Prepared by Levin Brown and David Hughes:

Levin is the founder of www.raftchina.com and Great Mountain Rafting.

Levin was introduced to David Hughes via John Miller at the 2006 America Outdoors program.  Levin is an international business studies major, a former National Coastguard, and fluent in Mandarin.  Levin has spent his past five years studying Chinese business and developing his international whitewater rafting business

Special note from David Hughes:  While, this schedule is not final we felt it important to publish ASAP in order that students and families may learn more about our coming adventure.  Please note that multiple planes, trains, and buses have and are being researched by Levin in order to provide us with more Huge Experiences.

Parent Trip:  The parent trip itinerary is currently being planned around the Thanksgiving holiday.  Information will be released as soon as details are confirmed.

Tentative dates:  October 28 to December 12

Dates may be flexible by upto 2 days pending fares.      

      Our trip begins in Shanghai, China’s ancient international port and the center of global trade.  After stepping off the plane, we will take the world’s fastest train at over 240 mph into the center of the city, and then transit to our hotel.  Once all members of the group have arrived and our gear has been shipped, we’ll board a train for Kunming, the Capitol of Yunnan province.  The two-day train ride westward will be in comfortable cabins and provides an excellent opportunity to take in the views of thousands of villages and storied geography of southern China.

Kunming and Tibetan Highlands

            Upon arrival in Kunming we’ll spend a day ensuring all last minute needs are met, as this will be our final stop where we can be assured of access to most international goods.  You’ll notice the changes in cultural and physical climate from Shanghai, and quickly realize why Kunming is famous for it’s year round spring weather.  A sleeper bus will then take us to Lijiang, one of the most famous destinations in all of China, whose 400-year old Ancient City homes are laced with cobblestone streets and quiet river channels.  Lijiang is our gateway to northern Yunnan, where we’ll travel up through Tibetan highlands to our first put-in north of Deqin, at about 12000ft elevation.

Mekong and Salween

            From there we’ll descend the Upper Mekong, which contains fairly aggressive rapids in late October, as the high summer water levels will have yet to fully drop. About 14 days later, after dropping thousands of feet and passing hundreds of isolated villages, we’ll take out and head to the upper Salween, which pours through a canyon on the opposite side of the snow-capped mountain range.  With a reputation for high quality features amongst the few who have run her, we’ll have many opportunities for play and head back exhausted to the cities for a little while to rest. 

Tiger Leaping Gorge

Back in Lijiang, we’ll take some time to hike the spectacular Tiger Leaping Gorge, following the ancient high trail away from other tourists, coming down to take in the view of the thunderous and entirely unrunnable Tiger Rock, where every attempted complete descent of the Yangtze has faltered.  Following the hike, our group will paddle the Great Bend of the Yangtze, and follow the course of China’s Mother of Waters.

            Taking out rather well before the Yangtze meets the sea in Shanghai, we’ll catch a plane back from Kunming. We finish our trip with a few days in the heart of modern China’s economy, where all manner of big city shopping, entertainment, and culture awaits.  World-class museums, historic architecture, and bargaining opportunities will give you more than you could imagine to do until you take your flight home, awed at the multiplicities of the most populous nation on our Earth.

For more information regarding Levin Brown’s China based rafting company, Great Mountain Rafting, surf to www.raftchina.com.

	1. 18-07-2007 18:51
	China Itinerary I forgot to mention that Levin is importing scooters from China. Hopefully, we can get him to reload the whitewater pages ASAP. http://www.kayakschool.org IP: 75.108.181.62 Guest Report

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	2. 19-07-2007 01:21
	China Itinerary     This is me crying with joy. IP: 69.59.124.155 Guest Report

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	3. 19-07-2007 13:36
	Entrepreneur Opportunity For those young business minds on the trip Levin will be a fabulous resource regarding the laws and business regs of importing products. Yet, another cool angle about Levin. John Miller is Levin's web designer and at the moment is on the Appy Trail with Chris Miller and his other son. Thus, for now check out Levin's scooters he imports from China when he is not rafting. And later John will reload the rafting info. http://www.kayakschool.org IP: 75.108.181.62 Guest Report

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	4. 27-07-2007 14:54
	As of July 27 we have 2 spaces left... If you are interested in this trip then call or email ASAP. There are still two spaces available.  View our calendar to see detailed dates of the semester. http://www.kayakschool.org IP: 75.108.181.109 Guest Report

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