Welcome to China! Upon arrival in Beijing a travel-to-nature Asia guide/representative will be at the airport to greet and take us to our hotel. Please look out for your name-card once you exit out of arrival area.

Lunch in a local restaurant followed by the guided tour to the Forbidden City – the world largest imperial palace housing 9999.5 rooms, then proceed to Tian’anmen Square – also it is the largest city square in the world covering a total space of 44 hectares. We will go out for dinner in a nice local restaurant to enjoy the Chinese delicacies.

Accommodation: Royal Phoenix
Meal: Dinner

After Breakfast in the hotel, we will head for a day excursion to the Great Wall of China, which extends over 8,000 kilometers from the Pacific to the Gobi Desert. Great Wall, the image of China throughout the world, lives up to its reputation, as one of the Eight Wonders of the World. It was built in 221 BC by the first emperor of China.

Here, we will take the opportunity to go for a short trek starting from Jingshanling and ending at Gubeikou. This short trek from the Jinshanling Great Wall to the Gubeikou Great Wall takes about 3 hours allowing us to see & enjoy the authentic Great Wall and avoid crowds, giving us the chance to admire and enjoy the environment and details of the Wall. We will meet our transportation at the foot of the Gubeikou Great Wall to transfer us back to our hotel. We will go out for a nice dinner (Peking Duck recommended) in a local restaurant followed with the fabulous Kungfu Ballet in the Red Theatre (optional).

Accommodation: Royal Phoenix
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner

We have the whole day to explore most important historical sites of Beijing. To start with, we will visit the Summer Palace – the greatest imperial garden in China followed with the Lama Temple (Yonghe Temple; Yonghe Lamasery). Lama Temple is the largest and best-preserved lamasery in Beijing. It was built in 1694 during the Qing Dynasty (1644-1911) as the residence of the Emperor Yongzheng (the third emperor of the Qing Dynasty) before he ascended the throne. In the year 1744, the residence was completely converted into a lamasery. So this resplendent architectural complex is endowed with the style of an imperial palace, making it distinctive from others.

Late in the afternoon, we will then undertake the “Hu Tong Tour” by Rickshaw to experience the real life of the Beijing local people followed with a nice local dinner.

Accommodation: Royal Phoenix
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner

Today afternoon, we will take an overnight train from Beijing to Xining. But before our departure, we have some free time. Therefore a short visit to the Temple of Heaven in the morning is a worthwhile place in Beijing. It is much bigger than the Forbidden City and smaller than the Summer Palace with an area of about 2,700,000 square meters. The Temple was built in 1420 A.D. during the Ming Dynasty to offer sacrifice to Heaven. As Chinese emperors called themselves ‘The Son of Heaven’, they dared not to build their own dwelling, ‘Forbidden City’ bigger than a dwelling for Heaven.

After lunch, we will drive to Beijing Railway Station to take afternoon train to Xining, which arrives in Xining the following day. Overnight on board.

Accommodation: Onboard a train
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

We arrive Xining Railway Station in the afternoon at around 2 pm. Upon arrival, we will be met by a guide and transferred to our hotel Jin Jiang Inn.

( Xining – Since July 1st, 2006, Qinghai-Tibet Railway has been opened to public and amazed thousands upon thousands of people around the world. World’s highest railway, across some of the most murderous terrain on earth, miles upon miles of remote Tibetan plateau blanketed in permafrost, or even peak at altitude of 17,000ft., come on, let us just take the train travel to experience the unique scenery and landscapes…!)

Xining is the capital and largest city in Qinghai province and once a major hub along the northern Silk Road. Xining, like Lanzhou, Changsha and the other provincial capitals, is a pretty generic Chinese city. But like the province it represents, Xining definitely reflects the greater ethnic diversity of western China. The monstrously huge mosque is surrounded by a lively Muslim quarter. The city’s largest market sells a vast array of local snacks, some quite different from anything elsewhere in China. Xining Provincial Museum and Tibetan Traditional Medicine and Art Museum have decent exhibits of Tibetan art and cultural heritage values. Many tourists will end up in Xining only in transit to another destination.

