China & Hong Kong
China is not so much a travel destination as a mind-boggling phenomenon!
Ancient, vast, and ever-evolving, China offers the journey of a lifetime. Just ask anyone who’s been there! On an Amazing Journeys trip, each day is filled with awe-inspiring sights that stir your curiosity and captivate your senses.
In Beijing, you’ll pinch yourself standing in the Forbidden City, where China’s last emperor ascended the throne at three years old. At the nearby Summer Palace, you delve into the fascinating history of Empress Dowager Cixi, a figure known for her powerful and controversial reign.
You explore one of Xi’an’s oldest cities, once rivalling Rome and Constantinople in grandeur. Guilin’s otherworldly limestone peaks have inspired poets, artists, and travellers for centuries. Even if big cities aren’t your style, Shanghai’s unique blend of Eastern and Western influences will enchant you. Throughout your journey, China’s extraordinary cuisine and the warm, generous hospitality of its people will make every moment unforgettable.
Packages
China Highlights
Shanghai / Hangzhou / Suzhou / Wuxi / Nanjing / Beijing / Xi’an / Guilin
14 days / 13 nights
| Day 1 | Shanghai: Arrive in Shanghai, China’s most cosmopolitan city. You are met and transferred to the hotel. |
| Day 2 | Shanghai (B.): A panoramic tour includes visits to the Shanghai Museum, Jade Buddha Temple, the beautiful Yuyuan Garden, Nanjing Road (lined with imposing colonial-period buildings), and the Bund. |
| Day 3 | Shanghai / Hangzhou (B.): Board the ‘High Speed’ train for Hangzhou, praised as ‘Heaven on Earth’ and enjoy a boat cruise on the serene West Lake, followed by Linyin Monastery and a visit to the ‘Dragon Well’ tea farm. |
| Day 4 | Hangzhou / Suzhou (B.): Take the ‘High Speed’ train to Suzhou and visit a classical Chinese garden, a silk weaving mill, and a boat ride on the ancient Grand Canal. |
| Day 5 | Suzhou / Wuxi (B.): A short train journey to Wuxi boasts a reputation as the ‘Land of Fish & Rice’. See the ‘Turtle Head Isle’ on Tai Lake and visit the beautiful Li Garden. |
| Day 6 | Wuxi / Nanjing (B.): Travel by train to Nanjing, one of the prettiest cities in all of China and visit Dr. Sun Yatsen’s Memorial, the tomb of the founding Ming emperor, the vibrant Confucius Temple, etc. |
| Day 7 | Nanjing / Beijing (B.): Board a ‘High Speed’ train to Beijing (approximately four hours), the nation’s capital and spiritual heart. An afternoon visit to the Summer Palace and Nanlouguxiang Lane at the ‘Old Quarter’. |
| Day 8 | Beijing (B.): An excursion to the Great Wall and a walk through the Ming Tombs. |
| Day 9 | Beijing (B.): This historical Beijing tour includes the Temple of Heaven, Tiananmen Square, and Forbidden City visits. |
| Day 10 | Beijing / Xi’an (B.): Take a ‘High Speed’ train to Xi’an, the ancient capital of China for over 1,100 years. After lunch, visit the city wall of China (one of the best preserved in China) and the old quarter. |
| Day 11 | Xi’an (B.): An exciting excursion to the Army of Terracotta Warriors and, on return to the city, a visit to the Huaqing Hot Springs, a resort used by emperors during the dynasty period. |
| Day 12 | Xi’an / Guilin (B.): A flight to Guilin, set amid mountains, lakes and caves. An introduction tour will include visiting the Reed Flute Caves, Seven Star Park Elephant Trunk Hill, etc. |
| Day 13 | Guilin (B.): An enchanting boat cruise down the fabled Li River, meandering through steep limestone mountains, will take you to the village of Yangshuo, which is alive with markets and stalls. |
| Day 14 | Depart Guilin (B.): Time at leisure till transfer to the airport for your departure flight. |
Cost: From USD 3,990 p/p sharing; USD 900 additional for a single supplement.
