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The General Tours World Traveler Advantage
HOTEL INFORMATION:  The Peninsula BeijingHotel Class: Luxury The Peninsula Beijing has an imposing, traditional Chinese architectural-style exterior, integrated with luxurious, modern hotel amenities and facilities. Ideally located in the center of Beijing, The Peninsula Beijing is just a short stroll from Beijing's Tiananmen Square, the Forbidden City, and is within easy access of Beijing Railway Station. The hotel offers 525 guest rooms complete with air conditioning, plasma television, internet access and lighting control. Featuring two of the finest and most innovative restaurants in Beijing, Jing, a "modern meets Asian" restaurant, and the brand new Huang Ting, offering exquisite Cantonese cuisine, the hotel has set new standards of service in China. The Peninsula Beijing offers a range of fitness facilities that includes a fully equipped Fitness Center, a heated swimming pool, steam rooms, saunas, as well as massage and beauty treatments. The hotel also features the most prestigious shopping arcade in Beijing with 50 exclusive designer boutiques.  Sofitel Metropole HanoiHotel Class: Deluxe Built in the French colonial style, the Sofitel Metropole Hanoi Hotel has been at the center of the city since 1901. All 265 rooms are equipped with air-conditioning, mini-bar, satellite TV, internet, and telephone. Along with access to local cuisine and events, the hotel offers guests use of the fitness center, restaurants, massage, and heated pool.  Shangri-La Kowloon HotelHotel Class: Deluxe Award-winning luxury hotel – the landmark on Tsim Shat Sui East’s waterfront with great views. All its 700 guest accommodations offer luxurious comfort and feature a floor-to-ceiling bay window commanding breathtaking harbour views or exciting city vistas and include internet access, in-room safe and satellite television. The property also includes a state-of-the-art fitness facility and a range of restaurants and bars.  Victoria Sapa ResortHotel Class: Luxury Located in the remote north-west highlands of North Vietnam and surrounded by spectacular mountain scenery, the Victoria Sapa Resort & Spa Hotel has an ideal location to discover local hill tribes of North Vietnam. Built as a traditional mountain chalet with accented wooden décor and a welcoming stone hearth fireplace, the Victoria Sapa Resort & Spa overhangs the village, blending perfectly with the natural surroundings. The 77 guest rooms are decorated with wood flooring and a warm touch of local decor and include private terrace, satellite television, in-room safe, mini-bar, wireless internet access, and hair dryer. Guests can take advantage of the tennis court, pool, sauna and spa and fitness center.
Day 1 - Beijing
Check-in to your luxury hotel, the elegant Peninsula Beijing, perfectly located in the heart of the city just steps away from the Forbidden City. Day 2 - Explore Beijing Today’s escorted sightseeing showcases the best of Beijing and the World Heritage monuments of its rich Imperial history. Stand in Tiananmen Square, one of the grandest public plazas in the world, and tour the vast Forbidden City#WHS#, once the exclusive enclave of the Sons of Heaven who ruled the land with supreme authority. Visit the Temple of Heaven#WHS#, a marvel of Ming Dynasty architecture, and stroll amidst the pavilions, lakes and landscaped grounds of the lovely Summer Palace#WHS#, seasonal retreat of Chinese royalty. From April to November, enjoy a boat ride here on Lake Kunming. Meals B,L Day 3 - Beijing / Great Wall The Great Wall#WHS# stretches for thousands of miles across the mountains of northern China. A thrilling day unfolds as you travel into this rugged landscape to walk atop this ancient fortification. Back in the city, you’ll see the remarkable 2008 Olympic venues, including the Water Cube and Bird’s Nest Stadium. Then journey by rickshaw into Beijing’s hutongs, traditional settlements where you’ll meet with a resident family to learn about life in this rapidly evolving city. Meals B,L Day 4 - Beijing Free Day Enjoy this day at leisure to do as you wish. Your hotel’s privileged location makes it so easy to step out and explore at your own pace. Meals B Day 5 - Beijing / Hong Kong Fly to Hong Kong where you’ll be met and escorted to the Kowloon Shangri-La Hotel, a luxury landmark with a prime location on the harbor. Meals B Day 6 - Hong Kong Island Tour This morning’s escorted sightseeing tour begins atop Victoria Peak, with breathtaking views of the city and harbor below. Then continue on to scenic Repulse Bay, popular with Hong Kong residents, and historic Aberdeen, home to Hong Kong’s famous floating restaurants. Meals B Day 7 - Hong Kong at Leisure Enjoy a full day free to explore at your own pace. Your hotel’s fabulous location puts the best of Hong Kong at your doorstep – shopping, dining, transportation, and entertainment. Meals B Day 8 - Hong Kong / Hanoi, Vietn Fly to Hanoi for a 2-night stay at the landmark Sofitel Metropole Hotel, the city’s premier luxury address for more than a century. The balance of your day is at leisure here in this charming city filled with lakes, parks, and tree-lined boulevards. Meals B Day 9 - Discover Hanoi – Cyclo Adventure – Water Puppet Show Hanoi offers a unique contrast of French Colonial architecture and timeless Asian traditions. Today’s in-depth sightseeing includes the imposing Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum and picturesque One Pillar Pagoda, made of wood and