en
- Adventure
- 15-day trip
- From €10,485 p.p.
China trip | Explore China along the Silk Road
Discover the mysterious heart of Central Asia, and one of the most remote places on earth. On this fully catered and adventurous journey through China's Xinjiang province, you'll discover a world of ancient silk-route cities with colourful bazaars, endless deserts, breathtaking landscapes and lost Buddhist temples and treasures. With an experienced guide and driver, you won't have to think about anything and will be taken through the mix of culture and nature that make this region unique. You will start in Lanzhou, on the border of China's core regions, and then fly to Dunhuang. Dunhuang is the jewel along the ancient Silk Road, sandwiched between two deserts with beautiful landscapes and amazing highlights such as the world-famous Mogao caves. You will take the train to Turpan, a vibrant and culturally diverse city surrounded by breathtaking scenery. From here, you will continue on the road to Ürümqi, the capital of this region where you will visit Heavenly Lake. You will conclude this special China trip in Kashgar; where northern and southern branches of the ancient Silk Road met. This is an adventure that will truly broaden your horizons!
Travel programme
Travel overview
- Day 1 Flight to China
- Day 2 Arrival in Lanzhou
- Day 3 Tianshui excursion
- Day 4 Excursion to Bingling Temple
- Day 5 Lanzhou – Dunhuang
- Day 6 Highlights of Dunhuang
- Day 7 Dunhuang and surrounding area
- Day 8 Dunhuang – Turpan
- Day 9 Turpan
- Day 10 Turpan – Ürümqi
- Day 11 Heavenly Lake and Ürümqi’s bazaar
- Day 12 Ürümqi – Kashgar
- Day 13 Kashgar city tour
- Day 14 Kashgar and surrounding area
- Day 15 Departure from China
Arrival in Lanzhou
Today is the first day of your trip; you’ll arrive at Lanzhou Airport, where your guide will meet you and take you to your accommodation by private transfer. Your guide will assist you with checking in at the hotel.
Lanzhou is the capital of Gansu Province and lies at the crossroads between China’s historically significant heartland in the densely populated east and the sparsely populated west, where the ancient Silk Road began. This city served as the hub connecting China with the Middle East, Central Asia and Europe. Today, this historic city has a population of over 3 million and is a vibrant cultural centre of diverse ethnic groups, religions and culinary traditions.
Includes:
• Meet & Greet with your guide
• Private transfer to your hotel
• Overnight stay including breakfast
Excursion Tianshui
Your guide and private driver will collect you from your hotel and take you to the railway station for the excursion to Tianshui; you will travel by high-speed train.
You will visit the spectacular Maijishan Caves in Tianshui. This site features over 7,200 Buddhist sculptures and more than 1,000 square metres of murals, most of which are well preserved. The oldest caves date from the Period of the Sixteen Kingdoms, around 384–417 AD. Your guide will tell you about the golden age of Buddhism during which this complex was built, and its impact on Chinese culture.
At the end of the day, you will travel back to the hotel by high-speed train, and your guide will take you back to your accommodation.
Includes:
• Private English-speaking guide
• Car with driver in Lanzhou
• First-class return high-speed train tickets from Lanzhou to Tianshui
• VIP access to the Maijishan Caves
• Overnight stay including breakfast
Bingling temple excursion
Your guide and driver will collect you from your accommodation for your transfer to the Bingling Temple. After a transfer of around 2 hours, you’ll board a speedboat for a spectacular final leg of the journey to one of the largest surviving Buddhas in China.
Bingling Temple and the Bingling Caves give the impression of an ancient art gallery, preserved amidst the vast natural landscape. You’ll enter the temple and enjoy VIP access to two exceptional caves. One of the reasons Bingling Temple is so well preserved is that it is extremely difficult to reach and was built into the steep face of a cliff. The site houses a large collection of Buddhist statues, inscriptions and murals dating from the 5th century AD.
Includes:
• Private English-speaking guide
• Car with driver
• VIP access to Bingling Temple
• Overnight stay including breakfast
Lanzhou - Dunhuang
Your guide will take you to the local airport and assist you with checking in for your flight to Dunhuang. On arrival, you will be met by your guide and driver and taken to your accommodation.
