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11 |
Cultural Exploration |
DAYS |
Voir les photos
Holiday Overview
Holiday Overview
Highlights
- Forbidden City: Imperial Palaces of the Ming and Qing Dynasties
- Simatai Great Wall: best example of the Ming Dynasty Wall
- Opera Show: China's cultural heritage
- Potala Palace: Winter palace of the Dalai Lama
- Yamdrok-tso: One of the three largest sacred lakes in Tibet
Brief Itinerary
- DAY 01 ARRIVE IN BEIJING
- DAY 02 BEIJING HIGHLIGHTS
- DAY 03 BEIJING HIGHLIGHTS
- DAY 04 BEIJING HIGHLIGHTS / STAY IN GUBEI WATER TOWN
- DAY 05 SIMATAI GREAT WALL / GUBEI WATER TOWN
- DAY 06 BACK TO BEIJING / ARRIVE IN LHASA
- DAY 07 LHASA
- DAY 08 LHASA
- DAY 09 LHASA / GYANGTSE / SHIGATSE
- DAY 10 SHIGATSE / LHASA
- DAY 11 LHASA / BEIJING
Map & Itinerary
Map & Itinerary
This is an exceptional tour covered culture and famous sights in Beijing and Lhasa, Great Wall hiking and the historical sites along the way together. You will stay about 5 days in Beijing before heading to Tibet. In the central area of Beijing, you can visit Tian’anmen Square, Forbidden City, Temple of Heaven, the Summer Palace and Hutong etc to experience the beauty and majesty of this old city. Some night activities would be arranged for you, such as Opera Show, bars. This tour also features additional hiking on the Simatai Great Wall, the best example of the Ming Dynasty wall, which is listed by UNESCO as a World Heritage site. As well as overnight in Gubei Water Town with an unforgettable landscape together with mountains, rivers and the Great Wall. Then you will go to Lhasa, the capital of Tibet, and home to the Potala Palace and many magnificent monasteries, of which the Jokhang monastery is the holiest monastery in Tibet. You’ll also go to Gyantse and Shigatse. They are more remote than Lhasa, but because of its remoteness, they can offer the grand scene and nature of the Tibetan Region. How wonderful it is to be on top of most of the world!
Holiday Itinerary
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ARRIVE IN BEIJING
Meet you at the Capital Airport. Today we will drive to Tian’anmen Square, which is the biggest central square in the world and is located in the center of the Beijing city. Here you could see the Monument to the People's Heroes, Great Hall of the People, Mao Zedong Mausoleum and the national flag raising and lowering ceremony. Thousands of people come to the Square every day. It is the must place to visit in Beijing City. And then take you to hotel for rest. (We could also make changes of today’s arrangements according to your flight schedule, as we think you need to adjust to the Jet Lag.)
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Accommodation 3-4 star hotel in Beijing
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BEIJING HIGHLIGHTS
After breakfast drive to visit the Summer Palace, one of the best preserved summer resort for royal family. After lunch you will visit the Forbidden City, the symbol of China, also called Gu Gong. It was the imperial palace during the Ming and Qing dynasties. Continue to explore the 798 Art Zone. 798 was a former electronic factory complex of unique architectural styles. Nowadays it’s Beijing’s most famous art zone housing contemporary art galleries and studios. Then back to the hotel for rest, and enjoy your night life is you want.
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Accommodation 3-4 star hotel in Beijing
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Meals BL
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BEIJING HIGHLIGHTS
Today is fantastic. Activities may include visiting the Lama Temple, Confucius Temple, Lotus Market and a fascinating Hutong Tour, as well as Beijing Zoo if time permits. The Lama Temple, also called Yonghe Lamasery, is the best-preserved lamasery in existence in China today. It was first established during the Qing Dynasty as the residence of Emperor Yongzheng when he was just a prince, and it was also the birthplace of Emperor Qianlong, the son of Emperor Yongzheng. Confucius temple, it consists of four courtyards. The main structures include Xianshi Gate, Dacheng Gate, Dacheng Hall and Chongshengci. Hutong has a long history in Beijing. We will enjoy our lunch in hutong and have the opportunities to learn how to make Chinese dumplings. As the Forbidden City is the symbol of China's royal family, the Hutongs in Beijing show the real life of the common people, and you will deeply taste this kind of traditional lifestyle by rickshaw. Lotus Market, located in Houhai area, is famous for old hutong and modern bars. In the evening, Peking Opera would be arranged as an option. Peking Opera has a history of about 200 years, now it becomes more and more popular as it is a combination of stylized acting, singing, acrobatics and colorful costumes. Then take you to hotel for rest.
