Sugong Pagoda, Turpan

Day 01Arrival in Urumqi

Our guide will meet you outside the customs at Urumqi Airport, holding a welcome sign on which your name is written, and then escort you to the hotel. The rest of the day is on your own to explore the city.

Meals: No meals

Day 02Urumqi - Turpan

You will journey to Tupan today and check in the hotel once arriving. For the remainder of the day, you will explore the Ancient City of Jiaohe, the Karez System and the Sugong Pagoda. In the ruins of the Ancient City of Jiaohe, you could see the remained earth constructions of 2,000 years ago, such as residences, temples and government mansions. The Karez is a kind of irrigation system in desert regions. As the water evaporates easily in desert, the ancient people created this 'underground canal' to bring in water from highlands for irrigation and living. The Sugong Pagoda is a cone-shaped brick pagoda as well as the largest pagoda in Xinjiang. On the surface of the pagoda, there are 15 kinds of patterns reflecting the Muslim architecture style.

Meals: Western buffet breakfast, Lunch

Ruins of Jiaohe City, Turpan

Day 03Turpan - Dunhuang

Today, the attraction sites you are going to explore include the Ancient City of Gaochang, the Baizikeli Thousand Buddha Caves and the Flaming Mountain. Gaochang City was one of the political, economical and cultural centers in northwestern China and an important city along the Silk Road in ancient times. Consisting of outer city, inner city and imperial palace, the Ancient City has been comparatively well-preserved. The Baizikeli Thousand Buddha Caves is a famous Buddhism cave in Xinjiang. Among the 83 caves, 57 have been preserved while 40 of them are still decorated by colorful and delicate murals. The Flaming Mountain is the hottest place in China. It is named so because the red mountain looks like burning in the hot sun. The tour in Turpan ends here and you will take an overnight soft sleeper train to Dunhuang.

Meals: Western buffet breakfast, Lunch

Our travel consultant Kina and her clients

Day 04Dunhuang

Upon your arrival, our guide will pick you up at the railway station and escort you to the hotel. Breakfast is not included. After a short rest in the hotel, you will go to ride a camel along the Echoing-Sand Dune to reach the Crescent Lake. The lake is a wonder of the desert for it has lied there for hundreds of thousands of years without being covered by the sand dunes encircling and keeps the shape of a crescent. The last travel destination today is Dunhuang Museum. It houses lots of precious historical relics like silk, brocade and yarn which provide solid evidences for the 'Silk Road'.

Meals: Lunch

Day 05Dunhuang - Xian

In the morning, you will explore the Mogao Grottoes, the world-famous art gallery in desert. The large quantities of frescoes and painted sculptures preserved here are some of the best artistic creations of ancient China. As the tour ends, you are going to Xian by air. Our guide will be waiting for you at Xian Airport and escort you to the hotel.

Meals: Western buffet breakfast, Lunch

Pit of the terracotta warriors, Xian

Day 06Xian

The first destination of your Xian tour will be the Terracotta Warriors and Horses Museum, the well-known 'Eighth World Wonder'. Thousands of vivid statues are great discovery in the mausoleum of Emperor Qin Shihuang, who is the first emperor of a united China 2,000 years ago. To avoid the low-quality food at the tourist eateries, we will offer you an a la carte lunch at the best local restaurant. In the afternoon, you will visit two landmark buildings of Xian, the Big Wild Goose Pagoda and the City Wall. At the foot of the square City wall, there is an encircling garden built to protect the wall as well as offer a place for entertainment and recreation of the local people. This evening, the Tang Dynasty Dinner Show at the Tang Dynasty Palace (Addr: No.75, Chang'an Road, Xian) will be served for the luxurious series clients; while the standard series clients will enjoy the local speciality Dumpling Dinner and Tang Dynasty Dance and Music Show at Shaanxi Opera Theater (Addr: No. 165, Wenyi Road, Xian). 

Meals for Luxury series: Western buffet breakfast, A la carte lunch, Tang Dynasty dinner show
              Standard series: Western buffet breakfast, A la carte lunch, Dumpling dinner

Vendors selling handmade cloth shoes near the City Wall, Xian

Day 07Xian - Lhasa

Today, you will head for the 3,650 meters high Lhasa by flight. Upon your arrival, our guide will greet you at Lhasa Airport and escort you to the hotel. The rest of the day is for you to acclimatize to the high altitude.

