China & Tibet

Walk along one of the world’s greatest wonders and uncover the secrets of China’s imperial past
After breakfast, your guide will collect you for a full-day tour. Begin at the Badaling section of the Great Wall, the best-preserved and most visited stretch, dating back to 770–221 BC. Hike its stone paths, climb watchtowers, and take in sweeping mountain views. At midday, enjoy lunch at a local restaurant and stop at the Beijing Jade Factory to see artisans at work—and perhaps pick up a keepsake. In the afternoon, visit the Ming Tombs, a vast necropolis built in 1590 for Emperor Shenzong. Explore its courtyards, pathways, and underground palace, a testament to Ming-era architecture and ritual. Return to your hotel in Beijing in the evening with lasting impressions of two UNESCO treasures.

After breakfast, your guide will meet you for another day of history and grandeur. Begin at Tiananmen Square, the world’s largest public square, where China’s modern history and collective memory converge. Surrounded by monumental architecture, you feel the magnitude of the nation’s story. From here, step into the Forbidden City, Beijing’s most iconic UNESCO site and home to 24 emperors of the Ming and Qing dynasties. With golden roofs, vast courtyards, and over 9,000 rooms (though only some open to visitors), it remains the largest imperial palace on Earth, offering glimpses into the private and political lives of its rulers.
After lunch (on your own or arranged by your guide), visit the Temple of Heaven, a Ming masterpiece where emperors once prayed for good harvests. Walking its symmetrical courtyards and standing beneath the blue-tiled Hall of Prayer for Good Harvests, you encounter both architectural and spiritual harmony. Return to your hotel by evening with lasting impressions of China’s imperial capital.

This morning, after breakfast, you will be escorted to the airport for your flight to Chengdu, the lively capital of Sichuan Province and home of the giant panda. Upon arrival, your local guide and driver will greet you and accompany you to your hotel in the heart of the city. Once checked in, the rest of the day is free for you to relax, recover from the journey, or begin to explore Chengdu’s laid-back atmosphere at your own pace. Perhaps take a short walk through the nearby streets to feel the rhythm of this vibrant city.

This morning you will visit the world-renowned Chengdu Panda Breeding and Research Center, where you’ll have the chance to watch both adult and baby pandas during their most active feeding time. Strolling through this lush 230-hectare park and exploring its small museum offers a deeper look into the lives of China’s most beloved animals. In the afternoon, step into the rhythm of local life with a leisurely cup of tea at People’s Park, a favorite gathering place for Chengdu’s residents. Later, discover the peaceful atmosphere of Wenshu Temple, one of the city’s best-preserved Buddhist temples, before wandering through the vibrant Jinli Old Street. Time seems to slip away here among the traditional shops, tasty snacks, artisan crafts, and lively folk performances.

Encounter the largest stone Buddha in the world.
This morning you will drive about 2 hours to Leshan, home of the awe-inspiring Leshan Giant Buddha. Carved into the cliffs of Lingyun Temple and completed in 803 AD after 90 years of work, this colossal seated figure stands 71 meters high and remains the largest stone Buddha statue on Earth. You may choose to admire the Buddha up close by hiking along the carved pathways or from a different perspective with a river cruise (optional). Either way, the sheer scale and serenity of the site are unforgettable. Afterwards, enjoy a stroll through the lively Leshan local streets, sampling regional snacks on a guided foodie tour that brings Sichuan flavors to life. By evening, return to Chengdu for overnight rest.

Welcome to the Roof of the World.
This morning you will take your flight to Lhasa (3,400 m), the spiritual heart of Tibet. Upon arrival, your Tibetan guide will greet you warmly with a traditional hada scarf, symbolizing blessings and good fortune. During the transfer to your hotel in downtown Lhasa, enjoy the first glimpses of the majestic Yarlung Tsangpo (Brahmaputra) River and the serene Lhasa River winding through the valley. After check-in, the afternoon is dedicated to rest and gentle acclimatization to the high altitude. Later in the day, your guide will welcome you with small Tibetan gifts, share essential travel instructions, and introduce the group.

A full day immersed in the spiritual heart of Tibetan Buddhism.
This morning begins at Drepung Monastery, once home to more than 10,000 monks and still the largest monastery in Tibet. As you walk through the grand Coqen Hall, your guide will share insights into the Tibetan Buddhist worldview and introduce some of the great masters who shaped its history. Continue to the Loseling College (or equivalent), where you can glimpse the academic life of young monks. Visiting their study halls and modest dormitories offers a rare look into their daily routines, discipline, and devotion. In the afternoon, head to Sera Monastery, another of Tibet’s “great three” Gelug monasteries. Here you will witness the famous monks’ debate (held 15:00–17:00, Monday to Saturday). With energetic gestures, claps, and questions, the debates are not only a vibrant spectacle but also a key part of monastic training. Your guide will explain the ritual and meaning behind these intellectual duels.

