This tour is great value because all of the following are included:

• Air fares from Sydney and Melbourne into Beijing and out of Shanghai with Air China, plus 4 flights within China.  

• A 4 day 5 star cruise on the mighty Yangtze River. 

• 3 days in Lhasa, Tibet's mysterious capital, plus a full day on the Lhasa Express Train. 

• 2 days in Xian with a visit to the famous Terra Cotta Warriors.

• 3 days in Beijing and 3 days in Shanghai. 

• Good mainly 4 star accommodation. 

• Nearly all meals. 

• All transfers and entrance fees.

• Tips for guides and drivers (except on Yangtze cruise).

• China visa fee for Australia passport holders. 

• Chinese tour guides and if there are 14 or more participants there will be an Australian tour leader.  

If you don't have a travel partner, but wish to travel at twin share rates, we will our best to match you up with someone in the same position, but this is not guaranteed. For a single room there is an additional cost of $890.

To fit in with Air China flights the Melbourne passengers will need to return a day earlier with a price reduction of $55 per person twin share or $85 single room.

For Brisbane and Gold Coast passengers there will be return connecting flights to Sydney for $145 per person plus airport taxes.

Tour Itinerary

Terms and Conditions

Booking Form

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	Itinerary for  Best of China with Yangtze and Tibet
	Included meals are indicated as B = Breakfast, L =Lunch, D = Dinner
29.05.11	Depart Sydney at 9.55am on CA176, arriving in Beijing at 10.35pm. Depart  Melbourne at 10.55am on CA178, arriving in Beijing at 10.35pm On arrival you will be transferred to your central Beijing hotel. (Joy city hotel or equivalent)
30.05.11 (B,L,D)	Beijing As an introduction to this city, you will visit Tiananmen Square, look across the vast space to the Great Hall of the People and stand before the massive Tiananmen (Heavenly Peace) Gate bearing a huge portrait of Mao Zedong, who stood here to proclaim the People's Republic on 1 October 1949. Then visit Forbidden City, as the former imperial palace is called, where the magnificent marble courtyards, huge halls, gilded temples and ornate pavilions frequented by the emperors and their families are now open to your gaze. This is followed by a rickshaw tour of Beijing's old Hutong District, a fascinating maze of narrow alleys, with old houses and hidden courtyards, where people who live and work here welcome you into their homes. Enjoy the traditional Peking Duck Dinner tonight.
31.05.11 (B,L,D)	Beijing Going north this morning you will pace the ramparts of China's famed Great Wall, originally constructed over 2000 years ago to keep invaders from the north at bay. Returning to the city, visit the Summer Palace, the famed pleasure gardens of the Qing emperors. Beautiful ornamental plantings, languid willows and painted pavillions surround a scenic lake, across which are enchanting views to the pagoda-capped jade Spring Hill and the mountains beyond.
01.06.11 (B,L,D)	Beijing - Yichang This morning, you will visit the Temple of Heaven, where the emperors, for the good of the empire, carried out the most important sacrifices and ceremonies of the year. Set in a huge park planted with conifers, the beautiful blue tiled buildings here represent the epitome of Ming architecture. Transfer to the airport for your flight to Yichang, where you will be transferred to your luxury cruise. (Victoria Jenna Hotel or equivalent)
02.06.11 (B,L,D)	Yangtze Cruise Cruise the famous Yangtze River, as it winds its way through the spectacular scenery of Three Gorges. Morning visit to the Three Gorges Dam site at Sanduoping, the largest  project of this kind in the world. Later sail through the Three Gorges Dam ship locks. Sail through Xiling Gorge, the longest, and the deepest of the Three Gorges.
03.06.11 (B,L,D)	Yangtze Cruise Take an excursion through the Daning River Small Gorges, which are narrower than the Three Gorges, but very impressive. Enter Wu Gorge, known for its quiet beauty, forest-covered mountains, and cliffs so sheer that the sun barely penetrates the precipices. Then sail through Qutang Gorge, the shortest, and narrowest, and most dramatic gorge.
04.06.11 (B,L,D)	Yangtze Cruise Shore excursion to Fengdu, visiting either the 'Ghost City', known for its statues of ghosts and devils on Mingshan Hill, or the new relocation village, built for families who have moved as a result of the Yangtze's rising waters brought about by the Three Gorges Dam.
05.06.11 (B,L,D)	Chongqing-Lhasa After breakfast, disembark at picturesque Chongqing, the 'Mountain City' Transfer to the airport for your flight to Lhasa. Upon arrival transfer to your hotel. (Xinding Hotel or equivalent)
06.06.11 (B,L)	Lhasa Enjoy a day of sightseeing in Lhasa, including the holy monastery of Drepung. Drepung was originally the largest and richest monastery in Tibet and housed the Nechung, the State Oracle. Then go on to the 1300-year-old Jokhang Temple, round which pilgrims follow the Barkhor, the holy path of trasformation. Lining this circuit are fascinating shops, stalls and teahouses. Also visit a local Tibet family.
07.06.11 (B,L,D)	Lhasa Today we visit the imposing Potala Palace, once the centre of Tibetan government and the winter residence of the Dalai Lama. Towering over the city, this enormous building, 13 storeys high and with thousands of rooms, chapels, shrines and statues, it is one of architectural wonders of the world. Later we explore Norbu Linka, the former summer residence of the Dalai Lama, a pleasant park containing small palaces and chapels. Then take a visit to the famous Sera Monastery, dating back to the 15th century.
08.06.11 (B)	Lhasa - Xining Transfer to the train station for your overnight train to Xining. You will board a very special train, the 'Lhasa Express' to travel across the Tibetan Plateau to Xining
09.06.11 (B,L)	Xining - Xian You will take an Orientation tour in Xining before transferring to the airport for you flight to Xian. Transfer to your hotelon arrival. (New World Hotel or equivalent)
10.06.11 (B,L,D)	Xian This morning you will walk along the massive Xian City Wall, one of the best preserved in China. You will also visit the famed Bell Tower that marks the geographical centreof the ancient capital. This is followed by a visit to the excavated Terracotta Warriors and Horses, buried over 2000 years ago to guard the tomb of the first emperor. This evening you will enjoy a traditional Dumpling Banquet and view the lavish spectacle of the Tang Dynasty Show.
11.06.11 (B,L,D)	Xian - Shanghai This morning, you will visit the wonderful Big Wild Goose Pagoda, the symbol of Xian and a major Buddhist site which dates from 684AD in the reign of Tang Emperor Gaozong. Transfer to the airport for your flight to Shanghai. Transfer to the hotel upon arrival. Walk along the famous Bund past the facades of the colonial buildings lining the Huangpu River and look across to the soaring TV tower and fantastic skyscrapers of the Pudong district on the opposite side. Later you will cruise across Huagpu River and ascend the Grand Hyatt Tower, one of the world's tallest buildings, for an astonishing view over the whole city. (Rendevous Merry Hotel or equivalent)
12.06.11 (B,L)	Shanghai This morning there is a visit to the beautifully maintained Yu Garden, an outstanding example of a classical garden dating from the 16th century, now surrounded by a bustling market area. Then visit a lovely part of Shanghai, the French Concession. It is amazing because regardless of the fact that it's in the heart of a city that holds a population of more than 17 million, it still gives that feeling of just being in a local neighbourhood. This evening attend a performance by one of Shanghai's famous Acrobatic Troupes.
13.06.11 (B)	Melbourne passengers depart Shanghai at 7.15pm on CA178, arriving in Melbourne at 9.00am (14.06.11)
14.06.11 (B)	Another free day in Shanghai transfer to Shanghai airport departing at 7.15pm on CA177, arriving in Sydney at 9.00am (15.06.11)

