Holy Tibet
L-501: 12 Days Private Tour of Beijing - Lhasa - Xian - Shanghai
Tour Type: Private Tour, any parts of the itinerary can be customized
Guide & Driver: English-speaking guide, experienced driver with an air-conditioned vehicle
Meals: 11 american breakfasts, 4 lunches with some being a la carte style
Highlights:
Guide & Driver: English-speaking guide, experienced driver with an air-conditioned vehicle
Meals: 11 american breakfasts, 4 lunches with some being a la carte style
Highlights:
- Must-see sights in China - Mutianyu Great Wall, Forbidden City, Terracotta Warriors
- Follow us on a Buddhist pilgrimage to Tibet & visit the sacred Potala Palace
- Have a leisurely walk or an exciting bicycle ride on the time-honored City Wall of Xian
- Experience the Bund, classical garden, modern and old in contrast in Shanghai

From $3189$2870Free Inquiry

- Itinerary
- Tour Prices
- Price Includes
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Day 1 Arrival in Beijing
Upon your arrival today, our excellent English-speaking guide will be waiting for you outside the arrival hall of the airport after you finish the check-out procedures. A comfortable private transfer will take you to the hotel in downtown area. For the remaining time of the day, we intend to keep it free for you.
Meals: No meals, advice freely available
Meals: No meals, advice freely available
Day 2 Beijing
Forbidden City, Beijing
After breakfast, you will pay a visit to Tiananmen Square, the largest central city square in the world with an area of 440,000 square meters (108 acres), which can hold one million people for meeting at one time. The solemn flag ceremony is performed everyday at sunrise and sunset on the square drawing the attention of people who are passing there. Besides, Tiananmen Gate on the north of Chang'an Street across the square is the entrance to your next stop, the Forbidden City, which is an imperial palace complex of the Ming and the Qing dynasties and also a big museum. It tells people about the changes of the royal courts for about 600 years and the several thousand years' history of Chinese civilization.
At noon, we will offer an a la carte lunch (valued at CNY150.00 per person and included in our price) for you to sample the pure Chinese delicacies. We will then transfer you to visit the Summer Palace, a fantastic resort for visitors to admire the peaceful landscape and magnificent architecture of the royal garden. Visitors may go to the Front Hill Area where most ancient constructions are located. The first construction you visit may be the Hall of Dispelling Clouds (Paiyundian). It is regarded as the most spectacular architectural complex of the Summer Palace. The Empress Dowager Cixi of the Qing Dynasty (1644-1911) used to celebrate her birthday here every year.
Meals: American breakfast, A la carte lunch
At noon, we will offer an a la carte lunch (valued at CNY150.00 per person and included in our price) for you to sample the pure Chinese delicacies. We will then transfer you to visit the Summer Palace, a fantastic resort for visitors to admire the peaceful landscape and magnificent architecture of the royal garden. Visitors may go to the Front Hill Area where most ancient constructions are located. The first construction you visit may be the Hall of Dispelling Clouds (Paiyundian). It is regarded as the most spectacular architectural complex of the Summer Palace. The Empress Dowager Cixi of the Qing Dynasty (1644-1911) used to celebrate her birthday here every year.
Meals: American breakfast, A la carte lunch
Day 3 Beijing
Mutianyu Great Wall
This morning you will journey to visit the famous Mutianyu Great Wallwith the round way cable car. Although it is a little tiring to hike on the wall, the magnificent wall and the astonishing views are worth of your visit. The Great Wall, with a length of about 6,300 kilometers (3,915 miles), is one of the greatest miracles in the world. Like a huge dragon, it winds up and down across mountains, grasslands, deserts and plains, stretching from the Jiayuguan Pass in Gansu in the west to the Shanhaiguan Pass near the eastern seaside of our country.
Lunch is not included. On returning to the downtown, we will stop over at the Bird's Nest so that you can take some pictures outside. The next spot you will view is the Temple of Heaven, a delicate ancient architecture complex where the emperors offered sacrifices to the God of Heaven.
Meals: American breakfast
Friendly Tips
The round-trip cable car fare at Mutianyu Great Wall is included in this tour price. We can also arrange for you to take the chairlift up and toboggan down the wall. Please contact your travel consultant if you are interested.
Lunch is not included. On returning to the downtown, we will stop over at the Bird's Nest so that you can take some pictures outside. The next spot you will view is the Temple of Heaven, a delicate ancient architecture complex where the emperors offered sacrifices to the God of Heaven.
Meals: American breakfast

The round-trip cable car fare at Mutianyu Great Wall is included in this tour price. We can also arrange for you to take the chairlift up and toboggan down the wall. Please contact your travel consultant if you are interested.
