Roof of the world
Overview
Highlights
- Experience 6-day Yangtze River cruise in veranda stateroom
- Visit 5 UNESCO World Heritage Sites
- Culture Curriculum: Enjoy tea with a Tibetan family; attend lectures on the Yangtze River, Mao Zedong & China’s current affairs; practice tai chi every morning aboard.
- Enjoy a concert of the Hubei Bells
- Learn a few Chinese words
- Experience Lhasa on the Tibetan Plateau
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Details
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Trip includes
- 3 nights in Beijing: Kerry, Regent Beijing or Ritz-Carlton; 2 nights in Xian: Sheraton, Hilton or Crowne Plaza; 3 nights in Lhasa: Shangri-La or St. Regis; 2 nights in Shanghai: Jing An Shangri-La (or similar)
- Fully escorted: 18 guided tours with audio headset
- All meals: 15 breakfasts, 14 lunches, 14 dinners, featuring regional specialties with select meals at local restaurants, including Welcome Cocktail Reception & Dinner
- Complimentary wine, beer and soft drinks with on-board dinner and lunch
- Intra-China flights
- All port charges
- Free internet service, connection speed may vary
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Itinerary
Fly to Shanghai, China’s largest city, then transfer to your hotel.* See the modern financial district juxtaposed with the older sections of the city.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
This morning, tour Old Shanghai and travel along the elegant Bund, stopping to admire some of its historic buildings and city views. After lunch in a local restaurant, tour the Shanghai Museum. Dine locally before seeing the world-famous Shanghai Acrobatic Troupe from the best seats in the house.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
After breakfast, prepare for your flight to Wuhan. Upon arriving, transfer to your ship docked close to Wuhan’s historic waterfront. You are welcomed aboard with a Western meal.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Today, visit an elementary school sponsored by Viking River Cruises. You are greeted and entertained by the children, then return to your ship. For the next 150 miles, you travel the most scenic stretch of the Yangtze through a spectacular series of limestone ridges known as the Three Gorges.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
This morning, cruise through Xiling Gorge, the longest of the Three Gorges. After lunch, disembark for a tour of the Three Gorges Dam, where you learn about this immense engineering masterpiece and what it means for the Chines...
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
During breakfast, cruise through Wu (‟Witches”) Gorge, renowned for its magnificent scenery. Then, board a smaller boat for an excursion through the Lesser Three Gorges. Along the way, see fascinating sites including the hangi...
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
After a morning of scenic cruising along the Yangtze, tour the 12-story Shibaozhai Temple, an impressive example of Qing Dynasty architecture set on the banks of the river. Dine aboard.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
This morning, disembark in the mountain city of Chongqing. Enjoy a tour and lunch, then fly to Lhasa, the economic, spiritual and cultural center of Tibet. Experience Tibetan life with a family-hosted tea followed by dinner at a local restaurant.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Today, visit 1,300-year-old Jokhang Temple. After a local lunch, explore the maze-like Barkhor Market in Old Lhasa and tour the Tibetan Museum to learn about the area’s history and culture. Tonight, enjoy a traditional Tibetan dinner.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
This morning, tour the 13-story Potala Palace, home of the Dalai Lama. Later, visit Sera Monastery, an active temple with monks in training. Lunch and dinner are in local restaurants.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Fly to Xian, key city of the Tang Dynasty. From 618 to 907 AD, this dynasty presided over one of China’s most glorious cultural periods.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Today, tour Xian’s archaeological wonder: thousands of life-sized Terra Cotta Warriors buried with Emperor Qin Shi Huang, each soldier and horse molded in incredible detail. This evening, you may choose to dine surrounded by the song and dance of this colorful era, or have dinner and relax at your hotel.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Fly to Beijing, China’s imperial capital whose rich history dates back more than 3,000 years. Check in to your hotel and dine there; your evening is free to relax.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
After breakfast, travel to the Badaling Hills. There, you behold one of the most impressive and best-preserved sections of the Great Wall of China. This 4,000-mile-long series of sandstone and earthwork fortifications was buil...
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
After breakfast, visit massive Tiananmen Square, then see the Forbidden City with its elegant palaces, pavilions and landscaped gardens, once open only to nobility. This afternoon visit the magnificent Summer Palace, a former ...
Meals: Breakfast
After breakfast, check out of your hotel and proceed to the airport for your return flight.* Or, continue your China journey with 3 nights in Hong Kong.
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Dates & Availability
Check Current Availability, prices, specials with Viking River Cruises.
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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Inspiring destinations, thoughtfully designed itineraries, immersive cultural explorations, state-of-the-art ships, fine cuisine, excellent service and remarkable value. All created with personal attention to every detail.
