Mountains and Monasteries

Itinerary

Days 1-3 Beijing

Discover the Forbidden City, Tiananmen Square and the awe-inspiring Great Wall.

Days 4-5 Xi'an

Explore China's ancient imperial centre and don't miss the remarkable Terracotta Warriors.

Day 6 Xiahe

Join pilgrims as they complete a prayer circuit around the Labrang Monastery.

Days 7-8 Langmusi

See where nomads and Tibetan monks come together and take a tour of Langmusi's working monastery.

Days 9-10 Tibetan Fringe

Traverse the eastern fringe of the Tibetan plateau, staying in Tibetan-style towns en route.

Day 11 Chengdu

Pass through stunning Sichuan scenery en route to Chengdu, home of the spicy hotpot.

Days 12-16 Lhasa

Fly to Lhasa, a place of beauty and mysticism. Learn a few words of Tibetan and enjoy a cooking class. Visit Potala Palace, precariously built on a hilltop overlooking the town. Stop by Jokhang Temple - Tibet's spiritual epicenter which is constantly awash with pilgrims. An afternoon debating session between the Sera Monastery monks is a must-see.

Day 17 Samye

Spend the night in the atmospheric shadow of Tibet's oldest monastery.

Day 18 Gyantse

Listen to the monks' morning prayers before taking a spectacular drive across the Kamba Pass. Make the pilgrim circuit at Pelkor Chode Monastery. A visit to Kumbum Chorten is an unforgettable experience - its five storeys represent the five steps to enlightenment and the pilgrim route through the mandala is a visual feast of technicolour Buddhist images.

Days 19-21 Shigatse/Sakya

Experience two of Tibet's most spriritually important towns and explore the Tashilhunpo Monastery. Browse curios and produce at the Shigatse Bazaar; from slabs of yak butter to prayer wheels and rosaries, with antiques and fur hats in the mix, it's shopping heaven.

Days 22-23 Everest National Park

Discover the world's highest monastery, Rongphu. Get higher again, trekking up to Tibet's own Everest Base Camp - the view is out of this world.

Day 24 Zhangmu

As the Tibetan Plateau abruptly ends, the harsh landscape gives way to lush green valleys.

Days 25-26 Dhulikhel

Across the Nepalese border, enjoy panoramic views of the Himalayas.

Days 27-28 Kathmandu

The journey ends in the narrow streets of Kathmandu, with its great food and memorable sights.