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Deposits and Payments - A non-refundable deposit of $400.00 per person is payable within 7 days of booking. This deposit is not refundable should you later cancel. The balance is payable in full 8 weeks prior to departure.

Refunds and Cancellations - Cancellations after final payment will result in a refund limited to whatever we can recoup from the airline.

Insurance - Adequate travel insurance is essential. We can arrange this for you if desired.

Passports - All travellers require a current passport with at least 6 months left on it at the end of the tour. Non-Australian passport holders require a re-entry visa for Australia.  Visas are required for all Australian passport holders to China. Visa costs for Australian passport holders is included in the tour cost. 

Basic Tour Price and Taxes - Air taxes and fuel levies are included in the basic tour price, and as air taxes and fuel levies change regularly  the exact amount will be advised at time of invoicing. At present air taxes and fuel levies come to $335 for the standard tour. Total tour cost may therefore change.

Not  Included in the Cost -  Travel insurance and all items of a personal nature such as telephone calls, drinks, excess baggage, tips, meals (except those specified in the itinerary), etc. are not included in the cost.
Similarly, credit card payments can only be accepted if 2% is added to the price to help defray the heavy merchant fees charged to us by the credit card companies.

Breakaway Fee
All fully inclusive prices are based on group travel and any deviation from the set itinerary will incur a breakaway fee.

Booking through other Agents - As we keep the cost of our tours as low as possible, there is insufficient margin for us to be able to pay commission to other travel agents, so some bookings can only be accepted if the client pays the other agent's commission. 
Macleay Valley Travel is a fully licensed travel agent and as such any monies paid to us are fully insured by the Travel Compensation Fund. We are happy for any prospective traveller with us to check us out with your local Consumer Affairs (fair trading) department.

Health and Fitness -Macleay Valley Travel recommends that the passenger is reasonably healthy and/or fit to participate in this tour.  Persons with a disability requiring special assistance must be accompanied by a companion. Macleay Valley Travel and their representatives cannot provide this service.  Macleay Valley Travel reserves the right to accept/decline or terminate a passenger's participation in the tour under certain circumstances.

Limitation of Liability - As Macleay Valley Travel acts only as agent for the Airlines, Hotels, Coach Companies etc., providing accommodation, transportation and other services, Macleay Valley Travel shall not be liable or responsible for death or injury to any person or loss or damage to any property including baggage arising out of or connection with any transportation, accommodation or other services, or resulting directly or indirectly from acts of God, fire, breakdown in machinery or equipment, acts of Government or other authorities, de jure or defacto wars, whether declared or not, hostilities, civil disturbances, strikes, riots, thefts, epidemics, quarantines, medical or customs regulations, delays or cancellations caused by changes in schedules or itinerary, or over bookings or defaults or for any causes beyond Macleay Valley Travel's control or any loss or damage resulting from improper or insufficient passports, visas or other documents and neither Macleay Valley Travel, and its servants or employees shall be or become liable or responsible for any additional expenses or liability sustained or incurred by the tour member as a result of the foregoing causes.
Macleay Valley Travel reserves the right to modify the itinerary or the accommodation if circumstances make this necessary, provided that the amended itinerary is of equal value or greater value than that of the original program.
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