Wild China! - 15 days

Drifters Price: £642.00

RRP: £675.00

Trip Code: INTWC

Local Payment: USD$250.00

Days 1-3 Shanghai

Travellers will be arriving at all times on Day 1, from all corners of the world. Feel free to arrive at the joining point at any time of the day. We will have our initial group meeting in the evening of Day 1, followed by dinner. Check the noticeboard in reception for information about this.

Note that your group leader will collect your local payment (USD250) at the group meeting on Day 1. Please bring new USD bills/notes in large denominations.

For those who arrive early, there is so much to see and do in Shanghai, from strolling along the Bund with its art deco architecture, or visiting the bustling Yuyuan Bazaar. Shanghai is a vibrant, fast-moving city with a fantastic variety of markets and restaurants for eating out. The Shanghai Museum is world class, the best in the country, and well worth a visit.

In the afternoon of Day 3 we board an overnight train bound for Luoyang (approximately 18 hours) and then 2 hours on the bus to Shaolin.

Days 4-6 Shaolin/Luoyang

In Shaolin we have the day to explore the famous Monastery Wushu Institute and temple complex or perhaps hike the surrounding mountains for some peace and tranquillity. Catch a performance of Kung Fu and look on as hundreds practice their skills.

A short bus trip takes us to Luoyang (2.5 hours). Louyang was once the imperial capital of 13 Chinese dynasties and home to more than 1300 Buddhist temples. We visit the World Heritage site of the Longmen Grottoes where more than 100,000 Buddha images were carved into the side of a mountain some 1500 years ago.

Around midday on Day 6 we take a train to Xi'an (approximately 6 hours).

Days 7-8 Xi'an

The imperial centre of China for 2000 years, Xi'an is now a vibrant city and we have plenty of free time to check it out.

The Great Mosque is a wonderfully serene place to escape the hustle and bustle of the city, and splurging in the evening Muslim Quarter food markets is a must! The centre of Xi'an is surrounded by an enormous city wall and climbing it provides the perfect vantage point to see the sun set over the city.

Xi'an is also the base for a visit to the amazing Terracotta Warriors (approximately 1 hour each way). We take a half-day guided tour to visit this amazing site on Day 7. These soldiers have been buried for over 2000 years and are all facing east in battle formation, complete with horses and chariots.

On the evening of Day 8 we board an overnight train for Lanzhou (approximately 9 hours).

Days 9-12 Xiahe

On arrival in Lanzhou on the morning of Day 9 we take a long bus trip to the remote town of Xiahe (approximately 6 hours) via the Tibetan grasslands. Xiahe is home to the Labrang Monastery, one of the largest Tibetan working monasteries outside of Lhasa, and set in a beautiful mountain valley. It is a town that leaves Intrepid travellers raving! It's a stunning place to just sit and watch Tibetan nomads come into town on horse and cart, others on pilgrimage dressed in their finest traditional attire, and monks dressed in their burgundy robes, hooning around on motorbikes. The prayer circuit forms a complete circle around the entire Labrang Monastery and we accompany the monks turning the prayer wheels and sending our prayers to heaven. Xiahe is a marvellous place to wander around and really gives you a feel for the Tibetan way of life.

We make a overnight excursion out to the grasslands surrounding Xiahe, allowing us to experience traditional ways of life in the nomadic communities. On these vast plains we may have the opportunity to visit a remote village school and meet friendly, hospitable people.

We bus back to Lanzhou on Day 12 (approximately 6 hours). If you have time, sample a bowl of Lanzhou's famous noodles before boarding our flight, bound for the capital, Beijing.

Days 13-15 Beijing

No journey to China's north-east is complete without a walk on the Great Wall, an incredible piece of engineering that ranges over 6000km, following the mountain ridges north of Beijing and stretching far west. The wall was originally constructed to protect the Chinese empires from the Mongolian 'barbarians' of the north. We visit this wonder of the world on a day trip on Day 13 from Beijing (approximately 3 hours each way), after which you have the opportunity to see the cities famous acrobatic or kung fu show.

There is so much to see and do in Beijing. We take a guided tour of Tiananmen Square and the Forbidden City on Day 14. In your free time you might also want to take in the Summer Palace, Temple of Heaven or the Lamaist Monastery, to name a few of the interesting city sights. A great way to travel between these landmarks is to hire a bicycle and take to the streets.

You are free to depart at any time on Day 15 as no activities are planned.

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