Japan : Old & New - Audley Travel

Japan : Old & NewEscorted Group Tour18 October 2014

A temple garden in AutumnWe are proud to have received a number of awards over recentyears including Top Tour Operator in the 2012 WanderlustReaders’ Travel Awards. We have also won recent awards inthe Sunday Times Travel Magazine, The Telegraph, Condé NastTraveller and the Guardian and Observer. Additionally, we havebeen awarded AITO's maximum five stars for our responsibletravel policies and achieved two stars from the Best Companyorganisation for our great working environment.These awards are widely recognised as being the mostrespected in the travel industry as they are professional surveysof the publications’ readerships. With over 500 travelcompanies for you to choose from in the UK alone, we hopeyou find these awards are an additional reassurance of thequality of service you can expect from Audley.

Meet our Japan SpecialistsOur experience in Japan varies from having spentyears teaching and living there to studying Japanese atuniversity and between them our Japan specialistshave spent over two decades in the country, fallinghead over heels in love with it along the way. It’soften said that Japan is the most alien culture forwestern travellers and our level of expertise isabsolutely vital in planning a trip to get the most outof it.4 Meet our specialists

Introduction to our Japan : Old & New tour Introduction to our Japan Old & New TourThere are few places in the world as fascinatingly foreign as Japan. This is an unforgettable tour of contrasting images, in acountry where ancient and modern, natural and man-made, merge like nowhere else on earth.For convenience and comfort the group will travel by a mixture of private coach and Japan's ultra-modern transport system:speeding between cities on the famous 'shinkansen' bullet and limited express trains. Whilst the aim is to explore all sides ofthe paradox - from the towering skyscrapers of Tokyo to the secluded temples and shrines of Kyoto and Kamakura - thefocus is on Japan's traditional past. You will experience the refined world of Kanazawa's gardens and museums, linger in theshadow of the great torii gate on picturesque Miyajima island and visit the UNESCO World Heritage site of Shirakawago.Accommodation will be mainly in excellent international style hotels, but there is also opportunity to try a more traditionalstyle of accommodation along the way, including hot spring baths and Japanese cuisine. ClimateDue to the length of the archipelago, covering 20 degrees of latitude, Japan's climate varies greatly, ranging fromScandinavian in the north island of Hokkaido to sub-tropical in Okinawa in the far south. Essentially, Japan's four seasonsresemble our own, but conditions are more pronounced, with a significantly colder and snowier winter and a much hottersummer. Autumn and spring are generally considered the best times to travel, with the wonderful cherry blossom orturning leaves adding a beautiful hue to the scenery. Group SizeThe group size is kept to a maximum of 16, this ensures that the trip is a more personal experience and that you can alwayshear and speak to your guides. The small group size also ensures that your experience of a particular sight is not marred bythe presence of too many people.The group size on this tour is a maximum of sixteen people, to ensure a more personal experience. Your main mode oftransport will be a coach that seats 20-30, so there is plenty of space for everyone.There is a minimum requirement of 10 passengers to run this tour, so the first 10 people to book will be done so on aprovisional basis until minimum numbers are reached. Deposits for those first 10 people will be fully refundable should thetour not operate. Single TravellersWe welcome single travellers on tours. You have two options - you can choose to share a room with another singletraveller on the tour and pay the standard tour price (this option will only be available if another single traveller of the samesex is also willing to share), or you can choose to guarantee the sole occupancy of your room, in which case a singlesupplement is payable.Please note: on this departure single rooms at the Miyarikyu Hotel on Miyajima Island will be with a garden view as oceanview single rooms are not available. Tour GuideYou will be accompanied on your tour by one of our most experienced and highly regarded Japanese guides. Your guide willhave lead tours for Audley clients in the past and will ensure that your tour runs smoothly, to time and will be on hand tosolve any problems that may occur. Meal ArrangementsDaily breakfast is included at your hotel and dinner is included on five occasions, either at the hotel (where stated) or at alocal restaurant. Lunch is included on one occasion. Your tour leader and guide will be able make suggestions for diningwhere this is not included. Special Dietary RequirementsSpecial dietary requirements should be highlighted by you on the booking form. However you must be aware that it isunrealistic to expect specialist diets to be catered for in some of the destinations we will be visiting. We will advise hotelsand airlines of your request but we cannot guarantee their availability. Tour Health & FitnessTo ensure that all participants get the most out of the tour, it is important that you are fully aware of the level of activityand fitness and medical health required to successfully complete this itinerary. Please read this dossier carefully prior toIntroduction to our Japan : Old & New tour 5

Introduction to our Japan : Old & New tourconfirming your place on the tour, and having established the facts, it is your responsibility to contact us with any concernsregarding individual levels of fitness, health or ability. Please be aware that our tour leaders have the right to excludecustomers from the tour if they feel they are not sufficiently fit, healthy or able to complete the tour without affecting itssafety, comfort or smooth progress. If you would like to discuss any of these issues further please the Japan team on 01993838 210 to discuss in more detail. Activity Level - Low/MediumA medium level of fitness is required for this trip but you should be physically active. You should be aware and prepared forall or any of the following on this trip:- To carry your own luggage through airports and from the vehicles to hotels and vice versa. However, some portering isincluded as are luggage transfers when travelling by train.- Walking up and down stairs to access train platforms.- To join all day walking tours of cities, monuments and historic sites. (All of these are optional).- To declare any food allergies or requirements prior to departure so that these can be incorporated into the itinerarywhere necessary. Extending Your TripYou have the option to extend your trip at either the beginning or end of your trip. Please contact the Japan team todiscuss options. Tipping PolicyTips for your guide are not included in the price of the trip. We suggest around £40-50 per couple for the whole trip. Tipsfor the drivers and porters have been included in the tour price. What to PackAutumn in Japan often presents a wide range in temperatures, from a chilly 5 or 6C in the mountains or early mornings, toa warm 20C or so in Hiroshima and Kyoto sometimes. Taking layers is essential, as is a waterproof and sturdy shoes.VisasJapanBritish nationals travelling on leisure can stay in Japan for up to 90 days without a visa.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 ofour knowledge.6 Introduction to our Japan : Old & New tour

Day by day summary1 Saturday 18October 20142 Sunday 19October 20143 Monday 20October 20144 Tuesday 21October 20145 Wednesday 22October 20146 Thursday 23October 20147 Friday 24October 20148 Saturday 25October 20149 Sunday 26October 201410 Monday 27October 2014Fly overnight with British Airways, arriving the following day.At Narita airport you are met by your guide, who will bewith you for the duration of the trip. Once the full group hasassembled, we will transfer to Tokyo by airport limousinebus. Tonight the group meets for a relaxed, informalwelcome dinner to get to know the tour guide and fellowtravellers.Today we explore some of the main sights of Tokyo,including Meiji-jingu shrine, Asakusa and Tokyo Tower.A couple of hours` drive away from Tokyo is the seasidetown of Kamakura, celebrated for its ancient bronze GreatBuddha. We continue on to Hakone National Park in theafternoon and the small village of Miyanoshita.Hakone is best explored using a variety of publictransportation, including a cable car, funicular railway andlocal bus. The loop around the park is scenic and providesseveral Mt Fuji viewing spots along the way, weatherpermitting. We also pay a visit to the excellent Open AirMuseum, which houses sculptures by Henry Moore andPicasso, amongst others.This morning we transfer by private coach through the JapanAlps, stopping to pay a brief visit to Matsumoto, home toJapan`s oldest five tier castle. We continue on to the smallcity of Takayama.We explore Takayama on foot today, including the Sanmachimerchant area and Festival Float Museum.Between Takayama and today`s destination, Kanazawa, liesthe secluded village of Shirakawago, a UNESCO WorldHeritage Site home to a unique, traditional building styleknown as gassho-zukuri. You have the opportunity to tryyour hand at Japanese cookery today as we will be makingsoba buckwheat noodles for lunch. We continue on toKanazawa in the afternoon.The first stop today is Kanazawa`s most celebratedattraction, the Kenroku-en garden, rated as one of the threefinest stroll gardens in Japan. The afternoon is spent exploringsome more of this convivial city.We take the express and bullet trains from Kanazawa toHiroshima. On arrival we visit the moving Peace Park andMemorial Museum on foot.On-board the planeKeio Plaza Hotel, Shinjuku,TokyoSuperior Room for 2 (Twin)Breakfast and dinner areincludedKeio Plaza Hotel, Shinjuku,TokyoSuperior Room for 2 (Twin)Breakfast is includedFujiya Hotel, Miyanoshita,HakoneStandard room for 2 (Twin)Breakfast is includedFujiya Hotel, Miyanoshita,HakoneStandard room for 2 (Twin)Breakfast and dinner areincludedHotel Associa, TakayamaStandard twin for 2 (Twin)Breakfast is includedHotel Associa, TakayamaStandard twin for 2 (Twin)Breakfast is includedExcel Tokyu Hotel, KanazawaStandard room for 2 (Twin)Breakfast and lunch are includedExcel Tokyu Hotel, KanazawaStandard room for 2 (Twin)Breakfast is includedANA Crowne Plaza Hotel,HiroshimaStandard room for 2 (Twin)Breakfast is includedDay by day summary 7

Day by day summary11 Tuesday 28October 201412 Wednesday 29October 201413 Thursday 30October 201414 Friday 31October 201415 Saturday 01November 201416 Sunday 02November 2014From Hiroshima it is a scenic ferry ride across to MiyajimaIsland. We will be spending the night in a Japanese style hotel,with traditional "banquet" style cuisine served in the evening.This is a great opportunity to experience traditional Japanesehospitality. The island is also very serene in the evening andpleasant to stroll round in your "yukata" - cotton Japaneserobe - after dinner.Using the ferry, local train and bullet train, we transfer toKyoto today. For centuries Kyoto was the cultural heart ofJapan and it was here that many of the finest aspects of theculture developed and flourished: the arts and crafts; thebeautiful temples, palaces and gardens; and, perhaps mostfamously, the refined world of the geisha. The afternoon is atleisure.Enjoy a full day tour to soak up the unique atmosphere of thecity.This morning we visit nearby Nara, former capital of Japan.We visit Todaiji temple, the largest wooden structure inJapan. In the afternoon we return to Kyoto to take part in acalligraphy and origami lesson with the Women`s Associationof Kyoto.Tonight we dine at a local restaurant, which includes a danceperformance by a maiko, a trainee geisha.We transfer back to Tokyo by high-speed bullet train and theafternoon is at leisure. Tonight`s farewell dinner is atGonpachi, a lively restaurant in the bustling Ginza area of thecity.Transfer by shared limousine bus to Narita airport, for thereturn flight back to the UK.Miyarikyu Hotel, Miyajima IslandJapanese Ocean View room for2 (Twin)Breakfast and dinner areincludedKyoto Okura Hotel, KyotoStandard room for 2 (Twin)Breakfast is includedKyoto Okura Hotel, KyotoStandard room for 2 (Twin)Breakfast is includedKyoto Okura Hotel, KyotoStandard room for 2 (Twin)Breakfast and dinner areincludedKeio Plaza Hotel, Shinjuku,TokyoSuperior Room for 2 (Twin)Breakfast and dinner areincludedBreakfast is included8 Day by day summary

