Explore the Birthplace of Chinese Civilisation
Uncover the history behind the origins of Chinese civilization as we embark on an epic adventure across the North China Plain.
According to legend, the Han Chinese people were molded from the yellow earth itself by an enchanting goddess known as Nüwa. Nüwa was one of the Three Sovereigns, mythical figures who laid the foundation for civilisation in China. Working alongside them were the Five Emperors, who were heralded as the greatest rulers in human history. Under their expert guidance, the Han Chinese people built settlements along the banks of the Yellow River, which came to be regarded as the Cradle of Civilisation. These are not simply fanciful stories, however. Some of the oldest archaeological sites in the country have been found along the Yellow River, thus confirming its status as the Mother River of China.
Nowadays, when talking about the birthplace of Chinese civilisation, the main focus is on the north-central region near to the Yellow River, which largely belongs to the provinces of Shaanxi and Shanxi. You will undoubtedly know Shaanxi province as the home of the world-famous Terracotta Army, but what you may not know is that most of the oldest buildings in China are located in Shanxi province and it is regarded by many Han Chinese people today as their ancestral home. For this reason, it has earned the nickname of “the museum of ancient Chinese architecture.”
In fact, Shanxi province boasts more than 70% of buildings in China that were built during or before the Song Dynasty (960-1279). Alongside this breathtaking architecture, it is also home to the Yungang Grottoes, one of the most integral Buddhist sites in the country, and Mount Heng, one of the Five Great Sacred Mountains.
During this tour, we will:
- Admire the unique landscape of the Loess Plateau and discover what a Loess cave house looks like;
- Marvel at magnificent Buddhist grottoes and the artistry of buildings, statues, and paintings dating back to ancient times;
- Enjoy the thrill of standing near the rushing Hukou Waterfall and climbing up to the Hanging Temple;
- Visit the financial centre of ancient China, where families were able to make their millions and build their castle-like Grand Compounds nearby;
- Embrace the local lifestyle and sample signature dishes from the regional cuisine;
- Uncover ancient Chinese history through its historic towns and ancient capital cities.
Participants Max: 8
Duration: 14 days and 13 nights
Tours in 2024: 22nd of Jun - 5th of Jul / 16th of Nov - 29th of Nov
Tours in 2025: 21st of Jun - 4th of Jul / 15th of Nov - 28th of Nov
Highlights
The Hanging Temple
The Hanging Temple is one of few places in the world that matches up to its unusual name, as it truly is the stuff of legends. Also known as Xuankong Monastery, this teetering temple has been literally embedded into the side of Mount Heng and hangs precariously from the cliff-face. Yet, in spite of its perilous appearance, the temple has stood firm for over 1,500 years. Not only is its placement unique, it is also one of the only temples in the world that is dedicated to more than one religion, combining teachings of Buddhism, Taoism, and Confucianism. After all, when you’re literally hanging from the side of a cliff, you probably need the help of more than just one god!
No one knows precisely who built the temple or who organised its construction, but many historians believe it was likely to have been masterminded by the King of the Northern Wei Dynasty (386-534 AD). However, according to one local legend, the original temple was built by a single monk named Liao Ran. Either he must have been very tall or very brave! The temple has undergone several rebuilds and restorations throughout the Ming (1368-1644) and Qing (1644-1912) dynasties to achieve its current glory. The temple complex itself is made up of 40 halls containing around 80 sculptures of copper, iron, terracotta, and stone. A stone staircase chiselled deep into the rock allows access to the temple, while the 6 main halls are connected by staircases, walkways, and boardwalks that provide a dizzying view of the drop below. Read more about the Hanging Temple.
