Small group tours to China
| country: | China |
| location: | Great Wall, Terracotta Warriors |
| departures: | 2010: 20 Mar, 17 Apr, 8 May, 22 May, 5 Jun, 3 Jul, 7 Aug, 4 Sep, 9 Oct, 23 Oct, 6 Nov |
| price: | From £1745 - £1860 (15 days) excluding flights. Based on 2 people shaing. We can arrange flights from the UK from £500 per person including taxes. |
| vouchers: | Gift vouchers can be used with this holiday |
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introduction to Small group tours to China
Discover China's winding backstreets on an exciting rickshaw ride through Beijing’s ancient hutongs.
The 15-day ‘China Panorama’ combines the imposing manmade structures of the Great Wall, the Forbidden City and the Terracotta Warriors with the timeless landscapes of the Li River. We also spend some time in Sichuan Province, home to some of the country’s spiciest cuisine, and the Giant Panda. From the capital Beijing, we travel to Xian, one of the most important cities in China’s history and former starting point of the Silk Road. In Sichuan’s charming capital, Chengdu, we mix with the locals in the People’s Park and visit the Giant Panda Research & Breeding Base. Relax among the stunning rural scenery of Guilin and Yangshuo before heading to exciting Shanghai, where your journey ends. Choose our Deluxe option to stay in some of China’s most luxurious hotels.
Price includes: 13 nights hotel accommodation and 1 overnight train (soft sleeper 4-berth shared cabin) or 14 nights hotel accommodation on Deluxe Journeys, flights as specified, all road transport by air-conditioned vehicles, all sightseeing as specified (excluding entrance fees on Classic Journeys), Western tour leader (7 or more travellers) and local English-speaking guides throughout, arrival and departure transfers, breakfast daily and 2 lunches.
The 15-day ‘China Panorama’ combines the imposing manmade structures of the Great Wall, the Forbidden City and the Terracotta Warriors with the timeless landscapes of the Li River. We also spend some time in Sichuan Province, home to some of the country’s spiciest cuisine, and the Giant Panda. From the capital Beijing, we travel to Xian, one of the most important cities in China’s history and former starting point of the Silk Road. In Sichuan’s charming capital, Chengdu, we mix with the locals in the People’s Park and visit the Giant Panda Research & Breeding Base. Relax among the stunning rural scenery of Guilin and Yangshuo before heading to exciting Shanghai, where your journey ends. Choose our Deluxe option to stay in some of China’s most luxurious hotels.
Price includes: 13 nights hotel accommodation and 1 overnight train (soft sleeper 4-berth shared cabin) or 14 nights hotel accommodation on Deluxe Journeys, flights as specified, all road transport by air-conditioned vehicles, all sightseeing as specified (excluding entrance fees on Classic Journeys), Western tour leader (7 or more travellers) and local English-speaking guides throughout, arrival and departure transfers, breakfast daily and 2 lunches.
