The Baltic Countries. & Poland. Itinerary correct as at Jan 31, 2018 but subject to change. ALL flights to be confirmed.

Transcription

1 a The Baltic Countries & Poland Departs May, 2018

2 THE BALTIC COUNTRIES ESTONIA, LATVIA, LITHUANIA AND POLAND Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania boast some of the best preserved medieval Old Towns anywhere from the Hanseatic Tallinn to the Jugendstil Riga to the baroque Vilnius. Pixie hat-like red roofs top most houses. Massive soaring spires of castles and cathedrals, and domed cupolas of churches dominate the city skylines. Yet for all the similarities, upclose each country is distinctly different in culture, mood, style, and architecture; steeped in history, yet thoroughly progressive. Estonia s settlement dates back to 9000 BC and the successive Viking, Swede, Russian, and German occupation has resulted in a truly cosmopolitan nation. In Tallinn, luxury European cars pull over to make way for horse drawn carts. Cyber cafes neighbour medieval churches. Stall keepers in old-fashioned regalia queue up at ATM machines. Skype was invented here and Estonians have one of the highest rates of e-banking in the world. Throughout the streets, musicians play flutes or accordians, with tunes like Somewhere My Love from Dr Zhivago adding a wistful touch. Estonians need no encouragement to sing, and 20,000-strong choirs are sometimes massed for their music festivals. Museums and art galleries aplenty talk of their cultural pursuits, while outdoors they love sailing and nature. Compact Latvia is all about the slow life, rich in UNESCO world heritage listed sites and boasting 500 km of sandy beaches. Sparsely populated, half of its territory is forested, enabling abundant eco tourism opportunities, be it a walk in the pristine woods, bird-watching or even hunting. For over 800 years, its capital Riga has been a trading hub, with architectural traditions since 1201 still visible, including one of the largest collections of Art Nouveau buildings. Riga lays claim to being where the first ever Christmas tree was decorated, in 1510, and ancient folk traditions and song and dance festivals are a big part of life. Which brings us to Lithuania, scene of the Singing Revolution. The country is full of choirs, symphonic, and chamber orchestras. Lively cultural events take place all year round, but the magical Midsummer Night urges all to take part in pagan rituals of singing and dancing around bonfires, casting spells. Dense pine forests and meandering rivers and lakes make it peaceful and inspiring. Its 35 national and regional parks are home to rare birds and wildlife. The stunning capital, Vilnius, dating back to 1323, is a baroque and gothic showcase cultural monuments (including villages, manors, castles, and churches) are under the state s protection. Our Baltics tour also takes in some of the highlights of Poland. From Lithuania we drive to Gdansk, a harbour city on The Baltic Sea. Sadly Gdansk is infamous for where the Germans fired the first shots of WWII. Through the countryside we drive on the Krakow and then the capital, Warsaw which is our final destination prior to heading home via Helsinki. With one foot in the past, and another firmly in the future, it s no wonder the Baltics are considered the most dynamic region for tourism in all of Europe.

