Beijing - Xian - Kashgar – Lhasa - 17 days / 16 nights
Trip highlights and features:
• Beijing sightseeing: the Great Wall, Tiananmen Square, Temple of Heaven, Forbidden City
• Xian sightseeing: the world-famous Terracotta Warriors
• Travel the old Silk Road and the Gobi Desert
• Train to Lhasa the ‘Roof of the World’ at 1,149 km
• 11 nights onboard the train, 5 nights in deluxe hotels
• Most Breakfasts, lunches and dinners
• Cities visited: Beijing, Xian, Dunhuang, Turpan, Kashgar, Golmud, Lhasa
For exact inquiry on dates and quotations, please, fill in the Personal inquiry >>> form.
Day 1: Beijing, Flight Arrivals
Passengers are met upon arrival in Beijing and transferred to the five-star Peninsula Palace Hotel, or similar, for a two-night stay. Afternoon visit to the Summer Palace. Welcome Peking Duck dinner.
Day 2: Beijing
After breakfast, we spend the morning on a tour of Beijing, including the Temple of Heaven and the Forbidden City. Afternoon sightseeing program includes the Great Wall and an evening visit to Tiananmen Square. Dinner at a restaurant near the Square.
Day 3: Shangri-La Express
Morning departure of China’s most prestigious private train, our awaiting Shangri-La Express. Settle into your comfortable cabin and have a drink in the bar car before dinner on board as we head for China’s ancient capital of Xian.
Day 4: Xian
Morning arrival in the ancient city of Xian. The morning is dedicated to visiting the world famous Terracotta Warriors, discovered by peasants barely 30 years ago. The 6,000 Terracotta figures, arranged in row after row of warriors and horses, are one of the greatest archaeological finds of the 20th century. Lunchtime departure. From Baoji, the line passes through some spectacular scenery as it climbs along the Wei River.
Day 5: Gobi Desert
Today we pass through the Hexi Corridor, with its snow-capped peaks of the Daban, Datong and Tulai Shan, beyond which lies the Tibetan plateau. On the far side of the corridor lies the Gobi Desert.
Day 6: Dunhuang
This morning we visit the fascinating Mogao Thousand Buddha Cave Complex, which contains almost 500 grottoes, carved between 700 and 1,700 years ago, and filled with an amazing collection of sculptures and murals depicting the evolution of Buddhist religious art over a 1,000-year period. Over 2,000 statues and 45,000 murals remain. In the afternoon, we visit the Sand Dunes where the more adventurous can take a camel ride to Crescent Lake. Dinner in Dunhuang before returning to the train for a late night departure.
Day 7: Turpan
The oasis of Turpan lies some 400 feet below sea level and is the lowest and hottest place in China. Whilst here we visit the Flaming Mountains, best viewed at midday, and the 3,000 km long and 2,000 year old underground irrigation system. Lunchtime departure as we head southwest towards Kashgar.
Day 8: Kashgar
We arrive in this ancient, 2000 year old Silk Road city in the afternoon and transfer to one of the city’s top hotels for a one-night stay. An important centre on the Silk Road, this oasis town is nestled beneath the Kongur Mountain at an altitude of 4,000 feet. Dinner in the city.
Day 9: Kashgar
Today is dedicated to visiting what Kashgar is known for, its Sunday bazaar. Farmers from all over the region, in carts, flock to this city to sell their wares, continuing a tradition of 2000 years when Kashgar was the centre for merchants bound for China. We have dinner on board as we continue our voyage to Lhasa.
Day 10: Shangri-La Express
We spend today retracing our steps for a 24-hour voyage back to Turpan. Breakfast, lunch and dinner on board.
Day 11: Gobi
Our day is spent traversing the vastness of one of the world’s most known deserts, the Gobi. Again, a day on board, to relax, enjoys the lectures, or just immerses you in the true ambiance of train travel.
Day 12: Shangri-La Express
Our day is spent continuing through the Gobi, and upon our arrival in Lanzhou, we pick up the line to Golmud. Total time from the Gobi to Golmud is approximately 22 hours.
Day 13: Golmud and the Climb to the ‘Roof of the World’
Arrival in Golmud and starting point for the new 1,149 km ‘roof of the world’ line to Lhasa. From here, it is a 12-hour daylight journey to reach the Tibetan capital. This evening we check into the Lhasa Hotel for a four-night stay.
Day 14: Lhasa
Our first day is spent around the hotel for acclimatization purposes.
Day 15: Lhasa
On the second day, we visit the 13th century Jokhang Temple, Tibet’s holiest shrine and the adjacent Barkhor market. Lunch is after our morning tour and features traditional folk music. In the afternoon, we visit the 17th century Potala Palace, former seat of the Tibetan Government and the Dalai Lama’s winter residence. It contains thousands of rooms, dominates the city skyline, and is one of the architectural wonders of the world.
Day 16: Lhasa
Morning visit to Norbu Lingka, the Dalai Lama’s Summer Palace. Free time in the afternoon to explore Lhasa.
Day 17: Lhasa Flight departures
Early morning transfer to Lhasa airport for flight departures.
Schedule and Fares - prices are per person
From Beijing
Heritage Class >>> only
Twin Share – EUR 8665
Single – EUR 10995
Note: Prices are per person in EUR and include all taxes and fees. Prices are subject to change without notice. Please reconfirm at the time of booking. We suggest adding trip insurance >>> to any and all bookings.
For exact inquiry on dates and quotations, please, fill in the Personal inquiry >>> form.
Top ^
