Tibet Nepal Tours

Day 1: Arrival in Chengdu

NOTES: Transfer via: Flight arranged by you arrive in Chengdu (Flight arrival time/Flight numbers are to be advised).

Welcome to Chengdu – home of giant pandas. Upon arrival, your personal guide will meet you and escort you to your hotel. Rest of the day will be free for you to relax.

Day 2: Chengdu - Lhasa

NOTES: Transfer via: Train (Soft Sleeper seat) arranged by Eyes On Nepal.

Today you will be free until your guide escorts you to the railway station for your train to Lhasa.

Day 3: On the train

Today, you’ll travel on the world’s highest altitude railway: Qinghai-Tibet railway. While traveling to Tibet by train takes much longer than by plane, you will be witness to thousands of miles of the most stunning landscapes in the world, rolling by outside your window.

Tips of today:
1) There are battery charging accesses on the train, but make sure you have a socket adapter;
2) Only Chinese foods are served aboard, including breakfast (10RMB), lunch box (25RMB), Self-selected Meal(from 38MRB).

Day 4: Lhasa Arrival

Welcome to the roof of the world! You will be pick up at the train station, then be escorted to your hotel in Lhasa city at the comfort of your own private vehicle. After arrival at your hotel, the rest of the day is free for you to explore the local area and acclimatise yourself to this high altitude city at the top of the world.

Tips of today:
1) Go for some walking to acclimate the high altitude but avoid strenuous activity after arrival;
2) You’d better not have bath;
3) Drink more water, and have some fruit;
4) Have a good rest.

Day 5: Lhasa

• Take the challenge of climbing up to Potala Palace (3,650m above sea level) and get a great view of Lhasa’s urban areas. Great photographic opportunities along the way up as you will have a great view of the traditional Tibetan architecture. Hear the story of the Dalai Lamas and see chapels that the Dalai Lamas studied, rested and worked in. Pass former Dalai Lamas’ graves which are decorated with treasure beautiful treasures.
• Continue your tour to Jokhang Temple, which is within walking distance from Potala Palace. It is considered the spiritual center of Tibet. You will see many pilgrims worship within or nearby the temple. Enter the first floor of the temple and absorb the religious atmosphere, you will see pilgrims are donating butter oil to keep the lights burning for the Buddha. While learning about more Buddhas and Lamas than you can possibly remember you will gain a feeling for the vast history of Tibetan Buddhism. You might also hear red-robed Lamas praying. Walk up to the roof of the temple, take some pictures of the gold roof and enjoy the beautiful sunshine of Lhasa while observing pilgrims praying in front of the temple.
• Finally, join locals in a traditional pilgrimage route by taking a relaxing walk in a large circular path around Jokhang Temple at Barkor Street. The street is filled with pilgrims taking part in religious activities and street venders selling a wide variety of traditional Tibetan goods and religious items. If you like you can also ask your tour guide take you to visit a Thangka workshop to marvel at the fabulous Thangka art work. There are cafes along the street as well. You can relax and enjoy the life in Lhasa in a lazy afternoon.

Tips of today:
1) Wear hat and sun glasses to prevent ultraviolet radiation, but remember to take off when visiting in the monasteries.
2) Usually taking photos is not allowed in chapels inside monastery.
3) Remember to bring your passport which is needed to showcase when check in Potala Palace.

Day 6: Lhasa

• After breakfast, you are driven to visit the Norbulingka Park, the former summer palace of Dalai Lama. Explore the beautiful gardens and experience one of the most holy sites in Tibetan Buddhism while soaking up the rich history. Next, come to Drepung Monastery, which was once the largest Tibetan Buddhist monastery housing 10,000 monks in its heyday. Learn about the lives of Tibetan monks.
• Your tour ends at Sera Monastery, where you will get the chance to experience “Buddhism Scriptures Debating”. These debates are unique to Sera and are quite famous. Enjoy the debates!

Tips of today:
1) Obey Buddhist manners and talk appropriately.
2) Feel free to ask tour guide questions about Buddhism or else;
3) Don’t forget take your sun glasses and suncream.

