SARDINIA

SARDINIA
SARDINIAN GRAND TOUR
SARDINIA: THE “STEPPING STONE”
S
ardinia is full of surprises. The ancient
Greek traveller Pausanias described it as
“an equal of the most highly praised Islands”.
Smack-dab in the middle of the Mediterranean’s
western basin, this ancient breakaway from
the Iberian plate is - at 24,000 km² - one of the
Mediterranean’s two ‘mega islands’.
During his voyage on the narrow-gauge
railway through Sardinia which snakes
through mountain passes, D H Lawrence
wrote: “Lovely space about one, and travelling
distances –nothing finished, nothing final. It is
like liberty itself.” One of the least populated
regions in Europe, Sardinia boasts many wild
landscapes from sandy coves, strange jagged
granite mountains, outcrops and cliff-faces
to cork forests and lush ravines. Known to
the Greeks as Ichnoussa, the ‘stepping stone’,
it has seen Greeks, Carthaginians, Romans,
Arabs and Catalonians come and go. Before
them, the mysterious Nuraghi left weird and
wonderful archaeology (over 7000 sites to be
precise) nestled in and jutting out of the bucolic
landscape. As you explore hidden passageways
of corbelled towers and marvel at bronzettis of
posturing warriors, the question looms, were
these the same horned-helmeted “Shardana”
- ‘sea peoples’ – who, according to letters and
reliefs from the reigns of Pharaoh Akhenaten
and Ramasses II in the 14th and 13th centuries
BC, raided the shores of the Levant?
Today, the island’s culture remains unique:
‘shabby chic’ piazzas host spectacular masked
carnivals and vibrant handicraft markets; the
evocative drone of throat singers - “tenores” hangs in the air and ‘edgy’ contemporary arts
fill the empty spaces. The hearty cuisine is an
Italian-Catalan-Moorish fusion, whilst nutty
pecorinos are the speciality cheese,
or - for the more daring - the local delicacy
and aphrodisiac Casu Marzu is a rotten pecorino
with live cheese larvae; all of this washed down
with a chunky Cannonau or sweet Passito!
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Location: Sardinia, Italy
Dates:
22nd September 2015 – 5th October 2015
Duration: 14 days
Pax:
Up to 25
Price:
£3435
No “single punishments”
(single supplements)
Deposit:
£415
Tour Code: SGT.2015.09
What is included:
Direct flights, accommodation in a
boutique hotels and agritourismos,
all meals (except where stated) water
& wine, all transport, including
private chartered diesel and steam
trains, motor-yachts and coach,
entry to all sites mentioned, journey
manager; all tips (except where
stated).
What is not included: Personal
travel insurance; lunch on arrival/
departure days and days 4 & 8;
dinner on day of departure and day
3; room changing & room service
tips; laundry and incidentals.
SARDINIAN GRAND TOUR
T
his unforgettable tour off the beaten track, will meander by narrow-gauge
railway and cruise some of the island’s archipelagos and inaccessible
shores by motor-yacht. We stay in lovely, comfortable boutique hotels and
‘agri-tourismos’ and sample local food and wine specialities along the way.
ITINERARY
DAY ONE
Depart London Gatwick direct to Olbia.
Transfer to hotel on the Costa Smeralda
where we stay for the next two nights.
Time to relax in the afternoon.
DAY TWO
Day spent on a chartered motor-yacht
visiting the scenic Madalena archipelago
or a day at leisure relaxing by the pool or
beach.
DAY THREE
Privately chartered narrow-gauge diesel
train from Palau to Sassari, visiting
the Romanesque church of San Pietro
di Simbranos en-route. Independent
dinner in Sassari or join the tour leader
at a Sasserian restaurant specialising in
snails and casseroles hidden in the old
town’s narrow lanes.
DAY FOUR
Visit the unique prehistoric pyramid of
Monte d’Accoddi -the only like it Europe.
Free time, or with the tour leader
exploring the historic Catalan seaside
town of Alghero and independent
lunch, before driving to the riverside
town of Bosa for a slow-food dinner and
overnight stay.
DAY FIVE
Private boat along the river Temo and
out to the sea with fish lunch on-board
before continuing overland to Oristano,
via the mysterious inverse pyramid31
shaped Nuraghi sacred well of Santu
Christina. A family run hotel and ‘zeromiles’ dinner in Oristano.
