Freedom Road Travel DMC - China Expeditions 2016 by Freedom Road Travel

CHINA EXPEDITIONS 2016-2017

KEY DESTINATIONS

YUNNAN GUIZHOU TIBET & QINGHAI MOUNT EVEREST XINJIANG WEST SICHUAN

Your Road, Your Way The unique mix of an international and local team empowers Freedom Road Travel to deliver world-class service with local knowledge and experience in multiple languages, ensuring our customers always gain the best knowledge and experiences during their time with us. We take pride in providing more than just tours. We tailor journeys for travellers from around the world that are exciting and immersive travel experiences. Freedom Road Travel was founded in 2014 as a Shanghai based travel company focused on showing the best and most unique parts of China and Asia to the world. We provide our customers with enjoyable and authentic experiences in amazing destinations, and personal levels of service to guarantee that you have your own Freedom Road.

Our goal is to "Make the world a better place by enabling wonderful experiences".

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Ulanbataar

Beijing Seoul

Tokyo

Xian Shanghai

Taipei Hong Kong

Bangkok Ho Chi Minh

Introduction to China China is a vast country, a kaleidoscope of people, cultures, customs and landscapes. Although the present day Peopleâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Republic of China only dates back to 1949, records spanning 5000 years show that China has had a long economic and cultural history, with warring states unifying and dividing multiple times. However throughout its turbulent history this country has had periods of immense cultural learning, artistic creativity and religious and philosophical development. Importantly China also expanded early continental trade routes, with the Han Dynasty (207 BC - 220 AD) breaking ground for what would become the famous Silk Road trade route to India. Chinaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s culture is considered to be the oldest living

culture in the world. Her rich history of trade, arts and culture, combined with the diversity of ethnic groups and their individual food and customs, makes China one of the most interesting places on earth to visit. Travel through China and you will not only re-live its history, you will understand how this immense country was born from small tribal states with their own languages and lives, how it evolved through centuries of upheaval, unification, and then liberation in 1949, to become the People's Republic of China.

Traditional street barber in Kaili Basha Miao Village, Guizhou Province

From the immense modern city of Shanghai to the culturally rich Beijing, from the mountains in Xinjiang to the rice terraces of Guilin, China is a world in itself just waiting to be explored.

Yaks on the shore of Qinghai Lake

Guizhou rural landscape China Expeditions | 3

haven't been everywhere, but it's on my list." SUSAN SONTAG

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Songzanlin Monastery in Shangri-La, Yunnan

CEO Welcome Welcome to Freedom Road Travel China

Expeditions,

As a 100% foreign owned travel company in China, we strive to provide above and beyond international service standards through our intuitive and innovative approach. We believe it is important to make sure all of our customers are VIPs throughout their journeys, whether they are travelling with family, friends or new acquaintances met along the road. There are so many unforgettable destinations that are missing from most China itineraries. Yunnan’s less-traveled corners hold stretches of dreamlike scenery. Our Tea & Horse Trail Caravan Trek takes our travelers through Yunnan’s most pristine and peaceful lakes as well as some of the best highland scenery south of the Tibetan Plateau. Tibet’s high altitude scenery and cloistered society, crossed with ancient holy treasures and traditions, make for a surreal experience of beauty and local life. Marvel at Tibet’s highest peaks and bluest lakes on our Mount Kailash Adventure. Mount Kailash (6,656m) rises like a pyramid above prostrating pilgrims of four different faiths. Take the Silk Road Uncharted tour with us, and feel the past stretch its hands to the present in desert oasis trading posts, city ruins, and through the lives of the Silk Road’s modern inhabitants. Discover the emerald waters of Crescent Lake glimmering in the middle of the vast Gobi Desert, where inter-continental trade has a thousand-year history. As an Australian who has lived in China for more than 20 years, I am still in awe of and surprised by the variety of landscapes, cultural richness and history in China. There is so much more to see here than what most of us would imagine. This is the goal of Freedom Road Travel - to share China and all its wonder with the rest of the world. This is my Freedom Road — What’s Yours? David Keir

FREEDOM ROAD TRAVEL

翱行旅行

The Badain Jaran Desert in Inner Mongolia

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Table of

CONTENTS 7 Our Travel Advisors 8 Responsible Travel 9 FRT Style 26 Terms & Conditions QINGHAI TIBET PLATEAU THE SONGSTAM GRAND CIRCUIT XINJIANG IS CALLING DEEP IN THE WILD WEST YUNNAN AND GUIZHOU LHASA TO EVEREST BASE CAMP SMALL GROUPS JOURNEYS

MOUNT KAILASH ADVENTURE SMALL GROUPS JOURNEYS 6 | China Expeditions

ALONG THE RED RIVER

14 16 18 20 22 24 26

OUR Travel Advisors Justine Drake Justine left her hometown of Sydney, Australia, 11 years ago with her husband and two kids and after living in Singapore and Hong Kong the family moved to Shanghai 5 years ago. Following on from 2 years volunteering as President of the Australian Shanghai Association she then completed a contract at AustCham Shanghai, before recently joining the Freedom Road Travel Team. Justine’s passions are cooking, skiing, sailing and travelling off the beaten path.

Colleen Xu After graduating from a rigorous training program, Colleen was certified as a General Manager for International Travel by the China National Tourism Administration in 2000. With 28 years in the travel industry, it has led her from organising events with the Mayor of Los Angeles, United Nations World Travel Organisation Delegation, to the Vice President of Nestle Coffee. Full of passion and devotion, Colleen treats every guest's trip as her own to ensure a memorable lifetime experience.