To make ourselves familiar with Tibetan culture & traditions, we visit Tibetan Traditional Medicine and Art Museum in the afternoon. Established on Sept.9th, 2006, the Chinese Tibetan Medicine Cultural Museum is currently the only Tibetan medicine museum in the world. It exhibits and protects the relics of Tibetan cultural heritage. Its collection holds over 2,000 varieties of plant, animal and mineral specimens in addition to 180 Tibetan surgical instruments some of which date back almost 1,300 years. The collection also holds 1,000 volumes of ancient literature and a display of Tibetan cultural art created by 300 artists over 4 years. Exhibition rooms include the Mantang Instrument Hall, Ancient Literature Hall, Specimen Hall and Tibetan Cultural and Art Colored Painting Hall.

Accommodation: Jin Jiang Inn
Meal: Breakfast

Before we commence our adventure trek around Amnye Machen we explore the Tibetan exotic nomadic culture, allowing us to get acclimatised. To begin with we drive to Tibetan Village called Erthi via Qinghai Lake, formerly known as Koko Nur or Kukunor, is a saline and alkaline lake situated on the Tibetan Plateau in the province of Qinghai, and is the largest lake in China. The names Qinghai and Koko Nur both mean “Blue/Teal Sea/Lake” in Chinese and Mongolian. It is located about 100 kilometres (62 mi) west of Xining at 3,205 m (10,515 feet) above sea level in a depression of the Tibetan Plateau in the cultural area known to ethnic Tibetans as Amdo. The lake is located at the crossroads of several bird migration routes across Asia. Many species use Qinghai as an intermediate stop during migration.

We will drive up to Shala Pass where we can get a great panoramic view of the entire lake. We will go out for a short trek on Shala Pass summit to feel the thin air and then continue driving for another an hour to Gonpa Sopa Monastery. We will visit this small monastery and have a cup of butter tea with the monks. Optionally, we can also set up our camp here for overnight stay. Or it might be possibly that we try to find local families for home stay in Tibetan Village called Erthi.

Accommodation: Camping Tent
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner

After our leisurely breakfast, we drive about 3 hours from Erthi village to Trazong monastery, one of the most isolated monasteries in the region. To all intents and purposes we are entering Tibet and the further we travel Tibetan nomad and their culture start taking over.

En-route a picnic lunch will be served for us. Today’s drive is enriched with some of the most interesting and rich nomad inhabitant area of the regions in north eastern part of Tibet. Nevertheless, we will have opportunity to sight some of the exotic and rare wildlife along the way, such as wild Tibetan Ass, Tibetan Wolf, Tibetan Antelope, little Pica etc. We will have plenty of time to experience the wilderness, meet nomads and get to know their culture and life style and enjoy the upland Panorama. We will arrive in Tawu Zhulma in the early evening for overnight Camp.

Accommodation: Camping Tent
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Today, we commence our spiritual trekking Journey around Holy Mt. Amnye Machen. We will cover a total distance of about 15 km (6-7 hours) to Jiashinongke. We will pass Tibetan Mani Walls with sutras (Mani Stones) carved on them and Guri Gonpa, a branch of Dzongchen and Dodrub Chode of the Nyingma School, can be seen on the northwest side of the confluence of the 2 rivers Nyiwaga and Chushan. We will leave the trail to go and visit very important Monasteries, Guri Gompa and Derges Dzongchen Gompa. An incarnate Lama came to Amnye Machen at the beginning of the 20th century and spread Dzongchen teachings with his residence in tent monastery. The present Monastery which was destroyed was rebuilt at the present site in 1981 and now there are around 50 monks living here. Overnight Camp.

Accommodation: Camping Tent
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Today, we will trek about 18 km (6-7 hours) to Chablong. Walking through a wild valley where we will start to see the first view of the snow caped mountains of Machen Kangri range.

After whole day of walking, we will reach Drakdi Lhatse Chogon at 4328 m. Another Mane Stupa can be seen here facing Mt. Dradi Lungsho Peak, the northern most and highest peak of Machen Kangri ‘s central set of peaks. On the way, we will enjoy the view of the grasslands and primitive high altitude bushes. Overnight Camp.

Accommodation: Camping Tent
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Trekking for about 22 km (7-8 hours) to Halong-Chu Valley can be challenging but fabulous landscape to compromise our today’s hardwork. We will pass Drakdi pass (4700 m), where we will stop for view of distance Rikhar Tongshang Glacier, and the three ice covered peaks of the Holy Mt. Amnye Machen. Then we will descend into Yongri Valley where we will trek along this valley for next couple days.

