Small Group Tours and Tailor-Made Journeys January 2019 - June 2020 CHINA | JAPAN | VIETNAM | CAMBODIA | LAOS | SRI LANKA Welcome to Links Travel & Tours! You will have noticed the new name on the front of the brochure and probably asked ‘Why?’. The company has expanded, increasing the number of destinations we offer, and I thought now was the right time to change our name to encompass all the countries we serve, and am delighted to introduce Links Travel & Tours! Born and raised in China, my passion has always been to share the beauty of not only my home country, but also the neighbouring countries, with travellers across the UK, and I’ve now been doing just that for the last 10 years! Over time, we have built up a team of experts who have travelled extensively across Asia; passing on their extensive knowledge and unrivalled understanding of the many unique cultures, dramatic landscapes and delicious cuisines the area has to offer. We are proud to ensure that holidaymakers are catered for at the very highest level through providing honest travel advice, creating small group tours, and tailor-made journeys focussed around your interests. To celebrate our new name, and our 10th birthday, we are excited to add a new country to our portfolio – Sri Lanka (pages 132-141). So, if you have always dreamt of spotting leopards in the wild, or sipping a refreshing cup of Ceylon Tea at the plantation where it was grown, then captivating Sri Lanka is the place for you! We have also added new itineraries to our existing destinations of China, Japan, Vietnam, Cambodia, Laos, Thailand and South Korea. There is a Japan Family Tour (page 76-77) with included excursions to Disneyland and Universal Studios, a chance to Explore Yunnan Province (page 37), one of China’s more dramatic regions, and an opportunity to cruise the mighty Mekong River from Laos to China (page 123). Finally, please don’t hesitate to get in touch with our dedicated team of Personal Travel Advisors who are on hand to listen, understand and help you arrange your holiday of a lifetime! Thank you for sharing this with us over the last 10 years. Xiexie Helen Li - (Owner, Links Travel & Tours) 2 CONTENTS CHINA page Japan Rail Pass 89 Ninja Wifi 89 Your China Destinations 4-5 Japan Rugby Tours 90-91 China Travel Guide 6-8 Japan Cultural Experiences 92-95 China Small Group Tours 9 Japan Accommodation 96-97 CHINA TOURS INDOCHINA page China Essential 10 days 10-11 Essential Plus Panda 12 days 12-13 Your Indochina Destinations 98-99 China Scenic 12 days 14-15 Indochina Travel Guide 100-101 China Dreams 13 days 16-17 Essential Plus Cruise 13 days 18-19 INDOCHINA TOURS China Highlights 15 days 20-21 Grand Indochina 19 days 102-103 Cruise and Panda 15 days 22-23 Essential Vietnam and Cambodia 16 days 104-105 Memories of China 15 days 24-25 Classic Vietnam 12 days 106-107 China Rail Discovery 15 days 26-27 Great China 18 days 28-29 INDOCHINA TAILOR-MADE Beauty of China 20 days 30-31 Indochina Tailor-Made Introduction 108 Discover Taiwan 09 days 32-33 Vietnam Explorer 12 days 109 Vietnam Highlights 14 days 110 CHINA TAILOR-MADE A Taste of Vietnam 12 days 111 China Tailor-Made Introduction 34-35 Vietnam Family Tour 13 days 112 Luxury China in Style 15 days 36 Luxury Vietnam & Cambodia Tour 18 days 113 Explore Yunnan Province 15 days 37 Authentic Cambodia 12 days 114 China Family Tour 12 days 38 Discover Cambodia 10 days 115 Cities of East Asia 14 days 39 Discover Laos 11 days 116 Rainbow Mountains & Dunhuang 06 days 40 Laos & Cambodia 13 days 117 Sanya, Chengdu, Shaolin 44 Vietnam & Thailand 17 days 118 Guizhou, Yellow Mountain, Zhangjiajie 45 Thailand Explorer 16 days 119 Train Journeys in China 41 Sapa, Mui Ne, Phu Quoc 124 Historic China by Rail 13 days 42 Nha Trang, Siem Reap, Luang Prabang 125 Train to Tibet 15 days 43 Indochina Cruises Yangtze River Cruises 46 Halong Bay Cruises 120 Hong Kong 47 Mekong River Cruises 121 China Cultural Experiences 48-49 Pandaw Mekong Cruise 13 days 122 China Accommodation 50-51 Pandaw Laos & China Cruise 17 days 123 JAPAN page Indochina Cultural Experiences 126-128 Indochina Accommodation 129-131 Your Japan Destinations 52-53 Japan Travel Guide 54-55 SRI LANKA page Japan Group Tours 56-57 Your Sri Lanka Destinations 132-133 JAPAN TOURS Sri Lanka Travel Guide 134-135 Essential Japan 10 days 58-59 SRI LANKA TOURS Amazing Japan 14 days 60-61 Sri Lanka Highlights 12 days 136-137 Cherry Blossom Tour 13 days 62-63 Sri Lanka Tour & Beach 16 days 138-139 Japan Golden Route 10 days 64-65 Explore Sri Lanka 16 days 140 Essential Japan & South Korea 13 days 66-67 Sri Lanka & Maldives Beach Stays 141 Japan and China Tour 15 days 68-69 JAPAN SEMI-ESCORTED GENERAL page Semi-Escorted Tours