the right to make changes to and correct errors in quoted prices at any time before your holiday is confirmed. We will advise you of any error of which we are aware and of the then applicable price at the time of booking.

7. Our responsibility (i) We promise to make sure that all parts of the holiday we have agreed to arrange, perform or provide as part of our contract with you are arranged, performed or provided with reasonable skill and care. This means that, subject to these booking conditions, we will accept responsibility if, for example, you suffer death or personal injury or your contracted holiday arrangements are not provided as promised or prove deficient as a result of the failure of ourselves, our employees, agents or suppliers to use reasonable skill and care in making, performing or providing, as applicable, your contracted holiday arrangements. Please note, it is your responsibility to show that reasonable skill and care has not been used if you wish to make a claim against us. In addition, we will only be responsible for what our employees, agents and suppliers do or do not do if they were at the time acting within the course of their employment (for employees) or carrying out work we had asked them to do (for agents and suppliers). We will not be responsible for any injury, illness, death, loss (including loss of enjoyment), damage, expense, cost or other sum or claim of any description whatsoever which results from any of the following:- (a) the fault of the person(s) affected or any member(s) of their party or

(b) the fault of a third party not connected with the provision of your holiday which we could not have predicted or avoided or

(c) an event or circumstance which we or the supplier of the service(s) in question could not have predicted or avoided even after taking all reasonable care (see clause 5) (d) the fault of anyone who is not carrying out work for us (generally or in particular) at the time. In addition, we will not be responsible where you do not enjoy your holiday or suffer any problems because of a reason you did not tell us about when you booked your holiday or where any problems you suffer did not result from any breach of our contract or other fault of ourselves or, where we were responsible for them, our suppliers or agents or where any losses, expenses, costs or other sum you have suffered relate to any business. Please note: we cannot accept responsibility for any services which do not form part of our contract. This includes, for example, any additional services or facilities which your hotel or any other supplier agrees to provide for you where the services or facilities are not advertised in our brochure and we have not agreed to arrange them as part of our contract and any excursion you purchase during your holiday. (ii) The promises we make to you about the services we have agreed to provide or arrange as part of our contract - and the laws and regulations of the country in which your claim or complaint occurred - will be used as the basis for deciding whether the services in question had been properly provided. If the particular services which gave rise to the claim or complaint complied with local laws and regulations applicable to those services at the time, the services will be treated as having been properly provided. This will be the case even if the services did not comply with the laws and regulations of the UK which would have applied had those services been provided in the UK. The exception to this is where the claim or complaint concerns the absence of a safety feature which might lead a reasonable holiday maker to refuse to take the holiday in question. (iii) We limit the maximum amount we may have to pay you for any and all claims or parts of claims which do not involve personal injury, illness or death. Except where loss of and/or damage to luggage or personal possessions is concerned or a lower limitation of liability applies to your claim, the maximum amount we will have to pay you for such non personal injury claims if we are found liable to you on any basis is twice the price (excluding any amendment charges) paid by or on behalf of the person(s) affected in total. This maximum amount will only be payable where everything has gone wrong and you have not received any benefit at all from your holiday. Where we are found liable for loss of and/or damage to any luggage or personal possessions (including money), the maximum amount we will have to pay you is £150 per person affected as you are assumed to have taken out adequate insurance at the time of booking. Please also see clause 7(iv) below. (iv) Where any claim or part of a claim concerns or is based on any travel arrangements (including the process of getting on and/or off the transport concerned) provided by any air, sea, rail or road carrier or any stay in a hotel, the maximum amount of compensation we will have to pay you will be limited. The most we will have to pay you for that claim or that part of a claim if we are found liable to you on any basis is the most the carrier or hotel keeper concerned would have to pay under the international convention or regulation which applies to the travel arrangements or hotel stay in question (for example, the Warsaw Convention as amended for international travel by air and/or for airlines with an operating licence granted by an EU country, the EU Regulation on Air Carrier Liability for national and international travel by air, the Athens Convention for international travel by sea and COTIF, the Convention on International Travel by Rail). Please note: Where a carrier or hotel would not be obliged to make any payment to you under the applicable International Convention or Regulation in respect of a claim or part of a claim, we similarly are not obliged to make a payment to you for that claim or part of the claim. When making any payment, we are entitled to deduct any money which you have received or are entitled to receive from the transport provider or hotelier for the complaint or claim in question. (v) You must provide ourselves and our insurers with all assistance we may reasonably require. You must also tell us and the supplier concerned about your claim or complaint as set out in clause 9 below.

