The Ring Quest - Origins of Lord of the Rings

June 14 - June 23, 2008

Tour Filled. Reservations Closed

Best Suited for Ages 13 +

$2495 for ages 13+

Ask about our discount plans for families of three or more traveling together

Space for this amazing tour is strictly limited to 20 travelers!

Join Magical Tours for the adventure of a lifetime. Travel to Britain with us to seek out the origins of J.R.R. Tolkien's masterworks, The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings. Visit the places that inspired the most famous fantasy world ever created, and enter and see ancient Britain as Tolkien saw it. Go on a "ring quest" expedition that will take you into lands so like The Shire, you will feel as if you've magically traveled into the very pages of the great books. Discover Tolkien's literary world in Oxford, and end the adventure by seeing the stunning London stage play of Lord of the Rings. This fantastic tour is a treasure for all: even one who has never read Tolkien's books or seen the movie trilogy will love visiting the hidden corners of the United Kingdom and experiencing the sweep of British culture and history that inspired Tolkien, as well as a host of other authors.

Accommodations on this tour will be a combination of small hotels and charming Bed and Breakfast inns. B&B's, as they are called, offer unique ways to experience the true flavor of Britain, and provide the comfort of hotels but with a much more personal touch. Along the way guests will stay in cozy inns as well as comfortable hotels very well located in charming cities. Our London hotel is in one of the city's best locations within easy walking distance of many celebrated theatres.

All along the journey our Lord of the Rings enthusiasts will enjoy the company of fellow travelers, and compete in trivia contests and game tournaments in keeping with the spirit of the great story.

Itinerary

"Remember what Bilbo used to say, 'It's a dangerous business, Frodo, going out you door. You step onto the road, and if you don't keep your feet, there's no knowing where you might be swept off to.'"

June 14 (Saturday): 

TransAtlantic flight to London (not included) Guests are responsible for making their own flight arrangements into London, England. Magical Tours will assist with transportation information, but flight connections are the responsibility of each tour participant. Guests must plan to arrive at London Heathrow no later than 10 AM on June 15th. Guest planning to arrive a day or more early may wish to stay at one of the convenient hotel at or near Heathrow. Magical Tours will be pleased to suggest accommodations for both pre- and post-tour London extensions.

June 15 (Sunday):

In the early morning arrive at London’s Heathrow Airport (By 10 AM). If you plan to arrive at Gatwick Airport, ground transportation to Heathrow is available, but guests are responsible for making the transfer; arrangements. The tour group will meet at Heathrow for a brief orientation at 11:00 AM before boarding transport to Oxford.

Alice:"But I don't want to go among mad people."
The Cat: "Oh, you can't help that."

                                 Alice in Wonderland by Charles Lutwidge Dodgson,
                                 better known as Lewis Carroll, Author & Professor
                                 for for twenty-six years at Christ Church, Oxford

Welcome to "The City Of Dreaming Spires", Oxford, England, home to John Ronald Reuel Tolkien for forty-six years, from 1925 until 1971. Tolkien is widely celebrated as the father of modern fantasy writing. Tolkien was among great company. The very air of Oxford whispers with the words of countless authors and scholars who have given us the most beloved characters of the literary world.

We'll begin our exploration of this most remarkable city by enjoying lunch together at; the perfect restaurant in Oxford: the cozy pub where great literary figures gathered in years past. For over 30 years a literary club known as The Inklings met here weekly to discuss their ideas and read from works in progress. This loose knit group had numerous participants over the years, including J.R.R. Tolkien and C.S. Lewis, among many other authors and scholars, particularly those interested in fantasy writing. In this charming little place, Tolkien first entranced listeners with his reading of The Hobbit, and Lewis first read aloud from his work, The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe.

After lunch we'll enjoy a casual walking tour of the city, including a visit to the world's first actual museum, The Ashmolean Museum of Art and Archaeology, which opened its doors on 24th of May 1683. We'll also visit the graves of J.R.R. Tolkien and his wife Edith in the old town.

Evening brings our welcome dinner together in an cozy restaurant, followed by a well-deserved good night's sleep.

June 16 (Monday):

After an excellent breakfast our little group is off for more adventure, this time outside the city, We're off on a private minibus; trip to one of the world’s most mysterious sites: Stonehenge. This ancient monolithic structure, famous the world over, continues to enchant visitors with it’s unfathomable mysteries. Everyone will be provided with a handy bagged lunch for a convenient meal on the go.

