CHINA - Tibetan Highlands Biking Tour

Through the Provinces of Sichuan, Gansu and Qinghai

6^th to 18^th August 2005 - 12 nights/13 days.

Resume of the trip:

Flying to Chengdu, capitol of Sichuan Province with its lovely hot and seasoned food we will transit to another flight to the source of the Min River being the Huanglong and Jiuzhaigou National Park area (2500M). Getting to these two parks will be a slow process not just because of terrain or altitude but because of the numerous photo opportunities at every bend on the road. Huanglong or "Yellow Dragon" is the "Yellowstone" of China with its unreal mineral pools shadowed under the 6,000m high Precious Snow Mtn.

Jiuzhaigou Nat'l Park is set in a forested area brimming with myriad's of small lakes and thousands of fish. Beautiful lake reflections, unreal colors and waterfalls will keep us enthralled as we make our way hiking through the park.

Next it is a climb to the Tibetan Grasslands. Cycling on average between 3,000 and 3,600m we will be introduced to the Tibetan Nomads and their herds of Yaks. This is where we will use our tents as up on these grasslands there are seldom settlements of any great size.

Going on into Gansu Province we will get into some rolling hill country with still the ever present abundance and variety of high tundra flowers, eagles and gerbils. In the midst of our ride through Gansu we will get a taste of Tibetan Buddhism at Xiahe - one of the largest operating monasteries outside of Tibet with it's seven colleges. Next it's on to Qinghai Province and some major geographical changes!

From the top of the mountain pass separating Gansu and Qinghai we will start with a swift descent into a valley of red rock similar to the state of Arizona in the USA. We meet up with the beginnings of the Yellow River and then through hilly country to Xining, the capitol of Qinghai Province. We end our trip with cycling to and from Qinghai lake - China's largest freshwater lake and two nights on its shores with the many Tibetan herders who summer there.

Children of the area.	View of the valley with camp being set.

Tour Grade: Difficult to Challenging

Cycling Distance: 700-750 km.

NOTE Participants are required to provide their own tent and sleeping bag (rated to 0 degrees C) for this tour.

Application/Full Payment Deadline: July 5th, 2005

Prices are based per person and as this is adventure holiday tents and hotel rooms may need to be shared.

COSTS. All prices are in Hong Kong $

HK$20,700 per person (Price based on 4-6 participants):

NOTE, If less than 4 confirm for this tour, each participant may be asked to pay an additional surcharge of HK$2,000-3,000 each.

Price Includes:-

Ø Economy Class air tickets Hong Kong to Chengdu, Chengdu to Jiuzhaigou and then Xi’an to Hong Kong.

Ø Met at Airport.

Ø Transfers between airport and hotel.

Ø Hotel accommodation, as booked, with daily breakfast.

Ø Use of mountain bike and support services. 21 Speed Diamond Back Response Sport/Apex SE Bikes with ROCKSHOX (available for a test ride in Hong Kong).

Ø Accompanied by experienced Tour guide and Historian who specialises in the preservation of the Great Wall

Ø Bottled water while cycling.

Ø Cook to prepare the meals.

Ø Meals as specified, some of these will be camp-fire meals.

Ø Travel Insurance by Blue Cross.

Ø Travel Industry Council Levy.

Price Excludes:-

Ø Airport Tax and Airport security Charges.

Ø China Visa, if required

Ø Personal expenses for drinks etc.

Prices and schedules are subject to change by Airline or Operator without notice.