Day 1 Arrival in Beijing, Meet & Greet at Airport, Transfer to Hotel
GCT representative will meet you at the airport and assists you to your hotel. Relax during the remainder of the afternoon and evening to recover from the jet lag.
Meals Included: No meals
Accommodations: 3 nights in Beijing
5-star Great Wall Hotel Beijing (former Great Wall Sheraton Beijing) or similar
4-star Pentahotel Beijing (former Courtyard by Marriot Beijing) or similar class
3-star City Inn Happy Valley Beijing or similar.
Day 2 Beijing, Tiananmen Square, Forbidden City, Temple of Heaven
Explore Beijing from Tiananmen Square in the morning. Located in the center of Beijing, Tiananmen Square is the largest city square in the world and it has great cultural significance as it was the site of many important events in Chinese history such as Chairman Mao's declaration of the establishment of the People's Republic of China on Oct, 01, 1949. Next, walk to the Forbidden City. As the royal residences of the emperors of the Ming and Qing dynasties from the 15th to 20th century, the Forbidden City was the centre of state power in late feudal China and witnessed the enthronement of 14 Ming and 10 Qing emperors over 505 years. Visit the Temple of Heaven in the afternoon. The Temple of Heaven, built between 1406 and 1420 by the same emperor who was responsible for building the Forbidden City, is where the emperors of the Ming and Qing dynasties would worship the god of heaven and pray for good harvest.
Meals Included: Breakfast at hotel
Day 3 Beijing, Great Wall of China, Ming Tombs, Photo Stop at Olympic Venues of Bird Nest & Water Cube
Drive out of Beijing to the Great Wall of China (90 minutes) in the morning. The Great Wall was continuously built from the 3rd century BC to the 17th century AD on the northern border of China as the great military defense project of successive Chinese Empires. Today, the wall is still impressive at 3,750 miles in length, stretching from the Bohai Sea to the Gobi Desert. The Great Wall embodies unparalleled significance as the national symbol for safeguarding the security of the country and Chinese people. Visit the Ming Tombs (Dingling Tomb) in the afternoon. Constructed for the 13 emperors of the Ming Dynasty, the Ming tombs follow the precepts of traditional Chinese geomancy and fengshui theory. They feature rich decoration of stone statues and carvings and tiles with dragon motifs, illustrating the development of the funerary architecture of the Ming Dynasty. Next, make a photo stop at the 2008 Olympic Venues of Bird Nest and Water Cube.
Meals Included: Breakfast at hotel
Day 4 Beijing, Summer Palace, Bullet Train to Xian (about 5 hours)
Morning visit to the largest and best-preserved royal garden in China, the Summer Palace. Using Kunming Lake and Longevity Hill as the basic framework, the Summer Palace combined political and administrative, residential, spiritual, and recreational functions within a landscape of lakes and mountains, in accordance with the Chinese philosophy of balancing the works of man with nature. The natural landscape of hills and open water is combined with artificial features such as pavilions, halls, palaces, temples and bridges to form a harmonious ensemble of outstanding aesthetic value. Take second class bullet train to Xian in the afternoon. Xian is the ancient capital city of China and the starting point of Silk Road.
Meals Included: Breakfast at hotel
Accommodations: 2 nights in Xian
Local 5-star Grand Noble Hotel Xian
4-star Grand Dynasty Culture Hotel Xian or similar
3-star Chenggong International Hotel Xian (former Ibis Xian Heping) or similar
Day 5 Xian, Terracotta Warriors, Bell & Drum Tower Square, Great Mosque, Muslim Quarter
Drive out of Xian to the Terracotta Warriors and Horses (1 hour) in the morning. Considered one of the foremost archaeological discoveries of the 20th century, the 2,000-year-old Terracotta Army was discovered by accident in 1974 by local farmers digging a well. The 8,000-plus life-sized figures are arranged in vaults to guard the tomb of Qin Shihuang, the first emperor of China, a major architect of the Great Wall and unifier of China. Visit the Bell & Drum Tower Square, the Great Mosque and Xian Muslim Quarter in the afternoon. The area north of the Drum Tower is the Muslim Quarter of Xian which covers several blocks with an estimated 60,000 Muslims in the region. There are about seven ancient mosques in the area, among which the Great Mosque is most famous and popular among all. Experience a seemingly endless labyrinth of street food, restaurants and bustling local life at Xian's Muslim Quarter.