3 THE BALTIC COUNTRIES & POLAND ITINERARY Day 1 DEPARTURE Depart Australia for Helsinki. The group is travelling on numerous flight departures from various cities. Day 2 HELSINKI Arrive 06.35hrs and transfer by train to Glo Hotel, Kluuvi where check in is around the 2.00pm. Explore this wonderful city on foot (unguided). Breakfast is in flight, lunch at your leisure. Group dinner at local restaurant. D Day 3 HELSINKI TALLINN Catch the fast ferry at 10.30hrs across the Baltic Sea, Helsinki to Tallinn, arriving around 12.30hrs. Transfer to the Hotel Kruetzwald for check-in. In the afternoon, we ll start our sight seeing tour of the city including Nevsky Church, Old Town with Niguliste Church, Toompea Castle, Long Leg and Short Leg Streets and Old Town Hall, Dome Cathedral and the Great Guild Hall. Tallinn is the capital and largest city of Estonia with a population of 400,000. It s Old Town is listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. In addition to its traditional functions as a seaport and capital city, Tallinn has seen development of an information technology sector. The New York Times describes Estonia as "a sort of Silicon Valley on the Baltic Sea. Tallinn is famous as original medieval city of Hanseatic times. Dinner is at the hotel. B/D Day 4 TALLINN After breakfast, we will complete our sightseeing including a visit to Kadriorg Park and Palace and KUMU art museum. The afternoon is to explore as you please. Dinner at a local restaurant. B/D DAY 5 TALLINN PARNU RIGA After breakfast, we head to Pärnu, a city in southwestern Estonia on the coast of Pärnu Bay, an inlet of the Gulf of Riga in the Baltic Sea. It is a popular summer vacation resort with many hotels, restaurants, and large beaches. The Pärnu

4 River flows through the city and drains into the Gulf of Riga. Since 1996 Pärnu has been known as Estonia's Summer Capital. Your tour will stop in Parnu for lunch and sightseeing including the Town Hall, St. Catherine s Church and The Craftsman's Blockhouse. Continue on to Riga. Check-in at The Hotel Gutenburgs. B/L/D DAY 6 RIGA SIGULDA RIGA Today the group will take an excursion to Gauja National Park with a visit to Turaida Episcopal Castle, Sigulda Castle ruins and Gutman s Cave. Lunch is included and will be at Restaurant Kungu Rija. Sigulda is one of Latvia s most beautiful cities. There are hills for skiing in the winter and winding roads along which one can cycle in the summer. You ll have time to stroll through the city and visit the nearby Turaida Castle. Your departure back to Riga will be after lunch where you will have some free time. Consider the Occupation Museum - free entrance, donation. Dinner will be at a local restaurant. B/L/D DAY 7 RIGA Founded in 1201, Riga is the largest city of Latvia and the Baltics region with 650,000 inhabitants. It s home to more than one third of Latvia's population. The city is an important seaport and a major industrial, commercial, cultural and financial centre of the Baltic Sea region. Riga's historical centre is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, noted for its Art Nouveau/Jugendstil architecture and 19th century wooden architecture. Your Riga city sightseeing tour will include walking through the Old Town with St. Peter s Church House of the Brotherhood of the Blackheads, a visit to the Dome Cathedral, Big and Small Guildhalls, St. Jacob s Church and Riga Castle. There will also be an opportunity to take in the Concerto Piccolo at Dome Cathedral. Lunch is at a local restaurant. Then we will visit the Riga Art Nouveaux District with Boulevard Circle, Alberta Street and Elizabete`s Street districts. After the day s sightseeing, dinner is at our hotel. B/L/D DAY 8 RIGA RUNDALE HILL OF CROSSES KLAIPEDA Rundale Palace is one of the two major baroque palaces built in the 18th century for the Dukes of Courland in what is now Latvia, the other being Jelgava Palace. It was constructed in the 1730s to a design by Bartolomeo Rastrelli as a summer residence of Ernst Johann von Biron, the Duke of Courland. The palace suffered serious damage in 1919 during the Latvian War of Independence. In 1933, Rundale Palace was taken over by the State History Museum of Latvia. It was dealt a serious blow after the World War II, when the grain storehouse was set up in the premises and later, the former duke's dining room was transformed into the school's gymnasium. Only in 1972 permanent Rundale Palace Museum was established. The palace is one of the major tourist destinations in Latvia. The Hill of Crosses is a site of pilgrimage about 12 km north of the city of "Iauliai, in northern Lithuania. The precise origin of the practice of leaving crosses on the hill is uncertain, but it is believed that the first crosses were placed on the former Jurgaiciai or Domantai hill fort after the 1831 Uprising. The exact number of crosses is unknown, but estimates put it at about 100,000. Arrive Klaipeda around 18.00hrs and check in to Hotel Park Inn where we will have dinner. B/L/D DAY 9 KLAIPEDA PALANGA KLAIPEDA Klaipeda is a city in Lithuania