Adventure Tours
1. Grand South China Tour with Zhangjiaji
Canton / Changsha / Zhajiajie / Nanning / Bama / Fengshan / Leye / Lingyun / Mingshi / Kunming /Dali / Lijiang / Shangri-la / Kunming / Canton
Day 1 Arrive Canton, transfer to Changsha ( D )
Afternoon arrive Canton, then take the fast train to Changsha.
Overnight in Hopesky Hotel
Day 2 Changsha / Zhangjiajie ( B / D )
Morning in Changsha, visit Mt. Yuelu and the famous academy,
And Bamboo Slips Museum.
Afternoon transfer to Zhangjiajie.
Overnight in Sunshine Hotel
Day 3 Zhangjiajie ( B / D )
Morning visit Tian Men Shan by cable car.
Afternoon visit Yellow Dragon Cave.
Overnight in Sunshine Hotel
Day 4 Zhangjiajie ( B / D )
Morning visit Huangshi Stocked Village by cable car.
Afternoon visit Golden Whip Stream by walking.
Overnight in Sunshine Hotel
Day 5 Zhangjiajie / Nanning ( B / D )
Morning visit Mt. Tian Zi Shan and Yuan Jia Jie National Park
Afternoon visit Bao Feng Lake by boat
Night train to Nanning.
Overnight in the soft sleeping car of the train.
Day 6 Nanning / Bama / Fengshan( B / D )
Morning arrive Nanning, breakfast in hotel.
Then transfer to Bama.
Afternoon visit Crystal Cave and transfer to Fengshan.
Overnight in Fengshan Hengsheng Hotel
Day 7 Fengshan / Lingyun ( B / D )
Morning visit San Men Hai Heavenly Windows and Drgon Cave by boat.
Afternoon visit Shenggengdong Through Cave. Then transfer to visit Tea Farm.
Overnight in Lingyun Yin Hui Resort.
Day 8 Lingyun / Leye / Baise ( B / D )
Morning transfer to Leye, visit Loutus Cave and Dashiwei Heavenly Holes.
Afternoon drifting in Buliu River and watch the Fairy Bridge.
Then transfer to Baise.
Overnight in Hengshen Hotel
Day 9 Baise / Detian / Ming Shi ( B / D )
Morning visit Tong Ling Grand Canyon, then transfer to Detian Water Wall
in China - Viet Nam border, river tour by bamboo boat, border market.
Then transfer Ming Shi for sunset.
Overnight in Ming Shi Resort.
Day 10 Minshi / Nanning / Kunming
Morning enjoy sunrising, then bamboo boat in river.
Afternoon transfer to Nanning and take the night flight to Kunming.
Overnight in Kunming Jinjiang Hotel
Day 11 Kunming / Dali ( B / D )
Morning transfer to Dali.
Afternoon visit The Three Pagoda of Chong Sheng Temple
and Er Hai Lake by cruise.
Overnight in Grand Bay View Hotel
Day 12 Dali / Shaxi / Lijiang ( B / D )
Morning visit Mt. Shi Bao Shan, Si Deng Old Street and Xing Jiao Temple of Bai
Nationality.
Afternoon transfer to Lijiang.
Overnight in Hanshange Hotel ( www.bswhotel.com/skin_index_42503063_0_en )
Day 13 Lijiang ( B / D )
Morning visit Jade Dragon Snow Mountain by cable car.
Afternoon visit Mu Mansion and Old Town.
Overnight in Hanshange Hotel
Day 14 Lijiang / Tiger Leaping Gorge / Tea Horse Guest House ( B / D )
Morning start trekking, pass 24 bend, aftenoon arrive the top of mountain.
Overnight in Tea Guest House on the top.
Day 15 Tea Horse Guest House / Middle Tiger Leaping Gorge ( B / D )
Morning trekking down to Middle Tiger Leaping Gorge. Afternoon visit Middle Tiger
leaping Gorge by trekking, enjoy rapid and turbulent Yangtze River.
Overnight in Tina’s Guest House.
Day16 Tiger Leaping Gorge / Shangri-la ( B / D )
Morning free
Afternoon transfer to Lijiang.
