This is real value for a tour of this magnitude because all of the following are included:

• Return air fares from Brisbane and Sydney into Amsterdam with China Airlines, plus a flight from London to Amsterdam. 

• 3 days in Amsterdam with a day inspecting the Keukenhof Tulip Fields.

• 4 days in London with a day at the Chelsea Flower Show.   

• 12 day tour of Western Europe.   

• 2 day stopover in Bangkok. 

• Good accommodation, mainly 3 to 3.5 star.

• Some meals.

• Entrance fees to many attractions. 

• Services of local tour guides and if there are 12 or more participants, an Australian tour leader. 

If you don't have a travel partner but wish to travel at twin share rates, we will try to match you up with someone else in the same position, but this is not guaranteed. For a single room there is an additional cost of $1290.

There will be connecting flights between Melbourne and Sydney for an extra $80.00 per person plus airport taxes each way.

This is a wonderful opportunity to visit two of the world's most spectacular events for garden lovers - Keukenhof and Chelsea.  

Tour Itinerary

Terms and Conditions

Booking Form

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	Itinerary for Garden Lovers to visit the Chelsea Flower Show & the Keukenhof Tulip Fields plus a tour of Western Europe
Note:	Meals are included in the itinerary as B = Breakfast, L = Lunch, D = Dinner
02.05.09	Depart Sydney at 12.55pm on CI 51, arriving in Taipei at 7.10pm.   Transfer to the Golden China Hotel in Central Taipei.
03.05.09	Sydney passengers have a free morning in Taipei. In the afternoon they have a tour of Taipei visiting the Chiang Kai Shek Memorial Hall, Palace Museum, Martyr's Shrine and the Long Shan Temple. After dinner transfer back to Taipei Airport.  (B/D) Brisbane passengers depart Brisbane at 10.00am on CI 54, arriving in Taipei at 5.00pm. Both Sydney and Brisbane passengers depart at 10.30pm on CI 65, arriving in Amsterdam at 9.10am the next morning.
04.05.09	On arrival you will be transferred to your Amsterdam area hotel with the rest of the day free to recover from your flights.
05.05.09 (B)	Today we will have a day at beautiful Keukenhof Bulb Gardens. At this time of the year the late tulips are normally in full bloom.
06.05.09 (B)	Amsterdam Today will be a free day, with optional tours available.
07.05.09 (B/D)	Amsterdam Area - The Rhineland, Germany A morning to enjoy Holland's busy metropolis. After your included visit to a famous diamond centre, it's time for morning sightseeing with a local guide pointing out the city highlights, then finally, a canal cruise to see Amsterdam from water level.  In the afternoon travel southward to the Rhineland area for an overnight stay.
08.05.09 (B/D)	The Rhineland - Innsbruck, Austria A choice today of the included scenic drive along the shores of the Rhine or, even more thrilling, the optional Rhine cruise with vista's of the Lorelei Rock, hilltop castles, half-timbered wine villages, and terraced vineyards. In the afternoon ride along the Autobahn to Austria.  Overnight in Innsbruck.
09.05.09 (B/D)	Innsbruck - Venice Area, Italy Early morning departure via the Tyrolean Alps to the unique floating city of Venice. This afternoon's sightseeing includes a boat ride followed by a visit to St Mark's Basilica and a chance to watch Venetian glass-blowers fashion their delicate objects as they did centuries ago.
10.05.09 (B)	Venice Area - Assisi - Rome An interesting drive southward, cutting across the Po Delta, then through the gentle Umbrian hills to Assisi, where St Francis was born in 1182. Visit the world-famous Basilica with its beautiful frescos by Giotto, then head for Rome.
11.05.09 (B)	Rome The "Eternal City" - a city steeped in history, vibrantly alive and exciting and absolutely unique!  Included sightseeing with a local guide starts in St Peter's Square, followed by a visit to the Roman Forum and the mighty Colosseum.
12.05.09 (B/D)	Rome - Florence Area An easy drive this morning on the Highway of the Sun to Florence. This Renaissance gem and city of the Medicis will keep you enthralled for a whole day. Traffic is banned in part of the historic centre so visitors can wander at leisure and admire the city's timeless beauty in relative peace and quiet. Don't miss out on the included walking tour with a local guide that features most of the city highlights. You will see the Piazza Santa Croce; the beautiful Piazza Signoria; the Palazzo Vecchio and its courtyard; the Loggia dei Lanzi; and to top it all, the Piazza del Duomo and its cathedral with the Giotto Campanile, and the magnificent East Door of the Baptistery known as the "Gate to Paradise."
13.05.09 (B/D)	Florence Area - Pisa - Lake Lucerne, Switzerland Start the morning by driving to Pisa to visit the Square of Miracles and admire the Leaning Tower.  Next we journey northwards through Tuscan hills across the River Po into the Lombardy Plains, crossing into Switzerland for a stop in lovely Lakeside Lugano.  In the afternoon we travel through some of Europe's most splendid Alpine scenery through the St Gotthard Tunnel to descent to Lake Lucerne for an overnight stay.
14.05.09 (B/D)	Lake Lucerne - Interlaken - Lausanne Lucerne is one of Switzerland's finest cities, nestled amid its snow-capped Alps, surrounded by its lake, and embellished by the clear mountain waters of the River Reuss. Your visit takes in the impressive city walls, a covered wooden bridge, ornate patrician houses lining cobblestone streets, and the Lion Monument. Next, to nearby Stans for an optional excursion by funicular and cable car to the 6,227-foot summit of the Stanserhorn.  Later Interlaken for a stop. Follow the shoreline of Lake Thun to the delightful hilltop village of Gruyere. A few more miles to Lausanne overlooking Lake Geneva.
15.05.09 (B)	Lausanne - Paris, France Vistas of famous vineyards on the way to Beaune. Visit the medieval Burgundian town, known the world over for its wine production. Later, via the comfortable auto route to Paris.
16.05.09 (B) 17.05.09 (B)	Paris Two days in which to explore the city that's known throughout the world for its fashions, art and museums, delicious food and joie de vivre.  Included sightseeing  with a local expert of many of the best-known Parisian sights: La Sorbonne, Arc de Triomphe, Opera, Madeleine, the Eiffel Tower, the Pyramid near the Louvre, the Invalides and the Champs Elysees. Optional excursions are also available to the Palace and Gardens of Versailles and to the Louvres Museum.
18.05.09 (B)	Paris - London, England Relax and let the countryside whiz by on the road north to the coast, where you board your Channel ferry. Through Kent return to London for an evening arrival.
19.05.09 (B) 20.05.09 (B)	You have two free days in one of the most wonderful cities in the world, with many optional day tours available.  For garden lovers some obvious choices would be Kew Botanical Gardens or to one or more of the many beautiful private gardens in the countryside outside London.
21.05.09 (B)	Today  you will have a full day at the wonderful Chelsea Flower Show. Your tour leader will take you by underground to the grounds and people are free to spend as long as they wish at the show (full day tickets are supplied) and return to the hotel under their own arrangements. NB: If you choose not to attend the Chelsea Flower Show, we will deduct $120.00pp from your invoice.
22.05.09	Transfer to airport departing late morning for flight to Amsterdam. Then depart Amsterdam at 2.45pm on CI 66, arriving in Bangkok at 6.40am the next morning.
23.05.09 (D)	Transfer to the Asia Bangkok Hotel situated in central Bangkok in the wonderful Siam Square shopping and entertainment area. In the afternoon  there will be a visit to Bangkok's beautiful flower market and a boat cruise on Bangkok's klongs (canals) followed by a visit to the premises of a jewellery manufacturer and showroom. This is followed by a wonderful dinner in an historical restaurant in Siam Square.
24.05.09	Morning free. Sydney passengers have a late morning transfer to Bangkok Airport, departing at 1.25pm on CI 694 arriving in Taipei at 5.55pm. Then depart Taipei at 10.20pm, arriving in Sydney at 10.40am the next morning (25.05.09) (B) Brisbane passengers will have an afternoon tour to see Bangkok's spectacular Grand Palace and Temple of the Emerald Buddha.  his is followed by dinner. (B,D)
25.05.09 (B)	Morning free. Late morning transfer to Bangkok Airport, departing at 1.25pm on CI 694 and arriving in Taipei at 5.55pm. Depart Taipei at 9.45pm on CI 53, arriving in Brisbane at 8.20am the next morning (26.05.09)
Note:	Airport taxes and levies at present total an additional amount of approximately $560. We have no control over this price and it is subject to change.