situated at the mouth of the Dange River where it flows into the Baltic Sea. It is the third largest city in Lithuania. The city has a complex recorded history, partially due to the combined regional importance of the Port of Klaipeda, a usually ice-free port on the Baltic Sea, and the Akmena - Dange River. The city was incorporated into Lithuania during its tenure as a Soviet Socialist Republic and has remained within Lithuania following its reestablishment as an independent state. The population is around 180,000. Your Kaipeda tour will include Old Post, Harbour, Linden Street, Theatre Square, Annchen von Tarau statue. Palanga is a seaside resort town in western Lithuania, on the shore of the Baltic Sea. It is the busiest summer resort in Lithuania and has beaches of sand and beautiful sand dunes. In the summer, a multitude of tourists descend on Palanga, both for its beaches and to enjoy the maritime atmosphere. We will visit the Amber Museum, Botanical Garden the Sculptures Garden, where you can find 28 contemporary Art statues by artists from Armenia, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania and Ukraine. Also found in Palanga is one of the oldest operating pharmacies in Lithuania. It was established in the mid-19th century. B/D DAY 10 KLAIPEDA NIDA Nida is a resort town in Lithuania, located on the Curonian Spit. It has 1,650 residents and is the administrative centre of the Neringa municipality. Nida is the western-most point of Lithuania. The town is an upmarket holiday resort, hosting about 200,000 tourists each summer, mostly Lithuanians, Germans, Latvians, and Russians. The Curonian Spit is a 98 km long, thin, curved sand-dune spit that separates the Curonian Lagoon from the Baltic Sea coast. Its southern portion lies within Kaliningrad Oblast, Russia and its Northern within South Western Lithuania. It is a UNESCO World Heritage Site shared by the two countries. The northern 52 km long stretch of the Curonian Spit peninsula belongs to Lithuania, while the rest is part of the Kaliningrad Oblast, Russia. Between 10 and 20 million birds fly over the feature during spring and fall migrations, and many pause to rest or breed there. The group will take the ferry to Smiltyne and visit to Hill of Witches, Cormorant wild life forest and the Dead Dunes. We ll continue to Nida, for lunch and a visit to Amber Gallery,

5 Fisherman s House, Thomas Mann House and the Great Dune. Check in at Hotel Nidos Banga with dinner at a local Restaurant Eserine. B/D DAY 11 NIDA KLAIPEDA KAUNAS After breakfast you will see the core sights of Kaunas, the second-largest city in Lithuania and the former capital. Historically, Kaunas been a leading centre of Lithuanian economic, academic, and cultural life. It is located at the confluence of the two largest Lithuanian rivers, the Nemunas and the Neris, and near the Kaunas Reservoir, the largest body of water entirely in Lithuania. Since the restoration of independence, improving substantially air and land transport links with Western Europe have made Kaunas easily accessible to foreign tourists. Check in late in the afternoon to Hotel Park Inn Kaunas. B/D DAY 12 KAUNUS VILNIUS Before departing for Vilnius, your morning Kaunas tour will include The Vytautas Church, Freedom Avenue, Town Hall (The White Swan), The Devil s Museum and The Ciurlionis Museum. Depart around 14.00hrs for Vilnius where we check in at Hotel Grata and have some leisure time before dinner. B/D DAY 13 VILNIUS Vilnius is the capital of Lithuania, and its largest city, with a population of 554,000. The first known written record of Vilnius as the Lithuanian capital is known from Gediminas' letters in Many of its older buildings have been renovated, and a business and commercial area is being developed into the New City Centre. Vilnius was selected as a 2009 European Capital of Culture. Your Vilnius tour will include Vilnius University, the Old Town, Peter s and Paul s church, Museum of Genocide Victims, Presidential Palace, St. Anne s Church and the Uzupis district plus Town Hall. Today we will also visit the Trakai Castle departing around 1400hrs. Trakai is a historic city and lake resort in Lithuania, 28 km west of Vilnius. A notable feature of Trakai is that the town was built and preserved by people of different nationalities. Historically, communities of Karaims, Tatars, Lithuanians, Russians, Jews and Poles lived here. There are 200 lakes in the region. Trakai is a town built on water. There are a number of architectural, cultural and historical monuments in Trakai. The history museum in the castle (built in the 15th century) was established in Festivals and concerts take place in the island castle in summer. Dinner tonight is at a local restaurant. B/L/D DAY 14 VILNIUS - DRUSKININKAI AUGUSTOW - MRONGOVIA Today is predominantly a day of transfer by coach. After breakfast our departure from Vilnius heads South through Dzukija district for a stop in Druskininkai and a visit to the legendary Soviet Sculpture Park. From there we depart for Augustow in Poland where will we