8. Flights and your responsibility The flight details shown in your itinerary quotation are for guidance only and are subject to change. Final details will be confirmed on your travel documentation, sent approximately 14 days prior to departure. The times shown on all tickets are local times and check in for both outward and return flights is at least 3 hours prior to the departure times on the travel documents. It is possible that flight times may be changed even after tickets have been dispatched - we will contact you as soon as possible if this occurs. In accordance with EU Directive (EC) No 2111/2005 Article 9, we are required to bring to your attention the existence of a “Community list” which contains details of air carriers who are subject to an operating ban within the EU. The Community list is available for inspection at http://europa.eu.int/comm/transport/air/safety/ flywell_en.htm. In accordance with EU Regulations we are required to advise you of the actual carrier(s) (or, if the actual carrier(s) is not known, the likely carrier(s)) that will operate your flight(s) at the time of booking. Where we are only able to inform you of the likely carrier(s) at the time of booking, we shall inform you of the identity of the actual carrier(s) as soon as we become aware of this. Any change to the operating carrier(s) after your booking has been confirmed will be notified to you as soon as possible. If the carrier with whom you have a confirmed reservation becomes subject to an operating ban as above as a result of which we/ the carrier are unable to offer you a suitable alternative the provisions of clause 4 will apply. Any change in the identity of the carrier, flight timings, and/or aircraft type (if advised) will not entitle you to cancel or change to other arrangements without paying our normal charges except where specified in these conditions. We can accept no responsibility if you arrive late for the check in and miss your flight as a result nor can we accept responsibility for any loss by you of your holiday/flight travel tickets, vouchers or coupons. Air travel is subject to operational decisions of carriers and airports which may result in delays and diversions. Please note that minor carriers sometimes change the departure time of short-haul or domestic flights at short notice, and in some instances, schedules shown in the computers of intercontinental carriers differ from those actually flown by smaller local carriers. We advise you that it is your responsibility to be meticulous in locally reconfirming directly with the carrier operating the flight. We accept no liability for the consequences of flights missed owing to the passenger’s failure to reconfirm. Clients flying in economy class to long-haul destinations should be aware that flights are often full and you may not be able to get seats together. We also recommend that you check in early for a long flight, and in any case not less than 3 hours before the scheduled departure time. If your flight is cancelled or delayed, your flight ticket is downgraded or boarding is denied by your airline in circumstances which would entitle you to claim compensation or any other payment from the airline under EC Regulation No 261/2004 - the Denied Boarding Regulations 2004, you must pursue the airline for the compensation or other payment due to you. All sums you receive or are entitled to receive from the airline concerned by virtue of these Regulations represent the full amount of your entitlement to compensation or any other payment arising from such cancellation, delay, downgrading or denied boarding. This includes any disappointment, distress, inconvenience or effect on any other arrangements. The fact a delay may entitle you to cancel your flight does not automatically entitle you to cancel any other arrangements even where those arrangements have been made in conjunction with your flight. We have no liability to make any payment to you in relation to the Denied Boarding Regulations or in respect of any flight cancellation or delay, downgrading of any flight ticket or denial of any boarding as the full amount of your entitlement to any compensation or other payment (as dealt with above) is covered by the airline's obligations under the Denied Boarding Regulations. If your airline does not comply with these rules, you should complain to the Air Transport Users’ Council on 020 7240 6061 www.auc.org.uk We cannot accept liability for any delay unless it has a material effect on your holiday arrangements. See clause 4.