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Deposits and Payments - A non-refundable deposit of $400.00 per person is payable within 7 days of booking. This deposit is not refundable should you later cancel. The balance is payable in full 10 weeks prior to departure. 

Refunds and Cancellations - Cancellations after final payment will result in a refund limited to whatever we can recoup from the airline.

Insurance - Adequate travel insurance is essential. We can arrange this for you if desired.

Passports - All travellers require a current passport with at least 6 months left on it at the end of the tour. Non-Australian passport holders require a re-entry visa for Australia.
Visas are not required for any of these countries if travelling on an Australian passport.

Not  Included in the Cost - All items of a personal nature such as telephone calls, drinks, excess baggage, tips, meals, (except those specified in the itinerary), etc. Also travel insurance and airport taxes. Australian airport tax must now be paid with your ticket, and comes to $560 at present.
****Please note that these taxes are subject to change.****

Booking through other Agents - As we keep the cost of out tours as low as possible, there is insufficient margin for us to be able to pay commission to other travel agents, so some bookings can only be accepted if the client pays the other agent's commission. 
Macleay Valley Travel is a fully licensed travel agent and as such any monies paid to us are fully insured by the Travel Compensation Fund. We are happy for any prospective traveller with us to check us out with your local Consumer Affiars (fair trading) department.
Similarly, credit card payments can only be accepted if 2% is added to the price to help defray the heavy merchant fees charged to us by the credit card companies.

Health and Fitness
Macleay Valley Travel recommends that the passenger is reasonably healthy and/or fit to participate in this tour.  Persons with a disability requiring special assistance must be accompanied by a companion. Macleay Valley Travel and their representatives cannot provide this service.  Macleay Valley Travel reserves the right to accept/decline or terminate a passenger's participation in the tour under certain circumstances.

Limitation of Liability - As Macleay Valley Travel acts only as agent for the Airlines, Hotels, Coach Companies etc., providing accommodation, transportation and other services, Macleay Valley Travel shall not be liable or responsible for death or injury to any person or loss or damage to any property including baggage arising out of or connection with any transportation, accommodation or other services, or resulting directly or indirectly from acts of God, fire, breakdown in machinery or equipment, acts of Government or other authorities, de jure or defacto wars, whether declared or not, hostilities, civil disturbances, strikes, riots, thefts, epidemics, quarantines, medical or customs regulations, delays or cancellations caused by changes in schedules or itinerary, or over bookings or defaults or for any causes beyond Macleay Valley Travel's control or any loss or damage resulting from improper or insufficient passports, visas or other documents and neither Macleay Valley Travel, and its servants or employees shall be or become liable or responsible for any additional expenses or liability sustained or incurred by the tour member as a result of the foregoing causes.
Macleay Valley Travel reserves the right to modify the itinerary or the accommodation if circumstances make this necessary, provided that the amended itinerary is of equal value or greater value than that of the original program.
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