The best of Tibet and China in one tour!

Departure from Sofia Airport on a Turkish Airlines flight to Istanbul at 21:15. Landing at 22:45 and connection to Beijing at 01:30. /International flights are outside the package price/.

Arrival in Beijing at 15:35 local time. Reception, transfer and check-in at hotel Double Tree by Hilton 5*, centrally located. Check in and free time for first impressions of the Chinese capital. Optional, dinner Peking duck including transfers to/from the hotel. Overnight.

After breakfast, full day tour of Beijing including Forbidden City/ UNESCO/ - a huge palace in the central part of old Beijing, the seat of the Chinese Ming and Qing dynasties. The city got its name because the palace complex was inaccessible to ordinary Chinese. The Forbidden City is a marvel of ancient architecture and Chinese history. Spanning an impressive 720,000 square metres, the UNESCO World Heritage site contains the largest collection of preserved ancient wooden structures in the world. With over 800 buildings and nearly 9,000 rooms, it's easy to get lost in its grandeur. Built during the reign of Emperor Yunlu of the Ming Dynasty for almost 14 years, from 1406 to 1420, it was used as an imperial palace until the early 20th century.

Lunch at a local restaurant and a walk in the afternoon around the Temple of Heaven /UNESCO/, built by the same Yongle Emperor in 1420. The Temple of Heaven is the largest temple and monastery complex in China - four times larger than the Forbidden City. During the Chinese New Year, emperors prayed to the God of Heaven for a good harvest and this was one of the most important ceremonies of imperial China. The overall layout of the ensemble of five architectural groups symbolizes the relationship between Earth and Heaven - the World of Man and the World of God. The Son of Heaven /Emperor/ appears as a mediator between the people and their symbolic parents-gods, the Prayer Hall and the Altar are circular /symbol of Heaven/, and are located in the center of a square /Earth/.

The program for the day ends with a walk through the interesting old quarters of Beijing - the so-called Hutton, which, unlike the sights visited so far, introduce the life of ordinary city residents in the recent past and still symbolize the old Beijing. They are the heart of the community and a way to learn about the traditions and taste the local food.

After breakfast, departure for The Great Wall of China /UNESCO/ - one of the Seven Wonders of the World! Like a giant dragon, it meanders across deserts, mountains and plateaus for 7000 km. This unique architectural creation, which is clearly visible from space, is a testament to the genius of its creators and the greatness of ancient China. A cable car ride up to the wall is included, offering a completely different experience and view. There are no hidden symbols and signs here, as with the Temple of Heaven. Spaciousness, waves of green mountains and more spaciousness... And in the midst of this wild panorama is an endless stone dragon - the Wall! So harmoniously and convincingly does this majestic mound step through the mountains, as if it were infinite and as if it had always been there! The legends and mysterious stories associated with the Great Wall of China are many and you will hear some of them in the right place. Drive back to Beijing and have lunch at a local restaurant.

In the afternoon the program continues with a walk in the Summer Palace UNESCO/ and the Imperial Gardens - a true masterpiece of Chinese horticultural art, impressing visitors with its harmony between natural natural features and additionally built pavilions, palaces, temples and bridges. During the tour, stroll around Kunming Lake, view the famous Long Corridor with its paintings, and the remarkable Pavilion of Generosity and Longevity with its bronze statue of the magical dragon Qilin.

At the end of the program for the day is visited and  Tiananmen Square - the largest open city square with an area of 440,000 square meters, whose name „Gate to Divine Rest” comes from the name of the huge gate that separates it from the Forbidden City. In China's more recent history, in 1989, more than 1.2 million people gathered in the square to protest against limited human rights and freedoms, which was violently crushed by the then government.

