Tibet

Day 01 – KATHMANDU (1300 m) – LHASA (3,650 m)
Fly (1 hr.) to LHASA over crossing the highest Himalayan ranges of the world. Transfer to LHASA (45 min) through the new tunnel and check-in to your hotel. Full rest for acclimatization.

Day 02 – IN LHASA
Full day sightseeing tour to LHASA including POTALA PALACE, JOKHANG TEMPLE & BARKHOR BAZAAR – Overnight at hotel.

Day 03 – IN LHASA
Full day sightseeing tour to LHASA including DREPUNG & SERRA MONASTERIES. Overnight at hotel.

Day 04 – LHASA – XIGATZE (3,900 m): 280 KM
Scenic drive to XIGATSE, the west of LHASA through the northern road. The drive is scenic as the road drives along the valley and gorge made by BRAHMAPUTRA River (YARLUNG TSANGPO). Overnight at hotel.

Day 05 – XIGATSE – GYANTSE (3,950 m): 90 KM
Morning sightseeing to the PANCHEN LAMA’S TASHILHUMPU MONASTERY. Afternoon, scenic drive to GYANTSE and visit to the KUMBUM STUPA & PHALKOR MONASTERY. Overnight at hotel.

Day 06 – GYANTSE – TSEDANG (3,400 m): 291 KM
Full day picturesque drive to TSEDANG crossing over KARO LA (pass of 5,010 m), KAMBA LA (pass of 4,794 m), and colorful YAMDROK LAKE and continue drive along the Tibetan lifeline river BRAHMA PUTRA (YARLUNG TSANGPO) on to TSEDANG – Overnight at hotel.

Day 07 – TSEDANG – SAMYE – TSEDANG: 140 KM
Morning drive SAMYE by the side of the BRAHMAPUTRA RIVER. Explore SAMYE MONASTERY and surroundings and in the afternoon, drive back to TSEDANG. Late afternoon, visit YUMBULAKHANG & also THANDRUK MONASTERY (Time permitting) – Overnight at hotel.

Day 08 – TSEDANG – KATHMANDU
Early morning drive (2 hrs) to GONGGAR airport for departure flight to KATHMANDU.

Day 01 – KATHMANDU-KODARI-ZHANGMU
This morning we depart Kathmandu by surface on a scenic drive to Kodari (Nepal-Tibet border), through the beautiful Nepalese countryside. We leave our vehicles here and start a short walk of about one hour 30 minutes uphill with porters to Shangmu Immigrations- known to Nepalese as Khasa, hangs on a cliff face, its boom town architecture having a temporary look; even the monastery roofs are sheathed in corrugated iron sheets and is situated at a height of 2,500 m. Overnight stay at the Zhangmu.

Day 02 – ZHANGMU-XEGAR
Today we drive uphill to the highest plateau of the world with the typical view of Tibetan landscape, crossing over Nyalam Pass (3,800 m) and Lalung-La (Pass) at 5,050m, with views of beautiful Himalayan Ranges panorama including the Mt. Everest (8,848 m) to Zhangmu (244 Kms).Also called “new tingri”, is surrounded by mountains, Zhangmu is another town that lies in the shadow of a great fortress. Even in ruins it is majestic. Seeming to grow out of the craggy brown rock, its sinous wall bristles with watchtowers like stegosaurus spines. Isolated in 1855 by Nepalese in search of booty, the Gurkhas cut off the Dzong’s water supply and settled in for a long siege. Overnight stay at the Xegar.

Day 03 – XEGAR-XIGATSE
We continue on our drive to Lhatse (T-cross to Mt. Everest), and crossing over the Gyatsola Pass at 5,220 m, which is the highest enroute to Xigatse (240 Kms). Xigatse is the second largest town in Tibet and the capital of Tsang, lying 354 Kms West of Lhasa at an altitude of 3,810m. Overnight stay at the Xigaste.

Day 04 – XIGATESE-GYANTSE
This morning we will visit the Panchen Lama’s Tashilhumpu Monastery, and continue on our drive to gyantse (90 Kms) – is a pastoral town between Lhasa and xigatse. It is 264 Kms. southwest of Lhasa, and still retains the charm of a traditional Tibetan town untouched by modern expansion. As a crossroad on the principle trade route to India, it used to be renowned for the excellence of its carpets. The compound, encircled by on impressive wall, once contained 19 monasteries, presided over by the still intact fortress perched atop a nearby mountain. Later in the day visit the Kumbum Stupa and Phalkor Monastery. Overnight stay in Gyantse.

Day 05 – GYANTSE-LHASA
We continue on a full day picturesque drive crossing over Karola Pass at 5,010m, Kambala Pass at 4,794 m. and a colorful Yamdrok Lake, sometimes along the Tibetan lifeline river Brahmaputra also known as yarlung Tsangpo, to the capital town Lhasa. Overnight in Lhasa.

Day 06 – LHASA:
Today we will visit the Jokhang Temple, situated in the heart of Old Lhasa, it houses Tibet’s most precious religious relic, a golden Shakyamuni Buddha which was brought as a gift by the Chinese Princess Wen Cheng on the occasion of her wedding to the Tibetan King, Songtsen Gompo. Surrounding the Jokhang Temple is the bustling Barkhor Market place which is the religious and social focus of Lhasa. Later in the day visit the Potala Palace, this legendary palace built atop a single hill is synonymous with Tibet by the first foremost king Songtsen Gompa. It was expanded to its present structure during the 17th century by the 5th Dalai Lama. This 13 story 1000 room citadel served as the headquarters of the former “church-state” of Tibet and was home to successive Dalai Lamas, who from the latter half of the 18th century used it as their winter palace. Overnight in Lhasa.

Day 07 – LHASA: AM:
Visit Drepung Monastery (the biggest monastery in Tibet). PM: Visit Sera Monastery. Overnight in Lhasa.

Day 08 – LHASA-KATHMANDU
Morning, you will be picked up from your hotel to be transferred in time to Gongaar airport to connect your flight to Kathmandu for a flight to your next destination.