China tour - Panorama
| country: | China |
| location: | Yunnan, Sichuan, Great Wall, Terracotta Warriors |
| trip type: | A small group adventure |
| departures: | 2010: 26 Mar, 9 Apr, 23 Apr, 14 May, 21 May, 4 Jun, 18 Jun, 9 Jul, 23 Jul, 6 Aug, 20 Aug, 10 Sep, 24 Sep, 8 Oct, 22 Oct 2011: 4 Mar, 25 Mar, 8 Apr, 22 Apr, 13 May, 20 May, 3 Jun, 17 Jun |
| price: | From £2475 (29 days) excluding flights. Domestic flights £425. We can arrange flights from the UK |
| vouchers: | Gift vouchers can be used with this holiday |
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introduction to China tour - Panorama
This is a comprehensive journey through China, taking in the splendours of the south, including colourful Yunnan Province and the fabled hills around Guilin and Yangshuo, as well as the historical and natural icons of the north.
Beginning in Kunming and continuing to Dali and Lijiang, home to a wide array of ethnic minority people, we explore ancient historic towns and enjoy sweeping panoramic views. Tiger Leaping Gorge is the perfect place for a memorable walk in spectacular surroundings. Flying east to Guilin and Yangshuo we encounter more magical scenery, with picturesque villages set against a backdrop of jagged limestone hills. We experience a bicycle ride through stunning landscapes near Guilin, view giant pandas in Chengdu, see the world's largest Buddha statue in Leshan, witness amazing Buddhist sculptures in caves in Dazu, visit the fabled Terracotta Warriors in Xian and enjoy a comfortable cruise on the fabled Yangtze River, surrounded by dramatic gorges. We also have the opportunity to dine on the famous hot and spicy cuisine of Sichuan. The final highlights are visits to vibrant Shanghai and the capital, Beijing - home to the renowned Forbidden City and the Summer Palace, not to mention the Great Wall of China.
Beginning in Kunming and continuing to Dali and Lijiang, home to a wide array of ethnic minority people, we explore ancient historic towns and enjoy sweeping panoramic views. Tiger Leaping Gorge is the perfect place for a memorable walk in spectacular surroundings. Flying east to Guilin and Yangshuo we encounter more magical scenery, with picturesque villages set against a backdrop of jagged limestone hills. We experience a bicycle ride through stunning landscapes near Guilin, view giant pandas in Chengdu, see the world's largest Buddha statue in Leshan, witness amazing Buddhist sculptures in caves in Dazu, visit the fabled Terracotta Warriors in Xian and enjoy a comfortable cruise on the fabled Yangtze River, surrounded by dramatic gorges. We also have the opportunity to dine on the famous hot and spicy cuisine of Sichuan. The final highlights are visits to vibrant Shanghai and the capital, Beijing - home to the renowned Forbidden City and the Summer Palace, not to mention the Great Wall of China.
day-by-day itinerary
| Day 1: | (Fri) Arrive in Kunming and transfer to hotel. |
| Day 2-3: | Walking tour of Kunming. Bus to Dali. Free time to explore Dali. |
| Day 4-5: | Bus to Lijiang. Free time to explore Old Town. |
| Day 6: | Bus to Tiger Leaping Gorge. Half day walk. |
| Day 7-8: | Half day walk. Short walk out and bus to Tibetan-influenced Zhongdian. |
| Day 9: | Tour to Songzanlin Monastery and surrounding valley. Visit Tibetan family. |
| Day 10: | Fly to Kunming. Free afternoon. |
| Day 11-13: | Fly to Guilin. Cycle tour around Yangshuo. |
| Day 14-15: | Fly to Chengdu. Visit the giant panda breeding centre and Giant Buddha at Leshan. |
| Day 16-17: | Visit Buddhist caves at Dazu. Drive to Chongqing and board boat. |
| Day 18-19: | Yangtze River Cruise, sailing through the spectacular Three Gorges, ending in Yichang. |
| Day 20-22: | Disembark. Overnight train to Xian. Terracotta Warriors and Muslim Quarter. |
| Day 23-25: | Fly to Shanghai. Walk along the Bund. Optional acrobat performance. Overnight train to Beijing. |
| Day 26-28: | Forbidden City, Temple of Heaven, Summer Palace, the Great Wall at Simatai. |
| Day 29: | Trip ends in Beijing this morning (Fri). |
traveller reviews for China tour - Panorama
The scenery around Yang Shuo with the stone mountains was certainly spectacular and the raft trip with bicycles on the back was something my wife and I really enjoyed.
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small group adventure holiday
Typically you will be sharing your experiences with between 4-20 like minded travellers (depending on the trip, operator and how many others are booked on the trip) and you'll have a group leader with you. Whether you are travelling alone or with friends its 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 new people as well as seeing new places. highly commended
This tourism business was Highly Commended in our 2007 Virgin Holidays Responsible Tourism Awards - the largest awards of their kind in the world, and organised by responsibletravel.com in association with The Times, World Travel Market and Geographical Magazine, of the Royal Geographical Society.Since 2004, the Awards has recognised individuals, companies and organisations in travel making a big commitment to the culture and economies of local communities and helping to conserve biodiversity.
how this holiday makes a difference
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Our tours offer a great opportunity to experience China through the eyes of a local. Near Yangshuo you visit a local family in a village house, where you enjoy lunch as a guest of the family. This brings money into the local economy and also encourages cross-cultural interaction. Through a question and answer session, you learn how the local people live and gain an appreciation of their daily routines. These tours also include a cruise down the Yangtze River, where you learn about the ecological issues surrounding the world's third longest river. Later you visit the Giant Panda Breeding Centre in Chengdu, where we support an important project to save this endangered species. A key component of the tour is your local Tour Leader.
Tourism is a relatively new concept in China and we have implemented training programs for all its leaders, covering a variety of issues, from environmental awareness to First Aid. This not only assists in the conduct of a tour but also provides leaders with important life skills. |
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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