DAY SIX
Drive to the Nuraghi tower of Su Nuraxi
for a guided tour in it’s hidden passages
and stairways. Picnic lunch, followed
by visit of underground coalmines at
Carbonia or free time exploring the
fascist architecture around the piazza
of Carbonia. Drive via an isthmus to
Sant’antioco where we stay for two
nights in a rural ‘agritourismo’ shaded
among olive groves.
DAY SEVEN
Day exploring the Sulcitana archipelago,
including the colourful ports of
Carloforte and Calasetta and the ancient
Phoenician-Punic settlement of Sulcis.
DAY EIGHT
Scenic drive along the coast to Cagliari.
Free time and independent lunch in
Cagliari. Drive northwards to historic
town of Mandas for dinner and
overnight stay. En route we visit the
extraordinary small town of San Sperate,
where since the 1960s artist Pinuccio
Sciola has adorned the walls and public
spaces with murals and street art
engaging this old agricultural community
in art practice and attracting artists from
all over the world.
Continued overleaf
DAY NINE
Morning on our own chartered steam train, climbing the
beautiful Gennargentu Mountains, to the scenic rustic
town of Sadali where we stay in a family hotel serving
local speciality dishes. Visit the caves of ‘Is Janas’ or
relaxing/exploring Sadali.
DAY TEN
Continue our chartered train journey, further into the
mountains, making a stop for lunch before continuing our
descent to the harbour of Arbatax for dinner and hotel.
DAY ELEVEN
Private motor-yacht and lunch en-route, from Arbatax
northwards around the beautiful otherwise inaccessible
gulf of Orosei. We lodge and dine in a local wine-makers
seaside hotel-restaurant in the small port of Cala Gonone.
DAY TWELVE
Visit a Nuraghi so-called Giant’s tomb, the incredible 3500
year old sacred spring of Su Tempiesu and the excellent
‘bijou’ museum of Nuoro, followed by lunch and hotel
check-in in Oliena (where we will be staying for the next
two nights). In the afternoon we have options to walk to
the Nuraghi cave-village atop mount Tiscali or to relax and
explore the town of Oliena independently.
DAY THIRTEEN
Gastronomic tour of this wine and cheese-making region,
including two wine tasting tours at local vineyards, one
cheese tasting, lunch and dinner. You also have the option
today to relax and explore the town of Oliena.
DAY FOURTEEN
Leisurely morning. Transfer to Olbia airport for afternoon
direct flight to Gatwick.
INDEPENDENT, TAILORED
& SELF-GUIDED
Our experience has been that the best contacts,
festivals and eateries don’t advertise on the net or in UK
print. We don’t believe in hogging information, so if you
plan to travel independently, we can help you make the
most of your travels.
BOOKING CONDITIONS
When you make a booking and you have received you confirmation
invoice you guarantee your assent on behalf of your group to these
booking conditions, which act as a contract between you and Ammoun
Voyages Ltd.
INSIDE SECRETS
If you want to arrange your own travel, we can offer advice,
recommendations and introductions for making your trip
really special: we’ll let you know about amazing people,
places, foods and festivities in the region of your choice.
We always endeavor to communicate with you clearly and openly.
All we ask is that you read our literature and correspondence;
and communicate with us at every stage with questions, requests,
uncertainties or anxieties you may have. Our aim is provide a high
quality service and for you to be happy and experience trouble-free
and relaxing holidays.
TAILORED JOURNEYS
If you have your own ideas about what you want to do, but
don’t have the time to make the arrangements yourself, we
provide a fully tailored travel service, taking the time and
stress out of holiday planning.
1. BOOKING REQUIREMENTS
1.1. Eligibility
We reserve the right to accept or refuse a booking without providing a
reason. Some of the products we offer require a certain level of fitness
and we may require you to submit a medical questionnaire at the time
of booking.
AMMOUN SELFIES
If you like some of our advertised journeys, but don’t want
to travel with a group, you can take an Ammoun journey
independently: we’ll arrange everything and provide you
with full notes to guide yourselves around.
1.2. Insurance
It is a requirement of booking that you have adequate holiday
insurance from the country of residence in place by the departure date
of the tour. This is in case you have to cancel the holiday, or in case of
loss or accident on the tour. Cover must include medical treatment,
cancellation charges, loss of property and repatriation. Travel
insurance can be obtained from insurance brokers, travel agencies,
banks and some retails outlets. Contact us for recommendations.
EVENTS & EDUCATION
With our experience organising and managing tours,
expeditions and events, we can take on all your special
requirements, whether for corporate, educational or
charity purposes. We provide high quality, safe, ethical and
sustainable trips and events.
