17 Days China, Tibet and Yangtze Cruise

Highlights

- Explore the Chinese cities: Beijing, Shanghai and Chongqing.
- Get to know the typical Chinese life in Chengdu.
- Highlights of the mysterious Tibet.
- Experience the cruise on Yangtze River.

Itinerary at a Glance

Day 1
Beijing
Temple of Heaven

Day 2
Beijing
Forbidden City, Summer Palace

Day 3
Beijing
Great Wall of Juyongguan, Hutong

Day 4
Beijing - Lhasa
Flight to Lhasa

Day 5
Lhasa
Potala Palace, Barkhor Street, Jokhang Temple

Day 6
Lhasa
Drepung Monastery, Sera Monastery

Day 7
Lhasa - Gyantse - Shigatse
Yamdrok Lake, Carola glacier, Dzong Fort. Palkhor Monastery.

Day 8
Shigatse - Lhasa
Tashilhunpo Monastery

Day 9
Lhasa - Chengdu
Jinli Road. Broad and Narrow Alley

Day 10
Chengdu - Chongqing
Base for Giant Panda Breeding. Board the cruise ship

Day 11
Yangtze Cruise
On board

Day 12
Yangtze Cruise
On board

Day 13
Yichang - Shanghai
Three Gorges Dam

Day 14
Shanghai
Old Town. Yu Garden. The Bund

Day 15
Shanghai
Jade Buddha Temple. Oriental Pearl TV Tower

Day 16
Shanghai
Departure

Service

Include
- Comfortable vehicles, with air conditioning.
- Accommodation in comfortable hotel with showers and toilets.
- Meals listed in the itinerary: B = Breakfast, L = Lunch, D = Dinner.
- Entrance fees for the sightseeing programs listed in the itinerary.
- Competent English-Speaking local guide.
- Travel insurance.

Excluded
- Chinese Visa.
- Travel to China and back.
- Any additional meals that aren’t mentioned in the itinerary.
- Tips for your guide and driver. If you are satisfied with their service, you may tip them at an amount you think suitable.
- Personal expenses, such as laundry, phone calls, snacks, souvenirs, drinks, night life, etc.

Detailed Itinerary

Beijing

Day 1: Temple of Heaven

When you arrive in Beijing in the morning, our guide will welcome you at the airport and then send you to the hotel.
After a short refreshing break, your trip in China begins with a city tour through Beijing. You are going to visit Beijing's landmark, Temple of Heaven, China's most important imperial temple site that is still well preserved. We will walk through the park and admire the various temple facilities.

Meals:

Hotels:

Beijing

Day 2: Forbidden City, Summer Palace

In the morning, you visit the Forbidden City. This former imperial palace offers the most impressive palace complex in the world on a huge surface. Immerse yourself in the impressive architecture, the magnificent ceremonial halls, charming courtyards and parks. After lunch, we continue to the Summer Palace with its numerous pavilions, gates and walkways. You can walk along the lake to the marble ship or take a boat trip on the lake.

Meals:

Hotels:

Beijing

Day 3: Great Wall of Juyongguan, Hutong

Today begins with a trip to the world-famous Great Wall of China, one of the highlights of your China trip. On the way there, you will be impressed by the beautiful mountainous landscape. Our destination is one of the most beautiful sections of the wall, the Juyongguan Pass. The view from up there is simply unforgettable! In the late afternoon, we are going to enjoy a rickshaw tour through Beijing's traditional residential areas-the hutongs. There we end today’s trip comfortably.

Meals:

Hotels:

Beijing - Lhasa

Day 4: Flight to Lhasa

After breakfast, you will be escorted to the airport and fly via Chengdu to Lhasa, the city of the gods. After a short break in the hotel, your Tibet journey begins.

Meals:

Hotels:

Lhasa

Day 5: Potala Palace, Barkhor Street, Jokhang Temple

After breakfast, you will first visit the landmark of Lhasa, the famous and beautiful Potala Palace, which towers high above the city. The former winter residence of the Dalai Lama is the destination of many pilgrims and certainly a highlight of your trip. In the afternoon, we continue to the Jokhang Temple, which is considered as the largest sanctuary of the Tibetans, because the Jowo statue is located there.
A stroll across the Barkhor gives you a first impression of the hustle and bustle on the market square. Take a leisurely stroll, get used to the altitude, and familiarize yourself with the atmosphere in the city.

Meals:

Hotels:

Lhasa

Day 6: Drepung Monastery, Sera Monastery

After breakfast, you will visit the Drepung Monastery. As the former residence of the Dalai Lamas, Drepung Monastery has always been the political center of the Gelupka. Together with the Sera and Ganden monasteries, it is one of the three most important monasteries in the Lhasa area. After lunch, you will visit the Sera Monastery and its Monk debatte.

Meals:

Hotels:

Lhasa - Gyantse - Shigatse

Day 7: Yamdrok Lake, Carola glacier, Dzong Fort. Palkhor Monastery.

Today you will have a hearty breakfast, because there is a busy but exciting day ahead of you! On the way to the Karola Glacier, we will drive past two five-thousand-meter passes and the beautiful azure Yamdrok Lake. Finally, we get to Gyantse, which is in the wild east of Tibet. Enjoy the stunning Tibetan landscape all day!
Today you will explore the most primeval city in Tibet--Gyantse, which will impress you with its typical Tibetan houses. First, we will visit the former Dzong fortification, the only one of its kind in Tibet and has been largely preserved. You will also visit the Palkhor Monastery and the Kumbum. In the chambers are numerous sculptures and murals of the gods and saints of Tibetan Buddhism. In the evening, we can reach Shigatse, the second largest city in Tibet.

