China for the Independent Traveler
The Aquilo Way — 23 Days/22 Nights
Starts with 2 nights in Shanghai with a basic tour of the famous Yu
Gardens and jade Buddha temple, 2 nights in Guilin to allow ample time to
explore Reed Flute caves, etc and a Li River Cruise, with an overnight in
the beautiful city of Yangshuo. We allow ample time for hikes, exploring the
countryside by bikes, then on to Xian for the famous Terra Cotta Warriors.
Continue on to Qingdao , the beautiful seaside resort, home of Tsingdao
Brewery and wonderful gardens, and ending with 4 nights in Beijing for visits
to Great Wall, and the Forbidden City. Trip ended with 8 days in Vietnam.
Starts Shanghai, ends Ho Chi Minh City. November departure.
Rate at $2796.00 per person double occupancy excluding international air fare.
Day 1: Arrive Shanghai
Our guide will meet you after customs/immigration and transfer you the
Ramada Plaza Hotel in Shanghai.
Day 2: Shanghai (B,L)
There is a guide with car today for you to visit the Yu Garden and Jade
Buddha temple.
Day 3: Shanghai (B)
Free day to explore on your own.
Day 4: Shanghai to Guilin (B)
After breakfast, our guide will transfer you to airport for China Eastern
flight (MU) # 5343, departing Shanghai at 10:10am, and arrives Guilin at
12:35pm. The local guide will meet you and transfer to the Plaza Hotel. Free
on arrival.
Day 5: Guilin to Yangshuo (B,L)
In the morning, the guide will drive you to the dock to board boat for a
cruise on the Li Rive. Lunch is on board. On arrival in Yangshuo, make your
way to the Paradise Resort. Explore Yangshuo on own.
Day 6: Yangshuo to Guilin (B)
A free morning in Yangshuo — an opportunity to rent bikes to check out countryside.
At 3.00pm, our guide will drive you back to Guilin to check into Plaza Hotel.
Day 7: Guilin to Xian (B)
A free morning to explore Guilin on own. In the afternoon our guide will
transfer you to airport for Hainan Air (HU) 7830 that departs Guilin at
4:10pm, and arrives into Xian at 6:00pm. Our guide will meet and transfer you
to Garden Hotel.
Day 8: Xian (B,L)
Today is a tour on a SIT-IN-COACH (SIC basis). A bus with other guests signed
up for tour of day will pick you up for tour of Terra Cotta Warriors, Banpo
Museum, Hot Spring and Wild Goose Pagoda. Bus will drop you at hotel after
tour (will also pick up and drop off other guests from a few other
hotels.
Day 9: Xian to Qingdao (B,L)
A free morning to explore Xian. Depart for Qingdao by Shandong air (SC) 292
that departs Xian at 5:00pm, and arrives Qingdao at 6:50pm. Round trip
transfers are provided. Overnight at Qilin Hotel.
Day 10: Qingdao (B,L)
Our guide will provide an orientation to this charming city — today are
visits to Little Fish Hill park, Eight Pass, Tai Qing Gong, Lao Shan, 5.4
Square and Sculpture Garden by a private car.
Day 11: Qingdao to Beijing (B)
Round trip transfers are provided for your flight to Beijing on China Eastern
(MU) 5153 that departs Qingdao at 8:00 am, and arrives into Beijing at
9:05am. Transfer to Capital Hotel. Free day to explore Beijing.
Day 12: Beijing (B,L)
SIC tour today for the Great Wall and Ming Tombs.
Day 13: Beijing (B,L)
SIC tour today for Forbidden City, Temple of Heaven and Summer Palace.
Day 14: Beijing (B)
Free day to explore Beijing on your own. Possibilities are endless.
Day 15: Beijing to Hanoi (B)
Today you are leaving Beijing for Vietnam — Vietnam air flight 901 departs
Beijing at 3:50pm and arrives Hanoi at 6:25pm. Round trip transfers are
provided. Our guide in Hanoi will meet you after customs/immigration and
transfer you to Hanoi Hotel.
