Land Tour
25 days
$AUD 721 per day
Departure: China
Arrival: China
Adventure
Private / Tailor made
In past centuries, the vital Silk Road used to be the link between the East and the West.
Merchant caravans carrying silk, gold, ivory, exotic animals, plants and other precious commodities used to travel from Europe via Central Asia to the heart of the Empire. The Silk Road was not only about trading goods, but also about exchanging ideas and religious beliefs. This trip will allow you to traverse the footsteps of the original route of one of the most famous travellers ever, Marco Polo.]]>
* Pricing is subject to change at anytime until full payment has been received.
* A minimum of 2 adults is required to guarantee this departure.
A non-refundable deposit of $1000 AUD per person is required to secure your place. Final payment is due no later than 60 days prior to departure. Travel insurance is mandatory for travelling with Crooked Compass. For full terms and conditions, please click here.]]>
Welcome to China! Upon arrival into Kashgar, you will be met and transferred to your hotel. Kashgar is an important trading town in the far west of China, close to the borders with Pakistan and Kirgistan. It has been the epicentre of regional trade and cultural exchange for more than two millennia.
The remoteness has helped to preserve the unique character of the city. Explore the streets of the old city centre, which is unfortunately becoming smaller and smaller with the development of new housing. This small section of the ‘real’ Old Town is unlikely to survive for much longer.
Despite these changes, the spirit of Kashgar lives on. Uighur craftsmen and artisans still hammer and chisel away as they have done for centuries, traders haggle over deals in the boisterous bazaars and donkey carts still trundle their way through the narrow alleyways. Enjoy dinner tonight at a local restaurant. (D)
3 nights in Kashgar Qinwak Hotel or similar
Distance and Journey Time: Driving airport to the hotel (10km) 20mins
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Today you will make your way to the biggest alpine lake in the world, Karakuli Lake (approx. 200km – 4-5hr drive). Karakul means ‘black lake’, in referance to the dark colour reflected on the lakes surface when he sun is hidden by cloud. At an altitude of 3,600m, it is the highest lake of the Pamir Plateau, near the junction of the Pamir, Tianshan and Kunlun mountain ranges. The lake has two basins separated by a peninsula from the south and an island in the north. The three highest peaks visible from the lake are the Muztagh Ata (7,546m), Kongur Tagh (7,649m) and Kongur Tiube (7,530m) which remain snow-capped throughout the year. You will also have the opportunity to walk to one of the settlements on the shore of the lake and visit the Kerkezi stone houses and the people who live in these remote areas.
Return to Kashgar in the evening. (B,L)
Walking Time: Approx 1-1.5hours
Distance and Journey Time: Driving(400km) 7-8hrs
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This morning after breakfast, set out to explore the local Bazaar, the bustling meeting point for the many nomadic people who venture here to barter, buy and sell produce, animals, the necessities of daily life and everything in between.
Continue on to the centre of Kashgar, where you will discover the largest Mosque in China. Built in 1442 the Id Kah Mosque complex now occupies nearly 17,000 square metres, and is surrounded with fascinating handicraft streets.
Visit Abakh Hoja Tomb of Xiangfei, an Uygur woman who was married as a concubine to one of the emperors of the Qing Dynasty. After she died her body was transferred back to Kashgar and buried in the family tomb, built in 1640 its construction is heavily influenced by Islam architecture. (B,L)
Walking Time: Easy city walking Approx 5 hours
Distance and Journey Time: Driving total of 2hrs for the day (30km)
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Today enjoy a free day to explore Kashgar on your own.
Late afternoon, meet you guide and transfer to the train station, take the overnight train to Kuche K9720 (23:26 – 007:46+1). (B,L)
Overnight on the train in a soft sleeper or similar (shared cabin)
Distance and Journey Time: Driving to the station (6-7km) 20mins, Train Journey approx 7.5hrs (subject to change at booking)
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In the morning, you will arrive in Kuche and transfer to your hotel for a chance to refresh and enjoy breakfast at your hotel. Head out to explore Kuche, where you will go to The Kizil Thousand Buddha Caves Complex which is resulted from alien culture and traditional Chinese culture. Kumr Jiva was also born here. The Kizil Grotto, one of four major grotts, is a key national monument, from the late 3rd century with 236 coded caves. As the earliest, biggest and the most western complex and artistic treasure in China, it contains over 10000m2 of murals inside.
