27 Days Bangkok Xian Dunhuang Kailash Lhasa Kunming Tour

There is one direct flight leaving daily from Bangkok to Xian and the overall travel time is around 4 hours. Please pack your luggage well and get to the airport on the day of flying. (The direct international flight from Bangkok to Xian suggests to be booked by yourself.)

When international flight lands in Xian, 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 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.

Yecheng is situated at the edge of the Taklamakan, a city with a pretty Bazaar inhabited by Uigur and Han Chinese. It is about 250km from Kashgar. The road condition is very smooth with black tar road that runs through the edge of Taklamakan Desert. The scenery is excellent with grey-black rocks and sand dunes composing the major features of the landscape of Taklamakan.

Stay overnight in Yecheng.

You need to drive 500km to from Yecheng to Dahongliutan, but the journey duration depends upon the climate and road condition. Then you will enjoy beautiful Kunlun Mountain Ranges on the left side, and the Karakorum Mountain Ranges on the right side. The Chiragsaldi is the first pass that you need to cross and steep up towards Dahongliutan.

Stay overnight in hotel.

The road condition is very bad as we move far towards south and on the way to Dolma. After 7-8 hours’ driving, we will reach a pass called Tialongtan-la Pass with more than 5,000m above the sea level. Soon we will reach Dolma. The road condition becomes less difficult after leaving Dolma.

Then we continue to Pangongtso Lake where you can visit the mysterious Lake Pangongtso of which one part of the lake is inside Tibetan area and the other part is inside Indian Territory.

Camp by the lake shore.

Experience various landscapes from Pangong-tso to Shiquanhe, the capital of Ngari Prefecture which provides an excellent place for meditation. Indus River drives from Mount Kailash and flows through this region and finally towards into Pakistan. Finally we reach Zanda. Tsamda County is the current name for the region and is known for Guge Kingdom. And the county capital is located at Toling.

Stay overnight in Zanda.

Today we will visit Guge Kingdom and Toling Monastery. Then we will drive to Darchen. It is about an eight-hour drive from Zanda to Darchen, though the distance is only about 243km. From Zanda, we cross a bridge and then enter wider Sutlej Valley. After several hours of zigzagging down and up fantastically eroded gorges and gullies, we get to Darchen, the starting point and ending for the general circuit of the sacred Mount Kailash.

Stay overnight in Darchen.

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.

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.

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.

Today, we will drive from Darchen to Saga. On the way, we will pass by holy Lake Manasarovar. You can relax around the lake shore and experience the natural beauty of the lake. In the summer, flocks of swans will gather on the lake, bringing grace and life to the area. You can also see so many Tibetans and Hindus praying and religious circling around the lake shore for the whole day. Then we will drive to Saga.

Stay overnight in Saga.

Today, we will drive from Saga to EBC and Tingri. 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.

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.

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.

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.

The guide will transfer you to the airport for your onward flight to Kunming. After around 4 hours’ flying, you will land in Kunming 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 Kunming.

In the morning, drive 86 km to the Stone Forest. There is a local saying: It is a waste of time not to visit the Stone Forest while visiting Kunming. The quintessential karst landscape makes every tourist lost in wonder. After lunch, drive back to Kunming and visit the Golden Temple. And then, take a leisurely stroll along the Green Lake, a charming area of teahouses and small boutiques selling handicrafts and beautiful local paintings. After, visit the Flower and Bird Market in the downtown.

Stay overnight in Kunming.

For the last day, the guide will transfer you to the airport and help you get on board. There are night direct flights leaving daily from Kunming to Bangkok and the overall travel time is around 3 hours. Hope you have a nice trip home and look forward to traveling with you again! (The direct international flight from Kunming to Bangkok suggests to be booked by yourself.)