Read important information about COVID-19 and travel to China. Take a tour of Beijing, China's bustling capital city home to close to 22 million people. While staying in the city, you will have opportunities to see Tian'anmen Tower, National Museum of China, Great Hall of the People, Chairman Mao Memorial Hall, and the Monument to the People's Hero. You will also explore the legendary Forbidden City - home of the imperial palace for close to 500 years, until 1912. Or you can spend some time exploring the old neighborhoods, known locally as hutongs. Here you can visit Drum Tower, Lama Temple and a Tibetan Monastery, before spending some time in the traditional Wangfujing marketplace. After exploring Beijing, your expedition may take you to the Great Wall or perhaps to a more isolated village, where the contrast with the buzz of urban China will surprise you.
Highlights of Beijing The capital city, Beijing is the quintessential destination for explorations of China. From historical sites that reflect on the country's ancient history to impressive architecture and monuments like the Great Wall, Beijing is a perfect place to start your tour of China! From Beijing, you might have the chance to:
Tour the Forbidden City, a World Heritage Site dating back more than 600 years.
Explore Tiananmen Square, the National Museum, the Great Hall of the People, and Chairman Mao Memorial Hall.
Visit a Tibetan monastery.
Bike through the suburban "hutongs" (old neighborhoods).
Browse local markets.
Hike one of the less heavily toured sections of the Great Wall of China.
Explore Olympic Park.
Tour the 15th century Temple of Heaven.
Try your hand at cooking local dishes with culinary classes.
The trip was not only memorable for the amount of animals we saw but also for the people and accommodations at the two camps where we stayed. Our first guide, BK, was a wealth of information about the animals, landscape and down to the plants and what they were used for. Everyday out was a learning experience with him. All the people at the camps were gracious and the food was excellent.
Our second camp in the Okavanga was just as good as the first as far as the staff, accommodations, food and animals. After our experience at the first camp we amazed that the high quality remained the same. Our guide, G, made sure we were able to enjoy every experience including a rush through the bush to witness a cheetah and an ensuing hunt that he heard over his radio.
In both camps there were enough guides out that if they saw something the other guides were informed which helped in seeing as much as possible. It was also nice that the concessions were large enough that we did not have vehicles following each other throughout the day.
Normally there is always something in a trip of this length that we think could be improved upon but this is the rare case where we cannot think of anything. From the time we left the States to when we returned it was one of the most hassle free vacations we took.
Perhaps emphasizing the use of the laundry facilities at the camps would be useful because of the luggage restrictions would be the only thing I can think of as an improvement to future clients.
Kenneth Dropek
1 day ago
Mary was so pleasant and professional. She made sure all of our questions were answered.
