Tibet Overland Journey

On arrival at Kathmandu Tribhuwan International Airport received by our staff and guide with warm welcome and greetings and then transfer to your hotels in the heart of Kathmandu city. After checking into your rooms getting refreshed from Jet-Lag, a quiet environment after getting refreshed join at main hall or in lobby where our guide will provide briefing on Tibet Overland Journey-hotels with necessary information. Evening includes group dinner in a typical Nepali restaurant with folk culture program with various dances of Nepal while having your authentic Nepalese dinner with local entertainment.

Morning after hearty breakfast depart from the hotel where our city and tour guide leads you for exciting guided sightseeing around Kathmandu. Although Kathmandu a metropolitan city still retains its ancient culture and traditional way of life with many world heritage sites to visit of great interest, tour of Kathmandu Durbar Square (old palace courtyard) old Syambhunath Stupa (famous land mark of Nepal and Kathmandu), Bouddhanath Stupa (Little Tibet) with holy Pashupatinath Temple of Hindu religion, and back to hotel with time for Tibet overland journey preparations next early morning.

Starting marvelous Tibet Overland Journey, heading North West from Kathmandu taking an exciting overland drive past many farm villages and towns within low warmer valley of Trisuli Bazaar, and then towards cooler areas to reach at Dhunche, headquarter and administrative town of Rasuwa district within Langtang Himal. From here entering into Langtang National Park, our journey continues downhill on zig-zag winding road to reach at Syabrubesi village in a nice local lodge for overnight halt.

From Syabrubesi morning drive leads on newly built road that links Nepal / Tibet towards Rasuwagadhi (1800m / 15 km / 1 hr min from Syabrubesi), here received by our Tibetan counterpart guide and drivers, after completing immigration & custom formalities on both side of the frontier Nepal / Tibet at Rasuwagadhi, continue drive further to Kyirong county with first overnight stop in Tibet accommodation at local guest-house. At Kyirong afternoon with time to relax and enjoy views of Ganesh and Langtang Himal that borders Nepal and Tibet.

From Kyirong onward where Tibetan high plateau begins as morning drive leads past Tibetan farm villages to reach on top of Lalung-la Pass (5,050m) with views of Mt. Shisapangma (8013m highest within Tibet). After Lalung-la drive leads on vast Tibetan plateau with high and dry terrain to Old Tingri with first glimpse of Everest and Cho-Oyo peaks, from here few hour drive to Shegar also known as New Tingri and then transfer to your hotel or lodge for overnight stop.

Traveling on high Tibetan plateau and then after the town of Shegar, morning drive heads to a highest pass of the journey over Gyatsho-La over above 5,220 m high and then downhill to Larze town, situated on the mid way of Mt. Kailash and Shigatse at Friendship Highway of Lhasa & Kathmandu. From Larze town, drive is short of few hours on good road to reach at Tibet's second largest city in Shigatse drive continues past rural farm villages and well tended fields of barley-wheat and yellow mustard. After an enjoyable ride reaching at Shigatse where hotels are much better than past few night stops, in Shigatse transfer to excellent hotels with modern facilities of Wi Fi and money change at its exchange counters.

Morning getting refreshed with breakfast, tour of beautiful Tashilumpo Monastery with its golden roofed and observe pilgrims on their religious visit with pray and spinning wheels, this is the seat of His Holiness Panchen Lama which is second highest priest and head of state after Dalai Lama. After a fascinating tour of Tashilumpo Monastery complex, continue drive towards eastward for few hours to reach at Gyantse another large city of Tibet, where in early 19 th and 20 th century was a flourishing place where trade between Nepal-Bhutan and Sikkim used to take place. On reaching at Gyantse transfer to another nice hotels or guest house with afternoon tour of old Phalkor Monastery and great terracotta Stupa of Kumbum, famous historical monuments located within great surrounding walls of this holy complex.

Morning journeys leads to our next highlight of the journey heading towards the fabled city Lhasa, drive leads past Simi-La pass within great Tibetan plateau where you can watch Yaks and other cattle grazing on huge green meadows. As the ride progress heading towards a scenic Karo-La pass of above 5,050 m with close views of Nzongkhangsa peaks at 7,100 m high where ice falls and glaciers flows near to the road head. Here enjoy the views as well observe the traditional life of Drokpa (Nomads) and Yak herder then reaching Nagarktse town and beyond towards beautiful turquoise Lake of Yamdrok Tsho then on high hills to reach another scenic Khamba-La pass at 4,800 m high. Khamba-La offers super panorama of Tibetan tableland and landscapes with distant views of snowcapped peaks and of Yamdrok Tsho Lake. From here after marveling the scenery heading downhill to come across a bridge over Yarlung Tsangpo / Brahmaputra River, slowly our overland journey reaches in the heart of Lhasa city in the backdrop of magnificent Potala Palace. At Lhasa our hotels located on the old part of Lhasa within east areas near colorful and exciting Barkhor Square and its markets.

These two days engrossed with ever exciting tour around Lhasa important places of immense interest within its historical and religious sites, beginning with short drive west of Lhasa towards a hill top with tour of old Drefung Monastery, in the early day home of all high priest and Dalia Lamas before Potala Palace was built. Here visit the main prayer halls with monks on deep prayers where Drefung means a heap of rice with its white washed buildings as it looks from distance views, after a great interesting visit drive to Shera Monastery where you can witness young monks on exciting debate, which deepens their knowledge of all types to reach their priesthood. Shera monastery located north of Lhasa after an interesting time with lunch break in local Tibetan / Chinese restaurants, afternoon tour of magnificent Potala Palace known as 'Heavenly Realm' with 1,000 rooms where visitors can tour only the main important interior of 8 to 10 rooms of great significant. Potala Palace stands as Landmark of Tibet situated in the hub of the city, where high and superior priests Dalai Lama lived till the last 14th Dalai Lama, at present turn into a museum. After a grand tour head back into busy and colorful Barkhor Market Square with time to visit Jhorkhang Temple, the oldest religious sites of Tibet. As the day end in Lhasa, with time for individual activities around Lhasa before dinner time on last day in Lhasa.

Morning as per the given time by our Tibetan guide, depart from the hotel for an hour drive which leads outskirt of Lhasa city area and then on nice newly built highway entering few wonderful tunnels to reach at Gongar airport. Farewell to Tibetan guides and friendly drivers then enter the air terminal for visa and passport formalities with custom check. Board in Air China for super panoramic flight of over an hour to Kathmandu during airborne breathtaking views of Himalayan chain of peaks with close views of Mt. Everest and Mt. Makalu as the flight finally lands at Kathmandu Tribhuvan International Airport. Here after migration and visa formalities heads outside the terminal, where our staff transfer you back into your hotel, with much time in the afternoon for individual activities and shopping.

Last day in the country of high and beautiful Himalayas as per your international flight transfer to Kathmandu international airport for homeward bound or to next port of call after a wonderful and mesmerizing adventure on Tibet Overland Journey with grand service of Tramping Himalaya Adventures.