Magical Landscapes & Colours of Cultures - Hong Kong to Hanoi
From Hong Kong To Guilin, Yangshuo, Xingping, Longsheng, Zhaoxing, Nanning, Mingshi, Pingxiang, Lang Son, Halong, Lan Ha Bay Cruise, Hanoi - 14 Nights

Package Details

Overview

Enjoy the highlights of the mega-metropolitan city of Hong Kong. Cruise, trek and bamboo raft as you sightsee Guilin’s magical landscape, China’s most picturesque destination. Be mesmerized by the magnificent Longji Rice Terraces in Long Sheng. See a diverse group of Ethnic Groups inhabiting ancient villages and learn about their colourful cultures and customs. Explore Mingshi Scenic Area and appreciate the tranquillity of its untouched landscape and fresh air. Visit one of the world’s most spectacular transnational waterfall, The Detian Waterfalls. Skip the crowds of Halong Bay and enjoy a serene 2D/1N cruise along the Lan Ha Bay for the tour’s grand finale.

Details

DAY 1
HONG KONG (ARRIVAL)
Welcome arrival in Hongkong airport and transfer to your hotel for check in. See towering skyscrapers and buzzing markets in our afternoon Hong Kong Island City Tour with stops at Victoria Peak, Repulse Bay and Aberdeen Island (Fishing Village). OPTION: Sampan boat ride around the fishing village (30 mins) if time permits (not included in price).
(-) Airport Transfer and City Tour are both SIC based. Overnight in Hong Kong

DAY 2:
HONG KONG – GUILIN
After breakfast, transfer to the train station where we will start our journey to mainland China. Ride on board the Speedy Train G312 (1205/1524) [1st Class] to Guilin West. Welcome arrival in Guilin, a place long recognised as China’s most picturesque destination. Encircled by endless mountains forming dramatic karst formation, carved beautifully by the Li River. Meet your tour guide at the train station and proceed to Fubo Hill. From the foot of the hill, visit the ‘Pearl-Returning Cave’. See inside hundreds of Buddha images and the famous ‘Sword Testing Rock – a natural rock formation which hangs from the ceiling almost touching the ground. Continue half-way up the hill to TingTao Pavillion where you can take the stone-stairs all the way to the Viewing Platform for a panoramic view of the landscape. Return to your hotel where the rest of the evening is free at your leisure.
OPTION: Dinner at the Jolie Vue Boutique Rooftop Hotel Restaurant – Enjoy a romantic dinner at a rooftop restaurant complete with the stunning view of the Elephant Trunk Hill, the symbol of Guilin.
(B) Overnight in Guilin

DAY 3
GUILIN – YANGSHUO
What better way to appreciate the magical Guilin Landscape than by a cruise! Sit back and relax and enjoy the (4*) luxurious Li River Cruise, passing by extraordinary peaks, sprays of bamboo lining, riverbanks, traditional fishermen on wooden boats and picturesque villages. Lunch is served on boat. The afternoon is free for leisure or why not walk around the buzzing area of West Street for some shopping! OPTION: Join a Cooking Class! Learn how to cook some special dishes taught by experienced local chefs and get to sample the food once you’ve prepared them.
(B,L) Overnight in Yangshuo

DAY 4
YANGSHUO – XINGPING
After breakfast, head to the Yulong River and enjoy a charming Bamboo Raft ride. Check-out from your hotel and transfer to Xingping. Along the way stop at the ancient Yu Long Bridge and Fu Li Bridge for a perfect photo stop opportunity. Continue on to Xiang Gong Shan Hill. A small hike-up will reward you with an unparalleled panoramic view of a vast and seemingly endless  towering karsts peaks embraced by a winding river. Check in your hotel and enjoy the sunset views along the Li River. In the evening, explore the small charming lanes of Xingping Old Street.
(B) Overnight in Xing Ping

DAY 5
XINGPING
OPTION (MORNING): For the early risers, get a chance to catch the spectacular sunrise at the Xing Gong Shan Hill.
After breakfast, take an off the beaten track, hidden from the usual tourist route and hike up the Tengjiao Cave Temple, built during the Ming Dynasty located in the mouth of a giant cave. On the way see fruitful orchards and once you get to the top, you will appreciate yet again another breath-taking view of the stunning landscape from a different angle. Enjoy a picnic lunch at the viewpoint. Afternoon is free for leisure or relaxation.
OPTION: Recommended optional activities for the afternoon leisure: Boat Ride, Tea Ceremony, Shan Shui Painting
(B) Overnight in Xingping

DAY 6
XINGPING – LONGSHENG
After breakfast, begin our next adventure to Longsheng, a place famous for its vast rice-terraced fields and a vibrant mix of Ethnic groups. Stop on the way at the Liu San Jie Tea Plantantion for local Tea Tasting and lunch. Upon arrival in Longsheng, take a walk along the charming narrow lanes, seeing traditional ancient wooden houses belonging to the Zhuang Ethnic Group, until we reach the Ping An Village where your hotel is located.
(B,L) Overnight in Longsheng

DAY 7
LONGSHENG
Enjoy breakfast at the hotel, then prepare for a morning hike (half day) to Longji Old Zhuang Village, the oldest and well-preserved ancient village where old traditions and customs are still very much alive. See hundreds of years-old wooden stilt houses, stone-slab bridges and meet some of the Zhuang tribes. The village is surrounded by mesmerizing rice-terraces offering a  unique unobstructed view of the Longji Rice Terraces or so called the ‚ ‘Dragon’s Backone‘. Opportunity to see an authentic ‘hair demonstration’ from a Yao woman Ethnic tribe, on how to style their long hair – a look that is distinctive to their own culture. (demonstrations will require a small tip). The rest of the afternoon is free for rest until it is time for a soft hike up to the village’s viewpoint to observe a spectacular sunset.
(B) Overnight in Longsheng

DAY 8
LONGSHENG – ZHAOXING
After breakfast, take a downhill walk to the main entrance of the village followed by a private transfer to Guilin train station. Take the Speedy Train G2946 (12:25 / 13:18) Guilin North – Zhaoxing (Congjiang Station) – 2nd Class. On arrival, continue our cultural adventure with a trip to the Zhaoxing Dong Village, the largest village of Dong Nationality in China. See a picturesque village with a unique ethnic flavour. In the afternoon, visit the Tang’An Dong Village, elevated 935 meters above sea level and encircled by rice terraces, verdant mountains and green hills, it is renowned as the ‘most primitive Dong Village’ and China’s first ecological Museums. From the village, we will take a downhill trek back to Zhaoxing. Check in your hotel. In the evening, walk around the colorful streets of Zhaoxing and on the way see a unique musical performance: ‘Dong Minoriy Big Song’ – a show depicting praises for the nature, labour, love and family and freindships. It involves interpretative dancing and natural chorus folk singing (no accompaniment), unique to the Dong ethnic group.
(B) Overnight in Zhaoxing

DAY 9
ZHAOXING
After breakfast, drive (1.5 hours approx) to the Basha Village of Miao Ethnic Group, a primitive village tucked away in a forest, filled with stilt wooden houses located by the river and famed for being China’s last tribe of gunmen. Walk around the village and see traditional customs, and unique hairstyle and clothing that give this village a real authentic feel. Transfer back to Zhaoxing. The rest of the afternoon is free for your own leisure to relax or to explore the fascinating streets of Zhaoxing.
(B) Overnight in Zhaoxing

