15 days Chengdu to Guilin - trip code EBGZ10
US$4,300
The photography research tours are a unique travel experience designed for exceptional photographic opportunities. They are unlike our regular tours. You wont get five star hotels, the itinerary can change on short notice and you'll be on a journey that suits only the most dedicated photographers.
The trip is open to just 4 passengers. You will join photographer Ewen Bell on his second exploration of Guizhou province. We'll meet in the city of Chengdu for a look at the pandas, then take an overnight train to Guiyang. For the next two weeks we have our own private driver, heading east through the remote areas of Eastern Guizhou to visit Gejia, Miao, Shui, Dong and other minority groups. On the way we can stop and shoot rural life at our leisure.
Our small group size allows us flexible opportunities to stop on the way as we desire, to drive into small villages and benefit from the local knowledge of our guides. Accommodation along the way is mostly guesthouses. In the cities we will twin-share at hotels, but in the remote villages we will have single rooms in guesthouses - basic but comfortable.
Being in a small group also provides us with a little companionship and some practical benefits, especially at meal times when we share typical Chinese banquets.
Itinerary
Day 1-2 | Chengdu
We meet in Chengdu on the evening of day one. The next day is free to explore the city and it's attractions, and the evening of day 2 we board the overnight train to Guiyang.
Day 3 | Guiyang
We start our immersion in the culture of Guizhou with a day of markets and a last chance to pickup essentials for the journey ahead.
Days 4-7 | Xijiang
We have a long travel day to reach Xijiang and then two whole days to absorb the rhythm of Miao life. This stunning village has a population of 5,000, with their elegant timber dwellings covering the mountain side.
Days 8-9 | Rongjiang/Congjiang
On the way east we encounter one of the few Shui villages in the south-east of the province, then enter the Dong region. We spend a day in a little known town where the Dong people still wear the traditional purple dyed cloth.
Days 10-12 | Zhaoxing
The largest of the Dong villages for this tour is Zhaoxing, a vibrant community surrounded by rice terraces and smaller Dong villages. The nearby town of Tong'An is the centre for preserving Dong culture in Guizhou.
Days 13-14 | Longji
We pass through tea farms on the way to Longji. Here we meet the Zhuang ethnic minority plus the Yao.
Day 15 | Departure
On the final day we head to the airport at Guilin in time for afternoon flights out of China. If you would like to extend the visit with an additional three nights in Yangshuo then we'll be making a package available that includes transfers and a room at the Magnolia Hotel for those nights at a price of $275 (same price for single or twin-share)
Facts and Information
Style
photographic research exploration
Inclusions
accompanying photographer who will also be your leader, train to Guiyang, driver and van for private touring, porters, guides, accommodation and most meals
Group Size
maximum 4
Accommodation
2 nights in 3-star hotel, 12 nights local guesthouse, 1 night sleeper train
Meals Included
all breakfasts, lunches and dinners
Instructing Photographer
Ewen Bell
Ewen Bell's website and photo tours
Camera Requirements
Digital SLR or Compact Digital
Difficulty Rating
Our most challenging photo trip
Feedback and Reviews
"I was one of the lucky three people to join Ewen when he did a research trip into the province of Yunnan, China in March 2009. What an unbelievable experience it was, full of amazing people, scenery, adventures and most of all fantastic photographic opportunities. I have to say it was one of the most memorable trips I have ever done and was a photographers dream, not to mention some of the best food I have ever tasted! This trip takes you off the usual tourist path giving you greater freedom and more opportunities to really immerse yourself into the local culture and meet the people and find out more about their way of life. Under the guidance of Ewen, I also learnt so many more tips and tricks to take control of my camera and achieve the results that I wanted. For anyone who may be contemplating this trip, an opportunity not to be missed."
- Eve, March 2009
See more feedback comments on Ewen's website
