Destinations: Arrive in Beijing

Activities:

Beijing is a city of amazing contrasts - an ancient capital with some incredible historical sites and a bustling modern metropolis getting ready to host the 2008 Olympics. Upon your arrival in Beijing, our guide will meet you and transfer you to your Hotel. The guide will give you some tips on local restaurants that we recommend and you can do some shopping in streets nearby. The rest of the day is free to rest to recover from jetlag or to explore by yourself.

Destinations: Beijing

Activities:

After breakfast head out for Tian'anmen Square, the world's largest public square, which is closely linked to The Forbidden City, from which the Emperors of the Ming and Qing dynasties governed for over 500 years. Later you'll visit the Temple of Heaven, where the Emperors prayed for good harvests and rain, or gave thanks for the harvest. Today's itinerary includes a visit to the old Beijing handicraft workshop.

Meals: lunch

Destinations: Beijing

Activities:

Leave town in the morning for the drive (a bit under two hours) to the Badaling Section of The Great Wall, which stretches for over 6000 km, and was originally built to protect China from the barbarians. You can walk and climb at your own pace, or enjoy spectacular views from the cable car. Before returning to the city you'll enjoy visiting the Changling (one of the Ming Tombs), and the attractive tree-lined Sacred Way, bordered by stone statues, along which the Emperors once trod to conduct their sacred ceremonies. During the day a visit to Jade Caving Factory or Cloisonne (enamelware) workshop is included. Dinner tonight is at Quanjude Restaurant, where you'll eat some of the best 'Peking Duck' in Beijing.

Meals: lunch

Destinations: Beijing

Activities:

After experiencing royal life today there is the opportunity to take a rickshaw ride to the Hutong where we visit a local flea market which is an excellent example of typical architecture of this area. You may find some interesting things and learn how to bargain. You will also visit with a local family and talk to the family members to gain a true understanding of life in this region and to have an experience of this unique form of community. We can guarantee you will have impressive stories to tell your friends after this. Then to the Summer Palace, which is equally famous as the Forbidden City. It is the best preserved and the largest imperial gardens in China.

Meals: lunch

Destinations: Beijing to Xi'an

Activities:

This morning you will be transferred to the airport in time for your flight to Xi'an. After arrival you will proceed to at one of the best museums in China, the Shaanxi Historical Museum. Among the 400,000 items on display are treasures from many Dynasties including some magnificent bronzes and porcelain which have never before been on permanent display.

Destinations: Xi'an

Activities:

After breakfast in the hotel, you will set off for the incredible 2000 year-old Terracotta warriors. Well over 7000 figures in full battle array are formed for battle in several large pits. The repairs and excavations continue at the site where you can see both repaired and broken warriors in a truly impressive display. In the afternoon we're going to the Bell Tower where you can get a bird's view of the city from the top. There is a music performance of the ancient music and a display of the instruments. We will continue to the Big Wild Goose Pagoda where widely renowned Master Xuanzang (Monk Tripitaka) stored his collection of classic Buddhist artifacts brought from India.

Meals: lunch

Destinations: Xi'an to Lhasa

Activities:

After breakfast in the hotel, we will depart for the airport in time for the flight to Lhasa, Tibet. After arriving in Lhasa the rest of the day is free to explore the city and to allow your body to adjust to the altitude.

Destinations: Lhasa

Activities:

Today we explore Lhasa. Your first stop will be The Potala Palace with its 10,000 steps. It is the largest structure in Tibet. Then we visit to the most celebrated temple in Tibet the The Jokhang Temple . The afternoon is a little more relaxed with time to enjoy some leisure time in Barkhor Street to shop and to look at some of the local crafts.

Meals: lunch

Destinations: Lhasa

Activities:

Today you will go to visit Sera Monastery. It is known as one of the three greatest monasteries of Tibet. As one of the three main monasteries of Lhasa, it is here that the monks "famous daily debates" take place. One of the most famous souvenir in Tibet is carpet.Then we will go to The Carpet Factory. By visiting the Factory you will have a general idea how carpets are produced. After lunch you will have a chance to visit Drepung Monastery and Norbulingka. Drepung Monastery used to be the living palace of Dalai Lamas before the reconstruction of Potala palace (after the 5th Dalai Lamas was bestowed by Qing emperor Qianlong). Norbulingka means "Jeweled Garden". It was constructed as a summer palace for the Dalai Lama and later served the whole governmental administration.

Meals: lunch

Destinations: Lhasa to Shigatse

Activities:

Drive to Lake Yamdrok - one of the three holy lakes in Tibet. You can choose to enjoy a pinic luch by the lake side. Then drive for about 4 hours to Shigatse, the second largest city in Tibet.

Meals: lunch

Destinations: Shigatse to Lhasa

Activities:

Visit Tashilhunpo Monastery which is painted in red and white. The buildings in the monastery stand close together in terraced rows offer a great view of the surrounding country side. After having lunch we will drive back to Lhasa. Enjoy the grassland views on the way (about 4 hours).

Meals: lunch

Destinations: Depart from Lhasa

Activities: Your time is your own, until you are ready to be transferred to the Lhasa airport for your departure.