24 Days Splendid Tour in Tibet and Southern Xinjiang

Welcome to Tibet! Upon arrival, be greeted by our local guide at airport or train station and be presented with traditional Tibetan White Scarf to wish you good luck!

After group photo at airport, you will board on the coach and transfer to your hotel. You will enjoy the spectacular scenery and the typical Tibetan villages on the way.

Stay at the hotel after arrival for adapting to the high attitude. It is helpful to take things easy for the first few days, and try to drink some water just and now.

Stay overnight in Lhasa.

After breakfast, we go to the Potala Palace, a golden feather upon the roof of the world, which Tibetans proudly claim to be the prime miracle since the creation of this world. It is visible from any distance, with the golden roof shinning in the sun, spend one hour wondering around the inside of this magnificent building exploring the rooms previously used by the Dalai Lama and the many Buddhist icons within.

In the afternoon we go inside of the Jokhang Temple. The Jokhang, like most of the larger temple structures have numerous individual temples within it dedicated to specific enlightened beings, protectors, high lamas, or saints. Images, both sculpted and painted, are everywhere. Every inch of wall and ceiling is brightly painted with images of clouds, beings, mandalas, or decorative patterns. Colorful silk banners, three stories high, hang in various places. Color, pattern, and images crowd in around you. The central image inside the building is a 30-foot high gilded image of Maitreya Buddha.

Then stroll around the back alleys of the Barkhor Street of Old Lhasa. The streets smelled of yak butter and incense while hordes of pilgrims shuffled along the main Kora (circumambulations) around Jokhang Temple. If someone just walked at a normal pace, one kora would take about 15-20 minutes.

Stay overnight in Lhasa.

In the morning, you will have a tour for Drepung Monastery, the ever-largest monastery with more than 10 thousand monks, Buddhist debates often occur there. Seen from afar, its grand, white construction gives the monastery the appearance of a heap of rice. As such, it was given its name which, in the Tibetan language, means Monastery of Collecting-Rice. Learn about the lives of Tibetan monks there.

In the afternoon, you are going to visit Sera Monastery, have a little hike for the beautiful valley scenery nearby and picnic there. Sera monastery was created in 1419 and has always been an important Buddhist seminary. As rose are planted everywhere in the monastery, it is also called “the court of wild rose”. Today still 200 lamas live in there. You may have the chance to watch the famous Monks Debate (usually from 15:00 to 17:00) before returning to Lhasa.

Stay overnight in Lhasa.

Today, you will drive to Samye monastery along the Brahmaputra. Samye monastery is the first Buddhist monastery to be founded in Tibet, and it is the first monastery houses three Buddhist jewels of Buddha, Dharma and Sangha. Then you will head for Tsedang, which is the political, economic, cultural and transportation center of Shannan Prefecture.

Stay overnight in Tsedang.

Tsedang is reputed as "the cradle of Tibetan Civilization". You will firstly visit Yumbu Lakhang. It is said that Yumbu Lakhang was the first building in Tibet and the palace of the first Tibetan king. Then you are going to Trandruk Temple, which is the second of Tibet's earliest geomantic temples after the Jokhang.

Stay overnight in Tsedang

Today, you will leave for Gyantse from Tsedang. There are many attractions to see along the way. Yamdrok Lake is one of the three largest sacred lakes in Tibet. It is surrounded by many snow-capped mountains. According to local legend, Yamdrok Lake is the incarnation of the goddess. You can see magnificent Karola Glacier by going westward along the lake. At last arrive in Gyantse, the was third largest city of Tibet.

Stay overnight in Gyantse.

In the Morning, after sightseeing the famous Gyantse Kumbum in Gyantse, you will departure to Shigatse to visit Tashilhunpo Monastery. It is the largest temple in Shigatse, and you can see the world’s largest gold gilded bronze statue of future Buddha in there. In the afternoon, you will head for Sakya county to sightsee Sakya monastery. It is surrounded by high black colored walls with watch towers on all four corners.

Stay overnight in Sakya.

Today you will drive from Sakya to Rongbuk Monastery. You will pass through the grassland, torrent, and mountains. If the weather is clear, you can have a glimpse of 4 mountains which are 8000m high or more, such as: Mount Lhotse (8516m), Mount Everest (8848m), Mount Qowowuyag (8201m), Mount Mayalu (8463m).

Stay overnight in Ronbuk Guest House or local Tibetan Tent.

Get up early to see sunrise in Rongbuk Monastery. Then, take local bus or trek to Everest Base Camp, which is a good place to enjoy the stunning view of Mount Everest. Don't forget to photograph this historic moment.

The temperature can get bitterly cold in the early morning. Do wear enough cloths like your down jacket, scarf and mittens to protect the extreme coldness. Finally, jump into our tour vehicle and say farewell to the world’s highest peaks through the rearview mirror of the van. By following the zigzag roads on Sino-Nepal Friendship Highway, we head back to Shigatse.

Stay overnight in Shigatse.

