China Explorer, Private Tour from £3,759

Total price from £17,680

Created: Saturday, December 21, 2024

Itinerary

Tours

More pictures (9)

Explore China in this comprehensive twelve-day tour. Discover the Shamian Island in Guangzhou: a well preserved colonial area with its period architecture, tree-lined avenues, and laidback appeal offers a break from the mayhem and fast developmental Guangzhou. Visit Hakka House, Mulan’s home in the latest Disney movie, built by Chinese Hakka people who emigrated from northern China to the south. Literally earthen buildings, the living structures are uniquely designed for defensive purposes. Cruise on the Li River Cruise to see one of China's natural masterpieces, listed as one of the world’s top ten watery wonders by America National Geographic Magazine. Discover the Water Great Wall: the only section of the wall that is submerged into water, it’s one of the most scenic yet less touristy parts of the great wall for a hike or a brilliant view. Visit Tiananmen Square, with the iconic portrait of Mao Zedong looming over the Tiananmen gates, this public square is one of the largest in the world and has been the site of numerous historical events in China. Visit the Huanghuacheng Great wall, Beijing has more than 600km of Great Wall, found mainly in the mountains north and northeast of the city. Most of Beijing’s Great Wall dates to the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644), but there are remnants of much older wall section to be found, too.

TOUR HIGHLIGHTS

Guangzhou: formerly known in the West as Canton, it has long been China's busiest trade hub, establishing connections with the outside world dating back to the 16th century.

Xiamen: formerly known in Western circles as Amoy, this island city is emerging as southern China’s most sophisticated city.

Guilin: Guilin's natural endowments will amaze you, yet, thanks to imperfect urban planning, there is a pervasive feeling that the city is past its prime.

Shanghai: home to the world's second-tallest tower and a city with a diverse architectural heritage is like no other cities on earth.

Beijing: From ancient walled capital to showpiece megacity in barely a century, it spins a breathless yarn of history, culture and innovation.

Day 1: ARRIVAL GUANGZHOU – SHAMIAN ISLAND – GUANGZHOU (45km – 1hr)

Welcome to Guangzhou! Upon arrival, you will be greeted by the guide and driver at the arrivals hall. Then hop on the transfer to Shamian Island if time allows (the recommended arrival time to enjoy this excursion is before 3:00 pm). It’s a well preserved colonial area. There’re approx. 150 old buildings on Shamian Island and more than a third were built during the island's 19th-century colonial period. Explore on foot, admire the sturdy Victorian houses, wrought iron gates, and generous gardens, and listen to your guide’s stories before you are escorted to the hotel for check-in. Rest of the day at leisure.

Overnight in Guangzhou.

Day 2: GUANGZHOU – XIAOZHOU VILLAGE (25km – 1hr) – XIAMEN (4.5hrs by high-speed train, included)

Breakfast at the hotel, and then meet your tour guide at the hotel lobby. Admire the exquisite woodcarvings, copper-iron castings, and handcrafts at Chen Family temple, a memorial to the Chen people of Guangdong Province. The temple was also a learning and living place for generations of the Chen family who came to the town to take the imperial examination. The temple has a typical ancestral temple layout in the province. Lunch at a local restaurant (included). Immerse in Xiaozhou Village, a hidden centuries-old local village still inhabited by locals. Cafés, art studios, alongside stone streets, bridges and gardens, are all nestled into an active, vibrant neighbourhood of long-time locals. Transfer to high speed train station in 2nd class high speed train for Xiamen, alternatively known as Amoy in Hokkien pronunciation. It was an important port for foreign trade for centuries and now a perfect mix of urban energy and laid-back vibes. Upon arrival, transfer to the hotel.

Overnight in Xiamen.

Day 3: XIAMEN – HUA’AN – ZHANGZHOU – XIAMEN (245km – 4hrs)

After breakfast we will be on our way to visit the highlight of this trip, Hua’an Hakka house clusters. A Hakka house is a large, enclosed and fortified earthen building in rectangular or circular shape usually seen in south-eastern China. Rated as a UNESCO World Heritage site, it’s inscribed as "exceptional examples of a building tradition and function exemplifying a particular type of communal living and defensive organization in harmonious relationship with their environment". After lunch at a local restaurant (included), we head to Zhangzhou downtown to visit the old city of Zhangzhou, an important port for foreign trade in the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644). The city boasts a rich cultural legacy and colourful folk customs and one of the birthplaces of the Hokkien culture. Drive back to the hotel in Xiamen.

Overnight in Xiamen.

