Asia - 26 days from China to Bali

Featuring: the Eastern & Oriental Express

Day 1

Depart USA for Tokyo

Day 02

At Tokyo you will connect to Beijing departing Tokyo at about 5:10pm arriving into Beijing at
8:35pm. Upon arrival at Beijing you will be met by our guide and transferred to your hotel, the
Radisson SAS Hotel. Located at 6a East Beisanhuan Road, 100006
Beijing. Your hotel Contact there is (86 1) 466 3388. fax (86 1) 465 3186.

Day 03

After a full American breakfast our guide will pick you up for a full day tour to the Summer Palace and Lama Temple, with a Chinese lunch to be provided en-route.

The SUMMER PALACE is Located approximately twelve kilometers to the northwest of Beijing's city proper, it was first built in 1750 and rebuilt in 1886. An outstanding example of imperial gardens in classical Chinese style, the Summer Palace spreads on an area of 2.9 million square meters, three fourths of which are water surfaces. Its major attractions are the Wanshou (Longevity) Hill and the Kunming (Jade Spring) Lake. The garden is a showcase of pavilions in diversified, exotic designs, which are strung together by a corridor more than seven hundred meters in length and a seemingly unending chain of balustrades of snow-white marble. With western hills simmering in the background, the Summer Palace is strewn with postcard-perfect scenes, including the Yuquan (Jade Spring) Pagoda, the Kunming Lake, and the bridge with seventeen arches. The huge garden's artistic style, which is at once kaleidoscopic and harmonious, is attributable to the unknown designers' ingenious landscaping skills.

YONGHEGONG LAMASERY ... Situated in the Eastern District of Beijing, the Yonghegong Lamasery was first built in 1694. It was the largest lamasery in Beijing and the center for major Lamaist activities in and around the capital. The entire complex, built in a style that incorporates the architectural elements of the Hans, Mongols, Manchus and Tibetans, is a maze of pavilions and towers, looking elegant and lofty with curving eaves and ridged rooftops. The lamasery is famous for its three treasures: a 26-metre-high statue of Maitreya (the Smiling Buddha) carved out of a single sandalwood trunk; the miniature "Mountain of Five Hundred arhats" made of gold, silver, copper, iron and tin; and a shrine made of Nanmu, a precious hardwood with golden veins. (B/L)

Day 04,

After breakfast you will again be picked up for a full day tour to the Great Wall and Ming Tomb, with a Chines lunch to be provided.

10,000-LI GREAT WALL ... reputedly 10,000 li long, it covers a total length of 6,350 kilo-meters from the shore of the Yalu River in the east to Jiayu Pass in the west, but the Shanhaiguan-Jiayuguan section is regarded as its main body. Construction of this formidable defense work began in the seventh century B.C. After it was brought to completion during the reign of Qinshihuang, the founding emperor of the Qin Dynasty, it was extended repeatedly in later dynastic periods until the Ming Dynasty. The best preserved and most imposing-looking section of the wall is found at Badaling in Beijing.

MING TOMBS (DINGLING UNDERGROUND PALACE) ... At the southern foot of the Tianshou Mountain in the northern part of Changping county, Beijing, lie the tombs of thirteen emperors of the Ming Dynasty. Arranged in a gigantic semi-circle, they are known as Shisanling or Thirteen Ming Tombs. Most famous of these tombs is the Dingling, which features an underground palace now for public viewing.

The Dingling was the tomb for Zhu Yijun, or Emperor Shenzong, and his two empresses. Covering a total floor space of 1,195 square meters, the underground palace was a gigantic assemblage of vaulted halls fashioned out of masonry. The arched passageways that conduct to the various chambers is graced with exquisitely chiselled stone carvings. (B/L)

Day 05,

After breakfast our guide will pick you up for a full day tour to the Forbidden and The Temple of Heaven. A Chinese lunch will be served.

FORBIDDEN CITY ... The Palace Museum, known as "Forbidden City" in bygone days, was situated in the middle of Beijing's meridian line. Built during the 1406-1420 period, it had served as the imperial palace for the Ming and Qing dynasties. In the intervening years twenty-four emperors had lived in this compound with its hoard of 1.05 million rare and precious cultural relics. Sprawling on an area of 720,000 square meters, its seventy-odd palaces and 9,000-plus houses totaling a floor space of 150,000 square meters, it is the largest palace ever discovered in this world and one of mankind's major cultural legacies. All the palaces are providently laid out in a symmetrical fashion.

TEMPLE OF HEAVEN (TIANTAN) ... Situated in Chongwen District, Tiantan or Temple of Heaven, is a 2.7 million-square-meter affair which was first constructed in 1420 as the venue for emperors of the Ming and Qing dynasties to pray to Heaven for good harvests. The worldwide fame of Tiantan is attributed to its well-disciplined layout and unique, elegantly ornamented architecture structures. The Qiniandian, or Hall of Prayer for Good Harvest, is the centerpiece of Tiantan; built in a unique Chinese style, it is a circular wooden structure 38 meters in height and 32 meters in diameter, with a triple conical roof topped with a huge gold-plated cupola. (B/L)

Day 06

After breakfast transfer to the airport for your China Eastern Airlines flight to Shanghai - the new financial center of China. Upon arrival you will be met and transferred to the Shanghai J.C. Mandarin Hotel. The flight number is MU 513 departing Beijing at 11:30am arriving into Shanghai at 1:15pm. The afternoon and evening is on your own.
Your Hotel Contact in Shanghai is (86 21) 279 1888, fax (86 21) 279 1822.

Day 07

After breakfast you will take a full day tour of Shanghai visiting Shanghai Industrial Exhibition, The Jade Buddha temple, Mandarin's garden and the Bund (Huangpu River Waterfront Boulevard) including lunch. The evening is on your own.

Day 08

Travel to Kuala Lumpur (possibly via Hongkong or Bangkok depending on service that day). Transfer to the Legend Hotel,

Day 09

After breakfast take a city tour of Kuala Lumpur seeing the newest world's tallest building The Petronas Towers. Afternoon free for relaxing and shopping. Overnight at The Legend Hotel. (B)

Day 10

After breakfast take a full day country side tour with lunch, incl. a stop at a Batik factory. return to the city for dinner on their own. Overnight at the Legend Hotel. (B/L)

Day 11

After breakfast transfer to the airport for the flight to Bali. Arrival in the afternoon and transfer to the Bali Dynasty Hotel. The late afternoon at leisure. (B)

Day 12

Bali Tour (B) ---- Here you may wish only Bali without Jogjakarta! modifications are always
possible. -----See: Bali

Day 13

Bali free day

Day 14

Bali Jogjakarta. Fly to JOG met on arrival and take a tour. of JOG. Check-in to Melia Purosani
Hotel in JOG. (B)

Day 15

Jogjakarta - After breakfast day at leisure.

Day 16

Jogjakarta to Jakarta to Singapore - Marina Mandarin Hotel. Fly from Jakarta late afternoon and arrive Singapore early evening for overnight

Day 17

After breakfast it is recommended to take morning tour of the Harbor. This can be re-arranged for the afternoon if you prefer. Our guide will pick you up at the hotel and return there approximately 3 hours later. The remainder of the day on your own. A drink at the "Long Bar" at the Raffles Hotel may be in order and can be recommended. This is where the famous "Singapore Sling" was invented.

Day 18

After breakfast at your hotel you may take a morning city tour, visiting China Town and seeing the sights. Our guide will pick you up and drop you back at the hotel at noon time. The early afternoon can be at leisure for shopping etc., or you can visit the fabulous Zoo where you can enjoy tea with an Orangutan. Mid afternoon you will transfer to the Railway Station for check-in at the terminal for the Eastern and Oriental Express train departure at 14:45pm. You will make a stop in Kuala Lumpur mid-evening where dinner will be served after departure from Kuala Lumpur. All meals on board.

Day 19

After breakfast you will arrive into Butterworth - Penang. At near noon you will continue up the Malay Peninsula into Thailand.

Day 20

After arriving into Hua Hin at early morning breakfast will be served. You will continue to The River Kwai at Kanchanaburi. You will arrive at 08:45am where you will join a guided tour of teh war memorials there. At 11:00am you will continue to Bangkok where arrival is scheduled at 2:45pm. Breakfast and lunch is served. Upon arrival into The Bangkok Railway Station you will be met by our guide who will transfer you to The Royal Garden Riverside Hotel. Dinner will be on your own. You may wish to change your hotel to The Oriental which is the number one hotel in the world. This can be done for an additional charge of approximately
$150.00 per night.

Day 21

After breakfast at your hotel take a full day tour to The Ancient Capital City of Ayutthaya, where you will walk through the ruins. You will continue to Bang Pa-in The Summer Palace of the late King Rama V. The morning starts by bus from the Oriental Hotel, across the river from your hotel. You drive up and early afternoon you board the Pearl of Siam or similar, and cruise back to Bangkok. You arrive back after a 3 hour voyage, down the River. This is a very relaxing and a
great excursion, perfect for the day following a long journey. Dinner is on your own.

Day 22

After breakfast you may wish the day on your own or take a half day tour to the Royal Grand Palace or the floating market. After the tour you will transfer directly to the airport for your noon flight to Chiang Mai. You will arrive at 1:15pm. Immediately our guide will meet you and take you for a tour of the Meo Hill tribe village. You will also visit the handicraft center late afternoon. Upon completion you will be taken to the Westin Chiang Mai Hotel for your overnight. Dinner is on your own. (B)

Day 23

After breakfast continue trip to Chiang Rai. Have an afternoon River Cruise on the
Mekong River. You will stay at The Dusit Island Resort. (B)

Day 24

Chiang Rai/Chiang Mai - Hongkong
After breakfast transfer to the airport and fly to Hongkong. There you will be met and transferred to the Mandarin Oriental Hotel, at 5 Connaught Road, Central, on Hongkong Island. The afternoon and evening is on your own. Your Hotel contact in Hongkong is phone (85 2) 2522 0111, fax (85 2) 2810 6190.

Day 25

After breakfast you will be on your own. It is recommended that you go up to the top of Victoria Peak, and Aberdeen. It is also recommended while in Hongkong to take the Star Ferry, visit The New Territories, perhaps take a trip to Macau, and of course explore the Thieves market in Kowloon.

Day 26

After breakfast prepare to return home.

Flight schedules and times and pricing subject to change anytime.
Contact us for 1999/2000 conditions.

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Participants wishing to use frequent flyer mile tickets may do so. Cost of tour will vary accordingly.