Terms and conditions 57

You undertake to behave with propriety and in such a manner as in no way causes or is likely to cause distress, danger or annoyance to other clients and/or any third party or damage to property. If, in the view of ourselves, our employees, agents or suppliers, you are in breach of this clause, we reserve the right to terminate your contract and neither we nor the providers of any of the services in question will have any further contractual obligations to you either in respect of covering any expenses, paying any compensation or refunds, or arranging for your return home. When you book with us, you accept responsibility for any damage or loss caused by you. Full payment for any such damage or loss (reasonably estimated if not precisely known) must be paid direct at the time to the accommodation owner or manager or other supplier. If the actual cost of the loss or damage exceeds the amount paid where estimated, you must pay the difference once known. If the actual cost is less than the amount paid, the difference will be refunded. If you fail to do so, you will be responsible for meeting any claims subsequently made against us (together with our own and the other party’s full legal costs) as a result of your actions. You must ensure that all your travel documents, full passports, visas, vaccination certificates, currency and travellers cheques are in order and valid for travel. All costs incurred in obtaining such documentation must be paid by you. We regret we cannot accept any liability if you are refused entry onto any transport or into any country due to failure on your part to carry correct documentation. We are able to give general advice on these matters for British citizens holding a British passport. However, non-British citizens and non-British passport holders should check with their embassy or consulate vis-a-vis current requirements. See also our General Information section. If failure to have any necessary travel or other documents results in fines, surcharges or other financial penalty being imposed on us, you will be responsible for reimbursing us accordingly. The name on your airline tickets must be the name that appears on your full passport. Please note that if you believe that we have stated orally that a particular facility or service should be available, but is not in the brochure or in writing from us, please make reference to it on the booking form so that we may confirm it to you when accepting your booking. 9. Complaints Should you have any complaints about any aspect of your holiday arrangements, you must inform our local representative or tour leader immediately and the supplier of the arrangements concerned. Problems can most easily be dealt with on the spot. Please note, if you do not report a problem or complaint which, if it had been reported at the time it occurred could have been resolved there and then we cannot accept any liability in respect of that problem or complaint. It is sensible to expect a client travelling in the developing world to be reasonably resourceful if things go wrong. If you experience any difficulties, contact us in the UK on our 24 hour emergency telephone service. The number will be found on your pre-departure information and with your tickets. In the unlikely event that an acceptable solution cannot be found, you should then write to us within 28 days of your return with full details of your complaint. If you fail to follow this complaints procedure, your right to claim the compensation you may otherwise have been entitled to may be affected or even lost as a result. If we cannot reach an amicable solution to any dispute you do have the right to refer the dispute to the Association of Independent Tour Operators which operates an Independent Dispute Service (details on request) for resolution of the dispute by a mediator provided the claim does not involve personal accident, injury or illness. 10. The brochure and quotation We have taken every care in ensuring that the information in the brochure and given in quotations/itineraries is correct at the time of publication. However we are sure you will appreciate that subsequently minor alterations may arise. We reserve the right to change any of the prices, services or other particulars contained in this brochure or any quotation at any time before we enter into a contract with you. If there is any change we will notify you before we enter into such contract. Where we state that