Day 4: XIAMEN – GULANGYU ISLAND (20min by ferry)

Breakfast at the hotel. Take a ferry to Gulangyu Island. Gulangyu Island, literally “the islet of drum wave” supposedly the sound of the ocean waves crashing on the rocks like the thundering of mighty drums. Lunch in a local restaurant (included). Just 2 square km, the pedestrianized islet is a tiny gem nestled in the embrace of Xiamen Island with historic architectural treasures that date from the days when Gulangyu was an International Settlement. The island was one of the five original treaty ports opened up to trade in 1842. Along with bizarre colonial architecture and a curious number of Christian churches, there’re some residential houses among which Shuzhuang garden is a perfect example of the three most important characteristics of Chinese gardening. Built in 1931 by a wealthy Taiwanese businessman. Gulangyu is colloquially referred to as “Piano Island”. You would be amazed to know with a population of just 20,000 there’re 5,000 pianos. Come visit a piano museum. It exhibits more than 40 old pianos, including a gilded piano, a piano with four corners, the earliest one in the world, and a mechanical piano operated by pumping pedals. Although we enjoy refined cuisine and elaborate meals at restaurants, it’s often our street food quests around the world, raw on-the-ground journeys that convey authenticity, that yield some of life’s most revealing moments and enlighten us in unexpected ways. Xiamen is known for its fresh seafood, abundant tropical fruits and lively street food scene. Pick your like and savour your taste buds (own expense). Take the ferry and transfer back to the hotel.

Overnight in Xiamen.

Day 5: XIAMEN – GUILIN (105min by flight, included) – REEF FLUTE CAVE – ELEPHANT TRUNK HILL – GUILIN (50km – 1.5hr)

Breakfast at the hotel. Head to the airport for a flight to Guilin. Greeted by guide and driver, you’re on your way to Reef flute cave, a massive limestone cave over 180 million years old and a top site in Guilin. Its name comes from the lush green reeds growing outside that are hollow and can be made into flutes. Being forgotten for almost about 1000 years, the cave was rediscovered in the 1940s by a group of refugees fleeing from Japanese troops during WWII. Gaze in awe at a cave filled with dazzling stalactites, stone pillars and ever-changing formations that are created through thousands of years of water dripping and erosion into the cave, walk past illuminated stone pillars, stalactites and stalagmites, marvel at the mesmerizing cave, you would feel like stepping into a wonderland. Lunch at a local restaurant (included). Stop at Elephant trunk hill, a signature of Guilin. It’s named after its shape of a giant elephant stretching its trunk to Li River. (Photo stop, entrance fee excluded).

Overnight in Guilin.

Day 6: GUILIN – LI RIVER (4hrs by cruise) – GUILIN

Breakfast at the hotel. Float down the Li River, to see one of China's natural masterpieces, listed as one of the World’s top ten watery wonders by America National Geographic Magazine. Verdant hills, bamboo forests, crystal clear water, fishing boats with cormorants standing on board and ancient villages sit along the river, composing charming views. Li River Cruise starts from Zhujiang Wharf to Yangshuo Town taking nearly 4 hours to complete the journey. Simple lunch included on board Amble down West Street – Yangshuo's oldest street turned lively shopping area, a great place for souvenirs (own expense). Drive back to Guilin.

Overnight in Guilin.

Day 7: GUILIN – SHANGHAI (100min by flight, included)

Breakfast at the hotel. Transfer to airport, fly to Shanghai, the face of modern China, is teeming with energy and activity, and offers travellers a true diversity of areas and experiences. You’ll be met and greeted by the guide and driver after arrival in Shanghai. Lunch on own arrangement. Find your way to the Shanghai propaganda poster museum (closed on Mondays), a hidden gem of a museum, although small, it gives an absorbing insight into China's recent history. It houses a vast, private collection of propaganda posters of Mao-era communist revolutionary propaganda artworks charting post-war Chinese history. Many rescued from recycling centres and rubbish bins and spanning the '40s through the late 1970s. Walk along the Bund, This riverfront location is a time-honoured symbol of Shanghai and shows pieces of the city’s Neoclassical European imperial past. (Offers a glimpse into Shanghai's earlier interactions with the West.) Dinner at a local restaurant (included).

Overnight in Shanghai.