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Accommodation 3-4 star hotel in Beijing
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Meals BL
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BEIJING HIGHLIGHTS / STAY IN GUBEI WATER TOWN
This morning, we will set out early morning to Temple of Heaven which is the grandest cult architecture complex in the world and a masterpiece of Chinese people created in ancient times. We could see lots of people do morning exercise there, especially old people practicing Tai Chi there. It covers 2,700,000 square meters (667 acres), which is nearly four times the area of the Forbidden City. Then visit Hongqiao Market. Hongqiao Market is established in 1979 and stand opposite to the Temple of Heaven. It is famous for its various goods, reasonable price, satisfactory service, and good reputation, the most important that the pearls and aquatic products are worldwide famous. After lunch, we drive to Olympic Village (Bird Nest & Water Cube included).
Then transfer to Gubei Water Town which will take us almost 2.5 hours. Check-in a lovely courtyard folk-style guesthouse with comfort and enjoy a quiet night in the water town. Located in North Beijing's suburban Miyun county, Gubei Watertown lies at the foot of Simatai Great Wall, nearby the Mandarin Duck Lake. With a massive backdrop of the world famous Simatai, it is a rare combo combining mountains, lakes, ancient-style villages and luxury five-star hotels and the Great Wall.
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Accommodation courtyard folk-style guesthouse in Gubei Water Town
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Distance 130km
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Meals BL
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Time 2.5hrs driving
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SIMATAI GREAT WALL / GUBEI WATER TOWN
This morning, we could get up early and do a 3-hour round hike on the spectacular Simatai Great Wall. Starting from the bottom of the Wall, hike along the east section of the Great Wall from the Tower One. Presently, only the eastern part from No. 1 Tower to No. 10 Tower has been restored and officially opened. Simatai, built on a cliff, displays various patterns of construction. Here, you can not only view the conventional appearance of the Great Wall with battlements on each side of the track, but also see on steep cliffs the half-wall style with battlements built only on the outer side. Our hiking on Simatai stops at a tower where we could enjoy a good view of Jinshanling Great Wall with sunrise and overlook the magnificent surroundings including with the most distinctive Fairy Maiden Tower, and Wangjing Tower which occupies the highest point of the whole scenic area.
Then back to the Gubei Water Town to have lunch. In the afternoon, we could explore the Watertown and experience unique local customs and participate in native activities. Note: we could experience one of the below activities according to our actual time schedule).
Activities in Gubei Water Town:
[Sima Liquor Work Shop] It displays the traditional process of processing liquor. Tourists can have experience of making dishes with rice wine sauce.
[Yongshun Dyeing Shop] It shows the traditional natural dyeing. Tourists can DIY their own products and take them home as gifts for friends.
[Kite Cultural Center] It shows the traditional folk crafts of kite making. Tourists can DIY their own products and take them home as gifts for friends.
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Accommodation courtyard folk-style guesthouse in Gubei Water Town
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Distance 7km
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Meals BL
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Time 3hr
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BACK TO BEIJING / ARRIVE IN LHASA
This morning, after a leisure time in the water town, you will drive directly back to Beijing airport. Take flight to Lhasa and you will be met on arrival by your experienced local guide and driver. Transfer to the hotel for a good rest.
