A land ofancient Buddhist culture, awesome landscapes, artistic monasteries, exotic cities, hidden valleys and centuries-old caravan trails. Tibet offers a totally different experience. Known as the Roof of the World. It is the destination for ultimate thrill-seeker. The Lhasa to Kathmandu Tour via Everest Base Camp allows us to explore the mystical Yamdrok Tso Lake and conquer a few high passes. This tour also takes us to popular Tibetan landmarks like Dalai Lama’s Potala and Norbulingka Palaces, Tibet Museum, Barkhor Bazaar and Gyantse Dzong. We also visit quite a number of spectacular Tibetan monasteries including but not limited to Sera, Drepung, Phalkot, Shalu, Tashilhunpo, Sakya and Rongbuk, the world’s highest monastery. Fascinating culture, magnificent monasteries and awesome mountain scenery combine to make this journey one of the most spectacular in the world. The final leg of this extraordinary journey descends through an impressive gorge, then winds through the terraced hillsides of Nepal.
Upon arrival in Kathmandu, you will be met by our Himalayan Hikers representative and transferred you to the hotel. The drive from the airport to the hotel is around 20 minutes.After your check in the group leader will set a time for your trek briefing to discuss in regards to the trek. The evening is free but your trek leader will organise a welcome dinner at a fine local restaurant.
Today, you will visit Bodhnath Stupa, one of the biggest Buddhist shrines in the world and Pashupatinath ,the main temple for the Hindus. Here you will see Hindu holy men (sadhus) meditating, pilgrims bathing, and occasionally funeral pyres burning on the “ghats”. The rest of your afternoon is free. In the late afternoon you will be handed over with your trek pack. Departure information for the next morning will also be given.Meals included: B
The one-hour flight to Lhasa is an adventure in itself. Taking off from Kathmandu, the plane flies alongside the eastern Himalayas as far as Mt. Everest and then turns north with gigantic snow peaks filling up the left-hand side windows. The mountains drop away and you are gliding across the barren Tibetan plateau to touch down at Gonggar Airport, 85 km from Lhasa. (Kathmandu 1300 mt, Lhasa 3600 mt). Arrive Gonggar airport and transfer to Lhasa, capital of the autonomous region of Tibet.Here you will have three days to explore this once-isolated city, with its monasteries and markets bulging with pilgrims and traders. This includes an organised tour to the Potala Palace, Jokhang Temple, and Sera and Ramoche Monasteries. Free time to explore the city is subject to the Chinese authorities and the ever-changing political climate, although there are never any problems filling the days in such a fascinating city. In your free time you may wish to visit the Norbulingka Summer Palace or the interesting Tibet Museum. Meals included: 2 B
Today you will travel for about four hours as you take to the Friendship Highway; a spectacular road, which traverses high mountain passes and crosses plateaus, connecting Lhasa with Kathmandu.You will first travel through Tibet’s richest farming areas, then cross the Brahmaputra River as it winds its way down to the Bay of Bengal.Running at an altitude of 3939 metres above sea level, it is the highest major river in the world. You will wind your way to Kamba La (Pass) at 4970 metres, and enjoy a view over the huge Yamdrok Tso Lake. After the lake, you will climb again to Karo La (Pass) (5010 metres) before descending to the historic town of Gyantse, a small village and home to the Kumbum Monastery and Pelkhor Chode Temple, where you will find interesting Buddhist murals.Time permitting you may also make an optional visit to Gyantse Fort. Meals included: B
In the morning you will explore Gyantse, a town renowned for the exploits of Colonel Younghusband in the 1920s. You will walk down the newly rebuilt main street, along with the Nepali Kumbum Stupa. In the afternoon you will drive for an hour-and-a-half across the Tibetan Plateau. Shigatse is the second largest city of Tibet with a population of some 40,000 people. The Tashilhunpo Monastery is the traditional seat of the Panchen Lama, the most important incarnation for Tibetan Buddhists after the Dalai Lama. This impressive religious centre contains a giant statue of Buddha in the Temple of Maitreya, as well as an ornate tomb, which is the final resting-place of the fourth Panchen Lama. Its huge size ensures it is almost a town in itself. One of Tibet’s most active monasteries, it is currently being restored to its former beauty. Meals included: B
Your adventure continues with a five-hour drive over rough, dusty roads to Shegar.In the morning you will cross the Gyatso La (Pass) with stunning views of the Himalayan peaks to the south. Although the scenery is desolate, the country is dotted with busy villages and ruined monasteries.Amongst these villages is the major town of Lhaze, which makes a convenient halfway stop, here you will have a local-style lunch break. Shegar is a small village of 1500 inhabitants, overlooked by an impressive fort (unfortunately this is currently closed to visitors). Meals included: B
Departing from Shegar, you will drive south towards the mighty Himalaya. The initial part of the road journey involves climbs in a series of zigzags to the top of the Pang La (Pass) (5150 metres), where you will stop to take photos of Mount Everest. Along the drive you can bask in the splendour of the all of the other snow-capped peaks from Makalu to Shishapangma. As you will now be travelling off the main highway, it could get dusty travelling on these dirt roads, so you may like to carry something like a scarf or big handkerchief with you while you’re driving. At 5000 metres above sea level, Rongphu is home to the highest monastery in the world. From here you will enjoy a breathtakingly close-up view of Mount Everest as it seemingly hovers over you.You will then branch off on to a small path that leads to Everest Base Camp itself, which is situated at 5040 metres above sea level. The base camp itself is dry and barren, but the stunning view of Everest more than compensates. It truly is an awe-inspiring place with the sheer north face of the highest mountain in the world towering above you.This is certainly a major highlight on this incredible journey.From here you will return to Rongphu and make your way back to Shegar. Meals included: B
You will continue your journey on the main road and head in the direction of the Nepalese border, passing through a checkpost and continuing to Tingri, where you will enjoy more views of the world’s highest peaks including the 8201-metre-high Cho Oyu – the world’s 6th highest peak.From Tingri the road ascends to reach the Lalung La (Pass) (5050 metres), where the scenery is again fantastic. The panorama also includes the 8000-metre-high Xixapangma. From the top of the pass you will descend nearly 3000 metres to the small town of Nyalam, before continuing to the border town of Zhangmu. As you near the border, the road is cut into the cliffs high above the valley floor. If you don’t like heights, sit on the left-hand side of the vehicle! At Zhangmu we say farewell to our Tibetan guide and driver. Meals included: B
Today, after finalising departure formalities, you will exit China and enter Nepal. Descending steeply down the zigzag road, you will reach the Nepalese immigration and customs at Tatopani.During the monsoon season there may be landslides, which could leave sections of the road near the border closed. Should this be the case, porters will then carry your luggage as you walk across the border to your Nepalese vehicle. It is then a four-and-a-half hour drive to Kathmandu. There is much to see in the Nepalese capital, so you may consider extending your stay with extra time here to explore Kathmandu and the valley. There are fascinating temples in the city’s Durbar Square as well as the Hindu Pashupatinath Temple and the Buddhist Bodnath Stupa, whilst the neighbouring towns of Patan and Bhaktapur are both worth a visit.Your tour leader will be in hand to assist you with the tours. Meals included: B
Your trip comes to an end today after breakfast. Your leader will be on hand to advise and assist with your onward travel arrangements. Meals included: B
