GUIDED BIRDING & WILDLIFE TOURS SINCE 1985 Tour Info

Transcription

1 Limosa GUIDED BIRDING & WILDLIFE TOURS SINCE 1985 Tour Info Hungary & Slovakia Hortobágy, Zemplén & Ore Mountains A Pygmy Owl in the Carpathians and displaying Great Bustard on the Hortobágy - two highlights of this tour János Oláh 2015 Saturday 2nd - Saturday 9th May LEADERS Colin Bushell & Zoli Ecsedi NEW! An 8-day, bi-country birdwatching tour to Hungary and Slovakia, combining visits to the steppe grasslands and wetlands of the famous Hortobágy National Park and the hill-forests of the Zemplén in Hungary, with a short foray across the border into Slovakia s beautiful Ore Mountains. Great Bustard, Little Crake, Saker, Eastern Imperial Eagle and Ural Owl among a long list of special birds - plus good chances to see the complete set of all 10 European woodpeckers, including Three-toed and White-backed. Our classic spring tour to Hungary... with a Slovakian twist! Spectacular spring birding in the celebrated Hortobágy National Park Everything from Great Bustards and Little Crakes to Rollers and Red-backed Shrikes Eastern Imperial and Lesser Spotted Eagles, Long-legged Buzzard, Saker, Red-footed Falcon Great selection of warblers, including Moustached, Savi s, Icterine and Barred The timeless hill-forests of the Zemplén Overnight stay in Slovakia gives a chance of all 10 European woodpeckers Alpine forest specialities in the Slovenský Raj National Park Up to 7 species of owls possible, including Pygmy, Ural and Eagle Owls Plus the thrill of who-knows-what on migration! Scheduled flights London to Budapest Comfortable hotels, with all meals (and some wine) included Wine-tasting evening in Hungary, sampling the world famous Tokaj wines Expertly led by Colin Bushell and our resident Hungarian specialist, Zoli Ecsedi LIMOSA, West End Farmhouse, Chapelfield, Stalham, Norfolk NR12 9EJ (UK) TEL: +44 (0) info@limosaholidays.co.uk WEB: limosaholidays.co.uk

2 Tour Overview A visit to eastern Hungary in May rates as one of the 'classic' European birding tours. For not only is the Great Hungarian Plain a vital refuge for many of the continent's rarest breeding birds, in spring it is also a major staging post for countless passage migrants. To the north, the country's superb hill forests are a haven for woodland birds, including nine of Europe's ten species of woodpecker - and by hopping just across the border into neighbouring Slovakia, on this unique tour we have chances of seeing them all! Our travels begin amid the bird-rich marshes and steppe of Hungary's famous Hortobágy National Park. Red-necked and Black-necked Grebes, Spoonbill, Pygmy Cormorant, Little Bittern, Great White Egret and Ferruginous Duck feature among an outstanding list of wetland species breeding in the park, and in years when water levels are right, we may see thousands of graceful White-winged Black and Whiskered Terns dancing over the marshes. Birds of prey are plentiful too, with White-tailed and Eastern Imperial Eagles, Long-legged Buzzard and Saker to watch for - not to mention the scores of engaging Red-footed Falcons that so epitomise this wonderful place in spring. Perhaps we might be lucky to find the elusive Little Crake picking its way quietly through the reedmace, or a Long-eared Owl glaring at us with fiery orange eyes from its roost in the poplars. The aristocratic Great Bustard still finds one of its few remaining strongholds on the Hortobágy's vast grassy plains. We will visit a display ground, where we hope to gain an insight into the private life of these magnificent, Turkey-sized birds. In spring, small birds of note include Moustached and Icterine Warblers, Bluethroat, Penduline Tit and Lesser Grey Shrike. May is also an excellent month to come across scarce migrants in the Hortobágy - and most trips produce some surprises, like Dotterel, Broadbilled Sandpiper or Great Snipe! Leaving the plains behind, we then travel north to explore the majestic hill forests of the Zemplén. Of international importance for their breeding birds of prey, Lesser Spotted Eagle, Honey Buzzard and Goshawk are among up to a dozen or so species we could see. It's here we also hope to encounter the impressive Ural and Eagle Owls. Black Storks ride the thermals over the hanging beech woodlands, and White Storks clatter from their rooftop nests as we go in search of a wealth of smaller birds - everything from Bee-eaters and Barred Warblers to Red-breasted and Collared Flycatchers. These picturesque woodlands also hold woodpeckers in abundance: no fewer than nine different species occur, including Black, Grey-headed, Syrian and the declining White-backed. As a special feature of our 2015 tour, an overnight stop in Slovakia will enable us to visit some higher elevation forests, where we hope to 'complete the set' of all 10 European woodpeckers with the elusive Three-toed. As we search for it, we shall be keeping our eyes and ears open for other 'boreal' forest specialists such as Hazel Grouse, Nutcracker and Crested Tit. Crossing back into Hungary as our eight-day tour draws to a close, we return to Tokaj - a region that's even more famous for its wines than its birds. We will spend our final evening in a wine cellar there, sampling the King of wines and the wine of kings! Limosa has been operating birding tours to this fabulous corner of Europe since Our 2015 tour breaks new ground and is led by Colin Bushell and our resident Hungarian expert, Zoli Ecsedi. Join us for a classic spring tour to Hungary - with a new and exciting Slovakian twist! 2 Any questions? Call: +44 (0) Web:

