Upon arrival, you are escorted to check in to the hotel.
JW Marriott Hotel Beijing

DAY 3 ? Wednesday ? Beijing

Today’s tour visits Tiananmen Square and the Imperial Palace’s Forbidden City, including living quarters, museum and jewelry sections. Then on the Summer Palace with a boat ride on Lake Kunming (weather permitting).
MEALS: American Breakfast, Lunch

Today, walk the ancient ramparts of the astonishing Great Wall. Stroll along the Sacred Way to the Ming Tombs and Chang Ling Exhibition Hall. After lunch, visit a cloisonné factory.
MEALS: American Breakfast, Lunch

DAY 5 ? Friday ? Beijing/Chengdu

Fly to Chengdu, capital of Sichuan Province. After lunch, see adorable pandas at the Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding, and then visit Yulin Market and Qintai Road with traditional-style buildings. Tonight, attend an entertaining Sichuan Opera with traditional face-changing performance.
Jinjiang Hotel Chengdu
MEALS: American Breakfast, Lunch

DAY 6 ? Saturday ? Chengdu/Lhasa/Tsedang

This morning, your Tibet adventure begins as you fly to Lhasa, where you are greeted at the airport with a traditional Tibetan welcome ceremony.* Continue by motorcoach to Tsedang. The rest of the day is free to adjust to the altitude of one of the world’s highest plateaus – about 12,000 feet above sea level.
Tsedang Hotel
MEALS: American Breakfast, Lunch in the Hotel, Dinner in the Hotel
*Welcome ceremony with 10 or more passengers.

DAY 7 ? Sunday ? Tsedang

This morning, ferry across the Yaluzangbu River, the highest river in the world, to visit Samye Monastery. Built in 761, it combines Tibetan, Chinese and Indian architectural styles. In the afternoon, visit Yumbulagang, said to be the oldest structure in Tibet, and 9th century Dratang Monastery.
MEALS: American Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner in the Hotel

DAY 8 ? Monday ? Tsedang/Yamdrok Lake/Shigatse

This morning depart for Shigatse, the second largest city in Tibet . En route drive via Kambala pass to scenic Yamdrok Lake , one of the four holy lakes of Tibet .
Shigatse Hotel
MEALS: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner in the Hotel

After breakfast visit Tashilumpo Monastery , built in 1447 , before driving to Gyantse, a town southwest of Lhasa and an important regional center in the 15th century. In Gyantse, tour Pelkor Chode Monastery and the Kumbum , a stupa comprised of hundreds of chapels said to hold 100,000 Buddha images.
Gyantse Hotel
MEALS: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Today’s drive takes you to Lhasa , where you arrive in the late afternoon.
Four Points by Sheraton
MEALS: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner in the Hotel

DAY 11 ? Thursday ? Lhasa

An extraordinary day of sightseeing shows the spectacular architecture at the world-renowned Potala Palace. Former home of the Dalai Lama, its massive 1000-room structure towers over this mountain city. Then visit famous Barkhor Market, where you can shop for Tibetan items. See one of Tibet’s holiest shrines, revered 7th century Jokhang Temple, with its statue of the Sakyamuni Buddha, lavishly enthroned in gold.
MEALS: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

DAY 12 ? Friday ? Lhasa

You will not soon forget Norbulingkha (The Summer Palace), built by the seventh Dalai Lama in the 18th century. Then on to magnificent Sera Monastery to see groups of red-robed young monks debate Buddhist doctrines in lively traditional style. Alternatively, visit scenic Drepung Monastery, once home to 10,000 Lamas. This evening, enjoy a memorable Tibetan dinner and show where you will be welcomed with a colorful, traditional Yak Dance.*
MEALS: American Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner Show
*Welcome Yak Dance if 10 or more passengers.

DAY 13 ? Saturday ? Lhasa/Chengdu/Shanghai

This morning, bid farewell to the mountains of Tibet as you fly to Chengdu and then continue on to Shanghai.
Radisson Plaza Xing Guo Hotel Shanghai
MEALS: Breakfast

See the highlights of Shanghai on a full day tour: the rich collections of the Shanghai Museum including an audio tour, Yu Garden, The Bund’s colonial-style architecture, the Children’s Palace, Nanjing Road or Huai Hai Road shopping streets and a carpet factory.
MEALS: American Breakfast, Lunch

Fly homeward aboard United Airlines.
MEALS: American Breakfast
5-Day Tour Extension to Huangshan