25 Days Mumbai Kathmandu Lhasa Xian Dunhuang Kashgar Beijing Tour

Taking international flight from Chhatrapati Shivaji International Airport to Kathmandu Tribhuvan International Airport. After our clients arrive in Kathmandu airport, the guide will be greeting you and later get you transferred to your hotel. You can have a good rest and explore around nearby attractions in Kathmandu Valley, like Kathmandu Durbar Square,Swayambhunath Pagoda, etc. (The direct international flight from Mumbai to Kathmandu suggests to be booked by yourself.)

Stay overnight in Kathmandu.

Our driver will pick you up in your hotel during 9:00-9:30 am. Then we will drive to China Tibet border. While driving near Mt.Himalaya, you can see the deep gorges, snow-capped mountain on the way. We will also drive across the LuangTang National Park.

Stay overnight in village guest house in Syabrubesi.

• Langtang Lirung Mountain View
• Langtang Khola Trek View

After breakfast, we will drive 15km to the border to enter China. You will meet our guide in China side. Then we will drive 1 hour to Kyirong (2800m) where is surrounded by lofty snow-capped mountains and dense forests. In the afternoon, you take a stroll to visit Paba Temple (2850m), a Gelugpa temple built by Tibetan King Songtsan Gambo at the proposal of his wife Nepali princess Bhrikuti. The Nepali style temple with delicate murals is only within minutes’ walk from your hotel.

Stay overnight in Kyirong.

• Gyirong Port
• Paba Temple, a Gelugpa temple built by Tibetan King Songtsan Gambo

Today, we will first drive to pass through Peikutso Lake and grassland. Then we continue to drive to Everest Base Camp and visit the world highest Monastery, the Rongbuk Monastery. On the way, you can view the splendid panoramic Himalaya Mountain Range at Gyawula Pass (5200m).

After visiting Everest Base Camp, we will drive to Tingri.

Stay overnight in Tingri.

• Leisurely roam along the shore of Peikutso Lake
• Rongbuk Monastery, the higest monastery in the world

Today, we will drive from Tingri to Shigatse. On the way, you will visit the 5000m G318 National Highway Milestone in Lhatse. After your arrival in Shigatse in the early afternoon, you will visit the seat of Panchan Lama - Tashilunpo Monastery, one of the most important monasteries in Tibet.

Stay overnight in Shigatse.

• Have a rest at 5000m G318 National Highway Milestone
• The view of Shigatse city with Tashilhunpo Monastery at the background.

Today, we will drive to Lhasa via Gyantse. On the way you can see many Tibetan farmer villages. After arriving in Gyantse, you will visit Heritage town Gyantse old street and Perklor Monastery, Kumbum Stupa. Then you will also visit Manak Dam Lake, Korola Glacier and Yamdrok Lake on the way to Lhasa.

Stay overnight in Lhasa.

• Pelkor Monastery
• Enjoy the fascinating scenery of the holy Yamdrok Lake

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, the religious center of Lhasa
• Jokhang temple is the holiest religious site 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.

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

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.

• A magical cycling experience on top of the ancient city wall
• Xi'an Big Wild Goose Pagoda

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.

Your tour guide and drive will pick you up at the train station and then drive you 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.

• Duhuang Mogao Grottoes
• Mingsha Sand Dune

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.

• Located 180 kilometers southeast of Urumqi, Suleiman Minaret is one of Urumqi's most iconic landmarks
• The ancient city of Jiaohe

Drive for about 6 hours to Korla, visit the Tiemen Pass - the most important pass in the ancient silk road, and Bositeng Lake. It is the largest fresh water lake in China. Bulrushes intersperse in large scale in the lake. It presents a rare water-town-like beautiful scenery in such dry inland areas.

Stay overnight in Korla.

• Tiemen Pass was an imortant point along the ancient Silk Road for thousand years.
• It is rarely to see such a water-town-like scenery in such dry inland areas.

