Mysteries of the Roof of the World: An In-Depth Tibet Journey

Tour Highlights

• A gentler way into Tibet: fly straight to Nyingchi, where the altitude is lower and the landscape greener, and give your body time to adjust before Lhasa
• Namcha Barwa, the 7,782-metre giant of the eastern Himalaya, seen from the Sejila Mountain area when the clouds lift
• Basum Lake and its shifting shades of blue and green, with Tsodzong Monastery on the lakeshore
• Butter tea, Tibetan snacks and traditional dress at a local family home, with a souvenir for every guest
• The Lhasa–Nyingchi Railway, Tibet's first electrified line, travelled in second class while the coach carries your main luggage
• Yumbulagang Palace, often described as Tibet's first palace, above the Yarlung Valley
• Samye Monastery, founded in the 8th century — the first monastery of Tibetan Buddhism
• Yamdrok Lake winding between the high passes, with a complimentary group aerial video (weather and regulations permitting)

Itinerary at a Glance

1. Day 1: Australia – Chengdu, China — Your journey begins with an international flight from Australia to Chengdu, the capital of Sichuan. Please arrive at the airport around three hours before departure. Sydney and Melbourne departures ar
2. Day 2: Chengdu | arrival day at leisure — Land in Chengdu, where our local representative meets you in the arrivals hall and drives you to the hotel for breakfast and check-in. Standard check-in time is 2:00 pm. Chengdu is known as the Land o
3. Day 3: Chengdu – Nyingchi | Sejila Mountain & Namcha Barwa — An early transfer takes you to the airport for the short flight to Nyingchi, often called the Switzerland of Tibet for its forests, rivers and comparatively mild climate. This is your first day at alt
4. Day 4: Nyingchi – Basum Lake – Nyingchi — After breakfast, drive to Basum Lake, a sacred lake tied to the Nyingma school of Tibetan Buddhism. Snow-capped mountains and highland forest ring the water, and the lake shifts between deep blue and
5. Day 5: Nyingchi – Shannan | Tibetan family visit & Lhasa–Nyingchi Railway — Begin the day as guests of a Tibetan family. Over butter tea and traditional snacks, learn how the snacks are made and, if you like, dress in traditional clothing for photographs. Every guest receives
6. Day 6: Shannan – Shigatse | Samye Monastery, Yamdrok Lake & Karola Glacier — This is a long but spectacular day. First, Samye Monastery, a foundation site of Tibetan Buddhism whose layout, murals and chapels reflect more than a thousand years of religious history. Continue ove
7. Day 7: Shigatse – Lhasa | Tashilhunpo Monastery — Visit Tashilhunpo Monastery this morning, the great religious landmark of Shigatse, built in tiers against the hillside. The guided visit covers key areas including the stupa of the 10th Panchen Lama,
8. Day 8: Lhasa | Potala Palace, Jokhang Temple & Barkhor Street — The icons of Tibet, at close range. The Potala Palace rises above the city in red and white, the defining landmark of Lhasa; a professional headset system and guided commentary cover its history, arch
9. Day 9: Lhasa | Tibet Museum, Thangka painting & afternoon tea — Begin at the Tibet Museum, whose collections and exhibitions give a broader frame for the plateau's history, geography, ethnic cultures and art. Then try something hands-on: a Thangka painting worksho
10. Day 10: Lhasa – Namtso Lake – Lhasa — A full-day excursion to Namtso Lake, one of Tibet's best-known sacred lakes. The drive north crosses sweeping grassland and the distinctive landscapes of the northern plateau before the lake appears,
11. Day 11: Lhasa – Chengdu — Say goodbye to the Tibetan Plateau as you fly back to Chengdu. After several days at altitude, nothing intensive is scheduled today: meet our local representative, transfer to the hotel, and enjoy the
12. Day 12: Chengdu | Giant Panda Base, Kuanzhai Alley & Sichuan Opera — An early start at the Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding, where the pandas are usually at their most active in the morning. Wander the bamboo-shaded grounds and watch the giant pandas and r
13. Day 13: Chengdu – Australia — Board your flight from Chengdu back to Australia, bringing the journey across the Roof of the World to a close.

What's Included

• Return international flights, economy class: Australia–Chengdu and Lhasa–Chengdu–Australia (direct flights not guaranteed)
• Internal flight, Chengdu to Nyingchi (Day 3)
• Internal flight, Lhasa to Chengdu (Day 11)
• Sydney and Melbourne departures at the same price; Brisbane and Adelaide departures add $400 per person
• Twelve nights of accommodation, twin share
• Chengdu (Day 2): Tianfu Yuexiang Hotel or equivalent 5-star hotel
• Nyingchi (Days 3–4): Crowne Plaza Resort Nyingchi or equivalent 5-star hotel
• Shannan (Day 5): Hampton by Hilton Shannan or Hilton Garden Inn Shannan Kesang Road, Ctrip 4-Diamond with in-room oxygen facilities
• Shigatse (Day 6): Hilton Shigatse or equivalent 5-star hotel
• Lhasa (Days 7–10): InterContinental Lhasa Paradise or Shangri-La Lhasa, or equivalent 5-star hotel
• Chengdu (Day 11): The Ritz-Carlton Chengdu or The St. Regis Chengdu, or equivalent 5-star hotel
• Eleven breakfasts
• Six lunches, including a Sichuan-style lunch in Chengdu
• Four dinners
• Air-conditioned 20+1 touring coach throughout the land itinerary
• Lhasa–Nyingchi Railway in second class (Day 5), with the coach transferring your main luggage
• Scenic-area shuttles at Basum Lake, Yumbulagang Palace and Namtso Lake
• Airport transfers with our local representative