Once you land in Lhasa, our local Tibetan guide and driver will wait you the exit of the airport (or train station) and then drive you to your hotel in Lhasa. You can have a good rest in the van or enjoy the great view along the Yarlung Tsangpo River and Lhasa River while driving from the airport to your hotel. It takes about 1 hour from the airport and 20 minutes from the train station.
For the first two days sightseeing, we arrange some must-see palaces and monasteries, and you will travel in a minivan. The first day of sightseeing starts from Lhasa's cardinal landmark-Potala Palace, a structure of massive portions. Its towering image already appearing on various occasions, but your first sight of the Potala will still be an awe-inspiring moment. It takes at least a good 2-hour to visit those rooms, halls and chapels. In the afternoon, we will drop a visit of the Jokhang Temple, the spiritual center of Tibet. Everyday, pilgrims from every corner of Tibet trek a long distance to the temple. The temple is the product of Han, Tibetan and Nepalese architectural techniques. Then we will visit Barkhor, the oldest street in a very traditional city in Tibet.
Potala Palace
Jokhang Temple
About 8km west of central Lhasa is the Drepung Monastery, once world's largest monastery with about 10,000 monks. This day's sightseeing begins with these white monastic buildings piled up on the hillside. Walking up to the hill is a pleasant thing, an easy break from the solemn ambience inside the halls and chapels. At the plat roof of hillside, you can have very good views of the whole Lhasa city and the distant mountains. Drepung is one of Lhasa's two great Gelugpa monasteries, Later after lunch, witness the Buddhist doctrines debating session at Sera Monastery. With golden roofs and whitewashed walls, this fifteenth-century monastery is one of the six great Gelukpa sect academies in Tibet.
Drepung Monastery
Sera Monastery
After two days city tour, you should have get used to the high altitude. Today we will do some easy cycling and hiking to make yourself be prepared for the long riding in the following days. We bike to Drak Yerpa Hermitage which is 30 km northeast of Lhasa. It is one of the holiest cave retreats in Tibet, and this peaceful site offers lovely views and could be included for a short hiking tour. Tibetan ballad sings: "the auspicious place of Tibet is Lhasa, and the propitious place of Lhasa is Yerpa; reaching Lhasa but did not visit Yerpa is equal to making a new cloth without collar.” Here you can find some remarkable caves of Guru Rinpoche and Songtsan Gampo contemplation site. Come back to Lhasa in the evening.
View along the way
Drak Yerpa Hermitage
Today we start our cycling for Mt. Everest Base Camp. It is an easy day since we ride along the well paved asphalt road. Passing through Nechueng Town and Neitang Village we can enjoy the rural landscape with highland barley, wheat, rape field as well as Yaks, goats, sheep scattering around in the nearby hillside. We continue paralleling the Lhasa River to Chushul, our destination today.
View along the way
View along the way
The first 21 kilometers of today’s mission are flat road. We bike along the Brahmaputra River for some time. After that, we ride the uphill road for 23 kilometers to Kamba La Pass where you can have the great view of the glittering emerald Yamdrok Lake, which is one of the four holy lakes in Tibet (the others are Lhamo La-tso Lake, Namtso Lake and Manasarovar Lake). A beautiful ride along the Yamdrok Lake takes us to Nangartse.
Kamba La Pass
Yamdrok Lake
Mount our bikes for a spectacular ride to the breathtaking Karola Glacier. It is a great place for taking beautiful pictures with snowy mountains and praying flags as the background. We forward to antient Gyantse, once a very important commercial hubs between India and Tibet. Upon arrival, free at your own leisure. You can roam around the old city to feel how the locals live their daily life.
Karola Glacier
Gyantse Fortress
In the morning, pay a visit to Gyantse Kumbum. It is the most important sites in Gyantse for tourists in light of the grandeur of the outside as well as the delicate painting inside. Before we head towards Shigatse, we bike to visit the immemorial feudal serf manor-Pala Manor. The way to Shigatse is well paved so it is relaxing although there are many kilometers involved. Cycling through some small villages, come all the way to Shigatse.
Gyantse Kumbum
Pala Manor
To start today’s program by an exploration to the Tashilhunpo Monastery and the spectacular tombs of Panchen Lamas in Shigatse. Do its kora which provide a great view of whole Shigatse city. Followed by a visit to the New Palace of Panchen, famous as the summer palace of the tenth Panchen Lama (1938-1989). Bike along the Friendship Highway to Jiding and stay overnight.
Tashilhunpo Monastery
New Palace of Panchen
Starting from the small town, passing through many hamlets, skirting the mountains studded by flock of sheep, we will arrive at Lhatse. Ahead looms the mighty Himalaya Range. Stay overnight in Lhatse.
View along the way
View along the way
We still bike along the Friendship Highway. After 33 kilometers, we arrive at the Gyatso La Pass which is the highest point of the highway. The elevation rises 1200 meters. It is a little strenuous but the ravishing scenery makes your every effort worth. In a decent weather, you might see the shadowy outline of Mt. Everest. From here, we enter the Qomolangma National Nature Reserve. Have a good rest in Shegar where the nice hotel is available.
Gyatso La Pass
View along way
Today we will get off the Friendship highway but there is no need to worry about the road since all the way to the Base Camp are well paved now. After 35km’s biking, we come to the Gawu la pass [5250m] which is the best place to view the main peaks Himalayan Ranges including Mt. Makalu [8463m], Mt. Lotse [8516m], Mt Everest [8844m], Mt. Cho Oyu [8201m] and Mt. Shishapama [8020m]. Another 30km downhill cycling leads us to Tashi Dzong. Overnight in this small village.
Shegar County
Tashi Dzong Village
We bike the rest 50kms to reach the Base Camp. On the way, we stop for a visit to the Rongbuk Monastery, the highest monastery in Tibet. It is a nice place to take pictures of the Everest Peak. Tonight, we settle at the Rongbuk Monastery or the tent guesthouse. The azure sky full of twinkling stars will be another highlight of this tour. Feel the tranquility and holiness of the Everest and have a good night.
Rongbuk Monastery
Starry night at Everest
Get up early this morning, and if you are lucky enough, you will see sunrise at E.B.C. Late morning or early afternoon hop into the van and drive back to Shigatse. Overnight in Shigatse.
Everest Sunrise
Everest Base Camp
Drive back to Lhasa along the northern friendship way, marvelous landscapes and sceneries along the Yarlung Tsangpo River will accompany you all the way back to Lhasa. The rest of the day is for you to explore at your own leisure. Pack up for the leaving next day.
View along the way
View along the way
Our guide and driver will pick you up in your hotel and transfer to the airport on time for your flight leaving Lhasa. Hope you have a good memory of the tour.
Potala Palace
Mt. Everest
Yamdrok Lake
Sera Monastery
Namtso Lake
Mt. Kailash
From Mr. Gerard AdrienHi Daniel. We are already on our way back to Shanghai. We would like to thank you for the great trip we had. Our guide Jampa and our driver did an excellent job. They are both very recommendable! We enjoyed the trip despite the altitude discomfort we experienced during the first 3 days. Thank you!
From Ms. Elena Maria ValisiI highly recommend this agency. I travelled with other 2 couples who booked through different agencies and they paid a lot more to have less assistance, same hotels/tour/guide/car, less flexibility and no travel insurance included.