Day 8: SHANGHAI

Breakfast at the hotel. Drive to Yu Garden, wander the maze of pavilions and arched bridges of Yu Garden, one of Shanghai’s premier sights. The Pan family, rich Ming Dynasty officials, founded these gardens, which are a fine example of Ming garden design. The adjacent bazaar was originally a temple (the city god temple) built in the 16th century. Today the area is also home to a lively market that specializes in traditional Chinese arts and crafts. You can peruse antiques, silk fans, bamboo articles, shell carvings, paintings, or simply try some Shanghai Xiaolongbao (soup dumplings), vegetarian buns and chicken soup (own expense). Followed by a visit to Jade Buddha Temple, the temple is an active site of worship and home to a couple of famous Buddha statues that were brought from Burma in the 1800s. It took ten years to complete its construction. Lunch at a local restaurant (included). Take a walk in the French Concession Quarter, home to the city’s most stylish streets. The former Shanghai French Concession was a region under French control from 1849 until its return to the hands of the Chinese government in 1946. While this Shanghai neighbourhood is no longer of French ownership, the area is still ruled by a laid-back attitude and European architecture. Now one of the most vibrant shopping districts in Shanghai, the former French concession is where much of Shanghai’s disposable cash is splashed.

Overnight in Shanghai.

Day 9: SHANGHAI – BEIJING (5hrs by high-speed train, included)

Breakfast at the hotel. Morning Transfer to high speed train in 2nd class seat for Beijing, upon arrival visit Temple of Heaven, situated in southeast Beijing, was built in the first half of the 15th century, for the use of Ming and Qing Dynasty emperors to worship the heavens and pray for a good harvest. The main architectural themes are: “on the earth” which is represented by the square-shaped 'Palace of Abstinence' in the west, much like The Forbidden City but on a smaller scale; whereas the circular-shaped Qinian Dian (Hall of Prayer for Good Harvests) and Huanqiu (Circular Mound Altar) are thought to be connected with heaven. The park serves as a recreational ground for local people. Dancing, fencing, flag waving and Taichi may be seen at any time. Transfer to the hotel.

Overnight in Beijing.

Day 10: BEIJING

Breakfast at the hotel. Meet your tour guide at the hotel lobby. Drive to Tiananmen Square, gaze across it and take in the full weight of its historical and cultural significance. People travel from all over the world to see Mao’s portrait and visit his mausoleum, which lies on the opposite end of the Square. Walking towards to Forbidden City, where emperors ruled, concubines fluttered their fans, and eunuchs schemed for five hundred years. It is a life preserved in chambers, where emperors ruled, gardens, where empresses and concubines strolled and in the palace where the emperor's courtesans lived for centuries behind the towering red walls. Lunch at a local tourist restaurant (included). In the afternoon, venture to one of Beijing’s few remaining ‘hutongs’ or traditional lanes in the backstreets of the city to gain a perspective into fascinating and authentic ‘old’ Beijing. Hutongs, the narrow alleys and lanes first laid out during the Yuan dynasty (1268-1364AD), and the siheyuan, traditional courtyard homes that border these leafy streets, define old Beijing. Here, we can get an idea of what the entire city once looked like and experience the traditional way of life, the silhouette of imperial dynasties, Chinese local lifestyle, the impact of western countries. Visit the Buddhist Miaoying Temple, which has an iconic White Stupa that was completed in 1279, under the leadership of Kublai Khan.

Overnight in Beijing.

Day 11: BEIJING

Breakfast at the hotel. Drive to Huanghuacheng Great wall. Literally the Yellow Flower Wall, is considered one of the most scenic sections of the wall, and a great place to go for a not-too-strenuous hike along the country's most iconic landmark. At either end of this stretch of the Great Wall are two lakes, made by dams built in the 1970s and ‘90s. Up on the wall, you’ll have unobstructed views of both lakes from high above, with the Great Wall dipping majestically down into the water. Lunch at a local tourist restaurant (included). After lunch, delve into the heart of Beijing’s contemporary art scene at the 798 Art District, based rather ironically within an abandoned industrial complex, built by East Germans in the 1950s, Chinese contemporary artists moved in the 1990s, transforming this decommissioned factory district into a hotspot of modern art, culture and design. From avant-garde galleries to cutting-edge food and drinks, make sure you set aside some time to explore what this area has to offer.

Overnight in Beijing.

Day 12: DEPARTURE BEIJING (30km – 30min)

Breakfast at the hotel. A leisure time before transferring for your departure flight.

Comfortable and light clothing is best suited to travel in the warm months and warm clothing in the colder months in China. Visitors should not wear sleeveless shirts, shorts, short skirts or sparse clothing when visiting temples, religious or official buildings. Sun protection, sunglasses and a hat can be very useful during your stay.

