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| Tours >>
China |
CHINA BESTOUR F (privately escorted)
China’s highlights plus a journey into Shangri-La
14 days / 12 nights from $4,220 (land only) |
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Beijing, the emperors' city (3 nights)
Xian & the great terra cotta army (2 nights)
Lijiang Old Town, World Heritage Site (2 nights)
Kunming and Stone Forest (2 nights)
Bangkok & the Grand Palace (3 nights)
Extensions to complement & personalize your vacations:
Singapore, the lion city (2 nights)
Siem Reap, the Angkor Wat (2 nights)
Saigon, the largest city in Vietnam (3 nights)
Tokyo, the bustling city (3 nights)
Hong Kong, the Pearl of the Orient (3 nights)
Optional extend your stay in Thailand:
Koh Samui, the white sand beaches (3 nights)
Phuket, the James Bond island (3 nights)
Chiang Mai, the mountain resort (2 nights) |
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| Tour Features |
- All domestic airfare included within China
- Premier or Deluxe hotels throughout
- 12 breakfast (B), 6 lunches (L), 4 dinners (D or SD-special dinner)
- 3 gala evening events including Peking Duck dinner, Tang dynasty Theater, and Performance of traditional Naxi orchestra
- Full-day Great Wall and Ming Tombs outing
- Pedicab tour of the seldom-visited Hutong quarter of Old Beijing
- Visit the excavation site of 8,000 terra cotta soldiers
- Kunming and its eternally spring like weather
- Explore the Lijiang old town and Dongba Cultural Research Institute
- Bangkok’s storybook Grand Palace
- Comprehensive sightseeing of each city's highlights
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| Detailed Itinerary |
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| Day 1, Thu: Depart Hometown |
| Depart the U.S. on your odyssey to China aboard
your selected airline to Beijing. |
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| Day 2, Fri: Arrive Beijing, China |
Transfer to your luxury hotel amidst the treasures in the center of China’s capital.
HOTEL: THE REGENT or THE PENINSULA PALACE (Premier)
HOTEL: NEW OTANI or PARK PLAZA (Deluxe) |
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| Day 3, Sat: Beijing – Meals: (B,L) |
| Walk in the steps of ancient emperors today as you tour the powerful Forbidden City, hidden from public view for over 500 years; and the masterpiece Temple of Heaven, the embodiment of grace and harmony. Enjoy glorious aerial views during lunch at the fine revolving restaurant, before continuing to the outstanding Summer Palace, now a favorite recreational spot for locals. The pomp and grandeur of imperial China lives on in these historic landmarks so integral to the nation’s soul. |
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| Day 4, Sun: Beijing – Meals: (B,L,SD) |
| Take in the dramatic sight of the Great Wall, ascending to the horizon
through the rugged hills of China's northern frontier. Continue
to the ornate and ghostly Ming Tombs and the Olympic site (the Bird’s Nest and the Water Cube) before returning to the city for an imperial-style dinner of Peking Duck. After dinner, enjoy a cultural performance – Kung Fu show or Peking Opera. |
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| Day 5, Mon: Beijing/Xian – Meals: (B) |
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exploration of the capital continues with a pedicab tour of the
pre-Revolutionary Hutong neighborhoods of Old Beijing and an
ascent of the 15th-century Drum Tower for panoramas of this
historic quarter. Travel by air to Xian, gateway to the fabled
Silk Road that linked China with Rome, Venice, and Istanbul in
ancient times.
HOTEL: SHANGRI-LA or SOFITEL (Premium)
HOTEL: SHANGRI-LA GOLDEN FLOWER or HYATT (Deluxe) |
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| Day 6, Tue: Xian – Meals: (B,L,SD) |
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highlight of today's sightseeing will be an excursion to the
resident army of 8000 terra cotta horses and soldiers,
individually carved down to the scuff marks on their shoes.
