Yangtze Explorer
9.9 / 10
Yangtze Explorer (also called Yangzi Explorer) under Sanctuary Retreats is the most luxury, and the only super 5-star ship on the Yangtze River. Carrying only 124 passengers, it offers the finest and the most personalized one-on-one service (highest crew to passenger ratio on the river of 1:1) to ensure every level of comfort for an intimate cruising experience.
Good News 2024: Except for the classic cruise itineraries (4 Days Chongqing to Yichang Cruise and 5 Days Yichang to Chongqing Cruise), Yangtze Explorer offers a special exclusive itinerary in 2024, travelers will appreciate the enchanting scenery of World UNESCO natural heritage site of Shennongjia, the world's only place to close up with wild golden monkeys, seek the tracks of wild men, and enjoy a cool holiday, etc.
Cruise Route:
- 3N & 4D Chongqing - Yichang Cruise
- 4N & 5D Yichang - Chongqing Karst Landscape Cruise (via Badong)
- 4N & 5D Yichang - Chongqing UNESCO Heritage Site Discovery Cruise (via Shennongjia)
Yangtze Explorer Cruise Ship Itinerary in 2024
Map of Yangtze Explorer's Itinerary
Embarkation
Chongqing Chaotianmen Dock Nightview- Highlights of Today
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- Board the ship at Chaotianmen Dock in Chongqing at 16:00-20:00;
- Have a drink at Explorer Bar and appreciate the stunning night view of Chongqing;
- Welcome safety briefing;
- Depart from Chongqing at around 21:30.
- Dining
- Buffet diner
Yangtze River Cruise
816 Nuclear Military Plant in Fuling
Feng Yan San Guo Show about Three Kingdom History in Zhongxian- Highlights of Today
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- Shore excursion to:
Option A:
816 Nuclear Military Plant in Fuling (Included)
(It is the world largest artificial cave and the hidden mysterious unveiled structure of the real nuclear plant)
Option B:
816 Town in Fuling (Included)
(Transformed from the original 816 recreator engineering mechanical plant, it is an industry styled place with lots of memories about the military project era of China.)
- Enjoy night performance of Feng Yan San Guo Show in Zhongxian County (Included).
(It is the marvelous large-scale real landscape show about the brilliant historical culture of the Three Kingdoms Period about over 1,800 year ago and the spirit of loyalty of great military officer Guan Yu.)
- Shore excursion to:
- Entertainment Onboard
-
- Learn to play Tai Chi in early morning;
- Band performance at the bar
- Dining
- Breakfast (Chinese & Western Buffet); Lunch (A la carte); Dinner (Chinese & Western buffet); Morning tea & coffee
Yangtze River Cruise
Magnificent Qutang Gorge (Kuimen Gate)
Gorgeous Wu Gorge with Red Leaves in Winter
White Emperor City in Fengjie
Three Gorges Summit in Summer
Goddess Sky Road in Autumn- Highlights of Today
-
- Sail through Qutang Gorge (Included);
(Qutang Gorge is the shortest, most dramatic and magnificent gorge among the three gorges and lets you admire the view of Kuimen Gate printed on the 10 RMB Chinese Note.)
- Take a sightseeing boat via Lesser Three Gorges (included)
(Lesser Three Gorges is a resplendent pearl of Three Gorge where visitors can take a little boat to admire the majestic mountains, prosperous forests, beautiful riverview, and a more wonderful landscape for a returning to nature.)
- Afternoon shore excursion to Goddess Sky Road in Wushan County (Included):
(With an average altitude of about 1,200 meters, it is advantageous to overlook the belt-like emerald Yangtze and verdant flowery gorge mountains, especially for autumn and winter red leaves.)
- A Taste of China Farewell Dinner
- Sail through Qutang Gorge (Included);
- Entertainment Onboard
-
- Learn to practice Tai Chi with onboard doctor in early morning;
- Band performance at the bar.
- Dining
- Breakfast (Chinese & Western Buffet); Lunch (Chinese & Western buffet); Dinner (A la carte); Morning tea & coffee; Complimentary coffee, tea & pastries in the afternoon
Disembarkation
Spectacular Floor Discharging View of Three Gorges Dam in Summer- Highlights of Today
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- Ship disembarkation at Maoping Port at 08:30;
- Shore excursion to Three Gorges Dam (Included);
(It is the world largest hydroelectric station and the biggest dam project in the whole China contributing a lot to the flood control, electricity generation, shipping, etc. and is the No.2 essence of a Yangtze River cruise trip.)
