The Spirit of Southwest China: Chengdu & Tibet Explorer

Welcome to Chengdu. 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.

After breakfast, visit Mount Qingcheng, one of the birthplaces of Taoism in China, known for its peaceful forests and ancient temples.

Continue to Dujiangyan Irrigation System, a remarkable ancient water project built over 2,000 years ago and still in use today.

In the evening, you will visit the famous Jinli Ancient Street to explore local specialty snacks.

Start the day at Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding to see pandas up close.

Continue to People's Park, where you can enjoy tea and experience the relaxed pace of local daily life in Chengdu.

After the visit, transfer to the airport for your flight to Lhasa. Upon arrival, your local guide will meet you and take you to your hotel.

Note: Lhasa is located at a high altitude. After arrival, please rest well and avoid any strenuous activities. If you feel unwell at any time, please contact your guide or hotel staff immediately. They are experienced and will provide timely assistance.

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.