Yangtze Explorer

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 just 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.
Top Highlights of2020:
1. New and Innovative Discovery: the only Yangtze cruise taking you to explore world unique 816 Nuclear Military Plant, amazing White Crane Ridge Underwater Museum, etc.
2. Exciting Special Route of Shennongjia Summer Getaway: enjoy enchanting sceneries of World UNESCO natural heritage site of Shennongjia, world only place to close up with wild golden monkeys, seek the tracks of wild men, and enjoy a cool summer holiday, etc. (for cruises on July 7th, July 28th and August 18th in 2019). Please check more about Special Itinerary of Yangtze Explorer.
Cruise Route:
- Chongqing - Yichang (4 days & 3 nights;)
- Yichang - Chongqing (5 days & 4 nights;)
- Special Summer Cruise with Shennongjia (5 days & 4 nights) (Special offer only on July 7th, July 28th and August 18th in 2019)

Yangtze Explorer Cruise Ship Itinerary in 2020

International Summer River Camp Events (Special Offer)
Sanctuary Yangzi Explorer offers the special SUMMER CRUISE HOLIDAYS for your sweet days with your honey kids on vacation. Hold your family to board on the top superb deluxe river vessel and have great fun with the interesting and meaningful activities, including Digital Camera Scavenger Hunt, Cooking Class with Chef, Bingo, Dining Etiquette Class, Pajamas Party with Fun Games, Cocktail Mixing Class, Towel Folding, Family Movie + Popcorns, Dragon Boat Race, etc. Besides the marvelous emerald gorges sceneries and a series of unique places of interests to get all your appreciation, and a nice chance to make friends of lovely Chinese children, the joy and laughter among your interaction will impress you a memorable family trip in 2019! Please tell us directly if you are interested in the family trip!
Valid Dates:
4 Nights Yichang - Chongqing cruises: July 21, August 4 and August 11 in 2019;
3 Nights Chongqing - Yichang cruises: July 25, August 1 and August 8 in 2019.

Chongqing - Yichang 4 Days & 3 Nights Downstream Cruise
Arranged Shore Excursions: Fuling 816 Underground Project, White Crane Ridge Underwater Museum, Shenong Stream, Three Gorges Dam;
Optional Excursions & Activities:Three Kingdoms Open Air Show, White Emperor City, Three Gorges Dam Ship Lift
Day | Time | Events & Activities | Place |
---|---|---|---|
Day 1 | 17:00 | Embark the ship at Chaotianmen Port in Chongqing. Have a drink in the Explorer Bar and enjoy the splendid night view of Chongqing on the Explorer Deck | Explorer Bar, 6th floor |
19:00 | A la carte Western dinner (extra charge of 300RMB/pp) | Dynasty Dining Room, 2nd Floor | |
21:00 | Cruise briefing for itinerary & facilities | Tang Theater, 3rd Floor | |
22:00 | Depart from Chongqing | Chongqing | |
Day 2 (B, L, D) | 6:30 | Morning tea and coffee | Explorer Bar, 6th Floor |
6:30 | Practice morning Taichi | Explorer Bar, 6th Floor | |
7:00-8:00 | Enjoy your Chinese and Western buffet breakfast | Dynasty Dining Room, 2nd Floor | |
8:30-12:00 |
Shore excursion to: Option A: Fuling-816 Underground Project (world largest artificial cave of military nuclear project) or Option B: White Crane Ridge Underwater Museum (the world first underwater museum) & local market. |
Fuling | |
12:30 | Enjoy your A La Carte Western lunch | Dynasty Dining Room, 2nd Floor | |
17:30-18:00 | Captain’s welcome party | Explorer Bar, 6th Floor | |
18:00-20:00 | Enjoy your Buffet Dinner | Dynasty Dining Room, 2nd Floor | |
19:00-22:00 | Optional activity of the Three Kingdoms Open Air Show that is a large scale live performance from 19:30 to 20:40 (290RMB/pp) | Zhongxian County | |
21:00-21:45 | Band performance at the bar | Explorer Bar, 6th Floor | |
22:00-23:00 | Band performance at the bar | Explorer Bar, 6th Floor | |
Day 3 (B, L, D) (valid during Apr. 4 ~ May. 26 and Sept. 12 ~ Dec. 1 in 2019) |
6:30 | Morning tea and coffee | Explorer Bar, 6th Floor |
6:45 | Practice morning Taichi | Explorer Bar, 6th Floor | |
7:30 | Sail through Qutang Gorge | Explorer Bar, 6th Floor | |
7:30-8:30 | Enjoy your Chinese and Western buffet breakfast | Dynasty Dining Room, 2nd Floor | |
9:00 | Sail through Wu Gorge | Explorer Bar, 6th Floor | |
11:00-15:00 | Shore excursion to Shennong Stream to visit Bamboo Gorge and the trackers village | Shennong Stream | |
