10 Days Qinghai - Tibet Plateau – Rail journey to the roof of the world Travel date 20 - 29 Dec 2019 TOUR INFORMATION QINGHAI-TIBET PLATEAU INTRODUCTION If you have been planning where to go for Christmas and New Year, the Tibetan Plateau may be your next destination. Flying into Xining, start the first part of the tour in Tong Ren and Gui De. One of the oldest and best-preserved ancient towns sits in Tong Ren, with over six ethnic groups living together. Buildings are simple in style and they are all constructed on the rise and fall of the terrain. It is also the birth place of Regong Art, which put Tong Ren on the map, making it famous for its thangkas and painted status. Then, we continue to Gui De, to see the stunning multicolored clay scenery of the Danxia Canyon. Set against the contrasting blue skies and teal waters of the Yellow River, this is a lovely spot to spend half a day wandering and taking photos of the unique geology of the Tibetan Plateau. Heading back to Xining spend a night on the train to climb all the way up to Lhasa on Christmas eve. While Lhasa may be cold for most of us in winter, it is warm for the mountain nomads who migrate to gather in Lhasa. This colourful display is a winter exclusive not to be missed and avoids the tourist crowds during the summer. In Lhasa, we will visit the famous Potala Palace and Jokhang Temple, catch the monks debating in the Sera Monastery, follow the pilgrim circuit in Ganden and explore the bazaar of Barkhor. You will be based in the Shangri La Lhasa, one of the highest luxury hotels of the world at 3650m above sea level. With a striking backdrop of beautiful mountains, the urban resort of Shangri-La Lhasa is nestled high among Himalayas, overlooking the city. If you are interested in extending your journey we will be leaving Lhasa and cross 5000m passes, see high latitude lake and drive across endless barren plateaus to experience the smaller Tibetan township of Gyantze and Shigatse. SPECIALS DEPARTURE DETAILS • 3 main temples of Wutun Monastery will be specially open for Scott • Land Tour Price: Dunn guests only Twin Sharing: S$ 6,380/- • Private session at local training school to practice the making of clay Single Supplement: S$ 1,200/- sculptures and the making of Thangka paints • Airfare (subject to availability) • Exclusive monastery visits by a monk Economy from S$ 1,712/- Business from S$ 4,733/- • Private lecture with a professor on Regong Art • Deposit amount: • Enjoy local folk meal a Tibetan family at Gormar Village S$ 2,000/ per person • Soft bedding cabins for the overnight of train from Xining to Lhasa • Registration Closing Date: (solo traveler will be guaranteed a cabin of 4-berth) 23 Sep 2019 or when tour is fully • Special chapels in Potala Palace only open for Scott Dunn’s guests subscribed • Session of Monk debating at Sera Monastery • Early Bird Promotion: • Visit a local Tibetan house and enjoy lunch with the family First 4 room bookings with deposit, • Accompany by professional doctor throughout the journey enjoy complimentary upgrade from Deluxe Room to Potala View at the • Oxygen Bag in Vehicle Shangri La Lhasa • Small group size of maximum 16 people • Optional extension: • Tipping to Guide, Driver & Porter included 29 Dec 2019 - 01 Jan 2020 • All meals included with 1 glass of juice/beer/wine • Accompanied by Scott Dunn Travel Concierge Raffles City Tower #10-03, 250 North Bridge Road, Singapore 179101 | Tel: +65 3165 4050 | Travel Licence No: 029233 [email protected] | www.scottdunn.com TOUR INFORMATION QINGHAI-TIBET PLATEAU ITINERARY DAY BY DAY Day 1 20 Dec (Fri) Arrive Xining Day 2 21 Dec (Sat) Xining / Ledu / Xining Day 3 22 Dec (Sun) Xining / Tong Ren Day 4 23 Dec (Mon) Tong Ren Day 5 24 Dec (Tue) Tong Ren / Gui de Day 6 25 Dec (Wed) Gui de / Xining / Lhasa Day 7 26 Dec (Thu) Lhasa Day 8 27 Dec (Fri) Lhasa Day 9 28 Dec (Sat) Lhasa Day 10 29 Dec (Sun) Depart Lhasa Optional Extension Day 11 30 Dec (Mon) Lhasa / Gyantze / Shigatse Day 12 31 Dec (Tue) Shigatse / Lhasa Day 13 01 Jan (Wed) Depart Lhasa DAY 01 - 20 DEC (FRI) - SINGAPORE BEIJING XINING Flight: Singapore / Beijing SQ 802 0845 / 1450 (6h 05m) Beijing / Xining CZ 6991 1745 / 2025 (2h 40m) Upon arrival, meet your guide and transfer approx. 