Today we will fly from Kathmandu, TIA to Lhasa, Goggar Airport over the beautiful mountain range. It will take about an hour to drive from the airport to the old city and to your hotel. There are no programs today. You are suggested to take rest and drink lots of fluids, which will help you to get acclimatized in the Tibetan Altitude.
Lhasa is a huge place and it will take about 2 full days to explore Lhasa. We will be visiting following places in Lhasa:
Potala Palace:
Political and religious centre of Tibet, Potala palace is one of the most beautiful monuments in Tibet. With 1000 rooms and 13 stories to explore this is probably the most popular tourist attraction in Tibet. Elegantly decorated with hundreds of Thangka paintings, frescos and images created hundreds of years ago the Potala palace is a perfect example of how ancient monuments should be preserved.
Jokhang Temple:
Jokhang temple which was constructed back ion 7th century attracts hundreds of tourist every year. This temple has a very huge Sakyamuni Buddha statue and is considered the holiest place in Tibet.
Sera and Drepung monasteries:
Sera and Drepung monasteries were founded in 1419 which are actually numerous white temples and Buddhist buildings in the foot of a rocky hill. Back in its days, Drepung monastery use to have 8,000 monks to teach traditions of Vajrayana, Mahayana, and Sutrayana, the three vehicles of Tibetan Buddhism.
Norbulingka palace:
Constructed by the 7th Dalai Lama this Norbulingka Palace is not actually just one palace. This is a huge garden with numerous palaces built by many Dalai lamas in different period of time.
Along with these places we will be visiting the Barkhor Market with is probably the busiest place in Lhasa and offers anything you want to buy. Here you can pick up some Tibetan Souvenir for you and some gifts for your loved ones.
The 3rd day of the Lhasa stay i.e. the 4th day of the tour is for the tour is for the rest. This day we will rest and prepare for the further travelling. This day you can revisit your favorite monastery or go to the Barkhor Street to buy something for yourself and your loved ones.
Today we will drive from Lhasa to Gyantse on the friendship highway, through the stunning views of the glaciers just few hundred meters away from the road, lakes at very high altitude, High Mountain passes, beautiful Tibetan villages and colorful slopes of the Tibetan hills. Our overnight accommodation is at the Gyantse Hotel.
Today before leaving gyantse we will visit Gyantse Dzong and Gyantse Kumbum. Gyantse Dzong is a 14th century Tibetan fort from where we can observe the stunning view of the Gyantse town. Gyantse Kumbum has a large gold-domed stupa and houses, several chapels and Tibetan Buddhist murals. After exploring Gyantse we will drive to Shigatse, the second largest city of Tibet which is about 90 Km away from Lhasa. Here we will visit the largest operating monastery in Tibet- the Tashilhunpo Monastery and explore the local market. Our overnight accommodation will be either at Shigatse Hotel or Shandong Mansion.
Today we will drive along the friendship highway to Shegar from Shigatse. We will drive through the highest pass in Tibet, the Gyamtso La, at the altitude of 5220m, the barren yet stunningly beautiful landscape of Tibet and we will come across the camps of nomadic herders in our way to Shegar.
This day we will drive from Shegar to Ronbuk valley which is just a 4 Km away from the Everest Base camp. On the way we will have to pass Pang La, and from here we get see the incredible Himalayas. The view of mountains stretching from Makalu to Shishapangma is awe-spinning. Reaching Rongbuk, we will stay overnight at the Gompa Guest House.
Two days at base camp to acclimatize and explore around.
This day we will trek from Everest base camp to camp 1. We will have to walk along the Rongbuk Glacier for about 2 and half hours. Camp 1 lies amidst hills under stunningly beautiful and flamboyant granite cliffs. After arriving at camp 1 you might want to visit snout of the East Rongbuk Glacier which lies at the distance of 20 minute walk from camp 1.
This day we will trek from camp 1 to the interim camp through gravel mounds, mud plain to rocky moraine. Interim camp will prove to be very helpful to get your body acclimatized to the high altitude and your body needs to get adapted to the altitude and climate of that place in order to trek from the camp to the camp 2.
A rest day for preparation to climb higher up or you may wish to explore around.
Its will take around 3 and half hours to climb up to campIIfrom the interim camp. You will approach Camp II at 5970 meter as you near the south side of the glacier at the eastern end of the Changtse Glacier junction lying below huge cliff. From the camp II you can capture sceneries of the huge seracs rising to 50 feet and more off the surfaces of the glacier along with the ranges of white and shiny mountains like you’ve never seen before.
This is the day you will march to the camp III of the Everest advanced base camp trek. You will have to move along moraine following the glacier to the right around the eastern flanks of Changtse. Bit further you will have to ascend some hills which will lead you to the place where the glacier softens in to smooth and open ice carpet. On the way can see many tents and discarded oxygen bottles used by the mountaineers and trekkers. About 1480 m straight up from the camp III lies the Pinnacles, always challenging the adventurous trekkers to explore its charisma. The northeast ridge has kept itself away from most of the climbers because of its intricacy. North Col lies at 7066 meter in the West connecting Everest’s Northeast Ridge and Changste. From here, with a help of a binocular you can see the real Everest standing about 800 feet i.e. 2400m higher than the Camp III. Beyond the Camp three there are barren gravel hills just beside the glaciers. You might take an hour’s stroll if you are fully acclimatized with the altitude and climate. Finally you will have to conclude your trek today and return back to Camp II which will take you around 2 hours climbing of downhill. Here at Camp II you will call it a day and rest for the night.
Today you will trek to the comfortable lower altitude to the Base Camp. It’s a day long downhill trek.
Today is the day you will have to drive about 215 Km from the Base Camp to the Nyalam city along the friendship highway. En route you will go through the Pang La pass. We will halt our driving for a quick lunch at Tingri and drive on. On the way we will stop at the Lalung La pass located at the height of 5124m, which offers fantastic view of Cho Oyu and other mountain peaks like Shishapangma, Menlungtse and Gauri Shankar. As you leave the Tibetan plateaus you will progress towards the Nyalam city where you will spend the night at a cozy warm hotel.
Note: Since earthquakes in April 2015, Kodari border has been closed so that tours are being run To and From Lhasa only.
Today after the morning breakfast you will drive from Nyalam to Zhangmu, through the winding downhill road offering you fantastic views of beautiful waterfalls. This drive will take around an hour. A few kilometers drive from Zhangmu will take you to the friendship bridge on the Bhotekoshi River, which separates Tibet from Nepal. You will drive through the lush greenery of Nepalese countryside for five hours to reach Kathmandu to enjoy its evening markets and bustling beauty. En route you can stop for quick fish snack at Chehere and Dolalghat.