Tibet Tour 7 Night 8 Days

ITINERARY  (7 NIGHTS/8 DAYS FLY IN/DRIVE OUT)

Day 01   KATHMANDU - LHASA (3650m)
 After breakfast, drive to Kathmandu airport and take  Air    China flight  to Lhasa (Gonggar Airport) by flight CA 408 at 1025hrs. This 1.15 hrs  flight is very spectacular (weather permitting!), flying over the Himalayan Ranges with excellent views of the mountains including Mt. Everest (8848m), the highest peak on the earth. Arrive Gonggar airport (3400m) at 1345hrs local time. Drive (2 hrs) to Lhasa  (3650m). Complete rest to acclimatize
Overnight at the hotel

Day 02   SIGHTSEEING TOUR IN LHASA
 Visit Potala the winter palace of the Dalai Lamas. It is one of
 the most famous architectural works of Tibet & the cream of Tibetan culture. Drive to Sera Monastery situated on a mountain slope north  of Lhasa city. This monastery belongs to the Gelugpa sect and is one of the three great monasteries of Tibet, the other two being Drepung & Ganden. Time permitting, we will visit Norbulingka, the summer palaces of the Dalai Lamas.
Overnight at the hotel

Day 03   SIGHTSEEING TOUR IN LHASA
Drive to Drepung Monastery, the largest monastery in Tibet and
belongs to the Gelugpa sect. This monastery has plenty of historical relics, Bhuddist scriptures, arts & crafts. Visit 7th century Jokhang Temple which has architectural features from the Tang Dynasty and from Indian & Nepali Buddhist Temples. It houses many historical relics since the Tang Dynasty and statues of King Songsten Gompo, Princess Wencheng from China and Princess Bhrikuti from Nepal. Explore the Barkhor market, which was until early fifties a grand, exciting year-round trade fair, crowded with merchants from all over central Asia.
Overnight at the hotel

Day 04   LHASA - GYANTSE (3950m)
Drive to Gyantse (3950m) via Kampa La pass (4794m), Yamdrok   Tso (4482m) also known as Turquoise lake covers 600 sq. km. and is one of the three largest lakes in Tibet. Crossing Karo La pass (5010m) & two other smaller passes we come to Gyantse.
Overnight at Hotel Gyantse

Day 05   GYANTSE - SHIGATSE (3900m)
Visit Phalkor monastery & the Kumbum Stupa designed by Newari architects from Nepal. The Phalkhor has a special influence over Buddhism in Tibet owing to its unity of Gelugpa, Sakyapa & Bhuton   sects. Drive (2 hrs) to Shigatse (3900m)
Visit Tashilunpo monastery, the seat of the Panchen Lamas. This is
 the monastery founded by Gedun Drup who was later recognised as thefirst Dalai Lama. The main statue of this monastery is the Maitreya Buddha of 275 Kgs of Gold & measures twenty six meters in height. Overnight at Hotel Shigatse

Day 06   SHIGATSE - NEW TINGRI (4342m)
Drive (approx. 7 hrs) to New Tingri (4342m) crossing two passes; Tsuo La (4500m) and Lhakpa La (5220m). We will visit one of the Tibetan villages enroute.
Overnight at Hotel Chomulangma

Day 07   NEW TINGRI - ZHANGMU (2300m)
 Drive (approx. 7 hrs) to Nyalam (3500m) crossing two passes;
Lalung La (5050m) and Nyalam pass (3800m). Nyalam used to be an important trading post and at one time belonged to Nepal.
Overnight at Zhangmu Hotel

Day 08   ZHANGMU - KATHMANDU
After immigration & custom formalities walk (approx. 45 mins)
downhill to Kodari, the border of Nepal or ride in trucks,
depending upon availability and road conditions. Arrive Kodari
and again after immigration formalities a scenic drive (5 hrs)
 with waterfalls, through valleys & fields to Kathmandu.