Transfer to airport for flight to Lhasa, the capital of Tibet. Welcome by local guide and transfer to hotel Lhasa VIP Building 5*, centrally located. Free time for acclimatization.
How vast the world is and how many unique places it is home to! Each has its own charm, mystique and deeply hidden secrets and it is this combination that draws people to such places - one such place is definitely Tibet. Often referred to as the "Roof of the World" due to the high altitude of the Tibetan Plateau - over 4500m in places, it has been inhabited for thousands of years, with early Tibetan culture emerging around the 6th century. By the 9th century it had become a unified and powerful empire, but it subsequently fragmented into smaller regions, and in the 13th century fell under Mongol rule. In the 17th century, the 5th Dalai Lama united Tibet under the Gelug school of Tibetan Buddhism, also known as the Yellow Hat sect, and built the iconic Potala Palace in Lhasa, which became the Dalai Lama's residence and a symbol of Tibetan culture. The twentieth century brought significant changes to Tibet - in 1951, China invaded with its army and annexed Tibet, and the Dalai Lama took refuge in India after an unsuccessful Tibetan revolt against the illegal occupation. „Lhasa” in Tibetan means „sacred” and so it is for all Tibetans, home to 31 Tibetan communities, a crossroads and bustling marketplace, and lately a huge tourist attraction. Dinner at the hotel and overnight stay included.

After breakfast, a full day tour of Lhasa begins with a visit first to Sera Monastery. It is one of the main literary and spiritual centres in Tibet. In addition to its rich history and beautiful architecture, the monastery is also famous for the unique “discourses“ in which local monks engage almost every afternoon in the monastery courtyard. These discussions are structured in a strict way, where one monk takes the role of the questioner and the other the answerer, and all the time both clap their hands, stamp their feet and pull their rosaries to express their points more enthusiastically. The opportunity to observe such an extraordinary event is a real stroke of luck for the traveller.
Afternoon viewing Drepung Monastery - one of the largest and most influential monasteries in Tibet. With a history of nearly 600 years, today it houses one of the most important Buddhist colleges, where monks from near and far study classical Tibetan Buddhism. The name “Drepung“ means “rice gathering“, as the white buildings scattered on the hill resemble scattered rice grains from afar. At its height, over 10,000 monks lived here/ today only about 600/. The monastery is also striking for its size, especially the Hall of Prayer, which is the height of a 3-storey building, and from its open terrace you can see the whole of the capital, Lhasa, and the valley around it. The statue of the future Buddha, Maitreya, is also striking with its height of over 9 metres.
Return back to the capital and visit the oldest and most sacred temple in the city - Jokang, /UNESCO/, in front of which worshippers can almost constantly be seen during their prayers. In Tibet, it consists of successively falling full height to the ground and standing up 108 times. Built as early as 652 by King Songtsen Gampo of the Thubo dynasty to commemorate his marriage to Princess Bhrikuti of Nepal, the temple underwent many changes until it took on its present form. In order to establish peaceful relations with the Chinese Emperor Taizong of the Tang Dynasty, Gampo married his daughter, Princess Wencheng, as his second wife. When Wencheng traveled to Tibet, she brought with her a life-size statue of the 12-year-old Jowo Sakyamuni, considered the founder of Buddhism, which became the most prized statue in the Jokhang Temple.
Return to the hotel and free time for a self-guided walk and dinner at one of the many local live music venues - although heavily influenced by mysticism, Tibet's capital also captivates with its laid-back youthful and touristy atmosphere.

Breakfast at the hotel and start of a full day tour visiting Potala Palace - the symbol of Tibet, built in the 14th century on the mountainside itself, with imposing stairs winding upwards. It was later used by the Dalai Lamas only in winter, which is why it is also called the Winter Palace. It is now a museum, and since 1994 it has also been declared a World Heritage Site /UNESCO/. The highest point of the palace is 117 m and all other buildings in Lhasa are not allowed to rise above it, as a sign of respect to the sacred place. It has had various functions and has been home to the Dalai Lama and other Buddhist officials, as well as serving as the seat of the Tibetan government and the venue for all state ceremonies. Furthermore, Potala is one of the biggest destinations for pilgrims in Tibet, as it is home to the tombs of previous Dalai Lamas, the most famous of which is the stupa in memory of the fifth Dalai Lama - almost 15 metres high, covered with more than 3,000 kg of gold and decorated with thousands of pearls, precious stones, coral, amber and agates. After an included lunch at a local restaurant, visit Norbulinka Palace (/UNESCO / - a huge park located in the western part of the city on an area of 46 acres with a complex of buildings built by various Dalai Lamas for their summer residences. The well-preserved frescoes, colorful mandalas and especially the preserved huge mural, uniquely recreate the history of Tibet.
Return to the hotel and last night in Lhasa for a stroll or shopping on the pedestrianised Bakhor Street in the city centre. Overnight.  

