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East Asia Discovery

Daily Itinerary Briefings

 1st Day: Arrival in Sapporo, Japan

Arrival Note: Welcome! Today, you are scheduled to arrive in Sapporo, a ski paradise to join one of our best Japan tours! When your flight lands at the Sapporo New Chitose Airport, please take the airport shuttle bus to check in at the hotel by yourself. Which is more economical, but we surely can arrange a private airport pick-up service upon your request.

► Activities & Dinner Suggestion:

The rest of the day is at your disposal. The hotel you stay is a refined lodging with great location, nice view, and quality service. It is within 5 minutes’ walk from the subway station and has shuttle bus to the Sapporo JR Station. The hotel itself has several restaurants, while there are plenty of shopping and dining places around. If you’re short on any skiing gear, you can restock at a nearby mall. For extra time, you may visit the Sapporo Clock Tower or the Hokkaido’s former government building, both within a 20-minute walk.

Accommodation: Premier Hotel Tsubaki Sapporo  


 2nd Day: Sapporo - Otaru - Sapporo (B)

► Sightseeing Activities: A full day guided tour with public transportation.

In the morning, our guide will meet you at the hotel lobby and take you on a half day tour of downtown Sapporo. You will start with a visit to the Odori Park in central Sapporo where all kinds of big events are held. You can see the Sapporo TV Tower, as well as various sculptures, fountains, and playgrounds. Every year in early February during the Sapporo Snow Festival, there are a variety of outdoor ice and snow sculptures. Later, go to the Shiroi Koibito Park, a chocolate entertainment park and home to the famous sweet in Japan. Here you can visit the museum of chocolate history and try a short chocolate-making course in the Dream Kitchen, which would be a lot of fun!

In the afternoon, the guide and you will proceed for half an hour by public bus to Otaru. Take a walk along the Old Canal, where the famous Japanese pure love movie ‘Love Letter’ was filmed. Next, go to the Kitaichi Glass Studio to appreciate the exquisite glass craftsmanship. After that, you will visit the nearby Otaru Music Box Museum, which displays and sells more than 3,000 exquisite music boxes collected from all over the world, and even traditional music boxes that can hardly be seen anywhere else. Finally, the guide will escort you back to Sapporo by bus to stay overnight.

Accommodation: Premier Hotel Tsubaki Sapporo  


 3rd Day: Sapporo skiing tour (B)

► Sightseeing Activities: After breakfast, an English-speaking driver will pick you up and then your skiing day tour starts. First, the driver will take you to visit the Okurayama Ski Jump Stadium, which is a professional international standard ski jumping venue and has hosted many world class events. After the visit, continue your drive approximately 1 hour west to the skiing venue today, Sapporo Kokusai Ski Resort. Upon arrival, the driver will pay for the entrance tickets and then the rest of the activities will be arranged by yourself.

► Tips:

1. The driver will appoint the meeting time and place with you in advance, and he will drive you back to your hotel in the late afternoon.

2. The rental of ski equipment and clothing and lunch at the resort are at your own expense.

★ Why we choose this ski resort for you:

1. Best View: As a ski paradise, Sapporo has several ski resorts. One of the main reasons we chose this one for you is that it is not only suitable for skiing, but also for sightseeing. The view from the top of the mountain is breathtaking, and on a clear day you can see the sea.

2. Perfect Rental Service: If you haven’t brought your own ski gear, don't worry! It offers an abundant lineup of rental equipment, including ski boots, poles, snowboards, jackets, pants, helmets, gloves, and goggles.

3. Vast Slopes and Trails: It offers a variety of ski trails featuring different difficulties, as well as a Snow Park and a Kids Park, so that people of any skill level can enjoy the fun.

Accommodation: Premier Hotel Tsubaki Sapporo  


 4th Day: Departure from Sapporo, Japan to Beijing, China (B)

Departure & Arrival Notes: Please take the airport shuttle bus to airport and take the flight to Beijing by yourself. Wish you a nice journey! Upon your arrival in Beijing, our English speaking guide will greet you at the airport on time after you clear the customs and help you check in at the hotel after about 50 minutes' drive. The remainder of the day is at your leisure, so that you can have a good rest to recover from your long journey.

► Note: The Niseko Ski Resort is also a popular ski destination in Hokkaido, but the hotel rooms there are expensive in winter and are usually booked out well in advance. If you are a keen skier and insist on going to the Niseko Ski Resort, we can also arrange the accommodation near Niseko for you. Please contact us early before the snow season, and our experienced Japan ski holiday experts will get you the accurate quotation.

► If you want an extension trip in Sapporo or to other destinations, please feel free to contact our travel consultants to customize an itinerary for you. 

Accommodation: Holiday Inn Central Plaza Hotel   


  5th Day: Beijing  (B+L)


Summer Palace, Beijng

In the morning, a pre-tour briefing will be presented at the hotel, which is very important for your coming tour. Here you will meet the other members in your group who will be traveling with you in the following days. After that, your memorable China tour will start with a visit to the grand Tiananmen Square, the largest city square in the world. Just walk across the road to enter the splendid Forbidden City, the most complete Imperial Palace complex in existence, where the Emperors of Ming and Qing Dynasties governed the country for over 500 years. After an a la carte lunch at a popular local restaurant, you will continue the city tour to another highlight in Beijing, the Temple of Heaven. Then we will arrange you a lively Chinese Kungfu Show at Red Theater.

Accommodation: Holiday Inn Central Plaza Hotel     


 6th Day: Beijing  (B) 


Badaling Great Wall, Beijing

Today we will drive beyond Beijing to have a short hike on the Badaling section of the Great Wall, a symbol of the Chinese ancient genius, a must to see when you come to China. Drop by a jade factory. Lunch is not included today as all the restaurants here are tourist ones with low quality. We suggest you take some fast food for your lunch. Then we transfer to visit the Sacred Way in the afternoon. On the way back to downtown, you will have a chance to see the outside of the Bird’s Nest. 

Accommodation: Holiday Inn Central Plaza Hotel 


 7th Day: Beijing - Xian  (B+L)

Visit the Summer Palace, the largest imperial garden specifically designed for the relaxation of the royal family, and on to visit a pearl store and then have a Hutong Tour by taking a rickshaw to see the Old Beijing’s Life.  It's time to say goodbye to Beijing after your a la carte lunch. Head for your next destination, Xian, another ancient capital for over 1000 years with incredible historical sites. Your Xian guide will meet you at the airport and transfer you to the hotel.

Accommodation: Sheraton Hotel


 8th Day: Xian  (B+L+D) 


The Great Mosque, Xian

After breakfast in the hotel, you will proceed to the so-called eighth human wonder of the world, the extraordinary Terracotta Warriors and Horses Museum. Then visit a pottery-making factory. To ensure that you have a good lunch, an authentic homely cooked lunch awaits you at a local family. In the afternoon, we visit the Small Wild Goose Pagoda. This evening we will have a Dumpling Dinner followed by the spectacular Tang Dynasty Music and Dance Show at the same venue.

Accommodation: Sheraton Hotel


  9th Day: Departure from Xian to Ulaanbaatar in Mongolia (B+L)

Visit the well preserved ancient City Wall. You are able to rent a bicycle to ride along the ancient wall if you are interested (note: This cost is not included in the tour). Coming next will be the Shaanxi History Museum. After enjoying your a la carte lunch at a fine local restaurant, transfer to the airport for your onward flight to Ulaanbaatar in Mongolia.

Upon your arrival in Ulaanbaatar Airport, you will be picked up by our representative holding a welcome board with your name. After a comfortable drive, check into the hotel and spend the rest of the day at your own leisurely pace. The private Mongolia tours will officially start tomorrow, including not only the vast grassland safari, but also historical relics of this nomadic country. 

Accommodation: Ramada Ulaanbaatar City Center  

  10th Day: Visit Ulaanbaatar City (B+L)

After breakfast, we will drive to Gandan Monastery, a 19th-century Tibetan Buddhist Monastery serving as the religious center of Tantric Buddhism in Mongolia. You will see the giant gold-plated statue of Megjid-Janraiseg with 92 feet (28 meters) tall. Then we head to Sukhbaatar Square to see the statues of the founding father of Mongolia - Genghis Khan and the revolution hero Damdin Sükhbaatar. From here we will also glimpse at the majestic State Government House. After a lunch break, we will continue to the National Museum of Mongolia to learn about Mongolian cultures and its history from the Stone Age to modern times. You will see more than 15,000 collections including relics, traditional clothes and jewelry etc. Before returning back to hotel, we will end today at a local market.

Accommodation: Ramada Ulaanbaatar City Center 

  11th Day: Genghis Khan's Statue Complex - Terelj National Park (B+L+D)

At around 08:30 a.m., we will drive for the Terelj National Park tour from Ulaanbaatar. On the way, we stop to visit Genghis Khan's Statue Complex, a museum complex with the biggest equestrian statue on the top. The statue of Genghis Khan is at 31 feet (40 meters) tall and made of stainless steel. Then we proceed to Terelj National Park. Upon arrival, we will have a lunch break in a Ger camp. Afterwards, we continue to the Turtle Rock, a natural rock in a turtle-like shape, and the Ariyabal meditation temple, which is 1 kilometer’s walk from the park’s gate. Walking through the exciting suspension bridge and reaching the temple by ascending 108 steps, you will be intoxicated by overlooking the breathtaking views of the park. If we still have ample time, you can join some activities (at your own expense) like trekking, hiking and horse riding. At the end of our Terelj National Park tour, we will visit a herder family to experience their traditional lifestyle and taste Airag, an alcoholic spirit made of fermented horse milk. After dinner, you can choose to stay overnight in a Ger camp or be escorted to your hotel.

Accommodation: Terelj Lodge or Guru Ger camp

  12th Day: Terelj National Park – Ulaanbaatar (B+L)

At around 10:30 a.m., we will drive back to Ulaanbaatar. After the lunch break, we set off to the Winter Palace of the Bogd Khan, one of the oldest museum in Mongolia. Built in 1893 with a mixed architectural style of China, Mongolia and Tibet, it firstly was the residence for the Mongolia’s eighth Living Buddha Jebtzun Damba Hutagt VIII. Our last destination is Zaisan Memorial, a circle memorial built for the friendship between Union of Soviet Socialist Republics and Mongolia. Climbing up to its top, you will enjoy the splendid panorama of the Ulaanbaatar city. In the early evening, you will watch a “Wonders of Mongolia” folklore show performed by one of the most famous folk art groups. When the show is over, your guide will escort you back to your hotel.

Accommodation: Ramada Ulaanbaatar City Center 

  13th Day: Departure from Ulaanbaatar (B)

Before setting off to Ulaanbaatar Airport/railway station, you are free to spend the morning at leisure. Your private transfer will be arranged according to the departure time of your flight/train. We wish you a pleasant journey!
Relevant Itineraries:

China Panorama:  8-Days of Beijing - Xian - Shanghai

China Elite Tour:  9-Days of Beijing - Xian - Guilin - Yangshuo - Guilin

Beijing Impression: 4-Day of Beijng

Modern Metropolises: 6-Day of Beijing - Shanghai

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