Dunhuang is the jewel of the ancient Silk Road, on the edge of the Taklamakan Desert. For many millennia, the northern and southern Silk Roads converged here in a melting pot of traders, pilgrims and monks from across Central and South Asia. Today, the area is surrounded by vast desert landscapes dotted with fortresses, cave temples, towers and bustling markets, evoking a bygone era.
Includes:
• Private English-speaking guide
• Car with driver
• Business class flights from Lanzhou to Dunhuang
• Accommodation including breakfast
Dunhuang highlights
You’ll visit the world-famous Mogao Caves for a guided tour with an expert. This site is the pinnacle of Buddhist art in China and consists of 492 caves carved out of the rock of the Mingsha Mountains. The oldest caves date back to the 4th century AD and were gradually expanded over a period of 1,000 years. The caves also house countless manuscripts, the most notable of which is the Diamond Sutra, produced in the year 868, making it the oldest known dated and printed book ever found.
After your visit to the caves, you will head to the breathtaking Mingsha Dunes and Moon Lake. When the wind blows through the Mingsha Dunes, you can hear the dunes ‘sing’, making them one of China’s most remarkable geographical features.
In the evening, you’ll experience what it’s like to dine on the dunes, just as the merchants of antiquity did, enjoying local specialities, before relaxing by a large open fire under the open sky.
Includes:
• Private English-speaking guide
• Car with driver
• VIP access to the Mogao Caves, including a tour with an expert
• Dinner experience in the desert
• Entrance fees to attractions
• Overnight stay including breakfast
Dunhuang area
You will travel via Yumen, which means ‘Jade Gate’. This route was the lifeline of the ancient Silk Road, linking China, Central Asia and Europe. Today, it is a vast and desolate lunar landscape, breathtaking and seemingly endless. This route takes you to the ruins of the Great Wall of China, which stretches along the vast majority of China’s northern border for a length of approximately 10,000 kilometres. This section dates from the Han dynasty and was built to keep the mighty Xiongnu people out of China.
You’ll transfer to a 4x4 vehicle for a private tour across the bed of a lake that dried up 12,000 years ago, leaving behind a spectacular landscape. This landscape forms part of Yadan National Park.
Includes:
• Private English-speaking guide
• Car with driver
• Admission fees to attractions
• Private tour of Yadan National Park in a 4x4 Jeep
• Overnight stay including breakfast
Dunhuang - Turpan
Your guide and driver will take you to Liuyuan railway station for your journey to Turpan. On arrival, you will be met by your local guide and taken to your hotel.
Turpan is a beautiful city deep in the interior, situated no less than 154 metres below sea level. The city has a reputation as the hottest in the country, which has given rise to a unique architecture and culture. To take your mind off the heat, you’ll discover Turpan’s fascinating geological wonders, such as the spectacular Flaming Mountains, which inspired the classic Chinese tale ‘Journey to the West’.
Includes:
• Private English-speaking guide
• Transfer from Dunhuang to Liuyuan
• First-class train journey from Liuyuan to Turpan
• Overnight stay including breakfast
Turpan
Today you will visit the Sugong Mosque with its beautiful floral patterns and the Emin Minaret, which forms part of the complex. Prince Suleiman had this mosque built in 1778 in honour of his father, in the distinctive conical style of Central Asia. After a short climb, you’ll enjoy a magnificent view of the surrounding vineyards from the top of the minaret.
You will also visit the ruins of Jiaohe, the ‘city where rivers converge’, which was once a centre of trade contested by the rival Han dynasty and the nomadic Xiongnu. Behind the city walls, you’ll see the remains of the Buddhist temples that survived after raiders from the north eventually destroyed the city. You will then emerge into the Tuyugou Valley, with stunning views of the Flaming Mountains, and visit local Uyghur villages and farms. You’ll stop for a late lunch at the vineyards in a traditional Uyghur mud-brick house.
At the end of the day, you’ll discover the ruins of the city of Gaocheng, which is slowly being swallowed up by the desert sand. This oasis city was once a thriving trading post, but was abandoned following a major fire in the 15th century.
Includes:
• Private English-speaking guide
• Car with driver
• Picnic in the vineyards outside Turpan
• Entrance fees to attractions
• Overnight stay including breakfast
Turpan - Ürümqi
Your guide and driver will collect you from your accommodation for your journey by car to Ürümqi, which takes approximately 2.5 hours.
