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16 days - Magical China & Vietnam
  • Beijing: city tours (3 nights)
  • The Great Wall & Forbidden City
  • Xian: city tour (2 nights)
  • Terracotta Warriors
  • Kunming: city tour, Stone Forest (2 nights)
  • Hanoi full day tour (2 nights)
  • Halong Bay - overnight on luxury junk
  • Saigon full day tour (3 nights)
  • Mekong River cruise
  • Floating market at Cai Be
  • Mekong Delta - Binh Hoa Phuoc Island
  • Cu Chi tunnel system
*Exclusive Small Group tours *Deluxe Hotels *Well paced itinerary *Special banquets & shows *Long Established Tour specialists*

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Magical China Tours enquiry@magicalchina.co.uk
Tel: 0161 440 7332

Opening Hours: Mon - Fri 9am - 6:30pm, Sat 10am - 4pm

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itinerary below Price & Departure dates

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Itinerary

beijing

 

beijing

 

terra cotta warriors

 

Great Wall

 

Yunnan

 

ethnic village

 

 

 

 

 

 

Holy see temple Caodai sect

 

Day 1
Depart from Heathrow or your preferred airport for scheduled flight to Beijing. Meals on board.

Day 2 Beijing
Upon arrival in Beijing, you will be greeted at the airport by our English speaking guide and transferred to your hotel by private transport. The rest of the day is at your leisure to recover from jet lag and get ready for the adventure to come! (China is 8 hours ahead of UK GMT)

Day 3 Beijing (Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner)
A full day city tour to soak up the atmosphere of Beijing. This includes visiting historical sites such as Temple of Heaven, Tiananmen Square and the Forbidden City.

Our welcome dinner in the evening provides an opportunity to sample various type of Chinese cuisine.

Day 4 Beijing (Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner)
The highlights of today's visit is to the Great Wall (Mutianyu Section), the quieter and less commercial section compare with some others. You will have plenty of time to walk along the wall and enjoy unforgettable views. For those who prefer an easier way up to the wall, a cable car is available (payment required locally approx £5).

Our memorable day continues with a trip to the Beijing Bird's Nest Olympics Stadia & the Water Cube swimming stadium (exteriors only). Have a stroll in the large Olympic square and enjoy great photo opportunities. Later we experience the famous Peking Roasted Duck dinner to conclude this unforgettable day.

Day 5 Beijing to Xian (Breakfast, Lunch)
Visit the 12th century Summer Palace, Kunming Lake and the Garden of Harmony before taking the ferry next to the famous Marble Boat. In the next part of the tour enjoy a fascinating Rickshaw ride through the 'Hutong' residential area of Beijing to see how local people live. Our guide will then escort you to Houhai, a popular relaxing eating out place for both Western and Chinese tourists. For travellers who would like to experience shopping in China, we can take you to the popular shopping street - Xiushui Silk Market.

In the evening, we take a flight to Xian, the former capital of China and starting point of the ancient Silk Road.

Day 6 Xian (Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner)
An exciting day awaits you as we head to the Terra-cotta Warriors Museum. You will visit the luxury underground palace of Emperor Qinshihuang, The Archaeological Museum of 6,000 life-size Terracotta Warriors and their horses. The warriors were the after life protectors the first emperor who united China (221BC-206BC). Our lunch is arranged at the dining restaurant in the Museum, where you can enjoy a selection of cold and hot dishes (buffet style), and the Xian speciality noodles. Following this we will visit the Big Wild Goose Pagoda, built as a Buddhist Monastery during the Tang Dynasty. We enjoy the jovial atmosphere around the beautiful Pagoda and picturesque boulevard where Xian residents come to meet & relax.

In the evening we go to enjoy a re-enactment of the royal arts performance of a 7th century Tang Dynasty Show, with a special Dinner of dumplings included.

Day 7 Xian to Kunming ( Breakfast, Lunch)

After breakfast we explore Xian and visit the old Muslim Quarter of the City which is home to large Ethnic Muslim Chinese community, who have lived in the city since the silk road was established. Our tour including visiting Muslim square, the Wooden Mosque and later we will have great photos opportunities of the Bell and Drum Towers.

In the afternoon we enjoy a leisurely walk & cycle ride on the ancient city walls. The smooth & well preserved walls make for an ideal and safe cycling route around the inner historic city centre and are a charming way to enjoy the local lifestyle of Xian.

Late afternoon take a flight to Kunming.