In the Morning, you will sightsee Tashilhunpo Monastery. It is the largest temple in Shigatse, and you can see the world’s largest gold gilded bronze statue of future Buddha in there. In the afternoon, you will drive back to Lhasa.

Stay overnight in Lhasa.

Free time at your disposal this morning. After lunch, departure transfer to the airport and fly to Xian. Our guide will meet you at the airport and transfer you to downtown hotel. The remainder of the day is free for you to have a good rest or explore the city.

Stay overnight in Xi’an.

Today, you will visit Terra-Cotta Warriors, which is one of the eight wonders in the world. These terracotta warriors and horses are the size of a real army, and were buried alongside the Emperor in a vast underground palace. Then, you head for Big Wild Goose Pagoda. The Buddhist scriptures and figurines of the Buddha brought by Xuanzang are reserved here.

Stay overnight in Xi’an.

In the morning, you will visit Muslim Street or Shaanxi provincial Museum. Muslim Street is a perfect place to eat special snacks, chat with locals, and buy exquisite souvenir.

In the afternoon, take a flight to Dunhuang. Our guide will meet you and escort you to the hotel in downtown. The rest of the day is free for you to have a good rest or explore the city.

Stay overnight in Dunhuang.

Today, you are about to visit the famous Mogao Caves, which is one of the four most famous caves in China. Known as the “Oriental Louvre”, the Mogao Caves not only boasts a large number of vivid Buddhism murals, statues and architecture, but also is renowned as the treasure house of Buddhism culture.

Then, sightsee one of the most famous attractions along the Silk Road, the Singing Sands Mountain. It is so named because when you slide down the slope, you can hear the roaring echo of sands. You will experience a short camel ride along the mountain to reach the Crescent Lake. It is really a natural wonder that the crescent-shaped spring surrounded by the endless Gobi Desert has not dried up over the past one thousand years and still gushes with fresh current.

Stay overnight in Dunhuang.

In the morning, head to Yumenguan Pass, located west of Dunhuang. It was the Great Wall of the Han Dynasty, and a pass through which the Silk Road passed.

In the afternoon, leave for Liuyuan, where board an overnight train from Dunhuang to Turpan.

Stay overnight in the train.

Today, visit some famous attractions of Turpan. Karez Well, the gigantic underground irrigation system created by ancient Xinjiang people. Over 1,100 Karez Wells in Turpan have provided precious water source to this dry and hot area during the past 400 years. Sugong Pagoda, the existing largest ancient pagoda in Xinjiang. The pagoda is a 44-meter-high (144 feet) Islamic pagoda, which bears a history of over 200 years. Jiaohe Ruins, which is one of the most important towns along the ancient Silk Road. It is also the largest, oldest and best-preserved earth construction in the world. Although 2,000 years have passed, the former glory of Jiaohe can still be found from the ruins.

Stay overnight in Turpan.

Drive to Korla to visit the Iron Gate Pass. The pass follows the gorge of the Kongque River. Then head to Bosten Lake, which is the largest lake in Xinjiang and one of the largest inland freshwater lakes in China.

Stay overnight in Korla.

Keep driving to Minfeng along the Southern Silk Road. On the way, you will cross the Taklamakan Desert. You will marvel at the splendid scenery of Desert.

Stay overnight in Minfeng.

Today, head for Hetian from Minfeng, the whole journey takes about 6.5 hours. On the way, you will make a stop at Yutian to visit local bazaar. After arriving at Hetian, you can tour the Silk Village to learn about how silks and carpets are produced.

Stay overnight in Hetian.

Today, leave for Yarkand via Yecheng. You will visit Amannishahan Tomb, an Islamic style tomb. Amanishahan was an outstanding Uyghur poetess in the 15th century, and she collect the Twelve Muqam, the Uyghur classical music.

Stay overnight in Yarkand.

In the morning, you will go to Kashgar. Today's tour starts from the Id Kah Mosque, a 500-year-old important mosque for the locals. There you will see the typical Islamic architecture like domes, minarets and arches, as well as pious prayers. Just a few minutes' walk, you will come to the Old Street of Kashgar. The maze of narrow alleys and traditional houses built with earth or bricks may give you the illusion of walking into the ancient Kashgar. Then, visit Abakh Khoja Tomb, which is an ancient Islamic building complex and a cemetery where five generations of a famous Islamic master were buried. You will see the largest dome architecture of Xinjiang in the east of the cemetery. 

Stay overnight in Kashgar.

In the morning, you will visit the famous Kashgar Bazaar. There are a lot of goods sell in the bazaar, such as dried fruit, vegetable, daily necessities, handicrafts and so on. Besides, we will arrange for you a family visit that give you a chance to closely learn about local customs. Then, fly from Kashgar to Urumqi. The local guide will pick you up at the airport and help you check in the hotel.

Stay overnight in Urumqi.

Today, you will tour Heavenly Lake, lies on the north side of the Bogda Peak. It is 1,907 m above sea level, covering 4.9 square km.

Stay overnight in Urumqi.

Our guide will transfer you to the airport and help you get on board.