Day 4 Beijing - Lhasa
It's time to say goodbye to our capital and fly to your onward destination - Lhasa this morning. You will be greeted by the local guide at the airport on time. In addition to a brief introduction of the city, the guide will also give you some useful tips on obviating high altitude reaction when the car is driving to the downtown area. Later what you need to do is have a good rest in your hotel to adapt yourself to the environment.
Meals: American breakfast
Meals: American breakfast
Day 5 Lhasa
Being reputed as 'City of Sunlight', this 1300-year-old city has long been the political, economic, cultural and religious centre of Tibet, as well as a heart home for many devout followers of the faith. The first spot you will visit is the Tibet Museum, which well describes the peculiar Tibetan culture and history via plenty of collections, including various artifacts, Buddha figures, handwritten ancient books, artistic Thangka paintings, ethnic handicrafts etc. After having lunch at a fancy local restaurant, you will get to the Sera Monastery, one of the greatest monasteries for Gelug Sect of Tibetan Buddhism and then the Norbulingka Park, the once summer house for generations of living Buddha and the nowadays local largest created garden.
Meals: American breakfast, Lunch
Meals: American breakfast, Lunch
Day 6 Lhasa
Golden Roof of Potala Palace, Lhasa
Another thrilling day starts with a visit to the Potala Palace. Highest in elevation, it is a shinning pearl of Tibet Plateau, and world-famed for its unique layout, civil engineering, metal smelting, painting, sculptures and so on. After lunch, the guide will take you to the Jokhang Temple. This temple is the spiritual center of Tibetans because the rare statue of the 8-year Sakyamuni is worshiped in the temple. Around the Jokhang Temple, there is the ancient Barkhor Street, where you will find characteristic shops one by one. The last stop of the day is a Nunnery. You could roam around the nunnery and watch the nuns chanting and rolling scriptures to put into prayer wheels.
Meals: American breakfast, Lunch
Meals: American breakfast, Lunch
Day 7 Lhasa - Xian
The morning is free for you to have a rest at the hotel. Around noon, you will take a flight to Xian, where our local guide is waiting for you at the airport and will transfer you the downtown hotel.
Meals: American breakfast
Meals: American breakfast
Day 8 Xian
It will be a breathtaking trip today because you will see the grand Terracotta Warriors and Horses at close quarters. It is the largest underground military museum in the world. The lifelike soldiers and horses were orderly arranged in battle formations with distinct expressions on each face. Besides, the delicate Bronze Chariots and Horses and weapons are very impressive. The guide will leave you enough time to enjoy the various kinds of lively terracotta warriors and horses created 2,200 years ago.
Lunch is not included. Your guide will give you some advice and assistance for lunch. The first stop of this afternoon is the well-known Big Wild Goose Pagoda, which was built in the Tang Dynasty (618-907) to collect the valuable Buddhist sutras taken from India by the hierarch Xuanzang. Later, our guide will take you to the nearby Provincial History Museum, which exhibits over 370,000 pieces of valuable cultural relics.
Meals: American breakfast
Lunch is not included. Your guide will give you some advice and assistance for lunch. The first stop of this afternoon is the well-known Big Wild Goose Pagoda, which was built in the Tang Dynasty (618-907) to collect the valuable Buddhist sutras taken from India by the hierarch Xuanzang. Later, our guide will take you to the nearby Provincial History Museum, which exhibits over 370,000 pieces of valuable cultural relics.
Meals: American breakfast
Day 9 Xian
Terracotta warriors and horses
This morning, you will go to visit the City Wall Park, where local people do various kinds of morning exercises. Then ascend the City Wall, which was constructed 600 years ago and is the best-preserved existing city wall in China. You could walk on the wall and explore the city's history from every of its bricks and titles.
In the afternoon, there is a visit to the Great Mosque, one of the largest and oldest Islamic mosques in our country. On the way to the mosque, we will drive by the Bell Tower and the Drum Tower, the landmarks of this city. After visiting the Mosque, you will also have some time to explore the local snacks at the nearby Muslim Bazaar.
Meals: American breakfast
In the afternoon, there is a visit to the Great Mosque, one of the largest and oldest Islamic mosques in our country. On the way to the mosque, we will drive by the Bell Tower and the Drum Tower, the landmarks of this city. After visiting the Mosque, you will also have some time to explore the local snacks at the nearby Muslim Bazaar.
Meals: American breakfast
Day 10 Xian - Shanghai
You will take a morning flight to Shanghai and then our local guide will expect you at the airport and escort you to check in the hotel. The rest of the day is free for you to explore this city by yourself.
