China and Tibet
13 days: Beijing, Xian, Chengdu, Lhasa, Shanghai
From £XXX
DAY 1: London/Beijing
Depart London Heathrow to China. Your flight includes meals, drinks, and in-flight entertainment for your journey.
DAY 2: Beijing
Arrive in Beijing and transfer to your hotel. Balance of the day at leisure.
DAY 3: Beijing
Enjoy a full day tour to the Forbidden City and Temple of Heaven. Begin at Tian An Men Square, the largest public square in the world. Continue to visit the Imperial Palace. Lunch in a local Chinese restaurant. Then visit the Temple of Heaven and the Summer Palace. This evening, choose an optional Peking Duck Dinner (?????) (B, L).
DAY 4: Beijing
Full day excursion to visit the Great Wall of China. Walk along the promenades to the towers to view the magnificent scenery. Visit the Ming Tombs before returning to Beijing (B, L).
DAY 5: Beijing/Xian
Day at leisure. Late afternoon transfer to a local restaurant where you will enjoy an early dinner, before boarding the train for your overnight journey to Xian (B, D).
DAY 6: Xian
This morning, transfer to your hotel for breakfast. Later, enjoy a full day tour of Xian's antiquities. Tour includes the archaeological site at the tomb of China's first emperor where 8,000 finely sculptured terracotta soldiers and horses have been discovered. Visit the City Wall, one of the largest, ancient, military defense systems built during the old Tang Dynasty to fortify the city. Later, trace the beginnings of Chinese civilization at the Provincial Museum (B, L).
DAY 7: Xian/Chengdu
This morning, transfer to the airport for your flight to Chengdu. Upon arrival enjoy a visit to the Panda Center. The breeding research base was created to imitate the wild ecological environment, for the purpose of rescuing this endangered animal. Tonight, dinner in a local Chinese restaurant (B, D).
DAY 8: Chengdu/Lhasa
This morning, transfer to the airport for your flight to Lhasa. Upon arrival, meet and transfer to hotel for afternoon of leisure. This evening, enjoy dinner at the hotel (B, D).
DAY 9: Lhasa
Today, enjoy a full day tour of Lhasa, one of the highest cities in the world. Tour begins with Potala Palace, the greatest monumental structure in all of Tibet. Built in the 7th century, the palace is the seat of the Dalai Lamas and is considered the political center of Tibet. Later, visit Sera Monastery. This monastery was built by the Dharma King of Great Mercy to house and preserve the treasures bestowed upon him by Emperor Chengzu (B, L).
DAY 10: Lhasa
This morning, travel to the Drepung Monastery, the largest and richest monastery of Tibet. At its peak, it had a registration of more than 10,000 monks. Next, visit the Jokhang Monastery, which houses a collection of cultural relics that date back to the Tang. Later, take a stroll around Bakhor Street. The street that encircles the Jokhang Monastery. Here you will have a chance to shop the local arts and savor the flavors of Tibet. This evening enjoy dinner in a local Tibetan restaurant (B, L, D).
DAY 11: Lhasa/Shanghai
Transfer to the airport for your flight to Shanghai. Upon arrival, transfer to the hotel for an afternoon of leisure (B).
DAY 12: Shanghai
This morning, tour the major attractions of Shanghai. Wander through the Yuyuan Gardens and experience the old world charm of the waterfront Bund. Afternoon at leisure (B).
DAY 13: Shanghai/Beijing/London
Transfer to the airport for flight to Beijing then change to your departure flight back to London (B).