The Forbidden City to Shangri-La

Day 1: London / Beijing

Overnight flight to Beijing.

Day 2: Beijing

Transfer to the Grand View Garden Hotel for 2 nights.

Day 3: Beijing

Enjoy a full day tour of the city including the Forbidden City, Tian'anmen Square and the Temple of Heaven. One of the undoubted highlights will be a trip into the Hutongs, the maze of narrow alleyways and houses that made up old Beijing. In the evening we enjoy a traditional Peking duck meal.

Day 4: Chengde

Travel out from Beijing to visit The Great Wall at Jinshanling, where you get to see an unrestored section of the wall away from the tourist crowds. We continue to Chengde and the Mountain Villa Hotel.

Day 5: Chengde / Beijing

Visit the Small Potala Palace, built in the style of the famous Tibetan temple in Lhasa. Take the afternoon train back to Beijing for a further night.

Day 6: Kunming

Fly to Kunming for an overnight stay.

Day 7: Dali

Early morning flight to Dali. Situated in the south of China, Dali is a small city spectacularly located on a fertile plateau between the peaks of the Cangshan Mountains and Erhai Lake. We stay at the Landscape Hotel for 1 night, a traditional style guesthouse with modern amenities located in the delightful old town area. Visits include the enchanting Three Pagodas Park and a walking tour of Dali's old Town.

Day 8-10: Lijiang

Continue to the UNESCO World Heritage listed town of Lijiang. Stay for 3 nights at the Sanhe Hotel, stopping to visit a local market en route. Lijiang's old town is a real treasure with its narrow cobbled streets, sparkling canals and old wooden shuttered shop houses; it is considered one of the best preserved in China. There will be time to enjoy the shops and cafes, and we include trips to a local village and Black Dragon Pool, with its beautiful pavilion and magnificent views of Jade Dragon Snow Mountain.

Day 11-12: Zhongdian

From Lijiang we drive upwards to the spectacular Tiger Leaping Gorge, where the swirling Yangtse River cuts between the mountains. Continue to Zhongdian in northwestern Yunnan, now formally branded by China as the legendary site of Shangri- La. The surroundings are stunning: clear blue mountain lakes, snow capped peaks, pine forests, traditional monasteries and plains dotted with traditional Tibetan homes.

Day 13: Beijing

Fly to Beijing your final night.

Day 14: Beijing / London

Return flight to London.

Alternative Itinerary

Xi'an and the Terracotta Warriors: 2 nights (replaces days 5 & 6) visiting the 6,000 strong army of terracotta warriors guarding the tomb of Qin Shi Huangdi.

Optional Extensions

Thai beach and Hong Kong extensions available on request. Please ask for details.

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