10 Days Chengdu Lhasa Everest Overland Tour from $2,176
Chengdu Lhasa Everest Tour
Highlights of this tour:
- Observe the cute giant panda from a close distance and spend a leisure afternoon like the local people in Chengdu.
- Be awed by the grandeur and magnificent of Mount Everest and the breathtaking views in Tibet.
- Visit various Buddhism temples and monasteries and get a better understanding of Tibetan Buddhism.
Basic Trip Information
- Price:
- from
$2,176
- 1. This price is for one person, based on a group of 2 adults sharing one double-bed room in a 4-star hotel and traveling in low seasons;
- 2. This price is subject to change according to your traveling season, group size, hotel class, change of activities and possible fluctuation of currency exchange rate.
- Travel Route:
- Chengdu / Lhasa / Shigatse / Mount Everest / Lhasa
- Travel Length:
- 10 Days and 9 Nights
- Tour Code:
- CD-CTCT-10
- Group Size:
- You, your family, friends or group
- Experience:
-
- Departure:
- Any day you want
Your tour - at a glance
Day 1~2 Arrival & Chengdu Tour
Day 3~5 Flight to Lhasa & Lhasa Tour
Day 6~8 Shigatse and Everest Tour
Day 9~10 Lhatse Tour & Lhasa Departure
Full Itinerary Day by Day
Day 1 Chengdu Arrival
Welcome to Chengdu, the hometown of the Giant Panda. Your local guide will meet you at the airport/train station and then escort you to your hotel in a private vehicle. The rest of today is yours to relax in the panda city on your own.
Arrival Ideas: Chengdu is only about 2~3 hours flying from the majority of big cities in China, such as Beijing, Xian, Shanghai, Guangzhou, Shanghai, etc. You can also get to Chengdu by high speed trains from Xian (4hrs), Chongqing (1hrs), Guilin (6hrs), Kunming (6hrs), etc.
Day 2 Chengdu (B, L)
This morning you will make a stirring visit to Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding which is not only the most important panda scientific research center, but also dwelling home to more than 100 Giant Pandas. Walk at leisure through the bamboo framed paths, and closely observe giant pandas of different ages eating bamboos, playing with each other, tumbling, climbing trees, etc. Don't miss the chance to visit the most adorable panda cubs in the panda kindergartens. If you are lucky, you may be able to see the precious panda babies in the nursery rooms. There is also a very informative Panda Museum where you can learn more scientific facts about Giant Pandas.
Leaving the panda center, you will be taken to a hidden spiritual Buddhist temple in the bustling downtown of Chengdu - Wenshu Temple. Marvel at the exquisite Buddhist architecture, soak in the reverent atmosphere, and wander on the peaceful paths. Adjacent to the monastery is a small bazaar (Wenshufang) where you can enjoy a leisure stroll through to experience local market and living style.
Chengdu is famous for its relaxing and leisure pace throughout China, which will be proved after a stay in Renmin Park. Sit down, order a pot of Chinese tea, make a casual chat with your friends and watching locals indulging themselves in different kinds of folk entertainment - napping in a lively teahouse, playing mahjong, disco dancing, neck massage, ear cleaning... Next is an impressive trip to the famous Jinli Old Street. Time steals away from you quietly while walking on the lively streets which are full of delicious local snacks, delicate artifacts, interesting folk shows, etc.
At the end, your guide will escort you to your hotel.
Recommended Optional Evening Activities: 1) enjoy a delicious dinner of Sichuan cuisine (or hotpot) at a local restaurant; 2) watch a wonderful performance of Sichuan Opera which includes folk opera, face changing, fire spitting, rolling lights, and other delightful entertainment (usually performs during 20:00~21:30).
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Beautiful Jinli Old Street Shot by Our Customer Rick
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Lovely Pandas in Chengdu Panda Base - Photographed by Our Guest Chona
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Wenshu Temple Shot by Our Guest Marcin in 2017
Day 3 Flight to Lhasa from Chengdu (B)
Today you will take a flight to Lhasa Gongga Airport from Chengdu(about 2hrs). Welcome to Tibet - the holy land of Tibetan Buddhism! Your tour guide is ready to pick you up at the arrival hall, and escort you to your hotel in Lhasa downtown. Enjoy the stunning views along the Yarlong Tsangpo River.
