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Monasteries and Landscapes of Ethiopia

Escorted Group Tour 11 February 2017

Gelada baboons grazing in Simien Mountains National Park

We are very proud to have received a number of awards over

recent years from The Guardian and Observer, The Telegraph

newspaper and Ultratravel magazine, and Wanderlust, as voted

by their readers. We are a Which? Recommended Provider

achieving the maximum five star rating across all categories and

have also won awards with The Sunday Times Travel Magazine

and Condé Nast Traveller. Additionally, we have achieved two

stars from the Best Company organisation for our great working

environment.

These awards are widely recognised as being the most respected

in the travel industry as they are professional surveys of the

publications’ readerships. With over 500 travel companies for

you to choose from in the UK alone, we hope you find these

awards are an additional reassurance of the quality of service you

can expect from Audley.

Contents

Meet our specialists ______________________________ 4

Introduction to tour ______________________________ 6

Flights & visas ___________________________________ 8

Day by day summary of our Monasteries and Landscapes of

Ethiopia arrangements ____________________________ 8

Price _________________________________________ 10

Why travel with us? ______________________________ 11

Introduction to the region _________________________ 12

Photographs of the region __________________________ 14

Your itinerary in detail ____________________________ 16

Accommodation information ________________________ 33

Charity support _________________________________ 38

General information ______________________________ 40

Terms and conditions _____________________________ 43

4 Meet our specialists

Tissisat (or Blue Nile) Falls, Bahir Dar

Quality of Service

Most companies claim to offer first

class service, but very few genuinely

set out to achieve it. At Audley we

are wholeheartedly devoted to

offering you first class service from

the moment we start planning your

trip until after your return. If you feel

that our standards at any time drop

below your expectations or you have

any suggestions about how we could improve our

service, then please contact the Africa Manager, Ruth

Milligan on 01993 838 503 or email

[email protected]

We may record telephone calls to ensure quality of service and for training purposes.

Meet our Africa Specialists

Meet our specialists 5

The Africa team at Audley is made up of specialists with bags of passion for and experience of both Africa and safari. Many of us lived and worked in Africa before joining Audley and our knowledge of the different regions of South, Southern and East Africa is unsurpassed. We return regularly to our specialist countries, keeping up-to-date with developments and discovering the best safaris, lodges and beach hideaways for our clients. Heading up the Africa team are Regional Managers Terry Moohan, Sharre Fox and Glenn Evans.

Introduction to our Monasteries and Landscapes of Ethiopia tour

6 Introduction to our Monasteries and Landscapes of Ethiopia tour

Tour overview

Ethiopia’s central plateau is a verdant area which has supported civilisations for thousands of years. Although it is not a

destination for those hung-up on creature comforts, the vibrant country of today is a far cry from the parched land ravaged

by famine that was portrayed by the press in the 1980s. In addition to this rich cultural heritage, the country also has varied

and stunning scenery, and unique wildlife. Exploring by road and domestic flights, this tour travels with an expert local guide

around the northern part of the country, visiting cultural sites such as the towering stelae at Axum, the rock-hewn

monolithic churches of Lalibela and the elaborate castles of Gondar. In addition to this you will enjoy hiking in the stunningly

beautiful Simien Mountains and searching for the endemic Ethiopian wolf and gelada baboon. The tour offers plenty of

opportunities to view everyday life in Ethiopia and for interacting with the local population.

Specialist knowledge

Our Ethiopia team has travelled extensively throughout the country and we have pooled their collective knowledge to

create a trip that we think reflects the best of Ethiopia. Your initial enquiry will be handled by just one of our specialists

who will then proceed to be your main point of contact until you return from the tour. Please feel free to contact them at

any time.

Expert guides

You will be accompanied at all times by an experienced and knowledgeable guide who speaks English. There is not a tour

leader accompanying this group from the UK as your Ethiopian driver and guide will be leading the group as well as being

your point of contact on the ground. Not only does this employ one of the wonderful guides who work in Ethiopia, it also

ploughs more money from tourism directly into the country.

Group size and transport

The group size will be between a minimum of four and a maximum of 14 participants. The small size of the group ensures

that the trip is a more personal experience and that you can always hear and speak to your guide. It also ensures that your

experience of a particular site is not marred by the presence of too many people and each person has their own window

seat. The vehicle used in this tour will be a minibus.

Single travellers

We welcome single travellers and there are two options: you can choose to share a room with another single traveller on

the tour (providing that another single traveller of the same sex is also willing to share) and pay the standard tour price, or

pay a single supplement if you want to guarantee sole occupancy of a room. Please note that due to limited numbers of

rooms at some of the lodges on the tour, we are only able to accept a maximum of four single travellers unless you are

prepared to share a room.

Activity level: medium

To ensure that all participants get the most out of the tour, it is important that you are fully aware of the level of activity,

fitness and medical health required to successfully complete this itinerary. Please read this dossier carefully prior to

confirming your place on the tour. Once you have read through the dossier it is your responsibility to contact us with any

concerns regarding your level of fitness, health or ability. Please be aware that our tour guides have the right to exclude

customers from the tour if they feel they are not sufficiently fit, healthy or able to complete the tour without affecting its

safety, comfort or smooth progress. If you would like to discuss any of these issues further please contact the Ethiopia team

on 01993 838 565.

Included in the price

Unlike some other group tour operators in Ethiopia, our price includes all reasonable costs that your trip will incur - this

includes all permits, guide and park fees, transfers, all meals, accommodation and expertly guided excursions. The only

money you will be required to travel with will be for the purchase of drinks and curios, and for tipping. We believe that this

is the most convenient way of planning for your travels and means that you do not arrive in the country with large amounts

of cash.

Dietary requirements and meals

You should highlight any special dietary requirements on the booking form. However you must be aware that it is

unrealistic to expect specialist diets to be catered for in some of the destinations we will be visiting. We will advise hotels

and airlines of your request but we cannot guarantee their availability. All of your meals are included in your itinerary with a

variety of traditional Ethiopian fare on offer alongside international dishes.

Introduction to our Monasteries and Landscapes of Ethiopia tour

Introduction to our Monasteries and Landscapes of Ethiopia tour 7

A change in eating habits when travelling abroad can often lead to an upset stomach and unfortunately a visit to Ethiopia is

no exception. If you do become sick it can make some of the long drives rather uncomfortable and impact on your overall

enjoyment of your journey. To minimise your chances of becoming unwell we recommend that you only drink bottled

water and ensure that your food is piping hot and cooked thoroughly. We also advise caution when eating shellfish, raw

vegetables and salad as they may have been washed in tap water. Finally, we recommend packing some Imodium - just in

case. We find that liquid hand sanitiser and wet-wipes are really useful to carry around.

The unvarnished truth

We aim to provide accurate and detailed information to make you aware of all the aspects of the journey you are

undertaking. Some facts that you should be aware of are outlined below:

There are a number of early starts in the itinerary. This is done in order to capture the best part of the day for a particular

site, to avoid crowds, or to fit everything in to the day. For this reason we have built in time at leisure, often in the middle

of the day or in the afternoon, when you can relax.

Internal flight schedules are often changed at short notice. Generally times only alter by an hour or two, but changes are

sometimes more serious. If any of your flights are changed after booking we will notify you before you travel and amend the

itinerary accordingly. Serious changes can result in additional costs which in some cases will have to be met by you.

Tourism in Ethiopia is still in its infancy and the standard of accommodation outside of the capital is still developing. Most

new hotels are aiming to attract diplomats and professionals for a few days extension to their business trips in Addis and so

are built in an international hotel style with little charm or character. We have deliberately avoided these whenever there is

a suitable character alternative.

A common theme through Ethiopia is uncomfortably hard beds which is worth bearing in mind before booking this trip if

you struggle with a bad back or find it difficult to sleep on a firmer mattress.

Most of the activities included in this itinerary are on foot. There is a large amount of walking on this trip, with some

excursions possibly lasting four hours or more. Paths to the churches can be steep at times, often over uneven rock which

can be either worn smooth and therefore slippery or roughly hewn. You will need to be able to climb into and out of boats

as well as being capable of climbing stairs. There is some walking at an altitude of over 3,300m in the Simien Mountains and

although this is taken at a very relaxed pace you will need to have a good level of fitness to enjoy this trip fully. Some of the

journeys will be driving along rough, bumpy roads.

Travelling in Ethiopia requires flexibility, patience and understanding; arrangements often change at short notice,

accommodation is simple and there are long drives on unsealed roads. Standards of accommodation and service aren't

always as polished as they are in other African countries that are more established for tourism. This is improving all the

time but service remains reactive rather than proactive.

Visas

Ethiopia British passport holders will need a visa to enter Ethiopia. Tourist visas can be obtained on arrival at Addis

Ababa (Bole International Airport) at a cost of approximately US$50 (euros and Ethiopian birr are also

accepted). If you are arriving by other means, or at another airport, you must get a visa prior to arrival.

Visa applicants in the United Kingdom should contact the Embassy of the Federal Democratic Republic of

Ethiopia in London (020 7589 7212).

Important Note: We cannot under any circumstances guarantee that your visa application for any country will be accepted.

However, in our experience refusals are extremely rare. Visa information is given in good faith and is accurate to the best of

our knowledge.

Day by day summary

8 Day by day summary

1 Saturday 11

February 2017

Tonight you will fly from London Heathrow directly to Addis

Ababa on Ethiopian Airlines.

