Tibet & China holiday
| country: | China, Tibet |
| trip type: | A small group adventure |
| departures: | 2008: 11 Oct |
| price: | From £2150 (17 days) including domestic flights only, as per itinerary, based on twin share. Maximum group size 15. We can arrange flights from the UK. |
the amazing things you'll be doing
Beijing - Great Wall - Xian - Lanzhou - Xiahe - Langmusi - Songpan - Jiuzhaigou - Chengdu - Giant Panda Breeding Base - Leshan
This incredible overland adventure combines the rich history and sights of Beijing and Xian with the cultural delights of Chengdu and the remote Tibetan landscapes and villages of western China.
The highlight of this trip is the journey itself – through the marvellous undeveloped Tibetan regions of China outside of the province of Tibet – wild and open tracts of land with green rolling hills, wide scattered herds of yak, nomads and pilgrims, monasteries and mountains.
From bustling cities to alpine forests to high altitude plains, this is an experience for the free spirited adventurer who is seeking an experience never to be forgotten.
Highlights include:
Overland journeys through remote Tibetan regions of western China Spectacular high altitude landscapes Great Wall at Mutianyu Rickshaw ride into Beijing’s backstreet hutongs Boat cruise to Buddhist grottoes of Bingling Si Tibetan monastery town of Xiahe High altitude town of Langmusi Alpine scenery and turquoise lakes of Jiuzhaigou – flight over snowcapped mountains of northern Sichuan Visit to Giant Panda Breeding & Research Base River cruise past Leshan’s Big Buddha Chengdu’s medicine market & teahouses
Price includes: 15 nights hotel accommodation (4 nights basic accommodation), 1 overnight sleeper train, internal flights per itinerary, road transport (modern air-conditioned vehicle), sightseeing per itinerary (excluding entrance fees), daily breakfasts & two lunches, tour leader (based on minimum of 7 people) and local English speaking guides.
This incredible overland adventure combines the rich history and sights of Beijing and Xian with the cultural delights of Chengdu and the remote Tibetan landscapes and villages of western China.
The highlight of this trip is the journey itself – through the marvellous undeveloped Tibetan regions of China outside of the province of Tibet – wild and open tracts of land with green rolling hills, wide scattered herds of yak, nomads and pilgrims, monasteries and mountains.
From bustling cities to alpine forests to high altitude plains, this is an experience for the free spirited adventurer who is seeking an experience never to be forgotten.
Highlights include:
Price includes: 15 nights hotel accommodation (4 nights basic accommodation), 1 overnight sleeper train, internal flights per itinerary, road transport (modern air-conditioned vehicle), sightseeing per itinerary (excluding entrance fees), daily breakfasts & two lunches, tour leader (based on minimum of 7 people) and local English speaking guides.
day-by-day itinerary
| Day 1-4: | Beijing. Arrive in Beijing and explore her fascinating backstreets by rickshaw, where you will get to meet a local family for lunch in their home and see an age-old ritual at the Drum Tower. A picnic at the Great Wall at Mutianyu, a wander through the Forbidden City and Summer Palace, and a view of the 2008 Olympic Games sites are sure to fascinate. Hotel: Novotel Xinqiao |
| Day 5-6: | 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: Bell Tower |
| Day 7-10: | Chengdu & Emei Shan. Relish in Sichuan traditions and cultural performances, visit the nearby Giant Panda Research & Breeding Base, the Big Buddha of Leshan and the sacred mountain of Emei. Visit the monastery at Wannian Si and enjoy a vegetarian lunch, as well as the cable car journey to get there. Hotels: YinHe Dynasty, Hongzhushan Hotel |
| Day 11-15: | Lhasa. Fly across the Himalayas to Lhasa, the spiritual heart and soul of Tibet. Take a day to acclimatise to the high altitude. You will find Lhasa’s Old Quarter backstreets and koras, monasteries and palaces as amazing as her landscapes. Visit Jokhang Temple, the Barkhor Circuit, Sera Monastery, Pawang Ka, and Potala Palace, as well as the Tibet Museum. Day-trip to stunning Yamdrok Lake. Highlights will include a visit to a Tibetan family’s home and Braille without Borders. Hotel: Xiongbala Hotel |
| Day 16-17: | Chengdu. Fly back to Chengdu for a final taste of Sichuan Province. Depart on day 17. Hotel: YinHe Dynasty |
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
 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 iconic sites of Bejing and Xian to the remote Tibetan landscapes and villages of western China. 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. Close to Xiahe, we visit a Tibetan home in the Sangke Grasslands and get to know the locals over a steaming cup of yak butter tea! In Chengdu we visit the Giant Panda & Breeding Base to learn about these endangered animals and the conservation and breeding initiatives that have been implemented to protect them and their natural habitat. 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 centre in Beijing. 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. |