Meals Included: Breakfast at hotel
Day 6 Fly to Lhasa, Rest at Hotel in the afternoon
Fly to Lhasa in the morning. Meaning "Land of the Gods" in Tibetan language, Lhasa has been the capital of Tibet for over 1,300 years. Upon arrival at this 12000 feet elevated city, you will be transferred to hotel for rest and adjust your body to high elevation (Lhasa is 3700 meters above sea level). You may feel the effects of high altitude therefore it is strongly recommended that you take an afternoon nap for 2-3 hours to help you acclimatize, and be sure to drink plenty of water during your time in Tibet.
Meals Included: Breakfast at hotel
Accommodations: 3 nights in Lhasa
4-star Four Points by Sheraton Hotel Lhasa or similar
3-star Tibet Kailash Hotel, Lhasa or similar
Day 7 Lhasa, Tibet Museum, Norbulingka, Potala Palace
Explore Lhasa from Tibet Museum to know the history and the development of Tibet. Tibet Museum houses a large amount of valuable treasures found in Tibet: ancient religious books written in gold, silver or coral powders, Buddha statues made from diverse materials, colorful Thangkas and many handicrafts with distinctive Tibetan characteristics. Next, visit the Summer Palace of Dalai Lama: the Norbulingka Park. Continue visiting the highest palace in the world, the Potala Palace. Built on the red hill in the center of Lhasa, the Potala Palace boasts more than 1000 rooms including the Red Palace where Dalai Lama once lived.
Meals Included: Breakfast at hotel
Day 8 Lhasa, Jokhang Monastery, Barkhor Bazaar, Sera Monastery
Visit the 1300-year-old Jokhang Monastery in the morning. Jokhang Monastery, constructed by King Songtsen Gampo in the year 647 is the most famous Buddhist temple in Lhasa. This monastery has remained the centre of Buddhist pilgrimage for centuries. Next, follow local Tibetans for a Kora of Jokhang Monastery, walking around the Barkor Bazaar. Visit Sera Monastery in the afternoon. Founded in 1419, Sera monastery used to be the residence to more than 5000 monks and five monastic colleges. One of the most interesting times to visit the monastery is in the afternoon when monks, after finishing their morning scripture classes, can be seen debating in the courtyard. They emphasize their debate points with heavy foot stomping and loud claps of the hands. This highly animated debating method is part of the time-honored monastic educational system.
Meals Included: Breakfast at hotel
Day 9 Fly to Shanghai, People's Square, Shanghai Museum
Fly to the glass and steel towers of cosmopolitan Shanghai in the morning. Visit the People's Square and Shanghai Museum upon arrival. The People’s Square was once the finest racecourse in Asia before 1949; it is now a large open space in which locals hang out all day, every day, practicing Tai Chi and flying kites. Shanghai Museum is specially celebrated in the world for its rich and high-quality collection of 120,000 precious works of art including ancient Chinese bronze, ceramics, painting and calligraphy.
Meals Included: Breakfast at hotel
Accommodations: 2 nights in Shanghai
5-star Crowne Plaza Shanghai or similar
4-star Ambassador Hotel Shanghai or similar
3-star Holiday Inn Express Putuo Shanghai or similar
Day 10 Shanghai, Yuyuan Garden, The Bund & Nanjing Road, The French Concession & Tianzifang
Visit Yuyuan Garden in the morning. This garden is a maze of Ming Dynasty pavilions, elaborate rockeries, arched bridges, and goldfish ponds, all encircled by an undulating dragon wall. Then shopping at the Chenghuangmiao market located outside the garden. Stroll along the Bund and nearby Nanjing Road in the afternoon. The Bund refers to Shanghai's famous waterfront stretching for 1.6km along the west shore of the Huangpu River. Nanjing Road is the main shopping street of Shanghai and one of the busiest shopping streets in the world. Later, walk around the French Concession of Shanghai and enjoy a tea break & shopping at Tianzifang. The tree-lined avenues and the many fine old houses in the French Concession still retain an air of the "Paris of the East". Tianzifang is an arts and crafts enclave famous for tiny craft shops, coffee stores, fashionable art galleries and thin alleys.