Overnight on board the aircraft

2 Sunday 12

February 2017

On arrival at Addis Ababa airport you will meet the rest of

your group and your guide. You will then be taken through

the city to your hotel. After you have checked in, had time to

freshen up and eaten lunch you will set off on a guided tour

of the city. Dinner will be at a city centre restaurant this

evening.

Radisson Blu, Addis Ababa

1 x Standard room - All meals

are included

3 Monday 13

February 2017

This morning you will be taken back to the airport where

you will be ushered past the main check-in queues to take

your domestic flight to Axum on Ethiopian Airlines,

accompanied by your guide. On arrival in Axum you will be

met by your minibus and driver. You will first stop at the

hotel to check in and drop off bags, before embarking on

your tour of this remarkable city, home of the towering rock

stelae and the former seat of the Aksumite Empire.

Sabean Hotel, Axum


are included

4 Tuesday 14

February 2017

Today you will fly from Axum to Lalibela where you will see

one of the most amazing sites in Ethiopia - the ancient,

monolithic rock hewn churches. This afternoon you will

discover the first group of churches with your guide.

Tukul Village, Lalibela


are included

5 Wednesday 15

February 2017

First thing today you will set off for the Naakuto Laab, a small

monastery outside of Lalibela. After lunch you will continue

to the second group of churches in Lalibela including the

iconic Church of St George. Following your tour you will

enjoy a small traditional Ethiopian coffee ceremony at a

nearby house.



are included

6 Thursday 16

February 2017

Flying from Lalibela you will travel to Gondar with your

guide. On arrival you will take a scenic drive through the

countryside into the mountainous scenery at the outpost

town of Debark, the entrance to the Simien Mountains. On

entering the park you will stop frequently to enjoy the

beautiful vistas before embarking on a short acclimatisation

walk before continuing to your lodge.

Simien Lodge, Simien Mountains

National Park


are included

7 Friday 17

February 2017

You will set off today on foot for a gentle hike through the

scenic Simien Mountains. The pace will be steady with plenty

of stops to enjoy the scenery. Finishing up at the Jinbar

waterfall you will then search for the elusive wildlife in the

region before returning to the lodge in time for lunch and an

afternoon to do what you want.

Simien Lodge, Simien Mountains

National Park


are included

8 Saturday 18

February 2017

After breakfast at the lodge you will leave the Simien

Mountains behind and return to Gondar by road. On arrival

you will take a tour of the fascinating European-style castles

in the imperial enclosure, and visit the pool of Emperor

Fasiledes. You may also visit the bustling market before

driving to your lodge in time for dinner.

Mayleko Lodge, Gondar


are included

9 Sunday 19

February 2017

Leaving Gondar behind you will travel for around three hours

by road to Bahir Dar, nestled on the shore of Lake Tana

which is the source of the Blue Nile. You will have time to

settle into your hotel before taking a walk through some

beautiful scenery to view the Tissiat Falls. This evening you

will be able to relax with a massage of your choice at the

lodge.

Kuriftu Resort and Spa, Bahir

Dar


are included

Day by day summary

Day by day summary 9

10 Monday 20

February 2017

A full day boat trip will be taken today to visit the unique

island monasteries of Lake Tana. Lunch will be taken with you

and enjoyed along the way.

Kuriftu Resort and Spa, Bahir

Dar


are included

11 Tuesday 21

February 2017

You will fly from Bahir Dar to Addis Ababa today, arriving in

the capital you will be transferred to your hotel. This

evening`s farewell dinner will be taken at a traditional

Ethiopian restaurant in the city.

Radisson Blu, Addis Ababa

1 x Standard - Breakfast and

dinner are included

12 Wednesday 22

February 2017

After breakfast you will depart the hotel for the airport.

Prices

10 Prices

Arrangements as specified per person ____________________________________________________ £3,590

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

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

Single Supplement __________________________________________________________________ £730

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

Per person deposit required to confirm these arrangements _________________________________ £539

Optional carbon off-setting for your flights per person (see General Information section for further details) ____ £12

The deposit required is detailed above and relates to the itinerary detailed in this quotation. In most cases the deposit is 15% of the

total cost or £200 per person (whichever is the greater), however in some instances a larger deposit is required in order to secure

particular services. Please refer to the Terms and Conditions section at the back of this booklet. Please note if you confirm your

booking within 60 days of your departure date full payment is required at the time of booking. By paying the deposit you are

confirming you have read and agree to our Terms and Conditions on behalf of all persons named on the booking.

How to book

If you have any questions regarding the tour or would like to

hold a no obligation option for a place on the tour, please

feel free to contact the Africa team on 01993 838 565 who

will be delighted to assist you. To confirm an option, please

send us a completed booking form and the deposit specified

above. The deposit can be paid by cheque, bank transfer or

credit / debit card. Please make cheques payable to Audley

Travel. Please see below for more information on paying by

credit card.

Payment by credit card

Please note that we do not charge a fee on deposit payments

by credit card, except when a deposit is more than 15%. In

this situation a charge will apply. Credit card fees are

detailed on the booking form. Balance or full payment is

subject to a 1.3% fee to cover the credit card issuer’s

commission. There is a 2.3% fee for AMEX. We make a

credit card fee due to the high fees charged to tour

operators by the credit card companies: we do not make a

profit on this charge. We charge a credit card fee due to the

high fees charged to tour operators by the credit card

companies. We have chosen to make this transparent rather

than including it within the trip price. You may therefore

wish to pay the balance by bank transfer, debit card or

personal cheque.

Terms and Conditions

The Terms and Conditions that apply to all of our holidays

are detailed at the back of this booklet. By paying the deposit

you are confirming you have read and accept the Terms and

Conditions on behalf of all persons named on the booking.

Included in the price

All flights as specified in the itinerary

Twin share accommodation as specified

All transfers and excursions as specified

Services of experienced local guides

Sightseeing and entrance fees

Meals as specified in the itinerary

Not included in the price

Meals not indicated within your itinerary

Where applicable, local airport departure taxes; payable

locally on departure in some locations

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

Tips for your guide and driver (discretionary)

Any camera or video fees at any sites

Entrance fees and other costs when on 'free time’

Travel insurance (see general information section)

Why travel with us?

Why travel with us? 11

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

Reputation and quality

Well over 80% of our clients have

travelled with us in the past or have

had Audley recommended to them.

When you book with us you are

assured of quality arrangements if only

for the fact that we simply cannot

afford to risk our excellent reputation.

Our service has been recognised by

the readers of well-known publications

including the Guardian & Observer, the

Daily Telegraph and Wanderlust

magazine, where we have consistently

featured in their ‘best tour operator’

awards for a number of years.

Personal service

We are committed to offering you a

very personal service, with all your

arrangements being handled by one

country specialist. They will remain

your one point of contact and will take

responsibility for the smooth operation

of your trip. They are supported by a

team of specialists for that region and a

professional administration and

management team.

From the moment you contact us, we

are here to answer your questions

accurately and honestly, be they about

specific arrangements or any more

general queries you may have. We are

experienced travellers with a thorough

and in-depth knowledge of our

specialist destinations, and the benefit

of this experience is yours throughout.

When we do not know the answer to

a question we will endeavour to find

out and get back to you as soon as

possible.

Quality service when you are

travelling

We take a good deal of care when

choosing our travel partners overseas,

taking into account their quality of

service, guides and vehicles. We have

built up many long-standing

relationships, ensuring that they deliver

the level of service demanded by

Audley clients. Our local guides and

drivers, where appropriate, are the

people you will meet. In many cases we

know them personally, in all cases we

ensure that they are of the highest

calibre. They are there to do much

more than show you specific sights and

provide factual information. They will

be able to tell you about local life,

culture, cuisines and customs; and,

where applicable, act as translator. In

certain parts of the world a specialist

guide is more appropriate, for example,

a wildlife expert.

First class guides

A smooth journey

We have procedures in place for

dealing quickly and efficiently with

mishaps from minor flight time

alterations to more fundamental

changes. If problems do occur we will

rapidly rearrange your itinerary to

make best use of your time given the

changed circumstances, not simply

cancel part of your trip or leave you

sitting in an airport waiting for hours

for a rescheduled flight. Importantly, in

these situations we will do everything

possible to minimise any extra costs

involved – in the vast majority of cases

no extra charges will be made. If a

problem does occur while you are

travelling you can contact us on our 24

hour number. We will do everything in

our power to rectify the problem

immediately rather than allow it to

spoil your trip.

Detailed travel documents

Approximately two to three weeks

before you travel we will send you all

your travel documents presented in a

convenient travel organiser. As well as

your full itinerary and travel

documents, there will also be

additional information such as

recommended restaurants and

practical tips. A few days before you

travel your specialist will call you to

have a final talk through your itinerary

and answer any last minute questions

you may have.

Responsible travel

We have a firm commitment to

minimising the environmental and

social impact of travel, and strive to

ensure that a visit from an Audley

client has a positive effect on the

destination. We have a

firm commitment to the principles of

‘responsible travel’ and have been

awarded AITO 5 star status (the

highest achievable) for our policies and

practises. We continue to work with

AITO, and a number of other bodies,

to improve our policies. For more

details please refer to our website

(www.audleytravel.com/rt) where you

will find details of our responsible

travel policy and also our Travellers’

Code. If you are particularly interested

in these issues, your country specialist

will be able to tell you more.