45 mins to the hotel for rest. Accommodation: Sofitel Xining Meals: N/A DAY 02 - 21 DEC (THU) - XINING | LEDU | XINING Today, we make our way to Ledu and back to Xining in the late afternoon. It is approx. an hour to transfer to Ledu. Before heading for the Gautama Monastery, you will have a traditional lunch of local pig trotters with noodles. This Monastery is the Temple of Tibetan Buddhism architecture. From design to construction practices, it is a typical display of Ming Dynasty style, hence it was also known as the “little Imperial Palace”. Accommodation: Sofitel Xining Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner Raffles City Tower #10-03, 250 North Bridge Road, Singapore 179101 | Tel: +65 3165 4050 | Travel Licence No: 029233 [email protected] | www.scottdunn.com TOUR INFORMATION QINGHAI-TIBET PLATEAU DAY 03 - 22 DEC (SUN) - XINING | TONG REN We will start the day by transferring to Tong Ren for approx. 2.5 hrs. Upon arriving at the hotel, it will be time to enjoy lunch. In the afternoon, we will visit the village named Wutun. For those that would like to stretch their legs they can join the guide for a little hike to enjoy panoramic views of the Wu Tun Monastery site. Amazingly the various monasteries and Buddha statues were built from donations by the local devotees. Drop in to visit one of the monks’ houses to have a close look the intricately painted Tangkas in the Monastery Compound. Accommodation: Hong Feng De Hotel Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner DAY 04 - 23 DEC (MON) - TONG REN Tong Ren or “Re Gong” as it is known in Tibetan means “a place where ones’ dream come true”. This morning, we follow the steps of the local devotees to turn the prayer wheels to feel this sacred belief and climb up Kalachakra Stupa to have a panoramic view of Guomar Monastery. We’ll venture to the top pavilion to visit the statue of Kalachakra and the collections of surrounding sutras. Enjoy a local handmade noodle dish for lunch. In the afternoon, we will drive approx. 40 mins to visit Shuang Peng Xi Village which is also the birth place of Gendun Chopel. He is widely regarded as a philosopher, painter, scholar and activist, one of the most important Tibetan figures of the twentieth century, famous for his skills as a poet and infamous for his controversial views. This village also sits the Red Hat Sect Monastery where the monks wear normal cloths (instead of the red robes) with long braid hair twine around their forehead. Another unique sight in this village is the oat airing site on big wooden frame in the middle of the village. If the timing is right, you will also get to see “clever” donkeys carrying things from the village to the fields without their owners. Accommodation: Hong Feng De Hotel Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner included DAY 05 - 24 DEC (TUE) - TONG REN | GUI DE Start the day with a drive to Gui De enjoying the scenic views along the 250 km journey. Along the first 13km you see painted symbols of Regong Arts and giant Buddha rock craving, before making at stop at the National Geological Park. Our journey continue along the riverside where you’ll have a brilliant view of the Yellow River flowing beside you. Accommodation: Jing Yue Ge Hotel Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner Raffles City Tower #10-03, 250 North Bridge Road, Singapore 179101 | Tel: +65 3165 4050 | Travel Licence No: 029233 [email protected] | www.scottdunn.com TOUR INFORMATION QINGHAI-TIBET PLATEAU DAY 06 - 25 DEC (TUE) - GUI DE | XINING LHASA Going back to Xining should be approx. 2 hrs drive from Gui De, we will visit the Qinghai Tibetan Medicine Museum before the 23-hr train journey. This Museum houses the World’s longest Thangkha and is recorded in Guinness World Book as 618m in length and 2.5m in width. It took 4 years and 400 painters to finish it. The Thangkha depicts geographical, cultural, religious, historical and aesthetic aspects of Tibetan Civilization in the finest painting form. Drive back to the city to have a nice lunch and transfer to Xining railway station, take the Tibet train for an overnight to Lhasa. Train Xining / Lhasa Z6801 1401/1114 (21h 13m) Accommodation: On the train (soft sleeper) Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner DAY 07 - 26 DEC (THU) - LHASA Upon arrival, you’ll meet your guide and be welcomed by a khata. Transfer to Shangri La Lhasa for a 3 night stay. At 3500m, it is advisable to take the rest of the day easily for better acclimatization. Tonight, be treated to a welcome dinner at the hotel. Accommodation: Shangri La Lhasa Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner included DAY 08 - 27 DEC (FRI) - LHASA We start off our exploration of Lhasa leisurely with a visit to theJokhang monastery. Known as the “central cathedral” it is perhaps the most important monastery in Tibet. Afterwards, we will visit a nunnery. After lunch, we’ll stop at the Ganden Monastery about a 2-hours’ drive away. The Monastery is at 4,500m and commands stunning views.