Potala Palace in Lhasa, Tibet
20 Days Small Group Tour fully hosted from New Zealand Departing 21 June 2028
Step into a world where ancient empires, timeless landscapes, and spiritual traditions converge.
A journey that spans the greatest cultural and geographical wonders of the world. Start in Ulaanbaatar, and venture into the true heart of the Mongolian landscape visiting the Danshig Naadam Games – an intimate, monastic celebration.
On to China to walk the immense palace complex of the Forbidden City, stand on the Great Wall and face to face with the Terracotta Warriors. Finally, Tibet, a land of profound spirituality and ethereal landscapes. In Lhasa, the architectural marvel of the Potala Palace rises majestically above the valley, its whitewashed and crimson walls holding centuries of sacred Buddhist history and treasures. Travel past mountain peaks that scrape the heavens and sit on the shores of Tibet’s legendary, high-altitude lakes.
Special Experiences
Naadam Games
Spend time at the Danshig Naadam Games watching archery, traditional wrestling and sacred Tsam dances with magnificent, ceremonial face masks.
Tuul River Valley Ger Camp
A comfortable traditional ger camp is your base from which to enjoy options from kayaking and river rafting to horse-riding, walking or a riverbank sauna.
Sera Monastery
Watch monks debate philosophical learning at Sera Monastery and explore the wonders of the Potala Palace.
What’s Included
Economy Class airfares ex Auckland, and within the itinerary
16 breakfasts, 4 lunches, 5 dinners
Transfers, sightseeing, and entrance fees as per the itinerary
Accommodation in 4- and 5-star hotels and a luxury ger camp
Sightseeing and entrance fees as per the itinerary
Airline and airport taxes
First Class train in Tibet
Enjoy the services of a dedicated World Journeys tour host throughout your journey.
Gratuities
What’s Not Included Items of a personal nature, travel insurance (mandatory), visas & flight upgrades to Premium Economy or Business Class, and optional activities
Great Wall of China
Itinerary
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Depart Auckland on your overnight flight to Ulaanbaatar, beginning your adventure.
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Transit in Beijing and fly to Ulaanbaatar. On arrival transfer to our comfortable hotel and the afternoon is at leisure. Perhaps stroll to Sukhbaatar Square, with its statues of Genghis Khan and Damdin Sukhbaatar.
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Today enjoy an orientation tour of Ulaanbaatar, now home to half the country’s population. The city is an extraordinary blend of Soviet-era architecture, modern shopping centres, traditional ger districts and peaceful monasteries. Sights include the Chinggis Khan Museum and Zanabazar Fine Arts Museum.
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Drive west to Hustai National Park. Visit the impressive Öngöt archeological site with standing stelae pre-dating Genghis Khan. After lunch visit the bankhar dog kennels where herder dogs are trained to protect livestock against wolves. An early dinner precedes a game drive to spot Wapiti deer, Mongolian gazelles and Pzrewalskii horses, an endangered wild horse, once extinct in the wild and reintroduced to the National Park.
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Spend much of the day at the annual Danshig Naadam Games. Revived in the last decade, this monastic celebration of archery using ancient composite curved bows, traditional wrestling matches and ceremonial tsam dances with huge, colourful ceremonial face masks to ward off evil spirits is an unusual and moving experience.
In the afternoon there is a long drive ahead to travel to the Khan Khetii protected area via a steppe valley dotted with gers and livestock, cross the mountain ridge at the Zamtiin Pass and continue to the Upper Tuul River Valley. At the camp we are met by nomads with yak carts to transfer our luggage to our comfortable ger.
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The Khentii Mountains are covered with larch and birch forests while rivers flow down the broad steppe valleys. Two full days to relax or be as active as desired. Explore the area on foot, horseback or by mountain bike, there are river swimming or kayaking and cataraft options, choose to enjoy a good book or experience a riverbank sauna.
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Drive to Ulaanbaatar and fly to Beijing. On arrival transfer to the hotel for overnight.
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Today visit the Forbidden City, which houses the Imperial Palace from the Ming and Qing dynasties and is one of the grandest palace complexes that remain today. Continue to the Temple of Heaven, where emperors of the Ming and Qing dynasties used to attend annual ceremonies of prayer for a good harvest.