Legal liability

We are a UK company and hence must

fully comply with English law. When

booking with us you can rest assured

that your arrangements are carefully

planned as we have a reputation to

maintain and are legally liable for any

omissions or negligent acts. You may

not find you have this level of

reassurance if you make your own

travel arrangements independently. [

Introduction to Ethiopia

12 Introduction to the region

Key facts:

Population: 78.25 million

Land area: 1.13 million square kilometres

Major languages spoken: Amharic, English and Oromo

Currency: Ethiopian Birr

Time difference: GMT+3 hours

Capital city: Addis Ababa

Introduction

Ethiopia has been seared into public perception as a dry, dusty land ravaged by famine, but this is a remarkably misleading and

outdated image. The central plateau where the vast majority of Ethiopians live is a verdant area with abundant vegetation which

has supported civilisations for thousands of years. This has left a rich historic heritage that forms the backbone of most visits to

Ethiopia, including the stelae at Axum, the rock-cut churches of Lalibela and the castles of Gondar. However, there is more to

the country than this. The Simien and Bale mountains provide excellent trekking opportunities for the more adventurous, with

superb mountain scenery and the vulnerable Ethiopian wolf. There are also national parks where indigenous wildlife can be

spotted, such as the bleeding heart baboon, kudu and a wide variety of bird species.

Tourism in Ethiopia is in its infancy which means that health and safety precautions like life jackets in boats or protective railings

at historical sites are rarely in place. Whilst Addis Ababa has one or two international five-star hotels, it also has some decent,

affordable mid-range hotels. Outside of Addis, each town or city tends to have one bearable hotel - they are basic, but

comfortable and no more than this. Other than these hotels, the alternatives tend to be very basic indeed and we try to steer

clear of them. Many of the roads you will travel on are graded track rather than tarmac, so the ride is not the most

comfortable.

Ethiopia is a destination for those who are not hung-up on creature comforts. You will not have fluffy towels, a minibar and

uniformed chauffeurs on your trip, but you will be rewarded with a remarkable country, wonderfully hospitable people and

amazing experiences that as yet aren't corrupted by mass tourism.

Addis Ababa

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

Avg Max Day Temperature (0C)

Avg Min Night Temperature (0C)

Avg Hours of Sunshine

Monthly Rainfall (mm) 23 47 74 97 93 127 274 281 176 43 13 11

Bahir Dar






Gondar







Introduction to the region 13


14 Photographs of the region

Top: Holy Trinity Cathedral, Addis Ababa

Left: Lalibela, Ethiopia

Lower left: Simien Mountains National Park


Photographs of the region 15

Top: Old Cathedral of St. Mary of Zion, Axum

Left: Gondar, Ethiopia

Right: Lake Tana, Bahir Dar

Itinerary in Detail

16 Itinerary in Detail

Saturday

11 February, 2017

London Heathrow to Addis Ababa Ethiopian Airlines - Flight No: ET 701 - Dep: 21:00 - Arr: 06:20 - (next day); Class:

Economy Class; Non-stop flight

Sunday

12 February, 2017

Radisson Blu, Addis

Ababa

All meals are included

Stained glass window, Addis Ababa

Addis Ababa introduction Addis Ababa (known locally as Addis) is a new city, certainly by Ethiopia's

venerable standards, being just over a hundred years old. Although very large, it

retains something of a rustic air, thanks in part to the donkeys and carts which

trot merrily amongst the characteristic blue and white taxi traffic, various livestock

seen grazing on the verges and in the gardens of the city, and the technicolor

priests that are so much a part of Ethiopian life. Addis is home to the African

Union and the UN Economic Commission for Africa and is considered by many to

be the political capital of Africa. The high influx of international politicians has

increased standards in the city's hotels and it certainly does have a different feel to

much of the rest of the country. The high rise buildings enclose international

hotels, modern banks, jazz clubs and nightclubs frequented by young Ethiopians

gossiping on mobile phones.

Addis is also home to a number of notable museums including the Ethiopian

National Museum - home to a plaster replica of the famous early hominid

Australopithecine Lucy, the Ethiopian Natural History Museum and the Ethiopian

Ethnological Museum. Other landmarks include the St George's and Holy Trinity

Cathedrals, the National Palace and Menelik's Imperial Palace. Whilst Addis lacks

the sheer volume of amazing monuments and scenery that complements much of

the rest of the country, it is a pleasant enough place to begin and end your trip

with enough attractions to see to keep you occupied for a day or two.

National Museum of Ethiopia, Addis Ababa

Addis Ababa airport to Radisson Blu hotel seat in coach transfer accompanied by your guide

On arrival in Addis this morning you will meet the rest of your group and your

guide. You will be driven through the city for around 15 minutes to your hotel.

Addis Ababa city tour small group excursion with guide

Whilst Addis isn't blessed with the sort of spectacular monuments that have made

other Ethiopian destinations famous, there is a good scattering of sights worth

seeing, and your tour of the city will include many of them.

Africa Hall, although built by Haile Selassie, is one of the classic examples of Italian

Itinerary in Detail

Itinerary in Detail 17

architecture in the city. It was built as the headquarters for the now defunct

Organisation of African Unity, and boasts one of the largest stained-glass windows

in the world, by Afewerk Tekle, considered one of Africa's greatest artists.

Addis has numerous important churches, and your tour includes two of them. St

George's Cathedral is the oldest church in the city, and was built by Emperor

Menelik (who founded the city) in 1896, to commemorate the defeat of the Italians

at Adwa. Subsequent emperors were all crowned here, and the artwork of

Afewerk Tekle again is prominent.

Holy Trinity Cathedral, also known as Kiddist Selassie, is a large church, with a

range of styles used in the construction. Certain aspects of the design give the

cathedral an Arabic feel to it, and the interior is covered in artwork of both

modern and traditional design. The graveyard has a couple of very notable graves -

that of Sylvia Pankhurst, daughter of Emmeline and an advocate of Ethiopian

independence from Italy, and that of the last emperor, Haile Selassie, who also laid

the foundation stone for the cathedral.

Mercato is the market district of Addis, and in some ways resembles a traditional

Arab souq; at first it may appear disorganised and chaotic, but in fact the stalls are

laid out according to trade. So all of the spice vendors are situated in one distinct

"quarter", and all the metal workers in another. It can be an overpowering place -

not just the noise and bustle, but also the smell.

Addis has a number of good museums, and your tour includes two of them, the

Archaeological Museum and the Ethnological Museum. You finish the day with a

short drive out to Mt Entoto. This range, just outside Addis, overlooks the city

and was the site of the previous capital. From here you have a magnificent

panoramic view over the current capital.

Monday

13 February, 2017

Sabean Hotel, Axum


Edge of the Ezana Stone, Axum

Radisson Blu hotel to Addis Ababa airport seat in coach transfer accompanied by your guide

You will be collected from the hotel and driven to the airport.

Addis Ababa Terminal: 1 to Axum airport Ethiopian Airlines - Flight No: ET114 - Dep: 07:55 - Arr: 09:25 - (same day); Class:


Axum introduction From around 200BC to 700AD, Axum was the administrative seat of the huge

Aksumite Empire which extended over a million square miles across the Red Sea

to Arabia. The empire traded with India and China, had its own language, alphabet

and notational system, constructed great engineering works and was reckoned in

the 4th century to be one of the four great powers of the ancient world. Once

home to the much disputed Queen of Sheba, it is one of the oldest continually

inhabited cities in Africa and its historical significance was recognised by UNESCO

when it was designated a World Heritage Site in 1980.

Axum these days is a compact city, known for its extraordinary 1,700 year old

towering rock stelae and for the oldest church in Ethiopia, the Mariam Tsion

Cathedral, said to house the original Ark of the Covenant.

Itinerary in Detail


Northern Stelae Field, Axum

Axum airport to Sabean Hotel seat in coach transfer accompanied by your guide

On arrival at the airport you will be met and assisted to the mini-bus which will

drive you the short distance to your hotel. The transfer should take around 20

minutes. En route you will see the outskirts of Axum and amongst the traditional

buildings, you will notice a number of new buildings in various stages of

construction. Much of this construction was funded from the West but many of

the projects were either paused or abandoned altogether when the recession hit

in 2008. On entering the town you will see lovely wide avenues flanked by flame

trees.

Tour of Axum small group excursion with guide

Today you will have a full tour of Axum. First you will visit the New Cathedral of

St. Mary of Tsion which was constructed to celebrate the liberation of Ethiopia

from the Italian fascist occupation in 1935. Inside, the cathedral is adorned with

colourful paintings, many of which are covered with heavy curtains out of respect.

The centrepiece of the domed room is a huge chandelier donated by Queen

Elizabeth II. The Old Cathedral of St. Mary of Zion was built in 1665 by Emperor

Fasilides but has been destroyed and rebuilt many times since. An internal tour of

the Old Cathedral is not included as access to women is prohibited.

In between the two buildings you will see one of the holiest places in Ethiopia - the

Chapel of the Tablet. It is a popular belief in Ethiopia that this chapel is used to

house the original Ark of the Covenant and the tablets containing the original

inscriptions of the Ten Commandments. Although access is restricted to the

hermit guardian priest who reportedly protects the Ark (with even the Emperor

unable to enter) you will be able to view the holy building from the outside.

Leaving the cathedral behind you will walk to view the nearby stelae of Axum.

