Everest Base Camp
The trip starts from Lhasa to the world's most iconic mountain called Jomolinma in Tibetan, Everest, and way up to Nepal border, Kyirong.
Program :
Day 01: Arrival in Lhasa by flight
Flight to Lhasa, upon arrival at Lhasa airport, you will be greeted by our local guide and driver, transfer to hotel in Lhasa, upon arrival at hotel, check in the hotel and relax, rest for the rest of the day, acclimatize, we may take a short walk around the Barkhor old town area, hotel stay
Day 02 : Lhasa Sightseeing
Guided tour to Drepung monastery, the summer palace, and the Sera monastery /
Today, we will visit the Dreprung Monastery which is about 8 km west of Lhasa. Dreprung Monastery was once the world’s largest monastery with a population of about 10,000 monks. Dreprung was founded in 1416 and in 1530 and the 2nd Dalai Lama established the palace that was home to the Dalai Lamas until the 5th built the Potala. Today, there are around 500 monks in residence and 40% of the Monastery has been destroyed.
Visit the Sera Monastery which is around 5km north of central Lhasa. It was along with Dreprung one of Lhasa's 2 great Gelugpa monasteries. It was built in 1419 by one of the eight disciples of Tsongkhapa, founder of the Ge-lug-pa Sect. It covers an area of 114,964 square meters, the structure is imposing, picturesque in disorder, and splendid in green and gold. It is typical of Tibetan architecture.
Also visit the Norbulingka Palace which was developed as the Summer Palace of the Dalai Lamas since the mid-18th century.
Overnight at the hotel.
Day 03 : Lhasa Sightseeing
Morning, provide sightseeing of Potala Palace and the Jokhang Temple and Barkhor street. Potala Palace, a fort of 13-stories that dominates the whole city, was set up in the 7th century during the reign of King Songtsen Gampo and covers an area of 41 hectares. The 13-storeys main building, 115,703 meters in height, consists of the White and Red palaces with 1,000 rooms, such as bedrooms, scripture rooms, stupas, and rooms for the monks. It is the headquarters of the Dalai Lamas and has been the home of each of the successive Dalai Lamas. It is a treasure house of traditional Tibetan culture.
Visit the Jokhang Temple in the heart of the old part of the town. It was built in the mid-seventh century. It was founded by Queen Bhrikuti on a site deemed by Queen Wencheng to be the principal geomatic power-place in Tibet.
It is at Barkhor Street that most people fall in love with Lhasa. The Barkhor circuits run through the heart of the old city where life has changed little over the centuries. The whole circuit is lined with stalls selling everything a Tibetan or visiting tourist could possibly need.
Overnight at the hotel
Day 04 : Day trip to Ganden monastery
Drive Lhasa to Ganden monastery, touring the monastery the main seat of Tsong Khapa master who founded the Gelukpa sect of Tibetan Buddism back in the 14th century. This Ganden monastery is one of the 6 major Gelukpa monasteries in Tibet. After visiting this monastery we have an optional 3 to 4 hrs trek crossing Ganden ridge to Trup Shi village where we can visit a local Tibetan family, then meet our driver and drive back to Lhasa or we do a 40 minutes scenic walk around the monastery ( the Kora ) and then drive to Lhasa, over night stay in Lhasa. We will be back in Lhasa reasonably early in the afternoon and will allow some time for us to wander around in the old town before leaving Lhasa the next day.