have a short stop for lunch around 1400hrs (late). Then, we depart to Masurian Lakeland, arrival late in the afternoon and check in at Hotel Mercure Mrongovia. B/D DAY 15 MRONGOVIA GDANSK Stopping at Elblag for lunch today our destination today is Gdansk, a Polish city on the Baltic coast. The city lies on the southern edge of Gdansk Bay (of the Baltic Sea) and has a population of around 455,000 making it the largest city in the Pomerania region of Northern Poland. The city is close to the former late medieval/modern boundary between West Slavic and Germanic lands and it has a complex political history with periods of Polish rule, periods of German rule, and extensive self-rule, with two spells as a free city. It has been part of modern Poland since The city was the birthplace of the Solidarity movement which, under the leadership of political activist Lech Walesa, played a major role in bringing an end to Communist rule across Central Europe. Check into the Hotel Stare Miasto with dinner. B/L/D DAY 16 GDANSK After breakfast, your tour of Gdansk will include the Fountain of Neptune, Artus Court, Crane- Green-Golden-High Gates, Prison Tower, Church of St. Mary, Oliwa Cathedral & Malbork Castle. Dinner tonight is in the hotel. B/D DAY 17 GDANSK LODZ CZESTOCHOWA After breakfast we ll head south for Czestouchowa via Lodz where the group will take a tour to see the Fountain on Jan Henryk Dabrowski Square, Piotrkowska Street 104 Sienkiewicza Street, Lodz University of Technology and Memorial of Holocaust victims at Radegast railway station. Then we ll continue to Czestochowa and check in at Hotel Mercure Czestochowa Centrum where we will have dinner. B/D DAY 18 CZESTOCHOWA AUSCHWITZ KRAKOW After breakfast we will visit the Jansa Gora Monastery with Black Madonna, stop at Pope John Paul II statue and then drive to the very emotional Auschwitz concentration camp. Then we will continue on to Krakow and visit Bielsko Biala town with Evangelical Savoir Cathedral, Wojska Polsiego Square, Sulkowski castle, Eleven Listopada Street, Polish Theater in Adama Mickiewicza, Saint Nicolas Cathedral. Check in to the Hotel Chopin with dinner included. B/D DAY 19 KRAKOW Kraków is the second largest and one of the oldest cities in Poland. Situated on the Vistula River in the Lesser Poland region, the city dates back to the 7th century. Kraków has traditionally been one of the leading centres of Polish academic, cultural, and artistic life and is one of Poland's most important economic hubs. It was the capital of Poland from 1038 to The city has a population of

6 approximately 760,000 whereas about 8 million people live within a 100 km radius of its main square. As Kraków is a city that has developed over many centuries, it provides a showcase setting for many various styles of architecture. As the city developed, so too did the style of architecture practiced by its builders and architects. It is for this reason that the way in which architecture and urban planning developed in the city is very visible. Kraków's historic centre, which includes the Old Town, Kazimierz and the Wawel Castle, was included as the first of its kind on the list of UNESCO World Heritage Sites in The Old Town (Polish: Stare Miasto) is the most prominent example of an old town in the country. Your tour of the city will include Oskar Schindler's Factory, Galicia Jewish Museum, National Museum and Wawel Royal Castle. B/L/D DAY 20 KRAKOW WARSAW This morning we will visit the Wieliczka Salt Mines before heading north to Warsaw making en route stop in Jasna Gora for lunch. Arrival is in Warsaw late in the afternoon where you ll check in to Hotel Mercure Grand. Warsaw is the capital and largest city of Poland. It is located on the Vistula River, roughly 260 km (160 mi) from the Baltic Sea and 300 km (190 mi) from the Carpathian Mountains. Its population is around 1,700,000 residents with a greater metropolitan area of 2,700,000 residents, making Warsaw the 10th most populous city proper in the European Union. The city had to be painstakingly rebuilt after the extensive damage it suffered from World War II, during which 80% of its buildings were destroyed. In 1980, Warsaw's historic Old Town was inscribed on to UNESCO's World Heritage list. With the entry of Poland into the European Union in 2004, Warsaw is currently experiencing the biggest economic boom of its history. On arrival, visit Lazienki Park and Palace including the statue of pianist composer Chopin, dinner at hotel. B/L/D DAY 21 WARSAW After breakfast you will have a full day tour of Warsaw seeing the Royale Route, Old Town, Royal Castle, St. John s Cathedral, the Old Town Market Square, Barbican, lunch at Restaurant Podwale. Then we will visit Zelazowa Wola Fredrick Chopin s birthplace. Tonight is a group farewell dinner in the hotel. B/L/D DAY 22 WARSAW HELSINKI Today you depart Poland for Helsinki (or your next destination). Flights to be confirmed. The day is in transit or at leisure, meals at your own expense except for breakfast which is included. B Day 23 In transit. Day 24 Arrive