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Accommodation comfortable hotel in the center of the old town of Lhasa
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Distance 130km
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Meals BL
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Time 2.5hrs driving
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LHASA
Since we have just made a sudden ascent from lowland to an altitude of over 3,700 meters (12,139 ft), today’s itinerary is not so tight. Visit Drepung Monastery, Sera Monastery, and Norbulingka. Drepung is about 8km west of central Lhasa, once world's largest monastery with about 10,000 monks. This day's sightseeing begins with these white monastic buildings piled up on the hillside. Walking up to the hill is a pleasant thing, an easy break from the solemn ambience inside the halls and chapels. At the plat roof of hillside, you can have very good views of the whole Lhasa city and the distant mountains. Sera Monastery sits at the foot of the mountains. One of the three main Gelupka monasteries in Lhasa, Sera is an important spiritual center for Buddhist monks. If we are lucky enough, we could watch the Lamas in their traditional theological exercise of lively debating. Norbulinka is recognized by “the summer palace of dalai lamas”. "Norbu Linka" means beautiful gardens. This garden covers an area of 36 hectares and it is the annual vacation home for the 7th to the 14th Dalai Lama, who would move here from the Potala Palace to this summer palace and spend most of their summer here.
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Accommodation comfortable hotel in the center of the old town of Lhasa
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Meals BL
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LHASA
We will visit the Potala Palace, landmark of Lhasa and spiritual symbol of Tibet - you will join many pilgrims on your way to the top of a hill where this 13-storey architectural wonder is perched upon. The approach to the Potala is not easy, and requires climbing many steep steps, so we take it slowly and allow ourselves to leisurely enjoy the Palace and its surroundings. We enjoy strolling through its winding corridors and peaking in some of its thousand rooms, and can only imagine what life here was once like. In the afternoon, we visit the Jokhang Temple, the spiritual center of Lhasa. As we make the inner circuit around the courtyard, spinning numerous prayer wheels as we go, we are swept up in the energy of the devout. From the rooftop, we get stunning views of the Potala, and the snow capped peaks off in the distance. Around the Temple runs the Barkhor, a holy circuit which pilgrims undertake and a bustling commercial market. The rest of the time is left free for you to venture around Bakhor market, where you will feel you are right at the heart of Tibet.
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Accommodation comfortable hotel in the center of the old town of Lhasa
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Meals BL
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LHASA / GYANGTSE / SHIGATSE
Drive from Lhasa to Gyangtse (3,950 m or 12,956 feet) and Yamdrok Tso Lake (4408 m), one of Tibet’s three holy lakes and located 110km outside of Lhasa. It takes three and a half hour to Yamdrok Tso Lake, most of the time we are driving on the mountain road, winding and bumpy. Far in the distance is the huge massif of Mt. Nojin Kangtsang (7,191m). At arrival at Gyantse visit the Pelkor Chode monastery and its associated Kumbum (three dimension mandala) temple. Gyantse is a relaxed town offering a splendid sight of the Kumbum Stupa situated at its Northern edge. Housed within the compound of a rather barren looking Pelkor Chode Monastery, Kumbun consists of 8 levels and a total of 75 chapels with wonderful murals revered by art scholars around the world. Drive back to Shigatse. It would be a long day for about 10 hours.
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Accommodation Shigatse Hotel or similar
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Distance 435km driving
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Meals BLD
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SHIGATSE / LHASA
Today we will visit Shigatse---the second largest city in Tibet. We will have enough time to explore the Tashilhunpo Monastery, the seat of Panchen Lama built in 1447. The monastery houses a giant statue of the Maitreya Buddha and a tomb of the 4th Panchen Lama containing masses of jewels and gold. Then drive back to Lhasa. Tibetan dinner with dancing and singing will be arranged.
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Accommodation comfortable hotel in the center of the old town of Lhasa
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Meals BL
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LHASA / BEIJING
In the morning, transfer to the airport, fly to Beijing.
Price Policy
Tour Price Policy
Additional details
1. Before you pay deposit to book the tour, we haven’t made any reservation yet. The train, flight tickets and the hotel may different from the itinerary listed.
2. The visiting order of the scenic spots in the itinerary may change according to the traffic condition and other unforeseen things.
