The Heart of China & the Yangtze River with Bangkok 2012: Victoria Anna
19 days from Beijing to Bangkok or 20 days incl. travel (WCYE)
See the best of China and Thailand on this mesmerizing vacation. Visit world-famous historical sites in Beijing, Xi'an, Shanghai, Guilin, and Hong Kong, including the Forbidden City, Great Wall, Sacred Way of the Ming Tombs, Terracotta Warriors, Yu Yuan Gardens, Reed Flute Cave, and Stanley Market. Attend special cloisonne and lacquer workshops, a noodle-making demonstration, and a calligraphy class; tour a silk factory and a tea farm. Enjoy a Peking Duck welcome dinner, as well as "The Tang Dynasty" dinner show and Peking Opera performances. Marvel at the Three Gorges Dam site on your magical 3-night Yangtze River cruise and at the fascinating scenery on a Li River day cruise in Guilin. On to the one-of-a-kind port city of Hong Kong, with a cable car ride up Victoria Peak and a sampan ride on the harbor. Then, fly to Bangkok for three overnights and sightseeing that features the Grand Palace, Wat Phra Keo, and the Temple of the Reclining Buddha. This vacation gives you an opportunity to learn about new cultures, visit famous historical sites, shop for unique gifts, and more. So grab your camera and get ready for the trip of a lifetime!
Highlights & Sightseeing
CRUISE:
Deluxe 3-night cruise from Chongqing to Yichang in an Executive Suite with two lower beds, private facilities, and balcony
BEIJING:
Sightseeing with a Local Guide including headsets; visit the Forbidden City, Imperial Palace, Tian'anmen Square, Summer Palace, Great Wall, cloisonne workshop, and Sacred Way of the Ming Tombs; Peking Duck welcome dinner; Peking Opera performance; Hutong tour by rickshaw
XI'AN:
Enjoy "The Tang Dynasty" dinner show; sightseeing with a Local Guide including headsets; visit the Terracotta Warriors, a lacquer workshop, and Dayan Pagoda; noodle-making demonstration; calligraphy class
CHONGQING:
Visit a local zoo to see pandas; begin your Yangtze cruise aboard the Victoria Anna
WANXIAN/SHIBAOZHAI/FENGDU:
View a wooden pagoda, an acrobatic show, or visit Ghost City Temple
SHENNONG STREAM OR DANING RIVER:
Boat excursion down one of the Yangtze's lesser gorges
THREE GORGES DAM SITE:
Sightseeing of the impressive dam site with a Local Guide
SHANGHAI:
Sightseeing with a Local Guide including headsets; visit the Bund, Yu Yuan Gardens, a silk factory, the Children's Palace, and the Shanghai Museum; attend an acrobatic show; visit Jade Buddha Temple
GUILIN:
Sightseeing with a Local Guide; Li River cruise; visit Reed Flute Cave, and a tea farm
HONG KONG:
Sightseeing with a Local Guide; cable car ride up Victoria Peak; sampan ride on harbor; visit Stanley Market; farewell dinner
BANGKOK:
Sightseeing with a Local Guide; visit the Grand Palace and the Temple of the Reclining Buddha; Host service during your stay
ALL INTRA-TOUR FLIGHTS
Meals
American breakfast daily, 11 lunches, 9 dinners, including a Peking Duck welcome dinner in Beijing and a farewell dinner in Hong Kong
Hotels
BEIJING Westin Beijing (D), XI'AN Golden Flower (SF), YANGTZE CRUISE Victoria Anna (Executive Suite), SHANGHAI Westin Shanghai (D), GUILIN Sheraton Guilin Hotel (SF), HONG KONG Harbour Grand Kowloon (harbor-view room) (D), BANGKOK Westin Grand Sukhumvit (D)
It's about you. You are the reason we've used our 80-plus years of travel expertise to design the very best river cruise experience. Inspired by you, we've taken everything special about river cruising and made it even better. Here are some of the features and amenities you'll experience with Avalon.