day-by-day itinerary
| Day 1-3: | Beijing. Arrive in Beijing and transfer to your hotel. We walk through the incredible expanse of Tiananmen Square before continuing on foot to the splendid Forbidden City. Enjoy a traditional tea ceremony before heading into one of Beijing's few remaining hutongs (backstreets) for lunch in a local home and a rickshaw ride. See the city’s famous Drum Tower, travel to the Great Wall at Mutianyu, and enjoy free time to explore the Wangfujing Night Markets. Hotel: Novotel Xinqiao |
| Day 4-5: | Overnight Train & Xian. The Terracotta Warriors are Xian’s crowning glory, but you will also make memories in the colourful Muslim Quarter and pagodas, and enjoy delicious regional cuisine. Take some time atop the ancient city walls and see the Big Goose Pagoda, as well as Calligraphy Street. Hotel: Overnight train, Golden Tang |
| Day 6-7: | Chengdu. We rise early in Xian to take a stroll through the City Park, before marvelling at the life-size Terracotta Warriors. In the afternoon, fly to Chengdu in Sichuan Province. Here we visit the nearby Giant Panda Research & Breeding Base, relax in the peaceful gardens of Dufu’s Cottage, a famed poet from the Tang Dynasty, and observe local life while relaxing in a teahouse in bustling People’s Park. Hotel: YinHe Dynasty |
| Day 8-9: | Guilin & Longsheng. We fly to Guilin, one of China's most attractive cities, set on the banks of the Li River. Climb the stone steps to the top of Fubo Hill for panoramic views of the city's rooftops and surrounding limestone mountains. We also visit the Traditional Chinese Medicine Centre to learn about acupuncture, reflexology and herbal medicine. The following day we head to Longsheng, where we visit a White Yao village and admire the spectacular rice terraces known as the Dragon’s Backbone. Hotel: Universal |
| Day 10-11: | Yangshuo. We enjoy a leisurely cruise along the Li River, the perfect opportunity to soak up the region's renowned limestone karst scenery and traditional rural scenes. In charming Yangshuo, we take the time to wander the cobbled streets and cycle into the pretty countryside, exploring villages, rice paddies and lotus fields. There is free time to visit the local markets or take a lesson in Chinese painting. |
| Day 12-15: | Shanghai & Zhujiajiao. We fly to Shanghai, one of the world’s most fascinating cities. Walk along the Bund, a remnant of Shanghai's days as a trading port and home to an impressive collection of Art Deco buildings, visit the superb Shanghai Museum and peaceful Yu Garden. We also take a day trip to the ancient water town of Zhujiajiao, discover the lively backstreets of the Chinese Quarter and see the famed Shanghai acrobats in action. Your journey ends with an airport transfer on day 15. Hotel: Rendezvous Merry |
small group adventure holiday
These small group journeys have a maximum of 15 like-minded travellers which ensures that all travellers have an amazing overall experience with the destination and that they enjoy the flexibility that comes with the small group dynamic. On this trip you will stay at boutique accommodation with character. Our numbers are discreet enough for us to interact with local families in their homes and meet people in markets, bazaars and temples – something that’s just not possible when you arrive as part of a large tour group. Along with our unique combination of Western tour leader and local English-speaking guide this will ensure an unforgettable travel experience.how this holiday makes a difference
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We believe that travel should entail an exchange of knowledge and perspectives, a sharing of wealth, and a genuine appreciation of China’s natural environment. This philosophy underpins the heart and soul of our style of travel. We recognise that poorly planned itineraries or poorly informed tourists contribute less to cross-cultural understanding and less to the livelihoods of local people.
Experience the incredible diversity of China from the might of Beijing to bustling Shanghai via the rural areas around Guilin and Yangshuo. In the capital enjoy a delicious home-made lunch with a local hutong family – an experience which allows for cross-cultural exchange. Then hop on rickshaws for more close-up glimpses of local life in these laneways. These environmentally friendly rickshaw tours benefit drivers who tend to be socio-economically disadvantaged. During this journey we also actively encourage our travellers to patronise or financially assist numerous not-for-profit organisations in China including the blind masseur centres in Beijing and Shanghai. On this journey our local guides are trained to share their knowledge of cultural and other local issues in a balanced, informative way; in this journey alone you are likely to meet several local guides from different provinces in China. They share real experiences from their own lives and insights into their family life, influences and beliefs, thus providing our travellers with a deeper understanding of the places they visit. This is what motivates our guides, not shopping commissions. |
Tourism can be good and bad for destinations & local people. We carefully screen every holiday against our criteria for responsible travel. 'Look behind the brochure' to find how each holiday makes a difference (see left). We don't claim to be perfect - there is no global accreditation - but we've led the way since 2001 and screened 1000's of holidays. We invite every traveller to write a review about their experiences and responsible tourism. This valuable feedback is sent to the people who run the holidays. We keep a very close eye on it and take off holidays that don't live up to our standards. |
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