After check in to your hotel, the rest of today is for you to acclimate to the high altitude and weather of Lhasa.
Orientation Tips: 1) avoid vigorous activities but can take some leisure walking in the city to acclimatize the air and high altitude of Lhasa city(3,600m); 2) do not drink liquor in the arrival day, water and fruits are recommended.
Day 4 Lhasa (B)
After breakfast, start an incredible day of exploration in Lhasa city. The grandiose Potala Palace will be the first site to discover. After more than 1300 years of historical changes, this colossal palace still dominates the skyline of Lhasa city. The Palace is the political and religious center of Tibet and has served as the governance and preaching site for the Dalai Lama. Climbing up the sacred steps to the Red Palace and White Palace you will explore their marvelous interiors full of exquisite Thangkas, numerous Buddha statues, vivid wall paintings, and other works of Buddhist art.
In the afternoon, first visit the holiest Buddhist temple in Tibet, Jokhang Temple, where the 12-year-old-like Shakyamuni statue is consecrated. With a history stretching over 1,300 years, this temple combines the architectural styles of Tibet, China, Nepal and India. As a spiritual center of Tibet, Jokhang Temple attracts hundreds of devoted pilgrims to worship there every day. Outside the door of Jokhang Temple is the famous pilgrimage circle, Barkhor Street, where you can join faithful Tibetans in colorful attires walking the circle around Jokhang Temple.
Tips for today: 1) wear suitable headgear and glasses to protect you from strong sunlight, but do not wear any hat while visiting inside the Tibetan monasteries; 2) photography is not allowed inside the chapels of monasteries; 3) have your passport with you all the time.
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Julie & Friend from France - Golden Roof of Jokhang Temple
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Our customers Julie and her friend from France visited Potala Palace, Lhasa, Tibet.
Day 5 Lhasa (B)
After breakfast, we start our day with a visit to the summer palace of the Dalai Lamas and also the largest Tibetan garden - Norbulingka Park. The luxuriant trees and flowers, cool ponds and comfortable palaces make Norbulingka the best place for a summer retreat. Then drive about 5 km westward to Drepung Monastery. This monastery has played a crucial role in Tibet Buddhism as the school of the Dalai Lamas. As you walk along, immense temples and chapels leap to your eyes one after another. In its heyday, more than 10,000 monks lived and studied in the monastery. Various Buddhist rituals are performed in the monastery during festivals, most famous being the ceremony of Buddha Display in the annual Shoton Festival.
We will then visit the featured six hundred year-old Sera Monastery, famous for its grand ceremony of Buddhist debating and its beautiful temples with sensational icons, murals and history.
Tips for today: 1) please follow the Buddhist manners - talk in a low voice, always be respectful of others, reflect on the Buddha's teachings in these holy sites, and remain quiet and respectful when visiting temples 2) be sure to carry some water with you.
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Norbulingka Park - A Beautiful Tibetan Style Garden
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Buddhism Scriptures Debating at Sera Monastery
Day 6 Lhasa – Shigatse (B)
Today you will be taken to the second largest city in Tibet Shigatse, while viewing the highlights along the road. After about 1.5 hours of driving, you will arrive at the famous holy Yamdrok Lake. At an altitude of 4,441 meters, Yamdrok Lake is known as one of the "Three Holiest Lakes" in the world, and also one of the most beautiful lakes in Tibet. The turquoise pure waters of the lake are overlooked by incredible snow-capped mountains. Peaceful Tibetan villages surround the lake shore in the neighboring flat valleys. Looking in the distance, you can see clearly yaks and sheep grazing on the grassland. After this stop we will continue driving to the next destination - Gyantse and take a short break at Karola Glacier which is famous for its approachability, brightness and grotesque shape.
You will have lunch in Gyantse town and then make a visit to the key landmark of Gyantse Palcho Monastery. This is a traditional Tibetan monastery with a fusion of Han, Tibetan and Nepali architecture in its temples and stupa. Kumbum Stupa is the symbol of the monastery, famous for its 100,000 Buddhist figures, paintings, and statues in the chapels, wall niches and on the walls. After this visit, you will leave Gyantse and drive ahead to Shigatse for the night's accommodation.
