New Zealand’s South Island A CULTURAL WALKING ADVENTURE China—Shanghai to Shangri-La A CULTURAL WALKING ADVENTURE
Which China is in your mind?The landof terra cotta soldiers andthe Forbidden City? Or a wildflower meadow where yak herders wander under the gaze of the Himalayas? Is it aYangtze riverside walk on Shanghai’s Bund? Or a morning on a bamboo raft floating on a rural river past dragon- teeth peaks? Our China is all those things andmuch more. In true Classic Journeys’ fashion,we blendthe essential sights with unexpectedexperi- ences—andtake care of all the logistics for you. So you walk (andpicnic) on the best stretch of the GreatWall.Wander country paths that farmers use to take their water buffalo to the rice paddies.Andascendto Shangri-La: the gorgeous highlands of Yunnan on the Tibetan frontier.This journey has a fine sense of balance—the travel equivalent of feng shui—that will reveal China to you like no other tour.
ITINERARY
We meet in Beijing (2 nights). Our premier walk includes Tiananmen Square and the Forbidden City…and a pedicab ride through ancient lanes (hutongs) to lunch in a family home. Dedicating a whole day to the GreatWall, we take a guided walk of its ramparts (and ruins) from Jinshanling to Simatai.
We fly to Xian (1 night) for a close-up look at its army of terra cotta warriors. Through pomegranate and persimmon orchards, country paths lead us to Huajicun, a rural village renowned for its painters. Another hop takes us to Guilin (1 night). On the Li River, we’ll cruise in an otherworldly landscape of “dragon’s teeth” mountains to quaint Yangshuo (2 nights). Along the way, we’ll have the chance to practice Tai Chi with a local master, lunch with a local fami- ly, and bike or walk into lush farmlands.
The tour’s literal highlight is Shangri-La, the heavenly Tibetan plateau that inspired the James Hilton novel. From our spa resort in Zhongdian (3 nights), we’ll walk through meadows in breezes swept down from the Himalayas. We’ll meet the ethnic Tibetan and Naxi peoples…try a sip of yak butter tea…and make a pilgrimage to Songzanlin monastery. Finally, we fly to Shanghai (2 nights) where we’ll stroll the Bund before a farewell feast.
Tour Dates: May 29-June 9, July 3-14, September 11-22, October 16-27
Trip Length: 12 days/11 nights
Price: From $6195 (Includes all breakfasts, 8 lunches and 8 dinners. Internal flights priced separately at an approximate cost of $1395.)
Single Supplement: From $1895 Begins: Beijing Ends: Shanghai
I Zhongdian N Xian Beijing Shanghai
Guilin Yangshuo
One of our favorite snapshots is from New Zealand. It’s us, as happy as we’ve ever been, picnicking royally in a tropical rainforest…at the foot of a glacier. No double exposure. It’s just the gorgeous, startling South Island.How can you not love a place where you can lunch at a provençal-style vineyardand swim with the world’s smallest dolphins by teatime? This was the real-world setting for The Lord of the Rings movies, so spectacular scenery is to be expected. But Classic Journeys will also introduce you to a land you would not find on your own.We’ll spend a day with a family as they work their vast sheep station.Our local guide also arranges for naturalists, historians and other experts to share their knowledge.As you sample the green lip mussels…learn about Maori culture…andpunt along theAvon River, you’ll remember this as one of the most unique journeys of your life.
ITINERARY
We meet our local guide in Christchurch (1 night) for a stroll through “the most English city outside England.” Decidedly un-English is the volcanic Banks Peninsula, where we lunch at a lovely vineyard and watch for (or even swim with) the world’s rarest dolphins in the bay’s pristine water.
In the Southern Alps, we spend a day on a sheep station near Arthur’s Pass (2 nights). We’ll walk in beech forests, go birding in wild- flower meadows and see our hosts put their sheepdogs through their paces. Then it’s on to the dramatic Fox Glacier (1 night) that ends in a parrot-bedecked rainforest. On the shores of mirror-smooth Lake Matheson we’ll enjoy fine nature walks. From our lodge at Lake Moeraki (2 nights), our rainforest track leads to beautiful Munro Beach where we mingle with the wildlife that seasonally includes the Fiordland crested penguins.
On a scenic drive to Queenstown (2 nights), we’ll explore an historic gold mining village. Our final day, a jet boat safari on the Dart River leads to a guided ramble filled with Maori legends and views of snow-capped peaks.
Extend your trip to Milford Sound or Track! Your choice! Call for details.
For information or reservations
| 800-200-3887or
ClassicJourneys.com 31
Tour Dates Dec 28, 2010-Jan 5, 2011 January 9-17 February 13-21 March 13-21 November 20-28 Dec 28, 2011-Jan 5, 2012
Trip Length: 9 days/8 nights
Price: From $4195 (includes all breakfasts, 4 lunches and 7 dinners)
Single Supplement: $795 Begins: Christchurch Ends: Queenstown
Other Tours in New Zealand: Family Journey see Web.
Auckland
NORTH ISLAND
Wellington
Lake Moeraki Arthur’s Pass
Queenstown SOUTH ISLAND
Fox Glacier Christchurch
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