Total price from £17,680

Members price from £7,519

Modify this idea

Book directly without changes

Trip summary

2 Adults

Nights 11

This idea includes

Destinations 4

Tours 1

Tour summary

Guide languages

English

Included

TOUR GUIDE:

Operated with English-speaking local guide during the scheduled activities (Day 1-11)

ACCOMMODATION:

11 nights' accommodation

ACCOMMODATION OPTIONS

Day 1 Guangzhou

Superior Hotel Category = Mandarin Hotel Guangzhou or similar 4*

Day 2-4 Xiamen

Superior Hotel Category = Pan Pacific Hotel or similar 4*

Day 5, 6 Guilin

Superior Hotel Category = Guilin Bravo Hotel or similar 4*

Day 7, 8 Shanghai

Superior Hotel Category = Shanghai SSAW Boutique Hotel or similar 4*

Day 9-11 Beijing

Superior Hotel Category = Super House International Hotel or similar 3.5*

MEALS:

11 breakfasts
7 Lunches at local restaurants (Day 2, 3, 4, 5, 8, 10, 11)
1 Lunch on board (Day 6)
1 Dinner at a local restaurant (Day 7)

TRANSPORT:

Arrival private transfer from Guangzhou International Airport (Day 1)
Private transportation as mentioned in the itinerary
High-speed train ticket from Guangzhou/Xiamen, Shanghai/Beijing on the basis of per seat per person, with 2nd class seat (clients carrying own luggage to board the train)
Domestic flights as mentioned in the itinerary Xiamen/Guilin/Shanghai in Economy Class with 1 piece of 20kg suitcase per person per flight and airport tax and fuel surcharge
Departure private transfer to Beijing International Airport (Day 12)

ENTRANCE FEES AND ACTIVITIES:

All entrance fees and activities mentioned in the itinerary (entrance fee of the complex and first entry only): Shamian Island visit (Day 1); Chen Family temple and Xiaozhou Village visits (Day 2); Hua’an Hakka house clusters and Zhangzhou visits (Day 3); Gulangyu Island ferry and visit (Day 4); Reef flute cave visit and Elephant trunk hill photo stop (Day 5); Li River Cruise (Day 6); Shanghai propaganda poster museum (Closed on Mondays) (Day 7); Yu Garden, Jade Buddha Temple, and French Concession Quarter visits (Day 8); Temple of Heaven visit (Day 9); Tiananmen Square, Forbidden City (complex, closed on Monday), Beijing’s few remaining ‘hutongs’ and Buddhist Miaoying Temple visits (exterior visit) (Day 10); Huanghuacheng Great wall, and 798 Art District visits (Day 11)

OTHER:

Meet & Greet (Day 2, 5, 7, 9)

Read more

Read less

Excluded

Guide accompanying on trains or flights
Visa fees
International long haul flights
Drinks during meals (unless specified otherwise)
Optional tours (if any)
City tax not included, payable on the spot
Any visit not mentioned in the program
Porterage and gratuities
Expenditures of a personal nature, drinks and meals or items not stated explicitly in the program
Any alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks, mineral water, camera/video camera fee (if any)
Travel Insurance or any loss or extra cost arising due to unforeseen circumstances such as flight delays, accidents, etc.

Read more

Read less

Accommodation

ACCOMMODATION OPTIONS

Day 1 Guangzhou

Superior Hotel Category = Mandarin Hotel Guangzhou or similar 4*

Day 2-4 Xiamen

Superior Hotel Category = Pan Pacific Hotel or similar 4*

Day 5, 6 Guilin

Superior Hotel Category = Guilin Bravo Hotel or similar 4*

Day 7, 8 Shanghai

Superior Hotel Category = Shanghai SSAW Boutique Hotel or similar 4*

Day 9-11 Beijing

Superior Hotel Category = Super House International Hotel or similar 3.5*

Read more

Read less

Thank you for choosing to be part of our community at utc.travel, doing business as UTC ("UTC", "we", "us", "our"). We are committed to protecting your personal information and your right to privacy. If you have any questions or concerns about this privacy notice, or our practices with regards to your personal information, please contact us at membership@utc.travel.

When you visit our website www.utc.travel (the "Website"), and more generally, use any of our services (the "Services", which include the Website), we appreciate that you are trusting us with your personal information. We take your privacy very seriously. In this privacy notice, we seek to explain to you in the clearest way possible what information we collect, how we use it and what rights you have in relation to it. We hope you take some time to read through it carefully, as it is important. If there are any terms in this privacy notice that you do not agree with, please discontinue use of our Services immediately.

