DAY 1 SINGAPORE – XI’AN (Dinner) (Overnight in Xi’an)
|
|
Assemble at Singapore Changi Airport for your flight to Xi’an, known as Changan town in ancient times. Visit Xi’an’s landmark buildings, the Clock Tower and Dayanta Square. Explore the old streets and alleys like Huiminfang and Ancient Street and experience Xi’an’s vibrancy.
|
|
DAY 2 XI’AN – XINING (Breakfast/Lunch/Dinner) (Overnight in Xining)
|
After breakfast, take a domestic flight to Xining. Also known as “Silk Road North Passage”, it is an ancient highland town with about 2,100 years of history and an important hub for the railway to enter into Tibet. Then visit Dongguan Temple, one of the 4 major temples in the North-eastern part of China which has a distinctive Zang style and overlooks the highland city.
|
|
DAY 3 XINING – QINGHAI LAKE – LHASA (Breakfast/Lunch/Dinner)
(Overnight in the train)
|
| In the afternoon, visit Kumbun Monastery, one of the 6 major Tibetan Lamaism temples which is also the birthplace of Reverend Zongkaba. It is famed for its grandeur and 3 treasures which are embossed embroideries, wall murals and paintings. Follow the ancient route to Tibet taken by Princess Wencheng from the Tang Dynasty and you can view Mount Sun Moon, Sun Pavilion and Moon Pavilion along the way. Thereafter, enjoy a boat ride to view Qinghai Lake, the largest salt water lake in China. Surrounded by snowcapped mountains, lush greenery, Qinghai Lake’s emerald green water completes the picturesque scenery. At night, e njoy a train ride on Qingzang Railway, the world’s highest railway to Lhasa. The Xining – Lhasa train on the Qingzang Railway will leave at about 8pm and the journey is about 26 hours. |
Other special activities:
Enjoy a boat ride on Qinghai Lake, explore the surroundings of Qinghai Lake on a 4-wheel-drive or go on a horseback tour of Qinghai Lake at your own expense.
|
|
DAY 4 LHASA (Overnight in Lhasa)
|
Continue your train journey to Lhasa on Qingzang Railway, the world’s highest railway, passing through Xining, Ge’ermu, Tuotuo River, Anduo, Naqu, Dangxiong and finally reaching Lhasa. No meals are served on board the train, so please make your own meals arrangement. During the train journey, catch some of the outstanding sights and scenery like Qinghai Lake, Mount Kunlun, Kekexili, Gebihongliu Changjiangyuan, Mount Dangla, Cuona Lake and Changtang Grassland. Indulge in the snow scenery of the Tibetan Plateau, view galloping Zang antelopes, wild yaks and other animals. Upon arrival in Lhasa, take suitable rest to acclimatize to the high altitude.
|
Other special activities:
Depending on the circumstances, enjoy interactive group activities like singing and dancing, guessing riddles and poems recital competitions on board of the Qingzang Railway train. You will be presented a hada, a long piece of silk used by Tibetans as a welcome gift upon your arrival.
|
|
DAY 5 LHASA (Breakfast/Lunch/Dinner) (Overnight in Lhasa)
|
| Set off from Lhasa, pass by Qingzang Highway and traverse across the snowy Mount Nagenla to Namtso Lake, the world’s highest salt water lake which stands at 4,718 metres above sea level. Its vast bay, lush greenery and crystal clear water made the lake look like a dazzling pearl encrusted on the vast Qiangtang grassland. Thereafter, coach back to Lhasa. Enroute view the snow-capped Mount Nyainqentanglhain the distant and popular sight-seeing spot, Yangbajain. Then visit a Zang tribe village to experience the warm hospitality of the Zang people. |
Other special activities: |
Experience the nomadic lifestyle on the Northern Zang grassland where you can try herding the yaks or sheep (This will be arranged according to the departure timing). |
|
DAY 6 LHASA (Breakfast/Lunch/Dinner) (Overnight in Lhasa)
|
| In the early afternoon, visit Potala Palace, the world’s highest palace building built by Songtsen Gampo. Since the 7th century, it has been the centre of Tibetan government and spiritual power. In the late afternoon, head to Jokhang Temple, the spiritual centre of ardent Tibetan Buddhist pilgrims. Next, e xplore Barkhor Street, the most vibrant pedestrian street in Lhasa, for colourful and unique handicrafts by the various minority tribes. |
Other special activities: |
• |
Explore the vibrant Chong Sai Kang Zang Market, the largest market in Tibet. |
• |
Enjoy a specially arranged visit to “Makyeame”, the secret meeting place of the 6th Dalai |
|
Lama. |
• |
Zang song and dance dinner show : Dinner in a Zang restaurant or in a Lhasa Zang tribe
|
|
village (Niangre Village or Sangmu Village) where you can enjoy Suyoucha, Tibetan butter tea, Qingke wine, Yak meat, Zang tea, Tibetan yoghurt and other seasonal specialties while viewing a Zang song and dance dinner show. Spend an unforgettable and memorable night with DJ Huang Wenhong on the highest point of the snowy highland which is nearest to the sky and moon. |
|
DAY 7 LHASA – YAMDROK TSO LAKE – RIKEZE (Breakfast/Lunch/Dinner)
(Overnight in Rikeze) |
Traverse across the snowy Mount Gangbala which stands at 4,900 metres above sea level. View Gangbala radar station in the distant. Continue to view the Kanola Glacier and tour Yamdrok Tso Lake’s surrounding before visiting Gyantse, the outdoor film set of the movie ‘ Red River Valley’. Next, head to Kumbum Monastery to view its beautiful wall murals and sculptures. After visiting the British resistance fort at Mount Zong, head to Rikeze, a major town in Houzang.
