Cultural China & Tibet with Yangtze River Cruise and Mongolia

21 days
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River Cruise
This exciting vacation introduces you to the rich history, scenic wonders, and cultural treasures of China and Tibet. Start in Shanghai, China’s center of trade. Here, walk along the Bund, see stunning displays of ancient bronze and jade at the Shanghai Museum, and enjoy a traditional dim sum feast. You will also attend a high-flying acrobat show and take a f...

Overview

Trip type
River Cruise
Lodging level
Standard - 3 star
Physical level
Very Easy
Trip pace
Flexible schedule

Highlights

    • Deluxe 4-night cruise from Yichang to Chongqing in a Deluxe Stateroom with two lower beds, private facilities, and balcony
    • Sightseeing including headsets; visit the Bund, Yu Yuan Gardens, a silk factory, and the Shanghai Museum; dim sum lunch; walking tour of the French Concession; see an acrobatic show Yichang:
    • Begin your Yangtze cruise; private welcome reception
    • Sightseeing of the impressive dam site
    • Boat excursion down one of the Yangtze’s lesser gorges
    • Walking tour
    • Visit a local zoo to see pandas Lhasa:
    • Visit the Summer Palace, a Tibetan’s home including lunch, a Tibetan monastery, a Tibetan hospital, Potala Palace, Jokhang Temple, and a local bazaar; cultural show with traditional Tibetan music and dance
    • Calligraphy class; sightseeing including headsets; visit the Terracotta Warriors including the VIP viewing area and Dayan Pagoda; noodle-making demonstration; “Tang Dynasty” dinner show Beijing:
    • Hutong tour by rickshaw; sightseeing including headsets; visit the Temple of Heaven, Forbidden City, Imperial Palace, Tian’anmen Square, Great Wall; Peking Opera performance or Legend of Kung Fu Show; Peking Duck farewell dinner

What's this trip about?

    This exciting vacation introduces you to the rich history, scenic wonders, and cultural treasures of China and Tibet. Start in Shanghai, China’s center of trade. Here, walk along the Bund, see stunning displays of ancient bronze and jade at the Shanghai Museum, and enjoy a traditional dim sum feast. You will also attend a high-flying acrobat show and take a fascinating walking tour through the former French Concession where tree-lined streets and Art Deco architecture transport you to a bygone era. Then, fly to Yichang and begin your Yangtze River cruise with a private welcome reception. Shore excursions include a walking tour of a riverside community to see its beautiful pagoda, a tour of the Three Gorges Dam site, and a small boat cruise on the emerald-green waters of Shennv Stream. Travel to Lhasa, Tibet’s mystical capital, for visits to a local family home for lunch, a local bazaar, and the imposing Potala Palace, former winter home of the Dalai Lama. You will also dine in a local restaurant and be entertained with traditional Tibetan music and dance. In Xi’an, see the famed Terracotta Warriors up close from a special VIP viewing area and learn how to write ancient Chinese calligraphy. Lastly, in Beijing, visit the Forbidden City with its Imperial Palace, sample authentic Peking Duck, and walk along the incomparable Great Wall of China. You will also explore one of the city’s ancient alleys by rickshaw and experience a cultural performance at the Peking Opera or the Legend of Kung Fu show. Last stop is Mongolia. In Ulaanbaatar, visit the National History Museum, Gandan Monastery, and enjoy a Mongolian folklore performance. Venture into the Gobi Desert, where you’ll visit Eagle Valley National Park, the Cemetery of Dinosaurs, and marvel at the largest sand dunes in the region. You’ll also visit a camel breeders camp to learn about the nomadic lifestyle and try some traditional food. Return to Beijing for a final overnight. These are just a few of the many highlights offered on this spectacular vacation.

