Private transfer: On arrival in Beijing, you will be welcomed to China by your local guide and transferred to the Shadow Art Hotel in a chauffeur driven car for a two-night stay.

Accommodation: Stay tonight at the Shichahai Shadow Art Performance Hotel (Deluxe Room)

Morning tour of Prince Gong’s Mansion and the Old Summer Palace: This morning you will be taken on a tour of Prince Gong's Mansion, the most impressive private palace built in China's 5,000 years of history. The mansion was constructed at the end of the 18th Century by a corrupt official whose assets were seized by Emperor Jiaqing, and the mansion was then given to Prince Gong. The mansion covers over 5 hectares and includes the largest quadrangle in the world, three main buildings and the Cui Jin Yuan garden.

Continue to the Old Summer Palace and ruins of Yuanmingyuan (the Garden of Perfection and Light), which is located northwest of Beijing to the east of the Summer Palace. The Garden was first constructed in 1709 during the reign of the Emperor Kangxi during the Qing Dynasty (1644-1911). During a period of 150 years the Garden expanded to an area covering 350 hectares and became the Emperors’ private pleasure garden. Many intricate constructions and features can be found in the gardens which include pavilions, chambers, kiosks, earth and rock hills, rivers and ponds, and exotic flowers and grasses from different parts of the country. Often less crowded than the Summer Palace, Yuanmingyuan is a pleasant place to explore and get a bit of an insight into Chinese history.

Accommodation: Stay tonight at the Shadow Art Hotel (Deluxe Room)

Meals: Breakfast & Lunch

Day at leisure: Today is free to explore more of Beijing independently.

Private transfer: This afternoon you will be met at your hotel and transferred to the railway station in time to board your train to Xining.

Overnight train to Xining: Depart from Beijing on train Z151 to Xining. The train departs at 16.03 and arrives at 14.20 the following day. There are shared toilet facilities on board, but no showers. The restaurant car offers basic Chinese food, but there is no English menu, so it is advisable to take plenty of snacks. Hot water is available throughout the journey. A 4-berth soft sleeper compartment will be booked for your private use.

Meals: Breakfast

Private transfer from train station to hotel: Upon arrival in Xining, you will be met and transferred to your hotel to relax for the rest of the day.

Accommodation: Stay tonight at the Qinghai Hotel (Standard Room)

Meals: Breakfast

Guided tour of Xining: Take a guided tour of Xining's old qurter and maze of small lanes and streets. One of hte main sight in town is the Dongguan Grand Mosque, one of China's largest which attracts up to 50,000 worshippers at Friday lunchtime prayers, who spill out onto the streets before and afterwards. Around the mosque there are lots of small eateries offering Muslim cuisine which is typical of the Silk Road region. Other places of interest include the Tibetan Culture & Medicine Museum and the Qinghai Provincial Museum.

Transfer to the train station: After this morning's tour your guide and driver will transfer you to Xining's railway station.

Overnight train to Lhasa: Depart from Xining on train Z6801 to Lhasa. The train departs at 14.01 and arrives at 11.10 the following day. There are shared toilet facilities on board, but no showers. The restaurant car offers basic Chinese food, but there is no English menu, so it is advisable to take plenty of snacks. Hot water is available throughout the journey. A 4-berth soft sleeper compartment will be booked for your exclusive use. 

Meals: Breakfast

Private transfer from train station to hotel: Upon arrival in Lhasa, you will be welcomed to Tibet by your guide, then transferred to your hotel to relax.

Afternoon at leisure: This afternoon is free to relax at your hotel, and take time to acclimatise to the high altitude.

Accommodation: Stay tonight at the House of Shambhala (Standard Suite)

Meals: None today

Full day guided tour to Potala Palace, Jokhang Temple and Barkhor Market: After breakfast you will be collected and taken for a tour of the Potala Palace which was home to the Dalai Lama before he left Tibet. The Potala is a treasure and a treasure house, that it contains the golden handwritten Buddhist scriptures, valuable gifts from Chinese emperors, and a lot of priceless antiques. There are many colorful sculptures and paintings chronicling Buddhist folklore and ancient Tibetan life. The Potala Palace deserves the title of art gallery and museum; it is also a symbol of the wisdom and power of the Tibetan people. In 1994 it was listed as an UNESCO world cultural heritage site. Continue to Tibet’s holiest place: the Jokhang Temple. Enjoy the view from the roof and watch numerous pilgrims walk around the Palace. Finish by exploring the Barkhor Area which surrounds the Jokhang Temple. This area is the old and traditional part of Lhasa and is lively and eccentric.

Accommodation: Stay tonight at the House of Shambhala (Standard Suite)

Meals: Breakfast

Full day guided tour to Norbulingka, Drepung and Sera Monasteries: After breakfast visit the Summer Palace (Norbulingka) which was the retreat of the Dalai Lama and was the place from which the present Dalai Lama made his decision to flee Tibet. Continue to Drepung Monastery which is situated at the foot of the Mountain Gambo Utse, 3 miles from the western suburb of Lhasa. This is one of the most important monasteries of the Gelugpa in Tibetan Buddhism. In its heyday it was home to 7,700 monks. Finish today’s tour at Sera Monastery, which is one of Tibet’s most important monasteries. With luck you will get to see the fascinating spectacle of monks debating.

Accommodation: Stay tonight at the House of Shambhala (Standard Suite)

Meals: Breakfast

Transfer to the train station: After an early breakfast this morning, you will be met at your hotel and tranferred to the railway staion.

