Welcome to Urumqi, the capital of Xinjiang Uighur Autonomous Region. Your guide will meet you at the airport and transfer you to your hotel. The evening is free to explore the lively night markets and sample Xinjiang's famous lamb kebabs sizzling on charcoal grills, freshly baked naan bread from traditional tandoor ovens, and sweet dried fruits from the region's abundant harvest.

Welcome to Urumqi, the capital of Xinjiang Uighur Autonomous Region. Your guide will meet you at the airport and transfer you to your hotel. The evening is free to explore the lively night markets and sample Xinjiang's famous lamb kebabs, freshly baked naan bread, and sweet dried fruits from the region's abundant harvest.

Drive to Turpan, the lowest point in China at 154 meters below sea level. Visit the ancient Jiaohe Ruins, a 2,000-year-old Silk Road city carved into a plateau, the ingenious Karez Underground Irrigation System, and the colorful Flaming Mountains made famous by Journey to the West.

Take the overnight train from Turpan to Kashgar across the vast Taklamakan Desert. Settle into your comfortable soft sleeper compartment for the 20-hour journey west. Watch the landscape transform from oasis farmland to endless sand dunes glowing golden in the setting sun.

Arrive in Kashgar and explore this ancient Silk Road city. Visit the magnificent Id Kah Mosque, the largest mosque in China, the bustling Kashgar Sunday Animal Market, and the Old City with its winding alleyways and traditional Uighur architecture featuring carved wooden doors and ornate balconies.

Drive south on the legendary Karakoram Highway, one of the highest paved roads in the world, crossing the stunning Pamir Mountains. Pass the brilliant White Sand Lake and the turquoise Karakul Lake with spectacular views of Muztagh Ata at 7,546 meters. Arrive in Tashkurgan, the Tajik ethnic town.

Cross the mighty Kunlun Mountains from Xinjiang into Tibet, passing through some of the most dramatic mountain scenery in the world. The landscape transforms from the dry desert of Xinjiang to the high-altitude grasslands of the Tibetan Plateau. Arrive in Ali, the capital of Ngari Prefecture.

Drive south toward the sacred Mount Kailash. Pass through the vast Changtang grasslands where Tibetan nomads tend their yaks. See the brilliant turquoise Lake Manasarovar before arriving in Darchen, the small village at the base of Mount Kailash.

Begin the sacred Kora circumambulation of Mount Kailash, considered by four religions to be the center of the universe. Today's 12-kilometer trek follows the Lha Chu River valley along the south face of the mountain with stunning views of the sacred snow-covered pyramid peak. Arrive at Dira Puk monastery guesthouse.

The most challenging day of the Kora. Today you cross the Dolma La Pass at 5,630 meters, the highest point of the circumambulation. The steep climb is rewarded with breathtaking panoramic views and thousands of prayer flags covering the pass. Descend carefully to Zutul Puk guesthouse.

After completing the Kora, visit the sacred Lake Manasarovar, the highest freshwater lake in the world at 4,590 meters and considered the source of all spiritual purity in Hindu and Buddhist traditions. Take a ritual dip in the holy waters if you dare the water is cold but spiritually purifying. After the visit begin the long eastward drive to Saga arriving in the evening.

Long drive east across the vast Tibetan Plateau passing through nomadic herder camps and spotting wild Tibetan wildlife including gazelles and wild ass. Arrive in Shigatse, Tibet's second-largest city in the evening.

Visit Tashilhunpo Monastery in Shigatse, the seat of the Panchen Lama featuring the world's largest gilded Maitreya Buddha statue standing 26 meters tall. Drive south through dramatic mountain scenery to the Gawu La Pass at 5,200 meters for first views of Mount Everest. Arrive at Everest Base Camp for sunset. Overnight at EBC guesthouse.

Early morning sunrise over Mount Everest. After breakfast begin the long drive back to Lhasa passing through Shigatse and along the scenic Yarlung Tsangpo River valley. Arrive in Lhasa late afternoon for a well-deserved shower and comfortable hotel.

Free day to rest and recover from the epic journey. Options include visiting a traditional Tibetan spa for a massage, exploring Barkhor Street for last-minute souvenir shopping, or simply relaxing at a sweet tea house watching Lhasa life go by.

Full day visiting the magnificent Potala Palace with its 1,000 rooms filled with Buddhist art, the sacred Jokhang Temple, and either Drepung or Sera Monastery depending on your interest and energy level.

After breakfast at your hotel, transfer to Lhasa Gonggar Airport for your departure flight. You have completed an epic journey across Xinjiang and Tibet, visited ancient Silk Road cities, circumambulated sacred Mount Kailash, and stood at Everest Base Camp. Tashi Delek!