20 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: This morning you will have sunrise view of 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.

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 escorted to airport for the flight to Paro. On arrival you will be greeted by our representative and transferred to your hotel. If time permit in the afternoon you can visit the Kyichu Lhakhang, Paro Dzong. In the evening you can drive to the capital town of Thimphu.

Highlights: There are a good many things to see in the capital which has a very relaxed, laid-back feel about it. Thimphu is relatively small having a population of approximately 45,000 people and the streets are wide and tree lined. You will almost certainly visit the Late King's Memorial Chorten, the National Library, Drubthob Nunnery, Folk Heritage Museum, the handmade paper factory, the school of arts and crafts where young students learn the traditional arts and crafts (Zo Rig Chusum – the thirteen crafts), Gold and the Silver Smiths workshop, Zangtopelri Lhakhang, and the Handicraft Emporium and the local handicraft centers to see the weavers at work and also varieties of textiles, thangkha paintings, masks, jewellery etc.

Highlights: After breakfast you will drive to Punakha, with a stop en route for tea at Dochu La (3,100 meters), where on a clear day you can get spectacular views of the Himalayas. After lunch at Wangduephodrong continue to drive to Punakha, the former capital of Bhutan, and visit Punakha Dzong, which is noteworthy both for being one of the most beautiful dzongs in Bhutan and also for having been built by the first Shabdrung in 1636. 

Highlights: Visit Gangety (Phobjikha) Is one of the few flacial valleys in Bhutan and chosen home for Black Neck Cranes Which migrate from the central Asiatic Plateau to escape its harsh winters. Explore Phobjikha valley and also visit to Gangtey Monastery the only Nyingmapa monastery in Bhutan. Evening you will return to Wangdiphodrang for overnight stay. 

Highlights: Today we drive along the winding mountain road to Paro. Afternoon, tour of Bhutan's national museum, a fascinating place housed in an old watchtower above the huge Paro Dzong (monastery/fortress). The museum holds a fantastic collection of Bhutanese national treasures ranging from ancient armour to textiles and thangkha paintings. Then, we drive to the head of the valley and visit Drukgyel Dzong built in a location that was chosen for its control over the route to Tibet. A spectacular view of Mount. Jumolhari (23,996ft /7314m) can be seen from here. Also visit Rinpung Dzong and a typical Bhutanese farm house.

Highlights: After breakfast hike to Taktsang Monastery (Tiger's Nest), which is Bhutan’s most famous monastery. It is perched on the edge of a steep cliff, about 900 meters above Paro Valley. The hike to reach the viewpoint to the monestery makes for a nice half-day excursion. After lunch you can visit other important site which you could not complete previous days.

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