We call this the Viking Experience. It’s the way your bartender has your drink prepared at just the right moment. The gentle guidance from your tai chi master during your lesson in China. Or the handwritten directions from your concierge to the oldest coffeehouse in Vienna. Every aspect of your time with Viking, from expertly prepared meals to carefully created enrichment programs and beautifully appointed ships, is planned to bring you closer to experiencing the most from your destination.
With more itineraries in more destinations worldwide, we offer behind-the-scenes insights and opportunities that set us apart from other travel companies.
While we deliver the expected and iconic, such as visits to museums and landmarks, we also go beyond. On every itinerary, you can experience local life through such excursions as home-hosted visits or trips to local markets. We also offer the opportunity to see the working world of bakers and artisans, and the option for our guests to experience priviledged access to museums, private collections and after-hours events that we thoughtfully curate.
DISCOVER YOUR DESTINATION
Our daily shore excursions include must-see highlights and delightful surprises. These expertly guided tours bring you closer to the art, architecture, history and people of the land.
GAIN GREATER INSIGHT
Watch a local German glassblower or learn about French Impressionism. Our Culture Curriculum, an enriching onboard program, infuses every cruise and brings history to life.
CAPTURE THE CULTURE
Accompany us on a shopping trip to the local market. Walk through the door of a centuries-old cathedral or visit a contemporary art museum. Meet local fine food and wine purveyors. Our tastings and demonstrations expand your mind and satisfy your senses.
EXPLORE ASHORE
Have you yearned to visit the vaults of the famed Hermitage Museum? Attend a classical concert in Vienna? Enjoy a Tang Dynasty dinner show in Xian? Your Program Director can organize a variety of optional tours.
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An appointment at the best spa in Prague or dinner at one of Lyon’s Michelin-star restaurants? Our onboard Viking Concierge is there to assist you with special requests.
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Logistics
Cruise the Yangtze River on Viking Emerald, a state-of-the-art river cruise vessel. Accommodating 256 guests with full verandas, hotel-style beds in every spacious suite and stateroom, public areas bathed in light and an English-speaking crew, Viking Emerald is one of the most sophisticated river ships sailing the region. Explorer Suites are 603 square feet, have separate sleeping & sitting quarters, 2 flatpanel TVs, bathtub/shower, refrigerator, panoramic windows & wraparound veranda All staterooms & Suites have hotel-style beds with optional twin-bed configuration All staterooms have a veranda with sliding glass doors Private bathroom with shower & premium bath products; bathrobe & slippers upon request Flat-panel TV with CNN & more Telephone, safe hair dryer & air conditioning Bottled water replenished daily Sun deck with shaded sitting area Restaurant with panoramic views 2 elevators The Lounge & bar Onboard boutique & tailor; library Free Internet service State-of-the-art Western kitchen offers a choice of expertly prepared Asian and European cuisines Hotel & catering services overseen by Viking’s Swiss management Doctor & hairdresser on board Laundry service Voltage: 220V & 110V (U.S. outlet) in stateroom
Ship Features: Explorer Suites are 603 square feet, have separate sleeping & sitting quarters, 2 flatpanel TVs, bathtub/shower, refrigerator, panoramic windows & wraparound veranda All staterooms & Suites have hotel-style beds with optional twin-bed configuration All staterooms have a veranda with sliding glass doors Private bathroom with shower & premium bath products; bathrobe & slippers upon request Flat-panel TV with CNN & more Telephone, safe hair dryer & air conditioning Bottled water replenished daily Sun deck with shaded sitting area Restaurant with panoramic views 2 elevators The Lounge & bar Onboard boutique & tailor; library Free Internet service State-of-the-art Western kitchen offers a choice of expertly prepared Asian and European cuisines Hotel & catering services overseen by Viking’s Swiss management Doctor & hairdresser on board Laundry service Voltage: 220V & 110V (U.S. outlet) in stateroom
For any cruise/land booking, whether under deposit, partially paid, or paid in full and air-inclusive packages paid in full, the following travel agent or guest-requested situations are considered cancellations and penalties will apply as noted below: changes to departure date; substitutions of itinerary; substitution of another person for original booked guest(s); or changing to a promotional fare. All cancellations must be in writing. For all air-inclusive packages cancelled after issuance of an airline ticket, the air portion of the refund, if any, will be processed only after the return of airline ticket to Viking. The following cancellation charges will be assessed for all written cancellations received prior to departure up to the scheduled time of departure.
Cancellation received | Following charges will apply: (Broken out by days before departure) 121 days or more is $100 per person | 120-90 days is 15% of full fare | 89-60 days is 35% of full fare | 59-30 days is 50% of full fare | 29-0 days is 100% of full fare.
Full Fare is defined as the full cost of any cruise, land or air component purchased from Viking.
15 Breakfasts, 14 Lunches and 14 Dinners
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