Beijing – Lhasa Tour

Explore China’s capital city – Beijing. Visit ancient palaces like the Forbidden City and Lama Temple, and enjoy the royal gardens of the Summer Palace and Temple of Heaven. Experience local Beijingers’ life by taking a rickshaw through the small old alleys. Afterwards, fly to the City of Gods – Lhasa – and explore the heart of Tibet by visiting the Potala Palace, Jokhang Temple, and walking around Barkhor Street. Finally, the tour ends with a visit to the holy lake of Namtso in Tibet.

Itinenrary: 

Day 1: Arrive at Beijing International Airport

Our guide will be waiting for you at the airport. After greeting and introduction, we will transfer you to the hotel in Beijing.

Day 2: Beijing Sightseeing

Highlights: Tian’anmen Square, Forbidden City, and Summer Palace

After picking you up from your hotel in the morning, we will drive to our first stop of the day, Tian’anmen Square, which is very well known for both its modern political and cultural history. After walking across the square, we will enter the Forbidden City, the world’s largest surviving palace complex and the former home of the emperors of the Ming and Qing Dynasties. The Forbidden City is one of the greatest attractions in the world. It was built by the third Ming emperor between 1406–1422 and served as the official residence and political center for the Emperors of China until the last emperor, Puyi, was forced to evacuate in 1924. The Forbidden City is the best example of classical Chinese architecture in the world and is one of the greatest wonders of the world. Afterwards, we will drive to the Summer Palace. Having the largest royal park and being well preserved, the Summer Palace is ranked among the most notable classical gardens of the world. In 1998, UNESCO listed it as one of the World Heritage Sites. Highlights not to be missed include climbing Longevity Hill, viewing the Empress Dowager Cixi’s extravagant Marble Boat, and taking a walk down Suzhou Jie Street, a canal meant to resemble the beautiful river city of Suzhou. In the late afternoon, we will drive back to your hotel. Overnight in Beijing.

Potala from Jokhang

Day 3: Beijing Sightseeing

Highlights: The Great Wall of China and Olympic Village

After picking you up from your hotel, we will drive outside of the city towards the Great Wall at the Mutianyu section. As one of the best-preserved parts of the Great Wall, the Mutianyu section used to serve as the northern barrier defending the capital and the imperial tombs. Compared with other sections of the Great Wall, Mutianyu possesses unique characteristics in its construction. Watchtowers are densely placed along this section of the wall. Besides its strategically important location and compact layout, the Mutianyu Great Wall is also famous for its breathtaking scenery. The wall presents different aspects of beauty in the four seasons: flowers bloom all over the mountains in spring; grasses dress the hillside green in summer; trees are laden with sweet fruits in autumn—especially in October, when the leaves turn red or yellow, touching the mountain tops with gold. In winter, the wall is covered with snow, making it seem even more magnificent. While Mutianyu does get its fair share of visitors, it is not as packed as Badaling, allowing for a peaceful experience. After walking around on the wall, you have the option of coming down via walking, taking a cable car, or taking a toboggan ride (you are responsible for paying any applicable fees). Once at the bottom of the mountain, we will have lunch at a local authentic Chinese restaurant. Afterwards, drive to the Olympic Village. The Olympic Green was the center of the event that captivated the world for two weeks in August of 2008. The highlights include the Bird’s Nest (officially the Beijing National Stadium) and the Water Cube (the Beijing National Aquatics Center). The Bird’s Nest hosted the Opening and Closing Ceremonies, athletic events, and football final of the 2008 Summer Olympics, from August 8 to 24, 2008. Since then, it has been used for events ranging from opera to a winter ski park. After visiting the Olympic Center, we will drive back to your hotel.

Day 4: Beijing Sightseeing

Highlights: Temple of Heaven, Lama Temple, and Hutong Tour

Your guide will pick you up at your hotel and drive to the Temple of Heaven. The complex was used as an annual prayer site for a good harvest by the emperors of the Ming and Qing Dynasties. The tour inside the Temple of Heaven will follow the walking route of the emperors. You will see local people doing Taiji or ballroom dancing in the park. Afterwards, we will visit the Lama Temple (Yonghe Temple), which was built in 1694 and converted into a monastery in 1722. Today, it still functions as a Tibetan Buddhist monastery. After lunch, we will conclude the day by taking a Hutong Tour of old Beijing. You will go on this tour by rickshaw. Hutongs are courtyard homes chained together around narrow alleys and served as the lifeline and center of everyday life in old Beijing. They were a critical component in the development and evolution of Beijing folklore and culture. While there are still hutong houses in the city, they are quickly disappearing due to the demands of a rapidly modernizing Beijing, so see them while you still can.

After your tour of the hutongs and old Beijing, we will return you to your hotel, thus completing your 3-day Beijing tour.

Day 5: Beijing – Lhasa [3658m]

Welcome to Lhasa! Transfer to your hotel and get settled. Rest of the day for acclimatizing to the high altitude. Walk around Lhasa street on your own.

Day 6: Lhasa Sightseeing

Highlights: Drepung Monastery, Nechung Temple, and Sera Monastery

Visit Drepung, one of the three most famous monasteries in Lhasa. Drepung is located just outside Lhasa on Gambo Utse Mountain. Once home to as many as 10,000 monks, the enormous monastic complex includes many prayer halls, dormitories, and temples. Just below the monastery is Nechung Temple, the former home of the state oracle. Afterwards, visit Sera Monastery, where you can watch monks debate in the courtyard. If you enjoy hiking, walk the hour-long circumambulation path around the monastery complex.

Day 7: Lhasa Sightseeing

Highlights: Potala Palace, Jokhang Temple, Dropenling Tibetan Handicrafts, and Barkhor Street

In the morning, visit the Potala Palace, the greatest monumental structure in all of Tibet. The Potala is 13 stories high and holds countless treasures in its many rooms. Built in 637 AD, the Potala has been home to the Dalai Lama lineage for more than a thousand years. Also visit the Jokhang Temple, the holiest temple in all of Tibet. From the rooftop, you will see pilgrims from all over Tibet prostrating in front of the Jowo Buddha statue inside the monastery. Afterwards, we will visit the Dropenling Handicrafts Shop, a Tibetan-owned social enterprise aiming to serve Tibetan artisans and support their families. Then return to Barkhor Street and walk through this famous shopping street filled with goods and souvenirs from Tibet, Nepal, and India. Spend some time drinking sweet tea in a traditional teahouse located on a rooftop overlooking the bustling Barkhor.

Drepung Monastery

Day 8: Lhasa – Yangpachen – Namtso Lake – Lhasa [4700m], 500km, 8 hours

Drive past Yangpachen natural hot springs and continue on to Namtso. Namtso, known as the “Heavenly Lake,” is the largest saltwater lake in Tibet. Located high in the mountains, it sits at the edge of the severely weathered Changthang Plateau to the north of Lhasa. It is surrounded by beautiful snowy mountains. At Namtso, try riding a yak, climb up a rocky hill for a great view of the lake, and drink tea in a nomad tent. Return to Lhasa in the afternoon.

Day 9: Fly back to Beijing or Chengdu (or another city where you can connect with your international flight)

Say goodbye to China!