Collette > China to Tibet

China to Tibet
19 Days starting from $2,999

Countries Visited:
China, Tibet

 

Length: 19 Days
Type: First Class Tour
Category: Asia Tour
Operator: Collette
Tour Code: 3486
   
 
 
 
About This Tour


Climb to the rooftop of the world and cruise the Yangtze River downstream for three nights on this 19 day Explorations tour of China and Tibet. Travel aboard the "Sky Train" as it ascends through spectacular scenery to Lhasa, Tibet. Visit the iconic Potala Palace, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Tour the Giant Panda Breeding Sanctuary. Enjoy lunch with a farming family at home in rural Anwu Village, outside Xian.

 
  • What's Included
  • Itinerary
  • Dates & Prices
  • Sightseeing
  • Details

Enjoy the services of a professional tour manager who accompanies you throughout your trip.

Meals
17 Breakfast(s), 16 Lunch(es), 12 Dinner(s)

3 night Yangtze River Cruise aboard China Regal Cruises

Overnight Train

Hotel Accommodations:
Listed below or equivalent. Rooms with private bath or shower, hotel taxes, porterage, tips, and service charges

BEIJING Traders Sharngri-La Hotel
XIAN Grand Flower Hotel
LHASA Sheraton Four Points Lhasa
CHENGDU Chengdu Yin He Dynasty Hotel

Complimentary hotel-to-hotel baggage handling.
Sightseeing
Private transportation via a deluxe, climate-controlled motorcoach
Day 1
Overnight Flight


Day 2
Arrive Beijing, China - Tour Begins
Join us on a tour of one of the world’s most fascinating countries: The People’s Republic of China. Your adventure begins in Beijing, the vibrant capital city.

Day 3
Beijing
LANGUAGE DISCOVERY: Today, your Tour Manager will help you discover the origin and history of the language(s) you will experience on your tour along with key words and phrases that will help you communicate with the locals. A sightseeing tour of Beijing begins with a visit to the expansive and historic Tiananmen Square, the largest square in the world. Continue to the Forbidden City, a vast network of palaces, including five halls, seventeen palaces and numerous other buildings. It was once reserved for China’s most powerful rulers and was the Chinese Imperial Palace during the mid-Ming and Qing dynasties. Your afternoon is at leisure before capping off the day with a Peking duck dinner, a specialty in this part of the country.

Day 4
Beijing - Chongqing - Board Ship
Fly to Chongqing, a scenic mountain city and your gateway to the Yangtze River. Visit the General Stillwell Museum, his headquarters during WWII, and where the Flying Tigers were born. Continue to Eling Park, built in 1909 with grand views of both the Yangtze and Jialing rivers. En route to the ship, stop at Painter''s Village, established in 1950 to nurture artists. Later you will pre-board your ship for the morning departure of your three night downstream cruise along the longest river in China, the mighty Yangtze.

Day 5
Cruising - Chongqing - Fengdu
This morning your memorable Yangtze River journey begins. After lunch, arrive in the city of Fengdu. The city was depicted as the "City of Ghosts" in two ancient Chinese works - "Monkey King" and "Strange Stories from a Chinese Studio." The origin of the town''s extraordinary reputation can be traced back to the Han Dynasty (206 BC - 220 AD). Your visit to the city will include the temples and relocation village.

Day 6
Cruising - Badong - Xiling Gorge
Visit Badong and take a small junk boat to enjoy the marvelous spectacles of nature in Shennong Stream and Bamboo Gorge. Continue sailing into the western section of the Xiling Gorge, navigating through the Three Gorges Ship Lock.

Day 7
Cruising - Three Gorges Dam Project
When completed, the twenty-five billion dollar Three Gorges Dam will be the largest hydroelectric dam in the world. With an installed generating capacity of 18,200 mega watts, the dam will span more than 6,560 feet across and towers 607 feet above the world''s third longest river. Your visit to this project will be memorable.

Day 8
Wuhan - Disembark Ship - Xian
Late morning you will disembark in Wuhan. After lunch, enjoy a visit to Huanghelou (Yellow Crane Tower), which has inspired poets and artists since the 3rd century. You will have leisure time to visit the tower and garden before boarding your flight to Xian.

Day 9
Xian
Begin the day with a visit to one of the most famous Buddhist temples in the world, the classical Wild Goose Pagoda. From here you will step into the courtyards of Xian''s Islamic Mosque, which reflects the city''s gateway to the Silk Road. This afternoon is reserved for exploring the fascinating excavation site of more than 8,000 unique terracotta warriors and horses that guard the tomb of China''s first emperor. Next, view the IMAX presentation on the discovery of the site and learn more about this extraordinary process. Dinner this evening is an Imperial dumpling dinner with more than 20 courses of dumplings!