The Grand Kuqa Mosque which was first built in the 16th century and reconstructed in 1931 after being damaged by fire, had significant dominance of Islam over Buddhism in Xinjiang. It is the region’s second largest mosque after the Etigar Mosque in Kashgar and has a capacity for 3,000 worshippers. Within its compound is Xinjiang’s sole religious court. Kuqa is also the site of the sacred Molanaershiding Tomb to which Xinjiang’s Muslims make regular pilgrimages. (B,L)
Overnight in Kuche Hotel or similar
Walking Time: Easy city walking Approx 3 hours
Distance and Journey Time: Driving total of 4hrs for the day (230-250km)
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In the early morning, you will go to the Subashi Ruins, which are located 23km northwest of Kuqa County, Xinjiang Province. Covering a relatively large area, divided by the Kuqa River into eastern and western areas, the eastern area is over 530 metres long and over 140 metres wide where the western area is over 680 metres long and 170 metres wide. The extent of the ruins reflects the temple’s past brilliance.
After lunch, you transfer to Korla. There is a very low speed limit in southern Xinjiang which means we must stay in Korla for one night. Diving time 7-8hrs, 300km. (B,L)
Overnight in Metro Polo Jin Jiang Hotel or similar
Walking Time: Easy walking Approx 2 hours
Distance and Journey Time: Driving total of 7-8hrs for the day (300km)
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Today you drive to Turpan (400km, 6hrs though this is depending on check points, currently there are none). (B,L)
3 nights Mecure Turpan Downtown Hotel or similar
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Visit the ruins of the ancient city Gaochang, an oasis city built in the desert. It was a busy trading centre and a stopping point for merchant traders travelling on the Silk Road. It was destroyed in wars during the 14th century. Even though deserted since several hundred years, many buildings and streets are still visible.
Visit the Bezkelik Thousand Buddha Caves. Once an important Buddhist site with many caves covered with brightly painted murals, Bezeklik means “place of paintings” in Uighur. The caves were hewn into the cliffside, Monks used to live inside the caves and the frescs here clearly represent the life work of generations of devotees.
You will also visit the Astana Graves. Astana was the public cemetery of the ancient Gaochang residents, both aristocrats and commoners. However, among 456 excavated tombs in Astana Tomb, no King of Gaochang has been found. The dead in Astana Tomb were placed on an earthen or wooden bed in the back of the chamber. (B,L)
Walking Time: Easy city walking Approx 4 hours
Distance and Journey Time: Driving total of 3-4hrs for the day (250km)
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Upon arrival in Xi’an, you will be met and transferred to your hotel for breakfast.
After breakfast, take a walk along the ancient city walls which is not only the most complete city walls that has survived in China, but also one of the largest ancient military defence systems in the world. You also have an opportunity to ride a bicycle (not included) around the city walls if you wish.
This afternoon, walk through the lively Muslim Quarter to visit the Grand Mosque. The 60,000 strong Muslim community that lives and works today in Xian traces its history back to Arab and Persian merchants who, after travelling the Silk Road, became permanent residents here for 13 dynasties. Enjoy watching a puppet show in the Muslim Quarter.
For dinner this evening, enjoy a dumpling banquet, where you’ll taste dumplings of many different shapes, sizes and flavours. (B,L,D)
Walking Time: 3-4hrs
Distance and Journey Time: Driving approx 2-3hrs
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Today enjoy the last highlight of Xian: the Terracotta Warriors & Horses where you will see the life-sized defending army to the first emperor of China, Qinshihuang. Discovered by local farmer in Lintong, it is a form of funerary art buried with the emperor in 210–209 BCE and whose purpose was to protect the emperor in his afterlife.
