22 Days Chicago Beijing Lhasa Everest Kailash Shanghai Tour by Flight

There are two direct flights leaving daily from Chicago to Beijing and the overall travel time is around 13 hours. Please pack your luggage well and get to the airport on the day of flying. (The direct international flight from Chicago to Beijing suggests to be booked by yourself.)

Stay overnight on the plane.

Transfer to your reserved hotel after arriving in Beijing airport. The rest of the day is at leisure.

Stay overnight in Beijing.

After breakfast, your guide will lead you to visit the majestic Mutianyu Great Wall. You will be taken on a group tour to the Great Wall, the most famous symbol of China and one of the world’s most remarkable architectural wonders. This section was first built during the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644 AD).

Stay overnight in Beijing.

• Great Wall (Badaling section)
• The Great Wall of China is a series of ancient fortifications made of stone, brick, tamped earth, wood, and other materials to protect itself from foreign aggression

Today, you will head to visit the magnificent Forbidden City which used to be the imperial palace of the Ming and Qing dynasties with a history of around 600 years. Then, you will move to the Imperial Ancestral Temple (also Taimiao of Beijing). Lying to the east of the imperial palace, the Forbidden City, the Imperial Ancestral Temple was a place where Chinese emperors stored their ancestors' tablets and worshipped them during festivals and ceremonies.

After that, you will visit Beihai Park. It is one of the oldest, largest and best-preserved ancient imperial gardens in China. With over 1,000 years' history, the park is not only a classic combination of the grandiosity of the northern gardens and the refinement of the southern gardens in China, but also a perfect integration of magnificent imperial palaces and solemn religious constructions.

Stay overnight in Beijing.

• The iconic architectural style and legendary history of Forbidden City are fun to explore.
• Beihai Park, one of the oldest, largest and best-preserved ancient imperial gardens in China.

Hutong, which refers to traditional courtyard residence in narrow alleys in Beijing, is a great place where international tourists can learn the folk culture and old quarters of Beijing city. In the morning, tourists can are recommended to explore Nanluoguxiang yourself, one of the most famous Hutongs in Beijing.

With bustling main street, you will find a variety of cafes, kiosks selling different kinds of food and beverages and souvenir shops. A great way to tour Hutong is to enjoy the ride on a traditional rickshaw and rickshaw riders, most of whom can speak basic English, will take you to cover all the historical significance.

In the afternoon, tourists are free to do some shopping in Beijing and get prepared for the flight to Lhasa in the tomorrow morning.

Stay overnight in Beijing.

• enjoy rickshaw ride in Nanluoguxiang
• Traditional sugar-blowing folk art in Tutong

Tourists will take the morning flight from Beijing to Lhasa. After your arrival in Lhasa by flight, your guide will greet you and take you to your hotel. Tourists may view the Yarlung Tsangpo River/ Bhamaputra River (the longest and largest river in Tibet) and Lhasa river on their way to Lhasa.

After arriving in Lhasa, you can take a rest and get acclimatized to high altitude. If you feel to go out, then you can go to the Potala Square, where you will enjoy the fountain with different colors and get amazing photos of the Potala and around.

Stay overnight in Lhasa.

• Appreciate the stunning scenery of Yarlung Tsangpo River en route
• Yarlung Tsangpo River

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.

• Potala Palace is always the No.1 attraction for travelers visiting Tibet.
• A Tibetan pilgrim is worshipping Jokhang Temple

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.

• Drepung Monastery was one of the “three greet” Gelug monasteries of Tibet.
• Monk debate in Sera monastery

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 Korola 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 Gyangtse 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.

• Enjoy the fascinating scenery of the holy Yamdrok Lake
• A great view of Palkhor Monastery

In the morning, we will visit the home of Panchan Lama - Tashilunpo 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 Gawula 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.

• Tashilhunpo Monastery, the home of Panchan Lama
• Take a life-time trip to Everest Base Camp with local guide

In the morning, we can enjoy the sunrise of Everest Peak at lodging area if weather permits. Then as we head to Saga, you can view the worlds’14th highest peak Mt.Shishapangma(8012m), and  turquoise Lake Peiku tso(4590m). If you are lucky enough, you are very likely to see wild animals like wild donkey, wild antelope, etc.

Stay overnight in Saga.

• Rongbuk Monastery, the higest monastery in the world
• Peiku-tso Lake, at an elevation of 4600 meters, is a beautiful alpine lake with bright turquoise color all year round.

On the way to Darchen, you will have a chance to appreciate the stunning view of the Saga valley between Gangdise Range and Himayala Range. Meanwhile, the beautiful grassland and local's villages can also be seen. As we cross the Mayomla Pass(5112m), you can enjoy the spectacular vista of Mt. Naimonanyi(7694m). Then we are supposed to pass by the holy Lake Manasarover and finally arrive at the southern foot of Mt.Kailash, the most holy mountain in Tibet. 

Stay overnight in Tarchen.

• Breathtaking scenery of Lake Manasarovar
• Far-distant view of Mount Kailash and Lake Manasarovar

In the morning, we are supposed to take eco-bus from Darchen to Sarshung valley. Then we will meet Yaks and porters at Sarshung village. (the cost of hiring yaks, horses, and porters are not included in the package) After that, we can begin the trek (around 13km) from Sarshung to Drirapuk Monastery along the Lachu valley and rivers. You can enjoy the both west and north face of Mountain Kailash today. Finally, we will visit Drirapuk Monastery.

Stay overnight in guest house.

• Sarshung Valley Trekking
• Drirapuk Monastery

Today, we will trek over Dromala Pass(5630m), the highest pass of the Kora. On the way you can have a rest in a teahouse. All the way, you can see locals Tibetans prostrating in the Kora path and beautiful Kadoe Lake when walk downhill. We may also visit Zutulpuk Monastery. 

Stay overnight in guest house.

• Dolma-la pass
• You'll meet local pilgrims while trekking around Mount Kailash

On the day three of the kora. you will trek 7km to Zongto where you can take bus to Darchen. Along the Kora, you can see piles of Mani Stones. We will end the Trek around noon, rest in the lodging place.

(Optional): Taking bath in Lake Manasarova and enjoy hot spring.

Stay overnight in Tarchen.

Drive from Darchen to Saga via Lake Manasorova.

Stay overnight in Saga.

Drive from Saga to Sakya.

Stay overnight in Sakya.

In the morning, we will visit ancient Sakya town and you can tour Sakya Monastery with amazing murals and huge collection of scriptures and statues.Then we are about to drive from Sakya to Shigatse. 

Stay overnight in Shigatse.

• Sakya Monastery with Mongolian architectural style
• The Mongolian architecture of Sakya Monastery is quite different from that of temples in Lhasa and Yarlung.

We will follow Yalong Valley back to Lhasa. On the way, you can stand on the viewing platform to view the vast Yalong River bed and visit Water Mill making Tibetan Incense material (in summer, if time permits). Drop off at hotel in Lhasa

Stay overnight in Lhasa.

The guide will transfer you to the airport for your onward flight to Shanghai. After around 6 hours’ flying, you will land in Shanghai 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 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.

• Enchanting ancient Yu Garden offers a respite from bustling metropolis.
• Oriental Pearl TV Tower is the most iconic architecture of Shanghai.

For the last day, the guide will transfer you to the airport and help you get on board. There are two direct flights leaving daily from Shanghai to Chicago and the overall travel time is around 13 hours. Hope you have a nice trip home and look forward to traveling with you again! (The direct international flight from Shanghai to Chicago suggests to be booked by yourself.)