Kathmandu Tibet Overland Tour -09 days

The Tibetan capital sits at 3590 meters and is the cultural and spiritual heart of Tibet. After getting situated in a modern, centrally located hotel, we will explore and photograph the center of the Old Tibetan Quarter in the heart of Lhasa. The Barkhor is the main shopping market for local Tibetans. It is one of the most interesting markets in all of Asia and is an excellent place to photograph modern Tibetan culture.

After breakfast, you will spend the morning going through the Jokhang, Tibet’s holiest and most famous temple. Each day, thousands of Tibetan Buddhist pilgrims work their way through this nearly 1400 year old temple. You will also explore Tsamkhung Nunnery, one of the largest nunneries in the Lhasa area. In the afternoon, you will photograph the Buddhist philosophy debates at Sera, one of Tibet’s largest monasteries. The monk debates will be a major highlight during your time in Tibet.

You will start the day by exploring Tibet’s most iconic building, the Potala Palace. Towering above Lhasa with more than 1000 rooms, the Potala Palace served as the winter residence of the Dalai Lama’s for hundreds of years. After this, you will explore Ramoche Temple and more of the Old Tibetan Quarter of Lhasa.

In the morning, we will depart from Lhasa and drive to Gyantse via Yamdrok Lake. Yamdrok Lake, during clear weather, is a brilliant turquoise color and is one of the 4 main holy lakes in Tibetan Buddhism. The huge, glaciated 7191 meter Mt. Nojin Kangtsang forms the backdrop of the lake. The lake sits at an elevation of 4441 meters above sea level. Along the way to Gyantse, we will stop by the glaciers of Mt. Nojin Kangtsang at the Karo La Pass, which come down almost to the highway. Gyantse is a small, but modern Tibetan town, that lies at 4025 meters. You will be visiting the Pelkor Chode Monastery as well as the Gyantse Kumbum, the highest stupa (Buddhist pagoda) in Tibet. The drive from Lhasa to Gyantse covers 260 kms (162 miles).

The scenic drive from Gyantse to Shigatse goes through several traditional farming villages that you will stop at. Shigatse is home to Tashilhunpo Monastery and its 600+ monks. This monastery, one of the largest in Tibet, is the seat of the Panchen Lama, the second most important lama in Tibetan Buddhism. You will walk around the pilgrim route that goes up and around the famous monastery as well as explore inside the huge monastery complex. In the afternoon, you will explore the walking street and markets in the Old Town. The distance from Gyantse to Shigatse is 95 kilometers (60 miles). The elevation of Shigatse is 3840 meters.

The mid-way point of your journey will take you from Shigatse to the small town of Shelkar. There are several scenic mountain views along the way, especially at the 5200 meter high Gyatso La Pass. From the Gyatso La, there is a sweeping view of the Himalaya. You will stay the night in the small town of Shelkar, elevation 4300 meters. In Shelkar, you can hike up to the Shelkar Monastery and up along the ruins of the old fortress. At the top, there is a nice view of the mountains surrounding you, including a view of Everest. The distance from Shigatse to Shelkar is 250 kilometers (156 miles).

From Shegar, you will cross over the 5050 meter Geu La Pass, which offers one of the most spectacular views of the Himalaya. From here, 5 of the world's 15 highest mountains can be seen, including Mt. Everest. Your next stop will be Rongphu, the highest monastery in the world at just under 5000 meters. A fantastic view of Everest can be seen from Rongphu. You will then continue on to Everest Base Camp Region at Rongphu Monastery, gazing out to the world's highest peak. The distance from Shelkar to Everest Base Camp is 105 kilometers (65 miles). The elevation at Mt Everest/Rongphu Monastery is 5050 meters.

Note: You will not be able to go beyond Rongphu Monastery without an Everest climbing permit. The view of Everest from Rongphu is amazing!

This day will take you over a couple more high Himalayan passes with more awesome views. You will also stop at the pristine lake of Peiku Tso, which is surrounded by towering Himalayan peaks. From the lake, you will descend to the Tibetan border town of Kyirong. You will stay the night on the Tibet side of the border, your final night in Tibet. The distance from Old Tingri to the Nepal border is 200 kilometers and the elevation is 2100 meters.

After breakfast, you will say goodbye to your Tibetan driver and guide and cross the international border into Nepal. You can purchase your Nepal visa on arrival. After clearing Nepal immigration, you will be met by your Nepalese driver and guide and continue to Kathmandu. The landscape in Nepal is lush and green. You will stop for lunch along the way as well as at a couple of small villages. The distance to Kathmandu is 140 kilometers. The elevation of Kathmandu is 1350 meters.