Itinerary
- Day 1
Arrival in Beijing
You'll be picked up at the airport and taken to your hotel when you land. Later in the evening, head over to Wangfujing Street, a busy pedestrian strip lined with shops and places to eat where you can get a feel for Beijing. Dinner is included, and then you'll return to the hotel for the night.
- Meals
- Dinner
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Mercure Beijing Downtown), Hotel (Grand Concordia), Hotel (Grand Mercure Beijing Central)
Included Activities
- Transfer to hotel
- Visit Wangfujing Street
Landmarks/POIs Wangfujing Street 
- Day 2
Beijing Highlights
This is a full-day tour covering Beijing's major sights. Start at the Forbidden City, the former palace where 24 emperors ruled. From there, head to Jingshan Park and climb Coal Hill for views looking back at the Forbidden City. You'll walk through Tiananmen Square and check out the Great National Theater. After lunch, move on to the Summer Palace with its gardens and waterways. Later you'll take a tricycle ride through the Hutong neighborhoods and visit a traditional Siheyuan courtyard house to see how people lived. Return to the hotel for the night.
- Meals
- Lunch
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Mercure Beijing Downtown), Hotel (Grand Concordia), Hotel (Grand Mercure Beijing Central)
Included Activities
- Visit Forbidden City
- Visit Jingshan Park and Coal Hill
- Stroll through Tiananmen Square
- Visit Summer Palace
- Tricycle ride through Hutong neighborhoods
- Visit Siheyuan courtyard house
Optional Activities
- Visit Confucius Temple (alternative if Forbidden City unavailable)
- Visit Lama Temple (alternative if Forbidden City unavailable)
Landmarks/POIs Forbidden City Jingshan Park Coal Hill Tiananmen Square Great National Theater Summer Palace Hutong neighborhoods Confucius Temple Lama Temple 
- Day 3
Great Wall and Train to Shanghai
Travel to Mutianyu on the Great Wall, one of the most visited sections. Take the cable car up and down to walk along the wall and see the surrounding landscape. Lunch features Peking duck, a local specialty. Then you're transferred to the train station for a high-speed train to Shanghai, which takes about 5 hours covering roughly 1,300 km. Check into your Shanghai hotel when you arrive.
- Meals
- Lunch (Peking duck)
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Novotel Shanghai Atlantis)
Included Activities
- Visit Great Wall at Mutianyu section
- Cable car ride up Great Wall
- Cable car ride down Great Wall
Landmarks/POIs Great Wall at Mutianyu 
- Day 4
Shanghai Highlights
Start in Pudong, Shanghai's modern financial district with tall skyscrapers and the Pearl Tower. Take a ferry across the Shanghai River for views of both sides. Visit Yuyuan Garden from the Ming Dynasty and try a traditional tea ceremony there. Walk through Xintiandi with its shops and cafes, then explore Tianzifang with winding alleys, craft stores, and art galleries. Stop by The Bund to see the old colonial buildings along the water. The afternoon is free for activities on your own.
- Meals
- Lunch
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Novotel Shanghai Atlantis)
Included Activities
- Visit Pudong financial district
- Scenic ferry ride across Shanghai River
- Visit Yuyuan Garden
- Traditional tea ceremony at Yuyuan Garden
- Stroll through Xintiandi
- Explore Tianzifang
- Walk along The Bund
Optional Activities
- Night boat trip to see Shanghai at night
Landmarks/POIs Pudong Pearl Tower Shanghai River Old City Yuyuan Garden Xintiandi Tianzifang The Bund - Day 5
Train to Luoyang and Longmen Buddhist Caves
Early morning train from Shanghai leaves at 07:17 a.m., heading to Luoyang. The trip covers 1,000 km and takes just over 5 hours through rural areas. Once there, see the Longmen Buddhist Caves, a massive complex that stretches over a kilometer with more than 100,000 Buddha statues carved into the rock face. Take a boat ride along the river to see the carvings from the water. After lunch, head into Luoyang's old walled city and walk through the lit streets to see local life and traditional architecture.
