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Take an amazing overland journey across the roof of the world. You will experience the frenzied streets of Beijing, ride the high-altitude railway to charming Lhasa and overland to Kathmandu via the great monastic centers of Central Tibet and Everest Base Camp. On this trip you will take part in temple rituals and haggle for a bargain in the Shigatse Bazaar.

15 days – Beijing, Great Wall, Trans-Tibetan Railway, Lhasa, Gyantse, Shigatse, Sakya, Everest Base Camp, Kathmandu

TRIP PRICE

$1,895 plus 250USD local payment. International flights are not included.

HIGHLIGHTS

Guided tours to Tiananmen Square and the Forbidden City, the Great Wall, the Potala Palace, the Jokhang Temple, Pelkor Chode and Gyantse Kunbum, the Tashilhunpo Monastery, the Sakya Monastery, and Everest National Park. You will also ride the Trans-Tibetan Railway.

See the Tibet Adventure itinerary to review the day-to-day activities.

ACCOMMODATIONS

Hotels/Guesthouses (12 nights), Sleeper Train (2 nights)

MEALS

No meals are included, please allow USD225 for meals. Eating is a big part of traveling. On any BrilliantTrip you will experience the vast array of wonderful food that is available in the world. Groups tend to eat together to enable you to taste a larger variety of dishes and enjoy each other's company. There is no obligation to do this though. Your group leader will be able to suggest favorite restaurants during your trip. Breakfasts will usually be Asian style consisting of noodles or congee (rice porridge) or bread and eggs. Vegetarians will be able to find a range of different foods, although in some areas the choice may be limited. While trekking in remote regions, food is included. It is plentiful and made of fresh local ingredients.

TRANSPORT

Train, Air-conditioned bus, 4WD vehicle.

GROUP SIZE

4 Minimum / 14 Maximum

BrilliantTips

This BrilliantTrip includes high altitude hiking of up to 8 hours/day or other activities that require a moderately high level of fitness. Culturally you'll experience packed public buses, remote and rustic accommodation and little access to western-styled food.

VISAS

Please note that visas for China and Nepal are the responsibility of the individual traveler. The visa requirements for your trip vary depending on where you are from; citizens of the U.S. can visit www.travel.state.gov/visa. It is important that you check for yourself. Also see our FAQs and Travel Info. IT'S YOUR RESPONSIBILITY TO HAVE THE CORRECT TRAVEL DOCUMENTATION.

CHINA: As Tibet is still a sensitive area for travel we suggest you refrain from listing Tibet as one of the places you are going to visit as your application for a visa will be denied. We suggest you list the areas of Beijing, Xi'an, Shanghai when filling in your application.

TIBET: For entry the travel supplier will arrange for a Tibet Permit for the group as a whole.

NEPAL: For most nationalities visas are available at the Kodari border – USD30 in USD cash plus 1 passport photo.

TOUR LEADERSHIP

Group Leader and Local Guides. The Tibet Adventure trip is led by a G.A.P. Adventures Group Leader. The aim of the group leader is to take the hassle out of your travels and to help you have the best trip possible. They will provide information on the places you are traveling through, offer suggestions for things to do and see, recommend great local eating venues and introduce you to our local friends. While not being guides in the traditional sense, you can expect them to have a broad knowledge of the countries visited on the trip, including historical, cultural, religious and social aspects. G.A.P. also uses local guides where more specific knowledge will add to the enjoyment of the places you are visiting.