Upon your arrival in Ürümqi, your guide will assist you with checking in at the hotel, after which you will visit the Xinjiang Provincial Museum. Here you will see a large collection of artefacts from the ancient Silk Road, and the highlight: the collection of ‘Xinjiang mummies’. These are up to 4,000 years old and, thanks to the relative dryness of this region, have been remarkably well preserved. DNA analysis of the mummies has established that they were likely migrants from present-day Iran, which underlines the cultural diversity of this region.
Beijing governs the vast province of Xinjiang, 3,000 kilometres away, via its regional capital, Ürümqi. Once merely a small trading post along the Silk Road, Ürümqi is now a distinctly modern metropolis, which happens to be the most landlocked city in the world (the furthest from any ocean). Situated on the northern side of the Tianshan Mountains, the ‘Heavenly’ Mountains, Ürümqi offers a magnificent view of the easternmost peak of the range, the Bogeda Ola. The city has long been home to a diverse population and now has over two million inhabitants, comprising a majority of Han Chinese, as well as Uyghurs, Hui, Kazakhs and a dozen other ethnic minorities.
Includes:
• Private English-speaking guide
• Car with driver
• Admission fees to attractions
• Accommodation including breakfast
Heavenly Lake and Ürümqi's bazaar
Your guide and driver will collect you from your accommodation. Today, you’ll drive up the northern flank of the Tianshan Mountains, which are visible from the city. After a steep climb to just past the halfway point of the mountain, you’ll reach one of the most beautiful viewpoints in the region: Heavenly Lake. This lake lies at 1,910 metres above sea level and stands out like a green pearl against the mountainside of this colossal range, which rises up alongside the lake to a height of up to 3,400 metres.
After a morning spent in nature, you’ll return to the bustling centre of Ürümqi for a tour through the labyrinth in the heart of the city, the Ürümqi International Bazaar. Your guide will lead you past the countless stallholders to the food court to sample two distinctive delicacies: juicy raisins, which can be eaten on their own or used in bread and cakes, and a wide selection of Xinjiang teas, which the locals use to prepare some very special sweet and savoury drinks. At the bazaar, you’ll find all sorts of unusual goods, from local musical instruments to clothing, as well as jewellery and tasty snacks.
Includes:
• Private English-speaking guide
• Car with driver
• Admission fees to attractions
• Accommodation including breakfast
Ürümqi - Kashgar
Your guide and driver will take you to the airport and assist you with check-in for your flight to Kashgar. On arrival, you will be met for the transfer to your accommodation.
This city is a junction where the northern and southern branches of the ancient Silk Road converged. Despite its isolated location at one of the furthest points from Beijing, Kashgar is by no means deserted. Most neighbourhoods are full of beautiful traditional mud-brick houses, but the city centre has since been significantly modernised. Yet the rich history remains palpable here too, particularly in the colourful mix of cultures and inhabitants: Uyghurs, Han Chinese, Tajiks, Kyrgyz, Kazakhs and Uzbeks live here side by side.
Includes:
• Private English-speaking guide
• Transfer from hotel to the airport
• Business class flights from Ürümqi to Kashgar
• Overnight accommodation including breakfast
Kashgar city tour
You’ll start the day at the largest mosque in China, the Id Kah Mosque, known for its bright yellow colour and architectural style typical of Central Asia. Every day, the mosque attracts crowds of thousands of devout worshippers who gather beneath the large dome and minarets for their daily prayers.
The revered Sufi master and ruler Abakh Khoja is buried in the mausoleum named after him in the heart of the city. Once the powerful ruler of the region, he lies buried alongside five generations of his family, including a legendary woman said to have been a concubine of the Qianlong Emperor of the Qing dynasty.
You’ll walk through the streets of Kashgar’s old town centre. The narrow streets are lined with wooden and mud-brick houses, richly adorned with carved wooden balconies and colourful decorations. Eventually, you arrive at a centuries-old teahouse, regarded by the locals as the best in the city.
At the end of the day, you’ll be invited to a family’s home for a dinner prepared in the local style. The house has a spacious dining room with décor typical of the region.
