22 Days Beijing Tibet Kailash Shanghai Tour with Beijing-Tibet Train

Welcome to Beijing! Upon your arrival in Beijing, your driver will pick you up and take you to your hotel in Beijing in a private car. Then you could have a rest in your hotel or walk around on your own.

Stay overnight in Beijing.

No tour of China would be complete without a visit to the Great Wall, the largest man-made structure on the planet. After breakfast, you will visit Mutianyu section of the Great Wall. Stretching 2,250 meters long and including 22 watchtowers, Mutianyu Great Wall is the longest, fully restored Great Wall section open to tourists.

Stay overnight in Beijing.

Your guided tour starts with a visit to the famous Forbidden City, which used to be the imperial palace from around 1420 to 1912 and now houses the Palace Museum. Then, you will move to the Imperial Ancestral Temple, or Taimiao of Beijing where sacrificial ceremonies were held on the most important festival occasions in honor of the imperial family's ancestors during both the Ming and Qing Dynasties. After that, you will visit Beihai Park, one of the oldest, largest and best-preserved ancient imperial gardens in China. The structures and scenes in the Beihai Park are described as masterpieces of gardening technique that reflects the style and the superb architectural skill and richness of traditional Chinese garden art.

Stay overnight in Beijing.

In the morning, you can explore Nanluoguxiang yourself. Built in the Yuan Dynasty and neighboring many typical narrow streets known as hutong, Nanluoguxiang has become a popular tourist destination with coffee shops, souvenir shops, and some old siheyuan associated with famous historic and literary figures. In the afternoon, you can do some shopping if you like and prepare for the Bejing-Tibet train departing at 20:00 from Beijing West Railway Station.

Stay overnight on the train.

It takes Beijing-Lhasa train 40:45 hours to ride through as far as 3,757 kilometers to get to Lhasa Railway Station. On the journey, you will cross over 8 provinces and appreciate the various landscapes of China. However, the essential scenery of the train lies in Golmud-Lhasa section.

Stay overnight on the train.

Upon your arrival in Lhasa, your tour guide will hold a board with your name on it at the exit. A private car will take you to the reserved hotel, and the guide will give a brief introduction of the itinerary as well as dos and don'ts in Tibet. Then, you can take a good rest at hotel to acclimatize to Tibetan plateau environment.

Stay overnight in Lhasa.

Today, you’ll pay a visit to the famous Potala Palace, the world culture heritage. You can explore its audience halls, the jeweled and golden burial chortens (stupa tombs) of past Dalai Lamas, and tremendous number of Buddhist frescoes, thangkas, combinations of mandala, etc.

Then tourists will head to the holiest temple in Tibet, the Jokhang Temple, built during Songtsen Ganpo's reign by Princess Wencheng of Tang dynasty, 647 A.D. Here you can observe sincere pilgrims making prostration in front of the temple and see the holiest statue of Buddha Sakyamuni at the age of 12. Around the temple is the famous Barkhor Street, where you can do the kora with pilgrims and locals. And then we’ll go to explore the old market and you may have chance to see the traditional jewelry trading between people from different parts of Tibet.

Stay overnight in Lhasa.

Today, you will visit two important monasteries in Lhasa, the Drepung and the Sera. Drepung Monastery, the largest monastery in Tibet, was founded by Jamyang Choeje in 1416. Situated at the foot of Gebeiwoze Mountain, it was once home to more than 10,000 monks. Here you can see the biggest monastery kitchen inside and then pay a visit to the Buddhist Sculpture Carving Workshop near Drepung.

After having lunch, you’ll continue to visit the Sera Monastery, which was founded in 1419 by Tsongkapa's disciple Jamchen Choeje. The most interesting thing is to see monks debating in the courtyard at around 3-5 pm in the afternoon. Besides, you can also see the colorful Rock Painting of Buddha and the three sand Mandalas and then visit the Tibetan religious text printing house.

Stay overnight in Lhasa.

Optional: After the sightseeing, you may visit Tibetan Handicraft Art Center or Tibetan Traditional Medicine Center with your guide if time permits. Besides, you can enjoy Tibetan Culture Show in the evening (fr. 60USD).

Today, we will drive from Lhasa to Shigatse via Gyantse. On the way, we’ll drive over the Gampala Pass (4,790m) to view Yamdrok Lake and Mt. Nyenchen Khangsar. Besides, you can also appreciate Korola Glacier on the roadside. At Manak Dam Lake, tourists can hang prayer flags at Simila Mountain Pass.

Then we’ll go to the heritage town Gyantse and explore its old street, Pelkor Monastery and Kumbum Stupa. Here you can catch the far view of Gyantse Fortress.

