Driving Journeys into Hidden China and Beyond

Transcription

1 Driving Journeys into Hidden China and Beyond From Yunnan to the Lanna Kingdom 11-Day Journey Description

2 Journey through beautiful Yunnan to the heart of the ancient Lanna Kingdom This luxurious itinerary will take you from Kunming, the capital of China s exotic Yunnan province, to the tropical heart of the Golden Triangle and on to Chiang Mai in Thailand former capital of the ancient Lanna Kingdom. All along this exciting route you will enjoy the best accommodation available staying in some of Asia s loveliest hotels and travel through an area steeped in the cultures of many different ethnic minorities and through some of the region s most stunning countryside. Professional tour guide has paved the way for you to cross borders in your own properly insured SUV, so that you can enjoy the romance of a classic overland journey crossing the Mekong on a local car ferry, winding your way along lush country roads without any of the logistical headaches that typically accompany such journeys Journey Highlights On this journey you will stay in the region s most beautiful hotels, and while you re on the road you will also see some extraordinary sights and enjoy wonderful experiences: Watch sunrise over the Mirrors of God Yuanyang s incredible rice terraces Drive on winding, quiet back roads south along the China-Laos border Stroll through the lush Xishuangbanna Tropical Botanical Gardens and visit colourful Menghai market buy a beautiful silk outfit and try some of the delicious tropical fruit grown locally Drive on the superb Route 3 through Laos a twenty-first century highway that runs through countryside where village life has remained unchanged for hundreds of years Cross the Mekong by car ferry from Huay Sai in Laos to Chiang Khong in Thailand Discover the Golden Triangle where Laos, Thailand and Burma meet and stay in the luxurious Anantara Golden Triangle Resort Round off this amazing trip by exploring Chiang Mai one of the liveliest towns in northern Thailand Our Cars The tour will provide international standard, consists of brand new Toyota Prados (4.0L GXX 240php), a fantastic SUV that is easy to drive, superbly comfortable, and can take the toughest terrain. Since they are new and will be maintained and serviced by Avis China, you will enjoy cars that are safe, reliable, and fun! 2

3 Day-by-Day Description Day 1 Arrival in Kunming Preparing for Your Journey Arrive in Kunming, we will meet you from the airport and transfer you to your hotel. If you require a temporary Chinese driving license, we will take you to the hotel via the Vehicle Licensing Bureau. All the documents for your temporary license will be prepared; you will just need to take a simple eye test and sign the forms. In the evening, enjoy a group dinner together in a lovely restaurant in a converted Qing dynasty house and attend our staff s safety briefing. Altitude: 1,900m/6,230ft Distance: 0km Hotel: Green Lake Hotel, Kunming (*****) Day 2 On the road to the Mirrors of God Today you will enjoy a wonderful drive south to the magnificent Yuanyang rice terraces, poetically referred to as the mirrors of God. On the way, you will stop at Jianshui, a small city with a charming old town the perfect place for lunch and a stroll around some of the beautiful Qing-dynasty buildings. The afternoon s drive will give you a good first taste of mountain roads in China, before arriving in Yuanyang in the late afternoon. If the weather is good, you will enjoy a stunning view over the rice paddies as the setting sun glints off each paddy field Altitude: 1,600m/5,250ft Distance: 340km/200 miles Duration: 6 hours Road Conditions: Beautifully paved most of the way, only the last 30km is a little bumpy Hotel: Yunti Hotel, Yuanyang (***) Day 3 Exploring the hillside villages of Yuanyang At dawn, you will drive to one of the best viewing spots in Yuanyang to enjoy the rice terraces in their best light, as the golden early morning sunlight dances across the surface of the water. Spend the rest of the day exploring exotic local markets and lively Hani and Yi minority villages before driving on to watch the sunset from another stunning viewpoint bring your camera! Altitude: 1,600m/5,250ft Distance: 100km/60 miles Duration: 3 hours Road Conditions: Generally good, but very winding and occasionally bumpy Hotel: Yunti Hotel, Yuanyang (***) 3