Meals Included: Breakfast at hotel
Day 11 Departure from Shanghai
Transfer to the airport for your departure flight (without guide). Wish you a pleasant journey home and thank you for traveling with GCT.
Meals Included: Breakfast at hotel
Deluxe Hotels for Tibet Discovery Tour 11 Days
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Beijing
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Great Wall Hotel Beijing or similar
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Xian
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Grand Noble Hotel Xian or similar
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Lhasa
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Four Points by Sheraton Hotel Lhasa or similar
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Shanghai
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Crowne Plaza Hotel Shanghai or similar
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Standard Hotels for Tibet Discovery Tour 11 Days
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Beijing
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5L Hotel Beijing or similar
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Xian
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Grand New World Hotel Xian or similar
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Lhasa
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Xinding Hotel Lhasa or similar
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Shanghai
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Ambassador Hotel Shanghai or similar
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Budget Hotels for Tibet Discovery Tour 11 Days
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Beijing
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City Inn Happy Valley Beijing or similar
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Xian
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Xian Tianyou International Hotel or similar
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Lhasa
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Tibet Kailash Hotel Lhasa or similar
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Shanghai
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Holiday Inn Express Putuo Shanghai or similar
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Deluxe Hotel: 5-star Great Wall Hotel Beijing
Add: No.10 East 3rd ring North Road, Chaoyang District, Beijing
Tel: +86-10-65905566
Centrally located in the Chaoyang Commercial District, The Great Wall Hotel Beijing offers accommodations just 300 m from Agricultural Exhibition Center Metro Station. It features 4 dining options and an indoor pool. Yonghe Temple and Guozijian are both a 20-minute drive from The Great Wall Hotel Beijing. Beijing Train Station is a 25-minute drive away. Beijing West Station is a 1-hour car journey away. It takes 30 minutes to reach Beijing Capital International Airport by car from the property. Stylish rooms feature modern interiors and floor-to-ceiling windows. Tastefully decorated, all rooms are fitted with a flat-screen TV, mini-bar and cozy seating area. A bathtub and shower facilities are in the private bathroom. Silk Road Trattoria restaurant serves a variety of Italian dishes, while French specialties are offered at the French Bistro. At The 21st Floor Chinese Restaurant, guests can enjoy panoramic views of the city while sampling Cantonese and Sichuan food. Recreational choices include relaxing in the sauna, having a body massage, or exercising at the gym. Staff at the 24-hour front desk can assist with currency exchange and car rental services.
Deluxe Hotel: 5-star Grand Noble Hotel Xian
Add: No.334 East Street Beilin District, Xian
Tel: +86-02-87690000
Located in the central business area of Xi'an, Grand Noble Hotel is only a 10-minute walk from the Bell and Drum Tower as well as the Muslim Food Street. It features 6 dining options, a spa and wellness center, while guestrooms offer iPod and MP3 stations and free WiFi access in all areas. Hotel Grand Noble is a 5-minute drive from Xi'an Railway Station and a 10-minute drive from Xi'an History Museum. It takes about 40 minutes by taxi to Xianyang International Airport or Terracotta Warriors. All guest rooms have private bathroom facilities, a mini-bar, and a safety deposit box. Free branded toiletries are offered in the private bathroom. Coffee/tea maker can also be found in the rooms. Guests can work out at the well-equipped fitness center, or make use of the bicycle rental facilities. The hotel also offers a tour desk to arrange day activities.
Deluxe Hotel: 5-star Four Points by Sheraton Hotel Lhasa
Add: No. 10, Bo Linka Road, Chengguan, Lhasa
Tel: +86-891-6348888
Designed for both business and leisure travel, Four Points by Sheraton Lhasa Hotel is ideally situated in Chengguan; one of the city's most popular locales. The excitement of the city center is only 1.5 Km away. For those of you who want to venture out, Tibet Museum, Kunde Ling, Gesar Ling are just some of the attractions available to visitors. Four Points by Sheraton Lhasa Hotel offers impeccable service and all the essential amenities to invigorate travelers. Guests of the hotel can enjoy on-site features like free Wi-Fi in all rooms, 24-hour front desk, 24-hour room service, facilities for disabled guests, Wi-Fi in public areas. Experience high quality room facilities during your stay here. Some rooms include television LCD/plasma screen, complimentary instant coffee, complimentary tea, umbrella, internet access – wireless, provided to help guests recharge after a long day. Throughout the day you can enjoy the relaxing atmosphere of the indoor pool, spa, massage. Enjoy unparalleled services and a truly prestigious address at the Four Points by Sheraton Lhasa Hotel.
