2013 International Buddha’s Light Young Adult Executive Conference Tour Proposals Full information is also available on website of “Mandarin Voyages” at http://www.mandarinvoyages.com/cn/
Please Note: 1. For tours that are more than one day, breakfast is included. Lunch and dinner need to be self-arranged. Insurance and entrance tickets for attractions are not included. 2. Most of the museums in France are free for students under 25 with a valid ISIC (International Student Identity Card) 3. You are welcome to organize your own tours and plan the itinerary in advance. 4. If you would like to join the tours, please note that it must be confirmed with the travel agents before the end of April. As July is peak season in France, it is very difficult to book hotel accommodation. Proposal A (Recommended to go pre-conference) as the Lavender will be harvested by 14th July PROVENCE:
SOUTH OF FRANCE IN-DEPTH
€288 per person based on a tour group of 30 people. For a group of 20 people, the price is €420
Day 1: Paris – Dijon - Lyon Meet at 8:30 at 138, Champs Elysee (outside McDonald’s). Arrive Dijon at noon. Dijon is the capital of the Burgundy region which is one of France’s most reputable wine producing areas. Spend the day visiting Notre Dame de Dijon, Palais des ducs de Bourgogne (Palace of the Dukes of Burgundy) and opera house and architectures of Neoclassical style. Stay overnight in vicinity of Lyon.
Day 2: Orange – Gordes – Avignon Visit the commune town of Orange after breakfast, enjoy its Roman architecture and Roman theatre as well as its Triumphal Arch of Orange. Then, set off for one of the most picturesque village in France, Gordes. At and around Gordes, experience the soul of Provence, lavender, take a leisurely stroll in the lavender fields under the Provencal sunshine. Explore also the history of the cultivation of lavender in the Lavender Museum. Next, visit Avignon which is also referred to as “City of Popes” because of the presence of popes and antipopes from 1309 to 1423 during the Catholic schism. Here, visit Palais des Papes (Papal Palace) and the picturesque bridge of Avignon – the Pont Saint-Bénézet. Stay overnight in vicinity of Avignon.
Day 3: Arles – Nimes – Pont du Gard – Valence Set out for the city of history and art, Arles. Many Roman and Romanesque Monuments of Arles were listed as UNESCO World Heritage Sites in 1981. The Dutch post-impressionist painter Vincent van Gogh lived in Arles in 1888-1889 and produced over 300 paintings during his time there. At noon, visit the Maison Carrée (Square House), a small Roman temple dedicated to sons of Agrippa built in circa 19BC. It is one of the best-preserved Roman temples anywhere. Afternoon, visit Pont du Gard (Bridge of the Gard), built by Agrippa, a well-preserved aqueduct which was added to UNESCO’s list of World Heritage Sites in 1985 for its historical importance. The outstanding quality of the bridge’s masonry of the area together with its redevelopment and new museum that provides historical context make Pont du Gard one of France’s top five tourist attractions. Enjoy this magnificent and noble historic beauty. Stay overnight in vicinity of Valence. Day 4: Valence – Paris Drive to Beaune after breakfast; visit Patriarche Père & Fils, a vineyard. Tour the vineyard to walk through the wine-making process and sample a variety of their wines. Return to Paris at about 18:00.
Post Conference Tour Proposal B HOLLAND-BELGIUM-LUXEMBOURG-GERMANY-FRANCE EUROPEAN HIGHLIGHTS IN 4 DAYS
€268 per person based on a tour group of 30 people. For a group of 20 people, the price is €385 Enjoy a fast-paced trip to Benelux, Germany and France. This route leaves from Paris, to Waterloo, to Brussels, Hague, Amsterdam, Cologne, Bonn, Trier, Luxembourg, Reims and return to Paris on the forth day.
Post Conference Tour Proposal C SWITZERLAND-LIECHTENSTEIN-FRANCE EUROPEAN CHARM IN 4 DAYS
€338 per person
Have a taste of the charming countries of Switzerland, Liechtenstein and France. This trip leaves Paris for picturesque cities of Geneva, Lausanne, Berne, Luzern, Mount Titlis, Liechtenstein, Zurich and returns to Paris on the forth day. Schengen visa is required for this trip.
One Day Tours Proposal D – One-Day Tour
Tours daily with a minimum of 6 people
€80 per person
CHÂTEAUX TOUR AT THE LOIRE The Loire is the longest river in France with a length of 1,012 km. The Loire Valley has been called the “Garden of France’ and is studded with over a thousand châteaux, each with distinct architectural embellishments, illustrating the ideals of the Renaissance and the Age of the Enlightenment on French thought and design in the Loire Valley. Despite the shift of power in France from the Loire to Paris by middle of the 16th century, the Loire Valley continued to gain the king’s favour and the wealthy bourgeoisie continued to renovate existing châteaux or build lavish new ones as their summer residence. Some notable châteaux on the Loire are Château de Chambord, Château Chenonceau and Château d’Amboise. Château de Chambord is the largest château in the Loire Valley and a representative work of French Renaissance architecture. It was built in 1519 for King François I. It was suggested that Leonardo da Vinci, whilst being a guest of François near Amboise, was responsible for the original design and hence the influence of the Italian Renaissance architectural style. One of the architectural highlights is the spectacular double helix open staircase that is the centrepiece of the Château. The two helices ascend the three floors without ever meeting, illuminated from above by a sort of lighthouse at the highest point of the Château. In 1981, Château de Chambord was added to the list of UNESCO World Heritage. Château de Cenonceau is built on the site of an old mill on the River Cher. It is one of the most beautiful châteaux. Its arched bridge joining the Château to its opposite bank becomes its unmistakable focal point. It is considered one of the most romantic châteaux on the river. The Château has been rebuilt, extended and redecorated by multiple queens and mistresses who also hosted numerous spectacular parties there. It is therefore also known as the “Ladies’ Château”. Château d’Amboise is one of the most eminent châteaux amongst the French kings of the Renaissance. This Château exemplifies the magnificence of the House of Valois. Italian architects,
artisans and mason-builders had been employed in various re-builds, providing the Château some of the first Renaissance decorative motifs seen in French architecture. Amongst the many Italian artists was Leonardo da Vinci, a guest of François Ier (King Francis I). Da Vinci spent his last 3 years in this Château. It is believed that Da Vinci was buried in the Chapel of Saint-Hubert, adjoining the Château. Not only is the royal Château itself a true spectacle, a leisurely stroll in its gardens is simply delightful. Proposal E – One-Day Tour
€80 per person
TOUR OF FRENCH PALACES, visiting Palace of Versailles, Château de Fontainebleau and the town of Barbizon Tours daily except for Monday and Tuesdays with a minimum of 6 people
Proposal F – Paris City Tour
Tours Daily
€31 per person per day or €34 per person per 2 consecutive days
OPEN BUS TOUR (L’Open Tour) OF PARIS CITY is a hop-on, hop-off open-deck tour bus providing four options of routes covering a great range of sightseeing destinations. Audio commentary in Chinese is available throughout the tour. Sightseeing stops include Madeleine, Opéra, Musée du Louvre, Notre-Dame, Saint-Germain-des-Prés, Musée d’Orsay, Concorde, Champs-Elysées, Arc de Triomphe, Tour Eiffel, Trocadéro, Invalides, Montmartre-Anvers, Gare du Nord, Les Grands Boulevards, Gare Saint-Lazare, Saint-germain, Montparnasse, Saint-Paul, Bastille, Gare de Lyon, Bercy etc.