This evening, board an overnight train to Beijing. (B,L)
Walking Time: 2-3hrs
Distance and Journey Time: Driving approx 3hrs
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Upon arrival in Beijing, you will be met and transferred to your hotel for breakfast. The day starts from the centre of Beijing – Tian’anmen Square with a walk to the Forbidden City. This was once the Chinese Imperial Palace and has a history of almost five hundred years. It is said to be the world’s largest existing palace complex with 999.5 rooms. Whilst walking in the city, you can retrace the Chinese history from Ming Dynasty to the end of the Qing Dynasty.
Experience Beijing and its food in a more modest way by walking through the Hutongs, the narrow alleys in old Beijing, on a “Hutong foodie walk.” This will include traditional local dishes from other parts of China. Start at the centre of Beijing at the Bell Tower to taste Beijinger’s traditional dishes before walking through the market and enjoying lunch at an authentic Uighur restaurant. Finish at Houhai Lake where you will have free time to explore. (B,L)
2 nights in Beijing Dongfang Hotel or similar
Walking Time: 4-5hrs
Distance and Journey Time: Driving approx 2-3hrs
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Today you will continue to your trip to explore Turpan. You will visit the brilliant project – the Karez System, which is special kind of irrigation system consisting of vertical wells, underground canals, ground canals and a water logging pond. The vertically dug wells are linked together to channel the water which is collected during the summer rainy season, or melted from snowy mountains of the Tianshan range and then distributed to the farmlands in the surrounding plains.
After your Karez visit, you will head to visit the Jiaohe Ancient City which used to be the capital city of the former Cheshi State. It is renowned as the “perfect ruins of an earth building” because it has been well preserved for almost two thousand years.
To know more about Turpan’s history as well as the Silk Road, visit the Turpan Museum which is the best way to learn all about this fascinating area. It is a small museum, but has an interesting layout and modern facilities. The museum keeps more than 5,000 collections from the prehistoric era to nowadays. Its highlights are relics and artefacts which were discovered in the Turpan area. (B,L)
Walking Time: Easy city walking Approx 3-4 hours
Distance and Journey Time: Driving total of 1.5-2hrs for the day (approx 80km)
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Be prepared for another highlight of the trip – the Mogao Grotts which contain priceless paintings, sculptures, some 50,000 Buddhist scriptures, historical documents, textiles, and other relics that first stunned the world in the early 1900s. It has some of the finest examples of Buddhist art in a period of 1,000 years.
From here you will visit Crescent Lake whcih is a crescent-shaped lake in an oasis. Just as oil and water don’t mix, so do springs and deserts. But Crescent Spring is an exception. Having been lying among these sand dunes for thousands of years, although given many surprise attacks by sandstorms, Crescent Spring still gurgles clear, and still remains worthy as the first spring in the desert. (B,L)
Walking Time: Out and about for 5 hours
Distance and Journey Time: Driving total of 1hrs for the day (approx 30km)
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After breakfast, take the express train to Liuyuannan and drive to Dunhuang , D2708 (09:15/12:43) in a second class seat. The remainder of the day is free at leisure. (B,L)
2 nights in Dunhuang Yueya Guesthouse or similar
Distance and Journey Time: Train journey 2-2.5hrs, Driving Liuyuannan-Dunhuang (160km) Approx. 2hrs
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Today you will drive back to Lanzhou with a visit en-route to Bingling Temple Grotts by boat. Bingling Temple is a series of grotts filled with Buddhist sculptures carved into the natural caves and caverns in a canyon along the Yellow River. It lies just north of where the Yellow River empties into the Liujiaxia Reservoir.
From the boat, you can see the Jishi Hill where the caves are excavated. Upon arrival in Lanzhou, you will be transferred to the train station for your high-speed train to Xi’an D 2667 20:00-23:08 (1st class seat). (B,L)
2 nights Xi’an Zuoyouke Theme Hotel or similar
Distance and Journey Time: 3hrs by Train, Driving approx 5hrs (approx 330km)
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Today you will drive to Jiayuguan. The remainder of the day is yours at leisure. (B,L)
2 nights in Jiayuguan Huli Hotel or similar
Distance and Journey Time: Driving total of approximately 5hrs for the day (460km)
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Today enjoy a full day excursion to Labrang Monastery and Sangke Grassland.