Highlights
The Yungang Grottoes
At the southern foot of the Wuzhou Mountains, deep within the Shi Li River Valley, the Yungang Grottoes stretch for over a kilometre and are etched indelibly into the rock-face. Just 16 kilometres west of Datong City, this group of 53 caves, 252 grottoes, and over 51,000 statues and statuettes have inspired visitors from all religious backgrounds for centuries. They were carved sometime between 453 and 525 AD, during the Northern Wei Dynasty (386-534 AD), and are categorised as one of the “Four Grand Groups of Grottoes” in China. The grottoes combine features from traditional Chinese art with those from foreign art styles, such as Greek and Indian, while the statues themselves range in height from 2 centimetres (0.7 in.) to 17 metres (56 ft.). So if you thought you were short, imagine being a thimble-sized statue next to one the size of an oak tree!
The construction of the grottoes can be split into three time periods: the Early Period (460-465 AD); the Middle Period (c. 471-494); and the Late Period (494-525). Those constructed in the Early Period are considered the most magnificent and contain the five main caves masterminded by the revered monk Tan Yao (caves 16-20). Throughout the Middle Period, the artistic style became more traditionally Han Chinese and the caves themselves reflect the hall arrangement that was popularised during the Han Dynasty (206 BC–220 AD). By the Late Period, the caves and statues had become much smaller in size and simpler in style, giving them a certain stately elegance. Read more about the Yungang Grottoes.
Highlights
The Hukou Waterfall
The Hukou Waterfall is the second largest waterfall in China and the only yellow waterfall in the world. Yet there’s nothing yellow-bellied about this powerful natural phenomenon! It rests at a point along the Yellow River where the riverbed suddenly tapers down from 300 metres (984 ft.) to 50 metres (164 ft.), transforming tranquil waters into cascading rapids. The result is a magnificent 15 metre-high (49 ft.) and 20 metre-wide (66 ft.) waterfall that gushes down from the narrow opening like bubbling water pouring from a teapot. This is what earned the waterfall its unusual name, as “hukou” literally translates to mean “a spout” in Chinese. That being said, don’t go trying to pour yourself a cuppa from this fierce torrent!
According to the locals, the thundering sound of the water can be heard for miles around, and the current is so strong that boats have to be pulled out of the river long before they even get to the waterfall. These boats have to either be shipped by truck or carried around this section of the river before they can be put back in the water. Read more about the Hukou Waterfall.
Highlights
The Loess Plateau
The Loess Plateau, sometimes referred to as the Huangtu Plateau, is made up of terrain that is unlike anywhere else in the world. The arid, dusty countryside, covered in sparse vegetation, looks almost surreal and certainly uninhabitable. Yet locals of Shanxi and Shaanxi province have made the Loess Plateau their home for hundreds of years. It is one of the focal destinations of the Silk Road and thus its presence and history is delicately intertwined with that of China’s development.
The earliest records of this area are from people travelling along the Northern Silk Road. After the return of the explorer Zhang Qian during the first millennium BCE, the Han Dynasty began trading with the Western Regions by travelling through the southern part of the Loess Plateau, which formed part of the Northern Silk Road. They would exchange goods such as gold, rubies, jade, coral and ivory with bronze weapons, furs, ceramics and cinnamon bark. In ancient times, the fact that the soil in the Loess Plateau was extremely fertile and easy to farm, coupled with the appearance of the Silk Road, meant that the Loess Plateau became heavily populated by farmers. These farmers took shelter in a special type of folk residence known as a yaodong or Loess Cave House. Read more about the Loess Plateau.
Highlights
Loess Cave Houses
The Loess Cave Houses or yaodongs of northern China represent the ultimate mingling between natural beauty and manmade ingenuity. Stretching across the Loess Plateau within the provinces of Shanxi, Shaanxi, Gansu, and Henan, they have been an integral feature of the landscape for over 4,500 years. Their name literally translates to mean “kiln cave” and is a reference to their arched interior, which supposedly resembles the inside of a kiln. While the name may sound rather fiery, yaodongs are renowned for being pleasantly cool during summer and comfortably warm during winter. Nowadays, it is estimated that more than 40 million people continue to live in yaodongs. To put that into perspective, that’s nearly four times the population of Belgium!