Synonymous with Ethiopian heritage, these towering, hand-carved stone monoliths

are around 1,700 years old. The northern stelae park is home to the greatest

density of the highest monuments, said to mark the tombs of important rulers,

whilst the smaller and more subtle western park was constructed around 100

years later. You will then continue to view the bath of the Queen of Sheba which

is used as a modern-day reservoir.

Following your walking tour of the city you will also visit the Ezana Stone tablet.

Itinerary in Detail


Housed in an unassuming shack accessed via a couple of steep steps, the Ezana

Stone dates from around 340AD. It documents the journey of King Azana to

Christianity and his various battles as ruler of the empire. The stories are recorded

in three languages - Greek, Sabean and the ancient Ethiopian language of Ge'ez.

Tuesday

14 February, 2017



Bet Medhane Alem, Lalibela, Ethiopia

Sabean Hotel to Axum airport seat in coach transfer accompanied by your guide

You will check out of the hotel and return to Axum airport by mini-bus with the

journey taking around 20 minutes.

Ethiopian Airlines domestic aircraft, Axum airport

Axum airport to Lalibela Ethiopian Airlines - Flight No: ET123 - Dep: 11:15 - Arr: 11:55 - (same day); Class:


Lalibela introduction King Lalibela of the Zaghwe dynasty created the city of Lalibela, which was to

become the capital of Ethiopia. The layout of the city was modelled on Jerusalem

and it earnt itself the nickname of New Jerusalem. Part of Lalibela's vision for the

city included 11 beautiful churches, hand carved from the bedrock and nestled

amongst the hillsides.

Today, Lalibela is acknowledged as arguably one of the most important sites in the

Christian world as well as one of the most dramatic and impressive building

enterprises in African history, yet the area is virtually untouched by the modern

world, with year-round roads and electricity only having arrived in the 1990s.

Lalibela is a pilgrimage site, as Ethiopians come here in vast numbers, particularly

during the festival of Timkat, to worship in the monolithic rock-hewn churches.

The churches are impressive in so many ways: still used for daily worship as was

intended, some eight or nine hundred years after construction. They are not just

carved out of rock, but are actually free-standing, as huge channels were dug all

round them to separate them from the bedrock. Each one is decorated with

elaborate motifs and designs.

There are reports of fleas being found in the carpets of the underground churches of

Lalibela so we recommend taking a pair of thick socks as a barrier, however, none of us

travelling around this area have encountered a problem with this and you may find a

simple insect repellent to be sufficient.

Itinerary in Detail


Monk, Lalibela

Lalibela airport to Tukul Village seat in coach transfer accompanied by your guide

On arrival in Lalibela you will collect your baggage and meet your mini-bus which

will drive you through Lalibela to your hotel. The transfer will take around 30

minutes.

Tour of the northern church cluster small group excursion with guide

After settling in to your accommodation and enjoying lunch you will set off to see

the first group of churches in Lalibela.

The churches that you will visit this afternoon are found to the north of the River

Jordan and are dominated by Bet Medhane Alem (Redeemer of the World). This is

the largest single-block rock-hewn church in the world, and is supported by 72

columns, half inside and half outside, which give the church the look of a classical

temple. The vast internal space is very austere and you will see local people saying

their daily prayers. There are empty graves carved into the floor which have

puzzled some scholars with one interpretation that they have been symbolically

prepared for Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.

A tunnel leads from Medhane Alem to a nearby courtyard which contains three

churches. Bet Maryam (House of Mary) is very small but exquisitely decorated with

frescoes and carvings, including a bas relief of St. George slaying the dragon. Even

smaller is the chapel of Bet Maskal (House of the Cross), also with some fine

carvings, and complete with hermits who inhabit some of the larger caves in the

chapel. Smallest of the churches in this courtyard is Bet Danaghel (House of the

Virgins, or Martyrs), constructed to honour 136 virgins martyred in Edessa by the

Roman Emperor Julian.

Another tunnel and a slight scramble up hewn steps leads to the third and final

courtyard in this northern cluster of churches. The two churches of Met Debra

Sina (House of Mt. Sinai, also called Bet Mikael) and Bet Golgotha are the holiest

places of Lalibela and have a heavy atmosphere of sanctity about them. Bet

Golgotha has some of the finest early Christian art in the country, and seven

fantastic life-size carvings of saints adorn the walls. Legend has it that King Lalibela,

traditionally believed to be the founder of all Lalibela's churches, is buried under a

Itinerary in Detail


slab in Bet Golgotha.

Please note that Bet Golgotha is the only church in the Lalibela cluster that

prohibits entry to women. The tour around this particular room is relatively brief

and women on the tour will be requested not to enter.

On entering the churches it is courteous to cover your shoulders either with sleeves or a

scarf, and remove your shoes. The paths between churches have been worn smooth over

hundreds of years so shoes with a grip are most practical. As you will be repeatedly

removing your shoes we have found that walking sandals with Velcro straps are most

useful.

Lalibela, Ethiopia

Wednesday

15 February, 2017



Naakuto Laab Cave Monastery, Lalibela

Exploring the Naakuto Laab cave monastery small group excursion with guide

Today you will set off after breakfast to visit a unique monastery just outside

Lalibela called Naakuto Laab. It is named after its constructor, the nephew and

successor of King Lalibela. This is a relatively simple church, built around a

naturally occurring rock face cave, in which several holy pools are fed by natural

springs. There is a short walk from the parking area down to the church itself and

the views of the highlands off to the right hand side are truly beautiful. The church

itself has many treasures which will be shown to you by the priest. Some of them

are claimed to have belonged to Naakuto Laab himself.

After you have viewed the church you will walk back up the track to visit the small

museum on site. Treasures housed here include paintings, crosses and ancient

leather books.

Often when you leave the museum a few of the local women will have set up stalls

selling small hand crafted musical instruments, small silver crosses and handmade

decorations for a small price.

Itinerary in Detail


Naakuto Laab Priest, Lalibela

Tour of the eastern cluster of churches small group excursion with guide

The cluster of churches to the east of the Jordan river includes the supposed royal

chapel, Bet Emanuel (House of Emanuel). Perhaps because of the royal connection,

it is the most finely worked of any Lalibela church, with superb carvings in the

Aksumite style. Chambers in the walls are the graves of pilgrims who asked to be

buried here.

A tunnel connects the church to another, Bet Mercurios (House of Mercurios).

This is thought to have originally been a prison, or courthouse, as ankle shackles

have been found in a trench here. There are some interesting wall friezes, although

the interior of the church has partially collapsed.

Bet Abba Libanos (House of Father Libanos) is the only church in Lalibela, where

although the sides and back have been separated from the surrounding rock, the

roof remains attached, almost as if the church was under an overhang. Joined by a

tunnel is the small chapel of Bet Lehem (Bethlehem), which some consider to have

been the cell used by King Lalibela for private prayer.

Bet Gabriel-Rufa'el (House of the Archangels) is very unusual in layout and

alignment, comprising three halls and two courtyards, surrounded by a trench.

Scholars speculate that prior to being made a church it was actually the residence

of Lalibela and his family. The church itself is simply decorated and not especially

large, although pointed Aksumite windows do give it a strangely incongruous

Islamic appearance.

Bet Giorgis (House of St. George), although grouped in this eastern cluster,

actually sits in isolated splendour in towards the main town from both sets of

churches. The legend goes that as he was about to complete all the churches at

Lalibela, King Lalibela received a visitation from an irate St. George, piqued as none

of the churches built had been dedicated to him. Lalibela promised to rectify the

mistake, and to make St. George's church the finest of the lot. Most people would

agree he succeeded. Shaped like a cruciform Greek cross it is some 15 metres

high, and excavated entirely below ground-level, surrounded by steep trenches (in

the trenches are holes, said to be the hoof prints of St. George's steed as he

rushed to view his new church). This is the most photographed church in Lalibela

and the perfect example of a rock-hewn church.

Itinerary in Detail


Church of St. George, Lalibela

Traditional Ethiopian coffee ceremony small group excursion with guide

Following your tour of the Church of St. George you will enjoy a traditional

Ethiopian coffee ceremony with a local family. Coffee is enjoyed on a daily basis by

most Ethiopians, with many dedicating whole rooms in their houses to hosting

family and friends during their ceremonies. These are usually decorated with

colourful artwork and handmade furniture. The pounding of the pestle and mortar

signals to the whole street that the coffee is being prepared and often the whole

community will gather together to discuss the day. There is no particular rota for

whose turn it is and the ceremony moves from house to house.

On arrival you will be seated around the room facing the coffee table and the

family will pass around snacks such as homemade popcorn or toasted nuts on

traditional wooden tables. One of the young female members of the family will

begin roasting the green coffee beans in the room, filling it with a delightful aroma.

Once roasted, the beans are taken outside and pounded in a large pestle and

mortar. The final preparation is to repeatedly boil and cool the coffee in a

traditional jebena. It is served in small handleless cups and is usually drunk without

milk or sugar.

This visit offers a great glimpse into an ancient Ethiopian tradition. As the coffee is passed

around you may also be offered a home-made honey wine. This is incredibly sweet but

very tasty and surprisingly alcoholic. The availability of this will depend on the success of

the honey harvest. If you don't like coffee or prefer not to drink, the family will not be

offended if you decline, but they can be quite persuasive so it's best to let us know in

advance of your preference so we can arrange for tea or another alternative to be

available.