4 Day 4 On winding back roads to Jiangcheng You ve joined this trip because, surely, you enjoy driving. You will be in your element today and tomorrow because the next few days are spent on beautiful back roads winding through lush green countryside. After an early lunch, you start your drive from Yuanyang to Jinghong, the sleepy capital of Xishuangbanna Autonomous Region, travelling through beautiful parts of Yunnan that hardly any tourists see through tea plantations and across rolling hills before reaching our overnight stop in Jiangcheng, close to both the Vietnamese and Laotian borders. Altitude: 1,200m/3,940ft Distance: 270km/162 miles Duration: 8-9 hours Road Conditions: Quiet, winding country roads, all sealed Hotel: Jinyishui Hotel, Jiangcheng (***) Day 5 Into tropical Xishuangbanna In the morning, you will continue the pretty drive to Jinghong, as the road drops down through a series of lush valleys to the Xishuangbanna Dai Autonomous Prefecture. Stop for lunch at the beautiful Xishuangbanna Tropical Botanical Gardens, and learn about some of the plant species that make this region one of China s most diverse. After an easy drive to Jinghong you ll enjoy a relaxed dinner at a splendid garden restaurant your first chance to sample delicious Dai cuisine. Altitude: 600m/1,970ft Distance: 250km/150 miles Duration: 5.5 hours Road Conditions: Winding and bumpy in parts, perfectly smooth leading into Jinghong Hotel: New Dai Garden Hotel, Jinghong (*****) Day 6 Discover Xishuangbanna Explore lovely Xishuangbanna visit bustling Menghai market and try some of the delicious local snacks available, or buy some dazzling Dai silk as a souvenir. Afterwards, depending on the season, drive to a local tea factory for a home-cooked lunch or return to Jinghong for lunch in a Western-style deli run by a Chinese-Swiss couple. In the afternoon relax by the side of the hotel pool or drive out along the Mekong to the lovely riverside village of Ganlanba. Today s breakfast is included in the tour price, dinner, lunch and activities are entirely up to you. Altitude: 600m/1,970ft Distance & Duration: Depend on your chosen activity Road Conditions: Mixed but generally good Hotel: New Dai Garden Hotel, Jinghong (*****) 4

5 Day 7 Into South-East Asia After a relaxed morning in Jinghong you will depart for the China-Laos border. Eat lunch en route before starting the border crossing formalities. Once in Laos it s a short drive to your overnight stop in Luang Namtha, a charmingly sleepy little town that nevertheless counts as one of northern Laos most important. When we arrive in Luang Namtha you will have time to explore the town or go for a walk to a nearby waterfall. Enjoy dinner in a pretty riverside restaurant and relax to the sound of crickets in the gardens the perfect way to ease into the relaxed rhythms of South-East Asia Distance: 270km/162 miles Duration: 4-5 hours Road Conditions: Mostly sealed if occasionally bumpy, with one 60km section undergoing prolonged maintenance work Hotel: Namtha Huangjing Hotel, Luang Namtha (***) Day 8 On to the formerly infamous Golden Triangle This morning you will drive across beautiful northern Laos to the Thai border. You will cross the lovely Nam Ha Eco-Park, a region of tiny villages and rolling, thickly forested hills. As you drive, you might just feel as if you had gone back in time the road dates from 2008, but life in the surrounding villages seems to have continued unchanged for centuries. After lunch in Huay Sai, which lies on the Laotian bank of the Mekong, you will cross the Mekong by car ferry to arrive in Thailand. Once in Thailand, it will be a short drive north along the Mekong to the Golden Triangle and the luxurious Anantara Golden Triangle Hotel which is a gem in this part of the world a hotel in the finest tradition of Thai hospitality and service. Distance: 150km/90 miles Duration: 4-5 hours Road Conditions: Mostly sealed if occasionally bumpy, with one 60km section undergoing prolonged maintenance work Hotel: Anantara Hotel, Golden Triangle (*****) 5

