China Fall Colors & National Parks

Transcription

1 China Fall Colors & National Parks Exploring natural wonders, historical attractions, cultural heritage, and culinary delights during the fall colors season in Chengdu, Leshan, Emeishan, Songpan, Jiuzhaigou, Changsha, and Zhangjiajie, with a Beijing stopover and optional Post-Tour Beijing Extension ~ Led by ACT Travel Consultant & Tour Leader Daniel Pliske ~ 13 Days / 11 Nights Specially Designed Fall Season Departure: October 14-26, 2016

2 Tour Program Summary China is a land of natural diversity, history, and refinement unparalleled in the world. Attentive visitors are immersed in a sea of visual and cultural experiences unlike any other they may have had elsewhere. This journey will focus on the beauty of China's top national parks and local ethnic cultures in Sichuan and Hunan provinces, both are located in the heartland of China. This tour begins in Chengdu, a place of color, spirit and fiery food. A visit to the Giant Panda Breeding Center will prove to be a thrill. Watch the marvelous face changing show and relax in a local restaurant for a taste of genuine Sichuan cuisine. Take an overnight excursion to Leshan and Emeishan (Emei Mountain) to see the Leshan Giant Buddha -- the largest seated Buddha in the world, and the Golden Summit on top of Emei Mountain in the rays of rising sun. A short flight north will bring you to the pristine Jiuzhaigou National Park with turquoise lakes and brilliant fall colors, showing red and yellow leaves. Also explore the nearby Huanglong Park dotted with steamy geysers, Munigou Scenic Area, Songpan Old Town, and Tibetan villages in beautiful valleys. Be prepared to take some beautiful shots here in China s Yellow Stone. Fly to Changsha, capital of Hunan Province. Pay a visit to one of the oldest private colleges in China and tour the city's landmarks. Then a short flight brings you to Zhangjiajie, site of a huge national park with the scenery that inspired the creation of the 'Floating Mountains' in the Hollywood movie "Avatar". Explore the magnificent landscape with countless jaw-dropping vistas and charming local culture. Your journey ends in Beijing with an optional exploration of the beauty of the imperial city and meetings with urban Chinese residents. Discover the splendor of China s glorious past: the Forbidden City, Temple of Heaven, and Great Wall; also witness the dynamic and ever-changing life pace in today s capital of China. Fly home from Beijing or to your next destination in Asia Tour Leader & Escort (for 6+ travelers): Daniel Pliske, Access China Tours' Assistant Sale & Marketing Manager, Tour Consultant, & Tour Leader. Daniel holds a Master's Degree in Tourism Management from Colorado State University (CSU). His passion for Asia developed at a young age, when Daniel studied in Japan at the age of 14. After much international as well as domestic exploration from that time until he graduated from college with a Bachelor's Degree in Economics, Daniel decided to return to Asia to teach English in South Korea as well as travel to nearly every country in the region. Daniel has traveled to a total of 40 countries on six continents. He joined Access China Tours in August 2014 so that he could work in the travel & tourism industry in order to combine his greatest passion, number one hobby, and biggest obsession with his professional career. Daniel is a major China travel and outdoor enthusiast, having traveled the country quite extensively. He looks forward to leading your tour and exploring the exciting natural beauty of China with you!

