Peking, Lhasa & Kathmandu

[die Tourbeschreibung ist momentan nur auf Englisch verfügbar]

Day 1 to 3
Beijing
On arrival you will be able to check in to your hotel. Later in the evening you will have the chance to meet your Tour Leader and the other members of the tour.
We have approximately 3 days to explore Beijing. On our first morning you may wish to visit the Summer Palace where royalty came to escape the heat of the summer. This area consists of Kunming Lake, beautiful temples, gardens, pavilions all decorated painstakingly using traditional motifs. The afternoon is left free for you to discover some of Beijing’s other attractions which will fill your memory card in a matter of minutes. There are a multitude of sights to see within Beijing, which are well documented in guide books, such as the famous Tiananmen Square, the Forbidden City and Hutong Tour. Or you could simply explore the silk market for bargains.
The Forbidden City, known as Gu Gong in Chinese, is located in the very centre of Beijing. It is the world’s largest palace complex and its extensive grounds cover 720,000 square meters. Originally the Imperial palace during the Ming and Qing dynasties, the city houses many rare and precious treasures which attract visitors from all over the world.

We spend day 3 at the Great Wall, one of China’s best loved monuments which was listed as a World Heritage site in 1987. This immense structure dates back over 2000 years and has to be seen to be believed. It stretches over 6,500 kilometres (4,163 miles) across deserts, grasslands, mountains and plateaus, from east to west. It is a true testament to the power and influence of the Chinese Dynasties throughout history. Here we offer an optional 3-5 hour hike on one of the less visited sections beginning in Jinshanling. This area has around 23 watchtowers and is much less developed than more touristy areas. Watch your step, as in places the trail is quite steep and stony. We also include a break for a picnic lunch on the Wall. Our hike finishes in the area of Simatai. Early morning departure leads out to Jinshanling, a less touristy part of the Great Wall of China for stunning views of this ancient wonder. We walk for 4-5 hours, finishing in Simatai, before our journey back to Beijing. Please note: the schedule for our sightseeing in Beijing may vary slightly.

Day 4 to 7
Kunming - Dali
We fly to Kunming, the ‘City of Eternal Spring’ due to its mild climate. Kunming was once the gateway to the Silk Road that facilitated trade with Tibet, Sichuan, Myanmar and India, and has a history of 2400 years. Kunming is the focal point of many Yunnan minority cultures. Some 26 ethnic minorities such as Yi, Bai, Miao, Dai, Hani and others inhabit the area. Kunming is also known for many delicious local dishes which you may like to try, including Across Bridge Rice Noodle and Xuanwei Ham. You can enjoy them at restaurants or the night markets.

On day 5 we take the overnight train to Dali, the home of the Bai People. We arrive in the morning of day 6 and transfer to the old town. The rest of the day is left free to explore. In the evening there is the chance to see traditional cormorant fishing on Erhai Lake, the name of which actually means ‘sea shaped like an ear’!
We have another free day to sample the delights of Dali. An ideal place to explore by bike, or you can take a short horse trek into the mountains behind the town. You will also have the option to visit the colorful Shaping markets where women in traditional dress sell their wares.
Most attractions in Dali lie between Cangshan Mountain and Erhai Lake, so if you have time you might like to travel out of the city to visit the Butterfly Spring, where in spring the fragrant blossom of the ‘Butterfly Tree’ attracts thousands of butterflies, who sip the nectar from its blooms and change the tree from a leafy mass to a swirling, pulsing array of colours. The Three Pagodas of Chongsheng Temple are located just a kilometre or so northwest of Dali, occupying a scenic location at the foot of Mt. Cangshan facing Erhai Lake. The Three Pagodas are made of three ancient independent pagodas forming a symmetrical triangle. You can even visit the Three Pagodas at night when they are illuminated - they make a spectacular sight. Nearby on the 'marble street' there are many folk-craft workshops and stands specialising in marble and brick-painting.

Day 8 to 10
Tiger Leaping Gorge
We embark on the popular Tiger Leaping Gorge Trek. Legend has it that in order to escape a hunter a tiger leapt across the river at the bottom of the gorge – which is believed to be the deepest gorge in the world! A bus journey takes us to Qiaotou, the start of the trek. We begin with a short walk and spend the first night at a Naxi family guesthouse inside the gorge.

