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, you will be met and transferred to the luxury hotel for rest and relaxation. Note: Airport pick-up time is from 12:00 noon to 10:00 pm.

Day 3 Beijing - Lhasa

After breakfast, we fly to Lhasa. As the capital of the Tibet Autonomous Region, Lhasa—whose name means "Holy Land" or "Land of the Buddha" in Tibetan—is a sacred city to the Tibetan people and a paradise for travelers. Situated on the main expanse of the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau, Tibet is known as the "Third Pole of the World," characterized by cold temperatures, low atmospheric pressure, thin air, and long hours of sunshine. Lhasa, located at an altitude of 3,658 meters at the confluence of the Yarlung Tsangpo River and its tributary, the Lhasa River, lies in the region historically known as "Front Tibet" (U-Tsang). Due to its extreme altitude and remoteness, it has long been shrouded in mystery, remaining largely unknown to the outside world. Upon arrival, our guide will meet the group and transfer everyone to the hotel to rest and acclimatize to the high altitude, followed by dinner.

• Includes Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 4 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 5 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 6 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 7 Shigatse - Lhasa

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

• Includes Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 8 Lhasa - Lake Nam Co - Lhasa

Drive to Lake Nam Co. 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 9 Lhasa - Basum Tso – Nyingchi

Fly to Nyingchi in the morning. Nyingchi is a city located in the lower reaches of Yarlung Tsangpo River, is renowned for its scenic beauty. After breakfast, depart for Nyingchi—often acclaimed as the "Jiangnan (paradise south of the Yangtze) of Tibet"—and travel south along the picturesque Niyang River to Basum Tso. Here, you will admire the stunning interplay of lake and mountain scenery (tour duration: approximately 1 hour). As a National Forest Park and a 5A-rated tourist attraction, the Basum Tso Scenic Area boasts a unique landscape that shifts with the seasons, featuring a harmonious blend of snow-capped peaks, lakes, forests, waterfalls, alpine pastures, and historic monasteries. At the "Island in the Center of the Lake," where distant mountains merge with the waters, stands the ancient Tsodzong Gonpa Monastery.

• Includes Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 10 Nyingchi

Visit Kading Valley, a place often described as a "heaven on earth." Travel along the Lalin Expressway—touted as China's most beautiful highway—which winds through the magnificent landscapes of the snowy plateau, offering views of snow-capped mountains, forests, and grasslands. At the Sejila Mountain Pass (elevation 4,728 meters), you can admire the sea of ​​clouds and the vast expanse of forest, as well as catch a distant glimpse of Mount Namcha Barwa; standing at 7,782 meters, this peak was named "China's Most Beautiful Mountain" by *Chinese National Geography* magazine. Finally, visit the Lulang Forest Sea Observation Deck, where the forest is enveloped in mist and clouds, creating a truly picturesque, poetic landscape.

• Includes Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 11 Nyingchi - 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 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. Note: Airport drop-off time is from 8:00 AM to 6:00 PM. You can continue to participate in the Zhangjiajie 4 days extended tour, please click: Zhangjiajie 4 Days 3 Nights.

• Includes Breakfast

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