Includes:
• Private English-speaking guide
• Car with driver
• Dinner experience with a local family
• Admission fees to attractions
• Overnight stay including breakfast
Kashgar area
You will drive along the Karakoram Highway, the world's highest international highway (4690 metres) linking Xinjiang province with neighbouring Pakistan. From the road, you overlook breathtaking vast landscapes with mountains, lakes and deep canyons that continue to the Indus River. Eventually you will stop at Lake Karakul, the highest lake on the plateau (3,600 metres), which lies between mountains with eternal snow. In the crystal-clear meltwater, you can see the reflection of the mountains, some more than 7,000 metres high.
Includes:
• Private English-speaking guide
• Car with driver
• Admission fees to attractions
• Accommodation including breakfast
Accommodations
Crowne Plaza Lanzhou
The Crowne Plaza Lanzhou offers a prime riverside location in Lanzhou's Chengguan district. The hotel rooms and suites feature modern facilities such as air conditioning, flat-screen TVs, coffee makers and Wi-Fi. Guests can enjoy international buffets at the Riverside Café,...
The Crowne Plaza Lanzhou offers a prime riverside location in Lanzhou's Chengguan district. The hotel rooms and suites feature modern facilities such as air conditioning, flat-screen TVs, coffee makers and Wi-Fi. Guests can enjoy international buffets at Riverside Café, classic Chinese dishes at Chinatown Restaurant and authentic halal meals at Persian City Halal Restaurant. Other amenities include a fitness centre, an indoor pool, on-site parking and versatile spaces for meetings and events.
Your stay: 3 nights
Jangala Dunhuang, an SLH Hotel
Jangala Dunhuang, an SLH hotel, is located in the heart of the Gobi Desert in Jiuquan, China. The hotel features comfortably furnished rooms with modern amenities, including air conditioning, a TV, Wi-Fi, a safe, a minibar, tea and coffee making facilities, and a private bathroom. Guests can...
Jangala Dunhuang, an SLH hotel, is located in the heart of the Gobi Desert in Jiuquan, China. The hotel features comfortably furnished rooms with modern amenities, including air conditioning, a TV, Wi-Fi, a safe, a minibar, tea and coffee making facilities, and a private bathroom. Guests can enjoy a continental breakfast in the morning and meals at the hotel's restaurant. Other facilities and services include a business centre and parking facilities.
Your stay: 3 nights
Mercure Turpan Downtown
Ideally located in Turpan, China, Mercure Turpan Downtown is close to Turpan Museum, Su Gong Tower and Jiaohe Old Town. The hotel features 155 spacious and comfortably furnished rooms, allowing guests to enjoy a relaxing stay. The rooms are equipped with workstations, Wi-Fi, TVs,...
Ideally located in Turpan, China, Mercure Turpan Downtown is close to Turpan Museum, Su Gong Tower and Jiaohe Old Town. The hotel features 155 spacious and comfortably furnished rooms, allowing guests to enjoy a relaxing stay. Rooms are equipped with workstations, Wi-Fi, TVs, air conditioning, free mineral water, minibars and tea and coffee making facilities. Guests can enjoy buffet meals at the restaurant throughout the day and order refreshing drinks at the lobby bar. Facilities and services include a gym, a children's playroom, meeting rooms, a business centre and room service.
Your stay: 2 nights
Conrad Urumqi
Conrad Urumqi is located in the heart of Ürümqi's business district, at the foot of the Tien Shan Mountains. The rooms and suites are stylishly decorated, with large windows offering city views, air conditioning, free Wi-Fi, comfortable beds and amenities such as tea and coffee making facilities.
For...
Conrad Urumqi is located in the heart of Ürümqi's business district, at the foot of the Tien Shan Mountains. The rooms and suites are stylishly decorated, with large windows offering city views, air conditioning, free Wi-Fi, comfortable beds and amenities such as tea and coffee making facilities.
For relaxation, the hotel has a 24-hour fitness centre and a heated indoor pool on the seventh floor. Dining is available at one of three restaurants or at the lounge on the 37th floor, which serves dim sum, Chinese and international dishes, afternoon tea and cocktails. Additional amenities include room service, concierge and parking.
Your stay: 2 nights
Radisson Blu Hotel Kashgar
Located at the foot of the Pamir Mountains in Kashgar, China, the Radisson Blu Hotel Kashgar is an excellent choice, offering 261 rooms and suites, comfortably furnished to offer guests a pleasant stay. Rooms are equipped with workstations, Wi-Fi, TVs, irons and facilities for...