After lunch visit the ancient city wall with its Ming dynasty
gates, the History Museum, and the Big Wild Goose Pagoda, one
of the few to survive the wars that devastated the area in
ancient times. The day will be capped by a dumpling banquet and
gala stage show at the Tang Dynasty Theater. |
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| Day 7, Wed: Xian/Kunming/Lijiang – Meals: (B,SD) |
Fly to Lijiang, center of the Naxi, a small matriarchal tribe with an ancient religion known as Dongba and unique picture script that can only be read by shamans. Spend the afternoon touring the city’s Old Town, now a UNESCO World Heritage site, with its bustling market square, streets crisscrossed by rivulets, and parrots and plants adorning the fronts of the traditional earthen-walled houses. Sample, if you like, the regional specialty called “across-the-bridge noodles”, before taking in a haunting evening performance of a traditional Naxi Orchestra.
HOTEL: THE LIJIANG GUANFANG |
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| Day 8, Thu: Lijiang – Meals: (B,L.D) |
| Head into the countryside in view of the blazing white peaks of Jade Dragon Mountain this morning for a visit to the Yufeng Monastery and “Riot of Camellias” - a 500-year-old tree famed throughout the province for its enormity and profuse bloom. The monastery is also famous for its religious frescoes dating back to the 14th century. Continue on your excursion to Black Dragon Pool with its ancient Dragon God temple, flamboyant Phoenix Hall, and Dongba Cultural Research Institute. |
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| Day 9, Fri: Lijiang/Kunming – Meals: (B,L) |
Depart on your flight to Kunming and the idyllic Yunnan Province, whose name means South of the Clouds, a reference to its eternally spring like weather. Spend the afternoon at leisure strolling the town’s narrow streets, and shopping the unusual markets.
HOTEL: HARBOR PLAZA |
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| Day 10, Sat: Kunming – Meals: (B,L) |
| This morning’s excursion will take you to the dramatic Stone Forest, home of the Sani people, for a walk among the eerie limestone formations and a visit to a traditional Yi village. |
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| Day 11, Sun: Kunming/Bangkok – Meals: (B) |
Depart the idyllic world of Yunnan Province on your
flight via Kunming to the new Bangkok international airport. The
delicate spires of temple rooftops, and a crisscrossing network
of canals and rivers come into view as you fly into Bangkok,
capital of the Royal Kingdom of Thailand. Despite the growth of
the city, it still retains the majestic mystique of the East
with its four hundred multi-colored temples, and slow-moving
sampans on the Chao Phraya River. Transfer on arrival to your
accommodations in one of the city's world-class hotels.
HOTEL: THE PENINSULA or SHANGRI-LA (Premier)
HOTEL: SOFITEL SILOM or ROYAL ORCHID SHERATON (Deluxe) |
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| Day 12, Mon: Bangkok – Meals: (B) |
| A morning tour will focus on Bangkok's great
showplace, the Grand Palace. Stroll its sprawling courtyards
packed with colorful tapered funerary chedies; visit the
reception rooms of the royal residence, a gem of classic Thai
architecture. Look for the western influences of the Chakri
Palace, which houses a spectacular mother-of-pearl throne. View
the former royal residence, now used for coronations and state
ceremonies. Return to your hotel mid-day. |
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| Day 13, Tue: Bangkok – Meals: (B) |
| Enjoy a full day at leisure to shop for silks,
gems, and high fashions along Bangkok's stylish boulevards;
enjoy a canal cruise and floating market tour; sightsee at the
beautiful wats; or simply relax and enjoy the amenities of your
hotel. Our helpful representatives will be on hand to assist you
in arranging optional excursions and activities in this
multi-faceted city. |
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| Day 14, Wed: Bangkok/Hometown – Meals: (B) |
| Bid farewell to Asia as you transfer to the new international airport and depart on your selected airline to the United States. |
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| Pricing |
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- Special US domestic add-on fare available from your home city (from $100 to $300)
- Weekend (Fri,Sat,Sun) surcharge $50 each way (applicable to Trans-Pacific flight only)
- Above SAMPLE AIRFARES are for your reference only and are based on all major Transpacific carriers. It is inclusive of Transpacific airfare and airfares between China, Hong Kong & Asia. The exact airfare will be quoted at the time of booking. US departure taxes, foreign airport taxes, security charges and fuel surcharges of $250 to $400 are not included.
- Land prices are inclusive of all domestic airfares within China. Airfare between China & Bangkok is not included.
- Competitive Executive Class airfares available upon request
- Optional upgrade to First Class air travel within China $580 per person
- Guaranteed departures are based on minimum of 2 passengers.
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