Itinerary in Detail


Ethiopian coffee ceremony

Thursday

16 February, 2017

Simien Lodge, Simien

Mountains National Park


Simien Mountains National Park

Tukul Village to Lalibela airport seat in coach transfer accompanied by your guide

After breakfast you will be driven back through Lalibela town to the airport.

Lalibela to Gondar Ethiopian Airlines - Flight No: ET123 - Dep: 12:15 - Arr: 12:45 - (same day); Class:


Gondar introduction Gondar is a remarkable town with an unusual atmosphere, thanks to its

fantastically preserved castles and churches. They bring to mind an age of chivalry,

and a feeling of medieval Europe and all its pageantry. Indeed, it seems probable

that the churches were built with the help of Portuguese craftsmen, so this should

not be entirely surprising. Most of Gondar's monuments date back to 1632, when

it became the imperial capital of the Ethiopian empire, under Emperor Fasiladas

and his dynasty which ruled for over two centuries. Located on the principal trade

route between the rich heart of the continent and the ports of the Red Sea, its

wealth became legendary.

In Gondar, there are a dozen castles (registered by UNESCO in 1979) built by

various emperors over the course of 236 years. Many picturesque ruins lie in the

royal enclosure like the fairytale castles which reflect the glory of Gondarine kings.

The other place of interest in Gondar are the baths belonging to Fasilidas, a huge

swimming pool slowly being claimed by wild fig trees. During the Timket

celebrations in January the pool is filled with diverted river water and thousands of

pilgrims flock to watch the water being blessed in a ceremony to celebrate the

baptism of Christ.

Itinerary in Detail


Royal Enclosure, Gondar

Gondar to Debark and the Simien Mountains seat in coach transfer accompanied by your guide

You will be leave Gondar and be driven for around an hour and a half to Debark,

the small frontier town at the gateway to the Simien Mountains.

Simien Mountains National Park introduction The Simien Mountains are an area of remarkable beauty, and are also home to

some of Ethiopia's more unusual, and often endemic, wildlife. The area was

designated a National Park in 1969 and UNESCO recognised the unique status of

the mountains and declared them a World Heritage Site in 1978.

Consisting of high plateaus and river valleys, some of which drop off in

breathtaking canyons, the Simien Mountains National Park also contains the fourth-

highest peak in Africa, Ras Dashen (also known as Ras Dajen), at 4,543m. Wildlife

includes the walia ibex (a type of mountain goat, distinguished by large curving

horns), the gelada baboon (known as the bleeding heart baboon because of a red

patch on its chest), and the very rare Ethiopian wolf of which there are estimated

to be just 42 in the entire park. Birdlife is prolific, and perhaps the most iconic is

the lammergeyer or bearded vulture. With a 10 foot wingspan this bird resembles

an eagle and is often seen soaring on thermals through the canyons.

The park sits at around 2,000 with mountain peaks reaching as high as 4,500 metres

and the accommodation sits at 3,300 metres. This is high enough to feel the effects of

the altitude, so you should discuss any potential problems this may cause with your doctor

prior to booking your trip. At altitude you will find yourself moving slower than usual, but

this gives an excellent opportunity to admire the spectacular views. There is a risk of

being affected by Acute Mountain Sickness (AMS), which is a common and usually

harmless condition caused by reduced air pressure and a lower concentration of oxygen. If

you have heart or lung conditions, anaemia, asthma, high blood pressure, or are taking

the contraceptive pill you must seek the advice of your GP and specifically mention the

maximum altitude the trip reaches before booking.

Whilst the itinerary has been specifically designed to allow your body to acclimatise

gradually, the speed of onset and severity - as well as the height at which AMS develops -

can vary greatly between individuals. Being physically fit affords no special protection.

Please ensure that your insurance policy covers you for walking at altitude.

Itinerary in Detail



Introductory walk in the Simien Mountains National Park small group trek with your guide

On entering the park at Debark you will be driven for around half an hour until

you reach the starting point for your short trek this afternoon in search of the

gelada (or bleeding heart) baboons. You will enjoy some truly stunning views over

the landscape towards the highest peak of Ras Dashen at 4,543 metres.


Itinerary in Detail


Friday

17 February, 2017

Simien Lodge, Simien

Mountains National Park



Chenek trek small group trek with your guide

You will take a hike through the Simien Mountains National Park. The hike will not

be a route march and there will be plenty of time to view the scenery and pause

for photographs as you go. Keep your eyes peeled for the elusive Ethiopian wolf

and lammergeyer vulture. After approximately two hours, you will end up opposite

the top of the Jinbar Waterfall - a narrow thread of water thundering over 1,600

feet to the Geech Abyss below. The flow of the water is very variable but

regardless of this, the sight is truly spectacular. After your walk you will meet your

vehicle which will take you to the Chenek viewpoint where you may be lucky

enough to spot walia ibex before returning to the lodge for lunch and a well-

deserved rest this afternoon.

Lammergeyer (bearded vulture), Simien Mountains National Park

Saturday

18 February, 2017

Mayleko Lodge, Gondar


Group tour minibus, Ethiopia

Debark to Gondar seat in coach transfer accompanied by your guide

You will depart the Simien Mountains today and return to Debark along the gravel

road. Here you will leave the park and continue along the tar road back to

Gondar.

Itinerary in Detail


Sunday

19 February, 2017

Kuriftu Resort and Spa,

Bahir Dar


Gondar, Ethiopia

Tour of the imperial castles of Gondar small group excursion with guide

At the heart of Gondar town is the Royal Enclosure (Fasil Ghebbi), a collection of

castles, tunnels, walkways and buildings surrounded by high stone walls, built by

the Emperor Fasiladas and his successors who ruled from Gondar at the height of

its power. His main castle, Fasiladas's Castle, is the most impressive of the six

within the enclosure, and displays Portuguese, Axumite and Indian influences.

Recurrent on the ground floor is a motif similar to the Star of David, used from

the Solomonic dynasty in the 13th century onwards as the royal emblem. On the

first floor, Fasiladas' prayer room has four windows, each facing a church. A

platform on the third floor offers views in all directions - from which you can see

Lake Tana on a clear day.

Emperor Iyasu is regarded as the greatest of those rulers based in Gondar, and his

castle was once a marvel, decorated with ivory, gold leaf, precious stones and

paintings, but earthquakes, and bombing by the British during the Second World

War have left just a shell. Next to the castle is an old sauna, the workings of which

can still be understood and appreciated.

Emperor Iyasu II ascended the throne too young to rule himself, and his mother,

Mentuab, ruled as his regent. She built the last of the great castles in the Royal

Enclosure, one that is in such good shape today that it is still used as the public

library. Although she built in the Royal Enclosure, Mentuab actually ruled from a

complex constructed for her just outside the city at Kusquam. A pleasant contrast

to the enclosure, it is set on a forested hillside overlooking Gondar, and the

remains of her palace are clearly discernible, with many lower walls and even a

staircase intact. The church of Kusquam Maryam, damaged by war, was extensively

rebuilt and redecorated in the late 20th century, so the building itself is not of any

great historic interest, but it does house the bones of Mentuab and Iyasu II in a

glass coffin.

Also outside the city centre are the baths of Fasiladas, a vast sunken bathing pool

supposed to have been built by the emperor. It is surrounded by a turreted wall

and almost certainly served a ceremonial purpose, as it does today when it is the

focal point of local Timkat festivities.

Finally, this afternoon you will visit the Debre Birhan Trinity Church, characterised

by its ceiling of painted angels before returning to your lodge for dinner.

Gondar, Ethiopia

Gondar to Bahir Dar seat in coach transfer accompanied by your guide

After exploring the imperial compound today you will travel to Bahir Dar by road.

Itinerary in Detail


The journey will take approximately three hours with a stop en route to view the

rock formation of Addis Zemen.

Addis Zemen rock formation, Gondar to Bahir Dar road

Bahir Dar introduction Bahir Dar is one of the most important cities in northern Ethiopia. It has a laid-

back feel, with wide tree-lined avenues and colourful borders. There is still plenty

of traffic, more bikes than anywhere else in the country, and there is a bustling

weekly market. The main trade in the area is in flower production, in particular

roses, and these are exported worldwide. Although the city does not feature the

great monuments that distinguish other towns, it is a good base for exploring the

surrounding area, notably Lake Tana, the Blue Nile and the Tissisat Falls. Its

location on the shores of Lake Tana makes it an attractive and friendly town, so

much so that Haile Selassie considered moving his capital here.

The town is one of the most geared up for visitors as it is within striking distance

of Addis and is used by diplomats based in the capital who are seeking a break.

Seven ostrich eggs adorn the Azoa Mariam Church, Lake Tana, Bahir Dar

Walk to the Tissisat (Blue Nile) Falls small group trek with your guide

Itinerary in Detail


This afternoon you will leave Bahir Dar and you will be driven around 1.5 hours to

the falls. The road is quite potholed so the going is slow but the scenery along the

route is pretty, with farmers working the fields, cattle egrets along the side of the

road and local people going about their daily lives.

On arrival you will set off on foot for around an hour to reach the falls. The hike is

over rocky, uneven and sometimes steep ground but the walk is taken slowly with

many stops to enjoy the views and take photographs. You will cross over a

beautiful ancient stone bridge, take a steep walk uphill before dropping down to

view the falls themselves.

