Best of Vietnam
Best of Vietnam
Best of Vietnam
20 Days Starting in Ho Chi Minh City and ending in Hanoi
Visiting: Ho Chi Minh City, Mekong Delta/Ho Chi Minh City, Dalat, Nha Trang, Nha Trang/Overnight Train, Hoi An, Hue, Phong Nha-Ke Bang National Park, Phong Nha-Ke Bang National Park/Overnight Train, Hanoi, Lam Thuong, Halong Bay
Tour operator:
Tour code:
TVST
Guide Type:
Fully Guided
Group size:
1 - 12
Age range:
15-99 years
Tour operated in:
EnglishInterests:
Tour Overview
Experience the real Vietnam on this comprehensive 20-day trip from south to north. Travel from Ho Chi Minh City to Hanoi and experience bustling cities, tranquil backwaters, imperial ruins, faded elegance and Heritage-listed landscapes dotted with reminders of the past. Explore the narrow, cobbled streets of Hoi An’s Old Town, sail the waters of UNESCO World Heritage Site Ha Long Bay, cruise down the Mekong Delta’s waterways, encounter local tribes in your stay in Lam Thuong and whizz through the back streets of Hue as you uncover the very best of Vietnam.
Highlights
Itinerary
Day 1: Ho Chi Minh City
Location: Ho Chi Minh City
Accommodation: Hotel
Xin Chao! Welcome to Vietnam. Your adventure begins in Ho Chi Minh City with a welcome meeting at 6 pm today, where you'll get to know your fellow travellers and local leader. If you arrive early, maybe head to Pham Ngu Lao Street to see the local open-air market visit Vinh Nghiem Pagoda. After the meeting, you may like to join your group for an optional dinner at one of the city's fantastic eating spots. Because this trip doesn’t spend much time in Ho Chi Minh City, you might even choose to spend an extra day or two here to see the sights.
Day 2: Mekong Delta/Ho Chi Minh City
Location: Mekong Delta/Ho Chi Minh City
Accommodation: Hotel
Meals Included: breaksfast, lunch
Today, you'll travel south by private minibus to Mekong Delta. When you arrive, you’ll board a boat and explore the intricate waterways of the Mekong Delta. Often referred to as ‘the rice bowl’ of Vietnam, the fertile delta is where rice, tropical fruit and flowers are grown for the whole country. You'll get a chance to get off the boat to visit an orchard and sample some tropical fruit. You’ll then continue the cruise and visit a selection of local cottage industries along the way where you'll experience local life and the industries surrounding the river up close. Return to Ho Chi Minh City this afternoon and enjoy a free evening in the city.
Included Activities:
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Day 3: Ho Chi Minh City
Location: Ho Chi Minh City
Accommodation: Hotel
Meals Included: breaksfast
After breakfast today, you’ll visit one of the most important sites in Ho Chi Minh City – the famous Cu Chi Tunnels. These complex tunnels were used by the Viet Cong in the long war against the Americans and were instrumental to the Vietnamese victory. Later in the day, take a tour of the city, passing the Reunification Palace, Notre Dame Cathedral and the Opera House. Head to the War Remnants Museum for a sobering yet informative lesson on the Vietnam War. Here you’ll see things like old military equipment, an F5A fighter and a UH1-Huey helicopter. Enjoy some free time afterwards at your leisure. We recommend exploring the city’s restaurants and trying Ho Chi Minh City’s distinctive fresh and flavoursome food. In contrast to the north of Vietnam, the cuisine here is spicier, sweeter and more varied. There are also plenty of street food stalls if you’d like to take a few bites of the local fare.
Included Activities:
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Optional Activities:
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Day 4: Dalat
Location: Dalat
Accommodation: Hotel
Meals Included: breaksfast
After exploring Ho Chi Minh City, take a bus to Dalat. Temperate and cool compared to the rest of the country, Dalat has gained the name ‘City of Eternal Spring’ due to the mists that cover its nearby valleys nearly all year around. The Hang Na guesthouse stands as a towering, melted stone obelisk over the lush garden below. There’s also plenty of charming Art Deco-influenced structures and gardens around the area. This afternoon, perhaps go for a wander through the streets for a better feel of the city or find a café for a cup of artichoke tea – a regional specialty.