Magical Tibet
Chengdu / Lhasa / Tsedang / Gyangtse / Shigatse / Namtso Lake / Lhasa / Chengdu
13 days / 12 nights
| Day 1 | Chengdu: Arrive in Chengdu, the capital of Sichuan Province and gateway to Tibet. Transfer to hotel. |
| Day 2 | Chengdu (B.): Visit Jinli Street (old town) and Wuhou Temple (rebuilt in 1672), honouring several figures from the Three Kingdoms period. Then, go on an excursion to Dujiang Dam, the only irrigation project system built over 2,000 years ago that is still used for practical purposes. |
| Day 3 | Chengdu / Lhasa (B. D.): A morning flight to Lhasa, the capital of Tibet. This afternoon, enjoy a visit to Norbulinka, the Summer Palace of Dalai Lama, followed by a visit to a local Tibetan family. |
| Day 4 | Lhasa (B. L. D.): A full-day visit to Drepung Monastery, once Tibet’s largest and most influential monastery, with over 10,000 monks and the Sera Monastery, dating from the 15th century and initially serving as universities, art schools and monasteries. |
| Day 5 | Lhasa (B. L. D.): Today's highlights include visiting the legendary Potala Palace, once the seat of the Tibetan government and the winter residence of the Dalai Lama; Jokhang Temple, a 1300-year-old temple and the spiritual heart of Tibet; and the vibrant Barkhor Street. |
| Day 6 | Lhasa / Tsedang (B. L. D.): Travel 220 km south to Tsedang (approximately six hours), the capital of the former Yarlung Kingdom. Tsedang is the largest town in southern Tibet and is known as the cradle of the Tibetan civilisation. Visit the Samye Monastery, the first Buddhist monastery in Tibet, in its Mandala architecture. |
| Day 7 | Tsedang (B. L. D.): Hike through the solitary caves on a tiny trail amidst the scrub bushes, where you can interact with devoted yogis or retreatants in their caves at Chimpu Hermitages. The terrace offers a spectacular view of the Brahmaputra valley, which can be enjoyed. |
| Day 8 | Tsedang / Gyangtse (B. L. D.): Travel 380 km westward via picturesque Yamdrok Yumtso Lake to Gyangtse (approximately seven hours), an important post town on the historic trade route between India and Tibet and a crucial link for traders and pilgrims journeying across the Himalayan plateau. Visit to Gyangtse Kumbum, Pelkor Monastery, etc. |
| Day 9 | Gyangtse / Shigatse (B. L. D.): A 90-km drive will take you to Shigatse, the second largest town in Tibet. Here, you will see the Tashilunpo Monastery, a great monastic site and the seat of the Panchen Lama. |
| Day 10 | Shigatse / Namtso Lake (B. L. D.): Travel 380 km northward (approximately 7 & half hours) to Namtso. En route, you will pass through several villages and farmlands within the Oyuk Valley, traverse the high peak of Shogula (5,400 m) to Yangpachen and the northern nomadic grassland and finally arrive at Namtso Lake with its breathtaking views of snowcapped ranges all around. This lake is the world’s highest saltwater lake. |
| Day 11 | Namtso / Lhasa (B. L. D.): Travel 250 km to Lhasa (approximately four hours) and visit a nomad family en route. This evening, enjoy a farewell dinner. |
| Day 12 | Lhasa / Chengdu (B. DS.): Morning flight back to Chengdu. The afternoon is at leisure. This evening, enjoy dinner followed by a Sichuan Opera show. |
| Day 13 | Depart Chengdu (B.): Time at leisure till transfer to the airport for your departure flight. |
Cost: From USD 4,990 p/p sharing; USD 990 additional for a single supplement.