Deluxe Hotel: 5-star Crowne Plaza Shanghai Hotel
Add: No. 400 Pan Yu Road, Changning District, Shanghai
Tel: +86-21-61458888
If you have stayed at one of the many Crown Plazas around the globe, you are already familiar with the quality of service they represent. Crowne Plaza Shanghai Hotel prides themselves on providing a full array of hospitality geared for business. That means you can expect a lot of amenities all under one roof. An excellent business center can be found on-site with meeting facilities and ballrooms that can accommodate corporate or private events. But it's not all business all the time. Guests can relax with the dining options, work out in the well-equipped fitness center, or take advantage of the Olympic-sized indoor pool. A sauna and massage treatments further the chances to get truly relaxed. With all these options and a worldwide track record of good service, you are in good hands during your stay at Crowne Plaza Shanghai Hotel.
Standard Hotel: 4-star Beijing 5L Hotel
Add: No. 1 Jianguomenwai Street (Jianguomenwai Dajie) Chaoyang District Beijing
Tel: +86-10-65052277
Offering free WiFi, Beijing 5L Hotel offers rooms in Beijing, 6 km from Wangfujing Street and 6.3 km from Guijie Street. Well located in the Chaoyang district, this hotel is located 6.6 km from Tiananmen Square. Yonghegong Temple is 8 km away and Forbidden City is 8 km from the hotel. All guest rooms in the hotel are equipped with a flat-screen TV. A buffet breakfast is available each morning at Beijing 5L Hotel. At the accommodation you'll find a restaurant serving Chinese cuisine. Staff at the reception can help around the clock with guidance on the area. Qianmen Street is 8 km from Beijing 5L Hotel, while Nan Luo Gu Xiang is 8 km from the property. The nearest airport is Beijing Nanyuan Airport, 20.9 km from the hotel. This is our guests' favorite part of Beijing, according to independent reviews. This property also has one of the top-rated locations in Beijing! Guests are happier about it compared to other properties in the area.
Standard Hotel: 4-star Grand New World Hotel
Add: No. 172 Lian Hu Lu, Lianhu District, Xian
Tel: +86-29-87216868
Located next to the city wall, the friendly staff at this location can make any stay in Xian effortless and memorable. With 480 rooms, Grand New World Hotel can accommodate a large amount of people, and they usually do because of their popularity and reputation for excellence. The staff realizes that it is difficult to travel in a city where most visitors don’t speak the language, and as a consequence, they make visiting the major tourist sites in the area effortless and efficient. Be sure to check out the Terra-Cotta Warriors, and the Temple of the Eight Immortals is certainly worth a look as well. Considered by many to be the best place to stay in Xian, the Grand New World Hotel will not disappoint, and it is definitely worth a look. Grand New World Hotel can be easily booked with our secure online booking form. Simply enter your dates and click to proceed.
Standard Hotel: 4-star Xinding Hotel Lhasa
Add: No. 12 Central Avenue, Zhonghe International City, Chengguan, Lhasa
Tel: +86-891-6808555
This modern, business hotel boasts a perfect location in Lhasa, with easy access to historical landmarks and efficient public transportation. Conveniently surrounding the area are numerous supermarkets and banks. The world heritage, Potala Palace, Ramoche Temple, Jokhang Temple and the leisure commercial street are at a walkable distance. Furthermore, it's just a short taxi ride to the railway station. The hotel provides a variety of excellent room facilities to cater to both business and leisure guests.
Standard Hotel:4-star Shanghai Ambassador Hotel
Add: No.818 Wanhngdu Road, Jingan District, Shanghai
Tel: +86-21-63357509
This luxury class hotel situated in the CaoJiaDu Commercial Zone, is located near West NanJing Road. Guests will enjoy easy access to the Shanghai Exhibition Center, the commercial zones of ZhongShan Park, and the JingAn Temple. The hotel is also surrounded by a myriad of restaurants, shopping areas, and local markets. The hotel boasts 308 rooms furnished with elegant amenities that promote comfort and offer a special Japanese floor. Additionally, guests can enjoy fine dining and drinks at the Clivia Coffee Shop, the Grand Palace Restaurant, and the Yawara Teppanyaki Restaurant. The Ambassador Hotel is one of the leading international luxury hotels in Shanghai, perfect for guests that want luxury and refinement.