Breakfast at the hotel. Transfer to airport for flight to Xi'an. Meet and greet at the airport by the local guide and explore the ancient ramparts (UNESCO) of the city.
Often referred to as the birthplace of Chinese civilization, Xi'an has over 5,000 years of history, having served as the capital and main political center of 13 dynasties, the most famous of which are the Qing, Han and Tang. The central part of the city is surrounded by ancient ramparts - the best preserved in China and one of the largest ancient defences in the world. Originally built by the Tang Dynasty in 618-907 AD, they were expanded and developed to their current size, more than 14 km, by the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644 AD) emperor Zhu Yuenzhan. Among the four majestic gates of the walls, the most impressive and richly decorated is the South Gate, from where you can reach the top of the walls with an incredible width of 12-14 m - almost a whole boulevard!
Check in at Sofitel Xi'an On Renmin Square 5*, centrally located in Xi'an Old Town.
Optional, evening tour of Xi'an during which you will see the city in a completely different way, dressed in beautiful night lights.

Breakfast at the hotel. Full day excursion including lunch and a visit to the Terracotta Army Museum/ /UNESCO/- one of the New Wonders of the World, accidentally discovered in 1974 by local farmers. The army of over 8,000 terracotta soldiers still amazes the world today, not only because the figures of the soldiers and their horses are life-size and arranged in battle formations, as if ready to come to life and enter battle at any moment, but also because each face and uniform is different! The monumental tomb of Qin Shihuang, the Great Emperor of China who united China in the 2nd century AD and launched its power, has not yet been fully opened, and it is assumed that when this is technically possible/ due to the significant amounts of mercury/ the world will see a new, even more amazing wonder of ancient China, because it is assumed that there is an untold treasure trove and many other artifacts never seen before. The huge 16,300 square meter museum is divided into three parts, numbered according to the opening date. From room to room, the visitor is left amazed at the craftsmanship and the extraordinary expressiveness of the faces of the thousands of warriors. Historians estimate that it took 700,000 workers over three decades to craft all the artifacts discovered so far. Legend has it that these workers were buried alive to deter grave robbers and keep the location of the tomb a secret.
Return to Xi'an and explore the Great Wild Goose Pagoda, set amidst the Da Xian Buddhist temple complex. Built in 652 AD, this seven-storey pagoda has been a hallmark of Xi'an since the Tang Dynasty and has served as a repository for ancient texts and chronicles relating to Gautama Buddha's first sermons in India, transmitted and translated by the saintly monk Xuan Zang. It has been declared by UNESCO as part of the World Heritage Site associated with the Ancient Silk Road. The pagoda can be climbed up to its highest part, where a panoramic view of the entire city can be seen.
In the evening, optional visit to the colourful Tan Dynasty Show with dinner included and transfers to and from the hotel. The show is a extravaganza of music and dance representing the era of the Tang Dynasty, which ruled China from 618 to 907 AD, called the Golden Age for literature and art. It is no coincidence that the show is one of the most visited in China, because of the amazing, authentic costumes, the multimedia used and not least because of the extremely professional singers and dancers.