This privacy notice applies to all information collected through our Services (which, as described above, includes our Website), as well as, any related services, sales, marketing or events.

Please read this privacy notice carefully as it will help you understand what we do with the information that we collect.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

1. WHAT INFORMATION DO WE COLLECT?

2. HOW DO WE USE YOUR INFORMATION?

3. WILL YOUR INFORMATION BE SHARED WITH ANYONE?

4. WHO WILL YOUR INFORMATION BE SHARED WITH?

5. DO WE USE COOKIES AND OTHER TRACKING TECHNOLOGIES?

6. HOW LONG DO WE KEEP YOUR INFORMATION?

7. HOW DO WE KEEP YOUR INFORMATION SAFE?

8. DO WE COLLECT INFORMATION FROM MINORS?

9. WHAT ARE YOUR PRIVACY RIGHTS?

10. CONTROLS FOR DO-NOT-TRACK FEATURES

11. DO CALIFORNIA RESIDENTS HAVE SPECIFIC PRIVACY RIGHTS?

12. DO WE MAKE UPDATES TO THIS NOTICE?

13. HOW CAN YOU CONTACT US ABOUT THIS NOTICE?

14. HOW CAN YOU REVIEW, UPDATE OR DELETE THE DATA WE COLLECT FROM YOU?

1. WHAT INFORMATION DO WE COLLECT?

In Short: We collect personal information that you provide to us.

We collect personal information that you voluntarily provide to us when you register on the Website, express an interest in obtaining information about us or our products and Services, when you participate in activities on the Website (such as by posting messages in our online forums or entering competitions, contests or giveaways) or otherwise when you contact us.

The personal information that we collect depends on the context of your interactions with us and the Website, the choices you make and the products and features you use. The personal information we collect may include the following:

Personal Information Provided by You. We collect names; phone numbers; email addresses; mailing addresses; job titles; passwords; contact preferences; billing addresses; and other similar information.

Payment Data. We may collect data necessary to process your payment if you make purchases, such as your payment instrument number (such as a credit card number), and the security code associated with your payment instrument. All payment data is stored by Stripe. You may find their privacy notice link(s) here: https://stripe.com/en-gb/privacy.

All personal information that you provide to us must be true, complete and accurate, and you must notify us of any changes to such personal information.

Information automatically collected

In Short: Some information — such as your Internet Protocol (IP) address and/or browser and device characteristics — is collected automatically when you visit our Website.

We automatically collect certain information when you visit, use or navigate the Website. This information does not reveal your specific identity (like your name or contact information) but may include device and usage information, such as your IP address, browser and device characteristics, operating system, language preferences, referring URLs, device name, country, location, information about how and when you use our Website and other technical information. This information is primarily needed to maintain the security and operation of our Website, and for our internal analytics and reporting purposes.

Like many businesses, we also collect information through cookies and similar technologies.

The information we collect includes:

Log and Usage Data. Log and usage data is service-related, diagnostic, usage and performance information our servers automatically collect when you access or use our Website and which we record in log files. Depending on how you interact with us, this log data may include your IP address, device information, browser type and settings and information about your activity in the Website (such as the date/time stamps associated with your usage, pages and files viewed, searches and other actions you take such as which features you use), device event information (such as system activity, error reports (sometimes called 'crash dumps') and hardware settings).

Device Data. We collect device data such as information about your computer, phone, tablet or other device you use to access the Website. Depending on the device used, this device data may include information such as your IP address (or proxy server), device and application identification numbers, location, browser type, hardware model Internet service provider and/or mobile carrier, operating system and system configuration information.

Location Data. We collect location data such as information about your device's location, which can be either precise or imprecise. How much information we collect depends on the type and settings of the device you use to access the Website. For example, we may use GPS and other technologies to collect geolocation data that tells us your current location (based on your IP address). You can opt out of allowing us to collect this information either by refusing access to the information or by disabling your Location setting on your device. Note however, if you choose to opt out, you may not be able to use certain aspects of the Services.

2. HOW DO WE USE YOUR INFORMATION?

In Short: We process your information for purposes based on legitimate business interests, the fulfillment of our contract with you, compliance with our legal obligations, and/or your consent.

We use personal information collected via our Website for a variety of business purposes described below. We process your personal information for these purposes in reliance on our legitimate business interests, in order to enter into or perform a contract with you, with your consent, and/or for compliance with our legal obligations. We indicate the specific processing grounds we rely on next to each purpose listed below.

We use the information we collect or receive:

To facilitate account creation and logon process. If you choose to link your account with us to a third-party account (such as your Google or Facebook account), we use the information you allowed us to collect from those third parties to facilitate account creation and logon process for the performance of the contract.

