Day 1: USA/Beijing, China
Depart on an overnight flight to Beijing. In-flight

Day 2: Beijing • Transfer to your hotel. The remainder of the day is at leisure. Peninsula Beijing Hotel

Day 3: Beijing • Visit Beijing's highlights: the New Capital Museum, the "Bird Nest" (the new Olympic Stadium) and the Water Cube (the Olympic Pools). After lunch explore the Forbidden City, where you have special access to two halls normally closed to the public. Attend a welcome dinner at Club Lan. Peninsula Beijing Hotel B, L, D

Day 4: Beijing/Lhasa, Tibet/Tsedang • Fly to Lhasa, Tibet, where you are met and driven to Tsedang. Attend a Tibetan dinner and a traditional music and dance performance. Tsedang Hotel B, L, D

Day 5: Tsedang/Lhasa • Visit Yumbu Lakang, the Samye Monastery and cross the sacred Yarlong Tsampo River. Drive to Lhasa, dining at a restaurant en route or at the Lhasa Hotel. Lhasa Hotel B, L, D

Day 6: Lhasa • Explore the Potala Palace, Sera Monastery and Sanggye Dhunghor. After lunch visit Norbulingka, the Dalai Lama's Summer Palace. Dine at the Himalaya Restaurant. Lhasa Hotel B, L, D

Day 7: Lhasa • Meet the nuns and attend a chanting ceremony at Ani Tsangku. Walk through the Old Town to the Jokhang Temple and the Barkhor Bazaar. After lunch visit Braille Without Borders. Join the director of the Tibet Museum for a tour of the exhibition galleries, dinner and a music and dance performance. Lhasa Hotel B, L, D

Day 8: Lhasa/Kathmandu, Nepal • Fly to Kathmandu and see Durbar Square, Teleju Temple, House of the Living Goddess and Swayambhunath ("Monkey Temple"). Dwarika's B, L, D

Day 9: Kathmandu • Tour Patan City: the Royal Baths, Mahaboudha, Krishna Mandir, Hiranya Verna Mahabihar (the Golden Temple) and the Patan Museum. After lunch explore Bhaktapur. Dinner is accompanied by a folk dancing performance. Dwarika's B, L, D

Day 10: Kathmandu/Paro, Bhutan/ Thimphu • Pass over the Himalayas as you fly to Bhutan. You are met in Paro and driven to Thimphu. Taj Tashi B, L, D

Days 11-12: Thimphu • Watch an archery match and join the archers for lunch. Visit the National Library, the Institute for Zorig Chusum (the Painting School), the Textile and Folk Heritage Museum, Punakha Dzong and Wangduephodrang. Taj Tashi B, L, D

Day 13: Thimphu/Paro • Explore the Ta Dzong (National Museum) and Rinpung Dzong. Experience the local lifestyle during a farmhouse visit. Uma Paro B, L, D

Day 14: Paro • Participate in a puja (prayer service) at a monastery and attend a session on Buddhism. After lunch visit the sacred shrine of Kyichu Lhakhang. Uma Paro B, L, D

Day 15: Paro • Walk to the revered Taktsang Monastery. Tonight's gala farewell dinner includes a bonfire and a cultural show. Uma Paro B, L, D

Days 16-17: Paro/Delhi, India/USA • Fly to Delhi, India, and transfer to your hotel. If you are not continuing on, return to the airport late tonight for your departure flight, which leaves just after midnight. Imperial Hotel (dayroom) B, L, D

B = Breakfast, L = Lunch, D = Dinner

10/08