Panda and Tibet Extension

Welcome to Chengdu! Upon arrival, your private guide and driver will warmly greet you outside customs. They will then take you to our carefully chosen downtown hotel and help you check in. The remainder of the day is yours to unwind and shake off travel fatigue. If you’ve been eager to explore Chengdu’s renowned culinary scene and want to try Sichuan delicacies, don’t hesitate to ask your knowledgeable guide for hidden local favorites found in unassuming spots.

► Where to Have the First Meal in Chengdu (at your own expense)
Tucked away in an old building on a residential street, Luo Er Hot Pot transports diners to 1980s China with its exposed concrete walls and antique fittings, setting the stage for traditional Sichuan hotpot flavors featuring classic ingredients like tender pork slices, blistered dried tofu, crunchy bamboo shoots, and chili-coated beef. Additionally, its creative beverages are not to be missed. Beer served in fire extinguisher-style containers and water chestnut drinks in sugarcane-shaped bottles help cool down the peppery heat, while ice cream-topped cocoa is sprinkled with spiced salt and chili crisps.
Average Cost per Person: CNY 110 (USD 16)
Address: No.34 Yinghuasi Street, Qingyang District, Chengdu

Accommodation: Holiday Inn Chengdu Oriental Plaza (4 stars) or Grand Hyatt Chengdu (5 stars)

Early this morning, set out with your guide to experience the pandas’ most active hours at the Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding, where you can observe these adorable furry creatures living a carefree life in a natural-like environment. Focused on panda breeding, the base is home to many panda cubs and adult pandas, including notable star pandas like Hua Hua, Fu Bao, and He Ye. In addition to watching the pandas being fed outdoors, you can also visit the panda kitchen, bamboo museum, and panda delivery room.

Next, we will drive back downtown for nearly one hour to the Wide and Narrow Alley, a historical block consisting of three parallel alleys flanked by indigo-hued brick tile dwellings from the late Qing Dynasty (1644-1911), now renovated with numerous teahouses, art galleries, folk experience halls, and specialty snack bars, allowing you to find not just distinctive architecture but a preserved portion of Chengdu where traditional lifestyles continue. Right at lunchtime, you might satisfy your appetite with an array of dizzying street foods here.

After that, continue following your guide to the Sichuan Cuisine Museum with another hour-long drive. Many people are aware that Chengdu is renowned for its spicy cuisine, but few realize that chili peppers didn’t exist here until the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644), when chili peppers were introduced from the Americas, initially cultivated as ornamental potted plants, and fully utilized by the Sichuan diet centuries later. Now, let’s first explore the exhibition hall featuring dizzying dining utensils from various dynasties in Sichuan, particularly a blue and white porcelain pickle pot from the Kangxi Reign (1662-1722), Qing Dynasty. In addition, you can experience the ancient fermentation method of Sichuan chili bean paste: “flip over during the day, expose at night, sunbathe on sunny days, and cover when it rains.” Then, we will enjoy a gourmet dinner in the tasting area filled with various mouth-watering local snacks, such as handcrafted glutinous rice balls, Sichuan dumplings served in a sweet and spicy sauce, Dandan noodles, Bobo Chicken, and fried pork slices. Finally, the guide and driver will escort you back to the hotel.

► For Your Information
The museum offers cooking classes for visitors, during which you’ll wear a chef’s uniform and prepare three classic Sichuan dishes on your own under the chef’s guidance before enjoying the delicious meals you have created. Please note that this paid experience is not included in the ticket price, so if you’re interested, kindly inform our travel consultant for an adjusted price and to schedule an appointment.

Meals: Western buffet breakfast, Dinner
Accommodation: Holiday Inn Chengdu Oriental Plaza (4 stars) or Grand Hyatt Chengdu (5 stars)

This morning, your guide and driver will pick you up at the hotel and take you to the airport. After a 2.5-hour flight, your Chengdu Tibet tour package will continue to Lhasa. Although a simple lunch is served onboard, you may want to prepare some snacks as well.

After arriving at Lhasa Airport around 3:00 pm, your local private guide and driver will be waiting for you in the arrival hall to take you to the hotel. During the drive, your guide will provide an overview of the Tibet tour itinerary and offer tips on how to acclimate to high-altitude sickness. You can relax and have dinner independently at the hotel during your free time for the rest of the day.

► How to Prevent and Handle High-altitude Sickness
1. On the day of arrival, avoid bathing, as hot water increases blood circulation and heightens the risk of hypoxia. Additionally, steer clear of alcohol and refrain from staying up late.
2. Maintain a slow pace and refrain from climbing stairs, brisk walking, or engaging in strenuous exercise.
3. To lessen your body’s burden, consume small, frequent meals of easily digestible high-carbohydrate foods, such as porridge and noodles. Aim to drink 2-3 liters of water each day to stay hydrated.
4. Keep a calm mind, as anxiety will heighten discomfort.
5. If high-altitude sickness is severe, you can purchase a portable oxygen tank or take medication under a doctor’s guidance.

Meals: Western buffet breakfast
Accommodation: Taehf Phodrag Tibet Culture Theme Hotel (4 stars) or Shangri-La Hotel, Lhasa (5 stars)

Today, your guide will accompany you for a full day of exploring the essential attractions of Lhasa. The first stop is Potala Palace, a dzong architecture that served as the Winter Palace for the successive Tibetan sovereigns, the Dalai Lamas, starting in 1649. It is now a UNESCO World Heritage Site and is China’s largest and best-preserved Buddhist palace complex. Simply observing from a distance, you’ll be captivated by its solemnity and sacredness you can’t quite put your finger on. Situated on the mountainside, Potala Palace nearly envelops the entire mountain. Its striking crimson-colored central section, known as the “Red Palace,” houses chapels and shrines dedicated to past Dalai Lamas. Follow your guide to the top, where you can enjoy a breathtaking view of Lhasa’s expansive cityscape. Step inside the Red Palace to marvel at an impressive collection of historical artifacts, including Buddha statues, Thangka paintings, Buddhist scriptures, murals, and items crafted from gold and silver.

