Cultural China & Tibet with Yangtze River Cruise 2012: Victoria Jenna
15 days from Shanghai to Beijing or 16 days incl. travel (WXY)
This exciting vacation introduces you to the rich history and cultural treasures of China and Tibet as well as the magic of the Yangtze River. Marvel at the Three Gorges Dam site on your delightful 4-night Yangtze River cruise, and experience world-famous sites in Shanghai, Xi'an, and Beijing. Visit the Bund, Yu Yuan Gardens, the Children's Palace, Dayan Pagoda, Terracotta Warriors, Great Wall, Forbidden City, Imperial Palace, and Sacred Way of the Ming Tombs. High in the Himalayas, explore Lhasa, Tibet's mystical capital, with visits to the Summer Palace, a local home and monastery, Potala Palace, and Jokhang Temple-a remarkable vacation!
Highlights & Sightseeing
CRUISE:
Deluxe 4-night cruise from Yichang to Chongqing in an Executive Suite with two lower beds, private facilities, and balcony
SHANGHAI:
Sightseeing with a Local Guide including headsets; visit the Bund, Yu Yuan Gardens, the Children's Palace, the Shanghai Museum, and a silk factory; attend an acrobatic show; welcome dinner
YICHANG:
Begin your Yangtze cruise aboard the Victoria Jenna
THREE GORGES DAM:
Sightseeing of the impressive dam site with a Local Guide
SHENNONG STREAM OR DANING RIVER:
Enjoy a boat excursion down one of the Yangtze's lesser gorges
WANXIAN/SHIBAOZHAI/FENGDU:
View a wooden pagoda, an acrobatic show, or visit Ghost City Temple
CHONGQING:
Visit a local zoo to see pandas
LHASA:
Sightseeing with a Local Guide; visit the Summer Palace, a Tibetan's home, a Tibetan monastery, a Tibetan hospital, Potala Palace, Jokhang Temple, and a local bazaar
XI'AN:
Enjoy "The Tang Dynasty" dinner show; sightseeing with a Local Guide including headsets; visit the Dayan Pagoda and Terracotta Warriors, lacquer workshop, noodle-making demonstration, and calligraphy class
BEIJING:
Sightseeing with a Local Guide including headsets; Hutong tour by rickshaw; visit the Forbidden City, Imperial Palace, Tian'anmen Square, Summer Palace, Great Wall, cloisonne workshop, and Sacred Way of the Ming Tombs; Peking Opera performance; Peking Duck farewell dinner
ALL INTRA-TOUR FLIGHTS
Meals
American breakfast daily, 11 lunches, 12 dinners, including a welcome dinner in Shanghai and a Peking Duck farewell dinner in Beijing
Hotels
SHANGHAI Westin Shanghai (D), YANGTZE CRUISE Victoria Jenna (Executive Suite), LHASA Four Points by Sheraton (F), XI'AN Golden Flower (SF), BEIJING Westin Beijing (D)
Notes:
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 Shanghai, China
Welcome to China's most populous city and center of trade and industry. Hotel rooms are available for mid-afternoon check-in.
