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Asian Sampler
12 Nights from 2549 USD
|Hotels|Itinerary|Check Availability|

Novotel Peace - Beijing
Located in the heart of Beijing, in the famous Wangfujing shopping district. It is a high rise building. Rooms have all modern facilities. There are several food outlets, including Chinese and western cuisine, the famous Chaozhou cuisine and Korean barbecue. The Peace hotel is a good hotel for business and leisure travelers. Hotel offers a business center, conference rooms, a shopping arcade, beauty salon, disco, indoor swimming pool, health club, sauna, jacuzzi and massage.

The Kimberley - Hong Kong
Centrally located in the bustling Shopping and entertainment district of Tsimshatsui, Kowloon, with 45 minutes drive from the airport. The hotel features a wide range of restaurants & bar - Coffee House, Lobby Lounge, Chinese/Japanese restaurants. The two multi-purpose function rooms are especially designed for the most descerning business travelers. Other facilities include business center, health spa, gymnasium & golf-driving range. While efficient room service is a standard practice, complimentary tea and coffee making facilities and marble bathrooms with hair dryers are just a few of the extra luxuries.

Rembrandt Hotel - Bangkok
The Rembrandt Hotel Bangkok, on Sukhumvit Soi 18 in the centre of Bangkok combines traditional Thai service with the highest European standards to create a unique blend of style and elegance. The result is a truly sumptuous first-class hotel. Conveniently located close to the city's central business district, Rembrandt Hotel Bangkok is also just a few steps from a fascinating glimpse of vibrant nightlife. The Rembrandt's four hundred and seven, deluxe guestrooms and suites, offer a thoughtful combination of convenient facilities and fabulous comfort. No detail has been overlooked. The multi channel TV provides every choice, from in-house cinema programs to satellite TV and local and international sections. Each room has a view, relaxing sitting area, pre-stocked mini-bar, super size beds, coffee-tea making facilities a telephone and superbly appointed spacious marble bathroom. Room service is available 24 hours, and there's full valet/laundry services.

Concorde - Singapore
Set in a more tranquil part of the city, the hotel lies conveniently near major business points - Shenton Way's financial hub, World Trade Centre and Jurong Industrial zone. Orchard Road shopping strip and some of the island's hottest nightspots and restaurants are just around the corner. Changi International Airport is only 30 minutes away. Room amenities include minibar, private bath and shower, IDD telephone, cable & satellite TV, in-room safe, radio.

Similar hotels may be used based on availability. 

Special!
AARP Discount - $50 per person discount for AARP members for all 2003 departures. Request your discount in the special requests section of the reservation form. Combinable with other specials.

SAMPLE ITINERARY

Day 1 ARRIVAL IN BEIJING, CHINA.
Hotel rooms are available for immediate check-in. Day at leisure.

Day 2, BEIJING.
This morning meet your tour director for a briefing and welcome reception. Today an included full-day tour of Beijing and the surrounding area. Highlights include the Forbidden City's Imperial Palace, once the home to Chinese emperors; Tian'anmen Square, the largest public plaza in the world; the Beijing Zoo; and the Summer Palace, a complex of pavilions, temples, and galleries situated on an immense lake. Evening is on your own. (B,L)

Day 3, BEIJING.
The GREAT WALL OF CHINA once stretched 3,000 miles across China's barren northern terrain from the Yellow Sea to the Gobi Desert. Head north to a village where the Great Wall is well preserved. Walk along the wall and enjoy sweeping vistas of this mammoth fortress. On your return to Beijing, visit Shisanling and the MING TOMBS, a burial site for 13 of the 16 Ming emperors. (B,L)

Day 4, BEIJING-CHONGQING-CRUISING.
This morning see the Xi'an City Wall South Gate. You may see some local people doing their morning Tai Chi exercises. Fly to Chongqing, China's capital during World War II. The city is set high up on a hill overlooking the Jialing and Yangtze Rivers. Visit the FLYING TIGERS MUSEUM and then take a stroll through one of its many attractive parks or through the historic Old Town. Tonight enjoy a western-style dinner before you board your cruise ship. (B,D)

Day 5, CRUISING. FENGDU.
Cast off early for a four-day cruising adventure down the mighty Yangtze River. During the next few days, when not on deck, you can attend lectures on Chinese medicine, calligraphy, history, or the Three Gorges Dam project. This afternoon dock at Fengdu, known as the "City of Devils." Here you see ghost- and devil-like statues at numerous temples lining Mingshan Hill. (B,L,D)

Day 6, CRUISING. SHENNONG STREAM.
Head downstream through the first and second of the three gorges, Qutang and Wu. You can nearly touch the perpendicular walls rising from the riverbanks as your captain negotiates this narrow gap. After lunch disembark at Badong where you board a sampan to ride along the crystal waters of the Shennong Stream. Re-board your ship and continue through the passage. (B,L,D)