Next, we’ll visit Jokhang Temple, the most sacred site in Tibetan Buddhism. It houses a life-size golden statue of Sakyamuni at the age of 12, making it a significant destination for local Tibetan pilgrims. Outside the temple, you can observe an unending stream of believers kowtowing amid the fragrant smoke of burning incense, which creates a deeply spiritual atmosphere. After devouring a hearty local lunch, the guide will lead you to explore the lively Barkhor Street surrounding Jokhang Temple. The ancient circumambulations have transformed into the busiest commercial district in Lhasa. As you wander past a vibrant array of shops offering stunning Tibetan costumes and handicrafts, you’ll immerse yourself in Tibetan culture. Then, we’ll continue our trip to Norbulingka, the Dalai Lamas’ summer retreat. You can take a stroll through the Tibetan gardens and admire the beautiful ponds and Tibetan temples nestled among the lush trees. Finally, the guide and driver will return you to the hotel.

► Recommended Dinner Site in Lhasa (at your own expense)
How can you resist tasting authentic barbecue when you find yourself in a pastoral region? Hami Lamb Kebab Restaurant serves generous portions of grilled lamb chops, lamb skewers, beef tendons, and more. Juicy, char-grilled mutton sizzles over an open flame, while the blend of chili powder and cumin adds a rich depth of flavor. Especially when paired with a crispy grilled pancake, it becomes the ultimate Lhasa dish.
Average Cost per Person: CNY 80 (USD 11)
Address: Behind Lhasa Citizen Service Center, Linkuo East Rd North Section, Lhasa

Meals: Western buffet breakfast, Lunch
Accommodation: Taehf Phodrag Tibet Culture Theme Hotel (4 stars) or Shangri-La Hotel, Lhasa (5 stars)

This morning, we will embark on a 3.5-hour comfortable private car ride to Yamdrok Yumtso Lake, one of the three sacred lakes in Tibet. From the mountaintop, the lake resembles a giant sapphire surrounded by rolling mountains. On clear days, it reflects the azure sky and white clouds, creating a breathtaking scene that is perfect for your Instagram photo backdrops.
► Tour Tips of Yamdrok Yumtso Lake
1. As Kangbala Mountain, an essential stop between Lhasa and Yamdrok Yumtso Lake, stands at 4,990 meters (16,370 feet) above sea level, please refrain from strenuous exercise to prevent altitude sickness. Additionally, wear warm clothing to protect against the wind and use sun protection.
2. Respect Tibetan beliefs by avoiding contact with the Mani piles and prayer flags. If you wish to explore the lake further, walk clockwise.

After the lunch break at a local restaurant, we will drive back to Lhasa’s urban area and head to Sera Monastery on the city’s northern edge. One of Tibet’s “great three” Gelug University monasteries, Sera Monastery serves as a hermitage isolated from the secular world. Follow your guide to appreciate the grand Buddha statues and ancient scriptures at the Great Assembly Hall, the most prominent building in Sera Monastery, as well as the famous Hayagriva statue, worshipped as the dispeller of evil spirits with healing powers.

★ The Crowning Touch of Sera Monastery Visit: Debates among Monks

The debate session is an ancient tradition essential for monks to comprehend Buddhist doctrines better. At the Debating Courtyard, you will witness vigorous debates unfolding in the presence of groups of monks in red robes and their teachers. Questioners stand while defenders sit, both expressing their opinions skillfully with not only words but also vivid physical gestures. The quizzer indicates a wrong answer by tapping his left hand with his right hand, while circling his hand above the answerer’s head means that the answerer has made three consecutive mistakes and needs further review.
* Note: The debate starts at 3:00 pm every Monday to Saturday except for major local holidays.

When today’s trip is over, your guide and driver will transfer you back to the hotel.

Meals: Western buffet breakfast, Lunch
Accommodation: Taehf Phodrag Tibet Culture Theme Hotel (4 stars) or Shangri-La Hotel, Lhasa (5 stars)

On the final day of this Lhasa tour itinerary from Chengdu, come with your guide to visit Anitsangkung Nunnery, the oldest and only nunnery in Lhasa, located amidst the lively Barkhor Street. Initially, it served as a cave where Tibetan King Songtsen Gampo practiced and prayed, seeking to prevent flooding in the Lhasa River, before it transformed into a nunnery. In contrast to the Jokhang Temple, which is filled with strong incense and bustling with tourists, the nunnery offers a quiet and mysterious atmosphere. Afterward, your guide and driver will escort you to the airport or railway station. Our service comes to an end here. Farewell!

► Transportation Tips
Due to its geographical location and high-altitude operating conditions, international direct flights from Lhasa Gonggar International Airport are quite limited. Therefore, we recommend transferring through cities such as Chengdu (CTU), Chongqing (CKG), or Kunming (KMG), as these options offer a wider variety of flights at competitive prices. Additionally, the airports in Chengdu and Chongqing provide convenient international transfer services, including features such as direct baggage check-in.

Alternatively, you can take the 36-hour train ride from Lhasa to Chengdu, which departs every other day at 19:00 from Lhasa Railway Station and arrives at 07:03 at Chengdu West Railway Station on the third day. Despite the long journey, you can enjoy the mesmerizing scenery of the Tibetan areas.

Meals: Western buffet breakfas