YANGTZE VIKING CRUISES:  YANGTZE JEWELS

CRUCHVIKYJC - 4 days / 3 nights  - CHONGQING TO YICHANG
CRUCHVIKYJS - 5 days / 4 nights - YiCHANG TO CHONGQING

Meeting Point:  Viking Cruises Pier 
Shore Excursions NOT INCLUDED: $ 69.00
Departure Dates:
CHONGQING TO YICHANG: (SUNDAYS) - March to December, 2005
YICHANG TO CHONGQING: (WEDNESDAYS) - March to December, 2005

Discover China’s legendary Yangtze River as we take you on this journey from Chongqing to Yichang or viceversa. While you cruise the mighty river, you’ll marvel at the mystical scenery of Asia's most revered and dramatic natural attractions: the spectacular Qutang and Wu Gorges, and Three Gorges Dam. 

The cruise can be booked as CRUISE ONLY or in combination with a land program. Following are two of the programs available with this cruise:

9 or 10 NIGHTS - IMPERIAL JEWELS OF CHINA (click to view)       
13 or 14 NIGHTS - IMPERIAL JEWELS & SHOPPER’S PARADISE (click to view)       
13 NIGHTS - ROOF OF THE WORLD (click to view)

Viking River Cruises brings excellence to travel in China. Overseeing all aspects of your Cruise/tour, you can explore China up close and in comfort. All our China Yangtze River cruises are escorted from airport arrival to departure by an English-speaking guide, making our China river cruises comfortable and lore-filled throughout. Each of our Yangtze River cruise itineraries offer a deluxe multi-night river cruise along the legendary Yangtze on either Viking Century Sky or Viking Century Star, brand new, all-balcony ships. Our all-inclusive programs feature the cruise, premium hotels, meals, tours, cultural highlights and intra-Asia flights.

Travel with the knowledge that you’ve chosen the best. VIKING RIVER CRUISES IS THE WORLD’S #1 RIVER CRUISE LINE. Viking River Cruises has always strived to exceed your expectations. And this past year, we’ve exceeded our own by winning two prestigious awards. Condé Nast Traveler Magazine’s annual “Gold List” reflects the very best in travel, placing us among the world’s top hotels, resorts and cruise lines. This award is also one of the  most distinguished in travel because it is presented  based on input from the most particular and knowledgeable veteran travelers and cruisers—the readers of Condé Nast Traveler magazine. And, in Condé Nast Traveler’s November 2003 issue Viking River Cruises was recognized as one of the “Top Ten Small Ship Cruise Lines” for the second consecutive year. The other illustrious “best of” list is Travel & Leisure’s “World’s Best” Awards. In the magazine’s August 2004 issue, readers recognized us among the world’s top ten small ship cruise lines, receiving higher marks for service, itineraries and overall quality than any other river cruise company. Together, these honors rank us above
all other river cruise lines, making us the world’s #1 river cruise line. Such recognition only motivates us to work harder—to provide you with superior service, unique itineraries and an overall cruise experience that will keep you coming back year after year. More on Viking China Cruises & Tours

The Yangtze River - The 6,300 kilometer Yangtze River is the longest river in China and the third longest river in the world. Starting at the foothills of Geladandong Peak in Qinghai Province and flowing through or near many different provinces including Qinghai, Tibet, Sichuan, Yunnan, Hubei, Hunan, Jiangxi, Anhui and Jiangsu, it reaches the city of and Shanghai where it runs into the East China Sea. The Yangtze watershed area interests about 25% of China's total farming land, a quarter of all Chinese people live near its shore and almost all of the boating traffic in China is on the Yangtze. The Yangtze River basin was one of the cradles of the Chinese civilization and along its whole course there are thousands of remains and many ancient architectural masterpieces like terraces, pavilions, towers, temples, gardens, stone carvings and whole forests of steles. The Three Gorges, the most spectacular section of the Yangtze River, are filled with breathtaking scenery. Beginning from Baidicheng in Fengjie, Chongqing and ending in Nanjin Pass in Yichang, Hubei Province, they extend for a distance of 192 kilometers. The three sections of the gorges are Qutang, Wu and Xiling.