To post testimonials. We post testimonials on our Website that may contain personal information. Prior to posting a testimonial, we will obtain your consent to use your name and the content of the testimonial. If you wish to update, or delete your testimonial, please contact us at membership@utc.travel and be sure to include your name, testimonial location, and contact information.

Request feedback. We may use your information to request feedback and to contact you about your use of our Website.

To enable user-to-user communications. We may use your information in order to enable user-to-user communications with each user's consent.

To manage user accounts. We may use your information for the purposes of managing our account and keeping it in working order.

To send administrative information to you. We may use your personal information to send you product, service and new feature information and/or information about changes to our terms, conditions, and policies.

To protect our Services. We may use your information as part of our efforts to keep our Website safe and secure (for example, for fraud monitoring and prevention).

To enforce our terms, conditions and policies for business purposes, to comply with legal and regulatory requirements or in connection with our contract.

To respond to legal requests and prevent harm. If we receive a subpoena or other legal request, we may need to inspect the data we hold to determine how to respond.

Fulfil and manage your orders. We may use your information to fulfil and manage your orders, payments, returns, and exchanges made through the Website.

Administer prize draws and competitions. We may use your information to administer prize draws and competitions when you elect to participate in our competitions.

To deliver and facilitate delivery of services to the user. We may use your information to provide you with the requested service.

To respond to user inquiries/offer support to users. We may use your information to respond to your inquiries and solve any potential issues you might have with the use of our Services.

To send you marketing and promotional communications. We and/or our third-party marketing partners may use the personal information you send to us for our marketing purposes, if this is in accordance with your marketing preferences. For example, when expressing an interest in obtaining information about us or our Website, subscribing to marketing or otherwise contacting us, we will collect personal information from you. You can opt-out of our marketing emails at any time (see the "WHAT ARE YOUR PRIVACY RIGHTS?" below).

Deliver targeted advertising to you. We may use your information to develop and display personalized content and advertising (and work with third parties who do so) tailored to your interests and/or location and to measure its effectiveness.

For other business purposes. We may use your information for other business purposes, such as data analysis, identifying usage trends, determining the effectiveness of our promotional campaigns and to evaluate and improve our Website, products, marketing and your experience. We may use and store this information in aggregated and anonymized form so that it is not associated with individual end users and does not include personal information. We will not use identifiable personal information without your consent.

3. WILL YOUR INFORMATION BE SHARED WITH ANYONE?

In Short: We only share information with your consent, to comply with laws, to provide you with services, to protect your rights, or to fulfil business obligations.

We may process or share your data that we hold based on the following legal basis:

Consent: We may process your data if you have given us specific consent to use your personal information for a specific purpose.

Legitimate Interests: We may process your data when it is reasonably necessary to achieve our legitimate business interests.

Performance of a Contract: Where we have entered into a contract with you, we may process your personal information to fulfil the terms of our contract.

Legal Obligations: We may disclose your information where we are legally required to do so in order to comply with applicable law, governmental requests, a judicial proceeding, court order, or legal process, such as in response to a court order or a subpoena (including in response to public authorities to meet national security or law enforcement requirements).

Vital Interests: We may disclose your information where we believe it is necessary to investigate, prevent, or take action regarding potential violations of our policies, suspected fraud, situations involving potential threats to the safety of any person and illegal activities, or as evidence in litigation in which we are involved.

More specifically, we may need to process your data or share your personal information in the following situations:

Business Transfers. We may share or transfer your information in connection with, or during negotiations of, any merger, sale of company assets, financing, or acquisition of all or a portion of our business to another company.

Vendors, Consultants and Other Third-Party Service Providers. We may share your data with third-party vendors, service providers, contractors or agents who perform services for us or on our behalf and require access to such information to do that work. Examples include: payment processing, data analysis, email delivery, hosting services, customer service and marketing efforts. We may allow selected third parties to use tracking technology on the Website, which will enable them to collect data on our behalf about how you interact with our Website over time. This information may be used to, among other things, analyze and track data, determine the popularity of certain content, pages or features, and better understand online activity. Unless described in this notice, we do not share, sell, rent or trade any of your information with third parties for their promotional purposes. We have contracts in place with our data processors, which are designed to help safeguard your personal information. This means that they cannot do anything with your personal information unless we have instructed them to do it. They will also not share your personal information with any organization apart from us. They also commit to protect the data they hold on our behalf and to retain it for the period we instruct.