Thierry Bornier The premiere landscape photographer in China, has had a breakout in his fame over the last 4 years being published in The Telegraph, Wired, and other world famous publications, including having been nominated as Landscape Photographer of the Year in China 2015. Frequently among the highest rated photographers on National Geographic’s ‘Photo of the Day’ page, always on the road, unique in style, Thierry’s eye defines the perspective and elegance of photography.

Teresa Sun Teresa has been working for travel companies over 6 years as a profession. She was an operator in Gullivers Travel Association which runs an international and domestic hotel business. After GTA, she worked as a Travel Consultant in the product department of AQUA Travel, with her main job being to research and organise special interest itineraries in China. Her major is Tourism Management from Hengyang Normal University. Teresa is China Tour Guide certified and is an expert in hotel business negotiations and domestic travelling. Aside from travelling extensively throughout China, Teresa has visited Tibet and Inner Mongolia.

Glen Hingley In China since 2001, Glen has built successful travel and event companies and has extensive tourism experience in Australia. In 2002, Glen co-founded a travel company in Shanghai, which became the leading travel company for expatriates living in China; a major destination management partner for overseas travel groups; and, an outbound incentive operator with clients such as Porsche, Ecco and Land Rover. Glen has advised numerous globally based organisations on tourism in and out of Greater China.

Yangzi He Yangzi oversees special interest travel operations at Freedom Road Travel. He has a knack for making the optimal travel arrangements for clients with unique requirements, however unusual those may be. Yangzi has a passion for sampling the latest products on world’s leading airlines, and serves as our resident expert in airline and hotel loyalty programs. His previous career as a research scientist in biochemistry took him to the UK, Denmark, and the US for more than a decade combined. At Freedom Road Travel, he leverages his unique skill set to create once-in-a-lifetime experiences.

Chiara Cimmino Chiara is a travel professional with experience in inbound China tourism, including large groups and new product development working for travel companies in Beijing, Kunming and now Shanghai. She leads our DMC product development team in creating new and interesting travel products for inbound tours. While studying in Kunming, Chiara has travelled extensively in Yunnan and the south of China. She loves to explore new places and walk along the beaten path. Before China, Chiara began working as a tour escort for Chinese clients in Venice, Italy.

Michael Zhou Michael has worked as a professional English guide for more than a decade in Yunnan and throughout China. His passion is to show his clients the melting pot of Yunnan’s vibrant minorities’ culture and landscape beauty that he sees every day. He enjoys a green, sustainable living lifestyle using alternative methods of transportation and energy. Michael ensures a top-level of quality and responsibility when travelling with his clients.

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Tibetan women at the foot of the Fopingshan Mountain

Beef noodle soup Paper lanterns in Pingyao Ancient Town

RESPONSIBLE Travel

aintaining integrity and upholding principles of sustainable development is core to our travel company ethos and to us. Our values are ingrained in the culture of our business and in the design of our private and group tours. The people, their customs and the local environments at each destination are all considered when planning itineraries and conducting tours. Freedom Road Travel expects the same level of standards from all our travel partners across China.

Tibetan singing bowl in the hands of a girl in national costume

Our mission statement â&#x20AC;&#x153;to make the world a better place by enabling wonderful experiencesâ&#x20AC;? extends to everyone in the Freedom Road Travel environment; our clients (before, during and after travel), our staff, travel partners and, importantly, the people and destinations we visit. Here at Freedom Road Travel we support local communities and businesses by engaging local tour guides, businesses and experts wherever possible, contributing to local employment as well as ensuring our travellers gain a true insight into the local lives, customs and values of the places they visit. We ask all visitors to respect the different cultures and customs, to be aware of the environment, and to take the time to try the foods or locals goods unique to the area. Our travel tours are, by design, low impact on the environment due to keeping groups smaller allowing us to focus on providing an immersive experience with small vehicles and local accommodation.

Sunset over the Tiger Mouth rice Fields in Yuanyang, Southern Yunnan 8 | China Expeditions

Freedom Road Travel strongly believes in giving back to the communities that we are a part of. We are proud to be a platinum sponsor of the Australian Shanghai Association, a volunteer organisation that raises funds and resources for those in need in Shanghai and rural areas of China. For details go to www.australian-shanghai-association.org

WHAT MAKES US Different? Bada Rice Terraces in Honghe province, Yunnan

We really listen to you when we ask: “What is your Freedom Road?”

t Freedom Road Travel, we take pride in our experiential approach when it comes to travel. We understand that every one of our clients is different. They are each on a unique journey, have their own preferences, and set their own goals for travel. We are passionate about travel, and sharing the best experience from our own adventures. This is why we put our personal touches into the journeys we tailor for our clients.

Fishing with cormorants on the Li River, Xingping, Guangxi Province

Whether you are travelling in a group, as a family or on your own, we respect your preferences and objectives. We listen to our customers and make sure all their needs are catered for, and everyone is treated as a VIP. Our respect for the ‘individual’ extends to the amazing places we go and people we meet along the way, each being an important element of your journey. Freedom Road Travel focuses on making each day a new exciting experience, be it a guide explaining the history and customs, a chef presenting the regional specialty, or a local craftsman showing his trade. China Expeditions | 9

f all the books in all the world, the best stories are found between the pages of a passport."

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Fisherman on the Li River, Guangxi Province

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Beautiful architecture in Ancient Buddhist temple, Xishuangbanna, Southern Yunnan

Hani's Rice Terraces

The Stone Forest

Red River bend

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ALONG THE RED RIVER L

et’s weave our way into the heart of southern Yunnan, through sprawling rice fields and timeless villages, where people live lives distant from modern Han Chinese society. These people preserve their heirloom traditions for generations to come by happily sharing them with visitors to their lands. We’ll carry their gifts through from the ancestral lands of the Red River Hani people, where mountaintop forests feed water down to thousands of rice terraces, to Xishungbanna’s subtropical valleys.