Meals:

Hotels:

Shigatse - Lhasa

Day 8: Tashilhunpo Monastery

Next morning, you will visit the Tashilhunpo Monastery, which is still the residence of Panchen Lama, the religious leader of Tibet. It houses about 800 monks and is the most important yellow-cap monastery in Central Tibet, along with Sera, Drepung and Ganden.After breakfast, you can enjoy the impressive landscape of the Tibetan highlands for the last time, while driving from Shigatse to Lhasa. In the afternoon, you will return to Lhasa, where you will spend the night before saying goodbye to Tibet the next morning.

Meals:

Hotels:

Lhasa - Chengdu

Day 9: Jinli Road. Broad and Narrow Alley

After breakfast, you will be escorted to the airport from where you will fly to the next stop of your China trip--Chengdu. After relaxing in your hotel, you can stroll through the lively Broad and Narrow Alley and the street markets, pass teahouses and parks. Afterwards, you can get to know the traditional everyday life of Chinese people by strolling in the old Jinli Road

Meals:

Hotels:

Chengdu - Chongqing

Day 10: Base for Giant Panda Breeding. Board the cruise ship

In the morning, you ae going to visit the Panda-breeding Base in Chengdu. In the afternoon, we take the express train to Chongqing. A short tour of Chongqing is possible, depending on when you arrive. In the evening, we will go on board the cruise ship, where you will spend your first night on the Yangtze cruise.

Meals:

Hotels:

Yangtze Cruise

Day 11: On board

Yangtze is more than 6300 km and is the third longest river in the world. In the coming days, you will experience the most fascinating sections of this mighty river. On board, a variety of entertainment programs will be provided; the delicious Chinese and international cuisines will spoil your stomach. Enjoy the ride and pamper yourselves! As we sail down the river, we will soon reach the fabulous and impressive Three Gorges Dam, which is like a huge mountain erecting in front of you. No one should miss the breathtaking landscape!

Meals:

Hotels:

Yangtze Cruise

Day 12: On board

In Fengdu or Wanxian, you will go ashore and take a leisurely boat ride through a tributary with natural landscapes on the banks. You will also pass the marvelous new lock of the Three Gorges Dam! Whether on land or on board, you must be able to enjoy your incomparable Yangtze cruise experience!

Meals:

Hotels:

Yichang - Shanghai

Day 13: Three Gorges Dam

Today we are sailing into Yichang our destination port. We will leave the cruise ship after breakfast. In Yichang, you will visit the world's largest dam--the Three Gorges Dam. After that, you will go to Shanghai by air. And upon arrival, we will send you to the hotel.

Meals:

Hotels:

Shanghai

Day 14: Old Town. Yu Garden. The Bund

After breakfast, you can stroll through the historic old town of Shanghai, appreciating its numerous alleys and shops. There you will also visit the beautiful Yu Garden, which dates back around 500 years and will show you the traditional Chinese horticultural art. After a delicious lunch, you can stroll across the Bund, the impressive waterfront promenade on the Huangpu River. Here you can enjoy the beautiful view of the Pudong Economic Zone.

Meals:

Hotels:

Shanghai

Day 15: Jade Buddha Temple. Oriental Pearl TV Tower

In the morning, you will visit the Jade Buddha Temple.
While the cityscape of Shanghai on one side of Huangpu River is influenced by French and English colonial style, today you will marvel at an unreal world with glittering skyscrapers in the financial and commercial center--Pudong, which was created in 1990. High up from the 468-meter television tower, the Oriental Pearl TV Tower will give you an impressive view of this coastal metropolis. You can freely spend the afternoon on your own activities, such as a leisurely shopping spree.

Meals:

Hotels:

Shanghai

Day 16: Departure

In the morning, you will be escorted to the airport, and your trip in China ends there.

Meals:

Hotels:

China, Tibet & Yangtze Cruise Small Group Tour

China, Tibet & Yangtze Cruise Small Group Tour

You might also like...

China & Tibet by Rail Small Group Tour

China Classic Small Group Tour

China Hiking Small Group Tour

About this tour

春

夏

秋

冬

Duration: 16 days

Group size: min. 4, max 14

Transportations:

Live tour guide

Select participants, date and language:

Adult

Youth

Children

Highlights

Itinerary at a Glance

Service

Detailed Itinerary

Day 1: Temple of Heaven

Day 2: Forbidden City, Summer Palace

Day 3: Great Wall of Juyongguan, Hutong

Day 4: Flight to Lhasa

Day 5: Potala Palace, Barkhor Street, Jokhang Temple

Day 6: Drepung Monastery, Sera Monastery

Day 7: Yamdrok Lake, Carola glacier, Dzong Fort. Palkhor Monastery.

Day 8: Tashilhunpo Monastery

Day 9: Jinli Road. Broad and Narrow Alley

Day 10: Base for Giant Panda Breeding. Board the cruise ship

Day 11: On board

Day 12: On board

Day 13: Three Gorges Dam

Day 14: Old Town. Yu Garden. The Bund

Day 15: Jade Buddha Temple. Oriental Pearl TV Tower

Day 16: Departure

Prepare for the activity

Customer reviews

Overall rating

Review summary

Dragon Tours 2020