Overnight in Shangri-la Old Town Hotel.
Day 17 Shangri-la ( B / D )
Morning visit Shi Ka Snow Mountain.
Afternoon visit Du Ke Zong Old Town.
Overnight in Shangri-la Old Town Hotel.
Day 18 Shangri-la / Lijiang / Kunming ( B / D )
Morning visit Song Zhan Tibet Monastry.
Afternoon transfer to Lijiang.
Night flight to Kunming.
Overnight in Jin Jiang Hotel.
Day 19 Kunming / Canton ( B / D )
Morning visit Stone Forest.
Afternoon fly to Canton.
Overnight in Bai Yun Hotel ( www.baiyun-hotel.com)
Day 20 Canton departure ( B )
Morning visit Chan Family Temple and Five Ram Park.
Afternoon transfer to airport for departure.
2. Grand South Tour with Guizhou minorities
Canton / Nanning / Bama / Fengshan / Leye / Lingyun / Minshi / Nanning / Guiyang / Yunnan / Cantona
Day 1 Arrive Canton / Nanning ( D )
Arrive Canton, transit and fly to Nanning
Overnight in Nanning Wharton International Hotel
( www.whartonhotel.com/english/main.aspx )
Day 2 Nanning / Bama / Fengshan( B / D )
Morning transfer to Bama.
Afternoon visit Crystal Cave and transfer to Fengshan.
Overnight in Fengshan Hengsheng Hotel
Day 3 Fengshan / Lingyun ( B / D )
Morning visit San Men Hai Heavenly Windows and Drgon Cave by boat.
Afternoon visit Shenggengdong Through Cave. Then transfer to visit Tea Farm.
Overnight in Lingyun Yin Hui Resort.
Day 4 Lingyun / Leye / Baise ( B / D )
Morning transfer to Leye, visit Loutus Cave and Dashiwei Heavenly Holes.
Afternoon drifting in Buliu River and watch the Fairy Bridge.
Then transfer to Baise.
Overnight in Hengshen Hotel
Day 5 Baise / Detian / Ming Shi ( B / D )
Morning visit Tong Ling Grand Canyon, then transfer to Detian Water Wall
in China - Viet Nam border, river tour in bamboo boat, border market.
Then transfer Ming Shi for sunset.
Overnight in Ming Shi Resort.
Day 6 Minshi / Nanning ( B / D )
Morning enjoy sunrising, then bamboo boat in river.
Afternoon transfer to Nanning
Overnight in Nanning Wharton International Hotel
Day 7 Nanning / Guiyang / Kaili ( B / D )
Morning flight to Guiyang, transfer to Kaili,
Visit Shi Qiao Ancient paper-making village and Qingman Miao Village,
Dinner at Kaili to taste the traditional food of the Miao People.
Overnight in Kaili Heaven-sent Dragon Hotel
Day 8 Kaili / Rongjiang ( B / D )
Morning transfer to Rongjiang, on the way
Visit Langde - the long-skirt Miao Village; Datang —- the short-skirt Miao Village
and Paika – a Miao village for Making Lusheng ( a Miao musical instrument )
Overnight in Rongjiang Dongxiangmi Hotel
Day 9 Rongjiang / Zhao Xing ( B / D )
Transfer to visit the Baji Dong village, Basha Miao village
and Zhaoxing Dong village and drum-towers.
Overnight in Zhaoxing Hotel
Day 10 Zhao Xing / Guiyang / Kunming ( B / D )
Morning visit Tangan Dong village in the morning,
Afternoon drive to Guiyang, visit Jiaxiu Pavilion.
Night flight to Kunming
Overnight in Kunming Jin Jiang Hotel
Day 11 Kunming / Dali ( B / D )
Morning transfer to Dali.
Afternoon visit The Three Pagoda of Chong Sheng Temple
and Er Hai Lake by cruise.
Overnight in Grand Bay View Hotel
Day 12 Dali / Shaxi / Lijiang ( B / D )
Morning visit Mt. Shi Bao Shan, Si Deng Old Street and Xing Jiao Temple of Bai
Nationality. Afternoon transfer to Lijiang.