For those interested on plants, the next several days one can start exploring the alpine meadows full of spectacular plants. There are Primula, Cyprepedium, Pedicularis the list goes on. If the weather is fine we will be rewarded with gorgeous views of the valleys and mountains. Overnight Camp.

Accommodation: Camping Tent
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Today, we descend through the Halong-Chu Valley along the Halong Chu to the second Tibetan town to Chorten Karpo (White Pogoda) at Chuwarna. The rest of the trail passes through a deep and narrow gorge to Kisar Sangkhang where we camp for overnight.

Accommodation: Camping Tent
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Today, we ascend very slowly and in about 7-8 hours we shall reach our camp site at Kumo. As we enter Halong Yungri-chu valley, the trail takes us along the Yungchu river. We will see some nomads’ camps along the way and we have lots of opportunities to explore the grassland flora with Incarvillea, Lilum and Primula sps. and look for high altitude birdlife. Overnight Camp at Kumo.

Accommodation: Camping Tent
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

While having breakfast, we will see how our crew packing our gears and getting ready to set off for the day. Our local Tibetan Guide will be delighted to lead us all the way up to cross Tamchok Gongkha La Pass (4,800 m). This is the highest pass on this trek. At this summit the tremendous view of the mountain range including the Holy Mt. Amnye Machen is breathtaking.

Our trail from the summit descend gently over the meadows along the river side with frequent views of the sacred mountains. As soon as we leave the meadows, we start to descend further on the western side to a valley of interesting rock formations to the valley of Mowatowa. Here we come across several meditation caves including the Retreat of the Great Nyngmapa master Zhabkar Tsokdruk Ringdrol. Finally, we arrive the plains of Nganggi Shogdeb for overnight camping.

Accommodation: Camping Tent
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Throughout the day we will pass through the amazing rocky mountain and cliff formation, exploring meditation caves in Deleni, and the cliffs Goku Chenmo. Near the cliffs there are 2 rocks, towers Mopa and Towa offering ‘torma’ to the God. This marks the entrance to the “Heavenly Palace” of the protector Machen Pomra. Overnight Camp.

Accommodation: Camping Tent
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

We will trek along Qushian River through the beautiful gorge about 6 hours, covering approximately 14 km to Jomolangra where we end our trekking today. In course of our trail, we will visit Dolma Gur-Chu Spring considered to be auspicious. The path leads us further to a spur where king of Ling Gesar was said to tie his horse when resting at the pass. The view at the back offers an impressive panorama of the main peaks of the sacred mountain Amnye Machen and other side the trail leading us to a wide valley where there are gentle slopes and the meadows are green with full of wild flowers.

In the late afternoon, we will arrive at Tawu Zhulma, completing our pilgrimage to Holy Mt.Amnye Machen. Here we meet our driver waiting to pick us up, and sadly we say good bye to our nomad crew. In the evening we’ll celebrate our trek with a few cold beers at the camp. Overnight Camp

Accommodation: Camping Tent
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Today we leave the magical place and head back to Xining. After breakfast, we drive for our return journey to Xining. Upon arrival, we will check in to Hotel Jin Jiang Inn.

In the evening will head for dinner in one of local excellent restaurants and farewell. Over dinner we will reflect our journey and personal insights. Certainly this trip to the mountains helped us braking old paradigms and giving fresh perspectives. Images of mountains and the experience in the remote mountain has resonated deeply in our hearts giving symbols of patience, strength, effort, and inspiration necessary for envisioning a more fulfilling future for one self.

Accommodation: Jin Jiang Inn
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

We take direct flight from Xining to Shanghai in the morning. Afternoon, we will explore Jingmiao-Tower, Nanjing-Road and Bund.

The Jingmiao Tower – 88 floors house not just offices but also what is for now the highest hotel in the world. On its 53rd floor, the building opens up into an atrium that rises up to dizzying heights. The building, 420-plus meters tall and currently the fourth tallest in the world, came from an American design team at Skidmore, Owings, and Merrill.

It is known as a successful synthesis of Western and Eastern architecture. As one of the most famous shopping centers of the world, Nanjing Street not only has numerous famous shops, but also a long history. Time permits, taking a Chinese massage is optimal after our two and half weeks long journey.

Accommodation: Hotel
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner

Transfer to airport for your homeward-bound flight.

Meal: Breakfast