PricesArrangements as specified per person ____________________________________________________ £5,695..........................................................................................................................................................................................................................Please note the following supplements and/or upgrade options per person:Single Supplement ________________________________________________________________ £1,125..........................................................................................................................................................................................................................Per person deposit required to confirm these arrangements _________________________________ £854Optional carbon off-setting for your flights per person (see General Information section for further details) ____ £23The deposit required is detailed above and relates to the itinerary detailed in this quotation. In most cases the deposit is 15% of thetotal cost or £200 per person (whichever is the greater), however in some instances a larger deposit is required in order to secureparticular services. Please refer to the Terms and Conditions section at the back of this booklet. Please note if you confirm yourbooking within 60 days of your departure date full payment is required at the time of booking.How to bookIf you have any questions regarding the tour or would like tohold a no obligation option for a place on the tour, pleasefeel free to contact Japan team on 01993 838 210 who willbe delighted to assist you. To confirm an option, please sendus a completed booking form and the deposit specifiedabove. The deposit can be paid by cheque, bank transfer orcredit / debit card. Please make cheques payable to AudleyTravel.Payment by credit cardPlease note that we do not charge a fee on deposit paymentsby credit card, except when a deposit is more than 15%. Inthis situation a charge will apply. Credit card fees aredetailed on the booking form. We charge a credit card feedue to the high fees charged to tour operators by the creditcard companies. We have chosen to make this transparentrather than including it within the trip price. You maytherefore wish to pay the balance by bank transfer, debitcard or personal cheque.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 itineraryNot included in the price Meals not indicated within your itinerary. Where applicable, local airport departure taxes; payablelocally on departure in some locations. Where applicable, locally payable car hire relatedcharges, 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).Prices 9

[Why travel with us?The New Mill, our offices on the outskirts ofWitney in west OxfordshireReputation and qualityWell over 80% of our clients havetravelled with us in the past or havehad Audley recommended to them.When you book with us you areassured of quality arrangements if onlyfor the fact that we simply cannotafford to risk our excellent reputation.Our service has been recognised bythe readers of well-known publicationsincluding the Guardian & Observer, theDaily Telegraph and Wanderlustmagazine, where we have consistentlyfeatured in their ‘best tour operator’awards for a number of years.Personal serviceWe are committed to offering you avery personal service, with all yourarrangements being handled by onecountry specialist. They will remainyour one point of contact and will takeresponsibility for the smooth operationof your trip. They are supported by ateam of specialists for that region and aprofessional administration andmanagement team.From the moment you contact us, weare here to answer your questionsaccurately and honestly, be they aboutspecific arrangements or any moregeneral queries you may have. We areexperienced travellers with a thoroughand in-depth knowledge of ourspecialist destinations, and the benefitof this experience is yours throughout.When we do not know the answer toa question we will endeavour to findout and get back to you as soon aspossible.Quality service when you aretravellingWe take a good deal of care whenchoosing our travel partners overseas,taking into account their quality ofservice, guides and vehicles. We havebuilt up many long-standingrelationships, ensuring that they deliverthe level of service demanded byAudley clients. Our local guides anddrivers, where appropriate, are thepeople you will meet. In many cases weknow them personally, in all cases weensure that they are of the highestcalibre. They are there to do muchmore than show you specific sights andprovide factual information. They willbe able to tell you about local life,culture, cuisines and customs; and,where applicable, act as translator. Incertain parts of the world a specialistguide is more appropriate, for example,a wildlife expert.First class guidesA smooth journeyWe have procedures in place fordealing quickly and efficiently withmishaps from minor flight timealterations to more fundamentalchanges. If problems do occur we willrapidly rearrange your itinerary tomake best use of your time given thechanged circumstances, not simplycancel part of your trip or leave yousitting in an airport waiting for hoursfor a rescheduled flight. Importantly, inthese situations we will do everythingpossible to minimise any extra costsinvolved – in the vast majority of casesno extra charges will be made. If aproblem does occur while you aretravelling you can contact us on our 24hour number. We will do everything inour power to rectify the problemimmediately rather than allow it tospoil your trip.Detailed travel documentsApproximately two to three weeksbefore you travel we will send you allyour travel documents presented in aconvenient travel organiser. As well asyour full itinerary and traveldocuments, there will also beadditional information such asrecommended restaurants andpractical tips. A few days before youtravel your specialist will call you tohave a final talk through your itineraryand answer any last minute questionsyou may have.Responsible travelWe have a firm commitment tominimising the environmental andsocial impact of travel, and strive toensure that a visit from an Audleyclient has a positive effect on thedestination. We have afirm commitment to the principles of‘responsible travel’ and have beenawarded AITO 5 star status (thehighest achievable) for our policies andpractises. We continue to work withAITO, and a number of other bodies,to improve our policies. For moredetails please refer to our website(www.audleytravel.com/rt) where youwill find details of our responsibletravel policy and also our Travellers’Code. If you are particularly interestedin these issues, your country specialistwill be able to tell you more.Legal liabilityWe are a UK company and hence mustfully comply with English law. Whenbooking with us you can rest assuredthat your arrangements are carefullyplanned as we have a reputation tomaintain and are legally liable for anyomissions or negligent acts. You maynot find you have this level ofreassurance if you make your owntravel arrangements independently.10 Why travel with us?

Introduction to JapanKey facts:Population: 127.82 millionLand area: 377.84 thousands square kilometresMajor languages spoken: JapaneseCurrency: Japanese YenTime difference: GMT+9 hoursCapital city: TokyoIntroductionIn the archetypal image of the sleek bullet train gliding past snow-capped Mount Fuji, the magic of Japan is encapsulated in onefreeze frame: natural and modern beauty merging in harmony. Japan's four main islands contain a wealth of variety andspectacle, from the thronging cities of Tokyo and Hiroshima to the provincial spa towns, neatly-tended farming regions andrugged wilderness beyond. Delve into Japan's rich cultural heritage in Kyoto to witness traditional ceremonies, dress andtheatre, and take a glimpse into the closed world of the Geisha. Enjoy, too, the delectable cuisine, taking time to sample thenumerous local and seasonal delicacies to be found in every city and town. The appeal of Japan encompasses all tastes and ages,whether your interest lies in embracing modern pop-culture, discovering ancient spirituality in secluded Buddhist retreats orcommuning with nature in steamy jungles or high mountain peaks. Relax on star-sand beaches in southerly Okinawa or whalewatchin wintry Hokkaido, the scope of experience is truly immense. In Japan a striking backdrop of mountain scenery andcrystal lakes, neon-lit skyscrapers and landscaped gardens, steaming volcanoes and traditional architecture forms a magicalworld that will amaze you each step of your journey.Avg Max Day Temperature ( 0 C)J F M A M J J A S O N DTokyoAvg Min Night Temperature ( 0 C)Avg Hours of SunshineMonthly Rainfall (mm) 43 58 95 119 132 181 128 147 181 158 84 44Introduction to the region 11

12 Introduction to the regionIntroduction to Japan

Top: Traditional GeishaLeft: Temple pond & bridge, KyotoLower left: Sake casks14 Photographs of the region

Top: Kyoto, JapanLeft: Kinkakuji Golden Pavilion, KyotoRight: Buddhist statue, MiyajimaPhotographs of the region 15

Itinerary in DetailSaturday18 October, 2014Sunday19 October, 2014Keio Plaza Hotel,Shinjuku, TokyoBreakfast is includedBA London/Tokyo TBCTokyo introductionTokyo is a city that is hard to introduce. If you speak to people who have eitherlived in or visited the city, each person will have a very different impression fromthe others. Some will use words like 'amazing' and 'fantastic', while others will bemore cautious, warning of crowded trains and perpetual hustle and bustle.However all will share one thing in common, the experience of seeing one of theworld's most diverse and exciting cities, where the ultra-modern vies for attentionwith the historical past, Michelin starred restaurants sit alongside back-streetnoodle bars and smoky temples are nestled between glittering skyscrapers. Tokyois a city of juxtaposition and contradiction and one certainly not to be missed.Getting around is a cinch thanks to the ultra efficient transport system and armedwith a JR Pass that covers all the overground train journeys on the Yamanote Linethat loops around the city, you'll save money on tickets too.Tokyo TowerYoung women in kimonoWelcome meeting at airport and transfer to TokyoGroup Tour shared transfer with your guideAfter passing through immigration and claiming your baggage, make your way tothe Arrivals Hall to be met by your guide. They will be carrying a sign clearlyindicating the name Audley Travel. The transfer to Tokyo will be by sharedlimousine bus and is a journey of around two hours. Please note there will be non-Audley passengers on this coach.Introductory Evening MealGroup Tour dinnerHeld at a local restaurant or the hotel restaurant, this welcome dinner is anopportunity to get to know your fellow travellers and tour guide a little better.Monday20 October, 2014Keio Plaza Hotel,Shinjuku, TokyoBreakfast is includedTokyo City TourGroup Tour excursion by private vehicle with your guideJapan's modern capital has no single central point, rather it is an amalgamation ofmany individual districts, each with its own unique character and highlights.Our tour today takes in the best of Tokyo, combining both the modern and theancient attractions. We begin our day with a visit to Meiji-jingu shrine, in YoyogiPark. The shrine was first built in 1920 in memory of Emperor Meiji, who reigneduntil 1912. Emperor Meiji's rule was one of the most important in Japanese history16 Itinerary in Detail

Itinerary in DetailSensoji Temple, Asakusa, Tokyoand saw political, social, and industrial revolution turn Japan into one of the greatworld powers. Meiji also opened up the country to international trade andcommerce. A detailed account of the State Funeral in the New York Timesconcluded with the observation: "The contrast between that which preceded thefuneral car and that which followed it was striking indeed. Before it went old Japan;after it came new Japan". Meiji shrine is therefore a poignant starting point for ourtour of Tokyo. From here we take the coach to the Imperial Palace Gardens, Afterlunch we continue on to the Hinode Pier to cruise along the bay to Odaiba, a manmadeisland across Tokyo Bay, offering some great scenery of the cityscape.Returning to the mainland the tour makes its way to Roppongi Hills. There arewonderful night views from the top of the skyscraper complex here, a fitting end toour exploration of the city.Souvenirs at a street stall in Asakusa, TokyoTuesday21 October, 2014Fujiya Hotel, Miyanoshita,HakoneBreakfast is includedTokyo to Hakone, via KamakuraGroup Tour transfer by private coach accompanied by your guideThis morning we drive on from Tokyo by private coach to the nearby town ofKamakura. Just an hour south of Tokyo, this pretty seaside town was briefly theseat of the feudal government in the 12th Century, and though its importance soonfaded, the remnants of its former glory are still visible in the Great Bronze Buddhaand the many interesting temples and shrines that are dotted throughout town.The great image of Buddha is the principal attraction for all visitors to Kamakura,and a photographer's delight. Situated in the precincts of Kotokuin Temple, theDaibutsu is a bronze statue depicting Buddha in a seated meditative pose. Itmeasures 11.4m in height. Leaving the town in the afternoon we drive on to ourfinal destination, our hotel in the heart of the Hakone countryside, stopping inbriefly at the Honma marquetry Museum at Odawara.Hakone introductionOpen Air Sculpture Park, HakoneThe Fuji-Hakone-Izu National Park spreads over a large region to the south ofTokyo, encompassing the Izu Peninsula, Hakone, Mt Fuji and Fuji Five Lakes.Commonly referred to as simply the Hakone National Park, "Hakone" is thegateway to a scenic sightseeing loop, best visited utilising the good value HakoneFree Pass ticket. On a clear day, there are several Fuji viewing spots in the park,serviced by various modes of public transportation. The park encompasses severalmain areas; Odawara, Hakone Yumoto, Miyanoshita, Gora, Sengokuhara, MotoHakone and Hakone Machi with accommodation spread around all these areas.Itinerary in Detail 17

