April 24th to MAY 9th
16 inclusive days [15 nights]

 $3,450 per person with 5 minimum [land only]
price reduced as group size increases

 
The dates and length of my Welsh tours are flexible to accommodate your personal preferences. I run trips for any number of people, but believe that small groups of 2 to 10 people to be the most ideal.
This is a sample itinerary and sample price for 4 and 5 people . . . please ask for a quote for your group as larger group sizes and 'trimming' the itinerary will reduce your cost. 
If you are just 1,2 or 3 people I can run a trip at the known expenses, and ask you to offer a retainer for my services.

OUTLINE:  Land of song and the proverbial Red Dragon.  
Visit castles, farm, school,  and a choir practice, plus see the Welsh countryside from off the beaten track. You will also meet the people and experience Britain’s first and best medieval banquet at Ruthin Castle, and more, more, more!

2006  ITINERARY

Understandably perhaps, there are those that believe that Wales is part of England, but is just as distinct in it’s culture as Ireland and Scotland . . . perhaps even more so. It is a small compact country with a great variety in it’s terrain that ranges from lush farmlands to the rugged peaks of Snowdonia. We’ll experience Welsh culture in the form of a medieval banquet, farm visit and the lyrical language which John speaks, plus much, much more.  

April 23rd:  Depart U.S.A. on overnight flight to London's Heathrow, for morning arrival on DAY 1.

DAYS 1, 2 and 3  *  CARDIFF and the BRECON BEACONS
John will meet your morning flight, and in our comfortable van we'll head west on the M4 motorway over the Severn suspension bridge into the land of song, harp, Red Dragon and the 'language of heaven'. We'll turn north to take in the 12th century Tintern Abbey ruins where you’ll find plenty of history. From Tintern, we'll continue west to our accommodations in a rural setting just outside Cardiff, the Welsh capital.
Days 2 and 3 will see us in the city of Cardiff for visits to the Castle, Llandaff Cathedral, St. Ffagans 'working' Welsh Folk Museum, and a nostalgic look at the symmetry of the former coal valleys. A trip north to Brecon Beacons National Park will also be included.
Near CARDIFF, 3 nights

DAYS 4, 5 and 6  *  ST. DAVIDS and COASTLINE
As we head towards St. David's, we'll complete our exploration of the industrial coal valleys, and move on to the Gower Peninsula. Rhossili Head is spectacular as it gives views to Worms Head and across Rhossili Bay. We'll call on the spot where Dylan Thomas did his best work in his boat shed at Laugharne . . . a village that sits at the mouth of the Taf River.  
Working from the St. David’s area, on days 5 and 6 we'll take in St. David’s Cathedral, Martin's Haven, Solva, St. Govan's Chapel in the 'cleft of the rock', Carew Castle and explore coastal landscapes.
LLANDELOY, 3 nights

DAY 7  *  To ABERYSTWYTH
Going north today, we’ll visit coastal village harbours as we head to the Strumble Head lighthouse. We’ll pause too at the old Fishguard Harbor . . . the new harbor being a busy commercial port. The Pentre Ifan Cromlech (exposed burial chamber) will be on our menu today, and on the nearby River Teifi, we'll look for  fishermen in Coracle boats that owe their origins to the Roman period. At Cenarth, the falls, mill and centuries old bridge will be worth our attention and then we’ll continue north to Aberystwyth for our one night sojourn.
ABERYSTWYTH, 1 night

DAYS 8, 9, 10, 11 and 12  *  SNOWDONIA
Time to explore Aberystwyth promenade and 13th century Castle this morning. Then we’ll go east to Devil's Bridge where three distinctly different bridges sit atop one another. To the north, the market town of Machynlleth and estuary-situated town of Aberdyfi will be another port of call. Dolgoch Falls, Tal y Llyn Lake and Dolgellau will also be featured as we head to our 5 night home near Harlech in Snowdonia National Park.
From Talsarnau we'll take loop trips on days 9, 10, 11 and 12  to places such as Cricieth, Caernarfon, Harlech and Conway castles, the Lleyn Peninsula, Llanberis Pass, Isle of Anglesey via Telford's suspension bridge to Llanfairpwllgwyngyllgogerychwrndrobyllllantysiliogogogoch!, a slate mine, woolen mill, farm at Trawsfynydd, Welsh primary school visit and a choir practice. The Welsh language is strong in the north, and John will assist with any translating necessary (though most Welsh are bi-lingual). Sporadically throughout the trip, pre-breakfast trips for photographs in the best light will be offered, and will be optional. Snowdonia is an ideal spot for such excursions.
TALSARNAU, 5 nights

