Ngaire, if you are still open to suggestions on a China tour, I suggest you look into Odysseys Unlimited's China, Tibet & the Yangtze River
19 day Tour. "This distinctive small group journey (membership limited to 12-24 guests) combines a special visit to remote, spiritual Tibet with a memorable cruise on the Yangtze, China’s fabled “long river.†Also includes intriguing Beijing, the extraordinary Terra Cotta Warriors of Xian, ChengÂdu and its renowned Giant Panda Protection & Research Center, and finally cosmopolitan Shanghai. East meets West in a joyful convergence."
Pat and I took a OU tour in Ireland, and felt they equaled or exceeded our experiences with A&K and were much better than Tauck, at a lower cost than either. They use Victoria Cruises on the Yangtze, and have just made Travel & Leasures 'Worlds Best Tour Operators' list for the fifth year in a row.