Overnight in Hanshange Hotel ( www.bswhotel.com/skin_index_42503063_0_en )
Day 13 Lijiang ( B / D )
Morning visit Jade Dragon Snow Mountain by cable car.
Afternoon visit Mu Mansion and Old Town.
Overnight in Hanshange Hotel
Day 14 Lijiang / Tiger Leaping Gorge / Tea Horse Guest House ( B / D )
Morning start trekking, pass 24 bend, aftenoon arrive the top of mountain.
Overnight in Tea Guest House.
Day 15 Tea Horse Guest House / Middle Tiger Leaping Gorge ( B / D )
Morning trekking down to Middle Tiger Leaping Gorge.
Afternoon visit Middle Tiger leaping Gorge by trekking,
enjoy rapid and turbulent Yangtze River.
Overnight in Tina’s Guest House.
Day16 Tiger Leaping Gorge / Shangri-la ( B / D )
Morning free
Afternoon transfer to Lijiang.
Overnight in Shangri-la Old Town Hotel.
Day 17 Shangri-la ( B / D )
Morning visit Shi Ka Snow Mountain.
Afternoon visit Du Ke Zong Old Town.
Overnight in Shangri-la Old Town Hotel.
Day 18 Shangri-la / Lijiang / Kunming ( B / D )
Morning visit Song Zhan Tibet Monastry.
Afternoon transfer to Lijiang.
Night flight to Kunming.
Overnight in Jin Jiang Hotel.
Day 19 Kunming / Canton ( B / D )
Morning visit Stone Forest.
Afternoon fly to Canton.
Overnight in Bai Yun Hotel ( www.baiyun-hotel.com )
Day 20 Canton departure ( B )
Morning visit Chan Family Temple and Five Ram Park.
Afternoon transfer to airport for departure.
3.South East China Tour
Canton / Shao Guan / Lianzhou / Longji / Ziyuan / Yangshuo / Yingtan / Mt.Longhu /Mt.San Qing / Mt. Huangshan / Hangzhou / Shanghai
Day 1 Arrive Canton / Shaoguan ( D )
Arrive Canton, transfer to Shao Guang.
Overnight in Ramada Plaza Shao Guan City Center
Day 2 Shaoguan / Lianzhou ( B / D )
Morning visit Mt. Dan Xia Shan ( http://hgc39245.chinaw3.com/en/index.asp )
Afternoon transfer to Lian Zhou, visit Huangchuan Three Gorges.
Overnight in Garden Holiday Hotel
Day 3 Lianzhou / Yangshuo ( B / D )
Morning visit Lianzhou Underground River in karst cave.
Afternoon transfer to Hezhou, then to Yangshuo.
Overnight in Green Lotus Hotel ( www.greenlotushotel.com/english/index.asp )
Day 4 Yangshuo / Guilin / Yangshuo ( B / L / D )
Morning transfer to Guilin, and visit Li River by cruise.
Afternoon arrive Yangshuo.
Overnight in Green Lotus Hotel
Day 5 Yangshuo / Longji ( B / D )
Morning transfer to Guilin, visit Elephant Trunk Hill and Camel Hill.
Afternoon transfer to Longji, visit Terraced Rice Field and sunset.
Overnight in Ping An Hotel
Day 6 Longji / Ziyuan ( B / D )
Morning enjoy sunising around Terraced Rice Field.
Afternoon transfer to Zi Yuan.
Overnight in Ziyuan Dan Xia Hot Spring Resort
Day 7 Ziyuan / Guilin / Yingtan ( B / D )
Morning visit Ba Jiao Zhai Geropark.
Afternoon transfer to Guilin. Take the train to Yingtan.
Overnight in the soft sleeping car of the train.
Day 8 Yingtan / Mt. Longhushan / Mt.Sanqingshan ( B / D )
Morning arrive Yingtan, after breakfast,
transfer to visit Mt. Longhushan ( www.longhushan.com.cn/English/Default.aspx )
Bamboo drift and watch the “coffin lifting” performance.