Day 2 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. After lunch in a local restaurant, visit the CHILDREN'S PALACE, where talented children study music, dance, and theatre after school. This evening, meet your traveling companions for a welcome dinner followed by a spectacular ACROBATIC SHOW. (Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner)
Day 3 Shanghai-Yichang (Embarkation)-Yangtze River Cruise
Visit the SHANGHAI MUSEUM and a SILK FACTORY before flying to Yichang. Board the Victoria Jenna for a 4-night CRUISE through the breathtaking Three Gorges of the Yangtze. (Breakfast, Dinner)
Day 4 Cruising: Three Gorges Dam Site
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, sail through the Three Gorges ship locks and the Xiling Gorge. (Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner)
Day 5 Cruising: Shennong Stream or Daning River
This morning, disembark for a BOAT EXCURSION down either the Daning River or Shennong Stream, depending on conditions. After lunch, head upstream through the Qutang Gorge, the shortest but most dramatic gorge, and the Wu Gorge, 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. (Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner)
Day 6 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; or Fengdu, where you'll visit Ghost City Temple. (Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner)
Day 7 Cruising: Chongqing (Disembarkation)-Lhasa, Tibet
Bid farewell to your ship's crew upon arrival in Chongqing, China's capital during World War II. The city sits high on a hill overlooking the Jialing and Yangtze Rivers. Visit a local ZOO to see pandas before boarding your flight to the holy city of Lhasa, the capital of the mystical Buddhist kingdom of Tibet. The rest of the day is free to rest and adjust to the 14,000-foot altitude. (Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner)
Day 8 Lhasa
This morning, take a brief city tour, then visit the SUMMER PALACE of the Dalai Lama, featuring the largest man-made garden in Tibet. Next, take a special trip to a TIBETAN'S HOME that includes lunch before visiting a typical TIBETAN MONASTERY. The final stop today is a TIBETAN HOSPITAL, where you will learn about traditional Tibetan medicine and therapy. (Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner)
Day 9 Lhasa
Today, visit the imposing POTALA PALACE, once the center of the Tibetan government and the former winter residence of the Dalai Lama. Also, visit one of Tibet's oldest shrines, JOKHANG TEMPLE, then spend time in the local BAZAAR. The rest of the day is at your leisure. (Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner)
Day 1 0 Lhasa-Xi'an, China
Today, fly to the city of Xi'an in central China. This evening, enjoy the "Tang Dynasty" DINNER SHOW, featuring a colorful assemblage of classical performances. (Breakfast, Dinner)
Day 1 1 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 nearby DAYAN PAGODA, built in 652 AD, followed by a LACQUER WORKSHOP. Next, visit 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. Then, visit the Xi'an City Wall South Gate and learn to write like a local during a traditional Chinese CALLIGRAPHY CLASS. (Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner)
Day 1 2 Xi'an-Beijing
Today, fly to Beijing, China's capital city. 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. (Breakfast, Lunch)
Day 1 3 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. Tonight, experience local culture at the PEKING OPERA, including a behind-the-scenes look at the colorful make-up being applied to the performers. (Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner)
Day 1 4 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. This evening is the perfect finale to a great touring adventure as you're hosted to a special PEKING DUCK FAREWELL DINNER in a local restaurant. (Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner)
Day 1 5 Beijing
Your vacation ends with breakfast this morning. (Breakfast)
Call 800-843-4332 for more information or to book today! Mention code 10573885
- Cruise Line
- Avalon Waterways
- Offer
- Offer valid through 3/31/2012
- Duration
- 15 Days
- Cruise Ship
- Victoria Jenna
Click for more information on this ship.
| Day | Port | Arrive | Depart |
| Day 1 | Shanghai | ||
| Day 2 | Shanghai | ||
| Day 3 | Yichang | ||
| Day 4 | Three Gorges Dam Site | ||
| Day 5 | Shennong Stream or Daning River | ||
| Day 6 | Wanxian or Shibaozhai or Fengdu | ||
| Day 7 | Lhasa | ||
| Day 8 | Lhasa | ||
| Day 9 | Lhasa | ||
| Day 10 | Xi'an | ||
| Day 11 | Xi'an | ||
| Day 12 | Beijing | ||
| Day 13 | Beijing | ||
| Day 14 | Beijing | ||
| Day 15 | Beijing |
- Dates/Pricing
- Disclaimer
Prices shown are "starting at" prices and do not include airfare.
Intra-tour air value:
$890.
Single Room Supplement:
$1700.
Triple rooms are not available
Extra Nights per person in Shanghai:
Mon. - Thu. in single room $278; in twin room $145
Fri. - Sun. in single room $217; in twin room $115
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 $97
Cruise pricing is based on Executive Suites. Upgrades are available upon request. Please call for prices.
US$ 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)
