26 Days Munich Shanghai Lhasa Xian Dunhuang Kashgar Beijing Tour

There is one direct flight leaving daily from Munich to Shanghai and the overall travel time is around 11 hours. Please pack your luggage well and get to the airport on the day of flying. (The direct international flight from Munich to Shanghai suggests to be booked by yourself.)

Stay overnight on the plane.

When international flight lands in Shanghai, please take a taxi by yourself to our reserved hotel or by agreement the transfer will be arranged for you. The rest of the day, you may have a good rest or explore around on your own.

Stay overnight in Shanghai.

Today we are about to visit some of the highlights of highlights of Shanghai Tour. Starting with fascinating Shanghai Museum, the magnificent 4-story building houses an incredible collection of bronzes, sculptures, ceramics, coins, paintings, calligraphy, costumes and other exhibits in different dynasties. It’s the perfect place for fans of Chinese history and art.

Next comes the Yu Garden. Built in the 16th century during the Ming Dynasty, the Yu Garden used to be the private residence of a senior Government administrator in the Ming Dynasty. For passionate photographer, never miss the chance to photograph Old Street of Yu Garden.

In the evening, we will visit the most iconic building of Shanghai, i.e. Oriental Pearl TV Tower. You can enjoy the amazing panorama of the skyline of Shanghai at night. And as you stroll along the Bund, you will get amazed at the spectacular Huangpu River and dazzling light from buildings of Pudong.

Stay overnight in Shanghai.

In the morning, we are expected to visit picturesque Zhujiajiao Ancient Town, also known as the "Venice of China". It’s about 1 hour drive from downtown Shanghai. The ancient town dates back to Ming Dynasty. It’s highly recommended to enjoy the boat ride from one end of the water way to the other. Ke Zhi Garden and multiple shops and bridges, and street vendors selling handicrafts and goldfish and turtles provide a respite from boisterous metropolitan city.

In the afternoon, we would head to the renowned pedestrian precinct Nanjing Road to take a nice stroll. From small boutiques selling handicrafts and other souvenirs to high-end fashion shops, you can shop to your heart’s content. Meanwhile, you can enjoy the local snacks and a great number of distinctive architecture.

Stay overnight in Shanghai.

Take the early morning flight from Shanghai to Lhasa via Xi’an. After long hours of flight, you will land in Lhasa Gonggar airport in Shannan prefecture in the afternoon. And the guide will be expecting you at the airport and later you will be greeted and get transferred to hotels in Lhasa. Then, you can have a good rest to acclimatize to the high altitude.

Stay overnight in Lhasa.

Today's tour will first bring you to the Potala Palace which is the winter palace of the Dalai lama. It was put to use since the 7th Century by the 33rd great king of Tibet. The most valuable collections of Potala Palace are the gilded burial stupas of former Dalai Lamas and meditation Cave of the 33rd great king of Tibet.

Then after lunch, tourists head to Jokhang Temple which was founded by the 33rd great king of Tibet in the 7th century. Inside you can see the statue of Buddha Sakyamuni at the age of twelve. Outside, you can see pilgrims making prostrating in front of Jokhang Temple. Around the temple is Barkhor Street, where you can do kora (a religious circle of a building or mountain) with pilgrims and locals, and explore the old market. Besides, we can taste Tibetan tea with locals in tea house.

Optional:

With time permitting, you may go with tour guide to visit Tibetan handicraft art or Tibetan Traditional Medicine center. You can upgrade your service to enjoy Tibetan Culture Show in the evening (fr. 60USD)

Stay overnight in Lhasa.

In the morning, you are going to visit Drepung Monastery which is one of the “great three” Gelug monasteries of Tibet, founded in 1416 by Jamyang choge, one of the Tsongkhapa’s main disciples. You can visit the biggest monastery kitchen inside the monastery and enjoy Buddhist Sculpture Carving workshop near Drepung.

In the afternoon, you will visit Sera Monastery which is another one of the “great three” Gelug monasteries of Tibet. The hot attraction is the monks debate at around 3 - 5 in the afternoon. In addition, you can tour the Tibetan religious scripture printing house. Inside the monastery, you can see three sand Mandalas and colorful Rock Painting of Buddha.

Stay overnight in Lhasa.