3 Outline Itinerary Day 1: Days 2-3: Days 4-5: Day 6: Day 7: Day 8: Fly London-Budapest, transfer to Nádudvar (3 nts) Hortobágy National Park Hortobágy NP and Zemplén Hills. Komlóska (2 nts) Slovensky Raj National Park and Dobsina. Night Stratena Slovakian Ore Mountains, Zemplén and Tokaj. Night Komlóska Return to Budapest; fly London Daily Itinerary Day 1 EAST FROM BUDAPEST TO NÁDUDVAR Our birdwatching tour to Hungary and Slovakia begins with a flight from London to Budapest, where Zoli will be waiting to welcome us. It's about a three-hour drive east to our first hotel, a characterful rural lodge set within Hungary s celebrated Hortobágy National Park. Along the way, we have an opportunity for some initial birding, perhaps enjoying our first Red-backed Shrikes and Red-footed Falcons. The Hortobágy is a World Heritage Site, renowned for its unique landscape, culture and impressive wildlife. The grounds of hotel offer a superb introduction to the astonishingly rich birdlife of Eastern Europe, with Golden Orioles singing and Little Bitterns fishing the fringes of the lake. Night Nádudvar. Days 2-3 HORTOBÁGY NATIONAL PARK We have two full days to take in the delights of the extensive open steppe of the Hortobágy National Park. Our main targets here will be the magnificent Great Bustard and the "Hungarian national bird", the Saker - a rare and powerfully built falcon that still remains high on the want list of many birders. The Hortobágy is an amazing place for birds and an exploration of the varied habitats of this fascinating national park could well yield over 100 species on our first full day! In addition to the prospect of Great Bustards, the Hortobágy is home to a rich variety of other breeding birds, including many herons, egrets, wildfowl and waders, the magnificent White-tailed Eagle, the cinnamon-hued Long-legged Buzzard and a burgeoning population of Pygmy Cormorants - the latter a far cry from our first visit here in 1992, when there were just a handful of birds! We should also encounter some of the park's scarcer breeding species, such as Little Crake, Montagu's Harrier, Stone-curlew and Moustached Warbler, all of which either arrive or migrate through here at this time. During our travels in the park, we will visit a colony of Red-footed Falcons, surely Europe s most colourful and endearing raptor. This is also a classic spot for Long-eared Owl, with both species breeding in disused Rook s nests. Of major importance are the region s many halasto or fishponds - although in reality these are hardly ponds in the traditional sense, but more a series of huge shallow lakes, hemmed with reed. Marsh Harriers float on angled wings above the fresh green swathes as we watch for restless Bearded and Penduline Tits. Shiny Glossy Ibises, immaculate biscuit-buff Squacco Herons and mahogany-red Ferruginous Ducks are also to be looked for. Out on the open water, flocks of spring wildfowl are likely to include Garganey, Gadwall and perhaps even Red-crested Pochard. Both Bittern and Little Bittern haunt the massive reedbeds, and another special treat in spring are the hundreds of Whiskered Terns, which nest on floating vegetation at some of the fishponds, mixed in with Great Crested and Blacknecked Grebes. A host of exciting passerines also awaits us here in spring, with breeding white-spotted Bluethroats and Savi's, Great Reed, Marsh and Icterine Warblers to watch for alongside migrant Wood Warblers and Pied Flycatchers in the waterside willows and patches of woodland. 3 Any questions? Call: +44 (0) Web:

