This is one of the most popular itineraries in Tibet, all by a vehicle, no trekking required.

This is Kathmandu to Kathmandu itinerary. After sightseeing in Kathmandu, you fly to Lhasa to begin your Tibet tour. The itinerary includes all the highlights of Tibet - from all the famous sites of Lhasa, Kumbum and Palkhor of Gyantse, the Tashilhunpo Gompa of Shigatse, and all the stunning scenery of the Friendship Highway between Lhasa and Tibet-Nepal border, including the breathtaking vistas from the 5000m passes of Kamba La and Karo La, the northern panorama of the Himalayas and all the key monuments along the way.

Itinerary:

Day 01: 

Arrival in Kathmandu and transfer to Hotel. Overnight at Hotel Manaslu or similar.

Day 02:

Full day sight seeing tour of Kathmandu city, Swayambhunath Stupa, Pashupatinath Temple, Boudhanath Stupa & Bhaktapur City. Overnightn at the your Hotel in Kathmandu.

Day 03:   

Flight Kathmandu to Lhasa, transfer to hotel. Day your leisure for acclimatization. 

Day 04:

Visit Sera Monastery, Jokhang Temple, and Barkhor.  Sera is the second biggest Gelukpa Monastery in the north suburb of Lhasa, built in 1419 by Tsongkapa's disciple Sakya Yeshi. Built in 1416 by Tsongkapa's disciple Jamyang Choje. Situated at the heart of the oldest section of the Lhasa city, Jokhang is one of the oldest temples in Tibet, built in the 7th century by Songtsen Gampo. Barkhor is the middle pilgrimage circuit around Jokhang Temple, a great window into Tibean way of life.

Day 05: 

Sightseeing Potala Palace, Drepung Monastery & Norbulingka. 

Potala, the winter palace of the Dalai Lama, was built originally in the 7th century by the King Songtsen Gampo and rebuilt to the present size by the 5th Dalai Lama in the 17th century. Drepung Monastery is the biggest Gelukpa monastery in the west suburb of Lhasa, built in the mid 18th century by the 7th Dalailama. Norbulingka, the Jewel Park and the Dalai Lama's summer palace, covers 100 acres and contains palaces, pavilions and a zoo.

Day 06:

Drive Lhasa to Gyantse (elevation 3950m); in Gyantse visit Kumbum & Palkhor Chode. Overnight in Gyantse Hotel.

Gyantse lies 260 km southwest of Lhasa on the northern bank of Nyang Chu River. It takes around 8 hours to reach Gyantse crossing the Khamba La Pass (4800m) with a beautiful view of the Yamdrok Tso (tse - lake). Before reaching Gyantse we cross the Karo La Pass (5010m), another stunning pass, surrounded by a glacier. In Gyantse the Tibetans resisted the Young husband's British Expedition to Tibet in 1904. Gyantse's Palkhor monastery was built in the 15th century by the local chieftain Raptan Kunsang under the guidance of the first Panchan Lama. There are said to be 100,000 images in the Kumbum Pagoda, both solid or paintings; erected in 1440 by Rabtan Kunsang, it's one of the most magnificent buildings in Tibet, its design strongly influenced by Newari architecture.

Day 07:   

Drive Gyantse to Shigatse. Overnight in Shigatse Hotel.

Shigatse is the second biggest city in Tibet, 90kms away from Gyangtse. The famous Tashilhunpo monastery in Shigatse, a seat of the Panchan Lama and one of the six most important Gelukpa monasteries in Tibet, was built in 1447 by the first Dalai Lama.

Day 08:

Drive to Xegar via Sakya Gompa. Overnight in Qomolangma Hotel.

It is 250 km from Shigatse to Xegar. Sakya monastery, once the base of the Sakyapa sect which rose to power in the 13th century, is located in the Zhongqu River valley about 30km from the Friendship Highway.  

Day 09: 

Drive to Zhangmu. Overnight in Zhangmu Hotel.

250 km away from Xegar, Zhangmu is a little boarder town on the south slope of the Himalaya mountain range. En route to Zhangmu visit Milarepa Cave.

Day 10:  

Exit Tibet, our transport waiting in Kodari on the Nepal side of the border to take us back to Kathmandu. O/N at the Hotel in Kathmandu.

Day 11: 

Final departure.

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