49 days (Beijing to Bangkok & v.v) (China, Laos, Cambodia, Thailand). Please Note: Regrettably, due to continuing problems with border crossings into China, and the associated visas, we have taken the decision that the chance of the itinerary for this trip being severely affected is currently too great, and that the only appropriate response to this is to suspend this trip for the time being. We hope that we will be in a position to run this trip again soon, so please check our website, or call us for any updates. However, the firm decision we have reached is that we will definitely not be running this trip for the rest of this year. Thank you for your interest in this trip, we hope that you might find other trips on our website that will be of interest.
Beijing has a huge amount of sights so we recommend arriving a few days early to take some of them in. These include: Tiananmen Square where Chairman Mao lies in state in his mausoleum; the Forbidden City, home to Imperial China and emperors for over 500 years; the Temple of Heaven, the largest sacrificial complex in the world and the Summer Palace, the extravagant summer home of the 19th century imperial court.
Want the price in another currency? Click here: www.xe.com
Days 1 - 5 Beijing is a huge, sprawling city, full of people, bicycles, traffic, history, tradition and modernisation and jam packed with great restaurants, shops and awesome sights. We start with a trip out to the Great Wall, an incredible construction and icon of China, built over a timespan of 2000 years and stretching over 6000km. The wall was first constructed in the 3rd century BC under Emporer Qin Shihuang and later added to and renovated, particularly in the 15th century. After the Ming Dynasty it was neglected but in the last century it became one of the most famous sights in the world and in 2007 became one of the new 7 Wonders of the World. Walking along the wall involves some quite steep climbs but you are rewarded with views of the wall lining the ridges of the green hills far into the distance.
We take the overnight sleeper train to Xi'an where our overland truck is waiting for us. This is a great opportunity to try out your Mandarin and no doubt there will be one or two English speakers, keen for conversation.
Xi'an is renowned the world over for the Terracotta Warriors, a 2000 year old army that stood guard over the tomb of Qin Shihuang until their discovery by villagers in 1974. Over 7000 figures of soldiers and horses have been excavated and restored and you can view these in the huge arena where they are displayed. It is thought that the warriors may have been modelled on their real life counterparts as the face of each one is slightly different.
Other interesting sights in Xi'an include the 7th century Big and Little Goose Pagodas, the Drum and Bell Towers and the historical City Walls. As well as a Tao Temple, Xi'an has a mosque and the narrow streets of the Muslim Quarter are great to explore.
Days 6 - 12
Jumping on board the truck, we head south to Sichuan Province, renowned for its spicy food and home to the critically endangered Giant Panda that lives in its forested mountains. Chengdu, the provincial capital, is in the heart of Sichuan and there is a wealth of things to see and do. At Wenshu Temple you will see worshippers through the haze of incense smoke and can join them for green tea in the monastery's tea house. Other sights include the Tomb of Wang Jian, Green Ram Temple, Du Fu's Cottage and there are several more temples, parks and museums. High on most travellers' lists is the nearby Giant Panda Research Station where you can observe these rare animals up close. As the station has had some breeding success, you may be lucky to see some young Pandas and their smaller cousins, Red Pandas can also be seen.
From Chengdu we travel to Leshan. Here we find the Grand Buddha, a 70mtr statue carved from the red cliff that rises above the Dadu and Min Rivers. Your best view is from a boat but you can also climb to a platform to gaze directly at the Buddha's huge head and facial features. Time permitting we continue to nearby Emeishan, a Buddhist mountain covered in temples and monasteries, linked by hiking trails with fantastic mountain views.
Days 13 - 18
We enter Yunnan, China's most mountainous province and head for Lijiang, a fascinating and atmospheric town. A massive earthquake in 1996 destroyed much of it but most of the old town survived and has since been restored and renovated. The whole area is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and it's easy to see why as you explore the winding, cobbled streets lined with canals and old, wooden buildings. The matriarchal Naxi people inhabit Lijiang and you're likely to see traditionally dressed women in the Old Market Square. If we have enough time we will journey to Tiger Leaping Gorge where the Yangtse River squeezes through an incredibly deep and narrow gorge creating churning rapids amongst beautiful mountain scenery.
Dali is a quaint old town at the foot of the 4000m high Cang Shan - Jade Green Mountain. Wandering its cobbled streets, you can picture this city as it once was, the centre of the powerful Nanzhao Kingdom before it was defeated by Kublai Khan. Nearby is Erhai Hu (Ear-shaped Lake) which you can explore by mountain bike or on the regular ferries that travel back and forth to small villages dotted around the lake. You may find one of the local Bai markets or perhaps see fishermen using trained cormorants to catch fish. For a fantastic view of the lake and Dali, it's possible to walk or take a chair lift up to the temple of Zhonghe Si. Also near Dali are the Three Pagodas, built over 1100 years ago and the tallest being 70mtrs high.
Days 19 - 25
Further south we find the Stone Forest, 270 million year old limestone karst rocks that have eroded to form huge pillars of stone in various shapes. There are walking paths around the area that take you to uniquely named rocks such as Baby Buffalo and Moon-Gazing Rhino. Time permitting we will stop in Kunming, a major city and Yunnan's capital. Most of the city has been modernised but there are some interesting temples and museums to visit.
