Red Stars Travel Agency - Tours and Travel - What You Need To Know About Our Tours

Mongolia & China Tours

Land of Mysteries: China, Tibet, Mongolia 18 days / 17 nights
On this exciting voyage you will explore the Great Wall of China at Beijing, and see the terra-cotta soldiers guarding China's ancient history at Xi'an; continue through the "hidden country", the mysterious and little-traveled Tibet, to the land of enigmatic nomads, Mongolia. The tour combines experiencing two different cultures in Asia, as well as two different political and social environments. Learn about the rise and fall of Chinese imperial dynasties, uncover the secrets of Buddhism and feel one with Nature in the wilderness of Genghis Khan's motherland.
Day 1	Arrive in Beijing, meet and greet at the airport and private transfer to the hotel. Accommodation at the hotel.
Day 2	Start exploring China with its most famous sight - the Great Wall. Stretching for 4,500 miles, the wall is over 2,000 years old and remains an architectural wonder rarely matched. In the afternoon, a 17-hour train takes you through the beautiful Chinese countryside to the city of Xi’an.
Day 3	Arrive in China’s ancient capital Xi’an and transfer to the hotel. A city tour will take you to the magnificent Big Goose Pagoda built to store the manuscripts collected by the Buddhist monk Xuan Zang on his famous pilgrimage, the City Wall dating back to the Ming Dynasty rule, and the Forest of Stone Steles Museum. Return to your hotel for a relaxing evening.
Day 4	Today you will visit the amazing Terra-Cotta Warriors Museum whose recent discovery surprised the world and where excavations continue until this day. More than 6,000 terra cotta clay soldiers surround the tomb of the first Chinese Emperor Qin Shihuangdi and are armed, dressed in uniform and ready for battle. In the afternoon, complete your tour of Xi’an with a visit to the National Museum.
Day 5	In the morning you’ll take a morning flight to Lhasa, the exotic capital of the hidden land of Tibet. Transfer to the hotel. After a short rest, you will have a city tour including a visit to Potala Palace, the seat of Dalai Lama. Enjoy a late dinner at your hotel.
Day 6	Start your day by going on a guided tour of the 1,300-year old spiritual center of Tibet, Jokhang Temple, the every-day destination of many Buddhist pilgrims. Walk the Barkhor Street, a sacred pilgrim path and a site of a nomadic bazaar, and visit the Sera Monastery (“The Wild Rose Garden”) for a collection of murals and sacred statues. The rest of the day is free to spend as you please.
Day 7	Today you have a long and exciting drive by coach through the Himalayan Mountains across Karola Pass to the second largest city in Tibet, Shigatsu. Arrive in Shigatsu and accommodation at the hotel. Evening is free to relax after the long drive.
Day 8	This morning city tour of Shigatsu takes you to the Tashilhunpo Monastery, founded in 1477 by the first Dalai Lama. Stroll the city streets for a chance to meet local people and observe their lifestyles. Weather permitting, drive out into the mountains for some breathtaking views, including that of the Northern slope of Mount Everest. Return to your hotel and share impressions of the day with your fellow travelers at dinner.
Day 9	You will return to Lhasa today for a flight back to Beijing. Upon arrival in Beijing you’ll drive through the famous Tian’anmen Square and take a brief tour of the Forbidden City, the world’s largest palace complex that was once the imperial center of the Ming and Qing Dynasties. The rest of the day is free and you can explore the city on your own. In the evening, join your group for a farewell dinner of real Chinese cuisine and a wonderful folklore performance.
Day 10	10On this day you will board the Trans-Mongolian Express train for a 30-hour drive to Ulaanbaatar, the capital of Mongolia. Enjoy the breathtaking scenery as the train makes its way through the northern part of China to the Mongolian border. You’ll have a chance to stretch your legs as the bogies are changed - and as the Mongolian dining car replaces the Chinese.
Day 11	You arrive early in morning in Ulaanbaatar. Meet and greet at the airport and transfer to the hotel. The first part of the day is at leisure to rest up for your adventures ahead. Your afternoon sightseeing includes the former Winter Palace of Mongolian rulers and the Museum of Bogd Khaan. An extremely rewarding visit will also be made to the Museum of Religion, a former Buddhist Monastery built in the Chinese - Tibetan style.
Day 12	Today you will visit the Gandan Monastery, the main Buddhist temple in Mongolia. Stroll the monastery grounds and watch the monks in their morning prayers. Continue sightseeing with a visit to the Museum of Arts displaying traditional nomadic crafts and artworks. In the afternoon, get away from the city to Genghis Khan camp for a chance to ride horses, shoot the Mongolian bow and explore the grounds of an open-air exposition of gers and replicas of ancient weapons. Return to Ulaanbaatar for an overnight at hotel.
Day 13	13You depart on a flight to the beautiful Lake Huvsgul, whose crystal-clear waters are framed in a ring of luscious green forests and rolling hills. You’ll meet the nomads, observe their lifestyles and enjoy this day in the wild riding horses and hiking. Overnight in gers.
Day 14	Take free time in the morning to explore the surroundings some more before your flight back to Ulaanbaatar. Arrive in Ulaanbaatar and the afternoon is free to spend as you please. Your day ends with a dinner of traditional local cuisine accompanied by a folklore show featuring horse dancers, throat singers and contortionists.
Day 15	Start your day with a visit to the Natural History Museum featuring a fascinating collection of historic artifacts and even dinosaur fossils; and an excursion to the Bogd Khan Palace, home of the last Mongolian Khan. These are perfect places to buy souvenirs before your departure from Mongolia.
Day 16	In the morning you are transferred to the airport for a flight to Beijing. After arrival in Beijing and accommodation at the hotel, you’ll take a tour of the Temple of Heaven which is part of a complex larger than the entire Forbidden City in the Chinese capital. Evening free to rest before return home. Tonight your tour ends on a festive note as you enjoy farewell dinner with your fellow travel companions.
Day 17	You are transferred to the airport for your flight home.
Included in this tour	3 meals a day All accommodations Sightseeing excursions Porterage Transfers All transportation during tour
Book this tour now