DAY 10
ZHAOXING – NANNING – MINGSHI
Enjoy breakfast at your hotel, before transfer to the train station to board the Speedy Train D3561 (08:47 / 12:37) Conjiang – Nanning West – 2nd Class. On arrival, lunch at a local restaurant. Continue overland to Mingshi passing by scenic landscapes. The Mingshi scenic area is close to the Vietnam border where up until now, remains a destination that is still unknown to many tourists. Arrival in Mingshi (before 17:00) take a tranquil bamboo raft boat ride down the scenic Mingshi River and enjoy the fresh air and majestic untouched landscape. After the boat ride, watch a cultural show depicting the village life and culture of the locals.
(B,L) Overnight in Mingshi

DAY 11
MINGSHI
After breakfast, visit today’s highlight the majestic Detian Waterfall, the second largest transnational waterfall in the world! Truly breath-taking it is so immense that it crosses the boundary between China and Vietnam (Ban Gioc Waterfall). The afternoon is free for leisure and relaxation. OPTION: Excursion to Tongling Grand Canyon which will involve soft trekking. Otherwise, activities we can recommend are; scenic bicycle ride around the villages, or boat rides along the Minghsi river.
(B) Overnight in Mingshi

DAY 12
MINGSHI – PINGXIANG/HUU NGHI BORDER – LANG SON
The morning is free at leisure until transfer to Pinxiang Friendship Border (2.5 hours approx). After immigration formalities, cross the Huu Nghi Boder and be met by your Vietnam tour guide.
Start our Vietnam adventure with a drive to Lang Son. On our way, stop by to visit the Tam Thanh Cave, 400 m long with openings from both side of the mountains. If time permits, visit Nhi Than where in lies the Tam Giao temple, located in a stone cave. This temple is special as it is a place of worship for three Gods: Buddha, Confucius and Lao Tzu. Check in your hotel. (Early check-in not included)
(B) Overnight in Lang Son

DAY 13
LANG SON – HA LONG/LAN HA BAY (CRUISE)
After breakfast, continue overland towards Halong. Arrive at the pier where you will embark on a 2D/1N cruise along the little-known hidden gem called Lan Ha Bay, an extension of its famous neighbour Halong Bay, located off the coast of Cat Ba Island. Considered as the best alternative for a more peaceful sailing experience, skip the touristic crowd and explore the unknown and far quieter Lan Ha Bay. Cruise in tranquillity for 2 days and enjoy the land/village tour and on-board activities provided by your cruise.
(B,L,D) Overnight on Lan Ha Bay cruise

DAY 14
LAN HA BAY – HANOI
Continue cruising until it’s time to disembark (late morning). Transfer to Hanoi, the city of lakes, shaded boulevards and public parks dotted with French colonial bulidings and historical monuments. Enjoy a Half Day City Tour and see the city’s cultural highlihgts including the Ba Dinh Square, Ho Chi Minh’s former residence, the Presidential Palace, One-Pillar Pagoda, Temple of Literature, Hoan Kiem Lake and Nogc Son Temple. In the evening, see the world-famous Water Puppet Show, a unique Vietnamese artistic endeavor!
(B or Brunch) Overnight in Hanoi

DAY 15
HANOI (DEPARTURE)
Breakfast at your hotel before transfer to the airport for your departure flight home or to your next
destination.

Inclusions

All described sightseeing as in program above
Transportation in private air-conditioned vehicle
Accommodation in hotels with daily breakfast
English-speaking local guides
Admission fees to indicated sights (except all Optional Activities)
Meals mentioned in the itinerary (B=breakfast, L=lunch, D=dinner)
1 glass of soft drink per person/meal (China part only)
Domestic gov’t tax and service charge
1st Class Speedy Train ticket from Hong Kong, 2 nd Class
Speedy Guilin/Congjiang and Congjiang/Nanning (China part only)

EXCLUDED SERVICES
International air tickets
Flights & visa fees
Travel Insurance in all kinds
Meals not mentioned in itinerary
Compulsory Meals: Surcharge for
Drinks during Meals
Tip, drinks, any personal expenses
Early check-in and late check-out

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