From Stonehenge we'll move on to explore the mysteries of nearby Avebury, including
a huge standing stone circle, a real barrow where the Barrow Wights are said to lurk, and an enigmatic man-made mountain, all so mesmerizing that they inspired JRR Tolkien to write about them in The Lord of the Rings. In the eveningwe'll go to an inviting inn nestled among the mysterious monuments of Avebury where everyone will be able to purchase dinner on our own. Afterward we'll return to Oxford for our last night there.

June 17 (Tuesday):

After a hearty English breakfast we'll board our First Class train to the scenic village of Hexham in northern England. We'll enjoy a nice lunch onboard as we savor the passing English countryside from our windows. From Hexham we'll make the short journey out onto the Northumberland Moors, and to our wonderfully charming and atmospheric bed & breakfast overlooking Hadrian's Wall. In the late afternoon we'll visit some of the area's Roman ruins and a reconstruction of a portion of the ancient Roman wall as it appeared almost 2000 years ago. There will be free time in the intriguing town of Hexham for dinner on our own before returning to our inn out in the countryside. If time allows we'll play some Lord of the Rings themed games before bedtime.

June 18 (Wednesday):

We'll need that full English breakfast today, because it's time for departing on our Ring Quest! We'll leave the comforts of our beds and venture off on our own journey through countryside so like The Shire that you will truly recognize how perfectly Tolkien was able to make us see his visions of Middle Earth. With only our basic supplies, we'll set off, following the route of the ancient Hadrian's Wall across the green hills. We'll taste our own Lembas, the sustaining waybread of the Elves, and sample Ent-Draught, the invigorating drink of the Ents, said to have been brewed from the waters of the mountain springs on Methedras. We've no idea of the dangers we will face as our company carries The One Ring, if only for a little while. Rumor has it that The Nine Riders are about...

If our band of travelers returns safely we'll head for our wayside inn, our own "Prancing Pony" , for a hearty dinner and an evening of tales before turning in after a long day's journey.

June 19 (Thursday):

After our last breakfast in the green hills, we'll return to Hexham to board our First Class train to Edinburgh, Scotland. After our arrival we'll enjoy a lunch together in a historic restaurant, followed by a walking tour of the fascinating Royal Mile. Our hotel is perfectly located right in the heart of this ancient city - a better location just can't be found! Enjoy an evening of free time exploring all the nooks and crannies of truly one of the world's most captivating cities. Find just the right place to have dinner on your own, and check out Edinburgh's lively nightlife. Everything is within easy walking distance!

June 20 (Friday):

After breakfast we'll head for an awe-inspiring site: Edinburgh Castle, said to have been Tolkien's inspiration for Minas Tirith, with its seven gates. Enjoy a castle tour plus plenty of free time to explore. Lunch will be on your own at either one of the castle's restaurants or snack bars, or at a cozy pub outside the castle on the High Street. In the afternoon we'll meet to go on another adventure together: a Falconry Training at a private castle near Edinburgh! Everyone will learn to fly elegant birds of prey including falcons, hawks, and perhaps even eagles! You'll be able to handle the birds on your own, and have them take off and return to your gloved hand.

In the afternoon we'll return to Edinburgh for a dinner together in the old city, followed by your choice of free time or a Ghost Walk in the depths of the creepy underground Vaults of Edinburgh.

June 21 (Saturday):

After breakfast we bid a fond farewell to Edinburgh, and board our train to London. Along a route we haven't traveled so far on our tour, we'll sit back in First Class comfort and enjoy the scenery and a leisurely lunch onboard before arriving in London. After checking into our wonderfully located hotel we'll take a short walking & riding tour of some of the famous city's highlights before assembling for an early pre-theatre dinner together in a very special restaurant everyone will love. Then it's on to the main event: the London stage play production of The Lord of the Rings. We'll have reserved seats for the incomparable production of the beloved trilogy. It has been hailed as the most lavish play ever produced in London - and it is sure to take your breath away! This will be an evening you'll never forget.

June 22 (Sunday):

After a nice breakfast at our hotel enjoy a free day in London! Everyone will be provided with an open pass to use on the London Underground subway system and on any of the city's buses to explore the city. Take a guided tour on your own, or visit any of the city's fantastic museums. The renowned British Museum offers free admission! Your Magical Tours guide will be happy to provide some good insider tips for making the most of your day and evening and doing all the things that appeal most to you. (Note that London theatres are closed on Sundays.) Enjoy lunch and dinner on your own today.

June 23 (Monday):

After one last breakfast at our hotel the tour ends. Everyone will be assisted with transfers to the airport. There are several choices for transportation from central London to Heathrow (or Gatwick), depending upon departure time; but all such arrangements and costs are the responsibility of individual guests.