The prevalence of yaodongs in northern China is usually attributed to their efficient design and cheapness to build. The loess soil from which they are constructed is abundant in the Loess Plateau and acts as an exceptionally effective insulator of heat, meaning inhabitants of yaodongs don’t need to spend extra money or effort heating their homes during the cold winters. In terms of style, they can be roughly separated into three different types: loess cliff houses, hole-courtyards, and “updated” brick houses. Read more about the Loess Cave Houses.
Highlights
Pingyao Old Town
At the grand age of 2,700 years, Pingyao is one of the oldest cities in China and was once the financial centre of the entire country. The city was established during the reign of King Xuan (827-782 BC) of the Western Zhou Dynasty (c. 1046–771 BC), although it had to be largely rebuilt in 1370, during the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644). It was during this time that the city was expanded and its famed city walls were constructed. By the Qing Dynasty (1644-1912), it was home to more than 20 financial institutions, which represented more than half of the total number in the entirety of China.
The Jin merchants who owned these institutions swiftly rose to prominence and became the most important economic influence on Shanxi province. You could say their sudden wealth meant they were laughing all the way to the bank! Nowadays it is home to some of the most well-preserved ancient structures in the country, many of which are located on its picturesque Ming-Qing Street. Read more about the Pingyao Old Town.
Highlights
Shanxi Grand Compounds
Shanxi Grand Compounds were magnificent courtyard houses that were originally built during the Ming (1368-1644) and Qing (1644-1912) dynasties by prosperous families hailing from Shanxi province. Many of them are scattered throughout Qi County, including the Qiao Family Compound, the Wang Family Compound, the Cao Family Compound, and the Qu Family Compound. These families largely skyrocketed to untold wealth by becoming merchants or bankers, which enabled later generations to take the imperial examinations and become powerful government officials. In short, the golden apple never falls too far from the money tree!
These compounds are so impressive in their grandeur that they are more like castles than mansions, with an architectural style that imitates the traditional “siheyuan” or “quadrangle” of northern China. The Chinese quadrangle is typically formed in the shape of a rectangle, with all of its rooms facing inwards towards a large courtyard. Shanxi Grand Compounds are like a composite of several small Chinese quadrangles, which are ultimately surrounded by high walls for defensive purposes. After all, such a large display of wealth is bound to attract unwanted attention! The layout of these compounds is usually symbolic and expresses the hopes of the resident family. Read more about the Shanxi Grand Compounds.
Highlights
The Yingxian Wooden Tower
The Yingxian Wooden Tower, also known as the Shakyamuni Pagoda of Fogong Temple, is a masterpiece of carpentry that was built without the use of a single nail or rivet. At the grand old age of 959, it is also the oldest surviving wooden pagoda in the world! It has reached such a level of fame in China that it is now widely referred to simply as “Muta” (木塔) or “Wooden Tower.” The tower was originally built in 1056 by Emperor Daozong of the Liao Dynasty (907–1125), which controlled an empire encompassing Mongolia, northern Korea, and northern China, and was established by a nomadic subgroup of Mongolian people know as the Khitans.
Emperor Daozong was a devout Buddhist and his father, the preceding Emperor Xingzong, was a native of Yingxian County. This would perhaps explain the isolated location of the tower, as pagodas such as these were normally erected to symbolise the death of Buddha and its placement may have been Emperor Daozong’s way of equating the importance of Buddha’s death with that of his father. Read more about the Yingxian Wooden Tower.
