Kathmandu to Lhasa overland 11 Days
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Duration: 11 days
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Trip level: strenuous (due to high altitude during tour)
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Maximum altitude: 5220 m
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Accommodation: guesthouse and hotel
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Season: April, May, August, September, October,
Day 01: Kathmandu to Syabrubesi (1460 m)
Drive to the Syabrubesi (1460 m) which takes approximately seven hours. A drive scenic drive through the green lush countryside.
Overnight at Tea house.
Day 02:Syprubeshi to Kerung Height(3200 m)
After breakfast you will procedure for the immigration formalities then you will drive to Kerung Height. Approximately six hours drive.
Overnight at Hotel or Guest house.
Day 03:Kerung Height to Lo Tingri (4348 m)
After breakfast you will drive from Kerung Height to Tingri (4348 m). The drive takesabout 6 hours. On your journey you will encounter two spectacular passes; Nyalam Tong La pass (5120 m) and the Lung La pass (5080 m). Along with the two passes, you will also get to enjoy fabulous views of the high mountains including Mt. Everest (8848 m) and the Shishapangma (8,013 m).
Overnight at Hotel.
Day 04: Lo Tingri to Rongbuk (4980 m)
Drive from Tingri to the Rongbuk Monastery. The drive should approximately take five hours.
Overnight at Guest house.
Day 05: Excursion to Everest Base Camp North (5150 m)
A day trek from the Rongbuk Monastery will bring you to the Everest Base Camp (North Face). the mighty Everest also known as Chomolongma in Tibetan.Return to Rongbuk.
Overnight at Guest house.
Note that on rare occasions due to bad weather or political riots the local government may close down the road to the Everest base camp for safety reasons and without prior notice.
Day 06: Rongbuk to Shigatse (4350 m)
After breakfast you will drive towards Shigatse via Sakya. In Sakya, you can visit the Sakya Monastery, which is the ancestral temple of Sakyapa sect of Tibetan Buddhism. The main architectures inside the castle are the Dajing Hall, the Buddhism Hall and the hall where the Sakya archbishop lived. The medieval Mongolian architecture is quite different from temples in Lhasa and Yarlung. During the drive from Rongbuk to Shigatse you will cross the Gyasto La (5220 m), the highest pass en route to Lhasa. If the weather is clear you can view the beautiful glance of Cho Oyu (8201 m) and the Shishapangma (8212 m). The 244kms from Rongbuk to Shigatse should approximately take five hours of driving to traverse.
Overnight at a Guest house.
Day 07: Shigatse to Gyantse (3950 m)
After breakfast, you can visit the popular Tashilhunpo Monastery in Shigatse which holds both historical and cultural importance for being founded by Gendun Drup, the First Dalai Lama in 1447. After touring the Tashilhunpo Monastery, you will continue your drive to Gyantse. On the way, you can visit Shalu Monastery. Founded in 1040, Shalu Monastery is known for its beautiful and ancient mural paintings. You will continue to Gyantse and while there visit Khumbum Stupa, Phalkot Monastery and Gyantse Dzong (Fortress), which is one of the best preserved dzongs in Tibet. The 90 km from Shigatse to Gyantse should approximately take two and a half hours of driving to traverse.
Overnight at Hotel or Guest house.
Day 08: Gyantse to Lhasa (3650 m)
Drive to Lhasa while crossing over Karo La (5010 m) and the Kamba La pass (4794 m). You will also pass by the colorful Yamdrok Tso lake, one of the three largest sacred lakes of Tibet, and the Brahmaputra River (Yarlung Tsangpo). The 260 km from Gyantse to Lhasa should approximately take six hours of driving to traverse.
Overnight at hotel.
