Overland Tour Lhasa To Kathmandu With Ebc

This journey is of adventure and only succeeds with your understanding, patience, and flexibility for the possible delays and program changes, and imponderable situations. It requires the participants to possess of community and cooperative spirit, and be ready to face the simple conditions.

Despite careful planning, the program might be changed sometimes at short notice, which may result in possible program modifications and loss of sightseeing.

It is, of course, the goal of you and our agency to accomplish all points of the program. Besides, we point out expressly that you are responsible on your own for the possible danger in the journey.

Culture Highlights: Lhasa, Gyantse, and Shigatse

Beautiful, holy lake Yamdrok

Spectacular Everest north side and base camp with the monastery Rongbuk

The great mountain world of the Himalaya

2-day sightseeing program in Kathmandu

DETAIL ITINERARY:

Day 01: Arrive in Lhasa:

Today, arrive in Lhasa, the capital of Tibet, and transfer to the hotel. Stay at the hotel to adapt to the high altitude. It is helpful to take things easy for the first few days, and try to drink some water now and now. Overnight at 3*Thangka Hotel

Day 02: Lhasa (B, L):

In the morning, visit Potala, which was originally constructed in 637 by Songtsen Gampo, the first king of the united Tibet, and later expanded and served as the winter residence of the Dalai Lamas as well as the religious-political nexus of traditional Tibet.

The crowds of pilgrims, innumerable magnificent murals, Buddhist statues, scriptures, and rare treasures altogether create a dense religious and art atmosphere that impresses every visitor. In the afternoon, visit Jokhang monastery, the center of Tibetan Buddhism and the sacred land of Buddhist followers, where thousands of pilgrims come for worship every day.

The temple, built in 647, is the earliest wood-and-masonry structure still existing in Tibet. Walk on the Barkhor street surrounding Jokhang, a big free market with its prolific stalls for selling local specialties. Overnight at 3*Thangka Hotel

Day 03: Lhasa (B, L):

In the morning, visit Drepung monastery, the sacred land of the Gelug Sect, which was established in 1416 and the second, third, and fourth Dalai Lamas once resided. Afterwards, visit Norbulinka, the summer residence of the Dalai Lamas.

In the afternoon, visit Sera monastery, which was created in 1419 and has always been an important Buddhist seminary. As roses are planted everywhere in the monastery, it is also called “the court of wild roses”.

Today still 200 llamas living there. The "Buddhism Scriptures Debate" in Sera is very famous. Overnight at 3*Thangka Hotel

Day 04: Lhasa – Gyantse – Shigatse BL:

In the morning, drive to Gyantse along the Kyichu River. On the Kamba La (4.796 m), have a fantastic view of the holy lake of Yamdrok Yumtso (4441 m), one of the three holy lakes in Tibet and the largest habitat of waterfowl in south Tibet.

Pass by the 5.010 m high Karo La and the Simi La to Gyantse (approx. 3.900 m). In the afternoon visit Pelkor Chode Monastery as well as the splendid Kumbum Stupa (100-Thousand-Buddha Pagoda) nearby, both of them built in the15th century and situated in the northwestern edge of Gyantse.

This typical Tibetan Buddhist monastery is the only large building complex in Tibet where old monasteries and stupas are completely preserved and characterized as a monument.

It is recorded that 14,000 kilograms of copper were used to make the 8-meter-high sitting statue of Sakyamuni Buddha housed in the grand hall of the temple. The 8-storey stupa is 42m high and 62m in diameter contains a total of 76 chapels with wonderful murals revered by art scholars around the world.

In the afternoon, drive about 90 kilometers to Shigatse (3880m), the second largest city with 40,000 inhabitants in Tibet and the traditional capital of the Tsang. Overnight at the 3*Manasarovar Hotel

Day 05: Shigatse – Shegar (B, L, D):

In the morning, visit Tashilunpo monastery of the Gelug Sect, the seat of the Panchen Lama, built in 1447 and one of the six grand monasteries in Tibet. The monastery houses a giant statue of the Maitreya Buddha, the biggest gilded statue of Maitreya (Buddha of the future) in China, and a tomb of the 4th Panchen Lama containing masses of jewels and gold.

In Tibetan Buddhism, the Panchen Lama is just the reincarnation of Maitreya Buddha. Today, 600 monks live in the monastery. Then drive to Shegar (new Tingri; 4.350 m; approx. 245 km). Overnight at 2*Qomolangma Shanghai Hotel

Day 06: Shegar – Rongbuk (B, L, D):

In the morning, drive to Rongbuk. With an altitude of 5,030 meters, it is the highest temple in the world. It was said that the Rongbuk Monastery had been built as early as the time of the Fifth Dalai Lama. Mount Everest, which stands 8,848 meters above sea level, is often referred to as 'the third pole on earth'. Being the world's highest peak, its legendary status holds a fascination for many trekkers and mountaineers. We walk 7 km to the Base Camp and do some sightseeing there.

Walking or driving by the local shuttle bus to Rongbuk. Overnight at the simple Guanjingtai Guesthouse

Day 07: Rongbuk – Zhangmu (B, L, D):

In the morning, walk and sightseeing around Rongbuk Monastery. Then drive over pass Lalung La (5,050 m) and Thong La (5120 m) to the Chinese border at Zhangmu (2350 m). Overnight at 2*Caiyuan Hotel

Day 08: Zhangmu – Kathmandu (B, L):

Cross the border between Tibet and Nepal to Kathmandu, the capital of Nepal. The city lies at the southern foot of the Himalaya Range. The geographic location and the people here are quite different from those of Tibetan cities. Overnight at 3*Nirvana Garden Hotel

Day 09: Kathmandu (B, L):

In the morning, visit the villages of Khokana and Bungmati. In the afternoon, visit Patan – City of Fine Art. Overnight at 3*Nirvana Garden Hotel.

Day 10: Kathmandu (B, L):

In the morning, visit Durbar Square or Hanuman Dhoka Palace. In the afternoon, visit Pashupatinath Temple by the river Bagmati and Bouddhanath Stupa. Overnight at 3*Nirvana Garden Hotel

Day 11: Air Kathmandu – Home (B):

Free till transfer to the airport and fly back home.