GENERAL TOURS, VICTORIA CRUISES PRESENT FASCINATING ‘HISTORICAL CHINA, TIBET & THE YANGTZE’ ITINERARY

15-Day Itinerary Features Luxury Cruise, Deluxe Hotels, Excursions from $4,034 

In response to the growing interest in China with the arrival of the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing, as well as renewed interest in Tibet, General Tours World Traveler (http://www.generaltours.com) and Victoria Cruises (http://www.victoriacruises.com) have partnered to offer a once-in-a-lifetime experience – Historical China, Tibet & The Yangtze. 

Featuring deluxe accommodations at the Westin Hotel in Beijing, Sheraton Hotel in Xi’an, Brahmaputra Grand Hotel in Lhasa and Sofitel Hyland Hotel in Shanghai, as well as a four-day luxury cruise on the five-star Victoria Katarina, the Historical China, Tibet & The Yangtze itinerary delves deeper into the culture, architecture and natural beauty of China’s various regions than any other program, combining the best travel experiences the country has to offer in one 15-day journey.

            The program includes the following escorted sightseeing:

Beijing

  •  A stroll through Beijing’s Forbidden City and Summer Palace.
  • A kite-flying session in Tiananmen Square with a master kite maker.
  • A walk along a section of the Great Wall followed by a visit to the Ming Tombs, burial site of 13 Chinese emperors.

Xi’an

  • A tour of the Terra Cotta Warriors Museum, regarded as China’s most important archaeological site.
  • A private “Touch Antiquity” session at the Xi’an City Museum, in which guests are permitted to handle and examine ancient Chinese relics.
  • A savory dumpling dinner featuring regional specialties.

Chengdu

  • An up-close panda encounter and once-in-a-lifetime feeding opportunity at the Chengdu Panda Breeding Station.
  • The Sichuan Opera, known for its “face-changing” artistry where actors change make-up and masks up to 10 times in 30 seconds.

Lhasa

  • A tour of Potala Palace, former home of the Dalai Lama, as well as Norbulinka, the Dalai Lama’s summer palace.
  • A visit to the beautiful Sera Monastery.
  • An excursion to Jokhang Monastery, a center of Buddhist pilgrimage for centuries, with time to explore the nearby Barkhor Market.
  • Time with a master artist learning about the Tibetan tradition to create colorful, finely detailed religious paintings known as Thangkas.
  • An opportunity to sample traditional Tibetan cooking.

Yangtze River

  • A four-day Yangtze River cruise from Chongqing to Yichang aboard the luxurious, five-star Victoria Katarina.
  • A spectacular view of centuries-old pagodas and temples nestled along the mist-shrouded Yangtze.
  • Many onboard activities such as Tai Chi lessons and a host of nightly entertainment options.
  • An excursion to the impressive Three Gorges Dam Site in Sandouping, an extraordinary feat of engineering and major highlight of the river cruise.
  • An additional excursion such as a tranquil journey through the Yangtze’s scenic Daning or Shennong River tributaries to the Small Gorges, or the “ghost city” of Fengdu, with its gardens, temples and statues of ghosts and devils. 

After the cruise, travelers will fly to Shanghai where they can customize the rest of their trip by choosing one of several pre-paid excursions, including a classic Shanghai city tour, an architectural tour showcasing the old and the new, a cultural tour featuring Shanghai’s Jewish heritage district and the Shanghai Museum or the “Day in the Life” experience featuring a visit to local markets with a Shanghai resident to shop for ingredients for a cooking class and lunch.

Pricing for the Historical China, Tibet & The Yangtze program begins at $4,034 per person, double occupancy, and includes complete sightseeing and port charges, as well as on-tour transportation and flights within China. Attractively-priced international air is available from General Tours.

For more information or to book, consult your local travel agent, contact General Tours directly at 800-221-2216 or visit General Tours’ website at www.generaltours.com.

General Tours World Traveler

For more than six decades, General Tours has been delighting American travelers with innovative world journeys and unsurpassed value. Today, the company offers 375 vacations to more than 80 destinations on six continents. Discriminating travelers can choose intimate escorted tours with never more than 20 guests, privately-guided vacations with a personal car, driver, and guide, and small ship journeys, featuring a handpicked collection of the finest deluxe and luxury ships worldwide. The company also offers independent FreeStyle Travel and Custom Travel services.

Every week, visitors to the company’s website, www.GeneralTours.com, will find a new Gem of a Deal – offering $100 per person savings on select trips. General Tours is an AARP Travel partner, and AARP Members save $105 to $150 per person on all escorted, privately-guided, and small-ship vacations.

Victoria Cruises

Based in New York, Victoria Cruises established new standards of excellence for sailing China’s Yangtze River when its first ship edged out of port in 1994.  Since that time, Victoria Cruises has achieved tremendous success by introducing the majesty of the Yangtze River to travelers worldwide.  A true pioneer and innovator, Victoria Cruises delivers an unrivaled and unsurpassed Yangtze River experience. 

China’s magnificent Yangtze River continues to awe and inspire and Victoria Cruises continues to be the finest guide for the journey.

For more information and a free color brochure or copy of the expanded DVD, contact Victoria Cruises at 57-08 39th Avenue, Woodside, NY 11377; phone (800) 348-8084, (212) 818-1680; fax (212) 818-9889. Send e-mail to contact@victoriacruises.com or visit the company in cyberspace at www.victoriacruises.com.