The Ancient Silk Road
Beijing / Xi’an / Jiayuguan / Turpan / Dunhuang / Beijing
12 days / 11 nights
| Day 1 | Beijing: On arrival in China’s capital, transfer to the hotel. |
| Day 2 | Beijing (B.): An introductory tour of Beijing includes the Temple of Heaven, Tiananmen Square, and the Forbidden City, also known as the Palace Museum. |
| Day 3 | Beijing (B.): Excursion to the Great Wall of China followed by a walk through the Ming Tombs. |
| Day 4 | Beijing / Xi’an (B.): Visit the Summer Palace in the morning. Later, fly to Xi’an, China's ancient capital and the Silk Road's starting point. |
| Day 5 | Xi’an (B. DS.): Excursion to the legendary Terracotta army with over 8,000 life-sized guards and soldiers. Stop at the Big Wild Goose Pagoda on your return to the city. Finish the day with a stunning Tang Dynasty Song & Dance dinner show. |
| Day 6 | Xi’an / Jiayuguan (B.): A flight to Jiayuguan, one of ancient China's most important military outposts. Enjoy the ‘desert-like’ Western China by climbing atop the western end of the Great Wall. |
| Day 7 | Jiayuguan / Turpan (B.): Most of the day will be spent visiting the Jiayuguan Fort, built in 1372. It was the last major stronghold of imperial China. Then, visit the Museum of the Great Wall. Later in the afternoon, take a ‘bullet train’ to Turpan, home to the Uighur community (approximately four hours). |
| Day 8 | Turpan (B.): Sightseeing introduces the ancient city of Gaochang, dating from the 1st century, one of the major staging posts on the Silk Road; the Karez Well system, a unique Central-Asia style irrigation system that includes hundreds of kilometres of above and underground canals, wells and reservoirs. Finish the day with a visit to a local Uighur family. |
| Day 9 | Turpan / Dunhuang (B.): Enjoy a visit to the Bezeklik Thousand Buddha Caves (dating from the 6th to 14th century, and the murals painted in the 11th century represented a high point in the local Buddhist art) and the Flaming Mountain, which appears midday like multicoloured tongues of fire. Later today, board a ‘High Speed’ train to Dunhuang, a fertile oasis that has been a refuge for weary Silk Road travellers for millennia. |
| Day 10 | Dunhuang (B.): Enjoy a day visit to the Mogao Grottoes, considered one of the most important collections of Buddhist art in the world (at its peak from 7 to 10th century, the site housed 18 monasteries, over 1,400 monks and nuns, countless artists, translators and calligraphers), followed by Dunhuang Museum & Mingsha Hill (with a camel ride). |
| Day 11 | Dunhuang / Beijing (B. D.): A flight back to Beijing and an afternoon tour of the Zoo of Beijing to see the Giant Pandas, then onto the Summer Palace with a boat ride on Kunming Lake. Enjoy a farewell dinner. |
| Day 12 | Depart Beijing (B.): Time at leisure till a transfer to the airport for the departure flight. |
Cost: From USD 3,990 p/p sharing; USD 890 additional for a single supplement.
