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Mandarin Odyssey
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Explore the imperial sights of old Beijing, stand atop the Great Wall of China, marvel at the strength of an emperor still guarded by his 2000 year old terra-cotta army. Finally unwind on the Li River as it winds through karst peaks, scenery so evocative it has inspired poets, playwrights and artists for centuries.
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| Details |
Highlights |
| Tour Code |
CLMO |
| Tour Style |
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| Group Size |
2 - 8 People |
| Tour Length |
12 Days - 11 Nights |
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- Guided tour of the Forbidden City and Tiananmen Square
- Hike the Great Wall of China
- Stay in traditional hutong houses
- Lijiang and the 'Old Town'
- Tiger Leaping Gorge
- Visit the Terra-cotta Warriors
- Boat cruise along the Li River
- Yangshuo and the Karst countryside |
| Inclusions |
- Services of the My Journey tour escort
- All accommodation for duration of the tour
- Meals - Breakfast daily (11), lunch (5), dinner (5)
- All transport to get you up/down, in/out, to/from all destinations specified in the itinerary
- Flights - Beijing/Xi'an, Xi'an/Lijiang, Lijiang/Guilin
- Guided tour of Tiananmen Square and the Forbidden City
- Day trip to the Great Wall of China
- Guided tour of Terracotta Warriors
- Day trip to Tiger Leaping Gorge
- Chinese Cooking class in a scenic Yangshuo location
- Private boat trip on the Li River
- Attend the Liu San Jie Light Show, by award winning director Zhang Yi Mao
- Entrance fees to Lijiang and Tiger Leaping Gorge, Terra-cotta Warriors, Great Wall and Forbidden City visit |
| Extras |
- International airfare to/from China
- Visas to China
- Meals and activities not specifically included in itinerary
- Any items of a personal nature such as telephone, laundry and alcohol
- Customary tips to your driver and tour guides and My Journey tour escort
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Day 1 - 3
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Beijing is more than a modern and ancient capital, it is also the political, educational and cultural center of China. Here take in iconic sights like Tiananmen Square, the Forbidden City, the Temple of Heaven, the Great Wall or the Bird's Nest Olympic Stadium! In the evenings consider catching an acrobatic or kung-fu performance or feast on traditional Beijing roast duck.
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Day 4 - 5
| Xi'an marks the begining of the Silk Road... or end if you've come from the west. It is the home of the Terracotta Army and has been a capital city for dynasties spanning 3,100 years! |
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Day 6 - 8
| Idyllic Lijiang is home to the Naxi minority people, recognisable by their traditional blue clothing. Stay in the atmospheric old quarter giving you ample opportunity to explore the maze of cobbled stone streets and water ways. |
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Day 9 - 12
| China’s southern oasis is Yangshuo, a small town cradled by limestone karsts and turned into poetry by the Li River. The last stop on the mainland offers fantastic food, even better scenery and endless options to suit all tastes. Take a local boat trip and relax, learn to cook amazing food, party till you drop or take a cleansing tai chi lesson by the river. |
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| What to Expect |
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This holiday has been put together with all the planning, skill and attention to detail possible. It is your hassle free escape from normal life. We need you to know however that sometimes things no matter how well planned will have obstacles and problems to be solved. Here are a few things to keep in mind.
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We are local experts and short of controlling the weather we can make most requests happen. We have the skills, experience and team to solve just about any problem and make sure you get the maximum out of your time. Remember you’re not at work and this is your escape from the office. Let us do the thinking and organizing, you just need to do the relaxing.
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Let’s dispel a few misconceptions, China isn’t stuck in the dark ages; there is more than just electricity and running water. We understand that expats and those on short getaways want the best of both worlds, a taste of local life with all the comforts of home. Western toilets, clean bathrooms, great food and a safe journey are the important things on most peoples list. We choose accommodation, recommend restaurants and move you from A – B to satisfy these needs.
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It’s important not to take anything too seriously, after all this is a holiday and holidays are fun! No matter what happens on your escape good/bad/ugly it will all make a good email to office or story at the pub. Travel with this attitude and you’ll never have a bad day!
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| Things to Know |
| Everyone should know the basics when travelling with us. Here is a few of the things we thing are most important to remember. If you have other questions you please check our growing FAQs page, or contact us for more information. |
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The great thing about small escapes is small packing. You don’t have to pack as light as ‘carry on’ luggage but remember it’s a short trip; there is no need for tinned food and survival gear. You should pack suitable clothes for active days, depending on the weather something to keep you warm and dry and something that can get wet for any water activities. You won’t need a black tie and eveningwear and safari suits are out of the question, just something comfortable. Small cases with wheels or backpacks are fine. Please remember that although you won’t have to carry your luggage over mountains this is not a culture of porters. Note: We will advise you specifically at the time of booking regarding the tour Harbin City of Ice.
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Money, safety and communications are everyone’s questions. Modern travelers are used to traveling with credit cards, here in China cash is king. We recommend you only use cards in ATMs. Both Guilin and Yangshuo have ATMs that will accept international cards so there is no need to carry excessive amounts of money. Changing money from $USD, ₤GBP or $HKD is fairly simple and can be done very easily in Yangshuo.
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| Most parts of China are amazingly safe especially out here in the countryside. We feel safer here than we do in most major western cities, common sense is still needed and we will advise you if there are any known concerns. |
| If you do need to contact home, friends or the office, communication is easy. Yangshuo has internet everywhere with many places being wi-fi hotspots. There is great mobile coverage across the area, as long as you have your phone set to roam call and sms services will be available. |
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Entry to China is your responsibility. You will need a Tourist Visa (type L) to cover you for the duration of your stay. Visa extensions are difficult and not always possible, and you can not stay longer than the terms of your permit.
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| Note: If you are living in China or a regular visitor your Visa (type F or Z) will be adequate to travel with us. Just remember not to stay longer than your Visa terms or exceed your valid number of entries. |
| What to Tell Us |
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We need to know a few things about you beyond ‘walks on the beach’ or ‘candle lit dinners’. Please fill out the Personal Details form and email it back to us asap, this is needed before you begin the tour.
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It is a requirement that all clients on our tours have travel medical insurance. It is your responsibility to make sure that this is in order as it is for your benefit and security.
You will need to provide us, in advance, your insurance details, specifically your policy number and a 24-hour world wide emergency contact number.
If you have any health/allergy/dietary concerns, requirements or problems please tell us. We need to know so that we can avoid problems. We must also be able to communicate the right information to the right people at the right times.
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Tell us anything else you feel relevant that we have not covered, be it special requests, needs or questions. Your clear communication with us will make you more relaxed, and your trip more enjoyable.
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