Trip Itinerary
Day 01: Arrival in Kathmandu, meet and greet by our guide/representative in Kathmandu airport and transfer to your hotel. We strongly recommend you to arrive in Kathmandu on beginning of the week as we have to process for the Tibet visa. If you arrive during weekend you suppose to wait for embassy of china open by Monday.
Day 02: Sightseeing of Kathmandu valley including Swoyambhunath stupa also popular by the name monkey temple among the foreigners that overlooks Kathmandu. One of the popular Buddhist temple visited by local peoples in the morning time. Kathmnadu Durbar square, located in heart of Kathmandu actually is an old palace complex full of temples including Kumari Ghar, Kalbhairav temple and old courtyards like Nasal chok and Lohan chok.
Afternoon visit to Patan Durbar Square including old palace by Mallas, temples and old courtyards, golden temple, one of the popular monastery of patan where the priest of the temple is a small boy and Kumbheswor temple, only temple with five roofs in Patan.
Day 03: Sightseeing of Kathmandu valley including Boudhanath, the biggest stupa of south Asia and one of the biggest of the world. Pashupatinath, one of the popular hindu pilgrimage shrine located on the bank of bagmati river where they do cremation of the dead bodies.
Afternoon visit to Bhaktapur Durbar square including old palace complex with fifty five windowed palace, statue of Bhupatindra Malla, the giant bell, Nyatpole temple in Taumadhi square and Dattatraya temple.
Day 04: Drive from Kathmandu to Kerung border , 6-7 hours drive. The scenic drive starts from Kathmandu and follows to reach the Rasuwagadhi and do the border formalities in the Nepal side. After passing through Nepal immigration an uphill drive to reach China immigration. Due to the monsoon the road get blocked by landslide and need to walk about two hours if it is the case. Reach Kerung and stay overnight in guest house.
Day 05: Drive from Kerung to Tingri (4300m.) or Lhatse (4350m.). Drive uphill at the beginning with stunning view of Tibetan plateau. Good weather gives opportunity to gaze over the view of Mt. Shisapagma and Mt.Choyu. From Tingri, beautiful view of Mt. Everest is seen. Overnight in guest house.
Day 06: Drive from Tingri to Shigatse (3900m.). Scenic drive to reach the one of the highest pass of Tibet Gyatchu-La (5220m.). The pass is characterized by colorful prayer flags which was kept by devotees. Stay overnight at hotel.
Day 07: Sightseeing of Shigatse and drive to Gyantse (3950m.). In the morning after breakfast, visit to the popular monastery of Tashilhumpu. Shigatse is the ancient capital of Tibet for many years until they move capital to Lhasa and very famous for Tashi Lhumpo monastery, is the headquarters of Panchen Lama. Tashi Lhumpo monastery is founded in 1447 by the first Dalai Lama. Perfect example of the Gelukpa sect of Tibetan Buddhism. In the past time this was a house for more than 4000 monks and famous for its tantric teaching. Famous for its sutra hall, palace and college. Afternoon drive to Gyantse. Overnight at hotel.
Day 08: Sightseeing of Gyantse and drive to Lhasa (3650m.). Gyantse located in the Nyang chu valley, originally part of the trade route and third biggest town in Tibet. Famous for Gyantse Khumbum and Gyantse dzong (fort). Gyantse Khumbum is particularly famous for Shakyapa sect of Tibetan Buddhism. Khumbum’s six floor houses 77 chapels and almost 10000 murals which is very special to Nepalese influence in Tibetan Buddhism. Also famous for Palcho Monastery and ruins of a fort. Overnight stay at hotel.
Day 09: Sightseeing of Lhasa. Lhasa Sightseeing including Jokhang temple, the heart of Tibetans religious shrine and observe the people doing the kora every morning. The temple was originally constructed in 7th century and one of the popular icon of Tibetan Buddhism. Visit to Potala palace once lived Dalai Lama there, one of the major attraction of Lhasa, the main palace got divided into two different portions, the white part and the red part. Originally the palace was constructed by Srongtsen Gompo back in 7th century and later they keep adding the part of the complex. Located on top of the hill that overlooks Lhasa town. Listed in the world heritage site by Unesco, the palace is full of chapels, shrines and murals of old days.
Afternoon visit to Norbulinkha, the winter palace of Dalai Lama constructed by 7th Dalai Lama back in 1755. Later addition of chapels, pools and garden by 14th Dalai lama. This palace is a perfect example Tibetan-European architecture with modern living quarters for Dalai Lama with perfect western bathrooms.
Day 10: Sightseeing of Lhasa. Lhasa sightseeing including Drepung Monastery, one of the biggest monastery of Gelukpa sect of Tibetan Buddhism founded in 1416 by disciple of Tsongkhapa, Jamyang Chojey. Located about 5 kms west of the main town, this was a residence for more than 15000 monks until 1960. Monastery is especially famous for its construction with caves, pagodas and temple of Jamyang Chojey. After completing visit to Drepung monastery continue sightseeing to Sera monastery, one of the biggest school of gelukpa sect of Tibetan Buddhism founded in 1419.Sera means “merciful hail”. It is so said to have been so named out of rivalry to its neighbor Drepung. Situated about four kilometers north of Lhasa, on the lower slopes of a range of barren hills named Tatipu, famous for silver ore.
Afternoon visit to Mentisikhing( Tibetan medicine Center): The history of herbal medicine dated back to even 2500 years, having great value in the past days. The main Tibetan medicine institute was founded back in 1916 to do research in Tibetan herbal medicine and give training to produce traditional Tibetan doctors. One of the biggest institute, most of the theory portrayed on a traditional painting as a teaching tool.
Day 11: Departure from Lhasa. On a proper time transfer to Gonggar international airport for the flight to another destination.