The Labrang Monastery is one of the six great monasteries of the Gelug school of Tibetan Buddhism. The monastery boasts tens of thousands of statues of Buddha made of gold, silver, copper, and aluminium. There are statues with ivory, sandalwood, jade, crystal and clay as the basic materials. These Buddha statues are all lifelike with kind-looking faces. In addition, the monastery possesses many Buddha hats and many Buddhist treasures adorned with pearls, jadeite, agate and diamonds. (B,L)
Walking Time: 4hrs visiting
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Jiayuguan Pass, located in the southwest part of Jiayuguan City, is 6 km from downtown. This was the first pass at the west end of the Great Wall, and also one of the main passes of the Great Wall. Among the passes on the Great Wall, Jiayuguan is the most intact surviving ancient military building.
This part of the Great wall was built by using local gravel and yellow earth, layer upon layer, and it consists of the main path, battlements and three observation posts. Its imposing appearance and manner are very much like those of Badaling Great Wall in Beijing, so it is reputed as ‘the Western Badaling Great Wall’. (B,L)
Walking Time: 2 hours wandering around
Distance and Journey Time: Driving total of 40min for the day (approx 30km)
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Visit the Gansu Provincial Museum in the morning. The museum has an excellent selection of exhibits relating to Gansu and the Silk Road. In the afternoon, take the sheepskin raft on the Yellow River with stops at Zhongshan Bridge and Waterwheel Exhibition Park. (B,L)
Walking & Visiting Time: 5hrs
Distance and Journey Time: Driving approx 1hrs (approx 10km)
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Start your day in Wuwei with a visit to Leitai Han Tomb, named as there was a temple built to honour the Chinese god Leishen on the ten-metre high earth platform that was erected during the middle Ming Dynasty. The most important is the Bronze Galloping horse which is the symbol of China Tourism.
Visit Wenmiao, the local Confucius Temple, before driving to Lanzhou in the afternoon (approx. 5 hrs). Lanzhou is situated on the upper reaches of the Yellow River where it emerges from the mountains. (B,L)
2 nights in Lanzhou Legend Hotel or similar
Walking Time: 3hrs
Distance and Journey Time: Driving approx 4-5hrs (approx 280km)
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Visit the Giant Buddha Temple (Dafo Temple) which contains the largest reclining wooden Buddha in China, and is the reputed birthplace of Kublai Khan. In the afternoon, drive to Wuwei ( approx. 3.5 hours), historically the only route from central China to western China and the rest of Central Asia. (B,L)
Overnight in Wuwei Xinglong Hotel or similar
Walking Time: 1.5hrs
Distance and Journey Time: Driving approx 3.5hrs (approx 250km)
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Today you continue with a visit to Jiuquan. The city’s name came from a legendary tale of the young Han general Huo Qubing, who poured a jar of precious wine into a local creek in order to share the taste with his troops, in celebration of their crushing victory against Xiongnu forces. The creek was later named Jiu Quan (“Wine Spring”), which became the name of the Han prefecture established there. It was an active military garrison during the later Han Dynasty.
The area was the frontier for much of China’s history, forming a natural passage to the Central Asian portion of the empire. The Mongol Emperor Kublai Khan is said to have been born in the Dafo Temple.
From here you will visit the Tombs with Murals of the Wei and Jin dynasties. Continue your journey to Zhangye, (approx. 4 hours driving) via Gaotai and the Linze Danxia Colourful Hills.