16:30-17:30 | Complimentary coffee, tea and pastries with band performance at the bar | Explorer Bar, 6th Floor | |
18:00 | Sail through Xiling Gorge | Explorer Bar, 6th Floor | |
19:30 | A Taste of China Farewell Dinner | Dynasty Dining Room, 2nd Floor | |
21:00-21:45 | Band performance at the bar | Explorer Bar, 6th Floor | |
22:00-23:00 | Band performance at the bar | Explorer Bar, 6th Floor | |
Day 3 (B, L, D) (valid during Mar. 21 ~ Mar. 31 and May 30 ~ Sep. 8 in 2019 |
6:30 | Morning tea and coffee | Explorer Bar, 6th Floor |
6:30 | Practice morning Taichi | Explorer Bar, 6th Floor | |
7:00-08:30 | Enjoy your Chinese and Western buffet breakfast | Dynasty Dining Room, 2nd Floor | |
8:00-11:00 | Optional excursion to White Emperor City (290RMB/pp), known as the “City of Poems” | White Emperor City | |
11:30 | Sail through Qutang Gorge | Explorer Bar, 6th Floor | |
12:00 | Enjoy your buffet lunch | Dynasty Dining Room, 2nd Floor | |
13:30 | Sail through Wu Gorge | Explorer Bar, 6th Floor | |
15:00-18:00 | Shore excursion to Shennong Stream to visit Bamboo Gorge and the trackers village | Shennong Stream | |
18:00-19:00 | Complimentary coffee, tea and pastries with band performance at the bar | Explorer Bar, 6th Floor | |
19:30 | A Taste of China Farewell Dinner | Dynasty Dining Room, 2nd Floor | |
21:00-21:45 | Duo plays at the bar | Explorer Bar, 6th Floor | |
20:00-23:00 | Duo plays at the bar | Explorer Bar, 6th Floor | |
Day 4 (B) | 6:30 | Morning tea and coffee | Explorer Bar, 6th Floor |
6:30 | Enjoy your Chinese and Western buffet breakfast | Dynasty Dining Room, 2nd Floor | |
7:00 | Put luggage out of cabin for collection | - | |
7:30-13:00 | Disembark the ship and take take the Optional shore experience to pass through Ship Lift (290RMB/pp) and then visit the Three Gorges Dam Site, transfer to Yichang Three Gorges Center Cruise Terminal for leave. | Three Gorges Dam site | |
8:30-12:00 | Disembark the ship and take a shore excursion visit to Three Gorges Dam Site, transfer to Yichang Three Gorges Center Cruise Terminal for leave. |
Yichang - Chongqing 5 Days & 4 Nights Upstream Cruise
Arranged Shore Excursions:Shennong Stream, Fuling-816 Underground Project, White Crane Ridge Underwater Museum, Three Gorges Dam;
Optional Excursions & Activities: Tribe of Three Gorges
Day | Time | Events & Activities | Place |
---|---|---|---|
Day 1 | 17:30-20:30 | Gather at Yichang Three Gorges Center Cruise Terminal for arranged bus to Yichang Maoping Port for embarkation, have a drink in the Explorer Bar. | Maoping Port; Explorer Bar, 6th Floor |
19:00 | A la carte Western dinner (extra charge of 300 RMB/pp) | Dynasty Dining Room, 2nd Floor | |
21:00 | Cruise briefing for itinerary & facilities | Tang Theater, 3rd Floor | |
Day 2 (B, L, D) | 6:30 | Morning tea and coffee | Explorer Bar, 6th Floor |
7:00 | Practice morning Taichi | Explorer Bar, 6th Floor | |
7:00-8:30 | Enjoy your Chinese and Western buffet breakfast | Dynasty Dining Room, 2nd Floor | |
8:00-12:00 | Optional shore excursion to Tribe of Three Gorges (290RMB/pp) | Tribe of Three Gorges | |
12:00-13:30 | Enjoy your Chinese and Western buffet lunch | Dynasty Dining Room, 2nd Floor | |
14:00-17:00 | Disembark the ship and take a shore excursion visit to the Three Gorges Dam | Three Gorges Dam site | |
16:30-17:30 | Complimentary coffee, tea and pastries at the bar | Explorer Bar, 6th Floor | |
18:30 | Captain’s Welcome Party | Explorer Bar, 6th Floor | |
19:00 | A la carte Western dinner | Dynasty Dining Room, 2nd Floor | |
21:00-21:45 | Duo plays at the bar | Explorer Bar, 6th Floor | |
22:00-23:00 | Duo plays at the bar | Explorer Bar, 6th Floor | |
Day 3 (B, L, D) valid during Apr. 4~ May 30 and Sep. 8 ~ Nov. 28 in 2019 |
6:30 | Morning tea and coffee | Explorer Bar, 6th Floor |
6:30 | Practice morning Taichi | Explorer Bar, 6th Floor | |
7:00-8:00 | Enjoy your Chinese and Western buffet breakfast | Dynasty Dining Room, 2nd Floor | |
8:00-12:00 | Shore excursion to Shennong Stream to visit Bamboo Gorge and the trackers village | Shennong Stream | |
12:30 | Enjoy your Chinese and Western buffet lunch | Dynasty Dining Room, 2nd Floor | |
13:30 | Sail through Wu Gorge | Explorer Bar, 6th Floor | |
16:00 | Sail through Qutang Gorge | Explorer Bar, 6th Floor | |
16:30-17:30 | Complimentary coffee, tea and pastries at the bar | Explorer Bar, 6th Floor | |
