Trail of the Dragon
Bike tour in China | 15 days Guilin to Yangshuo | US$2,075
rice terraces - back road exploration - Yangshuo - Guilin - stunning limestone karst mountains - ethnic minorities
Cycling along the terraced hillsides of Guizhou Province and amongst the karst limestone peaks of Guangxi Province you will experience a landscape that has been inspiring painters and poets for centuries, and still awes people today with its almost surreal beauty. We travel through areas known for their variety of ethnic and visit traditional villages where we get up close and personal with people in their everyday lives. A mixture of cruising well made but quiet riverside roads , hill climbs and off-road sections, this cycling adventure is rural China at its absolute best.
Itinerary
Day 1 | Guilin
We start the trip arriving in Guilin city in the heart of limestone country.
Day 2 | Kaili
After a free morning take a short flight to Guiyang and then travel by bus to Kaili.
Days 3-6 | Cycling to Zhaoxing
Get ready for some some truly memorable cycling through country side China. Travelling by bike allows us to visit off-the-beaten track areas few foreign travellers have the opportunity to visit - so be prepared for loads of friendly attention from the locals! We cycle on quiet roads where various minority groups in there colourful traditional dress work in the rice fields. In Zhaoxing, home of the Dong people, enjoy a rest day to explore the village and beautiful terraced rice fields.
Days 7-9 | Cycling to Ping'an
Cycling to Sanjiang and then onto Ping'an you'll be tested with a magnificent uphill to reach the village of Ping'an which sits high up on a mountain side surrounded by the Longji, or Dragon's back, Rice Terraces, an amazing site that you'll have a full day to explore by foot.
Days 10-15 | Cycling to Yangshuo
A fantastic downhill out of Ping'an puts you back on the ride and into 4 days of riding to get to Yangshuo. We have a fantastic route for this section that takes you down farmers lane ways, on boats, right into the villages of China. Yangshuo marks the end of the riding. Set among thousands of limestone karst mountains there's plenty to do here on your rest day.
Facts and Information
2009
in 2009 the price for this tour will increase to US$2135
Style
fully supported cycling
Inclusions
support vehicle, local guides, tour leader, most meals, entry fees
Group Size
minimum 3, maximum 12
Accommodation
10 nights comfortable hotel/guesthouse, 4 night basic guesthouse (shared bathroom)
Meals Included
10 breakfasts, 9 lunches, 12 dinners
Days Cycling
9
Kilometres Cycled
540km
Difficulty
moderate/Difficult
Cycling Conditions
A mixture of quiet well made roads, dirt roads and some sections mountain biking on trails.
Feedback and Reviews
"Great off the beaten path experience... Thanks for showing China in such a great way!!"
– Anne, April 2007
