BEST OF CHINA: Tauck expands in Asia

Tauck has added a new 11-day exploration of China to its portfolio of Asian journeys, increasing the total number of land and cruise itineraries in Asia to nine for 2013. For this year the company has also added a new 17-day journey in Northern India and Nepal, as well as a 16-day land and sea exploration of Southeast Asia featuring the new luxury small ship, Le Soléal. According to Tauck CEO Dan Mahar, the company’s new China itinerary includes visits to a number of iconic “bucket list”sites, complemented with insider and off-the-beaten-path experiences that independent travellers would be hard-pressed to arrange on their own. “Many of the sites on our new China itinerary are must-see highlights, from the Great Wall and the Forbidden City to Tiananmen Square and the Terra Cotta Warriors,”said Mahar. “We’ve included each of these places in ‘The Best of China,’ but we’re also going deeper to include unique experiences that add depth, perspective and enrichment.”While seeing the Terra Cotta Warriors in Xi’an, for example, Tauck guests will visit with the site’s Director of Conservation. Guests will also learn about the delicate art of silk embroidery during a museum visit, and enjoy an introduction to Feng Shui. And a truly memorable highlight for Tauck guests will be holding and cuddling a baby panda at a panda breeding and research center in Chengdu. Tauck’s first departures of “The Best of China”begin later this spring, with additional departures this summer and into October. Included in the price (from $4,395 p.p., double occupancy, plus international and on-tour air) are all accommodations, ground transportation, sightseeing and entertainment, most meals, airport transfers, luggage handling and more. (http://www.tauck.com)