home. The Baltic Countries Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania & Poland Tour cost inclusions and exclusions. The cost of this comprehensive 22 day itinerary is extremely good value at $10,470 ex Sydney. The cost includes air-fares; transfers between terminals and hotels; hotel and airport portage; all ground travel throughout the region using air-conditioned motor-coaches; guide (except in Helsinki) and Australian host (subject to minimum pax numbers). Also included are the entry fees to all museums and monuments mentioned in the program. Tariff is on a twin-share basis. A single supplement is available for an extra $980. It is possible to fly on to another destination after the tour, let us know if you would like us to arrange for this. We can also help with business class international airfares if you prefer to fly at the pointy end of the plane! Not included, is alcohol with meals, Australian domestic transfers, any other personal requirements, as well as the taxes, charges and levies collected by the airline at the time of issuing the tickets.the above price applies to a group of 10 or more travellers. if less than 10 people apply, it may mean that the tour will proceed without an Australian host but it will still be guided. $250 secures your place on this wonderful trip. Please refer to the booking form. A partial payment will also be required when we lock in your international airfares. The full tariff less deposit and any interim payment is due 60 days prior to departure. You must refer to the terms and conditions attached to this itinerary and available on our website prior to making a decision to travel. Services included: All accommodation as mentioned in the itinerary in a twin room Meals: breakfasts, lunches & dinners as indicated All transfers All hotel reservations Minibus or coach for the trip (with driver, fuel, insurance, etc) and train travel English speaking guides in-country (except in Helsinki) and Australia host for the whole trip All entrance fees at churches, monasteries, castles, museums, parks, villages, etc. Economy international flights. Services not included: Any special fees/taxes incurred by local governments and airlines Domestic Australian transfers Tips and other expenses of a personal nature Travel Insurance which is compulsory Alcohol/drinks. If you have any questions please call us on

7 BLUE DOT TRAVEL TERMS AND CONDITIONS As at January 15, Booking and payment terms To register your interest in a tour, a non-refundable deposit of $250 and a completed booking form must be received and acknowledged by Blue Dot Travel (BDT). Approximately 4-8 weeks after your booking has been confirmed we will require a non-refundable progress payment of $2,000 towards your tour. Your final payment becomes due 75 days prior to departure. On certain tours we may be required to book special cruises, ferries, expedition ships, pre-paid entrance fees, special permits, internal flights, etc which may require an additional payment, in which case you will be advised when we accept your booking. Flight class upgrades require payment at the time of booking. If payments are not paid by the due date, the booking will be considered cancelled. Higher deposit payments are required for late bookings please refer to your consultant at the time of booking. A guarantee of full payment is required at the time of booking for all bookings received within 4 weeks of departure. We reserve the right to amend our prices for any tour, without notice, at any time up until final payment has been made by you, in the event of exchange rate fluctuations, increases in fuel costs, airport charges, airfares or increase in other service provider s fees. It is the traveller s duty to ensure they have checked the most up to date travel itinerary prior to the tour departure. These are available on our website. All prices are quoted in Australian dollars and must be paid in Australian dollars. For payments by credit card we add 1.1% to cover merchant fees. No credit card fee is applied to your $250 deposit. 2. Single supplement/sharing accommodation A booking may be accepted on a share room basis on the condition that the person requesting the share reservation agrees that we accept no responsibility for any incompatibility between the persons sharing. Regardless, no guarantee is given that a share room will be available. If not available, at the time of final payment you agree to pay the single supplement. If you choose to pay a single supplement for a tour and due to non-availability of a single room at one or more destinations, a single room cannot be provided, a refund for the single supplement component will be made for any night that a single room was not available. A single supplement means you will receive a room by yourself. The size of the room may (or may not) differ to that of a standard twin or double room. 3. Compulsory Travel Insurance Personal travel insurance is not included in the tour price. Every effort is made to ensure the safety of all participants, however, we insist