1.3. Passports and Visas
You will require a passport, valid normally for at least 6 months, in
order to travel abroad from your country of residence. In some cases,
you will require a visa. Unless we obtain the visas on your behalf
(where invitation for visa purposes or group visa or is required), we can
only advise British citizens of visa requirements for the destination.
Nationals of other countries should make their own enquiries, and
obtain the necessary paperwork and visas, as necessary. We do not
accept any responsibility if you cannot travel because you have not
complied with appropriate passport, visa or immigration requirements.
SAFE & SOUND
As members of the TTA and with ATOL certification, we
can package tours on your behalf while your money is 100%
protected. Our experience in licensing and safety also means
you can count on us for safe and fully compliant products.
1.4. Vaccinations
While we will provide some guidance to British citizens about
vaccinations required for our destinations; it remains your
“Secrets are for sharing”
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responsibility to ensure that you are aware of correct health advice for
the tour destination. In the UK, you are advised to consult your doctor.
We also recommend this service offered by NHS Scotland: www.
fitfortravel.nhs.uk
compensation; (c) you fail to pay the final balance.
2.5. If you make changes
If, after our confirmation invoice has been issued, you wish to change
your travel arrangements in any way, we will do our best to make
these changes for you. Any requests for changes must be made in
writing from the person who made the booking no later than 56
days (8 weeks) prior to the departure date; and will be subject to an
administration fee of £50. Any further costs associated with making
the alteration will also be payable by you. You are advised to discuss
any changes with us verbally or by email before submitting the formal
request/s in writing. Certain travel arrangements (e.g. air tickets)
may not be changeable after a reservation has been made and any
alteration request could incur a cancellation charge of up to 100% of
that part of the tour.
2. MAKING A BOOKING
2.1. Provisional Bookings
You can make a provisional booking on-line or over the phone prior to
filling-in the booking form or making a payment. Provisional bookings
are valid for two weeks after we confirm receipt of your provisional
booking.
2.2. Definite Bookings
A definite booking can be made on the booking form accompanied by
a signature, or on-line. At the time of booking, a deposit, as specified
in the tour literature, will be payable either on-line or over the phone
with a payment card, by cheque, or via bank transfer. We will confirm
a definite booking with a booking confirmation and invoice. You have
seven days after a definite booking has been confirmed to change
your mind, after which the cancellation policy set out in clause 2.3 will
apply. If you book 70 days (ten weeks) or less before departure, then
the full tour price must be paid, and the ‘cooling off’ is not applicable.
2.6. If we make changes
It is unlikely that we will have to make any changes to your tour. But
because travel arrangements are often made up to a year in advance,
occasionally changes may become necessary and we reserve the right
to do so at any time. Most changes will be minor and normally an
improvement, and we will advise you of them at the earliest possible
date. Carriers, such as airlines, may be subject to change; and any
changes to the actual departure and arrival times will be notified to
you as soon as possible. When a change is deemed a significant change
(such as an alteration to your flight time by more than 12 hours, or a
change to lower standard accommodation for the whole or a major
part of your holiday), we will advise you as soon as is reasonably
possible if there is time to do so before departure. You may then
either accept the changes or accept an offer of an alternative tour of
comparable standard if available (we will refund any price difference
if the alternative is of a lower value), or cancel your tour and receive a
full refund.
2.3. If you cancel
You, or any member of your party may cancel a booking at any time
by written notification. The day upon which we receive your written
notification is considered the day of cancellation. However, because
costs are incurred to us in cancelling your travel arrangements, a
cancellation charge will be payable by you, as follows:
70 days or more prior to departure: deposit only
69-56 days prior to departure: 30% of total tour cost
55-42 days prior to departure: 45% of total tour cost
41-29 days prior to departure: 60% of total tour cost
28-15 days prior to departure: 75% of total tour cost
14-3 days prior to departure: 90% of total tour cost
48 hours prior to departure: 100% of total tour cost
We reserve the right to alter the prices of any of the tours shown
on the Ammoun Voyages Ltd website or print literature. You will be
advised of the current price of the tour that you wish to book before
your booking is confirmed. Changes in transportation costs, such as
landing taxes, embarkation or disembarkation fees and exchange rates
mean that the price of your travel arrangements may change after
you have booked. However there will be no change within 30 days of
your departure. If you have to pay an increase of more than 10% of the
original price of the tour, you will have the option to accept an offer of
an alternative tour of comparable standard if available (we will refund
any price difference if the alternative is of a lower value), or to cancel
and receive a full refund, except for any amendment charges.
