China holidays, tailor made tours
| country: | China |
| location: | Great Wall, Terracotta Warriors |
| departures: | This trip can be tailormade throughout the year and can be adapted to suit your interests, budget and requirements as necessary |
| price: | From £1670 (13 days) excluding flights, based on 2 people travelling (or £1400 based on group of 4). Domestic flights (Beijing/Xi’an, Xi’an/Guilin and Guilin/Shanghai) approx £251 including taxes |
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the amazing things you'll be doing
China, one of the world’s oldest civilizations, is currently undergoing rapid transformation and modernization, quickly joining the worldly ranks of the top international countries. Despite such a dramatic transformation, China has managed to retain much of its charm and traditional feel, allowing for a unique travel experience to an amazing destination.
Its vast geographical terrain and ancient history offer travellers a unique blend of opportunities ranging from educational, to relaxing, and cutting edge. Beijing, China’s capital city, boasts a fascinating mix of ancient temples, royal gardens, and ancient architecture. It is also the perfect hub for a trip to the famous Great Wall.
Xi’an, the ancient capital of China, was once home to an amazing span of 13 dynasties. Xi’an is where Qin Shihuang, the first emperor of a unified China, made his capital, and is most famous for its Terra Cotta warriors. The symbol of China’s modernity, Shanghai is the hustling and bustling economic center of China, largely responsible for its dramatic ascent as a 1st world country. It is paradise for shoppers and fine diners alike, with the true international feel of a cosmopolitan city.
Of course, no trip to China would be complete without a visit to the Guilin area. Here, one can catch a glimpse of a more laid back China, where a more simple and traditional way of life thrives. One can find rural villages, meet with local fisherman, and take a cruise on the stunning Li River.
Best time to go: While China is a year-round destination, the months of May, September, and October are ideal months for travel anywhere in the country. Spring and autumn are the best months for this trip with temperature ranges from 15 to 23 degrees C.
Please note: We are providing touring in China throughout the Olympics, but we do not have access to tickets for the Olympic events. These would have to be purchased by clients separately.
Please note: We do not offer spa and beach holidays.
Its vast geographical terrain and ancient history offer travellers a unique blend of opportunities ranging from educational, to relaxing, and cutting edge. Beijing, China’s capital city, boasts a fascinating mix of ancient temples, royal gardens, and ancient architecture. It is also the perfect hub for a trip to the famous Great Wall.
Xi’an, the ancient capital of China, was once home to an amazing span of 13 dynasties. Xi’an is where Qin Shihuang, the first emperor of a unified China, made his capital, and is most famous for its Terra Cotta warriors. The symbol of China’s modernity, Shanghai is the hustling and bustling economic center of China, largely responsible for its dramatic ascent as a 1st world country. It is paradise for shoppers and fine diners alike, with the true international feel of a cosmopolitan city.
Of course, no trip to China would be complete without a visit to the Guilin area. Here, one can catch a glimpse of a more laid back China, where a more simple and traditional way of life thrives. One can find rural villages, meet with local fisherman, and take a cruise on the stunning Li River.
Best time to go: While China is a year-round destination, the months of May, September, and October are ideal months for travel anywhere in the country. Spring and autumn are the best months for this trip with temperature ranges from 15 to 23 degrees C.
Please note: We are providing touring in China throughout the Olympics, but we do not have access to tickets for the Olympic events. These would have to be purchased by clients separately.
Please note: We do not offer spa and beach holidays.
day-by-day itinerary
| Day 1: | Fly to Beijing and rest for jetlag. |
| Day 2: | Visit Tiananmen Square, and the Forbidden City - including private access to the seldom visited Treasure Museum. In Afternoon, wander the Hutong, the heart of old Beijing. |
| Day 3: | Tai Chi lesson during a morning visit to the Temple of Heaven, Panjiayuan Market and Summer Palace guided tours. |
| Day 4: | Morning visit the Great Wall at Mutianyu and check out a local market en route. Afterwards, go to Sancha village to learn the impact of urbanization on local farmers life. Enjoy a dumpling-making lesson and homestyle meal with a family in Sancha village. |
| Day 5: | Fly to Xi’an and visit Terracotta Warriors. The highlight of this visit is special access to the newly excavated Pit 5 and Pit 6. Back to town, we check out the old Muslim quarter and shops open in the evening. |
| Day 6: | Visit the Shaanxi History Museum. In the afternoon, learn Chinese traditional calligraphy at Forest of Stone Tablets before navigating the ancient city wall by bicycle. |
| Day 7: | Fly to Guilin and drive onwards to Longsheng. |
| Day 8: | Day hike around Longsheng admist the rice terrace fields; return to Guilin. |
| Day 9: | Take a Li River cruise to Yangshuo. |
| Day 10: | Biking and hiking around Yangshuo and fly to Shanghai in the evening. |
| Day 11: | Shanghai Museum, Bund and French Concessions. |
| Day 12: | Suzhou Day Trip. |
| Day 13: | Fly back home. |
travellers' tales
Highlights were Beijing Chinese Great Wall and Terracotta Army Xian (more)
tailor made holidays to China
We are a local operator and recognize that people are individuals, with individual tastes and wants; why should you book an off the shelf package holiday when you can have one tailor made just for you? Our holiday will include everything you want to see and do, when you want to travel, for the duration you choose, and at a budget you set.how this holiday makes a difference
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Travel in a sustainable way. Whenever possible, we support small, family-run, and locally owned businesses: hotels, restaurants, shops, tour guides. For example, in Beijing we have a thriving relationship with many courtyard/boutique style guesthouses which, in addition to being locally owned and operated, provide guests with a unique and genuine travel experience.
We arrange family visits to homes outside the major cities, to allow travelers to see the contrast between the urban and rural ways of life. Rather than observing the village from a touristy, outsider’s perspective, we join the family for a cooking lesson and homestyle meal. We support these local communities and partner with them, to allow the economic benefits from tourism to reach them directly. We choose people who invest their creativity and resources in giving travelers simple, friendly, sustainable, and honest experiences--people with ideals. To us traveling responsibly means consuming responsibly. NGO Visits. During this trip, we have the chance to visit local NGOs who are dedicated to the environment and heritage conservation. We have a strong relationship with the Beijing Cultural Heritage Protection Center which seeks to conserve cultural character and distinctiveness. We can meet them and learn how their effort in equipping local communities with awareness, strategy, practical skills and training to preserve cultural the environment and heritage at local levels. Uniqueness of program. China opened its long-sequestered hinterlands back to the early days, we’ve found many new areas, and many new approaches to old areas, and we’re struck by the unending discoveries that China offers. We’ve got a bright bagful of ideas for Private Journeys, arranging from walking and trekking excursions to art and cultural appreciations, with various looks behind the curtains all over the country. |
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. |