Meals: Western buffet breakfast

Day 08Lhasa

Your Lhasa tour begins with a visit to Tibet Museum, which houses lots of precious collections displaying the charming culture and long history of Tibet. Then, proceed to the Carpet Factory to watch the waving process of Tibetan Carpet, which is among one of the three best kinds of carpets in the world. After lunch, you will go ahead to explore the Sera Monastery and the Norbulingka Park. The Sera Monastery is one of the three most renowned monasteries in Lhasa. There is a Buddha Basking Platform in its northeast part, from where you can overlook the whole monastery. Reputed as the 'Summer Palace of Lhasa', the Norbulingka was the summer resort of Dalai Lamas where they handled political affairs.

Meals: Western buffet breakfast, Lunch

Palkhor Monastery, Gyangtse

Day 09Lhasa

This morning, you will tour the magnificent Potala Palace, an integration of palace, castle and monastery mingled with Chinese and Tibetan styles. This is also the largest and best-kept palace compound in Tibet. In the afternoon, you will visit the Jokhang Temple, the thriving bazaar of the Barkhor Street and the Tibetan Traditional Medicine Hospital. Constructed during the splendid Tubo Period about 1,300 years ago, the Jokhang Temple has created a distinct architectural style. Due to this, it has been considered as a model Buddhism building in Tibet. The Barkhor Street is an annular street surrounding the Jokhang Temple. It functions both as a shopping paradise for Tibetan handicrafts and an annular road for praying. The visit to the Tibetan Traditional Medicine Hospital will show you some basic knowledge about Tibetan medical science.

Meals: Western buffet breakfast, Lunch

Day 10Lhasa - Gyangtse

Today, we will drive you to Gyangtse and en route stop off at the Yamdrok Yumtso Lake, one of the three sacred lakes in Tibet which attracts both pilgrims and tourists to walk along its lakefront for praying or sightseeing. Once arriving in Gyangtse, you will check in the hotel. Visit the Palkhor Monastery. The highlight of the monastery is the nine-storey Palkhor Pagoda. After that, you will have a stroll on Gyangtse Old Street to experience the native Tibet.

Meals: Western buffet breakfast, Lunch

Tibetan people

Day 11Gyangtse - Shigatse

Continue your trip to Shigatse. After checking in the hotel, you will head to visit the Tashilunpo Monastery and the New Palace of Panchen. Tashilunpo Monastery is the largest monastery in Shigatse and the seat of Panchens. The grandest buildings here are the Maitreya Chapel where the world's biggest bronze sitting Buddha is worshipped and the Stupa-tombs of successive Panchen Lamas. The New Palace of Panchen is a summer palace built by the 10th Panchen in 1954. It is a splendid and quiet place for escaping from summer heat.

Meals: Western buffet breakfast, Lunch

Golden roof of the Potala Palace, Lhasa

Day 12Shigatse - Dingri

Today you are scheduled to head towards southwest to Dingri. On the way we will stopover at the Sakya Monastery and Lhatse County. Sakya Monastery is a magnificent Buddhist temple with more than 900 years history. Upon your arrival in Dingri, you will check in the best local hotel.

Meals: Western buffet breakfast, Lunch

Day 13Dingri - Everest Base Camp - Dingri

You may get excited as we continue driving to the Everest Base Camp. The best time to have a clear view of the beautiful Mt. Everest is from April to June. You will transfer to a carriage at the foot of the mountain and start your adventure at the Everest Base Camp. Then you will also have a chance to tour the highest monastery in the world, Rongbuk Monastery. It is the sacred threshold of Mt. Everest with the most fabulous view in the world. After that you will return to the hotel in Dingri.

Meals: Buffet breakfast, Lunch

Tashilunpo Monastery, Shigatse

Day 14Dingri - Zhangmu

You will experience a long and tough transfer today. Please keep your physical energy and catch the last minute chance to view the vista on the way. After about 5 hours, you will arrive at the small border town with charming scenery, Zhangmu. Stay over in the best local hotel tonight.

Meals: Buffet breakfast, Lunch

Day 15Zhangmu – Katmandu

Today your China tour ends as you will go through the Kodari (Friendship Bridge) on China-Nepal border. Our Katmandu tour guide will pick you up in Kodari on Nepal side and transfer you to the hotel.

