Zhangjiajie Changgongguan Hotel

7 DAYS HUNAN – ZHANGJIAJIE & FENGHUANG
Covering a total area of 369 square km, the Wulingyuan Scenic Area, composed of the First National Forest Park--Zhangjiajie and two natural reserves--Suoxi Gully and Emperor Mountain, is renowned for its unique tourist attractions.  Internationally known as an “enlarged potted landscape” and “miniature fairyland,” the landscape boosts pavilions, bridges, caves, lakes, and waterfalls.  The scenic area also has one of the rarest quartzes sandstones in the world.  

Day 01:

On arrival, be welcomed by your guide and transfer to Changsha city for lunch (own expense) before a leisure drive to your hotel in Wulingyuan, Zhangjiajie (approx. 4+ hours drive).

Overnight: Pullman Zhangjiajie
Meals: NIL

Day 02:

This morning, transfer to the first declared National Park in China – Zhangjiajie National Park. Take a cable car up to the Yellow Stone Stronghold. Standing right at the top is the Six Wonders Pavilion, the biggest scenic platform with a bird’s eye view of the unique rock formations which are as wonderful as that of Huangshan. Six Wonders Pavilion refers to the peculiar mountain, water, stone, cloud, plant, and animals in the park.

After lunch, make an excursion to the Golden Whip Stream, starting “Water Circling in from Four Gates” (水绕四门) where the stream merges with three other streams. Enjoy a walk tour along the winding stream in the deep valley as your guide points out the scenic spots along the way.

Overnight: Pullman Zhangjiajie
Meals: Breakfast & Lunch

Day 03:

After breakfast, visit Yellow Dragon Cave (黄龙洞), praised as the most beautiful cave in the world by UNESCO experts. With an area of 100,000 square meters, length of 7.6 kilometres, height of 140 meters, two underground rivers, four waterfalls, 13 caverns and 10,000 stalagmites and stalactites, it is a huge limestone cave. The Magic Needle and Chair of Dragon King are famous sights in the cave.

Continue onto the Zhangjiajie Grand Canyon (大峡谷), where over 900 steps descend down into the valley with various points of interest along the way. At the bottom, take a boat to the exit.

**Note: the glass skywalk will only open in October???

Tonight, enjoy the evening cultural show 魅力湘西.

Overnight: Pullman Zhangjiajie
Meals: Breakfast & Lunch

Day 04:

Drive to Tianzi Mountain, and ascend by cable car (both ways) to the West Sea, a postcard perfect landscape where a ‘sea’ of clouds occasionally wafts through a ‘sea’ of hundreds of majestic tree-covered peaks of different shapes and forms. Break for a dose of history at He Long Park where  a bronze statue was built in memory of Marshal He Long, a Robin Hood outlaw turned powerful military leader.

Continue after lunch to the 10 Miles Natural Gallery, a picturesque valley with a stream running through it and more strange rock formations on both sides. Take a park bus to Yuanjiajie for the most iconic Hallelujah Mountains in the famous movie, Avatar. Descend from the Bailong Elevator, the world’s highest and fastest elevator.

Overnight: Pullman Zhangjiajie
Meals: Breakfast & Lunch

Day 05:

An early rise today for a day excursion to Tianmen (Heaven’s Gate) Mountain National Park, one hour drive away. Take the longest cable car in the world (750 metres) and marvel at the stunning 99 hairpin road against the high cliffs. You'll reach the base platform and a long flight of stairs leading up towards the Tianmen Cave – a natural water-eroded cave with the highest elevation in the world! This is known as the 'Heaven Reaching Ladder'. At the western side of the summit, is the Tianmen Temple.

Overnight: Pullman Zhangjiajie
Meals: Breakfast & Lunch

Day 06:

In the morning, check out and drive 4.5hrs to Fenghuang. Along the way, we can make a stop in the Tujia village of Furong beautifully set amidst the mountainous landscape. Also visit the Tujia Folk Customs Garden, where we can see the house of the Tujia people and have an insight of how they work, weave their clothes and celebrate their festivals. See the biggest wooden house in the world, which is listed in the Guinness World Records.  Check into your hotel on arrival after a long but scenic road journey.

With over 300 years of history, Fenghuang (or Phoenix) Ancient Town, is one of the best-preserved historical villages in China and listed as a World Heritage Site in 2008.

Enjoy a rowing boat trip to see the Diaojiao Lou (traditional Chinese gabled wooden houses built on stilts) on both sides of the river and Hongqiao up close, see Hongqiao (Rainbow Bridge), built in the Ming Dynasty over 600 years ago, is the ancient town's most well-known tourist spot.

Stroll along the riverside and the narrow streets paved by flagstones, cross the river through the stepping stones, Tiaoyan (Leaping Stones), and the narrow primitive bridge near the Beimen Matou (North Gate Pier). You will also see the Gucheng Qiangcheng (the Ancient Town Wall), is located south of the river, between the North and East Gate.

