The Wall of China has to be seen to be believed. You can read the fact that it is 5,500 miles long but the real impact is to see it stretching away from you for miles which ever way you turn. The sheer feat of human endeavour shouts out from every laid brick.
My private tour to Great Wall of China and to Forbidden city was arranged in a perfect way starting from the airport pick-up till the final hotel drop-off. Enjoyed the trip to the fullest and would definitely plan another trip through this local travel specialist in the future.
Crossing the Gobi Desert and visiting the 'lost' cities of the old Silk Road was really special. Over 2000 years of cultural heritage in two weeks. Fantastic.
Hike a classic section of the Great Wall in Hebei Province. Camp, explore and trek between small villages after exploring the iconic sights of Beijing. This innovative itinerary takes in a remote section of the Great Wall outside Beijing in Hebei Province. Hosted by local families, we camp in comfort in exclusive locations and explore the Great Wall over five days, trekking between villages. The scenery is vast and diverse as we trek our way through tall swaying corn cropped field to distant green river valleys with one of the great wonders of the world as our backdrop. Host families provide us with true rural hospitality in the 'real China' and allow us rare interaction, including visits to family homes. In Beijing we visit the capital’s major historic sites such as the Forbidden City and Tiananmen Square. We also indulge in the culinary delight that Chinese cuisine is so famous for. The Beijing food experiences will no doubt compete with the trek itself as one of the highlights of this entirely unique adventure.
Fabulous & remarkable trip! Jansen went above & beyond with his customer service & taking care of everyone’s special needs and requests. The itinerary was fantastic and the guides were marvelous. Dianna also did a great job and was very accommodating.
My only critique is that we should have been provided more information on the difficulties with using credit cards and ATM’s in China and the prevalent use of cash only. I have traveled to 55 countries & never had difficulty using credit cards & ATM’s until China. Most places wouldn’t take US Visa or Mastercard & ATM’s wouldn’t give me Chinses yen
Discover the best of China from Shanghai on this 22-day Essentials tour. Enjoy the view over Shanghai from a rooftop bar and explore the lush scenery of Yangshuo by bike and bamboo raft. See giant pandas and other rare species in Chengdu, marvel at the fascinating Terracotta Army in Xi'an and opt to visit the Shaolin Temple. Walk along the Great Wall and camp beside a deserted section, discover the highlights of Beijing independently, learn Mandarin with several included lessons and hike to the top of Jiuyao Mountain in Hangzhou.
8:00: Meet Your Guide
Meeting Time: 8:00am, please arrive 5 minutes earlier.
Meeting Place: At the Gate of Lao She Teahouse (Qianmen Branch), easy to locate on map
Address: Building 3, Zhengyang Market, Qianmenxi Main Street, Xicheng District.
Transportation: Take a taxi there from your hotel, with address in Chinese provided by our travel consultant. Or take the subway line 2, get out of the Qianmen stop from the exit C, and walk a few minutes there.
Waiting Time: 10 minutes
8:10: Visit Tiananmen Square
Follow your guide to take a morning walk around Tiananmen Square, and you can shoot distant view photos of the brilliant landmark buildings such as the Monument to the People's Heroes, the Great Hall of the People and the Memorial Hall of Chairman Mao.
9:00: Visit Forbidden City
Walk through the Gate of Heavenly Peace with the great Chairman Mao's portrait on it; you come to this morning's highlight - the 600-year-old Forbidden City - the largest and the most intact imperial palace complex of the Ming and Qing Courts (1368 - 1911 AD).
The majestic Forbidden City has 9,999 rooms! Which are the most essential and interesting parts? We will spend three hours or so exploring the main buildings centering upon the central axis, which splits the entire compound into two symmetrical halves.
After the trip is completed, you will find yourself already near the North Gate of the Forbidden City. It’s your choice to leave with your guide or take advantage of your ticket to linger inside longer to explore the Imperial Garden for more photos. There are cafes and Beijing snacks sold in the peripheral zone, so you can just tackle your lunch here before continuing your own exploration. Your guide will be glad to provide you suggestions to get back to your hotel.
11:30: End the Tour
As we finish touring, we are already near the North Gate. It’s your choice to leave with your guide or take advantage of your ticket to linger inside longer to explore the Imperial Garden for more photos.
Your guide will be glad to provide you ways to get back to your place or assist you in hailing a cab. Safe travel!
We’re both in our 60s and loved the concept of seeing iconic cities in one tour. Highlights for us were Cape Town and Agra, very well organized with knowledgeable guides. The early morning flights and long transfers were tiring, and there wasn’t much time to unpack before moving again. That said, we met lovely people and learned so much. We just wish we had more time in Singapore. They handled logistics impressively for such a big tour. Would recommend for flexible, energetic travelers.
Explore China's iconic cities and cultural treasures with this guided adventure! Visit the Great Wall, Forbidden City, and Terracotta Warriors, then cruise the Yangtze River and marvel at Shanghai's skyline. Experience authentic cuisine, traditional performances, and vibrant markets. Perfect for history buffs and culture enthusiasts seeking unique experiences in Beijing, Xi'an, Yangtze River, and Shanghai. This unforgettable journey blends ancient wonders with modern marvels, offering an immersive experience in one of the world's most fascinating countries. Book now for an incredible once-in-a-lifetime adventure!
Cycle from Guangzhou through stunning rural countryside and the limestone pinnacles of Yangshuo, visit the Terracotta Warriors and historical sights of Beijing. On this trip you go as a traveller, only to find that you become the main attraction, as local people are delighted to see that we travel as they do - on bicycles. We jostle for room with lumbering buffaloes, friendly farmers and of course local cyclists while at other times we cycle for long periods in complete serenity on country roads. Our cycling pace is relaxed with time to stop in villages or any other sites of interest. A mini bus accompanies us to carry our gear and provides a welcome break when you have had enough cycling for the day. Following our cycle ride we have ample time to appreciate the rich culture and history of Xian (with its thousands of terracotta warriors) and Beijing (including a remote section of the Great Wall) to provide an incomparable panorama of rural, ancient and modern China. No wonder this is one of our most popular trips.