Itinerary in DetailLake Ashi, HakoneWednesday22 October, 2014Fujiya Hotel, Miyanoshita,HakoneBreakfast and dinner areincludedLake Ashi, with Mount Fuji behind,Hakone.Thursday23 October, 2014Hotel Associa, TakayamaBreakfast is includedExploring HakoneGroup Tour excursion using public transport with your guideWe will be using the Hakone Free pass ticket during our sightseeing trip aroundthe park, which allows unlimited access to the local scenic train line, the busnetwork, a funicular train up the volcanic rim, which leads on to a gondola cable carand a bus journey through the scenic mountains. There is also a lake crossing atLake Ashinoko upon a quirky and kitsch replica pirate ship! We end the day at theexcellent Open Air Sculpture Museum in Chokokunomori.Mt Fuji can be spotted from various points around the park, weather permitting.We begin our full circuit of the park by heading off on the Tozan railway to thesmall village of Gora at the foot of the mountain. From Gora we take the funicularrailway up Mt Kami. Alighting here at Owakudani "Hell Valley" we walk through thebubbling sulphur vents and stop to try one of the famous black eggs, cooked in theheat of the natural thermal activity. The route continues by cable-car, providingsome lovely views across Lake Ashi. Disembarking the cable-car we board the boatacross Lake Ashi to Moto-Hakone, the main small town in the region, to see theEdo era checkpoint and ancient cedar avenue. We then take the bus on to theexcellent Open Air Sculpture museum at the village of Chokokunomori. Themuseum houses sculptures by Henry Moore, Picasso, Rodin and Miro and was thefirst open air museum in Japan, opening in 1969. The museum has over 100sculptures (often in rotation) and an indoor collection as well.Hakone to Takayama, via MatsumotoGroup Tour transfer by private coach accompanied by your guideThis morning we drive by private coach through the Japan Alps into mountainousNagano Prefecture, host to the 1998 Winter Olympics. We pay a brief visit toMatsumoto, gateway to the Japanese Alps and home to Japan's oldest five tiercastle, built in 1593, before continuing on to the Alps town of Takayama. Today isthe longest transfer of the tour, taking around 8 to 9 hours in total, including stops.Takayama introductionSakurayama Hachimangu Shrine,TakayamaNestled in the Japanese Alps, Takayama is only a small city, but of significanthistoric importance in the Hida district. The built up area around the station beliesthe hidden charm of the streets to the east of Miwagawa river, which give way tothe Sanmachi District, a warren of traditional shops, museums, galleries and sakebreweries, all retaining their character in a country that otherwise has embracedthe modern age. The oldest buildings that remain are some storehouses (kura inJapanese) built in the 17th century. Most of the buildings in the Sanmachi Districtare from the late 19th century, although they retain the charm of times gone by.That said, Takayama has lost some of its charm over the past 20 years or so but18 Itinerary in Detail

Itinerary in Detailthe local architecture, ebullient atmosphere and culinary specialties keep visitorscoming back year after year. Takayama also has an extensive wooded park andnumerous shrines in the Teramachi district, which has often led to comparisonswith Kyoto.Hida Folk Village, near TakayamaFriday24 October, 2014Hotel Associa, TakayamaBreakfast is includedExploring TakayamaGroup Tour excursion with your local guideThe morning is spent strolling among the atmospheric merchant houses andmarkets of the Sanmachi district. Twice a year, Takayama plays host to a busyfestival, with a procession of "yatai" festival floats through the centre of the townover two consecutive evenings. We will be able to see some of these fascinatingfloats up close at the Festival Float Museum and learn a little more about thehistory of the festival. We also visit the Governor's House and enjoy a shortperformance at the Marionette Museum. The afternoon is free for you to furtherexplore the old streets of this pretty town.Autumn leaves at Hida folk village, nearTakayamaSaturday25 October, 2014Excel Tokyu Hotel,KanazawaBreakfast is includedKanazawa castle bridge & gateTakayama to Kanazawa via ShirakawagoGroup Tour transfer by private coach accompanied by your guideBetween Takayama and our destination, Kanazawa, lies the secluded village ofShirakawago, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and home to a unique, traditionalbuilding style known as Gassho-zukuri. We also stop in another of the Shokawavalley villages, where we will be making our own soba noodles for lunch. Afterpassing through the mountains we arrive into Kanazawa.For most of their history, the villages in this region have lain hidden in the deep,snowbound valleys of the northern Alps, under the shadow of sacred Mt Hakusan.The traditional style of housing, the Gasshozukuri, designed with steep, thatchedroofs to withstand the weight of snow, has survived in this area long after it hasdisappeared from other, more accessible, areas. The region was opened up in the1960's when the river upstream from the villages was dammed, and the subsequenthighway into the mountains constructed. It was designated a UNESCO WorldHeritage site in 1995, and consequently the number of visitors, and gift shops, hasincreased dramatically. That said, the village of Shirakawago is still a fascinatingremnant of an older Japan.Itinerary in Detail 19

Itinerary in DetailThe journey passes through parts of the Hida Tunnel, which opened in summer2008. This tunnel is a feat of Japanese engineering and the second longest tunnel inthe country.Kanazawa introductionFrom the 15th century onwards, thanks to the wealth brought through local riceproduction and trade, Kanazawa has been one of Japan's foremost cultural centres.Located at the south-western base of the Noto Peninsula, just inland from the Seaof Japan, Kanazawa is the prefectural capital and quite a large, sprawling town.There are a number of interesting cultural sites that can be reached easily using theexcellent bus service. These include the much-celebrated Kenroku-en Garden,ranked together with those in Mito and Okayama as the three best in Japan, theNagamachi Samurai District, a silk-dyeing centre, the fascinating Myoryuji 'Ninja'temple and the Gold Leaf Museum amongst others. The 21st Century Art Museumhas been completed and makes a very well worthwhile detour for those wishing toview contemporary art.Kenrokuen GardenSunday26 October, 2014Excel Tokyu Hotel,KanazawaBreakfast is includedHigashi-chaya district, KanazawaKenroku-en and Kanazawa City TourGroup Tour excursion with your guideThe first stop today, and the most important on any visit to Kanazawa, is thetown's most celebrated draw, the serene Kenroku-en garden. The town is alsorenowned for its craftwork and we'll explore the shops and traditional stores, aswell as some of Kanazawa's other attractions during the remainder of the day.Kanazawa's number one attraction, ranked by the Japanese as one of the top threegardens in Japan, is a must-see for any visitor to Kanazawa. It is located right in themiddle of town, within easy walking distance of the main shopping district and manyof the other tourist sites of interest. The name Kenroku-en refers to the sixattributes traditionally considered vital in the creation of the perfect garden, all ofwhich are said to exist here. One of these, seclusion, may seem a little hard tocome by at certain times of year but with a bit of luck we will be able to time ourvisit to enjoy in peace the beautiful combination of ponds, streams, old trees andteahouses that have made the garden justifiably famous. On one edge of the gardenis the Seisonkaku Villa, formerly the residence of the local feudal lord's mother, andnow open to the public as a museum.After lunch there will be time to stroll around the nearby Nagamachi samuraidistrict with your guide.Monday27 October, 2014Kanazawa to Hiroshima by trainGroup Tour train journey with your guide20 Itinerary in Detail

Itinerary in DetailANA Crowne PlazaHotel, HiroshimaBreakfast is includedTaking the train from Kanazawa to Osaka, we connect with the famous shinkansenbullet train and head westwards, skirting the Inland Sea, to Hiroshima, the city thathas risen from the ashes of the first atomic bomb. On arrival we transfer to thehotel and enjoy an afternoon exploring the Peace Park and its museum. Totaljourney time will be around four hours.Hiroshima introductionHiroshima is a city which has risen from the ashes since the horrific events ofAugust 1945 and although these events are justifiably and sensitivelycommemorated, the city is now one with an energetic and cosmopolitan feel. Thewide tree lined avenues, castle (reconstructed), Shukkei-en gardens and of coursethe moving Peace Park and Memorial Museum ensure that the visitor has plenty tosee and do over a couple of days here.A-bomb dome, HiroshimaPeace memorial, HiroshimaHiroshima City TourGroup Tour excursion on foot with your guideOur sightseeing will focus on the powerful Peace Park and Memorial Museum,which commemorate and explain the tragic events of 6th August 1945. The A-Bomb Dome is one the most prominent reminders of the atrocity and wasdeclared a UNESCO World Heritage site in 1996. From the A-Bomb Dome wecross into Heiwa-koen (Peace Park), which is dotted with various memorials,including the Children's Peace Memorial which was inspired by a young leukaemiasufferer's wish to fold 1000 origami crane before she died. Sadly her wish was notfulfilled, but her classmates folded the rest and sparked a nationwide campaign.Strings of cranes are kept at the memorial to this day and regularly added to it. Wealso pay a visit to the museum, which explains more about the history of nuclearwarfare and goes into more detail about 6th August 1945.Tuesday28 October, 2014Miyarikyu Hotel, MiyajimaIslandBreakfast and dinner areincludedHiroshima to Miyajima by boatGroup Tour transfer by boat with your guideWe take a boat from Hiroshima's Peace Park, along the river and into the InlandSea to cross over to Miyajima Island. The journey will take around an hour in total.Miyajima Island introductionMiyajima, or Itsuku-shima as it was formally known, has been sacred to theJapanese since the inception of the first shrine on the island over fifteen hundredyears ago. The present incarnation of the Itsukushima-jinja shrine is one of theisland's greatest attractions, and the "floating" red torii gate that stands in theshallow waters of the bay when the tide is in, remains one of the mostphotographed views in Japan. The small town has a pleasant, relaxed atmosphere,particularly in the evenings and early mornings once the day-trippers have returnedItinerary in Detail 21

Itinerary in Detailto the mainland. There are several other smaller temples and shrines dottedaround the island that are well worth a visit and Mt Misen (530m) offers greatviews from its summit.Buddhist statue, MiyajimaFloating gateExploring Miyajima IslandGroup Tour excursion on foot with your guideWe begin our sightseeing with a visit to the shoreline to see the 'torii' gate- at itsmost photogenic when the tide is high but also interesting when the waters havereceded and you can walk up to the huge structure and admire it close up. Aftersome time here we explore some smaller temples dotted about the island beforewalking up and through to Momiji-dani valley. Please note the valley becomesslightly hilly in parts. Towards the top of the valley we reach the cable car stationfor the ascent up to Mt Misen (a two-stage cable car). On a clear day the viewsfrom the top are spectacular.Wednesday29 October, 2014Kyoto Okura Hotel,KyotoBreakfast is includedMiyajima to Kyoto via Hiroshima by ferry and trainGroup Tour transfer with your guideWe return to Miyajima-guchi station by ferry from the island and then take a localtrain to Hiroshima station. Here, we board the high speed Nozomi bullet train toKyoto, covering the 380km distance in just over an hour and half. At Kyoto stationwe have a short time to wander around the building itself - a striking moderndesign in stark contrast to the ancient temples and shrines elsewhere in the city,before taking taxis to our hotel in the Higashiyama area.Kyoto introductionShrine talismansKyoto was the capital of Japan for over one thousand years and remains the mostculturally important city in Japan. The city houses about 1,700 Buddhist temples and300 Shinto shrines as well as palaces, castles, canals and gardens. Here, modernbuildings stand side by side with buildings steeped in history. Walking down narrowalleyways you can still see the Japan of yesteryear with women wearing kimono andtatami mats being hand-made. Kyoto is one of the most entertaining cities in theworld with some of the best restaurants in Japan, excellent shopping and a host ofcultural shows that serve to amuse and inform. No visit to Japan is really completewithout seeing Kyoto.22 Itinerary in Detail

