Tibet Lhasa Tour

Fly Kathmandu (1400m) - Lhasa (3660m)

Morning transfer to the airport for the hour long flight to Tibet. This spectacular flight, on a China Southwest Airlines Boeing 757, takes us right across the main Himalayan range, and provides us with magnificent mountain views. After landing at Gonggar Airport and meeting our Tibetan guide, it is a further 2 hour drive by Landcruiser jeep to Lhasa where we will check in to the Hotel Kyichu. It’s advisable to rest and take it easy for the remainder of the day due to Lhasa’s altitude.

sightseeing in Lhasa

Today will be spent visiting several of Lhasa’s many monasteries in the company of a guide and interpreter. One of these is the Sera Monastery, one of the best preserved monasteries in Tibet. Within it’s white-washed walls and golden roofs, several hundred monks live and study. After lunch we’ll visit the Norbulingka, the summer palace of the Dalai Lama, as well as the Jokhang Temple. This temple is possibly the most sacred shrine in Tibet and there is always a procession of devout Tibetans through the complex. Surrounding the Jokhang is the Barkor - a maze of narrow cobbled streets which is the central market of Lhasa.

sightseeing in Lhasa

This morning we will visit the Potala Palace which dominates the city of Lhasa. A spectacular building, it contains the private quarters of the Dalai Lama as well as numerous grand state rooms and many important chapels. There has been a palace on this site since the 5th or 6th century, but the present palace was constructed in the 17th century. A visit to the Drepung Monastery this afternoon will complete a truly awe- inspiring day. Founded in the 14th century, this monastery was once the largest in the world. with a population of around 10,000 monks. These days that figure is down to several hundred, but there is still much here of interest as it was left relatively unscathed during the Cultural Revolution.

in Lhasa, free day.

A final day in Lhasa for acclimatization. This is a day at leisure in which we are free to explore further, revisit a favorite monastery or simply sit in a café overlooking the Barkor and watch the pilgrims as they circumambulate the Jokhang, stopping regularly to peruse the merchandise at the stalls lining the route. There is also the option of an additional tour to places such as the Tibetan Medical Center, Garden Monastery and Tsurphu Monastery, but this will incur extra costs.

drive Lhasa - Gyantse (3950m) 261 km

Today we start our overland journey towards Kathmandu. Travelling by jeep along the Friendship Highway we cross the Khamba La (4794m) from which there is stunning views across the waters of Yamdrok-tso Lake to the snowy summit of Nazin Kang Sa (7252m). We continue westwards over another high pass the Karo La (5045m) where we are treated to the spectacular sight of a huge glacier tumbling down to within a few hundred meters of the road. After passing through beautiful valleys and colorful Tibetan villages we arrive in the town of Gyantse. Our overnight accommodation is at the Gyantse Hotel.

sightseeing & drive Gyantse - Shigatse (3900m) 90km

Before leaving Gyantse we have time this morning to visit the Gyantse Dzong and Gyantse Kumbum. The Dzong is a fort dating from the 14th century from which there are amazing views of both Gyantse itself and the surrounding Nyang Chu Valley. The Kumbum is a large gold-domed stupa and its many small chapels house an impressive array of Tibetan Buddhist murals. We then continue on to Shigatse, a short drive of 90kms, arriving in time for lunch. Shigatse is the second largest city in Tibet and after exploring the local market we will make a detailed visit to the Tashilhunpo Monastery. This monastery is one of the largest functioning monasteries in Tibet and there is much to explore within its high surrounding walls. We’ll stay overnight in either the Shigatse Hotel or Shandong Mansion.

sightseeing & drive Shigatse - Shegar (New Tingri: 4050m) 244km

Today we continue along the Friendship Highway, marvelling once more at the barren yet spectacular landscape of Tibet. On the plains between Shegar and Tingri are dotted the ruins of many buildings destroyed in an 18th century Nepalese invasion and the town of Tingri itself is overlooked by the ruins of a large fort. If the weather is clear we will be treated to awe-inspiring views of Everest and nearby Cho Oyu.

DRIVE TINGRI (4390m) - ZHANGMU (2300m) 181km

Leaving Tingri, we cross another two high passes, the Lalung La (5124m) and the Shung La (5200m). Once more we are rewarded with magnificent views of the surrounding peaks of Shishapangma, Cho Oyu, Menlungtse and Gauri Shankar. Now we begin our descent from the arid Tibetan Plateau to Zhangmu on the Nepalese border. After Tibet, it appears an incredibly lush and green town and we stay overnight at the Zhangmu Friendship Hotel.

DRIVE ZHANGMU (2300m) - KODARI - KATHMANDU (1400m) 123km

From Zhangmu we drive a few kms to the Friendship Bridge, which spans the Bhote Kosi River and marks the Chinese - Nepalese border. We say goodbye to our Tibetan guide and driver and walk to Nepalese Immigration Control in Kodari where our Nepalese staff will meet us. After completing the re-entry formalities we continue the drive to Kathmandu, which, depending on road and weather conditions, should take about 5 hours.