Overland Tour from Kathmandu via Lhasa and Xian to Beijing

Home > Viaje al Tíbet con Bhután, Nepal • Viaje por Tierra en Tíbet • Viaje en Tren Tibetano

16 Days Private Tour Kathmandu – Kyirong – Paiku Tso / Xixiabangma - Shegar – Shigatse – Gyantse – Yamdrok - Lhasa – Tibet Train – Xian - Beijing

Our first station is Kathmandu the capital and the largest city of Nepal, here we spend two days for sightseeing.
Then we will drive through the mountain world of Himalaya to Shigatse, where we visit the Tashilunpo monastery. We keep driving to Gyantse to visit Pelkor monastery with the Kumbum pagoda. We pass by the beautiful Yamdrok Lake and drive over Karo La (5.010 m) (La=Pass) before we reach Lhasa.
In Lhasa - the capital city of Tibet - you have two days for the attractions: Potala, Jokhang, Norblinka and Sera. And from Parla Lupu Monastery we'll enjoy the magnificent view of Potala Palace. We could circle around the Tibetan holiest Monastery Jokhang with pilgrims, who come from all over Tibet and the Tibetan cultural areas of Kham-Amdo of the provinces of Sichuan, Qinghai, Gansu and Yunnan. Many pious Tibetans measure the way on the Barkhor market with their body length.
Let us enjoy majestic and varied scenery while traveling on the Tibet Railway from Lhasa to the ancient imperial city Xian. Here we expect a view of the world famous Terracotta Army and old city wall.
By modern high-speed train we drive north to Beijing, the political center of China. The highlights of Beijing - the Temple of Heaven (Tian Tan), the Forbidden City (Gugong), the Summer Palace (Yihe Yuan) and the Great Wall are in the program.

Highlights

Overland Tour from Kathmandu via Lhasa and Xian to Beijing

Itinerary

Itinerary
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DAY
1

Arrival Kathmandu

Hello Kathmandu

Upon arrival at airport, meet the tour guide and transfer to hotel in town. Kathmandu, the capital and the largest city of Nepal, derives its name from Kasthmandap or "house of wood" a pagoda-style temple.

Overnight at 3*Nirvana Garden Hotel

Ascetic Monk in Kathmandu

DAY
2

Kathmandu

Pashupatinath Temple, Bouddhanath Stupa

Full day guided tour in Kathmandu. We will visit Pashupatinath Temple and Bouddhanath Stupa. The Pashupatinath Temple is situated 5 kms in the east of Kathmandu on the banks of the sacred Bagmati River. The temple of lord Shiva, Pashupatinath, with a tiered golden roof & silver doors, is famous for its superb architecture. The stupa of Bodhanath lies 8 km in the east of Kathmandu. It is the biggest Stupa in Nepal and is located on flat land and encircled by houses & monasteries, where Rinpoches reside. This colossal Stupa is set on concentric ascending terraces.

Overnight at 3*Nirvana Garden Hotel

Breakfast

Kathmandu

DAY
3

Kathmandu

Excursion of Khokana, Sightseeing in Patan

In the morning visit twin villages of Khokana and have a lunch at Patan Museum Cafe and have sightseeing of Patan city. The twin villages of Bungmati & Khokana date from the 16th century and are located south of Kathmandu, down a rutty road dotted with Chaityas. Bungmati is the winter home of lord Rato Machhendranath, the protector God of Patan. Patan is also known as Lalitpur or the "city of fine arts" and is the oldest city in the valley. It is said that this Buddhist City have been founded by Emperor Ashoka in the 3rd century BC. Drive back hotel at night.

Overnight at 3*Nirvana Garden Hotel

Breakfast

Kathmandu

DAY
4

Kathmandu – Kyirong border, proceed into Tibet

Welcome to Tibet

Drive to Kyirong border. After custom formalities we enter Tibet and meet with our Tibetan guide and transfer to hotel.

185 km
7 hours
Overnight at Raosai Hotel

Breakfast

Kyirong

DAY
5

Kyirong – Shegar

Paiku Tso Lake

Drive to Shegar. On the way pass by Paiku Tso where we take a walk by the holy lake. With an area of more than 300 square kilometers, embraced in the arms of three mountains, the lake is rich in fish resources. Varieties of rare animals like wild horses, wild donkeys and yellow ducks inhabit in this area. Far view of Shishapangma (8012m). In the late afternoon reach Shegar.