The Tissisat Falls (also known as the Tisabay or Blue Nile Falls) were once

considered one of the great natural sights of Africa. They fall over a lip some 400

metres wide, and plunge 45 metres to the new river bed, creating a thunderous

sound, and spray that falls up to a kilometre away (tissisat translates as 'smoking

water').

Unfortunately, with the construction of a hydro-electric plant upstream of the falls,

they do not always foam with their full power. However, the walk to the main

viewpoint still offers a spectacular view as you pass through the lush forest

supported by the spray, past succulent aloes, framed by rainbows hanging in the

mist. You may also be lucky enough to see some silversmiths and weavers at work

near the falls.

Passing the falls, the walk will continue across a metal suspension bridge and

through a plantation, before dropping down to the river. Here a boat will be

waiting to take you on a short cruise back to the other bank. Keep your eyes

peeled for crocodiles, crested eagles, kingfishers and the beautiful carmine bee-

eaters that are often spotted here. Once reunited with the vehicle you will return

to Bahir Dar.

Although the falls are not as impressive these days, the walk really is lovely, giving you the

chance to meet local people and see a variety of scenery. You will definitely need to wear

comfortable walking shoes today, as well as suncream and a hat, as in places along the

walk there is little shade. A small amount of change will also be useful as there will be

opportunities to take photographs of people as well as the scenery and it is appropriate

to offer a small tip in this instance. You may also see women selling musical instruments

and handmade scarves near to the falls which you may like to purchase.Please be

extremely careful when boarding the boat for the transfer back to your mini-bus as the

level of the boat to the jetty depends on the variable water levels and if the water is low

there can be a big step down into the boat. Your guide and the boat driver will assist you.

Tissisat (or Blue Nile) Falls, Bahir Dar

Itinerary in Detail


Monday

20 February, 2017

Kuriftu Resort and Spa,

Bahir Dar


Street market, Bahir Dar

Exploring the island monastaries of Lake Tana small group excursion with guide

Today will be devoted to fully exploring the Island Monasteries of Lake Tana.

There are 37 islands in the lake of which 30 have churches and monasteries of

considerable interest, some of which have restricted access to women. The two

best known are Narga Selassie and Ura Kidanemihiret which house an important

collection of religious icons from the 16th to 18th centuries. A visit here is

followed by one of the lesser known monasteries, Azoa Mariam, which has

wonderful paintings depicting scenes from both the Old and the New Testaments.

Depending on how long you spend in each monastery you may have some free

time this afternoon or early evening. If you do have some time spare then you may

visit the market where you can find the typical hand-woven capes and scarves

made of local cotton and possibly also visit Weyto village, which is 2km west of

town. Here the people are known for their production of tankwa (papyrus) boats.

Ethiopian Priest, Bahir Dar

Tuesday

21 February, 2017

Radisson Blu, Addis

Ababa

Breakfast and dinner are

included

St. George's Cathedral, Addis Ababa

Kuriftu Resort and Spa to Bahir Dar airport seat in coach transfer accompanied by your guide

Your mini-bus will take you to Bahir Dar airport.

Bahir Dar to Addis Ababa Ethiopian Airlines - Flight No: ET145 - Dep: 13:00 - Arr: 14:00 - (same day); Class:


Addis Ababa airport to Radisson Blu hotel for final night seat in coach transfer accompanied by your guide

On arrival in Addis Ababa you will be met and driven through the city to your

hotel. This afternoon you will have time to use the hotel facilities before your

evening meal.

Itinerary in Detail


Wednesday

22 February, 2017

Radisson Blu hotel to Addis Ababa airport seat in coach transfer accompanied by your guide

You will be collected from the hotel and driven to the airport.

Addis Ababa to London Heathrow Ethiopian Airlines - Flight No: ET710 - Dep: 11:00 - Arr: 17:00 - (same day); Class:


Important Notes

Flight times and the daily order of sightseeing are subject to change.

Transfer times are approximate and subject to local conditions at the time of travel.

All flight times are local.

Accommodation

Accommodation 33

OUR ACCOMMODATION GRADING SYSTEM

Your accommodation is described on the following pages. Please do not

hesitate to call us if you require any further information about any of the

properties. We classify accommodation into the following categories. These

are for your guidance only, they are based on the opinions of our staff and are

therefore quite subjective.

Basic: Very primitive accommodation where we are not aware of anything

better in the region.

Simple: Clean and simple but limited facilities.

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

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

Deluxe: Superb accommodation with facilities and service to match.

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

Accommodation

34 Accommodation

there is a lovely spa on the 1st floor

offering massage treatments.

Our opinion: This hotel is one of the best and most

modern in Ethiopia and is an oasis of

comfort in the capital.

RADISSON BLU, ADDIS ABABA

Medium

The Radisson Blu hotel is located on a

bustling street within striking distance

of the airport. One side of the hotel

has views over the established city

whilst the other looks over the

developing side. The rooms are

comfortable with big windows,

television, table and chair. The

wardrobes house a safe and there is a

minibar plus tea and coffee facilities in

each room. The en suites have a bath

and a separate shower cubicle. The

Club rooms are on the 8th and 9th

floors and offer access to the Club

Lounge on the 9th floor. Pastries, hot

and cold snacks and cool drinks are

available here on a complimentary basis

throughout the day. Meals are served

in the restaurant on the ground floor

and breakfast is a huge affair with

various hot and cold options. There is

also an outside lounge area and,

although there is no pool at the hotel,

you to access Axum's incredible sites.

SABEAN HOTEL, AXUM

Medium

Axum is an area that cannot be missed

on a tour of Ethiopia but the

accommodation options here are very

limited. The Sabean Hotel is centrally

located and modern when compared

to all other options in the town. All the

rooms have twin or double beds, en-

suite shower rooms, satellite

televisions, safe, wall mounted fan and

wireless internet access.

The hotel's restaurant serves both

Ethiopian and international cuisine and

breakfast is served as a buffet.

Our opinion: Whilst this hotel has a lot going for it

with friendly and welcoming staff who

are very eager to please, the

mattresses are pretty firm and the

quality of the food can be hit and miss,

but please bear in mind that this hotel

is still the best in the area and allows

Accommodation

Accommodation 35

SIMIEN LODGE, SIMIEN

MOUNTAINS NATIONAL PARK

Medium

At 3,300m Simien Lodge is the highest

lodge in Africa and the only permanent

accommodation available inside the

Simien Mountains National Park. The

twenty standard tukuls are built in the

traditional Ethiopian style with

thatched roofs and round stone walls.

Both the bar and restaurant are

centred around log fires, which are lit

in the evenings creating a great

atmosphere.

Our opinion: The lodge has magnificent views of the

Simien escarpment and the charismatic

gelada baboons are frequent visitors.

Nights on the mountain can be cold, so

ensure you bring along warm

nightwear. The staff have a plentiful

supply of spare blankets for guests' use,

but often forget to offer them, so if

you do feel the cold, just ask your

guide who will assist you. Please note

the paths around the hotel are uneven

and poorly lit, so we recommend

carrying a torch with you and advise

you to take care when walking around.

Our opinion: Tukul Village is by far the most

characterful accommodation in Lalibela

and has a great location just a 10-15

minute walk downhill from most of the

major rock-hewn churches. We have

found the staff to be friendly and

welcoming even if the food wasn't a

particular highlight.

TUKUL VILLAGE, LALIBELA

Medium

Tukul Village is the newest hotel in

Lalibela and has been styled after a

traditional village with 12 double storey

thatched roofed rondavels or 'tukuls'

nestled in pretty gardens. Each tukul's

first floor has a private balcony with

views reaching towards St. George’s

Church and the local market. The main

dining area is decorated with

interesting black and white

photography of the area.

Each tukul is simple, well-kept and

spacious. Each has a little entrance

hall/changing area with a wardrobe

containing a safe and the bedrooms

have comfortable beds, bedside tables

and floor-to-ceiling windows on one

side. There are UK-style sockets in

each room suitable for charging camera

batteries and each room has a modern

tiled en suite shower room.

Accommodation

36 Accommodation

MAYLEKO LODGE, GONDAR

Medium

Located outside the town of Gondar,

Myleko Lodge is one of the newer

additions to the area. The 20 individual

stone and thatch chalets are connected

by a little winding path which leads up a

small hill, past the swimming pool. At

the top of the hill there is an outside

seating area and an indoor restaurant.

The rooms are large and decorated

with hand carved wooden furniture,

each with twin or double beds and a

large en suite shower room. Each has a

little decking area accessed through

large french doors.

Our opinion: The rooms are rather simple but the

views from the main lodge over the

farmland is lovely, particularly during

sunset.

KURIFTU RESORT AND SPA,

BAHIR DAR

Medium

Nestled on the edge of Lake Tana, the

source of the Blue Nile, the Kuriftu

Resort and Spa is a welcoming and

relaxing lodge. The centre of the resort

is the pool which is a good size for

swimming, complete with sun loungers

and traditionally made thatch parasols.

The resort has 28 stone suites which

are built in double storey buildings

around the gardens with some offering

a glimpse of the lake. Each suite has a

private veranda with a day-bed and

glass doors leading through to the main

bedroom. The suites are characterised

by traditional exposed stone walls

which make the rooms feel a little dark

but very atmospheric. Each has an en

suite shower room and separate toilet.