- Lunch at Fangweng Restaurant in Yichang.
- Bus riding to Yichang downtown for leaving.
- Entertainment Onboard
-
- Bus riding to Yichang Airport / train station for leaving.
- Dining
- Breakfast (Chinese & Western buffet); Morning tea & coffee
Embarkation
Maoping Port in Yichang- Highlights of Today
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- Take the tourist bus arranged by Yangtze Explorer from Yichang airport / railway station to Maoping Port at 16:00-19:00;
- Have a drink at Explorer Bar and enjoy the peaceful night;
- Welcome safety briefing.
- Dining
- Buffet diner
Badong Karst Landscape Exploration
Wuyuan Cave in Bashan Park
Tea Brewed from a Mountain Spring with Enshi Yulu- Highlights of Today
-
- Shore excursion to Badong in Enshi (Included);
(Badong is a bright pearl inlaid on the Yangtze River as well as a gathering place of splendid mountains and rivers. You will 1) go to Wuyuan Cave – the heart of Three Gorges to enjoy a charming painting scroll with mountains, rivers, forests, springs and caves; 2) appreciate the amazing Karst landscape in Badong and imagine how the poets wrote a poetic masterpiece here ; 3) set off an adventure to explore the natural wonders along Yinhe River by canoe.)
- Sail through Wu Gorge (Included)
(Wu Gorge is deep and pretty with rising peaks, peculiar rocks, rolling cutting cliffs making a picturesque winding gallery boasting abundant natural wonders.);
- Shore excursion to Badong in Enshi (Included);
- Entertainment Onboard
-
- Band performance at the bar
- Movie
- Dining
- Breakfast (Chinese & Western buffet); Lunch (Chinese dishes at Xiao Long Tan restaurant); Dinner (Chinese & Western buffet)
Fengjie
Magnificent Qutang Gorge (Kuimen Gate)White Emperor City in FengjieThree Gorges Summit in Summer- Highlights of Today
-
- Sail through Qutang Gorge (Included).
(Qutang Gorge is the shortest, most dramatic and magnificent gorge among the three gorges and lets you admire the view of Kuimen Gate printed on the 10 RMB Chinese Note.);
- Morning shore excursion to:White Emperor City (Included);
(White Emperor City is the famous Chinese Ancient “Poem City” mentioned in about 1,400 Chinese poems. It tells the touching story of Liu Bei entrusting his son to his prime minister, Zhuge Liang and has the best location to admire Kuimen Gate of Qutang Gorge.)
- Afternoon shore excursion to Three Gorges Summit (Included)
(Three Gorges Summit is the highest peak of the famous Three Gorges area to catch the most beautiful gorge and winding river sightseeing.)
- Sail through Qutang Gorge (Included).
- Entertainment Onboard
-
- Learn to play Tai Chi in early morning;
- Band performance at the bar
- Movie
- Dining
- Breakfast (Chinese & Western buffet); Lunch (Chinese & Western buffet); Dinner (A la carte); Morning tea & coffee; Complimentary coffee, tea & pastries in the afternoon
Shibaozhai / Xituo
Red Shibaozhai Pagoda in Zhongxian- Highlights of Today
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- Shore excursion to Shibaozhai Pagoda (Included)
(The 12-story red building is reputed as the gem of Chinese architecture and one of the top 8 most peculiar architectures in the world. Popular among cruise visitors to look at the pagoda leaning the hills and climb up.)
- Shore Shore excursion to Xituo Old Town (included);
(It was once the vital commercial town in eastern Sichuan Province about 2,000 years ago and is nice to savor the authentic flavor on the ancient streets stretching from the pier up to the top.)
Option A:
Option B:
- Shore excursion to Shibaozhai Pagoda (Included)
- Entertainment Onboard
-
- Learn to play Tai Chi in early morning;
- Band performance at the bar.
- Dining
- Breakfast (Chinese & Western buffet); Lunch (Chinese & Western buffet); Dinner (A la carte); Morning tea & coffee; Complimentary coffee, tea & pastries in the afternoon
Disembarkation
Chaotianmen Dock in Chongqing- Highlights of Today
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- Ship disembarkation at Chaotianmen Dock in Chongqing at 09:00.
- Bus riding to Chongqing airport / railway station for departure.
