TP 21 - From Shangri-la to the roof of the world

Arrival Kunming, known as a city of perpetual spring with a mild climate. Take a brief city tour with visit to the Night Market 

Hotel accommodation 

Breakfast at hotel  

Depart in the early so as to avoid meeting a large crowd of tourist group.  We drive around 120km southeast of Kunming to the famous Stone Forest, a massive collection of grey limestone pillars, split by rain water and eroded to their fanciful forms, the tallest standing 30m high.  Lunch at local restaurant 

Rest of the day free for leisure  

Hotel accommodation  
Meal: B/L

Breakfast at hotel  
Transfer to airport for flight to Dali  

Arrival Dali and proceed to visit Three Pagodas, Old Town and Monastery Santasi . Lunch at local restaurant. Take the ropeway up to Cangshan Mountain and go down either by cable car or on foot  (about 1.5 hours)

Hotel accommodation  
Meal: B/L

Breakfast at hotel  

Driving 3 hrs to Lijiang and visit Bai minority villages en route. Lunch at local restaurant. Arrival Lijiang and visit in old town. 

Hotel accommodation  Meal: B/L

Breakfast at hotel  

Transfer to cable car station and go up by ropeway to visit Maoniuping (Yak Meadow) of Jade Dragon Snow Mountain.  Afterwards, visit the village of  Baisha Naxi Minority. Lunch at local restaurant. Visit Black Dragon Pond and Dongba Research institute for listening to the ancient music of Naxi Minority. 

Hotel accommodation  
Meal: B/L

Breakfast at hotel  

Excursion coach tour from Lijiang to Zhongdian (Shangri-La)  – a town with a very Tibetan atmosphere. It is situated 198km north of Lijiang at 3200m altitude and very close to the Tibetan border, known as little Tibet. Coach drive about 70km to the first stop at Shigu (Stone Drum Village) where you can see the geographically significant first Bend of the Yangtze River, then after 70km, we will see the Tiger Leaping George if the weather allowed. Lunch at local restaurant.

  
Arrival Zhongdian (Shangri-La) and transfer to hotel  
Rest of the day free for acclimatization

We recommend a stroll into the old city centre in the evening to experience a very authentic Tibetan atmosphere. 

Hotel accommodation
Meal: B/L

Breakfast at hotel  

Full day excursion with lunch at local restaurant which includes Songtzanlin Temple,  “Ni Ru Village”,  also known as Pottery Village and with Tibetan family workshops of marking  pottery vessels , Tibetan Family visit and the old town. 

Hotel accommodation  
Meal: B/L

Breakfast at hotel  
Transfer to airport for flight to Lhasa  
Arrival Lhasa and transfer to hotel  
Lunch at local restaurant 
Hotel accommodation
Meal: B/L

Breakfast at hotel  
Visit Potala Palace and Jokhang Temple with lunch at local restaurant.  Afterwards strolling around at Barkhor Street, Tibetian Tomb in the heart of the old city. Lunch at local restaurant  
Hotel accommodation  
Meal: B/L

Breakfast at hotel  

Visit Norbulingka Park, it was Dalai Lama’s summer residence and where they handled the political affairs. Lunch at local restaurant. Visit Sera Monastery, a hundred of monks could be found in a garden practice their debating skills start at 15h00

Hotel accommodation
Meal: B/L

Breakfast at hotel  

Visit Ganden Monastery and Golden Reliquien-Stupa (located inside the Ganden Monastery) –  see supplementary information in remarks #7 

Lunch at local restaurant  

Rest of the day free for leisure  
Hotel accommodation  
Meal: B/L

Breakfast at hotel  

Transfer to Shigatze (about 5-6 hours with 280km), the 2nd biggest city of Tibet and visit Dolma Lakhang in Nethang en route. Arrival Shigatze and visit Tashilunpo Monastery with lunch and dinner en route  

Hotel accommodation
Meal: B/L/D

Breakfast at hotel  
Free at leisure 

Transfer to Gyantze (about 2-3 hours)  and with a stop at the Shalu Monastery 
Visit Kumbum, a multi-storied aggregate of Buddhist chapels in Tibet, with lunch and dinner en route   

