Earth Cubed - Itinerary of Yangtze, Heart of China

Itinerary - Yangtze, Heart of China

Price

US $1890

Tour Length

13 nights/14 days

Starting Point

Shanghai

Ending Point

Chengdu

Departure Date**

5/22/2010, 6/26/2010, 7/31/2010, 5/21/2011, 6/25/2011, 7/30/2011

Starting Point

Shanghai

Highlights

Shanghai	3 Gorges Treks, Goddess Peak and local boats including a farm stay
3 Gorges dam site	the cobblestones and myriad canals of Lijiang
Tiger Leaping Gorge trek along cliffs and Naxi villages	Shangrila's spectacular Ganden Sumtseling Gompa monastery, home of 600 monks

** specific dates can be arranged upon request

Itinerary

Day	Location	Description
Day 1	Shanghai	Arrival day
Day 2	Shanghai	A full day for sightseeing in Shanghai. Optional evening boat cruise on the Huangpo River.
Day 3	Shanghai to Yichang	Transfer to Shanghai airport for a morning flight to Yichang, where the impressive 3 Gorges Dam is nearing completion.
Day 4	Yichang to Goddess Peak Homestay	Morning visit to the 3 Gorges Dam project. After lunch transfer to the boat docks to take local boats to Badong and the mid Wushan Gorge where we stay with a family opposite the beautiful Goddess Peak.
Day 5	Goddess Peak Homestay	Today we hike up Goddess peak, with stunning views of Wushan Gorge along the way. We will stop for lunch at a farmer's house and return to our homestay in the afternoon.
Day 6	Homestay to Chongqing	Early wake up for sunrise in the gorges. After breakfast take a boat to Wushan and then on to Chongqing - the end point of the 660km long dam - by ferry and bus.
Day 7	Chongqing to Lijiang	Transfer to Chongqing airport for a flight to Lijiang in Yunnan Province.
Day 8	Lijiang	A full free day to wander the stone paved streets of Lijiang old town and learn something of the local Naxi culture. In the evening there's a chance to watch a Naxi Minority musical performance and savour some of the local food.
Day 9	Lijiang to Tiger Leaping Gorge	Drive to Qiaotou for the start of the Tiger Leaping Gorge hike. Today we hike for 2 to 3 hours and stay in a traditional Naxi family courtyard house inside the gorge. In the evening you can enjoy a wonderful home-cooked meal and watch the sunset over the mountains.
Day 10	Tiger Leaping Gorge	A full day hike through the dramatic Tiger Leaping Gorge. We spend a second night inside the gorge at a guesthouse in one of the most spectacular areas with views of Jade Dragon Snow Mountain.
Day 11	Tiger Leaping Gorge to Shangrila	A morning drive from Tiger Leaping Gorge to the amazing limestone rock formations at Baishuitai. After lunch we continue our drive up into the mountains to the fabled Shangrila where we stay in the Tibetan style old town.
Day 12	Shangrila to Chengdu	In the morning we visit to the lively Ganden Sumtseling Gompa – the biggest Tibetan monastery in Yunnan and home to 600 monks. Then transfer to Lijiang and on to Chengdu. On arrival in Chengdu you will be met by a local guide and transferred to your hotel.
Day 13	Chengdu	A morning guided visit to the Panda Sanctuary. The afternoon is free to explore Chengdu�s beautiful parks and teahouses
Day 14	Chengdu	Tour ends

Details

Transport	plane, private and public bus, local Yangtze River boats, hydrofoil and taxi
Flights	Shanghai to Yichang, Chongqing to Lijiang
Fully Escorted	by tour leader
Activities	hike to 3 Gorges farmstay and to Goddess Peak, hike through Tiger Leaping Gorge
Accomodation	3 nights homestay, 2 nights guesthouses, 8 nights hotels
Meals	Not included. Allow $10/day.
Entrance Fees	Not Included
Elevations	from Shangrila to Chengdu elevations in excess of 3000 meters (9840 ft), above 4000 meters (13120 ft) in Litang, Chola Pass near Dege in excess of 5000 meters (16400 ft), time is allowed for acclimatization of all elevations
Physical Rating	moderately active
Visa	Chinese
Temperature	maximum of 35°C (95°F) in lowlands, a minimum nighttime of 8°C (47°F) in Shangrila
Not Included	entrance fees, meals, airfare to and from China