Tibet
China
     

China, Tibet & Nepal
Beijing to Kathmandu

Beijing - Xi'an - Lhasa - Gyantse - Shigatse - Sakya - Everest Base Camp - Last Resort - Bhaktapur - Kathmandu

Whilst not the only man-made object visible from space, the Great Wall of China is without doubt one of the wonders of the world. Tiananmen, the Gate of Heavenly Peace shields the elaborate grandeur of the Forbidden City from the vast expanse of the great square.

Capital of Chinese empires for over 2000 years, Xi'an is a city of ancient treasures - most magnificent amongst them the celebrated Terracotta Warriors. Xi'an is also famous for its intricately crafted dumplings - a banquet dinner in itself - and your fortune may be predicted by the mini dumplings in the final dish.

In the heart of central Tibet the great temples, monasteries, forts and palaces of Lhasa, Gyantse, Shigatse and Sakya are powerful testaments to a long and volatile history and to the spiritual and artistic traditions of Tibetan Buddhism.

Skirt the turquoise lake of Yamdrok Tso, cross mountain passes topped by prayer flags, pass glaciers, barren hillsides and fertile valleys. Stunning views of Qomolangma (Mt Everest) and a trip up to base camp are a fitting finale to this incredible journey before you leave the Tibetan Plateau behind, plunging abruptly into a lush green world as we descend almost 2000 meters in just 30kms to the border town of Zhangmu.

At the Last Resort relax in the beautiful gardens, test your rafting skills, hike to nearby villages or try out the 160m bunjy jump.Explore the historic town of Bhaktapur on the way to Kathmandu. Rich in cultural and artistic heritage the cities of the Kathmandu Valley blend the traditional and the modern.

Itinerary
Days 1-3 Beijing Day 4 Xi'an Days 5-8 Lhasa Day 9 Gyantse Days 10-11 Shigatse Day 12 Sakya Day 13 Rombuk Day 14 Everest Base Camp & Lao Tingri Days 15-16 Last Resort Day 17 Bhaktapur & Kathmandu Day 18 Kathmandu Day 19 Depart
Departures
A private departure available year round for groups of 2 or more, using good 2-3 star accommodation.
Suitable for children (8+)
Best: April-November
Great Wall of China
Whilst not the only man made object visible from space, the Wall is an impressive sigh,t stretching thousands of kilometers from the sea to the Gobi.
Tiananmen & Forbidden City
Behind the Gate of Heavenly Peace lies the vast Imperial City, home to Emperors of China, forbidden to commoners.
Terra cotta Warriors
An army of over 7,000 life size warriors guard the tomb and afterlife of the 3rd Century emperor Qin Shi Huang Di.
Potala Palace
The symbol of Tibet, this awesome palace containing over 1000 rooms and 200,000 images dominates the city. The 7th century building was replaced by the current 130,000square meter structure in the 17th century.

Jokhang Temple
This 1300-year-old, golden-roofed building is the spiritual heart ofLhasa and of the Tibetan world. The courtyard in front of the entrance is almost constantly filled with prostrating pilgrims – inside the labyrinth of shrines, halls and galleries are dimly lit by butter lamps and filled with pilgrims and incense and house some of the finest treasures of Tibetan art.

Gyantse
Built at the center of the trade routes from Nepal, Sikkim and Bhutan, by 1440 Gyantse’s most impressive architectural achievements had been completed – the Kumbum, the dzong and Pelkor Chode monastery.
Rombuk& Everest Base Camp
The view from the world's highest monastery is incredible, and from EBC at 5200m, even more stunning.
Tashilumpo
Founded in 1447 the original building was built above a sacred sky-burial site, the stone slab of which can still be seen on the floor. At its peak it housed 4700 monks and is still the largest functioning monastic community in Tibet. The most amazing image is the 26m Maitreya, covered with 279 kg of gold. 
Sakya
Once the political center of Tibet, the walls of Sakya's great fortified monastery are painted the dark gray typical to buildings in the area.
Kathmandu
Busy streets, temples and shrines, historic sights, restaurants galore and shopping to keep you busy for days.

Physical Grading: Easy-Moderate
Accommodation: Twin share w/ private facilities (13 nights). Basic guest house (2 nights). Luxury tented camp (2 nights). Sleeper train (1 night)
Transport: Private car or minibus. Flight
Accompanied by: Local guides
 Meals: 4 breakfasts / 5 dinners. Allow approx €6-8 per day for meals not included.

Included Entry Fees & Activities:
Great Wall, Forbidden City, Beijing Duck dinner, Terracotta Warriors, Dumpling Banquet, Jokhang Temple, Potala Palace, Drepung Monastery, Sera Monastery, Welcome dinner, Tibetan buffet & cultural show, Pelkor Choede & Gyantse Kumbum, Tashilhumpo Monastery, Sakya Gompa, Qomolangma National Park, Bhaktapur, Kathmandu Durbar Square, Swayambunath, Newari dinner


Tibetan Expeditions
100 Beijing Dong Lu, Lhasa, Tibet, PRC
Tel: +86-891-6330489
Fax: +86-891-6330482
Mobile: +86-891-6571338
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