Affiliates. We may share your information with our affiliates, in which case we will require those affiliates to honor this privacy notice. Affiliates include our parent company and any subsidiaries, joint venture partners or other companies that we control or that are under common control with us.

Business Partners. We may share your information with our business partners to offer you certain products, services or promotions.

Other Users. When you share personal information (for example, by posting comments, contributions or other content to the Website) or otherwise interact with public areas of the Website, such personal information may be viewed by all users and may be publicly made available outside the Website in perpetuity. Similarly, other users will be able to view descriptions of your activity, communicate with you within our Website, and view your profile.

4. WHO WILL YOUR INFORMATION BE SHARED WITH?

In Short: We only share information with the following categories of third parties.

We only share and disclose your information with the following categories of third parties. If we have processed your data based on your consent and you wish to revoke your consent, please contact us using the contact details provided in the section below titled "HOW CAN YOU CONTACT US ABOUT THIS NOTICE?".

Affiliate Marketing Programs

Data Analytics Services

Payment Processors

Sales & Marketing Tools

Retargeting Platforms

Social Networks

User Account Registration & Authentication Services

Website Hosting Service Providers

5. DO WE USE COOKIES AND OTHER TRACKING TECHNOLOGIES?

In Short: We may use cookies and other tracking technologies to collect and store your information.

We may use cookies and similar tracking technologies (like web beacons and pixels) to access or store information. Specific information about how we use such technologies and how you can refuse certain cookies is set out in our Cookie Notice.

6. HOW LONG DO WE KEEP YOUR INFORMATION?

In Short: We keep your information for as long as necessary to fulfil the purposes outlined in this privacy notice unless otherwise required by law.

We will only keep your personal information for as long as it is necessary for the purposes set out in this privacy notice, unless a longer retention period is required or permitted by law (such as tax, accounting or other legal requirements). No purpose in this notice will require us keeping your personal information for longer than twelve (12) months past the termination of the user's account.

When we have no ongoing legitimate business need to process your personal information, we will either delete or anonymize such information, or, if this is not possible (for example, because your personal information has been stored in backup archives), then we will securely store your personal information and isolate it from any further processing until deletion is possible.

7. HOW DO WE KEEP YOUR INFORMATION SAFE?

In Short: We aim to protect your personal information through a system of organizational and technical security measures.

We have implemented appropriate technical and organizational security measures designed to protect the security of any personal information we process. However, despite our safeguards and efforts to secure your information, no electronic transmission over the Internet or information storage technology can be guaranteed to be 100% secure, so we cannot promise or guarantee that hackers, cybercriminals, or other unauthorized third parties will not be able to defeat our security, and improperly collect, access, steal, or modify your information. Although we will do our best to protect your personal information, transmission of personal information to and from our Website is at your own risk. You should only access the Website within a secure environment.

8. DO WE COLLECT INFORMATION FROM MINORS?

In Short: We do not knowingly collect data from or market to children under 18 years of age.

We do not knowingly solicit data from or market to children under 18 years of age. By using the Website, you represent that you are at least 18 or that you are the parent or guardian of such a minor and consent to such minor dependent’s use of the Website. If we learn that personal information from users less than 18 years of age has been collected, we will deactivate the account and take reasonable measures to promptly delete such data from our records. If you become aware of any data we may have collected from children under age 18, please contact us at membership@utc.travel

9. WHAT ARE YOUR PRIVACY RIGHTS?

In Short: In some regions, such as the European Economic Area (EEA) and United Kingdom (UK), you have rights that allow you greater access to and control over your personal information. You may review, change, or terminate your account at any time.

In some regions (like the EEA and UK), you have certain rights under applicable data protection laws. These may include the right (i) to request access and obtain a copy of your personal information, (ii) to request rectification or erasure; (iii) to restrict the processing of your personal information; and (iv) if applicable, to data portability. In certain circumstances, you may also have the right to object to the processing of your personal information. To make such a request, please use the contact details provided below. We will consider and act upon any request in accordance with applicable data protection laws.

If we are relying on your consent to process your personal information, you have the right to withdraw your consent at any time. Please note however that this will not affect the lawfulness of the processing before its withdrawal, nor will it affect the processing of your personal information conducted in reliance on lawful processing grounds other than consent.

If you are a resident in the EEA or UK and you believe we are unlawfully processing your personal information, you also have the right to complain to your local data protection supervisory authority. You can find their contact details here: http://ec.europa.eu/justice/data-protection/bodies/authorities/index_en.htm.