that you take out a personal travel Insurance policy as a condition of us accepting you on the tour. Each traveller is responsible for ensuring they have the correct level of cover for their individual circumstances. It is the traveller s responsibility to check that your insurance policy (especially those offered by your credit card company), covers you comprehensively for the entirety of the tour you have booked on. You must read your travel insurance PDS with an emphasis on what is and what is not covered. Your travel insurance must be in place before your first instalment is made. In the event of cancellation after flights have been booked, any airfares or other non-refundable interim payments made to BDT, will be forfeited. You may be able to claim this on your travel insurance depending on the circumstances. 4. Discounts Any early bird discount offered, cannot be used in conjunction with any other discount applied such as a regular customer discount. 5. Client responsibilities The client acknowledges and agrees that the tours offered by BDT may be adventurous in nature and that he or she travels at his/her own risk. A minimum level of fitness is required to be able to participate on a BDT. You must be able to walk at least one thousand metres at a reasonable pace without requiring a stop, be able to carry at least your own bags and be able to walk at least up three flights of stairs unassisted. It is the client s own responsibility to obtain and maintain any appropriate travel documents, eg, a valid passport, any valid visas, permits, vaccination certificate or the like. The client has an obligation to disclose to BDT any pre-existing medical condition or allergies when booking the tour and the company reserves its right to refuse a booking with a client suffering from any such condition. The client also has an obligation to carry their own medical needs including legal prescription medicines and basic medical kit. For client s choosing to make land only bookings with BDT, the client will have sole responsibility for managing their own flights and changes to these flights before and whilst on tour including all necessary transfers, hotels etc. BDT does not accept any responsibility for any loss, delay or additional expenses incurred in a delay in joining the tour. 6. Tour amendments and cancellations Amendments and cancellations must be notified in writing to our office. Should you wish to amend your flights after booking there will be financial penalties applied by the airlines depending on the flight class. BDT may charge $150 admin fee for flight changes over and above the airlines fees. If a cancellation is received: More than 75 days before departure, then the non-refundable deposit and progress payment will be forfeited along with any other prepaid portions of your tour such as special cruises, ferries, expedition ships, pre-paid entrance fees, special permits, flights, etc. Between 75 and 31 days before departure, a fee of 50% of the tour cost, less any non-refundable monies paid. 30 days or less before departure, 100% of the tour cost will be forfeited. Depending on the reason for cancellation, these charges may be recoverable under your travel insurance policy. Example of cancellation costs at 60 days Tour cost $10,000 Deposit paid (non-refundable) $250 Progress payment paid (non-refundable) $2,000 Balance of tour cost $7,750 Tour refund at 50% $3,875 Upon commencement of the trip, no refunds will be made for any reason, for unused section(s). If BDT deems it to be appropriate to cancel any tour due to factors beyond its control, such as civil unrest, natural disaster or other emergencies in the areas to be visited, prior to departure when client trust funds have, or could reasonably be expected to have been expended on purchasing elements of the tour, i.e. domestic and international flights, hotel accommodation among other things, then BDT will refund all monies that can be recovered from the recipients of those expenses, without entering into any legal dispute, this being the limit of its obligations. BDT is only obliged to cancel a tour if the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs & Trade issue a travel warning stating Do Not Travel. 7. Client Numbers BDT s general policy is to have no more than 16 clients on any tour unless otherwise stated. If less than 10 people are booked on any tour, the trip may proceed without a host accompanying the group. This will be at the discretion of BDT. An in-country guide will still be provided in these circumstances. Should there be too few people booked for any tour, we reserve the right to cancel the tour no later than 90 days before scheduled departure. In this event, a full refund will be made, and BDT will not be liable for any claims made or any additional costs incurred by you including but not limited to flights, transfers and permits paid directly by you. Page 1 of 2