Day 10
Xian
You will travel to the countryside where you have the opportunity to visit a rural village. You will also visit the Dong Zhou Children’s Village which is supported by the Collette Foundation. This village helps children who are in difficult situations while their parents are in prison, giving the children the opportunity to live, study and grow up in a healthy environment. You will meet the locals and learn first hand how they live during a tour of the local school, a visit to a cow farm, and lunch at a farmer''s family home. Your visit will give you insight into the day-to-day life of the local villagers in China''s interior. This evening you may choose to purchase an optional dinner with entertainment at the Tang Dynasty show.

Day 11
Xian - Kunming
The province of Yunnan awaits you. This, the most geographically varied province in China, is also home to one-third of China’s minority peoples. You will fly to Kunming; the largest city in the province and former terminus of World War II’s famed “Burma Road”.

Day 12
Kunming - The Stone Forest - Kunming
A ride through the Yunnan countryside brings you to the unique geological formation known as the Stone Forest. This massive collection of limestone pillars is a sight you will never forget. Some of the “trees” of the forest are over 90 feet high. Later this afternoon you will return to Kunming and visit the Yunnan Minority Museum.

Day 13
Kunming - Lijiang
A morning flight brings you to the remote town of Lijiang. Set in the mountains, bordering on Tibet, Lijiang is home to the Naxi minority people. Your visit begins with an excursion to the Jade Dragon Snow Mountain. A chairlift ride, followed by a short walk along a boardwalk through the forest, will bring you to an open pasture with beautiful views of the mountains.

Day 14
Lijiang
This morning you will visit Black Dragon Pond Park and Yufeng Monastery, a Tibetan lamasery famous for its “Camellia Tree of 10,000 Blossoms”. This afternoon is at leisure to stroll through the old town of Lijiang to relax or perhaps visit the markets and bargain with the local people. Tonight, local entertainment is included at the Naxi Ancient Music Performance.

Day 15
Lijiang - Chengdu
A morning flight brings you to Chengdu, the capital of the Sichuan Province. After lunch, enjoy a stroll through a local market before arriving at your hotel for an evening of leisure.

Day 16
Chengdu
See China’s national treasure up close when you visit the Giant Panda Breeding Sanctuary where you will learn how these animals are being protected from extinction. The sanctuary is not a zoo but a simulated habitat, and your guided tour allows you the rare opportunity to see the Giant Panda in its natural environment.

Day 17
Chengdu - Beijing
A morning flight brings you back to Beijing. No visit to China would be complete without seeing the Great Wall. Your walk along a portion of this 3,700-mile marvel at the Juyongguan section will be a tour highlight. Next, walk through the Sacred Way to the Ming Tombs and visit the burial site of one of China''s past emperors.

Day 18
Beijing
Explore the world-famous Temple of Heaven, an ornate sanctuary where Chinese Emperors worshipped their gods. You will enjoy seeing the locals doing their morning exercises and perhaps try your skill at Tai Chi ball. Today’s highlight is an interactive Chinese cooking class at the Jinshong Cooking School. Visit a local market, learn about traditional ingredients and the art of Chinese cuisine as you create a Chinese specialty with a local chef. Next, it’s off to explore old Beijing during a rickshaw tour through the narrow streets and alleys, stopping for lunch with a local family. Afterwards, you will meet a kite master and learn the art of this favorite Chinese pastime. This evening join your fellow travelers for a farewell dinner.

Day 19
Beijing - Tour Ends
Your tour ends in Beijing but you will carry your memories of China with you as you make the journey home.


To speak to one of our live, experienced travel consultants, Call us now at 1-800-942-3301.

Airfare Disclaimer
A NOTE ABOUT AIRFARE: We encourage you to buy your airfare from the tour operator, because if your tour cancels then your airlines tickets will be covered. Purchasing flights separately at a lesser rate and incorporating it with a Non-Guaranteed Departure Date can result in loss of total cost of your flight investment. Depending on the fare rules, flights may be Non-Refundable and/or Non-Transferable. Neither the tour operator and/or Atlas Cruises & Tours will be held responsible for loss if a tour is cancelled for Lack of Participation. If you would like to check for discounted fares on Guaranteed Departures or for competitive pricing on air and hotel packages, we invite you to follow this link.

Documents
TRAVEL DOCUMENTS: Necessary Travel Documents such as Passports and Visas is the responsibility of the traveler. Passports must be valid six months from your return travel date.
         
