Duration
10 days
Max. Elevation
3950m
Group size
2+ Above
Important Note
Day
1On arrival in Kathmandu and Nepal International Airport via various international airlines, received by our guide and staff for a short transfer to the heart of Kathmandu city. Where is your hotel located, after checking into your rooms, and then meeting other members of the trip at the hotel lobby for a briefing?
The briefing. includes important information regarding Classic Tibet Tour, to make your holiday in Tibet and Nepal more enjoyable. The evening group welcomes dinner in a lovely Nepalese Restaurant with an introduction to the culture of Nepal with folk dance and music.
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3Morning is a time for the exciting flight to Lhasa in Tibet, transfer to Kathmandu International airport, as the Air China flight takes off facing a breathtaking panorama of Himalayan peaks with the world's highest Mt. Everest. The plane then heads over the mountains to reach within Tibetan sky and then lands at Gongor Tibet International Airport, where our Tibetan guide and drivers receive you for a short drive into the city of Lhasa with a glimpse of the magnificent Potala Palace that dominates the city.
On reaching Lhasa transfer into a nice hotel with warm Tibetan hospitality, the hotel is located close to Barkhor Square the main hub of the city, and an interesting place to be.
Day
4The morning after breakfast, our Tibetan guide meets you at the hotel, for an enjoyable day around Lhasa around place of great historical, religious and cultural interest. Drive west of the city and then uphill to the huge white monastery of Drepung, the seats and residence of many Dalai Lama, before Potala was built. Tour takes you to visit the monastery interior enriched with impressive arts and statues placed in the main prayer hall and enjoy observing the monastery activities.
From here head towards Jhorkang Temple amidst busy Barkhor Square and markets. The oldest shrine of Tibet enjoys views of the city from the terraces of Jhorkang temple with views of Potala Palace. Afternoon short drive north of Lhasa to visit another important Shera monastery, and watch young monks debating regarding social and religious subjects, one of the highlights of this monastery. After a great day, the rest of the afternoon is free for a stroll around the streets of Lhasa and to witness local people of great cultural interest.
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5After breakfast, at the usual time for the tour to the famous landmark of Tibet, the Potala Palace is situated on a red hill, within the center of Lhasa. A winter palace and resident from 5th to present 14th Dalai Lama, head of state where visitors are allowed to enter a few main halls and prayer rooms from its 100 rooms. The Palace was built in early 640 A.D. during the time of the 5th Dalai Lama.
After an interesting visit with a free afternoon for individual activities and shopping souvenirs. The afternoon tour continues with short drive southwest to Norbulingka, a summer palace of semi-modern with lovely large gardens and tall trees, our guide will take us around the summer palace's important sites, and then end the day tour with the rest of the day free at leisure.
Day
6An early morning start after breakfast, for a long scenic drive beyond Lhasa city and the valley heading past farm villages. As the drive continues uphill to the high pass of Khamba-La pass 4,800 m high. From the top enjoy a grand panorama of vast Tibetan scenic landscapes including views of distant snow peaks.
After a wonderful stop downhill towards the beautiful turquoise Lake of Yamdrok Tsho, then arrive at Nagarktse town for lunch in a nice Tibetan restaurant. The afternoon ride crosses Kara-La pass at 5,050 m high, facing views of Nzongkhangsa peak and its ice-fall and glaciers located close to the main road. Drive then heads past nomads camps, and witness yak grazing on a vast field then reaching Gyantse town.
As time permits tour of famous Gyantse Dzong (fort) Pelkor Chode Monastery and Kumbum Stupa, after a short break and tour of Gyantse famous sites, a drive of a few hours to reach Tibet 2nd largest Shigatse city for an overnight stop.
Day
7After breakfast, a short drive to another famous monastery of Tibet the Tashilumpo, a huge religious complex with a golden rooftop. Enter the main monastery interior of prayer rooms within a big hall, the seat of his holiness Panchen Lama, the second head of state after Dalai Lama. Enjoying an interesting tour with a tall bronze statue of Maitreya, the future Buddha which is 21 meters tall.
From here take lunch in a nearby restaurant with tourist standard food served including typical Tibetan cuisine. Afternoon visits to the market the main shopping and bartering area of the locals, an interesting place to observe the Tibetan way of life and culture. After an exciting day back to the hotel, with time to relax and for a short stroll around the streets of Shigatse city.
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10Yes, nearly 90 % are largely populated by Buddhism followers with some minority of Tibetan Muslims, which you can notice in the cities of Lhasa and Shigatse.
Where in all hotels in Kathmandu and Tibet you have the facilities to charge you electronic gadgets, where the flow of current and voltage can differ. In Kathmandu / Nepal capacity 609 MW in Integrated Power System, of 230 volts in A.C. single phase and 400 volts in three phases for general. Electricity in Tibet / China is 230 volts AC, 50 cycles. We do have two pins & 3 pins power sockets, you better have two Pin travel plug adapter which will be useful to charge your batteries.
In Tibet where Chinese currency is used, which is about the US $1 equals 6: 50 Chinese Renminbi Yuan, which is the official currency of the People's Republic of China and translates to “people's money.
Tibet, similar to mainland China uses Beijing Standard Time. Which is 8 hours ahead of GMT (Greenwich Mean Time) 2 hours and 15 minutes ahead of Nepal Standard Time Zone.
The chances are small and rare, as you will be spending three overnights in Lhasa at 3,660 m altitude, enough time to get acclimatized before heading towards other higher areas of Tibet, beyond Lhasa. However, some people might catch a slight headache from altitude gain, it will soon recover having rest, drinking enough water that helps to acclimatize from the symptoms of AMS or altitude sickness.
April to May and September and October are the best months for travel to Tibet as well for this tour. The weather is fine and clear most of the season, as the land with high altitude gets much sun for long hours, although cold morning and from late afternoon till night time. Can get very windy especially on the drive to Shigatse during the afternoon time till 4 p.m. Chances of snowfall sometimes around high passes and altitude wise, do get light rain around monsoon time of June to mid-September, but the mostly dry and arid country as weather-wise. Does not get heavy rain like in southern countries of the Himalayas range.