Day 16: Hanoi (B)
A full day city tour of Vietnam's capital. Hanoi is a unique Asian city with
tree-lined boulevards, French colonial architecture, peaceful lakes and
oriental temples. The city tour includes such sights as Ho Chi Minh's
Mausoleum, the One Pillar Pagoda, the Fine Arts Museum, the Temple of
Literature, the Lake of the Restored Sword and the Old Quarter. In the
evening enjoy a traditional Vietnamese water puppet show. Overnight at Hanoi
hotel, Hanoi.
Day 17: Hanoi to Halong Bay (B,L)
After breakfast, drive to Halong Bay. Board a junk for a cruise on the
emerald green waters of Halong, among the 3,000 spectacular limestone
islands. The cruise ends with a fresh seafood lunch on board. Overnight in
Halong at Saigon Hotel.
Day 18: Halong Bay - Hanoi - Hue (B)
After breakfast, return to Hanoi by road and check in for flight to Hue on VN
247 at leaving Hanoi at 12:25pm and arrives Hue at 1:30pm. In the afternoon,
visit Tu Duc, Khai Dinh Tombs and the Imperial Citadel from where the Nguyen
Dynasty ruled between 1802 and 1945. Overnight in Hue at Hue Riverside Hotel.
Day 19: Hue-Danang - Hoian (B)
In the morning, a boat trip on the romantically named Perfume River visits
Hue's best known religious site, Thien Mu Pagoda and the mausoleum of former
emperor Minh Mang, in a tranquil setting of gardens and lakes. In the
afternoon, drive to Hoi An. The scenic route passes through Danang after
climbing over the Pass of Ocean Clouds. Arrival in Hoi An, take a walking
tour of the ancient town center to visit the former merchants' homes, the 400
year old Japanese Covered Bridge and the colorful market. Overnight in Hoi An
at HoiAn Riverside Hotel..
Day 20: Hoian - Danang - Saigon (B)
After breakfast, drive to Danang for the flight to Saigon on VN 321 leaving
Danang at 08:15am and arrives Saigon at 09:25am. Our guide will meet you and
transfer to hotel for check in. The rest of time is free for exploring the
city by your own way. Overnight in Saigon at Palace Hotel.
Day 21: Saigon - Cuchi - Saigon (B)
A morning city tour of dynamic Ho Chi Minh City, still called Saigon by many
locals, takes in the former Presidential Palace, the Notre Dame Cathedral,
Old Saigon Post Office, a lacquer ware factory and Thien Hau Pagoda in the
city's bustling Chinatown. In the afternoon, visit the famous Cu Chi Tunnels,
an incredible underground tunnel network constructed by Vietnamese resistance
fighters during the long struggle for independence. Overnight in Saigon.
Day 22: Saigon (B)
Full day free in Saigon for your own exploration. Overnight in Saigon.
Day 23: Depart Saigon (B)
Free day to explore Saigon on your own. Transfer to airport.
SERVICES INCLUDED:
- All transfer and tours as listed in itinerary.
- In Beijing and Xian, tours listed are on a SIT basis. All other tours/
transfers listed are with a private car and English speaking local guide
for each destination.
- All admission fees as mentioned in the itinerary above
- Accommodation in hotels with daily breakfast and meals as listed.
- It China, fees including in sightseeing as listed, and in Vietnam fees
also included for Vietnamese Traditional water puppet show , boat cruise in
Halong Bay for around 05 hours (with seafood Lunch) and boat trip in Hue on
Perfume River.
SERVICES EXCLUDED:
- Travel and personal insurance fees
- Personal expenses: drink, tips, laundry, porter, telephone...
- Entrance fees for camera and video
- International flights and airport tax
- Other meals not indicated in the itinerary above
- Visa stamping fee : USD $25.00 per person
- Other not mentioned in the "services included" above
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