Explore the exciting Himalayan frontiers of Tibet and Shangri-La, with the grandeur of Beijing and Xian

Included Highlights

• All domestic airfares included within China
• Deluxe accommodations throughout
• 15 breakfasts (B), 12 lunches (L), 6 dinners (D or SD-special dinner)
• 4 gala evening events, including Peking Duck dinner, Shanghai Acrobats, Tang Dynasty Theater and Guilin cultural show
• View glorious Himalayan peaks and unforgettable ensembles of Tibetan religious architecture at the Potala Palace.
• Full-day Great Wall and Ming Tombs excursion
• Pedicab tour of the seldom-visited Hutong quarter of old Beijing
• Comprehensive sightseeing
• Explore exciting new attractions of postcolonial Hong Kong

Itinerary

Day 1 Depart USA
Board your flight today as the first leg of your Asian journey.

Day 2 Beijing
You are welcomed on arrival in the emperors¹ city of Beijing, where your prestigious luxury hotel will make you feel like royalty.

Day 3 Beijing
Explore centuries of history and grandeur on today¹s tour of the imposing Forbidden City, Temple of Heaven, and Summer Palace, a cool green oasis of lovely pagodas, pavilions, and courtyards. Relax over lunch at a revolving restaurant with grand city views. (B,L)

Day 4 Beijing
No pictures can prepare you for your day at the Great Wall, built by hand 2,200 years ago. Stroll the promenade and photograph the wall snaking into the horizon. Also visit the Ming Tombs with their awesome human and animal sculptures lining the Sacred Way. Finish the day with a delicious Peking Duck dinner. (B,L,SD)

Day 5 Beijing/Shanghai
Spend the morning on a pedicab tour of Beijing's quaint old hutongs, a maze of lanes and courtyard homes centered on the historic Drum Tower. Fly to Shanghai, China¹s most cosmopolitan city. (B,L)

Day 6 Shanghai
A full-day tour showcases Shanghai's color and diversity. Stroll the waterfront Bund, the famous Yuyuan Gardens, and the stunning Shanghai Museum. Meet local youngsters and sit in on their cultural classes at the Children's Palace, before tonight's thrilling performance of the Shanghai Acrobats. (B,L)

Day 7 Shanghai/Xian
Today fly to Xian, capital of 11 ancient dynasties. (B,L)

Day 8 Xian
Take in the astonishing terra cotta army excavation site, with some 8,000 ancient soldiers individualized from their hairstyles down to the scuff marks on their shoes. Proceed to the ancient City Wall, Provincial Museum, and Big Wild Goose Pagoda, and savor a deluxe Tang Dynasty dumpling dinner and show in the evening. (B,L,SD) 

Day 9 Xian/Lhasa
Fly today to Lhasa, Tibet, viewing the spectacular 22,000-foot Himalayan peaks en route, if the weather is clear. Arriving in Lhasa, the rest of the day is at leisure to acclimatize to the 12,000-foot altitude. (B,L,D)

Days 10 Lhasa
You¹ll not soon forget the spectacular architecture at the Potala Palace. Former living quarters of the Dalai Lama, its massive 1,000-room structure towers over this mountain city. Later, you¹ll visit the famous Barkhor Market, where you can shop for rare Tibetan items. (B,L,D)

Days 11 Lhasa
An extraordinary day of sightseeing will reveal one of Tibet¹s holiest shrines, revered 7th century Jokhang Temple, where pilgrims come to prostrate themselves before the statue of the Sakyamuni Buddha, lavishly enthroned in silver and gold. Visit the cliff-top Drepung Monastery, tiered against a mountain in traditional Tibetan style, which once housed more than 1,000 lamas. (B,L,D)

Day 12 Lhasa/Chengdu/Guilin
Fly via Chengdu to the green hills of Guilin, whose ethereal landscapes have been immortalized by poets and painters throughout the ages. This afternoon, if time permits, you¹ll tour the city sights and the immense Reed Flute Cave, filled with impressive grottos, pillars, and inscriptions over 1000 years old. (B,L)

Day 13 Guilin
A full-day cruise on the crystalline Li River will immerse you in the extraordinary natural beauty of this unique area. Sail in air-conditioned comfort, as every turn yields new views of towering stone pinnacles, unusual rock formations, quaint country villages, and fishermen casting their nets or bringing in the catch the traditional way, with cormorants. Return ashore in the late afternoon. Complete the day with a dinner, followed by an entertaining cultural performance. (B,L,SD)

Day 14 Guilin/Guangzhou/Hong Kong
Travel by air to Guangzhou, the famous old seaport of Canton. If time permits, enjoy an overview of the city's elegant temples, old European estates, and boulevards teeming with shops and famous restaurants. Then board a hydrofoil and sail to Hong Kong. The former British colony remains as vibrant and forward-looking as ever. (B,L)

Day 15 Hong Kong
This morning, explore Hong Kong's unique blend of Chinese heritage and colonial influences. Travel via coach to one of its newest attractions, the distinctive Peak Tower Complex, with its array of shops, restaurants, and viewing decks for taking in the superb panoramas. Continue around the island to scenic Repulse Bay, the floating community of Aberdeen, and the shopping mecca of Stanley. The afternoon is at leisure. (B)

Day 16 Hong Kong
The day is yours to spend at leisure shopping and sightseeing. (B)

Day 17 Hong Kong/USA
With indelible memories of your adventure, board a flight home. (B)

Hotels

Pricing & Departures

For Information & Reservations
(408) 298-2598 or Email Us

 

Departs: Monday	Land Only	Single Supplement	Western LAX/SFO
2002
Jul 01, 15, 29	$3620	$860	$960
Sep 02, 16, 30	$3920	$1100	$920
Oct 07, 21	$3920	$1100	$920