8 BLUE DOT TRAVEL TERMS AND CONDITIONS As at January 15, Itinerary Changes We reserve the right to vary the itinerary, accommodation and forms of transport should any conditions make it preferable, appropriate or necessary to do so. We will provide alternative services as close as possible to those listed. Wherever possible we shall advise you of such changes prior to departure, however we accept no responsibility for any alterations made for any reason, or for any associated loss or damage. If any additional expenses are incurred through delays, accidents, or disruption of planned itineraries because of force majeure or if it considered advisable by our management, such expenses are to be borne by you. It is possible that a route change could be necessary due to inclement weather, political restrictions or any other cause. Route changes will always be at the discretion of the group leader and the local operator. We will not be responsible for postponement or delay caused by delayed flights or schedule changes at any point in tour. No refund will be available in the event of any route or itinerary changes including hotel accommodation. 9. Exclusions Items not included in our tour costs Your personal travel insurance (which is compulsory). Any tourist visas required. Special fees/taxes incurred by local governments and airlines. Transfers not included on the core group s itinerary, for example when you arrive separately from a different destination or using different airline to that booked by BDT. Domestic Australian transfers unless specified on the itinerary. Seat preferences where additional costs apply. Laundry, postage, personal clothing, medical expenses, and all items of a personal nature. Mountain, road or river rescue or any other emergency evacuation charges. Expenses incurred as a result of illness and any other un foreseen situations and events. Expenses incurred in cases of personal liability, injury or death if you have been participating in optional activities. Excess baggage charges. Loss incurred by rerouting, cancellation, inclement weather, floods, famine, political disruptions, strikes, riots and other disturbances. Meals not stipulated in the itinerary. Alcoholic drinks and other beverages unless stated in the itinerary. Tips to guides, drivers or service personnel on tour. Photography and video fees (where applicable). 10. Blue Dot Travel s rights BDT reserves the right to exclude a client from any tour if they fail to comply with our fair and reasonable instructions while on tour, if they prevent or impede other clients enjoyment of a tour, if they jeopardise the safety of other clients, if they engage in illegal or undesirable behaviour, or if they become a danger to themselves or other clients. If this happens, the client will not be entitled to a refund and BDT will not be responsible for any expenses that the traveller may incur if they are excluded from a tour for any of these or other unforeseen reasons. 11. Consumer Claims If a problem occurs while you are away, it is essential and most practical to try to resolve it locally with the tour host and or guide or tour provider. If you are unhappy with your hotel room, please inform the Duty Manager so the situation may be rectified on the spot. If you have any other complaint, please advise us promptly so that we can attempt to resolve the matter. If you fail to take these steps any claim for compensation may be reduced or denied. If you have an unresolved complaint this must be put to us in writing advising details of the efforts, if any, that were made with the tour host, guide or local operator to resolve the issue. Please send this with supporting documentation within 30 days of return to Australia. No claim made after this period will be considered save to the extent that the law otherwise provides. 12. Photo Competitions If you provide us with a photo from the tour in relation to our on-tour photo competitions, you are providing us approval to use the image in our newsletters, website, social media sites and other promotional material. This is a condition of entry to our on-tour photos competitions. 13. Social Media From time to time, usually whilst on tour, BDT will post photos and videos to the BDT Facebook page and other BDT social media sites. These may include images of individuals and groups of individuals who are on the tour. These are available for anyone to see when they log in to the BDT Facebook or relevant social media site page. Should you not wish to have your image posted on any of these social media sites, you must advise us on or before departure of the tour. Otherwise, you are deemed to have consented to the inclusion of any such material. DISCLAIMER BY BOOKING AGENT (Blue Dot Travel, ACN ) 1. These booking conditions cannot exclude the provisions of the Competition & Consumer Act 2010 or of any relevant State Act or Australian Consumer law. 2. Under these Acts BDT is required to pro vide services to you with due care and skill and to provide services which are reasonable for a particular purpose if you have made that purpose known. The Acts provide a right to compensation in appropriate cases. 