Best of China & Tibet: Self-Launched Edition

Arrive in Beijing at any time. Check into your hostel or budget hotel in the central Dongcheng or Chaoyang districts — both well connected and walkable to major sights. Spend the evening doing a self-guided orientation walk around your neighbourhood, grab some street food from a nearby night market, and get an early night ahead of a big day tomorrow.

🚌Airport Express train from Beijing Capital Airport to city centre ~£3.50, or from Daxing Airport via subway ~£2

🛏Downtown Backpackers Hostel or similar (e.g. Leo Hostel, Beijing Saga Youth Hostel) — dorm from ~£12/night, private from ~£30/night

• →Self-guided evening orientation walk around central Beijing
• →Street food dinner at a local night market (try jianbing or Peking duck wraps)

Start early at Tiananmen Square — free to enter and one of the world's largest public squares. Walk straight into the Forbidden City (book tickets online in advance via the official Palace Museum website, ~£10). In the afternoon, head south to the Temple of Heaven park (~£4 entry), a stunning Ming-dynasty complex. If time allows, swing by the Drum and Bell Towers in the hutong district for great photo opportunities (~£2 combined entry).

🚌Subway Line 1 to Tiananmen East station, all-day subway pass ~£1.50

🛏Same hostel as Day 1

• →Tiananmen Square — free entry, arrive early to beat crowds
• →Forbidden City (Palace Museum) — book tickets online at dpm.org.cn, ~£10
• →Temple of Heaven — ~£4 entry, beautiful Ming-dynasty architecture
• →Drum Tower & Bell Tower — ~£2 entry, iconic hutong neighbourhood

Take a self-organised day trip to Mutianyu, one of the best-preserved and least crowded sections of the Great Wall. Catch a shared minibus from Dongzhimen bus station (~£3 each way) or book a seat on a shuttle bus via your hostel (~£5-8 return). Entry to Mutianyu is ~£10; add a cable car up and toboggan ride down for extra fun (~£10 combined). Enjoy 22 watchtowers and sweeping ridgeline views — one of China's most iconic experiences.

🚌Bus 916 from Dongzhimen to Huairou, then shuttle to Mutianyu (~£3 each way), or hostel-arranged shuttle (~£8 return)

🛏Same hostel in Beijing

• →Mutianyu Great Wall — entry ~£10, book via mutianyugreatwall.com or at the gate
• →Cable car up + toboggan slide down — ~£10 combined (optional but highly recommended)
• →Hike along the wall between towers at your own pace

Spend the morning exploring the 798 Art District or the lively Wangfujing Street before heading to Beijing West Railway Station for your overnight sleeper train to Xi'an. Book in advance via Trip.com or 12go.asia — hard sleeper berths are comfortable and affordable. Arrive in Xi'an the following morning refreshed and ready to explore.

🚌Overnight train Beijing West → Xi'an (approx. 11-13 hrs), hard sleeper ~£25-35

🛏Overnight hard sleeper train — ~£25-35 per berth (book via Trip.com or 12go.asia)

• →Morning visit to 798 Art District or Wangfujing Street
• →Evening departure on overnight sleeper train to Xi'an

Arrive in Xi'an in the morning and check into your hostel. Head straight to the Terracotta Warriors Museum (~£15 entry) — book a local guide at the site for ~£10-15 for a much richer experience of the 8,000-strong clay army. In the late afternoon, return to the city and walk or cycle along the remarkably intact Ming-era City Walls (~£5 entry, bike rental ~£3/hr).

🚌Bus 306 or Tourist Bus from Xi'an train station to Terracotta Warriors site ~£1.50 each way

🛏Han Tang Inn or Shuyuan Youth Hostel — dorm from ~£8/night

• →Terracotta Warriors Museum — entry ~£15, book via official site or GetYourGuide
• →Hire a local guide at the museum entrance for ~£10-15 for expert context
• →Xi'an City Walls — cycle a full loop (~14km), entry ~£5 + bike hire ~£3/hr

Spend the morning wandering Xi'an's famous Muslim Quarter — a maze of street food stalls, market lanes, and the Grand Mosque. Don't miss the roujiamo (Chinese 'burger'), lamb skewers, and biángbiáng noodles. Catch an afternoon domestic flight to Chengdu (book in advance via Trip.com, ~£40-60).

🚌Domestic flight Xi'an (XIY) → Chengdu (CTU) — ~£40-60 booked in advance via Trip.com or Skyscanner

🛏Mix Hostel Chengdu or Flip Flop Hostel — dorm from ~£8/night

• →Muslim Quarter morning food walk — roujiamo, lamb skewers, biángbiáng noodles
• →Grand Mosque visit — free entry to grounds
• →Afternoon flight to Chengdu

Head to the Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding early (gates open at 7:30am — arrive by 8am for the best chance of seeing active pandas before they nap). Entry is ~£10, bookable in advance online. Spend the rest of the day exploring Chengdu's Jinli Ancient Street, sampling Sichuan street food, and relaxing in a traditional teahouse in People's Park.