Day 5: Dalat
Location: Dalat
Accommodation: Hotel
Meals Included: breaksfast
Dalat’s soothing climate isn’t just a great reprieve from the heat of Vietnam's coast, it also creates the perfect environment to grow a wide selection of fruits, vegetables and herbs. Take a full day to stroll through the tranquil gardens of this city, darting past plantations full of plump vegetables, colourful flowers, medicinal herbs and juicy strawberries. You'll have a guided garden visit to learn more about this fruitful area.
Included Activities:
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Day 6: Nha Trang
Location: Nha Trang
Accommodation: Hotel
Meals Included: breaksfast
After breakfast this morning travel by minibus to the coastal town of Nha Trang. When you arrive, stretch your legs with a leader-led orientation walk. Then, enjoy free time in the afternoon and evening to explore this coastal city. You might like to make a beeline straight to the beach or try a mud bath. Maybe find a beach side bar for a cocktail at sunset, then tuck into some of this town's fresh seafood – your leader knows all the good spots.
Day 7: Nha Trang/Overnight Train
Location: Nha Trang/Overnight Train
Accommodation: Overnight sleeper train
Meals Included: breaksfast
After breakfast this morning, out for a a leisurely boat trip in Nha Trang Bay. You'll stop at Mieu Island to learn about local fishermen's life here, then give it a go yourself with the rowing bamboo basket boat. Then you'll hop to Tam Island for some swimming and snorkelling in the turquoise water among the corals. Head back to Nha Trang in the early afternoon. This evening, board an overnight train to Da Nang.
Included Activities:
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Day 8: Hoi An
Location: Hoi An
Accommodation: Hotel
You'll arrive in Hoi An early this morning. Recently declared a UNESCO World Heritage site, Hoi An was a major trading port with the West from the 15th to the 19th century. Today, it’s been restored to look exactly as it did more than a century ago, giving it an old-world feel full of nooks and crannies for you to explore. You’ll have some free time to wonder the city at your own pace this afternoon. Hoi An is also very popular with shopping, with specialty shops lining the Old Town – you can even get some clothes tailor made! Why not browse the paintings, woodwork, ceramics and embroidery all made by the locals.
Included Activities:
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Optional Activities:
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Day 9: Hoi An
Location: Hoi An
Accommodation: Hotel
Meals Included: breaksfast
Today is another free day in the town of Hoi An. See the Chinese shophouses, enjoy the busy market, visit Cua Dai Beach, cycle to the rice fields or browse the array of art galleries. This is also a great spot to sit by the water and people watch at happy hour, so maybe ask your leader for some restaurant recommendations and soak up the atmosphere.
Optional Activities:
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Day 10: Hue
Location: Hue
Accommodation: Hotel
Meals Included: breaksfast
This morning, wave goodbye to Hoi An and make tracks to My Khe Beach. Cross the dramatic Hai Van Pass and make a quick stop at the fishing village of Lang Co before making your way to Hue. The former imperial capital of Vietnam, Hue contains the treasures of Vietnam’s royal history, and has a curious blend of bustling streets and tranquil settings. You'll explore the Imperial Citadel this afternoon – this fortress houses the Imperial City and the citadel-within-a-citadel, the Forbidden Purple City. This icon was almost completely destroyed during the Vietnam War, and the ruins and holes left by bombs are a reminder of the destruction caused by the war. In your free time, you might like to visit to Dong Ba Market which offers locally made goods, fresh produce and street food. This is a good place to try the specialties enjoyed by Emperor Nguyen such as the banh khoai royal rice cake.
Included Activities:
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Day 11: Hue
Location: Hue
Accommodation: Hotel
Meals Included: breaksfast, lunch
'See Hue like a local – from the back of a motorbike! Straddle the saddle and whiz around town with a local guide, taking in historic and contemporary sights along the way. Stop at Thanh Toan to see the 18th-century covered bridge and villagers shopping at their local market. Visit the 17th-century active Buddhist monastery of Thien Mu Pagoda and see the car that belonged to Thich Quang Duc, the monk who self-immolated in 1963 in protest against the treatment of Buddhists by the South Vietnamese regime. For lunch, savour a vegetarian feast in a nunnery. Finish at the lakeside royal tomb of Emperor Tu Duc before heading back to town.
Included Activities:
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Day 12: Phong Nha-Ke Bang National Park
Location: Phong Nha-Ke Bang National Park
Accommodation: Homestay
Meals Included: breaksfast
Today, you'll take a minibus to the Vinh Moc Tunnels. These were used during the Vietnam War as shelter for the villagers who were escaping intense bombing. Incredibly, the locals here lived in an underground system over three levels. You’ll get a chance to enter the tunnels, which remain in their original form. This afternoon, continue to your homestay tonight at the centre of Phong Nha. Your host is a family of three generations, and you'll be able to experience how the locals go about their daily routines while staying here.
Included Activities:
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Day 13: Phong Nha-Ke Bang National Park/Overnight Train
Location: Phong Nha-Ke Bang National Park/Overnight Train
Accommodation: Overnight sleeper train
Meals Included: breaksfast
After breakfast today, visit the Phong Nha-Ke Bang National Park. This UNESCO World Heritage site contains the oldest known karst mountains in Asia. The area is also known for its enormous cave system. You’ll visit the Thien Duong Cave (Paradise Cave), then take a cruise up the Son River towards the Phong Cave – the scale of the place is astounding. In the late afternoon, travel to Dong Hoi and catch an overnight sleeper train to Hanoi.
Included Activities:
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Day 14: Hanoi
Location: Hanoi
Accommodation: Hotel
Arrive in Hanoi early in the morning and transfer to your hotel. Vietnam’s capital is famous for its beautiful lakes, shaded boulevards, public parks and French-style Old Quarter. As an emerging city in South East Asia, Hanoi has an attractive contrast of modern office buildings, old Buddhist temples and a labyrinth of ancient streets. Later in the day, you’ll visit the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum complex, including One Pillar Pagoda and the Ho Chi Minh Museum. Then, enjoy a water puppetry performance – a unique and traditional Vietnamese art form.
Included Activities:
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Optional Activities:
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Day 15: Lam Thuong
Location: Lam Thuong
Accommodation: Homestay
Meals Included: breaksfast, lunch, dinner
This morning, visit Vun Art Centre – a social enterprise that employs people living with disabilities to make art pieces with recycled silk. Hear from the employees about the great things they do and then make the drive to Lam Thuong Village. When you arrive, settle into your homestay for the night – sitting on stilts, these local homes belong to the Tay people and have beautiful views of the valley and offer authentic village experiences. Then, head out for a bike ride through the village and the valley, passing rice fields, homes and learning about the local’s day to day life. Enjoy a homecooked dinner tonight made by your hosts using local ingredients.
Included Activities:
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Day 16: Lam Thuong
Location: Lam Thuong
Accommodation: Homestay
Meals Included: breaksfast, lunch, dinner
Spend another day in the village today, starting with a transfer to a trailhead. Head out for a morning hike past rice paddies to a viewpoint overlooking the village, the valley and the rice fields. Return to the village this afternoon and visit a local handicraft workshop to learn about bamboo weaving, natural dyeing and how the locals make Tay hats. This afternoon, you’ll have some free time to rest or explore the village at your own pace.
Included Activities:
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Day 17: Hanoi
Location: Hanoi
Accommodation: Hotel
Meals Included: breaksfast
Today, say goodbye to your friendly hosts and return to Hanoi. Along the way, stop at Luc Yen gemstone market. After a while to explore (and pick up any souvenirs you might want to take home), continue to Hanoi. Arrive in the late afternoon and settle into your accommodation. This evening, you’re free to rest, relax and recharge.
Optional Activities:
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Day 18: Halong Bay
Location: Halong Bay
Accommodation: Overnight boat
Meals Included: breaksfast, lunch, dinner
After breakfast today, you’ll drive to Bai Chay Harbour to the famous UNESCO World Heritage site of Ha Long Bay – a blue-green bay studded with limestone outcrops, this area is full of beaches and natural grottos. You’ll take a boat through the limestone peaks and caves filled with stalactites and stalagmites, and you might even stop at a private beach for a swim. If you like, you can take a kayak out on the bay and explore the still waters from a new perspective. Spend the night on the boat beneath the star-studded sky and fall asleep to the gentle rocking of the waves.
Included Activities:
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Day 19: Hanoi
Location: Hanoi
Accommodation: Hotel
Meals Included: breaksfast
After breakfast today you'll return to Hanoi, arriving mid-afternoon. You’ll have free time this afternoon to explore at your own pace or rest and recharge. Why not head out in search of a bia hoi (freshly brewed draught beer) at one of the microbars in the Old Quarter. Or, maybe mark the end of your trip with an optional farewell dinner with your group – your leader will have some great recommendations.
Day 20: Hanoi
Location: Hanoi
Meals Included: breaksfast
There are no activities planned for today and you can depart the accommodation at any time. There’s so much to see and do in Hanoi, so why not stay a day or two longer! If you need additional accommodation, just reach out to your booking agent ahead of time. If you have extra time, you may like to do an Urban Adventure tour – see urbanadventures.com/destination/hanoi-tours.
What's Included
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Accommodation
Homestay (3 nights), Hotel (13 nights), Overnight boat (1 night), Overnight sleeper train (2 night) -
Ho Chi Minh City - Cu Chi Tunnels
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Ho Chi Minh City - War Remnants Museum
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Ho Chi Minh City - City tour
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Mekong Delta - Sightseeing Tour
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Mekong Delta - Guesthouse Dinner
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Dalat - Garden visit
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Nha Trang - Nha Trang Bay Boat trip
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Nha Trang Bay - Island hopping, Fishing Villages & Snorkelling
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Hoi An - Old Town walking tour
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Hue - Imperial City Full Day Tour
What's Not Included
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Tipping and Gratuities
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International Travel
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Airport Transfers at Destination
Transport
- OVERNIGHT SLEEPER TRAINS IN VIETNAM:
- Compartments will be 4 berth to 6 berth depending on seasonal variations and the group configuration. We aim to secure 4 berth compartments where possible. A sheet, pillow and blanket are provided, although some travellers prefer to bring their own sleeping sheet. Passengers of different genders may be required to share a compartment and there will be occasions where you'll be sharing with local travellers or travellers who are not part of your group. On occasion the group may be split between several carriages, however your leader will coordinate and give further information on the trip.
Accommodation
- HOTELS:
- Most of the accommodation on this trip is in hotels (mostly 2 to 3-star). Facilities are often basic, with some properties not having a continuous supply of hot water on occasion. All rooms are either fan cooled or with air conditioning and twin share with private facilities unless stated otherwise in the daily itinerary. Double beds are not widely available in South East Asia.
- WINDOWLESS ROOMS:
- Some hotels in South East Asia have windowless rooms, or windows that don't necessarily have a view. This is often due to high population density in large cities, however local building standards also do not require rooms to have windows. We do request rooms with windows, however they aren't always available.
- DAY ROOMS & EARLY CHECK IN:
- Please note in some destinations we will provide use of day rooms. These rooms are provided for shared group use before or after overnight train journeys. We have some days where we arrive at our destination before check in time and a day room is not included. If you have booked a Single Supplement for your trip, it will not apply to these day rooms. Your leader may be able to assist you in booking a room for your sole use (depending on availability) until our regular trip rooms become available for an additional charge. Please talk to your leader at the Welcome Meeting if this is a service you would like to request.
- HALONG BAY BOAT:
- Your boat has twin-share cabins that have air-conditioning and private facilities. The boats have 8-12 passenger cabins. There's also a dining room and bar on board. The boat is not likely to be a traditional sailing junk, as many older or imported vessels do not comply with waterway traffic safety laws.
Included Activities
- Ho Chi Minh City - Cu Chi Tunnels
- Ho Chi Minh City - War Remnants Museum
- Ho Chi Minh City - City tour
- Mekong Delta - Sightseeing Tour Including Cottage Industries
- Mekong Delta - Guesthouse Dinner
- Dalat - Garden visit
- Phan Rang - Bau Truc pottery village
- Phan Rang - Po Klong Garai Cham towers
- Phan Rang - Vinh Hy Bay snorkelling
- Phan Rang - Hang Rai fossilised coral reefs
- Phan Rang - Bau Nai fish market & salt fields
- Hoi An - Old Town walking tour
- Hue - Imperial City Full Day Tour Urban Adventure
- Hue - Royal tomb of Emperor Tu Duc
- Hue - Highlights & back streets by motorbike (lunch included)
- Hue - Perfume River cruise & Thien Mu Pagoda
- Quang Tri - Vinh Moc Tunnels
- Quang Tri - Hien Luong Bridge
- Phong Nha Ke-Bang NP - Thien Duong (Paradise Cave)
- Phong Nha Ke-Bang National Park - Phong Nha Cave
- Hanoi - Ho Chi Minh Complex: Ho Chi Minh, Stilt House and Museum
- Hanoi - One Pillar Pagoda
- Hanoi - Old Quarter Walking Tour
- Da Bac - Sung cave and village tour
- Da Bac - Sung village to Da Bia hike
- Da Bac - Homestay Dinner
- Da Bac - Homestay Lunch
- Da Bac - Da Bia Lunch
- Halong Bay - Diner on Boat
- Halong Bay - Lunch on Boat
- Hanoi - Water puppet show
Important Information
- 1. Please provide your full name exactly as per passport at the time of booking (including any middle names listed on your passport) for train tickets. Fees may apply for amendments to details within 45 days of departure, and in some cases, you will be required to cover the cost of issuing new tickets.