Day 8 Kunming (Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner)
Visit the Stone Forest, a vast area of limestone pillars that formed like a natural forest. After lunch, visit the 'Colorful Yunnan' where we get to know the unique local products, and have a taste of its local well-known Pu'er tea. Overnight in Kunming.

An add on visit to Dali and Lijiang can be arranged from Kunming. Details can be found at the bottom section of the itinerary.

Day 9 Kunming (Breakfast)
Kunming is regarded as the 'Spring City' in China, for its pleasant climate and colourful culture and ethnic minorities. We leave today free for you to explore its unique culture atmosphere, for example visiting some tea houses.

Day 10 Kunming - Hanoi (Breakfast)
We take a flight to Hanoi, Vietnam where upon arrival you meet our guide and transfer to your hotel.
If time permits we will take an orientation tour around central Hanoi. Overnight in Hanoi.

Day 11: Hanoi (Breakfast)

Today's full day tour includes Ho Chi Minh Memorial complex, taking in his mausoleum, the Presidential Palace and his idyllic wooden home built on stilts. Next we continue to the One Pillar Pagoda and the Temple of Literature, and become acquainted with Vietnam's two major religions, Buddhism and Confucianism. In the afternoon we visit the fascinating museum of Ethnology, which includes full size replicas of amazing ethnic minority tribal buildings found across Vietnam.

Later we explore downtown Hanoi including Ngoc Son Pagoda on Hoan Kiem lake and Ma May Street in Hanoi's Old Quarter to see a classic example of late 19th-century architecture. Afterwards we proceed to West Lake to see the beautiful Tao Sach Pagoda and enjoy coffee on a floating café. Free time in the evening allows you to walk along the historic French colonial Old Quarter of Hanoi. The Old Quarter provides a wonderful shopping experience and has a choice of many excellent restaurants. Overnight in Hanoi

(Optional evening tour to see the famed water puppet theatre, a traditional art form created by village farmers around the Red River Delta region. Ask for prices & details at time of booking).

Day 12: Hanoi-Halong (Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner)

After breakfast we journey east to Vietnam's greatest natural wonder, Halong Bay. We board our beautiful traditional wooden junk and spend a full day and night cruising the bay's 3000 magnificent limestone islets. In the evening when the boat is anchored in the middle of the stunning lagoon, we enjoy a wonderful seafood meal and later there is opportunity for an evening swim from the side of the boat. Kayaks are also available if specified at time of booking. Overnight on luxurious boat.

Day 13: Halong - Hanoi - Saigon (Brunch)

Wake up to fresh coffee and take a small boat to a nearby sandy cove beach for an opportunity to relax and have a morning swim. For a great photo opportunity it is well worth walking up to the hill top pagoda which overlooks the entire Halong bay. Afterwards we return for a wholesome breakfast before cruising back to Halong City. En route the junk weaves through strange-shaped rock formations that invite comparisons from fighting cocks to mystical dragons!

Disembark and return to Hanoi and board an evening flight to Saigon. Upon arrival you will receive warm welcome from your local English speaking guide and transfer to the Hotel.

Day 14 Saigon - Tay Ninh (Breakfast)

Our tour today includes visiting the legendary network of underground combat tunnels in Cu Chi, where our guide will explain how the Vietcong survived and fought during the Vietnam war.

Later we travel to the opulent Holy See Temple in Tay Ninh to see the noon service of Cao dai Sect adherents. Cao dai is a fascinating Vietnamese religion combining aspects of Christian, Buddhism, Muslim, Taoism and Confucius into a single religion. We also visit the Saigon colonial Post Office, Reunification Palace and the Notre Dame Cathedral - the best of Saigon's architectural landmarks. Overnight in Saigon.

Day 15: Saigon-Mekong Delta (Breakfast, Lunch)

This morning we drive to Saigon's China Town where we visit Thien Hau pagoda. Afterwards we continue our journey to the prosperous town of Vinh Long in the heart of the Mekong Delta, a world that lives and works on the water. We'll have an exciting boat trip to experience the floating market of CAI Be. Next we continue by sampan along small canals and narrow side arms of the Mekong River to observe the daily life along the river banks, visiting fascinating workshops where villages produce coconut sweets and rice crackers.

Our final destination is the beautiful Binh Hoa Phuoc Island. On the island we visit orchards of tropical fruits and for lunch we sample delicacies of the region, such as Elephant Ear fish. After lunch we return to Vinh Long Town for our transfer back to Saigon. Overnight in Saigon.

