Duration: 17 Days
Overview
Destinations:Dunhuang – Jiayuguan – Zhangye – Lanzhou – Xining – Chaka – Lhasa – Shigatse – Rongbuk – Everest Camp
Highlights
- Explore the UNESCO-listedMogao Grottoesin Dunhuang, where 1,000 years of Buddhist art comes to life, followed by a thrilling camel ride across theEchoing Sand Mountainand a visit to the enchanting Crescent Lake.
- Witness the breathtakingZhangye Danxia Geopark, a natural wonder of rainbow-colored mountains, and discover the mysticalMati Templewith its legendary horsehoof prints.
- Experience the spiritual heart of Tibet in Lhasa, from the majesticPotala Palaceto the sacredJokhang Temple, where pilgrims and vibrant markets likeBakhor Streetimmerse you in Tibetan culture.
- Tour theEverest Base Camp, crossing high-altitude passes for panoramic views of the world’s tallest peaks, and witness the amazing sunrise over Mount Everest fromRongbuk Monastery.
- Traverse diverse landscapes, from the mirror-likeChaka Salt LakeandQinghai Lake’s serene shores to the ancient Silk Road forts and the Yellow River’s iconic bridges.
Itinerary
Dunhuang Arrival
Our guide and driver will meet you at the airport. Welcome to
Dunhuang
, the first city on our Silk Road trip. Then you will be transferred to the hotel and the rest of the day is for you to relax and prepare for our Natural Wonder and Culture Adventure.
Traffic:
Car
Hotel:
Overnight in Dunhuang
Immerse in Dunhuang’s Treasures
In the morning, we will visit the
Mogao Grottoes
, also known as the Thousand Buddha Grottoes, a UNESCO World Heritage site. It is one of the great artistic and religious wonders of the world. It is famous for its exquisite murals and various sculptures built in different dynasties, spanning 1,000 years of Buddhist art. Before our exploration into the Grottoes, we will enjoy the Silk Road Movies
A Tour to Jiayuguan
Today you will take the train to Jiayuguan to visit majestic
Jiayuguan Pass
and climb it upon your arrival. This Ming Dynasty fort guards the strategic Jiayuguan pass. The western end of the Great Wall was the last section built in the Ming Dynasty.
Then visit the
The Great Wall Museum
, which was opened to visitor in October 1989 and it is the first one to exhibit the Great Wall culture in a
Zhangye’s Natural Masterpieces
Enjoy the sunrise and beautiful scenery along the way. Today we will drive to visit
Zhangye Danxia Geopark
for its ribbons of red, orange, and yellow through the rock to create a rainbow vista contained only by the contours of the jagged mountain peaks. So many people also call it “Rainbow Mountain” for taking photos and hiking around.
Continue to visit
Mati Temple
, which was built in the
Explore the Gems of Lanzhou
In the morning, you will be transferred to the station to take an express train to Lanzhou.
Our first stop is
Zhongshan Bridge
, also called the first bridge over the Yellow River. It lies at the foot of Bai Ta Mountain and in front of Jin Cheng Pass in Lanzhou City. Even more bridges are planned to replace the Zhongshan Bridge’s work, but none can replace its great value in history or its grea
Monasteries in Xining
The morning excursion starts on a train to Xining.
Upon arrival, we will visit
Ta’er Monastery
(Kumbum Monastery) which has the largest number of monks outside of Tibet. Standing on Thangka Sunning Terrace, you will have a bird view of the monastery and surrounding scenery.
Inside the monastery, apart from magnificent Buddha stupas and wall paintings, prayer wheels are also the must-see spot
A Mirror to the Sky
Today, we are going to enjoy the beautiful
Chaka Salt Lake
and take a one-way train ride around the Lake. It is the largest saline in Qinghai Province. “Chaka” means “the sea of salt” in Mongolian, lying in the center of Qaidam Basin, it was nominated by the National Tourist Geography magazine as one of the 55 places to go.