Touring Date
Land Only
Land + Air
Single
(Land Only)
Single
(Land + Air)
3/17/2009 - 4/4/2009
$2,999
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4/14/2009 - 5/2/2009
$3,199
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5/12/2009 - 5/30/2009
$3,449
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5/26/2009 - 6/13/2009
$3,449
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6/9/2009 - 6/27/2009
$3,249
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7/7/2009 - 7/25/2009
$3,249
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7/21/2009 - 8/8/2009
$3,249
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8/4/2009 - 8/22/2009
$3,249
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8/18/2009 - 9/5/2009
$3,249
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9/1/2009 - 9/19/2009
$3,449
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9/15/2009 - 10/3/2009
$3,449
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10/13/2009 - 10/31/2009
$3,449
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10/27/2009 - 11/14/2009
$3,449
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11/10/2009 - 11/28/2009
$3,249
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Know Before You Go...
A special permit is required to enter Tibet. This permit is arranged for you by our ground agent in China, at no additional charge. In order to process this special permit, complete passport information must be submitted to the tour operator a minimum of 60 days prior to departure. If this information is received fewer than 60 days prior, we will be unable to process the special permit for entry.

The trans-Pacific and internal flights on this program are not included in the land price of your vacation.  All air, including internal flights, can be purchased through Collette Vacations. Internal flights that are purchased will be ticketed and distributed on tour by your Tour Manager.

Smaller buses, which may not be lavatory equipped, may be used on thsi program. In this case, frequent stops are made during travel periods.

For your convenience: To complete your vacation, we include roundtrip airport-to-hotel transfers when purchasing Collette airfare with your tour.  If you have arranged for your own air, we are pleased to provide you the option of purchasing these transfers. Please not that all transfers will leave at pre-scheduled times.

Electricity
An adaptor (which changes the physical plug) and/or converter (which changes the electric current) are necessary if you plan to use an appliance with voltage different from the standard within the country you are visiting. Please note, if your appliance has dual voltage you may still need an adaptor for the plug. Voltage in Asia is 220 - 240, 50 cycles.
Elevation
Maximum elevation is 16,640 feet.
Passport & Visa Information
Certain countries require a minimum of 6 months passport validity. You are strongly urged to contact the appropriate consulate for details. Visit www.travel.state.gov for the U.S. State Department for the latest details about passports and visa requirements.

IMPORTANT: We recommend that our clients traveling abroad take a photocopy of their passport and applicable visas. It should be packed separately from your actual passport and visa. We also recommend leaving a copy at home with your emergency contact.

Beijing, Fengdu, Three Gorges Dam Project, Terracotta Warriors, Home Hosted Lunch, Train to Tibet, Potala Palace, Giant Panda Breeding Sanctuary, Cooking Class, Kite Master

Your stay in Beijing is highlighted by a cooking class where you will create your own Chinese specialty.

See the 25 billion dollar Three Gorges Dam which, when completed, will be the largest hydroelectric dam in the world.

Board the overnight train to Tibet. The highest train in the world, you will marvel at this engineering wonder.

A guided tour of the Giant Panda Breeding Sanctuary will let you see these national treasures up close.

Know Before You Go...
A special permit is required to enter Tibet. This permit is arranged for you by our ground agent in China, at no additional charge. In order to process this special permit, complete passport information must be submitted to the tour operator a minimum of 60 days prior to departure. If this information is received fewer than 60 days prior, we will be unable to process the special permit for entry.

The trans-Pacific and internal flights on this program are not included in the land price of your vacation.  All air, including internal flights, can be purchased through Collette Vacations. Internal flights that are purchased will be ticketed and distributed on tour by your Tour Manager.

Smaller buses, which may not be lavatory equipped, may be used on thsi program. In this case, frequent stops are made during travel periods.

For your convenience: To complete your vacation, we include roundtrip airport-to-hotel transfers when purchasing Collette airfare with your tour.  If you have arranged for your own air, we are pleased to provide you the option of purchasing these transfers. Please not that all transfers will leave at pre-scheduled times.

Electricity
An adaptor (which changes the physical plug) and/or converter (which changes the electric current) are necessary if you plan to use an appliance with voltage different from the standard within the country you are visiting. Please note, if your appliance has dual voltage you may still need an adaptor for the plug. Voltage in Asia is 220 - 240, 50 cycles.
Elevation
Maximum elevation is 16,640 feet.
Passport & Visa Information
Certain countries require a minimum of 6 months passport validity. You are strongly urged to contact the appropriate consulate for details. Visit www.travel.state.gov for the U.S. State Department for the latest details about passports and visa requirements.

IMPORTANT: We recommend that our clients traveling abroad take a photocopy of their passport and applicable visas. It should be packed separately from your actual passport and visa. We also recommend leaving a copy at home with your emergency contact.
   
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