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Tibet |
TIBET BESTOUR
B (privately escorted)
JOURNEY BY EXPRESS TRAIN TO THE HIMALAYAN KINGDOM OF TIBET AND EXPLORE THE LOST HORIZON
Experience the newly built Tibet Railway…The railway from Xining, capital of Northwest China’s Qinghai Province to Lhasa, capital of Tibet, at the distance of 1,956 kilometers, is by far the longest plateau railway with the highest altitude in the world
18 days / 16 nights from $3,870 |
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Chengdu, the panda region (2 nights)
Lhasa and the “roof of the world” (3 nights)
Tibet Express, scenic 25 hour overnight train ride to Lhasa (1 night)
Xining, the intersectional hub from West to East (1 night)
Kunming and Stone Forest (2 nights)
Dali and an Erhai Lake cruise (1 night)
Lijiang Old Town, World Heritage Site (2 nights)
Shangri-la and minority cultures (2 nights)
Hong Kong, the pearl of the Orient (2 nights)
Extensions to complement & personalize your vacations:
Beijing, the Emperor's city (3 nights)
Tokyo, the bustling city (3 nights)
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| Tour Features |
- All domestic airfare included within China
- Premium or Deluxe hotels
- 16 breakfasts (B), 11 lunches (L), 12 dinners (D or SD-special dinner)
- 2 gala evening events including Tibetan cultural performance and Lijiang performance of a traditional Naxi Orchestra
- Chengdu, the capital of the western China
- Tibetan architecture and the glorious Himalayan scenery
- Xi’Ning’s 8 nationalities and their original ethnic cultures and heritages
- Kunming and its eternally spring like weather
- Explore the old town and Dongba Cultural Research Institute
- Shangri La the lost horizon
- Explore exciting new attractions of post-colonial Hong Kong
- Comprehensive sightseeing of each city's highlights
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| Pricing |
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- Above Above SAMPLE AIRFARES are for your reference only and are based on all major Transpacific carriers. It is inclusive of Transpacific airfare and airfares between China, Hong Kong & Asia. The exact airfare will be quoted at the time of booking. US departure taxes, foreign airport taxes, security charges and fuel surcharges are not included.
- Competitive Executive Class airfares available upon request.
- Land prices are inclusive of all domestic airfares within China.
Airfares between Hong Kong, Beijing, Shanghai & Chendgu or Kunming & Hong Kong are not included.
- Optional upgrade to First Class air travel within China
- Guaranteed departures are based on minimum of 2
passengers.
- Tour can depart on any date not specified above or
with modification at an additional cost.
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| Detailed Itinerary |
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| Day 1, Thu: Depart Hometown |
| Depart the U.S. on your odyssey to Asia aboard your selected airline to China. |
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| Day 2, Fri: Arrive Chengdu |
Arrive in Chengdu, Sichuan Province. You will be transferred in comfort to you hotel.
HOTEL: SHERATON (premier)
HOTEL: HOLIDAY INN CROWN PLAZA (deluxe)
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| Day 3, Sat: Chengdu (B,L) |
| Your sightseeing begins at the site of Sanxingdui--three pits gathered as the ancient Chinese astrology's constellation, located in the city of Guanghan. In 1986 two major sacrificial pits were found and they aroused widespread academic attention around the world. The excavation and discovery of it was recognized as one of China's top ten archaeological findings of the 20th century, and by UNECON as the most important ancient remains in the world for its vast size, lengthy period and enriched cultural contents. This excavation pushes the history back a further 1000 years to the time of 2300 -3000 BC. Over 12,000 pieces of contents are gold Jade and bronze wares, all are of higher-level craftsmanship in quality and larger quantities. Continues to the Panda Foster Center and Dujiangyan – an ancient water irrigation system. |
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| Day 4, Sun: Chengdu/Lhasa – Meals: (B,D) |
Fly to Lhasa in the morning and arrives in the afternoon. You will be transferred to your hotel. The rest of the day is at leisure to acclimatize to the 12,000-foot altitude.
HOTEL: XIN DING or LHASA
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| Day 5, Mon: Lhasa – Meals: (B,L,D) |
| Your stay in Lhasa is devoted to exploring the jewels of Tibetan architecture and the glorious Himalayan scenery. Today, you will visit the architectural wonder of the Potala Palace and visit the Jolkhang Temple, the most sacred and oldest temple in Tibet. Later, proceed to the Barhor devotional circuit. Encircling the Hokhang, the Barkhor is also a hive of market activity and an astounding jamboree. |
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| Day 6, Tue: Lhasa – Meals: (B,L,D) |
| This morning, you will visit the massive and atmospheric 15th-century Drepung Monastery, which is the largest and best-preserved monastery in Tibet, and Norbu Lingka, the former summer palace of the Dalai Lama. In the afternoon, continue to Sera Monastery, the second largest Monastery in Tibet, and Sera Temple. You will also visit a Tibetan family. Enjoy a traditional performance with dinner tonight. |
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| Day 7, Wed: Depart Lhasa – TIBET EXPRESS – Meals: (B,L,D) |
Your excitement begins this morning, embark the “TIBET EXPRESS” and begin the 26-hour expedition journey on the Holly Roll, which will run parallel the southern trail of the ancient Silk Road until the western edge of Qinghai Lake. Further along, enjoy the scenic at headwater sources of the Yangtze River, Kekexili and Nachu, or Damshung, the northern part of Tibet. Follow by the Jade Peak of the Kunlun Mountain stands at an altitude of 6178 meters and is shaped like a pyramid. The train stops here for 1 hour at the platform for passengers to enjoy the surrounding views. Your scenic points will include the magnificent Kunlun, Tangula, and Nianqing mountains, as well as salty lakes and a desert.