🚌Rideshare (DiDi app) or city bus to Panda Base ~£2-4 each way

🛏Same hostel in Chengdu

• →Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding — entry ~£10, book at panda.org.cn
• →Arrive by 8am for feeding time and most active pandas
• →Jinli Ancient Street afternoon wander — free entry
• →Traditional teahouse in People's Park — tea from ~£1.50

Fly from Chengdu to Lhasa Gonggar Airport — one of the world's most dramatic approaches, with the Himalayas visible from the window on a clear day (~£60-100). Note: you MUST have a Tibet Travel Permit (TTB) before boarding — arrange this through a registered Tibetan travel agency (required by law, ~£30-50 for the permit itself). Upon arrival at 3,600m altitude, take it very easy. Rest, hydrate, and avoid alcohol. Your hostel or guesthouse will help you acclimatise.

🚌Flight Chengdu (CTU) → Lhasa (LXA) ~£60-100 via Trip.com. Tibet Travel Permit required — arrange via registered agency ~£30-50 (permit fee)

🛏Lhasa Yak Hotel or Snowland Hotel — budget double/twin from ~£20/night

• →Flight to Lhasa — dramatic Himalayan aerial views
• →Arrival acclimatisation — rest, drink plenty of water, gentle stroll only
• →Evening walk around Barkhor Street area (gentle, take it slow)

Visit the Jokhang Temple — the spiritual heart of Tibetan Buddhism and a UNESCO World Heritage Site (~£8 entry). Watch pilgrims prostrating around the temple's outer circuit (the Barkhor), some who have walked hundreds of miles to reach this sacred site. Join the Barkhor kora (circumambulation circuit) yourself — a deeply moving cultural experience. Browse the surrounding market stalls for traditional crafts, prayer flags, and yak butter.

🚌Walking from guesthouse — Barkhor area is very compact

🛏Same guesthouse in Lhasa

• →Jokhang Temple — entry ~£8, one of Tibet's holiest sites
• →Barkhor Circuit kora walk — join pilgrims on the outer circumambulation
• →Barkhor Market — browse traditional Tibetan crafts, prayer flags, thangkas

Morning visit to the iconic Potala Palace (~£25 entry — book well in advance, daily visitor numbers are strictly limited). The 13-storey palace was the winter residence of the Dalai Lamas and contains over 1,000 rooms, 10,000 shrines, and 200,000 statues. In the afternoon, visit Sera Monastery to witness the remarkable monk debate sessions, held daily except Sundays (~£5 entry). Monks in maroon robes engage in rapid, animated philosophical debates — a truly unforgettable sight.

🚌Rideshare or local taxi to Sera Monastery ~£2-3

🛏Same guesthouse in Lhasa

• →Potala Palace — entry ~£25, book in advance via official channels or agency (strict daily quota)
• →Sera Monastery monk debates — entry ~£5, debates usually 3pm-5pm except Sundays
• →Drepung Monastery (optional nearby visit) — ~£5 entry

Hire a shared 4WD vehicle with other travellers (arrange through your guesthouse or a local Tibetan agency) for the overland drive to Shigatse via the breathtaking Yamdrok Lake — a sacred turquoise lake ringed by snow-capped peaks at 4,441m. Stop at Karo-La glacier for photos and cross the Khamba La mountain pass (4,794m). Arrive in Shigatse, Tibet's second city, in the late afternoon.

🚌Shared 4WD hire Lhasa → Shigatse (split between 4-5 travellers) ~£15-20pp, arranged via local agency

🛏Tashi Choeta Hotel or similar guesthouse in Shigatse — from ~£15/night

• →Yamdrok Lake viewpoint stop — sacred turquoise lake, stunning scenery
• →Karo-La Glacier photo stop
• →Khamba La mountain pass crossing at 4,794m

Morning visit to Tashilhunpo Monastery, the seat of the Panchen Lama and one of Tibet's largest and most impressive monastic complexes (~£8 entry). Marvel at the enormous gilded statue of Maitreya Buddha. After lunch, continue your overland journey by shared 4WD towards Tingri — the staging town for Everest Base Camp — passing through dramatic high-altitude desert landscapes and small Tibetan villages.

🚌Shared 4WD Shigatse → Tingri (continued overland journey) ~£15pp

🛏Basic guesthouse in Tingri — from ~£8-12/night (very simple, prepare for cold nights)

• →Tashilhunpo Monastery — entry ~£8, explore vast monastic complex and gilded Maitreya Buddha
• →Overland drive through high-altitude Tibetan plateau scenery
• →Arrival in Tingri — acclimatise and rest

Today's the big one. Drive to Everest Base Camp (North Face, 5,150m) for your best chance to glimpse the world's highest peak — weather and cloud permitting, Everest is best seen in the early morning. Rongbuk Monastery, the world's highest monastery, is just 8km from Base Camp and worth a brief visit. Spend the night in a traditional yak hair tent at Rongbuk — a genuine once-in-a-lifetime experience under Himalayan stars. Dress in every layer you own.