4 We will pay a visit a recently recreated wetland, where traditional Hungarian domestic breeds are used to help maintain the ephemeral wetland habitat for birds. The intriguing woolly Mangalica pig, immense Hungarian Grey Cattle and the spiral-horned Racka sheep all find a home here. This is the most reliable site for Great Snipe in Hungary and the first week of May is the best time to look for this scarce migrant in the Hortobágy. They seem to have a penchant for the tussocky areas frequented by the Mangalica pigs! It will be difficult to leave this spectacular wetland area behind. Nights Nádudvar. Days 4-5 DEBRECEN GREAT WOOD & ZEMPLÉN HILL FORESTS After a further opportunity to enjoy more of the Hortobágy's special birds this morning, we set off north towards the rolling hill country of the Zemplén, making two short stops along the way. On the outskirts of Debrecen, Hungary's second city, a stroll in the old oak woodland could produce Lesser, Great and Middle Spotted Woodpeckers along with Short-toed Treecreeper and the handsome Collared Flycatcher. Our second stop is to try and locate the highly localised Short-toed Lark before we arrive in Tokaj, at the southern tip of the Zemplén Hills. Tokaj's birdlife is typical of most of the villages in the Zemplén: White Storks clatter from their rooftop nests; Black Redstart, Golden Oriole and Serin are garden birds; and Bee-eaters frequent the region s world famous vineyards. In meadows nearby, we may even be lucky enough to hear the rasping call of Corncrake. Clad in majestic forests of oak, hornbeam and beech, the beautiful Zemplén range will come as a revelation to western eyes. In May, quiet glades ring with the shivering trills of Wood Warbler, and scarce Collared Flycatchers secrete themselves beneath the dappled canopy, while out on the more open, sunlit, butterfly-rich slopes, Woodlark spiral and Barred Warbler dance in characteristic song-flight. Black Stork and Raven build their secluded nests within the forest and the pink-chested, bandit-masked Red-backed Shrike is still a refreshingly common sight throughout this pretty region. The Zemplén are especially important for nesting birds of prey and we ll be keeping our eyes peeled for Goshawk, Hobby and wing-clapping Honey Buzzards, along with four species of eagle, including Lesser Spotted and Short-toed. We also hope to see two of Europe s largest nocturnal predators: Eagle Owl and Ural Owl. Numbers of the latter have been boosted significantly over the last two decades through the provision of specially designed nestboxes made by our intrepid friend and man-of-the-woods, Zoltan. Aside from being a sheer delight to stroll and picnic in, these ancient woodlands are simply outstanding for woodpeckers. All but one of Europe s ten species of woodpecker breed in the Zemplén, including Grey-headed, Black and the threatened White-backed. We will spend two nights here now, staying at a tiny village beside the forest but will return for our final night of the tour. Nights Komlóska. Day 6 ZEMPLÉN HILLS & SLOVAKIA'S ORE MOUNTAINS Following a morning stroll in the Zemplén woodlands, we travel across the border into Slovakia, heading northwest towards the Slovensky Raj National Park. Along the way we will pass through several Eastern Imperial Eagle territories and will also make a short stop at the Zádiel (Szádelő) Gorge to look for Dipper. The three-hour journey will carry us higher into the Carpathian range to the Slovakian Ore Mountains, where a range of special birds can be found. Our prime target will be the scarce Three-toed Woodpecker - to hopefully complete our set of all ten European woodpeckers! The avifauna here has a distinctly northern feel, more akin to the boreal forests of Scandinavia, and other possibilities include the shy Hazel Grouse, fierce Pygmy Owl, Nutcracker, Fieldfare, and Willow and Crested Tits. The beautiful Firecrest makes its home here, too. In some years when food is abundant, Tengmalm s Owl also breed in this area, but we would need a huge slice of luck to come across this rare bird during our brief stay. Night Stratena. 4 Any questions? Call: +44 (0) Web:

