Discover a mix of ancient history and modern innovation
Our 2025 tour program combines a Classic China route (Beijing, Xian, Shanghai) with a taste of real Tibet and Tibetan Buddhism without entering Tibet regional borders, that would require a special permit and extra costly services. Another peculiarity is a family overnight in a rural village nested in the remote and picturesque highlands of southern Gansu.
Do not get fooled by the “Classic China” title. The country has embraced cutting-edge technology in many ways and you will meet smart cities with modern infrastructures, robotic delivery, self driving cars and the fastest bullet trains network.
The itinerary starts with three days in Beijing that include a day trip to the Summer Palace and to a non-crowded section of Great Wall. An overnight train from Beijing takes us to the ancient capital of Xian where over 8,000 life-sized terracotta statues were buried with China’s first emperor Qin Shi Huang. The tour continues by a bullet train to Lanzhou, the administrative center of Gansu province nested along the Yellow River. By an air conditioned van we drive 3 hours to reach the Tibetan Plateau (prefecture of Gannan – altitude 3000 mt). We stay in Xiahe next to the Labrang Monastery, important religious center visited by hundreds of Tibetans pilgrims every day and surrounded by endless grasslands.
Driving downhill eastward we reach the Loess Plateau, windblown soil highlands unknown to the tourism industry, where the Tibetan, Chinese and Mongolian cultures met along the centuries.
In the Longxi county we spend a night as guests of local peasant families at an altitude of 2000 meters and we hike along the fertile terraces. We then take a train to Xian airport or alternatively drive to Lanzhou airport to fly to Shanghai, the major port city on the eastern coast of China.
Our hotel is located near the colonial Bund, a scenic waterfront stretch along the Huangpu River with a futuristic skyline.
Duration of the tour: 13 days / 11 nights. Period: May 15th / October 30th, 2025.
Groups size: 4-10 people. Price range: USD 2400- 2650.
Accommodation: shared twin room in hand picked 3-4 stars hotels. Singles available.
The price includes: English speaking tour leader, 1 domestic flight, local trains, private vans with driver, airport transfers, 11 breakfasts, 2 dinners. The price does not includes the international flight to/from China.
Email us to receive the detailed program or to request a tailor made tour.