Overnight: Phoenix Impression (印象凤凰公馆)
Meals: Breakfast & Lunch

Day 07:

This morning, you will visit the Former Residence of Seng Congwen (沈从文故居), a typical ancient Southern courtyard house. Visit the ancestral hall of the Yang family (杨家祠堂 - 杨家将).

Have the rest of the morning free at leisure to explore Fenghuang on your own before lunch and afternoon departure to Changsha city.

Overnight: Changsha
Meals: Breakfast & Lunch

Golden Eagle festival and National parks tour / 2016/

Tour code: EFGE.NP.2016
13 nights / 14 days

Day 1:  Ulaanbaatar
September 28
Arrive in Ulaanbaatar and transfer to the hotel. If time permits take a city tour including Sukhbaatar square, National History Museum Welcome dinner at the Mongolian national food restaurant.

Overnight in Hotel.
(L, D)

Day 2: Bayan-Ulgii province Bugat
September 29

After breakfast in the hotel, we take the flight to Ulgii, the center of Bayan-Ulgii province in the far west. After lunch we visit a local school

Overnight in Hotel.
(B, L, D)

Day 3: Eagle Festival Training
September 30

We photograph the eagle hunters when they arrive at the festival on horses.

This is actually a big day for the people and the eagles at the same time. Spectate and photograph the spectacular moments of the eagle training of prey catching etc. Enjoy the best of Kazakh cuisine.

Overnight in Hotel.
(B, L, D)

Day 4: Eagle Festival Days. The first day of the festival.
Oct 01

Eagle hunters compete with their beautiful traditional clothes, horse, horse decorations, their eagles and the eagle decorations while parading from the Ulgii central square to the competition arena. Later in the afternoon the eagles compete with their speed, agility and hunting skills.

Overnight in Hotel.
(B, L, D)

Day 5: Eagle Festival Day in Bugat .2nd - day of the colorful festival.
Oct 02

Today’s task for the eagles is catching the prey within the shortest time and they’re given scores. Kazakh traditional games like Kokbar etc. are played among the spectators. The best eagles with their best trainers are awarded in the evening.

Overnight in Hotel.
(B, L, D)

Day 6: Ulgii – Visit to Local family for Kazakh culture.
Oct 03

After breakfast we drive to Nomadic family. Drive 45 km from Ulgii. Meet Kazakh nomadic people and interest lifestyle and culture. And have lunch and dinner together this family Kazakh traditional food.

Stay in travel tent or Kazakh traditional GER (depends on the amount of photographers).
(B, L, D)

Day 7: Eagle hunting day
Oct 04

After breakfast drive to Mountain for Eagle hunting with local people. We will use live hunting bait (real fox, rabbit and wolf). Stay one more day  in local family. Lunch and Dinner will have in the Local family traditional Kazakh meals.

(B, L, D)

Day 8: Visit to Tsambagarav national park
Oct 05

Drive to Tsambagarav national park after breakfast (100km, 3 hours). Have a lunch on the way picnic or box meal. You can take photo during the cooking. Stay in the nomadic family and time for nomadic life photograph. Have a dinner picnic.

Stay in travel tent or Kazakh traditional GER (depends on how many photographers).
(B, L, D)

Day 9: Visit to Tsambagarav national park
Oct 06

Starts horse trekking to Tsambagarav Mountain after breakfast (instant coffee, English tea, brad, sausage) in the nomadic family.  You have a full day for photo tour around of Tsambagarav national park. We will provide horses for each guests and one camel for luggage.  Have a lunch in the Tent camp near Tsambagarav Mountain.

Overnight in travel tent.
(B, L, D)

Day 10: Tsambagarav national park – Ulgii town.
Oct 07

Early morning photos shoot. Trekking back to road (15km). Have a lunch in the nomadic family.  Drive back to Ulgii after lunch (3 hours). You have enough time until dinner for photos shooting on the back way. Dinner in Ulgii town.

Overnight in Hotel.
(B,L,D)

Day 11: Ulgii town – UB
Oct 08

Fly back to UB after breakfast. Have a lunch after transfer to the Hotel.
Photograph to school in the afternoon or rest time until dinner. Have a dinner at the Mongolian BBQ.

Overnight in Hotel.
(B, L, D)

Day 12: Horse photos shooting days
Oct 09

Drive to countryside 170 km after breakfast. We have 100 – 500 horses together. This is a day for Horse special photo. Have a lunch in the small town.

Overnight in tent.

Day 13: Horse photos shooting days
Oct 10

Horse photos shoot. Return to UB.
Visit to Zaisan hill best location for take photo to City (only one location panorama view).If time permits you can go for shopping . Have a dinner in Chinggis beer club.

Overnight in the Hotel
(B, L, D)

Day 14: Departure
Oct 11
After breakfast transfer to Chinggis khan international airport . Fly back to Home. (arrange lunch and dinner depends on departure time )

(B)