10 days: China Scenic & Cultural Explorer

• Guizhou - Guiyang (2 nights)
• Anshun & Huangguoshu Waterfall (1 night)
• Miao & Dong Ethnic villages
• Kaili (1 night)
• Rongjiang (1 night)
• Zhaoxing (1 night)
• Sanjiang (1 night)
• Longsheng
• Guilin: Li River Cruise & city tour (2 nights)
• Yangshou: scenic tour (1 night)
• Explore rural China and enjoy spectacular scenery and unique traditional culture of ethnic China..

View Itinerary

Price & Departure dates

The hilly areas we visit on this tour are covered by azalea groves. In late March and April, the azalea flower is in full bloom and turn the hillsides into a riot of colour more than 30 miles long. This spectacular flower show has confirmed this region as being one of China's most beautiful national parks. Additionally the blooming season coincides with many colourful ethnic festivals with music and dances.

Day 1: Guiyang - Meal: L/D

Arriving in Guiyang in the morning and we drive to the ancient town of Qingyan. Qingyan was built more than 600 years ago and has a rich history and many cultural relics to explore.

Qingyan Town is constructed completely of stone, surrounded by spectacular city walls and is a great example of rural Architecture of times gone by. Enjoy wandering through the streets watching local traders and soaking up the atmosphere of this unique place. Regal Hotel Guiyang (4 star)

Day 2: Guiyang - Anshun (Huangguoshu Water Fall) - Meal: B/L/D

After breakfast, meet your guide and take a tour to the Dragon Palace Cave National Park, where we'll explore the vast cave network and underground karst river by boat.

We continue our journey to the spectacular Huangguoshu waterfall, which is the largest waterfall in Asia and mystical home to the Monkey King. The stunning Huangguoshu waterfall is 74m high and 81m wide and is where the mighty Baihe River pours into the Rhinoceros Pool below. A highlight is to walk behind the falls through Water Curtain Cave for an unique view of the falls from behind.

Huangguoshu Waterfall is located right in the heartland of Bouyei county, where you find clusters of Bouyei style stone houses amongst terraced rice paddies on the hillsides and in the valleys.

We will spend some time exploring an authentic Bouyei village and meet the ethnic Bouyei villagers and see their handcrafts. The Bouyei women are renowned as being wonderfully skilled batik artists. They meticulously draw their complex pictures and ethnic designs on fabric cloth with beeswax and then dye the cloth in indigo.

A few miles down river from the Huangguoshu Waterfall lies the scenic stone forest area located near Heavenly Star Bridge. Star bridge was formed by a large slab of stone which forms a natural bridge across the steep gorge below. We will walk along winding paths and enjoy the beauty of this scenic area, which has stunning views reminiscent of the natural landscape of the 'Dinosaur roaming' Jurassic period.

Drive back to Guiyang. Regal Hotel (4 star)

Day 3: Guiyang - Kaili - Meal: B/L/D

Today we take a scenic and leisurely drive (approx 2.5h) through the mountainous countryside of Guizhou enjoying views of rice paddies terraced into the mountain sides, on our way to visit remote Miao ethnic minority villages. The friendly Mao people are mainly mountain dwellers and their homes are tightly packed wooden structures built on stilts, with balustrades.

Upon arrival at Kaili, which is the capital of the Southeast Miao and Dong Minority Autonomous prefecture, we visit Kaili Minority Museum. The museum is a great place to obtain a general understanding and basic knowledge of Miao and Dong people's long history, daily lifestyle, customs and textile technique, etc.

Later we visit Shiqiao, a rural Miao village where we meet with local people and see them paper making using traditional and ancient techniques passed down through generations.

Afterwards we visit another quaint Miao village called Qingman village, which is a quiet village inhabited by the Folded & Silkfelt Miao. This village is a real gem and we enjoy strolling around the narrow streets of traditional wooden houses, meeting friendly locals and learning more about Miao culture and their way of life. Overnight in hotel in Kaili.

Day 4: Kaili - Rongjiang - Meal: B/L/D

On Sundays there is a fantastic morning market in Kaili, which caters for locals to buy and sell a vast selection of exotic goods including clothes, fish, meat, spices and vegetables. This is really an exciting cultural experience not to be missed. Only available on Sundays!

Our first ethnic minority village we explore today is Jidao, which is home to the long skirt Miao people. Then by contrast we visit Datang Mini Skirt Miao Village. We have plenty of time to informally meet with local Miao residents and enjoy experiencing and understanding more about their unique way of life and culture. The ethnic villages we visit are not 'tourist destinations' and the way of life and friendly culture is authentic. Therefore we ensure that we visit in a responsible manner to preserve and respect their traditions and culture and make friends along the way.

On the way to Rongjiang, we will also meet and visit the ethnic Shui people. (Total travelling time is about 4.5 hours through scenic countryside) Overnight in Rongjiang.

Day 5: Rongjiang - Zhaoxing - Meal: B/L/D

Today we travel (2 hours) to the fascinating remote village of Basha, which is a Miao village located in the Dong area of Guizhou. The most suitable description for Basha is 'the last tribe with guns in China'. The small Miao village has very little signs of modern influence and people rarely venture out of the village except for selling firewood and shopping for daily necessities in markets. Both men and women can be seen in their traditional costumes and the custom is still to wear their hair long.