Yangtze Experience
Beijing / Xi’an / Chongqing / Yangtze Cruise / Shanghai
11 days / 10 nights
| Day 1 | Beijing: Arrive in Beijing, the nation’s capital and spiritual heart and transfer to the hotel. |
| Day 2 | Beijing (B. D.): Sightseeing includes the Summer Palace, Tiananmen Square, and the Forbidden City. In the evening, enjoy the local number one dish—Peking Duck. |
| Day 3 | Beijing (B.): A full-day excursion to the Great Wall followed by a show at the Red Theatre in the evening, ‘The Legend of Kung Fu’. |
| Day 4 | Beijing / Xi’an (B.): A morning visit to the Temple of Heaven. Board the ‘High Speed’ train for Xi’an. On arrival, dinner at a local restaurant and check into your hotel. |
| Day 5 | Xi’an (B. DS.): Excursions to the legendary Terracotta Warriors and, upon return to the city, a visit to the Xi’an Museum and the ‘Old Quarter’ with a detour to the Great Mosque. In the evening, enjoy a Tang Dynasty Song & Dance dinner show. |
| Day 6 | Xi’an / Chongqing (B. D.): A flight to the beautiful mountain city of Chongqing. Here, you will visit the Three Gorges Museum, see the Giant Pandas at the Zoo of Chongqing, wander through the ‘old town of Ciqikou’, etc. Embark on the Yangtze cruise after supper, where you will spend three nights. |
| Day 7 | Yangtze cruise (B. L. DP.) Sailing downstream, enjoy the scenic vistas, and have a leisurely lunch before arriving in Fengdu. Shore excursion to Fengdu. At night, enjoy the Captain’s Welcome dinner party. |
| Day 8 | Yangtze cruise (B. L. DS.): Shore excursion to Shennon Stream (the small gorges). Enjoy the 360-degree views as the ship gently glides through Qutang, Wu and Xiling Gorges. Eventually, arrive at the Three Gorges Dam wall in the evening to pass through the 5-step ship lock. Enjoy a stunning performance show by crew members after dinner. |
| Day 9 | Yichang / Shanghai (B.): In the morning, take a shore excursion to the Three Gorges Dam. Disembark at Yichang around noon and take a flight to cosmopolitan Shanghai. The Shanghai by Night tour includes a boat cruise on the Pujiang River (Yangtze River mouth). Enjoy a panoramic night view of Shanghai atop the Observation Deck of Shanghai Tower, standing 632 metres high, the tallest building in China. |
| Day 10 | Shanghai (B.): This panoramic tour of Shanghai includes visits to the Shanghai Museum, Jade Buddha Temple, and Yuyuan Garden in the Old Quarter, Nanjing Road (praised as the 5th Avenue of the East), and the Bund (the waterfront). Watch the famous Shanghai Acrobatic Troup perform at night, followed by a Farewell dinner. |
| Day 11 | Depart Shanghai (B.): Spend some leisure time till transfer to the airport for your departure flight. |
Cost: From USD 3,395 p/p sharing; USD 845 additional for a single supplement.
Impressions of China
Beijing / Xi’an / Guilin / Shanghai
11 days / 10 nights
| Day 1 | Beijing: Arrive in Beijing and transfer to your hotel. The rest of the day is at leisure. |
| Day 2 | Beijing (B.): This introduction to Beijing includes visits to the Temple of Heaven, Tiananmen Square, the world’s largest plaza, and the Forbidden City. |
| Day 3 | Beijing (B.): A full-day excursion to the Great Wall followed by a show at the Red Theater, ‘The Legend of Kung Fu’. |
| Day 4 | Beijing (B. D.): Visit the Summer Palace in the morning, then visit the ‘old quarter’ of Beijing for a rickshaw tour through the Hutongs. Enjoy a traditional Peking duck dinner at Quanjude Restaurant. |
| Day 5 | Beijing / Xi’an (B.): A morning flight to Xi’an, the ancient capital of China. Visit the Big Wild Goose Pagoda, Shaanxi Provincial Museum and Xi'an's ‘Old Quarter’ with a detour to the Great Mosque. |