3 Tour Daily Itinerary Oct 14 depart Fly from your home city to Chengdu, China on a cross-pacific flight Day 01 Oct 15 Chengdu Arrive in Chengdu today; met by our private English-speaking guide and Day 02 transfer to Shangri-La Hotel Chengdu (deluxe room) for check-in. Enjoy a Group Reception & Orientation this evening and dinner is on your own. Oct 16 Chengdu Breakfast in hotel; meet your guide in the hotel lobby; visit Chengdu Panda Day 03 Breeding & Research Center for a close-up look at the lovely bear and listen to a presentation on the conservation efforts. Have lunch in a local restaurant. In the afternoon, enjoy a half-day guided sightseeing tour of Chengdu including Wenshu Monastery, Kuanzhai Alleys, and Chunxi Road. Return to your hotel for a rest before going out to dinner at Laomatou Hotpot Restaurant; afterwards enjoy the famous Sichuan Face-Changing Show before transferring back to your hotel. <B-L-D> Oct 17 Leshan Breakfast in hotel; meet your guide in the hotel lobby; take an excursion to Day 04 Emeishan Leshan City (2.5 hours by private vehicle) to see the world s largest sitting Buddha sculpture. The Giant Buddha in Leshan is a 71-meter tall stone statue sitting right at the confluence of the Minjiang, Dadu and Qingyi Rivers. After lunch in a local restaurant, take a boat ride along the Min River to have a panoramic view of the whole Buddha. Drive to Emei Mountain, one of the four Sacred Buddhist Mountains of China. Have a light tour around Emeishan and transfer to the Emeishan Jingdingxiang Huaili Hotel (view room) in the Golden Summit. Evening is free at your leisure. <B-L> Oct 18 Songpan Breakfast in hotel; meet your guide in the hotel lobby; this morning, enjoy the Day 05 fabulous sunrise views over Emeishan and watch monkeys play around the trails. After lunch, drive to Chengdu Shuangliu Airport (2 hours) for flight 3U8607 ( ) to Huanglong Airport in Songpan. Met by your guide upon arrival and drive to Songpan County; have dinner in a local Tibetan Family Restaurant; transfer to Songpan Qingheyizhan

4 Hotel (deluxe room) for check-in and relaxation. If you like, you may enjoy an evening stroll in this historic town in northern Sichuan. <B-L-D> Oct 19 Jiuzhaigou Breakfast in hotel; meet your guide in the hotel lobby; set out for a Day 06 full-day tour to visit Huanglong National Park for excellent sightseeing, photo ops, and light hiking; enjoy lunch in a local restaurant. In the afternoon, transfer to Jiuzhaigou and check-in at Howard Johnson Tianyuan Resort Jiuzhaigou (superior room). Evening is free for your own dinner and relaxation. <B-L> Oct 20 Jiuzhaigou Breakfast in hotel; meet your guide in the hotel lobby; set out for a full-day Day 07 tour to visit Jiuzhaigou National Park in its most beautiful season, where you will have the opportunity to hike and explore for most of the day if you would like; also visit a Tibetan Village and local Tibetan family along the way; enjoy lunch in a local restaurant. Drive back to your hotel in the late afternoon; evening is free for your own relaxation and/or exploration. <B-L> Oct 21 Day 08 Songpan Breakfast in hotel; check out and meet your guide in the hotel lobby; travel out of the national park and visit Munigou Scenic Area and Songpan Ancient Town with horseback riding along ancient trails. Check back into the Songpan Qingheyizhan Hotel (deluxe room). Evening is free for your own relaxation and/or exploration; enjoy dinner in the hotel restaurant. <B-L-D> Oct 22 Day 09 Changsha Breakfast in hotel; meet your local guide in the hotel lobby and transfer to Huanglong Airport and fly CA4494 ( ) back to Chengdu Airport where you will then connect to flight CA4371 ( ) to Changsha. Upon arrival, meet your guide and transfer to Crowne Plaza Changsha City Centre (superior room) for check-in. Evening is free at your leisure. <B> Oct 23 Zhangjiajie Breakfast in hotel; meet your guide in the hotel lobby for morning a Day 10 sightseeing tour of Changsha including Yuelu Mountain and Yuelushuyuan (Yuelu Private Academy, one of the oldest in China).