Located at the foot of the Pamir Mountains in Kashgar, China, the Radisson Blu Hotel Kashgar is an excellent choice, offering 261 rooms and suites, comfortably furnished to offer guests a pleasant stay. Rooms are equipped with workstations, Wi-Fi, TVs, irons and tea and coffee making facilities. Guests can enjoy delicious meals and drinks at the hotel's restaurants and bars. Facilities and services include an indoor swimming pool, a fitness centre, room service and a concierge service.
Your stay: 3 nights
Destinations
Tianshui
Tianshui, the second-largest city in China's Gansu province, is centrally located in the province and known for its impressive and unusual monasteries and temples. The main attraction is the Maijishan National Park, home to a collection of caves with spectacular Buddha statues carved into a steep mountain cliff. Nearby are the similar Immortals' Cliffs, where imposing temples are built into the mountainside. This religious complex brings together Confucianism, Buddhism and Taoism. Art lovers and antique collectors would do well to visit the local markets and shops to admire the city's famous lacquer engravings. The natural beauty of the region is overwhelming: nature lovers can enjoy explorations of the Water Curtain Cave and Daxiangshan Mountain in Gangu district.
Dunhuang
Dunhuang lies on the edge of the Gobi Desert in Gansu province in northwest China. Once an important oasis on the Silk Road, remote Dunhuang remains a quiet and atmospheric destination, with lively night markets and several excellent attractions. The Mogao Caves are considered one of the world's most important centres of Buddhist art; visitors can tour 20 of the 492 caves and learn more about the region's history at the modern Visitor Centre (which includes an IMAX theatre). Other unforgettable spots include the Singing Sands Dune and the beautiful Crescent Moon Lake (just six kilometres south of Dunhuang). Those with more time can make the 180 kilometres to Yadan National Park, known for its unique rock formations.
China
Lanzhou
Lanzhou is the capital of the Chinese province of Gansu and is situated close to the geographical centre of the country. It is a popular destination with lively evening markets and iconic sights. Lanzhou is also an excellent base for travellers wishing to explore the fascinating and remote province of Gansu further. Highlights include the Gansu Provincial Museum, featuring artefacts from the Neolithic period, and the famous ‘Flying Horse of Gansu’ statue, one of China’s best-known sculptures.
From there, you can cross the Yellow River via the Zhongshan Bridge to visit the White Pagoda Park, home to a charming temple of the same name. Afterwards, it is well worth exploring the Watermill Park, where historic irrigation tools are on display. Highly recommended day trips from Lanzhou include visits to the Tulu Valley, Linxia, Wuwei and Jiayuguan.
Turpan
The peaceful oasis town of Turpan (commonly called Tulufan) is located in the eastern part of Xinjiang, along the Silk Road route. Full of heritage sites and holy places, the region offers a paradise for lovers of culture and history, and is also home to some breathtaking natural attractions. The impressive Jiaohe ruins are one of the most legendary ancient cities in the world; they are not only one of the oldest (about 1,600 years old), but also one of the largest and best-preserved cities on earth. Other important sites include the Bezeklik cave complex from the 6th to 14th centuries, full of exceptional Uyghur Buddhist art, and the fascinating 44-metre-high Emin minaret with geometric and floral decorations. The beautiful and majestic Flaming Mountains, which look like tongues of fire in the afternoon, are perfect for impressive photographs.
Urumqi
Urumqi lies along the northern flanks of the Tien Shan Mountains, surrounded by vast grasslands and the Turpan Depression. As capital of the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region, the city has grown from an ancient hub on the Silk Road to a modern metropolis, while retaining the cultural influences of the Uyghur, Han, Kazakh and Hui communities. The striking and iconic Xinjiang Regional Museum houses well-preserved mummies and artefacts that provide insight into the region's ancient inhabitants. The lively Xinjiang International Grand Bazaar is the place to experience Uyghur bazaar culture, with local specialities and authentic regional dishes. Red Hill Park offers panoramic views of the skyline and distant mountains, while Tianchi, the "Heavenly Lake", offers a natural escape with serene waters and surrounding peaks. South of the city is the Nanshan Pasture at the foot of Kalawucheng Mountain. This alpine region has snow-capped peaks, rolling hills and dense forests. Visitors here can go horse riding, visit Kazakh yurts or relax on the green slopes.
