From Avalon to Camelot

Tour operated in cooperation with Gothic Image Tours

September 5 – 14, 2012

Tour Now Closed

Day One – Wed. June 6: Rendezvous at London Heathrow Airport, Terminal 3, Arrivals Building, ‘The Meeting Point’ – at NOON. Transfer to coach. Lunch at the Mayfly Inn, Wherwell, en route to Glastonbury. Check in to our hotel – the 14th C George and Pilgrims’ Inn in Glastonbury. Dinner and orientation.

Day Two – Thurs. June 7: A mystical tour of Glastonbury – the Ancient Isle of Avalon. We begin at Wearyall Hill where tradition recalls Joseph of Arimathea arrived with his twelve companions in AD37, bringing the Chalice of the Last Supper or the Holy Grail. Thence to the Chalice Well where we visit the beautiful gardens and drink of the healing waters of the well. Here is the legendary burial place of the Holy Grail. We climb the magnificent Tor hill on which is sculpted a three dimensional labyrinth or Cretan maze. From here we view the surrounding landscape from St Michael’s Tower on the tip of the Tor. After lunch we meet the Arthurian scholar Geoffrey Ashe who guides us through the ruins of Glastonbury Abbey – the ‘Holyest Earthe of England’. Free time until dinner at our hotel. Overnight in Glastonbury.

Day Three – Fri. June 8: Today we visit the spectacular hill fort known as Cadbury/Camelot – the likely site of King Arthur’s citadel. Here we can see the enormous stone ramparts that surround the hill and walk the perimeter of the 21 hilltop acres that constitute the fort. This became an important defensive site over thousands of years. We learn of the history, myth and legends of the Arthurian period. After lunch we return to Glastonbury to visit the ancient Druid oaks of Avalon – Gog and Magog – that were reputed to be part of a processional path leading to the Tor. Free time until dinner when we can shop,have a massage, tarot or astrological reading, Reiki, Aromatherapy, Aura Soma or revisit a Glastonbury site for quiet contemplation. Overnight in Glastonbury.

Day Four – Sat. June 9: Today we travel to North Cornwall, to the legendary birthplace of King Arthur – Tintagel. En route we visit the holy well and chapel of the Celtic St Clether, set in a beautiful valley with a bubbling stream and rocky outcrops. A place of rare peace and sanctity. After lunch we explore the ruins of Tintagel Castle, set on island peninsula amid the rugged Cornish coastline. We descend to the awesome Merlin’s Cave, said to be haunted by the spirit of the great sage. We visit the fogou (iron-age underground ceremonial cave) and the King’s Inauguration Footprint, set in stone at the highest point of the island. We check in to the Camelot Castle Hotel. Dinner. Overnight in Tintagel.

Day Five – Sun. June 10: Today we visit the nearby enchanted fairy glen of St Nectan with its wonderful waterfall, keive (initiation bowl), saint’s hermitage and chapel. Here is a precious nature site of outstanding beauty. Legend recalls that King Arthur and his knights found refreshment here. We take lunch at the Cobweb Inn in the lovely little fishing village of Boscastle, where we will have time to explore its many interesting features. Later in the day we visit Rocky Valley where, in a disused mill, we will find two bronze age stone carvings of the Cretan labyrinth or maze. Overnight in Tintagel again.

Day Six – Mon. June 11: Onwards through the Cornish countryside to Penzance – the last city in England. En route we visit Hamish and Ba Miller at their home in Trencrom where lies an ancient ‘hill of the Goddess’. Hamish will guide us to the hill with its holy well, its spectacular views of St Michaels Mount and of West Penwith the ‘tip of the toe’ of the isles of Britain. He will introduce us to the diviner’s art of dowsing – as a blacksmith of great renown he makes his own rods. He will tell us of his work in exploring the St Michael and St Mary lines, and he and Ba will take us on a tour of their beautiful gardens. On the way to our hotel we will view the impressive St Michael’s Mount across from Mount’s Bay, where we take in the sea air and relax by the shore. Overnight in Penzance area.

Day Seven – Tues. June 12: Today we visit the stone circles, wayside shrines and holy wells of the little district of West Penwith – the Land’s End. First, the evocative stone circle of Boscowen-un (‘house of the elder tree’), secluded amongst bracken, with a central leaning pillar stone and an enigmatic quartz stone in the south-west of the circle. Then the Merry Maidens stone circle, named as legend recalls after a group of girls caught dancing on the Sabbath by the Devil, who turned them to stone. Nearby are two monoliths known as the Pipers, who met the same fate. We visit the lovely valley of Lamorna, where we take lunch at the Lamorna Wink Inn. In the afternoon we visit the holy wells of Madron with its Celtic chapel and Sancreed, where stands a church with ancient crosses. You may wish to bring a rag or ribbon to hang as an offering to the spirit of these sacred wells. Overnight in Penzance area.

Day Eight – Wed. June 13: We journey northeast across the great Bodmin Moor, stopping for a break at Jamaica Inn, made famous by Daphne Du Maurier. We have lunch at a unique 12th C hostelry on the edge of Dartmoor. This inn has been built within what remains of a stone circle! We travel upcountry to the pretty market town of Marlborough. Overnight in Marlborough.

Day Nine – Thurs. June 14: We rise early and journey to the great temple of Stonehenge. You may wish to bring along a personal item that can be blessed within the temple. We return to our hotel for breakfast. After a short break we visit the World Heritage Site and sacred landscape of Avebury. The henge, the largest stone circle in the world, has an imposing bank and ditch, and inner stone circles. We visit the largest burial mound in Europe – West Kennet long barrow – and the largest artificial structure in Europe – the enigmatic Silbury Hill. In the afternoon we have free time to rest, stroll round the town of Marlborough and prepare for our farewell dinner. Overnight in Marlborough.

Final Day – Fri. June 15: After breakfast we depart for London Heathrow Airport for international, domestic fights and transfers. We arrive by 10am in time for flight departures from 1pm onwards.

Please note: We reserve the right to vary the itinerary as necessary to provide the best possible experience under the circumstances prevailing at the time.

The price includes excellent quality accommodation and coach travel, full English breakfast and three course dinner, all inland transportation, entrance fees, presentations, guide fees, taxes and gratuities (excl. driver). The cost is based on double occupancy.

All rooms have private facilities. Single rooms are few but may be available at an additional cost, see single supplement below.

Please CLICK HERE to Read What to Expect on This Tour

TOUR PRICES:
** Bonus! SAVE! You will receive a 5% discount if ALL payments are made by check or money order. This discounted price is noted below in red.

Price Per Person (Land Only)

$3,179 payments via check or money order
$3,349 payments via credit card

Single Supplement

$409 payments via check or money order
$429 payments via credit card

Travel Insurance

Body Mind Spirit Journeys highly recommends the purchase of Trip Cancellation/Interruption Travel Insurance, and we therefore provide you with an easy way to contact BMSJ’s preferred insurance provider, Allianz Global Assistance.

If you need additional information or have questions, please call Allianz directly at 800-284-8300, and refer to code F025323.

For Flight Assistance and Ticketing, call: 631-624-7612
or email horst@rmctravelight.com