Train to Shigatse: Depart from Lhasa Airport on train Z8801 to Shigatse.  The train departs at 08.30 and arrives at 11.25.

Transfer from the railway station to your hotel: Upon arrival in Shigatse, you will be met and transferred to your hotel.

Afternoon tour of Tashilhunpo: This afternoon visit Tashilhunpo, one of Tibet's most active and beautiful monasteries. Tashilhunpo, meaning ‘Heap of Glory', was the seat of the Panchen ('great scholar') Lamas who came into existence in the 17th century when the 5th Dalai Lama gave this title to his beloved and learned tutor. With its traditional Tibetan architecture, striking golden roof and 26m high Buddha this is the largest yellow hat monastery in Tibet and one of the most impressive. After completing the kora pilgramage route around the monastery, there will be the opportunity to have dinner at the Wordo Kitchen and Museum (at your own expense).

Accommodation: Stay tonight at the Tashi Choten Hotel (Standard Room)

Meals: Breakfast

Road journey from Shigatse to Gyantse: Set off on the drive east to Gyantse, a relaxing 1.5 hour drive through a beautiful agricultural valley.

Morning tour of Gyantse:  After checking in to your hotel, visit the impressive Pelkhor Chode Monastery which was founded in the 15th century and is home to the Kumbum, the largest stupa in Tibet which is over 100 feet in height, octagonal in shape, with a 9 storey terraced exterior, 75 chapels, 108 gates and superb wall paintings which include some 10,000 images. The rest of the day can be spent on a gentle walk in the picturesque hills overlooking Gyantse to the Rabse Nunnery, exploring the town, climbimg up to the fort, or just watching and meeting the friendly local people.

Accommodation: Stay tonight at the Yeti Hotel Gyantse (Standard Room)

Meals: Breakfast

Road journey from Gyantse to Tsetang: This morning your guide and driver will meet you at your hotel before departing for Tsetang, passing Yamdrok Yamtso, one of Tibet's largest lakes. Shaped like a scorpion, it is an intense blue and makes for a very impressive sight.  According to local mythology, Yamdrok Lake is the transformation of a goddess. It is over 72 km (45 miles) long. The lake is surrounded by many snow-capped mountains and is fed by numerous small streams, and has an outlet stream at its far western end. Around 90km to the east of the lake lies the Tibetan town of Tsetang and Lhasa is a hundred km to the northwest. After time to take in the lake continue towards Tsetang, stopping off en route at Dranang Monastery en route (time-permitting).

Accommodation: Stay tonight at the Tsetang Hotel (Standard Room)

Meals: Breakfast

Guided tour of Samye Monastery & Chimpuk Hermitage hike: After breakfast this morning you wil be taken on a visit to the Samye Monastery. Samye Monastery is an important religious site that was constructed in the late 8th Century, and the place where Buddhism was first established in Tibet. The Monastery has an atmospheric setting in a barren valley surrounded by sand dunes and mountains. The central building of the monastery is a fusion of architectural styles combining Tibetan, Chinese and Indian influences.

Following your tour of the monastery, set out on a challenging but rewarding hike up to the Chim-puk Hermitage, which is located on the hills nearby Samye Monastery. The Chim-puk Hermitage is made up of a warren of caves on the hillside. 108 is a sacred number in many Eastern religions, including Buddhism, and it is said that there are 108 meditation caves, 108 spring mouths, and 108 sky burial grounds. The hermitage can be reached by a scenic uphill hike. The hike is around 7km each way, and can be taken at your own pace. Depending on how fast you wish to move, a round trip will take approximately 5-6 hours. You should be returned to your hotel in Tsetang by early evening. Please note this trek is at high altitude and should only be undertaken by those who are fit and healthy, and fully acclimatised to the thin air.

Accommodation: Stay tonight at the Tsedang Hotel (Standard Room)

Meals: Breakfast

Road journey from Tsetang to Lhasa airport: At the appropriate time today you will be transferred to Lhasa airport for your onward flight, a journey of between 2-3 hours.

Flight: CA4406 Lhasa - Chengdu 13.15 - 15.30

Private transfer: On arrival in Chengdu you will be met by your local guide and transferred to your hotel in a chauffeur driven car for a two-night stay.

Accommodation: Stay tonight at the Buddha Zen Hotel (Superior Room)

Meals: Breakfast

Morning visit to Chengdu’s Giant Panda Research Centre: It is estimated that there are between just 700 and 1,000 pandas left in the wild. Writings about the panda can be traced back 3,000 years, and they were once believed to have magical powers that could ward off evil spirits. It is extremely difficult to see Pandas in the wild nowadays. The breeding station has been in operation since 1990 and the best time to visit is in the morning around feeding when they are at their most active. For the rest of the day, the Panda's main activity is sleeping.

Afternoon visit to Chengdu's People’s Park & Jinli Street: This afternoon, start your tour of Chengdu at Renmin Park (People's Park) where you can watch locals enjoying this scenic open space in the heart of the city. Sample the tranquil atmosphere and stop to enjoy a cup of green tea in one of the tea houses there. Continue to Jinli Street, once a commercial centre built during the Shu Kingdom (221-263 AD), which is now a popular place for locals and tourists alike to sample some local Sichuan cuisine with a drink. The 350m long street, lined with Qing Dynasty style buildings, offers a fabulous array of stalls selling street food, snacks and souvenirs. It becomes particularly lively in the late afternoon / early evening.

Accommodation: Stay tonight at the Buddha Zen Hotel (Superior Room)

Meals: Breakfast