You will never again view the beloved masterwork, The Lord of the Rings, in quite the same way, because you will have actually traveled to Tolkien's Middle Earth yourself...

This limited size private tour will fill quickly. Don’t miss out!

Reservations and deposits for this incredible experience should be made as early as possible, but not later than March 15, 2008.

This is not a “Big Bus Tour”. There will be no wake-up calls at 5 AM to herd onto the buses, or nightmarish marathon bus rides with totally exhausted tour participants. Our travelers will have friendly, extremely knowledgeable guides for the entire tour – not just a bus driver and contracted tour guides. We do our best to set the mood, to weave a spell, and to make yours a total experience. This is not a film-location tour, but rather a well-researched expedition to seek insight into Tolkien's real-life world, and how it was transformed into the fantasy world of Middle Earth. Each of the places visited will come to life for our guests. Hotels, bed and breakfast inns, and most restaurants on the entire journey have been selected for their very specific location and/or high level of “atmosphere”. The small group size allows us to personalize the experience in a way large groups simply cannot do.

Our travel adventure is not just another mass tour organized by a big commercial tour company to capitalize on a movie or book fad. It encompasses a genuine affection for an enduring classic of literature, as well as for a beautiful and historic country. This is much more than any movie location tour could be – anyone would love this unique view of England and Scotland. We want you to be a real part of it all – not just a tourist passing through. The price is not set artificially low, and then supplemented during the trip through annoying additional charges for “extra” tours. If you want a complete, personal, worry-free escorted tour of Tolkien's Britain you've found it!

Complete Prices:  $2495* Adults (Age 13 +)

(NOTE: The MAXIMUM for this small group tour is 20 persons, and the minimum is 12.)
;All prices are based on Double Occupancy. Inquire about Single Supplement prices.
A special discount is available for family groups of 3 or more lodging together.

The recommended minimum age for this tour is 13 years. Under certain circumstances Magical Tours will consider younger participants traveling with family members or chaperones upon request. But bear in mind this tour is not ideal for very young guests.

*SPECIAL NOTE: Prices are based on the October, 2007 British Pound to US Dollar exchange rate of 1 Great Britain Pound = $2.05 Magical Tours/Your Man in Europe reserves the right to charge a tour supplement fee equal to any increases in the currency exchange rate exceeding a 2% loss in the US Dollar valuation. The Pound to Dollar currency exchange rate in 2007 proved very unfavorable for US visitors to Britain. If the trend continues Magical Tours will have no choice but to pass the cost increase on to our guests. We regret this situation, and hope that the exchange rate will not continue to deteriorate.

Tour Includes: All eight breakfasts, six lunches and four dinners; all ground transportation including First Class rail travel and vans or minibuses, eight nights of overnight accommodation (based on double occupancy) in specially–selected bed and breakfast inns and hotels, admissions to all attractions described in the tour itinerary, full time; knowledgeable guide services, and standard gratuities. There will be no additional charges for tours and events offered by Magical Tours/Your Man in Europe.

Not Included: Airfare to and returning from London, return transportation to airport on departure, optional travel insurance, extra beverages (meals will include 1 beverage and will be budgeted accordingly); a la cart or premium menu selections beyond the established meal allowances; between meal snacks; gratuities for extra services such as baggage porters, or for superior service (normal gratuities are included in the trip cost); souvenirs; and privately arranged activities.

NOTE: All overnight accommodations, as well as railroad, coach, and mini-bus travel will be NON-SMOKING.

DISCLAIMER: This themed tour is not an official  "Lord of the Rings" event and is not endorsed, sanctioned or in any other way supported, directly or indirectly by New Line Cinema, or The Hobbit or Lord of the Rings book publishers, or by J.R.R. Tolkien's family or their representatives.

All rights to "The Hobbit" and the trilogy of "Lord of the Rings" books are the property of J.R.R. Tolkien's estate and his publishers. Film rights and image trademarks are the property of New Line Cinema. Any references to trademarked and copyrighted materials are not intended as anything more than an effort to bring well-known imaginary figures and places in literature into the context of an actual travel experiences in Great Britain.
Though the places we will visit are quite real and historically significant, the theme of this tour is based upon an author''s life and his imaginary characters and places. When the tour itinerary refers to such imaginary characters or place names, there is no intent to imply that they are real people or places, or that they pertain to factual events. Such references are intended to create associations between possible inspirations for the stories, and the very real places we will visit. Since “The Shire”, “Minas Tirith”, etc. are not real places, we cannot actually visit them…but we can have fun pretending…