5 Day 7 ORE MOUNTAINS & THE ZEMPLÉN We will spend the morning exploring the luxuriant coniferous and mixed woodlands of the Slovakian Ore Mountains. Taking our time, we should be able to enjoy more good looks at some of the local specialities. Later, we will travel back across the border into Hungary, returning to our hotel in the Zemplén Hills, where we finish our tour with dinner and a fantastic wine-tasting evening near Tokaj! Night Komlóska Day 8 RETURN TO BUDAPEST, FLY LONDON If flight times permit, we ll enjoy some some final birding on our way back to Budapest this morning. Afternoon flight to London, where our spring birdwatching tour to Hungary and Slovakia concludes. Trip Information Group Limit 12 participants & 2 leaders Birds species Accommodation Comfortable and characterful accommodation throughout, with all rooms en suite. We begin in the Hortobágy, with three nights near Nádudvar, where we stay at a former hunting lodge with its own private lake and perfectly situated right on the edge of the National Park. Our pretty hotel in the Zemplén Hills is at Komlóska, a tiny village at the end of a road, set in wonderful surroundings. In all we shall spend three nights here, with a break in between to visit Slovakia. For our one night in Slovakia, we stay at a small but friendly hotel near Dobsina, in the Ore Mountains. Meals All main meals are included in the tour price. Food is good. Breakfasts and dinners will be taken at the hotels. For lunches we usually visit some traditional Hungarian inns (csarda) or picnic in the field and forest. Walking In the Hortobagy, easy walks over flat terrain. In the Zemplen, our walks are typically shorter, mostly along forest tracks and trails; some hills with uphill stretches unavoidable in the mountains of course, but we follow well-established forest trails and all are taken at a gentle pace. Sturdy waterproof walking shoes advised. Weather This part of central Europe typically enjoys sunny weather at this time of the year, when it can also be pleasantly warm. In May, daily temperatures in Budapest range between 19-27C (66-80F). Just as at home, however, some wet weather is also possible, especially in the mountains, so we recommend you dress pretty much as you would in the UK at this season. Cooler at altitude in the Carpathians (Slovakia), where a little snow is possible, even in early May. Flights Scheduled flights London-Budapest return with British Airways or similar. Ground Transport By midibus / minibus (according to final group size), with local driver Photos Some good incidental photographic opportunities, and some very pretty landscapes in the hills. 5 Any questions? Call: +44 (0) Web:

6 Tour Cost 2015 (8 days): 1595 (inc flights from London) Land only cost: 1445 Deposit: 300 Single Supp: 160 Cost includes Scheduled flights London-Budapest, all accommodation, main meals (some local wine included), Hungarian wine-tasting evening, midibus or minibus transport, tips to driver and local guides, airport taxes, map, bird checklist and services of the leader. Cost excludes Insurance, drinks & other items of a personal nature. About Your Guides Colin Bushell A birder since his teens, Colin lives in Lancashire, where he works as both a professional bird tour guide and freelance ornithologist for ecology consultancies. His first forays into overseas birding were to Majorca, Austria (Lake Neusiedl), Greece and Morocco - before the draw of the tropics became irresistible. After exploring Africa and the Far East, Colin immersed himself in South America and its vast avifauna, becoming a frequent visitor there (particularly to Peru and Brazil) and leading many bird tours to the 'Bird Continent' over the last twenty years. With a keen interest in migration, he has also led tours to Europe and the Middle East, including Lesbos and Jordan. Colin lives with his wife and two chocolate Labradors near the Ribble Estuary, where he spends most of his spare time birding the marshes. Zoli Ecsedi Zoli (Zoltán) lives in Debrecen, close by Hungary's famous Hortobagy National Park, and is a tour guide with our specialist Hungarian partners Sakertour, with more than 100 tours to his name since joining them in A founder of the Hungarian Society of Field Ornithologists and the Hortobágy Environmental Association, he is editor and co-author of The Birds of the Hortobágy, and is presently working with another of our Hungarian guides, János Oláh, on their next mammoth project, The Birds of the Carpathians. Zoli is married to Regina and has three young daughters: Ajsa, Aletta and Ankissza. Limosa Loyalty Discount We are proud of the number of loyal customers who travel regularly with us. As our way of saying thank you, we offer a Frequent Travel Discount. Under the scheme, everyone who takes four trips with us is entitled to claim a 5% discount on their fifth trip *1. Alternatively, you can opt to save your discounts up and carry them forward to claim a 10% discount on your 10th trip. The choice is yours, but please remember to request your discount at time of booking! *1 Please note: This offer applies to the basic tour cost only and excludes certain commission-based trips, extras such as additional flights, private extensions and cancellations. Discounts cannot be given in lieu of tour deposits or off the cost of single room supplements. 6 Any questions? Call: +44 (0) Web:

