18 Days Tibet & Nepal & Bhutan Tour

Highlights: Welcome to Lhasa! Today upon your Lhasa arrival, you will be greeted by your Tibetan guide and escorted to hotel. Rest of the day you will have a good rest to acclimatize the high altitude. 

Tips: 

The altitude in Lhasa is about 3,650m above sea level. Take time out to relax and acclimate to the high altitude after arrival at your hotel. We recommend that you avoid strenuous activity for the first few days. It is advisable that you not take showers. For first time visitors, it is common to have different degrees of high altitude sickness symptom. Drink more water, have fresh fruit and plenty of rest will help to prevent the sickness. Have a good rest tonight, and get ready for tomorrow's journey. 

Elevation: 3500m 

Highlights: Today you will visit the famous Potala Palace, Jokhang Temple, Barkhor Street 

Potala Palace: Which is known as the cardinal landmark of Tibet and the residence of the Dalai Lama lineages. Stands 13 stories high and owes over 1,000 rooms, 10,000 shrines and 200,000 statues, the Potala Palace formed a small world in it. 

Jokhang Temple: Listed on UNESCO's World Heritage list in 2000 as part of the Potala Palace,Jokhang Temple is the ultimate pilgrimage destination for Tibetan Pilgrims. The temple is a four-storey timber complex with a golden top, with the combination of  Tang Dynasty, Tibetan and Nepal architectural styles. Every day, pilgrims come from every corner of Tibet worship here, make it a perfect site for photograpers.

Barkhor Street: As the oldest street in Lhasa, Barkhor Street is considered as the center of the old city, and a perfect place to lear Tibetan culture, economy, religion, and arts. The street is full of handicarfts, such as ornaments, knives, tangka,  religious musical instruments, gold and silver ware, masks and a lot more. If you intend to buy some souvenirs for friends or famiy, Barkhor Street will be an ideal place.

Tips: 

1) Some visitors might feel a bit hard to breath when climbing the Potala Palace, so please climb slowly. 

2) Some places are not allowed to take photos, please kindly inquire your guide for details. 

3) When shopping around Barkor Street, you can compare and bargain for the unique souvenirs 

4) During the summer time, the musical fountain show at the Potala Plalace Square is 19:30—22:00PM. 

5) Please bring water, a hat, sun cream, and sun glasses for today’s tour as you will be at outside for a long day. 

Elevation: 3500m 

Highlights: Today you will visit Drepung Monastery, Sera Monastery and enjoy the debate. 

Drepung Monastery: Located 5 kilometers (3.1 miles) from the western suburb of Lhasa, Drepung Monastery is known as the most important monastery of Gelugpa in Tibetan Buddhism. It is considered one of the 'Three Great Monasteries' (the other two are the Ganden Monastery and the Sera Monastery. Seen from afar, its grand, white construction gives the appearance of a heap of rice. As such, it was given the name 'Drepung‘, which, in the Tibetan language, means 'Collecting Rice.. 

Sera Monastery: Which is located in the northern suburb of Lhasa City. The monastery was named Sera which means wild rose in the Tibetan language, because the hill behind it was covered with wild roses in bloom when the monastery was built. From of Mon ~ Fri, every afternoon, you ll be able to see monks debating at Sera Monastery.

Tips: 

1) Today's road condition is good. The tour involves some easy walking and climbing

2) Please bring water, a hat, sun cream, and sun glasses for today’s tour as you will be at outside for a long day. 

Distance: 350km    Drive: 12hrs    Elevation: 4441m 

Highlights: This morning you will be drive to Gyangtse and finally reach Shigatse for hotel check-in. After passing the Kamba-La Pass (4794m), you’ll get to the beautiful Yamdrok Lake for great highland lake view and the distant view of Mt. Nojin Kangtsang(7191m). Continued is a 1.5 hour’s drive to visit the Karo-la Glacier (5050m). Then you will get to Gyangtze and visit the famous Palkor Monastery. Finally in the later afternoon you will reach Tibet’s 2nd largest city---Shigatse.