In the morning, drive from Lhasa to Shigatse. On the way, drive over the Gampala Pass (4790m), and you will have a glimpse of Yamdrok-tso (4400m). The Lake is surrounded by many snow-capped mountains and in the distance you can have spectacular views of Holy Mount Nyenchen Khangsar (7191m), the highest mountain near Lhasa.

Later, we will pass and enjoy the Karola Glacier on the roadside. At Manak Dam Lake, you can hang pray flag at Simila Mountain Pass. Then, we will arrive in Gyantse, historically Tibet's third largest city (after Lhasa and Shigatse). In Gyantse, we will visit the famous Pelkor Monastery and Gyantse Kumbum and enjoy the Far view of Gyantse Fortress.

After one and a half driving, we arrive in Shigatse, which is the second largest city in Tibet. In Shigatse, we may visit traditional Barley Mill and view the landscape of Barley Field (in summer).

Stay overnight in Shigatse.

In the morning, we will visit the home of Panchen Lama - Tashilhunpo Monastery. Then, we’ll leave Shigatse after getting your Alien’s travel permit, and then drive to Lhatse, it is a small town where you can have lunch.

After that, we will pass Tsola Pass (4600m), and Gyatsola Pass (5248m). Shortly after we enter Mt. Everest National Nature Reserve, tourists can enjoy the panorama of Himalaya at Gawu La Pass (5198m). Then we drive along the new zigzag road to Everest Base Camp (5200m). You can get closer to gaze at the Mt. Everest peak. The sunset of golden Everest peak if time and weather permits at the lodging area.

Stay overnight at tent or Rongbuk monastery guest house.

In the morning, you can see the sunrise of Everest Peak if weather permits at the lodging area. Then we will visit the Rongbu Monastery - the unique highest monastery with nuns and monks living together. You can visit the Mt. Everest Sightseeing Spot and take the closest picture of Mt.Everest. Finally, we will drive back to Shigatse. Stay overnight in Shigatse.

Stay overnight in Shigatse.

Today, we will drive back to Lhasa by following Yalong Valley. You can stand on the viewing platform and view the vast Yalong River bed. Finally the guide will transfer you back to your hotels in Lhasa.

Stay overnight in Lhasa.

In the morning, drive from Lhasa to Lake Namtso, one of the four holy lakes of Tibet and also the highest saline lake in the world. On the way, you can see snow-capped Nyenchen Thanglha Mountain Ranges and lots of nomads and their tent with grazing yak and sheep densely-populated on the flourishing grassland ( in summer). Besides, you can enjoy the view of Sky-Road Railway with snow mountain background; while standing at the famous Lagenla Pass(5190m), you can view the stunning vista of holy Namtso Lake.

Then we can enjoy our time to do a leisurely trek around Tashi Dor Island and along the lakeshore. Drive back to Dumxung or Yampachen. (For environment protection, the Lakeshore guesthouses were close by the government.)

Stay overnight in Dumxung or Yampanchen Town.

Drive to Yampanchen and enjoy the natural hot spring bath in here. (Please prepare your own swimming suit.) The famous Yangpachen lies on the southern slope of the Nyenchen Tangula Mountains and is famous for its geothermal scenery. Every year, Yangpachen Hot Spring emits heat equal to that of 4.7 million tons of standard coal. Lying in a plateau basin, Yangpachen’s geothermal field covers 40 square km. To take advantage of geothermal field, resorts were built in here, giving tourists a chance to enjoy the outdoor natural hot spring spa. After having thoroughly relaxed in the spa, we head back to Lhasa. On the way, we will visit Chimelong Nunnery (Phyirmil Lung Nunnery) and have a far view of a sky burial site nearby.

Stay Overnight in Lhasa.

Cultural Tips: Sky burial is a funeral practice commonly seen in Tibet. The corpse will be disposed of and later devoured by vultures. In Tibetan Buddhism, sky burial is believed to represent their wishes to go to heaven. Only family members of the dead can attend the funeral.

The whole morning is free for you. After having lunch, you will be transferred to Lhasa Gonggar Airport to take a flight to Xian.

Upon your arrival in Xian, your local tour guide will pick you up at the airport and escort you to your hotel.

Stay overnight in Xian.