333 km
5 hours 53 minutes
Overnight at 2*The Roof of the World Hotel

Breakfast

Mt. Shishapangma

DAY
6

Shegar – Shigatse

Tashilunpo Monastery in Shigatse

Drive to Shigatse (3,880 m), the second largest city with 40,000 inhabitants in Tibet and the traditional capital of the Tsang. In the afternoon visit Tashilunpo monastery of Gelug Sect, the seat of the Panchen Lama built in 1447 and one of the six grand monasteries in Tibet. The monastery houses a giant statue of the Maitreya Buddha, the biggest gilded statue of Maitreya (Buddha of the future) in China, and a tomb of the 4th Panchen Lama containing masses of jewels and gold. In Tibet Buddhism, Panchen Lama is just the reincarnation of Maitreya Buddha.

237 km
3 hours 57 minutes
Overnight at 4*Mulunlazong Hotel

Breakfast

Tashilunpo Monastery

DAY
7

Shigatse – Gyantse – Yamdrok Tso – Lhasa

Pelkor Monastery, Kumbum Stupa, Yamdrok Lake

Drive to Shigatse (3,880 m), the second largest city with 40,000 inhabitants in Tibet and the traditional capital of the Tsang. In the afternoon visit Tashilunpo Monastery of Gelug Sect, the seat of the Panchen Lama built in 1447 and one of the six grand monasteries in Tibet. The monastery houses a giant statue of the Maitreya Buddha, the biggest gilded statue of Maitreya (Buddha of the future) in China, and a tomb of the 4th Panchen Lama containing masses of jewels and gold. In Tibet Buddhism, Panchen Lama is just the reincarnation of Maitreya Buddha.

237 km
3 hours 57 minutes
Overnight at 4*Mulunlazong Hotel

Breakfast

Yamdrok Lake

DAY
8

Lhasa

Potala Palace – landmark of Lhasa, Jokhang and Barkhor Street

In the morning visit Potala, which was originally constructed in 637 by Songtsen Gampo, the first king of the united Tibet, and later expanded and served as the winter residence of the Dalai Lamas as well as the religious-political nexus of traditional Tibet. The crowds of pilgrims, innumerable magnificent murals, Buddhist statues, scriptures and rare treasures altogether create a dense religious and art atmosphere that impresses every visitor. In the afternoon visit Jokhang monastery, the center of the Tibetan Buddhism and the sacred land of Buddhist followers where thousands of pilgrims come for worship everyday. The temple, built in 647, is the earliest wood-and-masonry structure still existing in Tibet. Walk on the Barkhor street surrounding Jokhang, a big free market with its prolific stalls for selling local

Overnight at 3*Yak Hotel

Breakfast

Potala Palace

DAY
9

Lhasa

Panoramic view over Potala, Norbulingka, Debate in Sera

In the morning visit Parla Lupu Cave Monastery, located on the slopes of Yaowang Mountain, was built in the 7th century. It is 22m high and from here you can have a wonderful panoramic view over Potala palace. Afterwards visit Norbulinka, the summer residence of the Dalai Lamas. In the afternoon visit Sera Monastery, which was created in 1419 and has always been an important Buddhist seminary. It is also one of the six master monasteries of the Gelugpa. As rose are planted everywhere in the monastery, it is also called “the court of wild rose”. Today still 200 lamas live in there. You have the opportunity to experience the famous monks' "Buddhism scriptures debates". Public religious debates are part of the education of monks.

Overnight at 3*Yak Hotel

Breakfast

Debate in Sera Monastery

DAY
10

Train Lhasa – Xian

Train ride on the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau and through the human-less areas

In the morning transfer to the train station, train to Xian (Z166 1130/2034+2, soft sleeper, 4-bed compartment). In 33 hours’ drive via Naqu, Golmud, Xining, Lanzhou to Xian. The special feature is the 1,956 km long railway line from Lhasa to Xining, which is considered the highest railway in the world. You can enjoy a grand, seemingly endless landscape gallery with snow-capped mountains, countless rivers and gorges, high mountain lakes and endless steppes along the way. Over and over, you will see flocks of yaks, sheep, horses and wild animals as well as birds, and with some luck, you can watch the herds of Tibetan antelopes that live mainly in the steppes of the Qinghai-Tibet highlands at an altitude of 3,500 to 5,000 m.

Overnight on the train

Breakfast

Barkhor Street

DAY
11

In train

Arrival in the historic imperial city Xian

In the evening arrive in Xian, the capital of Shaanxi Province. Meet local guide at the railway station and transfer to hotel.