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Details

Itinerary focusOperator does not provide
Group sizeOperator does not provide
Age rangeNo age restrictions
Flights and transportN/A
Start CityArrive in Shanghai
End CityBeijing

Travel Themes

  • 50 plus
  • Cultural
  • Small Ship Cruise

Destinations

  • Asia
  • China
  • Mongolia

Attractions

  • Beijing
  • Chongqing
  • Gobi Desert
  • Lhasa
  • Shanghai
  • Three Gorges Dam
  • Tibet
  • Ulaanbaatar
  • Yangtze River
  • Yichang

Activities

  • Culture
  • River cruise

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Itinerary

Travel Map

Day 1

Arrive in Shanghai, China. Welcome to China’s most populous city and center of trade and industry. Hotel rooms are available for mid-afternoon check-in.

Day 2

Shanghai. Start your day with a stroll along the Bund, the city’s riverfront boulevard lined with historic buildings, housing, banks, and trade houses. Then, visit YU YUAN GARDENS, dating back to the Ming Dynasty, and a SILK FACTORY to learn about the silk-making proc...

Day 3

Shanghai. This morning, visit the SHANGHAI MUSEUM, featuring stunning displays of ancient bronze, jade, and ceramics. Then, take a WALKING TOUR of the former French Concession, once Shanghai’s leading residential and retail area. Today, the qualities that made the are...

Day 4

Shanghai–Yichang (Embarkation)–Yangtze River Cruise. Today, fly to Yichang and board the Century Legend for a 4-night CRUISE through the breathtaking Three Gorges of the Yangtze. Join your traveling companions for a PRIVATE WELCOME RECEPTION including cocktails and snacks. (B,D)

Day 5

Cruising: Xiling Gorge–Three Gorges Dam Site. This morning, perhaps wake up early for a tai chi session on the Sun Deck. Later, cruise through the Xiling Gorge, the first of the Three Gorges. Then, visit the THREE GORGES DAM SITE, the largest dam of its kind in the wo...

Day 6

Cruising: Wu Gorge–Shennv Stream–Qutang Gorge. This morning, sail upstream through the second of the three gorges—Wu, known for its quiet beauty and forest-covered mountains. You can nearly touch the perpendicular walls rising from the riverbanks as your Captain negot...

Day 7

Cruising: Shibaozhai. After breakfast, take a WALKING TOUR of Shibaozhai with its 400-year-old, 12-story, red wooden pagoda perched high on a cliff side. After lunch, the afternoon is at your leisure to enjoy the ship and its many amenities. This evening, join the Captain for a special farewell dinner. (B,L,D) NOTE: Depending on river conditions, an alternate shore excursion may be offered.

Day 8

Cruising: Chongqing (Disembarkation)–Lhasa, Tibet. After breakfast, bid farewell to your ship’s crew in Chongqing, China’s capital during World War II. The city sits high on a hill overlooking the Jialing and Yangtze Rivers. Visit a local ZOO to see pandas before boar...

Day 9

Lhasa. This morning, take a brief city tour, then visit the SUMMER PALACE of the Dalai Lama, featuring the largest man-made garden in Tibet. Next, take a special trip to a TIBETAN’S HOME that includes lunch before visiting a typical TIBETAN MONASTERY. The final stop today is a TIBETAN HOSPITAL, where you will learn about traditional Tibetan medicine and therapy. (B,L,D)

Day 10

Lhasa. Today, visit the imposing POTALA PALACE, once the center of the Tibetan government and the former winter residence of the Dalai Lama. Also, visit one of Tibet’s oldest shrines, JOKHANG TEMPLE, then spend time in the local BAZAAR. The rest of the day is at your ...

Day 11

Lhasa–Xi’an, China. Today, fly to the city of Xi’an in central China. This evening, enjoy the “Tang Dynasty” DINNER SHOW, featuring a colorful assemblage of classical performances. (B,D)

Day 12

Xi’an. One of the largest and wealthiest cities in the world when China dominated the silk trade, Xi’an today is an archaeological treasure trove. Sightseeing begins with the nearby DAYAN PAGODA, built in 652 AD. Next, visit the enormous tomb of China’s first emperor,...