Introduction 70-71 Classic Japan 09 days 72-73 STOPOVERS & BEACH EXTENSIONS Self-Drive Holidays 15 days 74-75 Thailand: Bangkok, Phuket, Koh Samui 142 Japan Family Tour 15 days 76-77 Malaysia: Kuala Lumpur, Langkawi, Penang 143 Japan Heritage 15 days 78-79 Dubai, Singapore and Bali 144 Great Trail of Japan 17 days 80-81 Holiday Extras & Lounge Pass 145 JAPAN TAILOR-MADE Useful Information 146 Tokyo 82 Sport Links Travel 147 Kyoto 83 Osaka, Hiroshima, Mt Koya 84 Hokkaido, Snow Monkeys, Hakuba Ski 85 Japanese Alps, Nakasendo Way 86 Mount Fuji Climb, Kumano Kodo 87 ABTAABTA No. No. Y529588888 Okinawa 88 3 YOUR CHINA DESTINATIONS SHANXI - Being one of the birth places of Chinese civilisation, Shanxi has much to discover. Among the many sights are the Ancient city of Pingyao a UNESCO World Cultural Heritage Site; the incredible Hanging Monastery near Datong and the amazing Yungang Grottoes. The Yingxian Wooden Pagoda, the oldest and tallest ancient wooden pagoda in China, the grand Qiao Family Courtyard and inspiring Jinci Temple are all must-see sites. The surrounding countryside has many beautifulUrumqi spots including impressive Mount Wutai and the glistening Hukou Waterfalls. Kashgar Dunhuang Hohhot Datong Yungang BEIJING HUANG HE Grottoes (YELLOW Hanging TIANJIN RIVER) Wooden Monastery Pagoda Shijiazhuang Yinchuan Jinci Temple SHANXI Taiyuan Jinan Xining Pingyao Lanzhou TIBET - Regarded as the roof of the world, this is an Zhengzhou enthralling land of mountains, monasteries and monks XIAN with one of the most extraordinary cultures in the world. Nanjing Suzhou With 1,300 years of history, Lhasa is the centre of Shennong Stream The Three Hefei Tibet’s culture, economy, politics and religion. The TIBET SICHUAN Shibaozhai Gorge Dam Wuhan SHANGHAI imposing Potala Palace, the main residence of the Dalai Lama until 1959, now welcomes visitors as a CHENGDU RIVER Hangzhou museum. Beyond Lhasa drive along the Friendship Lhasa YANGTZE Yichang Fengdu Highway to the stunning Yamdrok Lake and through the Nanchang mountain passes to Shigatse and Gyantse. CHONGQING RIVER Changsha YANGTZE Fuzhou SICHUAN - Known for its breathtaking forests, Lijiang mountain scenery and mouth-watering cuisine, it is Guiyang also the natural habitat of the Giant Panda. Buddhist sites and natural wonders including Mount Emei, YUNNAN GUILIN the Le Shan Buddha carved into a cliff face, and the Yangshuo TAIWAN LI RIVER ancient rock carvings in Dazu, can be visited from Dali Guangzhou Chengdu. Jiuzhaigou National Park and Huanglong Kunming Nanning Valley are home to Tibetan villages, are an area of natural scenic beauty, and are World Cultural and HONG Natural Heritage Sites. KONG YUNNAN - Located in the south west bordering Haikou Vietnam, Laos and Myanmar, Yunnan’s highlights include trekking along the dramatic Tiger Leaping SANYA Gorge and Jade Dragon Snow Mountain. Here the SANYA - A resort famed as the ‘Hawaii of the Orient’due indigenous peoples have retained many of their to the climate on the southern island of Hainan. Relax in the distinct and traditional customs, languages and tropical climate, on white sandy beaches, enjoying an array culture. The Stone Forest near Kunming is a big draw of water sports and the opportunity to go hiking in the as are the ancient towns of Dali and Lijiang, where rainforests. At 25º Celsius, even in the ‘winter’, it is warm you can explore the willow-lined canals, cobbled enough to swim in the sea and is the perfect place to unwind streets, markets and cafes. after a tour of China. 4 CHINA - Information BEIJING - The capital of China is brimming with world class historical palaces and monuments, including the incredible Forbidden City, the world’s largest palace complex where 24 Emperors reigned for nearly 500 years. Other attractions include the serene Temple of Heaven, The Summer Palace and the unmissable Great Wall of China. A Hutong Tour is a unique experience that will give you a glance of traditional local life. XIAN - One of China’s ancient Capital Cities for several Beijing is a city with great splendour and is a key destination for dynasties, is famed for one of the 20th century’s most important any trip. archaeological discoveries. The Terracotta Warriors form part of the Mausoleum of Emperor Qin, guarding his journey into the afterlife. The Ancient City Wall can be explored by foot or more popularly on a bicycle and the Shaanxi Museum, probably Urumqi China’s finest collection of over 400,000 artefacts spanning several dynasties. The Ancient City Wall can be explored by foot or more popularly on a bicycle and the Shaanxi Museum, houses Kashgar China’s finest collection of over 400,000 artefacts spanning Dunhuang Hohhot Datong several dynasties.