19:00 | A la carte Western dinner | Dynasty Dining Room, 2nd Floor | |
21:00-21:45 | Duo plays at the bar | Explorer Bar, 6th Floor | |
22:00-23:00 | Duo plays at the bar | Explorer Bar, 6th Floor | |
Note: Optional shore excursion to White Emperor City (16:00-19:00; extra charge of 290RMB/pp) will be added on Day 3 for cruises during Mar. 17 ~ Mar. 31 and Jun. 2 ~ Sep. 5 in 2019. | |||
Day 4 (B, L, D) valid during Apr. 4 ~ May 30 and Sep. 8 ~ Nov. 28 in 2019 |
6:30 | Morning tea and coffee | Explorer Bar, 6th Floor |
7:00 | Practice morning Taichi | Explorer Bar, 6th Floor | |
7:30 | Enjoy your Chinese and Western buffet breakfast | Dynasty Dining Room, 2nd Floor | |
9:00-12:30 |
Shore excursion to: Option A: Fuling-816 Underground Project (world largest artificial cave of military nuclear project) or Option B: White Crane Ridge Underwater Museum (the world first underwater museum) & local market |
816 Underground Nuclear Project site | |
12:30 | Enjoy your Chinese and Western buffet lunch | Tang Theater, 3rd Floor | |
16:30-17:30 | Complimentary coffee, tea and pastries with band performance at the bar | Explorer Bar, 6th Floor | |
19:00 | A Taste of China Farewell Dinner | Dynasty Dining Room, 2nd Floor | |
21:00-21:45 | Duo plays at the bar | Explorer Bar, 6th Floor | |
22:00-23:00 | Duo plays at the bar | Explorer Bar, 6th Floor | |
Note: Shore excursions to Fuling-816 Underground Project or White Crane Ridge Underwater Museum + local market will be adjusted during 13:00-16:30, and buffet lunch will be brought forward at 12:00 on Day 4 for cruises during Mar. 17 ~ Mar. 31 and Jun. 2 ~ Sep. 5 in 2019. | |||
Day 5 (B) | 6:30 | Morning tea and coffee | Explorer Bar, 6th Floor |
7:00 | Put luggage out of cabin for collection | - | |
7:00-8:00 | Enjoy your Chinese and Western buffet breakfast | Dynasty Dining Room, 2nd Floor | |
8:00-8:45 | Disembark at Chaotianmen Port in Chongqing | Chaotianmen Port |
Please Note:
1. 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.
2. 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.
3. Disembarkation Tips:
(a) You can choose to sail through the world’s largest ship lift - Three Gorges Dam Ship Lift to very closely marvel at the huge dam which is a totally fresh and exciting experience for travelers. (b) No matter you take Ship Lift or not, you’ll do check out procedure in this early morning. (c) Only dam visiting: you’ll take bus from Maoping Port to Three Gorges Dam for sightseeing. You’ll arrive in Yichang Banshan Hotel at downtown around 12:00. (d) Dam & Ship Lift Experience: travelers who are interested in Ship Lift will first switch to a sightseeing boat to sail through the Ship Lift and then visit Three Gorges Dam Site. You’ll arrive in Yichang downtown area around 13:30. (e) 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.
4. 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.
5. 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.
6. Special Routes to Inspire You:
Apart from the normal itinerary mentioned above, there is also a special route offered for Yangtze Explorer visitors to enjoy the primitive Shennongjia Scenic Area, rare wild golden monkeys and other highlights in the July and August of 2019. Please check detailed itinerary of
2020 special routes of Yangtze Explorer cruise.
7. 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.
8. 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.
9. Dressing Code for Parties:
Travelers who attend the Captain's Welcome Reception, Yangtze Pirate Night Show should wear smart casual or formal.
10. 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 2020. You’ll find everything here.
Know More about Shore Excursions & Attractions
Schedule of Yangtze Explorer
- Jan.
- Feb.
- Mar.
- Apr.
- May.
- June.
- July.
- Aug.
- Sept.
- Oct.
- Nov.
- Dec.
- The above price range is based on a standard cabin for twin sharing.
- The prices are valid by Dec.31 of the year.
- Please enquiry for the exact price according to your nationality, cruising time and cruising route.
- Please quote us for the price may change during China's Golden Week (the first week of October) and Spring Festival.
- Limited winter schedules may be adjusted into other dates, cruise ships, etc. based on the arrangement of the cruise company.
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