The restaurant and bar area is large

and lake-facing, offering a mixture of

traditional Ethiopian fare along with

international dishes.

Our opinion: Service can be a little slow but the food

is tasty and we thought it was worth

the wait. Kuriftu Spa which is located

on site offers a range of massage and

beauty treatments, from foot massages

to scrubs and pedicures. Treatments

are included in your stay and are highly

recommended.

Accommodation

Accommodation 37

Charity support

38 Charity support

Audley has been supporting carbon reduction projects through Friends of Conservation since 2005 and in addition to this each

individual department also supports a charity of their choice with a yearly financial donation. This charity is one that is close to

their hearts and the team often chooses to fundraise to add to this amount. Please ask your specialist if you would like to find

out more as in most instances they will have visited the charity themselves, or one of their colleagues will have.

Children, Mara Rianda Charitable Trust © Richard Long

The Mara Rianda Charitable Trust

Our friend and former colleague Ariana Grammaticas left Audley in 2007 to return to her home country of Kenya. In early

2008 she wrote to us about The Mara Rianda Charitable Trust. Set up by Richard Long, who visited Kenya in 2004, it supports

the school and community in the wider Mara area. All the money Richard raises is used to provide this support, and he covers

administration costs himself. The Trust has installed a borehole to supply fresh water, built five new classrooms provided

bursaries for exceptional students to go to secondary school and paid the salary for one teacher. Most recently in 2013 the

Trust also opened the Mara Rianda medical centre, complete with three wards, consulting rooms and a dispensary. Though

much has been achieved, there is always much more that can be done!

The old Enkeriri school building

©Richard Long

Head teacher in front of the new Enkeriri school building

©Richard Long

Audley and The Mara Rianda Charitable Trust

We initially became involved with The Mara Rianda Charitable Trust to help with its aim to bring clean drinking water to the

children of Aitong Primary School, who were previously drinking from a muddy spring. Complications arose when it was

discovered that the spring that the trust had hoped to tap for clean water dried up for three months of each year. After several

meetings with the Maasai elders, it has now been agreed that the water can be taken from the main spring at Aitong village and

be pumped over 1 kilometre to the school. This project is now completed, aided by donations from Audley and other

organisations.

Charity support

Charity support 39

More recent achievements at the charity have included a new kitchen and dining room at the primary school – which is now

fully waterproof and the parents who help cook the meals there are delighted. The trust has also funded the building of a new

maternity unit at Mara Rianda, as women who had complications previously had to travel for three hours on a bus to the

nearest hospital. In addition to this they are working with a new school, Olipikdong’oe, which needed help to install electricity

so that the children who board could study after dark. In addition two new primary schools have been built – that allow light in

(unlike the original mud buildings made out of dung) and to provide a classroom for another school that was being taught under

a tree. As the maternity unit at Mara Rianda grows Audley is helping to support the installation of solar power to allow

continuous lighting throughout the night. In addition to this, the Trust is aiming to support a further twelve children through

secondary school.

If you would like further information please speak to your Africa specialist. Alternatively, if you are going to

Kenya and staying at any of the Governor’s Camps in the Masai Mara, do ask the staff to take you to visit!

General information

40 General information

Travel insurance

It is advisable to take out your travel

insurance at the time of booking your

trip as cover will commence for pre-

departure cancellation from the policy

issue date. This will, therefore, provide

cover should you have to cancel your trip

for an insured reason such as illness or

serious accident.

We strongly recommend that you and all

members of your party are adequately

insured, providing financial protection

against unforeseen circumstances. Cover

should include medical expenses and

repatriation in the event of accident or

illness. In addition, we strongly

recommend that you have cover for

personal belongings, delay at your

outward or homeward point of

departure, personal liability, overseas legal expenses and cancellation. If you are

undertaking any sports or adventurous

activities, including trekking, on your trip

you should also make sure that your

policy covers these. Please also ensure

you read the policy conditions and

exclusions.

The type of trips we create and the

requirements of Audley clients vary

greatly. We have therefore listed below a

number of companies who offer policies

which may suit these varying

requirements. You can find links to the

companies' websites, at

www.audleytravel.com/insurance. Other companies and policies are also

available. We are unable to provide you

with more detailed information and you

should contact the company concerned

directly for this. Please note this is general information only. We are not

providing any specific advice on travel

insurance or recommending any

particular policy or insurer.

Trips of up to £5,000 pp

A large number of companies offer

insurance policies which include cover for

cancellation charges of up to the full

holiday cost.

Trips over £5,000 pp

It can be more challenging to get

insurance which includes cover for cancellation charges of up to the full

holiday cost for higher value trips. A

number of companies do, however, offer

such policies. Thomson (in partnership

with AXA) (0845 366 2212) offer

cancellation cover up to £20,000 per

person, American Express (0800 232

277) offer cancellation cover up to

£12,500 per person and Insure and Go

(0844 888 2787) offer cancellation cover

up to £7,500 per person.

This information can also be found on our

website www.audleytravel.com/insurance

with links to the insurers’ websites.

Clients over 65 years of age

Many companies now offer cover to people

over 65 years of age. However, if you are

finding it difficult to get cover you could try

Age UK (0845 600 3348) or Saga (0800

015 0757) both of whom currently have no

upper age limit on their policies. See also

the companies referred to under pre-

existing medical conditions below. This

information can also be found on our

website www.audleytravel.com/insurance


Pre-existing medical conditions

If you have a pre-existing medical

condition, there are a number of

companies that may be able to help you. P J

Hayman / Free Spirit (0845 230 5000) will

consider most pre-existing medical

conditions and they have no upper age limit

on single trip policies. Age UK (0845 600

3348) and Insure and Go (0844 888 2787)

will also consider a number of pre-existing

conditions and may be able to help. Cancer

Travel Insurance Services (0845 880 0163)

specialise in travel insurance for people

with non-terminal cancer and have no

upper age limit on their policies. This

information can also be found at

www.audleytravel.com/insurance


Non-UK residents

If you are not a UK resident you will

usually need to get insurance in your

country of residence. Some insurance

companies, such as Columbus Direct (0845

888 8893), will consider policies for non-

UK residents. This information can also be

found on our website

www.audleytravel.com/insurance


Once you have a travel insurance policy in

place, please let your specialist know who

your insurance company is and your policy

number.

The above information is provided in good

faith and is correct to the best of our

knowledge. No liability is, however,

accepted for any errors and all information

must be checked directly with the

insurance company.

Financial security

We hold an Air Travel

Organiser's Licence (ATOL)

issued by the Civil Aviation

Authority (ATOL number

4817). All the flight-inclusive holidays* that

we provide are financially protected by the

ATOL scheme. When you pay, you will be

supplied with an ATOL Certificate. Please

check to ensure that everything you

booked is listed on it. Please see our

booking conditions for further information

about financial protection and

www.atol.org.uk/ATOLCertificate

for further information on the ATOL

Certificate.

*The flight inclusive holidays we arrange

are ATOL protected providing they are

made available in the UK. For further

information, visit the ATOL website at

www.atol.org.uk

Not all holiday or travel

services offered and sold by

us will be protected by the

ATOL scheme. Those

package arrangements which

are not protected by our

ATOL are covered by ABTOT, the

Association of Bonded Travel Organisers

Trust. This insurance means your money

will be refunded or you will be returned to

the starting point of your contracted arrangements if already abroad in the

unlikely event of our being unable to

provide your holiday due to our insolvency.

(For more details please see Section 12 of

the Terms and Conditions.) In these

instances you will not receive an ATOL

certificate with your invoice.

Health

It is essential that you see your GP or a

travel clinic before booking your trip and

before travelling to make sure that you

have taken all the necessary health

precautions. Some vaccinations require

more than one visit with a period of weeks

between injections. You should visit your

GP at least six weeks before departure. For

up to date medical advice you may wish to

use the Medical Advisory Service for

Travellers Abroad (MASTA).

MASTA Traveller’s Health Brief

Before travelling abroad, you can visit

www.masta-travel-health.com to obtain a

‘Health Brief’ specifically tailored to your

journey. Your brief will give information

about immunisations and malaria as well as any Foreign Office advice and the latest

health news.

http://www.audleytravel.com/insurance





http://www.atol.org.uk/ATOLCertificate

http://www.atol.org.uk/

http://www.masta-travel-health.com/

General information

General information 41

Other health information services are

available, including www.nathnac.org and

www.fitfortravel.nhs.uk

Deep vein thrombosis (DVT)

The majority of international airlines now

issue advice on how to lessen the risk of

DVT, however, if you have any concerns,

we recommend that you consult your

doctor.

Pre-existing medical

conditions/Disabled passengers

It is essential that you advise us before

booking if you have any disability or pre-

existing medical condition which may

affect your holiday, or any special

requirements as a result of any disability

or medical condition (including any which

affect the booking process) so that we

can assist you in considering the

suitability of the arrangements and/or

making the booking. It will also enable us

to make sure you receive the relevant

level of assistance when you fly.

Full details must be confirmed in writing

at the time of booking and whenever any

change in the condition or disability

occurs. You must also promptly advise us

if any medical condition or disability

which may affect your holiday develops

after your booking has been confirmed.

The nature of many of the destinations

we travel to means that in the majority of

cases they are unsuitable for those who

are wheelchair-bound or have a lack of

mobility. We will be delighted to discuss

the feasibility of creating a tailor-made

itinerary for you that takes into

consideration your level of mobility.