- Meals
- Lunch
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Mercure Luoyang), Hotel (Ramada By Wyndham Downtown)
Included Activities
- Visit Longmen Buddhist Caves
- Scenic boat ride along Longmen caves
Landmarks/POIs Longmen Buddhist Caves 
- Day 6
White Horse Monastery to Xian via Sanmenxia
Early in the day, visit the White Horse Buddhist Monastery outside Luoyang, an important site for Buddhist study. Continue to Sanmenxia to see the Yellow River and the Baolun Temple with its tall pagoda. Check out the Guo Museum, which has ancient funeral carriages and other artifacts from the historical State of Guo. You'll also pass Mount Hua, one of China's most sacred mountains. Arrive in Xian by late afternoon for overnight stay.
- Meals
- Lunch
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Novotel Xian Scpg), Hotel (Delta By Marriott Xian)
Included Activities
- Visit White Horse Buddhist Monastery
- View Yellow River
- Visit Baolun Temple
- Visit Guo Museum
Landmarks/POIs White Horse Buddhist Monastery Yellow River Baolun Temple Guo Museum Mount Hua 
- Day 7
Xian: Terracotta Army and Ancient Sights
Explore Xian, where the Silk Road started. See the Terracotta Army, thousands of life-sized clay soldiers guarding the tomb of China's first emperor. Return to Xian and visit the Small Wild Goose Pagoda, a Buddhist structure over 1,000 years old. Walk through the historic walled city center and check out the Muslim Quarter with the Great Mosque. Catch a short performance of traditional music on ancient instruments at the Drum Tower. The rest of the day is free to explore on your own.
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Novotel Xian Scpg), Hotel (Delta By Marriott Xian)
Included Activities
- Visit Terracotta Army
- Visit Small Wild Goose Pagoda
- Explore Muslim Quarter
- Visit Great Mosque
- Attend Drum Tower traditional music performance
Landmarks/POIs Terracotta Army Small Wild Goose Pagoda Muslim Quarter Great Mosque Drum Tower - Day 8
High-Speed Train to Chengdu and Panda Centre
High-speed train takes you 700 km to Chengdu in about 3 hours. Once there, visit the Panda Bear research center, home to around 120 giant pandas and 76 red pandas. After lunch, take a walk through the People's Park, where you'll see a small lake, locals practicing Tai Chi, and traditional tea houses where people sit and chat.
- Meals
- Lunch
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Dorsett Chengdu)
Included Activities
- Visit Panda Bear research and breeding centre
Optional Activities
- Stroll through People's Park
- Visit tea houses in People's Park
Landmarks/POIs Panda Bear research and breeding centre People's Park 
- Day 9
Sichuan Province Full-Day Tour
Full-day tour through Sichuan Province visiting villages and countryside. See Dujiangyan, an old irrigation system that's been working for over 2,000 years and is a UNESCO site. Head to Quingcheng Shan, a Taoist holy mountain with forest trails, caves, pavilions, and old wooden temples. Visit the ancient city of Jiezi with alleys from over a thousand years ago. Return to Chengdu after lunch.
- Meals
- Lunch
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Dorsett Chengdu)
Included Activities
- Visit Dujiangyan traditional irrigation system
- Visit Quingcheng Shan
- Visit ancient city of Jiezi
Landmarks/POIs Dujiangyan Quingcheng Shan Jiezi - Day 10
Flight to Lhasa
Fly from Chengdu to Lhasa. After landing at Gonggar Airport, meet your guide and take a bus ride to Lhasa, which sits at 3,700m altitude. The drive takes about 90 minutes. Check into your hotel, then have the evening free to rest and adjust to the altitude while exploring the local markets at your own pace.
