TOUR CHINA, CRUISE THE YANGTZE "” FROM $3,729, INCLUDING
11 NIGHTS' ACCOMMODATIONS, EXCURSIONS, MEALS AND AIRFARE
Not too long ago, it was fashionable"”and appropriate"”to call China the "Sleeping Giant." Giant it remains, with its huge land mass and teeming population. But it has long since awoken, with booming industries that dominate global markets.
China also has become a popular tourist destination, with a modernized infrastructure of cities and hotels. It is, of course, host to this year's Summer Olympics.
Make this your year to visit China by taking advantage of a value-priced post-Olympic package offered by AHI Travel that provides a perfect introduction to this fascinating country and also gives you the opportunity to enjoy the improvements created for the Games of the XXIX Olympiad.
AHI Travel is a well-respected travel company that has been providing deluxe tours for alumni groups, associations and special-interest organizations for more than 40 years.
On its new 11-night "China and the Yangtze River" tour, you'll begin by spending three nights at the Beijing Hilton, where luxurious guest rooms provide modern amenities and the kitchen has a reputation for preparing fine Asian and Western cuisine. During your stay, you'll visit the ornate Forbidden City palace complex, the Temple of Heaven, the royal Summer Palace, the narrow alleys or "Hutongs" and massive Tiananmen Square. You'll travel to the Great Wall, admiring the beautiful countryside, and you'll attend a Peking opera performance.
Next, come two nights in Xi'an at the Hotel Sofitel. It sits in a complex featuring several historic buildings and offers international cuisine at four restaurants. It has fitness center, indoor pool, whirlpool and many other spa amenities. Excursions include the famous Terra Cotta Warriors that guard Emperor Qin Shi Huangdi's tomb and the impressive X'ian city walls.
Accommodations for three nights wait aboard the M.V. Yangtze President, where all cabins face outside and have balconies that showcase superb views of the passing countryside. Embark on excursions in Fengdu, Badong and Yichang and admire the beauty of the Three Gorges and Lesser Gorges. The elegant cruiser has sauna, beauty parlor, massage room and recreational and fitness center, as well as bar and gift shop.
During a visit to Shanghai, you'll spend three nights at the Hilton Shanghai, located near the heart of the city between two main shopping districts. Comfortable and convenient, it offers a full complement of attentive services and modern facilities that include a well-equipped gym and a large indoor swimming pool. Choose from a comprehensive menu featuring Cantonese, Sichuan, Italian and Western Continental fare.
Tour the bustling Bund, peaceful Yu Gardens and the Shanhai Museum. You'll also attend a performance of the famed Shanghai AcrobaticTheater.
This all-inclusive package features scheduled jet service from North America to Beijing with return from Shanghai, plus 11 nights accommodation and motorcoach transfers between hotels and airports. Transfers and porterage also are included for travel within China. Buffet breakfast is served daily in the hotels and three lunches during excursions are served at restaurants that feature authentic regional cuisine. Three full meals are served daily aboard ship. The tour itinerary features a special "Welcome" reception and a festive "Farewell" reception.
Also included are all excursions and educational programs developed exclusively for this program and featuring local experts, plus the services of an experienced AHI Travel Director throughout and automatic $250,000 flight insurance for passengers ticketed by AHI Travel.
Cost with departures from San Francisco as low as $3,729 per person (based on double occupancy), from Chicago $3,889 and from Washington $3,939. Land only packages are priced as low as $2,740. There are eight departures during 2008, between Sept. 3 and Oct. 29. For more information call 800-323-7373 or visit www.ahitravel.com.