Day 7, CRUISING. THE GORGES DAM SITE AND JING-SHA.
View tiny villages clinging precariously to hillsides as you proceed from Wu Gorge to Xiling Gorge, the longest of the three. Be sure to go on deck to see the site of the Three Gorges Dam project. Later pass through the Gezhou Lock. Listen to fascinating tales on how sections of the gorge came by colorful names such as Shadow-Play, Horse-Lung and Ox-Liver. (B,L,D)

Day 8, CRUISING-WUHAN-HONG KONG.
Say good-bye to your crew as you disembark in Wuhan. Fly to Hong Kong, Your descent into the city is often a memorable experience, with splendid views of the bustling harbor and over 250 islands. (B)

Day 9, HONG KONG.
This morning's sightseeing begins with a drive to Victoria Peak for panoramic vistas of this one-of-a-kind port city. Continue to Repulse Bay, a popular beach area, and Stanley Market, a narrow street jammed with clothing and arts and crafts stalls. The afternoon and evening are for independent exploration. For your evening at leisure you might join the optional sunset cruise of Hong Kong’s magnificent natural harbor. (B)

Day 10, HONG KONG-BANGKOK, THAILAND.
Today visit the peaceful island of Lantau. View the Big Buddha, the largest outdoor seated Buddha in the world. Then enjoy a tour of the monastery before continuing to the airport for your flight to exotic Bangkok. You may be able to spot the Big Buddha as you take off! (B,L)

Day 11, BANGKOK.
Nicknamed the "City of Angels," Bangkok is a remarkable blend of old and new. Highlights on today's sightseeing tour are WAT ARUN, the Temple of Dawn with its magnificent spires inlaid with millions of pieces of Chinese porcelain; and the GRAND PALACE, the seat of old Siam, including the TEMPLE OF THE EMERALD BUDDHA. The remainder of the afternoon and evening are on your own. You may choose a delicious Thai dinner with classical dancing. (B)

Day 12, BANGKOK.
Full day for independent activities. Perhaps join one of our optional tours to visit the ancient capital of Ayutthaya, the floating markets, or the River Kwai. Your tour director has plenty of other suggested activities in this vibrant city. Tonight enjoy your farewell dinner. (B,D)

Day 13, BANGKOK
Homebound flight arrives the same day. (B)

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OPTIONAL UPGRADE - Add Singapore to your Tour (16 Days / 15 Nights Total)

Days 1 to 12,
Same as above.

Day 13, BANGKOK-SINGAPORE.
Your morning is at leisure. This afternoon fly across the Gulf of Siam to the island republic of Singapore. (B)

Days 14 & 15, SINGAPORE.
Singapore is home to a variety of cultures—Malay, Chinese, and Indian just to name a few—as you will see on this morning’s tour. Visit an Indian Hindu temple, and the spice shops nearby, the colonial district, and Chinatown. Your afternoon and evening are free followed by a full day at leisure. (B)

Day 16, SINGAPORE
Homebound flight arrives the same day. (B)

Your Vacation Includes:

• Flights between Beijing and Bangkok
• 4-Day Yangtze River Cruise
• Services of a professional tour director while touring
• Sightseeing in Beijing, Hong Kong and Bangkok
• Hotels listed or equivalent. Twin-bedded rooms with private bath, hotel taxes, service charges, and tips for baggage handling
• Welcome receiption; 12 American breakfasts (B); 6 lunches (L), 5 dinners (D); farewell dinner in Bangkok
• Touring by private motorcoach with later morning departures
• Inside visits as shown in UPPERCASE in itinerary, including admission charges where applicable
• Information provided for your independent exploration and dining
• Travel bag with baggage tags, a copy of your itinerary, tips for travelers, a passport wallet and information on your hotels and optional excursions

If you choose the optional tour extension to Singapore, your vacation also includes:

• Flight from Bangkok to Singapore
• Breakfast daily in Singapore

Price does not include transpacific airfare, which can be added on request.

Prices are per person based on double or triple occupancy. Subject to availability. Taxes are additional. Due to recent fluctuations in tax amounts, taxes may vary slightly at time of booking--you will be advised of any changes before reservations are finalized. Single room supplement: $697 ($920 if optional tour extension to Singapore is added). No triple room reduction. Children's rates: 10% discount off the land portion of the package for children ages 17 and under as of the departure date when accompanied by an adult. Children under eight years old are not accepted on escorted tours. Proof of citizenship is required for travel from the U.S. Passport and visa requirements change regularly; it is the customer's responsibility to make sure all necessary documents are present at the time of travel