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Tour Date: 06 Oct 2012 - 30 Oct 2012
Tour Cost ($AUD): $14,597.00
In 2006 Travel Directors became the first western company in the world to escort groups on the Himalayan Express and today this trip has become a firm favourite with our travellers. We begin in the ancient capital, Xian, to see the legendary Terracotta Warriors. In Xian we board the unique oxygenated train, 'The Himalayan Express', for the historic journey to the capital of one of the world's most mysterious countries, Tibet. Here we journey into the very heart of the Himalaya as far as Rongbuk, the Everest base supply camp on the remote north face. From here we head to neighbouring Nepal, another fantastic Himalayan kingdom. We then venture to an even less visited nation: the ancient Kingdom of Bhutan, the world's last Shangri-La.
06/10/2012 Australia - Singapore
Depart Australia from your chosen airport to Singapore.
07/10/2012 Singapore - Xian (D)
Dawn on the north face of Everest
On arrival in Singapore we connect with our flight to Xian via Guangzhou.
Depart Singapore Singapore Airline SQ 850, 08.15
Arrive Guangzhou 12.15
Depart Guangzhou China Airlines CZ 3211, 14.35
Arrive Xian 16.55
After completing customs and immigration formalities we transfer to our hotel.
Grand Mecure Hotel
319 Dongxin Street
Xian
Shanxi Province
Ph: 0011-86-29-87928228
08/10/2012 Xian (BLD)
Pit 1, Terracotta Warriors
Xian is a fantastic treasure trove of cultural relics. The remains of past civilisations furnish evidence of every major epoch in China's half-million-year history. Today we visit the extraordinary site of Qin Shihuang's Terracotta Warriors. Known as the eighth Wonder of the World, this incredible 'army' consists of 6,000 life-size terracotta figures, which were only unearthed in 1974. The visit is an unforgettable experience. After lunch we visit the Huaqinq hot springs that were first recorded during the Zhou Dynasty, more than 3,000 years ago. In the evening we have the chance to experience a cultural show dating back to the Tang Dynasty of more than 1,000 years ago.
09/10/2012 Xian - Lanzhou (BLD)
Wild Goose Pagoda
Today we continue our tour of Xian with a visit to the superb Shanxi Provincial Museum and the famous Wild Goose Pagoda. This afternoon we depart Xian for Lanzhou.
Depart Xian MU 2895, 17.20
Arrive Lanzhou 18.20
On arrival we transfer to our hotel.
Ningwozhuang HotelNo. 20 Tianshui Zhong Lu Chengguan District Lanzhou 730000 Ph: 0011-86-931-8271888 Fax: 8271379
10/10/2012 Lanzhou - Tibet (B)
Train 27, the Himalayan Express
Depart Lanzhou Train 27 13.10
In the morning we transfer to the railway station and board the Himalayan Express for our thrilling journey to the Tibetan Plateau. The oxygenated train is the first to link China and Tibet and the 1,200-km journey will certainly be one to remember!
The world's highest railway was completed at the end of 2005 and the first scheduled journey commenced in July 2006. Built largely on permafrost, four-fifths of the track is laid at an altitude of over 4,000m with the highest, between Qinghai and Lhasa, reaching 5,072m.
11/10/2012 Lhasa (D)
Adding an engine to climb up to the Tibetan Plateau
Early morning we arrive in Golmud where two enormous locomotives are attached to the front of the train to haul us up to the Himalayan Plateau and on to Lhasa. Treeless plains give way to snow-capped mountains and we pass by the world's highest lake and through the world's highest tunnel as our incredible journey continues. Finally, in the evening the Express pulls into the Tibetan capital at the conclusion of its epic trip. On arrival in Lhasa we transfer to our hotel.
Arrive Lhasa 16.00
Brahmaputra Hotel
Gong Bu Tang Road
Lhasa 85000, Tibet
PH: 0011-86-891-6309999
12/10/2012 Lhasa (BLD)
The Potala Palace
Above the banks of the Lhasa River, at an altitude of 3,760m and surrounded by beautiful landscapes, lies the mysterious city of Lhasa. It is dominated by the extraordinary architectural wonder, the Potala Palace. Lhasa, which in Tibetan means 'Land of the Gods', has a population of 400,000, of which 87% are Tibetan. Its history dates back 1,300 years. We start our tour with a visit to Moburi Mountain and the Potala Palace. Often referred to as 'the bright pearl in the roof of the world', the palace is the traditional winter home of the Dalai Lama. It stands 117m tall and has over 1,000 rooms. The walls of the palace are more than three metres thick. After lunch we visit the old city of Lhasa. The fascinating marketplace is often referred to as 'the window of Tibet', as the area showcases Tibetan customs and culture.
