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Tibetan Wonders Tour
| Resort: | Tibetan Wonders Tour |
| Operator: | Wendy Wu Tours |
| Destination: | Asia, China, Far East Asia |
| Price From: | £5290.00 |
OverviewJourney through the diverse landscapes of Yunnan Province up to ‘the roof of the world’ where you will experience the many wonders ofTibet. Admire ancient monasteries and Himalayan vistas before taking in the ultimate view of Everest. 23 Day Tibetan Wonders Tour Tour ItineraryDAYS 1-2 FLY TO KUNMINGFly overnight to the relaxed city of Kunming, also known as ‘the city of Eternal Spring’. DAY 3 DISCOVER THE STONE FORESTThis morning, meander through the formations of the UNESCO listed Stone Forest. Visit Dianchi Lake and the Western Hills. Return to Kunming and tuck into local delicacy Across the Bridge Noodles for dinner. (B,L,D) DAY 4 TRAVEL TO DALIDrive to Dali, a charming town that offers a peek into bygone China. Wander the Ancient Quarter and see the magnificent Three Pagodas. (B,L) DAY 5 TAOIST MOUNTAIN MEDITATIONWeibaoshan is one of the Taoist religion’s most sacred mountains and has twenty temples dotted on its forested slopes. Take a scenic walk and discover a handful of these temples and meet with a Taoist priest who will introduce you to Taoist meditation techniques. (B,L) DAY 6 SHAXI ANCIENT TOWNDrive to Shaxi Ancient Town, nestled deep in the Himalayan foothills. Learn about the fascinating minority people who reside in the area and enjoy a local lunch. Continue to Lijiang and spend the evening wandering the old town. (B,L) DAY 7 JADE DRAGON SNOW MOUNTAIN & DONGBA SHAMANA magnificent mountain, the Jade Dragon Snow Mountain soars to 5,500 metres. Taking a chairlift, explore one of the stunning high meadows and enjoy the amazing vistas. Admire the fascinating Ming Dynasty frescoes at Baisha and see the intricate creations of the embroidery school. Next, meet a Shaman who will teach you to write the forgotten language of Dongba Pictograms. (B,L,D) DAY 8 TIGER LEAPING GORGEVisit Black Dragon Pool Park for magnificent views of the Jade Dragon Snow Mountain. Journey to the 3,000 metre deep Tiger Leaping Gorge. With its backdrop of snowcapped mountains, it is one of China’s most extraordinary sights. Continue to the Tibetan monastery town of Zhongdian, also known as Shangri-La. Visit Dafo Temple and take some free time to explore the old town. (B,L) DAY 9 RURAL SHANGRI-LAVisit Songzanlin Monastery before hiking 2-3 hours to Napa Hai. Here you are surrounded by towering mountains and lush grasslands brimming with flora and fauna. Next, visit a rural Tibetan-style village where you will learn about the villagers’ way of life, make butter tea and taste home-cooked dishes. (B,L,D) DAY 10 LHASAFly to Lhasa, the heart and soul of Tibet. The afternoon is free to relax and acclimatise to the altitude. (B,D) DAY 11 JOKHANG TEMPLE AND SPIRITUAL BARKHOR CIRCUITLhasa is a quickly growing modern city but among the narrow, old streets you will feel a million miles from the stresses and strains of the modern world. Wander the Barkhor Circuit to see traditionally dressed locals, stalls of religious trinkets and prostrating pilgrims. Inside the Jokhang Temple, the devotion is palpable as people worship in the flickering light of yak butter candles. Visit Sera Monastery to witness the debating monks. Tonight, enjoy a Tibetan dinner and dance. (B,L,D) DAY 12 POTALA PALACEThe Potala Palace is an architectural wonder, towering over the city. The former winter palace of the Dalai Lama, it houses thousands of rooms filled with old treasures. Next, explore Norbulingka, the summer residence of the Dalai Lama, set in parkland just outside the city. (B,L,D) DAYS 13-14 SHIGATSETravel across Tibet’s stark plains to Shigatse. Dominated by a fort reminiscent of the Potala, Shigatse is Tibet’s second city and the traditional seat of the Panchen Lama. Enjoy some free time to explore the local markets. The next day, continue by road to New Tingri admiring the awe-inspiring views of the mighty Himalayas as we go. (B,L,D) DAY 15 MOUNT EVERESTRise early to make the final assault across the Gue-La Pass to Rongbuk, a monastic village festooned in colourful prayer flags. With the Himalayas dominating the horizon, stop en route at the world’s highest post office, then continue to Everest Base Camp Boundary Monument. Situated under the gaze of Everest’s north face, the views of the world’s highest peak are unsurpassed (weather permitting). A total of 4-5 hours will be spent on foot today. (B,L,D) DAY 16 EVEREST SUNRISERise early to see a glorious sunrise over Everest before returning to New Tingri. (B,L,D) DAYS 17-18 SHIGATSE AND GYANTSEReturn to Shigatse. The next day, visit Tashilhunpo Monastery and join the pilgrims on their evening ‘Kora’ of the monastery. Continue to the pleasant town of Gyantse to visit the Gyantse Kumbum located inside the Pelkor Monastery. Visit a traditional folk house for some home brewed ‘chang’. (B,L,D) DAY 19 TSEDANGTravel along the Brahmaputra River to Tsedang. Also visit Gangpo Ri, the ‘birthplace of the Tibetan people’. (B,L,D) DAY 20 YUMBULHAKANG PALACEPerched on a hill over the Yarlung River, legend says that the ancient Yumbulhakang Palace was the first building in Tibet and the palace of the first Tibetan king. Continue to the Chang Chun Monastery and the King’s Tombs before returning to Lhasa. (B,L) DAY 21 CHENGDUFly to Chengdu in Sichuan Province. (B) DAY 22 PANDASVisit Chengdu’s famous Panda Conservation Centre, stroll around People’s Park, see Matchmaker’s Corner and stop by a traditional teahouse. In the evening, enjoy Sichuanese cuisine followed by an option to see a ‘face changing’ show. (B,L,D) DAY 23 FLY CHENGDU TO UKFly to the UK, arriving home the same or following day. (B) |
