Tibet
Discovery Tour |
DETAILED
ITINERARY |
| Day
1. Arrive at Beijing |
| Our
guide will meet you at the airport and arrange transportation
to your hotel. |
| Day
2. Beijing : Forbidden
City, Tiananmen Square, Temple of Heaven, Acrobatic Show |
| We
explore the Forbidden City of Beijing today as well as the
capital's massive Tiananmen Square. Later this afternoon,
we'll hear tales of Empress Dowager Cixi as we stroll through
her Summer Palace, China's best-preserved royal garden. Tonight
Peking Duck is on the menu, followed by a show of daring and
agile acrobatics.¡¡ |
| Day
3. Beijing : Great Wall Walk, Ming Tombs |
| Walking
the Great Wall of China is a once-in-a-lifetime experience,
and this morning we head to the small town of Huanghua to
begin this incredible adventure. After a picnic lunch on the
Wall we return to Beijing via the equally impressive Ming
Tombs, and cruise canals in boats lit with traditional red
lanterns. We'll disembark in time to enjoy dinner with a local
family. |
| Day
4. Chengdu |
| Fly
to Chengdu. On arrival you will be met at the airport and
transferred to the hotel, where we will have a short briefing
over fiery Sichuan food laden with local spices. |
| Day
5. Chengdu to Tsedang |
| We
will take a morning flight to Lhasa and drive directly to
Tsedang on the Yarlung-Tsangpo river junction. Since we have
just made a sudden ascent to an altitude of over 3,700 meters
(12,139 ft), the morning is left open for you to acclimatize
to the new environment. Afternoon activities will be limited
to a visit to Yumbu Lagan, a reconstruction of Tibet's oldest
palace originally established on this site by the founder
of the Yarlung dynasty - Nyatri Tsenpo during the 1st century
BC. |
| Day
6. Samye Monastery/horse riding at Dorjidrak valley |
| In
the morning, we will drive along the Tsangpo river to visit
the fantastic Samye monastery, believed to be Tibet's first
monastery, built between 775 and 779. The original building
is no longer intact due to destruction caused by wars and
natural disasters, but the monastery has been rebuilt each
time and still remains the symbol of Tibet's national identity.
Its main building is a three-story tower with an interior
influenced by Tibetan, Han and Indian styles. The wide expanse
of the river and sand dunes give an almost eerie sense of
remoteness here. We will ride on horseback and explore the
caves, nunnery and active hermitage in the area. At night,
we will camp in the fields near the main monastery. |
| Day
7. Samye to Lake Yamdrok Tso |
| We
will leave Samye in the morning for Lake Yamdrok Tso, stopping
at Samding Monastery. Founded in the 12th century, the monastery
is the residence of Samding Dorje Phagmo, the only female
living Buddha in Tibet. After lunch, we will continue our
drive to the holy lake of Yamdrok Tso (4408 m), where you
will enjoy the unforgettable vista of its princer-shaped expanse
of turquoise water, with the mysterious Mt. Donang Sangwari
(5,340m) on the peninsula beyond, and the snow peaks of Nojin
Gangzang (7,191m) in the distance. Many Tibetans believe that
the life of Tibet will no longer continue when the lake dries
up. We will hike around the lake and spend the night camping
on its shore. |
| Day
8. Lake Yamdrok Tso to Gyantse |
| We
will drive towards Gyantse, an attractive, relaxed town offering
a splendid sight of the Kumbum Stupa situated at its Northern
edge. Housed within the compound of a rather barren looking
Pelkor Chode Monastery, Kumbun consists of 8 levels and contains
a total of 75 chapels with wonderful murals revered by art
scholars around the world. |
| Day
9. Gyantse to Shigatse |
| In
the morning we will drive to Shigatse (3900m/12,793ft), the
second largest town in Tibet and the traditional capital of
the Tsang. We will visit Tashilhumo Monastery, the seat of
the Panchen Lama built in 1447 and a prominent Gekupka monastery.
The monastery houses a giant statue of the Maitreya Buddha
and a tomb of the 4th Panchen Lama containing masses of jewels
and gold. |
| Day
10. Shigatse to Lhasa |
| We'll
get up early and listen to the morning prayers in the Grand
Hall of Tashilhumo Monastery, where you can see lamas rushing
around pouring yak butter tea into endless rows of cups. In
the late morning, we will take a 6-hour drive along the Brahmaputra
River to Lhasa. |
| Day
11. Lhasa |
| In
the morning, we will visit the Potala Palace, winter residence
of the Dalai Lama and the religio-political nexus of traditional
Tibet. You will join many pilgrims on your way to the top
of the hill where this 13-storey architectural wonder is perched
upon. After lunch at the Barkhor market, the afternoon is
left open for you to explore the local markets. . |
| Day
12. Lhasa to Chengdu |
| Departure
from Lhasa and fly to Chengdu. On arrival short city tour
of Chengdu. |
| Day
13. Chengdu / Beijing |
| Fly
to Beijing, On arrival transfer to Hotel, rest of the day
free at Beijing. |
| Day
14. Departure from Beijing. |
| Transfer
to Airport for homebound flights from Beijing. |
TOUR
COST |
| |
TOUR
COST INCLUDES |
- Hotel
Accomodation
- Breakfast
and Dinners
- Local
Guide
- Trainfares
and Domestic Airfares
- Entrance
Fees
- All
Land Transfers
- Insurance
|
TOUR
COST EXCLUDES |
- All
Personal Expences such as telephone calls, Laundry, Softdringks
- Tips
- Internatinal
Airfares.
- Items
not mentioned above.
|
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