Day 1 USA - Cheungdu

Today we board an international flight bound for Chengdu, China. Cross the International Date Line.

Day 2 Chengdu

Arrive in Chengdu. Our guide will meet you at the airport and transfer you to the luxury hotel for rest and relaxation. Chengdu is the capital of "Heavenly State" (Tian Fu Zhi Guo), habitat of giant pandas and city of cotton-rose hibiscus. Benefiting from Dujiangyan Irrigation Project which was constructed in 256 B.C., Sichuan Province is reputed as "Tian Fu Zhi Guo", literally a place richly endowed with natural resources. Chengdu, as the capital, is extremely productive. The Min and Tuo Rivers, two branches of the Yangtze River, connected to forty other rivers, supply an irrigation area of more than 700 square kilometres (270.27 square miles) with 150-180 million kilowatts of water. Consisting of abundant mineral resources, the land is extremely fertile. 

Day 3 Chengdu - Nyingchi

Fly to Nyingchi in the morning. Upon arrival, have a rest to adapt yourselves to the high altitude. Nyingchi is a city located in the lower reaches of Yarlung Tsangpo River, is renowned for its scenic beauty. Drive to Lulang Forest Region, Onward from Serkyam la Pass see the view of Mt. Namchak Barwa. Lulang Forest Region is situated in the southeast of Nyingchi County and the northern side of the Yarlung Tsangpo River, is a typical plateau mountain meadow located in a panhandle about 15km long and 1km wide. In summer the whole area is covered in flowers. It is also one of the best spots to see the Nanmche Barwa, the easternmost mountain in the world.

• Includes Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 4 Nyingchi - Lake Pagsum Co - Lhasa

In the morning, we drive to Lhasa, capital of Tibet. On the way you will see Lake Pagsum Co which means three cliffs lake in Tibetan, is the sacred lake of Rnyingma Sect as well as the largest fresh water lake in East Tibet. In the middle of the lake there is a monastery called Zonggnongpa Monastery, build in 17th Century, the main statue is Mitriya Buddha. Arrive at Lhasa in the afternoon.

• Includes Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 5 Lhasa

After breakfast, you will tour Potala Palace, Sera Monastery and Norbu Lingka. Potala Palace was built at the time of Songtsan Gampo in the 7th century. In the 17th century the 5th Dalai Lama rebuilt it and extended it to its present size. Its 13-story main building is 117 meters high and is composed of the Red and White Palaces, with the red one in the middle. The main building consists of the Hall of stupas of Dalai Lamas from various historical stages and halls of Buddha. The White Palace is the residence of the Dalai Lamas and place for handling political affairs. Sera Monastery is one of the three great monasteries in Lhasa. It was built by one of the disciples of Zonggaba in 1419. On the 27th of the 12th month of the Tibetan calendar, it holds the great Sera Bungchen Festival, which attracts flocks of Buddhists and others. Norbu Lingka means a lovely garden in Tibetan. Located in the western suburbs of Lhasa, it has been a place for the Dalai Lamas to stay to escape the summer heat. 

• Includes Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 6 Lhasa

Today you will tour Drepung Monastery, Jokhang Temple and Barkor Street. Drepung Monastery was built in 1416 and is the largest of the Monasteries of the Gelug Sect. In its heyday, it had more than 10,000 Monks. It has trained a large group of talents for Tibetan Buddhism. Jokhang Monastery is located in the center of the old city of Lhasa and was built in the 7th century by Songtsan Gambo, the Tang Dynasty Princess Wen Cheng and Nepalese Princess Bhrikuti. After touring Barkor Street you will know something about the local life. In the evening you are entertained by Tibetan Music and Dance Show after a local Tibetan Cuisine dinner. You may try a cup of jam butter tea, the local favorite.

• Includes Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 7 Lhasa - Tsetang

After breakfast, we we board our coach for a two hour ride to Testang. The road takes us along the Yalu Zangbu River and past rural Tibetan landscape. After our arrival in Tsetang, we will visit Yumbu Lukhang, the Tibet's first monastery. Visit the Changzhu Temple which dates back to the Tang Dynasty. 

• Includes Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 8 Tsetang

Today we will travel to the Yalu Zangbu River. Visit the Tibett-Sangye Temple. The temple has close connections to the Dalai Lamas, and is reputed to have been a place of rest and refreshment for Buddha.

• Includes Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 9 Tsetang - Lake Yamdrok Tso - Gyangtse- Shigatse

Drive to Shigatse. On the way you will see Lake Yamdrok, one of the three most sacred lakes in Tibet and Karola Glacier. After arrival you will visit Pelkor Monastery built in 1414. Its 17 Dratsang belong to three sects of Sagya, Kadam and Gelug and gather all religious sects, a salient feature of the Hall of Coqen. By the monastery stands the resplendent Palkor Pagoda. This nine-story pagoda is 32.5 meters high house some 100,000 statues of Buddhas. So the pagoda is also famous as the 100,000-Buddha PAGODA". 

• Includes Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 10 Shigatse - Lhasa

Shigatse is the the second largest town in Tibet. You will visit Tashilunpo Monastery and the free market. Tashilunpo Monastery was built in 1447 under the supervision of the First Dalai Lama Gedun Zhuiba, one of the disciples of Zonggaba. It was expanded by the Fourth, Fifth and Sixth Bainqen Lamas and has become the place of the reincarnation of the Bainqen Lamas. It houses the 22.4-meter-high gilded bronze statue of Qiangba Buddha, the tallest of its kind in the world. The image of the Buddha is kind and generous, and is vivid. On the way back to Lhasa, you will enjoy the fascinating highland scenery at the "roof of the world". 

• Includes Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 11 Lhasa - Chengdu

After breakfast, we fly back to Chengdu. Chengdu is the capital of "Heavenly State" (Tian Fu Zhi Guo), habitat of giant pandas and city of cotton-rose hibiscus. Uppon arrival, we tour the Panda Preserve Base. Chengdu Panda Base was founded in 1987, it started with 6 giant pandas that were rescued from the wild. It had about 150 panda births, and the captive panda population has grown to about 100 now. For dinner, we enjoy a famous hot pot cuisine, followed by the entertainment of Sichuan Opera. Sichuan opera is one of the principal genres of regional drama in China, it is particularly famous for its unique skills in changing countenance. 

• Includes Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 12 Chengdu - USA

After breakfast, you are transferred to airport for your return flight back to your home. You will be in the United States the same day. End of tour. 

• Includes Breakfast