On our escorted group tours the Tour

Leader is, unfortunately, unable to offer

additional assistance to passengers with

limited mobility and all such assistance

will need to be provided by whoever the

passenger is travelling with. We may request that you provide a letter from

your doctor confirming your fitness to

travel.

High altitude

Your itinerary may include sections

where the altitude exceeds 10,000 feet

(3,048 metres). If you suffer from

circulation, heart or respiratory problems

we advise that you consult with your

doctor before confirming your booking.

Smoking

Airlines do not permit smoking on the

aircraft. At the request of the majority of

our clients we do not allow smoking on any

form of transport used for our escorted

group tours. Stops are regularly made

where you will be able to smoke. For

smokers travelling on a tailor-made tour

we request that you check with your driver

or guide whether smoking is permitted in

the vehicle.

Health and safety standards

Each country has its own regulations and

enforcement levels relating to health and

safety standards. These do not always

match the very high standards we are used

to in the UK. We therefore recommend

that you follow a few precautionary safety

procedures. Always check where the

nearest fire exit is and how to raise the fire

alarm. Do not enter a swimming pool

before checking the water depth first. For

more suggestions please see the Important

Information section in your Travel

Organiser.

Passport and visa information for

British Citizens

Passengers must hold a passport which is

valid for at least six months following the

return date of your holiday. British

passport holders (full British Citizens)

currently require visas, in advance of travel, for the following destinations featured in

our brochures and on our website:

Australia, Bhutan, Burma, China, Cuba,

India, Kenya, Mongolia, Papua New Guinea

(also available on arrival), Russia, Tanzania,

Tibet, Uganda, the USA*, Uzbekistan and

Vietnam**.

Visas may be required for other countries

but can be arranged on arrival.

* British Citizens travelling to the USA

require an ESTA – please speak to your

specialist for more information

** Visitors to Vietnam can obtain a visa on

arrival but require a letter of authorisation

from ourselves – please speak to your

specialist

We are normally able to obtain visas on

your behalf, please ask for details at the

time of booking. Non-British passport

holders should check with the relevant

embassies as visa requirements may be

different to those of British passport

holders. It is your responsibility to ensure

you have the correct documentation and

visa stamp(s) for all sectors of your

journey. Failure or inability to obtain all

required visas for whatever reason does

not entitle you to cancel without paying the

applicable cancellation charges.

Travel advice

The Foreign and Commonwealth Office

Travel Advice Unit monitors all overseas

destinations and offers advice to British

travellers. In order to be fully informed of

safety issues, crime rates, political stability

and local customs you can view the advice

at www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice.

Flights and airlines

The difference between a direct flight and a

non-stop flight can cause confusion. To

clarify, on a direct flight no change of

aircraft is scheduled but touchdowns will

be made en route either to refuel or to

board or disembark passengers. On non-

stop flights no change of aircraft is required

and no stops are made en route. Exact

details of your route will be given in your

itinerary.

Premium Economy, Business and

First Class

If you require business or first class flights

these can be arranged on most airlines at

very competitive rates. Premium economy

can be arranged on certain airlines, please

call us for details.

Specific seat requests

We will do all we can to try to reserve a

specific seat for you, if you have a

preference. However, whilst airlines may

allow us to request seats, they will not

guarantee any specific seat reservation. If

this is important to you, it is always best to

arrive for your flight early, regardless of

having made this request in advance. Please

make it clear on your booking form if you

have a specific request.

Flight amendments

We generally use special ‘inclusive tour’

fares when we purchase your air tickets

from the airlines. While these fares are

very good value they are inflexible in terms

of changes and offer no refunds once the

tickets are issued. Once your flight is

confirmed the airlines will charge an

amendment fee or insist on the purchase of

a completely new ticket if you make

changes.

Internal flights

Smaller local airlines are often more likely

to change their schedule at short notice. We will endeavour to inform you of any

changes in advance of travelling but this

may not always be possible.

General information

42 General information

Frequent Flyer Clubs

If you collect points through any of the

airline frequent flyer clubs please provide

your membership details on the booking

form and we will ensure that these are

recorded against your flight reservation.

Please note that on some of our specially

negotiated ‘inclusive tour’ fares points are

not always awarded.

Carbon offsetting

Please let your specialist know if you

would like to carbon offset your flights.

We work with Friends of Conservation

(FOC) and all offsetting payments are

donated through them. For more details

visit www.audleytravel.com/offset. The

suggested contributions are based on the

approximate levels of CO2 expended on

an average flight, with the cost per tonne

of carbon taken from industry averages.

Flight information previously provided by

TICOS, now part of Beyond Carbon.

UK airport hotels, car parking and

lounges

We are able to arrange airport hotel

accommodation, car parking, meet and

greet services and airport lounge access

in the UK, subject to availability. To

arrange any of these services please call

us on 01993 838 051.

Hotel information There is often confusion over the

terminology used for bed arrangements

in hotel rooms. A ‘double’ is recognised

as meaning a room with a double bed,

this may be two single beds pushed

together. A ‘twin’ is a room with two

single beds. Please note that all rooms

are allocated at the discretion of the

hotel and cannot be guaranteed.

Single rooms

Single rooms tend to be smaller than

double or twin rooms, however, many

hotels do not have single rooms, in which

case you will be allocated a twin or

double room.

Special dietary requirements

Special diets should be requested on the

booking form; however, it is unrealistic

to expect special diets to be catered for

in some of the destinations we feature.

We will advise the hotels and airlines of

your request but we cannot guarantee

their availability. If you have an airborne

nut allergy you must make us aware at

the time of booking as most airlines require this information in advance of

travel.

Accuracy of information

We thoroughly check all the information

that is included within our brochures,

website and individual tour itineraries,

however, changes do occur and errors are

occasionally made. Airlines may change

their schedules, roads may close and

government regulations may alter. Should

there be any changes to the travel

arrangements you have booked we will do

our best to keep you informed of the

situation prior to departure.

Travel in the developing world

Many of our destinations are in the

developing world where attitudes,

infrastructure, priorities, lifestyles and

cultures are very different from our own.

This is often the very reason to visit the

destination but certain aspects may be

frustrating. We always advise that the first

thing you should pack is your sense of

humour. This can prove invaluable when

travelling over rougher roads, waiting for a

delayed aircraft and communicating with

hotel staff whose first language is not

English.

Data Protection Act

We will hold your name, address and any

other details you supply us with on our

database. This information will be used to

make your travel arrangements and to send

you information about Audley Travel. In order to make your travel arrangements

we will need to pass your details to

companies and individuals outside the EU

where less stringent data protection

controls may be in place. We will not pass

on your details to third parties for any

other purposes.

AITO Quality Charter:

The Association of Independent Tour

Operators

AITO is the Association for independent and specialist holiday companies. Our member companies, usually owner-managed, strive to create overseas holidays with high levels of professionalism and a shared concern for quality and personal service. The Association encourages the highest standards in all aspects of tour operating.

Exclusive membership AITO sets criteria regarding ownership, finance and quality which must be satisfied before new companies are admitted to membership. All members are required to adhere to a Code of Business Practice which encourages high operational standards and conduct.

Financial security An AITO member is required to arrange financial protection for all holidays and other arrangements (including accommodation only) booked by customers with the member under the AITO logo. This financial protection applies to customers who are resident in the UK at the time of booking and to most overseas customers who have booked directly with the member. In doing so, the member must comply with UK government regulations. Members are required to submit details of their financial protection arrangements to AITO on a regular basis Accurate brochures and web sites All members do their utmost to ensure that all their brochures and other publications, print or electronic, clearly and accurately describe the holidays and services offered.

Professional service and continual improvement All members are committed to high standards of service and believe in regular and thorough training of employees. Members continually seek to review and improve their holidays. They listen to their customers and always welcome suggestions for improving standards. Monitoring standards AITO endeavours to monitor quality standards regularly. All customers should receive a post-holiday questionnaire the results of which are scrutinised by the Association.

Sustainable tourism All Members acknowledge the importance of AITO’s Sustainable Tourism ethos, which recognises the social, economic and environmental responsibilities of tour operating. Customer relations All members endeavour to deal swiftly and fairly with any issues their customers may raise. In the unlikely event that a dispute between an AITO member and a customer cannot be settled amicably, AITO’s low-cost Independent Dispute Settlement Service may be called upon by either side to bring the matter to a speedy and acceptable conclusion. Audley Travel is a member of the Association of Independent Tour Operators. To contact the Association, visit www.aito.com or call 020 8744 9280.

Terms and conditions

Terms and conditions 43

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

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

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

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

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

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


44 Terms and conditions

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

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

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

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

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

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


Terms and conditions 45

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

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

The Association of Bonded Travel Organisers Trust

Limited (ABTOT) provides financial protection under the

Package Travel, Package Holidays and Package Tours

Regulations 1992 for Audley Travel (ABTOT Membership

number 5297) and in the event of their insolvency,

protection is provided for the following:

1. non-flight packages commencing in and returning to

the UK;

2. non-flight packages commencing and returning to a

country other than the UK; and

3. flight inclusive packages that commence outside of

the UK, which are sold to customers outside of the

UK.

1, 2 and 3 provides for a refund in the event you have not

yet travelled. 1 and 3 provides for repatriation. Please note

that bookings made outside the UK are only protected by

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

http://www.atol.org.uk/

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