Itinerary in DetailKinkakuji Temple, KyotoThursday30 October, 2014Kyoto GeikoKyoto Okura Hotel,KyotoBreakfast is includedFriday31 October, 2014Kyoto Okura Hotel,KyotoBreakfast is includedKyoto City TourGroup Tour excursion by private vehicle with your guideToday enjoy a fascinating introduction to the refined delights of Kyoto. We visitsome of the city's most celebrated sights, including Kinkakuji temple, Nijo Castleand the iconic Ryoanji Zen garden. The precise itinerary may vary somewhat,depending on conditions on the day, and any local markets or events that may beworth a diversion. Kinkakuji temple, otherwise known as the Golden Pavilion, isone of the most famous landmarks in the city and it can get very crowded in thespring and autumn. However, it is very photogenic and a must see of the city. NijoCastle also sees a lot of visitors but is slightly more spacious than Kinkakuji. Thecastle is perhaps best known for its inventive "nightingale" floors, which were fittedwith a device to make them squeak, thus safeguarding the castle's occupants fromintruders. The palace garden is also beautiful, designed and executed by tea masterand architect Kobori Enshu. We also pay a visit to Ryoanji, close to Kinkakuji. Thedry raked gravel of the Zen garden here is a collection of 15 rocks, 14 of which arevisible at any one time. There has never been an explanation of the garden's design,but gazing on it may well bring enlightenment, one day! There is also time today tovisit a yuzen dyeing workshop, which is the traditional form of dyeing kimonomaterials; a very highly refined skill.Morning visit to NaraGroup Tour excursion by private coach with your guideLike nearby Kyoto, Nara was once the Japanese capital and a source of enormouscultural and religious outpourings. Unlike its more celebrated neighbour, Nara hassurvived relatively untouched by modern advances and remains a relaxed towndotted with temples, shrines and parkland. From the fifth and sixth centuriesonwards this region was Japan's cultural heartland, and successive rulers displayedtheir devotion to the recently introduced Buddhist faith by building splendidtemples and commissioning grand works of art. Many of these remain today,including the most famous, Todai-ji Temple, home to the great bronze Buddhahoused in the world's largest wooden structure. The park is also a playground forhundreds of tame deer, which roam at will through the grounds of Todai-ji Temple.Calligraphy & Origami lessonGroup Tour excursion with your guideHeian Shrine, KyotoThis afternoon you have the opportunity to learn more about two traditionalJapanese pastimes- Calligraphy and Origami. The course is organised by theWomen's Association of Kyoto, whose members are proud of their skills and havebecome masters of these crafts over 10,15 or even 20 years. They are more thanhappy to share these skills with you. This is a very personal experience and oneItinerary in Detail 23

Itinerary in Detailwhich will hopefully stay with you for many years to come.Calligraphy is a beautiful art form in Japan and for centuries was used as a practicefor finer writings in everyday use. Gradually it developed to an art and appreciatedfor its intricacy and varying styles. Brush strokes, including the pressure used andthe direction painted, are important indications of the artists' expression and skill.You will learn to paint a Japanese character of your choice.Origami is paper folding, usually learnt at a young age but developed to createfantastic shapes including animals or decorative boxes. The most well knownorigami shape is that of the crane, tens of thousands of which you will have seen atthe Peace Park in Hiroshima.Dinner at a local restaurant including Maiko performanceGroup Tour excursion with your guideMaiko are trainee Geisha (Geiko in Kyoto dialect) who train for six years beforebecoming fully fledged Geisha. They learn skills such as dance, singing andinstrument playing as well as how to entertain guests with conversation. Theyattend functions at discrete tea houses throughout Kyoto and live and work in five"hanamachi" (literally flower towns) in the city. There are fewer than 2000 Geishaand Maiko in Japan today; in the 1920s there were as many as 80,000. As such, timespent in the company of a Maiko is now a rare and unique experience, open only toa select few.Maiko perform at Ganko Nijo-en, a traditional restaurant located near to theKamogawa River in central Kyoto, with an ornate landscaped garden dating backover 400 years. We will be dining here on a sushi and kaiseki (banquet) set menu.Please advise your specialist if you have any food allergies or special requests.Saturday01 November, 2014Keio Plaza Hotel,Shinjuku, TokyoBreakfast and dinner areincludedKyoto to Tokyo by bullet trainGroup Tour train journey with your guideThe journey back to Tokyo takes around 2 and half hours by shinkansen bullettrain, passing under the shadow of Mt Fuji en-route.Farewell DinnerGroup Tour dinner at Gonpachi restaurantThis popular chain restaurant has various outlets in the city but our favourite is theGinza branch where we dine tonight. The restaurant serves up a mixture ofcharcoal grilled meat and vegetable skewers and grilled fish, along with sushi in aside room. The restaurant has a great ambience and is the perfect setting for ourfinal evening meal of the tour.Rickshaws in AutumnSunday02 November, 2014Limousine bus from hotel to Narita airportGroup Tour shared transfer accompanied by your guideYour guide will accompany you to the airport, which will be by shared limousinebus. There will be other pick-ups en-route to the airport.BA Tokyo/London TBC24 Itinerary in Detail

Itinerary in DetailShibuya crossingImportant 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.Itinerary in Detail 25

AccommodationOUR ACCOMMODATION GRADING SYSTEMYour accommodation is described on the following pages. Please do nothesitate to call us if you require any further information about any of theproperties. We classify accommodation into the following categories. Theseare for your guidance only, they are based on the opinions of our staff and aretherefore quite subjective.Basic: Very primitive accommodation where we are not aware of anythingbetter 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.26 Accommodation

AccommodationKEIO PLAZA HOTEL,SHINJUKUFirst ClassThis popular hotel is located in theheart of Tokyo’s business district, just afew minutes' walk from bustlingShinjuku Station. The rooms areconventional in style and décor andmany have great views of theimpressive cityscape. With 1,450rooms the hotel has a large selection ofrestaurants, boasting cuisine fromaround the world. During the summerthe hotel's outdoor pool opens, andunusually for Japan, is free for guests.Our opinion: One of Tokyo's betterinternational hotels, located in Shinjuku,the capital’s most vibrant locality.FUJIYA HOTEL, MIYANOSHITAMediumThe first Western style hotel in allJapan, the Fujiya was originally built forforeign travellers at the end of thenineteenth century, and is now madeup of several different buildings allconstructed at various times since1878 up until the 1960s. Parts of thehotel have even been designated as acultural asset by the Japanesegovernment and to this end rooms arelarge and comfortable (twin beds only)with classic teak furnishings and quirkydesign. The hotel has indoor andoutdoor pools, hot spring bathingfacilities, several restaurants, a famoustea lounge and even more famousJapanese curry. There is even amuseum dedicated to the hotel'shistory. The previous manager of thehotel was American and has translatedinformation about the hotel and thesurrounding area into English, so pleasedo ask for it on arrival. The hotel iswell located in Miyanoshita and centralto the sightseeing loop.Our opinion: The emphasis here is onfaded charm and the Fujiya is definitely inneed of a face-lift. However, a sense ofhistory permeates the entire hotel and it isa good characterful choice for those whodon't mind a little shabbiness.Accommodation 27

AccommodationHOTEL ASSOCIA, TAKAYAMAFirst ClassSet back from the town in the deepforests and high mountains of the JapanAlps, the Associa Hotel offers a highstandard of facilities in a peaceful andsecluded location. The hotel has acouple of fine restaurants and likemany Japanese resort hotels hasexcellent indoor and outdoor onsenbathing facilities, an integral part of anyJapan experience. The open air bathson the top floor look out over themountains and are particularly great forrelaxation. Room are spacious andtastefully decorated, and on a clear dayoffer spectacular views over the JapanAlps.Our opinion: Though slightly out oftown and rather austere looking, the hotelis a great place to relax and unwind awayfrom the hustle and bustle of centralTakayama.EXCEL TOKYU HOTEL,KANAZAWAMediumThe Excel hotels are the mostupmarket of the Tokyu hotel chain, andthe Kanazawa hotel lives up to thisbilling. Rooms, although basic andslightly dated, are clean and the bedsare very comfortable. The hotel is welllocated in the centre of the action,with the main shopping areas andsightseeing highlights right on thedoorstep. There are plenty ofrestaurants around the hotel and thefamous Kenroku-en garden is only500m away.Our opinion: Clean, comfortable and agreat base in Kanazawa28 Accommodation

AccommodationANA CROWNE PLAZA HOTEL,HIROSHIMAFirst ClassThe ANA Crowne Plaza, offers finequality accommodation in a goodcentral location. The hotel is locatedon Peace Boulevard, a wide tree-linedstreet, within easy walking distance ofthe Peace Park and museum withconvenient transport links to the tramnetwork. The emphasis is on simpleelegance with chic and modern decorthroughout and flat-screen TVs in therooms. Staff are very helpful andprofessional and there are stunningviews out to the island-studded InlandSea. Japanese and western cuisine isserved in the restaurant and there is aswimming pool available, however youneed to pay a fee to enter.Our opinion: The hotel offerseverything you'd expect from aninternational chain and has a greatlocation to boot.MIYARIKYU HOTEL, MIYAJIMAISLANDFirst ClassSituated on the shore of the SetoInland sea within a few minutes walk ofthe ferry terminal, the Miyarikyu Hotelenjoys not only some of the best viewson the beautiful, historic island ofMiyajima but also one of the mostconvenient locations.While the ryokan is fairly modern, withthe benefit of a coffee shop, bar andensuite bathrooms, the guest roomsare spacious and decorated intraditional Japanese style with tatami,shoji sliding screens and, in most cases,sea views.The hotel has a wonderful onsen (hotspring bathing)up on the 5th floor, theuse of which is included in the price.The baths have views over the shrinegate in the bay making it a verymemorable experience.Our opinion: The Miyarikyu is within acomfortable stroll of all of the major sightsof Miyajima and benefits from the best oftraditional Japanese hospitality andWestern convenience.Accommodation 29

AccommodationKYOTO OKURA HOTEL,KYOTOFirst ClassFrom the outside this hotel is notmuch to write home about, but onceinside our reasons for choosing theOkura Hotel as our preferred centralhotel become more apparent. Therooms are pleasantly decorated and ofa good size with views over the entirecity. The hotel has a number of gooddining options, including an excellentTeppanyaki restaurant. Please note thatdouble rooms are far outnumbered bytwins are priced slightly higher than thetwin bed rooms. Do let your specialistknow which room type you wouldprefer. The main draw of the Okura isundoubtedly its location in the heart ofKyoto, convenient for the mainentertainment and sightseeing districts.This deluxe hotel enjoys a wonderfulreputation with the local Japanese, asthe best for service and with fine food.Our opinion: Despite its austere outershell, the Kyoto Okura Hotel is a well runproperty with the best location of any hotelin the city. Modern rooms, friendly serviceand all the mod cons of a goodinternational hotel.30 Accommodation

