China
and The Far East:
The
Soul of Tibet - 13 Day Tour
"Lets
get away, far away..."
The Himalayas, highest mountain range on earth,
have until recently formed an almost impenetrable barrier between
Tibet and the outside world. Once romanticized as "the land of Shangri-La,"
until 1949 only about 1,000 westerners had ever crossed its borders.
Though no longer isolated in its medieval past, this remote part
of the country still retains many of its ancient folkways, including
a uniquely complex form of Buddhism and a striking style of mountaintop
architecture. You'll see them all on The Soul of Tibet.
Day
1: USA or Canada - Hong Kong, China
Today we board our flight to Hong Kong.
Day 2: Hong Kong
We arrive this evening in colorful Hong Kong and
transfer to our elegant hotel.
Mandarin Oriental
Day 3: Hong Kong
Today's comprehensive tour of this bustling hub
of commerce and trade includes visits to the Sam Tun Uk, a historical
museum in the New Territories; the fishing village of Lei Yue Mun,
once the haunt of pirates; and the city's colorful flower and bird
markets. We also pause for a briefing on our travels to come. Hong
Kong is famous for its food: we enjoy a delicious dim sum lunch,
and welcome cocktails and dinner tonight.
Mandarin Oriental: B.L.D
Day
4: Hong Kong - Chengdu
Today we fly to Chengdu, capital of China's Sichuan
Province, where we join travelers on A&K's Roof of the World tour.
Sheraton Chengdu Lido: B.L.D
Days
5-6: Chengdu - Lhasa, Tibet - Tsedang
After an early-morning flight to Gonggar Airport,
we continue by road to Tsedang, Tibet's pre-Buddhist center of culture.
Here we see the tombs of the Tibetan kings and the ancient fortress
of Yumbu Lakang.
Tsedang Hotel: B.L.D
Day
7: Tsedang - Gyantse
Today we travel overland along the southern corridor
highway via Gonggar and Nagarzc, travelling through the spectacular
scenery of the Karo La and Kamba La mountain passes with their stunning
views. Our destination is Gyantse, site of the sacred Kumbum Stupa,
the most exquisite example of Newari design in Tibet.
Gyantse Guest House: B.L.D
Day
8: Gyantse - Xigaze
This morning we drive to Xigaze via Nyemo, crossing
the Tsangpo Bridge and arriving in the afternoon. We visit the Tashilhumpo
Monastery, seat of the Panchen Lamas and one of the most beautiful
remaining examples of Tibetan architecture. Time permitting, we
also visit Xigaze's bustling curio market.
Xigaze Guest House: B.L.D
Day
9: Xigaze - Lhasa
This morning we travel to Lhasa by the middle route,
following the course of the Yarlung River.
Lhasa Hotel: B.L.D
Days
10-11: Lhasa
Lhasa stands at the crossroads between its traditional
way of life and the modern developments brought by the Chinese.
We visit the unforgettable highlights of the city: sacred Jokhang,
Drepung and Sera monasteries, the colorful Barkhor Bazaar, and the
towering Potala Palace ("Buddha's Mountain"), certainly one of the
highlights of our trip.
Lhasa Hotel: B.L.D
Day
12: Lhasa - Chengdu - Hong Kong
Today we transfer to the airport for our flight
to Chengdu, connecting on to Hong Kong.
Mandarin Oriental: B.L.D
Day
13: Hong Kong - USA or Canada
Today we are transferred to the airport for our
flight home or on to another destination in the Orient. B
08/16/2001 to 08/28/2001 Priced From: $ 4990
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
**Departures Limited to 20 Passengers**
Your
Soul of Tibet land arrangements include:
- Hotel
accommodations as indicated in the itinerary or similar
- Meals
as indicated in the itinerary
- Domestic
bottled water with all meals
- Arrival
and departure transfers
- All
sightseeing as shown, including entrance fees
- Services
of a professional escort (tour will be locally hosted for groups
of less than 6 persons)
- All
gratuities except to your escort
- All
baggage handling
Not
Included:
Personal
expenses such as laundry; travel insurance; excess baggage fees;
communication charges; cost of obtaining passport or visas; meals,
beverages or sightseeing not included in the itinerary; any airfares.
PRICING:
Please
contact Quality Travel Services for updated prices.
Or use our online Travel
Request Form.
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Quality Travel Serivices, Inc. 2007. All Rights Reserved.