Arrive Lhasa (3660 m)
You can either Start the trip from Kathmandu and fly to Lhasa or arrive Lhasa from Chengdu, Beijing, Shanghai, Xian or any nearby hub. You will be met at Gonggar Airport or railway station.
After checking in at your hotel, you are advised to take rest and take it easy. Drink plenty of fluids and let your body get used to Lhasa’s high altitude. There is no fixed program arranged for today.
Sightseeing in Lhasa
After breakfast, you will be briefed on the day’s program. An experienced guide will take you on a tour to Jokhang Temple, Barkhor Square, Norbulingka and Sera Monastery.
In the afternoon, at Sera Monastery, you will get an insight into the important aspects of Tibetan Buddhism available on everyday except Sunday.
Sightseeing in Lhasa
Today, you will go to visit the famous Potala Palace. The imposing structure of the palace dominates the landscape of Lhasa and it has a vast array of intricate Tibetan murals and beautiful statues. You will also go to visit the beautifully landscaped Drepung Monastery where you can observe nuns and monks chanting and performing religious discourses.
Note: Since only a limited number of visitors are allowed inside the Potala Palace each day, the guide will decide upon the order of sightseeing places.
Drive to Gyantse (3950m) 270 km
Traveling by jeep along the Friendship Highway, you cross the Khamba La (4794m). The drive offers you stunning views of Yamdrok-tso Lake and the snowy summit of Nazin Kang Sa (7252m). Continue westwards, over another high pass, the Karo La (5045m), where you are treated to the spectacular sight of a huge glacier tumbling down, within a few hundred meters of the road. After passing through beautiful valleys and colorful Tibetan villages you arrive in the town of Gyantse.
Sightseeing & drive to Shigatse (3900m) 90km
You will be taken for a guided tour to Gyantse Dzong and Gyantse Kumbum. The Dzong is a 14th century fort, from where you get amazing views of Gyantse and the surrounding Nyang Chu Valley. The Kumbum is a large gold-domed stupa. It has many small chapels which houses an impressive array of Tibetan Buddhist murals. We move on to Shigatse, Tibet’s second largest city, which is about 90 km away.
Sightseeing & drive to Old Tingri (4390m) 304 km.
After breakfast, we will go to explore the local market and the Tashilhunpo Monastery in Shigatse. Tashilhunpo Monastery is one of the largest functioning monasteries in Tibet and there is much to explore within its high surrounding walls. After a detailed visit of Shigatse, we will drive to Tingri.
Trek from Old Tingri to Lungchang [4510m]
The trail heads away from Tingri plain towards Cho Oyu. As you near the village of Chholung, a small Gompa is visible. Further on, barren plains open up. Amazingly, even in these barren fields local villagers yield good harvest of barley. Mostly, you will find herders in this territory. You can select a superb campsite at Lungchang to spend the night.
Trek from Lungchang to Lamna-La [5150 m]
As you ascend to Lamna-La pass at 5150m, you may find the trail quite strenuous. But as soon as your eyes bask in the splendor of majestic vistas of surrounding mountain peaks, you will realize that this trek has indeed been very self-rewarding and worthwhile. Camping atop this pass dwarfs other materialistic pleasures.
Trek to Zommug
Further away from Langma la pass, you have to take steep descent through verdant vegetation. En route, you encounter yak herders. The trail continues towards the whitewashed walls and barren fields of Zommug village. Amazing vistas of Mount Everest and Gyachung Kang visually rejuvenates you as you enter Zommug. Since lands being infertile are unable to yield agricultural crops, local villages are largely dependent on animal husbandry for livelihood. At a superb location, you will camp for the night.
Trek to Rongbuk (5000m)
As the morning seeps in, you march towards Rongbuk. Within few hours along Rongbuk Glacier, North Face of Everest becomes visible flaunting its unparalleled beauty. Rongbuk Monastery lies ahead 15 kilometers below Everest Base Camp at an elevation of 4980 m, at the foot of the Rongbuk Glacier.In a way, Rongbuk is regarded as a gateway to Mount Everest. From this outstanding location you get breathtaking views of the magnificent Mount Everest.
Trek to Everest Base camp (5150m)
It is a 9 km walk along dirt road to the base of Mt. Everest. The base camp itself is dry and barren, but the views of Everest more than compensates for this. It is a truly awe-inspiring place with the sheer north face of the highest mountain in the world towering above you.
Drive Base Camp to Nyalam (215 km)
You take a 215 km drive from Base Camp to Nyalam along Friendship Highway traversing past Pang La pass. On the way you can halt at Tingri for lunch. Further away amidst the stunning views of Everest, Cho Oyu and other mountain peaks, you accelerate past Lalung La pass at 5124m and Shung La pass at 5200m. The trail further commands far-reaching views of enchanting Shishapangma, Menlungtse and Gauri Shankar enchant as you leave behind arid Tibetan Plateau. The route then progresses towards pristine and fortified town of Nyalam where you can find a suitable accommodation at a hotel.
Drive from Nyalam (3750m) to Kathmandu
Heading away from Nyalam, you drive for one hour to the lush and verdant vegetation of Zhangmu at 2300 meter. Few kilometers drive follows Friendship Bridge along Bhote Koshi River to Immigration Control in Kodari. Here you depart with your Tibetan guide and after completing re-entry formalities, you can take a taxi or a bus to Kathmandu. After 5 hours of driving for 123 km, you finally arrive in Kathmandu. If you need us to arrange the border transfer for you, please tell us before the booking.