5 Then, travel by vehicle to Zhangjiajie (3-4 hrs); lunch will be enjoyed in a local restaurant along the way; transfer to Qinghe Jinjiang International Hotel (superior room) for check-in. Enjoy dinner in a hotel or local restaurant. Evening is free at your leisure. <B-L-D> Oct 24 Zhangjiajie Breakfast in hotel; meet your guide in the hotel lobby to begin your exploration. Day 11 We will first pay a visit to the Tianzishan Natural Reserve. Waterfalls, bridges, stone forests, and caves are found throughout the mountain park. Next, we will visit the Yuanjiajie, which is famous for the exciting visual angle and also another great hiking site of the Zhangjiajie Scenic Area. The Enchanting Platform nearby has the best spot from which to view the cloudscape down the 100-metre valley. If time permits, we can continue visiting the Ten-Mile-Gallery Valley. Transfer back to hotel and the evening is free at your leisure. <B-L> Oct 25 Beijing Breakfast in hotel; meet your guide in the hotel lobby and drive to Huanglong Day 12 (Yellow Dragon) Cave and enjoy a wonderful tour of the karst cave; next, visit Zhangjiajie Grand Canyon and the world s longest glass bridge. Enjoy lunch in a local restaurant. After lunch, take the world s longest cable car to visit the Tianmen Mountain, experience the glass skywalk and the Tianmen, the Gate to Heaven, which is a giant natural hole in the mountain. After dinner in a local restaurant, transfer to the airport and fly CA1360 ( ) to Beijing. <B-L-D> Oct 26 depart Arrive at Beijing Capital Airport at 12:40am; transfer to Langham Place Beijing Day 13 Capital Airport (essential room) on your own or with Tour Leader by hotel shuttle bus. Check-in and have a good rest. Breakfast in hotel before 10:00am; take the hotel shuttle bus on your own back to the airport terminal and fly home. Service Ends. <B> Day 4 Night Post-Tour Beijing & Mutianyu Extension Oct 26 Mutianyu After your late morning breakfast, met by your private English- Day 13 speaking guide in the hotel lobby of Langham Place at 11:00am and take a private transfer to the village of Mutianyu. Check-in at the Brickyard Eco Retreat (deluxe room) and set out for a walking tour around the mountain villages with your tour guide and

6 enjoy lunch at an excellent village restaurant nearby. Late afternoon and evening are free for your own exploration and relaxation; enjoy dinner at the hotel restaurant on your own. <B-L> Oct 27 Beijing Day 14 Breakfast in the retreat; met by your private English-speaking guide and take the chairlift up to the Great Wall at Mutianyu for a memorable hiking experience; descend the Wall before noon and check out. Enjoy lunch at the Schoolhouse Restaurant in Mutianyu Village. Private transfer to the centrally located Regent Beijing (deluxe room) for check-in and relaxation. Enjoy a leisurely stroll late afternoon through Tiananmen Square and enjoy a dinner at Capital M Restaurant overlooking the massive square and Qianmen Gate. Transfer back to hotel for your own relaxation. <B-L-D> Oct 28 Beijing Breakfast in hotel; go out with your guide to visit the Forbidden City, imperial Day 15 palaces of the Ming and Qing Dynasties for five centuries; afterwards, get a bird s eye view of the whole imperial city from the hilltop pavilion of Jingshan Park. Next, explore the oldest part of the city by taking a pedicab Hutong & Courtyard tour through a traditional neighborhood. After lunch, visit the Summer Palace royal playground and summer hideout during the late Qing Dynasty using money earmarked for a modern navy; enjoy a boat ride on Kunming Lake; return to your hotel in the late afternoon and enjoy the evening at your leisure. <B-L> Oct 29 Beijing Early breakfast in hotel. Met by your guide this morning and set out to visit Day 16 the Temple of Heaven in the morning to see the locals doing their morning exercises; afterwards stop by the Pearl Market for a stroll. Return to your hotel for your own lunch and enjoy the afternoon at your leisure in the afternoon. In the evening, set out with your guide for a remarkable Peking Duck Dinner at Dadong Restaurant. Transfer back to your hotel after dinner. <B-D> Oct 30 return Breakfast in hotel. Enjoy the morning at your leisure; transfer to Beijing Day 17 Capitol Airport and fly home. Service Ends. <B>

