20-Day China (including Tibet), Nepal, and India Tour-baihetour（百禾旅游）

Splendid History and Culture on Both Sides of the Himalayas

This tour is designed for travelers who would like to tick off bucket-list places in China, not forgetting Tibet, as well as Nepal and India — all in under 3 weeks. You would experience the highlights of each country comfortably, while encountering lifestyles and faiths seen nowhere else!.

Starting with China would simplify entering Tibet. However, it is also possible to start with India and end with China, getting to Tibet overland from Nepal. You could even add Bhutan. With us, your personal travel advisor would work out your best itinerary according to your interests and schedule.

Days:20±
Best For:bucket list trip
Departure date: up to you
Highest altitude:4,500m/14,760ft
Sample price:US$5,689 each (2 per room)
Flights:the ones mentioned are included

Here are the awesome attractions, the most must-do activities selected by Highlights Travel (HT Hand-Picked), and exclusive cultural experiences offered by Highlights Travel (Only With HT) included in this tour:

Listen to stories of the royal family in a hidden hall of the Forbidden City.

Make a mini terracotta warrior yourself after witnessing the unbelievable Terracotta Amy.

Unlock stories of the mysterious Dalai Lamas in the Potala Palace

Discover the loneliest lamasery on a Lake Yamdrok Island

Sip a cup of sweet tea at a hidden nunnery behind Barkhor Street in Lhasa.

Feel the strength of belief as you touch exquisite sculptures and flying prayer flags.

Enlighten your own life with a deep conversation with a local Sadhu in Kathmandu.

Take an early morning flight over Mt. Everest — a flight of a lifetime!

Enter the locals’ spiritual world with a Ganges boat ride, witnessing their riverfront rituals.

Have a picture in front of the Taj Mahal in Indian traditional dress.

Make accommodation part of the experience by staying in heritage hotels

Suggested Itinerary for Inspiration

Your preferences design the real journey. We’re ready to create a wonderful tour for you.

Day1

Beijing Arrival

Your journey begins when your flight lands in Beijing. Transfer to hotel and free at leisure for the rest of today.

Day2

Beijing | The City Highlights

breakfast & lunch

Start with the Tian’anmen Square, the biggest city square in the world.
Explore the Forbidden City with your knowledgeble guide. listen to the stories in a hidden hall which is ingored by most of the tourists.
Experience the traditional Beijing lifesyle in hutongs in the afternoon.

the forbidden city

Explore the amazing Forbidden City

Day3

Beijing | The Great Wall of China

breakfast & lunch

Visit the Temple of Heaven in the morming. Learn about how the royal ceremonies have been hold here.
Walk on the Mutianyu Great Wall which is a less-crowded yet more-picturesque section.

mutianyu section of the great wall in beijing

Mutianyu section of the Great Wall in Beijing

Day4

Beijing to Xi’an | The Summer Palace

breakfast & lunch

Appreciate the famous imperial garden in China, the Summer Palace. It is where the emperors used to retreat when fleeing the summer heat.
Experience the high-speed train of China from Beijing to Xi’an.

white bullet train

Experience the bullet train from Beijing to Xi’an

Day5

Xi’an | Terra-Cotta Warriors and Horses

breakfast & lunch

Unlock the secrets of the Terra-Cotta Warriors and Horses with your local expert guide.Travel back in time and put yourself in the Emperor’s shoes.
After the visit, you will have a chance to learn how the terracottas were made with a side-trip to a workshop and make a mini one by yourself.

terracotta army

The Terracotta Army

Day6

Xi’an to Lhasa

breakfast

Take a morning flight to Lhasa, high on the roof of the world. Check in and give yourself some time to adjust to the altitude.

Potala Palace

Day7

Lhasa | The Holy City and Its People

breakfast & lunch

Pilgrimage to the Potala Palace in the morning. Discover the exquisite murals, decorated statues, and antiques. Listen to stories of the famous King of the Tubo Kingdom and the Dalai Lamas.
View the palace from four angles selected by Highlights Travel, which will allow you to fully enjoy the beauties of the palace.
Have a walking tour in the afternoon. Visit Jokhang Temple and explore Barkhor Street
Take afternoon tea in peaceful Ani Tsangkhung Nunnery. See Tibetan nuns’ daily hand work and peaceful life.

nuns at ani tsamkhung nunnery

Nuns are making amulets with pieces of Buddhism scripts

Day8

Lhasa | The Essence of Tibetan Buddhism

breakfast & lunch

Visit Norbulingka (“Lhasa’s Summer Palace”) in the morning. Stroll in the park with the local Tibetans
Enjoy a visit to Drepung Monastery. Learn about the biggest school of Tibetan Buddhism: the Gelug School.
In the afternoon, visit Sera Monastery. Watch a monks’debate and enjoy their special “debating dance”.

monks debate

Watch monks’debate

Day9

Lhasa | Holy Lake Yamdrok (elevation 4,500 m)

breakfast & lunch

Drive about 2 hours from Lhasa to Lake Yamdrok. View the lake from the popular platform.
Get off the beaten path with a drive along the lake to a small lamasery on a small island with only one monk. Enjoy an exclusive view of the lake and a picnic there.