Today you will experience the spiritual and cultural soul of Lhasa.
Your morning begins with a visit to the Potala Palace, an icon of Tibet and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. From its terraces, you’ll enjoy breathtaking panoramic views over Lhasa’s Old Town. Inside, explore sacred chambers filled with treasures — from the gilded stupas of past Dalai Lamas to the meditation cave of Tibet’s 33rd great king. At the foot of the palace, take a moment in Longwangtan Park, a place where locals gather for folk activities, and admire the palace’s grandeur reflected on the water. In the afternoon, step into the heart of Tibetan devotion at the Jokhang Temple, home to the revered statue of Buddha Sakyamuni at the age of twelve. Outside, pilgrims prostrate themselves with profound faith, while inside centuries of prayer seem to linger in the air. Circling the temple, you’ll join locals on Barkhor Street, walking the sacred kora route and discovering its vibrant market full of incense, prayer beads, and traditional crafts. Before evening falls, your guide will take you to one of Lhasa’s bustling Tibetan tea houses, where you’ll sip sweet tea side by side with locals and learn about their daily rhythms. The day closes with a welcome dinner shared with your group, a perfect moment to connect and reflect on your journey so far.

Today begins your overland journey across Tibet, a scenic drive filled with breathtaking landscapes, sacred sites, and glimpses of local life.
Your journey begins at Gampala Pass (4,790 m), where the land opens to reveal the turquoise waters of Yamdrok Lake (4,400 m). Ringed by snow-capped peaks and guarded by Mount Nyenchen Khangsar (7,191 m), the lake gleams like a jewel of the plateau. Stop at viewpoints to admire its beauty, then visit a lakeside village to share lunch and stories with Tibetan families. Continue past the mighty Korola Glacier, a river of ancient ice cascading down the mountainside—one of Tibet’s most striking natural wonders. Later, pause at Simila Pass, where prayer flags dance in the wind. Here, you can join locals in hanging your own, sending prayers and blessings into the vast Tibetan sky. In Gyantse, glimpse its ancient fortress and rolling barley fields — green in summer, golden in autumn — before continuing on. By evening, arrive in Shigatse, Tibet’s second-largest city. After checking into your hotel, rest and prepare for the road to Mount Everest.

Today takes you deep into the Himalayas, with winding roads, sweeping views, and unforgettable encounters with the world’s highest peak. After breakfast, drive towards Mount Everest via Gyatsola Pass (5,280m), where you’ll glimpse the summit rising on the horizon. Entering Mount Everest National Nature Reserve, pause at Gawula Pass (5,198 m) for a panorama of five towering Himalayan peaks, Everest supreme among them. Following the zigzag road, each curve brings the mountain closer until, at Everest Base Camp (5,000 m), you stand before its snow-capped pyramid. At sunset, its northern face glows gold; at night, Everest shines under a sea of stars and the Milky Way. Overnight at Everest Base Camp (seasonal tents) or a nearby village in winter.

This morning, before leaving the Himalayas behind, you’ll stop at Rongbuk Monastery (5,154 m) — the highest monastery in the world, where monks and nuns live and practice together in the shadow of Everest. Few places on Earth feel so close to the sky. From here, you’ll retrace your path along the spectacular mountain roads, savoring once more the sweeping views of the Himalayas as you return to Shigatse. In the evening, your journey will be celebrated in true Tibetan style at a traditional Langma Hall, where dinner is accompanied by lively folk songs and dances. It’s a joyful moment to share memories, laughter, and the pride of having stood at the foot of the world’s highest peak.

This morning begins with a visit to the Tashilhunpo Monastery, the spiritual seat of the Panchen Lama and the largest monastery in Shigatse. Rising majestically along the hillside, its golden roofs and red walls shelter the world’s largest Maitreya Buddha statue, as well as countless sacred relics. Walking through its grand halls, you’ll hear the chanting of monks in yellow hats and red robes, a timeless rhythm of Tibetan devotion. Afterwards, you’ll journey back to Lhasa, following the banks of the Yarlung Tsangpo River—the mother river of Tibet. The drive itself is a scenic meditation, with wide valleys and mountain views accompanying you all the way. Back in Lhasa, enjoy a leisurely evening. You might wish to take one last walk through Barkhor Street, where pilgrims, locals, and travelers mingle, and perhaps choose a meaningful gift or keepsake to carry home.

This morning, you will be transferred to the airport for your flight from Lhasa back to Beijing, where you will connect with your international flight to Europe. You may leave Tibet, but Tibet will never leave you – its mountains, monasteries, and spirit will remain a part of your journey long after you return home.