Highlights
Shuanglin Temple
Just 6 kilometres (4 mi) southwest of Pingyao Ancient Town, nestled deep within the countryside of Shanxi, the small village of Qiaotou hosts one of the most magnificent Buddhist temples in China. The Shuanglin Temple, which is included under Pingyao as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, is noted not only for its venerable age but for the more than 2,000 painted statues that decorate its halls. This vast collection, made by moulding clay over wooden frames, has earned the temple the nickname “The Museum of Coloured Sculptures.” They are not purely works of religious art, but instead are imbued with human features and attributes to symbolise the unification of the spiritual and the physical, or rather the connection between deities and human beings.
The many sculptures littered throughout the temple were carved between the 12th and 19th centuries. Their height varies from 30 centimetres (1 ft.) right up to nearly 4 metres (13 ft.) and the vast majority are of Buddha or various bodhisattvas, but a few are warrior guards, heavenly generals, and even common people. Their colourful backdrops are resplendent with mountains, rivers, clouds, flowers, and dense forests. Read more about the Shuanglin Temple.
Itinerary
Day 1 Meet in Beijing
Meeting point: Beijing International Airport or you can come to the hotel directly by yourself.
We will arrange one airport pick-up in the afternoon and another airport pick-up in the evening, depending on the flight times of all of the participants.
Please Note:
A late pick up (after 21:00) service is also available, but there will be a fee depending on the time.
If you decide to take the train from another city in China to Beijing, please let us know in advance and we can meet you either at the hotel or the railway station. If you need any help making travel arrangements, please don’t hesitate to ask us. The pick-up service fee will depend on the railway station and the arrival time.
Dinner: We will enjoy a welcome dinner together made up of dishes from traditional Beijing-style cuisine
Accommodation: Traditional Hutong hotel in Beijing city centre.
Itinerary
Day 2 The National Museum and Life in the Hutongs
The National Museum of China is home to the most important Chinese historical and cultural pieces, so it will provide us with the perfect jump-off point to begin our exploration of Chinese civilization. The museum is in Tiananmen Square, which is regarded by many as the “heart” of Beijing and possibly even the heart of China itself!
No matter how many times you have visited Beijing, there will always be some places that you’ve left undiscovered or some major changes that have taken place over the years. Life in the hutongs, however, rarely changes or abides by the hectic pace of the capital city. Let’s enjoy the rest of our day in the heart of Old Beijing, the Hutong district, where we can admire the old dwellings and imagine what life was like in ancient China.
Please note: If this is your first time visiting Beijing and you want to visit some of the iconic historical sites in the city, there is the option to arrive one or two days early and we can arrange a private tour of Beijing.
Transportation: The underground and taxis
Dinner: Not included. Guests are free to explore the Hutong area and sample the local food themselves, or our guide can help arrange for you to have dinner together.
Accommodation: Traditional Hutong hotel in Beijing city centre.
Itinerary
Day 3 The Yungang Grottoes
In the morning, we will take the new high speed train from Beijing to Datong, so that we can then visit the Yungang Grottoes in the afternoon.
Transportation: High speed train, public bus to Yungang, and taxis
What’s Included: Entrance ticket to the Yungang Grottoes.
Dinner: We will enjoy dinner together made up of dishes from traditional Shanxi-style cuisine.
Accommodation: 4-star hotel in Datong
Itinerary
Day 4 The Hanging Temple, the Yingxian Wooden Tower, and Mount Heng
On this day, we will not only see some historically significant attractions, but we will also get our first look at the landscape of northern China.
We will take a private mini coach or an SUV (depending on the number of participants). Our first stop will be to visit one of the most important architectural wonders in China, a temple that has been hanging from the side of a cliff for over 1,500 years!
After we have visited the Hanging Temple, we will go to Mount Heng, which is regarded as one of the Five Great Sacred Mountains of China and holds particular significant to the Chinese religion of Taoism. We will take the cable car up to the top of the mountain and then visit some of the Taoist temples during our walk down.
Our final stop will be the Yingxian Wooden Tower, which is the oldest surviving wooden pagoda in the world!
Transportation: Private mini coach
What’s Included: Entrance ticket to the Hanging Temple, Mount Heng (cable car ticket included), and the Yingxian Wooden Tower.