- Dining
- Breakfast (Chinese & Western buffet); Morning tea & coffee
- Subject to Change:
Please note that all arrival and departure times, shore excursions and lectures are subject to change due to weather, river conditions and permission from the navigational authorities. The cruise company will arrange the same fabulous sightseeing if the prearranged sites cannot be visited in a particular case.
2023 Maintenance of Three Gorges Dam Ship Lift: The Three Gorges Dam Ship Lift will be stopped for using from 20:00 on August 25th to 20:00 on September 29th in 2023 due to its maintenance, therefore, it is unavailable to experience for people taking a Yangtze River cruise during that period. (Maintenance of the Ship Lift is usually arranged in around August and September each year, so please select your cruise date accordingly and feel free to contact us if you need any help!)
- Embarkation Tips:
(a) Please call the ship one day ahead or at least in the morning on the boarding day to have clear idea about which pier you are going to use; (b) It is better to arrive in Chongqing before 16:30 on the embarkation day; (c) There are 14 sub-pier of Chongqing Chaotianmen Port. As the car/taxi driver can only stop the car at the entrance of the port, you need to walk to your exact pier. Usually, it needs about 180 meters (about 3 minutes) to the nearest No.9 Dock, about 180-680 meters (about 3-8 minutes) to No.7, No.5, No.3 and No.1 Docks, and about 680-850 meters (about 8-10 minutes) to the No.2, No.4, No.6, No.8 and No.10 Docks from the east side, via the edge of the port to the west side; (d) The boarding time and departure piers may change based on the ship line, water level, season, weather and other factors. Please pay attention to the important info your travel consultants sent to you before your boarding.
- Disembarkation Tips:
Luggage Consigning for Chongqing - Yichang Disembarkation: For the national policy about the security of the Three Gorges Dam Project, no large luggage (exceeding 20cm*40cm*50cm or 5kg) is allowed to be taken into Three Gorges Dam scenic area. You could consign your luggage to Yichang Three Gorges Center Cruise Terminal and get the luggage consigning document from the cruise staff on the 4th cruising day morning and gather it after you are in Yichang downtown by showing that document. The service is offered by the cruise company and needs extra charge of 25RMB for each piece of luggage.
- Arranged Shore Excursion:
The ARRANGED shore excursions are included in your quotation, so you could visit the sites without extra charge. However, if you do not visit the sites, the fees of arranged shore excursion sites are not refunded. If you do not visit the shore excursions, you could stay on the ship to enjoy some leisure time. And for your safety, you are not allowed to leave your ship on your own.
- Optional Shore Excursions:
The OPTIONAL shore excursion needs extra charge. The optional sites will be visited depending on the number of travelers who want to go. You can visit if there are 30 or more people interested (the number of visitors may be adjusted based on the real situation). You have the final decision where to go or not on your own. If yes, tell the reception desk who would register for you and receive your pay in site.
- Physical Demands:
There are many stairs to climb up to Fengdu Ghost City and reach the top of Shibaozhai Pagoda / White Emperor City. Comfortable shoes are highly recommended to visit these sites.
- Chongqing / Yichang Local Transportation:
To know detailed transportation in Chongqing and Yichang, please head to How to Get to/Leave Yangtze Cruise Ports in Chongqing and Yichang.
- Dressing Code for Parties:
Travelers who attend the Captain's Welcome Reception, Yangtze Pirate Night Show should wear smart casual or formal.
- More Travel Guide & Support:
To know more details your life onboard, like cabins, dining, drinking, service, onboard activities and lectures, please head to Yangtze River Cruise Guide 2024. You’ll find everything here.
Schedule of Yangtze Explorer
- Jan.
- Feb.
- Mar.
- Apr.
- May.
- June.
- July.
- Aug.
- Sept.
- Oct.
- Nov.
- Dec.
| Sun | Mon | Tue | Wed | Thu | Fri | Sat | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | ||
| 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | |
| 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | |
| 21 Yichang → Chongqing from $1779via Shennongjia | 22 | 23 | 24 | 25 Chongqing → Yichang from $1352 | 26 | 27 | |
| 28 Yichang → Chongqing from $1779via Shennongjia | 29 | 30 |
- The above price range is based on a standard cabin for twin sharing.
- The prices are valid by Dec.31 of the year.
- Please enquire us of the exact price according to your nationality, cruising time and cruising route.
- The cruise prices for holidays such as National Holiday (the first week of October), Labor Day, Spring Festival, etc., are quoted upon request.
- Limited winter schedules may be adjusted into other dates, cruise ships, etc. based on the arrangement of the cruise company.
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