TURKEY  INDIA 231 FAMILY TOURS Imaginative Facts Tour code: FHTI • Activities: Camel ride and game drive • Accommodation: 6 nights tourist class hotels, 2 nights ' mud huts', 2 nights Maharajah's residence • Transport: Private air- conditioned coach, camels, game drives at Ranthambore, rickshaws • Fully Escorted: By Imaginative Traveller tour leader, services of local guides • Imaginative Traveller Suggests: Chill out on the beach on our ' Goa Beach Extension' DAY 1: DELHI- Arrive Delhi, check in to hotel. Afternoon tour of New Delhi. DAY 2: SHEKHAVATI- Drive to the Shekhavati area of Rajasthan, renowned for its painted frescoes and ornate havelis ( merchants' houses). We spend two nights in a unique desert resort of beautiful and luxurious ' mud huts', with a great pool. ( B) DAY 3: SHEKHAVATI- Walking tour of one of Shekhavati's small towns followed by a camel ride to surrounding villages. Today we get a real insight into the way of life of the people of Rajasthan. ( B) DAY 4: JAIPUR- Drive to Jaipur, popularly known as the ' Pink City'. Afternoon excursion to the splendid Amber Fort, with its famous painted elephants and magnificent views over the hills around. ( B) DAY 5: JAIPUR- Morning Jaipur city tour visiting the many temples and palaces including the famous façade of the ' Palace of Winds'. Remainder of the day at leisure to explore the lively bazaars and haggle for exotic souvenirs. You should see women dressed in colourful saris with chunky jewellery and men wearing elaborate turbans, sporting huge moustaches! ( B) DAY 6: RANTHAMBORE- Drive to Ranthambore National Park where we take an afternoon game drive and try to spot tigers and other wild animals. ( BD) DAY 7: KARAULI- Morning visit to the magnificent old Ranthambore Fort, now populated only by monkeys. After breakfast, drive to Karauli where we stay in a Maharajah's residence. DAY 8: KARAULI- Morning walking tour of Karauli market ( a very ' local' experience!) and the wonderful City Palace, where you won't see another tourist and can get lost for hours in the hidden passages and beautiful rooms. ( B) DAY 9: BHARATPUR - AGRA- A short drive takes us from Karauli to Bharatpur where we visit the Keoladeo Bird Sanctuary, one of the finest bird sanctuaries in the world. We finish the day at our hotel pool in Agra. ( B) DAY 10: AGRA- Visit the magnificent Taj Mahal, one of the most beautiful buildings in the world, before returning to Delhi by bus. ( B) DAY 11: DELHI- Tour ends. ( B) Note: During the months of June- September, we will stay a night in Madhogarh Fort as Ranthambore National Park is closed. India at its most exotic and colourful best • Visit the Taj Mahal, the pink city of Jaipur, Amber Fort and New Delhi • Take a tiger safariat Ranthambore and spot exotic birds at Keoladeo • Ride camels around rural Rajasthani villagesand rickshaws in towns • Immerse yourself in local culture on walking tours of Shekhavati and Karauli • Stay in luxurious mud huts, restored heritage hotel and a Maharajah's home Tigers & the Taj Imaginative Facts Tour code: FTTE • Activities: Swimming and water sports, gulet cruise, canoeing/ rafting • Accommodation: 7 nights tourist class hotels, 2 nights restored Ottoman mansion, 2 nights restored local house, 1 night overnight train, 2 nights gulet cabins ( triple share) • Transport: Private a/ c coach, private gulet, sleeper train, inflatable canoes, plane • Flight: Cappadocia to Istanbul • Fully Escorted: By Imaginative Traveller leader, services of local guides and gulet crew DAY 1: ISTANBUL- Arrival day. DAY 2: ISTANBUL- A guided tour of the exciting city of Istanbul with its markets and mosques. In the evening we take an overnight train to Pamukkale. ( B) DAY 3: PAMUKKALE - SELÇUK- Transfer to our hotel for breakfast and to freshen up. Later we have a tour of ancient Hierapolis and the amazing calcified falls of Pamukkale ( the sparkling white ' cotton castles'). There is time to swim in a thermal pool dating back to Roman times. After lunch we drive to Selçuk where we spend two nights in a hotel with a pool. ( BD) DAY 4: EPHESUS- A guided tour of the magnificent ruins of ancient Ephesus. The remainder of the day is free to relax by the hotel pool or explore the area. ( B) DAYS 5 & 6: DALYAN- We travel through the magnificent scenery of Meandros