7 How to Book Be sure to read our Booking Conditions and General Information found at the back of our brochure or on our website - You can make a booking by one of three easy methods, but if you experience any problems please feel free to contact the office: Book Online: You can book swiftly and securely online via our website: via the Book This Tour button on the relevant tour page or the Booking tab at the top of the page. Book by Post: Our brochures contain a Booking Form, but you can also download a copy from our website - Please complete both sides of the form - remembering to sign and date the section at the bottom of the second page - send this to us, together with the appropriate Booking Deposit (see below). Telephone bookings: Telephone bookings will be accepted on a provisional basis to allow time for your Booking Form and deposit to reach us by mail. We will hold provisional reservations for up to 14 days pending receipt of booking form, after which time any unconfirmed space will be released. Payments Deposits: The amount of deposit per person is shown above. We accept payment by cheque (drawn on a UK bank in GB Pounds Sterling), by BACS or internet banking (please ask us for our bank details), and by debit card. We also accept most major credit cards (not AmEx). Final Balance: Full payment of the balance is due not later than 12 weeks prior to departure (occasionally longer in the case of some tours such as cruises or those involving rail travel). We will send you an invoice at about this time indicating the balance. We accept payment for final balances by cheque or debit card. Alternatively, please ask for our bank details if you prefer to transfer your payment direct to our bank account. Payment of the balance can also be by credit card with a 2% commission charge for the latter (see below). Card Charges: Due to escalating credit card charges we are no longer able to absorb the cost of these in respect of balance payments. We will not charge for payment by credit card of the initial booking deposit (amount as indicated in the Tour Cost section, above), but we will make a 2% commission charge on any balances or subsequent payments (e.g. interim flight deposits) paid by credit card. Please note we do not charge commission on payments made by debit card or by cheque or direct to bank. Late Bookings: In order for us to guarantee your airline seats, hotels etc., full payment is required at time of booking for all late bookings (i.e. bookings made within 12 weeks of departure). When to Book This is one of the most Frequently Asked Questions - the short answer is as early as possible! Accommodation and flights are much more easily secured well in advance and there is nothing more frustrating than to know that on paper space is still available on the tour but that hotels and/or flights are full. To encourage early booking therefore, we are pleased to offer an Early Booking Discount - see our current brochure or website for details. Our tours are limited to small group sizes, so they can fill up quickly - sometimes even before our new brochure comes out! It's not unusual to find trips are fully booked around four to six months in advance. 7 Any questions? Call: +44 (0) Web:

8 Single rooms in particular can often be in short supply and among the first to go, so do try to plan well ahead if you definitely require one of these. Last-minute bookings: We inevitably receive a few unexpected late cancellations over the course of a season so it is always worth enquiring about vacancies on any tour - even for those departing in just a few weeks time! Other Things You Need To Know Passports & Visas All participants must be in possession of a valid passport. For UK passport holders, for stays of up to three months, your passport must be valid for the proposed duration of your stay. Although no additional period of validity beyond this is required, when travelling anywhere overseas we always recommend that your passport has a minimum of 6 months left to run after your intended date of return home in case of unforeseen delay. VISA NOT REQUIRED by UK passport holders to enter Hungary or Slovakia. Holders of non-uk passports should contact the nearest Hungarian and Slovakian embassies or consulates to check whether or not they require a visa/s. If a visa is required, you need to apply locally. If the embassy or consulate requires you to provide a letter confirming that you are booked on an allinclusive tour, please contact our office and we will be happy to provide one. Health & Vaccinations Compulsory vaccinations: None. Recommended vaccinations: For travel everywhere (even within the UK), we recommend you check you are up-to-date with protection against tetanus, polio and hepatitis A. Ticks can occur in grassy, forested and wetland areas below 1400m during the summer months across most of continental Europe, including Hungary and Slovakia. If you are concerned by this, you may wish to seek advice about inoculations and other measures to prevent tick-related problems (such as tick-borne encephalitis) prior to travel. The above information, together with that contained within our Travel Information sheets (sent to everyone who books), outlines health requirements for this tour. Please note that these details are given for guidance only - and are only for certain diseases - and you must consult your doctor in good time prior to travel as to what immunisations (if any) are needed for your chosen holiday. For full and up-to-date health information we urge everyone to consult The National Travel Health Network and Centre (NaTHNaC) website prior to booking any overseas holiday. NaTHNaC is funded by the UK Government s Health Protection Agency and provides health information for both health professionals and travellers, with information compiled by its own clinical and scientific team. You can search for your individual country requirements, which are updated regularly. Your Safety & Travel Advice An unavoidable aspect of travelling abroad nowadays is the threat it may pose to your safety and security. The UK s Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) encourages British nationals to be better prepared for their overseas trips with a view to avoiding common travelling traumas, risks and dangers. In order for 8 Any questions? Call: +44 (0) Web:

