Itinerary
- Intro
Introduction
- Days 1 - 4
Bishkek to Almaty - Charyn Canyon
Bishkek to Almaty - Charyn CanyonIncluded Activities
- Guided tour of Ascension Cathedral in Panfilov Park
- Visit to Abay Opera House
- Visit to Golden Warrior Monument in Republic Square
- Visit to Almaty Tower
- Explore camping areas east of Almaty
- Hike to Lake Kaindy from Kolsai Lake
- Explore Charyn Canyon with hiking trails
Optional Activities
- Ride the Fast Coaster roller coaster (45 km/h, mountain-side)
- Visit the Singing Dunes
- Visit Kolsai Lake
- Camel ride at Charyn Canyon
Landmarks Ascension Cathedral Panfilov Park Abay Opera House Golden Warrior Monument Almaty Tower Shymbulak Ski Resort Kolsai Lake Lake Kaindy Charyn Canyon Singing Dunes - Days 5 - 10
Charyn Canyon to Lake Issyk-Kul
Charyn Canyon to Lake Issyk-KulIncluded Activities
- Stay in traditional yurts at Altyn Arashan
- Hiking at Altyn Arashan
- Visit to Jeti-Oguz red stone cliffs
- Visit to Karakol town
- Explore Fairy Canyon rock formations and cliffs
- Stay in traditional yurts during the journey
- Family homestays (subject to availability)
Optional Activities
- Horseback riding at Altyn Arashan
- Hiking around Lake Issyk-Kul shores
- Explore Terskay Ala-Too Mountains
Landmarks Lake Issyk-Kul Altyn Arashan Jeti-Oguz Karakol Fairy Canyon Terskay Ala-Too Mountains Kochkor 
- Days 11 - 13
Lake Issyk-Kul to Tash Rabat
Lake Issyk-Kul to Tash RabatIncluded Activities
- Stay in traditional felt yurts at Lake Song Kol
- Explore Lake Song Kol area with hiking or horseback riding
- View traditional eagle hunting display
- Overnight stay at Tash Rabat Caravanserai
- Journey through mountains via minibus with local guide
Optional Activities
- Hike around Lake Song Kol
- Horseback riding around Lake Song Kol
- Watch Ulak Tartysh (Kyrgyz polo game)
Landmarks Lake Song Kol Tash Rabat Caravanserai Chatyr Kol - Day 14
Tash Rabat to Kashgar
Tash Rabat to KashgarIncluded Activities
- Cross Torugat Pass border crossing (3,752 m)
- Transfer to Kashgar with Chinese guide
Landmarks Chatyr Kol Torugat Pass Tien Shan Mountains - Day 15
Kashgar
KashgarIncluded Activities
- Guided tour of Kashgar
- Visit to People's Square
- Visit to Apak Hoja Tomb
- Visit to Id Kah Mosque
- Explore Handicraft Street
- View pottery makers and traditional musical instrument workshops
- Visit Sunday Livestock Market (if available)
Landmarks People's Square Apak Hoja Tomb Id Kah Mosque Handicraft Street Sunday Livestock Market - Days 16 - 21
Kashgar to Lhasa
Kashgar to LhasaIncluded Activities
- Overnight train from Kashgar to Jiayuguan
- Visit to Great Wall of China at Jiayuguan
- Overnight in Jiayuguan
- Train journey to Dunhuang
- Guided tour of Mogao Grottoes (Caves of the Thousand Buddhas)
- Visit to Ming Sha Hill
- Visit to Crescent Moon Pool
- Explore sand dunes at Dunhuang
- Overnight train from Dunhuang to Xining
- Visit to North Mountain Taoist Temple in Xining
- Visit to Dongguan Mosque in Xining
- High-altitude 'Sky Train' from Xining to Lhasa
Optional Activities
- Ride Bactrian camels over sand dunes at Dunhuang
Landmarks Great Wall of China Jiayuguan Mogao Grottoes Ming Sha Hill Crescent Moon Pool Dunhuang North Mountain Taoist Temple Dongguan Mosque Xining Tanggula Pass - Days 22 - 28
Lhasa - Mt. Everest - Shigatse - Gyantse
Lhasa - Mt. Everest - Shigatse - GyantseIncluded Activities
- Acclimatization afternoon in Lhasa
- Guided tour of Jokhang Temple (entry not included)
- Guided tour around Potala Palace (entry not included)
- Visit to Barkhor Square
- Visit to Sera Monastery
- Cross Gampala Pass (4,790 m)
- View Yamdrok Tso Lake
- Visit to Tashilunpo Monastery in Shigatse
- Stay at Rongbuk Monastery (4,980 m)
- Visit to Mount Everest Base Camp
- Short walk for Mount Everest views
- Overnight in Tingri
- Overnight in Gyantse
- Cross Gampala Pass again
- Return visit to Yamdrok Tso Lake
Optional Activities
- Visit to Pelkor Chode Monastery in Gyantse
- Visit to Kumbum Stupa (9 levels, 76 chapels, built 1497) in Gyantse
Landmarks Lhasa Jokhang Temple Barkhor Square Potala Palace Sera Monastery Gampala Pass Yamdrok Tso Lake Holy Mount Nyenchen Khangsar Shigatse Tashilunpo Monastery Rongbuk Monastery Mount Everest Base Camp Mount Everest Tingri Gyantse Pelkor Chode Monastery Kumbum Stupa Terskay Ala-Too Mountains - Days 29 - 32
Lhasa to Chengdu - Xi'an
Lhasa to Chengdu - Xi'anIncluded Activities
- High-altitude train journey from Lhasa to Chengdu
- Visit to Chengdu Giant Panda Breeding & Research Centre
- Transfer to hotel in Chengdu
- Fast train journey to Xi'an
- Afternoon exploration of Xi'an
Optional Activities
- Fly from Lhasa to Chengdu (alternative to train)
Landmarks Chengdu Giant Panda Breeding & Research Centre Chengdu Xi'an 
- Days 33 - 35
Xi'an to Beijing
Xi'an to BeijingIncluded Activities
- Visit to Museum of Terracotta Warriors and Horses
- Overnight sleeper train from Xi'an to Beijing
- Visit to Great Wall of China at Mutianyu
Optional Activities
- Visit to Giant Wild Goose Pagoda
- Visit to Bell and Drum Towers
- Explore City Walls (Ming Dynasty)
Landmarks Giant Wild Goose Pagoda Bell Tower Drum Tower Xi'an City Walls Museum of Terracotta Warriors and Horses Great Wall of China at Mutianyu 
- Day 36
Beijing
Beijing- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Breakfast on final day
Optional Activities
- Visit to Tian'anmen Square
- Visit to Forbidden City
- Visit to Temple of Heaven
- Shopping at malls and markets
- Restaurant dining
- Nightlife (pubs and clubs)
Landmarks Tian'anmen Square Forbidden City Temple of Heaven 