🚌Shared 4WD Tingri → Everest Base Camp ~£10pp (included in multi-day 4WD hire)

🛏Yak hair tent or basic guesthouse at Rongbuk, near Everest Base Camp — ~£10-15/night

• →Everest Base Camp (North Face) — entry included in Tibet permit fees
• →View of Mt Everest (8,848m) — best visibility early morning
• →Rongbuk Monastery visit — world's highest monastery, small entry fee ~£2
• →Overnight in yak hair tent at Rongbuk guesthouse/tent camp — ~£10-15pp

Depart early and drive to the Nepal-Tibet border at Gyirong (the main crossing point since 2015). The scenery on this descent is staggering — from high-altitude plateau to lush sub-tropical valleys within hours. Cross the border on foot (~£2 exit tax), ensure you have your Nepalese visa arranged in advance (available online via Nepal e-visa portal, ~£30). Meet your onward transport on the Nepal side.

🚌Shared 4WD to Gyirong border ~£15pp. Local bus or shared jeep Nepal side to Kathmandu ~£8-12

🛏Basic guesthouse in Rasuwagadhi/Gyirong border town or continue to Kathmandu by bus — guesthouse from ~£8/night

• →Drive through dramatic descending landscapes from plateau to sub-tropical border valley
• →Gyirong border crossing — ensure Nepal e-visa arranged in advance (~£30)
• →Cross into Nepal on foot

Take the local bus or shared jeep from the Nepal border south through the hills to Kathmandu (~7-9 hours, ~£8-12). The journey is an experience in itself — winding mountain roads, terraced rice paddies, and colourful roadside villages. Arrive in Kathmandu by evening, check into Thamel (the backpacker hub) and decompress with a well-earned daal bhat.

🚌Local bus or shared jeep Nepal border → Kathmandu ~£8-12 (approx. 7-9 hrs)

🛏Alobar1000 Hostel or Hotel Encounter Nepal, Thamel — dorm from ~£6/night, private from ~£18/night

• →Scenic overland journey through Nepal's mid-hills
• →Arrival in Thamel, Kathmandu — explore the lively backpacker district
• →Celebratory daal bhat dinner — Nepal's national dish, refills included, ~£2-4

Spend the day exploring two of Kathmandu Valley's most spiritually significant sites. Morning at Pashupatinath Temple (~£8 entry for non-Hindus) — a sprawling Hindu complex on the banks of the Bagmati River, where cremation ghats burn alongside elaborate temple courtyards. Afternoon at Boudhanath Stupa (~£3 entry) — one of the world's largest stupas, ringed by prayer wheels, monasteries, and rooftop cafes perfect for people-watching over butter tea.

🚌Rideshare or local taxi between sites ~£2-4 each way, or hire a bicycle for the day ~£3

🛏Same hostel in Thamel

• →Pashupatinath Temple — entry ~£8 for non-Hindus, major Hindu cremation and pilgrimage site
• →Boudhanath Stupa — entry ~£3, enormous white stupa and Tibetan Buddhist hub
• →Rooftop cafe at Boudhanath for tea and stupa views

Self-guided orientation walk around Kathmandu Durbar Square (~£5 entry) — a remarkable UNESCO-listed complex of palaces, courtyards, and temples at the heart of the old city. Explore the Kumari Chowk (home of the Living Goddess), the Kasthamandap pavilion, and browse the local craft and spice stalls. Afternoon hike up to Swayambhunath (the 'Monkey Temple') for panoramic city views and playful resident monkeys (~£2 entry).

🚌Walking to Durbar Square (~20 mins from Thamel), taxi to Swayambhunath ~£1.50

🛏Same hostel in Thamel

• →Kathmandu Durbar Square — entry ~£5, UNESCO-listed palace and temple complex
• →Kumari Chowk — home of the living child goddess (views from courtyard)
• →Swayambhunath (Monkey Temple) — entry ~£2, hike up 365 steps, city panorama

Final morning in Kathmandu. Pick up last-minute souvenirs in Thamel — singing bowls, pashminas, thangka paintings, and locally made trekking gear. Head to Tribhuvan International Airport for your onward flight. Congratulations — you've just completed one of the world's great overland journeys, from the heart of the Middle Kingdom to the roof of the world, and down into the Himalayan foothills.

🚌Taxi to Kathmandu airport ~£5-8

🛏N/A — departure day

• →Final morning souvenir shopping in Thamel
• →Departure from Tribhuvan International Airport (KTM)