Yangzi Explorer 3 Night Cruise

Chongqing is a vibrant metropolis set on the upper reaches of the Yangtze River deep in China’s heartland. Upon arrival here at the airport, you’ll be warmly greeted and escorted to your waiting ship, the all-balcony MS Yangzi Explorer.  You’ll have time to settle in to your spacious stateroom before dinner is served in the elegant Dynasty Palace restaurant. Later this evening, a documentary film about the Three Gorges Dam will be shown in the Tang Theater.  Meals D

Your first full day on the mighty Yangtze unfolds with scenic cruising, enriching shipboard activities and sightseeing! Take in the panoramic views from your private balcony or join the ship’s staff for cultural demonstrations and activities. You might learn about traditional Chinese medicine or attend a demonstration on Chinese arts and crafts. Today’s shore excursion explores the famous “Ghost City” of Fengdu, celebrated for its ancient temples - many decorated with fantastic carvings depicting characters and creatures from Chinese mythology and legend. Depending upon river conditions and water levels, you may instead step ashore in Wanzhou to visit a “relocation village.” Meet local families whose ancestral lands were flooded by the Three Gorges Dam and learn about their new life here on higher ground! Meals B,L,D

Early this morning, the Explorer will navigate through Qutang Gorge, the narrowest of the river’s Three Gorges, and then into Wu Gorge - renowned for massive cliffs that rise sharply from the river! Then step off ship for an unforgettable journey up Shennong Stream. You’ll explore this spectacular region in traditional sampans poled by Tujia boatmen. The scenery here is unrivalled, encompassing crystalline rushing waters, dense forests and towering rock formations. Keep your eyes peeled for indigenous species like the elusive Golden Hair Monkey. Back on the Explorer, your shipboard program continues anew with lectures and discussions in the Tang Theater and a sampling of teas from different regions of China. At this evening’s Emperor Farewell Dinner, you’ll find the ship’s crew colorfully garbed in traditional Chinese attire. Meals B,L,D

This morning, your ship will navigate through the amazing locks of the immense Three Gorges Dam, the largest in the world! Then on a guided sightseeing tour to the Dam site, you’ll learn about this engineering marvel and the far reaching impact it’s had on the residents and geography of the region. After lunch onboard, disembark the Yangzi Explorer in Yichang and transfer to the airport for your onward flight.