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Price: from USD 2,415 per person

ITINERARY: DAY 1-2 – KUNMING – STONE FOREST We’ll meet the guide and have dinner in the historic railway station built by French traders. We’ll spend the morning biking through the Stone Forest and traditional Sani Villages. A few villagers will share a slice of their way of life by inviting us into their homes, or even introducing us to their gentle, giant water buffaloes. After lunch, we’ll visit a village that’s filled with fantastical murals about the mythical origins of the Stone Forest.

will be to explore the Hani settlements that have tended to the tea for so many years, and to experience the naturalistic way of life that role entails. Expect to learn not just about the traditions behind tea, but also behind the Hani way of life. A big barbeque feast will close out our tour.

COST INCLUDES:

• • • •

Best local accommodation with breakfasts Private English-speaking guides Private drivers & transportation All lunches and dinners for 9 days (highest possible quality) • All home-made picnic food and road snacks • Entrance fees and activities

DAY 3-5 – JIANSHUI – HONGHE - BOHUA We’ll get a taste and smell of the world of stinky tofu by witnessing the famous “Western Wells” tofu factories, and by actually taking part in tofu production. After, we will trek to the Ailao Mountains which are home to the world’s most scenic, surreal panoramas of endless rice terraces that sprawl up and down steep and graceful grades. The Hani people who make these rice terraces have been sheltered from the rapid modernization of China’s recent history, so their animist spirituality and TibetoBurmese Hani language remain largely as they were hundreds of years ago. DAY 6-8 – HONGHE – YUANJIANG – MOHEI – PU’ER After we cross the Red River on a narrow hanging bridge, we will search for a deserted village in the forest, and see mango, dragon, and lychee fruit orchards in Yuanjiang. When the sun sets, we’ll spend the night at a beautiful garden resort that overlooks the Mekong River. For a good cup of tea, we’ll head to the Nannuo Mountain which has been a hub of tea cultivation for centuries, and some of its tea trees are somehow more than 1000 years old. Our last journey of the tour

The published price is per person, based on 2 people, twin sharing. The published prices are NOT valid for high seasons and public holidays. The prices stated can only be indicative and may be adjusted based on the travelling period and the number of travelers in your group. Please indicate your preferred travelling dates and number of travelers,we will be happy to provide you with the exact prices. China Expeditions | 13

Beautiful architecture in Ancient Buddhist temple, Xishuangbanna, Southern Yunnan

The Crescent Moon Spring, Dunhuang Crescent Lake, Gansu Province

Rapeseed flowers in full bloom, Qinghai Plateau

Zhangye Danxia landform The Rainbow Mountains 14 | China Expeditions

QINGHAI TIBET PLATEAU T

ravel through the historical Hexi Corridor and barren Tsaidam Basin on the margin of Qinghai-Tibet Plateau. Hexi Corridor, as a major artery of the ancient Silk Road, was the most important route from north China to Central Asia. The cities that are peppered along the route were major political, economic and cultural exchange centres crucial for trading and sharing knowledge about what was ahead.

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Price: from USD 3,290 per person DAY 1-3: XINING – ZHANGYE – JIAYUGUAN Our journey begins in Xining, where the pearlescent Dongguan Grand Mosque stands as one of the four largest mosques in China. The building was finished in 1380 and has since been meticulously maintained. From Xining, we will make our way through the Daban Mountain, where people still enjoy a nomadic lifestyle, herding their sheep across cool hillsides. En route to Zhangye, we’ll stop to explore the breathtaking Mati Temple Grotto, a sacred place of worship amazingly dug into a sky high cliff side. We’ll also visit the Giant Buddha Temple that holds China’s largest sleeping Buddha statue, stretched 35 meters across and wonderfully preserved.

Lake, it’s off to the Sun & Moon Mountain and Kumbum Monastery. Sun & Moon Mountain’s grassy slopes provide beautiful views over the area, while Kumbum Monastery, set into the base of a hill side, provides famed Yak Butter sculptures, frescoes, and embossed embroidery made by lama artists.

COST INCLUDES:

• Accommodation in 3* & 4* hotels with breakfast • Private English speaking guide • Private driver and transportation • Entrance fees and activities

DAY 4-6: JIAYUGUANG -- DUNHUANG We’ll explore this historical frontier outpost by first visiting the ancient Jiayuguan Fort, the first and oldest fortification on the western end of the Great Wall. We will then visit the Mogao Caves, also called the “Thousand Buddha Grottoes”. They are a system of 492 temples dug out of a hillside along an oasis on the Silk Road. In the afternoon, we’ll ride camels through the desert’s enormous sand dunes, to the emerald waters of Crescent Moon Spring. DAY 7-10: DELINGHA – QINGHAI LAKE – KUMBUM -- XINING We’ll take roads up through Danjin Pass and down to the arid, salty Tsaidam Basin, all while the golden Altyn-Tagh Ranges roll by in the west. We will take a scenic drive through Tsaidam, passing by its many sand and wind shaped rock formations, and stopping at Tsaka Lake’s shimmering mineral waters. Qinghai Lake, China’s largest salt lake, is also a waystation for birds migrating across Asia. After catching the sunrise over Qinghai

The published price is per person, based on 4 people, twin sharing. The published prices are NOT valid for high seasons and public holidays. The prices stated can only be indicative and may be adjusted based on the travelling period and the number of travelers in your group. Please indicate your preferred travelling dates and number of travelers,we will be happy to provide you with the exact prices. China Expeditions | 15

Sunrise over Meili Snow Mountain

Tibetan Village

Feilaisi Viewing Platform

Mingyong Glacier and Meili Snow Mountains, Northern Yunnan 16 | China Expeditions

THE SONGSTAM GRAND CIRCUIT T

he 5 lodges around Shanrgi-La form a circuit and show the best of this beautiful region. Each lodge presents a different culture and is decorated in harmony with the natural and cultural elements respecting the surrounding environment. Shangri-La itself is paradise found. Maneuvering through snow-capped mountains, deep lush valleys, and white limestone pools is something you have to experience to fully understand the beauty of this place.

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Price: from USD 3,840 per person DAY 1-4: TACHENG – CIZHONG We’ll venture to the colorful Dharma/Buddha Cave, where a monk meditated for ten years until he found enlightenment. We’ll explore the culture and spirituality on display in such a holy place and also walk the serene pilgrimage road through the quiet forests and hills. Afterwards, we’ll visit Hada Village and learn from a local family the traditional process of making soy milk and tofu. We’ll visit the Yunnan Golden Monkey National Park, a conservancy for the peculiarly familiar, but also endangered, black snub-nosed monkey. Afterwards, we’ll head to Cizhong via the scenic upper Mekong River, stopping by the stunning cliff side Tongle Lisu Village.

Trail through the mountain and valley is also an option. Our time in Shangri-La will be spent biking and horse riding at Napa Lake, an enormous lush wetland where you can see black-necked cranes stretching their long legs among grazing cows and sheep in the shallow grassy lake beds, all while surrounded by verdant snow peaked mountains. We’ll then visit the Songzanlin Monastery. This golden roofed monastery is the largest in Yunnan, and it’s full of treasured and gilded sculptures, consummate frescos, and magnificently adorned halls.

COST INCLUDES:

• Accommodation in the Songstam Lodges with breakfast • Private English speaking guide • Private driver and transportation • All lunches and dinners for 10 days (highest possible quality) • Water and snacks throughout the trip• • Complimentary soft drinks, local beer, coffee, tea and drinking water at the Songtsam Lodges • Entrance fees and activities

DAY 5-6: CIZHONG – MEILI We’ll set out for Meili, but not without making a few scenic stops on the way. One stop will be in Qudengge, where we’ll learn about how Tibetan Buddhists worship the nearby Mount Kawagebo, which they believe is the spiritual home of a warrior god. After enjoying a redpeaked Kawagebo at sunrise, we’ll participate in a small ceremony to pay respects to the mountain with the prayer flags we printed yesterday. Then, we can either go biking along the Feilaisi Viewing Platform, or we can go on a day hike and picnic lunch on Baima Snow Mountain. The Feilaisi Viewing Platform provides a wonderful panoramic view of the Kawagebo Mountains. DAY 7-10: BENZILAN – SHANGRI-LA We’ll explore a number of pristine Tibetan villages in the mountains and experience the climate and flora diversity with a walk through the forests. A hike on the Tea & Horse Ancient

Delicious Xinjiang Lamb Skewers

Afaq Khoja Mausoleum near Kashgar

Uygur traditional musical instrument, Xinjiang Province

Landscape around Muztagh Ata and Karakuli Lake, Pamir Mountains, Kashgar 18 | China Expeditions

XINJIANG IS CALLING T

ravel to the remote Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region and discover a history shaped by an unceasing flow of commercial and cultural influences. Follow the ancient Silk Road and explore dramatically diverse landscapes. With the trade route having linked China and the Middle East passing through Xinjiang, the legacy can still be easily seen in traditional open-air bazaars of its major cities.

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Price: from USD 2,280 per person DAY 1-3: URUQMI – TURPAN We’re headed to Heaven Lake of Tianshan. Heaven Lake lies like a pool of liquid jade among green mountains at 1907 meters above sea level. At the lake you’ll be free to ride horses along its quiet shores, go boating on its shimmering waters, or just trek among the surroundings at your own pace and for as long as you like. You can learn about the lives of local Kazak families by sharing a lunch with them or by just paying a polite visit. We will then explore the ruined ancient city of Gaochang. After, we’ll visit the Bezeklik Thousand Buddha Caves: a complex of 77 Buddhist cave grottos filled with frescos and murals that date back to the 5th Century.

largest in China. It’s able to hold up to 20,000 worshippers, with a beautiful indoor courtyard that holds rows of poplar trees and a pond. Then we’ll head to Karakul Lake, which we will get to by taking the Pakistan Karakorum Highway on the Pamir Plateau, otherwise known as the roof of the world. Karakul Lake, a serene site of surreal beauty, sits at the foot of two snow-capped peaks that you can not only see by looking towards the sky, but also by looking down into Karakul Lake's reflective waters.

COST INCLUDES:

• • • • • • •

Accommodation in 4* hotels with breakfast Private English speaking guide Private driver and transportation All lunches and dinners from day 2 to day 9 Two bottles mineral water per person per day Soft sleeper train tickets from Turpan to Kucha Entrance fees and activities

DAY 4-6: KUCHA – AKSU In Kucha we’ll visit the Yarghul (Jiaohe) Ancient City, one of the best preserved in China, then discover the world famous karez water system: a series of more than 1100 wells and tunnels dating back to 206 BCE. The water system is considered as much an ancient technological feat as the Great Wall and Grand Canal. Afterwards, we’ll visit the Emin Suliman Minaret: the only Islamic ancient pagoda in China. We’ll make a stop at the Kizil Thousand Buddha Cave. The caves were dug between 5th and 6th Century AD, and today form not only one of China’s largest cave systems, but also China’s oldest treasure trove of Buddhist art. DAY 7-10: KASHGAR – KARAKUL LAKE Kashgar City is a hub of the rich, endless Uighur culture and our next stop is the Kashgar Sunday Main Bazaar, the largest bazaar in Central Asia. Then, we’ll visit Id Kah Mosque and the Aba Khoja Tomb. Id Kah Mosque is the

Corn cobs drying in the sun, Baisha Village, near Lijiang, Yunnan

Shangri-La, Yunnan

Blue Moon Valley, Lijiang, Yunnan

Traditional Tibetan House in Yubeng Village, Northern Yunnan 20 | China Expeditions

DEEP IN THE WILD WEST T

ravel to Yunnan and witness a varied landscape of encompassing snow-capped mountains, rice terraces, lakes and deep gorges, along with stone forests that contain limestone karst peaks formed over 270 million years ago. Discover Shangri-La, a mythical paradise on earth, described by British author James Hilton as an eternally quiet place of harmony and happiness in his 1933 novel Lost Horizon.

