Activities

Day 1

Upon arrival to Sanya Airport, a guide and driver will be waiting to provide a transfer to the hotel.

Note: Sanya Airport is well connected to the main Chinese cities (Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, Xi’an, Xiamen, etc.) and as such can easily be included as an extension of a program.

Welcome to Hainan, China’s largest island and former location for the exile of disobedient officials during the Empire. The island today is a picture-perfect paradise, featuring sandy beaches, coconut palms, and crystal clear waters. There are ample scuba diving spots, surfing beaches, five star international resorts, and fresh seafood restaurants… truly something for all tastes and interests! While the beaches are a major attraction, the island also features a mountainous heart that is home to some real treasures.

The best season for swimming and surfing is between November and March, the months of August and September can be very rainy (typhoon season).

Note: The Hainan tour will begin with three nights along the coast. There are several bays in Hainan, each with its own specific qualities. Located at various distances from the airport and from the capital of Sanya, the closest bay is Dadonghai Bay (ideally situated on the edge of the city, perfect for night-time excursions). The tariffs for this program are based on staying in one of Dadonghai Bay’s hotels.

Please contact us directly to chance the location to:

-Yalong Bay: housing the island’s best hotels

-Haitang Bay: perhaps less beautiful than Yalong Bay, but also less busy; a good departure point for the little island resort of Wuzhizhou

- Shimei and Moon Bays: the farthest from Sanya but the best for surfing

Night in Sanya (or one of the island’s bays)

Day 2

Day 2 of this Hainan tour is free to be spent at leisure.

Suggestions: Make the most of the hotel with any number of island activities: diving, snorkeling close to Wuzhizhou Island, surfing, jet skiing, etc.

Night in Sanya (or one of the island’s bays)

Day 3

A free day at leisure.

Suggestions : Spend half a day discovering Xincun fishing village (85km from Sanya, but closer to Shimei and Haitang bays.) Xincun provides an authentic glimpse of Hainan, boasting an impressive flotilla of fishing boats, a colorful market, and, above all, its floating houses, which are home to a community of around one hundred families.

The village is located just opposite Monkey Island, home to hundreds of macaques (we do not recommend visiting this attraction dedicated to mass tourism).

Night in Sanya (or one of the island’s bays)

Day 4

Day 4 of this Hainan tour begins with a transfer to Jianfengling Nature Reserve (the country’s largest rainforest). A protected zone since 1976, this site offers 450km2 of natural escape just southwest of the island. The site is home to gibbons, pheasants, peacocks, clouded panthers (very hard to see), and a rich tropical flora of close to 3000 different species (some of which are very rare or close to extinction).

Pay a visit to the “Hanging Gardens,” which boast a stunning variety of flowers, grasses, ferns, ornamental plants, thousand-year-old trees, and is populated with 400 types of butterfly and overlooked by 18 peaks of more than 1000 meters in altitude.

Take a walk around the “Celestial Lake” (Tianchi), sitting at an altitude of more than 800 meters and surrounded by “alpine” countryside.

Overnight in Jianfengling Tianchi Taoyuan Hotel (located next to the lake)

Day 5

Spend the day taking a drive through the superb countryside of the center of the island.

In order to avoid taking the same “coastal” route as before (despite being quicker), cross the island towards Shuiman. This small village found in the middle of the island is dominated by the “Wuzhishan” mountains, which literally translates to “Five Finger Mountain.” Referencing the five peaks which make up the site, the tallest reaches 1867 meters, which is the highest point of Hainan.

Note: It is possible to climb two of the five peaks. Two are linked by a rock, which acts as what is known locally as a “celestial bridge”. The ascent is taxing (taking four hours), but the summit offers a breathtaking view of the surroundings (when the weather cooperates.) For those interested in adding the hike to this Hainan tour, consult us for more information.

Optional: Waterfalls flow into Wuzhishan Canyon. As such, it is possible to complete a rafting experience here. Consult us for more information.

Continue on to the town of Baoting, a Li Minority town and departure point for the visit to the magnificent Seven Fairies Mountain. The route passes through a host of traditional villages, surrounded by rice paddies arranged in terraces on the sides of mountains.

Overnight in the Narada Tropical Resort Hotel, less than 10km from Baoting.

Day 6

Enjoy a free morning to make the most of this resort. Tucked away in the heart of the rainforest, it offers both outdoor hot springs and wonderful views of the mountains.

Note: For those interested, we can arrange rock climbing experiences on the nearby mountain. Consult us for further information.

In the afternoon, a return transfer to Sanya will be provided (or one of the island’s other bays) for a final opportunity to relax by the sea.

Optional: on the return journey, stop off in the Yanoda Rainforest- an adventure park made up of waterfalls, canyons, and giant trees with never-ending roots. Helmets, watertight bags, and sandals are available for an intrepid exploration of the park.

Night in Sanya (or one of the island’s other bays)

Day 7

After breakfast at the hotel, wrap up the Hainan tour with a transfer (provided) to the airport for the departing flight.