Overnight at 4*Grand Dynasty Culture Hotel

Old City Wall

DAY
12

Xian

The Eighth Wonder - Terracotta Army, Grand Wild-Goose Pagoda, the best-preserved Chinese city wall

Xian's main attraction is the famous Terracotta Army of the First Emperor of China Qin Shihuangdi (reigned 221 - 210 BC) who managed to unit China for the first time. The guardians of his grave offer you one of the greatest insights into the world of ancient China. In the morning visit the Museum of Terracotta Warriors. An inside museum has been built over these pits, covering a floor space of 20,000 square meters and displaying 8,000 life-size terracotta warriors, 100 or so chariots, and 30,000 weapons-an assemblage famed as the Eighth World Wonder and a world cultural heritage site. Besides, visit Da Yan Ta (Big-Wild-Goose Pagoda) that was built by Emperor Li Zhi in 650 AD. Biking on the old city wall should not be missed. Built between 1374 and 1378, the city wall has a total length of 13.6 km and is the best preserved, oldest and largest ancient city defense system in China.

Overnight at 4*Grand Dynasty Culture Hotel

Breakfast

Terracotta Army

DAY
13

High-speed train Xian - Beijing

High-speed train to capital Beijing. Temple of Heaven

After breakfast transfer to the railway station and take a high-speed train to Beijing (G26 0918/1350), the capital of China. Upon arrival in Beijing, drive to the Temple of Heaven (Tian Tan) which was built in 1420 of the Ming Dynasty and expanded in the Qing Dynasty at present covering an area of 273 hectares. The grand temple served as the sacrificial place for the emperors of the Ming and Qing to worship the heaven, presenting gratitude for the harvest of this year and praying for another good harvest next year. It is the largest and most important of all imperial temples in China.

Overnight at 4*5L Hotel

Breakfast

Temple of Heaven

DAY
14

Beijing

Forbidden City, Tiananmen Square, from Jingshan Park great view of the Forbidden City, Summer Palace

Stroll in the Tiananmen Square that is probably the biggest one of its kind in the world. Then visit the Forbidden City (Gugong) - the emperor's palace that was built between 1406 and 1420 with 9000 halls and rooms, containing many precious relics. Facing south and rising from a terrace, the largest palace in the world represents the supreme power and authority that emperors enjoyed during the feudalistic dynasties, and exemplifies the elements of palace architecture. Then climb to the "coal hill" (Meishan) of Jingshan Park lined with pines and cypress, a beautiful park just opposite the north gate of the Imperial Palace, for a great view of the Forbidden City - a rectangular basic building with golden roofs in the center of Beijing. In the afternoon visit the Summer Palace (Yihe Yuan). Numerous unforgettable photo opportunities are waiting for you. In the summer it was too hot for the Chinese emperors, so beginning in 1153, they built a summer residence in northwest of Beijing. The Summer Palace is the most successful imperial garden, one of the highlights of Chinese landscape and horticultural art.

Overnight at 4*5L Hotel

Breakfast

Forbidden City (Gugong)

DAY
15

Beijing

Hiking and sightseeing on the Great Wall at Mutianyu

In the morning go to the Great Wall at Mutianyu (about 70 km in northeast of Beijing). The local section of the Great Wall built in 1368 and restored in 1983, is particularly attractive with its numerous watchtowers along the picturesque ridge in green, gently undulating landscape. The Great Wall was built as a defensive line against attacks by warlike steppe people from the north, and was constantly expanded and strengthened, so the strategic passes with barracks, watchtowers and storage rooms were expanded to fortress. The Great Wall is one of the eight ancient wonders of the world and the only man-made construction on earth that the astronauts can see in the moon. Starting out in the east on the banks of Yalu River in Liaoning Province, the Wall stretches westwards for 12,700 kilometers to Jiayuguan in the Gobi desert. It gradually becomes the symbol of the ancient Chinese civilization. Have a walk on the Great Wall about 2 to 3 hours. In the afternoon return to Beijing.

Overnight at 4*Howard Johnson Hotel

Breakfast

Great Wall

DAY
16

Flight Beijing - Home

Leave China for home

Transfer to airport, fly back home.

Breakfast

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With individual China Tibet travel, you can decide when, where and how you go on tour by yourself. What's more, you can choose the length of travel and whom you go with.

Information

Hotel, program, itinerary and train are subjected to change with prior notice.
We must point out that, as everywhere in the region from Kathmandu to Lhasa you counter a very basic tourism infrastructure. You stay overnight mostly at simple hotels/guesthouses. Long journeys on bad roads and on high altitude and delays require good physical fitness, resilience and flexibility of the participants. Program and route changes due to unforeseen events are expressly reserved. If you desire the unknown and have an understanding of contingency, this is the right trip for you.

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