9 you to assess and protect against any risks in your chosen destination it is strongly recommended that you refer to the relevant FCO Travel Advice both prior to booking and regularly before you travel. It is standard Limosa policy for our office to send a copy of the relevant FCO Travel Advice about the tour to all participants along with their Final Letter (2-4 weeks prior to the trip). Know Before You Go - staying safe and healthy abroad - is a travel safety campaign run by the FCO, and another useful resource: Further useful information on visas, health, etc., can be found at the World Travel Guide website: Travel Insurance Good travel insurance is essential before setting off on any overseas trip. In common with all responsible tour operators, it is a condition of booking that all clients are fully and adequately insured before travelling overseas with us. Your travel insurance should cover against cancellation, curtailment, missed departure, delay, personal accident, death, loss of baggage and valuables (see note below), personal liability and legal expenses. Most importantly, your insurance must cover you fully in respect of medical care and repatriation should you become too ill to continue with the tour, including the cost of emergency evacuation by helicopter or air ambulance should this be necessary. Note that passenger liability insurance covering the transportation that we hire, particularly in Third World countries, may be inadequate; it is therefore important that your insurance cover includes sufficient provision for your dependents in the event of an accident. We recommend that you obtain travel insurance as soon as possible after booking your holiday to ensure you are protected right from the word go in the event of unexpected cancellation prior to departure due to accident or illness. You must inform your insurers of any pre-existing medical conditions (including those of persons not necessarily travelling but upon whom your holiday may depend) that may require treatment during a period of overseas travel or might cause you to cancel the trip. Once you have arranged your insurance, please be sure to send us the following essential details: name and contact details of your insurance provider, your policy number, expiry date and your insurers 24hr Emergency Assistance number. Important Things to Note! Be aware that Travel Insurance does not normally provide sufficient cover for valuable optical equipment, which is often best protected under your own household insurance policy. If in doubt ask your insurers for advice prior to travel. Most travel insurance policies limit the amount of cover, typically up to a maximum tour cost of 5000 per person. If the tour you are booking exceeds this amount, additional cover can usually be provided upon payment of additional premium. We recommend all travellers check their individual policy limit to ensure the full cost of their holiday is covered. Arranging Your Insurance: due to UK Government legislation, under Financial Services Authority (FSA) regulations, we are not allowed to offer or recommend travel related insurance to customers. Premiums can vary widely according to your age, needs, health, choice of destination and other factors, while many people nowadays have Annual Travel Insurance cover. For these reasons, we leave you free to shop around and pick your own policy, one best suited to your own individual needs. 9 Any questions? Call: +44 (0) Web:

10 General Information Our website gives easy access to detailed tour itineraries (Tour Info Packs), trip reports, trip photos and the latest Limosa News. Special Diets & Other Requests We pass on all such requests to the airlines, hotels and other suppliers, and do our best to ensure (but of course cannot guarantee) that your needs will be met. Please be sure to tell us about these (in as much detail as possible) at the time of booking, to allow good time to make the necessary arrangements. Smoking Almost all of our clients prefer a smoke-free environment. For the enjoyment and comfort of all, we ask that smokers refrain from smoking in proximity to the group and respect our NO SMOKING policy in the vehicle, at meal times and when watching wildlife. Any Questions? If you have any questions at any time, you ll find our office staff friendly, efficient, approachable - and just a phone call away, eager to assist you in every way. Our office is open hrs Mon-Fri, and can also be reached by fax and . In the event we are unable to take your call, please leave a message on our answerphone (24 hrs) and our office will contact you as soon as we can. Thank you for your interest in our tours. We do hope that you will be able to join us - and we look forward to hearing from you again! CK Any questions? Call: +44 (0) Web: