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17 |
Soft Hiking |
DAYS |
Voir les photos
Holiday Overview
Holiday Overview
Highlights
- Forbidden City and Great Wall hiking
- Leisure time in Chengdu
- The green mountains and clear waters of Guilin are the finest under heaven, capable of cleansing both body and soul
- Huangshan and Jingdezhen ceramics experience
- The Bund: Shanghai's city landmarks
Brief Itinerary
- DAY 01 XI'AN- BEIJING
- DAY 02 BEIJING CITY TOUR
- DAY 03 BEIJING - HUANGHAUCHENG - JIANKOU
- DAY 04 JIANKOU - MUTIANYU - JINGHSANLING
- DAY 05 GUBEIKOU / JINSHANLING / XI'AN
- DAY 06 XI'AN CITY TOUR
- DAY 07 XI'AN - GUILIN
- DAY 08 GUILIN - LONGSHENG
- DAY 09 LONGSHENG HIKING
- DAY 10 LONGSHENG - YANGSHUO
- DAY 11 YANGSHUO
- DAY 12 YANGSHUO - GUILIN - SHANGHAI
- DAY 13 SHANGHAI CITY TOUR - JINGDEZHENG
- DAY 14 JINGDEZHEN
- DAY 15 JINGDEZHEN - HUANGSHAN
- DAY 16 XIDI & LU ANCIENT VILLAGE / MUKENG BAMBOO FOREST
- DAY 17 HUANGSHANG - SHAGNHAI DEPARTURE
Map & Itinerary
Map & Itinerary
Embark on an epic 17-day odyssey that takes you from the ancient heart of China to the breathtaking karst landscapes of the south and the porcelain heritage of the east.
Your journey begins in Beijing, where you will delve into imperial history at the Forbidden City and the Summer Palace. The highlight will be a challenging Great Wall hiking expedition, traversing the wild, unrestored sections of Jiankou and Jinshanling.
Traveling west to Xi'an, you will marvel at the Terracotta Warriors and cycle atop the ancient City Wall. The adventure continues in Guilin and Yangshuo, offering stunning hikes through the Longsheng Rice Terraces and along the Li River, immersing you in the region's famous pastoral scenery.
The trip concludes with a cultural deep dive in Jingdezhen, the "Porcelain Capital," where you will learn the art of pottery, followed by a visit to the ancient villages of Xidi and Hongcun in Huangshan, before returning to Shanghai.
Holiday Itinerary
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XI’AN- BEIJING
Take a high speed train from Xi’an to Beijing, upon arrival, pick up by our local guide in Beijing, transfer to the hotel and have a rest.
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Accommodation boutique hotel in Beijing
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BEIJING CITY TOUR
This morning, we will first go to visit Summer Palace. Summer Palace located in a northwestern suburb of Beijing; it is an immense park containing some Chinese traditional architecture and arts. It was built and served as a royal garden during the Qing Dynasty. It exhibits the quintessence of the Chinese classical landscape gardening. The halls, the pavilions, the corridors, the pagodas, the bridges and the water were elaborately arranged. The long Corridor is one of the most exquisite structures in the garden. It is over 700 meters long and decorated with thousands of Chinese traditional paintings.
In the afternoon, we will continue to visit Tian’anmen Square, the largest public square in the world, then follow in the footsteps of emperors, court ministers and eunuchs and head south to the magnificent and colorful Forbidden City. Forbidden City Beijing, also called Imperial Palace Museum, is located in the very heart of Beijing. It remained the residence of the emperors for nearly five hundred years, from the 15th century to the early 20th century, and was the actual and symbolic seat of imperial power. Popularly known as the Forbidden City, it was built in the Ming Dynasty between the 4th and the 18th years of the Yongle period (1406 - 1420 AD). Many of the buildings of the Palace have been repaired and rebuilt, but their basic form and layout remain in their original state. Hike to Jingshan Park, where gives a nice panoramic view of the Forbidden City at the top of Coal Hill.
In the late afternoon, enjoy a Hutong rickshaw tour. As the Forbidden City is the symbol of China's royal family, the Hutongs in Beijing show the real life of the common people. When you visit Hutong by rickshaw, you could really taste the life of common people in Beijing. Lotus Market, located in Houhai area, famous for old hutong and modern bars. Free in the evening.
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Accommodation boutique hotel in Beijing
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Meals BLD
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BEIJING - HUANGHAUCHENG - JIANKOU
After breakfast, a scenic drive of about 1.5 hours takes you to Huanghuangcheng section of the Great Wall. Upon arrival, lunch at local restaurant, after a short rest, we will start our hike westward to Xishuiyu. Although the climb is steep, there is a good trail alongside the Wall, and it only takes about half an hour to get to the watch tower on the cliff. Here is a great place from which to take photos, one of which must be of the moon-shaped reservoir far below. Then, after another half-an-hour hiking, we will reach the highest point in this area. From this vantage point you will have a nice sunny panoramic view of the whole wide valley, stretching even further toward the west. From this summit the Wall dives steeply downwards into the valley.
After walking down by the steps, we will reach a platform and hike westward again, climbing upwards along the broken Wall, a tall cliff overlooking Xishuiyu Lake. From here, the view is amazing! You can see the broken Wall running directly into the lake, and beyond it, the endless mountain range. Unfortunately, from here on, the Wall is really too broken to traverse safely, so we will instead follow a pleasant mountain trail downwards to the lake at the bottom. At the end of our hike, we will drive the Jiankou village and check in the local guest house
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Accommodation guesthouse at the bottom of Jiankou Great Wall
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Distance 9km
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Meals BLD
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Time 4-4.5hrs hiking
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JIANKOU - MUTIANYU - JINGHSANLING
Your last trekking day is again great for photography! The Jiankou section of the Wall is known to be one of most beautiful part of the Wild Wall near Beijing, loved by photographers. After a half-hour climb upwards, through a gentle wooded area, we will clamber out onto a portion of the Wall not visited by tourists.
After a simple breakfast, hike eastwards to Mutianyu Great Wall. The hike itself is quiet and beautiful - in about four hours of passing deserted sections of the Wall in its original state, we will get to the well-known restored section of the Wall - Mutianyu. What a difference between the tourist section and the original Wild Wall we have just seen!
After a late lunch, take 2hrs drive to Jinshanling Great Wall.
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Accommodation boutique hotel at the bottom of Jinshanling
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Distance 10km
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Meals BL
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Time 4-5hrs hiking
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GUBEIKOU / JINSHANLING / XI’AN
In the morning, we hike from Gubeikou to Jinshanling Great Wall and enjoy the breathtaking views with a relatively peaceful hike. This classic Great Wall hike allows you to experience what is now the most popular Great Wall trek - Gubeikou to Jinshanling. Gubeikou, often overlooked and rarely crowded, offers some of that "wild wall" that we know our clients love. Jinshanling has long been storied for its beautiful brickwork and watchtowers, as well as the way wall here winds and snakes along the valley.
At the end of the hike, transfer to Beijing West Railway station, take a high speed train to Xi’an.
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Accommodation boutique hotel in Xi’an
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Distance 10km
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Meals BL
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Time 5-6hrs hiking
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XIAN CITY TOUR
Breakfast served at hotel. In the morning, visit the Ancient City Wall, which represents one of the oldest and best preserved Chinese city walls. After that visit the Big Wild Goose Pagoda, and you will have chance to watch the North plaza fountain show.
After lunch, visit Shanxi History Museum. The Shanxi History Museum's permanent exhibition primarily displays Shaanxi's ancient history. Representative pieces from all periods have been selected to show the development of civilization in this region.
After lunch, transfer to Xi’an Xianyang Airport, take a flight to Guilin.
Our local guide in Guilin will pick you up from the exit of the airport, transfer to the hotel and have a rest. Free in the evening.
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Accommodation boutique hotel in Guilin
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Meals BL
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GUILIN - LONGSHENG
After breakfast, Reed Flute Cave (the most famous limestone cave in this area and good example of this Karst Formation), Yao Mountain (the highest in Guilin, by chair lift, for a great bird's eye view of the surroundings on the summit), the biggest organic tea farm at the foot of Yao Mountain. In the late afternoon, take 1.5~2hrs drive to witness one of the most beautiful terraces in China, Longji Terraces and have an excursion there for ethnic minority culture.
As soon as you get to the entrance of Longji, change the local shuttle bus for another 30 minutes uphill to Longji Ancient Zhuang Village, then start your hiking to Pingan Zhuang Village where your hotel is located. This hike route is quite non-touristy, during which you will enjoy the picturesque and peaceful rural life, and view the rice terraces from different angles and take a look at how farmers do their farm work. The hiking distance is around 4 kilometers with some small ups and downs, the ascent is about 60 meters, and you may need one hour to cover it. It would be a warm-up for the next 3-day hiking tour. After check in the hotel in Pingan Village, if time permits, we can hike on the cobbled paths built among terraces to catch the best landscape.
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Accommodation guesthouse in Longsheng
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Meals BL
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LONGSHENG HIKING
Wake up in the fresh air of peaceful morning to watch the magnificent sunrise in Ping'an Village Terraced Fields. After breakfast, hit the road for a 4-5-hour hike to Dazhai Village. Walk on the flagstone trekking path on the mountains with many ups and downs shared by the local minority farmers and water buffaloes, which allows you to have a better understanding of these mountain tribes and their real life. You may also stop at minority villages along the way for a break. On both sides of the path, terraced rice fields wait for you to take pictures. When you see more hanging buildings, you are approaching Dazhai Village, where the Jinkeng Red Yao Terraced Fields are the core heartland of the Red Yao ethnic group. In the villages the long-haired Yao ladies dress in their unique and dazzling red embroidered costumes. Then back to hotel in Pingan Zhuang Village at the end of the day.
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Accommodation Ping’an Hotel in Longji
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Meals BLD
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LONGSHENG - YANGSHUO
Have a big breakfast for today and be prepared for the 5-hour hiking along Li River. Leave the stunning rice terraces behind and start to walk 30 minutes down to the parking lot, while mist shrouds the mountain making it a scene of wonderland. The driver will transfer you to the foot of Mount Hebao, and start your walking along the beautiful Li River to Xingping. With its breathtaking scenery and taste of a life far removed from the concrete metropolis, the scenery along the Li River section from Yangdi to Xingping is the best. On both sides there are farmlands, orchards and trees, water buffalos patrolling the fields, further away gorgeous Karst peaks of all shapes which will give you surprises at each bend of the limpid river under the blue sky. You will take a ferry to get to Xingping Town, a well-preserved fishing village. From there you will meet the vehicle and transfer to your hotel in Yangshuo.
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Accommodation boutique hotel in Yangshuo
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Distance 12km
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Meals BL
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Time 4-5hrs hiking
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YANGSHUO
Drive about 30 minutes to the walking starting point – Fuli, follow the old trade path through villages to escape the tourist crowds, end your walking at Suoshi Village. Then transfer back to Yangshuo to visit the Moon Hill for a good bird's eye view of the surroundings (there are about 800 flagstone steps from the foot to the top of the hill, the walk-up time may be around 40 minutes). Back to your hotel in Yangshuo in late afternoon and enjoy your own dinner and evening.
Walking info: This 12 kilometer-walking from Fuli Town to Suoshi Village takes around 4- 4.5 hours, the first half will be bit hilly, and we need to walk up the old stone steps through two hills - the first one is around 60 meters ascent and the second one 130 meters ascent; the latter half walking can be either up and down the dirt road or climbing over two more small hills (about 100 meters' ascent each) to Suoshi, On the way, you can explore the villages and talk to the local people there with our guide as your interpreter. The scenery along the way is really mind-blowing.
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Accommodation boutique hotel Yangshuo
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Distance 12-13km
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Meals BL
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Time 4-5hrs hiking
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YANGSHUO - GUILIN - SHANGHAI
Morning: Bike onto the country roads through the paddy field and orchards surrounded by mountains, enjoy the breathtaking views including the delicate Moon Hill and you may stop to take pictures on the way. Your countryside trip ends up with an interesting traditional lunch.
Afternoon: After lunch, transfer to the airport, take a flight to Shanghai. Upon arrival, transfer to hotel in center Shanghai, check in and have a rest.
Free in the evening.
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Accommodation boutique hotel Shanghai
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Distance 20km
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Meals BL
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Time 1.5hrs biking
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SHANGHAI CITY TOUR - JINGDEZHENG
After breakfast, drive to visit Yu Garden, the Oriental Pearl TV Tower, Jade Buddha Temple, Nanjing Road, the Bund.
Yu Garden is one of the most famous gardens in China and is national heritage listed. It was built in 1559 and extended in 1577. Each section of the garden is separated by curved white walls crowned with the head and body of a dragon on them. It's named after the original owner.
The Oriental Pearl TV Tower is unquestionably an icon of Pudong’s renaissance. Looming through the mist, like a reproduction of a classical Chinese ink painting of landscape, stands Shanghai’s Oriental Pearl TV Tower. Its soaring height of 468 meters boldly characterizes the Lujiazui cityscape.
Jade Buddha Temple, which is famous for the seated Buddha, encrusted with jewels, which is said to weigh 1,000 kg
In the late afternoon, transfer to the railway station, take a high speed train to Jingdezhen.
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Accommodation boutique hotel Jingdezhen
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Meals BL
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JINGDEZHEN
Visit Jingdezhen Ancient Kiln• Folk Customs Exhibition Spot, learning the history of ancient kiln.
In the afternoon, visit Jingdezhen Huangyao Kiln, where you can try to paint porcelain with a jolley.
t night, visit Taoxichuan Ceramic Art Avenue. Based on the protection and utilization of the porcelain industry heritage, Taoxichuan Ceramic Art Avenue programme is a compound-type project which integrates the industrial development and upgrading into the new-type urbanization. It is an original major production base of exported porcelain in China and a typical old industry area in the city with lots of industry heritages and long-standing history.
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Accommodation boutique hotel Jingdezhen
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Meals BL
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JINGDEZHEN - HUANGSHAN
After breakfast, transfer to Tunxi, Huangshan City (2.5 driving). Upon arrival, check in and have a short rest. Then visit Hu Kaiwen Ink Factory, the oldest and most famous factory for Hui Ink sticks in China, where we can see the whole working process of ink sticks. After that, visit the Hui Ink Brush Workshop and learn to make your own Chinese ink brush with the master. And then use your Hui-style Ink Brush to have a short calligraphy lesson.
At last, stroll around the Tunxi Old Street.
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Accommodation boutique hotel Tunxi
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Meals BL
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XIDI & LU ANCIENT VILLAGE / MUKENG BAMBOO FOREST
After breakfast, transfer to Yi Xian (Yi County), visit Xidi ancient village, which is famed as being the “Ming and Qing Dynasty Local Residence Museum”. Visit Lu ancient village (Lu Cun), enjoy the most beautiful wood carvings in Huizhou. Transfer to Mukeng village, hike in the bamboo forest. It is well known as the shooting location of the Oscar-winning movie “Crouching Tiger and Hidden Dragon”. Drive back to Tunxi hotel.-
Accommodation boutique hotel Tunxi
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Meals BL
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HUANGSHANG - SHAGNHAI DEPARTURE
After breakfast, transfer to railway station, take a high speed train to Shanghai. See off.
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Meals B
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Price Policy
Tour Price Policy
Additional details
1. Before you pay deposit to book the tour, we haven’t made any reservation yet. The train, flight tickets and the hotel may different from the itinerary listed.
2. The visiting order of the scenic spots in the itinerary may change according to the traffic condition and other unforeseen things.
3. Tourist insurance is a must before going, please provide us the confirmation of insurance company when sign up.
The price includes
1. Entrance Fees: to scenic spots as listed in the itinerary
2. All the activities fee mentioned in the itinerary: Hutong rickshaw in Beijing; Sichuan Opera show in Chengdu;
3. Private Transfers: Transfers between airports, hotels and scenic spots while sightseeing during the trip by private air conditioned vehicle with a driver.
4. Meals: All meals as indicated in the itinerary (B-breakfast, L-lunch, D-dinner), include Peking duck dinner in Beijing; Hot pot dinner in Chengdu.
5. Guide: As outlined in the itinerary an English-speaking guide and driver will be provided in each city, who will remain with you throughout your time in that city. A new guide and a new driver will meet you at each city on your tour, to provide you with the best local knowledge available
6. Hotel: hotel fees are based on two people sharing one room with king-size bed. All hotels as listed in the above itinerary serve daily western or Chinese breakfast
7. Internal flights
** Day 11/ Flight from Yichang to Shanghai (based on economy class);
8. Trains
** Day 04/ High speed train from Beijing to Xi’an (based on 2nd class);
** Day 06/ High speed train from Xi’an to Chengdu (based on 2nd class)
** Day 06/ High speed train from Chengdu to Chongqing (based on 2nd class)
9. Arrangements: the tour cost includes planning, handling, operational and communication charges
10. Travel Agency Liability insurance
The price does not include
1. International airfare or train tickets to enter or leave China
2. China entry visa fees
3. Excess baggage charges
4. The medicine for the sickness or accident while on the way
5. Personal expenses: expenses of a purely personal nature such as laundry, drinks, fax, telephone calls, optional activities, sightseeing or meals which are not included in the tour itinerary
6. Meals: any meals which are not specified in the tour itinerary
7. Single room supplement
8. Please notice that the price will be much higher during the festival of Labors’ Day, National Day, spring festival
9. Tips to tour guide and driver (recommended USD10-15/guest/day).
10. Tourist accident insurance. NB - you are strongly suggested to buy travel and health insurance before you start out from your home country.
Payment conditions
To confirm your reservation, you must pay a deposit of 30% of the total amount due via the payment link that your local agent will share. The balance is due 30 days prior to departure. The quoted exchange rate is valid for the next 7 days – if the deposit is not paid within this time, the quote will be re-calculated.
Terms and conditions for cancelation
i. Cancellation of the Tour by CAT (local agent):
CAT reserve the right to cancel the postpone tour at any time up to the date final payment is due under the following condition: in our opinion, health and/or safety factors related to conditions in China would make the tour inadvisable. And in this case, all money paid by the participants will be refunded. If the tour is postponed, CAT will offer all those who have signed up the opportunity to have the same tour for a later time, but the price may be changed according to the season. We will notify you of any change, and give you a reasonable period
of time to make your decision. Consumers may, but are under no obligation to, take the tour under these new terms. After final payment has been made, we may cancel the tour only if, in our opinion, health and/or safety factors related to conditions in China would make the tour inadvisable. Since cancellation in this case involves factors which may arise suddenly and are entirely outside our control, including but not limited to natural disasters, civil unrest and epidemic disease, we cannot guarantee a full refund in this case. This is because payment will already have been made to finalize the arrangements and reservation.
ii. Cancellation of the Tour by Consumer:
Any cancellation must be made by sending an email to the local agent. The cancellation fee varies according to how many days prior to departure the cancellation is made:
· More than 30 days prior to departure: 5% of the total holiday cost
· Between 30 and 22 days prior to departure : 25% of the total holiday cost
· Between 21 and 8 days prior to departure : 50% of the total holiday cost
· Between 7 and 3 days prior to departure : 75% of the total holiday cost
· Less than 3 days prior to departure and after the departure date: 100% of the total holiday cost
All cancellations must be in writing and will be effective upon receipt by CAT. No refund will be made to those participants who break the journey regardless of the portions of the package unused. If, owing to serious illness or injury, the participant withdraws from the tour, a refund will be subject to the consent of the local travel agent.
No refund will be made to those participants who have failed to secure valid travel documents such as passport or visas.