Day 16 Saigon Departure (Breakfast)
Free until transfer to the airport for your flight home, or extend your stay in Saigon.

Optional extension to Dali & Lijiang:

Day 1 Dali
Being met at airport and transfer to hotel (there are frequent flight from Kunming to Dali).

Day 2 Dali (Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner)
Drive to Erhai Lake and cruise on the Lake. Enjoy the local Tea Ceremony. Appreciate the residential house of Bai Ethnic in Dali Ancient town.

Day 3 Lijiang (Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner)
After breakfast you will visit Three Pagodas and Butterfly Hot Spring. After lunch, drive to Lijiang, a beautiful shining jewel on the Northwest Yunnan Plateau neighbouring the Tibetan Plateau, and better known as "Shangri-La". Lijiang is granted World Cultural Heritage status. We visit the Old Town with a maze of narrow streets dating back to the Yuan dynasty as if we step back through time.

Day 4 Lijiang (Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner)
After breakfast, drive to Jade Dragon Snow Mountain, Yufeng temple as well as the Black Dragon Pool. Optional evening musical performance by the Dongba ethnic minority tribe.

Day 5 Lijiang / Kunming (Breakfast, Lunch)
Being transfered to airport for your flight to the next destination.

Small Group Departure Dates & Price

Ref
Dates
Twin share (£)
MCV

Every Thursday between Mar & Nov

From £2395

Contact us for your holiday price based upon your prefered departure date.

Private tailor-made tours can be arranged and hotel upgrade is available.

Price Includes (The prices shown are 'per person')

  • All flights within China, Vietnam and China-Vietnam including airport tax.
  • All airport/hotel transfers where specified (private transfer).
  • Selections of superior/deluxe (4+ star) hotel accommodation in well furnished rooms with private facilities.
  • Sightseeing tours including entrance fee by professional English-speaking tour guide.
  • Meals as specified in the itinerary.

Price Does Not Include

  • International flight to Beijing and back from Saigon. We can arrange various airline carriers and from your local airport departure. Please enquire at the time of your booking.
  • Visa fee (please go to Visa Service for details).
  • Travel Insurance.

Flights: International return flight are not included in the package, however we can help you to obtain flights at competitive rate and in various class, such as BA, Singapore Airline, Vietnam Airline, Air France, KLM, Lufthansa, Finnair etc. Please ask for more details at the time of your booking.

Accommodation: We take a great deal of time and effort to source our hotel selection in each city for our travellers enjoyment. We can arrange hotels in all standards depending upon your requirements, however the standard hotels are 4 star. We also monitor our established hotel selection continually based upon each of our customers feedback received over the years. Please visit our hotel pages for full accommodation details.

Meals: As stated in itinerary, B = breakfast, L = Lunch, D= Dinner

Other operation fact: Our tour is arranged on a small group basis average 8 people per group, as we feel this gives our travellers more flexibility and enjoyment. By reducing the group size our experienced local guides are able to get to know you all individually and show you the true beauty of China & Indochina. Also unlike many companies we do not cancel tours and Guaranteed Departure based upon minimum 2 people.

Our itineraries are designed at a sensible pace with a combination of escorted sightseeing, special activities and some free time. We Believe this give you the best combination to experience the real China & Vietnam and meet local people.

Your Meals We include all breakfasts (mixture of western & Far East cuisine) at your hotel and most local style lunches and dinners, which are all pre-booked as shown in your itinerary. Each lunch and dinner menu is selected to ensure you can try a wide variety of tasty traditional dishes whilst in the country. We feel it is also an important part of your holiday experience to try buying a few meals by yourself whilst you're in these countries and for your convenience the hotels we select provide a good choices of local cuisine with English menu. Alternatively there are plenty of restaurants to choose from around the main sightseeing area in most cities. A good meal (dinner) in a restaurant should cost about £8 per person.

The itinerary is designed according to the most updated information of flights and cruises sailing schedules available, although occasionally the sequence in which cities are visited and duration of time spent in each city can change due to local conditions which are out of our control. The above itinerary highlights the main attractions that are to be visited each day. Further places of interest may be visited during your stay, which will provide unique ethnic and cultural handcraft shopping opportunities. We reserve the right to change, amend or alter the itinerary, although we will act in your best interests to handle any amendments. Please refer to the booking form for detailed terms & conditions.

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