Empires of the East By World Journeys

21 June 2028

20 Days / 19 Nights from $21,995 Price Per Person

Sales from 01 January 2026 to 31 December 2026

**June 2028**

**Wed 21: Auckland > Beijing**
Fly overnight via Beijing to Ulaanbaatar.

**Thu 22: Beijing > Ulaanbaatar (D)**
Transit in Beijing and fly to Ulaanbaatar. On arrival transfer to our comfortable hotel and the afternoon is at leisure. Perhaps stroll to Sukhbaatar Square, with its statues of Genghis Khan and Damdin Sukhbaatar.

**Fri 23: Ulaanbaatar (B,L,D)**
Today enjoy an orientation tour of Ulaanbaatar, now home to half the country’s population. The city is an extraordinary blend of Soviet-era architecture, modern shopping centres, traditional ger districts and peaceful monasteries. Sights include the Chinggis Khan Museum and Zanabazar Fine Arts Museum.

**Sat 24: Ulaanbaatar > Hustai National Park > Hui Doloon Hudag Plains (B,L)**
Drive west to Hustai National Park. Visit the impressive Öngöt archeological site with standing stelae pre-dating Genghis Khan. After lunch visit the bankhar dog kennels where herder dogs are trained to protect livestock against wolves. An early dinner precedes a game drive to spot Wapiti deer, Mongolian gazelles and Pzrewalskii horses, an endangered wild horse, once extinct in the wild and reintroduced to the National Park.

**Sun 25: Hui Doloon Hudag Plains > Jalman Meadows (B,L,D)**
Spend much of the day at the annual Danshig Naadam Games. Revived in the last decade, this monastic celebration of archery using ancient composite curved bows, traditional wrestling matches and ceremonial tsam dances with huge, colourful ceremonial face masks to ward off evil spirits is an unusual and moving experience.

In the afternoon there is a long drive ahead to travel to the Khan Khetii protected area via a steppe valley dotted with gers and livestock, cross the mountain ridge at the Zamtiin Pass and continue to the Upper Tuul River Valley. At the camp we are met by nomads with yak carts to transfer our luggage to our comfortable ger.

**Mon 26 & Tue 27: Jalman Meadows (B,L,D)**
The Khentii Mountains are covered with larch and birch forests while rivers flow down the broad steppe valleys. Two full days to relax or be as active as desired. Explore the area on foot, horseback or by mountain bike, there are river swimming or kayaking and cataraft options, choose to enjoy a good book or experience a riverbank sauna.

**Wed 28: Jalman Meadows > Ulaanbaatar > Beijing (B)**
Drive to Ulaanbaatar and fly to Beijing. On arrival transfer to the hotel for overnight.

**Thu 29: Beijing (B)**
Today visit the Forbidden City, which houses the Imperial Palace from the Ming and Qing dynasties and is one of the grandest palace complexes that remain today. Continue to the Temple of Heaven, where emperors of the Ming and Qing dynasties used to attend annual ceremonies of prayer for a good harvest.

**Fri 30: Beijing (B)**
Travel out to the Great Wall at Mutianyu, winding along lofty, craggy mountains from the southeast to the northwest. The essence of the Great Wall, the Mutianyu section is not only noted for the quality of its construction but also for its distinct style and features. Return to the city and explore the maze of narrow alleys known as the hutongs. When the Mongols swept through China in the 13th century, they built their Grand Capital at Beijing and the residual streets were called “hutong” (in Mongolian meaning “water well”). The winding alleyways of hutong linked the city through a network of diverse neighbourhoods – each area being spun like a web of interconnecting lanes that became the lifeblood of old Beijing.

**July 2028**

**Sat 1: Beijing – Xi’an (B)**
Transfer to the station and take the bullet train to Xi’an. On arrival check in to the hotel and then explore the well-preserved defensive city wall. Continue to the Islamic Quarter, home to a sizeable community of Chinese-Muslims, and stroll along Muslim Street, a narrow bazaar-style street lined with shops selling local delicacies, snacks and souvenirs.

**Sun 2: Xi’an (B,D)**
Visit the Terracotta Army, discovered by local farmers digging a well in 1974. Built for China’s first emperor, Qin Shi Huang, the army of 800 life-size soldiers, 130 chariots and 520 horses and cavalry units is arranged in battle formation to protect the emperor in the afterlife. Later enjoy an evening of theatrical performance at a Tang Dynasty dinner.

**Mon 3: Xi’an > Lhasa (B)**
Transfer to the airport and fly to Lhasa. On arrival transfer to the hotel and rest to allow time to acclimatise to the altitude.

**Tue 4: Lhasa (B)**
Visit stunning Drepung Monastery, once one of the largest in the world housing over 7,700 monks and one of Tibet’s most influential institutions. Continue to Sera Monastery, a major centre for Buddhist philosophy, monastic education and religious practice. If we’re lucky, watch one of the philosophical debates where monks challenge each other on Buddhist teachings, logic and nature of reality for which the monastery is famous.

**Wed 5: Lhasa (B)**
Start the day at magnificent Potala Palace, the traditional winter residence of successive Dalai Lamas before heading to Longwangtan Park, a tranquil green space lying behind the palace to rest and see locals exercising and enjoying the park. Continue to the spiritual heart of Lhasa at Jokhang Temple and get a taste of traditional street life at Barkhor Steet, lined with traditional Tibetan buildings, shops and market stalls.

**Thu 6: Lhasa > Gyantse (B)**
Depart Lhasa on one of the most spectacular road journeys in Tibet and drive through immense mountain scenery to the breathtaking panorama of the brilliant turquoise of Yamdrok Lake. Continue past dramatic Karola Glacier descending from the mountains as the scenery gradually opens into agricultural land and broad mountain views on the road to Gyantse.

**Fri 7: Gyantse > Shigatse (B)**
Visit the fascinating Pelkor Chode Monastery this morning, the numerous chapels of its famous Kumbum Stupa filled with statues, murals and artwork. Then continue the road journey through the historic heartland of Tibet on the drive to Shigatse. Leaving the mountain scenery behind, drive through more gentle landscapes via the artistic treasure of Shalu Monastery with its remarkable historic murals. Arrive at Shigatse and check into the hotel.

**Sat 8: Shigatse > Lhasa (B)**
Check out after breakfast and visit the Tashilhunpo Monastery, founded in 1447 by the first Dalai Lama and the traditional seat of the Panchen Lamas. Its imposing assembly halls and the enormous statue of Maitreya, the Buddha of the Future, is sure to leave an impact. Transfer to the station and take the train to Lhasa. Check in to the hotel for the final night in Tibet.

**Sun 9: Lhasa > Beijing > Auckland (B)**
Transfer to the airport and fly to Beijing. Transit to your onward flight and travel overnight to Auckland.

**Mon 10: Arrive Auckland**

Small group hosted journey: Maximum 18 guests, with a host accompanying the group all the way from NZ and back, with flights and tipping included.

Inclusions

• A World Journeys host
  
• Accommodation in 4- and 5-star hotels and a luxury ger camp
  
• Meals as indicated (B-L-D)
  
• Transfers, sightseeing, and entrance fees as per the itinerary
  
• Economy Class airfares ex Auckland
  
• Economy Class airfares within the itinerary
  
• Airline and airport taxes
  
• First Class train in Tibet
  
• Gratuities