Zhangye Danxia is known for the unusual colours of the rocks, which are smooth, sharp and several hundred metres tall. They are the result of deposits of sandstone and other minerals that occurred over 24 million years. The result, similar to a layer cake, is connected to the action of the same tectonic plates responsible for creating parts of the Himalayan mountains. Wind, rain, and time then sculpted extraordinary shapes, including towers, pillars, and ravines, with varying colours, patterns, and sizes. (B,L)
Overnight in Zhangye Ruichi Guoji Hotel or similar
Walking Time: 3.5 hours wandering around
Distance and Journey Time: Driving approx 4hrs (approx 240km)
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In June 1644 the Ming Dynasty fell after ruling China for 276 years and so too ended the national strategy of building long defensive structures. The ramparts were left to the ravages of nature, man and time. The elements changed such structures into a wilderness Great Wall (Wild Wall), overgrown and crumbling from century to century since the 1500s. Today you will hike along the unrestored structures of the wall, on the Jiankou Great Wall. Through crumbling watch towers, uneven steps and with not another tourist in sight, truly allowing you to appreciate the Great Wall for what it was and what it is today. (B,L)
Walking Time: 3-4hrs
Distance and Journey Time: Driving approx 5-6hrs
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Drive to Linxia (150 km, approx. 5 hrs) which is home to the Hui ethnic group. For centuries, Hezhou/Linxia has been one of the main religious, cultural, and commercial centres of China’s Muslim community, earning itself the nickname of “the little Mecca of China.”
Visit Linxia Dagongbei The Great Gongbei, an Islamic shrine complex centered on a grave of a Sufi master. The grave itself is usually topped with a dome; Nanguan Mosque, one of the largest mosques in the Lingxia.
Continue your journey to Xiahe this afternoon. Xiahe is home to the famed Labrang Tibetan Buddhist Monastery, one of the largest Tibetan Buddhist monasteries outside of the Tibet Autonomous Region. The town is populated largely by ethnic Tibetans, as well as some Hui and Han Chinese. The area is highly rural and pastoral where you will see yaks grazing and other pastorals animals. (B,L)
2 nights Xiahe Nuobeisaiao Guest house or similar
Walking Time: 3hrs
Distance and Journey Time: Driving approx 5.5hrs (approx 280km)
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This morning is yours at leisure until it is time for you to transfer to the airport for your onward flight. For those looking to extend their time, why not continue on Marco Polo’s route and add on an extension to Xanadu? (B)
Distance and Journey Time: Driving to the airport approx 1.5-2hrs
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" You" or "your" means any user of our Website or any person who acquires the Booking & Advisory Services, including any person who acquires a Travel Product (whether or not the Booking & Advisory Services were acquired by another person).
" Booking & Advisory Services" means services provided by us to you in assisting you to acquire a Travel Product from a Provider and includes advisory and consulting services.
"Force Majeure” means, but not limited to: acts of God, accident, riot, war, terrorist act, epidemic, pandemic, quarantine, outbreaks of infectious disease or any other public health crisis, civil commotion, breakdown of communication facilities, natural catastrophes, adverse weather conditions, governmental acts or omissions, changes in laws or regulations, national strikes, fire, explosion and generalised lack of availability of raw materials or energy.
“ Travel Provider” or "Provider" or "Providers" means the company or person who provides you with the Travel Product on terms and conditions agreed with you.
" Travel Product" means the service or product provided by a Provider, for example, an airline or a hotel.
" Website" means our website https://deluxelife.com.au/
Schedule of Professional Service Fees
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Planning Fee |
$125 per itinerary. Creating unique travel itineraries is our specialty. For detailed quotations providing tailored recommendations for custom designed tours, a non-refundable planning fee applies. Should you proceed with booking, this fee is credited towards your trip.
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Service Fees |
$40 Domestic/Trans-Tasman airfare per person or as discounted
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$150.00 International airfare per person or as discounted
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$50.00 Domestic/Trans-Tasman business class airfare per person or as discounted
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$200.00 International business class airfare per person or as discounted |
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NIL Domestic/Trans-Tasman package, tour, or cruise per booking
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NIL International package, tour, or cruise per booking |
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$ Other Services dependent on service explained to you |
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$200 to $500 Itinerary planning per booking (credited towards reservation once booked) |
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Deposit & Balance |
For all bookings, the initial deposit is 20% and the balance of payment is due 60 days before departure. If Travel Provider terms and conditions vary, we may request an additional deposit from you, after the initial deposit is paid, plus the balance payment date may also vary. After you have paid your initial deposit, you will have five days cooling off period to accept these Booking & Advisory Terms and Conditions, during which time your deposit is refundable. After 5 days has passed, or you have accepted the Terms and Conditions, the deposit will automatically become non-refundable. Note, some Travel Products must be paid in full at time of booking. Service Fees must also be paid at time of booking and are non-refundable. After you pay the balance of payment this will become fully non-refundable 60 days before travel, or earlier, if specified by the supplier. |
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Amendment Fees |
Changes to Domestic/Trans-Tasman bookings will incur a fee of $50 per passenger per booking in addition to Provider and credit card fees.