Charity supportAudley has been supporting carbon reduction projects through Friends of Conservation since 2005 and in addition to this eachindividual department also supports a charity of their choice with a yearly financial donation. This charity is one that is close totheir hearts and the team often chooses to fundraise to add to this amount. Please ask your specialist if you would like to findout 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 ContributionThe Christina Noble Children's Foundation (CNCF) is dedicated to helping children in need with education, medical care, socialopportunities and job placement. Located in the country’s capital, the foundation conducts outreach work in and around UlaanBataar offering housing for poor and single parent families as well as medical care, shelter and schooling for street children. In1997 the foundation established a permanent centre here with the aim of creating a stable home for as many orphaned childrenas possible. Today the charity’s ‘Sunshine Ger Village’, boasts a number of residential gers (the traditional felt tent of theMongolian people) and other facilities which serve as a stable home for 60 children and young adults ranging in age from 2 to24 years old. Each residential ger is staffed by an adopted ger mother, often a single parent herself, who creates a loving homefor 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 theFoundation’s kindergarten, constructed in 2002 on land adjacent to the ger village. The kindergarten also serves the widercommunity and provides invaluable pre-school education to children of local families.Our contributionAs part of their outreach work in the capital CNCF also administer the ‘Give a Ger’ fund, an emergency fund established toprovide families in danger of becoming homeless with a secure and comfortable place to live. This has proved an essentiallifeline for many in a country which is renowned for it’s 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. In2008 our department made a £500 donation to the charity which bought a ger for a nomadic family who had been living inwhat 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 hissecondary education, this has been a real success and has seen Delgerbat, our sponsored child, go from strength to strength atschool over the last few years. Our fundraising efforts in addition to this annual donation have also continued, ranging from staffbarbeques and charity soup kitchens to Christmas cake sales. The additional money raised has gone to equally good use infunding fuel and winter provisions for the family and even paying for a traditional New Year's party for the children in theSunshine Ger Village!If you would like further information please speak to your specialist or visit www.cncf.orgCharity support 31

General InformationTravel insuranceIt is advisable to take out your travelinsurance at the time of booking yourtrip as cover will commence for predeparturecancellation from the policyissue date. This will, therefore, providecover should you have to cancel your tripfor an insured reason such as illness orserious accident.We strongly recommend that you and allmembers of your party are adequatelyinsured, protecting against unforeseencircumstances that could otherwise spoilyour travels. Cover should includemedical expenses and repatriation in theevent of accident or illness. In addition,we strongly recommend that you havecover for personal belongings, delay atyour outward or homeward point ofdeparture, personal liability, overseaslegal expenses and cancellation. If you areundertaking any sports or adventurousactivities, including trekking, on your tripyou should also make sure that yourpolicy covers these. Please also ensureyou read the policy conditions andexclusions.The type of trips we create and therequirements of Audley clients varygreatly. We have therefore listed below anumber of providers who offer policieswhich may suit these varyingrequirements. You can find a morecomprehensive list, including links to theproviders' websites, atwww.audleytravel.com/insuranceOther providers and policies are alsoavailable. We are unable to provide youwith more detailed information and youshould contact the provider concerneddirectly for this. Please note this isgeneral information only. We arenot providing any specific advice ontravel insurance or recommendingany particular policy or insurer.Trips of up to £5,000 ppA large number of companies offerinsurance policies which include cover forcancellation charges of up to the fullholiday cost. American Express (0800232 277), Insure and Go (0844 888 2787)and the Post Office (0800 294 2292) allhave policies that you may like toconsider. This information can also befound at www.audleytravel.com/insurancewith links to the insurers’ websites.Trips over £5,000 ppIt can be more challenging to getinsurance which includes cover forcancellation charges of up to the fullholiday cost for higher value trips. Anumber of providers do, however, offersuch policies.32 General InformationAmerican Express (0800 232 277) offercancellation cover up to £12,500 perperson and Insure and Go (0844 8882787) offer cancellation cover up to£7,500 per person. This information canalso be found atwww.audleytravel.com/insurancewith links to the insurers’ websites.Clients over 65 years of ageMany companies now offer cover topeople over 65 years of age. However, ifyou are finding it difficult to get coveryou could try Age UK (0845 600 3348)or Saga (0800 015 0757) both of whomcurrently have no upper age limit on theirpolicies. See also the companies referredto under pre-existing medical conditionsbelow. This information can also befound at www.audleytravel.com/insurancewith links to the insurers’ websites.Pre-existing medical conditionsIf you have a pre-existing medicalcondition, there are a number ofcompanies that may be able to help you.P J Hayman / Free Spirit (0845 230 5000)will consider most pre-existing medicalconditions and they have no upper agelimit on single trip policies. Age UK (0845600 3348) and Insure and Go (0844 8882787) will also consider a number of preexistingconditions and may be able tohelp. Cancer Travel Insurance Services(0845 880 0163) specialise in travelinsurance for people with non-terminalcancer and have no upper age limit ontheir policies. This information can alsobe found atwww.audleytravel.com/insurancewith links to the insurers’ websites.Non-UK residentsIf you are not a UK resident you willusually need to get insurance in yourcountry of residence. Some insurancecompanies, such as Colombus Direct(0845 808 8893), will consider policiesfor non-UK residents. This informationcan also be found on our websitewww.audleytravel.com/insurancewith links to the insurers’ websites.Once you have a travel insurance policyin place, please let your specialist knowwho your provider is and your policynumber.The above information is provided ingood faith and is correct to the best ofour knowledge. No liability is, however,accepted for any errors and allinformation must be checked directlywith the insurance provider.Financial securityWe hold an Air TravelOrganiser's Licence (ATOL)issued by the Civil AviationAuthority (ATOL number4817). All the flight-inclusive holidays*that we provide are financially protectedby the ATOL scheme. When you pay,you will be supplied with an ATOLCertificate. Please ask for it and check toensure that everything you booked islisted on it. Please see our bookingconditions for further information aboutfinancial protection andwww.atol.org.uk/ATOLCertificatefor further information on the ATOLCertificate.*The flight inclusive holidays we arrangeare ATOL protected providing they aremade available in the UK. For furtherinformation, visit the ATOL website atwww.atol.org.uk.Not all holiday or travelservices offered and sold by us will beprotected by the ATOL scheme. Thosepackage arrangements which are notprotected by our ATOL are covered by atopp policy underwritten by Travel andGeneral Insurance Company plc. Thisinsurance means your money will berefunded or you will be returned to thestarting point of your contractedarrangements if already abroad in theunlikely event of our being unable toprovide your holiday due to ourinsolvency. (For more details please seeSection 12 of the Terms and Conditions.)In these instances you will not receive anATOL certificate with your invoice.HealthIt is essential that you see your GP or atravel clinic before booking your trip andbefore travelling to make sure that youhave taken all the necessary healthprecautions. Some vaccinations requiremore than one visit with a period ofweeks between injections. You shouldvisit your GP at least six weeks beforedeparture. For up to date medical adviceyou may wish to use the MedicalAdvisory Service for Travellers Abroad(MASTA).MASTA Traveller’s Health BriefBefore travelling abroad, you can visitwww.masta-travel-health.com to obtain a‘Health Brief’ specifically tailored to yourjourney. Your brief will give informationabout immunisation and malaria as well as

General Informationany Foreign Office advice and the latesthealth news.Other health information services areavailable, including www.nathnac.org andwww.fitfortravel.nhs.ukDeep vein thrombosis (DVT)The majority of international airlines nowissue advice on how to lessen the risk ofDVT; however, if you have any concerns,we recommend that you consult yourdoctor.Pre-existing medicalconditions/Disabled passengersIt is essential that you advise us beforebooking if you have any disability or preexistingmedical condition which mayaffect your holiday or any specialrequirements as a result of any disabilityor medical condition (including any whichaffect the booking process) so that wecan assist you in considering thesuitability of the arrangements and/ormaking the booking. It will also enable usto make sure you receive the relevantlevel of assistance when you fly.Full details must be confirmed in writingat the time of booking and whenever anychange in the condition or disabilityoccurs. You must also promptly advise usif any medical condition or disabilitywhich may affect your holiday developsafter your booking has been confirmed.The nature of many of the destinationsfeatured within our brochures means thatin the majority of cases they areunsuitable for those who are wheelchairbound or have a lack of mobility. We willbe delighted to discuss the feasibility ofcreating a tailor-made itinerary for youthat takes into consideration your level ofmobility.On our escorted group tours the TourLeader is, unfortunately, unable to offeradditional assistance to passengers withlimited mobility and all such assistancewill need to be provided by whoever thepassenger is travelling with. We mayrequest that you provide a letter fromyour doctor confirming your fitness totravel.High altitudeYour itinerary may include sectionswhere the altitude exceeds 10,000 feet(3,048 metres). If you suffer fromcirculation, heart or respiratory problemswe advise that you consult with yourdoctor before confirming your booking.SmokingAirlines do not permit smoking on theaircraft. At the request of the majority ofour clients we do not allow smoking onany form of transport used for ourescorted group tours. Stops are regularlymade where you will be able to smoke.For smokers travelling on a tailor-madetour we request that you check withyour driver or guide whether smoking ispermitted in the vehicle.Health and safety standardsEach country has its own regulations andenforcement levels relating to health andsafety standards. These do not alwaysmatch the very high standards we areused to in the UK. We thereforerecommend that you follow a fewprecautionary safety procedures. Alwayscheck where the nearest fire exit is andhow to raise the fire alarm. Do not entera swimming pool before checking thewater depth first. For more suggestionsplease see the Important Informationsection in your Travel Organiser.Passport and visa information forBritish CitizensPassengers must hold a passport which isvalid for at least six months following thereturn date of your holiday. Britishpassport holders (full British Citizens)currently require visas, in advance oftravel, for the following destinationsfeatured in our brochures: Australia,Bhutan, Burma, China, Cuba, India, Iran*,Kenya, Mongolia, Libya*, Papua NewGuinea (also available on arrival), Russia,Syria*, Tanzania, Tibet, Uganda, the USAUzbekistan and Vietnam**.Visas may be required for othercountries but can be arranged on arrival.*Subject to Foreign Office advice.**Visitors to Vietnam can obtain a visa onarrival but require a letter ofauthorisation from ourselves – pleasespeak to your specialist.We are normally able to obtain visas onyour behalf, please ask for details at thetime of booking. Non-British passportholders should check with the relevantembassies as visa requirements may bedifferent to those of British passportholders. It is your responsibility to ensureyou have the correct documentation andvisa stamp(s). Failure or inability to obtainall required visas for whatever reasondoes not entitle you to cancel withoutpaying the applicable cancellation charges.Travel adviceThe Foreign and Commonwealth OfficeTravel Advice Unit monitors all overseasdestinations and offers safety advice toBritish travellers. You can contact theservice on 0845 850 2829 or visitwww.fco.gov.uk/travelFlights and airlinesThe difference between a direct flight anda non-stop flight can cause confusion. Toclarify, on a direct flight no change ofaircraft is scheduled but touchdowns willbe made en route either to refuel or toboard or disembark passengers. On nonstopflights no change of aircraft isrequired and no stops are made enroute. Virtually all of the flights that weuse are direct and many are non-stop.Exact details will be given with youritinerary.Premium Economy, Business andFirst ClassIf you require business or first class flightsthese can be arranged on most airlines atvery competitive rates. Premiumeconomy can be arranged on certainairlines, please call us for details.Specific seat requestsWe will do all we can to try to reserve aspecific seat for you, if you have apreference. However, whilst airlines mayallow us to request seats, they will notguarantee any specific seat reservation. Ifthis is important to you, it is always bestto arrive for your flight early, regardlessof having made this request in advance.Please make it clear on your bookingform if you have a specific request.Flight amendmentsWe generally use special ‘inclusive tour’fares when we purchase your air ticketsfrom the airlines. While these fares arevery good value they are inflexible interms of changes and offer no refundsonce the tickets are issued. Once yourflight is confirmed the airlines will chargean amendment fee or insist on thepurchase of a completely new ticket ifyou make changes.Internal flightsSmaller local airlines are often more likelyto change their schedule at short notice.We will endeavour to inform you of anychanges in advance of travelling but thismay not always be possible.General Information 33

