15 Day Tibet Escapade 

 
  An intriguing in-depth adventure through mystical Tibet, plus visit the endearing pandas at the Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding

ESCORTED:
Beijing • Chengdu • Tsedang ● Gyantse ● Shigatse • Lhasa • Shanghai

Tour Code: 6CE15TB

 

DAY-BY-DAY ITINERARY:

Day 1 • Monday

SAN FRANCISCO to BEIJING
Fly transpacific bound for China aboard United Airlines.

CHINA

Day 2 • Tuesday

ARRIVE BEIJING
Upon arrival in Beijing, China’s dynamic capital city, you are escorted to the deluxe Peninsula Palace Hotel.

Day 3 • Wednesday

BEIJING

Today’s tour visits Tian An Men Square and the Imperial Palace’s Forbidden City, including the living quarters, museum and jewelry sections. Afternoon, tour the Summer Palace with a boat ride on its  Lake Kunming (weather permitting).

MEALS: American Breakfast, Lunch

Day 4 • Thursday

BEIJING

Today, walk the ramparts of the astonishing Great Wall. After lunch, visit a cloisonné factory. Later stroll along the Sacred Way to the Ming Tombs and Chang Ling Exhibition Hall..
MEALS: American Breakfast, Lunch

Day 5 • Friday

BEIJING to CHENGDU

Fly to Chengdu, capital of the Sichuan Province. Transfer to the Sheraton Chengdu Lido Hotel. After lunch, see the adorable pandas at the Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding, and then visit Yulin Market. Tonight, attend an entertaining Sichuan Opera with its traditional face-changing performance.

MEALS: American Breakfast, Lunch

TIBET

Day 6 • Saturday

CHENGDU to LHASA/ TSEDANG

This morning, your Tibet adventure begins as you fly to Lhasa, where you are greeted at the aiport with a traditional Tibetan welcome ceremony. * Continue by motorcoach to Tsedang, wher you check in to the Tsedang Hotel. The rest of the day is free to adjust to the altitude of one of the world’s highest plateaus --- about 12,000 feet above sea level.
MEALS: American Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner in Hotel

*Welcome ceremony with 10 or more passengers.

Day 7 • Sunday

TSEDANG

This morning, ferry across the Yaluzangbu River, the highest river in the world, to visit the Samye Monastery. Built in 761, the monastery combines Tibetan, Chinese and Indian architectural styles. In the afternoon, visit the Yumbulagang, said to be the oldest structure in Tibet and 9^th century Dratang Monastery.
MEALS: American Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner in Hotel

Day 8 • Monday

TSEDANG TO YAMDROK LAKE/ GYANTSE

Today drive to Gyantse, a town southwest of Lhasa and an important regional center in the 15^th century. En route, visit scenic Yamdrok lake, one of the four holy lakes of Tibet. On arrival in Gyantse, check in to the Gyantse Hotel.
MEALS: American Breakfast, Lunch, Buffet Dinner

Day 9 • Tuesday

GYANTSE to SHIGATSE

In Gyantse, tour Pelkor Chode Monastery and the Kumbum, a stupa comprised of hundreds of chapels said to hold 100,000 Buddha images. Drive to Shigatse where you visit Tashilumpo Monastery, built in 1447. Check in to the Shigatse Hotel.

MEALS: American Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner in Hotel
 

Day 10 • Wednesday

SHIGATSE to LHASA

Today’s drive takes you to Lhasa, where you arrive in the late afternoon. Dinner and overnight at the Lhasa Hotel.

MEALS: American Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner in Hotel

Day 11 • Thursday

LHASA

An extraordinary day of sightseeing shows the spectacular architecture at the world-famous Potala Palace. Former living quarters of the Dalai Lama, its massive 1000-room structure towers over this mountain city. Then visit famous Barkhor Market, where you can shop for rare Tibetan items. See one of Tibet’s holiest shrines, revered 7^th century Jokhang Temple, with its statue of the Sakyamuni Buddha, lavishly enthroned in gold.
MEALS: American Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner in Hotel

Day 12 • Friday

LHASA

You will not soon forget Norbulinka (Precious Stone Garden), built on the orders of the 7^th Dalai Lama in the 18^th century. Then tour Drepung Monastery, tiered against a mountain in traditional Tibetan style, once home to more than 10,000 Lamas. This evening, enjoy a memorable Tibetan dinner and show where you will be welcomed with a traditional Yak Dance.
MEALS: American Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner Show

*Yak Dance with 10 or more passengers.

Day 13 • Saturday

LHASA to CHENGDU/ SHANGHAI

Early this morning, bid farewell to the mountains of Tibet as you fly to Chengdu and then continue on to Shanghai. On arrival, check in to the deluxe New World Mayfair Hotel Shanghai.

MEALS: American Breakfast

Day 14 • Sunday

SHANGHAI

Sightsee Shanghai on a full day tour: the rich collection of the Shanghai Museum, Yu Yuan Garden, a carpet factory, see a performance at the Children’s Palace, The Bund’s colonial-style architecture and shop at Nanjing or Huai Hai Road.

MEALS: American Breakfast, Lunch

Day 15 • Monday

SHANGHAI to SAN FRANCISCO

Fly homeward on United Airlines.

MEALS: American Breakfast

ALL INCLUSIVE FEATURES:
• Round-trip transpacific air transportation
• All intra-China air/land transportation
• Escorted by a professional Tour Manager
• 13 nights in deluxe and superior first class hotels
• 13 breakfasts, 11 lunches, 7 dinners
• Round-trip transfers between airport and hotel, baggage handling, hotel taxes and service charges
• Sightseeing tours, cultural entertainment and other performances as specified
• United Mileage Plus ® members: earn frequent flyer credit with the purchase of each air/land tour package

• $100,000 Automatic Flight Insurance for transpacific air ticketed by PDT