Continue driving for about 12 hours along the Southern Silk Road crossing the Taklamakan Desert to Minfeng. The long drive won't be boring for you could feast on the beautiful scenery of sand dunes when passing through the Taklamakan Desert en route.

Stay overnight in Minfeng.

• The great landscape long the road crossing Taklamakan Desert.
• The road crossing Taklamakan Desert.

Drive for about 6.5 hours to Hetian. You could visit a local bazaar and see the unique minority people's costume in Yutian city on the way to Hetian. You could also pay a visit to the Silk Village in Hetian, see a hundred years' old walnut tree and see how silks, jade, carpets and knives are produced.

Stay overnight in Hetian.

• A local woman sales jade bracelets in the local bazaar.
• You may see how the silk products made by hand in the Silk village in Hetian.

Drive for about 5.5 hours to Yarkand via Yecheng, the beginning of Xinjiang-Tibet Road. Visit Amannishahan Tomb, an Islamic style tomb that was established to commemorate the concubine of the Yarkant King. Her most significant contribution is the collection of the Twelve Muqam known as the "mother of Uygur music."

Stay overnight in Yarkand.

• Amannishahan Tomb was built to memorize the 'mother of Uygur music' - Amannishahan.
• The elaborate carvings on the stone statues.

Driver for about 4 hours to Kashgar. Visit the famed Id Kah Mosque, the Old Street and the grand Abakh Khoja. The Id Kah Mosque, initially built in 1442 during the Ming Dynasty, is a group of ancient Islamic buildings of strong ethnic folklore and Islamic flavor. The Old Street is the old town of Kashgar City, consisting of hundreds of streets and lanes as well as thousands of old houses. The Abakh Khoja Tomb is a masterpiece of the old Uygur architecture. Nestled some five kilometers (about 3 miles) northeast to the city center, it is the family graveyard of the powerful ruler, Abakh Khoja, in 17th century.

Stay overnight in Kashgar.

• The name of Id Kah Mosque means a place of praying and celebrating in festivals.
• The impressive outside of Abakh Khoja Tomb.

In the morning, you will visit the famous Kashgar Bazaar. Bazaar refers to large market in Uygur language. As an important station along the ancient Silk Road, Kashgar gathers many large bazaars. In the bustling bazaar, you will see all kinds of goods, including daily necessities, vegetable, fruits, handicrafts and local specialties.

Then a family visit is specially arranged for you to learn more about the hospitable Uygur people and their unique custom. You will then be transferred to Urumqi by air. The local guide will pick you up at the airport and help you check in the hotel.

Stay overnight in Urumqi.

• Nuts and dried fruits for sale at Kashgar Bazaar.
• The hospitable Uyghur family welcome you to their family.

Take a 4 hours' driving for 120km northeast to visit the holy Heavenly Lake (Tianchi), 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 (6562 feet) above the sea level. You will see the enthralling scenery of the crystal lake surrounded by snow- capped mountains and lush pine forests, reflecting the shadows of the blue sky and the white clouds.

After the tour, you will be transferred back to downtown. You will then have chance to take a short visit to Erdaoqiao Grand Bazaar, which is believed to be the largest outdoor market in town.

Stay overnight in Urumqi.

• Tourists can take a boat to closely appreciate the beauty of Heavenly Lake.
• Many dried fruits, nuts and exotic souvenir are sold at Kashgar Bazaar.

The guide will transfer you to the airport for your onward flight to Beijing. After around 4 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.

• Forbidden City
• Summer Palace

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.

• Come and witness one of the seven wonders of the world ---- Great Wall
• Ming Tombs are a collection of mausoleums built by the emperors of the Ming dynasty of China.

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 is one direct flight leaving daily from Beijing to Mumbai and the overall travel time is around 9 hours. Hope you have a nice trip home and look forward to traveling with you again! (The direct international flight from Beijing to Mumbai suggests to be booked by yourself.)

• Temple of Heaven
• Hutong is a lane or alley formed by traditional courtyard compounds lining both sides.