Lake Yamdrok

Enjoy the breathtaking view of the lake

Day10

Lhasa to Kathmandu

breakfast

Take a flight to Kathmandu, Nepal. In the afternoon, Enjoy your free time to explore the Thamel Street.

Thamel Street

Day11

Kathmandu | The City Highlights

breakfast

Start your tour from Kathmandu Durbar Square. Observe the spectacular art and architecture of the medieval and modern Malla and Shah dynasties.
Visit the sacred Hindu shrine Pashupatinath. It is also a crematorium. Have a meaningful conversation with a Sadhu at Pashupatinath Temple.
Continue to Boudhanath Stupa to feel the piety of Tibetan Buddhism. The eyes on the golden pagoda might impress you a lot.
Visit the “Monkey Temple” at the end. You will find out how well Hinduism and Buddhism combine there.

white pogaoda with colorful flags

Feel the spirit of the Hiduism

Day12

Kathmandu | Great Kathmandu Valley

breakfast

Take a flight over Mt.Everest in the early monring and return to hotel for breakfast.
Go to Patan to see the most magnificent Durbar Square in the Kathmandu Valley.
In the afternoon, explore Bhaktapur. Visit the Golden Gate, Palace of 55 Windows, Taleju Temple, Datratra Square, and Pottery Square.

Pottery Square

The Pottery Square in Bhaktapur

Day13

Kathmandu to Delhi

breakfast

Fly from Kathmandu to Dheli in the morning.
See the Qutub Minar, where Qutbuddin Aibak announced the advent of the Muslim sultan.
Visit Humayun’s Tomb, the first great example of a Mughal garden tomb and also the inspiration for the incredible Taj Mahal.

Humayun's Tomb

Appreciate the architectures of Humayun’s Tomb

Day14

Delhi to Agra | Explore the Old Delhi

breakfast

Start your day by exploring Jama Masjid, a historic and large mosque crowned with three imposing black-and-white marble domes.
Walk down the sandstone steps into the bustling streets where you will take a rickshaw ride through the Chandni Chowk market
Drive from Delhi to Agra in the afternoon

rickshaw ride in Chandni Chowk

Explore Chandni Chowk by a rickshaw

Day15

Agra | The Amazing Taj Mahal

breakfast

The day begins with an early-morning visit to the perfectly proportioned Taj Mahal which was built as a mausoleum for the Mughal emperor Shah Jahan’s favorite wife.
Visit the Agra Fort, a red sandstone rampart situated on the west bank of the Yamuna River.
Enjoy a sunset tea/coffee with cookies at a rooftop restaurant with a view of the Taj Mahal.

balcony with the view of Taj Mahal

Enjoy a sunset tea and the view of Taj

Day16

Agra to Jaipur

breakfast

Enjoy the colorful mosaics and stone inlays of Itmad-ud-Daula’s Tomb, which is often called the ‘Baby Taj’.
Drive from Agra to Jaipur in the afternoon.

flowers and white building

The lovely ‘Baby Taj’

Day17

Jaipur | The Pink City

breakfast

Start your tour with Amber Fort on a hilltop. Appreciate its ornately-carved silver doors, elegant alabaster relief work, and glass inlay. Admire the Sheesh Mahal and its gardens.
Explore the central area of the ‘pink city’ of Jaipur. Stop at lovely Hawa Mahal (‘Winds Palace’). The arch-shaped windows and colorful glass make people think of a fairytale castle.
Visit nearby Jantar Mantar Observatory. Marvel at the wisdom of medieval Indian astronomy
And then head to the City Palace, where you will have a splendid introduction to Jaipur’s princely past and its rich history through local art.

The pink Hawa Mahal

Day18

Jaipur to Delhi and then fly to Varanasi

breakfast

Drive from Jaipur to Delhi aiport and then catch a flight to Varanasi
Meet the local representitive at the airport and transfer to the hotel

Day19

Varanasi | The Holy Ganges

breakfast

Take a boat ride at sunrise, when the temples along the river are bathed in soft morning light. See local people going about their daily activities, washing clothes, performing yoga, and giving offerings of flowers.
Explore Varanasi Old City and visit the Sarnath in the afternoon.
In the late afternoon, take a boat ride on the Ganges to witness pilgrims performing ancient rituals. When the sun sets, experience the highly choreographed Ganga Aarti ceremony.

the gangse river in varanasi