KATHMANDU TO LHASA – ROOF OF THE WORLD

Upon arrival in Kathmandu meet our representative and transfer to your hotel. In the evening enjoy a welcome dinner at an authentic Nepali restaurant followed by Nepali cultural program. Overnight at the hotel.

Today we visit Nagarkot via visit Bhaktapur, the old capital of Nepal. In the meantime we will process your visa at Chinese Embassy in Kathmandu. Rest of the day is free for rest and relaxation. Overnight at hotel.

After breakfast, we drive through agricultural countryside of Bhaktapur and Kavre. The road follows the Bhote Koshi River and then heads towards The Last Resort, situated on the bank of this river. For the adventurous ones, you can have the opportunity to go bungee jumping!! In the meantime your Chinese visa will be delivered to Last Resort by late evening. Dinner and overnight at The Last Resort.

After early breakfast check out from the resort and drive to Kodari. Here, we complete Nepal immigration and custom formalities and cross the friendship bridge on foot to meet representatives from Tibet where we, complete Chinese immigration formalities. After this, we ride 30 minutes through lush green hillsides and cascading waterfalls to Zhangmu town for lunch. After lunch we continue our drive for another hour through the lush green landscape to Nyalam. Check into a guesthouse. Dinner and overnight at guesthouse in Nyalam.
Note: All of Tibet is on Beijing time. Due to this, the Nagari region of Tibet, which is so far west of Beijing, is dark at 8 a.m. and there is sunlight until about 9 p.m.

Spend a free day in Nyalam for acclimatization. Dinner and overnight at guesthouse in Nyalam.

After breakfast ride to Old Tingri also known as Xegar via Lalung La pass (5,050 m / 16,564 ft), and ride down to the small settlement of Old Tingri, from where you can witness the panoramic view of Mt. Everest, Cho Oyu and Makalu. Rest of the day is free for rest and relaxation. Dinner and overnight at guesthouse in Old Tingri.

Today we drive up to the Rongbuk Monastery and visit the Everest Base Camp. The terrain starts with the rough drive over the Tibetan Plateau, climbing gradually with increasing altitude. Rongbuk Monastery also known as Dza Rongbuk Gompa and its accompanying hermitage retreats were introduced to the world in the 1920s through the accounts of the first British mountaineering teams. In the afternoon, we have the opportunity to explore the Everest Base Camp (5,200 m). The base camp itself is dry and barren, but the views of Everest more than compensate for this. It is truly an awe-inspiring place with the sheer north face of the highest mountain in the world towering above us. Dinner and overnight at guest house in Rongbuk.

After breakfast start ride to New Tingri via Pang La pass, which offer magnificent view of the Himalayas. Stop in New Tingri for refueling and lunch. After lunch re-join Friendship Highway and continue to Shigatse via Lhatse. A day of high passes and more beautiful scenery, as we head across the Tibetan plateau. Today is a long day hence we will reach to Shigatse late for dinner. Dinner and overnight at hotel in Shigatse.

Shigatse is the second largest city in Tibet and after exploring the local market we visit the Tashilhunpo Monastery. This monastery is one of the largest functioning monasteries in Tibet and there is much to explore within its high surrounding walls. Rest of the day is free. Dinner and overnight at hotel in Shigatse.

Today is your last long-ride day to the fascinating Tibetan capital of Lhasa. Leave Shigatse after breakfast and drive to Gyantse, and continue driving through some beautiful passes. Karo La is our first pass at 16,650 ft it takes some time while ascending. Then the drive takes us across the Yamdrok lakebed and onto to Khamba La and then a steady descent into the Bramhaputra valley. Arrive at Lhasa by late evening and check in the hotel. Dinner and overnight at hotel in Lhasa.

After breakfast visit the Potala Palace built on top of a single hill. The first King Songtsen Gampo expanded it to its present structure during the 17th century. This 13-storey, 1,000 room citadel served as the headquarters of the former Church-state of Tibet and was home to successive Dalai Lamas who, from the latter half of the 18th century used it as their Winter Palace.
In the afternoon Jokhang Temple: Situated in the heart of old Lhasa is Tibet’s most precious religious relic, a golden Sakyamuni Buddha which was brought as a gift by the Chinese princess Wen Cheng on her wedding to the Tibetan King, Songtsen Gampo. Devout pilgrims prostrate themselves at the entrance of the temple and make the inner holy circuit to offer yak butter to the gods and pay homage to the golden statue of Sakyamuni. Surrounding the Jokhang Temple is the busy bustling Barkhor Bazaar, the religious and social focus of Lhasa.
In the evening, Dinner at authentic Tibetan restaurant. Dinner and overnight at hotel in Lhasa.

After breakfast transfer to Lhasa Gongar Airport to board a very scenic flight to Kathmandu. Upon arrival transfer to your hotel for lunch. Rest of day is free. In the evening is the farewell dinner at nice restaurant in Thamel. Overnight at hotel.

After breakfast transfer to the airport in Kathmandu for your journey home.