Beijing to Bangkok
| country: | Cambodia |
| departures: | 2009: 11 Dec 2010: 8 Jan, 22 Jan, 5 Feb, 19 Feb, 2 Apr |
| price: | From £2500 (56 days) excluding flights. We can arrange flights from the UK. |
| vouchers: | Gift vouchers can be used with this holiday |
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introduction to Beijing to Bangkok
From the centre of the Middle Kingdom to the thriving heart of Thailand, this is an enormous, exciting overland journey that will captivate you with contrasts. Don't be surprised to find modern streets buzzing with the latest cars and skylines studded with gleaming skyscrapers in China. In southern Indochina you'll see swarms of motorbikes buzzing past colonial buildings and age-old temples. With plenty of time to discover each destination on your own, in no time at all you'll be lost in the riot of colour, the smorgasbord of culinary delights and the charming array of cultures as we travel from Beijing to Bangkok, staying in traditional homestays, trekking through amazing mountain scenery and taking well-deserved beach breaks in between.
day-by-day itinerary
| Days 1-3: | Beijing. Discover the city's imperial heart. |
| Days 4-5: | Great Wall. Enjoy sweeping views on a hike along the wall. |
| Days 6-8: | Xi'an. Eat some exotic street food or head out to the Terracotta Warriors. |
| Days 9-11: | Shanghai. Stroll the elegant Bund or gaze up at the space-age skyscrapers of Pudong. |
| Days 12-15: | Yangshuo. Try tai chi, learn some Chinese or cruise down the Li River before cycling into the countryside. |
| Days 16-18: | Longji Terraces. Stay in a local village and trek up into the hills to explore the Longji Valley's extensive rice terraces. |
| Days 19-20: | Hong Kong. Seek out serene temples and secluded beaches among the glittering shopping malls and markets of busy Hong Kong. |
| Days 21-24: | Kaili. Discover Miao culture, from their colourful local dress to their traditional architecture. Explore the countryside marked with waterfalls, rice paddies and traditional villages. |
| Day 25: | Kunming. Hit the streets in modern Kunming, perhaps taking a walk through the Flower and Bird Market. |
| Days 26-29: | Sapa. Trek into the homeland of the colourful H'mong, Tay and Dzao people. |
| Days 30-31: | Hanoi. Try Vietnamese coffee to energise Old Quarter explorations. |
| Day 32: | Halong Bay. Cruise emerald waters and have lunch overlooking the limestone karsts. Spend the night on Cat Ba Island. |
| Days 33-34: | Hanoi. Restaurant-hop for French food in this colonial city. |
| Days 35-36: | Hue. Take a boat trip or cycle to the Royal Tombs to discover the history of Hue. |
| Days 37-39: | Hoi An. Cycle out into the countryside around Hoi An. |
| Days 40-42: | Nha Trang. Windsurf, sail or scuba dive in the divine bay of Nha Trang. |
| Days 43-44: | Ho Chi Minh City. Imagine wartime life within the tunnels of Cu Chi. |
| Day 45: | Phnom Penh. Delve into Cambodia's tumultuous history in the capital. |
| Day 46: | Homestay. Enjoy traditional Khmer warmth and hospitality at a village homestay. |
| Days 47-49: | Sihanoukville. Splash and sunbake on Serendipity or Occheuteal Beach. |
| Day 50: | Phnom Penh. Pick up a woodcarving from Psar Thmei or indulge in a massage. |
| Day 51: | Kompong Cham. Capture rural scenes on camera or climb the hilltop pagoda of Wat Hanchey. |
| Days 52-54: | Siem Reap/Angkor Wat. Don't miss the magical ruins of Angkor Wat. |
| Days 55-56: | Bangkok. Hit the markets to snaffle a bargain. |
small group adventure holiday
This is a 'small group adventure' - on our group trips you'll be with a maximum of 11 like minded travellers and you'll have a group leader with you. Whether you are travelling alone or with friends it's good value, and a great way to meet new people! While itineraries are pre-planned there is some flexibility and you'll have plenty of privacy. This trip will appeal to travellers of all ages who enjoy meeting people from other parts of the world as well as seeing new places! (more) Because of our small group size, we're able to guarantee departures for all of our trips. Once you have booked and paid your deposit, your trip is guaranteed to go!
how this holiday makes a difference
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This trip allows for plenty of time to explore the culture of 7 very fascinating yet different countries. Travellers are encouraged to explore with the group and on their own, learn a few words of the language and interact with the locals as much as possible. In China, all travellers are given a responsible travel bag at the beginning of the trip as we have plenty of opportunities to shop at local markets and say no to plastic. We also encourage travellers to eat with a reusable set of chopsticks to avoid the waste of a throwaway pair at every meal.
In the south of China we base ourselves in a small country guesthouse in Chaolong and use bikes as a less polluting and less intrusive means of discovering the Guangxi countryside. We have the chance to meet and learn about the culture of the minority people in this area. In Sapa we put on our trekking boots and follow the tracks to meet the local villagers. This trip includes visits to Friends in Phnom Penh and KOTO in Hanoi – restaurants with training schools set up for less fortunate kids, helping them to gain some practical skills. In Cambodia, the ruins of Angkor are protected under UNESCO World Heritage listing and as such, part of the money received from entrance tickets contributes to the amazing site’s conservation. Your local guide will also give you plenty of guidance on what is appropriate when visiting the ruins and you will have the chance to interact with many of the local kids. We actively support Friends of the Asian Elephant, which aims to protect and conserve the welfare of elephants, both domesticated and wild and any contributions by travellers are gratefully accepted. Our overnight train journeys are a great way to get to know some of the friendly Thai people and your leader will encourage you to practice your Thai or make the most of the opportunity to teach some English to people onboard |
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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