3. BDT gives notice that it acts as agent only for our tours, and of all other persons and companies who provide the services outlined in this itinerary and in connection with any tour for which you book and that this contract is between the client and the in-country operator. 4. BDT warrants that its services as a tour direct seller/retailer and booking agent will be rendered with due care and skill. 5. BDT does not state that the route suggested or recommended in the itinerary for any tour is the best or more suitable from any particular point of view. 6. Any maps in the itinerary and other documents are for information only, and may not necessarily show the exact routings. 7. In promoting the tours outlined in our itineraries BDT acts as agents for each travel supplier and their associated companies and contractors, therefore: - all tours outlined in this itinerary, and all tickets, vouchers and documents issued by BDT are subject to the terms and conditions of the persons and companies for whom BDT are agents - all tickets and coupons or vouchers issued by BDT and all arrangements for transport or conveyance or accommodation, are made by BDT as agents for such others persons and companies and are made at your request on the express conditions that BDT shall not be liable for any injury, damage, loss, accident, delay or irregularity which may be occasioned whether by reason of defect in any vehicle or mode of transportation, or through the acts or default of any company or person engaged in carrying passengers or in carrying out the arrangements of the tour or otherwise in connection with the tour or of any provider of any accommodation to provide any facility normally available. - BDT is not responsible for any default, omission, negligence or other act our suppliers and the contractors associated with them. - BDT is not responsible for losses or additional expenses due to delays or changes in transportation services, other services, sickness, accident, injury, weather, strikes, war, civil unrest or disturbance, riots, quarantine or other causes. 8. These terms and conditions cannot be altered or waived by any servant, agent or representative of BDT or of any person providing services on the tour other than in writing signed by BDT. Page 2 of 2

9 BOOKING FORM By paying your deposit, you accept Blue Dot Travel s terms and conditions displayed on our website. TOUR NAME:... Tour Departure Date:... Today s Date:... YOUR DETAILS Passenger 1: Passenger 2: Preferred Name:... Preferred Name:... Full Name (as shown on passport):... Full Name (as shown on passport):... Mr/Mrs/Ms/Dr Mr/Mrs/Ms/Dr First Name Surname First Name Surname Date of Birth:... Date of Birth:... Postal Address:... Postal Address: P/Code:......P/Code:... Home Ph: ( )... Home Ph: ( )... Work Ph: ( )... Work Ph: ( )... Mobile:... Mobile: Passport Number:... Passport Number:... Nationality:... Nationality:... Date of Issue:... Date of Expiry:... Date of Issue:...Date of Expiry:... Important: please photocopy and post or scan & your passport details to us. Accommodation Needs: Double Room Twin Share Single Room (at additional cost) Dietary/Special Needs:... Emergency Contact: Name:... Who will be in Australia while you are travelling. Phone 1: ( )... Phone 2: ( )... Travel Insurance: Provider Name:... Policy Number:... Personal travel insurance is not included in the tour price and we insist that you take out a policy as a condition of us accepting you on the tour. You must be able to walk at least 1000 metres at a reasonable pace without requiring a stop, be able to carry at least your own bags and be able to walk up at least three flights of stairs unassisted. Signature 1:... Signature 2:... Do you have any pre-existing medical conditions that may affect your ability to keep up with the group while travelling? Yes No How did you hear about us?... PAYMENT To register your interest in a tour, a non-refundable deposit of $250 and a completed booking form must be received and acknowledged by Blue Dot Travel. Approx 4-8 weeks after your booking has been confirmed we will require a non refundable progress payment of $2,000 per person towards your tour. Your final payment becomes due 75 days prior to departure. There are three payment options: 1 Credit Card: Please call (02) or complete and fax/post to Blue Dot Travel. If paying balance by credit card we add 1.1% to cover merchant fees. (Note: merchant fee is not applied to your $250 deposit.) Mastercard Visa Name on Card:... Card Number: Expiry Date: / Amount to Pay: $250 (p/p)... Signature of Card Holder:... 2 EFT Payment $250 (p/p) Please use your surname as a reference when making payment. Account Name: Blue Dot Travel Trust Account BSB: Account Number: Cheque $250 (p/p) Please make cheque payable to Blue Dot Travel Trust Account and post to address opposite, with this completed form. THANK YOU. We look forward to welcoming you. By paying your deposit, you accept Blue Dot Travel s terms and conditions displayed on our website. Blue Dot Travel Phone Fax Suite 109, Ground Floor, 48 Atchison Street, St.Leonards NSW 2065 BDT012018