Later, we’ll arrive at Shigatse, the second largest city in Tibet. And tourists can visit traditional Barley Mill and view the landscape of Barley Field in summer.

Stay overnight in Shigatse.

In the morning, we will visit the home of Panchen Lama - Tashilunpo Monastery. It is largest monastery of the Gelug Sect in Rear Tibet, and the main stage where generations of Panchen Lamas carried out religious and political activities. After getting your Alien’s Travel Permit, we will leave Shigatse and then drive to Lhatse for lunch.

After that, we’ll drive over Tsola Pass (4,600m), and Gyatsola Pass (5,248m). At Gawula Pass (5,180m), tourists can view the panorama of Himalaya. Then we’ll drive along the new zigzag road to Everest Base Camp and get closer to Mt. Everest peak. You are lucky enough to catch the sunset of golden Everest peak if time and weather permits at the lodging area.

Stay overnight at tent or Rongbuk Monastery Guesthouse.

In the morning, you can enjoy the stunning sunrise of Everest peak at lodging area if weather permits. While we drive towards Saga, you can catch the view of the world’s 14th highest peak Mt. Shishapangma (8,012m) and the beautiful turquoise Lake Peikutso (4,590m). Chances are that you can see wild animals like wild donkey, wild antelope etc.

Stay overnight in Saga.

In the morning, you can appreciate the stunning view of the Saga Valley between Gangdise Range and Himayala Range. Meanwhile, you can also view the beautiful grassland and local's villages along the way. While crossing the Mayomla Pass (5,112m), you can catch the far view of Mt. Naimonanyi (7,694M). Then we’ll pass by the holy Lake Manasarovar and finally arrive at the southern foot of Mt. Kailash, the holist mountain in Tibet.

Stay overnight in Darchen.

In the morning, tourists can take environment friendly bus from Darchen to Sarshung Valley. And you’ll meet yaks and porters at Sarshung Village (The cost of hiring yaks, horses, and porters are not included in the package).

After that, you can start the trek (around 13km) from Sarshung to Drirapuk Monastery (5,080m) along the Lachu Valley and rivers. Today, you can see both west and north face of Mount Kailash (6,638m). Finally, we’ll pay a visit to Drirapuk Monastery.

Stay overnight in guesthouse.

Today, we’ll trek over Dromala Pass (5,648m), the highest pass of the Kora. On the way, you can have a break in a teahouse. Besides, you’ll meet the locals prostrating along the Kora path. When walking downhill, you can see beautiful Kadoe Lake (5,568m). Then we’ll visit Zutulpuk Monastery (4,835m).

Stay overnight in guesthouse.

Today, we’ll trek 7km to Zongto where you can take bus to Darchen. Along the Kora, you can see piles of Mani Stones. Finally, we’ll end the trek around noon and have a rest at the lodging place. 

Stay overnight in guesthouse.

Optional: Take a bath in Lake Manasarovar and enjoy hot spring around it.

Drive from Darchen to Saga via Lake Manasorovar.

Stay overnight in Saga.

Drive from Saga to Sakya.

Stay overnight in Sakya.

In the morning, we’ll pay a visit to ancient Sakya Town and Sakya Monastery with amazing murals and huge collection of scriptures and statues. Then we’ll drive from Sakya to Shigatse.

Stay overnight in Shigatse.

Today, we’ll follow Yarlung Valley back to Lhasa. Standing on the platform, you can view the vast Yarlung River bed. And then you can visit Water Mill making Tibetan incense material (in summer if time permits). Finally we’ll drop you off at hotel in Lhasa.

Stay overnight in Lhasa.

You guide will pick you up from hotel and transfer you to the airport for your onward flight to Shanghai. It takes about 6 hours to arrive in Shanghai by flight. Upon your arrival, your local guide will pick you up and escort you to the reserved hotel. You can have a good rest at hotel in the rest of the day.

Stay overnight in Shanghai.

In the morning, you will visit Shanghai Museum which houses an incredible collection of bronzes, sculptures, ceramics, coins, paintings, calligraphy, costumes in different dynasties. Then, you will go to Yu Garden which used to be a private residence about 400 years ago, you can stroll inside this beautiful Chinese garden, and savor some local flavor snacks at the Yu Garden Bazaar. 

You can appreciate the stunning panorama of skylines of Shanghai and Oriental Pearl TV Tower at night, and get amazed at the spectacular Huangpu River and dazzling light from buildings of Pudong when strolling along the Bund.

Stay overnight in Shanghai.

Today you will take a taxi from hotel to Shanghai airport or railway station by yourself.

Service ends.