Day 13

Xi’an–Beijing. Today, fly to Beijing, China’s capital city. Enjoy a rickshaw ride through one of Beijing’s HUTONGS, the city’s ancient alleys. Experience life in this historic neighborhood as you are invited into the courtyard of a family’s home for tea. You will also visit the TEMPLE OF HEAVEN. (B,L)

Day 14

Beijing. Your full-day sightseeing starts with a visit to the FORBIDDEN CITY and its IMPERIAL PALACE, once the home of China’s great emperors. Nearby is 100-acre TIAN’ANMEN SQUARE, the largest public square in the world. After lunch, enjoy some time at your leisure. T...

Day 15

Beijing. The GREAT WALL OF CHINA once stretched 4,000 miles across China’s barren northern terrain from the Bohai Sea to the Gobi Desert. Head north to a village where the Great Wall is well preserved and walk along the wall to enjoy sweeping vistas of this mammoth fo...

Day 16

Beijing–Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia. Today, fly to Ulaanbaatar, capital of Mongolia. After some time in the hotel, enjoy a city tour that includes Sukhbaatar Square and Zaisan Hill, offering sweeping views of the city. Next, visit the NATIONAL HISTORY MUSEUM with a rich collection of exhibits covering the history and people of Mongolia. (B,D)

Day 17

Ulaanbaatar–Gobi Desert. Early this morning, fly to the Gobi Desert. Covering most of southern Mongolia, the Gobi is the world’s fourth-largest desert. Visit EAGLE VALLEY NATIONAL PARK and marvel at stunning mountain scenery and the Gobi Glacier. The Gobi supports more than 300 varieties of flora and fauna and several endangered species, including the Snow Leopard and the Bactrian Camel. (B,L,D)

Day 18

Gobi Desert. This morning, stop at the largest SAND DUNES in the region en route to Bayan Zag. Here, explore the CEMETERY OF DINOSAURS, where the world’s best-preserved dinosaur skeletons and their petrified eggs were excavated. Then, visit a CAMEL BREEDERS CAMP to learn about the nomadic lifestyle and culture, and to try some traditional food. (B,L,D)

Day 19

Gobi Desert–Ulaanbaatar. Fly back to Ulaanbaatar early this morning. Upon arrival, visit the BOGD KHAN WINTER PALACE and the GANDAN MONASTERY. With more than 150 monks in residence and numerous temples, it is the most important Buddhist monastery in Mongolia. This evening, enjoy a MONGOLIAN FOLKLORE PERFORMANCE featuring traditional musical instruments, throat singing, and dances. (B,L,D)

Day 20

Ulaanbaatar–Beijing, China. Today, return to Beijing and enjoy the rest of the day at leisure. (B)

Day 21

Beijing. Your vacation ends with breakfast this morning. (B)

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Dates & Availability

Price From $6,459
Price per day$308
Last Updated: 2/22/2018

Check Current Availability, prices, specials with Avalon Waterways.

The total tour cost includes the tour price (regular or promotional) and the compulsory local payment. The promotional price is subject to change. Check directly with the operator for the latest price offer. The tour operator requires you to pay only the tour price to purchase your travel. The compulsory local payment will be paid when you join the trip. All prices are based on double, twin or triple share occupancy. Solo passengers will be accommodated in a double, twin or triple room according to availability with a passenger(s) of the same gender. Single supplement only needs to be paid if the passenger does not want to share and requests their own room. Discounts can only be applied at the time of booking and cannot be added at a later date, regardless of any changes made to the original booking.

Prices may vary due to local taxes and trip seasonality. Click "Request Info" to inquire directly with the tour operator for the final trip price.

