Payments and Terms

Trip Cost:

$5290 USD per person, double occupancy. Add $1990 USD for single occupancy (limited availability).

Above pricing is based on a June 2006 exchange rate of 8 RMB (China Yuan Renminbi) to $1 USD. If at the time of final payment the exchange rate changes in either direction by more than 5% from the current rate, pricing will be adjusted accordingly.

Trip Includes:

All accommodations with private bathroom facilities per the itinerary (5 star hotel in Xi�an and Urumqi, and best available in other cities), breakfast daily, local service charge and tax.
Arrival and departure transfers for those arriving and departing the dates of the tour.
Baggage handling at all hotels.
Services of a bi-lingual Tour Manager who will accompany the group throughout the tour.
Local English-speaking guides throughout the program.
All sightseeing and excursions including entrance fees per itinerary.
All in-country transportation per the itinerary including private train from Xian and Hami, private bus transportation from Hami to Urumqi, and one-way flights from Beijing to Xian and Urumqi to Beijing.
All meals, including breakfast daily, lunches and dinners as noted in the itinerary.
Bottled/purified water will be provided on buses.
Beverages with lunches/dinners: In cities, your choice of one non-alcoholic drink (soft drink or water) or beer is included. On the train, a beer and water is included at both lunches and dinners.
All gratuities to Tour Managers, local guides, drivers and train service staff.

Not Included:

International airfare to and from China. (Flight information will be provided in Fall 2007).
China visa fees (approximately $125 USD).
All items not expressly listed above - including but not limited to: food or beverages not included in group meals, items of a personal nature such as laundry, alcoholic beverages, telephone expense, excess baggage fees, evacuation costs, other items not expressly listed as included.
Possible additional hotel nights in Beijing that may be needed because of airline flight connection changes.
Travel Insurance to cover cancellation, emergency medical, evacuation costs, trip interruption, etc.

Payments & Terms:

A $700 per person advance payment (payable by using MasterCard, Visa, Discover or American Express or by check drawn on a US bank), along with a completed reservation form, confirms your space. A second advance payment of $1000 per person is due September 25, 2007. The balance is due March 15, 2008.

All advance payments, less a $250 per person service fee, are refundable until September 25, 2007. From September 26 to March 15, 2008, there will be a $1200 per person cancellation fee. There are no refunds after March 15, 2008. Air cancellation terms are additional.

Air Travel & Optional Add-On Packages:

International airfare is not included in the cost of this program. In Fall 2007, we will provide you with contact information for an air-ticketing agency familiar with this tour. They will assist with your travel needs at that time, or you may book your flights on your own.

Internal China flights, beginning and ending in Beijing, are included in the cost of this tour. Although these flights connect through Beijing, this tour does not include any time in the city. In Fall 2007, we will offer optional Beijing and Shanghai pre- and post-tour add-on packages, including optional Beijing 2008 Summer Olympic packages.

What to Expect:

Weather

In August, average daytime temperatures range from around 88�F/31�C in Xi�an with moderate to high humidity, to around 100�F/38�C in Silk Road desert locations. (Our private train and motorcoaches are air-conditioned). Nights in Xi�an cool to about 70�/21�C, while in the desert, nights cool to the 65�F/18�C. Rain is possible in Xi�an, but very unlikely throughout the rest of the trip. Keep in mind that these are averages, and extreme conditions could change these temperatures.

The Famous China Orient Express

In the 1950s and �60s, diplomats and delegations traveled cross-country aboard the China Orient Express. Now it is your turn to survey the countryside in the comfort of this vintage train available only to dignitaries and special groups.

Privately chartered for our 2008 eclipse tour, we will spend four days on the historic China Orient Express, from Xi�an through the Gobi Desert to Hami. Each sleeping carriage has eight private cabins decorated with mahogany and brass. Silk-lined walls and rich carpet embellish the hallways. Between every two cabins is a compartment with a sink, and there is a toilet at each end of the sleeping carriage.

Because there are no showers on the train, we will pack an overnight bag and stay in hotels all but one night. For meals onboard, Chinese chefs prepare traditional specialties served in the dining cars. Lounge cars offer the opportunity to relax or visit with friends as the landscape unfolds past the windows.

Optional trip cancellation/medical insurance is highly recommended. Applications will be provided with initial invoice, or you can sign-up online by pressing the Travelex button below.

PRESS HERE to go to the Reservation Page

Copyright 2007 TravelQuest International. All rights reserved. 800-830-1998
Revised: September 18, 2007.
Information in this document is subject to change without notice.
Other products and companies referred to herein are trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective companies or trademark holders.