Kunming Camellia Hotel

96 Dongfeng Dong Road

Kunming.Yunnan

China

Tel: 86-871-3163000      Fax: 86-871-3147033

Kunming.  Our first day is an arrival day.

Kunming is the capital of Yunnan province, and one of the most attractive tourist cities in China, famous for its benign climate and folk customs of ethnic groups. Kunming has many interesting temples and parks such as Daguan Park, Black Dragon Pool, Zheng He Park, Bamboo Temple, Golden Temple, and the Western Hills, to name only a few.

Spend time exploring the city of Kunming before our pre-departure meeting at 6pm. This is an introductory meeting to meet your fellow passengers and tour leader.

Dali. Upon our arrival at the train station in Dali, we are transferred to our hotel for check in and breakfast. Your day is then free for you to explore the many attractions of Dali.

Dali is a famous national historic city and a national key scenic spot area. There, visitors can enjoy many historic relics, beautiful natural scenery and colourful national customs. Historic relics include the Three Pagodas of Chongsheng Temple which is the symbol of the ancient culture of Dali, the ruins of Tianhe City (once the capital of the Nanzhao Kingdom), the Dehua Stele, the ruins of Yangjuhu City (once the capital of Dali Kingdom and later the new capital of Nanzhao Kingdom ), the Stele commemorating the conquest of the first emperor of the Yuan Dynasty over Yunnan and the Gantong Temple. Scenic spots include the beautiful Erhai Lake, the expansive and lofty Cangshan Mountains, and the charming Butterfly Spring.

The Three Pagodas of Chongshen Monastery, are just one kilometre to the northwest of Dali. Here stand three beautiful pagodas, which are an emblem of the city's long and celebrated history. The tallest of the trio, which is 69.13 meters tall, was built in 836 AD, while the two smaller ones were built during a later period. No visit to Dali is complete without a visit to see the three pagodas.

In the shape of an "er", meaning ear in Chinese, Erhai Lake, to the east of Dali, covers 250 square kilometres at an elevation of 1,980 meters. This vast body of water shines under the sun like a sheet of vivid green while the snowy peaks of the Cangshan Mountain are reflected in its quivering surface, combining to form a breathtaking sight.

The Cangshan Mountain juts up like a huge screen wall in the western part of Dali. Malong, the main peak, soars 4,122 meters into the sky capped with a snowy summit that never thaws. Many streams flow from the mountain and with its vast collection of plants and trees, the Cangshan Mountain is also a veritable botanical garden. Situated at the foot of Yunlong Peak in the Cangshan Mountains, the Butterfly Spring is actually a pool four metres deep and 20 metres wide. The gnarled boughs of an ancient silk tree stretch over its surface. In the fourth lunar month every year, the tree puts out butterfly-shaped flowers, and swarms of butterflies belonging to twenty or so breeds descend on the tree, linking themselves together into multi-coloured strings, which keep dangling over the pool.

Tiger Leaping Gorge. After breakfast we continue trekking into the gorge. Today you enjoy the most amazing views of the gorge, as well as Jade Dragon Snow Mountain and the Yangtse River. We usually lunch at either Tea Horse Guesthouse or Halfway House, continuing our trek in the afternoon.

Our overnight accommodation is inside the gorge at a guesthouse. Lunch & dinner are taken at local restaurants and are included.

Lijiang. Lying in a broad, fertile valley dominated by the towering, snow-capped peaks of the Jade Dragon Snow Mountain Range, the ancient city of Lijiang, with over 800 years of history, is a large Naxi settlement first built during the Southern Song Dynasty. In 1997, the UNESCO put Lijiang on a list of the world's major cultural heritages.

The Old Town of Lijiang is a well-preserved old city of ethnic minorities with brilliant culture. It is built along the lie of mountains and the flow of rivers, providing a very precious sample of the research on the old-time architecture. With Sifang Street at the core, the entire city spreads out in all directions, and is crisscrossed by a labyrinth of flagged streets and alleyways. Most of the dwellings, scattered at the foot of a mountain, or by the rivers flowing through every corner of the city, are brick-and-tile structures with carved doors and painted windows. Traffic across the rivers is facilitated by a large number of tiny stone bridges. The unique geographical location, historical background and multiracial inhabitants make the Old Town very special.

The day in Lijiang is a rest day. This not only gives you the opportunity to rest your weary bones from the trekking, but also just to explore Lijiang at your own pace.

Zhongdian.  Today after breakfast, we visit the Song Zan Lin Monastery, and then spend time with a local Tibetan family, to gain an understanding of their way of life.

The Monastery is a 300 year old Tibetan Monastery complex with several hundred monks. It was restored after the Cultural Revolution, and is the most important monastery in South-west China.

