September 8, 2003 -- As our planet grows into a truly global village, it becomes increasingly difficult to find the undiscovered, rarely-scene or truly exotic. (Face it -- someone has been there before you.) We've found two opportunities to see just that, with creature comforts guaranteed -- no small treasure indeed. Take your pick: an affordable journey through China and Tibet or a luxury train trip in India.
The key word above concerning Tibet is "affordable," since most planned trips there, even short ones, cost several thousand dollars, air included. But Ritz Tours is now offering a 17-day Tibet Highland & Yangtze River Cruise itinerary for $2,799 and up. If you book by December 31, can lop off $200 per person, making that $2,599 and up.
The tours, which operate from April through October of 2004, depart from Los Angeles or San Francisco; package pricing from New York City starts at just $100 more per person. Add-on airfares for departures from many other North American cities are available, starting at about $150.
The package takes you to Beijing for three nights, with visits to the Great Wall, Ming Tombs, the Forbidden City and Tiananmen Square, with a peking duck banquet and an acrobatic performance. You then fly to Lhasa for three nights, where you visit the Potala Palace (former home of the Dalai Lama), a lamasery and one of Tibet's three Holy Lakes.
Fly then to Chengdu for a two-night stay, where you see the Panda Zoo and visit a third-century dam. Next is two nights in Xian for a visit to the wondrous Terra Cotta Warriors and to see an opera, as well has have a "dumpling banquet." Finally, you board your ship on the Yangtze to cruise for three days downstream through the Three Gorges and its dam. At the end you visit Shanghai, the financial capital of mainland China, for three days before heading back home.
For more information, see your local travel agent or contact Ritz at 800/900-2446 or 626/289-7777, fax 626/281-0117, or visit www.ritztours.com, e-mail china@ritztours.com.
If you like trains, you'll be entranced by the "Palace on Wheels," a 14-car marvel that plies the rails between Jaipur and Udaipur (five nights) on a journey that includes visits to palaces and forts, a tiger preserve and a bird sanctuary, as well as off-rail standbys such as the Taj Mahal. Air travel is included in the $2,695 price for an early September 19, 2003 departure. There are regular departures throughout the year, however, with land-only seven-night prices starting at $2065 or $2450, depending on date.
The typical tour visits New Delhi, Jaipur, then five nights aboard the Palace on Wheels, a night in Agra, and back to Delhi. The train has private sleeping cabins, attached baths, bar lounge, library, color TV, piped music and many personal attendants. A separate dining car has Continental, Indian, Rajasthani and Chinese dishes. During the train trip, you'll attend Rajasthani cultural and folkdance programs and go on safari at the Tiger Preserve, as well as ride a camel if you wish.
Contact Exotic Journeys at www.exoticjourneys.com or e-mail info@exoticjourneys; phone 800/554-6342 or 312/832-9740, fax 312/832-9746.
Have you been to India or Tibet? We'd loved to share your trip report in an upcoming Frommers.com Newsletter. Just post your tale on our Message Boards starting here.