Yamdrok Lake: Which is one of the 3 most sacred lakes in Tibet. It is a lake of 72km long, fed by numerous small streams and sourrounded by snow covered mountains. The two long arms of water, makeing it look like a scorpion from the sky. According to legend, Yamdok Lake is the transformation of a goddess.

Karola Glacier: At 5,560m above sea level, and with an area of 9.4 sq km, this imposing glacier is visible from the highway which links Lhasa and Shigatse. The glacier has been divided into black and white layers due to smoke pollution from motor vehicles, which gives a distinctive colors to this great glacier. 

Pelkor Chode Monastery: Founded in 1418, Pelkor Chode Monastery is the main monastery in Gyantse of Tibet. The highlight inside is the Kumbum, which has 108 chapels in its four stories. As an important center of the Sakya sect of Tibetan Buddhism,  In 1904, the Gyangtse town and the Pelkor Chode Monastery were attacked by British army, although most of the damage was later restored, bullet holes from this attack still remain in the monastery.

Tips: 

1) The road condition from Lhasa to Gyantse via Yamdrok Lake is rough road around mountains. 

2) The altitude is over 4,000m in some places and it is long drive, so if necessary, you may ask the guide to stop somewhere for a break and stretch your body.

Distance: 350km    Drive: 12hrs    Elevation: 5154m   

Highlights: Today we will drive from Gyangtse to Lhatse, Tingri, and finally reach Rongbuk Monastery, which is only 10km away from the Everest Base Camp. you will witness spectacular high plateau views such as blue sky, float light clouds, stretching snow mountains, endless grasslands.

Rongbuk Monastery: Located at the northern foot of Mt. Everest, the Rongbuk Monastery is only 10 KM away from the Everest Base Camp. It was originally built in 1902 by a Nyingmapa Lama, and considered as the highest monastery in the world. The monastery belongs to the Nyingma sect of Tibetan Buddhism, it used to hold 500 monks, but has only 30 monks now. The monastery is a perfect place to view Everest, on sunny days, a pile of thick clouds, just like a white flag floats lightly above the peak, which is known to be the miracle of 'The Highest Flag Cloud in the World'.

Tips: 

1) It is very cold and requires some warm clothing. 

2) Visitors can get up at night to take photos of Mt. Everest surrounded by the moon and stars. 

3) You may get up early next morning to see the sunrise over Mt. Everest. 

4) April, May, September, October, November are good  to visit Everest, Late June to August is rainy season in Tibet.

Distance:450km    Drive: 12hrs    Elevation: 4300m   

Highlights: Early in the morning before sun rise on the top of Mt, Everest, we will take the eco-bus to have a full view the magnificent Everest. After that our tour we will drive back to the main road(318 national high way) to Gyirong Port. On the way you still have the chance to get a last glimpse of the Mt.Everest and the Himalaya mountains. 

Mt. Everest: Located in the Himalayas ranges of the border between Tibet and Nepal, Everest is also called Qomolangma or Chomolungma. It raises 8,848 metres (29,029 ft) above sea level, it is the main peak of Himalayas and the world's highest mountain.  The Everest is covered by snow all the year round, when sun shines on the mountain, the summit of the mountain seems like the pyramid covered by the sunlights, offering a spectacular view.

Tips:

1) You can trek 1 hour single way from tent to base camp 4/km one way. 

2) You can also take the eco-bus from tent to base camp. 

3) The accommodation at Gyirong Port is quite basic, public bathroom, no shower

Distance: 200km    Drive: 7hrs    Elevation: 2300m   

Highlights: In the early morning, you will cross the border - Gyirong Port. Our Nepal guide will meet you at the other side of border and escort you to Kathmandu.

Tips:  

1) The Nepal visa can be obtained upon arrival with 30USD  

2) Please prepare 3 passport size photos for the immigration use. 

3) It is 7 hours drive from the border to Kathmandu, please get prepared for this long drive.

Highlights: Today you will visit Pashupatinath Temple, Boudhanath Stupa and Bhaktapur. After the tour, drive 45 minutes to Nagarkot for hotel check-in. 

