21-Day China, Laos, and Thailand Discovery

Upon arrival, your private guide and driver will greet you at the airport and then drive you to your hotel. The rest of the day will be free for you to explore at your leisure.

• Start your day from the historic Tian'anmen Square.
• Explore the emperors' Forbidden City: get off the ordinary sightseeing route and listen to interesting stories of eight famous personalities that are not told by typical tour guides.
• Walk into the Hutongs and discover the traditional Beijing lifestyle.
• Enjoy an authentic Beijing roast duck dinner in a time-honored-brand restaurant.

• Start at about 8am with a 2-hour drive to the Great Wall at Jinshanling.
• Hike from Jinshanling to Simatai West (it takes about 3 hours). This section has breathtaking views and offers stunning photo opportunities that vary with the seasons.
• See both the unrepaired ancient watchtowers and a restored section of the Wall during the hike.
• After having a lunch at the foot of Jinshanling, your guide and driver will accompany you back to Beijing.

The Great Wall at Jinshanling

• Drive to the most famous imperial garden in China — the Summer Palace. It is where emperors used to retreat to flee the summer heat. Take a boat ride on tranquil Kunming Lake in the heart of the vast garden.
• After lunch at a local restaurant, take a high-speed train to Shanghai (about 5 hours).
• Guide-accompanied hotel-station transfers in both Beijing and Shanghai are included.

The Summer Palace

• Visit Yu Garden, an exquisite classical garden, hidden and well-preserved among the high buildings.
• Walk along the Bund to learn about Shanghai's rise to super-size.
• Wander through the backstreets to get a glimpse of Shanghainese lifestyles.
• Be like a local as you hop on a public ferry among the crowds to cross the Huangpu River, traveling from old Shanghai to new Shanghai.
• Take the fastest elevator in the world and ascend the second-highest building in the world — Shanghai Tower.

Ascend the Shanghai Tower

• In the morning, take an in-depth walking tour around the Former French Concession, which is the most charming and elegant area of Shanghai.
• See Shanghainese morning exercise, which are quite difference from other places' in China. Peep at a super-rich residence community.
• Walk into a shikumen building (a 19th-century townhouse) to see old Shanghai's crowded living conditions, and see new life in the old buildings brought by creative artists and local designers.
• After the tour, transfer to Shanghai Airport for your onward flight to Kunming.
• Guide-accompanied airport transfers in both Shanghai and Kunming are included.

The Former French Concession

• Skipping the touristy part of the Stone Forest, you will visit the Naigu Stone Forest — the 'Ancient Black' Stone Forest. Climb to a high platform for a magnificent panoramic view and also take a little path threading the narrow space between the stones to witness the fantastic formations up close.
• Have a relaxing walk on Kunming's Old Street; and try local snacks, including rice-noodle salad, deep-fried mushrooms, big sweet dumplings, and Lao-style milk tea.

• As your China tour comes to its end, your private guide and driver will transfer you to Kunming South Railway Station for your onward train to Laos (about 8½ hours including a 3-hour stop going through exit and entry at the Mohan-Boten border crossing point.
• Upon arrival in Luang Prabang, your new Laos private guide and driver will greet you at the railway station and transfer you to your hotel.

The Cross-Border High-Speed Train

• Explore Luang Prabang's World Heritage sites, including famous Wat Xieng Thong temple.
• Walk in the former Royal Palace — now a National Museum.
• Visit a local market and Ock Pop Tok Living Crafts Centre.
• Enjoy a dinner on a romantic sunset cruise while appreciating charming views of Luang Prabang.

The Wat Xieng Thong temple.

• In the early morning, take a boat ride to a local village to attend the morning alms-giving ceremony.
• Enjoy a homemade breakfast in a local's house.
• Travel through vibrant, green, tropical jungle to Kuang Si Waterfall.
• Afterwards, visit the Bear Rescue Centre near the waterfall.

The Kuang Si Waterfall

• Board the Le Grand Cruise at 7 A.M. at Luang Prabang pier.
• Start the cruise with a continental breakfast while you head to Pak Ou Village for a visit to the Tam Ting ('Thousand Buddhas') Caves.
• Enjoy riverside views with a buffet lunch on board.
• Visit a hill tribe village, where you can watch the traditional process of Lao whiskey production.
• Arrive at your Pakbeng hotel around sunset and stay overnight there.
• Dinner is served on the terrace, overlooking the Mekong.

The Pak Ou Caves

• After breakfast in your Pakbeng resort, begin the second leg of the cruise and observe ethnic people's life along the Mekong, such as the Hmong, Yao, and Khmu.
• A buffet lunch will be served on board.
• Disembark from the cruise at Houayxay. The cruise company will assist you in crossing the Laos-Thailand border between Houayxay and Chiang Khong.
• Your Thailand guide and driver will meet you at the Chiang Khong boundary post, and then transfer you straight to your hotel in Chiang Rai (about 1½ hours driving).

Visit hill tribes villages along the Mekong river

• In the morning, visit Chiang Rai's most interesting temples: Black House and White temple.
• Afterwards, we'll transfer you to Chiang Mai. Stay overnight there.

The Black House

• Explore Mount Doi Suthep and pilgrimage to sacred Wat Phra That Doi Suthep.
• Take a rickshaw ride through the small streets and alleys of Chiang Mai.
• In the afternoon, learn how to make Thai dishes in one of the best cooking schools in Chiang Mai.

Pilgrimage to Wat Phra That Doi Suthep

• Visit Chiang Mai's famous Elephant Nature Park, which is known as the most-environmentally-responsible Elephant Park in Thailand, even in all of Southeast Asia.
• Walk with the elephants in the jungle, feed them, and watch them bathing in the river.
• In the park, you would also have the chance to see many other rescued animals, such as bears, cats, and dogs.

The Elephant Nature Park

• When you arrive at Krabi Airport, you'll find we have a private transfer ready to take you to your beautiful hotel.

The wonderful beach of Krabi Island

• These two days are free for you to spend at leisure by the beach.
• You may consider taking a speedboat trip to the many nearby tropical paradises, including the famous Phi Phi Islands, or enjoy a serene cruise around the mystical Phang Nga Bay.

• After breakfast, transfer to Krabi Airport for your onward flight to Bangkok.
• Private airport transfers in both Krabi and Bangkok are included.

• Experience the morning chanting ritual at Wat Pho, which is one of the oldest temples in Bangkok.
• Take a tuk tuk ride via Pak Khlong Talat Flower Market to the Grand Palace.
• Continue with a long-tail boat ride along the ancient canals of Thonburi to get a flavor of local life.
• Stop at iconic Wat Arun, which was once the grand royal temple of King Rama II.
• Cross the Chao Phraya River to Chinatown for a glance at Old Bangkok.

Bangkok City Tour

• As your East Asia tour comes to its end, your private guide and driver will transfer you to Bangkok Airport for your flight back home.