7 Changes to Itinerary: Access China Tours has made all possible attempts to ensure the accuracy of tour itineraries. Circumstances beyond our control may occur. We reserve the right to change itineraries, sightseeing activities, and common carriers, and to substitute hotels when necessary. Service of a similar category and standard will be maintained if such changes are made. The Service Voucher in your last pre-departure packet will provide the operational itinerary summary, final transport and hotel information. Deluxe, First Class & Boutique Hotels & Lodges Selected for Your Tour Shangri-la Hotel Chengdu

8 Emeishan Jingdingxiang Huaili Hotel Songpan Qingheyizhan Hotel Howard Johnson Tianyuan Resort Jiuzhaigou Crowne Plaza Changsha City Centre Hotel Qinghe Jinjiang International Hotel

9 Langham Place Beijing Capital Airport The Brickyard Eco Retreat Regent Beijing Tour Land Price Inclusions & Exclusions Main Tour Land Prices: $4,980 USD per person double occupancy (for a group of 2-5 travelers) $4,750 USD per person double occupancy (for a group of 6-9 travelers) $4,420 USD per person double occupancy (for a group of 10+ travelers) Single Supplement Cost: $995 USD for single occupancy in hotels throughout the tour Post-Tour BJ Ext Prices: $1,470 USD per person double occupancy (for a group of 2-5 travelers) $1,250 USD per person double occupancy (for a group of 6-9 travelers) $1,030 USD per person double occupancy (for a group of 10+ travelers) Single Supplement Cost: $698 USD for single occupancy in hotels throughout the post-tour extension

10 What's Included in 'Tour Land Prices' Deluxe, first class or boutique hotel double occupancy accommodations with breakfast Coach class China domestic air tickets and ground transportation All tour related Chinese domestic taxes Arrival and departure transfers on tour dates Transfers and luggage (1 piece of 45 pounds per person for domestic flights) handling Pre-departure information packets and Tibet Travel Permit All sightseeing, visits, cultural events, and activities listed in the itinerary All meals (all breakfasts, 8 lunches, and 5 dinners) as specified in the itinerary Service of a English-speaking Tour Manager/Leader (for a group of 6 or more travelers) Service of a private English-speaking local guide in each city where needed Private, clean, and newer motor vehicle with air-conditioning and a professional driver Gratuities to local guides and drivers (for a group of 6 or more travelers) What's Not Included in 'Tour Land Prices' International air tickets (will quote separately if requested) Chinese visa processing ( or Trip cancellation, baggage, accident, and medical insurance Meals not indicated as included and optional activities and events Gratuities to your Tour Manager/Leader; tipping for local guides and drivers (for 2-5 travelers) Items not listed and/or specified as included in the itinerary Cancellation Policy: $600 USD pp deposit is required at sign up. All cancellation notices must be received in writing and will become effective as of the date of receipt by Access China Tours. We assess cancellation fees of all tours according to the following schedule: 90 days or more prior to departure... $300 per person * 89 to 60 days prior to departure... $600 per person * 59 to 30 days prior to departure... $900 per person * 29 to 15 days prior to departure... $1200 per person * * Plus any charges assessed by government agencies, land suppliers, cruise companies and airlines. Within 14 days of departure...100% forfeiture of the tour price per person Access China Tours will not grant partial refunds for any unused trip arrangements after the trip has commenced or any refunds to participants who do not complete any portion of the itinerary. Any airline tickets issued are subject to the carrier s refund and cancellation policy. We strongly recommend you purchase trip cancellation/interruption insurance to protect your travel investment. If a tour is forced to be cancelled due to government s travel warnings, declared or undeclared wars, hostilities, civil disturbances, strike, riot, epidemic, and quarantines, Access China Tours will refund all participants payment less any irretrievable expenses and loss (visa fees, airline penalties, communication cost, and non-refundable booking cost, etc.). However, Access China Tours will not be responsible for any expenses incurred by tour participants (e.g., non-refundable advance purchase air tickets, insurance & medical expenses, passport and visa expenses, etc.)