Bishkek To Beijing (36 Days)

Transport

Coach (Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan - Almaty, Kazakhstan), Coach (Almaty, Kazakhstan - Charyn Canyon, Kazakhstan)

Included 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

Transport

Coach (Charyn Canyon, Kazakhstan - Lake Issyk-Kul area, Kyrgyzstan), Coach (Altyn Arashan, Kyrgyzstan - Kochkor, Kyrgyzstan)

Included 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

Transport

Coach (Kochkor, Kyrgyzstan - Lake Song Kol, Kyrgyzstan), Coach (Lake Song Kol, Kyrgyzstan - Tash Rabat, Kyrgyzstan)

Included 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

Transport

Coach (Tash Rabat, Kyrgyzstan - Kashgar, China)

Included Activities

Cross Torugat Pass border crossing (3,752 m) Transfer to Kashgar with Chinese guide

Landmarks

Chatyr Kol Torugat Pass Tien Shan Mountains

Transport

Transfer (Kashgar, China - Kashgar, China)

Included 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

Transport

Train (Kashgar, China - Jiayuguan, China), Train (Jiayuguan, China - Dunhuang, China), Train (Dunhuang, China - Xining, China), Train (Xining, China - Lhasa, Tibet)

Included 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

Transport

Coach (Lhasa, Tibet - Shigatse, Tibet), Coach (Shigatse, Tibet - Mount Everest area, Tibet), Transfer (Mount Everest Base Camp area, Tibet - Tingri, Tibet), Coach (Tingri, Tibet - Gyantse, Tibet), Coach (Gyantse, Tibet - Lhasa, Tibet)

Included 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

Transport

Train (Lhasa, Tibet - Chengdu, China), Transfer (Chengdu station, China - Hotel in Chengdu, China), Train (Chengdu, China - Xi'an, China), Flight (Lhasa, Tibet - Chengdu, China)

Included 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

Transport

Train (Xi'an, China - Beijing, China)

Included 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

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