Himalaya Overlanding
Take the big convenience of international arrival in Nepal, and extend your trip from Kathmandu to the miraculous Tibet plateau. Go to visit the most classic destinations in Tibet, such as Mount Everest, Shigatse, Gyantse and Lhasa.
Highlights of this tour
Important Notice: Gyirong Port on Tibet-Nepal border, about 89km from Kathmandu and 360km from Mount Everest in Tibet side, is still closed for travelers.
Today you will take a bus or private car from Kathmandu to the border of China and Tibet - Gyirong Port. The distance between Kathmandu and Gyirong Port is about 160 km, but it may takes more than 6 hours because of the narrow and bumpy road. Once arrival, you will be greeted by tour guide after passing the custom.
Then drive to Gyirong Town for accommodation.
Today, you will drive to the highest peak in the World - Mount Everest. Though it's a long driving about 360km, but it's necessary and worthy your efforts. You have chance to see the clear face of Mount Shishapangma Peak and beautiful Pekutso Lake.
After arrival at Rongbuk Monastery (5,100m), you will find all the effort of the trip swept away by the sight of the majestic peak of Everest rising in front of you. You can then rest for a while, then go to visit this world’s highest monastery. Since it is only about 20 km from the peak of Mount Everest, you can appreciate the giant pyramid of the mountain from south, and can see the charming banner clouds in sunny days. Apart from that, Rongbuk Monastery is the best place to see the sunrise and sunset for its high location close to the Everest. Also explore Everest Base Camp where you can take see many Marnyi Stones and take photos with the marker of EBC. Just get your camera ready to capture the wonders.
Accommodation will be arranged at Rongbuk Guest House. (If you visit Mount Everest during May to October, you will accommodate at the Everest Base Camp near Rongbuk Monastery). Please note that the accommodations at both places are very simple and basic. There are dorms with beds, duvets, heated blankets and hot water provided. You are suggested to bring your own sleeping bag if you have one. There is no running water, sinks or showers. The guest house only offers basic breakfast and dinner without menu. There is no private bathroom in the dorms. Only communal squat toilets are available. Remember to bring your own toilet paper.
Tips for today: 1) the Everest Base Camp has been moved to Rongbuk Monastery area, so was the EBC marker; 2) prepare some food and drinks to take with you because there are only some basic foods offered at Mount Everest; 3) pack warm clothes to keep yourself warm all the time and get fully prepared for the high altitude (5100m~5200M).
Get up early to catch the beautiful sunrise over the stunning landscape around Everest. You can see the Mount Everest appears gradually as the clouds are being blown away by the strong wind. The sleeping pure peak puts on a shining costume that is lit by the orange sun. And then, when the sun all rises up, the mountain shows her bright red face completely like a young girl putting up the best blusher ever, with the red cloud fairies dancing by side.
If you are lucky, you will have chance to see the famous "flag clouds" which is a famous wonder on Mount Everest. You will see milk white streamer floating above the peak, and flutters toward one side like a banner in the wind. Sometimes, you can see it change the shape, like the huge waves on the sea or the impetuous horses on the ancient battlefield, and so forth. Once in a while, it is lucky to see the plateau eagles flying above the banner cloud, which is especially a particular sightseeing.
At the end, farewell to Mount Everest, and drive about 5 hours to Lhatse for accommodation.
Tips for today: 1) the sunrise usually starts around 6:30 am to 7am on Mount Everest; 2) keep warm all the time.
After breakfast, you will drive drive about 50km to visit the head monastery of Sakya Sect of Tibetan Buddhism - Sakya Monastery. Sakya, in Tibetan, means gray and while earth. So you can see many temples and walls painted in gray and white. Sakya Monastery is known as the “Second Dunhuang” because of its rich collection of arts, historical relics, including more than 24,000 Buddhism books, 3,000 Thangkas, Buddha statues, porcelains, wall paintings, etc.
Leave Sakya Monastery, then drive about 4 hours to Shigatse - the second largest city in Tibet. After arrival, go to visit the famous Tashilhunpo Monastery. Tashilhunpo Monastery is one of the biggest monasteries in Tibet covering more than 300,000 square meters. It, together with Sera, Ganden and Drepung Monastery in Lhasa, Ta ’ er Lamasery in Qinghai and Labrang Lamasery in southern Gansu, is famous as “Six Great Monasteries of Gelug”. It was built in 1447 of Ming Dynasty by the disciple of Buddhism master Tsongkhapa, then became the Buddhism center of Tsang region. It has been the traditional seat of successive Panchen Lamas who is one of two most powerful leaders of Buddhists.