JOINING INSTRUCTIONS

When arriving at Beijing International Airport you'll have a choice of metered taxi or airport bus. Please follow the signs for taxis or bus which is clearly marked once you exit from the baggage hall. DO NOT GO WITH ANYONE WHO APPROACHES YOU WHO SAYS THEY HAVE A METERED TAXI IN THE PARKING LOT. THEY WILL RIP YOU OFF!!!! The taxis are all lined up in front of the airport and have traffic guards directing people into a waiting taxi. The ride from the airport to our starting hotel will take between 35-45 minutes depending on traffic and should cost approx. 95-120 Yuan (plus 10 yuan for the airport toll way). There are about 6 different airport buses that drop you off at different places around the city. The staff at the airport bus counter can tell you which bus will be closest to your hotel. The cost is 16 yuan. After your trip is confirmed, BrilliantTrips will contact you to inquire as to whether or not you'd like to book a pre-paid arrival transfer. If you chose to purchase a pre-paid airport transfer, a driver will be waiting for you with a G.A.P Adventures sign with your name on it. Please check carefully once you exit the baggage hall as there seem to be hundreds of people waiting outside in the arrival area.

JOINING HOTEL:

Dong Jiao Min Xiang Hotel
A Dong Jiao Min Xiang,
Dong Cheng District,
Beijing China
Phone: +86-10 6524-3311

FINISHING HOTEL:

Kathmandu – Fuji Hotel
G.P.O. Box 6209, Jyatha, Thamel
Kathmandu, Nepal
Phone: +977-1-4250435, 4250436
Fax: +977-1-4229234

LOCAL PAYMENT

250USD. This trip requires a Local Payment that is paid to the Group Leader in cash on day 1 of your tour. This Local Payment is put towards local expenses, such as internal transport, entrance fees and guide fees. Local payments also reduce the need to wire or transfer funds which can become very expensive. This lowers operational costs so savings can be passed on to you. The local payment is in addition to, and is not included in, the base tour price.

DEPARTURE TAX

For China, departure tax is included in all International and Domestic tickets. For Nepal the international departure tax is 1695NPR or 1300NPR if traveling to SAARC Countries (India, Bangladesh, Pakistan, Sri Lanka).

OPTIONAL ACTIVITIES

Paid Locally. Approximate prices shown are the USD equivalents. Day trip to Ganden Monastery CNY500-900 per group plus CNY40 pp entry. Tibetan Cultural Show, Lhasa CNY40 pp. Gyantse Dzong CNY35 pp. Pony carts to basecamp CNY80 return for 2 people.

MONEY EXCHANGE

There are some ATM machines that accept Visa but these are limited to major cities (Beijing, Lhasa, Kathmandu) and should not be relied on as a source of funds. We recommend the use of cash and travelers checks in major currencies (USD). Major credit cards are accepted in a few shops, but they may charge a 2-4% transaction fee.

HEALTH & MEDICAL

You should consult your doctor for up-to-date medical travel information well before departure. We recommend that you carry a First Aid kit as well as any personal medical requirements. Please be aware that sometimes we are in remote areas and away from medical facilities and, for legal reasons, group leaders are prohibited from administering any type of drug including headache tablets, antibiotics, etc. In Asia pharmacies tend to stock the same western drugs as you get at home but they are usually produced locally so please bring the full drug name with you when trying to purchase a prescription drug. When selecting your trip please carefully read the brochure and itinerary and assess your ability to cope with our style of travel.

It is very important that you are aware, as a minimum, an average level of fitness and mobility is required to undertake the easiest programs. Travelers must be able to walk without the aid of another person, climb 3-4 flights of stairs, step on and off small boats, and carry their own luggage at a minimum. Travelers with a pre-existing medical condition are required to complete a short medical questionnaire, which must be signed by their physician. This is to ensure that travelers have the necessary fitness and mobility to comfortably complete their chosen trip. While our leaders work hard to ensure that all our travelers are catered to equally, it is not their responsibility to help individuals who cannot complete the day's activities unaided. Please refer to our BrilliantTips for more information.

FINE PRINT

While the intention is to adhere to the route described above, there is a certain amount of flexibility built into the itinerary and, on occasion, it may be necessary or desirable to make alterations. The itinerary is brief, as you never know exactly where your journey will take you. Due to the style of travel and the regions you visit, travel can be unpredictable. The itinerary is a general guide to the tour and region and any mention of specific destinations or wildlife is by no means a guarantee that they will be visited or encountered.