Day 1 Arrive in Beijing, China
Welcome to China's capital city. Hotel rooms are available for mid-afternoon check-in.
Day 2 Beijing
Your full-day sightseeing starts with a visit to the FORBIDDEN CITY and its IMPERIAL PALACE, once the home of China's great emperors. Nearby is 100-acre TIAN'ANMEN SQUARE, the largest public square in the world. Enjoy lunch in a local restaurant and continue to the former SUMMER PALACE, a complex of pavilions, temples, and galleries set among beautifully landscaped grounds and situated on Kunming Lake. This evening, enjoy a special PEKING DUCK WELCOME DINNER in a local restaurant. (Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner)
Day 3 Beijing
The GREAT WALL OF CHINA once stretched 4,000 miles across China's barren northern terrain from the Bohai Sea to the Gobi Desert. Head north to a village where the Great Wall is well preserved and walk along the wall to enjoy sweeping vistas of this mammoth fortress. Then, visit a CLOISONNE WORKSHOP and see local artisans use the techniques of this ancient art form to turn pieces of copper into colorful decorative items. After lunch in a local restaurant, take a leisurely walk down the SACRED WAY of the Ming Tombs and marvel at the impressive hand-carved stone statues. Tonight, experience local culture at the PEKING OPERA, including a behind-the-scenes look at the colorful makeup being applied to the performers. (Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner)
Day 4 Beijing-Xi'an
This morning, enjoy a rickshaw ride through one of Beijing's HUTONGS, the city's ancient alleys. Experience life in this historic neighborhood as you are invited into the courtyard of a family's home for tea. Later, fly to Xi'an. This evening, enjoy the "Tang Dynasty" DINNER SHOW featuring a colorful assemblage of classical performances. (Breakfast, Dinner)
Day 5 Xi'an
One of the largest and wealthiest cities in the world when China dominated the silk trade, Xi'an today is an archaeological treasure trove. Sightseeing begins with the enormous tomb of China's first emperor, Qin Shi Huangdi, accidentally discovered by local farmers in 1974. Marvel at the legion of TERRACOTTA WARRIORS that has been guarding the burial site for 2,000 years. During lunch, enjoy a NOODLE-MAKING DEMONSTRATION by a master chef and learn how Chinese noodles are made by hand. Next, visit a LACQUER WORKSHOP followed by DAYAN PAGODA, built in 652 AD. (Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner)
Day 6 Xi'an-Chongqing (Embarkation)-Yangtze River Cruise
This morning, visit the Xi'an City Wall South Gate and learn to write like a local during a traditional Chinese CALLIGRAPHY CLASS; you may even see some locals practicing their morning Tai Chi. Next, fly to Chongqing, China's capital during World War II. Visit a local ZOO to see pandas before boarding the Victoria Anna for a 3-night cruise through the breathtaking Three Gorges of the Yangtze. (Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner)
Day 7 Cruising: Wanxian or Shibaozhai or Fengdu
Depending on river conditions, one of the following shore excursions will be offered: Wanxian, "Gateway to Eastern Szechuan Province," where you will see an acrobatic show, market, and possibly a school; Shibaozhai with its 400-year-old, 12-story red wooden pagoda perched high on a cliff side; or Fengdu, where you'll visit Ghost City Temple. (Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner)
Day 8 Cruising: Shennong Stream or Daning River
Head downstream through the first and second of the three gorges-Qutang Gorge, the shortest but most dramatic gorge, and Wu, known for its quiet beauty and forest-covered mountains. You can nearly touch the perpendicular walls rising from the riverbanks as your captain negotiates this narrow gap. After lunch, disembark for a BOAT EXCURSION down either the Daning River or Shennong Stream, depending on conditions. Continue sailing through Xiling Gorge and the Three Gorges ship locks. (Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner)
