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TT-15 Yunnan & Tibet Classic Kunming – Dali –Lijiang - Shangri-la –Lhasa – Gyantse – Shigatse (13D1

Day 1

Arriving in Kunming Visit the Bamboo Temple which is a Mahayana Monastery. Set in the tranquil hills just outside Kunming, this complex dates back to the Tang Dynasty. It is famous for its 500 life sized carved Arhats or disciples of Buddha. A special local delicacy Mushroom Hot Pot will be served as your dinner.

Overnight in Kunming.

Day 2

Kunming to Stone Forest ( 85 km, 1.5 hours ) Leave Kunming in the morning and drive to Stone Forest . An 80 ha site of fantastic limestone formations created during the Permian Era when the sea covered this area. Shilin is in the World Heritage List and managed by the traditional owners the Yi people. It is famous in China and unique in the world. We are planning to visit the Stone Forest for 2.5 hours. Today's lunch is the Yunnan local flavour Yiliang Roast Duck.

Overnight in Kunming.

Day 3

Kunming fly to Dali ( Bai minority area, about 45 min flight ) Take flight in the morning from Kunming to Dali. Beautifully sited between the Cangshan ( Azure Mountains ) Range and Erhai Lake the Bai are the inheritors of the famed Nanzhao and Dali Kingdoms and are justly famous for their wood and stone carvings. In the afternoon visit the spectacular Three Pagodas complex situated on the ruins of Chongsheng Monastry. In the evening stroll through the vibrant Dali Old City.

Overnight in Dali.

Day 4

Dali bus to Lijiang ( Naxi minority area, 153 km, 3.5 hours ) In the morning visit Xizhou ( the largest Bai village ) Morning Market. Also Zhoucheng Village, famous for tie-dye craftsmanship, where you can observe how Bai people make tie-dye products at home. Then drive from Dali to Lijiang. Visit Lijiang Old Town, a lovely traditional town with beautiful wooden houses and crisscrossed with streams of mountain water. Lijiang is one of the best preserved ancient towns in China and is on UNESCO’s World Heritage List. A traditional dinner will be served, followed by a presentation of Naxi music performed by very old musicians.

Overnight in Lijiang.

Day 5

Today’s journey takes you to the 3,400 meter high Yunshan Meadow and the Jade Dragon Snow Mountains ( cable car round trip ) which is 5,596 meters above sea level. Visit Baisha Naxi Village and Baisha Ancient Mural. All of the 55 murals were masterpieces in the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644 ). The biggest one is stored in Dabaoji Palace. We walk to the picture postcard Black Dragon Pool Park in the north of Lijiang. It derives its name from the waters which sparkle like jade and are as clear as spring water. Free time to explore.

Overnight in Lijiang.

Day 6

Lijiang bus to Shangri-la（Tibetan minority area, 180 km, 4.5 hours ） Drive to Shangri-la, visit Tiger Leaping Gorge, one of the deepest gorges in the world. Subject to conditions, we may visit the beautiful Bai Shui Tai or white water terraces. In the afternoon visit Songzanlin Tibetan Buddhism Monastery, designed as a smaller version of Lhasa's Potala Palace and home to 780 monks of the Yellow Hat Tibetan sect. In the evening visit Zhongdian old town with Tibetan old streets and houses and enjoy the local Tibetan people dancing in the middle square of old town.

Overnight in Shangri-la.

Day 7

Shangri-la ( Zhongdian ) to Dongzhulin Monastery Today we drive north along the Yunnan – Tibet Road, part of the way beside the upper Yangtze River and see the First Bend of Golden Sand River ( the upper reach of Yangtze ) It is here that the Yangtze's flow south finishes and it takes an abrupt V turn, continuing on through central China to empty near Shanghai, several thousand kilometers to the East. Then we visit Dongzhulin Monastery ( 110 km, 3 hours ) first built in 1667, the 6th year during the reign of Emperor Kang Xi of the Qing Dynasty. It was where the Monlam Festival of Prayer for the Emperor's birthday was held. It is one of the most important monasteries in Northwest Yunnan. Then continue drive to Baimang Snow Mountain Pass in the National Nature Reserve Area, 4250 meters above sea level.

Overnight in Shangri-la.

Day 8

Shangri-la – Lhasa ( 1 hour & 45 minutes flight ) In the morning take flight from Shangri-la to Lhasa. If Tibet is the "roof of the world", then its capital, Lhasa, is certainly the "city of the sun". Standing on a plain about 4330 meters above sea level, surrounded by towering mountains, Lhasa is a town bathed in sunlight. Meet the local guide and transfer to hotel to have an acclimatization rest in the hotel. In the afternoon visit Jokhang Temple, home of the most precious of the Buddha images in the region. Brought from Chang’an ( what is now Xi’an ) by the Tang Princess Wen Cheng when she married Tibetan King Songsten Gampo, the Sakyamuni Buddha is truly magnificent. Then walk through the colorful bazaar on Barkhor Street known as the Pilgrims’ Way prior to visiting a carpet factory where you can marvel at the skill of the carpet weavers and admire the Buddhist designs.

Overnight in Lhasa.

Day 9

Lhasa After breakfast visit Potala Palace, Tibet’s best-known landmark. In the afternoon visit Drepung Monastery and Sera Monastery. Drepung was once the largest and wealthiest and a Yellow Hat monastery where the Dalai Lamas were trained. Sera was a strong rival for importance and had three Tantric Colleges, famous for their Bon tradition of teaching.

Overnight in Lhasa.

Day 10

Lhasa – Gyantse ( 320 km, 4.5 hours ) Today leaving for Gyantse. Pass by the Yamdrok-Tso Lake, the third-biggest holy lake in Tibet and a good place for taking photos. Then cross over Kangpa-La Pass ( 5000 m ) to arrive in Gyantse in the afternoon where visit Kumbum Pagoda also called 100-thousand-Bouddha's-pagoda as well as Pelkor Monastery famed with its splendid Buddhist Tibetan art. Both were built in the 15th century.

Overnight in Gyantse.

Day 11

Gyantse – Shigatse ( 90 km, 1.5 hours ) In the morning drive to Shigatse. Visit Tashilhunpo Monastery, the main attraction in Shigatse is the seat of the Panchen Lama—Tashilhunpo Monastery. Built in 1447 by a nephew of Tsong Khapa, the monastery once housed over 4000 monks, but now there are only 600. Apart from a giant statue of the Maitreya Buddha ( nearly 27 meters high ) in the Temple of the Maitreya, the monastery is also famed for its Grand Hall with its opulent tomb ( containing 85kg of gold and masses of jewels ) of the fourth Panchen Lama.

Overnight in Shigatse.

Day 12

Shigatse – Lhasa ( 280 km, 4 hours ) Today drive back to Lhasa.

Overnight in Lhasa.

Day 13

Lhasa – Departure Transfer to airport for departure.