Please be aware that arrival times and the itinerary may change due to unforeseen delays or events such as festivals and public holidays. However, we shall endeavour to ensure all sites are visited and that your tour runs as smoothly as possible.

Be flexible, you will enjoy your tour much more. Kumuka makes a point of visiting the indigenous populations of each country you visit, in order to give a true reflection of the country; please treat the local people and their customs with respect.

This itinerary will be followed as closely as possible. However there may be times when it is necessary to change the route according to local conditions. There will be times travelling long hours as there will be days where we have to cover great distances. Weather patterns can change dramatically - high altitudes tend to be a lot cooler.

You are free not to participate in any of the included excursions. However, please note that there will be no refund for any excursions not taken.

Lastly, your tour leader is always conscious of everybody's views, but sometimes he/she will have to make an unpopular decision and your understanding will be appreciated in these circumstances.

Tipping is expected & accepted in China, as salaries are low and any gratuities for good service will be gratefully accepted. This applies mainly to the local guides & hotel porters.

Your tour leader will arrange a "tip kitty" at the beginning of the tour so this will save you the worry of how much to tip. An account of tips given will be kept and be available for passengers to see. Please allow at least 380 Yuan (approximately US$55) cash per person for this, as well as additional money to tip your National Guide/Tour Leader at the end of the tour.

The Pre-Departure meeting is held at 6pm THE DAY of the scheduled departure date. The pre-departure meeting is held to discuss the tour itinerary in more detail, meet your crew and fellow passengers.

In each departure city we have named a joining hotel from where the tour will leave. It is your responsibility to make your way to this hotel. Your Tour Leader will leave a notice at reception on the first day of departure with information as to where he/she can be contacted and you should inform him/her that you have arrived.

PLEASE ADVISE KUMUKA OR YOUR AGENT IF YOU WILL BE ARRIVING LATE AND ARE THEREFORE UNABLE TO ATTEND THE PRE-DEPARTURE MEETING.

In addition the crew will check that all passengers have the necessary travel documents, insurance and immunization certificates for the tour. It is IMPORTANT that you attend this meeting. Please advise KUMUKA or your AGENT if you CANNOT attend this meeting.

All passengers MUST bring:
1. Passport.
2. Vaccination Certificate.
3. Travel Voucher.
4. Travel Insurance Policy.

In most of the hotels in Asia you may be required to deposit your passport at Reception. This is a perfectly normal practice and nothing to be concerned about. Just make sure that you retrieve it before when you check out of the hotel.

Your passport is a valuable document and you should exercise extreme care in keeping it safe. We recommend that you keep your passport on you at all times, preferably in a money belt that is worn under your clothing. We advise that you take copies of relevant pages in your passport and any visas that you may purchase in case of loss or damage. Your tour leader will require your passport details at the pre-departure meeting. Again, we recommend that you have a photocopy of all passport details, kept separate. Your passport must be valid for six months after the END of your tour, and must have one blank page for each country to be visited.

Departure Tax from Beijing International Airport: 90 Chinese Yuan / USD12.00

Shanghai International Airport: 90 Chinese Yuan / USD $12.00.

Domestic Airport tax: 50 Chinese Yuan/USD $7.00 (exchange rates subject to change)

For detailed climate information see www.kumuka.com

Travel Tip: Always bring a lightweight, waterproof jacket and/or an umbrella even during the height of summer - this should prepare you for anything!

You might like to read up on the destinations that you are about to visit as these cities all have interesting sites and histories. We recommend a variety of guidebooks such as Lonely Planet, The Rough Guide and Insight Guides. All these publications have good general information as well as more specific country information that will help orientate you in the countries you visit.

Please use your discretion and be sensitive to cultural differences in the countries that you visit, in particular visits to religious buildings and when taking photographs.  Your Tour Leader will advise you of any specific customs to observe.

Care should be taken to respect the conventions of other religious and ethnic groups, particularly in respect of clothing and footwear.

We suggest that you take into account the time of year you will be travelling, and pack accordingly to the season. Quick drying clothes are recommended, and at many hotels there are laundry facilities. Your tour leader will advise where laundry facilities are available.

Personal Effects:
Camera & film, Spare passport photos, Water bottle, Money belt, Torch, Sewing kit, Sunhat/ Sunglasses, Music cassettes /CDs, Books, Wet Ones, Soap to wash clothes, Writing materials, Swiss Army knife, Calculator, Personal toiletries, including tampons, Contraceptives, Insect Repellent, Sunscreen.

NOTE: If you wear glasses, it is advisable to bring a spare pair since opticians are uncommon. If you wear contact lenses you may find that climatic changes and dust can create visual irritation, therefore, it is advisable to bring a pair of glasses.

Mandarin is the official language of China. There are however many dialects, as different from each other as French and Italian, used around the country. Most common is Cantonese, which is used in the south, Hong Kong and around the world.