The Xixuangbanna region of Yunnan is in the south province and feels more like South East Asia than China. The Dai people live here in stilted wooden houses and their language is closer to Thai than Mandarin. The name Xixuangbanna comes from the original Thai name of Sip Sawng Panna meaning 12 Rice Growing Districts. Here you can visit Dai villages and markets and discover ruined temples in the surrounding rainforests.
Finally we leave China and drive across the border into Laos where life is slow paced, the towns and cities are small with no big developments and the population are welcoming and friendly. Our first stop is the town of Luang Namtha in the mountainous north of the country. From here, there are opportunities to trek with a guide for 2 or 3 days to visit remote minority villages. The different hill tribes that live in these areas include Hmong, Thai Lu and Thai Dam amongst others and all have distinctive dress, customs and language. It is important to be aware of the impact we have when visiting these areas and we recommend that you listen to the advice of your guide regarding behaviour, dress, gifts etc.
Days 26 - 31
Continuing south we arrive in the once royal city of Luang Prabang. A small, quiet town on the Mekong River, Luang Prabang is in a beautiful setting amongst lush green mountains and due to its wonderful architecture and historical past, is a UNESCO World Heritage site. You can walk up Mt. Phousi for a fantastic view over the city, river and the surrounding countryside. Xieng Thong Wat is a must see. It is one of the most important wats in Luang Prabang as well as the most beautiful with it's mosaics, carvings and frescoes, a 16th century bronze of a reclining Buddha and an impressive funeral chariot. You can also have a look around the Royal Palace, built by the French for the King early last century or take a trip up the Mekong to visit the Pak Ou caves, home to 4000 Buddha images.
Days 32 - 36
Time and weather permitting, we can take a boat along the Mekong River for part of the journey south to Vientiane, the country's capital. Unlike any other Asian capital, the city is quiet and laid back, its small population unhurried and traffic jams a rare sight. Most of the city is fairly recently built since the original site was mostly destroyed by the Siamese 200 years ago. You will now find French colonial, traditional Lao and modern buildings lining the wide streets, plus many wats and museums, as well as cafes where you can enjoy a beer overlooking the river. Vientiane's most significant sight is That Luang Stupa, which is of greatest importance to Lao Buddhists as it was believed that the Buddha's breastbone was to be found in the original stupa built in 300AD. Wat Sisaket is the city's oldest wat and houses thousands of Buddha statues and in Wat Phra Kaeo, you'll find many Laos, Khmer and Burmese works of art.
Crossing the Mekong and the border, we enter Thailand. These two neighbours are very different, Laos having missed out on the tourist and commercial booms that Thailand has experienced. We visit the Ruins of Phimai which originate from the 12th century during the Khmer period and are Thailand's largest sandstone shrine.
Days 37 - 43
Moving on, we cross another border, this time into Cambodia. This country is unfortunately mostly known for the terrible, violent reign of Pol Pot, however Cambodia has a rich historical past and today is a friendly and beautiful country to travel in. Our first stop is Siem Reap, a small town near to one of the largest and most outstanding temple complexes in the world. Angkor Wat was once the centre of the Khmer Empire from the 10th to the 15th century and it stretched throughout Cambodia into Laos, Vietnam, Thailand and the Malay Peninsular. Angkor Wat refers to the central temple but the whole site was actually a royal city and covers over 160 km2. The city was abandoned after the decline of the empire and the surrounding jungle gradually took over, enveloping the buildings in vegetation. The main sites of Angkor Wat, Angkor Thom and Preah Khan have been cleared and restored but there are many smaller sites that still look as though they have yet to be discovered, enwrapped in the jungle, some with trees literally growing through the walls.
After a 2 or 3 days exploring Angkor we continue to Phnom Penh, Cambodia's capital. This is a really nice relaxed city with some impressive sites to see and great bars and cafes to try out. The Royal Palace, Silver Pagoda and the National Museum are all worth a look. We also take the time to visit the sobering S21 prison (once a school, later turned into a terrible prison by the Khmer Rouge) and Choeung Ek, more commonly known as the Killing Fields.
Days 44 - 49
From here we head for the beach at Sihanoukeville. This is a great place to chill out towards the end of our trip. You can sunbathe during the day and then stay on the beach for an evening meal of freshly caught and cooked seafood. Driving on through lush, green forests and past paddy fields, we spend a night at Battambang, a small city on the banks of the River Sangkei. This is our last stop in Cambodia and soon we re-enter Thailand and head for the backpackers mecca of Bangkok. With its fantastic sights, markets and nightlife, it's a great place to celebrate the end of our journey.
As we arrive in Bangkok on the last day of the trip, we recommend staying on a couple of days to see some of the sights of this fast paced city including the Royal Palace, Wat Phra Kaeo and Wat Pho.
If youre interested in Asia overland travel, enquire about Thai Chi Explorer trip or any of our other overland trips today!
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)