Delhi To Beijing Overland Tour

You arrive at Delhi international airport, where our representative will meet you and transfer you to the hotel.

Today you visit the main sights of Delhi, the capital of India. They include: • Red Fort: the Red Fort (Lal Qila) is one of the finest examples of Mughal architecture and combines Hindu, Timurid and Persian traditions. It was built in the mid-17th century by the Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan. The fort has red sandstone walls and took almost a decade to complete. Its palaces, entertainment halls, projecting balconies and mosque are impressive, and its best-known feature is the Hall of Public Audience. • Jama Masjid: this mosque stands over Old Delhi and is the largest mosque in India. It is built of red sandstone and white marble in the architectural style of the Mughal Empire. More than 5,000 artisans worked on it, and it took six years to complete. Its main attractions are its many relics, including footprints and a red beard hair of the Prophet Mohammad. • Raj Ghat: Raj Ghat is a memorial to Mahatma Gandhi on the banks of the Yamuna River. It is a black marble platform on the spot where Mahatma Gandhi was cremated. • Chandni Chowk: you can experience the culture of Old Delhi at Chandni Chowk, one of its oldest markets. The street is always very crowded with people shopping for spices, dried fruit and saris. You can see its historic buildings and decorated shops and try the local food. • India Gate: India Gate is a war memorial to the 70,000 soldiers of the British Indian Army who died between 1914 and 1921 in the First World War. It is built in the form of an arch, and the names of soldiers who died in the war are engraved on it. It is illuminated at night. • Rashtrapati Bhavan: this building is the residence of the President of India, the world's largest democracy. It was designed by Sir Edwin Lutyens and built by thousands of labourers. The building opened to the public in August 2012, and visitors can now see its many halls and gardens. Rashtrapati Bhavan has hosted many important events. • Sansad Bhavan: the Parliament House, Sansad Bhavan, was designed by the British architect Edwin Lutyens and took six years to complete. It is surrounded by extensive gardens. The nearby area, often called the business centre of Delhi, has Georgian-style buildings alongside international chain stores, old cinemas and Indian restaurants. You can visit the old cinemas and Central Park, which is popular with local people. The area also has several notable venues.

From Delhi we drive for about 5 hours to Jaipur, the City of Forts, with scenery along the way. Jaipur is the largest city in the Indian state of Rajasthan and has forts of great architectural and cultural importance. We visit the Amer Fort, about 11 km from the outskirts of Jaipur. The fort is a UNESCO World Heritage Site built of red sandstone and marble, and the palace was once home to the Rajput Maharajas and their families. We also visit the Hawa Mahal, known for its honeycomb-shaped, finely carved windows. Visit the Hawa Mahal early in the morning to see the sunlight on its facade.

From Jaipur you drive to Agra, the city of the Taj Mahal, which takes about 4 hours 15 minutes. You visit the large Agra Fort, which has many historical events associated with it. The fort is 2.5 km from the Taj Mahal and was built by the Hindu Sikarwar Rajputs.

Today you visit the Taj Mahal, a monument to love and one of the main attractions of India. This mausoleum is the resting place of the wife of Emperor Shah Jahan. The white marble tomb is built in the Mughal style, and its designs are so intricate and unique that, according to legend, the Emperor had the hands of the artisans cut off so that it could never be repeated. You visit both the interior and the exterior of the monument.

After Agra, we travel to the religious city of Varanasi, either by plane or by train. This holy city attracts thousands of pilgrims every year. Varanasi is a sacred city with many stories and legends associated with it. During your stay you can visit its temples, bathe in the Ganga River and talk with the holy men and sadhus who have renounced worldly attachments.

After your time in Varanasi, you fly to Kathmandu, the capital of Nepal. Our representative will meet you at the international airport and transfer you to your hotel.

