China
Uncovered Holidays - Tour Itineraries
China
is a beautiful country, but it can also a difficult
place to travel. These new culture and adventure trips
help you discover the real China, off the beaten path,
and without the stress. Hike through the shimmering
terraced hills of Guilin, visit hidden Tibetan villages
and share a meal with a family, bike through the alleyways
of "Old Beijing".
At Regent Holidays, we believe in offering our clients the chance to
experience the ‘real’ China. As such, for 2007 we have put
together a superb collection of ‘China Uncovered’ tours,
which provide an opportunity to forge a deeper understanding
of China’s culture and natural surroundings, whilst at the
same time maintaining sensitivity and respect for the
Chinese way of life.
We use the following:
Transportation
We use good quality vehicles and experiened drivers and air conditioned vans on paved roads, 4WD jeeps and vans on rough roads and service trucks for trips requiring outdoor
camping and cooking.
On some itineraries we
do use camels/horses/donkeys for short transfers on
certain trips. These will be specified in the itinerary.
Accommodation
In larger cities, we choose the best three/four and five star hotels,
including some familiar names such as the Shangri-la
and Sheraton, while in smaller towns, we will stay
in small lodges and inns. The latter, though, basic
and simple, will have clean and pleasant rooms, hot
showers, hearty meals and a friendly staff. When camping,
we select the best camping sites around, and ensure
that we follow environmentally friendly camping procedures.
Meals
Breakfast, lunch and dinner are provided, and there
will be a mix of Western and Chinese meals. In major
cities, we try to avoid restaurants frequented by
tourists. When we choose restaurants, we consider
not only the food and service quality, but also the
atmosphere of the restaurant, its cleanliness, and
how authentic the locals think it is. When camping,
food will be prepared with fresh local produce, and
when necessary, we bring extra supplies and ingredients.
Western/Chinese meals are provided with coffee and
tea. Sufficient drinking water will be supplied throughout
the trip.
Tour
leaders, Guides and Experts
Tour leaders and guides are chosen for their local
knowledge of the area, their superior communication
skills, and their experience. Experts with knowledge
of local areas and specific interests (eg: architecture,
art, birding) can be arranged to accompany your trip
when requested.
Tipping
These tours were also developed with a commitment
to total avoidance of kick-backs, which is unfortunately
happening more and more these days. We do not include
any shopping tours where your guides will receive
a commission if you buy something. On these tours
there will be "no shopping stops" unless
specifically requested by you. Please also note that
we use a selection of restaurants that are patronised
by locals and offer good quality authentic cuisine.
These tours are
committed to protecting the character of the places
they visit. We understand that even the most sensitively
planned trip will impact the areas we see, but we
believe the cultural exchange that occurs makes it
worthwhile. Through our partners we are committed
to protecting the natural environment through the
promotion and support of conservation efforts, office
recycling and ecologically sensitive tours. Our local
partners are also committed to training and employing
local personnel, thus promoting the economy of local
communities.