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Travel out to the Great Wall at Mutianyu, winding along lofty, craggy mountains from the southeast to the northwest. The essence of the Great Wall, the Mutianyu section is not only noted for the quality of its construction but also for its distinct style and features. Return to the city and explore the maze of narrow alleys known as the hutongs. When the Mongols swept through China in the 13th century, they built their Grand Capital at Beijing and the residual streets were called “hutong” (in Mongolian meaning “water well”). The winding alleyways of hutong linked the city through a network of diverse neighbourhoods – each area being spun like a web of interconnecting lanes that became the lifeblood of old Beijing.
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Transfer to the station and take the bullet train to Xi’an. On arrival check in to the hotel and then explore the well-preserved defensive city wall. Continue to the Islamic Quarter, home to a sizeable community of Chinese-Muslims, and stroll along Muslim Street, a narrow bazaar-style street lined with shops selling local delicacies, snacks and souvenirs.
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Visit the Terracotta Army, discovered by local farmers digging a well in 1974. Built for China’s first emperor, Qin Shi Huang, the army of 800 life-size soldiers, 130 chariots and 520 horses and cavalry units is arranged in battle formation to protect the emperor in the afterlife. Later enjoy an evening of theatrical performance at a Tang Dynasty dinner.
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Transfer to the airport and fly to Lhasa. On arrival transfer to the hotel and rest to allow time to acclimatise to the altitude.
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Visit stunning Drepung Monastery, once one of the largest in the world housing over 7,700 monks and one of Tibet’s most influential institutions. Continue to Sera Monastery, a major centre for Buddhist philosophy, monastic education and religious practice. If we’re lucky, watch one of the philosophical debates where monks challenge each other on Buddhist teachings, logic and nature of reality for which the monastery is famous.
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Start the day at magnificent Potala Palace, the traditional winter residence of successive Dalai Lamas before heading to Longwangtan Park, a tranquil green space lying behind the palace to rest and see locals exercising and enjoying the park. Continue to the spiritual heart of Lhasa at Jokhang Temple and get a taste of traditional street life at Barkhor Steet, lined with traditional Tibetan buildings, shops and market stalls.
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Depart Lhasa on one of the most spectacular road journeys in Tibet and drive through immense mountain scenery to the breathtaking panorama of the brilliant turquoise of Yamdrok Lake. Continue past dramatic Karola Glacier descending from the mountains as the scenery gradually opens into agricultural land and broad mountain views on the road to Gyantse.
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Visit the fascinating Pelkor Chode Monastery this morning, the numerous chapels of its famous Kumbum Stupa filled with statues, murals and artwork. Then continue the road journey through the historic heartland of Tibet on the drive to Shigatse. Leaving the mountain scenery behind, drive through more gentle landscapes via the artistic treasure of Shalu Monastery with its remarkable historic murals. Arrive at Shigatse and check into the hotel.
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Check out after breakfast and visit the Tashilhunpo Monastery, founded in 1447 by the first Dalai Lama and the traditional seat of the Panchen Lamas. Its imposing assembly halls and the enormous statue of Maitreya, the Buddha of the Future, is sure to leave an impact. Transfer to the station and take the train to Lhasa. Check in to the hotel for the final night in Tibet.
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Transfer to the airport and fly to Beijing. Transit to your onward flight and travel overnight to Auckland.
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Arrive in Auckland, where your journey concludes.
From $21,995per person share twin* or $25,650 Single. Departures 21 June 2028.
Buddhist Kumbum chorten in Gyantse town, in the Tibet Autonomous Region of China.
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Important Notes
This is a small group with a maximum 18 guests, with a host accompanying the group all the way from NZ and back, with flights and tipping included.
In the countries we are visiting, tipping is customary. For a hassle-free journey, tipping is included and will be handled by the World Journeys host for all group activities.
As this tour involves a lot of walking, including at altitude, in order for you to obtain maximum enjoyment and benefit from the itinerary, you must be able to walk a minimum of at least 3 km unaided at one time. On some days during the tour there is a total distance walked throughout the day of up to 8 km. Unfortunately, this tour is not suitable for those with mobility issues.
Booking Conditions
A non-refundable deposit of $3,000 per person is required upon booking, with the balance due 19 February 2028. In order to maintain the advertised tour price, if upgrading your Economy Class airfare to Premium Economy or Business Class, it will be necessary to collect the airfare portion earlier than the final balance date. As cancellation fees apply, travel insurance is mandatory. Please refer to World Journeys terms and conditions
Terms & Conditions this is a small group with a limited of 18 guests so is subject to availability at time of booking. Credit card & travel agent service fees my apply. For full terms & conditions contact your travel expert.
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