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Price: from USD 3,330 per person DAY 1-4: CHENGDU – DANBA VILLAGE –XINDUQIAO We will first experience the traditional Chinese dramatic arts at a classical Sichuan Opera and Face Changing show. We’ll then travel to Danba, known as the Kingdom of a Thousand Watchtowers, built between 800 and 1,200 years ago. On our way to Xinduqiao, known as a photographer’s paradise, we’ll pass through stunning gorges and breathtaking valleys and visit 2 of the biggest monasteries in the region. The first being Geda Shambaling Monastery, which was founded in 1729 by the 7th Dalai Lama, and then Tagong Monastery, which is situated among gentle green hills with otherworldly views of the snowcapped Yala Mountain.

DAY 9-11: SHANGRI-LA Our first day in Shangri-La begins with a visit to the most important historical sites—the historic Ganden Sumtseling Monastery. The monastery was founded in 1679 by the fifth Dalai Lama, and it sits at the edge of a river, 3,380 meters above sea level, surrounded by low hills, soaring mountains, and the deep blue sky.

COST INCLUDES:

• Accommodation in 4* hotels and local best available accommodation with breakfast • Private English speaking guide • Private driver and transportation • Entrance fees and activities

DAY 5-8: LITANG – XIANGCHENG – BENZILAN – DEQIN After arriving in Litang, we will have ascended 4,000 meters above sea level, which is an elevation that makes Litang one of the highest towns in the world. The high plateau that Litang sits on provides a perfect vantage point for the surrounding valleys stretched out below and the white mountaintops that ascend even higher above. From Litang, we go even higher. The road to Xiangcheng climbs 4,720 meters while plying through huge, forested mountains, stunning valleys, and white-stoned Tibetan villages that shine in the bright sun. Our drive to Benzilan will take us back down with a tour of different plateau scenery, from stretches of soft hills, to high altitude forestry, through several placid Tibetan villages, and along the deep blue Jinsha River which stretches past Benzilan. Next, not far from Deqin is the town of Feilaisi; the best spot from which to see the holy Mt. Meili, known as one of them most sacred mountains of Tibetan Buddhism.

Ancient Wind-rain bridge in Xijiang Hmong village, Guizhou Province

Village scenery in Guizhou Province

The Stone Forest, near Kunming, Yunnan

Seagull on Green Lake, Kunming, Yunnan

22 | China Expeditions

YUNNAN AND GUIZHOU W

e start from Yunnan’s charming capital, Kunming and travel into the center of southern China’s UNESCO awarded karst landscape. Discover the unique scenery of stone forests and green lakes as well as a very interesting melting pot of minority culture in this exciting multi-province tour. We’ll escape to a hidden utopia of art, history, lakes, waterfalls, grasslands, forests, and ancient monasteries.

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Price: from USD 1,810 per person DAY 1-3: KUNMING – STONE FOREST – XINGYI We will travel to The Stone Forest - a verdant landscape of spectacular rock formations that reach to the sky like trees, all only a short drive east of Kunming. Exploring this UNESCO World Heritage Site, with its beautiful scenery and high lookout points, is stunning. Next, we’ll travel to the Forest of Ten Thousand Peaks. The legion of karsts jut steeply from the ground but round off at their peaks like river-polished pebbles. They stand almost in a formation that extends into the horizon and beyond, with flat stretches of grassland and small rivers snaking neatly between them.

Village and Tang’an Village. Zhaoxing is the larger of the two villages, and the Dong culture and architecture is on full display here: hundreds of pagoda roofs over wooden stilt houses among narrow emerald canals, stone bridges ornately decorated with flowers, and beautiful rice terrace fields surrounding the lush town. Tong’an Village has the first ecological museum ever created by the Dong people to record their environmental engineering inventions.

COST INCLUDES:

• Accommodation in 4* hotels and local best available accommodation with breakfast • Private English speaking guide • Private driver and transportation • All lunches from day 2 to day 7 • Entrance fees and activities

DAY 4-6: HUANGGUOSHU WATERFALL – ANSHUN –GUIYANG – KAILI Huangguoshu Waterfall is where we will get a great dose of local traditions and culture. We’ll head to the Zuoqi Black Miao Village, where Miao women still dress in black turbans, bright patterned cotton jackets, and large earrings. We’ll also stop by a village where Buyi people still practice an ancient, traditional way of spinning and weaving fabric. Then, finally, Huangguoshu Waterfall, the biggest waterfall in China. We’ll see the exciting melting pot of cultures throughout Guiyang. Stopping at the Jiaxu Tower, we’ll see more than 400 years of history in the form of calligraphy, stone tablets, and craft works. Kaili City is the highly developed center of Miao culture, and yet we’ll still be able to tour a nearby village that has remained nearly unchanged for hundreds of years. DAY 7-8: LIPING COUNTY – ZHAOXING Liping County is home to the largest population of Dong minority Chinese, and we’ll get to learn about their lives and culture by visiting Zhaoxing

Ki monastery in the Himalayas mountains

EVERE Buddhist Temple perched on the mountain

Way to the Everest Base Camp

The Potala Palace, Lhasa, Tibet

24 | China Expeditions

LHASA TO EST BASE CAMP SMALL GROUPS JOURNEYS

ense of adventure and a dose of curiosity are the essential travel ingredients for this tour. Admire the sunrise on one of the most epic landscapes on earth and discover the ancient and mysterious land of Tibet. Visit the world’s highest monastery, immerse yourself in the local culture and drive through holy mountains. A truly unique experience on the top of the world.

