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Mountains. Monasteries. Monks: Tibet! Herein lies a a remote, exotic land of rugged scenery, monumental palaces, orange-robed monks, and colorful prayer flags flapping in the wind.

In choosing this exotic and adventurous tour you'll travel to the mystical mountains of Tibet, using Lhasa, the provincial capital, as your hub. From here, you'll venture forth each day. A certain highlight will be the Potala Palace, the former home of the Dalai Lama - a palace still treasuring an icon gilded with over 6,000 pounds of gold! Also included is Lhasa's holiest shrine: the Jokhang Temple, and the bustling market at Barkhor, the Sera and Drephung Monasteries - all part of your 2008 escorted, ALL-INCLUSIVE 13-night "Essential China + Tibet" adventure.

Your journey includes all this, plus so many of China's other must-see highlights. You'll begin in Beijing, touring Tiananmen Square, the Forbidden City, the Temple of Heaven, and venturing north to explore The Great Wall. You'll travel to Xian, home to the once-buried Terracotta Warriors, and to Chengdu, home to the Giant Pandas! Then it's off to Tibet! Suzhou, China's "Silk City" and the canals of fascinating Tongli follow, before your tour comes to a close within the soaring skycrapers of Shanghai, home to some of the best shopping in the country!

    To see dates and rates for this tour -Click Here-
    To see day-by-day trip details for this tour -Click Here-

When comparing prices, please keep in mind...
Let’s Travel China Tours are All-Inclusive!
Trip Overview
13 Nights/14 Days China,Essential China Tours + Tibet
Beijing
Shanghai
2010
Sep 12,19,26
Oct 03,10,17,24,31
Nov 07
 
Beijing, Shanghai, Great Wall, 
Chengdu, Suzhou, Tongli, 
Xian, Lhasa


From $3875 per person
Tour Highlights and Attractions, Let
3 Nights
Orientation, Forbidden City, Tiananmen Square, Great Wall of China, Temple of Heaven, Peking Duck Dinner, Hutong neighborhood, Peking Opera
2 Nights
Terracotta Warriors, Xian City Wall, Lacquer Furniture Factory, Dumpling Dinner, Rural Primary School, "Cave Farmhouse"
1 Night
Giant Panda Breeding Research Center, Chengdu Teahouse
3 Nights
Potala Palace, Jokhang Temple, the Barkhor, Sera Monastery, Norbu Lingka
2 Nights
Humble Administrator's Garden, New Suzhou Museum, Suzhou Silk Museum
Day Tour
Tongli shops & lunch
2 Nights
Bund & Pudong districts, Farewell Dinner, Acrobatic Show, Shanghai Maglev airport transfer (flight schedule permitting)
 

Trip Details, Let's Travel China
We wander for distraction, but we travel for fulfillment.

~Hilaire Belloc
 
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Adventure China Series
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Train to Tibet China Tours
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Mongolia Naadam Tour
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Luxury China Series
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The Grand 14 China Tours
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The Grand 19 China Tours

 
Beijing
Chengdu
Great Wall
Lhasa
Shanghai
Suzhou
Tongli
Xian


Order our 2009 brochure
Essential China Tours + Tibet Tour,Let's Travel China
 
Tour Questions?
Do you have questions about our tours? Please visit our Trip Planning section or click on a topic below:
  • General Tour Information
  • The Yangtze River Cruise
  • Chinese Culture
  • Travel Documents & Health
  • Essential China Tours + Tibet Tour,Let's Travel China
     
    Chinese Firsts:
    Wheelbarrow, papermaking, “India” ink, moveable-type printing, compass, ship rudder, gunpowder, cannon & fireworks, gun, decimal system, crossbow, cast iron, iron plow, porcelain, silk, umbrellas, kites, stirrup, harness, spaghetti, hand-held fan, seismometer, abacus, cargo ship, high-fired stoneware, brandy, whiskey, chess, and fish-farming!
    Essential China Tours + Tibet Tour,Let's Travel China
     
    Essential China:
    "We had a wonderful time in China! It was everything we hoped for and more than we expected! Dino was such a wonderful guide...the buses, the bus drivers, the sites, the hotels, the tours, everything was excellent and well carried out...such a wonderful experience! We enjoyed being pampered!"
    -J. Bryson. Let's Travel China Tour Participant
    Essential China Tours + Tibet Tour,Let's Travel China
     
    The Great Wall Myth:
    Is the Great Wall of China the only manmade object viewable from space? No. Although the wall is sometimes barely visible at very low Earth orbit, highways, bridges, airports and dams are far easier to spot. In fact, even China’s first astronaut, Yang Liwei, circling the Earth in 2004, confirmed he couldn’t see the Great Wall.
    Essential China Tours + Tibet Tour,Let's Travel China
     
    Terracotta Warriors:
    Known for their creative reproductions (everything from "antique" Ming Dynasty vases to Madonna CDs, enterprising Chinese have even arranged illegal "knock-off" exhibitions of their own Terracotta Warriors. Unauthorized reproductions - sometimes excellent, sometimes shoddy - have cropped up at "exhibitions" in China, without any reference to the word "replica." Local authorities are doing their best to crack down on these fraudulent exhibitions.
    Essential China Tours + Tibet Tour,Let's Travel China
     
    Athens. Rome. Xian.
    Most historians are in agreement that by 500 B.C., Athens had achieved the distinction as the world's most prosperous city. Five hundred years later, Rome had eclipsed Athens for the title. Yet, by 500 A.D., while Rome was being sacked by Vandals, Xian stood at its peak of power and influence - the wealthiest city in all the world.
    Essential China Tours + Tibet Tour,Let's Travel China
     
    Red Pandas:
    "The unexpected highlight was seeing the Red Panda, which is much smaller. It is more the size of a racoon, with a similar face, but without the ridge-back, and with a much nicer disposition. They were out having a good time, playing and eating and were quite entertaining and photogenic."
    -R. Shea. Let's Travel China Tour Participant
    Essential China Tours + Tibet Tour,Let's Travel China
     
    More Lhasa?
    Would you like to learn more about Lhasa and its attractions?
    Click here to read more...
    Essential China Tours + Tibet Tour,Let's Travel China
     
    Jokhang Temple:
    “…the Jokhang, thick with the smell of yak butter and the murmur of mantras and bustling with awed pilgrims, is an unrivaled Tibetan experience.”
    -Lonely Planet –
    Tibet. 2004
    Essential China Tours + Tibet Tour,Let's Travel China
     
    Shanghai Maglev:
    "The doors shut, and the train accelerates like a skyscraper elevator, silently, smoothly, and rapidly, and by the time the last car leaves the station you already seem to be going 50 miles per hour. Four minutes of gravity-simulator-style acceleration later...you reach the peak speed of 270 miles per hour for the tiny 20-mile run."
    - Henry Blodget - Slate.
    March 21, 2005
    Essential China Tours + Tibet Tour,Let's Travel China
     
    Silk:
    Chinese silk hand-embroidered “paintings” can rival photography in detail and realism – yet also convey impressionist moods running from delicate to dramatic. Shoppers can choose from pre-finished works or leave the artisan a photograph or painting for reproduction.
    Essential China Tours + Tibet Tour,Let's Travel China
     
    Suzhou:
    "By the 14th century Suzhou had established itself as China's leading silk producer, and aristocrats, pleasure-seekers, famous scholars, actors and painters were attracted to the city, constructing villas and gardens for themselves."
    -Lonely Planet. 2005
    Essential China Tours + Tibet Tour,Let's Travel China
     
    Interested in Tibet?
    You can enrich your Essential China experience with a Regional add-on:
  • 3-Night Tibet Package
  • 3-Night Guilin Package
  • 3-Night Lijiang Package
  • 3-Night Jiu Zhai Gou Package
  • Essential China Tours + Tibet Tour,Let's Travel China
     
    Shanghai Maglev:
    "The doors shut, and the train accelerates like a skyscraper elevator, silently, smoothly, and rapidly, and by the time the last car leaves the station you already seem to be going 50 miles per hour. Four minutes...later... you reach the peak speed of 270 miles per hour for the tiny 20-mile run."
    - Henry Blodget - Slate.
    March 21, 2005
    Hong Kong - Shanghai Extensions



     
    Single Supplement: Add $1200 to above prices
    3rd Guest (age 9 to 12) Land + Air: 70% of Land Only price, plus applicable Air cost
    3rd Guest (age 9 to 12) Land Only: 70% of Land Only price

    3rd Guest (age 12+) Land + Air: 85% of Land Only price, plus applicable Air cost
    3rd Guest (age 12+) Land Only: 85% of Land Only price
     
     
    *Land + Air: Land + Air prices include all tour features as noted below in “All-Inclusive Pricing” as well as Roundtrip International Air Travel from Los Angeles (or selected departure city, where applicable and available) to/from China. In all cases prices are subject to change without notice due to airline seat availability.
    *Land Only: Land Only prices include all tour features as noted below in “All-Inclusive Pricing.” Please note that Land Only prices include all travel within China as noted in the tour’s Trip Itinerary.
    All prices listed above are quoted in USD, per person, and based on double occupancy. Single Supplement prices are shown above. Prices are subject to change without notice and are capacity controlled.
    "ALL-INCLUSIVE Pricing" includes: Tour Gratuities for guide services (Tour Manager, City Guides, Drivers, and Baggage Handling); Accommodations; Meals as noted in Trip Details; Admission fees to attractions as noted in Trip Details; Air, Train & Motorcoach travel within China as noted in Trip Details; Airport Transfers in Beijing on arrival and Shanghai on departure (provided transfers dates coincide with tour “Departs On” or “Returns On” dates or if transfer dates coincide with pre-tour or post-tour hotel extension purchased through Let’s Travel China); Tour Guide services; Air Taxes and Fees.
    Not Included: Above prices do not include Excess Baggage Fees; Travel Passports or Visas; Expenses of a personal nature; Airport Transfers in Beijing and Shanghai which do not coincide with tour “Departs On” or “Returns On” dates or pre-tour or post-tour hotel extensions purchased through Let’s Travel China. Airport Transfers not otherwise included are available for purchase at $40.00 per person per transfer.
    Terms & Conditions: Click here to view standard Terms & Conditions.

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