Budget Hotel: 3-star City Inn Happy Valley Hotel Beijing
Add: Vecchio Shopping Street, North Xiaowuji Road, East 4th Ring, Chaoyang District, Beijing
Tel: +86-10-67376688
City Inn Happy Valley Beijing is a chain of fine business hotel brand developed by the OCT IHMC, located in the center of Beijing City that gives traveler the great location for business and financial purposes. The hotel is also easily reachable the city’s major shopping area and famous attractions nearby such as Beijing National Stadium, the Summer Palace. The hotel boasts excellent accommodation among Beijing hotels, good service and well appointed facility. In the hotel there are 224 rooms that have contemporary interiors and diverse room types. It offers the ideal setting for conferences, meetings, special events, business trips, and the Internet access helps guests keeping in touch with their friends and family when traveling in Beijing. Free broad video and self-help laundry house are available for guests. Restaurants, Bars, Sauna, Foot Massage, Beauty Salon, Supermarket, Banks, and Hospital are all around the hotel. An attentive and professional staff is always pleased to provide you all the necessary information for your successful Beijing travel.
Budget Hotel: 3-star Xian Tianyou International Hotel
Add: 12 West 2nd Ring Road (Xi Erhuan Nanduan) Lianhu District Xi'an
Tel: +86-29-87918888
The Xi'an Tianyou International Hotel (Tianyou Guoji Jiudian) is located approximately 32 km (20 mi) from Xi'an Xianyang International Airport. Guests can dine on Chinese dishes at the on-site restaurant and unwind with a drink in the cafe. Business travelers are invited to make the most of the business center and meeting rooms.In their free time, guests can relax in the sauna or treat themselves to a massage. This hotel provides Wi-Fi access in rooms and public areas as well as free parking.
Budget Hotel: 3-star Tibet Kailash Hotel, Lhasa
Add: No.143, Beijing East Road, Lhasa
Tel: +86-891-6306999
The Lhasa Kailash Hotel (Lasa Kailasi Jiudian) is a short walk from Jokhang Temple, Ramoche Temple and the Potala Palace. From this Lhasa hotel, guests can overlook the Potala Palace, Jokhang Temple, Ramoche Temple and snow-capped mountain afar. A great breadth of culinary options means food fans have plenty to choose from including Chinese and Western cuisines, especially Tibetan dishes. Those requiring meeting arrangements can book a fully-equipped conference room or use the commercial center.
Budget Hotel: 3-star Holiday Inn Express Putuo Hotel
Add: No. 843 Guang fuxi Lu, Putuo District, Shanghai
Tel: +86-21-61421818
Well-managed and conveniently situated on Guang Fu Xi Road, in the heart of downtown, Holiday Inn Express Putuo Hotel is a great choice for travelers. It's an easy drive to the city center and a short distance of nine kilometers to Hongqiao International Airport. The railway station is also easily accessible along with many scenic destinations such as Jing'an Temple, Jade Buddy Temple, Zhong Shan Park and the Su Zhou River where guests can enjoy the stunning riverside and garden view. Shanghai's prime shopping center is also within close proximity. The seven-story hotel boasts 237 well-appointed guest rooms that come with a modern and simplistic style. All room are non-smoking, featuring satellite TV and individually controlled air conditioning. Catering to the discerning business travelers, the 48 square meters meeting room is ideal and fully-equipped with an array of meeting facilities such as an LCD projector and a DVD player.
Get Your Visa before Entering China
Nearly every visitor to China will need a tourist 'L' visa before arriving. We cannot obtain your visa, but we will provide you with an official Visa Invitation Letter for your visa application after deposit payment is completed. You need to download Application Forms from the official website of China embassy of your country. On the application, you will need to provide your travel dates, travel itinerary, and proof of onward travel. The application must be typed with no hand written corrections or it will not be accepted. Please bring the Visa Application Forms together with our Visa Invitation Letter to the Chinese embassy or consulate to apply for China visa. We recommend getting your visa at least two months before trip departure to avoid logistical problems. For individual travelers, single-entry visas are valid for entry within three months. For business people and other regular visitors there are multiple-entry visas good for six months at a time. Each visa is valid for a stay of 30 or 60 days, and can be extended while in China. Please note that if you plan to leave China to visit or do business in another nearby country and then go back to China before returning to your country of origin, you need to apply for Double Entry Visa. If you leave China to visit Hong Kong, Macau and Taiwan and then go back to China, you need a Double Entry Visa.