Dinner: Not included. Guests are free to explore the area and sample the local food themselves, or our guide can help arrange for you to have dinner together.
Accommodation: 4-star hotel in Datong
Itinerary
Day 5 The Temples of Datong
Let’s head out together and discover two beautiful temples in Datong.
The Huayan Temple houses five large statues of Buddha and over 18,000 volumes of Buddhist scripture. It was built during the Liao Dynasty (907-1125) and is the largest surviving Liao temple in China.
The Shanhua Temple, which was founded during the Tang Dynasty (618-907), has undergone several repairs since it was originally established. Thanks to these renovations, the Daxiongbao Hall, the largest of its kind in China, has managed to remain beautifully well-preserved since it was built during the Liao Dynasty.
In the late afternoon, we will take the high speed train to Pingyao Old Town and will arrive in the evening.
Transportation: High speed train and taxis
What’s Included: Entrance ticket to the Huayan Temple and the Shanhua Temple.
Dinner: Not included. Since we will get settled in the hotel around 21:00PM, guests can either get some food on the train or our guide can help arrange for you to have a simple dinner together. Alongside snacks, high-speed trains in China also serve hot meals and provide free boiling water for the cooking of instant noodles.
Accommodation: Traditional Chinese-style boutique hotel.
Please Note: Depending on which boutique hotel we stay at, you may end up sleeping on a traditional Chinese-style brick bed known as a kang. Prepare to experience an authentic Chinese night’s sleep!
Itinerary
Day 6 Pingyao Old Town
Since we will have arrived into the town quite late the previous night, we will take this opportunity to have a break. We won’t start today’s tour until 11am, so in the morning you’ll be free to either have a rest or take a leisurely walk through the ancient city. Once we’ve all met up together at the hotel, we’ll head out on the town!
There are 22 attractions in the town, of which we will visit the 8 main attractions together in order to uncover the history of Pingyao and its importance as a financial centure in imperial China.
The economic prosperity of Shanxi province peaked during the Ming (1368-1644) and Qing (1644-1911) dynasties. That’s the reason why “the first bank” in China was located in Pingyao. If you are interested in the story of the Jin Merchants, who were largely responsible for the rising wealth of Shanxi province, you can find more information in our article on Jin Merchants.
Our first stop of the day will be Rishengchang. Established in 1823, Rishengchang is believed to have been the first bank ever established in China! In its heyday, it controlled nearly half of the silver circulating in the country. It may have traded in silver, but it was worth its weight in gold! In imperial times, these establishments were known in Chinese as piaohao (票号) or “draft banks.”
Keeping with the financial theme, we will also pay a visit to the “security company” that worked with the piaohao in Pingyao to transport their gold, silver, coins, and paper money.
Please note that we won’t be visiting all 8 attractions in one day, so we can take our time during our tour and we won’t need to rush.
What’s Included: Entrance ticket to Pingyao Old Town (including the attractions in the town).
Dinner: We will enjoy dinner together made up of dishes from traditional Pingyao cuisine.
Accommodation: Traditional Chinese-style boutique hotel.
Itinerary
Day 7 Pingyao Old Town
Let’s continue our exploration of Pingyao! Depending on our progress the previous day, we will continue our tour of the 8 main attractions in the city. Once we have visited them all, you can either head off by yourself to explore the town or you can continue walking together with our guide. We strongly recommend visiting all 22 attractions, but be sure to leave some time to explore the residential area, where you can experience how the local people continue to live in this ancient town.
What’s Included: Entrance ticket to Pingyao Old Town (including the attractions in the town).
Dinner: Not included. Guests are free to explore the area and sample the local food themselves, or our guide can help arrange for you to have dinner together.
Accommodation: Traditional Chinese-style boutique hotel.