Traffic:
Car
Hotel:
Overnight in Chaka
Meals:
Breakfast
Biking, Trekking & Nature’s Symphony
Another delightful day is coming. We will ride the bikes around the beautiful
Qinghai Lake
, or take a light trekking in the cole flower sea. The lake offers year-round pleasure. The mountains and grassland wear a green blanket with herds of cattle and sheep dispersed over the grassland. The bank is connected with stretching farmlands, which are prospering with blooming rape flowers and rolling w
Train Views & High-Altitude Bliss
Say goodbye to beautiful Xining. This morning, we will take the train to Lhasa. You can enjoy the beautiful scenery along the way, and expect the tour after.
Traffic:
Car&Train
Hotel:
Overnight in the Train
Meals:
Breakfast
Lhasa Arrival
Welcome to
Lhasa
! Upon arrival, we will pick you up at the train station, then transfer you to the hotel. Have a good rest and take your time to adjust the high altitude sickness.
Traffic:
Car
Hotel:
Overnight in Lhasa
Meals:
Breakfast
Lhasa’s Spiritual Heart
Lhasa has sunny weather throughout the year with little rainfall. There is no severe cold in winter and no intense heat in summer; the climate is pleasant. The annual sunshine time is more than 3000 hours, which is known as the “sunshine city”.
Today’s tour will begin from the UNESCO World Heritage site –
Potala Palace
, which is also the winter palace of the Dalai Lama. It’s situated at 12,139
Villages, Monasteries & Monk Debates
Today’s itinerary includes a visit to
Dadong village
, known as the most beautiful village in Lhasa. Located 18km away from the center of Lhasa city, this village is nestled in southwest Lhasa and boasts deep valleys, old trails, gurgling springs, lush greenery, and a history spanning nearly two thousand years. Dadong village is home to the Nyimatang Monastery, the mysterious Pharmacist Hall, the
Lakes, Passes & Sacred Architecture
Today, we will start our tour to Gyantse. We will first admire the
Gampala Pass
(4790 m) and get a glimpse of the
YamdrokTso Lake
(4400m), which is surrounded by many snow-capped mountains. This lake is considered as “Turquoise Earrings scattered by goddess” in Tibetan culture. At Gangbala mountain pass, you can overlook the lake, which shows different shades of rich blue when irradiated at di
The Roof of the World Awaits
Today, we will drive to
Everest Base Camp
. Along the way, we will pass
Pang La Pass
, one of the highest passes in Tibet at 5050m. From this pass, you can enjoy the view of all five highest peaks in the world.
Rongbuk Monastery
is the most attractive place, with nearby Mount Everest, the main peak of the Himalayas. It is located at the border between China and Nepal and has a height of 8844.4
Everest Sunrise
In the morning, you can
catch the sunrise of Everest Peak
if weather permits at the lodging area. Then we will visit the
Rongbuk Monastery
. Rongbuk Monastery is located at the end of Rongbuk glacier at the north foot of Everest, with an altitude of 5154 meters and about 20 kilometers from the top of Everest. It is a unique highest monastery with nuns and monks living together. It is also the h
What’s Included
- Private transportation through out the itinerary. SRT will arrange for all travelers to be met on arrival and seen off on departure based on your flight info.
- Shared accommodations in well located, tourist to superior class hotels include breakfast, service charge and government tax.
- All entrance fees(shuttle bus) sightseeing; excursions and activities as per the itinerary
- Domestic flights and 2nd class express train listed in the itinerary
- Private friendly and professional English-Speaking guides (French, Italy, Russian, German can be arranged per your request)
- Visa support letter for you to apply Chinese visa easily.
- Travel and health insurance when travel with us.
- 8, A 24/7 helpline while you are traveling.
What’s Excluded
- International and domestic flights not indicated.
- Food, Lunch or dinner not specified
- Tips or gratuities for guides and drivers
- Personal expenses and the other tours or activities not mentioned