6 Day 9 Rest and Relaxation in the Golden Triangle You will take a break from the road today make an excursion into the rainforest on elephant-back, eat a leisurely lunch at a riverside restaurant, lounge by the Anantara Golden Triangle Hotel s pool or visit the splendid Grand Hall of Opium, a modern museum where you can learn all about the poppies and opium for which the Golden Triangle gained notoriety in the past. Today s breakfast is included in the tour price, dinner, lunch and activities are entirely up to you. Distance & Duration: Depend on your chosen activity Road Conditions: Excellent Hotel: Anantara Hotel, Golden Triangle (*****) Day 10 Last stop Chiang Mai! In the morning you will drive from the Golden Triangle to Chiang Rai, lunching in a superb riverside restaurant. In the afternoon, you drive the remaining few hours to Chiang Mai, stopping en route at the beautiful yet quirky Wat Rong Khun, the White Temple. In Chiang Mai, you will stay in the beautiful Chedi Hotel. Settle into the hotel and relax, before enjoying a farewell dinner with the group in the evening. Distance: 360km/215 miles Duration: 6-7 hours Road Condition: Excellent Hotel: The Chedi, Chiang Mai (*****) Day 11 Starting Your Journey Home You will be free to start your journey home this morning. Should you wish to extend your stay in Chiang Mai, we are very happy to help you make arrangements. Regardless of how your trip ends, we hope that you will leave us refreshed and with many new memories of your exotic journey through South-East Asia 6

7 Price Package Type 2 people share 1 car 1 room 3 people share 1 car 1 room 3 people share 1 car 2 room 4 people share 1 car 2 room 1 people 1 car 1 room 11 Days Economy Class (12CHLKMGXLY002) Business Class (12CHLKMGXLY003) HK$56,060 HK$46,560 HK$50,260 HK$44,670 HK$78,780 HK$62,250 HK$52,750 HK$56,450 HK$50,860 HK$84,970 (Price is subject to change without prior notice.) Travel Period 30Mar - 09Apr 2012 / 02Nov - 12Nov 2012 / 16Nov - 26Nov 2012 What s Included Flight air tickets from Hong Kong to Kunming (KA), Chiang Mai to Bangkok (TG) and Bangkok to Hong Kong (CX). Hotels accommodation at each overnight stop are included, total 10 nights. Meals breakfast (a choice of Western and Local is provided), lunch and dinner are included, as are drinks. Prepare for a culinary adventure! Package Asia Miles Economy Class package: 1000, Business Class package: Cars a Toyota Prado GXX 4.0l 240php is provided for all driving days, expertly maintained and serviced by Avis, and covered with the best insurance available. If you are interested, we can also provide excellent, safe, and helpful drivers (at an extra cost). Routes we provide an extensively researched and carefully designed itinerary and state-of-the-art satellite navigation system with a preprogrammed route for the journey. You will also receive a detailed predeparture pack and route book for the journey. Driving Licenses all arrangements and fees for temporary Chinese driving license are included. (If you are holding Hong Kong driving license, HKID card and Chinese Home-going permit, you are required to apply full 6-year Chinese Driving License. We may provide assistance to arrange the application for your, however, the cost of the license application is not included.) Airport Transfers all airport transfers are included Permits and logistics all arrangements for the crossing of the China-Laos and Laos-Thailand borders for travellers and cars, including the Mekong crossing by car ferry. Fuel & Tolls we provide petrol for the car throughout the journey and pay all tolls. Goodies you will enjoy an On the Road Home-Away-from-Home Kit containing wet towels, anti-bacterial gel and basic toiletries, and a daily picnic basket containing fresh fruit, fruit juice, water, and a mixture of sweets and nibbles. Other Essentials we provide each car with walky-talkies, and each trip includes a support crew including a licensed local tour guide and back-up driver. Travel Insurance 24-hour medical assistance, evacuation and repatriation emergency service provided by International SOS is included. Tips & Entrance Fees basic tips and entrance fees for jointly attended activities are included. Remarks: 1. Prices quoted are per person in Hong Kong Dollars. 2. Price is subject to change without prior notice. All above rate are only honored for confirmed booking with full payment on or before the advised payment deadline. 3. All taxes and fuel sur-charges are not included. 4. No change and no refund after full payment. 5. The Company may cancel the Tour if minimum size of the tour group has not been obtained, risks to the health or safety of travelers and restrictions imposed by immigration, police, security or other local authorities. In such an event the Company may offer to the Customer a modified or replacement tour and the Customer shall cancel the booking and obtain a refund of part or all of the Tour Price paid hereunder as provided in this clause. 6. For other terms and conditions, please visit for detail. 7