Tips of today: 1) pack some food and drinks for today's long drive; 2) wear suitable clothes, headgear, and glasses to protect yourself from the strong sunlight, wind and possible cold.
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Yamdrok Lake Looks Like a Winding Blue Ribbon, Photographed by Our Guest Chona
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Palkor Myriad Buddha Stupa
Day 7 Shigatse – Everest (B)
Today we will drive about 8 hours to the final destination - Mount Everest. It seems to be a tough long driving day, but the plateau landscape along the road is breathtaking and will keep you entranced. You will even have a chance to see four of the highest peaks in the world, all over 8,000 meters - Lhotse, Everest, Gyachung and Cho Oyu at the sightseeing platform of Gawula Pass (5,250).
After arrival at Mount Everest, hop on a park bus and drive about 20km (30 minutes) to the Rongbuk Monastery(5,100 m), the world's highest monastery with an altitude of 5100m. It is the best platform to view Mount Everest. You will find all the effort of the trip swept away by the sight of the majestic peak of Everest rising in front of you. Since it is only about 20 km from the peak of Mount Everest, you can clearly see the giant pyramid of the mountain from south and the charming banner clouds in bright days. Apart from that, Rongbuk Monastery is the best place to see the sunrise and sunset for its high location close to the Everest. Also explore Everest Base Camp where you can see many Marnyi Stones and take photos with the marker of EBC.
Accommodation will be arranged at Rongbuk Guest House. (If you visit Mount Everest during May to October, you will accommodate at the Everest Base Camp near Rongbuk Monastery). Please note that the accommodations at both places are very simple and basic. There are dorms with beds, duvets, heated blankets and hot water provided. You are suggested to bring your own sleeping bag if you have one. There is no running water, sinks or showers. The guest house only offers basic breakfast and dinner without menu. There is no private bathroom in the dorms. Only communal squat toilets are available. Remember to bring your own toilet paper.
Tips for today: 1) the Everest Base Camp has been moved to Rongbuk Monastery area, so was the EBC marker; 2) prepare some food and drinks to take with you because there are only some basic foods offered at Mount Everest; 3) pack warm clothes to keep yourself warm all the time and get fully prepared for the high altitude (5100m~5200m).
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Tashilunpo Monastery
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Mount Everest
Day 8 Everest - Lhatse
Get up early to chase the most beautiful landscape of sunrise on the Everest. The morning sunlight shines on the highest peak, and appears a pleasant golden pyramid. If you are lucky, you will have chance to see the famous "flag clouds" which is a famous wonder on Mount Everest. You will see milk white streamer floating above the peak, and flutters toward one side like a banner in the wind. Sometimes, you can see it change the shape, like the huge waves on the sea or the impetuous horses on the ancient battlefield, and so forth. Once in a while, it is lucky to see the plateau eagles flying above the banner cloud, which is especially a particular sightseeing.
Last, return to Rongbuk and drive back to Old Tingri Town for lunch. Then drive about 6 hours to the final destination for today - Lhatse.
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Evereset Base Camp
Day 9 Lhatse – Lhasa (B)
Wake up from the peaceful atmosphere in the early more. After breakfast, go ahead to visit the famous monastery of Sakya sect of Tibetan Buddhism - Sakya Monastery. It is the ancestral monastery of Sakya School of Tibetan Buddhism. Sakya, in Tibetan, means gray and white earth. So you can see many temples and walls painted in gray and white. Sakya Monastery is known as the Second Dunhuang because of its rich collection of arts, historical relics, including more than 24,000 Buddhism books, 3,000 Thangkas, Buddha statues, porcelains, wall paintings, etc.
Leave Lhatse, and drive about 3 hours to Shigatse where you will have lunch and short rest. Then keep driving about 5 hours on well-conditioned highway back to Lhasa.
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Sakya Monastery
Day 10 Lhasa Departure (B)
Your guide will pick you up from the hotel to the airport in time for the scheduled flight to your next destination. Before that, you can take a rest at the hotel or go for a walk nearby.
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