Day 05 : Lhasa free and leisure day
Day in Lhasa at leisure and relaxing and wandering around here in the old town, overnight hotel in Lhasa
Day 06 : Lhasa - Tsethang full day sightseeing
After breakfast, we drive to through Yarlung valley to Tsethang with stops along the way, afternoon visit the Yumbulakang palace ( the very first palace built for the very first king of Yarlung Dynasty 200ys BC ), then visit the Tradruk temple which is another ancient Buddhist temple built around the time of Jokhang temple and Ramoche temple in Lhasa back in 7th century. Overnight hotel in Tsethang
Day 07 : Drive from Lhasa to Samye monastery / 205kms / 3 1/2 hrs
We visit the tombs of the kings of the ancient Yarlung Dynasty, the late morning we drive to Samye, ( the very first Buddhist monastery founded by the 37th king of Yarlung Dynasty with the participation of the famous Indian tantric master Guru Ringpo Che and Kenchen Shiva Tso in the 8th century. The very monastery where the very first 7 Tibetan monks had been ordained and translated the Buddhist scriptures from Sanskirit and Pali in to Tibetan ), the structure of the monastery is so unique and fascinating for its distinction! late afternoon on your free excursion to the surrounding village, and also the Hebu ri hill-top is also a beautiful option to be for views of the Yarlung valley and the monastery, ( 3600m ) overnight at Samye monastery hotel
Day 08: Samye - Chimpu Valley and its meditation caves
This is a beautiful and unusual day hike into the Chim Pu valley and its meditation caves, their history goes back to the times of the initial foundation of Samye monastery, 1200 years back, These hermitage caves are still in use for many Buddhist devotees, nuns, and monks. We have a bit of climb to take us to the caves. Late afternoon back to Samye for the night, hotel stay
Day 09 : Samye - Yamdrok lake - Gyangtse 260kms / 6hrs
Leaving Samye and the Yarlung valley towards the Khampa la pass ( 4730metres ), at the pass we have a short break for stunning views of some major white peaks in the eastern regions of Himalaya to the south and the young Norjing Gang Sang spiritual snow mountain range to the west across the turquoise-colored waving waters of Yamdrok lake, descending from the pass down close to the lake and driving passing the local nomadic and farming villages as far as to the western edge of Yamdrok lake where we have our lunch break at Nagar Tse, after lunch continue our scenic driving to Karo la pass ( 5050metres ) with a view of Norjing Gang Sang glacier peak and visiting the local nomads with the Yaks, we have our arrival in Gyangtse late afternoon, check-in hotel in Gyangtse, (3850m )
Day 10 : Gyangtse sightseeing - Shigatse 90kms / 2hrs
After breakfast we visit the local history and the cultural centers, The Palkhor Chode monastery including the Kumbum stupa ( the only survival with such distinctive structure and the thousands of artworks) and a climb to the ancient local Gyangtse fort is worthy choice by being in Gyangtse, at noon we drive through Nying Chu valley, passing local farming Tibetan villages with stops at their farm-lands and as well as stops at a few local villages with visits to a few of the local families, arriving in Shigatse afternoon, check-in the hotel, same-day afternoon touring the Tashi Lunpo monastery and the local traditional market, hotel stay ( 3800m )
Day 11 : Shigatse - Sakya monastery - Shekar 280kms / 6hr
Leaving Shigatse town, Drive continue west on the friendship high way to Sakya, visit Sakya monastery ( The main seat of Sakya pa sect of Tibetan Buddhism ) a monastery which once became the political center of the majority parts of Tibetan territory and its history dates back to the11th century contemporary to the second diffusion of Tibetan Buddhism in Tibet ), It has now still the largest library for ancient Buddhist scriptures although thousands of precious scriptures were destroyed during the cultural revolution, after the visit we take our lunch there and late afternoon drive to Shekar, hotel stay ( 4300m )
Day 12 : Shekar - Rombuk / 90kms / 3hrs
Early departure, drive to Rombuk, crossing Gyawu la pass where we have sun-rising panoramic view of the greatest part of the Himalaya, continue overland trip to Romuk, afternoon excursion to Everest base camp ( Hiking from Rombuk monastery up to Everest base camp and back ), spend most part of this day in Rombuk and Everest base camp, overnight at Rombuk monastery guest house or tented guest house in Za Rombuk ( 5000m )
Day 13 : Everest - Old Tingri - Kyirong
Enjoy a sun-rising view over Mt. Everest and depart from Everest, drive pass old Tingri and then with views of Mt. Cho O Yu, and onward with view of Mt. Shishapangma and Paiku Tso lake and onward to Kyirong, overnight at hotel
Day 14 : Kyirong - Nepal border and cross border 30 KM / 40M
After breakfast, we drive to the border, cross the border, end of Tibet tour