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Changes to International bookings (excluding Trans-Tasman bookings) will incur a fee of $50 per passenger per booking in addition to Provider and credit card fees.
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Cancellation Fees |
Cancellations to Domestic/Trans-Tasman bookings will incur a fee of $75 per passenger per booking in addition to Provider and credit card fees.
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Cancellations to International bookings (excluding Trans-Tasman bookings) will incur a fee of $150 per passenger per booking in addition to Provider and credit card fees.
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Credit Card Fees |
Visa - an additional 2.0% applies
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Mastercard - an additional 2.0% applies
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American Express - an additional 2.0% applies
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(All fees exclude GST, where applicable).
Privacy Notice
Darebin Travel collects your personal information to enable us to respond to your queries and provide you with the Booking & Advisory Services, including assisting in arrangements with Providers (such as hotels and flights).
We will also use your personal information to personalise the service we provide you, including your experience on our, and other, websites, and to provide you with information about our, and our partners’, business, products and services. Your personal information may be shared between entities within Darebin Travel and with DeluxeLife Pty Ltd (ACN: 647 484 115), disclosed to suppliers, Providers, our cloud infrastructure, our contractors and to others where authorised or required by law. Some of these entities may be located overseas.
ANNEXURE – TRAVEL TIPS FOR TRAVEL PRODUCTS
These tips set out below are NOT legally binding terms and conditions.
Passports, Visas and Health Requirements
It is your responsibility to ensure that you have the required documents, including visas and passports, before travelling to a destination. For more information please log on to www.dfat.gov.au and www.smarttraveller.gov.au. Please check with the respective Embassy or Consulate of each country that you are travelling to, as many destinations require visas for both Australians and non-Australian passport holders. For more information, log on to www.visalink.com.au. You need to ensure that you have at least 6 months validity on your passport from the date of your departure return.
For International travellers booked on flights to the USA, including Hawaii, it is now mandatory, under the Visa Waiver Program to receive an electronic authorisation known as ESTA (Electronic System for Travel Authorisation) no less than 72 hours before travel to the USA. This can be obtained from the following website: https://esta.cbp.dhs.gov/esta/ .
For international travellers booked on flights to Canada, you either need a visitor visa or an Electronic Travel Authorization (eTA) to fly to, or transit through, a Canadian airport. An eTA can be obtained from the following website: https://www.canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/services/visit-canada/eta/apply.html
It is your responsibility to ensure that you are aware of any health requirements for your travel destinations. Vaccinations are strongly recommended for certain destinations. You need to contact your local doctor who will advise you of these requirements. Please note that vaccinations may be recommended before your travel departure date.
Travel Advice
We recommend that you contact the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) or visit their website at www.dfat.gov.au for general travel advice, as well as specific advice (including safety alert levels) relating to the destination you wish to visit.
Ticketing
For international and domestic departure, e-tickets will be issued upon payment and completion of the booking process. All other travel documentation, such as hotel booking confirmations, will be emailed to the email address you provided as an e-document. Should the Provider issue paper vouchers, these will be posted to the address you provided.
Baggage Allowance
Baggage allowance varies from airline to airline and in many cases the airfare you have paid may not include the cost to cover checked baggage. Please check with your Travel Advisor and/or the airline providing your flights for the allowances.
Frequent Flyers & Special Requests
For more information on whether your airfare is eligible for Frequent Flyer rewards, please contact the airline directly. When booking online, please ensure that you have entered your correct number. For bookings made by telephone via our Customer Service Team, please advise of your Frequent Flyer details and these will be added to your reservation. We do not take any responsibility should an airline not register your trip. You should retain copies of your air ticket and boarding pass.
Special requests will be passed on to the Providers but cannot be guaranteed.