General InformationFrequent Flyer ClubsIf you collect points through any of theairline frequent flyer clubs please provideyour membership details on the bookingform and we will ensure that these arerecorded against your flight reservation.Please note that on some of our speciallynegotiated ‘inclusive tour’ fares points arenot always awarded.Carbon off-settingPlease let your specialist know if youwould like to carbon offset your flights.We work with Friends of Conservationand all offsetting payments are donatedthrough them. For more details visitwww.audleytravel.com/offset. Thesuggested amounts are in line withDEFRA’s current guidelines for the costper tonne of carbon. If you wish toensure that Gift Aid is included pleasedonate directly viawww.audleytravel.com/offsetUK airport hotels, car parking andloungesWe are able to arrange airport hotelaccommodation, car parking, meet andgreet services and airport lounge accessin the UK, subject to availability. Toarrange any of these services please callour Administration Team on 01993 838051.Hotel informationThere is frequent confusion over theterminology used for bed arrangementsin hotel rooms. A ‘double’ is recognisedas meaning a room with a double bed,this may be two single beds pushedtogether. A ‘twin’ is a room with twosingle beds. Please note that all roomsare allocated at the discretion of thehotel and cannot be guaranteed.Single roomsSingle rooms tend to be smaller thandouble or twin rooms, however, manyhotels do not have single rooms, in whichcase you will be allocated a twin ordouble room.Special dietary requirementsSpecial diets should be requested on thebooking form; however, it is unrealisticto expect special diets to be catered forin some of the destinations we feature.We will advise the hotels and airlines ofyour request but we cannot guaranteetheir availability.Brochure and itinerary accuracyWe thoroughly check all the informationthat is included within our brochures andindividual tour itineraries, however,changes do occur and errors areoccasionally made. Airlines may changetheir schedules, roads may close andgovernment regulations may alter. Shouldthere be any changes to the travelarrangements you have booked we willdo our best to keep you informed of thesituation prior to departure.Travel in the developing worldMany of our destinations are in thedeveloping world where attitudes,infrastructure, priorities, lifestyles andcultures are very different from our own.This is often the very reason to visit thedestination but certain aspects may befrustrating. We always advise that thefirst thing you should pack is your senseof humour. This can prove invaluablewhen travelling over rougher roads,waiting for a delayed aircraft andcommunicating with hotel staff whosefirst language is not English.Data Protection ActWe will hold your name, address and anyother details you supply us with on ourdatabase. This information will be used tomake your travel arrangements and tosend you information about AudleyTravel. In order to make your travelarrangements we will need to pass yourdetails to companies and individualsoutside the EU where less stringent dataprotection controls may be in place. Wewill not pass on your details to thirdparties for any other purposes.AITO Quality Charter:The Association of IndependentTour OperatorsAITO is the association for independentand specialist holiday companies. Ourmember companies, usually ownermanaged,strive to create overseasholidays with high levels ofprofessionalism and a shared concern forquality and personal service. TheAssociation encourages the higheststandards in all aspects of tour operating.Exclusive membershipAITO sets criteria regarding ownership,finance and quality which must besatisfied before new companies areadmitted to membership. All membersare required to adhere to a Code ofBusiness Practice which encourages highoperational standards and conduct.Financial securityAn AITO member is required to protectmoney paid by customers to the memberfor any holiday sold under the AITOlogo. This protection applies tocustomers who are in the UK at the timeof booking or to overseas customerswho have booked directly with themember. Members have to comply withUK Government Regulations in thisrespect. Members submit details of theirbonding and guarantee arrangements tothe Association on a regular basis.Accurate brochures and web sitesAll members do their utmost to ensurethat all their brochures and otherpublications, print or electronic, clearlyand accurately describe the holidays andservices offered.Professional service and continualimprovementsAll members are committed to highstandards of service and believe in regularand thorough training of employees.Members continually seek to review andimprove their holidays. They listen totheir customers and always welcomesuggestions for improving standards.Monitoring standardsAITO endeavours to monitor qualitystandards regularly. All customers shouldreceive a post-holiday questionnaire theresults of which are scrutinised by theAssociation.Responsible tourismAll members acknowledge theimportance of AITO’s ResponsibleTourism guidelines, which recognise thesocial, economic and environmentalresponsibilities of tour operating. Thosedemonstrating their achievementsbeyond the pure acceptance of thisprinciple are recognised by the award of2 to 5 star status.Customer relationsAll members endeavour to deal swiftlyand fairly with any issues their customersmay raise. In the unlikely event that adispute between an AITO member and acustomer cannot be settled amicably,AITO’s low-cost Independent DisputeSettlement Service may be called upon byeither side to bring the matter to aspeedy and acceptable conclusion.Audley is a member of the Association ofIndependent Tour Operators. To contactthe Association, visit www.aito.co.uk orcall 020 8744 9280.34 General Information

Terms and conditionsPlease read the following conditions carefully. All holidaysare sold by us subject to these conditions and the othergeneral information in this booklet, our brochures andquotations.Audley Travel Group Ltd (whose administrative offices areat New Mill, New Mill Lane, Witney, Oxon OX29 9SX)are members of the Association of Independent TourOperators. Audley Travel Group Ltd (hereafter referredto as ‘we’, ‘us’, ‘our’) offers a number of products and thetrading names we use are ‘Audley’, and ‘Audley Travel’. Inthese Terms & Conditions, ‘you’ and ‘your’ means allpersons named on the booking, or any of them asapplicable (including anyone who is added or substituted ata later date).Your contract with us and all matters arising out of it aregoverned by English law. We both agree that any dispute,claim or other matter which arises out of or in connectionwith this contract or your holiday, will be dealt with by theAITO Arbitration Scheme - see clause 9 or the Courts ofEngland and Wales only unless, in the case of Courtproceedings, you live in Scotland or Northern Ireland. Inthis case, proceedings may be brought in the Courts ofyour home country. If proceedings are brought in Scotlandor Northern Ireland, you may choose to have yourcontract governed by the law of Scotland/Northern Irelandas 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 youritinerary quotation and on our website. All bookings aresubject to these terms and conditions and by asking us toconfirm your booking, the person who makes the bookingis taken to have accepted these booking conditions onbehalf of all persons named on the booking. Once we havereceived the applicable payment(s) due at the time ofbooking (see below), we will, subject to availability of therequested arrangements, send you your invoice. It is at thepoint when we issue this to you that a valid contract willcome into existence between us. Please check yourconfirmation/invoice and all tickets/documents carefully assoon as you receive them and contact us immediately ifyou think any details are incorrect. We regret we cannotaccept any liability if we are not notified of any inaccuracies(for which we are responsible) in any document within tendays of our sending it out (five days for tickets).We will doour best to rectify any mistake notified to us outside thesetime limits but you must meet any costs involved in doingso.(ii) The deposit is part payment of the holiday. The depositrequired will be shown on the quotation page of youritinerary. In addition to the deposit, full or part payment ofcertain elements of your holiday (such as flights) may berequired at the time booking or at some point betweenbooking and balance due date. Also see clause I (iv). Thedeposit and all such additional payments are non refundableexcept as set out in clause 4. The balance must be paid notlater than the date specified on the invoice. This is normallyno less than 8 weeks before the departure date. However,there are a few destinations or trip components thatrequire payment no less than 90 days before the departuredate which will be specified on your invoice and quotation.Please note if we do not receive all payments due (includingany surcharge where applicable) in full and on time, we areentitled to assume that you wish to cancel your booking. Inthis case, we will be entitled to keep all amounts paid ordue at that date. If we do not cancel straight away becauseyou have promised to make payment, you must pay thecancellation charges shown in clause 3 depending on thedate we reasonably treat your booking as cancelled.(iii) Full payment is required at the time of booking for allbookings made after balance due date as above.(iv) On occasions, we may be asked by suppliers to makepayment to them earlier than normal. Such requests may,for example, be made in order to secure accommodationand other services during periods of peak demand. Whilstsuppliers may have no contractual right to make suchrequests, failure to comply with them may result in the lossof confirmed arrangements. Where this situation arises, wereserve the right to ask you to make payment of therequested sum within a stipulated period and prior tobalance due date. We will of course endeavour to avoiddoing so if we can. Any such early payment will be nonrefundable except as set out in clause 4.(v) If you are booking your holiday through one of ourauthorised travel agents the balance must be paid to theagent two weeks prior to the applicable balance due date asspecified on the invoice and quotation. All payments madeto one of our authorised travel agents for the arrangementswe have contracted to provide will be held by them on ourbehalf. If you book your holiday through a travel agent whois not a member of ABTA, all payments must be made tous directly and not your travel agent.2. If you change your holidayIf, after the contract between us has come into existence,you want to change your holiday we will do our best topass your request to the relevant supplier, however wecannot guarantee that such changes can be made. Where achange can be made, we will charge for any additional costsincurred including any costs imposed or incurred by any ofour suppliers, and including for example cancellationcharges that may be incurred for sectors cancelled. Youshould note, for example, that a change of name on orother alteration to an airline ticket will usually incur a 100%cancellation charge and full rebooking fee.3. If you cancel your holidayIf you have to cancel part of the booking or cancel theentire booking once it has been confirmed by us, writtennotification must be sent to us by recorded delivery post orby email. As proof of receipt by email of your notification tocancel you must receive and retain writtenacknowledgement from Audley Travel. Charges will beapplied from the date the letter is received, or the email isacknowledged by Audley Travel, according to the scalebelow. The charges are applied as a percentage of the totalholiday cost excluding any amendment charges and anyamounts paid in addition to the deposit at the time ofbooking or before balance due date (see clauses 1(ii) andI(iv)) which are non refundable in the event of cancellation.The following cancellation charges apply if your final balancedue date is 8 weeks prior to departure. Please note,different cancellation charges apply in relation to certainproducts – please see your quote for details.Period before departuredate within which writtennotification is received atour officesCancellationChargePer PersonUp to balance due dateDeposit onlyBalance due date-43 days 30%42-29 days 60%28-3 days 90%Within 2 days 100%Alterations or cancellations by you aftercommencement of travel and unused servicesWe will do our best to implement any changes to yourarrangements you request once they have commenced, butwe cannot guarantee this will be possible. In the event ofsuch amendments being made you will be liable for anycancellation charges that may be levied for the servicesoriginally booked, and for the cost of booking the revisedarrangements and the arrangements themselves. As a basicprinciple, no refunds will be paid to clients who do notcomplete a tour. However where we ourselves are able toobtain a refund from hotels or principals for services notused, we will pass this on to you, less any reasonableadministration charges.THE IMPORTANCE OF TRAVEL INSURANCEIf you have taken out holiday insurance you may, dependingon the detail of your policy, be able to recover thecancellation charges, check your policy for details. Nevertravel without insurance, the unexpected can alwayshappen. It is your responsibility to ensure you areadequately covered by insurance. Please read your policyand take it on holiday with you.4. If we change your holidayWe start planning the holidays we offer many months inadvance. Occasionally, we have to make changes to andcorrect errors in itineraries and other details both beforeand after bookings have been confirmed and cancelconfirmed bookings. Whilst we always endeavour to avoidchanges and cancellations, we must reserve the right to doso. However, we promise we will only cancel yourconfirmed booking after balance due date where you havefailed to comply with any requirement of these bookingconditions entitling us to cancel (such as paying on time) orwhere we are forced to do so as a result of ‘force majeure’as defined in clause 5 below. We will not cancel after thisdate for any other reason.Most changes are minor. Occasionally, we have to make a‘significant change’. A significant change is a change madebefore departure which, taking account of the informationyou give us at the time of booking and which we canreasonably be expected to know as a tour operator, wecan reasonably expect to have a major effect on yourholiday. Significant changes are likely to include thefollowing changes when made before departure; a changeof accommodation to that of a lower official classificationor standard for the whole or a major part of the time youare away*, a change of accommodation area for the wholeor a major part of the time you are away, a change of UKoutward departure time or overall length of time you areaway of twelve or more hours, or a change of UKdeparture airport to one which is more inconvenient foryou (except as between Gatwick and Heathrow).*Please note: A change affecting a stay in a hotel during atour where the hotel itself is not the focus of the tour, doesnot constitute a significant change.If we have to make a significant change or cancel, we willtell you as soon as possible. If there is time to do so beforedeparture, we will offer you the choice of the followingoptions:-(a) (for significant changes) accepting the changedarrangements or(b) purchasing an alternative holiday from us, of a similarstandard to that originally booked if available. Please note:Due to the original and individual nature of our holidays itfrequently may not be possible to offer you a comparableholiday to that originally booked.(c) cancelling or accepting the cancellation in which caseyou will receive a full and quick refund of all monies youhave paid to us.You must advise us of your decision within 7 days of thedate on which we notified you of the significant change orcancellation. Please note, the above options are notavailable where any change made is a minor one. A minorchange is any change which, taking account of theinformation you have given us at the time of booking orwhich we can reasonably be expected to know as a touroperator, we could not reasonably expect to have asignificant effect on your confirmed holiday.If we have to make a significant change or cancellation wewill pay you the compensation set out below subject to thefollowing exceptions. Compensation will not be payableand no liability beyond offering the above mentionedchoices can be accepted where (1) we are forced to makea change or cancel as a result of unusual and unforeseeablecircumstances beyond our control, the consequences ofwhich we could not have avoided even with all due care or(2) we have to cancel because the minimum number ofbookings necessary for us to operate your holiday has notbeen reached - in this case we will notify you no less than60 days before departure. Please note: all escorted grouptrips are based on group arrangements involving a givenminimum number of passengers. No compensation will bepayable and the above options will not be available if wecancel as a result of your failure to comply with anyrequirement of these booking conditions entitling us tocancel (such as paying on time).Period of notification ofchange before scheduleddeparture dateMore than 60 daysNil60-43 days £1042-29 days £2028-15 days £3014-0 days £40Compensationper personIn the unlikely event that we become unable to provide asignificant proportion of the services you have booked afteryou depart, we will make alternative arrangements for youat no extra charge, or, if this is impossible, or you do notaccept these alternative arrangements for a good reason,we will provide you with transport back to the point whereyour holiday arrangements with us commenced. If we areforced by ‘force majeure’ (see clause 5) to change orterminate your holiday after departure but before thescheduled end of your time away, we regret we will beunable to make any refunds (unless we obtain any refundsfrom our suppliers), pay you any compensation or meet anycosts or expenses you incur as a result except as set outabove.5. Force majeureExcept as set out in these terms and conditions, we cannotaccept liability or pay any compensation where theperformance or prompt performance of our contractualobligations is prevented or affected, or you otherwiseTerms and conditions 35