| Day 6 | Xi’an (B. DS.): Highlights of today are a visit to the Terracotta Warriors, discovered by accident when farmers were digging a well in 1974, and the Huaqing Hot Springs. Finish the day with a Tang Dynasty dinner & show. |
| Day 7 | Xi’an / Guilin (B.): A flight to Guilin's relaxing and carefree city amid mountains, lakes and caves. Sightseeing introduces the Reed Flute Caves, the Seven Star Park with its beautiful bonsai garden, onto the Elephant Trunk Hill. |
| Day 8 | Guilin (B.): Enjoy a 5-hour cruise down the Li River through an immensely rugged, mountainous, beautiful landscape of limestone karst formations. Observe river life in the rural south. See water buffalo drinking and fishermen catching fish with tame cormorants. Arrive at Yangshuo, a market town with souvenir bargains galore. |
| Day 9 | Guilin / Shanghai (B.): A morning flight to Shanghai, China’s financial capital. Enjoy an afternoon visit to the Shanghai Urban Planning Exhibition Hall, the French Quarter, Tianzifang (Lane 210) and Xintiandi. This evening, a Shanghai by Night tour includes a boat cruise on the Pujiang River (Yangtze River mouth), and a panoramic night view of Shanghai atop the Observation Deck of Shanghai Tower (the tallest building in Shanghai – standing 632m.) |
| Day 10 | Shanghai (B.): A panoramic tour of Shanghai includes the Shanghai Museum, Jade Buddha Temple, and Yuyuan Garden at the Old Quarter, Nanjing Road (praised as the 5th Avenue of the East) and the Bund (the waterfront). At night, watch the famous Shanghai Acrobatic Troup perform. |
| Day 11 | Depart Shanghai (B.): Free time till transfer to the airport for your departure flight. |
Cost: From USD 3,095 p/p sharing; USD 690 additional for a single supplement.
Wonders of China
10 days / 9 nights
| Day 1 | Shanghai: Arrive in Shanghai and transfer to the hotel. |
| Day 2 | Shanghai (B.): Sightseeing includes visits to the Shanghai Museum, Jade Buddha Temple, and Yuyuan Garden in the Old Quarter, Nanjing Road, and the Bund (Shanghai's waterfront). |
| Day 3 | Suzhou excursion (B.): This is a full-day excursion to Suzhou, including a boat cruise on the Grand Canal and visits to a classical Chinese garden and a silk weaving mill. |
| Day 4 | Hangzhou excursion (B.): A full-day excursion to Hangzhou by ‘bullet train’. Enjoy a boat cruise on the serene West Lake, a visit to Linyin Monastery and the ‘Dragon Well’ tea farm. |
| Day 5 | Shanghai / Xi’an (B.): A flight to Xi’an, the ancient capital of China. In the afternoon, visit the Big Wild Goose Pagoda, Shaanxi Provincial Museum, and the city wall of Xi’an (The best-preserved city wall in all of China). |
| Day 6 | Xi’an (B.): Enjoy a visit to one of the world’s wonders, the Terracotta Warriors and on return to the city, a visit to the ‘old quarter’ of Xi’an with a detour to the Great Mosque. |
| Day 7 | Xi’an / Beijing (B.): Board a morning ‘High Speed’ train to Beijing (approx. 5 hours). Enjoy an afternoon visit to Tiananmen Square and the Forbidden City (Where 24 emperors lived). |
| Day 8 | Beijing (B.): A full-day excursion to the Great Wall and Stone Animals Way at the Ming Tombs. |
| Day 9 | Beijing (B.): Sightsee the Temple of Heaven, a group of 15th-century ceremonial buildings, and the Summer Palace, and enjoy a rickshaw tour of the Hutongs (old quarter of Beijing). |
| Day 10 | Depart Beijing (B.): Free time till a transfer to the airport for your departure flight. |
Cost: From USD 2,995 p/p sharing; USD 660 additional for a single supplement.