Later we will take a 2 hours drive to Zhaoxing. Zhaoxing is one of the largest Dong Ethnic Minority villages in the region, with more than 700 households and a population of 4000. The Dong ethnic peoples costumes and lifestyle is distinct from any other ethnic group. High rise sacred drum towers and roofed bridges and stages for local opera performances are landmarks of their communities. Zhaoxing Hotel (VIP Department 3 star).

Day 6: Zhaoxing - Sanjiang (110km, 4hours) Meal: B/L/D

After breakfast enjoy a leisurely walk around Zhaoxing, informally meeting local residents and enjoying the rural atmosphere.

Later we visit Tang An Dong village, which is the first ecology museum for the Dong in China. Enjoy seeing beautiful terraced rice fields as we continue our journey from Guizhou into Guangxi Province on our way to Sanjiang. (total journey time approx 4 hours 110km).

Sanjiang is a village inhabited by the South Dong, one of two subgroups of the Dong ethnic minority. A short drive away from Sanjiang will take us to Chenyang, a quiet little village with one of the largest Fengyuqiaos (Wind and Rain Bridge) in the region. Here we will explore the Dong villages on foot, visiting lively markets and hillside farms. Sanjiang Hotel (3 star)

Day 7: Sanjiang - Guilin - Meal: B/L/D

Today we leave Guizhou province and travel to Longsheng, where the stunning mountains are covered with terraced rice fields, some of them reaching up to 1,000m high.

In the afternoon, we arrive at Guilin, transfer to our Hotel in Guilin (4 star hotel).

Day 8: Guilin - Meal: B/L/D

After breakfast, We take a tour to the delightful Fubo Hill and Elephant Trunk Hill. Later we visit Reed Flute Cave, a vast underground cavern of exotic rock formations. In the evening you have the oportunity to attend an optional tour to see the fantastic Ethnic Dragon dance theater show (contact us for show prices etc).

Day 9: Li River cruise - Yangshuo - Meal: B/L

After breakfast we take an hour drive to Zhujiang Dock, where you will board our boat and start cruising down the picturesque Li River with lime stone pinnacles, water buffalos, farms and villages on both sides of the river bank. Lunch will be served on board and we will disembark upon arrival at Yangshuo, a charming ancient town that is famous for its beautiful scenery, often thought to be the most beautiful in China. You will get a chance to visit its famed West Street. Overnight stay in Yangshuo. (3 star hotel)

Day 10: Yangshuo - Guilin - Homeward - Meal: B

In the morning, you will be taken by electric bus to Yangshuo's beautiful country side. Along the route you will pass serene pastoral view, fantastic limestone mountains, peaceful farming villages, and roaming water buffaloes, After this tour of the countryside, you will be escorted back to Guilin airport (2-hour drive) for your flight to your next destination. There are frequent flights to Hong Kong, Macau, Beijing, Chengdu, Shanghai etc, we can assist in arranging out sections of the tours if required, please ask.

Departure Dates & Price 2012 - per person (£)

Recommended visiting times: 1) Azalea blossom viewing - mid April; 2) Sister's Meal Festival: fair, folk song singing, dancing, hose races- early April; 3) Lusheng Festival: fare, bullfighting, singing, Lusheng dance - November. Please note itinerary may be amended during 2) & 3) period.

China possesses 470 varieties of Azaleas, over half of the different varieties of the world. The hilly areas we visit on this tour are covered by azalea groves. In late March and April, the azalea flower is in full bloom and turn the hillsides into a riot of colour more than 30 miles long. This spectacular flower show has confirmed this region as being one of China's most beautiful national parks. Additionally the blooming season coincides with many colourful ethnic festivals with music and dances.

Private tours can also be arranged, please enquire. We also welcome group booking enquiries, and discount is available for group over 10 people.

Our Price will Include.

• All airport/hotel transfers within Mainland China.
• Sightseeing tours by professional English-speaking tour guide.
• Hotel accommodation.
• Meals as specified in the itinerary.

Price Does Not Include.

• Flights - can be provided upon your request.
• Visa fee - We can arrange Visa's subject to your request.
• Travel Insurance.

Flights: we can assist in obtaining flight tickets. Some of our programmes can also be combined for a longer tour, please enquire at the time of booking.

Your Accommodation for this tour: Carefully selected good hotels & guesthouse accommodations. In some remote areas the standard can be lower but we will provide you with one of the best available in the area.

Your Meals: As specified in the itinerary. Dishes are using local cooking style with on-season fresh ingredients and vegetables when possible. We think this forms part of the important experiences to visit these charming areas, and experience the authentic, healthy and delicious meals.

Other fact of our tour arrangement: Our itineraries are regularly checked, inspected and updated to provide ideal and latest sightseeing spots for our travellers, and we organise our own special activities to try to introduce the real China to you, and connect closer to local people.

Small group travel with like minded people and flexibility on tour. Normal group size 10 people. Suitable for all age travellers.

The itinerary is designed according to the most updated information of flights available, although on rare occasions the sequence in which cities are visited, duration of time spent 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.