Breakfast will be followed by your transfer to the airport for your flight back to the UK.
Essential Plus Cruise
Essential Plus Cruise
View China from land, air and water with the Essential Plus Cruise tour
Enjoy a relaxing cruise along the Yangtze River, the longest river in Asia, and arguably the most picturesque. See the sights in the illustrious capital of Beijing, followed by the historical city of Xian, the ancient capital, and the spell-binding Terracotta Warriors. Finally, the vibrant city of Shanghai will bring you to China’s present.
Locations you will be visiting
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Beijing, China
Beijing is the capital city of China and is the nation’s political and cultural centre.
3 Days
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Xian, China
Xian, the eastern starting point of the Silk Road, capital of Shaanxi province and one of China’s ...
2 Days
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Chongqing, China
Chongqing is a modern port city on the upper reaches of the Yangtze River at it's confluence the Jia...
1 Day
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The Yangtze River, China
Winding about 3,964 miles, the Yangtze River is the largest in China and the third largest in the wo...
3 Days
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Shanghai, China
A vibrant financial city where tradition meets innovation
2 Days
YOUR TOUR ITINERARY
Essential Plus Cruise
13 day Tour Itinerary
An overview of your trip
DAY 1 Fly to Beijing
Catch your scheduled flight from London Heathrow to Beijing. Flights can be arranged from your local airport, for your ease and convenience.
- Transport: Airplane
DAY 2 Arrive Beijing
Upon arrival in Beijing, you will be met by your guide and transferred to your hotel for a three night stay. The afternoon is free at leisure for you to relax or explore the local area. In the evening you will meet your fellow group members for a dinner hosted by your guide.
- Meals included: Dinner
DAY 3 Beijing City Tour
Your Beijing City Tour starts after breakfast, with a visit to the Temple of Heaven, where Ming and Qing emperors worshipped, and where today you may see Tai Chi being practised in the courtyard. The tour continues to Tiananmen Square, and the Forbidden City. Your final stop of the day will be at the Hutongs, for an insight into the everyday life of the local people.
- Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
DAY 4 Great Wall
Your second full day takes you to the Great Wall at Mutianyu, one of the best preserved sections, with breathtaking views. On your return to central Beijing, your tour passes by the magnificently designed Birds Nest Stadium and Water Cube, venues for the memorable 2008 Olympics, for a photo opportunity. This evening a traditional Peking Duck Dinner will be served.
- Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
DAY 5 Beijing to Xian
Following a hotel breakfast, visit the Summer Palace, a magnificent complex of lakes, gardens and imperial buildings. Afterwards, enjoy a relaxing boat ride on beautiful Kunming Lake, before catching a bullet train to Xian, for a two night stay.
- Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch
- Transport: Bullet Train
DAY 6 Terracotta Warriors
Your first stop today is the Terracotta Warriors an awe-inspiring collection of 10,000 life size statues of the Chinese army made over 2,000 years ago, and remained undiscovered until 1974. This will be followed by an afternoon visit to Xian’s ancient city wall, which is best discovered on foot or by bike. In the evening you will be treated to a tasty dumpling dinner while enjoying a Tang Dynasty Show, a colourful performance of traditional music and dance.
- Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
DAY 7 Xian to Chongqing
Enjoy breakfast at your hotel before admiring the exhibits at the Shaanxi Museum home to over a quarter of a million artefacts. The next stop on your tour is the remarkable Small Wild Goose Pagoda, followed by a visit to the Muslim Quarter to see local life in the community. This is followed by a transfer to the airport for your flight to Chongqing for an overnight stay.
- Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch
- Transport: Airplane
DAY 8 Chongqing and Yangtze River Cruise
Breakfast is followed by a visit to see the pandas at the local zoo and in the afternoon visit the ancient market town, Ciqikou. In the evening enjoy dinner in a local restaurant before boarding your 5* ship for the start of
your cruise along the majestic Yangtze River.
- Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
- Transport: Cruise
DAY 9 Yangtze River Cruise
On the first day of the cruise, you can relax while the ship meanders along the Yangtze, and enjoy the scenic views. There will be an excursion to Shibaozhai, with its impressive wooden pagoda, appropriately named “The Pearl of the Yangtze”.
- Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
- Transport: Cruise
DAY 10 Yangtze River Cruise
The final excursion of the last day will be an enjoyable journey on a small motorboat through the tranquil Goddess Stream while marvelling at the soaring limestone cliffs rising from the water.
- Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
- Transport: Cruise
DAY 11 Yangtze River Cruise and to Shanghai
As you make your way to Yichang, there is a chance to visit The Three Gorges Dam, before lunch on board. On arrival, transfer to the station for your bullet train to Shanghai, and a two night stay.
- Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch
- Transport: Cruise, Bullet train
DAY 12 Shanghai City Tour
Enjoy a hotel breakfast before the start of your Shanghai City Tour. The stops include the Yu Yuan Gardens, a horticulturists dream, followed by the impressive Jade Buddha Temple, and the fascinating Shanghai Museum. Then there is the opportunity to admire the city’s contrasting architectural styles on a stroll along the Bund, before marvelling at the cityscape from the observatory at the top of the Shanghai World Financial Centre.
- Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
DAY 13 Fly to UK
- Meals included: Breakfast
- Transport: Airplane
Optional Extras - Cultural Experiences
There is some free time in your itinerary for you to explore on your own, or treat yourself to an excursion. Use the links below to create a to-do list, or, if you’d prefer us to book you onto one of these or any other excursions, please let us know when booking your tour.
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View this packageChina
China: Beijing Opera
Delight at a performance of traditional Beijing Opera
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View this packageChina
China: Tai Chi Lesson
Practise this ancient martial art with a Tai Chi lesson
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View this packageChina
China: Tea Tasting
Appreciate the varying blends of Chinese tea at a tasting
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View this packageChina
China: Calligraphy Lesson
Create your own piece with a class in Chinese caligraphy
Sample Accommodation
Your holiday details
Departures and Prices 2019 / 20 / 21
Single supplement from £498
Land only from £1,998
(without international flights)
Prices and products are subject to availability at the time of booking.
The deposit for these arrangements is £300 per person. Balance is due 10 weeks before departure.
This tour itinerary is also available as a Private Tour. Please ask for more details.
China: Essential Plus Cruise
price
from£2,698
Make an enquiry
from£2,698
What's included:
- International flights in economy class departing from London Heathrow with British Airways. Regional departures and flight upgrades are available on request
- Domestic flights in economy class
- Bullet train in first class
- 4★ accommodation based on twin share
- Transfers
- English speaking guides
- Meals as stated
- Entrance fees to the sites listed
- Airport taxes
- Local tips: RMB420 (approx. £49) per person,
- RMB150 (approx £18 ) per person tips aboard the Yangtze Cruise,
- Personal spending
- Travel insurance
- China visa and fees
When making an enquiry or reservation we will request your contact details, however no payment will be required at this stage. We will contact you for payment details and to confirm your booking, your details and the details of those travelling with you along with any extras you’d like to add.
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