Tibet overland tour will take you to Everest Base Camp on Tibetan side of Mt. Everest, the tallest peak in the World. The Overland Tour begins at Lhasa, capital of Tibet and passes through important Tibetan towns. While in Lhasa you will visit the historical Potala Palace, Drepung and Ganden monastery and Jokhang temple among others. On the 9th day, you will return back to Kathmandu via Kyirung border with memories that will last forever.
Day 01: Fly from Kathmandu to Lhasa
Day 02: Lhasa sightseeing: Potala Palace，Jokhang Temple, Barkhor Bazaar
Day 03: Lhasa Sightseeing: Sera Monastery, Drepung Monastery (B)
Day 04: Drive from Lhasa to Gyantse (3,950m.) takes about 5 hours.
Day 05: Drive from Gyantse to Shigatse (3,900m.) takes 2 hours.
Day 06: Drive from Shigatse to Xegar takes about 5 hours.
Day 07: Excursion at Rongbuk monastery
Day 08: Drive from Rongbuk to Kyirung
Day 09: Kyirung - Rasuwa Border (1800m) - Kathmandu
Upon arrival at the airport, you will be met by our Local Tibetan guide. You will receive a Hada (a white scarf which is a symbol of good luck and happiness in Tibetan culture) as a gift. It will then take about 1 hour to drive to our hotel. Later in the afternoon you will have time to explore the local area and acclimatize yourself to this high altitude city. Stay overnight at hotel in Lhasa.
Start today’s Lhasa exploration with an exciting visit to the landmark - Potala Palace which is regarded as one of the most beautiful architectural building in the world. You will climb up the palace along the zigzag stone paths with white-and-red walls to the top of the palace where you can not only appreciate the exotic Tibetan-style architecture, but also get a great view of Lhasa’s urban areas, then walk into the inner space of Potala Palace to explore the stately chapels and learn about the history of the palace.
Continuing your exploration, you will then get to Jokhang Temple which is considered as the spiritual heart of Tibetan Buddhism. Each day, there are thousands of pilgrims coming from different places in Tibet to the temple to worship to the Buddha. This temple is also known as the “house of Buddha” because it keeps the precious Jowo Rinpoche, the life-sized (5 foot/1.5m) image of the Shakyamuni at the age of 12. The last site for today’s exploration is the famous Barkhor Bazaar. It is a circular and wide street encircling the Jokhang Temple. The local people like to walk on the street for several circles usually in the late afternoon as a daily tradition of pilgrimage. The bazaar also has many shops selling a wide variety of traditional Tibetan goods, religious items and handcrafts.
Stay overnight at hotel in Lhasa.
After breakfast, we will drive several kilometers to the western outskirts of Lhasa to visit Drepung Monastery. Drepung, in Tibetan, means “prosperity”. Since its establishment, Drepung Monastery has always been one of the most important Buddhist monasteries in Tibet. In its heyday, there were more than 10,000 monks lived and studied in the monastery. Throughout its history, many important and famous Tibetan leaders used to study here, especially the Dalai Lamas. So Drepung Monastery is also respectfully known as the “Mother School of Dalai Lamas”.
In the afternoon, you will be taken to another famous monastery in Lhasa - Sera Monastery. It is famous for the spectacular “Buddhism Debating”. As a daily routine, the monks gather in a courtyard, and debate on the Buddhist doctrines with supplemented gestures, which is thought to be helpful to facilitates better comprehension of the Buddhist philosophy to attain higher levels of study. After enjoying the "Buddhism Debating", you will be transferred back to the city. The rest time is your own free time to rest.
Today is a full day picturesque drive crossing over a colorful Yamdrok Lake and Kambala Pass at 4,794 m and Karola Pass at 5,010m. Yamdrok Lake, Shannan, Tibet Yandrok Yumtso Lake, together with Lake Namtso and Lake Manasarovar, are considered to be the Three Sacred Lakes of Tibet. Yamdrok Lake is the biggest inland lake in the northern Himalayas. With an altitude of 4,441 meters (about 4,857 yards), it covers an area of 638 square kilometers (about 246 square miles). Dozens of small islands are scattered throughout the lake. The biggest one holds five or six families, while the smallest one is only a few hundred square yards. Grass grows in bountiful supply on the banks of the lake, and this area has become one of the most famous meadows in Tibet. In addition YamdrokLake is home to the biggest population of waterfowl in Tibet. Each summer countless swans, sand birds and other kinds of waterfowl frolic with each other. This creates a grand view! The lake water of Yamdrok Lake is like a pure blue velour, mysterious and seeming animated. The vista is a remarkable picture composed of snow-capped mountains, glaciers, islands, meadows and small lovely villages-few visitors are able to resist its beauty.
In Gyantse, you spend time visiting the Pelke Chode Monastery and the 35m high famous Kumbum Stupa in Gyantse consisting of exquisite Tibetan sculpture and paintings, a stunning architectural wonder in Tibet. Stay overnight at hotel in Gyantse.
Shigatse is situated near the junction of the Ngang and Yarlung Tsangpo (Brahmaputra) rivers with many traditional low ceiling, flat roofed, mud brick Tibetan houses, but quite a lot of ugly modern Chinese buildings as well. It is home of the Tashilunpo Monastery, traditional seat of the Panchen Lama, and one of the great centers of Tibetan Buddhism. Shigatse has an interesting bazaar, where various traditional items can often be found at more or less reasonable prices. Shigatse has always been an important trade and administration center and also has political and religious significance, once being the seat of the Panchen Lama. The town is essentially divided into two parts: the old Tibetan style area in the city and the concrete, modern Chinese part of the town. The older streets and alleys here are very pleasant to wander and there are a few sights of interest to warrant a stay of a day or two.
Here you go to Tashilunpo Monastery and Tibetan market. Tashilhunpo (Heap of Glory) Monastery is seat of the Panchen Lamas. Built in 1447, it is the head monastery of Yellow Hat sect (Gelukgonpa). It is today one of Tibet's most active monasteries. Stay overnight at hotel in Shigatse.
Today you will traverse along the Friendship Highway amidst picturesque landscape driving past small town of Lhatse and Gyamtso La pass at 5220m. As the route opens into plains, many monasteries and camps of nomadic herders become visible en route to Xegar.
Xegar: About 13,800 ft above sea level, Xegar is a new Chinese commune built at the foot of the ruins of Xegar Dzong, and is 7 kms from the main road. With a population of 3000, its importance lies in the fact that it is the centre of this large and remote country and also a base from where expeditions to Mt. Everest and other peaks are launched.
Drive from Xegar to Rongbuk by unpaved road, the journey involves driving over Pang La (5120m/16,794 ft) that rewards you with the views of several 8 thousands like Makalu, Lhotse, Cho Oyu and Mount Everest. The journey mostly goes through dirt road, passing through several picturesque villages.
You will visit the Rongbuk monastery which is the highest monastery in Tibet. Enjoy the unique view of Mt. Everest (Mount Quomolangma ),you can have a face to face experience of Mt. Everest . Stay overnight at lodge in Rongbuk.
Your today’s driving crosses two high passes of Lalung La (5,124m) and Tong La at (5,120m) and have the last views of the towering Mount Everest, Sishapangma and Cho Oyu. These views are possible only if the weather is clear. Stay overnight at hotel in Kyirung.
After Breakfast, you will drive to Rasuwa Border which is one hour driving then cross the border and drive continuously to Kathmandu that takes another 8 hours.
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