11 Days Tokyo Beijing Xi’an Lhasa Namtso Lake Tour

Today, you’ll board the international flight from Tokyo to Beijing.

There are diverse non-stop flights from Tokyo Haneda Airport to Beijing Capital International Airport. The flight takes around 4hrs. You can choose the best flight according to your schedule. Please keep an eye on the flight times and make sure to prepare your travel documents in advance.

When you arrive in Beijing, our local travel guide will greet you at the airport and take you to your hotel in downtown Beijing.

After checking in at the hotel, you can have a good rest or wander the surroundings as you like.

Stay overnight in hotels in Beijing.

“He who has never been to the Great Wall is not a true man”, as the great Chairman Mao said.

In the morning, after breakfast, we will head to Mutianyu Great Wall, which is 65 kilometers to the north of Downtown Beijing. It is one of the well-preserved sections of the Great Wall with fewer crowds and less commercial than the Badaling section.

You will take the scenic cable car to reach the No. 14 Watchtower of Mutianyu Great Wall and enjoy the commanding view of its sprawling structure. Then, hike up to No. 15, 17, and 20 watchtowers, the best vantage points for viewing the Great Wall and surrounding hilltops.

At around 12:30 PM, you will have lunch at a nearby restaurant. After lunch and have a short rest, continue hiking and exploring other parts of the Great Wall to take Instagrammable photos of this landmark of China.

You will end the day with a cable car ride down to the entrance of the Mutianyu Great Wall and get transferred back to your hotel in downtown Beijing.

Stay overnight in Beijing.

Travel Tips:
Please wear a pair of comfortable trekking shoes for the Great Wall hiking.

• Mutianyu Great Wall in Spring
• Come and witness one of the seven wonders of the world ---- Great Wall

After breakfast, you will be picked up from your hotel and start exploring the historical sites of Beijing. The first stop is Tiananmen Square, the largest city plaza globally. From there, you will enter the magnificent Forbidden City with over 500 years of history where 24 emperors lived.

As the largest ancient imperial palace, the Forbidden City has over 9,000 rooms. Even though only a few rooms are open for public visits, you can get a glimpse of how the ancient emperors managed the country and what their daily life was like. 

For lunch, you will enjoy the famous Beijing Roast Duck. Served with thin pancakes, spring onions, and sweet bean sauce, this traditional dish in Beijing offers a delectable blend of flavors and textures.

In the afternoon, you will head to the Summer Palace, another UNESCO World Heritage Site in Beijing. Summer Palace used to be a summer retreat by the royal families of China and was burnt to the ground by British and French troops in the Second Opium War (1860).  

Now, the restored Summer Palace is a popular park for the public, showcasing the quintessential Chinese garden design and China’s rich heritage and history.

You can roam over the Hall of Benevolence and Longevity where government affairs take place enjoy boating on the enchanting Kunming Lake and stroll along tons of eye-catching pavilions, islands, halls, towers, etc. before getting transferred back to your hotel.

Stay overnight in Beijing

• Forbidden City
• Summer Palace

After breakfast, get transferred to Beijing Capital International Airport to board the non-stop flight from Beijing to Xi'an Xianyang International Airport. The flight takes 2hr 15min.

After you land in Xi’an, our local travel expert will be expecting you at the exit gate of the Xianyang International Airport and whisk you off to the hotel in downtown Xi’an.

In the afternoon, you will enjoy wonderful cycling on the top of Ancient City Wall. The wall around the city centre of Xi'an is a massive construction, about 14 kilometres in perimeter. With 98 defensive ramparts, four main gates, and a moat around it, the ancient city wall is a wonderful example of ancient defensive building. Near its centre are the Bell Tower and Drum Tower.

Later, we will travel to Muslim Quarter, the most famous gourmet street and largest Muslim business street in Xi’an. It’s the perfect place to have close chat with street venders of Muslims and buy the exquisite handicrafts and enjoy various local snacks.

Stay overnight in Xi’an

• You can take a bike ride on the Ancient Wall.
• gonlung jampaling

In the morning, after breakfast, we are about to visit the Eighth Wonder of the World, the Terracotta Warriors and Horses Museum. You will not only be attracted by the life-sized warrior figures and horses, each of which has distinct facial expressions and positions, but also be astonished by various kinds of ancient weapons which reflect the highly advanced technology in weapon-making 2,200 years ago.

Afterwards, we will head to tour another must-see attraction in Xi’an Big Wild Goose Pagoda. Originally built in 652 during the Tang dynasty, the Pagoda is known for keeping the Buddhist scriptures and figurines of the Buddha brought by Xuanzang, one of the most renowned Chinese monks. The whole place is one of the most visited destinations by international tourists in Xi’an.

Stay overnight in Xi’an

• Xi'an Terracotta Warriors and Horses Museum
• Big Wild Goose Pagoda is one of you must-see attractions in Xi’an

In the morning, get transferred to Xi'an Xianyang International Airport for the flight to Lhasa Gonggar Airport. The flight takes about 3h30m.

Our welcoming local Tibetan guide will be expecting you with auspicious white Hada at Lhasa Gonggar International Airport and later whisk you off to the hotel in downtown Lhasa.

En route, you may view the Yarlung Tsangpo River, the longest and largest river in Tibet, and the Lhasa River. After check-in, have a good sleep to acclimate to the altitude and unwind in your hotel.

If you need any help or specific needs, feel free to visit our service center at Lhasa Gang-Gyan Hotel.

Stay overnight in Lhasa.

• Tibetan tour guide greets you at Lhasa Airport.
• Lhasa River

Awake to a day of brilliant sunshine. After breakfast, let’s head to Drepung Monastery for a 3km leisurely hike/kora. The Drepung Monastery is one of the great three Geluga monasteries founded by a disciple of Tsongkhapa called Jamyang Chöje.

As you follow the pilgrim route towards Loseling College, you will see the iconic huge rock paintings depicting the Tsongkhapa, the founder of the Geluga Sect, and Buddhist mantras.

You can gather junipers and burn them as an offering to Buddha, drink refreshing mountain springs, or meditate alongside the local pilgrims beneath the rock face. At the mountaintop, the sweeping view of the enchanting Lhasa Valley will take your breath away.

In the afternoon, you will explore Sera Monastery, the second-largest Gelug monastery next to Drepung. You can appreciate the exquisitely made sand Mandala and admire Buddhist paintings.

The biggest highlight is to watch the dramatic monk debate (15:00 - 17:00, from Monday to Saturday). By clapping hands, jumping, yelling, and rolling Buddhist mala, the standing monk furiously debates with the other monk sitting on the ground about Buddhist philosophy.

Stay overnight in Lhasa.

• Drepung Monastery, one of the Great Three Gelug monasteries of Tibet
• Monk Debate is a highlight of Sera Monastery

After breakfast, start your day with a visit to the fortress-like Potala Palace, an architectural marvel, and the winter palace of Dalai Lamas.

You can explore the Dalai Lama’s living quarters, and ceremonial hall, and marvel at gilded buddhas, intricate mandalas, and jewel-encrusted tombs of generations of Dalai Lamas, and enjoy the panoramic view of Lhasa city atop Red Palace.

Next, roam over the Zhongjiao Lukang Park nearby and view the Potala Palace from behind where you can take a glimpse of how locals spend their day lives, such as enjoying Guozhuang/circle dance, paddle boat in the pool, etc.

In the afternoon, immerse yourself in the sacred Jokhang Temple, the spiritual heart of Tibet. Follow a long line of pilgrims in the dimly lit chambers to worship the life-size statue of a 12-year-old Buddha Sakyamuni.

Then, walk clockwise with prostrating Tibetan pilgrims to experience the famous Barkhor circuit/kora and unwind in a local teahouse to savor local obsessions,i.g. sweet tea, Tibetan noodles, Tibetan momos, Sha Phaley, or roam over the backstreet of Lhasa.

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, after breakfast, heading north from Lhasa, you’ll pass through the vast prairie in Damxung, where you can see the closest nomads area to Lhasa, with herds of yaks and sheep. Besides, you can also enjoy the view of the Qinghai-Tibet railway against the backdrop of snow-capped mountains.

While crossing the snow-capped Nyenchen Thanglha Mountain Rainges, pause at the renowned Lagenla Pass (5190m) to marvel at the stunning vista of holy Namtso Lake from a distance. Descend the road to reach today’s destination, Namtso Lake, one of the ‘Three Holy Lakes’ in Tibet.

Upon reaching the lake, you can enjoy your time doing a leisurely trek around Tashi Dor Island and along the lakeshore. For a panoramic view of Namtso Lake, climb to the top of the hill on Tashi Dor Island, where the circular lake resembles a boundless blue sea surrounded by snow-capped mountains.

Marvel at the magical stone pillars and peaks, and explore meditation caves and Buddhist holy sites on the island with your travel guide.

After visiting Namtso Lake, you will return to Damxung via the mountain pass.

Stay overnight in Damxung.

Insider Tips:
1. If you are interested in witnessing the beautiful sunset at Namtso Lake, you can stay longer for the sunset. Please tell your travel consultant or your travel guide before departure.
2. Due to the higher altitude of Lake Namtso, standing at 4718 meters above sea level, it tends to be colder than Lhasa. It is advisable to bring a warm jacket with you for today’s visit.

• Meditate at the shore of Lake Namtso
• Take photo with Tibetan Yak at holy Namtso Lake

After breakfast, you will first visit Chimelong Nunnery (Phyirmil Lung Nunnery), the largest nunnery near Lhasa. Roam over the peaceful nunnery and get an idea of different Buddhist studies in Tibet, you may also spot a sky burial site (Tibet funeral site) in the distance.

Then, head to Tsurphu Monastery, the oldest monastery in Tibet. It is the seat of the Karmapa branch of the Kagyupa order of Tibetan Buddhism and is also the birthplace of the system of reincarnated living Buddhas in Tibet. Here, you can learn more about the ‘Black Hats', the Karma Kagyupa school of Tibetan Buddhism.

At the end of the day, return to Lhasa.

Stay overnight in Lhasa.

• The nun preparing the butter lamp at Chimelong Nunnery
• Visit Tsurphu Monastery, the oldest monastery in Tibet

Today marks the end of your Tibet tour.

Please make sure to verify your departure flight/train details with our guide in advance. And your guide will take you to the airport or train station.

Thank you for choosing Tibet Vista, and we extend a warm welcome for your return to Tibet in the future.

• Big farewell to Lhasa, and may you have a safe and pleasant journey back home!
• Your guide will escort you to Lhasa Railway Station if you depart Tibet by train.