Highlights: Early morning sunrise view over the Himalayas (if weather permits). Then drive to Chitwan. After lunch, visit Tharu Village, enjoy the amazing sunset view, cultural dance.

Today you will have Canoeing ride and visit Elephant Breeding centre. After lunch, you will have the Elephant Back safari.

Highlights: Today's morning you will have Bird watching. Then drive to Pokhara. Afternoon visit David's fall, Mahdev Cave, Seti River Gorge and boating at Fewa Lake. 

Highlights: Early morning drive to Sarangkot, sunrise view over the Himalayas ( if weather permits). After breakfast, late morning scenic drive back to Kathmandu.

Highlights: Today is full day valley sightseeing with Kathmandu Durbar Square, the place of the Malla and then the Shah Kings of Nepal, visiting Kumari Temple, house of the virgin goddess, visiting Swoyambhunath, a stupa on the top of hill - from here you can overlook the scenery of Kathmandu, Visiting Patan city, the second largest town in the valley, Krishna Mandir, Golden Temple etc.

Highlights: Today you will be driven to Kathmandu airport for the flight to Paro. On arrival in Paro, you will be received by representative and transfer to Thimphu by car/bus. The drive takes about an hour thirty minutes to reach the city. Thimphu is one of the most beautiful and smallest city in the world. Visit interesting weekend market (Thu-Sun). Vegetable vendors from different pockets of the country come to sell their products. We will explore the city by walk on our own or relax in the hotel. Overnight in Thimphu, altitude 2300m 

Highlights: After breakfast visit Kuensel Phodrang (Buddha Statue) world’s largest sitting Buddha statue which gives awesome views of Thimphu valley, National Memorial Chorten (Stupas) which remembers the father of modern Bhutan. Later visit Changangkha Monastery the oldest temple in the valley, Sangaygang View Point often known as BBS tower and lovers point. Later, we will prepare to drive to warm valley of Punakha over the most beautiful pass in the country called Dochula pass at 3150m. 108 Druk Wangyal Chortens built over the pass by queen mother in 2003 marks the pass more important and beautiful thus the pass is one the must visit passes in Bhutan. If the weather permits, we can enjoy a spectacular view of the highest mountains of Bhutan at a sight that stretches almost 180 degrees. After a photo break, we will continue our drive downhill from the pass. Afternoon, we will visit the most beautiful Punakha Dzong, which houses the most elaborated temple in the country. The Dzong, showcase the finest example of the arts and crafts of Bhutan. Overnight in Punakha, altitude 1350m

Highlights: After the breakfast, we will check out from the hotel and retrace the drive to Paro. En-route we will take awesome walk through the rice field of Mesina to Chimi Lhakhang, Temple of fertility. On arrival in Paro we will visit National Museum, the first of its kind which has a collection from natural history to religious paintings. Visit 17 century Paro Dzong (Fortress) on foot and continue walking through the oldest wooden bridge still in use. Evening stroll old Paro town and peep into some local handicraft stores or we will provide the options to enjoy other activities while in Paro. Overnight in Paro, altitude 2200m

Highlights: After the breakfast, we will drive to Ramthangka from where we will hike to Taktsang Monastery (Tiger Nest) which is built around a cave in which Guru Rimpoche (also known as Guru Padmasambhava) meditated. The eighth century old monastery is perched on a rock overlooking a sheer drop and clings seemingly impossible to a cliff of rock at 900m above the valley floor. For entire Buddhist around the world, it is place of pilgrimage but for a tourist, it is one of the must visit place before we die. The hike is almost 2 hours walk, uphill at 30 to 40 degree inclined for an average hiker however we might take full day depending on your pace. First of half of the hike which we pull-up, up to cafeteria feels never ending however from the half way due to magical structure right inform us, we are all energized to push further and you actually feel very near. Finally you are done and filled with joys of happiness to be at Taktshang. For the return journey, we actually feel like walking down very fast. Overnight in Paro

Highlights: After early breakfast in the hotel, drive to the airport to connect flight for onward destination