22 Days Beijing Xi'an Tibet Kailash Guangzhou Tour with Xi’an-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.

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.

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. In the evening, you will be transferred to the Beijing West Railway Station for the overnight train to Xi’an.

Stay overnight on the train.

Your tour guide will pick you up at Xi'an Railway Station upon your arrival in the morning. Today, you will visit Banpo Museum, the archeological site of Banpo Village, which was built more than 6,000 year ago, will allow you to see how the resident matriarchic tribe used to survive in the Neolithic age. You will also visit the Terra-cotta Warriors and Horses Museum. As one of the world’s eight wonders, the terracotta warriors and horses are the size of a real army, and were buried alongside Qin Shi Huang, the first Emperor of China, in a vast underground palace.

Stay overnight in Xi’an.

Today, you will board the Tibet train at Xian Railway Station to experience the highest train ride in the world. The train journey will take you about 32 hours.

Stay overnight on the train.

You can experience the famous sky train and appreciate land of snows, desert, immense grassland, snow-capped mountains, and beautiful lakes along the way.

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.

It takes about 6 hours to fly from Lhasa to Guangzhou. Upon your arrival in Guangzhou, you will be greeted by your guide and be transfer to your hotel for a good rest.

After dinner, you will head to Canton Tower to enjoy the spectacular night view of Guangzhou City. As the second highest tower in the world, Canton Tower features the world’s highest bubble tram, the longest spiral staircase, and jaw-dropping Sky Drop.

Stay overnight in Guangzhou.

Chimelong Safari Park is a perfect place for family with kids. You can watch a variety of animals like flamingos, swans, elephants, and giraffes. You can also take the trolley ride through the open enclosures.

You will spend a night being enchanted by the world-class Chimelong International Circus in Guangzhou. This 90-minute show is a mixture of The House of Dancing Water and the typical animal circus. The acts take place on and off stage and over the audience.

Stay overnight in Guangzhou.

You guide will pick you up from your hotel, drop you off at airport or railway station in Guangzhou, and help you to get on board.