additional information, a fact sheet or a dossier is available on a particular itinerary or programme, this information should be regarded as a term of the contract. The hotel classifications given on our website, in our brochures, quotations and dossiers and fact sheets are for guidance only. They are not based on any national or international classification system, they are the opinions of our staff or agents and are quite subjective. The photographs that appear in the accommodation section of your quotation are indicative only and may not be of the exact room you have been quoted for. 11. Special requests If you have any special request, you must advise us in writing at the time of booking. Although we will endeavour to pass any reasonable requests on to the relevant supplier, we regret we cannot guarantee any request will be met. For your own protection, you should obtain confirmation in writing from us that your request will be complied with (where it is possible for us to give this) if your request is important to you. Confirmation that a special request has been noted or passed on to the supplier or the inclusion of the special request on your confirmation invoice or any other documentation is not a guarantee that the request will be met by the relevant supplier. All special requests are subject to availability. We regret we cannot accept any conditional bookings, i.e. any booking which is specified to be conditional on the fulfilment of a particular request. All such bookings will be treated as ‘standard’ bookings subject to the above provisions on special requests. If you have any medical problem or disability which may affect your holiday, please tell us before you confirm your booking so that we can advise as to the suitability of the chosen arrangements. In any event, you must give us full details in writing at the time of booking. You must also promptly advise us if any medical condition or disability which may affect your holiday develops after your booking has been confirmed. If we reasonably feel unable to properly accommodate the particular needs of the person concerned, we must reserve the right to decline their reservation or, if full details are not given at the time of booking, cancel when we become aware of these details. 12. Your financial protection We hold an Air Travel Organiser's Licence issued by the Civil Aviation Authority (ATOL number 4817). When you buy an ATOL protected flight-inclusive holiday* from us, you will receive an ATOL Certificate. This lists the flight, accommodation, car hire and/or other services that are financially protected, where you can get information on what this means for you, and who to contact if things go wrong. We, or the suppliers identified on your ATOL Certificate, will provide you with the services listed on the ATOL Certificate (or a suitable alternative). In some cases, where neither we nor the supplier are able to do so for reasons of insolvency, an alternative ATOL holder may provide you with services you have bought or a suitable alternative (at no extra cost to you). You agree to accept that in those circumstances the alternative ATOL holder will perform those obligations and you agree to pay any money outstanding to be paid by you under your contract to that alternative ATOL holder. However, you also agree that in some cases it will not be possible to appoint an alternative ATOL holder, in which case you will be entitled to make a claim under the ATOL scheme (or your credit card issuer where applicable). If we, or the suppliers identified on your ATOL certificate, are unable to provide the services listed (or a suitable alternative, through an alternative ATOL holder or otherwise) for reasons of insolvency, the Trustees of the Air Travel Trust may make a payment to (or confer a benefit on) you under the ATOL scheme. You agree that in return for such a payment or benefit you assign absolutely to those Trustees any claims which you have or may have arising out of or relating to the non-provision of the services, including any claim against us, the travel agent (or your credit card issuer where applicable).You also agree that any such claims may be re-assigned to another body, if that other body has paid sums you have claimed under the ATOL scheme. *The air inclusive holidays and flights we arrange are ATOL protected providing they are made available in the UK. For further information, visit the ATOL website at www.atol.org.uk Not all holiday or travel services offered and sold by us will be protected by the ATOL scheme.

The Association of Bonded Travel Organisers Trust Limited (ABTOT) provides financial protection under the Package Travel, Package Holidays and Package Tours Regulations 1992 for Audley Travel (ABTOT Membership number 5297) and in the event of their insolvency, protection is provided for the following: 1. non-flight packages commencing in and returning to

the UK; 2. non-flight packages commencing and returning to a

country other than the UK; and 3. flight inclusive packages that commence outside of

the UK, which are sold to customers outside of the UK.

1, 2 and 3 provides for a refund in the event you have not yet travelled. 1 and 3 provides for repatriation. Please note that bookings made outside the UK are only protected by ABTOT when purchased directly with Audley Travel. 13. Excursions Please note that we do not provide or arrange excursions other than those listed in your itinerary and forming part of the arrangements booked and paid for in the UK. Our local representatives or guides may put you in touch with local organisers of excursions if you request but we can have no liability for such excursions, as your contract for such excursions will be with a local company providing the services and not with us. 14. Prices and Brochure Accuracy Please note, the information and prices shown on our website, in our brochures and/or quotations may have changed by the time you come to book your holiday. Whilst every effort is made to ensure the accuracy of the website, brochures, quotations and prices at the time of printing or when they are given to you, regrettably errors do occasionally occur. You must therefore ensure you check all details of your chosen holiday (including the price) with us at the time of booking. 15. Honeymoon Gift Service All honeymoon bookings and use of Audley's Honeymoon Gift Service are subject to our Terms & Conditions. It is important to note that in the unfortunate event of the cancellation of your booking you will be responsible for all cancellation charges as detailed in our Terms & Conditions. Audley also reserve the right to charge a £150 administration fee to cover refunding all monies to your guests. These refunds will only be made once all cancellation charges have been paid. As the client, you will take on the responsibility for the full payment of the booking as the amount of your guest contributions cannot be guaranteed. Audley Travel Group Limited. Registered Address: New Mill, New Mill Lane, Witney, Oxfordshire OX29 9SX. Registered in England with Company Reg. No. 3190720. VAT Reg. No.125454721. September 2014.

along the silk route - audley travel/media/files/group-tours/...introduction to our along the silk...

Documents