If you are a resident in Switzerland, the contact details for the data protection authorities are available here: https://www.edoeb.admin.ch/edoeb/en/home.html.

If you have questions or comments about your privacy rights, you may email us at membership@utc.travel.

Account Information

If you would at any time like to review or change the information in your account or terminate your account, you can:

Upon your request to terminate your account, we will deactivate or delete your account and information from our active databases. However, we may retain some information in our files to prevent fraud, troubleshoot problems, assist with any investigations, enforce our Terms of Use and/or comply with applicable legal requirements.

Cookies and similar technologies: Most Web browsers are set to accept cookies by default. If you prefer, you can usually choose to set your browser to remove cookies and to reject cookies. If you choose to remove cookies or reject cookies, this could affect certain features or services of our Website. To opt-out of interest-based advertising by advertisers on our Website visit http://www.aboutads.info/choices/.

Opting out of email marketing: You can unsubscribe from our marketing email list at any time by clicking on the unsubscribe link in the emails that we send or by contacting us using the details provided below. You will then be removed from the marketing email list — however, we may still communicate with you, for example to send you service-related emails that are necessary for the administration and use of your account, to respond to service requests, or for other non-marketing purposes. To otherwise opt-out, you may:

Access your account settings and update your preferences.

10. CONTROLS FOR DO-NOT-TRACK FEATURES

Most web browsers and some mobile operating systems and mobile applications include a Do-Not-Track ("DNT") feature or setting you can activate to signal your privacy preference not to have data about your online browsing activities monitored and collected. At this stage no uniform technology standard for recognizing and implementing DNT signals has been finalized. As such, we do not currently respond to DNT browser signals or any other mechanism that automatically communicates your choice not to be tracked online. If a standard for online tracking is adopted that we must follow in the future, we will inform you about that practice in a revised version of this privacy notice.

11. DO CALIFORNIA RESIDENTS HAVE SPECIFIC PRIVACY RIGHTS?

In Short: Yes, if you are a resident of California, you are granted specific rights regarding access to your personal information.

California Civil Code Section 1798.83, also known as the "Shine The Light" law, permits our users who are California residents to request and obtain from us, once a year and free of charge, information about categories of personal information (if any) we disclosed to third parties for direct marketing purposes and the names and addresses of all third parties with which we shared personal information in the immediately preceding calendar year. If you are a California resident and would like to make such a request, please submit your request in writing to us using the contact information provided below.

If you are under 18 years of age, reside in California, and have a registered account with the Website, you have the right to request removal of unwanted data that you publicly post on the Website. To request removal of such data, please contact us using the contact information provided below, and include the email address associated with your account and a statement that you reside in California. We will make sure the data is not publicly displayed on the Website, but please be aware that the data may not be completely or comprehensively removed from all our systems (e.g. backups, etc.).

12. DO WE MAKE UPDATES TO THIS NOTICE?

In Short: Yes, we will update this notice as necessary to stay compliant with relevant laws.

We may update this privacy notice from time to time. The updated version will be indicated by an updated "Revised" date and the updated version will be effective as soon as it is accessible. If we make material changes to this privacy notice, we may notify you either by prominently posting a notice of such changes or by directly sending you a notification. We encourage you to review this privacy notice frequently to be informed of how we are protecting your information.

13. HOW CAN YOU CONTACT US ABOUT THIS NOTICE?

If you have questions or comments about this notice, you may contact our Data Protection Officer (DPO), Brett Norton, by email at membership@utc.travel, or by post to:

utc.travel. Department Leeds Dock, 4 The Boulevard, Clarence Dock, Leeds, England, LS10 1PZ

14. HOW CAN YOU REVIEW, UPDATE, OR DELETE THE DATA WE COLLECT FROM YOU?

Based on the applicable laws of your country, you may have the right to request access to the personal information we collect from you, change that information, or delete it in some circumstances. To request to review, update, or delete your personal information, please visit: www.utc.travel and login.

China Explorer, Private Tour

Our trip ideas

Terasu Riviera Maya Hotel & Spa, Riviera Maya, Mexico

Weekend at 4* Gleam Bomonti Hotel in Istanbul, Turkey

4* Marhaba Beach in Port El Kantaoui, Tunisia All inclusive

5* Pickalbatros Citadel Resort, Hurghada, Egypt

February Break at 5* La Zambra Resort GL, Marbella, Spain

4* Winter Break in Riga, Latvia with City Tour

5* Couples Break at Hotel Contessina, Zante, Greece

Discover Thailand - 20 Nights in January 2025

New Year's Eve Getaway at Buckle Street Studios, London