resting atop a single stone pillar rising out of a lotus pond. Experience the beguiling charm of the city on our Cyclo Adventure, exploring narrow alleys, elegant avenues, and ochre-hued Colonial buildings from the comfort of Vietnam’s traditional mode of transport. This evening, we’ll take you to the Water Puppet Show, an ancient art form performed in a waist-deep pool. Then enjoy fine Vietnamese cuisine at Wild Lotus Restaurant, set in a classic Art Deco building. Meals B,L,D Day 10 - Hanoi / Lao Cai – Overnight Rail to Sapa Journey 45-minutes south of the city to experience Vietnamese life in the colorful countryside. Rich in Buddhist traditions, this pastoral region is dotted with some of Vietnam’s most revered temples and pagodas. Visit Tay Phuong Pagoda, built in the 18th century atop a small hill and famous for its collection of finely carved wooden statues. Then a gentle bicycle ride through the rice fields and quiet villages brings you deep into the tranquil rhythms of rural life here in this peaceful corner of the country. Return to Hanoi for dinner at Indochine Restaurant and then transfer to the Hanoi Rail Station to board the Victoria Express for your romantic overnight journey northward into the mountains. Let the hypnotic rhythm of the rails lull you to sleep as you settle-in to your 4-berth superior cabin. Meals B,L,D Day 11 - Arrive and Explore in Sapa You arrive early this morning at the historic Lao Cai Railway Station. A scenic one-hour drive brings you to Sapa, near the China border. Set in the cool mountains of the north, this was once the favored hill-station retreat of the French. Upon arrival, check-in to the deluxe Victoria Sapa Resort for an enchanting 2-night stay. This afternoon, you can relax and enjoy your resort’s amenities or explore the town and colorful market at your own pace. You can also join your guide for an invigorating walk down into the valley to the Hmong tribal village of Cat Cat. Tonight, enjoy dinner at your hotel in the Ta Van Restaurant. Meals B,L,D To enjoy the lovely natural beauty and the colorful ethnic villages of the Sapa Valley, walking on paths and trails is part of the experience Day 12 - Discover Sapa’s Tribal Villages Journey with your guide through mountain and valley to explore the distinctive tribal settlements of the Dao, Giay and Hmong peoples, each distinguished by their dress and customs. The Dao, for example, originated in China and are renowned for the extraordinary skill of their metal and woodwork, and the complex embroidery patterns which have been passed down for generations. Enjoy a picnic lunch and delve into these villages and landscapes, with opportunities for walking and hiking as you wind your way through the valley. Return to your resort for another tranquil overnight. Meals B,L,D Day 13 - Sapa / Hanoi Continue your exploration of this culturally-rich region, including a visit to Ta Phin, a unique village home to the Red Dao and Black Hmong hill tribes. Late in the afternoon, you arrive back at the Lao Cai Railway Station for your overnight voyage on the Victoria Express Train to Hanoi. Again, we’ve arranged for comfortable, 4-berth superior cabins. Meals B,L,D Day 14 - Arrive Hanoi / Ha Long Bay Cruise Upon your early morning arrival in Hanoi, we’ll take you to Pho 24 for a hearty breakfast of traditional Vietnamese pho – noodles served in a warming and savory broth of chicken or beef. Then drive to Ha Long Bay#WHS# and board the Emeraude, a stylish cruise vessel built to evoke the charm and elegance of a French Colonial steamer. Your leisurely overnight cruise brings you deep into this island-dotted bay - a captivating landscape of towering peaks, hidden coves, and peaceful inlets. Enjoy dinner onboard and comfortable accommodations in a superior stateroom. Meals B,L,D Day 15 - Ha Long Bay – Disembark ship / Hanoi Arise early to see the morning mist clear from the towering rock formations that rise majestically from the emerald waters of the Bay and watch as the waters come to life with fishermen and families heading out for the day’s activities. After a leisurely breakfast, the ship docks at 10:00 for disembarkation and your return to Hanoi. Check-in to the luxury Sofitel Metropole Hotel and enjoy the balance of the day at leisure to shop and explore at your own pace. This evening, we’ll take you to the banks of the Red River, a charming corner of the city filled with old-style Hanoi homes. Here you’ll enjoy a delightful farewell dinner at the famed Moon River Restaurant, set in a restored courtyard home filled with family heirlooms and scented by frangipani trees. Meals B,L,D Day 16 - Hanoi Your program finishes this morning. You can explore more of Vietnam and Asia with our affordable FreeStyle Travel options. Meals B
The General Tours World Traveler Advantage
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Note: All prices are per person, double occupancy, subject to availability. These pages are not endorsed or supported by the tour operator in any way. All information presented is based on promotional material provided by the tour operator. All prices, itineraries, accommodations and dates are subject to change without notice and at any time by the tour operators. Availability is limited and must be reconfirmed at time of booking. The prices on this website are not guaranteed. We are not responsible for errors, omissions, or changes in pricing. Please call us toll free at 1-800-942-3301 to confirm availability and pricing.
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