• Beijing: Great Wall, Forbidden City, Temple of Heaven (3 nights)
• Xian: Terracotta Warriors (2 nights)
• Chengdu: Panda Breeding Center, Giant Buddha Statue (optional) (2 nights)
• Guilin & Yangshuo: Li River Cruise,Longsheng rice paddies (Optional) (3 nights)
• Shanghai: city tour, Maglev train, Water Village tour (Optional) (2nights)
• Tokyo: city tour (3n)
• Nikko or Kamakura (optional)
• Mt Fuji & Hakone tour
• Bullet Train
• Kyoto: city tour (2n)
• Nara (optional)
• Hiroshima & Miyajima tour (2n)
• Osaka (1n)

View Itinerary

Price & Departure dates

Day 1
Depart from Heathrow or your preferred airport on scheduled flights to Beijing. Meals on board.

Day 2 Beijing Being met at airport and transfer to hotel
Upon arrival in Beijing, you will be greeted at the airport by our English speaking guide and transferred to your hotel.

If your flight arrives in the morning, we provide optional afternoon tour to Lama Temple. Or, the rest of the day is at your leisure to recover from jet lag and get ready for the adventures awaiting you.

Day 3 Beijing Walk along the Great Wall of China (Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner)
We start off your China holiday with a bang - the highlight of today is a visit to the Great Wall of China.

We visit the Mutianyu Section of the wall, which is quieter and less touristy. This section is also equipped with a cable car for those who prefer an easier way up (fee payable at local ticket office, approx £8).

After a full overnight sleep to rest our jetlegs, a full breakfast, and traffic peak hour, we then set off from our hotel.

* Walking on the Great Wall is often one of the most important highlights for our guests. We make sure this experience is as magical as it can be. So, we allowed for a full day and you can stay on the wall as long as you wanted, or short if prefered. A simple pack lunch is provided as there is no restaurant on or around the Wall, but we will celebrate this occasion in style, with a glass of wine with photos time!

Afterwards we return to our hotel, for a blissful rest. This might also be the opportunity for you to refresh and change for your welcome evening dinner. Your guide will come to take you at an agreed time, for a delightful selection of Beijing style dishes, including Peking Duck.

Optional Evening live show.

Day 4 Beijing Visiting must-see historical sites (Breakfast, Lunch)
Today, enjoy a full day city tour to soak up the atmosphere of Beijing, includes the Temple of Heaven, Tiananmen Square and the Forbidden City.

After a full day of touring, your tour disband at the last stop and we leave you to enjoy a relaxing evening on your own. Our guide will happy to make recommendations as where to eat etc so please feel free to ask them. For travellers who wish to come back to hotel with the guide and driver, they will be happy to do so.

Many restaurants in Beijing have English menus. A good dinner of your choice (with a beer/drink) should be around £10 per person, but it can vary depending on your choice.

Day 5 Beijing to Xian Free time or joining optional tour (Breakfast)
Our flight to Xian is around mid afternoon so the morning is free for you to explore Beijing with leisure. Or you may wish to take a guided morning tour with us, visiting the Summer Palace. You may wish to try Rickshaw ride (pay fee on the spot) through the 'Hutong' traditional residential area of Beijing. Then continues to see the 2008 Bird's Nest Olympics Stadium (exteriors only). Time permitting, we will have a stroll in the large Olympic square and see the Water Cube (exteriors only).

Later on, your guide will accompany you to airport for checking in, and bid you farewell as you take a flight to Xian, the former capital of China and starting point of the ancient Silk Road.

*For travellers who wish to experience overnight train from Beijing to Xian, we can arrange transfer to train station and train ticket (1 ticket per person for a soft-sleeper beth). Please note the train journey is about 12 hours overnight.

Day 6 Xian (Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner)
An exciting day awaits, as we head to the Terracotta Warriors Archaeological Museum, home to over 6,000 life-size Terracotta Warriors and their horses. The warriors are meant to be the after life protectors of the first emperor Qinshihuang, who united China (221BC-206BC).

Afterwards our guide will take you to the majestic Bell Tower (exterior only) for a great photo opportunity. On the opposite side of the square we visit the famous Drum Tower, which provides fantastic views across the city.

We enjoy a leisurely walk & optional cycle ride along the ancient city walls. The smooth & well preserved walls provide an ideal and safe walking & cycling route around the entire historic city centre. This is a charming way to enjoy the local lifestyle of Xian.

Evening entertainment includes: a re-enactment of the royal arts performance of a 7th century Tang Dynasty Show, with a special dinner of dumplings included.

Day 7 Xian to Chengdu Free time or joining optional tour (Breakfast)
Our flight to Chengdu is around mid to late afternoon so the morning is free for you to explore Xian with leisure. Or you may wish to take a guided morning tour with us, visiting Muslim Quarter, Xian's Wooden Mosque and the Big Wild Goose Pagoda.