Day 9 Cruising: Three Gorges Dam Site-Yichang (Disembarkation)-Shanghai
View tiny villages clinging to hillsides as you proceed toward Yang Jia Wang. This morning, visit the THREE GORGES DAM SITE, where the Chinese progress toward building the largest dam of its kind in the world. After lunch, say farewell to your ship's crew in Yichang and transfer to the airport for your flight to Shanghai, China's most populous city and center of trade and industry. (Breakfast, Lunch)
Day 1 0 Shanghai
Your sightseeing starts at the YU YUAN GARDENS, dating back to the Ming Dynasty. Then, stroll along the Bund, the city's riverfront boulevard lined with historic buildings, housing, banks, and trade houses. Visit a SILK FACTORY to learn about the silk-making process. After lunch in a local restaurant, visit the SHANGHAI MUSEUM and the CHILDREN'S PALACE, where talented children study music, dance, and theatre after school. After dinner, be amazed at a spectacular ACROBATIC SHOW. (Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner)
Day 1 1 Shanghai-Guilin
Enjoy the morning at leisure to explore on your own. After lunch in a local restaurant, visit JADE BUDDHA TEMPLE, home to two stunning white jade Buddha statues carved in Burma. Later, fly to Guilin, one of China's most beautiful areas. (Breakfast, Lunch)
Day 1 2 Guilin
Limestone mountains, their needle peaks hidden in mist, rise from the green plain surrounding Guilin. The scene conveys a sense of mystery that artists have tried to capture for centuries. Savor unique vistas during a leisurely CRUISE on the Li River and enjoy a light lunch. Tonight, you may choose to join our optional trip to see trained cormorants dive for fish, the traditional Lijiang fishing method. (Breakfast, Lunch)
Day 1 3 Guilin-Hong Kong
Enjoy the morning at leisure in this charming town. Sightseeing begins with the famous REED FLUTE CAVE with its unusual stalactite and stalagmite formations. Then, visit a local TEA FARM for a hands-on demonstration of the tea-making process followed by a tea ceremony. Later, fly to Hong Kong. (Breakfast, Lunch)
Day 1 4 Hong Kong
This morning's sightseeing begins with a cable car ride up to VICTORIA PEAK for panoramic vistas of this one-of-a-kind port city. Drive by Repulse Bay, a popular beach area, then to the Aberdeen fishing village for a SAMPAN RIDE on the harbor. Next stop is STANLEY MARKET, a narrow street jammed with stalls offering clothing, arts, and crafts. Tonight, consider an optional sunset cruise on Hong Kong's magnificent harbor. (Breakfast)
Day 1 5 Hong Kong
A full free day to explore this exciting city. You may wish to join one of our optional excursions to view the giant Buddha on the island of Lantau or to learn about Hong Kong's history before the British colonized the area. Shopping is a highlight of Hong Kong with markets, malls, and shops to fit any taste and budget. This evening is the perfect finale to a great adventure as you're hosted at a special farewell dinner. (Breakfast, Dinner)
Day 1 6 Hong Kong-Bangkok, Thailand
Today, fly to exotic Bangkok. (Breakfast)
Day 1 7 Bangkok
There is no better way to begin your discovery of Thailand than at the GRAND PALACE, the truly grand seat of the court of old Siam. Adjoining the royal temple is WAT PHRA KEO, housing the 31-inch Emerald Buddha and the RECLINING BUDDHA. The afternoon and evening are at leisure; you may want to pamper yourself with a traditional Thai massage. (Breakfast)
Day 1 8 Bangkok
A full day at leisure to explore this fascinating city. Join one of our optional excursions to the ancient capital of Ayutthaya, or see the floating markets with a stop at the Rose Garden and a folklore performance. Your Local Host will have plenty of ideas to help you plan your day. (Breakfast)
Day 1 9 Bangkok
Your vacation ends with breakfast this morning. (Breakfast)
Call 800-843-4332 for more information or to book today! Mention code 10573880
- Cruise Line
- Avalon Waterways
- Offer
- Offer valid through 3/31/2012
- Duration
- 19 Days
- Cruise Ship
- Victoria Anna
Click for more information on this ship.
