Trip Highlights:??

Do you want to escape the crowds of the big city and take a trip filled with adventure and beauty? This 14-day Absolute Yunnan and Tibet Adventure Tour is specifically with you in mind. On this tour you will visit the remote minority cultures and legendary Shangri-la. This tour is so much more than just a trip. It is the experience of a lifetime.

Tour Route:

Kunming (Spring City) → Lijiang (Preserved Ancient Town) → Zhongdian (Shangri-la) → Lhasa (Holy Tibetan City) → Gyantse (Palcho Monastery) → Shigatse (Tashilhunpo Monastery) → Tingri (Mt. Everest) → Lhasa (Holy Tibetan City)

Dates: No fixed departure dates. You may go whenever you wish.

Starts/Ends: Kunming/Lhasa

Trip Type: Ethnic Culture and Folk Arts, Landscape and Nature, Adventure Travel, Two Destination Tours

Activity Level: Active itinerary, moderate walking

Special Experiences:

● Go to the Kumming flower market to see how flowers are traded in China.

● Visit Tibetan families to have a intimate contact with local life.

● Watch the sunrise from Mt. Everest. The sight is truly breathtaking and the experience is absolutely unforgettable.

Day-by-Day Itinerary:

Day 1 Arrive Kunming

Transfer via: International flight on your own arrangement

Accommodations: Kunming Hotel ★★★★

Upon arriving in Kunming, your tour guide will meet you and escort you to your hotel. The rest of the day is yours to relax, or step out onto the city for a little adventure of your own.

Day 2 Kunming (B,L)

Accommodations: Kunming Hotel ★★★★

Sites visited: Stone Forest

On this day you will visit Kunming's famous Stone Forest, a bizarre rock formation created over millennia of rain and weather. A must-see! In the afternoon you will be free to check out all that Kunming has to offer.

Day 3 Kunming / Lijiang (B,L)

Transfer via: Domestic flight arranged by China Odyssey Tours

Accommodations: Wang fu Hotel ★★★★

Sites visited: Lijiang Ancient Town, Lion Hill

You will be escort to the hotel for your flight to Lijiang. Upon arriving in Lijiang, your tour guide will meet you and escort you to your hotel. After a short rest, you will be driven to the Lijiang Ancient Town and the Lion Hill located inside the ancient town.

Day 4 Lijiang (B,L)

Accommodations: Wang fu Hotel ★★★★

Sites visited: Jade Dragon Snow Mountain, Baisha Mural Paintings, Black Dragon Pool Park, Museum of Naxi Dongba Culture

This morning you will be driven to the Jade Dragon Snow Mountain, followed by a visit to the ancient Baisha Mural Paintings, and then the Black Dragon Pool Park and Museum of Naxi Dongba Culture inside the park.

Day 5 Lijiang / Zhongdian (B,L)

Accommodations: Gyalthang Dzong Hotel ★★★★

Sites visited: First Bend of the Yangtze River, Tiger Leaping Gorge, Shigu Village, Zhongdian

In the morning you will be driven to the town of Shigu (Stone Drum) to view the stunning First Bend of the Yangtze River and Iron Chain Bridge. After, you will be driven to Shangri-La (2 to 3 hours).

Day 6 Zhongdian (Shangri-la) (B,L)

Accommodations: Gyalthang Dzong Hotel ★★★★

Sites visited: Bita Lake, The Songzanlin Lamasery, Shudu Lake

This day will be a wonderfully full one. You will first visit Bitahai and Shudu Lakes, followed by a visit to the Gedan Songzanlin Monastery. In the evening, be introduced to the famous hospitality of the Tibetan people as you visit a Tibetan family in their home.

Day 7 Zhongdian / Lhasa (B,L)

Transfer via: Domestic flight arranged by China Odyssey Tours

Accommodations: Tibet Hotel ★★★★

Sites visited: Lhasa

On this day you will be free until your tour guide escorts you to the airport for your flight to Lhasa. Upon your arrival at Gonggar airport, you will be met by your local guide and transferred to the hotel in Lhasa city (2-hour drive), you will view the Stone Giant Buddha engraved in the mountain face en route. After checking in the hotel, rest in the afternoon to get adapted to the high altitude. (Tips: The direct flight from Zhongdian to Lhasa is only available in high season. You will be transferred via Kunming and Chengdu to Lhasa if the flight from Zhongdian to Lhasa is not available.)

Day 8 Lhasa (B,L)

Accommodations: Tibet Hotel ★★★★

Sites visited: Potala Palace, Jokhang Temple, Barkhor Street

Your sightseeing today will include the Lhasa's cardinal landmark -- Potala Palace, Jokhang Temple and flourishing Barkhor Street.

Day 9 Lhasa (B,L,D)

Accommodations: Tibet Hotel ★★★★

Sites visited: Norbulingka Park, Drepung Monastery, Sera Monastery

Today we will bring you to the Norbulingka Park, the Drepung Monastery and the Sera Monastery.

Day 10 Lhasa / Gyantse / Shigatse

Accommodations: Shigatse Hotel ★★★

Sites visited: Gyantse, Yamdrok Lake, Tibetan Family, Palcho Monastery

Today's drive is from Lhasa to Gyantse (about 256km, 5.5-hour drive) first, along the way you will visit Yamdrok Lake and a Tibetan family. Tour Palcho Monastery in Gyantse before the drive to Shigatse (about 90km, 1.5-hour drive). Overnight at Shigatse.

Day 11 Shigatse / Tingri (B,L)

Accommodations: Tingri Mt Ever Hotel ★★

Sites visited: Tashilumpo Monastery

In the morning, you will visit Tashilumpo Monastery and free market, after the tour in Shigatse, drive to Tingri (245km). Overnight at Tingri.

Day 12 Tingri (B,L)

Accommodations: Tingri Mt Ever Hotel ★★

Sites visited: Mt. Everest

In the morning, you will visit Tashilumpo Monastery and free market, after the tour in Shigatse, drive to Tingri (245km). Overnight at Tingri.

Day 13 Tingri / Lhasa (B,L)

Accommodations: Tibet Hotel ★★★★

In the morning, enjoy the sunrise from Mt. Everest. Then drive back to Lhasa (about 10-12 hours driving).

Day 14 Lhasa / Departure (B)

Transfer via: International flight on your own arrangement

Free in the day until our local guide escorts you to the airport for your onward flight to your next destination.