Terms and conditionssuffer any loss or damage (as more fully described in clause7 (i) below) as a result of circumstances amounting to‘force majeure’. In these terms and conditions ‘forcemajeure’ means any event or circumstances which we orthe supplier of the services in question could not foreseeor avoid even with all due care. Such events andcircumstances may include, whether actual or threatened,war, insurrection, riots, strikes, civil action, decisions bygovernments or governing authority, technical ormaintenance problems with transport, changes of schedulesor operational decisions of air carriers, terrorist activity,industrial action, natural or nuclear activity,epidemics/pandemics, adverse weather conditions, fire andall similar events outside our control.6. SurchargesOnce the price of your chosen holiday has been confirmedat the time of booking, we will only increase or decrease itin the following circumstances. Price increases or decreasesafter booking will be passed on by way of a surcharge orrefund. A surcharge or refund (as applicable) will bepayable, subject to the conditions set out in this clause, iftransportation costs (e.g. fuel, scheduled airfares and anyother airline surcharges which are part of the contractbetween airlines (and their agents) and the tour operator)or dues, taxes or fees payable for services such as landingtaxes or embarkation or disembarkation fees at ports orairports change.Even in the above cases, only if the amount of the increasein our costs exceeds 2% of the total cost of your holiday(excluding any amendment charges), will we levy asurcharge. If any surcharge is greater than 10% of the costof your holiday (excluding any amendment charges), youwill be entitled to cancel your booking and receive a fullrefund of all monies you have paid to us (except for anyamendment charges) or alternatively purchase anotherholiday from us as referred to in clause 4 ‘If we change yourholiday’. Please note that travel arrangements are notalways purchased in local currency and some apparentchanges have no impact on the price of your travel due tocontractual and other protection in place.A refund will only be payable if the decrease in our costsexceeds 2% as set out above. Where a refund is due, wewill pay you the full amount of the decrease in our costs.You have 14 days from the issue date printed on thesurcharge invoice to tell us if you want to cancel orpurchase another holiday where applicable. If you do nottell us that you wish to do so within this period of time, weare entitled to assume that you will pay the surcharge. Anysurcharge must be paid with the balance of the cost of theholiday or within 14 days of the issue date printed on thesurcharge invoice, whichever is the later.We reserve the right to make changes to and correcterrors in quoted prices at any time before your holiday isconfirmed. We will advise you of any error of which we areaware and of the then applicable price at the time ofbooking.7. Our responsibility(i) We promise to make sure that all parts of the holidaywe have agreed to arrange, perform or provide as part ofour contract with you are arranged, performed orprovided with reasonable skill and care. This means that,subject to these booking conditions, we will acceptresponsibility if, for example, you suffer death or personalinjury or your contracted holiday arrangements are notprovided as promised or prove deficient as a result of thefailure of ourselves, our employees, agents or suppliers touse reasonable skill and care in making, performing orproviding, as applicable, your contracted holidayarrangements. Please note, it is your responsibility to showthat reasonable skill and care has not been used if you wishto make a claim against us. In addition, we will only beresponsible for what our employees, agents and suppliersdo or do not do if they were at the time acting within thecourse of their employment (for employees) or carryingout work we had asked them to do (for agents andsuppliers). 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 whatsoeverwhich results from any of the following:-(a) the fault of the person(s) affected or any member(s) oftheir party or(b) the fault of a third party not connected with theprovision of your holiday which we could not havepredicted or avoided or36 Terms and conditions(c) an event or circumstance which we or the supplier ofthe service(s) in question could not have predicted oravoided 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 notenjoy your holiday or suffer any problems because of areason you did not tell us about when you booked yourholiday or where any problems you suffer did not resultfrom any breach of our contract or other fault of ourselvesor, where we were responsible for them, our suppliers oragents or where any losses, expenses, costs or other sumyou have suffered relate to any business.Please note: we cannot accept responsibility for anyservices which do not form part of our contract. Thisincludes, for example, any additional services or facilitieswhich your hotel or any other supplier agrees to providefor you where the services or facilities are not advertised inour brochure and we have not agreed to arrange them aspart of our contract and any excursion you purchase duringyour holiday.(ii) The promises we make to you about the services wehave agreed to provide or arrange as part of our contract -and the laws and regulations of the country in which yourclaim or complaint occurred - will be used as the basis fordeciding whether the services in question had beenproperly provided. If the particular services which gave riseto the claim or complaint complied with local laws andregulations applicable to those services at the time, theservices will be treated as having been properly provided.This will be the case even if the services did not complywith the laws and regulations of the UK which would haveapplied had those services been provided in the UK. Theexception to this is where the claim or complaint concernsthe absence of a safety feature which might lead areasonable holiday maker to refuse to take the holiday inquestion.(iii) We limit the maximum amount we may have to payyou for any and all claims or parts of claims which do notinvolve personal injury, illness or death. Except where lossof and/or damage to luggage or personal possessions isconcerned or a lower limitation of liability applies to yourclaim, the maximum amount we will have to pay you forsuch non personal injury claims if we are found liable to youon any basis is twice the price (excluding any amendmentcharges) paid by or on behalf of the person(s) affected intotal. This maximum amount will only be payable whereeverything has gone wrong and you have not received anybenefit at all from your holiday.Where we are found liable for loss of and/or damage to anyluggage or personal possessions (including money), themaximum amount we will have to pay you is £150 perperson affected as you are assumed to have taken outadequate insurance at the time of booking. Please also seeclause 7(iv) below.(iv) Where any claim or part of a claim concerns or isbased on any travel arrangements (including the process ofgetting on and/or off the transport concerned) provided byany air, sea, rail or road carrier or any stay in a hotel, themaximum amount of compensation we will have to payyou will be limited. The most we will have to pay you forthat claim or that part of a claim if we are found liable toyou on any basis is the most the carrier or hotel keeperconcerned would have to pay under the internationalconvention or regulation which applies to the travelarrangements or hotel stay in question (for example, theWarsaw Convention as amended for international travel byair and/or for airlines with an operating licence granted byan EU country, the EU Regulation on Air Carrier Liabilityfor national and international travel by air, the AthensConvention for international travel by sea and COTIF, theConvention on International Travel by Rail). Please note:Where a carrier or hotel would not be obliged to makeany payment to you under the applicable InternationalConvention or Regulation in respect of a claim or part of aclaim, we similarly are not obliged to make a payment toyou for that claim or part of the claim. When making anypayment, we are entitled to deduct any money which youhave received or are entitled to receive from the transportprovider or hotelier for the complaint or claim in question.(v) You must provide ourselves and our insurers with allassistance we may reasonably require. You must also tell usand the supplier concerned about your claim or complaintas set out in clause 9 below.8. Flights and your responsibilityThe flight details shown in your itinerary quotation are forguidance only and are subject to change. Final details will beconfirmed on your travel documentation, sentapproximately 14 days prior to departure. The timesshown on all tickets are local times and check in for bothoutward and return flights is at least 3 hours prior to thedeparture times on the travel documents. It is possible thatflight times may be changed even after tickets have beendispatched - we will contact you as soon as possible if thisoccurs.In accordance with EU Directive (EC) No 2111/2005Article 9, we are required to bring to your attention theexistence of a “Community list” which contains details ofair carriers who are subject to an operating ban within theEU. The Community list is available for inspection athttp://europa.eu.int/comm/transport/air/safety/flywell_en.htm. In accordance with EU Regulations we arerequired to advise you of the actual carrier(s) (or, if theactual carrier(s) is not known, the likely carrier(s)) that willoperate your flight(s) at the time of booking. Where we areonly able to inform you of the likely carrier(s) at the time ofbooking, we shall inform you of the identity of the actualcarrier(s) as soon as we become aware of this. Any changeto the operating carrier(s) after your booking has beenconfirmed will be notified to you as soon as possible. If thecarrier with whom you have a confirmed reservationbecomes subject to an operating ban as above as a result ofwhich we/ the carrier are unable to offer you a suitablealternative the provisions of clause 4 will apply. Any changein the identity of the carrier, flight timings, and/or aircrafttype (if advised) will not entitle you to cancel or change toother arrangements without paying our normal chargesexcept where specified in these conditions.We can accept no responsibility if you arrive late for thecheck in and miss your flight as a result nor can we acceptresponsibility for any loss by you of your holiday/flight traveltickets, vouchers or coupons.Air travel is subject to operational decisions of carriers andairports which may result in delays and diversions. Pleasenote that minor carriers sometimes change the departuretime of short-haul or domestic flights at short notice, and insome instances, schedules shown in the computers ofintercontinental carriers differ from those actually flown bysmaller local carriers. We advise you that it is yourresponsibility to be meticulous in locally reconfirmingdirectly with the carrier operating the flight. We accept noliability for the consequences of flights missed owing to thepassenger’s failure to reconfirm.Clients flying in economy class to long-haul destinationsshould be aware that flights are often full and you may notbe able to get seats together. We also recommend thatyou check in early for a long flight, and in any case not lessthan 3 hours before the scheduled departure time.If your flight is cancelled or delayed, your flight ticket isdowngraded or boarding is denied by your airline incircumstances which would entitle you to claimcompensation or any other payment from the airline underEC Regulation No 261/2004 - the Denied BoardingRegulations 2004, you must pursue the airline for thecompensation or other payment due to you. All sums youreceive or are entitled to receive from the airlineconcerned by virtue of these Regulations represent the fullamount of your entitlement to compensation or any otherpayment arising from such cancellation, delay, downgradingor denied boarding. This includes any disappointment,distress, inconvenience or effect on any otherarrangements. The fact a delay may entitle you to cancelyour flight does not automatically entitle you to cancel anyother arrangements even where those arrangements havebeen made in conjunction with your flight. We have noliability to make any payment to you in relation to theDenied Boarding Regulations or in respect of any flightcancellation or delay, downgrading of any flight ticket ordenial of any boarding as the full amount of yourentitlement to any compensation or other payment (asdealt with above) is covered by the airline's obligationsunder the Denied Boarding Regulations. If your airline doesnot comply with these rules, you should complain to theAir Transport Users’ Council on 020 7240 6061www.auc.org.ukWe cannot accept liability for any delay unless it has amaterial effect on your holiday arrangements. See clause 4.