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Price: from USD 1,200 per person DAY 1-3: LHASA – POTALA PALACE – DREPUNG & SERA MONASTERIES The majestic Potala Palace, built in 1645, shines in the valley like a pearl in an oyster. The Palace has over 1,000 rooms, 10,000 shrines, about 200,000 statues, and a priceless collection of gilded burial stupas of past Dalai Lamas. Also, the Palace contains a Dharma Cave where the 33rd King of Tibet studied Buddhism. Afterwards, you will visit the Drepung Monastery and Sera Monastery, which are two of the `great three’ Gelupka monasteries of Tibet. Sera Monastery, in the northern foot hills of Lhasa, sits at the base of a hill where wild roses bloom in great sloped seas of red.

DAY 6-8: RONGBUK MONASTERY -- EVEREST BASE CAMP --SHIGATSE In the morning, we'll catch the sunrise come over Mt. Everest in a spectacular, stunning fashion. Afterwards, we can head to the Everest Base Camp either on foot or by bus. We’ll also tour the Rongbuk Monastery, which was founded in 1902 and, in 2011, rated by CNN as `the best place to be a recluse.’

COST INCLUDES:

• Tibet travel permit • Accommodation in 4* hotels and local best available accommodation with breakfast • Private English speaking guide • Private driver and transportation • One Tibetan style welcome dinner • Entrance fees and activities • Oxygen tank • Tourist accident/casualty insurance

DAY 4-5: GYANTSE – SHIGATSE -- RONGBUK MONASTERY -EVEREST BASE CAMP On our way to Gyantse, we’ll drive through the holy Mount Nyenchen Khangsar (7191m), the highest mountain near Lhasa. In Gyantse, we’ll visit Pelkor Monastery, which is tucked into the base and side of a tall hill, with high red and white walls lining the top of the hill’s ridges. The monastery is home to the world famous Gyantse Kumbum. The Gyantse Kumbum is Tibet’s largest for its 9-tier structure, 108 gates, 76 chapels, and more than ten thousand figures of Buddha in images and murals in vibrant color and naturalistic style. Later, we will visit the Rongbuk Monastery which was founded in 1902 and still remains the world’s highest monastery. Our journey from Shigatse to Rongbuk will take us through Pangla Pass, one of Tibet’s highest at 5050 meters, and we will drive by amazing vistas of wild grasslands, soaring mountains, and, at night, star-filled skies.

This is a Small Group Journey. The groups’ size is from 2 to 12 people. All accommodation is based on double occupancy. If you are traveling alone, we will do our best to assign you a roommate. If you prefer single accommodation, you will be required to pay a Single Supplement charge. The prices stated can only be indicative and may be adjusted based on the travelling period and the number of travelers in your group. This tour is also available as a private tour. For more information, please contact us. China Expeditions | 25

Candles and metal pot in Sera Monastery, Tibet

The Jokhang Temple in Lhasa, Tibet

Stone steps up to the Potala Palace in Lhasa, Tibet

Tibetan Plateau

26 | China Expeditions

MOUNT KAILASH ADVENTURE SMALL GROUPS JOURNEYS

ount Kailash’s name has many different meanings, in many different languages, and for four different faiths, but the feeling of witnessing Mount Kailash is universal. As the main peak of the Gangdise Range, Mount Kailash rises like a pyramid to an elevation of 6656 meters. At that height, snow stays all year, accumulating in horizontal and vertical lines across the mountainside. The mountain draws worship from many followers who make pilgrimages that bring good fortune.

15D/14N

Price: from USD 2,280 per person

DAY 1-4: LHASA –YAMDROTSO LATE – SHIGATSE Potala Palace is the most ancient and revered site in Lhasa, for it houses a myriad of holy chapels, audience halls, and, most of all, the bejeweled and golden stupa tombs of past Dalai Lamas. And all throughout the place there are frescoes, thangkas, and mandalas. We’ll also be visiting Jokhang Temple in downtown Lhasa where thousands of pilgrims go to perform a kora, a ritual walking circuit, called the Barkhor. We’ll get to see this walk, experience the cultures and traditions behind it, and meet people whose lives revolve around it. We’ll also visit Sera and Drepung Monastery. On our way to Shigatse from Lhasa, we will drive through the green farmlands of Nyangchu Valley to reach Yamdrotso Lake.

clouds cast down their gliding shadows. As the sunrise breaks over Drirapuk’s mountain ridges, we’ll set off for Dolma-La Pass and after a brief rest at Dolma-La, we begin our descent down a staircase to the wide and low Lhachu Valley floor. We then trek to the Milarepa’s Cave. The Cave was built around a natural spring that waters the surrounding grassland.