Day 09: Sightseeing in and around Lhasa (3650 m)
Visit Sera Monastery, Norbulingka Palaces, Jokhang Monastery and Barkhor Market. Sera Monastery is a preserved monastery of white-washed walls and golden roofs. The Sera Monastery, five km north of Lhasa, is one of Lhasa’s prettiest monasteries and once upon a time sheltered a community of more than 5000 monks. Norbulingka Palace is the summer palace of the Dalai Lama and houses what is considered to be the largest man-made garden in Tibet. Jokhang Monastery, situated in the heart of Old Lhasa, houses Tibet’s most precious religious relic, a golden Sakyamuni Buddha which was brought as a gift by the Chinese Princess Wencheng on the occasion of her wedding to the Tibetan King, Songtsen Gampo. You can further stroll through Barkhor Bazaar (market). With its open air stalls, shops and crowd of pilgrims, it is the nerve centre of Lhasa.
Overnight at hotel
Day 10: Sightseeing in and around Lhasa(3650 m)
Visit Potala Palace and Drepung Monastery. The Potala Palace, the home of the Dalai Lama, was built atop a single hill by the Tibetan king, Songtsen Gampo. Built in the 17century, Potala Palace provides amazing views of the entire city and houses the private quarters of the Dalai Lama, numerous grand state rooms and chapels.The Drepung Monastery was once the world’s largest monastery housing 10000 monks. It lies hidden in rocky ridges just five km beyond the city of Lhasa.
Overnight at hotel.
Day 11: Flight from Lhasa to Kathmandu
You have to get up early for your transfer to Gongkar airport to catch the flight back to Kathmandu (1350 m)
Day 01 Drive Kathmandu to Syabrubesi (1460 m)
Day 02 Drive Syabrubesi to Kerung Height (3200 m)
Day 03 Drive Kerung Height to Lo Tingri (4348 m)
Day 04 Drive Lo Tingri to Rongbuk monastery (4980 m)
Day 05 Day trek to Everest Base Camp north side (5150 m), overnight at Rongbuk Monastery
Day 06 Drive Rongbuk Monastery to Shigatse (3800 m)
Day 07 Drive Shigatse to Gyantse (3950 m)
Day 08 Drive Gyantse to Lhasa (3650 m)
Day 09 Sightseeing Lhasa
Day 10 Sightseeing Lhasa
Day 11 Flight Lhasa to Kathmandu
Sherpa Heritage Trails shows you a starting price. During the trekking season prices may rise. The final price depends on the trekking season, group size and the cost of the Lhasa flight.
Please inquire for price
We have noticed the ways of traveling and booking are changing rapidly. Many customers book a hotel or a guesthouse themselves prior to their journey. However, we would happily like to arrange accommodation for you. We have excellent contacts with various hotels and guesthouses and will be able to offer a good price rate for any budget.
When you arrive at the International Airport we will pick you up and bring you to your accommodation. Here we will give you a short briefing about the tour. In addition we will give you advice about hygienic food, customs, and sightseeing in Kathmandu.
Cost include:
-Pick up and drop off from Kathmandu International Airport to hotel from international flight and flight from Lhasa
-Drive Kathmandu to Tibetan border , and Tibetan border to Lhasa by Hiace van/bus/jeep
-Flight Lhasa to Kathmandu
-Certificate of CO2- emission free tour
-Licensed and certified tour guide. Well experienced and English speaking
-Tibetan tour guide; English speaking
-Salary, food, accommodation and insurance for the guides
-Monastery entrance fees, Everest National Park entrance fee, all necessary paper works and local taxes
-Support of the Sherpa Heritage Trails head office in Kathmandu
Cost exclude:
-International flight to Kathmandu
-Nepal entrance visa
-Tibet visa and travel permit
-Accommodation and all meals in Kathmandu
-All accommodation during tour
-All meals during tour; most Hotels and Guesthouses are including breakfast
-All beverage bills, hot shower, internet services, laundry and battery charge during tour
-Personal travel insurance
-Rescue operation charge in case of an emergency
-Any cost that arise due to change of itinerary like flight delay, natural calamities, political disturbance, etc.
-Gratitude and tips for the guides