13/10/2012 Lhasa (BLD)
Dalai Lama's summer residence
at Norbulinka
Today we visit Norbulinka Park. From the mid-18th century each successive Dalai Lama used the park and palace as a summer residence. All religious and political affairs were carried out here and in 1994 UNESCO granted it World Heritage status. In the afternoon we visit the Lhasa Hospital of Tibetan Medicine where we learn about the use of herbs, plants and root vegetables in this ancient science.
14/10/2012 Lhasa (BLD)
Prayer wheels in old Lhasa
After breakfast we continue to explore this fascinating city. One of today's highlights is a visit to the extraordinary Sera Monastery. The complex was called Sera (meaning 'wild rose' in Tibetan) because the hillside behind it was once covered in wild roses. As a part of their study, lamas here must participate in debates to further their comprehension and proceed to more advanced levels of study. The debating traditions in the Sera Monastery are unique and provide an amazing spectacle. Debates are conducted by the lamas every day, beginning at 3am. In a battle of words, they supplement their efforts by using a variety of gestures including clapping their hands, pushing their partners for an answer, or plucking their prayer beads to win the virtue of the Buddha.
15/10/2012 Lhasa - Gyangtse (BLD)
At the Kambala Pass overlooking Yamdruk Lake
Today we drive 280 km through magnificent countryside to the ancient city of Gyangtse. En-route we picnic by the turquoise waters of Yamdruk Lake and in the afternoon, pass the 5000m Kanola Glacier, before reaching Gyangtse early evening.
Gyangtse Hotel
8 Yingxiong Road
Gyangtse
Ph: 0011-86-892-8172222
Fx: 8172220
16/10/2012 Gyangtse - Shigatse (BLD)
Pecho Monastery
The ancient walled town of Gyangtse is set in a pretty and fertile valley. This morning we visit the Kunbon Stupa and Pecho Monastery, which embraces all sects of Buddhism in Tibet. We then drive 90 km to Tibet's second-largest city, Shigatse. Meaning 'fertile land', Shigatse is more than 600 years old and sits at the confluence of the Yarlong Tsangpo and Nyangchu rivers. It is the traditional seat of the Punchen Lama and is an important stop for pilgrims travelling between Lhasa and western Tibet.
Manasarovar Hotel
14 Qingdao Dong Lu
Shigatse, Tibet
Ph: 0011-86-892-8839999
Fx: 8828111
17/10/2012 Shigatse - Tingri (BLD)
Prayer flags on the Tibetan Plateau
After breakfast we drive along the Friendship Highway to the remote town of Tingri. En-route we visit the Sakya Monastery, which resembles a castle in typical Yuan Dynasty style. It contains over 10,000 volumes of Tibetan books on astronomy, medicine, calligraphy and history. This is another day of fantastic scenery as we travel to within sight of Mount Everest and we make many scenic stops before the sun begins to set behind her northern face.
Chomalungma Hotel
Balba Township
Tingri, Tibet
Ph: 001186-892-8262221
Fx: 8262223
18/10/2012 Tingri - Everest Rongbuk Base Camp - Tingri (BLD)
Peter Renouf at Everest Base Camp
After breakfast we drive 100 km to Everest Rongbuk Base Camp. The mountain stands before us, soaring 8,848m into the heavens. There are few sights on earth that challenge the imagination in quite the same way. In the afternoon we visit Rongbuk, which was once the largest monastic centre in the region. It is a settlement that all mountaineers must pass through when attempting the treacherous north face of Everest.
19/10/2012 Tingri - Zhangmu (BLD)
Tibetan women at Zhangmu
This morning we leave Tingri and drive across the high Tibetan Plateau to the trade-post town of Nylam. We then continue to Zhangmu, the border town. En-route we visit the Milarepa Cave where Milarepa, Tibet's greatest yogi of the 11th century, meditated.
Zhangmu Hotel
2 China - Nepal Road
Zhangmu, Tibet
Ph: 0011-86-892-8742221
Fx: 8742220
20/10/2012 Zhangmu - Kathmandu (BLD)
Office manager Nia Carras at the Friendship Bridge
An early morning start today as we descend to the Friendship Bridge that divides Tibet and Nepal. After clearing Chinese border formalities, we walk across the bridge to the Nepalese border town of Kodari from where it is a short drive to the capital, Kathmandu.
Malla Hotel
Lekhnath Marg
Kathmandu. Nepal
Ph: 0011-977-1-4418385
Fx: 4418382
21/10/2012 Kathmandu (BLD)
Hindu Temple, Kathmandu
The fertile Kathmandu valley lies at an altitude of 1,200-1,500m. Although small in size, no fewer than seven UNESCO World Heritage Sites are to be found within the valley. These architectural wonders are monuments to Nepal's past prosperity and artistry, which essentially make the whole area a living museum. This morning we take a leisurely tour of Kathmandu and the afternoon is free to continue exploring this extraordinary city.