DAYS 13 and 14  *  CLWYD
The ruggedness of Snowdonia gives way to the green, rolling Clwydian Hills today as we head east on little traveled roads to Ruthin. Rock gives way to moor land and lush green 'carpet', and castle gives way to a stark silhouette of an old manor house on the Denbigh Moors. Clwyd is topographically quite different than the county of Gwynedd, but no less photogenic as it sits in the north-east corner of Wales.
Day 14 will take us to the town of Llangollen via some exquisite back lanes, where steam trains will feature prominently, and our day will close with a fabulous medieval banquet at Ruthin Castle.
LLANBEDR DYFFRYN CLWYD, 2 nights

DAY 15   *  To WINDSOR
This morning we’ll depart south and weave our way through lesser known corners of Wales hidden in the counties of Powys and Gwent which are more lush and rolling than the coastal belt. This route will take us back to the M4 motorway, on which we'll head for Windsor, for our last relaxing supper together.
WINDSOR, 1 night

DAY 16  *  Flights home
John will get everybody to the airport in good time for flights home. Arrival in the U.S. will be on the same calendar day.

Places may be held with a refundable $300 deposit

  LEADER:  Welsh speaker, John Baker

This itinerary is © by John Baker, Travel Designs,
and is not to be copied by business entities for their own professional use.

THE FINE PRINT

PRICE:  $3,450 per person, double occupancy 

SINGLE SUPPLEMENT:  $375 

GROUP MINIMUM:  Occasionally we are able to run a trip below our group minimum which is generally 5. In such instances it would be necessary to apply a small group supplement. You would be contacted regarding such a situation but you would not be obligated to accept the new terms.  

RESERVATIONS:  Your $300 deposit is required to secure your place on any trip, with the balance due 60 days prior to the departure date. Deposits are fully refundable if cancellation is received at least  91 days prior to the departure date.  Upon receipt of your deposit, we will mail out our acknowledgment and tour reservation form. Details of hotels, flight arrival recommendations and other trip tips will be mailed when the tour is full. 

MEALS: All meals and refreshments are included, but not alcoholic beverages. 

ACCOMMODATIONS:  All include private facilities unless otherwise stated, and are chosen for either their uniqueness, geographic location or value for your money. We endeavor to find accommodations with all three qualities whenever possible. 

TRANSPORT:  We use 7, 10, 12 and 15 passenger vans. Note that we never fill every seat on our vehicles, as the maximum number of passengers we will carry in a 7 passenger van is 4, and 8 in a 15 passenger for example. These smaller vehicles also permit easy access to less accessible spots. 

OPTIONAL TRANSPORTATION:  Trips such as sight-seeing flights etc. are not included in the land price. Such trips are optional and are made available to enhance cultural and historical appreciation. 

ADMISSIONS:  Access to public buildings and national  parks etc. are included in the land price. 

NOT INCLUDED IN THE LAND PRICE:  Airfare, excess baggage charges, personal items, passport and visa costs, travel between home and gateway city and return, medical and personal items, baggage or trip cancellation insurance.

CANCELLATION POLICY: All cancellations must be confirmed in writing, and due to costs incurred by Travel Images in the process of arranging a tour, the following penalties apply.

For cancellation received 91 or more days prior to departure, your deposit is fully refundable.
For cancellation received 61 to 90 days prior to departure, a cancellation fee of $200 will be due.
For cancellation received 31 to 60 days prior to departure, a cancellation fee of 25% of land cost will be due.
For cancellation received 30 days or less prior to departure, a cancellation fee of 50% of land cost, plus non-recoverable deposits will be due.
If your place can be resold, Travel Images will reduce the penalties, or give a 100% refund. Travel Images strongly urges tour participants to invest in trip cancellation insurance. 

CANCELED EXPEDITIONS: In the event, due to insufficient tour sign-ups, Travel Images reserves the right to cancel any given trip, and return 100% of monies received. However, Travel Images is not responsible for expenses incurred by its customers, such as insurance and airfares, etc.. 

LUGGAGE:  Travel Images asks that tour participants limit their luggage to the equivalent of one suitcase, one flight bag, one camera bag and tripod.  Travel Images does not wish to be dictatorial in this matter, but asks that travelers bear in mind space and comfort in our vans. All personal luggage is the responsibility of the owner. 

SMOKERS:  Smoking is not permitted at meals or on vans.  It is permitted at stops where local ordinances permit, and if fellow passengers are unaffected. 

RESPONSIBILITY:  Travel Images and its agents act only as agents for the passenger in all matters relating to travel arrangements, and as such, do not assume responsibility for injury, accident, damage, loss, delay or irregularity which may occur via defect of transportation or any other cause. Travel Images reserves the right to substitute hotels, etc., and other previously outlined arrangements as necessary, to either improve or equal the travel experience.  
Travel Images reserves the right to pass on to tour members any additional and unplanned expenditures incurred during the tour, via events  beyond Travel Images' control.  
The right is reserved to accept or decline any person as a member of any tour.

Payment of tour fees by trip participants constitutes their acceptance of all conditions contained herein.

Reserve your place