Day 1 USA - Beijing

Board an international flight bound for China. Cross the International Date Line.

Day 2 Beijing

Arrive in Beijing, the capital of China. Our guide will meet you at the airport and transfer you to the luxury hotel for rest and relaxation. 

Day 3 Beijing - Xining

In the morning, fly to Xining, capital of Qinghai Province and start of Qinghai-Tibet Railway. In the afternoon, you will tour Ta'er Lamasery. Also called "Kumbum" in Tibetan, Ta'er Lamasery originated in 1379 from a pagoda, which marked the birthplace of Tsong Kha-pa (1357-1419), founder of the Gelugpa sect in TibetanBuddhism. The most famous items of it are the "Three Treasures" such as "Suyouhua" made from yak butter, the appliquéd embroidery and murals. Tonight we enjoy a delicious local hot pot. 

• Includes Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 4 Xining - Qinghai Lake - Xining - Qinghai-Tibet Railway

After breakfast you will tour Qinghai Lake and Mt. Sun and Moon. Qinghai Lake is the largest inland salt-water lake in China. The elevation of the lake surface is 3193.92 meters. You will have a boat ride tour on the lake. You will never forget the turquoise blue water, the jadegreen pastures, the cleanest azure sky, the reed tents, the black oxen, the yellow blooms and the colorful Tibetan costumes. In spring season (April to May), you can have an optional tour to the Bird Island if time allows. The island is populated by thousands of migratory birds during their breeding season, and it is a wonderful sight. Mt. Sun and Moon is said to be a stop for Princess Wencheng of Tang Dynasty to go to Tibet. Return to Xining, you will take train (soft sleeper class) to Tibet.

• Includes Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 5 Golmud - Kekexili - Tuotuo River - Mt. Tanggula - Lhasa

Today we will go across Qinghai-Tibet Plateau and enjoy the beautiful view along the way. The people spent half a century in designing and construction the railway. Qinghai-Tibet Railway has the following world records: 1. It is the world's highest railway. 960 kilometers of tracks are located at more than 4,000 meters above sea level and the highest point is 5,072 meters, at least 200 meters higher than the Peruvian railway in the Andes, which was formerly the world's most elevated track. 2. The Railway is the world's longest plateau railroad. The newly completed Golmud-Lhasa section zigzags 1,142 kilometers across the Kunlun and Tanggula ranges. 3. Above 550 kilometers of the tracks run on frozen earth, which is the longest one in the world. 4. Tanggula Railway Station, 5,068 meters above sea level, is the highest railway station in the world. 5. Fenghuoshan Tunnel, 4,905 meters above sea level, is the highest tunnel through frozen earth in the world. 6. Kunlun Mountain Tunnel, running 1,686 meters, is the world's longest plateau tunnel built on frozen earth. 7. Anduo track-laying bases at an altitude of 4704 meters in Tibet is the highest track laying base in the world. 8. Qingshuihe River Bridge (11.7 kilometers long) is the longest plateau bridge on frozen earth. 9. Upon its completion, the maximum train speed is designed to reach 100 kilometers per hour in the frozen earth area and 120 kilometers per hour in non-frozen earth area. Arrive in Lhasa, you will be met by the guide and have a good rest to adapt yourself to the high altitude. Note: Today you will manage breakfast, lunch by yourselves on the train.

• Includes Dinner

Day 6 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 7 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 8 Lhasa - 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 9 Shigatse

Shigatse is the second largest town in Tibet. Visit Tashilunpo Monastery. 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. Later, visit the free market.

• Includes Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
  

Day 10 Shigatse - Lhasa

On the way back to Lhasa, enjoy the fascinating highland scenery at the "roof of the world." 

• Includes Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 11 Lhasa - Yangbajin - Lake Nam Co - Lhasa

Drive to Lake Nam Co. On the way you will tour Yangbajin. Yangbajin contains rich geothermal resources and is famous as a geothermal museum. The well-known Yangbajin Geothermal Power Station stands here. It has hot springs everywhere and when the valve is switched on, hot water spurts several meters or even dozens of meters high, constituting a magnificent scene. Nam Co is the highest lake in the world and is 4,718 meters above sea level. It is one of the three holy lakes in Tibet and receives high respects among the local people. On the Tibetan year of sheep, pilgrims from faraway come here to walk around the lake. It takes more than 10 days to circle the lake once.

• Includes Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 12 Lhasa - Chengdu

After breakfast, we fly to Chengdu. Chengdu is the capital of "Heavenly State" (Tian Fu Zhi Guo), habitat of giant pandas and city of cotton-rose hibiscus. Upon arrival, we tour the Panda Preserve Base. 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 13 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

Your vacation getaway is waiting.