Overnight at Shigatse.
Today you will be transferred from Shigatse to Lhasa (8-hour driving).
En route, you’ll stop at Gyantse to see the Palcho Monastery and have lunch. Palcho Monastery was built in 1427. It is a traditional Tibetan monastery which is a fusion of Han, Tibetan and Nepali architecture, and has both temples and stupa. Palcho Monastery’s symbol is its Kumbum Stupa which is famous for having 100,000 figures of Buddha in the chapels, niches and wall paintings of Kumbum.
Leave Gyantse for 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. Before getting to Yamdrok Lake, you will take a short break at Karola Glacier which is famous for its approachability, brightness and grotesque in shape.
Keep driving until arriving at Lhasa City. Stay overnight at Lhasa.
Tips of today: 1) pack some food and drinks for today's long drive; 2) wear suitable clothes, headgear, and glasses to protect yourself from the strong sunlight, wind and possible cold.
After breakfast, start an incredible day of exploration in Lhasa city. The grandiose Potala Palace will be the first site to discover. After more than 1300 years of historical changes, this colossal palace still dominates the skyline of Lhasa city. The Palace is the political and religious center of Tibet and has served as the governance and preaching site for the Dalai Lama. Climbing up the sacred steps to the Red Palace and White Palace you will explore their marvelous interiors full of exquisite Thangkas, numerous Buddha statues, vivid wall paintings, and other works of Buddhist art.
In the afternoon, first visit the holiest Buddhist temple in Tibet, Jokhang Temple, where the 12-year-old-like Shakyamuni statue is consecrated. With a history stretching over 1,300 years, this temple combines the architectural styles of Tibet, China, Nepal and India. As a spiritual center of Tibet, Jokhang Temple attracts hundreds of devoted pilgrims to worship there every day. Outside the door of Jokhang Temple is the famous pilgrimage circle, Barkhor Street, where you can join faithful Tibetans in colorful attires walking the circle around Jokhang Temple.
Tips for today: 1) wear suitable headgear and glasses to protect you from strong sunlight, but do not wear any hat while visiting inside the Tibetan monasteries; 2) photography is not allowed inside the chapels of monasteries; 3) have your passport with you all the time.
After breakfast, we start our day with a visit to the summer palace of the Dalai Lamas and also the largest Tibetan garden - Norbulingka Park. The luxuriant trees and flowers, cool ponds and comfortable palaces make Norbulingka the best place for a summer retreat. Then drive about 5 km westward to Drepung Monastery. This monastery has played a crucial role in Tibet Buddhism as the school of the Dalai Lamas. As you walk along, immense temples and chapels leap to your eyes one after another. In its heyday, more than 10,000 monks lived and studied in the monastery. Various Buddhist rituals are performed in the monastery during festivals, most famous being the ceremony of Buddha Display in the annual Shoton Festival.
We will then visit the featured six hundred year-old Sera Monastery, famous for its grand ceremony of Buddhist debating and its beautiful temples with sensational icons, murals and history.
Tips for today: 1) please follow the Buddhist manners - talk in a low voice, always be respectful of others, reflect on the Buddha's teachings in these holy sites, and remain quiet and respectful when visiting temples 2) be sure to carry some water with you.
Today is free for you until your driver transfer you to catch your flight (or train) leaving Tibet. Please check your luggage and make sure everything is packed, and then check out from your hotel before 12pm.
Only exploring the exotic culture of Tibet is not enough, you also have to enjoy its natural beauty. So let's drive about 220km from Lhasa city to visit the picturesque Namtso Lake which is one of the five most beautiful lakes in China. It locates about 4,718 meters above the sea level, which makes Namtso the highest lake in the world. The pure water waves slightly under the pure and blue sky. Along the shore are enormous well-proportioned Mani stones. The colorful prayer flags hanged on the hills and monasteries make Namtso Lake holy and mysterious.
After the sightseeing, drive back to Lhasa. (Optional: if you want, you can spend a night there to watch amazing sunset and sunrise. But this arrangement needs you add one extra day to your tour.)
Lhasa City & Suburb
Lhasa / Gyantse / Shigatse/ Everest
Lhasa / Gyangtse / Shigatse / Everest / Gyirong / Kathmandu
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