Once your flight lands in Beijing Capital International Airport, our professional guide and driver will meet you at the exit and transfer you to your hotel. There is no sightseeing arranged today so you can rest to recover from jet lag or do some expedition on your own.
Your tour starts with a visit to the Tiananmen Square, a land mark of Beijing. It is one of the largest public squares in the world. A few minutes walking from the square, you will get to the Forbidden City (also called Palace Museum), which was the political and ritual center of China for more than 500 years from mid Ming Dynasty to the end of Qing Dynasty. After that, you'll move to the Temple of the Heaven which was used for the annual ceremonies of the emperors to pray for good harvest in Ming and Qing Dynasties.
Forbidden City
Temple of Heaven
This morning, please be prepared for the Great Wall hiking. What is included in the tour is a visit to the most imposing and best preserved section ofthe Great Wall and Mutianyu. This section is also less crowded. The roundtrip cable car will be arranged. You can do some hiking on the wall to enjoy the great view of the landscape. Drive back to Beijing downtown and stop on the way for a visit to the Changling Tomb, the biggest one the Ming Tombs.
Mutianyu Great Wall
Changling Tomb
Take a morning flight to Lhasa, and you will be greeted by your Tibetan guide once you arrive in Lhasa airport. From airport to Lhasa city is 68km, around one hour and half drive will take you to the holy city Lhasa. Afterwards, free time for relax, have a good rest and drink more water to acclimatize the high altitude on the plateau. Overnight in Lhasa.
Lhasa Gonggar Airport
Barkhor Street
Today, you'll have a tour to Lhasa's cardinal landmark and a UNESCO World Heritage Site-Potala Palace. Renowned as one of the great wonders on earth for its elaborate architecture built at an elevation of 3700m, this awe-inspiring palace will not disappoint you. In the afternoon, pay a visit to Jokhang Temple, the most respected shrine in Tibet. Thick with the smell of incense and yak butter, you'll witness a throng of prostrating pilgrims cramming out there. The temple is the masterpiece of Tibetan, Chinese and Nepalese architectural techniques. Then take a stroll around the Barkhor Street, the oldest bazaar in the city. You'll also enjoy a welcome dinner gathering with all travel mates in the group after the sightseeing activities. Overnight in Lhasa.
Potala Palace
Jokhang Temple
Morning, you'll visit Drepung Monastery, whichlocates about 8km west of central Lhasa and was once one of the world's largest monasteries with the population of around 10,000 monks in its heyday. Climb uphill through the whitewashed intersecting alleyways as well as the medieval chapels, and enjoy the panoramic view of the city on top of the mountain. In the afternoon, you'll have a chance to witness the famous 'Scriptures Debating' session at Sera Monastery, spectating their featured way of Buddhist dialectics and hand slapping in a landscaped courtyard with lush trees. Overnight in Lhasa.
Drepung Monastery
Sera Monastery
Morning drive up to Kampala pass [4794m], you will have a glimpse of Yamdrok-tso and spectacular views of Holy Mount Nyenchen Khangsar in the distance, the turquoise colored Lake Yamdrok Tso is one of the three holy lakes in Tibet, the unforgettable vista of pincer-shaped turquoise water of the lake and amazing spectacle of Mt. Nyenchen Khangsar glacier from Karo la pass are the wonders of the day. Far in the distance you'll spot the towering massif Mt. Nojin Kangtsang [7191m], and the staggering Karo-la Glacier [5045m].Then along the Friendship southern High way drive to Gyantse, you will be arranged to visit the Pelkhor Monastery and the famous stupa - Gyantse Kumbum, one of the most stunning architectural wonders in Tibet. Late afternoon, drive to Shigatse. Overnight in Shigatse.
Yamdrok Lake
Pelkor Monastery
In the morning, we will visit the largest monastery in west Tibet, the Tashilunpo Monastery, which is also the home of Panchen Lama. Then drive westwards the Friendship way to New Tingri via Gyatso La pass [5248m], which gives you distance view of Himalayan range. When we reach E.B.C (Everest Base Camp), If it is in clear weather, we can have a glimpse of 4 mountains which are 8000m high or more. Overnight in Rongbuk Monastery Tent or Guest House.
Tashilhunpo Monastery
Rongbuk Monastery
Get up early this morning, and if you are lucky enough, you will have a chance to see the sunrise at Base Camp. It's hard to take your eyes away from the stunning view of the magnificent north face of the world's tallest peak-Mt. Everest (Qomolangma as its Tibetan name, meaning "Goddess Mother of Mountains"). There's a monument locating about 1 kilometer beyond the tent guesthouses. Late morning or early afternoon, we will drive forward to Gyirong Town. You will pass by Peikutso Lake and enjoy the breathtaking views of the snow-capped Shishapangma [8012m]. Overnight at Gyirong Town.
Everest Sunrise
Everest Base Camp
Today, we see you off from the Gyirong Town to the port. Our guide will assist tourists to clear the China Customs and you will cross the border and check in Nepal side on your own. There are about 130km from Gyirong to Kathmandu city which takes about 9 hours by local jeeps at the Nepalese border. All our services in Tibet end at Chinese border of Gyirong.