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Tsedang)
Included Activities
- Transfer from Gonggar Airport to Lhasa
Optional Activities
- Explore local bazaars
Landmarks/POIs Gonggar Airport 
- Day 11
Potala Palace and Sera Monastery
After breakfast, go on a guided tour of the Potala Palace, a 13-story structure that was once the tallest building around. It was the winter home of the Dalai Lamas and dates back to the 7th century. You can see it from different parts of the city. After lunch, visit Sera Monastery from 1419, where monks hold famous debates about Buddhist texts, a tradition unique to this place. Return to the hotel for the night.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Tsedang)
Included Activities
- Guided tour of Potala Palace
- Visit Sera Monastery
- Witness Debate on Buddhist Scriptures at Sera Monastery
Landmarks/POIs Potala Palace Sera Monastery 
- Day 12
Jokhang Temple and Norbulingka
Take a guided tour of Jokhang Temple, Tibet's most important religious site and known as the 'House of Buddha.' It contains a statue said to have been made by Buddha Sakyamuni himself. People from all Tibetan communities gather here, making it a spiritual and cultural hub. Explore Barkhor Market nearby, an important pilgrimage route and lively spot for locals and visitors. After lunch, visit Norbulingka, the Dalai Lama's summer home. Return to the hotel for the night.
- Meals
- Lunch
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Tsedang)
Included Activities
- Guided tour of Jokhang Temple
- Explore Barkhor Market
Optional Activities
- Visit Norbulingka
Landmarks/POIs Jokhang Temple Barkhor Market Norbulingka - Day 13
Samye Monastery and Yumbu Lakhang Palace
Travel along the Tsangpo River to Samye Monastery, believed to be Tibet's first monastery, built between 775 and 779. While it's been damaged and rebuilt over the years, it remains a significant symbol of Tibetan identity. The main building is three stories tall and combines Tibetan, Han, and Indian architectural styles. After lunch, see Yumbu Lakhang Palace, Tibet's first building and home of the first king. Overnight in Tsetang.
- Meals
- Lunch
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Shamchu Garden)
Included Activities
- Visit Samye Monastery
- Visit Yumbu Lakhang Palace
Landmarks/POIs Samye Monastery Yumbu Lakhang Palace Tsangpo River - Day 14
Kambala Pass and Gyangtse
Drive up to Kambala Pass at 4,790m for views of the turquoise Yamdrok Lake with snow-capped peaks in the distance. Come down from the pass and drive along the lake's edge, passing small villages. After lunch on the way, arrive in Gyangtse and visit Perkhor Chode Monastery at sunset. Stay overnight in Gyangtse.
- Meals
- Lunch
Included Activities
- Visit Kambala Pass
- View Yamdrok Lake
- Visit Perkhor Chode Monastery at sunset
Landmarks/POIs Kambala Pass Yamdrok Lake Perkhor Chode Monastery 
- Day 15
Shigatse and Tashilhunpo Monastery
Head to Shigatse, Tibet's second-largest city and capital of Tsang region, sitting at 3,810m. Visit Tashilhunpo Monastery, home of the Panchen Lama, which has a huge complex with a massive Maitreya statue. Explore temples inside containing ornately decorated reliquaries called chortens. After lunch, check out the open-air market in Shigatse where you can find Tibetan crafts and goods. Stay overnight in Shigatse.
- Meals
- Lunch
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Shiga Yangcha Grand)
Included Activities
- Visit Tashilhunpo Monastery
- Explore temple chortens at Tashilhunpo Monastery
- Visit Shigatse open-air market
Landmarks/POIs Tashilhunpo Monastery Shigatse market 
- Day 16
Return to Lhasa
Drive back to Lhasa along the Yarlung Tsangpo River. Stop in a small village to visit a traditional incense mill and Tibetan craft workshop. After lunch on the road, arrive back in Lhasa for the night.
- Meals
- Lunch
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Tsedang)
Included Activities
- Visit traditional incense mill
- Visit Tibetan craft workshop
Landmarks/POIs Yarlung Tsangpo River - Day 17
Departure from Lhasa
After breakfast, you'll get a transfer to the airport. Your tour ends here, and you'll head home with memories from your travels through China and Tibet.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Transfer to airport