Itinerary
Day 8 The Loess Cave Houses on the bank of the Yellow River
One of the most underrated hidden gems in northern China has to be an incredible type of folk architecture known as the loess cave house or yaodong (窑洞) in Chinese. To this end, we’ve chosen two villages near the Yellow River that we feel perfectly showcase this uniques style of architecture. To reach them, we will cross the Lüliang Mountains and head into the Loess Plateau, towards to the Yellow River, where there is a small ancient town that we will stay in overnight.
The journey will take us about 3 hours. In the afternoon, we will go to visit the villages of Lijiashan and Xiwan. Read more about Lijiashan and Xiwan.
Transportation: Private mini coach
What’s Included: Entrance ticket to the villages of Lijiawan and Xiwan.
Dinner: We will enjoy dinner together made up of dishes from traditional Yellow River-style cuisine.
Accommodation: Traditional yaodong style hotel
Itinerary
Day 9 Qikou
In the morning, you are free to explore the ancient town of Qikou, which is where our hotel is located. Read more about Qikou.
We will go back to Pingyao in the afternoon.
Transportation: Private mini coach
Dinner: Not included. Guests are free to explore the area and sample the local food themselves, or our guide can help arrange for you to have dinner together.
Accommodation: 3 or 4-star hotel in Pingyao
Itinerary
Day 10 Shanxi Grand Compounds and the Shuanglin Temple
We start the day by visiting the Shuanglin Temple. The artwork within this temple is unparalleled in its beauty and deserves to be admired.
Then let’s go experience the luxury life and find out what the mansions of imperial business tycoons looked like. The Wang Family Compound is a colossal mansion made up of over 100 courtyards and more than 1,000 rooms, so we will probably spend at least 4 hours there.
We will stay in the city of Linfen overnight.
Transportation: Private mini coach
What’s Included: Entrance ticket to the Wang Family Compound and the Shuanglin Temple.
Dinner: We will enjoy dinner together made up of dishes from traditional Shanxi-style cuisine.
Accommodation: 4-star hotel in Linfen
Itinerary
Day 11 The Yellow Waterfall!
We will take a day-trip to meet one of the most unique and magnificent natural sights in China, the Yellow Waterfall! On the way to the waterfall, we will drive through the Loess Plateau and enjoy stunning views of this alien landscape.
Transportation: Private mini coach
What’s Included: Entrance ticket to the Hukou Waterfall.
Dinner: Not included. Guests are free to explore the area and sample the local food themselves, or our guide can help arrange for you to have dinner together.
Accommodation: 4-star hotel in Linfen
Itinerary
Day 12 Xi’an, One of China’s First Cultural Melting Pots
In the morning, we will take the high speed train to Xi’an, which only takes about 2 hours. In the afternoon, let’s head into the heart of old Xi’an, the Muslim Quarter.
On our way to the Muslim Quarter, we will have a chance to admire the beautiful Bell Tower and Drum Tower. They are widely considered to be the most iconic landmarks in Xi’an. The Muslim Quarteris famous for the cuisine of the Hui ethnic minority. If you want to learn more about this style of cuisine before trying it, you can read our in-depth guides here: Shaanxi Local Snacks and Shaanxi Cuisine.
There is a “hidden treasure” in the Muslim Quarter known as the Gao Family Mansion. It is not only a traditional Chinese mansion, but is also the ideal place to enjoy a performance of the local Qiang Opera and a traditional Shadow Puppet Show.
Transportation: High speed train and taxi
What’s Included: Entrance ticket to the Gao Family Mansion.
Dinner: Not included. Guests are free to sample the local food in Muslim Quarter.
Accommodation: 3 or 4-star hotel in Xi’an
Itinerary
Day 13 Xi’an, the Ancient Capital
In the morning, let’s go to visit the Shaanxi History Museum and discover even more stories about the birthplace of China. In the afternoon, we will visit the Da Ci’en Temple and the Great Wild Goose Pagoda.