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CRUISING ELEVATED.
Innovative, transformative, original. Avalon Waterways has redefined cruising by going against the current and
away from the ordinary. Delivering unparalleled experiences and boundless exploration, Avalon puts you in the captain’s seat to navigate your journey, fuel your passions and steer clear of the unexpected as you cruise down the world’s most memorable and mesmerizing waterways. One step aboard our modern, luxurious Suite Ships with the grandest views in cruising and you’ll see how the tides they are a-changin’. 

Welcome to a new wave in cruising. Welcome aboard Avalon Waterways.

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Enjoy the perfect blend of elegance and ease – where little touches are bold, gestures are grand and the views even grander. There’s a reason our ships are the critics’ darlings and favorites among our most discerning guests. Our boutique-hotel-inspired Panorama Suites feature the industry’s only Open-Air Balconies with the widest-opening windows in cruising and decadent Comfort Collection beds that face the ever-changing scenery.

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As you set sail down the world’s most legendary waters, we’ve curated a collection of the most intriguing experiences to immerse yourself in – both on board and off.

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While we naturally present the signature delicacies of the regions you visit, we enrich the gastronomic journey by offering multiple dining venues, bringing unexpected culinary experiences to the table.

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Accommodation

Fairmont Peace Hotel Fairmont Peace Hotel, a 'luxurious Art Deco masterpiece', brilliantly reinvented for the 21st century where old fashioned glamour sparkles with a new luster. This landmark hotel served as a glamorous playground for the elite, where every night was an extravagant gala event and veritable Parisian fashion show. Situated just steps from the famous Bund promenade and unrivaled shopping on Nanjing Road, it is the perfect place to explore Shanghai's spectacular scenery and vibrant lifestyle. Shanghai China 20 Nanjing Road East Shangri-La Hotel, Lhasa This brand new Shangri-La Hotel Lhasa sits in a city on the Qinghai-Tibetan plateau, one of the highest inhabited regions on earth. Experience a luxury urban resort amidst a striking mountain landscape of glaciers, valleys and lakes. To help guests acclimatise to Lhasa's high altitude, the property is encircled by gardens, featuring indigenous plants to boost oxygen levels. The hotel also has a fully staffed medical clinic and oxygen lounge. Lhasa China 19 Norbulingka Road Shangri-La Hotel, Xi'an Return from a day of travel to the elegant interior of the Shangri La Hotel Xian. Enjoy dinner at one of the hotel's restaurant where you can relax and unwind recalling a day of new experiences and life enriching tales. If you choose to stay in for a day, spa services and a swimming pool will revitalize you for your next adventure. Xian China 38B Keji Road Fairmont Beijing The Fairmont Beijing Hotel, located in the heart of Beijing, offers top quality amenities, unique architecture, and superlative décor. Guestrooms come primed with first class amenities, including cutting edge technology, hand-selected linens and spa inspired bath products. Whether you indulge at the opulent Willow Stream Spa or dine in one of the award-winning restaurants this luxury hotel is sure to make for a comfortable stay. Beijing China 8 Yong An Dong Li Shangri-La Hotel, Ulaanbaatar The Shangri-La Hotel, Ulaanbaatar is located in the heart of the city and features elegant and spacious guestrooms with a contemporary and indigenous fusion design. With several dining options available, guests are invited to sample an impressive variety of cuisines from around the world or simply enjoy the refined surroundings of the Lobby Lounge with your favorite beverage. Other hotel amenities include complimentary Wi-Fi access throughout the hotel and a state-of-the-art health club including a gym, Jacuzzi, sauna and steam bath. Ulaanbaatar Mongolia Room 907-908, Central Tower Dream Gobi Ger Camp At the Dream Gobi Ger Camp experience Mongolian nomadic culture by staying in a tradional ger, a round dwelling with a wooden frame. Whether it's the serenity and peacefulness of the Gobi Desert while sipping a refreshing drink on the terrace or the unforgettable brilliant night sky by campfire, this incredible experience will leave you dreaming of returning to the mysterious Gobi. Gobi Desert Mongolia,
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