Late afternoon transfer to Mt.Sanqingshan ( www.sqs.gov.cn )
Overnight in Sanqingshan International Resort.
Day 9 Mt. San Qing / Mt. Huangshan ( B / D )
Morning visit Mt. Sanqingshan by cable car.
Late afternoon transfer to Mt. Huangshan ( www.huangshan.gov.cn/en/ )
Overnight in Hai Zhou International Hotel
Day 10 Mt. Huangshan ( B / D )
Whole day Huangshan tour by cable car up and down.
Overnight in Hai Zhou International Hotel
Day 11 Mt. Huangshan / Hangzhou ( B / D )
Morning visit Hongcun Old Town
Afternoon transfer to Hangzhou.
Overnight in Zijingang International Hotel
Day 12 Hangzhou / Shanghai ( B )
Transfer to Shanghai airport for departure
4.Taklamakan desert tour
Day 01 Arrive Urumqi
Today is the arrival day in Urumqi. Urumqi is the capital of Xinjiang Uyghur (pronounced “Wee Ger”) Autonomous Region. It is a rapidly modernizing city on the plains at the eastern end of the Tian Shan, populated by Mao during his Go West campaign in the 1950s.
The province of Xinjiang lies at the heart of the Eurasian continent. Skirting the hostile Gobi Desert it is a region of endless grassland, the Taklamakan Desert, snow peaked mountains, lakes, and primitive forests.
On arrival you will meet the guide and driver at the airport and be transferred to your hotel.
Hotel: Kampenski Hotel 5*
Day 02 Urumqi/ Heavenly Lake / Mulei-total driving approx 360km
Today we will drive to the Heavenly Lake, a famous alpine lake which is located at the foot of the Tian shan Bogda Mountain. After some time here we will then drive along the southern rim of Jungar Basin to the town of Mulei, a Kazakh Autonomous Prefecture which was an important stop along the ancient Grassland Silk Road. Overnight in Mulei.
Please note the itinerary has been designed to come back to Urumqi because the road from Turpan to Dunhuang is not very good. We believe the road from Heavenly Lake to Dunhuang, mostly on Highway 303, is more scenic and comfortable.
Hotel: Mu Lei Huyang Hotel 3*
Day 03 Mulei/ Barkol Lake / Hami – total driving approx 250km
Today we will drive to the Barkol Lake and grassland before driving across the Tian Shan Mountains to Hami, the eastern most city of Xinjiang. On arrival we will see the Hami Hui King’s Tomb, a beautiful piece of Muslim architecture.
Hotel: Jiagda Hotel 4*
Day 04 Hami to Dunhuang – total driving approx 420km
Our drive today will take us to Dunhuang, situated along the ancient Northern Silk Road. We will pass by a very barren land, which the local people called Xingxing Gorges. It is the separation line of Xinjiang and Gansu Provinces.
Hotel: The Silk Road Dunhuang Hotel 4*
Day 05 Dunhuang – total driving approx 60km
Dunhuang is home to China’s most magnificent Buddhist grottos at the Mogao Caves. The grottos are set amidst mountainous towering sand dunes. The Mogao Caves, also known as the Thousand Buddhist Grottos, are 1,000 metres long, and are filled with superb Buddhist art, dating from 366AD. Over 45,000 square metres of frescos in the nearly 500 caves record the life of the Buddha. This morning we visit this great repository of Chinese Buddhist cave art which spans the period from the Northern Wei to the Yuan dynasties (4th to 14th centuries). The grottoes document the arrival of Buddhism from India (and its subsequent Sinofication). The early murals are graced with very slim, dark Indian figures, while the later ones show very full, light-skinned figures representing the prosperity of the Tang, Song, and Yuan dynasties. We’ll also visit the high yellow sand dunes of Mingsha with an optional camel ride to Crescent Lake.
Our hotel is situated approximately 29km from the caves and it is a further 2km to the Mingsha Mountain and Crescent Moon Spring. This proximity will allow us a full day to explore this site.