Breakfast at the hotel and departure to the airport for flight to Shanghai. Meet and greet by the local guide and start a panoramic bus tour of this dynamic city. With its 28 million inhabitants, the megalopolis ranks third in population in the world, after Tokyo (37 million) and Delhi (32 million). Despite this overcrowding, the citizens of Shanghai have little difficulty getting around, as the city possesses the longest metro in the world - over 771 km! The city is at the same time multinational because it is the base of many international companies and banks, which in turn determines its dizzying development in recent years as one of the most technologically advanced cities in the world.
During the tour, see: the Bund area, nicknamed the “Exhibition of International Buildings“ for the different architectural styles of the 52 total representations of local and international companies and institutions that seem to look down on the modern skyscrapers of Pudong located across the river. It is also here that locals gather every morning to practice Tai Chi, an ancient Chinese martial art originally developed for wrestling and self-defense, but which eventually became a sport and form of exercise.
The tour continues with the People's Square, the largest in the city with its 140,000 square meters of wide green strips, bike paths and pedestrian areas; the Art Museum, with its interestingly shaped Chinese cooking pot - undoubtedly the best museum in China with rich collections of Chinese porcelain, paintings, calligraphy, coins and ancient sculptures. The central square is also home to the huge municipal building and the theatre, and not far from there is Nanjing Road, Shanghai's pedestrian street. Its eastern part is home to a variety of shops and tourist attractions, while Nanjing West Road is the most upscale shopping street with the highest rents in China, mostly selling luxury and high-end products.
Accommodation at Radisson Blu Hotel Shanghai New World 5*, centrally located.

Breakfast at the hotel and walking tour of the Yuyuan Gardens and the colorful bazaar next to them. The park dates back to the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644) and was owned by a government official named Pan Yongduan. “Yu“ in Chinese means pleasant and satisfying, and these gardens were built especially for Pan's parents as a place for them to enjoy peace and happiness in their old age. Although small in size, pavilions, rockeries and ponds can be seen in the park, and upon entering the gardens, the Great Rock Garden, which at 14 meters high is the largest, as well as the oldest rock garden in the southern Yangtze River region can be seen. At the top of the rock garden you can see the garden from a bird's eye view.
Free afternoon to explore the ultramodern city - a chance to see the Art Museum, the Oceanarium, the French Quarter, the Old Town, and the many boutiques and shops along Nanjing Road. Shanghai also has a very developed coffee culture, so sitting in one of the many cafes (more than those in London or New York) is a must part of visiting the city.
In the evening, on request, take a special lift up to the 118th floor of Shanghai Tower, where you have the opportunity to look at the brightly lit buildings of the modern district of Pudong.

Breakfast at the hotel and free day in Shanghai. Optional, full-day excursion by bullet train and included lunch to Hangzhou. During this excursion, you will descend south and visit Peak Fei Lai Feng, where hundreds of Buddha caves are scattered, carved into the limestone, surrounded by flowing streams and lush greenery. Then you will visit Lingying Temple, one of the oldest and most important Buddhist temples in China. We will stop for lunch and tea tasting near the tea plantations of Longjin township, where you will learn about the local customs and traditions in the cultivation and preparation of this typical Chinese beverage. Then we will make our way to the most significant site of the program, the West Lake /UNESCO/ of Hangzhou, famous for its beautiful scenery, historical and cultural monuments. Riding on a boat in the calm waters of the lake, you will feel the complete harmony between the natural features of the area combined with the beautiful man-made gardens and pagodas. Return to Shanghai by bullet train. antique shops and the longest outdoor escalator system, explore the green oasis of Hongkong Park or visit the interesting amusement park - the Ocean Park. Here you can take a ride on a panoramic cable car, visit the Dolphinarium and Aquarium, meet the giant pandas Ying Ying, An An, Le Le and Ke Ke. The endangered red panda species can also be seen in the park.
Transfer to airport for Turkish Airlines flight to Istanbul at 22:30. (Air tickets Hong Kong - Istanbul - Sofia are outside the package price).

Breakfast at the hotel and free time in Shanghai. Optional, extra charge for late check-out (before 6pm) at the hotel in Shanghai. Transfer to airport for flight to Istanbul at 22:25. Landing in Turkey at 05:20.

Flight to Bulgaria at 07:20. Landing at Sofia airport at 08:35.

End of program.