3. Tourist insurance is a must before going, please provide us the confirmation of insurance company when sign up.
The price includes
1. Entrance Fees: to scenic spots as listed in the itinerary
2. All the activities fee mentioned in the itinerary: Hutong rickshaw in Beijing; Sichuan Opera show in Chengdu;
3. Private Transfers: Transfers between airports, hotels and scenic spots while sightseeing during the trip by private air conditioned vehicle with a driver.
4. Meals: All meals as indicated in the itinerary (B-breakfast, L-lunch, D-dinner), include Peking duck dinner in Beijing; Hot pot dinner in Chengdu.
5. Guide: As outlined in the itinerary an English-speaking guide and driver will be provided in each city, who will remain with you throughout your time in that city. A new guide and a new driver will meet you at each city on your tour, to provide you with the best local knowledge available
6. Hotel: hotel fees are based on two people sharing one room with king-size bed. All hotels as listed in the above itinerary serve daily western or Chinese breakfast
7. Internal flights
** Day 11/ Flight from Yichang to Shanghai (based on economy class);
8. Trains
** Day 04/ High speed train from Beijing to Xi’an (based on 2nd class);
** Day 06/ High speed train from Xi’an to Chengdu (based on 2nd class)
** Day 06/ High speed train from Chengdu to Chongqing (based on 2nd class)
9. Arrangements: the tour cost includes planning, handling, operational and communication charges
10. Travel Agency Liability insurance
The price does not include
1. International airfare or train tickets to enter or leave China
2. China entry visa fees
3. Excess baggage charges
4. The medicine for the sickness or accident while on the way
5. Personal expenses: expenses of a purely personal nature such as laundry, drinks, fax, telephone calls, optional activities, sightseeing or meals which are not included in the tour itinerary
6. Meals: any meals which are not specified in the tour itinerary
7. Single room supplement
8. Please notice that the price will be much higher during the festival of Labors’ Day, National Day, spring festival
9. Tips to tour guide and driver (recommended USD10-15/guest/day).
10. Tourist accident insurance. NB - you are strongly suggested to buy travel and health insurance before you start out from your home country.
Payment conditions
To confirm your reservation, you must pay a deposit of 30% of the total amount due via the payment link that your local agent will share. The balance is due 30 days prior to departure. The quoted exchange rate is valid for the next 7 days – if the deposit is not paid within this time, the quote will be re-calculated.
Terms and conditions for cancelation
i. Cancellation of the Tour by CAT (local agent):
CAT reserve the right to cancel the postpone tour at any time up to the date final payment is due under the following condition: in our opinion, health and/or safety factors related to conditions in China would make the tour inadvisable. And in this case, all money paid by the participants will be refunded. If the tour is postponed, CAT will offer all those who have signed up the opportunity to have the same tour for a later time, but the price may be changed according to the season. We will notify you of any change, and give you a reasonable period
of time to make your decision. Consumers may, but are under no obligation to, take the tour under these new terms. After final payment has been made, we may cancel the tour only if, in our opinion, health and/or safety factors related to conditions in China would make the tour inadvisable. Since cancellation in this case involves factors which may arise suddenly and are entirely outside our control, including but not limited to natural disasters, civil unrest and epidemic disease, we cannot guarantee a full refund in this case. This is because payment will already have been made to finalize the arrangements and reservation.
ii. Cancellation of the Tour by Consumer:
Any cancellation must be made by sending an email to the local agent. The cancellation fee varies according to how many days prior to departure the cancellation is made:
· More than 30 days prior to departure: 5% of the total holiday cost
· Between 30 and 22 days prior to departure : 25% of the total holiday cost
· Between 21 and 8 days prior to departure : 50% of the total holiday cost
· Between 7 and 3 days prior to departure : 75% of the total holiday cost
· Less than 3 days prior to departure and after the departure date: 100% of the total holiday cost
All cancellations must be in writing and will be effective upon receipt by CAT. No refund will be made to those participants who break the journey regardless of the portions of the package unused. If, owing to serious illness or injury, the participant withdraws from the tour, a refund will be subject to the consent of the local travel agent.
No refund will be made to those participants who have failed to secure valid travel documents such as passport or visas.