Visit the Eighth Wonder of the World, the Terracotta Warriors and Horses Museum. You will be attracted by the life-sized warrior figures, horses and different ancient weapons, each of which have distinct facial expressions and positions.

The rest of today, you will also visit the Big Wild Goose Pagoda and Ancient City Wall.

Stay overnight in Xian.

Visit Muslim Street or Shaanxi Provincial Museum in the morning, and then take a flight to Dunhuang in the afternoon.

Upon arrival in Dunhuang, you will be transferred to your hotel. The rest of the day is at leisure.

Stay overnight in Dunhuang.

Transfer to visit Mogao Grottoes, which is considered as the great treasure house of Buddhist arts in existence.

In the afternoon, visit Crescent Spring and Singing Sand Dune, where you can see the desert scenery and ride the camel in the desert.

Stay overnight in Dunhuang.

Go out of Dunhuang to see Yumenguan Pass, the Great Wall of the Han Dynasty, and Desert Discovery at Yadan Landform Park.

In the afternoon, go to Liuyuan (2 hours’ driving), where you can take an overnight train from Dunhuang to Turpan (about 9 hours).

Stay overnight in the train.

Upon arrival, take a short break and then visit Suleiman Minaret, the Karez Wells, the Ruins of the Ancient City of Jiaohe, and local vineyard.

Stay overnight in Turpan.

In the morning, transfer from Turpan to Urumqi to visit the holy Heavenly Lake, one of the most famous alpine lakes in the world. Located in the middle of the Bogda Peak, the crescent-shaped lake is about 2,000 meters (6,562 feet) above the sea level.

After the tour, you will be transferred back to downtown.

Stay overnight in Urumqi.

Fly from Urumqi to Kashgar in the morning. Transfer to Silk Road after arriving in Kashgar Airport. Kashgar is the largest oasis in the whole China. The highlights of today include the Id Kah Mosque, the Old Towm and the Abakh Khoja Tomb.

Stay overnight in Kashgar.

Explore the scenery of the Pamirs. Driving along Karakoram Highway, you can visit Comer Lake, Sand Mountain, Mt. Muztagh Ata, and Lake Karakul.

The most interesting thing that you should not miss is the Sunday Market, one of the largest weekly markets of Asia, as you reach there on Sunday. Especially in the morning you can see the highway, crowded with full-load donkey trucks carrying vegetable, fruits vendors, children and women.

Stay overnight in Kashgar.

The guide will transfer you to the airport for your onward flight to Beijing. After around 5 hours’ flying, you will land in Beijing and be picked up by the local guide. Then the guide will take you to the reserved hotel. The rest of the day is for you to have a good rest.

Stay overnight in Beijing.

Today is guided tour to Forbidden City and Summer Palace which are the traditional must-see places in Beijing. The Forbidden City is the best preserved imperial palace in China and the largest ancient palatial structure in the world. The splendid architecture of the Forbidden City represents the essence and culmination of traditional Chinese architectural accomplishment. The Summer Palace is the largest royal garden in the world built in Qing Dynasty. The grandeur and beauty of the Palace is overwhelming and is sure to impress anyone.

Stay overnight in Beijing.

The Great Wall tour proves that China was one of the strongest countries in its history. Stretching thousands of kilometers, the Great Wall protected the ancient Chinese against the invasion of the enemy from its north side for more than 1000 years; the Great Wall was listed as one of the world's eight wonders. Mutianyu Great Wall, featured “graceful”, enjoy the best quality among all Wall sections, 80km north-east of Beijing with 22 ancient watchtowers, about one every kilometer. (Cable car is optional if you do not want to walk)

Then you will visit the Ming Tombs, the burial site of the emperor Zhuli, the third emperor of the Ming Dynasty who ruled for 22 years until his death in 1424.

Stay overnight in Beijing.

In the morning, you will first visit the historic Temple of Heavens, which is the largest city square in the world and the spiritual heart of China, and then move on to the famous Hutongs, the traditional courtyard residence in narrows alleys in Beijing. It is a great place to know the folk culture and old quarters of Beijing city.

After that, the guide will transfer you to the airport and help you get on board. There are two direct flights leaving daily from Beijing to Munich and the overall travel time is around 10 hours. Hope you have a nice trip home and look forward to traveling with you again! (The direct international flight from Beijing to Munich suggests to be booked by yourself.)