Mystical Tibet & Home of the Pandas
8 days / 7 nights
| Day 1 | Chengdu: Arrive in Chengdu, the gateway city to Tibet. Transfer to hotel. |
| Day 2 | Chengdu / Lhasa (B. L. D.): Your Tibet adventure begins with an early morning flight to Lhasa (at 4,000 metres above sea level) – a scenic and exhilarating flight into the high Himalayas. Enjoy an afternoon visit to Norbulinka, the summer palace of Dalai Lama. Also, visit a Tibetan family where you will taste traditional yak butter tea. |
| Day 3 | Lhasa (B. L. D.): Visit the Sera Monastery, dating from the 15th century and initially serving as universities, art schools and monasteries, housing up to 10,000 monks. Onto Drepung Monastery, once the largest and most influential monastery, is also known as the site of the annual Shoton Festival. |
| Day 4 | Lhasa (B. L. D.): Visit Jokhang Temple, the most holy temple in Tibet. Surrounding the temple is Octagon Street and Barkhor Bazaar, with shops filled with traditional and local items from precious Kham to prayer flags. In the afternoon, wander through the immense Potala Palace, with over 1,000 rooms. It contains the living quarters of the Dalai Lama, apartments for regents, government officials and religious figures, many offices, treasures and storerooms. This incredible 13-storey building dominates Lhasa’s skyline. |
| Day 5 | Lhasa / Chengdu (B.): A flight back to Chengdu and a visit to the Panda Park just outside of the city. There are over 20 Giant and baby pandas living here. |
| Day 6 | Chengdu (B.): An excursion to Dujiang Dam, an irrigation infrastructure built in 256 BC by Li Bin for flood control and irrigation. It has become a UNESCO. World Heritage site since the year 2,000. |
| Day 7 | Chengdu (B.): Praised as the ‘City of Brocade’, Chengdu has an old-world charm with its many little atmospheric tea houses and markets. Visit to Dufu’s Cottage and Martial Wu’s Shrine, the ‘old street’, etc. Finish the day with a fantastic Sichuan Opera show and dinner. |
| Day 8 | Depart Chengdu (B.): Time at leisure till a transfer to the airport for your departure flight. |
Cost: From USD 2,930 p/p sharing; USD 500 additional for a single supplement.
The Golden Triangle
Beijing / Xi’an / Shanghai
7 days / 6 nights
| Day 1 | Beijing: Arrive in Beijing and transfer to your hotel. |
| Day 2 | Beijing (B.): Sightseeing includes the Temple of Heaven, Tiananmen Square, and Forbidden City. |
| Day 3 | Beijing (B.): A full-day excursion to the Great Wall and Stone Animals’ Way at the Ming Tombs. |
| Day 4 | Beijing / Xi’an (B.): A morning visit to the Summer Palace. Board the ‘High Speed’ train for Xi’an (approx. 5 hours journey). On arrival in Xi’an, transfer to the hotel. |
| Day 5 | Xi’an / Shanghai (B.): Highlights of today are the visit to one of the world's wonders – Terracotta Warriors- and a brief tour of Xi'an's ‘Old Quarter’. Fly to cosmopolitan Shanghai in the late afternoon. |
| Day 6 | Shanghai (B.): An introduction tour includes visits to the Shanghai Museum, Jade Buddha Temple, the beautiful Yuyuan Garden at the ‘Old Quarter’, the famous Nanjing Road and the Bund (waterfront of Shanghai). |
| Day 7 | Depart Shanghai (B.): Time at leisure till transfer to the airport for your departure flight. |
Cost: From USD 2,095 p/p sharing; USD 490 additional for a single supplement.
The Magic of Beijing
5 days / 4 nights
| Day 1 | Beijing: Arrive in Beijing, China's capital and spiritual heart, and transfer to the hotel. |
| Day 2 | Beijing (B.): Enjoy a full-day introduction tour that includes visiting the Temple of Heaven, Tiananmen Square, and the Forbidden City. |
| Day 3 | Beijing (B.): A full-day excursion to the Great Wall and the “stone animals’ way” at the Ming Tombs. |
| Day 4 | Beijing (B.): A visit to the Summer Palace and a rickshaw tour to the Hutongs – the old quarter. |
| Day 5 | Departure (B.): At leisure till transfer to the airport for your departure flight. |
Cost: From USD 955 p/p sharing; USD 450 additional for a single supplement.