Terms and conditionsYou undertake to behave with propriety and in such amanner as in no way causes or is likely to cause distress,danger or annoyance to other clients and/or any third partyor damage to property. If, in the view of ourselves, ouremployees, agents or suppliers, you are in breach of thisclause, we reserve the right to terminate your contract andneither we nor the providers of any of the services inquestion will have any further contractual obligations to youeither in respect of covering any expenses, paying anycompensation or refunds, or arranging for your returnhome.When you book with us, you accept responsibility for anydamage or loss caused by you. Full payment for any suchdamage or loss (reasonably estimated if not preciselyknown) must be paid direct at the time to theaccommodation owner or manager or other supplier. If theactual cost of the loss or damage exceeds the amount paidwhere estimated, you must pay the difference once known.If the actual cost is less than the amount paid, the differencewill be refunded. If you fail to do so, you will be responsiblefor meeting any claims subsequently made against us(together with our own and the other party’s full legalcosts) as a result of your actions.You must ensure that all your travel documents, fullpassports, visas, vaccination certificates, currency andtravellers cheques are in order and valid for travel. All costsincurred in obtaining such documentation must be paid byyou. We regret we cannot accept any liability if you arerefused entry onto any transport or into any country dueto failure on your part to carry correct documentation. Weare able to give general advice on these matters for Britishcitizens holding a British passport. However, non-Britishcitizens and non British passport holders should check withtheir embassy or consulate vis-a-vis current requirements.See also our General Information section.If failure to have any necessary travel or other documentsresults in fines, surcharges or other financial penalty beingimposed on us, you will be responsible for reimbursing usaccordingly.The name on your airline tickets must be the name thatappears on your full passport.Please note that if you believe that we have stated orallythat a particular facility or service should be available, but isnot in the brochure or in writing from us, please makereference to it on the booking form so that we mayconfirm it to you when accepting your booking.9. ComplaintsShould you have any complaints about any aspect of yourholiday arrangements, you must inform our localrepresentative or tour leader immediately and the supplierof the arrangements concerned. Problems can most easilybe dealt with on the spot. Please note, if you do not reporta problem or complaint which, if it had been reported atthe time it occurred could have been resolved there andthen we cannot accept any liability in respect of thatproblem or complaint. It is sensible to expect a clienttravelling in the developing world to be reasonablyresourceful if things go wrong. If you experience anydifficulties, contact us in the UK on our 24 hour emergencytelephone service. The number will be found on your predepartureinformation and with your tickets. In the unlikelyevent that an acceptable solution cannot be found, youshould then write to us within 28 days of your return withfull details of your complaint. If you fail to follow thiscomplaints procedure, your right to claim thecompensation you may otherwise have been entitled tomay be affected or even lost as a result.If we cannot reach an amicable solution to any dispute youdo have the right to refer the dispute to the Association ofIndependent Tour Operators which operates anIndependent Dispute Service (details on request) forresolution of the dispute by a mediator provided the claimdoes not involve personal accident, injury or illness.10. The brochure and quotationWe have taken every care in ensuring that the informationin the brochure and given in quotations/itineraries iscorrect at the time of publication. However we are sureyou will appreciate that subsequently minor alterations mayarise. We reserve the right to change any of the prices,services or other particulars contained in this brochure orany quotation at any time before we enter into a contractwith you. If there is any change we will notify you beforewe enter into such contract. Where we state thatadditional information, a fact sheet or a dossier is availableon a particular itinerary or programme, this informationshould be regarded as a term of the contract.The hotel classifications given in our brochure, quotationsand dossiers and fact sheets are for guidance only. They arenot based on any national or international classificationsystem, they are the opinions of our staff or agents and arequite subjective.11. Special requestsIf you have any special request, you must advise us inwriting at the time of booking. Although we will endeavourto pass any reasonable requests on to the relevant supplier,we regret we cannot guarantee any request will be metunless we have specifically confirmed this. For your ownprotection, you should obtain confirmation in writing fromus that your request will be complied with (where it ispossible for us to give this) if your request is important toyou. Confirmation that a special request has been noted orpassed on to the supplier or the inclusion of the specialrequest on your confirmation invoice or any otherdocumentation is not confirmation that the request will bemet. Unless and until specifically confirmed, all specialrequests are subject to availability.We regret we cannot accept any conditional bookings, i.e.any booking which is specified to be conditional on thefulfilment of a particular request. All such bookings will betreated as ‘standard’ bookings subject to the aboveprovisions on special requests.If you have any medical problem or disability which mayaffect your holiday, please tell us before you confirm yourbooking so that we can advise as to the suitability of thechosen arrangements. In any event, you must give us fulldetails in writing at the time of booking. You must alsopromptly advise us if any medical condition or disabilitywhich may affect your holiday develops after your bookinghas been confirmed. If we reasonably feel unable toproperly accommodate the particular needs of the personconcerned, we must reserve the right to decline theirreservation or, if full details are not given at the time ofbooking, cancel when we become aware of these details.12. Your financial protectionWe hold an Air Travel Organiser's Licence issued by theCivil Aviation Authority (ATOL number 4817). When youbuy 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 arefinancially protected, where you can get information onwhat this means for you, and who to contact if things gowrong. We, or the suppliers identified on your ATOLCertificate, will provide you with the services listed on theATOL Certificate (or a suitable alternative). In some cases,where neither we nor the supplier are able to do so forreasons of insolvency, an alternative ATOL holder mayprovide you with services you have bought or a suitablealternative (at no extra cost to you). You agree to acceptthat in those circumstances the alternative ATOL holderwill perform those obligations and you agree to pay anymoney outstanding to be paid by you under your contractto that alternative ATOL holder. However, you also agreethat in some cases it will not be possible to appoint analternative ATOL holder, in which case you will be entitledto make a claim under the ATOL scheme (or your creditcard issuer where applicable).*The air inclusive holidays and flights we arrange are ATOLprotected providing they are made available in the UK. Forfurther information, visit the ATOL website atwww.atol.org.uk.Not all holiday or travel services offered and sold by us willbe protected by the ATOL scheme. In compliance with theUK Package Travel, Package Holidays and Package ToursRegulations 1992 an insurance policy has been arrangedwith Travel & General Insurance Company plc, authorisedand regulated by the Financial Services Authority, toprotect customers’ pre-payments for packaged travelservices which are not covered by the ATOL scheme in theunlikely event of our financial failure. This policy will coverthe following;- a refund of such pre-payments if customers have not yettravelled, or- making arrangements to enable the holiday to continue ifcustomers have already travelled, or- returning customers to the starting point of theircontracted holiday arrangements with Audley Travel whereapplicableCustomers’ pre-payments are protected by a topp policy.In the unlikely event of financial failure please contact theclaims helpline on 0870 0137 965.A copy of the policy is available on request. In the instanceswhere topp protection applies you will not receive anATOL certificate with your invoice. For further details visitwww.audleytravel.com/protect13. ExcursionsPlease note that we do not provide or arrange excursionsother than those listed in your itinerary and forming part ofthe arrangements booked and paid for in the UK. Our localrepresentatives or guides may put you in touch with localorganisers of excursions if you request but we can have noliability for such excursions, as your contract for suchexcursions will be with a local company providing theservices and not with us.14. Prices and Brochure AccuracyPlease note, the information and prices shown in ourbrochures and/or quotations may have changed by the timeyou come to book your holiday. Whilst every effort ismade to ensure the accuracy of the brochures, quotationsand prices at the time of printing or when they are given toyou, regrettably errors do occasionally occur. You musttherefore ensure you check all details of your chosenholiday (including the price) with us at the time of booking.15. Honeymoon Gift ServiceAll honeymoon bookings and use of Audley's HoneymoonGift Service are subject to our terms & conditions. It isimportant to note that in the unfortunate event of thecancellation of your booking you will be responsible for allcancellation charges as detailed in our Terms & Conditions.Audley also reserve the right to charge a £150administration fee to cover refunding all monies to yourguests. These refunds will only be made once allcancellation charges have been paid. As the client, you willtake on the responsibility for the full payment of thebooking as the amount of your guest contributions cannotbe guaranteed.Audley Travel Group Limited. Registered Address: NewMill, New Mill Lane, Witney, Oxfordshire OX29 9SX.Registered in England with Company Reg. No. 3190720.VAT Reg. No.125454721. October2012.Terms and conditions 37