22/10/2012 Kathmandu (BLD)
Boudhanath Stupa from the air
Today is extremely special as we immerse ourselves in Nepalese culture, meeting the Kathmandu locals and attending an extraordinary festival.
23/10/2012 Kathmandu - Thimphu (Bhutan) (BD)
Mt Everest from the air
This morning we transfer to the airport for our flight to Bhutan.
Depart Kathmandu Druk Air KB 205, 08.25
Arrive Paro 09.50
Our flight across the Himalaya to Bhutan is dramatic, to say the least. The views are simply astonishing as we soar above the highest mountains on earth. Often referred to as the 'Last Shangri-La', Bhutan's isolation has protected it from western influences, leaving the country blissfully untouched. The sparsely populated kingdom has a rich cultural heritage that is unique in the Himalaya and a visit here is a step into a timeless and magical world.
On arrival in Paro we make the beautiful two-hour drive to the capital, Thimphu.
Riverview Hotel
Box 309
Thimphu, Bhutan
Ph: 0011-975-2-23497
Fx: 23496
24/10/2012 Thimphu (BLD)
Thimphu, capital of Bhutan
Today we explore Thimphu, starting with the Folk and Heritage Museum that displays the lives of typical Bhutanese farmers in the medieval period. Bhutan is world famous for its textiles and later today we visit the Textile Museum. The afternoon is free to explore the downtown area of this charming and relaxing capital.
25/10/2012 Thimphu - Punakha (BLD)
Dochula Pass
After breakfast we drive across the Dochula Pass, which offers spectacular views over the eastern Himalaya. En-route we pass through fascinating villages and rice fields before arriving in Punakha, the capital city of Bhutan until 1955.
Hotel Zangtho Pelri
Punakha, Bhutan
Ph: 0011-975-2-584125
Fx: 584615
26/10/2012 Punakha (BLD)
Monks inside the
Temple of the Divine Madman
After breakfast we visit the Temple of the Divine Madman. The 20-minute walk takes us through a fascinating Bhutanese village and picturesque countryside before reaching the hill where the temple is located. The views from here are beautiful.
Afterwards we explore the Punakha Dzong, a stunning fortress located on the confluence of the Mo Chuu and Pho Chuu rivers. Originally this fortress housed 600 monks; today it is the winter home of the central monk body.
27/10/2012 Punakha - Paro (BLD)
Punakha Dzong
After breakfast we drive north and return to the magnificent Paro Valley.
Tandinling Resort & Spa
Paro, Bhutan
Ph: 0011-975-8-271304
Fx: 271454
28/10/2012 Paro (BLD)
The Tiger's Nest,
Takstang Monastery
Today we visit the breathtaking Taktsang Monastery, more commonly known as the 'Tiger's Nest'. Clinging to a mountain ledge, this world-famous monastery is steeped in myths and legends. It is said that in the 7th century, Guru Rinpoche flew from Tibet on the back of a flying tigress and established Buddhism in Bhutan here. Those fit enough may fancy the 90- minute trek up to the monastery; others may wish to hire horses to make the ascent. Or you can simply stay put and admire this extraordinary construction from the valley below.
29/10/2012 Paro - Bangkok - Singapore (B)
After breakfast we transfer to the airport for our flight to Singapore via Bangkok.
Depart Paro Druk Air 10.00
Arrive Bangkok 15.20
Depart Bangkok Sing Air SQ 679, 18.40
Arrive Singapore 22.05
In Singapore we connect with the flight to our chosen destination in Australia.
30/10/2012 Singapore - Australia
We arrive back in Australia today.
TOUR INFORMATION
Tour Fitness Level: Energetic
OCTOBER 2012 DEPARTURE:
TOUR COST: AUD $14,597
SINGLE SUPPLEMENT: $2,742
INCLUDED IN TOUR COST:
* All flights between Australia & China/Bhutan & Australia
* All ticketable air taxes (may be subject to change)
* All ground transportation and transfers
* All accommodation (twin-share)
* All meals as specified
* All local guides
* Travel Directors tour escort
* All entrance fees in specified sightseeing
* All visas and courier fees
* All tips and gratuities
NOT INCLUDED IN TOUR COST:
* Insurance
* Personal expenses
Please note that whilst every effort will be made to adhere to the above pricing, currency fluctuations beyond our control can affect final tour costs.
A booking form is to be completed by all passengers, followed by a non-refundable deposit of AUD $2,000 at the time of booking.
All escorted tours are based on a minimum group size of 10 people travelling.
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