- 2. A single supplement is available if you’d prefer not to share a room on this trip. The single supplement excludes days 15&16 (homestays), days 7&13 (overnight trains), and Days 18 (overnight boat) where you will be in shared accommodation and is subject to availability. Please speak to your booking agent for further information.
Mode of Transport
- OVERNIGHT SLEEPER TRAINS IN VIETNAM:
- Compartments will be 4 berth to 6 berth depending on seasonal variations and the group configuration. We aim to secure 4 berth compartments where possible. A sheet, pillow and blanket are provided, although some travellers prefer to bring their own sleeping sheet. Passengers of different genders may be required to share a compartment and there will be occasions where you'll be sharing with local travellers or travellers who are not part of your group. On occasion the group may be split between several carriages, however your leader will coordinate and give further information on the trip.
Check out our Q&As
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Is this trip right for you
During this trip, there will be several long days of travelling and you'll be sitting on a bus for many hours at a time. However, road trips often have the best views, and most private buses feature wi-fi.
We cover a lot of distance on this trip, including on overnight trains. Accommodation and amenities are shared and basic, but the experience of rubbing shoulders with the locals makes it all worthwhile. For more about what this experience is like, see our blog post here: https://www.intrepidtravel.com/adventures/what-to-expect-on-an-overnight.
This trip involves a lot of walking and a few physical activities, e.g. city tours, village cycling, or taking an optional kayak tour etc. You’ll be required to be reasonably fit to make the most of the trip.
You'll be spending three nights with local families on this trip, where the accommodation is shared and basic. But this is a great opportunity to connect with the local people (and enjoy delicious homecooked meals). Read more about the experiences here: https://www.intrepidtravel.com/adventures/community-based-tourism-vietnam/
Vietnam has an incredibly diverse climate influenced by both tropical monsoons and its range of altitudes and latitudes. Temperatures can vary from a brisk 4°C (39°F) in the northern mountains during winter to a sweltering and humid 36°C (97°F) in Ho Chi Minh City during the middle of the dry season. Please check the weather for the time of year you're travelling to pack appropriate clothing - this page may be useful: https://www.intrepidtravel.com/vietnam/weather-in-vietnam -
What policies are in place for Covid-19?
Please contact us for latest COVID-19 policies
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How long has the tour company been trading?
Intrepid Travel has been taking travellers around the world for over 30 years
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Will the accommodation included meet local health and safety regulations?
Yes
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What Ethical Travel credentials does the tour company have?
Since 2002, The Intrepid Foundation has supported over 130 organisations across the world. We’re creating positive impact through the joy of travel, community and connection.
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Do you operate a “single share” option and how does it work?
Over 50% of traveller travel solo with Intrepid. You can choose to share a room with another solo travelle of the same sex for no additional charge, or choose to pay a single supplement if you’d like your own room. Please request this when booking, and we will secure you a single supplement wherever possible. Please note, if you are booking a last-minute trip, it may be harder for us to secure a single room
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Free Date Changes
Intrepid Travel allows you to make 10 free date changes, as long as the change is made at least 56 days before the start of the tour.
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Transfer as credit to Future Tours
Intrepid Travel allows you to transfer existing payments to a future tour to avoid cancellation fees if you can't travel and inform intrepid travel, 56 days before departure.
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Low Deposit
Intrepid Travel requires a minimum deposit of 400 USD per person or the full booking value, whichever is less, with the final balance not due until 56 days before departure.
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Cancellation Policy
We don't charge a cancellation fee, here is a summary of intrepid travel charges.
Up to 56 days before tour starts: Forfeit 100% of deposit.
At 55 days before tour starts: Forfeit 30% of booking price.
At 30 days before tour starts: Forfeit 60% of booking price.
At 14 days before tour starts: Forfeit 100% of booking price.
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Terms and Conditions