COST INCLUDES:

DAY 5-8: TINGRI –RONGBUK MONASTERY – EVEREST BASE CAMP – LAKE MANASAROVAR On our way to Tingri, we’ll stop at the Sakya Monastery, founded in 1037. On our drive to Everest Base Camp you’ll get amazing vistas of wild grasslands, soaring mountains, and, at night, star-filled skies. The entire Himalayan range will be visible. The road then runs through the desolate expanse of Digur Tang Plain, with enormous sand dunes that are only dwarfed by the neighboring snowy peaks of Shishapangma and Langtang to the south. The Manasarovar Lake is holy to both Hinduism and Tibetan Buddhism, so you will see many pilgrims praying and circling the turquoise shores. DAY 9-15: TREK DAY 1 - DARCHEN – DRIRAPUK – DZULTRIPUK -- SAGA From Darchen, we’ll come upon a grassy plain where nomads live out their traditional lives, herding livestock and living off the land as

Terms & Conditions Freedom Road Travel Ltd (FRT) is committed to taking great care of our guests, our agents, our suppliers, our service providers and our wonderful staff. It is really important that you take the time to read and understand the following general conditions of booking and travelling with FRT. Whilst the following are general important terms and conditions, there will be more detailed information outlined in your travel confirmation documents, giving the kind of experience you are booking with FRT.. Please read the FRT Trip Summary relating to your travel prior to booking with FRT to ensure that you understand the itinerary and the style of trip you are undertaking. Thank you! OUR CONTRACT For all bookings made with FRT, travel confirmation documents will be issued and you are deemed to have read and agreed to the Booking Conditions (which constitutes the entire agreement between you and FRT), and your booking will be accepted by FRT on this basis. Any detailed services or specific terms and conditions to be provided will be referred to in your confirmation documents. VALIDITY Dates, itineraries and prices are valid from 01 January 2016 until 31 December 2016. Beyond 31 December 2016 dates, itineraries and prices are indicative only. ACCEPTANCE OF BOOKING AND PAYMENTS You will be required to pay a non-refundable depost of USD$50 per person per trip for your booking to be confirmed. Upon accepting your booking, FRT will issue a confirmation document; a contract will then exist between both parties, from the date the invoice is issued. Please refer to your booking confirmation document for details regarding the payment schedule, terms and conditions. YOUR PERSONAL DETAILS In order for FRT to confirm your travel arrangements you must provide all required details at the time of deposit payment. Necessary details include full name as per passport, date of birth, nationality, passport number, passport issue and expiry date and any pre-existing medical conditions you have which may affect your ability to complete your travel arrangements. Your booking will only be confirmed with provision of these details. CANCELLATION BY THE TRAVELLER If you cancel some or all portions of your booking, cancellation fees could or will apply. For a cancellation notice to be effective it must be received in writing by FRT to then confirm. Unless otherwise indicated to you by your respective travel consultant, after confirmation by FRT, if you cancel a portion or all of your travel, the terms and conditions in the confirmation documents will apply. Some general aspects that apply to all confirmed bookings include: If you leave a trip for any reason after it has commenced, FRT are not obliged to make any refunds for unused services. 28 | China Expeditions

If you fail to join a tour, join it after departure, or leave it prior to its completion, no refund can be made. FRT strongly recommends that you take out appropriate travel insurance at the time of booking to cover cancellation fees. The cancellation fees, in addition to any FRT fees, may also be levied by accommodation providers, travel agents, or third party tour, transport operators or other service providers. CANCELLATION BY FRT FRT may cancel a trip at any time up to 60 days before departure. FRT may cancel a trip at any time prior to departure if, due to terrorism, natural disasters, political instability or other external events, it is not viable for FRT to operate the planned itinerary. If FRT cancel your trip, you can transfer amounts paid to an alternate departure date or alternatively receive a full refund. In circumstances where the cancellation is due to external events outside our reasonable control, refunds will be less any unrecoverable costs. FRT are not responsible for any incidental expenses that you may have incurred as a result of your booking including but not limited to visas, vaccinations, travel insurance excess, excess baggage or non-refundable flights. Please note that different cancellation conditions may apply to some styles of trips, your booking consultant will advise if differences apply. BOOKING AMENDMENTS If you wish to make any changes to your confirmed booking or transfer your booking to a third party you must notify FRT at least 30 days prior to the proposed departure date. Any changes may incur fees from hotels, ground operators, airlines or other providers. Transfers to a third party are only permitted where the transferee meets all the requirements in relation to the trip, and transfers to another departure can only be made to a departure within the current validity period. CONSULAR ADVICE Prior to making your booking, FRT highly recommends that you review information provided by the Foreign Affairs Bureau of your nationality. FRT strongly suggests that you familiarise yourself with the latest Government Consular advice and information. INCLUSIONS The land price as outlined in the travel confirmation document as applicable & listed to your trip summary includes accommodation, transport, sightseeing, meals and services of a group leader (for groups of 9 or more).. EXCLUSIONS The land price of your trip does not include: • International or internal flights unless specified • Airport, taxes and excess baggage charges unless specified • Meals other than those specified in the Trip Summary • Visa and passport fees • Travel insurance