Late afternoon, take a flight to Chengdu, the home of China's most famous residents, the Giant Panda.

Day 8 Chengdu, Giant Panda Breeding Research Base (Breakfast)
In the morning, as it is the best time to watch pandas when they having breakfast, we will take you to visit the Giant Panda Breeding Research Base. Once again, we will allow plenty of time to watch the Panda's enjoying their playful activities and Bamboo meals. The Breeding Centre provides photo opportunity (pay by yourselves on the spot) and please be patient as there is always a cue.

After this, which will approach lunch time, our guide will drop you off at the popular food street Jin li Street and Kuan zai Ally where there are plenty local cafes, restaurants, tea houses and handicraft stalls.

You may choose either lingering in this charming place for a leisurely enjoyable afternoon by yourselves, or come with us for an optional tour to Leshan Giant Buddha Statue. Upon arrival we will take a pleasant boat ride, during which there will be great opportunities to photo the huge statue carved into the hillside.

Optional evening entertainment* Enjoy a variety style show in one of the best theatres in Chengdu, which includes the famous face-changing performance. Ask for prices & details at time of booking.

Day 9 Chengdu to Guilin The Hill and the Cave (Breakfast, Lunch)
In the morning, we take a flight to Guilin, where we meet our local guide upon arrival and transfer to your hotel. Later on, our guided tour of Guilin includes visiting either the delightful Fubo Hill or Elephant Trunk Hill (depends on local situation). A visit Reed Flute Cave, a vast underground cavern of exotic rock formations.

Optional Evening entertainment includes*: watching Cormorant fishing etc.

Day 10 Guilin - Yangshuo Li River cruise (Breakfast, Lunch)
After breakfast we take an hour drive to Zhujiang Dock and board our boat for a leisurely cruise down the picturesque Li River, surrounded by majestic limestone hills and rice terraces. The cruise is a great opportunity to witness the lifestyle of rural communities that live along the river banks. You are likely to see many forms of river transport, farmers busy working in the rice fields, children playing along the banks and water buffalo cooling themselves in the river.

Lunch will be served on board and we will disembark upon arrival at Yangshuo. This is a charming ancient town that is famous for its beautiful scenery and tranquil countryside.

Optional Evening entertainment *:The spectacular Liusanjian Impression show is a outdoor performance set to the scenic backdrop of Yangshou's mountains and rivers. This masterpiece combining awesome natural scenery with an excellent theatrical production. Highly recommended .

Day 11 Yangshuo Longsheng rice terrence (optional) (Breakfast)
Time to explore this beautiful city on your own, there is a lot to explore! Or you are welcome to join our Optional tour to the village of Longsheng, which is famous for it's rice terraces surrounded by mountains on all four sides.

Day 12 Guilin to Shanghai Shanghai city tour (Breakfast, Lunch)
Today, we take a flight to Shanghai and meet our local guide upon arrival. After checking into our hotel and having a short rest, we start our city tour of Shanghai. Our tour includes visiting Yu Garden, famous for its rock gardens, pavilions, halls and ponds. We then explore the famous promenade and marvel at the futuristic landscape of magnificent towers and building situated along the Huangpu River and the Bund. Finally our tour takes us to the historic districts of Shanghai and we visit the former colonial French quarters, known locally as 'Heaven on Earth'.

Optional evening entertainment *Martial art show, dance show etc.

Day 13 Shanghai - Free at leisure or Water village tour (optional) (Breakfast)
We leave this final full day for you to explore this cosmopolitan city at your own leisure, to relax, and perhaps do some last minute shopping in Shanghai's incredible shopping malls.

Or you may wish to take an optional tour to the Water village of Zhu-jia-jiao, known as the 'Venice of China' and unspoiled for hundreds of years. Upon arrival we take a pleasant stroll through the village and you have the opportunity to take a relaxing boat ride whilst being serenaded. Drive back to hotel.

Day 14 Shanghai to Tokyo - Japan (Breakfast)
Today, you will be met at your hotel and transfer to the Maglev train station in Shanghai (during train service hours). Our local guide will assist you to board the futuristic and super fast Maglev train with a top speed of 267mph. The train will take you to the airport in time for your flight to Japan. Upon arriving at Narita Airport in Tokyo, you are met by our tour assistant and transferred to your Hotel.

Day 15 Tokyo
Morning city tour of Tokyo visiting a number of the main highlights of this magnificent City. The tour includes a visit to the Tokyo Tower where you can enjoy panoramic views across the city from the observation tower. We proceed to the peaceful picturesque setting of the Meiji Shrine, set in thick woodland and considered to be one of the finest examples of Shinto Architecture. Next we drive by the 'Akasaka Guest House' for a photo opportunity. The Guest House is a magnificent 'Western Style Palace' built in the Baroque Architectural style. We then drive alongside the imposing National Diet Building, which is home to the Japanese House of Parliament.

