Sacred Horizons: A Cultural Journey from Beijing to Tibet

Welcome to Beijing. After your journey, your China tour begins in an easy way.

Your local guide will meet you at the airport and take you to your hotel. The rest of the day is free. You may rest in your room or take a short walk nearby to get a first look at the city.

Start your day at Tiananmen Square. Then walk through the Meridian Gate into the Forbidden City, the former imperial palace of 24 emperors. Later, go up to Jingshan Park for a wide view over the palace roofs.

In the afternoon, visit the Lama Temple and take part in the simple ritual of incense offering. End the day at Shichahai Lake. Walk around the lakeside and nearby hutongs as the sun goes down.

Today you will visit the Mutianyu Great Wall. Walk along the wall and enjoy the mountain views.

After that, you will visit the Bird's Nest and Water Cube, known for representing the spirit of modern China and its grand Olympic history.

In the evening, take a walk along the Liangma River. The area is calm and lively at the same time, with bars and lights along the water.

Begin your Tibetan journey at the magnificent Potala Palace, the former winter residence of the Dalai Lamas and a UNESCO World Heritage site.

Continue to Jokhang Temple, the spiritual heart of Tibet, where you will feel the devotion of pilgrims prostrating before the sacred Jowo Rinpoche statue.

Then walk Barkhor Street, the ancient pilgrimage circuit now lined with bustling local markets.

Start the day at Zaki Temple, the “Temple of Wealth,” popular among locals.

Then head to Sera Monastery to witness the famous afternoon debates — a centuries-old tradition where monks engage in animated philosophical discussion through dramatic gestures.

In the afternoon, visit a Tibetan heritage workshop to try your hand at making Tibetan incense and painting a Thangka.

Drive west from Lhasa, ascending to Kambala Pass for a breathtaking view of Yamdrok Lake — its turquoise waters curve like a jeweled coral beneath the snow peaks.

Continue past Karola Glacier for a close-up view of the ancient ice tongue.

Visit Palha Manor, a beautifully preserved Tibetan aristocratic estate. Arrive in Shigatse by evening.

Explore Tashilhunpo Monastery, the historic seat of the Panchen Lama, with its grand assembly halls, ancient murals, and the world’s largest gilded bronze Buddha statue.

In the afternoon, board the high-altitude EMU train for a comfortable and scenic journey back to Lhasa across the vast Tibetan Plateau.

Travel north across the vast grasslands of northern Tibet to Namtso Lake, the highest saltwater lake in the world and the foremost of Tibet’s three sacred lakes.

Stand on the shore at over 4,700 meters and gaze across the deep blue waters to the distant Nyenchen Tanglha snow range. Return to Lhasa in the evening.

It is time to end your Lhasa journey. Enjoy your final moments at your own pace. When ready, your guide and driver will meet you at the hotel and take you to the airport for departure.