The Da Ci’en Temple was originally built in 598AD. During the Tang Dynasty, sometime around 648AD, the crown prince Li Zhi spearheaded the renovation of the temple in honour of his mother, the Empress Wende, who had tragically suffered an early death. Li Zhi wanted to pay tribute to his mother’s kindness and so named the temple “Da Ci’en,” which means “kindness and grace” in Chinese. The Buddhist monk Xuanzhang, who is famous for his fabled pilgrimage to India to gather Buddhist scriptures, was abbot of this temple and masterminded the construction of the Great Wild Goose Pagoda there. More information about the Da Ci’en Temple and the Great Wild Goose Pagoda.
Transportation: The Xi’an Underground and taxis
What’s Included: Entrance ticket to the Da Ci’en Temple and the Great Wild Goose Pagoda, and the special exhibition in the Shaanxi History Museum
Dinner: We will enjoy dinner together made up of signature dishes from traditional Shaanxi-style cuisine.
Accommodation: 3 or 4-star hotel in Xi’an
Itinerary
Day14 Onward Journey
On your final day with us, you can either choose to embark on your return journey home or continue your travels. If you decide to continue traveling, we’ll be on hand to help you book any travel tickets or hotels should you need us to. If you need any recommendations on where to travel, please do not hesitate to ask us.
In the morning, we will escort you to the train station or airport with plenty of time for you to catch your train or flight.
If your flight isn’t until the afternoon, please let us know and we can arrange some extra sightseeing in Xi’an for you.
Please note: If you would like to stay longer in Xi’an to visit the Terracotta Army, Mount Hua, or other attractions, please let us know and we can provide a one or two-day tailored trip for you.
Prices and What’s Included
Unlike other tours in China, we do not ask you to tip your tour guides and drivers each day. Instead, we pay our tour guides and drivers a fair wage, so they do not need to ask for tips.
Cost pp: £2,950/6-8 people in one group; £3,650/4-5 people in one group; £3,950/3 people in one group
Single supp: £750 (Please be advised that, if you are the last person joining the tour or if there is no one in the group who you can share with, you may need to pay for the single supplement. We will advise you if this is the case when you enquire about the tour).
Including: 13 nights of accommodation; all entrance fees to the attractions mentioned in the itinerary; 6 dinners; all breakfasts; all transportation fees during the designated tour times; the services of an English speaking guide; a pdf file with useful information about the Chinese traditional architecture; and any further help or information we can provide if you decide to continue traveling in China after the tour.
What’s Not Included: Flights; visa; travel insurance; lunches and some dinners.
If you like the look of this tour but would prefer to take it privately, we can tailor it to your specifications and design a bespoke tour for you or your group. Simply contact us on info@asiaculturaltravel.co.uk for a free email consultation with one of our travel experts.
How can I sign up to this tour?
Step 1 ⇒ Contact us directly to talk about the tour in more detail.
Step 2 ⇒ Book online and pay the £100 deposit. If you have an exclusive discount code, please enter it into the Enquiry box.
Step 3 ⇒ We will send you the invoice confirming you have been booked on the tour. Once you receive the invoice, you have 30 days to pay an additional £500, which will secure your place on the tour.
Step 4 ⇒ Please note that the final cost of the tour will be based on the number of participants and will be split into two payments. The first payment must be made within 3 months of the tour’s start date and is based on the minimum price of the tour minus your £600 deposit. After that, you will need to pay the remaining balance one month before the tour is due to leave based on the tour subscription. In the meantime, we will advise you on how to apply for your visa and keep you updated on the subscription of the tour.
Step 5 ⇒ Once you have made the final payment, we will send you our exclusive tour e-book, which contains a detailed itinerary of the tour and in-depth information on the areas we’ll be visiting.
Step 6 ⇒ Prepare yourself for an unforgettable adventure!
We are happy to answer any questions you may have and we will always keep you up to date on the progress of the tour subscription.