Written Chinese is the same everywhere and is understood by all. This can be quite amusing as Chinese experiencing difficulty communicating verbally with foreigners might write down what they want to say expecting the foreigner to understand.

English will be spoken in the larger cities. You might like to take the time before your trip to read up on the country you will be visiting and perhaps learn a few words of the language. Your effort will always be welcomed and will make your trip all the more enjoyable.

Travellers should forget about western food whilst in China. They should also prepare for alternative conventions about eating the norms: Breakfasts are light and often contain a selection of dishes you may not expect – rice and boiling water. Meals are huge and taken early. Lunch sometimes takes place around 12am and dinner typically 5pm. Desserts are not common, and meals always end with soup. Overall we can assure you that Chinese cuisine lives up to its reputation as being one of the world’s best.

The Chinese are completely omnivorous, no doubt due to past famines, which has led to a wealth of exotic dishes. Vegetarians need to be apprehensive; a non-meat alternative is always possible. However, vegetarianism is not something Chinese chefs are particularly familiar with, so such dishes frequently feature a limited variety of vegetables and are not richly flavoured or spiced.

The variety of climate and local produce has created outstanding regional cooking in China. In the colder wheat producing North Noodles, dumplings and casserole type dishes predominate as well as the imperial speciality, Peking Duck. The province the stir-fried meat and vegetables, fried rice, and steamed chicken and fish dishes that ere, to most of the world, typical of Chinese cooking.

Hong Kong offers not only Cantonese food, but also cuisine from all parts of the globe. Walk down almost any street and you can choose authentic food from Japan, India, Indonesia, Malaysia, Italy and many more.

Whilst travelling by train, there is food available from a dining car.  Alternatively we allow time for passengers to shop at a supermarket and buy provisions for the journey.  There is always hot water available from the samovar on the train, so bring along your favourite tea or coffee.   

Vegetarians or those with special dietary needs can also be catered for however in some countries the type of food may be limited. Please let the Reservations team know your special requirements as soon as possible so we can do all possible to assist your needs.

The variety of food will differ, as you will be visiting a number of different countries. We try to ensure that you get the most experience from your Kumuka trip and one of the ways to do this is by trying local cuisine.

Pre-booked transfers - If you have booked an arrival transfer, please look for our representative who will be holding a sign with your name or Kumuka once you have cleared Customs and Immigration.

Making Your Own Way - The Meeting Point for your tour is advised at the beginning of this dossier.  If you have not arranged for us to meet and transfer you on arrival and are therefore making your own way to the Meeting Point, it is best upon arrival at to take a metered taxi.  Drivers may want to negotiate a price before leaving the airport.  Do not agree to this, insist that they switch on the meters and pay the amount that it displays when you arrive at your destination.

Kumuka endeavors to advertise a compliment of optional activities available locally during tours with selected ground handlers to make your tour more enjoyable. These ground handlers and activity partners are selected for their standards in quality, professional ability and reputation. Although Kumuka has developed a travel insurance policy to cover all activities offered during your journey, Kumuka cannot be held responsible for injuries or claims arising from adventurous activities by a third party.

Details and prices of optional activities will be advised by your tour leader.

Whilst on tour you will probably want to stay in touch with family and friends. There are several ways of doing this:

Mobile Phone – Before departing your home country check with your phone supplier to see if it compatible with the mobile phone networks in the countries that you are traveling to, and how much will it cost to use abroad.

Email – Internet Cafes are very cheap and popular, and you are sure to come across several during your tour. If you haven’t done so already, set up a free Google Mail, Hotmail, or Yahoo email account which you can then access from any computer. Internet Cafes will charge a nominal fee for using their computers. Within Europe some hotels charge a wifi connection fee and we cannot guarantee a wifi connection at all hotels we use.

Twitter – A method of communication that is rapidly gaining in popularity on the Internet especially amongst travelers. Twitter allows you to send short messages and update your friends and family with where you are on tour and what you are doing. Create your free account at http://twitter.com. Visit Kumuka’s page on Twitter at http://twitter.com/kumuka

Facebook – Very popular website that allows you to upload stories, get in touch with fellow travellers before and after your Kumuka tour, upload photos and videos to share with other travellers, your family and friends. To create a free account, go to www.facebook.com and then become a fan of Kumuka’s Facebook Page at www.facebook.com/pages/Kumuka-Worldwide/26617121087?ref=ts

Postcards – The good ol’ fashioned postcard. But you will probably get home before the postcard does!

KUMUKA WORLDWIDE

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3000 Hillswood Drive Chertsey KT16 0RS
Tel: 020 7937 8855 Fax: 020 7937 6664
Email: sales@kumuka.com
www.kumuka.com

AUSTRALIAN OFFICE