The Great Australian Explorer 2009

About Trafalgar Tours

Trafalgar offers tours targeted to the middle class and offers less expensive hotels in more suburban areas vs. city centers. You'll still get to see the key sites while remaining on a budget.

Traveler profile

Most passengers are 50+, especially catering to retired couples. Their Breakaway tours generally cater to 21-38 year olds.

Group size

Maximum 55 people on a bus.

Tour directors

Less experienced tour guides are generally assigned to these tours to help them increase their experience.

Hotel type

Hotels are comfortable but less centrally located than tours by Globus or Insight.

What's included

Most basic city tours included. There are optionals including more in depth tours as well as special dinners, etc. are extra.

Free time

There is more bus time on these tours than on higher end ones, so there is less free time, but you can maximize your leisure time by skipping some of the optional trips.

Booking Policy

Booking Changes:


A fee of US$30 per person (per change) will be charged in addition to any airline fees for any revision or alteration made to a reservation after the booking is confirmed. Any alterations will risk the loss of air space or increased airfares. Name changes or corrections will be treated as a cancellation of air and all normal air cancellation fees will apply. A change of tour date or tour itinerary within 90 days (River Cruises & China), 80 days (Tour & Cruise), 50 days (Tour & Train) or 45 days (Tour Only) prior to tour departure will be treated as a cancellation, and normal cancellation fees will apply.

Cancellations and Cancellation Fees:

If you cancel more than 90 days prior to a River Cruise or China departure, 80 days prior to a Tour & Cruise departure, 50 days prior to a Tour & Train departure or 45 days prior to a Tour Only departure, a cancellation fee equal to your deposit paid will be charged (including the Travel Protection Plan¡¯s insurance premium if applicable, see Trafalgar¡¯s brochure) will not be refunded, nor can it be credited to any other booking.

Notice of cancellation must be made in writing either directly to Trafalgar or through your Travel Agent.

The following scale of charges will apply when notice of cancellation for River Cruise, Tour & Cruise, Tour and Train and Tour Only is given prior to tour departure.

Tour Only (Land Tours)
No. of days prior to tour departure* and Cancellation Free as a % of total price:
Over 45 days: $US200
45 - 22 days: 25%
21 - 8 days: 30%
7 - 1 days: 50%
Departure day or later/no show: 100%

Tour & Train
No. of days prior to tour departure* and Cancellation Free as a % of total price:
Over 50 days: $US200
50 - 35 days: 35%
34 - 20 days: 50%
19 - 8 days: 75%
7 days or less / no show: 100%

Tour & Cruise
No. of days prior to tour departure* and Cancellation Free as a % of total price:
Over 80 days: $US350
80 - 46 days: 35%
45 - 16 days: 50%
15 - 8 days: 75%
7 days or less / no show: 100%


River Cruise & China
No. of days prior to tour departure* and Cancellation Free as a % of total price:
90 days or more: $US200**
89 - 60 days: 35%**
59 - 30 days: 50%**
Less than 30 days: 100%**
Departure day or later / no show: 100%**

South America Tour
No. of days prior to tour departure* and Cancellation Free as a % of total price:
45 days or more: the full non-refundable deposit
45 - 31 days: 25%
30 days or less: 100%
Departure day or later / no show: 100%

*The departure date constitutes the date indicated on Trafalgar's confirmation.
**Fare is defined as the cost of any cruise / tour element purchased from Uniworld Inc.

Extra night hotel accommodation that is cancelled within 14 days of the booked date incurs a 100% cancellation fee. When accommodation is cancelled outside 14 days, the cancellation fees are:
Over 45 days: US$30 per person
45 - 22 days: 25%
21 - 15 days: 30%

Airline arrangements: The following cancellation charges apply for airline arrangements made by Trafalgar Tours:
Prior to Airline Ticketing service fee $50.00 per person.
After Airline Ticketing service fee $75.00 per person plus any airline imposed penalties which may be up to 100% of the air ticket value.

Airline special requests, availability and gateways: Seat assignment and special meal requests can be requested at time of booking. Trafalgar cannot guarantee confirmation of preferences. Frequent Flyer miles can be accrued on most air carriers but upgrades using mileage is not permitted. Note that not all airlines automatically provide pre-reserved seats, add frequent flyer numbers to records or apply frequent flyer bonus upgrades to flights booked and ticketed by Trafalgar unless they are informed by your Travel Agent.
Seats are limited and not available on every flight. If Trafalgar is unable to confirm your air reservation in its scheduled class of service, we may offer an alternative of either connecting flights, substitute gateways or a more expensive booking category. Any air surcharges will be at the passenger¡¯s expense. You will be advised of these conditions at the time of booking.
For alternative routing, specific air travel or other special requirements, we recommend your Travel Agent reserves your flights directly with the airline of your choice. Trafalgar reserves the right to choose the air carrier, routing and gateway airport and you should be advised that flight schedules in force at that time may require you make alternative connections or stops en route to your destination. Trafalgar does not hold block space on any airline and does not guarantee air availability for every single tour departure date. You should be advised that due to demand during peak travel times, there may not be availability in popular gateway cities. Passengers originating from different gateway cities and sharing a room or traveling with other passengers, may not be confirmed on the same airline or routing.

Refunds and Penalties:

Illness or Absenteeism: In the event of your withdrawal from a tour after commencement for reasons of illness, you must obtain a medical certificate in support of any insurance claim. We regret that no refunds can be made for absences from a tour, including but not limited to missed meals or sightseeing. Trafalgar makes no representation or guarantees concerning reimbursements of funds paid by you under any insurance claim.

Airfares: No refund will be made for cancelled air tickets on air inclusive bookings until tickets are returned to Trafalgar. Refunds for tour portion will only be processed after return of documents to Trafalgar. Please ensure that returned tour documents which contain airline tickets are sent by certified or registered mail. Lost ticket replacement can take up to 1 year and processing fees can be assessed.

If a promotional airfare is broken or extended for any reason, an additional cost may be incurred. Airfares are subject to change at any time. Changes to flight itineraries and name changes may result in penalties charged by Trafalgar and/or the airline concerned passed on to the passenger. Promotionally priced bookings may be subject to additional cancellation or change fees; please refer to specific promotion terms, conditions and restrictions.