Yangtze Cruise Highlights (click to view)

Welcome Aboard the Viking Century Sky

The Viking Century Sky is a brand new ship, built specifically for western travelers. By overseeing the build of this new ship, Viking River Cruises ensured that it is the most deluxe river cruise ship in China. With the intimacy of no more than 300 passengers, it offers all of the comfort and amenities you would expect from a 5-Star hotel. The Viking Century Sky features spacious, all-outside cabins, all with private balconies. Each cabin is equipped with a phone and color television. In addition to the lobby-level main restaurant, the ship boasts a sun deck and bar with breathtaking 360-degree views, a coffee bar and observation lounge. You can relax over cocktails in the lobby bar or work out in the gym. In any case, you will cruise in comfort knowing that the ship features state-of-the-art navigation and safety systems, and the same high standard of service as the European vessels.

Viking Century Sky offers: Restaurant, observation lounge & bar, coffee bar, gym, sauna, business center, sun deck, shops, laundry service. Doctor and beauty salon onboard. Voltage: 220, and razor outlet, 153 all-balcony cabins, with private bathroom and shower, hotel-style beds, telephone, TV and A /C, in-room safes and hair dryers - year built: 2004  - length: 415 ft - width: 56 ft - draft 8.5 ft - decks: 5 - crew: 168 - passengers: 306
Viking Century Sky Deck Plan (click to view)              Viking China Cruises (click to view)

CHONGQING TO YICHANG - 4 DAYS/3 NIGHTS DOWNSTREAM ITINERARY

Day 1    Chongqing / Embarkation
Chongqing; board your ship

Day 2     Shibaozhai
The 12-story Shibaozhai Temple, or Precious Stone Stronghold, is a gem of Chinese architecture. Nestled on a sheer cliff towering over the Yangtze, this serene temple was built during the Qing Dynasty in 1650. After lunch aboard, you can climb its steps for an amazing view over the river’s valley. Return to the ship for afternoon cruising along the Yangtze and dinner aboard. (B, L, D) • Shibaozhai Temple tour; scenic cruising.

Day 3     Lesser Three Gorges
For the next 150 miles, the Yangtze forces its way through a spectacular barrier of solid limestone ridges known as the Three Gorges. During breakfast, you’ll sail through Qutang Gorge, the shortest, narrowest and most spectacular of the three large gorges. • Qutang Gorge scenic cruising You’ll board a smaller boat for an excursion through the Lesser Three Gorges. These remarkable canyons are flanked by majestic mountains that tower over both sides of the waterway. See some of the historic sites, including the hanging coffins of the Ba people and the ancient plank road carved into the cliffside. Enjoy a picnic lunch along the river’s banks. Return to your ship and continue cruising through Wu (Witches) Gorge, renowned for its magnificent scenery. Look for the famed cloud-shrouded Twelve Peaks. Dinner is served aboard.

Day 4     Three Gorges Dam & Shanghai
After breakfast you’ll disembark and take a tour of the Three Gorges Dam, where you’ll learn about this immense construction project and what it means for the Chinese people and Yangtze landscape. Although displacing more than one million people and submerging over 1,000 cities and villages, the dam will bring vast amounts of hydroelectric power and flood control to the area. • Leave your ship; Three Gorges Dam tour Enjoy a box lunch prepared by the ship before your transfer to the airport.

YICHANG TO CHONGQING - 5 DAYS/4 NIGHTS UPSTREAM ITINERARY

Day 1     Yichang / Embarkation
Board  your ship in Yichang.

Day 2     Three Gorges
After breakfast you’ll disembark and take a tour of the Three Gorges Dam, where you’ll learn about this immense construction project and what it means for the Chinese people and Yangtze landscape. Although displacing more than one million people and submerging over 1,000 cities and villages, the dam will bring vast amounts of hydroelectric power and flood control to the area. Continue the cruise enterin ghr Three Gorges area

Day 3     Lesser Three Wu & Qutang Gorges
Called the Dragon Gate (Longman), Misty (Bawu) and Emerald (Dizui) Gorges, the Lesser Three Gorges is one of China's
most scenic areas featuring elegant peaks, exotic rock formations and serene forests.

Day 4     Shibaozhai
The 12-story Shibaozhai Temple, or Precious Stone Stronghold, is a gem of Chinese architecture. Nestled on a sheer cliff towering over the Yangtze, this serene temple was built during the Qing Dynasty in 1650. After lunch aboard, you can climb its steps for an amazing view over the river’s valley. Return to the ship for afternoon cruising along the Yangtze and dinner aboard. (B, L, D) • Shibaozhai Temple tour; scenic cruising.

Day 5     Chongqing / Disemnark
Leave your ship after breakfast.

Note: All itineraries subject to change without notice due to water conditions

Included Services:

Not Included: