· Return airfares from Sydney, Brisbane and Melbourne with Thai International, flying into Kunming (China) and back to Chiang Mai, and then back to Sydney, Brisbane and Melbourne. While in China there are two domestic flights included with Yunnan Airlines – Kunming to Dali and Zhong Dian to Kunming.

· A wonderful 10-day tour of Yunnan Province in Southern China, including a visit to the Eastern Tibetan Plateau and such wonderful sights as: the Stone Forest, the Grand Canyon Tiger Leaping Gorge, the First Bend of the Yangtze River, the Dragon Gate, a boat trip on Erhai Lake, and many of the fascinating hill-tribe people who inhabit this part of China.

· Good quality accommodation, three-and-a-half to four star, with private facilities throughout.

· A three-night stopover in Chiang Mai and the Golden Triangle area on the way back.

· Breakfast plus either lunch or dinner every day.

· All transport and transfers.

· Services of local tour guides in China and Thailand. If there are 12 or more passengers, there will also be an Australian tour leader.

We will make every effort to match up single travellers who wish to travel at twin share rates. For anyone requiring a single room, there will be an extra charge of $385.

Itinerary for Yunnan (South China), Eastern Tibet and Golden Triangle Tour - March/April 2005
Note: Breakfast plus either lunch or dinners are included every day.


21.03.05
Brisbane passengers depart at 10.50pm on TG984, arriving in Bangkok at 5.00am the next morning (22.3.05).
Sydney passengers depart at 10.20pm on TG994, arriving in Bangkok at 6.25am the next morning (22.3.05).
22.03.05
Melbourne passengers depart at 1.15am on TG994, arriving in Bangkok at 6.25am.

Depart Bangkok at 10.55am on TG612, arriving in Kunming at 2.05pm.

Kunming is the capital city of Yunnan Province. It is famous for its mild climate, beautiful natural scenery and has the nickname “City of Eternal Spring”. You will be transferred to the four star King World Hotel or similar.


23.03.05
A full day tour of Stone Forest, one of the most remarkable nature phenomena in China. 86km away from Kunming, it consists of 80 hectares of innumerable bizarre-shaped ancient limestone cliffs and peaks created by wind and water erosion some 270 million years ago. It is the home of the Sani Tribe, one of the branches of the Yi Minority People. Visit a local Sani Tribe’s village on the way back.


24.03.05
Take the morning flight to Dali, the famous ancient city in China. Take the trip on Erhai Lake. Three course tea with a singing and dancing show. Visit the age-old Three Pagodas, symbols of outstanding architectural technology, the wisdom of the ancient labouring people and the brilliant culture of Dali.


25.03.05
Visit the traditional Bai People’s town of Xizhou and see a traditional Bai house. Visit the Nazhao cultural island, famous for the culture created by the Nanzhao Kingdom1,200 years ago. Visit the beautiful scenery and natural Bai village around the Erhai Lake.


26.03.05
Drive to Lijiang after breakfast. Arrive in Lijiang at noon. Visit the ancient city, which is regarded as the “Oriental Venice”, unsophisticated and picturesque. Visit Black Dragon Pool renowned for over 500 kinds of flowers and various famous pavilions. Check in to the Grand Hotel or similar for two nights.


27.03.05
Visit the Yunshan Meadow on the Jade Dragon Snow Mountain with its chair-lift. It is a much-famed mountain with thirteen peaks resembling jade pillars. Visit Jade Peak Lama Temple, White Water River and the Ming Dynasty’s Baisha mural paintings. Evening show of Dongba ancient music concert, the only music from the Tang Dynasty, some 1,200 years ago, still alive.


28.03.05
Drive to visit the Tiger Leaping Gorge, which is one of the deepest canyons in the world. After lunch at a local restaurant, drive to Shigu, to visit the First Bend of the Yangtze River. Drive to Zhongdian, the plateau under the Tibetan sky, and the Capital Temple. Resembling the Potaia in Lhassa, it was built by the 5th Dalai Lama in the 17th century and currently has a population of about 800 monks. Check in to the Diqing Hotel or similar for a two night stay.


29.03.05
Visit Bita Lake by coach with optional horse-riding to enjoy the virgin forest alive with wild plants. Visit a local Tibetan family to see the traditional Tibetan lifestyle.


30.03.05
Take the morning flight to Kunming. Visit the Golden Temple, the Grand View Tower, the International Park of EXPO and the Bird Flower Market. Check in to the King World Hotel 4 star or similar for one night.


31.03.05
Visit the Western hill to see the Dragon Gate and Huating Temple. First visit the Dragon Gate, 2,280m above sea level, to view the largest fresh water lake, the Pearl of the Plateau, Dianchi Lake. Then visit the quiet and beautiful Buddhist Huating Temple. Transfer to the airport after lunch.

Depart Kunming at 6.15pm on TG617, arriving in wonderful Chiang Mai, the “Rose of the North”, at 6.55pm.

Transfer to the lovely Empress Hotel, situated within easy walking distance of Chiang Mai’s famous night market.


1.04.05
Today we visit Chiang Mai’s handicraft factories to see the manufacture of lacquerware, the weaving of Thai silk, paper umbrellas, jewellery manufacturer, etc. At lunchtime we will enjoy a typical Thai meal at a quality restaurant.


2.04.05
Today we head off to the Golden Triangle area. We drive north to Fang and Tatorn near the Burmese border. Here we have lunch and change to a long-tail boat for an exciting five hour trip down the Kok River to Chiang Rai. On the way we stop at several hill-tribe villages and also see some hot springs. Overnight at the lovely Rimcock Resort Hotel at Chiang Rai.


3.04.05
Today we head back to Chiang Mai by the scenic route. On arrival we inspect an orchid farm, where we have lunch.

Sydney passengers depart Chiang Mai at 3.15pm on TG113, arriving in Bangkok at 4.25pm. They then depart Bangkok at 5.35pm on TG991, arriving in Sydney at 6.35am the next morning (4.4.05).

Brisbane and Melbourne passengers depart Chiang Mai at 7.50pm on TG617, arriving in Bangkok at 9.00pm.

Brisbane passengers will depart Bangkok at 11.30pm on TG983, arriving in Brisbane at 11.35am the next morning (4.4.05).


4.04.05
Melbourne passengers depart Bangkok at 12.15am on TG981, arriving in Melbourne at 1.25pm.