Small group tour to China
| country: | China |
| location: | Great Wall, Terracotta Warriors |
| trip type: | A small group adventure |
| departures: | Departs most Sundays throughout the year |
| price: | From £1130 (15 days) excluding flights. We can arrange flights from the UK. |
| vouchers: | Gift vouchers can be used with this holiday |
the amazing things you'll be doing
Looking for adventure? This tour combines famous sights with lesser-known destinations and offers more excitement than you can poke a chopstick at. Head from cosmopolitan Shanghai to Luoyang where Shaolin monks practise kung fu. From here, continue west through Xi'an, the starting point of the Silk Road and then on to the stunning Sichuan countryside for glimpses of rural life. Our final stop is Beijing and a fabulous tramp along the Great Wall. Visit grottoes, mix with monks and hike to hilltop villages as we get wild in China.
day-by-day itinerary
| Days 1-3: | Shanghai. Stroll down the elegant Bund, discover the French Concession and visit the Shanghai Museum. |
| Day 4: | Shaolin. The legendary Shaolin Temple is the home of kung fu and still attracts thousands of young disciples each year. For those game enough, don some loose clothing, attend a class and soak up some of the wisdom. |
| Day 5: | Luoyang. At the World Heritage site of the Longmen Grottoes, see more than 100,000 Buddha images carved into the side of a mountain. These revelatory figures are among the best examples of Buddhist cave art in China. |
| Days 6-8: | Xi'an. Visit the incredible underground necropolis of the First Emperor, guarded by an army of 6,000 terracotta warriors, each with a different facial expression and some with their own horse and chariot. Escape the noise of the city in the peaceful Great Mosque and savour some local food from the markets before exploring the Muslim Quarter, home to the Hui people. |
| Day 9: | Chengdu. Visit the Giant Panda Breeding centre and enjoy free time to visit the Wenshu Monastery or sip Sichuan's legendary tea. |
| Days 10-11: | Sichuan Countryside. Head to the mountains for a taste of ancient China. Take a walk through tea terraces and explore the Old Town of a 2,000 year-old town. |
| Days 12-15: | Beijing. In Beijing, enjoy a guided tour of iconic sights including the sprawling Forbidden City, then take to the streets for some sensational shopping opportunities. In free time, feast on dumplings or compare recently acquired moves to a professional kung fu show. A walk along the Great Wall is a fantastic finale to this adventure. |
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. |