|
Other special activities: |
| Enjoy a brief hike around Yamdrok Tso Lake if circumstances permit. If time permits, an outdoor song and dance competition can be arranged as you enjoy a picnic by the lake with food and beverages provided. The winners will win exciting Tibetan hamper prizes. |
|
DAY 8 RIKEZE – LHASA (Breakfast/Lunch/Dinner) (Overnight in Lhasa) |
| In the early afternoon, visit Tashilhunpo Monastery, the final resting place of Reverend Banchan and one of the 6 major Yellow Sect temples. Built in 1447 by the 1st Dalai Lama Abbot Gendunzhuba, Tashilhunpo Monastery housed the world’s tallest bronze sitting Buddha statue also known as ‘Qiangba Buddha’. Continue to view the inscribed horizontal tablet of Zen masters . Return to Lhasa in the afternoon and enjoy the picturesque scenery of green hills, valleys and scenic desert during the journey. |
Other special activities: |
On your journey back to Lhasa, stop by a Zang village where special arrangements have been made for you to visit a Zang family to experience their lifestyle and feel their warm hospitality. |
|
DAY 9 LHASA – KUNMING – SINGAPORE (Breakfast)
|
After breakfast, transfer to Lhasa Gonggar Airport for your flight to Kunming.Upon arrival, visit some of Kunming’s landmark sites like Jinma Biji Square, East and West Pagoda and Nanping Pedestrian Street. After dinner, you may spend your time at leisure or do some last-minute shopping before you transfer to the airport for your flight home. |
|
11 DAYS ITINERARY (CN11T) |
|
DAY 1 – DAY 7 AS PER 8 DAYS ITINERARY (CN9T) |
|
DAY 8 RIKEZE – DINGRI (Breakfast/Lunch/Dinner) |
In the early afternoon, visit Tashilhunpo Monastery, the final resting place of Reverend Banchan and one of the 6 major Yellow Sect temples. Continue to view the inscribed horizontal tablet of Zen masters. Thereafter, board a jeep and proceed to Dingri. |
|
DAY 9 DINGRI – MOUNT EVEREST RONGBU TEMPLE – MOUNT EVEREST BASE CAMP
(Breakfast/Lunch/Dinner) (Overnight in Dingri) |
After breakfast, proceed to the border check point. Then visit the world’s highest temple, Rongbu Temple. Dedicated to Ningma Sect, the over 100-year-old temple was built by Red Sect Lama Abbot. Next, head to Mount Everest Base Camp where you can behold the spectacular view of Mount Everest, which at 8,844 metres above sea level is the world’s highest peak. View the world’s well conserved and developed Rongbu Glacier and if you are lucky, you can spot billows of Mount Everest Cloud. |
|
DAY 10 DINGRI – RIKEZE – LHASA (Breakfast/Lunch) (Overnight in Lhasa) |
After breakfast, return to Lhasa via Rikeze. Enjoy the picturesque scenery of green hills, valleys and scenic desert during the journey. |
|
DAY 11 LHASA – SHANGHAI (Breakfast/Lunch/Dinner) (Overnight in Shanghai) |
After breakfast, you can spend your time at leisure to explore Lhasa city before you transfer to Lhasa Gonggar Airport for your flight to Shanghai. Upon arrival, check in to the hotel. |
|
DAY 12 SHANGHAI – SINGAPORE (Breakfast) |
After breakfast, transfer to the airport for your flight home.
|
| |
| Remarks
Final itinerary by local tour operator will be deemed accurate.
Sequence and timings of itinerary are subject to change without prior notice .
Those with high blood pressure and heart ailments are advised not to join the tour.
Diplomatic officials and journalists will require special arrangements. If the flight or rail schedule is interrupted, the itinerary will be reversed.
You will take a flight to Lhasa first, then board the Lhasa train for Xining and lastly take the flight from Xining back to Singapore.
There are 5 shopping stopovers. In the event of discrepancy between the English and Chinese itineraries, please refer to the latter for accuracy.
Printed in April 2009 |
| |
Travel vouchers make great gift
.jpg)