Gansu Province
Situated in north-western China, Gansu Province offers an impressive variety of landscapes, including mountains, valleys, deserts and plains. This region is also home to the northern section of the famous Silk Road, the ancient trade network that linked China with Central Asia.
The bustling capital, Lanzhou, idyllically situated on the banks of the picturesque Yellow River, between the Gaolan Mountains and the White Pagoda Mountains, is often regarded as the heart of China. Visitors will find numerous attractions here, such as the Watermill Expo Garden, the impressive Gansu Provincial Museum with over 350,000 artefacts, and Wuquanshan Park, home to several ancient temples.
Outside the city limits, you can join various tours through the Hexi Corridor, the most significant section of the Silk Road. Here you will find, amongst other things, the Great Buddha Temple, the province’s largest architectural relic and the centrepiece of the historic city of Zhangye.
Jiayuguan
The prefectural city of Jiayuguan is situated in Gansu Province and is named after the pass of the same name, the best-preserved section of the Great Wall and also its symbolic terminus – also known as the ‘Gateway to the Real China’.
Here you’ll find the iconic Jiayuguan Fort, built in 1372, which guards the pass. The fort houses a magnificent museum with artefacts, photographs and scale models that bring the historical significance of the fort and the Wall to life.
Another attraction not to be missed is the Weijin Tombs: here you can visit the tomb of a married couple from the Wei and Western Jin periods, decorated with vivid scenes from everyday life in ancient times. It is worth noting that photography is permitted in this museum.
Another fascinating spot is the First Signal Platform of the Great Wall, the westernmost watchtower, although it is largely in ruins. Finally, there are fun extras such as camel rides and 4x4 tours available for visitors.
Kashgar
The city of Kashgar is located on the ancient Silk Road in far western China, in the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region. For more than 2,000 years, the city has served as a strategic trade centre between China, the Middle East and Europe. Its rich heritage is visible in the bustling bazaars, countless artisans, remnants of the Old City and the Mor Pagoda, a Tang Dynasty city ruin. The inviting, warm-yellow walls of the Id Kah Mosque, built in 1442, are a must-see for those interested in spirituality and culture. For nature lovers, highlights include Shipton's Arch, one of the highest rock arches in the world, the enchanting Karakul Lake surrounded by impressive snow-capped peaks and traditional farming communities, and the nearby Kunlun and K2 mountains. Also visit the neighbouring village of Gaotay to admire incredible local ceramics, wood carvings and handmade musical instruments.
Kumul
Fringing the northern end of Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, the town of Kumul is set in the eponymous Kumul Prefecture in China. Once serving as an important base along the world-famous Silk Road, it coined the name 'the Strategic Passage to the Western Regions', a passageway linking up East to West. Today it is known for its agricultural yields, and melon-covered farmscapes. Visitors can explore the beautiful landscapes including the east branch of Tianshan Mountain with its mountain streams, pine forests and stunning views. Don't miss the opportunity to enjoy adventures to explore the stunning Barkol Lake, Kou Men Zi, Mingsha Mountain, White Stone, Shi Cheng Zi, Ba Da Shi, Miao Er Ravine, Xi He Ravine. Other highlights include: the Tomb of the King in Kumul, the Tomb of Gai Si, and the Tianshan Temple.
China trip | Explore China along the Silk Road
We offer this trip from €10,485 per person.
The tour price is indicative and is subject to factors including availability and travel dates.
Included
- Domestic flights as mentioned in the programme including checked baggage
- Overnight stays in very good and special accommodations
- All meals as mentioned in the programme
- First class train tickets as mentioned in the programme
- All listed, required private transfers
- All excursions as mentioned in the programme, including a private tour in Yadan National Park in 4x4 Jeep
- Entrance fees national parks if applicable
- Administration fee (worth €50 per booking)
Positive impact of your trip:
- Positive impact contribution of €100 per person through the Avila Foundation
- High-speed train journeys
Not included
- Intercontinental flights
- Upgrade room type
- Travel and/or cancellation insurance
- Visa costs
- Tourist tax (if applicable)
- Seat reservations
- Personal expenses/tipping
- Departure tax, if any, when leaving destination
- Not mentioned meals and optional excursions
- Contribution Calamity Fund (€2,50 per booking)
- SGR contribution (€5 per person)