Tibet Travel Permit
Tibet Travel Permit, also known as Tibet Visa or Tibet Entry Permit, is an indispensable travel permit for international tourists to enter Tibet in addition to Chinese visa. For every foreign traveler, Tibet Permit is required as a must entry pass to board the flight or train to Lhasa. Once you get your China Visa, email the photo image of your passport information page and the photo image of Chinese Visa page to us. We will get Tibet Travel Permit for you. Please be aware that processing of Tibet Permit takes 8-9 business days in Lhasa. We recommend that you apply for it 20 days before heading to Tibet since we need to mail Tibet Travel Permit to your hotel in mainland China. Please note that without Tibet Travel Permit, you are not allowed to board flights or trains to Tibet.
Acute Mountain Sickness (AMS)
An altitude over 3,000 meters (9,843 feet) is usually defined as high altitude. Since most places in Tibet are higher than this level (the average elevation in Tibet is 4000 meters above sea level), Acute Mountain Sickness (AMS), also called Altitude Sickness is the biggest health risk to tourists in Tibet. Most travelers to Tibet will experience differing degrees of symptoms at high elevation. Symptoms of AMS include headache, nausea, dizziness, fatigue, shortness of breath, loss of appetite and disturbed sleep. Most people will experience one or more AMS symptoms upon their arrival in Tibet. The symptoms will usually gradually decrease in severity during acclimatization. If you have records of heart, lung, other organ problems or anemia you should consult your doctor before making the decision to visit Tibet.
Arrival in Beijing
This tour starts in Beijing. Beijing has two international airports, Beijing Capital Airport (PEK) and Beijing Daxing International Airport (PKX). Beijing Capital Airport is 29 km (15 miles) to the city center while Beijing Daxing Airport is 46 km (29 miles) to the center of Beijing. Upon your arrival at Beijing airport, GCT tour guide will hold GrandChinaTravel welcome sign with your name and wait at the airport arrival hall.
Departure from Shanghai
This tour ends in Shanghai. There are two international airports in Shanghai, Shanghai Hongqiao (SHA) and Shanghai Pudong (PVG). Pudong mainly serves international flights, while Hongqiao mainly serves domestic and regional flights in East Asia. Hongqiao Airport is closer to the city center (13km / 8 miles) than Pudong (30 km / 19 miles). You will be transferred to your airline terminal building of Shanghai airport on the last day. For your information, Pudong Airport is connected to the magnetic levitation line (Maglev), currently the fastest commercial train in the world. From Longyang Road Metro Station to Pudong airport, the 30-kilometer trip will take only eight minutes. Max speed of Maglev Train can be 430km/h. Please contact us if you want to try Maglev train for your departure in Shanghai.
Deposit Payment
A deposit of $200 USD per person is required to secure your reservation. Once your deposit has been received, we will send your confirmation letter, materials for your visa application, packing list, and general information to prepare for your trip to China. We will send you Visa Invitation Letter once we receive deposit payment if you need Visa Invitation Letter.
Full Payment
Full payment should be made 30 days prior to departure. Once full payment has been made, hotels, tour guides, domestic flights/trains and land transportation will be confirmed.
Cancellation
Cancellations made 31 days or more prior to the scheduled departure date, will receive a 100% refund. Cancellations made within 22 - 30 days will incur a 10% fee. Cancellations made within 15 - 21 days will incur a 30% fee. Cancellations made within 8 - 14 days will incur a 50% fee. Cancellations made within 0 - 7 days will not receive a refund. After the tour has commenced, there is no refund for canceled services due to non-participation, early departure, late arrival, or missed days on tours. Due to time zone differences, the confirmed cancellation date is determined based Beijing time. Please allow 2-5 business days to process and confirm your cancellation request. Once the cancellation is confirmed, you will receive your refund within 14 working days.