GW Travel Limited:
What's Included in the Tour Price

As far as possible our tours are all-inclusive with no hidden extras. What follows are all those elements which are included in the tour price. The only extra items you may need to budget for are personal expenses such as visa costs, insurance, drinks from the bar car, laundry, spa treatments, hairdressing and optional off-train excursions.

EXPERIENCED TOUR MANAGERS
Our experienced Tour Managers and their assistants are selected for their travel knowledge and organisational abilities allowing you to relax and enjoy your voyage of a lifetime.

ARRIVAL AND DEPARTURE AIRPORT TRANSFERS
Arrival and departure transfers are included, provided you arrive on the first day of the tour and depart on the last day. If you wish to extend your hotel stay, preor post-tour departure transfers are available at an extra charge.

HOTEL AND ON BOARD ACCOMMODATION
Although you will spend much of your time sightseeing or relaxing in the train's public areas, you will find your hotel room or cabin a welcome retreat at the end of a rewarding day. Hotel and on board accommodation as described in your individual tour itinerary are included in the tour price. All hotels are of 4 or 5 star standard, or best available. Room upgrades are available on request and at extra cost.

WELCOME AND FAREWELL DINNERS
Each tour begins with a Welcome Dinner, an ideal opportunity to get to know your fellow passengers, for the Tour Manager to brief you on the trip and introduce you to the GW Travel team and the Tour Doctor. The Farewell Dinner is the perfect end to your adventure by private train where you can relive the journey and look ahead to future tours.

ROUTE GUIDE, ITINERARY AND INFORMATION PACK
When you board the train there will be a brochure in your cabin detailing more about your journey and the places en-route. Our Tour Manager will organise a programme of briefings on the cities or places we visit and, each evening, will issue a programme for the next day's touring schedule.

BREAKFAST, LUNCH, DINNER DAILY
All departures feature one or two uniquely designed restaurant cars* where you can enjoy the excellent waiter-served food and wine. On occasion we shall also sample authentic local cuisine off the train.

DRINKS WITH MEALS
A generous drinks allowance is included with lunch and dinner.

ON BOARD SERVICE
Throughout your tour you can expect service which is attentive, friendly and unintrusive. The ratio of staff to passengers means there is always someone available should you need assistance.

GUIDED OFF-TRAIN EXCURSIONS
All our tours include a wide-ranging sightseeing schedule to make the most of the time you have off the train. We believe it is the special little touches that help create magical memories - whether it is attending a private concert in the middle of Siberia, or drinking tea picked from the very plantations where you are sitting, nestled in the foothills of the mighty Himalayas.

AUDIO EQUIPMENT ON OFF-TRAIN EXCURSIONS
On all the off-train excursions, to enhance your enjoyment and comprehension of the places you visit, you will be provided with a personal headset on which to listen to your tour guide as you take in the sights.

GUEST SPEAKERS Over the next two years we will be introducing guest speakers including John Simpson, HRH Princess Michael of Kent, Farokh Engineer and Paul Theroux on selected tours. They will give fascinating and informative talks about different aspects of the tour, the local culture, history, people and destinations. Further announcements will appear on our website in due course.

ON BOARD DOCTOR AND MEDICAL FACILITIES
To give you peace of mind our tours are accompanied by a doctor* who travels with us for the entire journey; so you can rest assured that medical assistance is always available. On call 24 hours a day, the doctor is on hand to give primary care as required. Wherever possible the doctor will be English speaking and be registered with the General Medical Council in the UK.

24 HOUR SERVICE ATTENDANT
Your car attendants provide 24-hour housekeeping and bedding turndown services, with one attendant always on duty to assist you and to ensure you are comfortable in your cabin. Complimentary tea, coffee and bottled drinking water are available in your cabin 24 hours a day.

ALL GRATUITIES
All gratuities are included in the tour price.

* Except Canada

Important Information about our Tours

What is included in the price

All accommodation as per the itinerary; both on board the train and in hotels; all meals starting with dinner on the first day (on some tours this may differ slightly, so please refer to the specific itinerary); a generous allowance of wine, beer, soft drinks and tea and coffee with all lunches and dinners both on and off the train (except where stated otherwise); all arrival and departure transfers (providing you arrive/depart on the tour start/end date and except where stated otherwise); guided off train sightseeing excursions; the services of experienced tour leaders; complimentary tea, coffee and mineral water 24 hours a day, all gratuities; a doctor (with the exception of Canada).

What is not included in the price

International and domestic airfares (unless part of the itinerary); visa and excess baggage charges; insurance. Personal expenses such as drinks in the bar car or laundry, hairdressing, spa treatments (where available). On some tours there may also be an occasional optional activity that needs to be paid for locally.

Passport and Visa Information

It is your responsibility to be in possession of a valid passport and visa for your trip. A passport with a minimum of 6 months validity is required for all GW Travel's rail tours. Visa costs are not included in the price of the tour and these must be purchased independently. We do not take any responsibility for any passengers in possession of incorrect or invalid visas. Please contact our Customer Services department for help and information.

Insurance

It is a booking condition that you must be fully insured for any medical expenses that may be incurred whilst travelling.

Vaccinations

As our rail journeys visit areas of developing countries, we strongly advise that you consult your doctor or a medical centre for specific health advice. We provide a doctor on board all our tours (with the exception of Canada) who is available 24 hours a day. They carry a fully stocked medical kit but it is your responsibility to ensure that you obtain any vaccinations, prescribed and precautionary medicine for the countries you are visiting before travelling with us.

International and Domestic Flights

Flights are not included (unless part of the itinerary). Please note that we do not recommend that you book flights more than 60 days in advance of the tour departure date.

Hotel Accommodation

Hotel accommodation as described in the tour itinerary is included in the price of the tour. All hotels are of a 4 or 5 star standard, or best available. Room upgrades are available on request, subject to availability and an additional cost.

Itineraries

Accommodation and tour itineraries are subject to change at any time due to circumstances beyond our control. Every effort will be made to operate tours as advertised and as per the rail timings received.

Gratuities

All gratuities are included in the tour price and we encourage passengers to refrain from offering gratuities to crew/hoteliers/ drivers etc. We would prefer passengers to inform our management of any exceptional service received, and GW Travel will reward accordingly.

Language

The tour language will be English. French, German, Spanish and Italian speaking guides are available on selected departures or on request at an additional cost. Please contact us for more information. Other languages are available on request.

Meeting points

Details of hotel/airport meeting points will be printed on the tour vouchers and departure packs that will be sent to you one month prior to departure.

Minimum passenger requirements

All our rail tours require a minimum number of passengers. Should this not be reached, GW Travel will offer a modified service of carriages attached to regular service trains to accommodate a smaller group or offer an alternative tour. If no alternative is suitable a full refund will be offered.

Traveller health conditions

To get the most out of our tours, passengers must be able to walk at least a mile per day at normal walking speed. The traveller represents that neither he/she has any physical or mental condition or disability that could create a hazard to him/herself or other members of the tour. GW Travel reserves the right to refuse travel to anyone who, in the opinion of the Tour Doctor or Tour Manager, would be incapable of completing the tour or would cause unacceptable delays to the rest of the group. In these circumstances there would be no refund for any unused part of the tour. If in doubt, please call us for advice.