As a lover of adventure holidays, I have been looking at
holidays to China from UK a from UK and other starting points, with adventure activities in mind. Quite a few trips I came across take you to excellent sites, but this particular one makes you stop and experience China in a exceptional way. I love this holiday simply because it appeals to the real adventurer in me.
This is a 14-day activity based tour, organised by a prominent responsible adventure travel company, with many years practical experience of planning holidays to China. It is really ideally suited to anyone who's travelling solo and wants to join a small group, and also to anyone on a budget.
The purpose of this vacation is to supply you with the most varied and rewarding experience possible. Challenging physical adventure meets fully immersive exploration. It truly is an example of a trip built for outdoor enthusiasts.
These all sound absolutely wonderful to me:
Arriving at Beijing
Hike for two days along a lesser-known segment of the Great Wall far away from the tourist herd.
Discover the ancient alleys, or hutongs, of Beijing by bicycle
Take a trip down the Li River on a bamboo raft
A lesson at the Shaolin Temple - the mystical birthplace of Kungfu followed by a hike in the foothills
A five hour cycle ride along Xi'an's ancient city walls and through stunning rice fields and
limestone karsts of Yangzhou
Travel by sleeper train to the border city of Shenzhen and then transfer to Hong Kong and explore, or go and check out one of the islands
As well as all that, you will even takepart:
A guided tour of the Forbidden City
A visit to the ancient archaeological wonder of the Terracotta Warriors
Trek - venutre way off the beaten track
Take a look at Great Mosque, Big Wild Goose Pagoda, Small Wild Goose Pagoda and other
great Xi'an city sights.
Check out Moon Hill to get in a short hike
Opportunities to do further optional activities, including cooking classes, kayaking and calligraphy courses are also available.
Apart from the itinerary, the holiday has numerous other pluses.
I love the safety of being with a guide. Apart from helping you to prevent problems, they are really extremely knowledgeable about where they take you and are in tune with the character of the place.
I also love the very fact that there is going to be creature comforts as it is a standard service level holiday. This means you will stay in more comfortable tourist class hotels and guesthouses that reflect China's real character. It is really excellent if you're looking to combine an authentic experience with a little extra comfort.
I love the fact that you'll be travelling around by public transport, as this can make the whole experience a lot more real as well as more colorful. Sometimes, having said that you'll have the convenience of private vehicles.
I love the fact that although packed with exciting activities, you are going to have enough free time to explore or unwind and make the experience just what you want it to be.
I love the fact that there's flexibility in deciding where you eat, what you eat, as well as who you eat with. The meals usually are not part of the package as this gives you more control of your spending budget. It's good to eat collectively with your group to enable you to taste a larger variety of dishes and also enjoy each other's company. There is no obligation to do this though.
Finally, I love the fact that this holiday is organized by a fantastic company, who has been awarded for its responsible travel ethos. This is a low-impact tour that works with local communities to create sustainable tourism opportunities.
This trip is a perfect introduction to China. Among the many
holidays to China that I researched, this is one of the best introductory trips you'll find.You'll have an authentic experience and also see some of the iconic sights. You'll have the excitement of the physical activities and taste of China's ancient culture. You can do all this and on a budget, too.