Hotel accommodation  
Meal: B/L/D

Breakfast at hotel  

Transfer to Tsethang (about 7 hours) via Kampa La Pass, pass by Yamdok Yutsho, the colour of water in lake is blue, with lunch box at lakeside and dinner en route  

Arrival Tsethang transfer to hotel  

Hotel accommodation  
Meal: B/L/D

Breakfast at hotel   

Visit Samye Monastery, the oldest temple in Tibet , and then Trandruk Lhakhang and Konigsfestung Yumbhu Lhakhar up in the Yarlung Tal with lunch and dinner en route  

Hotel accommodation  
Meal: B/L/D

Breakfast at hotel  

Visit 13th Tibetan King’s Tomb. Transfer back to airport in Lhasa with lunch en route for flight to Beijing via Chengdu

Arrival Beijing and experience a 45 mins foot massage before transfer to hotel 

Hotel accommodation
Meal: B/L

Breakfast at hotel  

Visit Great Wall,  which was built from 770-475 B.C. and climbing on top on the 2484 miles long Great Wall is really amazing. Lunch at local restaurant. Visit Forbidden City, with the emperors palace in the heart of Beijing (So called because it was off limits for 500 years, covering an area of 250 acres, protected by an 10.7m high wall, marked off by towers at each corner) and Tiananmen Square 
Peking duck dinner at local restaurant.

Hotel accommodation  
Meal: B/L/D

* * * * * * * * End of Program * * * * * * * *

Remarks:

Program included :
01> Accommodations with breakfast and meals as mentioned in the above tour program.
02> Private transfers and tours conducted by local German-speaking guide as mentioned in the above tour program.(local English-speaking guide will be provided in Dali, Lijiang and Zhongdian whereas Tibetan English-speaking guide will be provided in Tibet)
03> Admission ticket for sightseeing points as specified in the itinerary.
04> Domestic airfare(economy class) inclusive of tax for Kunming/Dali, Zhongdian/Lhasa and  Lhasa/Chengdu/Beijing
05> Application of Tibet entry permit 

Program NOT included :
01> Other than the above itinerary
02> Application of visa for China
03> International airfare enter and exit China
04> Personal expenses
05> Services during free time
06> Gratitude for local tour guides, drivers and porters

Remarks:
01> Blackout dates: 12-21 Feb 2010 (Chinese New Year), 30 Apr-03 May 2010 (Labour Day Holiday) and 28 Sep - 08 Oct 2010 (National Day Holiday)
02> Travelling to Tibet is year around since the climate is similar to Europe with 4 seasons.   It is warmer in months of March to October, but there might be cloudy and rain.  This is the main season for domestic travellers from China and well-known sightseeing places could be very crowded.  In the winter time from Nov to Feb, it is very dry with fine weather of clear blue sky days for most of the time.  The temperature is around 10 oC during the day and could be dropped to 0 oC at night.  There are fewer tourists but with more Tibetan pilgrims going for their pilgrimage.
03> There are only 3 Tibetan German-speaking guides in Tibet.  As such, we will assign English-speaking guide to conduct transfers and tours in Tibet so as to ensure that “TIBETAN TOUR GUIDE” will be provided. In line with the policy of local authority in Tibet, change of guide is not allowed in the midway of tour.
04> There are only English-speaking guides available in Lijiang, Dali and Zhongdian.  They are marginally reached the standard of other cities in China.
05> Copy of client’s passport and China visa have to be provided for application of entry permit for Tibet.   Kindly forward to us as soon as reservation is made.
06> In view of limited availability of local tour guide and train ticket, reservations for tours to Tibet are recommended to make minimum 3 months in advance.
07> Client, who is quickly accustomed to and could walk well at high-sea level, is recommended to stroll around at the nice path of pilgrims around the monastery which offers spectacular view.
08> Yunnan cuisine is an amalgam of Chinese and ethnic minorities cuisines.  Somehow, it is not the right appetite to western tourists.