[ Print This Page ]
13-Nights Mountains and Myths in China and Tibet - Small Group Journeys from $10,795
Abercrombie & Kent
OFFER ID 1652126
Blending classic destinations with off-the-beaten-path locales, this journey ranges from Beijing and the Great Wall to glittering Hong Kong, packing an in-depth exploration of Tibet and the Yunnan province in between. Explore sites that reveal the serene beauty of Tibetan Buddhist culture and learn about the lives of the Naxi minority. Visit the real-life Shangri-La and, in Lhasa, walk in the footsteps of the Dalai Lama.
13 nights from $10,795 per person
1 Arrive Beijing, China
Beijing is China’s capital, a cultural and political nerve center more than 20 million people call home. Among them are our on-the-ground local experts who help open doors to the city’s most extraordinary experiences.
The Peninsula Beijing
Meals:
2 Beijing – Walking the Great Wall
Meander by pedicab through a hutong — a neighborhood of small winding alleyways — witnessing local daily life firsthand. Then travel outside the city to the well-preserved Mutianyu section of the Great Wall of China. Walk or ride a cable car to the top and view the stunning mountains. Return to Beijing, where tonight you gather for a welcome dinner.
The Peninsula Beijing
Meals:
3 Lijiang – Legends and Lost Horizons
Fly to Lijiang, a city surrounded by the lofty peaks of the Hengduan Mountains in China’s southwestern Yunnan Province. Home to over a million residents, Lijiang is the hub of the Naxi minority, the descendants of Tibetan nomads. Begin your explorations at Old Town, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Stroll Black Dragon Pool Park, its arched bridge, wood pagoda and snow-crowned mountain backdrop forming a living postcard. Stop by the Dongba Museum to learn more about the Naxi culture.
Banyan Tree Lijiang
Meals:
4 Lijiang
Immerse yourself in the local cultures surrounding Jade Dragon Snow Mountain on a guided tour. Ride by cable car up to Yak Meadow and enjoy a scenic stroll, absorbing the mountain vistas. Proceed to Yuhu Village, where you visit with a Naxi family to learn more about their unique culture, including Naxi traditional dress, and try your hand at their pictographic language.
Banyan Tree Lijiang
Meals:
5 Shangri-La – Tiger Leaping Gorge
Take a scenic drive to Shangri-La, a city named after the Hilton novel’s mythical Tibetan paradise. Cross an 8,600-foot pass, taking in the view of the Yangtze River flowing through the valley below. Stop in the charming village of Shigu to visit a memorial commemorating a historic military action. Eat lunch before continuing to Tiger Leaping Gorge, one of the world’s deepest chasms. Upon arrival in Shangri-La, settle into your modern hotel overlooking Old Town (also called Dukezong Ancient Town).
Hotel Indigo Diqing Moonlight City
Meals:
6 Shangri-La – Monastery Visit
Immerse yourself in the Tibetan culture of Shangri-La with a visit to the 300-year-old Songzangling Monastery, also known as Little Potala Palace. Stop into a Tibetan family’s home and sip yak butter tea before visiting the Tibetan Culture Museum to view a colorful thangka (traditional Buddhist painting) exhibition. Climb to Guishan Temple for scenic views and the opportunity to spin one of the largest prayer wheels in the world. Return to Old Town this evening before savoring a Tibetan hot pot dinner.
Hotel Indigo Diqing Moonlight City
Meals:
7 Lhasa – Gateway to Tibet
Fly to Lhasa, the heart and soul of Tibet, one of the highest cities on earth at 12,000 feet. Enjoy an afternoon on your own, free to relax and acclimatize.
The St. Regis Lhasa Resort
Meals:
8 Lhasa – Buddhist Treasures
Wander Lhasa’s colorful Barkhor Bazaar, perusing lively market stalls selling all manner of handicrafts, such as ornate prayer wheels, embroidered thangkas and Buddhist rubbings. You may find yourself standing side by side with Tibetan and Chinese residents or even nomads from eastern Tibet. Then discover the spiritual heart of Tibet at the sacred Jokhang, a 1,300-year-old temple housing Tibet’s most revered golden Buddha. Then venture just outside the city to the Sera Monastery, famous for its tantric teachings.
The St. Regis Lhasa Resort
Meals:
9 Lhasa – Palace of the Dalai Lama
Begin the day with Sanggye Dhunghor, where some 200 statues are carved into a dramatic rock face. Next, set foot in the towering Potala Palace, considered the crowning glory of Lhasa. Once a center of political and religious power, it contained the living quarters of the Dalai Lamas as well as their golden tombs. Proceed to the Dalai Lama’s former summer residence at Norbulingka, a colorful palace surrounded by ponds, gardens and pavilions. This evening, sip cocktails and learn about Tibetan traditional dress, perhaps donning the garments yourself.
The St. Regis Lhasa Resort
Meals:
10 Kunming – City of Eternal Spring
Fly to Kunming, the capital of Yunnan province. This “city of eternal spring” is surrounded by mountains on three sides. Kunming’s proximity to several nations just across China’s southeastern border has made it an important transit hub throughout history. Benefiting from abundant annual rainfall and a temperate climate, local gardens bursting with azaleas and rhododendrons are plentiful. Visit Western Hills, a park offering scenic outlooks and temples such as the stone-carved Dragon Gate.
Shangri-La Kunming
Meals:
11 Kunming – A Forest of Stone
Discover one of the most unusual landscapes in China, the Stone Forest. Hike among the rock pillars, spotting notable formations such as Baby Elephant, Baby Buffalo and Moon-Gazing Rhino. Stop at the Shilin Karst Geology Museum before returning to Kunming.
Shangri-La Kunming
Meals:
12 Hong Kong – Where East Meets West in Style
Walk along colorful, fragrant Yongdao Street, perusing its markets full of flowers, birds and fish before flying to Hong Kong, famed for its dazzling high-rise skyline, electric atmosphere and non-stop nightlife. The original “East meets West” Asian locale, Hong Kong is a capital of culture and a center of world trade. Enjoy an evening to explore the city as you please.
The Peninsula Hong Kong
Meals:
13 Hong Kong – Bustling Markets to Fishing Villages
Experience the city’s bustling market culture with stops at a herbal market, street-side antique shops and an open-air curio market. Ride the funicular up to Victoria Peak for a stunning view of Victoria Harbour, and finish with a traditional sampan (wooden boat) ride through the local fishing villages. Tonight, gather for a farewell dinner.
The Peninsula Hong Kong
Meals:
14 Depart Hong Kong
After breakfast, take your private transfer to the airport to board your departing flight.
Meals:
Vacation Details
* This departure has been designated a guaranteed departure by the operator, meaning that the minimum number of guests has been met, although still subject to weather and other conditions.
The finest hotels in the world, luxury lodging is characterized by luxury accommodations, impeccable service and the highest standards of comfort and pampering. Luxury hotels and resorts are often found in the most desirable locations. Building from the amenities and guest services offered at a deluxe hotel or resort, the luxury establishment usually puts on the finishing touches - fresh flowers around the hotel and original works of art throughout. Hotel restaurants often employ world renowned chefs to create delectable dishes and a unique dining experience. Attention to detail and personalized service are the hallmarks of luxury hotels and resorts.
All fares are quoted in US Dollars.
Reference this number when contacting our agency so we may better serve you. Also keeping this number handy will allow you to locate this document again quickly.
Cynthia's Town & Country Travel
12794 Forest Hill Rd. - Suite 1A
Wellington, FL 33414
USA
(561) 793-1737