Central Tibet Overland Tour

GRADE

Moderate

TRIP DURATION

11 days

BEST SEASON

April to October

GROUP SIZE

From single person

TRIP Altitude

5200 meters

CUSTOMIZE TRIP

On Request

Trip Highlights

Visit Kathmandu and sightseeing around the valley, visit Lhasa and all the sightseeing places, Gyantse and around; Yamdrok Lake, Sigatse, Sakya, Xegar, best Everest view from Tingiri and wonderful Tibetan Landscape and Probably the best mountain flight over the Everest and Himalaya.

Trip Overview

This journey leads us to the most fascinating land in central Tibet. We first spend some days in Kathmandu visiting Temple, Stupa and palaces. Then we fly to Lhasa and spend 3 nights in Lhasa making sightseeing tours of Potala, Jhokang, Norbulinka & Barkhor. Afterwards we make an overland tour on the Tibetan plateau from Lhasa to Kathmandu. The landscapes are so overwhelming that we accept the strains of this trip gladly, particularly as we will visit on the way some very interesting and important monasteries and Stupa.

Altogether we enjoy the journey a lot of time to experience the ancient and current Tibet intensely. The contact with the Tibetan population can be searched and found in detail. A journey in Tibet always possesses expedition character. This hard journey requires flexibility, tolerance and spirit of adventure of every journey participant due to the high altitude.

Itinerary
Cost Includes/Excludes
Trip Detail
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Day 01: Kathmandu
You will arrive at Tribhuwan International Airport in Kathmandu. A traditional warmed welcome by our airport representative. At upon arrival at hotel you will have trip briefing about the package by our office staff. Rest time at leisured. Stay Overnight in Kathmandu.

Day 02: Kathmandu
This morning we start our sightseeing program and cover Bhaktapur, the medieval city of devotees and the best preserved of all the old cities of Kathmandu Valley. From here we visit two very important religious centers: Pashupatinath temple for the Hindus, nearby along the banks of the river Bagmati is the cremation area for the dead. Bodhnath is possibly the largest stupa in the world and a center for Tibetan school of Buddhism. We are free in the afternoon. Stay Overnight in Kathmandu.

Day 03: Arrival in Lhasa (3650m)
You will arrive by airplane to Lhasa from Kathmandu. Upon arrival your guide will welcome you and take you to your hotel .An route to viewing the Yarlung Tsangpo River/ Bhamaputra river (the Longest and largest river in Tibet) and Lhasa river. After arrive in Lhasa, you can take rest and acclimatize. If you feel to go out, then you can go to the Potala square, where you will enjoy the fountain with different colour and get amazing photos of the Potala and around. Stay overnight in Lhasa.

Day 04: Tour in Lhasa
Today's tour will first bring you to the Potala Palace which is the winter palace of the Dalai lama. It was put to use since the 7th Century by the 33rd great king of Tibet. The most valuable collections of Potala Palace are the gilded burial stupas of former Dalai Lamas and meditation Cave of the 33rd great king of Tibet. After having lunch at near to Potala Palace, we will drive to Jokhang temple which was founded by the 33rd great king of Tibet in the 7th century, in order to promote the Buddhist religion. Inside you can see the statue of Buddha Sakyamuni at the age of twelve, perhaps the only most venerated object in Tibetan Buddhism. Around the temple is Barkhor street, where you can do kora (a religious circle of a building or mountain) with pilgrims and locals, in the meantime you can buy some souvenirs. Stay overnight in Lhasa.

Day 05: Tour in Lhasa
In the morning, we will visit Drepung monastery which was one of the “ three greet” Gelug monasteries of Tibet and was founded in 1416 by Jamyang choge, one of the Tsongkhapa’s main disciples. Ganden palace was used as Dalai lama’s palace in the Drepung before moving to the Potala palace. In the afternoon we will visit Sera Monastery, It was one of the “three great” Gelug monasteries of Tibet and was founded in 1419 by Jamchen chojey, one of the Tsongkhapa’s main disciples. The Most attraction is the Monks debate at around 3 - 5 in the afternoon. Stay Overnight in Lhasa.

Day 06: Lhasa to Shigatse(3900m)
In the morning, drive from Lhasa to Shigatse .On the way, drive over the Gampala pass (4790 m), and we will have a glimpse of Yamdrok-tso (4400m) .The Lake is surrounded by many snow-capped mountains and in the distance you can have spectacular views of Holy Mount Nyenchen Khangsar, (7191m) the highest mountain near Lhasa. Before ranching Gyantse we have an option drive via Karo La 5200m pass. Gyantse was historically Tibet's third largest city (after Lhasa and Shigatse).In Gyantse, we will visit the famous Pelkor Monastery and Gyantse Kumbum. After one and a half hour drive, we arrive in Shigatse, which is the second largest city in Tibet. In Shigatse, we’ll visit Tashilunpo Monastery, it is also known as Tibet's second highest incarnation, the Panchen Lama. Stay Overnight in Lhasa.

Day 07: Shigatse to Old Tingri (4300m)
Visit Tashilunpo Monastery and the spectacular tombs of Panchen Lamas in Shigatse in the morning, then drive along Friendship Hwy to Old Tingri via Lhatse and Shegar Town. Your guide and driver as well as teh cook will do preparations for the trek, while you may have a good view of Cho Oyu. Overnight in Old Tingri (guest house accommodation)

Day 08: Old Tingri(4300m) to Dhulikhel (1550m)
Today drive to Kathmandu via Zhangmu, we descend gradually from the dry Tibetan Plateau to amidst the verdant and fertile vegetation of Zhangmu at 2300 meter on the Nepalese border.Upon arrival at Kodari Border you will get picked up by our staff to drive to Dhulikhel (1550m). Stay Overnight in Dhulikhel.

Day 09: Drive to Kathmandu
After breakfast, we proceed for a Kathmandu sightseeing where you will visit Swayambhunath Stupa (monkey temple), Patan Durbar Square and Kathmandu Durbar Square. Some of these ancient monuments are UNESCO declared World Heritage sites & stand to display the rich history of this ancient valley that was once a kingdom to itself & a centre where kings met on a certain day to go to war with one another on the next day. Kathmandu is a wonderful mix of different cultures & ancient traditions that are still practiced till this day. Stay Overnight in Kathmandu.

Day 10: Free day in Kathmandu. Stay overnight in Hotel.

Day 11: Kathmandu; Departure
We are free today until our departure and transfer to the airport.

Includes

Kathmandu

International airport pickup and drop service
Hotel accommodation in Kathmandu
Welcome and farewell dinner

Tibet

Hotel accommodation in twin sharing room on bed and breakfast basis
Air ticket; Kathmandu to Lhasa
Transportation by 4500 model Land-cruiser / Mini coach as per group size
Sightseeing with Tibetan guide as per itinerary
Monastery entrance fees
Tibet visa and travel permit
Oxygen bag indide the Jeep

Excludes