Benmo Limited - Essentially China
(please contact us for an up-to date-price)
Inclusions as shown in the itinerary, one member of the family joined after a few days.
Accommodation at the Banyan Tree is subject to availability, a simpler but nonetheless comfortable level of accommodation is available in Lijiang.
Excluded item : main meals, insurance, international flights, optional visits and excursions, trekking or horseriding.
'When we walked through into the central courtyard of the Banyan Hotel in Lijiang, we thought we had found paradise. It is incredibly tranquil and picturesque, with breathtaking views of the Jade Dragon Snow Mountains.’
‘Ben-mo were very creative in their scheduling – we particularly enjoyed our stay at a Buddhist monastery outside Xi’an, where we spent the evening discussing religion with the head monk.’
Practical note:
‘Best to avoid the formal evening entertainments laid on for tourists. As a general rule they are lengthy, expensive and dull.’
| Day 1 | Depart LHR on flight BA39, night on flight. |
| Day 2 | Arrive Beijing, meeting and transfer to hotel. Beijing Prime Hotel (5 Star) on Wang Fu Jing for 3 nights. |
| Day 3 | Trekking on Great Wall (assisted by local guide) with boxed lunch. Departure times advised locally. |
| Day 4 | Day free in Beijing to visit Forbidden City etc. |
| Day 5 | Day free, morning visit to Summer Palace (suggestion). Early evening check out from hotel (option to keep room for whole day) Accompanied transfer to Beijing station for overnight train to Xian Night on train in soft class sleepers. |
| Day 6 | Early morning arrive Xian – meeting by local guide and transfer to hotel for breakfast,
Accompanied visit to Terracotta Army, City Wall and Bell tower, lunch included.
Stay at Bell Tower Hotel or Aurum International – both with good central location Close to Great Mosque, Handicraft & Food market, Forest of Stone Tablets, Bell & Drum Towers. |
| Day 7 | Free time in Xi’an. We can occasionally arrange an overnight stay in Zen Temple outside Xi’an – at the discretion of the Master. |
| Day 8 | Morning depart Xi’an on flight to Kunming (1hour 45mins) (Other members of the family arrive today). Meeting and transfer to hotel. Rest of day free. Stay at Green Lake Hotel. |
| Day 9 | Family spend day in Kunming – go to Stone Forest (less visited part) and Yuan Tong monastery. Lunch included. |
| Day 10 | Early breakfast. Transfer to airport for flight to Dali – flying time less than 1 hour. Sightseeing accompanied by local guide to Three Pagodas & Erhai Lake, Old Town, tea performance. Lunch included. Spend two nights at Dali Landscape Hotel. |
| Day 11 | Free in Dali. |
| Day 12 | Travel by road to Lijiang – journey time about 4 hours – stay in Lijiang for 5 nights in at luxurious Banyan Tree Hotel with villa style accommodation (Other accommodation options available). Places to explore : old city of Dayan, Jade Dragon Snow Mountain , Baisha Frescoes and Yufeng Lamasery, Baoshan Secret stone village and First Bend in the Yangtze River, Leaping tiger Gorge. |
| Day 13 | Visit Jade Dragon Mountain (horseriding may be available here – pay on spot), Baisha Frescoes, Yufeng Lamasery Lunch included. |
| Day 14 | In Lijiang – no arrangements today. |
| Day 15 | Visit to Tiger Leaping Gorge (trekking possible here). Lunch included. |
| Day 16 | In Lijiang – no arrangements today. |
| Day 17 | Check out at around midday. Rest of day free. Transfer to airport for flight to Beijing. Meeting & transfer to hotel in Beijing – Lu Song Yuan - courtyard style |
| Day 18 | In Beijing – own arrangements. |
| Day 19 | Early breakfast & departure for airport. Own transfer to airport Depart Beijing on flight returning to London, same day arrival. |