Asia in Depth - Bangkok to Shanghai
Vibrant, bustling Bangkok is the quintessential city that doesn't sleep – a great place to start our epic Asian journey. Across the border, laid-back Laos is sure to captivate. The Mekong River remains its lifeblood, the Plain of Jars is a monument to a mysterious past and Vientiane is perhaps one of the world's most relaxed capital cities. However, we find the country's heart and soul in the serene, former royal enclave of Luang Prabang.
Cambodia beckons with the carved-stone glories of the Angkor period still evident, and Phnom Penh is a 'phoenix rising from ashes' as it leaves its recent turbulent past behind. Beautiful Vietnam completes our Indochina stretch, with French colonial traces interspersed with a magnificent oriental heritage our setting.
Full-on Saigon (Ho Chi Minh City), magical Hoi An, colonial Hanoi and spectacular Halong Bay all combine for fine adventure before we hit China and the Great Wall.
In true Peregrine style, we walk along an original, remote and largely unvisited section of the wall. Beijing beguiles with the legendary Forbidden City, the Summer Palace and the Temple of Heaven. Seeking the lesser-known side of China, we explore the exotic Muslim enclave in Xian, as well as the famed terracotta warriors. In Shanghai, bustling markets and fantastic food stalls give us an insight into local lifestyles, while a walk along the colonial waterfront facades of the Bund provides awesome views of Pudong’s futuristic towers across the river. We finish this amazing adventure in the footsteps of Marco Polo, roaming the canals and streets of that Venice of the East, Zhouzhang.
Itinerary
| Day Number(s) | Title |
|---|---|
| 1 | (Sat) Arrive in Bangkok and transfer to hotel. |
| 2 | City tour of Bangkok. Fly to Chiang Rai. |
| 3 | Cross border into Laos. Boat to Pakbeng. |
| 4 | Boat to Luang Prabang, stopping en route at Pak Ou Caves and Ban Sang Hai. |
| 5 | Watch monks on alms round and explore historic temples and the former Royal Palace. Visit Kuang Si Falls. |
| 6 | Drive to Phonsavan and visit the Plain of Jars. |
| 7-8 | Fly to Vientiane. City tour including Patuxai, Wat Si Saket, Wat Prakeo and Pha That Luang. |
| 9 | Fly to Siem Reap. |
| 10 | Guided tour of Angkor Thom, Ta Prohm and Angkor Wat. |
| 11 | Visit Banteay Srei and Preah Khan. Lunch at Sala Bai Hotel School and free time to explore Siem Reap. |
| 12 | Fly to Phnom Penh. |
| 13 | Visit Royal Palace, Tuol Sleng and Killing Fields. |
| 14 | Fly to Saigon. |
| 15 | Explore city and visit Cu Chi Tunnels. |
| 16 | Fly to Danang. Visit Marble Mountain, China Beach and drive to Hoi An. |
| 17 | Cyclo tour around Hoi An and free time to explore. |
| 18 | Fly to Hanoi and enjoy city tour of Vietnam's capital. |
| 19 | Drive to Halong Bay. Boat cruise on bay, staying onboard overnight. |
| 20 | Complete cruise on Halong Bay and return to Hanoi. |
| 21 | Fly to Beijing and transfer to hotel. |
| 22 | Tour of Beijing, visiting Forbidden City, Temple of Heaven, Tiananmen Square. |
| 23 | Day trip to the Great Wall at Simatai. Optional Peking Opera. |
| 24 | Free day to explore Beijing. Overnight train to Xian. |
| 25-26 | Walking tour (Muslim Quarter/South Gate) and free time. Visit Terracotta Warriors. |
| 27-28 | Fly to Shanghai. Walk along the Bund. Optional Shanghai acrobat performance. |
| 29 | Explore the canals of the water town of Zhouzhuang. |
| 30 | Trip ends in Shanghai this morning (Sun). |
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