20-Day China (including Tibet), Nepal, and India Tour

Your journey begins when your flight lands in Beijing. Transfer to hotel and free at leisure for the rest of today.

• Start with the Tian’anmen Square, the biggest city square in the world.
• Explore the Forbidden City with your knowledgeble guide. listen to the stories in a hidden hall which is ingored by most of the tourists.
• Experience the traditional Beijing lifesyle in hutongs in the afternoon.

Explore the amazing Forbidden City

• Visit the Temple of Heaven in the morming. Learn about how the royal ceremonies have been hold here.
• Walk on the Mutianyu Great Wall which is a less-crowded yet more-picturesque section.

Mutianyu section of the Great Wall in Beijing

• Appreciate the famous imperial garden in China, the Summer Palace. It is where the emperors used to retreat when fleeing the summer heat.
• Experience the high-speed train of China from Beijing to Xi’an.

Experience the bullet train from Beijing to Xi’an

• Unlock the secrets of the Terra-Cotta Warriors and Horses with your local expert guide.Travel back in time and put yourself in the Emperor’s shoes.
• After the visit, you will have a chance to learn how the terracottas were made with a side-trip to a workshop and make a mini one by yourself.

The Terracotta Army

Take a morning flight to Lhasa, high on the roof of the world. Check in and give yourself some time to adjust to the altitude.

Potala Palace

• Pilgrimage to the Potala Palace in the morning. Discover the exquisite murals, decorated statues, and antiques. Listen to stories of the famous King of the Tubo Kingdom and the Dalai Lamas.
• View the palace from four angles selected by Asia Highlights, which will allow you to fully enjoy the beauties of the palace.
• Have a walking tour in the afternoon. Visit Jokhang Temple and explore Barkhor Street
• Take afternoon tea in peaceful Ani Tsangkhung Nunnery. See Tibetan nuns’ daily hand work and peaceful life.

Nuns are making amulets with pieces of Buddhism scripts

• Visit Norbulingka (“Lhasa’s Summer Palace”) in the morning. Stroll in the park with the local Tibetans
• Enjoy a visit to Drepung Monastery. Learn about the biggest school of Tibetan Buddhism: the Gelug School.
• In the afternoon, visit Sera Monastery. Watch a monks’debate and enjoy their special “debating dance”.

Watch monks’debate

• Drive about 2 hours from Lhasa to Lake Yamdrok. View the lake from the popular platform.
• Get off the beaten path with a drive along the lake to a small lamasery on a small island with only one monk. Enjoy an exclusive view of the lake and a picnic there.

Enjoy the breathtaking view of the lake

Take a flight to Kathmandu, Nepal. In the afternoon, Enjoy your free time to explore the Thamel Street.

Thamel Street

• Start your tour from Kathmandu Durbar Square. Observe the spectacular art and architecture of the medieval and modern Malla and Shah dynasties.
• Visit the sacred Hindu shrine Pashupatinath. It is also a crematorium. Have a meaningful conversation with a Sadhu at Pashupatinath Temple.
• Continue to Boudhanath Stupa to feel the piety of Tibetan Buddhism. The eyes on the golden pagoda might impress you a lot.
• Visit the “Monkey Temple” at the end. You will find out how well Hinduism and Buddhism combine there.

Feel the spirit of the Hiduism

• Take a flight over Mt.Everest in the early monring and return to hotel for breakfast.
• Go to Patan to see the most magnificent Durbar Square in the Kathmandu Valley.
• In the afternoon, explore Bhaktapur. Visit the Golden Gate, Palace of 55 Windows, Taleju Temple, Datratra Square, and Pottery Square.

The Pottery Square in Bhaktapur

• Fly from Kathmandu to Dheli in the morning.
• See the Qutub Minar, where Qutbuddin Aibak announced the advent of the Muslim sultan.
• Visit Humayun’s Tomb, the first great example of a Mughal garden tomb and also the inspiration for the incredible Taj Mahal.

Appreciate the architectures of Humayun’s Tomb

• Start your day by exploring Jama Masjid, a historic and large mosque crowned with three imposing black-and-white marble domes.
• Walk down the sandstone steps into the bustling streets where you will take a rickshaw ride through the Chandni Chowk market
• Drive from Delhi to Agra in the afternoon

Explore Chandni Chowk by a rickshaw

• The day begins with an early-morning visit to the perfectly proportioned Taj Mahal which was built as a mausoleum for the Mughal emperor Shah Jahan’s favorite wife.
• Visit the Agra Fort, a red sandstone rampart situated on the west bank of the Yamuna River.
• Enjoy a sunset tea/coffee with cookies at a rooftop restaurant with a view of the Taj Mahal.

Enjoy a sunset tea and the view of Taj

• Enjoy the colorful mosaics and stone inlays of Itmad-ud-Daula’s Tomb, which is often called the ‘Baby Taj’.
• Drive from Agra to Jaipur in the afternoon.

The lovely ‘Baby Taj’

• Start your tour with Amber Fort on a hilltop. Appreciate its ornately-carved silver doors, elegant alabaster relief work, and glass inlay. Admire the Sheesh Mahal and its gardens.
• Explore the central area of the ‘pink city’ of Jaipur. Stop at lovely Hawa Mahal (‘Winds Palace’). The arch-shaped windows and colorful glass make people think of a fairytale castle.
• Visit nearby Jantar Mantar Observatory. Marvel at the wisdom of medieval Indian astronomy
• And then head to the City Palace, where you will have a splendid introduction to Jaipur’s princely past and its rich history through local art.

The pink Hawa Mahal

• Drive from Jaipur to Delhi aiport and then catch a flight to Varanasi
• Meet the local representitive at the airport and transfer to the hotel

• Take a boat ride at sunrise, when the temples along the river are bathed in soft morning light. See local people going about their daily activities, washing clothes, performing yoga, and giving offerings of flowers.
• Explore Varanasi Old City and visit the Sarnath in the afternoon.
• In the late afternoon, take a boat ride on the Ganges to witness pilgrims performing ancient rituals. When the sun sets, experience the highly choreographed Ganga Aarti ceremony.

Winess the Ganga Aarti ceremony

Say goodbye to India. Transfer to Varanasi Airport for your flight back home or to the next destination.