2013 - APT Europe River Cruising

10 Day Chelsea Flower Show UK & Wales Gardens Including a visit to London's famous Chelsea Flower Show Kew Gardens | Sissinghurst | Chelsea Flower Show | Waddesdon | Hidcote | Bodnant Garden UNITED KINGDOM Coach Bodnant Garden 2 2 Cardiff 2 Tunbridge Wells Kew See the knot garden at Hatfield House in England Day 1. London, Sissinghurst. Your Botanica holiday begins in London. Here, board your coach and head to World Heritage-listed Kew Gardens, home to 30,000 types of plants. Then continue to Sissinghurst, the famous 1930s garden created by Vita Sackville-West. Three Night Stay: Tunbridge Wells, Spa Hotel or similar. D Day 2. Great Dixter, Chartwell. Today you'll explore the late Christopher Lloyd's gardening masterpiece at Great Dixter. See the wildflower meadow and Long Border with hot colours. Afterwards, explore the magnificent home and gardens of the late Sir Winston Churchill at Chartwell. See the garden walls he built and explore the water gardens leading to the lake. BD Day 3. Chelsea Flower Show. Today enjoy a full day at the prestigious Chelsea Flower Show, which has attracted visitors from around the world for 150 years. Here, you'll find more than 600 exhibits as well as amazing garden designs, floral displays and new plants. Day 6. Hidcote, Powis Castle and Garden. Today visit Hidcote, one of England's great arts and crafts gardens. Then head to medieval Powis Castle in Wales. The gardens here feature extensive, attractive formal gardens, terraces, parkland, deerpark and landscaped estate. After your visit, head to Shrewsbury. Two Night Stay: Shrewsbury, Albrighton Hall Hotel or similar. BOTANICA GUARANTEED INCLUSIONS 9 Services of a Tour Manager and an expert Botanical Guide 9 Tipping and porterage included on tour 9 17 meals – 9 Breakfasts (B) and 8 Dinners (D) BD Day 7. Bodnant Garden, Portmeirion. Today travel to northern Wales to visit Bodnant Garden, one of the UK's biggest gardens with 32 hectares of terraced gardens, lawns and views across the Conwy Valley to the peak of Snowdonia. Later, visit the popular resort town of Portmerion then head to the lovely Edwardian garden, Plas Brondanw, featuring an arbour of four red twigged limes with garden rooms. BD BD Day 4. Beth Chatto Gardens, Oxford. See author Beth Chatto's instructive garden and learn how she chose plants for their foliage and form as much as for their flowers. Then continue on to Oxford and enjoy an orientation tour. Two Night Stay: Oxford, Randolph Hotel or similar. Day 5. Waddesdon, Hatfield House Gardens. Today visit Waddesdon Manor, a Renaissance-style château designed in 1874. Take in the landscaped gardens, colourful parterre, floral displays and marble sculptures. Then head for the gardens of Hatfield House to see the knot gardens, herbaceous borders, topiary and an organic kitchen garden. 184 Day 8. Cardiff, Dyffryn Gardens. Today you'll travel through the charming English and Welsh countryside to Cardiff. Choose from an afternoon at leisure or a visit to the Edwardian gardens at Dyffryn Gardens and Arboretum, set on an estate dating back to 640 AD. Two Night Stay: Cardiff, Hilton Hotel or similar. BD 9 Entry to the Chelsea Flower Show SIGHTSEEING HIGHLIGHTS 9 Visit World Heritage-listed Kew Gardens 9 Discover Sissinghurst Gardens 9 Wander the garden at Great Dixter 9 See the Beth Chatto Gardens 9 Visit the lovely landscaped gardens of Waddesdon Manor 9 Explore Hatfield House Gardens 9 Visit Hidcote and Powis Castle & Garden 9 Visit Aberglasney and Bodnant gardens 9 Wander the RHS Wisley Garden 9 Tour the Welsh National Botanic Garden 3 No. of nights stay Included Sightseeing Shrewsberry Hidcote Oxford LondonBeth Chatto Garden Great Dixter Sissinghurst Garden BD Day 9. Aberglasney Gardens, Welsh National Botanic Garden. Visit Aberglasney Gardens, which lay dormant for 400 years but have been remarkably restored. Then head to the Welsh National Botanic Garden to see a Welsh landscape and the Great Glasshouse. BD B Day 10. RHS Garden Wisley, London. Visit RHS Garden Wisley, considered Europe's most important demonstration garden with its rose, rock, heather and herb gardens. Your tour then ends on arrival in London around 5pm. B 2013 DATES & PRICES (A$) 10 DAYS LONDON RETURN (BTCW10) Departs May 21 Per person. Twin Share Solo Trav. $5,795 $6,995 PLEASE NOTE: Itinerary is effective from 1 August 2012. Twin Share match up is available for solo travellers. Ask us about pre & post tour accommodation and transfers. BOOK TWO BOTANICA HOLIDAYS to *See pages 196-197 for details. up SAVE $1,000* Per couple.

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