After breakfast, we visit the UNESCO World Heritage Sites of the Kathmandu Valley. They are: • Swayambhunath: the climb to this large stupa with its golden spires gives a view over the Kathmandu Valley, and it is an important site for anyone interested in Buddhism. Swayambhunath means 'the self-existent one', and records date it to the 13th century. At Swayambhu you can spin the prayer wheels, surrounded by the prayer 'Om Mani Padme Hum' and the scent of incense. • Boudhanath: the Boudhanath Stupa is one of the largest stupas in South Asia. The large white dome is 36 metres across, and on top of it is a square tower painted with the eyes of the Buddha facing all four directions. Prayer flags tied to the stupa carry the prayers of the faithful on the wind. Tibetans settled in the area in the 1950s, and Tibetan culture is still present today; you can talk with local people to learn more about it. You can turn the prayer wheels and walk around the stupa among the crowds and the scent of incense. • Pashupatinath: Pashupatinath is one of the most important Hindu pilgrimage sites in the world. A small temple dedicated to Lord Shiva was built here in 879 AD, and the temple took its current form in 1697 AD under King Bhupatindra Malla. It is notable for its architecture, with a gold-plated roof, silver roofs and fine woodcarving. The temple contains linga images of Lord Shiva as well as many statues and shrines. In the courtyards you may see young boys taking part in the Bratabandha ceremony, which marks the start of adulthood, while on the banks of the holy Bagmati River the dead are cremated. You can talk with the holy men who live there to learn more about Hinduism.

Nagarkot is a quiet hill station surrounded by green hills and fresh air, and a good place to get away from the city. You make your way to the top through green countryside and small villages, and you may see wildlife along the route. The views extend across green hills to the snow-covered peaks, including the Annapurna range and the Jugal range. You drive back via Bhaktapur, passing villages and terraced fields. In the evening, you join the Earthbound Expeditions team for a Nepali dinner and a cultural show. You can collect your Tibet visa on this day.

Today we drive to Kyirong in Tibet via the Friendship Highway, which has good views along the way. At the border you complete the immigration and customs formalities. These can take some time, so we stay overnight at a hotel in Kyirong.

The distance to Xegar is 251 km, and the route has good views of the surrounding landscape. The road is long and crosses several mountain passes through remote areas, including a pass at 5,050 metres. The region is often affected by heavy mist. Xegar is set in a barren landscape. You may experience symptoms of altitude sickness, so take care. One of Xegar's main landmarks is its monastery, built in the 1200s.

After visiting the sights of Xegar, we drive to Shigatse, which takes about 7 hours. Shigatse is the second-largest city in Tibet, and its main attraction is the Tashilhunpo Monastery. It is a lively city. You can visit Shigatse Dzong, which resembles the Potala and stands high on a hilltop with wide views from the top, and the Tashilhunpo Monastery, the seat of the Panchen Lama.

In the morning we visit the Tashilhunpo Monastery, then drive to Gyantse. Gyantse lies on the historic trade route between India and Tibet and is considered one of the main towns of Tibet after Lhasa and Shigatse. The small town has kept much of its original character despite modernisation. You can visit the Tsechen Monastery and the Guru Lhakhang temple.

You drive to Lhasa over the Karo La and Kamba La passes, which have panoramic views of the surrounding landscape, Yamdrok Lake and the deep blue sky. On the way to Lhasa you cross the Brahmaputra River.

Lhasa has more sights than can be visited in a single day. Its best-known landmark is the Potala Palace, built in 637 AD, which contains more than 1,000 rooms and 10,000 shrines. You also visit the Norbulingka, or Summer Palace, often called the 'Park of Treasures', which was a residence of the Dalai Lama. Depending on time, we take you to other monasteries around Lhasa, such as Sera and Drepung. After the tour, we visit the busy Barkhor bazaar, where you can shop for souvenirs.

You are transferred to the railway station to board the train to Xi'an. You spend the night on the train.

Today you arrive at Xi'an railway station and are transferred to the hotel.

You spend the day exploring Xi'an, which has many landmarks worth visiting. You visit the Terracotta Warriors, one of the most important archaeological discoveries in the world: a life-size army of thousands of soldiers standing in battle formation to guard the ruler of China. You also visit the Big Wild Goose Pagoda, a fine example of a Tang-style pagoda built around 652 AD, and the Bell Tower, with time for shopping. You are then transferred to the railway station for the train to Beijing.

You arrive in Beijing and are transferred to a nearby hotel.

You visit the main landmarks of Beijing, including the Forbidden City and the Temple of Heaven.

Today you drive to the Badaling section of the Great Wall of China for sightseeing.

Our representative will take you to the international airport for your departure.