CHINA& FAREASTCHINA 222 " A big THANK YOU to Imaginative Traveller for yet another fantastic tour and view into the life of another country. See you next year!" Doreas Gordon china & far east Japan Tokyo Takayama Empire of the Sun Kyoto Nagasaki Yufuin Mt Fuji Himeji Miyajima China BeijingGreat Wall Xi'an Kashgar Urumqi Turpan Dunhuang Jiayuguan The Silk Road The Silk Road Imaginative Facts Tour code: APSR • Activities: Extensive walking at sites, optional camel and bike rides in Dunhuang • Accommodation: 13 nights simple hotels, 4 nights hard sleeper train • Transport: Plane, public bus, private coach, day train, sleeper train, taxi • Flights: Beijing to Kashgar ( via Urumqi) • Fully Escorted: By Imaginative Traveller tour leader, services of local guides at major sites DAY 1: BEIJING- Arrival day DAY 2: BEIJING - KASHGAR- Fly west across Northern China and the Taklamakan Desert to Kashgar, a vital stopping point for traders. DAYS 3 & 4: KASHGAR- Free time to explore this remote corner of China by foot or by bicycle. The wonderful Sunday market is a fantastic way to immerse yourself in community life - join the locals for fresh dumplings and tea, watch the horse traders race their prospective animals and see the shepherds buying and selling their flocks. DAY 5: KASHGAR - TURPAN- Free morning. In the afternoon we take an overnight train to Turpan. DAYS 6 & 7: TURPAN- We arrive at Daheyan and transfer to the delightful oasis town of Turpan where we visit the atmospheric ruined cities of Gaocheng and Jiache, as well as the nearby Grape Valley where we can sample the local wines and raisins. DAY 8: URUMQI - DUNHUANG- We continue to Urumqi where we have time to visit the museum with its extraordinary collection of mummies before we catch the overnight train to Dunhuang. DAY 9: DUNHUANG- Arrive and transfer to our hotel. In the afternoon we visit the famous Mogao grottoes. DAYS 10 & 11: JIAYUGUAN - This morning we take a bus to Jiayuguan. Free time in the afternoon to explore before dinner. The following day we visit Jiayuguan Fort and the end of the Great Wall. We can take an optional camel ride before visiting the ' hanging wall'. DAY 12: JIAYUGUAN - XI'AN - Free morning with the option to visit the Weijin underground tomb. In the afternoon we catch the overnight train to Xi'an. DAYS 13 & 14: XI'AN- After arriving in Xi'an we have free time to visit the sites of this ancient capital of China. Explore the Muslim quarter and perhaps hire a bicycle and cycle along the city wall. DAY 15: XI'AN - BEIJING- A morning visit to the amazing Terracotta Warriors, dating back more than 2,000 years, and originally built to protect the Emperor Qin Shi Huang in the afterlife. In the afternoon we transfer to the station for the overnight train to Beijing. DAY 16: BEIJING- We transfer to the hotel and then visit the magnificent Forbidden City and the nearby atmospheric Tiananmen Square. The afternoon is free for further exploration of China's vibrant capital. DAY 17: BEIJING - GREAT WALL- Visit a lesser visited section of the Great Wall with an option to hike for 3- 5 hours along the crest of the wall. DAY 18: BEIJING- Tour ends. Important Note: It is very difficult to arrange onward travel from north- western China. Our tour therefore includes all internal flights in China necessary to start and finish in Beijing, for maximum convenience. Follow in ancient merchants' footsteps across Central Asia • Take the northern caravan routebetween Beijing and Kashgar • Stop at historically important towns and rub shoulders with the traders • Experience the diverse culturesof this vast region at bustling markets • Visit famed attractions such as the Forbidden City and Terracotta Warriors • Optional cycling through Xi'an and camel ride near Jiayuguan Fort Single Supplement £ 275 ( optional) Voluntary Carbon Offset £ 19.08 * Price includes tour price of £ 1199and local payment of US$ 440All prices are subject to currency fluctuations £ 1430pp Land Only * pioneer Tour duration 18 days © Imaginative Traveller © Imaginative Traveller Starts ThuEnds Sun BeijingBeijing 2009 14- May- 0931- May- 09 18- Jun- 0905- Jul- 09 10- Sep- 0927- Sep- 09 Starts ThuEnds Sun BeijingBeijing 2010 20- May- 1006- Jun- 10 24- Jun- 1011- Jul- 10 09- Sep- 1026- Sep- 10 The Great Wall of China is NOT visible from outer space - it is too thin. amazing fact ... We can also offer Extra Accommodation, Adventure Travel Insurance& Flights Save up to 15% on your tour - see page 243