Our tour continues across Tokyo to the Imperial Palace East Gardens. Enjoy a pleasant walk in the East Garden of the Imperial Palace, which is filled with scenic and historic beauty. (Alternatively for tours on Monday & Friday & when the garden is closed, we will visit the Imperial Palace plaza and famous Double bridge instead). Our tour will continue with a drive and stroll along Ginza high street, the famous shopping area of Tokyo. The tour disbands in Ginza, giving you a great opportunity for shopping. We highly recommend you visit the Sony Centre building to see the futuristic electronics on display. Ginza is also convenient for the subway to explore further areas of Tokyo.

Afternoon is free at leisure, or take an optional afternoon Tokyo city tour. The optional tour includes visiting the beautiful Hama-Rikyu garden, enjoying our Sumida River Cruise and visiting the Asakusa Kannon Temple & Nakamise shopping street. We then drive through Kappabashi, Ueno and Akihabara districts of Tokyo before finishing the tour. Ask for details at time of booking.

Day 16 Tokyo - (Optional Nikko tour)
Free day to explore Tokyo at your leisure or purchase an optional full day tour to Nikko.

The optional professionally guided tour involves taking a Deluxe motor coach to Nikko National park, a designated World Cultural Heritage site. Nikko is a gem of natural beauty and home to some of the most spectacular examples of ancient architecture in Japan. The tour includes a visit to the magnificent Toshogu shrine, which houses the Mausoleum of the founder of the Tokugawa Shogunate. We also visit the stunning Tamozawa Imperial Villa, constructed in 1899 and which served as the Tokyo residence of the Tokugawa family and later a summer retreat for the Imperial Family. Afterwards we visit the spectacular Kirifuri waterfall. Japanese style Lunch included. The tour disbands on arrival in Ginza & Shinjuku at around 7-8pm, where you will have ample restaurants and bars to choose from for your evening meal and entertainment. If you prefer, you can return to your hotel and our tour guide will be happy to provide you with information on return transportation/directions. Overnight in Tokyo.

Day 17 Tokyo - MT Fuji - Hakone - Kyoto (Includes Lunch)
For your convenience and due to luggage restriction on the bullet train, we have arranged free luggage transfer to take your large luggage directly to Kyoto (1 bag per person).

You will be picked up from your hotel and driven by deluxe motorcoach to Mount Fuji. Along the way you will enjoy the scenery of rural Japan, panoramic views of the Pacific Ocean and mountainous peaks. From our vantage point on the 5th station on MT Fuji, we will enjoy spectacular views (weather permitting).

Lunch will be provided at a Hotel/Restaurant in Hakone. In the afternoon we proceed to the Hakone National Park where we will take a cable car ride with the opportunity to see the magnificent volcanic Hakone mountain range below. We will then travel to the Owakudani Boiling Valley where you will see ancient volcanic craters with sulphurous fumes and clouds of steam spiralling from crevasses across the mountain side giving a truly mystical image. We then proceed with our tour for a boat cruise on Lake Ashi, which is set in serene natural beauty, where weather permitting spectacular views of Mount Fuji can be seen silhouetted in the lake. Proceed to Odawara and take the Shinkansen (Bullet train) to Kyoto. Accommodation at the New Miyako hotel or similar (includes: Lunch).

Day 18 Kyoto - optional Nara tour
Morning sight seeing tour of Kyoto including a visit to Nijo Castle, former residence of the Tokugawa Shogun built in 1603. Nijo Castle is noted for its Ornate interior and 'nightingale floor' designed to sing when stepped upon to warn of Ninja assassins. Next we visit the Kinkakuji Temple (Golden Pavilion) centred around one of the best examples of a Japanese Zen gardens in the world. We then travel to Kyoto Imperial Palace, the impressive former residence of the Imperial family. Tour ends around 1:00pm.

Afternoon is free at leisure, or take an optional tour.

Optional tour 1: Nara is a ancient capital city of Japan (before Kyoto), known as the cradle of Japan's arts & crafts. The restful rural city was were Buddhism first flourished in Japan and is home to many ancient temples and historic relics. Our tour to Nara includes visiting Nara Deer Park and the Todaiji temple housing the Great Buddha in the worlds largest wooden building. We also visit Kasuga Taisha Shinto Shrine and Nara Nagomikan (includes buffet lunch)

Optional Kyoto tour 2: Visit the colourful Heian Shrine and its inner garden and ponds, Sanjusangendo Hall, a renowned long wooden hall housing all of 1,001 statues that date back to the 13th century and finally the magnificent Kiyomizu Temple with spectacular views across the entire city and which is a must see sight in Kyoto.