Day 7: Lhasa - Gyantse

Today you will be transferred from Lhasa to Gyantse (6.5-hour drive). En route, you’ll stop to see Yamdrok Lake, one of three most famous holy lakes in Tibet. For Tibetans, it is one of the four holy lakes of Tibet and the home of the “wrathful deities”. The scenery of turquoise blue water in the lake with the reflection of surrounding snow-capped mountains is awesome. After arrival in Gyantse, you will tour Pelkor Monastery to admire fancy frescoes, statues and sculptures. Overnight at Gyantse.

Tips of today:
1) Wear warm clothes to prevent from cold and wild;
2) The road condition from Lhasa to Gyantse via Yamdrok Lake is good;
3) Feel free to ask your driver to stop so you can stretch your legs or take some pictures.

Day 8: Gyantse - Shigatse

After breakfast, drive about 2.5 hours to Shigatse. After lunch, you will visit the Tashilhunpo Monastery, the seat of Panchen Lama and one of the largest functioning monasteries in Tibet, as well as the oldest and largest Gelugpa Monastery in Tibet. Here you will see a giant statue of Future Buddha, the largest one of its kind on earth, decorated with precious pearls, turquoises, corals and ambers. Stay overnight at Shigatse.

Tips of today:
1) The road condition is fairly good so the 90km drive from Gyantse to Shigatse is pleasant. Please do not hesitate to tell the driver that you want to take a break to stretch your legs or take pictures on the way.
2) Obey Buddhist manners and talk appropriately when visiting Tashilhunpo.

Day 9: Shigatse - Sakya Monastery - Tingri

Today you’ll drive to Tingri and stay there overnight. En route visit Sakya monastery. In the 13th century, the monastic town of Sakya emerged as an important center of Buddhist scholarship. With Mongolian military support, the Sakya lamas became rulers of all Tibet. Sakya Monastery, built in 1268, is a massive fortresslike compound with high defensive walls in the southern section of the monastery. There are a lot of historical articles in the monastery, among them are: Imperial certificates, gold signets, crowns, and clothes given by the Yuan Dynasty emperors. Sakya monastery has over 84,000 Tibetan scriptures and books on astronomy, medicine, calligraphy, and history.

Tips of today:
1) If you are particularly interested in history or architecture, it may be worthwhile to do a bit of research in preparation for this visit;
2) Landscape along the road is amazing.

Day 10 Tingri - Rongbuk Monastery:Day 10 Tingri - Rongbuk Monastery

• Although it’s just 100km from Tingri (Shegar) to Rongbuk Monastery(altitude: 4,980m), it takes about 4 hours since the cracked winding roads demand great caution. But the views are stupendous on a clear day and feature a huge sweep of the Himalaya range including peaks over 8,000m, Makalu, Lhotse, Everest, Gyachung and Cho Oyu. When you finally get to the Base Camp, the first sight of the mighty Everest will be stunning. All the hardship you bear along the way will be well worth it. The best time to watch Mt. Everest’s are early morning and late evening when the sun is rising or setting, bathing Everest in light.
• Visit Rongbuk Monasteryi which is located at the foot of Mount Everest, and has earned the title of the world’s highest monastery standing at 4,980 meters high. Accommodate at Tent or Guest House near to Rongbuk Monastery.

Tips of today:
1) Bring more food and drinks for long driving;
2) Bring a warm and thick coat for low temperature in Everest;
3) Avoid strenuous activity.

Day 11 Rongbuk Monastery - EBC - Zhangmu :Day 11 Rongbuk Monastery - EBC - Zhangmu

• Get up early to catch the stunning sunrise on this peak of the world. After breakfast, drive the remaining 8 km to visit Everest Base Camp where you can get a better view of Mt. Everest.
• Drive via Old Tingri and enjoy the panoramic views of snow-capped Himalayan Range on the way to Zhangmu. Zhangmu is quite close to Nepal and about 350km from Mt. Everest.

Tips of today:
1) Sunrise starts around 6:30 am to 7 am;
2) Get well prepared for long driving on the road.

Day 12: Zhangmu - Kathmandu

After breakfast, drive to the border of Nepal and China, Your overland trip to Kathmandu ends here.

Tips of today:
1) Our service will end at the border of Tibet and Nepal. Contact Eyes On Nepal for itinerary and program in Nepal.

NOTES: The Nepal and China border remained closed until unknown until today – 7/11/2016. Kindly write to us to get the latest information.