On day 9 we begin our trek through this impressive gorge with superb views of Jade Dragon Snow Mountain and the Golden Sands (Jingsha) River. The track is well maintained and marked in most places and is used by the Naxi people in their everyday lives.

We have a morning of day 10 to relax or further explore the gorge, before traveling on to the lovely old town of Lijiang.

Day 11 to 13
Lijiang - Chengdu
We have a full day to relax in this atmospheric old town. Here you can wander past old wooden houses clustered in narrow lanes beside the picturesque Black Dragon Lake. The Old Town area is a UNESCO World Heritage site and is famous for its system of water ways and bridges and its unusual architecture owed to its colorful Naxi minority population. In its long history, local people took aspects of the culture of Tibet and the Central Plains along the middle and lower reaches of the Yellow River, and established the splendid Dongba culture. There are many buildings and parks to explore in this peaceful lake setting.

On day 12 we fly from Lijiang to Chengdu, the capital of Sichuan Province, an area rich with natural resources. Chengdu has been famous for its brocades and embroideries since the Han (206B.C.-220) and Tang (618-907) dynasties, when its handicraft industry flourished. The bright colours and delicate designs of the handicrafts are very popular to this day. Chengdu is also the place where the first paper currency was printed. The rest of the day is free for exploring providing a great opportunity to sample the famous Sichuan cuisine or enjoy a tea at a traditional teahouse.

On day 12 we visit the Panda Research Centre in Chengdu, one of the most important centers in the world for the captive conservation of the rare and endangered Giant Panda. Pandas are a Chinese national treasure and the centre strives to imitate the natural habitat for these sadly endangered creatures. Giant pandas, lesser pandas, black-necked cranes, white storks as well as over 20 species of rare animals are fed and bred here throughout the year. There is also an interesting and educational Giant Panda museum in the complex. In the evening we have a chance to see a traditional Chinese opera.

Day 14 to 18
Leshan - Chengdu - Lhasa
We take a day excursion to visit the Giant Buddha at Leshan. This immense a statue stands around 71 meters (233 feet) high and was carved into the side of a mountain and is said to be wide enough for 100 people to stand between its feet. The project is thought to have been started by a monk named Hai Tong. He was concerned for the safety of the people who earned their living on the rough waters of the Min, Qingyi and Dadu rivers. His statue was said to be a gift for Buddha in the hopes that he brings the water spirit under control. We then return to Chengdu for the afternoon.

On day 15 we take a spectacular flight to Lhasa the traditional capital of the Tibet region. The city stands at 3,650 m above sea level, so it may take a little time to acclimatise to the altitude. In the Tibetan language, Lhasa means ‘Holy Land’ or ‘the Buddha Land’. It is as much the spiritual capital of Tibet as it is the centre of the country’s politics, economy, heritage and culture, and the spectacular architecture of the city can be awe inspiring.
Lhasa was settled 1,300 years ago, covers 30,000 square kilometres and is set in a beautiful mountain-fringed valley. We have two days to explore this beautiful, almost untouched area surrounding the city. We take guided excursions to Lhasa’s most spectacular sites; the grand Potola Palace and the Sera and Drepung Monasteries. You will have plenty of free time for your own exploration of the sprawling city.

Day 19 to 20
Kathmandu
We take a magnificent flight across the Himalayas to Kathmandu, the capital of Nepal. Some say this flight offers the most stunning scenery that can be encountered by air. Surrounded by snow-capped mountains, the Kathmandu Valley is surrounded by verdant agricultural hills scattered with traditional villages, ancient holy temples and shrines used by both Buddhists and Hindu worshippers.

After transferring to our hotel there is a chance to explore the many attractions this city has to offer. The backstreets around Durbar Square and Palace are bustling with life and the combined effect of the throngs of people, random cows wandering the streets, hooting taxis, and narrow alleyways overflow with spices, vegetables and handicraft shops, intriguing and unpleasant smells, incessant noise and pollution, may trigger a sensory overload. You could venture to ominously named freak street or Jochne named by the hippies during the 1970’s. Our tour concludes after breakfast on day 20.