Meals: Buffet breakfast, Lunch

Our clients at the Everest Base Camp, Tibet Photo by our clients Melinda & Edward Ruggiero with their feedback

Day 16Katmandu

After breakfast, you will start your Nepal tour at the Pashupatinath Temple, one of the most important temples of Hinduism. The next stop is the Bhaktapur Burbar Square. Bhaktapur means “City of Pilgrim”. It is considered as the cradle of Nepal's architecture and art in Middle Ages. Then we will transfer you to another Burbar Suqare in Patan, which is the oldest city in Nepal. In the square, you will be attracted by the various ancient Nepalese buildings. The characteristic Nepalese architecture is the most distinctive mark of the city. Today's tour will end as you visit the Golden Temple. It is amazing that the surface of the huge temple was copperized.

Meals: Western buffet breakfast, Lunch

Street of Katmandu Photo by our client Mr. Max Garrick with his feedback

Day 17Katmandu

Today's first stop is Katmandu Burbar Square, where you can find more than 50 temples and palaces, so it is the best place to view the unique Nepalese architecture. Then proceed to the Swayambhunath Temple. As it is located on the top of the hill, visitors can enjoy the panoramic view of Katmandu Valley. Then we will transfer you to visit the Buddhanikantha Temple. Your last stop in Nepal is Bouddhanath Stupa, which is fascinating not only for its grand white pagoda, but also for its numerous pilgrims circumnavigating it in a clockwise way.

Meals: Western buffet breakfast, Lunch

Day 18Departure from Katmandu

Today our guide will transfer you to the airport for your homeward flight. Have a pleasant trip home!

Meals: Western buffet breakfast

Accommodation

Grade	Luxury	Standard
Urumqi	Hoi Tak Hotel	Mirage Hotel B Tower
Turpan	Huozhou Hotel	Huozhou Hotel
Dunhuang	Dunhuang Hotel Building No. 8	Dunhuang Hotel Building No. 8
Xian	Sheraton Xian Hotel	Grand New World Hotel
Lhasa	Four Points by Sheraton Lhasa	Gang-gyan Lhasa Hotel
Gyangtse	Gyangtse Hotel	Gyangtse Hotel
Shigatse	Shigatse Hotel	Shigatse Hotel
Dingri	Everest Hotel	Everest Hotel
Zhangmu	Zhangmu Hotel	Zhangmu Hotel
Katmandu	Yak and Yeti or Annapurna or Radisson	Manaslu Hotel or Manang

• ◆ 2012 Price
• ◆ 2011 Price

Based on per person and in U.S. dollars, valid from Mar. 1st, 2012 to Feb. 28th, 2013

Grade	Luxury				Standard
	High season (Mar 1st-Nov 30th)		Shoulder season (Dec 1st-Feb 28th)		High season (Mar 1st-Nov 30th)		Shoulder season (Dec 1st-Feb 28th)
	Double	Single	Double	Single	Double	Single	Double	Single
2-5 persons	$4499	$5349	$4259	$4859	$4109	$4649	$4009	$4469
6-9 persons	$3639	$4479	$3399	$3999	$3239	$3789	$3149	$3599
10 & above	$3179	$3969	$2939	$3489	$2839	$3359	$2729	$3139

Note: This tour does not apply to our Early Bird Promotion.

Based on per person and in U.S. dollars, valid from Mar. 1st, 2011 to Feb. 29th, 2012

Grade	Luxury				Standard
	High season (Mar 1st-Nov 30th)		Shoulder season (Dec 1st-Feb 29th)		High season (Mar 1st-Nov 30th)		Shoulder season (Dec 1st-Feb 29th)
	Double	Single	Double	Single	Double	Single	Double	Single
2-5 persons	$4319	$5179	$4069	$4719	$3899	$4429	$3789	$4229
6-9 persons	$3579	$4439	$3329	$3979	$3169	$3689	$3059	$3499
10 & above	$3149	$3959	$2899	$3469	$2809	$3309	$2689	$3099

Note: This tour does not apply to our Early Bird Promotion.

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For our quotation inclusions & exclusions, booking and cancellation terms, please read Terms and Conditions.