| Day | Port | Arrive | Depart |
| Day 1 | Beijing | ||
| Day 2 | Beijing | ||
| Day 3 | Beijing | ||
| Day 4 | Xi'an | ||
| Day 5 | Xi'an | ||
| Day 6 | Chongqing | ||
| Day 7 | Wanxian or Shibaozhai or Fengdu | ||
| Day 8 | Shennong Stream or Daning River | ||
| Day 9 | Shanghai | ||
| Day 10 | Shanghai | ||
| Day 11 | Guilin | ||
| Day 12 | Guilin | ||
| Day 13 | Hong Kong | ||
| Day 14 | Hong Kong | ||
| Day 15 | Hong Kong | ||
| Day 16 | Bangkok | ||
| Day 17 | Bangkok | ||
| Day 18 | Bangkok | ||
| Day 19 | Bangkok |
- Dates/Pricing
- Disclaimer
Prices shown are "starting at" prices and do not include airfare.
Intra-tour air value:
$1120
Single Room Supplement:
$2410
Triple rooms are not available
Extra Nights per person in Beijing:
Mon. - Thu. in single room $242; in twin room $127
Fri. - Sun. in single room $181; in twin room $97
Extra Nights per person in Bangkok:
in single room $216; in twin room $114
Cruise pricing is based on Executive Suites. Upgrades are available upon request. Please call for prices.
US$ Price Details
- Applicable taxes and fees (Land-Only or Cruise-Only Vacation)
Our Volume Buying Power Saves You Money!
-We may be able to provide you with flight arrangements from your gateway city.
-Additional accommodations before or after your vacation may be available at our low prices.
Additional Information:
-Departure/arrival taxes and fares from other cities will be advised at the time of booking.
-Vacation departures, itineraries and prices are subject to change.
Guaranteed air-inclusive prices:
Air is only available to passengers traveling from the United States and only available when booked in conjunction with a land vacation. An additional $250 non-refundable deposit is required for air booked in conjunction with any land vacation (i.e., air-inclusive vacation.) However, once your airfare is confirmed and Avalon Waterways has received your full air and land deposit, your air-inclusive vacation price is guaranteed.
We also accept your reservation on a land-only basis:
While booking your vacation air-inclusive gives you various advantages, you can also choose the land-only option. But remember, airlines' special fares generally apply to very brief periods. (Our low air-inclusive fares apply throughout the year.) Plus, to get these "deals" you often are required to pay full fare at the time of booking.
Taxes & fees
Taxes and fees are subject to change and are not guaranteed until full land and air deposit are received.Applicable Taxes and Fees (Airfare & Charges Not Included in the Price)
Air-Inclusive Vacations
Air-inclusive prices provided online include a September 11th fee up to $10, passenger facility charges of up to $18, Federal domestic flight segment fees of up to $3.50 per segment and U.S. and International arrival and departure and other government imposed fees between $200-$375 depending on your itinerary. The total airfare price, the base airfare price, and the applicable government taxes and fees are broken-out line-by-line and shown while booking online and on the invoice after your travel is booked.
Not Included In Your Vacation Price (Air-Inclusive, Land-Only or Cruise-Only)
Federal inspection fees for the Federal U.S. Customs and Immigrations; International Air Transportation tax; agricultural tax; other per person taxes imposed by government entities: port taxes; passports; visas and vaccinations; tips to your Tour or Cruise Director, Local Host, driver, Local Guides, and/or ships' crew; gratuities on ferries, trains, and cruise ships; laundry; telephone; minibar; alcohol, beverages, and food outside of the contracted menu as presented at a hotel or restaurant (these extra items will be billed to you before leaving the hotel, ship, or restaurant); additional excursions and activities not listed as "included" in the itinerary; airport transfers on non-qualifying flights; porterage at airports and train stations; Travel Protection premiums; excess baggage fees; and all other items of a personal nature.- Applicable taxes and fees (Land-Only or Cruise-Only Vacation)
