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All Points East tour of the month: Images of Laos

Vietnam & China: South of the Clouds, Yunnan province

When a Yunnanese Prince crossed the cloud covered mountains of Sichuan Province to visit the imperial Chinese court he informed the emperor his kingdom lay 'south of the clouds' and the Mandarin translation – Yunnan – has stuck to the present day.

Without doubt China's most diverse and fascinating region, both culturally and scenically. Bordering Burma, Laos and Vietnam, this remote, borderland province includes everything from wild elephants and tropical jungles in the far south to yaks and snow-capped mountains of the Tibetan Plateau in the north, and is home to over 25 different ethnic minorities.

Linked to our existing range of SE Asian itineraries, our highly original Yunnan tour takes you to China by train through the mountains of Northern Vietnam and returns to Thailand by way of a cruise down the Mekong River between Burma and Laos. For 2 weeks in between we'll cover our regular mixture of essential sites and hidden gems; - cultural highlights and historic towns such as Dali, Jianshui and UNESCO World Heritage Lijiang, the awesome scenery of Yuanyang, the Yangtze's Tiger Leaping Gorge and the dramatic mountains of Eastern Tibet as well as leaving plenty of time to explore the exotic markets, check-out the bustling street life and meet the local people, in China's friendliest province.

Go to this link to check; reviews, feedback, inside info and the nitty gritty of our South of the Clouds tour as well as lots more sample tour photos!


Accommodation photos

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Itineraries

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Highlights

Hanoi 

old French hill station of Sapa 

Yuanyang rice terraces 

minority villages 

historic Jianshui 

Stone Forest 

Dali Town 

colourful markets 

Shibao sacred mountain 

World Heritage Lijiang 

Tiger Leaping Gorge 

Tibetan Plateau 

'Shangri La' 

Xishuangpanna autonomous Dai Region 

boat journey down the Mekong 

Golden Triangle 

Chiang Mai 

local food 



Trip at a glance

Tour length:
22D/21N ex London, or 21D/20N Hanoi to Chiang Mai
18D/17N ex London, or 16D/15N Hanoi to Kunming

Accommodation:
hotel, guesthouse, sleeper train.

Availability period:
All year round

Transport:
minibus, train, local bus, boat, domestic flight.

Group Size:
4 to 10 people

Meals:
full board except lunch on days 9, 11, 13, 17 & 21 and dinner on days 5, 8, 11, 13, 16 & 20

Difficulty:
easy, maximum hiking – 5-6 hrs on day 14. High altitudes on the Tibetan Plateau but we'll ascend gradually. Also be prepared for low temperatures in eastern Tibet during the winter season.

Price: From GBP 1,895

Departure Details:

Date

Cost ( ex London )

Cost ( land only )

6th February, 2012

GBP 3,150

GBP 2,250 ( Full )

6th February, 2012

GBP 2,855

GBP 1,895 ( Full )

7th April, 2012

GBP 3,150 - Book Now!

GBP 2,250 - Book Now!

7th April, 2012

GBP 2,855 - Book Now!

GBP 1,895 - Book Now!

29th July, 2012

GBP 3,055 - Book Now!

GBP 1,925 - Book Now!

29th July, 2012

GBP 3,350 - Book Now!

GBP 2,350 - Book Now!

7th September, 2012

GBP 3,250 - Book Now!

GBP 2,350 - Book Now!

7th September, 2012

GBP 2,955 - Book Now!

GBP 1,935 - Book Now!

27th October, 2012

GBP 3,250 - Book Now!

GBP 2,350 - Book Now!

27th October, 2012

GBP 2,955 - Book Now!

GBP 1,925 - Book Now!

 

Photo gallery

Notes:

Land only version - flights not included:
this tour is offered inclusive of return flights from London. Those persons not wishing to take up the flight option would join the tour in Hanoi on day 2 and finish in Chiang Mai on day 21.


Visa requirements:
Vietnam – A visa MUST be obtained in advance. They are available from your nearest Vietnamese embassy at a cost of about £40 (c. $60). Further information, as well as e-visas on arrival are available on the internet, for example www.vietnam-visa.com or www.vietnam-immigration.org.
China - A visa must be obtained before arrival in China. Your entry point in Hekou on day 6 of the itinerary. You will be arriving by road from Vietnam. Your address in China is c/o China Kunming Overseas Tours Co Ltd, Kunming. As the visa cannot be applied for by post, we have used www.visatochina.co.uk/china/ (Telephone 0131 2256 336) who we have found to be very efficient. They are an independent company and we do not accept any responsibility for the service they provide.
Thailand - No visa in advance is required. A 15 day visa for Thailand is issued on day 20 at the border, upon presentation of a passport photo and photocopy of main page of your passport. (UK, US, Canada, Australia and Western Europe only – any other nationalities pleased check visa requirements with your Thai embassy. Otherwise no visa will be issued.)


Suggestions:
for those with time make it a round trip and connect to our new Chiang Mai to Hanoi overland tour?

                                                           



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