Day 19 Kyoto - Hiroshima
Check out of your hotel and leave your luggage with the bell boy. Then you have free time to explore Kyoto on your own and we recommend visiting the magnificent Kiyomizu Temple or take a stroll along the Philosophers Path.

In the late afternoon / early evening proceed to Kyoto station by yourself and board your train to Hiroshima. Upon arrival self transfer to your hotel, which is conveniently located near the station.

For your convenience and due to luggage restriction on the bullet train, we have arranged free luggage transfer to take your large luggage directly to Osaka (1 bag per person). Therefore prepare an overnight carry bag for your stay in Hiroshima.

Day 20 Hiroshima - Miyajima
Today enjoy a full day tour to Hiroshima & Myajima. Tour highlights include Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park / museum, Atomic Bomb Dome, a boat ride to the Island of Miyajima and the beautiful Itsukushima shrine and floating red Torii Gate.

Day 21 Hiroshima - Osaka
In the morning self transfer to Hiroshima station and leave by Bullet train to Shin Osaka station, where you change to a local train for the approx 4 minutes ride to JR Osaka station (ticket included). Upon arrival take the short walk to your hotel which is conveniently located near to JR Osaka station.

Rest of the day is free at leisure to explore Osaka, which is easily navigated using the underground subways. A must-see sight in Osaka is the magnificent Osaka Castle located in the city centre. Then explore Dotonbori which is one of the most popular streets in Osaka and runs adjacent to a canal of the same name. Nearby Domi domi shopping and eating areas are one of most exciting districts in Japan. Shinsaibashi is probably the best shopping area and certainly the most frenetic. If you want to explore more historic culture then visit the beautiful and peaceful Shitennoji Buddhist temple. Shitennoji is the oldest officially administered temple in Japan built by Prince Shotoku (574-622 A.D).

Day 22 Osaka - Departure
You will be transferred to the futuristic Kansai International Airport in Osaka for your departure flight homeward.

Ultimate China & Japan - 2019 Departures (£)

Guaranteed Departure EVERY Saturdays

* To avoid the extreme busy period during Chinese national holidays, no tour is operated between 1-7 May and 1-8 October. The price may be different around the bank holidays in the UK, and the festival period in China & Japan.

Price Includes (The prices shown above are 'per person')

• All international flights.
• All airport/hotel transfers within China and Japan.
• Selections of quality accommodation in well furnished rooms with private facilities. In China it is 4 star hotels, in Japan it is 3/4 star hotels. Upgrade options available.
• Sightseeing tours by professional qualified English-speaking tour guides.
• Meals as specified in the itinerary.
• Free luggage transfer from hotel to hotel between Tokyo & Kyoto.

Price Does Not Include

• Travel Insurance.
• Tips for guides and drivers in China - recommend £3 for guide and £2 for driver per day but not compulsory. No tipping is expected in Japan.
• Chinese visa - we can provide service, currently £180/person. No visa is required to Japan.
• Optional tour.

Your tour arrangements Small group guided tour in China and guided city coach day tours in Japan (excluding free days). The tour includes airport greeting and transfer service in each destination, entrance fees, transfers between destinations, internal flights in China, luggage transfer in Japan and transport included whilst on all guided tours. Tours in China & Japan are all with professional English speaking local guides. This tour is suitable for all ages of travellers.

Flights As agent of many airline consolidators, we can obtain flights in various class, with all reputable airlines. Please let us know you prefered airline at booking stage.

Your Accommodation for this tour Carefully selected very good 4 star hotels in China and 3 to 4 stars in Japan. Hotel upgrade option available at a good rate. Please enquire at the time of your booking. For details of our hotel collection, please visit our China hotels and Japan hotels web pages.

Meals : Breakfasts are included in China each day and lunches and dinners are as shown in the itinerary. Breakfast is not included at the hotels in Japan, but can be booked in advance or payable locally directly to the hotel. Alternatively, there are many places around the hotels where you can buy meals far more reasonably. Breakfast at hotels in China is included.

Nijo Castle (Kyoto) is closed (every Tuesday in Jan, July, Aug & Dec), therefore if your tour falls on these dates, we will visit Ryoanji Temple instead. Kyoto Imperial Palace is closed at weekends and on national holidays, we will visit Kitano Tenmangu instead.

The itinerary is designed according to the most updated information of flights schedules available, although occasionally the sequence in which cities are visited and duration of time spent in each city can change due to local conditions which are out of our control. The above itinerary highlights the main attractions that are to be visited each day. MT Fuji - Hakone - We reserve the right to change or amend our tour itinerary due to heavy traffic conditions or bad weather.We reserve the right to change, amend or alter the itinerary, although we will act in your best interests to handle any amendments. Please refer to the booking form for detailed terms & conditions.