Hotel: The Silk Road Dunhuang Hotel 4*
Day 06 Dunhuang -huatugou – total driving approx 520km
Today we will drive towards the south west of Dunhuang to huatugou town. Today we are driving along the southern silk road and drive to Huatugou . The drive is fairly scenic. With the snow capped Qilan Mountain in the distance. And we will have picnic lunch in the mountain area. In the evening we will drive to Huatugou,an oil town which belong to Qinghai.
Hotel: Huatugou Mangya Hotel
Day 07 Huatugou/Ruoqiang (Charklik) – total driving approx 420km
Today we will drive to Charklik. Charklik was once the most important stop along the Southern Silk Road. Once we get to Charklik, we will have chance to visit the Charklik Museum,In the afternoon we will reach the Milan Ancient City, where Aurel Stein had many great excavation works, before finally reaching Charklik, another important stop along the southern Silk Road.
Hotel: Loulan Hotel
Day 08 Charklik / Cherqen – total driving approx 360km
During our drive today we will stop to visit the Zhaghuluk Ancient Tombs, the tombs where excavated the finest mummies in China,) along with other scenic spots in Cherqan, which was also an important stop for travellers along the southern Silk Road.
Hotel: Muztag Hotel
Day 09 Cherqan/Niya/Keriya – total driving approx 472km
Today is one of the longest drives at 472 km during which we will see many beautiful desert poplars along the road.
It is possible to shorten this day by stopping and camping 20km east of Niya. The distance from Cherqan to Niya is approximately 280km. While it will make this day shorter it will make tomorrow a longer day (approximately 370km). Tomorrow there is the opportunity to visit the markets at Khotan, which rivals the Kashgar markets in terms of the essence of the markets (i.e trading of animals etc) however it does not rival Kashgar markets in terms of the amount of people visiting. We would suggest a longer day today to allow a short drive tomorrow to ensure we reach Khotan in time to experience some of this market.
Hotel: Zhejiang Guesthouse
Day 10 Keriya/ Khotan – total driving approx 180km
Today will be a more relaxing drive as it is not as long. We should try and leave Keriya early this morning to ensure we can experience the markets at Khotan. Khotan is a Uyghur populated town which was famous for its Sheep fat Jade, Atlas Silk (ikat) and colourful handmade woollen carpets. It also has many great ruins like the Rawak Ruins and the Dandan Oylik Ruins, which were visited by foreign explorers during the Great Game.
Hotel: Zhejiang Hotel 4*
Day 11 Khotan Sightseeing
A day of rest from the jeeps today to allow sightseeing in Khotan. We plan to visit the family workshops for making papers, woollen felt, Atlas Silk, grinding cooking oil and woodworking workshops.
Hotel: Zhejiang Hotel 4*
Day 12 Khotan to Malikawat Ruins
A day trip to Malikawat and Khotan Museum.
Hotel: Zhejiang Hotel 4*
Day 13 Khotan to Jiya Village and Rawak by camel.
Rawak is a ruin of a Buddhist temple which was visited by Aurel Stein Bergman and Sven Hedin during the period of the Great Game. Rawak was built from the 2nd to the 10th century and features a monastery and 10 meter high minaret. There is also a 3 meter high Buddha.
Aurel Stein took back a lot of mural paintings from this ruin.
Jiya is about a 90km drive from Khotan. To reach Rawak it is an approximately 1 hour camel ride.
Overnight: Camping
Day 14 Rawak to Khotan.
We return to Khotan today and the rest of the day is at your leisure.
Hotel: Zhejiang Hotel 4*
Day 15 (Fri) Khotan to Yarkand (Shache) – total driving approx 350km
Our drive today will go via the Amanishakhan Tombs. The tombs are located in downtown Yarkand. The local people call the tombs Altun Miqit, which means golden mosque since it is a building complex which houses a golden roof mosque and also the family graveyard of a former Yarkand King. Among them the most famous tomb is Amannishankhan, who was the queen of the Yarkand King and she devoted her whole life to compiling the famous Uyghur Grand Melody – the 12 Mukham. In Shach we will stay in either Delong Hotel or Shache Hotel which are both 2 star hotels.
