12 Days Beijing - Xi'an - Lhasa - Kathmandu Overland Tour

Your local tour guide will greet you at the airport and escort you by private car to your Beijing hotel, with the rest of the day free to explore the city or rest up from you long trip.

Accommodation: Overnight in Beijing

The Forbidden City is the most well preserved imperial palace in China and the largest ancient palatial structure in the world. The splendid architecture of the Forbidden City represents the true essence and culmination of thousands of years of Chinese architectural accomplishments.

The Summer Palace is the largest royal garden in the world. The awe-inspiring grandeur and beauty of the palace grounds are overwhelming and sure to impress all who visit.

Accommodation: Overnight in Beijing

The Great Wall of China at Mutianyu is one of the best sections of the Great Wall near Beijing to visit. Located about 80 kilometers northeast of Beijing, Mutianyu has far fewer tourists than the nearby Badaling section of the Wall. Mutianyu is surrounded by gently flowing streams and lush greenery in the spring and summer with amazing autumnal colors in the fall. Although in great condition, the Mutianyu Great Wall is actually older than the section at Badaling, with 22 watchtowers in total located about 1 kilometer apart from each other. There is also a cable car that can help you get up to meet the Great Wall, and a fun toboggan ride that can help you make a quick descent to the foot of the hills.

This evening we will transfer you to Beijing West Railway Station for the overnight train to your next destination – Xi’an, and the Terracotta Warriors.

Accommodation: Overnight in Beijing

The archeological site of Banpo Village shows how the resident matriarchical tribe lived during the Neolithic Age more than 6,000 years ago.

The Terracotta Warriors and Horses of Emperor Qin Shi Huang are quite possibly the most significant archeological excavation of the 20th century and work is still ongoing to uncover even more at the site. The terracotta warriors and horses were each individually and uniquely designed, then buried underground to protect the first Chinese emperor in the afterlife.

Accommodation: Overnight in Xian

Train station drop off, explore the stunning scenery en route.

Accommodation: Overnight on the train

Qinghai – Tibet Plateu Sightseeing on the Train, Arrival in Lhasa in the Afternoon, Acclimatize to the High Altitude

Accommodation: Overnight in Lhasa

The Potala Palace is situated as the highest altitude palace in the world. Built in the 7th century by the 33rd great king of Tibet, the palace houses fantastic treasures of the Tibetan Buddhist religion. The most valuable artifacts in the Potala Palace’s collections are the guilded burial stupas of former Dalai Lamas and the meditation cave of the 33rd great king of Tibet.

The Jokhang Temple is the holiest temple in all of Tibet, and it was also founded in the 7th century. Inside the temple is the statue of Buddha Sakyamuni at age 12, which is the holiest and most precious relic of Tibetan Buddhism.

Barkhor Street is the street surrounding the Jokhang Temple and a popular place for a holy kora (a religious circuit of a building or mountain) by pilgrims and locals. The street also has many old markets filled with Tibetan handicrafts related to Tibet Buddhism and local culture. The Tibetan Teahouse is where you can experience the real leisurely lives of the local people enjoying the local food and drink in a happy atmosphere.

Accommodation: Overnight in Lhasa

The Drepung Monastery is the largest of all the Gelug sect monasteries in Tibet. It was founded in 1416 by Jamyang Choge and currently exists as the one of the largest and most important remaining monasteries with hundreds of monks still studying inside its confines.

The Sera Monastery is famous for its “Debating Monks” as the monks practice debating scriptures of Tibetan Buddhism every day in the monastery’s courtyards. Visitors are welcome to observe how the monks practice their studies everyday as they learn about their religion from their teachers and others.

Accommodation:

Yamdrok-tso (elevation 4400 meters above sea level) is one of the three holiest lakes in Tibet. Located around 200 kilometers from Lhasa, the lake’s waters are a gorgeous turquoise color and surrounded by incredibly picturesque snow-capped mountains.

Karola Glacier is not a huge glacier, but it is does make for a spectacular view. Since it is located only about 300 yards away from the highway, it is easy to walk to for an up-close visit to one of the world’s rapidly disappearing glaciers.

The Gyantse Kunbum stupa, located inside the famous Pelkor Monastery, is the largest stupa in Tibet. With its crown-like golden dome, inside you will find a nearly endless series of tiny chapels filled with thousands of exquisite paintings.

You can also enjoy a view of the Gyangtse Fortress located off in the distance. During the summer, travelers can also visit a traditional barely mill and see the vast barley field landscapes.

Accommodation: Overnight in Shigatse

Tashilunpo Monastery is currently the largest functioning religious institution in Tibet as well as being one of its great monastic sites to visit. The massive golden statue of the Future Buddha is the largest gilded statue in the world. The monastery is also the home of the 11th Panchen Lama.

At Gyawula Pass (5180 m) you will be able to have a panoramic view of the Himilayan mountain range, including Mt. Lhotse (8516 m), Mount Everest (8848 m), Mt. Qowowuyag (8201 m) and Mt. Mayalu (8463 m).

Another fantastic attraction, if the weather permits, is “Golden Everest”. At sunset in clear weather, the summit face of Mount Everest is bathed in the reddish light of the setting sun. As the mountain peak gently glows, many people believe that this is the absolute best time to view Mount Everest.

Rongbuk Monastery sits at an altitude of 5200 meters above sea level at the foot of Mount Everest. The lonely monastery is the highest altitude monastery anywhere in the world.

Accommodation: Overnight at Rongphu Guest House

With a 2-hour hike to the Everest Base Camp itself, travelers will complete a 4 kilometer hike along a mountain road that eventually leads to the highest peak in the world. At Tongla Pass, the final high mountain pass before descending to the Sino-Nepal border, you will have a closer view of the panoramic scene of seven mountain peaks of the Himalayan Mountain range that are all at least 7000 meters above sea level, with a particularly nice view of Mt. Shishapangma (8012 m).

While descending towards the border, the elevation is reduced to around 2000 meters above sea level and the surrounding terrain becomes a fantastic mix of deep valleys and waterfalls. The forest gradually appears with the glaciers and snow-capped mountain peaks still in view high in the sky above the valley.

Kyirong Border, the border village between Tibet and Nepal, is surrounded by this amazing natural scenery, with the snow covered mountains looming behind the verdant green forest.

Accommodation: Overnight in Gyirong

The guide will see you off at the Gyirong Boarder

Accommodation: None