Tibet Railway
Tibet Railway is a modern railway with comfortable conditions for the tourist. It meets the requirements of safety; reliance, comfort, environmental protection, and oxygen supply systems. The carriage’s large sightseeing windows are equipped with specially upgraded anti-ultraviolet radiation glasses. And the whole train is equipped to protect from lightning strikes, hailstones, and sand blown storms. Entertainment facilities and healthcare services are provided on board. The first-class soft sleeper compartment carriages are installed with a triple language (Chinese mandarin, Tibetan, English) speaking system and each soft sleeper has its own private 12-channel television set. The train is accessible to handicap passengers. The soft berth sleeper can hold 4 passengers in one cabin. |
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| Day 8, Thu: Arrive Xi’Ning – Meals: (B,L,D) |
Train arrives Xi’Ning, Qinghai Province in the early afternoon. Your late afternoon city tour will include an excursion to Kimblum Lamasery and provincial museum. Dinner with cultural performance included if available.
HOTEL: YINLONG
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| Day 9, Fri: Xi’Ning/Kunming – Meals: (B,D) |
Depart on your flight to Kunming and the idyllic Yunnan Province, whose name means South of the Clouds, a reference to its eternally spring like weather. Spend the afternoon at leisure strolling the town’s narrow streets, and shopping the unusual markets.
HOTEL: HARBOR PLAZA or GREEN LAKE
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| Day 10, Sat: Kunming – Meals: (B,L,D) |
| This morning’s excursion will take you to the dramatic Stone Forest, home of the Sani people, for a walk among the eerie limestone formations and a visit to a traditional Yi village. |
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| Day 11, Sun: Kunming/Dali – Meals: (B,L,D) |
Fly to the old walled town of Dali at the heart of a mountain valley terrain sometimes called the Chinese Switzerland, and begin your journey into the world of Shangri-La. Visit the Three Pagodas and Xizhou Village, onetime cosmopolitan capital of the Ming Dynasty and now one of the best-preserved Bai towns. Then cruise across Erhai Lake to take in a traditional Bai Three Course Tea and performance of traditional Bai dance and song.
HOTEL: REGENT
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| Day 12, Mon: Dali/Lijiang – Meals: (B,L,D) |
Travel overland to Lijiang, center of the Naxi, a small matriarchal tribe with an ancient religion known as Dongba and unique picture script that can only be read by shamans. Spend the afternoon touring the city’s Old Town, now a UNESCO World Heritage site, with its bustling market square, streets crisscrossed by rivulets, and parrots and plants adorning the fronts of the traditional earthen-walled houses. Sample, if you like, the regional specialty called “across-the-bridge noodles”, before taking in a haunting evening performance of a traditional Naxi Orchestra.
HOTEL: TREASURE HARBOR INTERNATIONAL
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| Day 13, Tue: Lijiang – Meals: (B,L,D) |
| Head into the countryside in view of the blazing white peaks of Jade Dragon Mountain this morning for a visit to the Yufeng Monastery and “Riot of Camellias” - a 500-year-old tree famed throughout the province for its enormity and profuse bloom. The monastery is also famous for its religious frescoes dating back to the 14th century. Continue on your excursion to Black Dragon Pool with its ancient Dragon God temple, flamboyant Phoenix Hall, and Dongba Cultural Research Institute.
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| Day 14, Wed: Lijiang/Zhong Dian (Shangri-La) – Meals: (B,L,D) |
Today your journey will continue northward with a drive along the Yunnan-Tibet Road to Zhong Dian, once a major caravan stop on the ancient tea trade routes between India, South China, and Burma, and still a kaleidoscope of ancient customs, dialects, and dress. In the markets and courtyard houses of this harmonious Lost Horizon world you may meet matriarchal Naxi, Bai, or the equestrian Khampas in traditional clothes.
HOTEL: PARADISE
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| Day 15, Thu: Zhong Dian – Meals: (B,L,D) |
| Spend a full day exploring the Diqing plateau, the land believed the inspiration of the mythical Shangri-La in novelist James Hilton’s great work Lost Horizon. Shangri-La is a Tibetan word that means “The sun and moon in one’s heart” – a place free of the turmoil of the earthly world, and it aptly describes this land of crystalline lakes surrounded by forest, wildflower meadows, shining temples, and snow-capped mountains terraced to the valley floor. Dwelling within this plateau are a number of remote and fascinating tribal peoples, who continue to coexist as they have for centuries within their separate and unique traditional cultural worlds. A highlight of the day will be your visit to a local Tibetan family.
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| Day 16, Fri: Zhong Dian/Kunming/Hong Kong - Meals: (B) |
Depart the idyllic world of Yunnan Province on your flight via Kunming to nearby Hong Kong. Now a special administrative zone of China, this former British colony remains as vibrant and forward-looking as ever.
HOTEL: KOWLOON SHANGRI-LA or ISLAND SHANGRI-LA (Premier)
HOTEL: ROYAL GARDEN or EXCELSIOR (Deluxe) |
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| Day 17, Sat: Hong Kong – Meals: (B) |
| This morning, explore Hong Kong’s unique blend of Chinese heritage and colonial influences. Travel to one of its newest attractions, the distinctive Peak Tower Complex, with its array of shops, restaurants, and viewing decks for taking in the superb panoramas. Continue around the island to scenic Repulse Bay, the floating community of Aberdeen, and the shopping mecca of Stanley. The afternoon is at leisure.
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| Day 18, Sun: Hong Kong/Hometown – Meals: (B) |
| Bid farewell to China as you transfer to the new international airport and depart on your selected airline to the United States.
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