JAPAN 223 CHINA& FAREAST Empire of the Sun Imaginative Facts Tour code: AAES • Activities: Extensive walking at sites and optional bike rides and mountain walks, Mt Fuji climb ( July and August). Trek grade - Moderate • Accommodation: 13 nights simple hotels, 1 night mountain hut on Mt Fuji ( selected trips only) • Transport: Train network, Shinkansen ( bullet train), ferry, local bus, taxi, tram • Japan Railpass: A 14- day Japan Rail Pass ( worth approx. US$ 400) is included in the cost of this tour • Fully Escorted: By Imaginative Traveller tour leader DAY 1: TOKYO- Arrival day. DAY 2: TOKYO- Morning orientation tour. DAY 3: TAKAYAMA- Visit the early morning fish markets. Board the famous bullet train for the first time and journey up into the Japan Alps, far from the modern life of Tokyo. DAY 4: TAKAYAMA- Discover old wooden and thatched houses, sake breweries and other traces of Japan's feudal past. Optional exploration by bike. DAYS 5 & 6: KYOTO- Depart early for Kyoto, former capital of Japan, home to many of the country's most treasured imperial sites and often called ' Japan's loveliest city'. DAY 7: HIMEJI - NAGASAKI- In the morning we visit the impressive Himeji Castle. Continue to Nagasaki for the night. DAY 8: NAGASAKI- A full day to explore this exciting city. Opportunity to visit the Glover Gardens, Dejima Island and the Atomic Bomb Memorial, or perhaps take a harbour cruise. DAY 9: KYUSHU - HOT SPRINGS- We travel across Kyushu to tranquil Yufuin where you can relax in hot spring baths. DAY 10: YUFUIN- Optional mountain walks in the stunning scenery around Mt Yufu. DAY 11: HIROSHIMA - MIYAJIMA- Travel by train to Hiroshima for a midday visit to the Peace Park. Continue by ferry to the lovely small island of Miyajima and see the famous floating Tori Gate at sunset. DAY 12: MIYAJIMA - MT FUJI- Travel to the Mt Fuji region. DAY 13: MT FUJI- Today we commence our climb of Mt Fuji. We break the trek by spending the night on the mountain at the 7th station. DAY 14: MT FUJI - TOKYO- Continue to the summit of Mt Fuji for an amazing sunrise, then return to Tokyo. DAY 15: TOKYO- Tour ends. Note: Mt Fuji is open only from 01 July - 31 August. Outside of these dates the group will stay in Nara and Tokyo for the nights of Day 12 and Day 13 respectively. The tour leader will arrange additional excursions as appropriate. Please see our trip dossier for details. Mt Fuji departures are marked with a * though a complete ascent is dependent upon safety, and therefore weather conditions. Note: A 14- day Japan Rail Pass is included in the cost of this tour. If you wish to travel independently after the tour, we can arrange for a 21- day pass instead. Please contact us for details. A superbly economical way of exploring this exciting destination • Explore vibrant Tokyo and beautiful Kyoto • Take the bullet train to rural Takayamain the Japan Alps • Visit the fascinating cities of Hiroshima and Nagasaki • Enjoy relaxingat the Yufuin hot springsand on the tranquil islandof Miyajima • Climb Mt Fuji( seasonally dependent) Voluntary Carbon Offset £ 22.87 * Price includes tour price of £ 1149and local payment of US$ 460All prices are subject to currency fluctuations £ 1390pp Land Only * adventurer Tour duration 15 days Starts SatEnds Sat TokyoTokyo 2009 21- Mar- 0904- Apr- 09 04- Apr- 0918- Apr- 09 11- Apr- 0925- Apr- 09 18- Apr- 0902- May- 09 25- Apr- 0909- May- 09 02- May- 0916- May- 09 16- May- 0930- May- 09 30- May- 0913- Jun- 09 06- Jun- 0920- Jun- 09 13- Jun- 0927- Jun- 09 20- Jun- 0904- July- 09 27- Jun- 0911- Jul- 09 * 04- Jul- 0918- Jul- 09 * 11- Jul- 0925- Jul- 09 * 18- Jul- 0901- Aug- 09 * 25- Jul- 0908- Aug- 09 * 01- Aug- 0915- Aug- 09 * 08- Aug- 0922- Aug- 09 * 15- Aug- 0929- Aug- 09 * 22- Aug- 0905- Sep- 09 29- Aug- 0912- Sep- 09 05- Sep- 0919- Sep- 09 12- Sep- 0926- Sep- 09 19- Sep- 0903- Oct- 09 26- Sep- 0910- Oct- 09 Starts SatEnds Sat TokyoTokyo 2010 20- Mar- 1003- Apr- 10 03- Apr- 1017- Apr- 10 10- Apr- 1024- Apr- 10 17- Apr- 1001- May- 10 01- May- 1015- May- 10 15- May- 1029- May- 10 29- May- 1012- Jun- 10 05- Jun- 1019- Jun- 10 12- Jun- 1026- Jun- 10 26- Jun- 1010- Jul- 10 * 03- Jul- 1017- Jul- 10 * 10- Jul- 1024- Jul- 10 * 17- Jul- 1031- Jul- 10 * 24- Jul- 1007- Aug- 10 * 31- Jul- 1014- Aug- 10 * 07- Aug- 1021- Aug- 10 * 14- Aug- 1028- Aug- 10 * 21- Aug- 1004- Sep- 10 28- Aug- 1011- Sep- 10 11- Sep- 1025- Sep- 10 18- Sep- 1002- Oct- 10 25- Sep- 1009- Oct- 10 * Indicates climb Mt Fuji This tour includes a 14 day Japan Railpass worth approx. US$ 400 Trek grade - Moderate Save up to 15% on your tour - see page 243