Viking has announced 3 new exclusive itineraries to China for 2024. The voyages are a 10 day, 15 day, or 20 day that offers intrepid travelers the chance to delve into the rich history, vibrant culture, and stunning landscapes of this fascinating region.
Let’s take a look at some of the highlights.
Starting in September 2024 Viking starts sailing the China coast.
Let’s start with the longest tour and that’s Wonders of China.
We start in Beijing and this is your land portion so you’ll spend the first three days in The Forbidden City. You’ll see sights like
- Tienanmen Square
- Temple of heaven
- You’ll get to try some Tai Chi, it’s popular with the locals.
- You’ll visit the older parts of the city and see a Hutong Courtyard
- The second full day is spent primarily at the Great Wall. You’ll also see the Ming Tombs if you choose to so you’ll get a few different options.
From there you’ll fly to Shanghai and board the ship, Viking Yi Dun.
Shanghai is an eclectic blend of colonial and modern architecture. You’ll spend 2 days in Shanghai. Some areas you’ll experience are:
- The Bund – waterfront area and a protected historical district.
- Yuyuan Garden – an extensive Chinese garden
- Urban Planning Exhibition Center – you’ll see Shanghai’s history and planned developments.
On day 6 you are at sea sailing the East China Sea, a little rest and relaxation
On day-7 you visit Zhoushan. A lot of the seafood that China consumes is from here. Lot’s of Buddhist architecture here also so you’ll see some temples.
Day 8 you’re in Dongtou.
Day 9 in Pingtan – It’s relatively new development. You’ll get the feeling of a beach resort here. Nearby is Fuzhou, which is a Unesco Heritage Site due to how preserved its old town is.
Day 10 is Xiamen – 3 Unesco Heritage Sites. You’ll have some great choices as to what you can do.
Day 11 you’ll get another break and a sea day sailing the South China Sea.
Day 12 you arrive into Shenzhen, the city of the future. It’s a Unesco City of Design. One cool thing about Shenzhen is that the company’s that are at the leading edge in technology welcome visitors. They want to show you what the future will look like. Stunning architecture, very international design here in Shenzhen.
Day 13 you’ll disembark in Chengdu. Get up close with China’s iconic Panda among other things.
Day 14 you travel to Lhasa and spend 3 days there.
- Potala Palace – UNESCO World Heritage Site and former winter residence of the Dalai Lamas.
- Jokhang Temple and glimpse daily life in Tibet.
Day 17 you arrive to Xian (Cian), this is where you’ll be able to see the Terra Cotta Warriors. You’ll also see the City Walls, and the Great Mosque. You’ll be in Xian for 2 days.
On day 19 you fly back to Beijing for your last 2 days before you travel back home. But before you go home, you’ll get the chance to have a Peking Duck Dinner with the group.
So that’s the full 20 day cruise/tour.
The 15-day option is Classic China and the Coast and is from Beijing to Hong Kong.
- 3 days in Beijing
- Then you fly to Xian and spend 2 days there
- On day 6 you fly to Shanghai and take the 10-day cruise to Hong Kong.
There are 2 Post-cruise extension Package options:
- 3-nights in Hong Kong
- 4-nights in Hong Kong & Guilin
You can choose from the towering skyscrapers and energy of Hong Kong, and/or the tranquil Guilin and it’s mountains, serene rivers and ancient caves.
Then there’s the 10-day China Discovery – This is the cruise portion only and goes from Shanghai to Hong Kong.
But, you can extend with a pre and/or post
- Beijing 3-nights pre-extension
- Pre-extension 3-nights in Suzhou and Wuxi
- 3-nights in Hong Kong
- 4-nights in Hong Kong & Guilin
So it’s very customizable. You can visit the the areas you really want to see.
There are only 8 departures in 2024 so if you are interested, call me and let’s get working on your trip!
Let’s take a Quick Look at the ship, Viking Yi Dun.
- Built in 2017
- Only 930 guests so you won’t get that mega-ship feeling of overcrowdedness
- All verandas
- Several restaurants and public spaces
- It’s a wonderful ship!
If you’d like to see some more details, reach out to me and I’ll be happy to share that info with you.
As always, if you have any questions, I’m available 7-days a week. Call me anytime. And I’d love to help plan you adventure so please keep me in mind.