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Terms & Conditions experts. It is your responsibility to ensure that you obtain proper and detailed medical advice at least two months prior to travel for the latest health requirements and recommendations for your destination. TAXES As certain taxes are mandatory in various countries or provinces, there may also be additional local taxes charged at some airports. All taxes included in the current pricing are subject to change without notice. CHANGE OF ITINERARY While FRT endeavors to operate all trips as described, FRT reserves the right to change the trip itinerary, if necessary. Please refer to our website before departure for the most recent updates to your itinerary. If FRT make a major change (only if necessary) FRT will inform you as soon as is reasonably possible. The definition of a major change is deemed to be a change affecting at least one day in five days of the itinerary. FRT reserves the right to change an itinerary after departure due to local circumstances or events outside of its control. In such emergency circumstances additional costs may be necessary. Please note FRT is not responsible for any incidental expenses that may be incurred as a result of the change of itinerary such as visas, vaccinations or non-refundable flights. AUTHORITY ON TOUR For any FRT group tours, these are run by the appointed group leader. The decision of the group leader is final on all matters likely to affect the safety or well-being of any person participating in the trip. If a participant fails to comply with a decision made by a group leader, or interferes with the well-being or mobility of the group, the group leader may request the individual to leave the trip immediately, with no right of refund. All participants must at all times comply with the laws, customs, foreign exchange and drug regulations of all countries visited, and you also agree to travel in accordance with our responsible travel guidelines. ACCEPTANCE OF RISK You acknowledge that the nature of the trip may involve strenuous activity and participation involves a degree of personal risk. You may be visiting places where the political, cultural and geographical attributes present dangers and physical challenges greater than those present in our daily lives. FRT uses information from government foreign departments and reports from our own contacts in assessing whether the itinerary should operate. However it is also your own responsibility to acquaint yourself with all possible relevant travel information and the nature of your itinerary. You acknowledge that your decision to travel is made in light of consideration of this information and you accept that you are aware of the personal risks attendant upon such travel. LIMITATION OF LIABILITY FRT contract with a network of companies, government agencies and individuals to assist in

the running of our trips as agent for these third parties. FRT are not responsible for the acts and omissions of these third parties. To the fullest extent permitted by law: • Any liability for any loss, death, injury or damage which you may suffer (directly or indirectly) in connection with or arising out of your participation in a trip, or any breach of the Booking Conditions. • You release FRT and our officers, employees, agents and representatives from any liability and expressly waive any claims you may have against FRT arising out of or in connection with your participation in a trip. • Any condition or warranty which would otherwise be implied by law into these Booking Conditions (Implied Warranty), is excluded. To the extent an Implied Warranty cannot be. PASSPORT AND VISAS You must carry a valid passport and have obtained all of the appropriate visas, permits and certificates for the countries in which you will visit during your trip. Your passport must be valid for 6 months beyond the duration of the trip. It is your responsibility to ensure that you are in possession of the correct visas, permits and certificates for your trip; please refer to the Trip Summary for details. FRT are not responsible if you are refused entry to a country because you lack the correct passport, visa or other travel documentation. TRAVEL INSURANCE Travel insurance is compulsory for all our travellers and should be taken out at the time of booking. Your travel insurance must provide cover against personal accident death, medical expenses and emergency repatriation with a recommended minimum coverage of USD$200,000 for each of the categories of cover. FRT also strongly recommend it covers cancellation, curtailment, personal liability and loss of luggage and personal effects. Your insurance details must be supplied to FRT at the time of booking. If you fail to provide the requested insurance information prior to travel as well as on arrival during registration, FRT reserves the right, acting in our sole discretion, to cancel bookings and apply charges as per our cancellation policy. If you obtain travel insurance through FRT you acknowledge that you are satisfied with the level of insurance FRT have arranged. OPTIONAL ACTIVITIES Optional activities not included in the trip price do not form part of the trip or this contract. You accept that any assistance given by your group leader or local representative in arranging optional activities does not render FRT liable for them in any way. The contract for the provision of that activity will be between you and the activity provider. CLAIMS & COMPLAINTS If you have a complaint about your trip, please inform your group leader or our local representative at the time, in order that they can attempt to rectify the matter. If satisfaction is not reached through these means, then any further complaint should be put in writing to FRT within 48 hours of the end of the tour, and sent to FRT at contactus@freedomroadtravel.com.

SEVERABILITY In the event that any term or condition contained in these Booking Conditions is unenforceable or void by operation of law, or as being against public policy or for any other reason, than such term or condition shall be deemed to be severed from this contract or amended accordingly, only to such extent necessary to allow all remaining terms and conditions to survive and continue as binding. PHOTOS AND MARKETING Should you consent to FRT using images of you taken during the trip, these may be used for advertising and promotional purposes in any medium FRT choose. You grant FRT a perpetual, royalty-free, worldwide, irrevocable license to use such images for publicity and promotional purposes. PRIVACY POLICY Any personal information that FRT collect about you may be used for any purpose associated with the operation of a trip, or to send you marketing material in relation to our events and special offers. The information may be disclosed to our agents, service providers or other suppliers to enable FRT to operate the trip. FRT will otherwise treat your details in accordance with our privacy policy (available for viewing on our website). APPLICABLE LAW The laws of the People’s Republic of China governs these Booking Conditions to the fullest extent allowable. Any disputes in connection with a trip or these Booking Conditions must be initiated in the courts of Shanghai, P.R.China. UPDATING OF TERMS AND CONDITIONS The Company reserves the right to update and/ or alter these terms and conditions at any time, and it is the clients responsibility to be familiar with them. The latest terms and conditions can always be found on the Company website www.freedomroadtravel.com and will supersede any previous versions. BROCHURE FRT has exercised reasonable care to ensure that the contents of the brochures are correct, accurate and up-to-date at the time of printing. Please note that the contents of the brochures are based on information supplied to FRT by third-party suppliers and FRT does not have, and cannot be reasonably expected to have, personal knowledge about all of the facilities or services provided by each supplier; and facilities or services may change after the date of printing. Prior to making a booking, you should ask your travel consultant about any changes to the published information of which FRT may be aware. Excluded, our liability in respect of the Implied Warranty is limited to (in our absolute discretion): (I) the provision of a similar trip to an equivalent value; or (ii) a refund of the total amount received by FRT from you in connection with your booking. Any claim by you is excluded to the extent that it is for indirect or consequential loss, loss of profits or economic loss, however it arises, or for indirect, special, punitive or exemplary damages. China Expeditions | 29

Traditional wooden house in Langde Miao Village, Guizhou Province

Your Travel Agent FREEDOM ROAD TRAVEL

翱行旅行

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