If the reason for your cancellation is covered under your insurance
policy, you may be able to reclaim these charges.
2.4. If we cancel
We may cancel your travel arrangements if: (a) there are insufficient
bookings on a tour for it to be viable. We will never cancel a tour less
than 56 days (8 weeks) prior to the departure date of the tour. In this
event, we can either refund all monies paid or you may accept an offer
of an alternative tour of comparable standard if available (we will
refund any price difference if the alternative is of a lower value); (b)
we are obliged to cancel the tour under force majeure. This is in the
event of unusual or unforeseeable circumstances beyond our control,
such as civil unrest, hostilities, industrial disputes, adverse weather
conditions or natural disasters. In these circumstances, a cancellation
may be necessary at any time; and we will be unable to offer you
3. SAFETY & LIABILITY
3.1. Travel advice
We take your safety and well-being very seriously. We will not travel
to any destinations where the UK Foreign and Commonwealth Office
(FCO) advises against all travel or all but essential travel. If advice
changes after you have made your booking, we will make changes as
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necessary to avoid areas of risk, or we may postpone or cancel; and
inform you of the changes. Our conditions as set out in clause 2.6
then apply. You can check current travel advice for your destination
at: https://www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice. You should check with
your travel insurance company to confirm how any government travel
notices affect your cover (see clause 1.2.).
personal injury or death which you suffer arising directly or indirectly
from any aspect of your holiday.
3.3. Making a Complaint
If you have a problem during your tour, please inform the Journey
Manager immediately; and they will endeavor to resolve your query.
If your complaint is not resolved locally, you are advised to follow
this up in writing within 28 days of your return home. If you fail to
follow this procedure, Ammoun Voyages Ltd will have been deprived
of the opportunity to investigate and rectify your complaint within
reasonable time and this may affect your rights under these booking
conditions.
3.2. Liability
We will always strive to provide high quality standards of services. If
our suppliers or we improperly perform the contract (i.e. your tour), we
will pay appropriate compensation if this has affected the enjoyment of
your travel arrangements.
We conduct frequent audits of supplier’s premises and policies to
ensure they conform with our standards and comply with local laws
and regulations. Standards such as safety, hygiene and quality will
be lower at some destinations than would be expected in the UK.
Our obligations, and those of our suppliers providing any service or
facility included in your holiday, are to provide them with reasonable
skill and care, which will be deemed as such if they comply with any
local regulations that apply. We do not make any representation or
commitment that all services will comply with applicable local laws
and regulations and failure to comply does not automatically mean we
have not exercised reasonable skill and care.
4. YOUR FINANCIAL PROTECTION
We will not be liable where any failure in the performance of the
contract is (a) due to you; (b) due to a third party unconnected with
the provision of the tour advertised; (c) during excursions or other
tours that you have chosen to book or pay for whilst you are on tour
with us, even if the provider was recommended to you by us; (d) due
to unusual and unforeseeable circumstances beyond our control, the
consequences of which could not have been avoided, foreseen or
forestalled even if all reasonable skill and care had been exercised.
Our liability, except in cases involving death, injury or illness, shall
be limited to a maximum of three times the cost of your travel
arrangements.
ENGLISH LAW GOVERNS THESE CONDITIONS.
We provide 100% financial protection against the unlikely event of
our insolvency while you are on holiday, as provided through our
membership of the Travel Trust Association (TTA, membership no.:
Q2951) and protection through Air Travel Organizer’s License (ATOL)
provided by the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA). All monies you pay for
a tour are held in trust and protected until your tour has ended. In the
case of tours that include a flight, the CAA will ensure that you are not
stranded abroad and will arrange to refund any money you have paid
to us for an advance booking.
Where any claim or part of a claim concerns or is based on any
travel arrangements (including the process of getting on and/or off
the transport concerned) provided by any air, sea or rail carrier, the
maximum amount of compensation we will have to pay you will
be limited in accordance with and/or in an identical manner to the
contractual terms of the companies that provide the transportation;
and subject to international conventions, where they apply, such as
the Warsaw Convention and it’s various amendments. Under EU
law (Regulation 261/2004) you have rights in some circumstances to
refunds and/or compensation from your airline in cases of denied
boarding, cancellation or delay to flights. However reimbursement in
such cases will not automatically entitle you to a refund of your tour
cost from us. If any payments to you are due from us, any payment
made to you by the airline will be deducted from this amount.
Other than as set out above and detailed elsewhere in these booking
conditions, we have no legal liability to you for any loss, damage,
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