Small group tour to China
| country: | China |
| location: | Great Wall, Terracotta Warriors |
| trip type: | A small group adventure |
| departures: | Selected Sunday departures between April and November |
| price: | From £890 (15 days) excluding flights. Local payment US $300. Price includes hotels (8 nts), guesthouses (8 nts), overnight trains (3 nts), basic multishare homestay (1 nt) and 3 breakfasts, 1 lunch & 1 dinner. All departure dates are guaranteed |
the amazing things you'll be doing
From the wilds of the Tibetan Plateau to big city lights, see the magnificent diversity of China's Middle Kingdom. Experience modern China in Shanghai, practice kung fu moves in Shaolin, see the Buddhas of Longmen Grottoes, stand among the ancient Terracotta Warriors, gain insight into Tibetan life, wander the Great Wall and dodge hairy yaks as we get wild in China.
day-by-day itinerary
| Day 1-3: | Shanghai. Once the underbelly of the trading world, Shanghai has been reborn as China's cosmopolitan soul. Stroll along the elegant Bund, discover the French Concession, check out the excellent Shanghai Museum. Then sample the great restaurants and nightlife this exciting city has to offer. |
| Day 4-5: | Shaolin/Luoyang. The legendary Shaolin Monastery is home to kung fu and still attracts thousands of young disciples each year, eager to learn from the masters. There is the opportunity here to soak up some of the wisdom in a class with a local teacher. At the World Heritage site of the Longmen Grottoes, see more than 100,000 Buddha images carved into the side of a mountain. |
| Day 6-8: | Xi'an. In the ancient city of Xi'an, thousands of terracotta soldiers are lined up in battle formation, ready to protect the treasures in an emperor's tomb. Escape the noise of the city in the peaceful Great Mosque and savour some local food from one of the many markets before exploring the Muslim Quarter, home to the Hui people. |
| Day 9-12: | Xiahe. Nestled on the edge of the Tibetan Plateau, Xiahe's streets are a colourful mix of monks and nomads. Spend a day discovering grasslands dotted with yurts and stock herds. Turn the prayer wheels at the largest working Tibetan monastery outside of Lhasa, the Labrang Monastery. |
| Day 13-15: | Beijing. A walk along the Great Wall is a fantastic finale to our wild adventure. In Beijing, enjoy a guided tour of the vast Forbidden City and other sights before taking to the streets for some sensational shopping opportunities or to simply soak up the atmosphere. |
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. During our stay in Beijing, you will have the opportunity to visit the Beijing Huiling, a Chinese-run charity which provides support and education for young adults with disabilities. Lunch is provided and the students are always very excited to perform some traditional dances and show off their skills. There are also plenty of opportunities to visit markets, whether to shop for a cooking class, bargain for a souvenir, or taste a local delicacy at a night market. These times give you a great opportunity to interact with the locals and enjoy the smells and colours of 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. |