Valley to Dalyan, known for its hot springs and the nearby conservation area for loggerhead turtles. You can visit the picturesque ruins of Caunos or take a boat to the mud baths or the beach where at certain times of year, the loggerhead turtles lay their eggs. We spend two nights at a hotel with a pool. ( B) DAY 7: GULET- A short drive brings us to Fethiye where we board our gulet after lunch. There is canoeing and snorkelling equipment on board for two days of bliss! ( BD) DAY 8: GULET CRUISE- Our cruise takes us to some of the most beautiful bays around Fethiye and Göcek as we meander along the Turquoise Coast. ( BL) DAY 9: GULET - ANTALYA- Disembark after breakfast and drive on a scenic mountain road to Antalya. We spend the next two nights in a restored Ottoman mansion, which has a pool. ( B) DAY 10: CANOEING / RAFTING- Today we drive to Köprülü Canyon where we have the excitement of rafting or canoeing down the river ( you can choose which you prefer). ( BL) DAY 11: ANTALYA - KONYA- After breakfast we drive through the scenic Taurus Mountains to Konya. This afternoon we visit the Whirling Dervishes Museum. ( BD) DAY 12: CAPPADOCIA- Drive through the flat lands of Anatolia to Cappadocia. We visit the underground city of Kaymakli before arriving at our hotel in Avanos. ( D) DAY 13: CAPPADOCIA- We have a full day to explore this fascinating area, full of spectacular rock formations, underground dwellings and ancient churches carved into the rock. This afternoon we have the chance to try a ' hamam', a traditional Turkish bath. ( B) DAY 14: ISTANBUL- Fly to Istanbul. On arrival the rest of the day is free to explore the city further. ( BD) DAY 15: ISTANBUL- Tour ends. ( B) Bring to life all those hours spent in the classroom! • Walk in the footsteps of ancient Romans at Ephesus • Swim and snorkelalong the Turquoise Coast from our gulet yacht • Canoe or raftthrough the beautiful Koprulu Canyon • Visit the Taurus Mountains and eerie rock landscapes of Cappadocia • Bathing in the Dalyan mud baths Turkish Delight Single Supplement £ 195 ( optional) Voluntary Carbon Offset £ 4.52 * Price includes tour price of £ 1030and local payment of € 270All prices are subject to currency fluctuations £ 1235pp Land Only *• Christmas Supplement £ 90 Single Supplement £ 340 ( optional) Voluntary Carbon Offset £ 15.46 * Price includes tour price of £ 675and local payment of INR10,000All prices are subject to currency fluctuations £ 799pp Land Only * familyfamily Tour duration 15 daysTour duration 11 days Starts SatEnds Sat IstanbulIstanbul 2009 04- Apr- 0918- Apr- 09 * 04- Jul- 0918- Jul- 09 18- Jul- 0901- Aug- 09 01- Aug- 0915- Aug- 09 Starts SatEnds Sat IstanbulIstanbul 2010 27- Mar- 1010- Apr- 10 * 03- Jul- 1017- Jul- 10 17- Jul- 1031- Jul- 10 31- Jul- 1014- Aug- 10 * Amended itinerary applies Starts SatEnds Tue DelhiDelhi 2009 10- Jan- 0920- Jan- 09 04- Apr- 0914- Apr- 09 01- Aug- 0911- Aug- 09 * 15- Aug- 0925- Aug- 09 * 19- Dec- 0929- Dec- 09 • • Christmas supplement applies Starts SatEnds Tue DelhiDelhi 2010 09- Jan- 1019- Jan- 10 27- Mar- 1006- Apr- 10 31- Jul- 1010- Aug- 10 * 14- Aug- 1024- Aug- 10 * 18- Dec- 1028- Dec- 10 • * Ranthambore National Park is closed in August. Therefore for these departures we spend a night in Madhogarh Fort. Save up to 15% on your tour - see page 243 Save up to 15% on your tour - see page 243

FAMILY TOURSCOSTARICA 232 " My favourite moment in the tour was when we went to feed the monkeys. They were really hyper when they saw the bananas and they tried to steal them from us!" Michael Canam ( Age 13) family tours Imaginative Facts Tour code: FLWD • Activities: Hiking in national parks, Sky Walk canopy tour • Accommodation: 12 nights tourist class hotels and lodges • Transport: Bus, boat • Fully Escorted: By Imaginative Traveller leader, services of guides in Tortuguero NP DAY 1: SAN JOSE- Arrive and transfer to hotel. DAY 2: SAN JOSE - POAS VOLCANO-Costa Rica is known as Central America's ' Garden of Eden' as it contains numerous protected national parks and reserves. Your first visit is to the Poas Volcano National Park, one of the most protected areas in the country. The ride there is scenic and pleasant. The La Paz waterfall is the most photographed waterfall in all of Costa Rica. In the same complex we can enjoy the Butterfly and Hummingbird Garden and the Serpentarium. ( B) DAYS 3 & 4: SAN JOSE - TORTUGUERO NP- Travel by bus and boat into the Tortuguero National Park. This vast park is one of the jewels in Costa Rica's crown and features miles of jungle- fringed canals and lagoons that are home to howler monkeys, brightly coloured parrots and a wide variety of other wildlife. We spend two nights in a comfortable lodge with swimming pool and a full day exploring the national park by boat with our knowledgeable local guide. ( BLD) DAY 5: TORTUGUERO - SARAPIQUI- We leave the rainforest behind and head for La Quinta de Sarapiqui Inn. This is a country inn run by a Costa Rican family. The hammocks at the wooden deck in front of the small swimming pool and the river invite you to relax. DAY 6: SARAPIQUI - FORTUNA- After breakfast we drive through mountains and typical small villages to Fortuna, a small town nestled at the base of the live Arenal Volcano. ( B) DAY 7: ARENAL VOLCANO- The Arenal Volcano is highly active and its cone- shaped peak constantly emits explosions of sulphurous gases, streams of red- hot lava and loud rumbles. We have a full day to explore around the lower slopes of the volcano. In the evening you will enjoy a perfect view of the volcano from the porch of your hotel room. ( B) DAY 8: FORTUNA - MONTEVERDE CLOUD FOREST- Early in the morning a short ride takes us to the Arenal Lake, where we board our boat to cross to the other side. We then drive to the Cloud Forest Reserve of Monteverde, an astonishingly beautiful park that teems with flora and fauna of every description. Monteverde has gained international renown as one of the most outstanding wildlife sanctuaries in the tropics. ( B) DAY 9: MONTEVERDE CLOUD FOREST-Today we try the Sky Walk, a combination of suspension bridges and platforms built in the cloud forest, that offers an opportunity to explore the forest canopy in a safe and easy manner. The Sky Walk allows a vision of the forest from a different perspective which starts with a walk on the ground through the forest, then takes you up to explore the tops of the trees! There is abundant wildlife and we hope to spot the resplendent quetzal as well as a variety of monkeys, wild cats and reptiles. ( B) DAYS 10 & 11: MONTEVERDE CLOUD FOREST - MANUEL ANTONIO NP- Drive to Manuel Antonio National Park, where we spend two nights. This park features some of Costa Rica's finest beaches, with long stretches of beautiful white sand backed by lush jungle, from which iguanas and monkeys often emerge. Enjoy a full day to relax on the beach or follow hiking trails through the tropical forest. ( B) DAY 12: MANUEL ANTONIO - SAN JOSE-After a relaxing morning we travel back to San Jose. ( B) DAY 13: SAN JOSE- Tour ends. ( B) Beaches, wildlife, volcanoes and jungle - the perfect family destination • Explore the wildlife, jungle and canalsof Tortuguero National Park by boat • Witness the explosive eruptions of the Arenal volcano from your hotel room • Ascend to the cloud forest canopy on Monteverde's exciting Sky Walk • Spot monkeys and parrotsfrom the beach at Manuel Antonio National Park • Chill out on hammocks at our relaxing family- run country inn Wildlife Discovery - Costa Rica Costa RicaSan Jose Manuel Antonio N. P. Fortuna Monteverde Cloud Forest Wildlife Discovery - Costa Rica Sarapiqui Poas Tortuguero Ecuador QuitoPapallacta Otavalo Amazon Riobamba Banos Cajas N. P. Cuenca Journey to the Centre of the Earth Peru Lima Cuzco Machu Picchu Urubamba Puno JuliacaLake Titicaca Peruvian Adventure Single Supplement £ 290 ( optional) Voluntary Carbon Offset £ 20.56 * Price includes tour price of £ 885and local payment of US$ 250All prices are subject to currency fluctuations £ 1015pp Land Only * family Tour duration 13 days © Imaginative Traveller © Imaginative Traveller © Imaginative Traveller Starts SunEnds Fri San JoseSan Jose 2009 04- Jan- 0916- Jan- 09 05- Apr- 0917- Apr- 09 05- Jul- 0917- Jul- 09 19- Jul- 0931- Jul- 09 02- Aug- 0914- Aug- 09 20- Dec- 0901- Jan- 10 Starts SunEnds Fri San JoseSan Jose 2010 03- Jan- 1015- Jan- 10 28- Mar- 1009- Apr- 10 04- Jul- 1016- Jul- 10 18- Jul- 1030- Jul- 10 01- Aug- 1013- Aug- 10 19- Dec- 1031- Dec- 10 We can also offer Extra Accommodation, Adventure Travel Insurance& Flights Save up to 15% on your tour - see page 243