Meals: American breakfast
Meals: American breakfast
Day 11 Shanghai
Shanghai Bund
An private elite sightseeing is arranged for you today. In the morning, you will go to see plenty of rare historical collections displayed in Shanghai Museum firstly. Covering an exhibition area of 12,000 square meters, it is one of the four best museums in our country and mainly features the bronze vessels, potteries, handwritings and paintings. The next stop is to the famous and elegant Yuyuan Garden. As one of the masterpieces of the classical gardens in southern region, it is marked by the ingenious design, delicate layout and elegant landscape.
At noon, we will invite you to a farewell a la carte lunch (valued at CNY150.00 per person and included in our price) at a fancy and famous local restaurant, where you will taste authentic Shanghai cuisine. Traditionally called Benbang cuisine and formed by a complex flavor structure, cooking style and technique norms, the cuisine stresses the use of condiments while retaining the original flavors of the ingredients and has features of being fresh, smooth and crispy.
After lunch, you will take a short cruise on Huangpu River to view this city from different angles. The cruise will pass by the city's landmark - the Oriental Pearl TV Tower. You will debark on the Bund, where you will walk around to appreciate the various European buildings on the west side of Huangpu River and the modern skyscrapers on the opposite Pudong side. Finally our guide will take you to an old street, where you may find fun and relaxation.
Meals: American breakfast, A la carte lunch
At noon, we will invite you to a farewell a la carte lunch (valued at CNY150.00 per person and included in our price) at a fancy and famous local restaurant, where you will taste authentic Shanghai cuisine. Traditionally called Benbang cuisine and formed by a complex flavor structure, cooking style and technique norms, the cuisine stresses the use of condiments while retaining the original flavors of the ingredients and has features of being fresh, smooth and crispy.
After lunch, you will take a short cruise on Huangpu River to view this city from different angles. The cruise will pass by the city's landmark - the Oriental Pearl TV Tower. You will debark on the Bund, where you will walk around to appreciate the various European buildings on the west side of Huangpu River and the modern skyscrapers on the opposite Pudong side. Finally our guide will take you to an old street, where you may find fun and relaxation.
Meals: American breakfast, A la carte lunch
Day 12 Departure from Shanghai
Our guide will transfer you to the airport to take your international flight back home. Hope our dedicated services bring you a memorable, interesting and enjoyable private vacation!
Meals: American breakfast
Meals: American breakfast
B-- Breakfast L-- Lunch D-- Dinner
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Destinations | Luxury Hotels | Standard Hotels |
---|---|---|
Beijing | Hotel New Otani Chang Fu Gong ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() | Beijing New World Centre Tongpai Hotel ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
Lhasa | Shangri-La Hotel ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() | Tashipozhang Hotel ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
Xian | Crowne Plaza Xi'an ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() | Holiday Inn Xian Big Goose Pagoda ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
Shanghai | Renaissance Shanghai Yu Garden Hotel ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() | Ocean Hotel Shanghai ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
Special Deal
10% off - book 60 days before, 5% off - book 30 days before
Tour Prices with Luxury Hotels | |
---|---|
2-3 travelers | 4-5 travelers |
$4079 $3671 | $3719 $3347 |
Tour Prices with Standard Hotels | |
---|---|
2-3 travelers | 4-5 travelers |
$3549 $3194 | $3189 $2870 |
- Prices are per person in US Dollars based on double occupancy.
- The prices in red reflect 10% discount.
- Any part of the itinerary e.g. tour length, activities & hotels can be tailored to your individual interests.
Price Includes
- Domestic airfares
- Hotel accommodation with breakfasts
- A la carte lunches as itinerary specifies
- Private English-speaking guides
- Private drivers & air-conditioned vehicles
- Entrance fees to tourist sites
- Tibet Travel Permit
Price Excludes
- International airfares
- Entry Visa fees
- Personal expenses
- Tips or gratuities for guides and drivers
Why Travel With Us
Other levels available for this itinerary:
- 5.01 ReviewUSA & VenezuelaPosted on January 22, 2019Thank you very much for putting up an excellent itinerary for us, it was carried out far more exceeding our expectations.
Xian
Our guide Carol was the best of our entire tour, she was very friendly and outgoing. The location of the hotel was very good! The day we ate the dumpling dinner - Breakfast & the dinner would be enough food. Lunch was not necessary, but was very good!
Tibet
Our guide was very knowledgeable. I think it is essential in Tibet to offer a Tibetan guide as they best know the culture and customs. I would have liked to see more in Tibet such as the Everest Base Camp of Mt. Everest, but we did not have time, maybe on our next visit!
Beijing
We feel very good about the amount of things we saw in Beijing. Although we only have 2 days in Beijing. Our guide Nancy did an excellent job of showing us everything. ... More