Hotel: Delong Hotel or Shache Hotel, both 2 star hotels
Day 16 (Sat) Drive Kashgar – total driving approx 195km
There is an option to stay at the Qinibagh hotel but it is not as good a hotel as the Tianyuan.
Hotel: Tianyuan International 4*
Day 17 (Sun) Kashgar Sightseeing
Kashgar is a bustling market town which is prominent on the silk route, and is at the junction between the two main north/south arteries. On Sundays traders come from all over to sell their livestock, amongst thousands of different types of produce. Being populated by an overwhelming majority of Hua Yuan Hotel and KCJG International Hotel people (93%), it seems on arrival that you have left China. This impression is quickly reversed on viewing the massive monument of Mao near the Idkah Square. Our time in Kashgar is spent predominantly at the markets where we can watch the traders dressed in their Sunday best (waistcoats and all), selling their sheep which were brought from miles away on their donkey cart. We will also wander through the different sections of the market, where hats, spices, kitchenware, carpets, musical instruments richly decorated, clothing and tailors, and almost any other products are sold. The Fragrant Concubines tomb will be visited in the afternoon together with the Idkah Mosque. Kashgar was the centre of the Great Game staged between Britain and Russia in their attempts to secure the Central Asian states.
Hotel: Tianyuan International 4*
Day 18 Old Kashgar to Aksu – total driving approx 480km
Hotel: Aksu Hongfu Hotel 4*
Day 19 Aksu to Kuche – total driving approx 320km
Drive to Kuche where we overnight.
Hotel: Kuche International Hotel 4*
Day 20 Day trip to Kizil caves – Kizil is 75km from Kuche
This morning we drive to the Kizil Caves. Most tourists to the caves only spend a half day and therefore are only able to see one zone of the caves. However we have allowed enough time to allow you to visit both zones of the caves.
The Kizil caves are regarded as the earliest major Buddhist cave complex in East Turkestan. The site has been damaged however around 1000 square metres of the wall paintings still remain.
In the late afternoon we drive to Big Dragon Lake to camp.
Hotel: Camping
D21 Grand Canyon and Big And Small Dragon Lake as well as Tianshan Stone Forest. Part of the Kuche/DUshanzi military reserve road. In fact we just drive less than half of the road to Bayanbulak where the road construction part is finished., then we drive back to Kuche
Hotel: Kuche Intl’ Hotel
Day 22 Kuche sightseeing/Korla
Visit the Subashi ancient city, Grand Kuqa Mosque, and Bazaar afternoon drive to Korla
280km drive
Hotel: Hua Yuan Hotel or KCJG International Hotel, both 5*
Day 23 Korla to Turpan, approximately 470km
Turpan is an oasis town watered by the melting snows of the Tian Shan, the Heavenly Mountains. Although located in the Turpan Depression, one of the lowest and hottest places on earth (Marco Polo heard of it as the demon haunted desert of Lop), Turpan has abundant crops of melons and produces fine grapes for wines as a result of the sophisticated system of irrigation.
Hotel: Turpan Huozhou Hotel 4*
Day 24 Turpan – total driving approx 265km
Today we will 60km to the old Hua Yuan Hotel and KCJG International Hotel village of Tuyuk (which also has Buddhist caves) where we will enjoy a traditional lunch at a family house. Continuing on we drive 24km to visit the remains of the ancient city of Gaochang, and Ancient Tombs of Astana. We cross the red sandstone hills of the Flaming Mountains to visit the Bezeklik Buddhist caves. In the evening, we return to Turpan to enjoy a Kebab Dinner under the trellis.
Hotel: Turpan Huozhou Hotel 4*
Day 25 Turpan to Urumqi – total driving approx 250km
This morning we’ll visit the Karez wells, the Emin Minaret and the fortress-town of Jiao He, strategically placed on a mesa between two fertile river valleys and destroyed by the Mongols during a tax revolt by the locals. Time permitting we will also see the local folk songs and dances when we are having lunch. Then we will drive back to Urumqi
Hotel: Kampenski Hotel 5*
Day 26 Tour end
Check-out before 12:00am. Departure transfer to airport.