China add-ons

A selection of add-on itineraries that can be combined with any of our group or private tours. Please ask for prices and details of connecting flights/trains.

Harbin Ice Festival

(from early January to early February)

Day 1 Arrive Harbin. Transfer to hotel. After lunch visit the main sights of the city, including Zhongshan Lu and the former Russian Orthodox cathderal of St Sophia. (L, D)
Day 2 Visit Sun Island and international Snow sculpture festival. In the late afternoon head towards the famous Harbin Ice and Snow Festival to enjoy the ice sculptures and buildings lit by coloured lights. (B, L, D)
Day 3 Transfer to airport for onward flight (B)

Panda extension

Day 1 Arrive Chengdu. Transfer to hotel
Day 2 Travel by car to the town of Ya'an. In the afternoon visit to the Bifengxia Panda Base. (B, L, D)
Day 3 Whole day at Panda Base to do volunteering job caring for the pandas (B, L, D)
Day 4 Travel back to Chengdu (B)

Yunnan Discovery

Day 1 Arrive Kunming. Transfer to hotel
Day 2 Transfer to airport for early flight to Lijiang. Transfer to hotel. Visit the Black Dragon Pool, Yufeng Lamasery and take the chairlift up the snow-capped Jade Dragon Snow Mountain (B, L)
Day 3 Travel by car to visit the First Bend of the Yangtze at Shidu, where the river turns from flowing south to flow eastwards through China. Then visit the famous Tiger Leaping Gorge, created as the river cuts its way through the mountains. Free time at the end of the day to explore Lijiang old town (B, L)
Day 4 Travel by car to Dali. Transfer to hotel and rest of the day free to explore Dali old town (B)
Day 5 Cruise on Lake Erhai, followed by visit to one of the fine mansions in Xizhou town, and the Three Pagodas (B, L)
Day 6 Transfer to airport for flight to Kunming (B)

Mt Emei

Day 1 Arrive Chengdu. Transfer to hotel
Day 2 Travel by car to Leshan to visit the 'Dafo' or Giant Buddha, one of the world's largest Buddha statues, carved in the 8th century AD.
Day 3 Continue onward to Mt Emei, one of the four sacred mountains of Chinese Buddhism and a nature reserve, via the Jialong Thousand Buddha cliff where numerous buddha statues have been carved into the cliff (B, L)
Day 4 Visit the Wannian and Baoguo temples before taking the cable car up to the summit of the mountain and the Golden Temple perched on its top (B)
Day 5 Travel back to Chengdu. Transfer to hotel (B)
Day 6 Transfer to airport/train station for onward journey (B)

Tibet in depth

Day 1 Met on arrival at Lhasa Gonggar airport and transfer to Lhasa and your hotel. Rest of the day free to acclimatize to high altitude.
Day 2 Full day excursion to the imposing Potala Palace, former seat of power of the Dalai Lamas. Then visit Sera Monastery, on the outskirts of Lhasa, a large complex founded in 1419. (B + L)
Day 3 In the morning visit the Jokhang Temple, Tibetan Buddhism's holiest shrine, and the neighbouring Barkhor street with its numerous shops and stalls and processions of pilgrims. In the afternoon visit the Norbulinka, the former summer palace of the Dalai Lamas. (B + L)
Day 4 Travel by road out of the city and alongside the Tsangpo River to Samye monastery, Tibet's oldest and one of its most atmospheric. Then visit the Yumbulakhang, the temple-fortress of Tibet's early kings. Overnight in Tsedang. (B + L)
Day 5 Travel by road on the scenic route to Gyantse via Yamdrok Lake. On arrival at Gyantse visit the Pelkor Chode monastery. (B + L)
Day 6 Continue by road to Shigatze, Tibet's second city. On arrival visit the Tashilumpo Monastery, the traditional seat of the Panchen Lama. Also visit Shigatze's vibrant market.(B + L)
Day 7 Return to Lhasa, stopping at local villages to see handmade incense production. (B + L)
Day 8 Transfer to airport for onward flight. (B)