7 Days Kathmandu to Lhasa Overland Trip without EBC

In the morning, our Nepali guide will pick you up at your hotel in Kathmandu and take you along the narrow mountain road to the border at Nepal side. You will appreciate waterfalls, rivers, gorges, forest along the way. 

Stay overnight in Rashuwaghadi (2700m).

Tips: The transfer from Kathmandu to Rashuwaghadi is optional and costs 300USD/car.

After crossing Gyirong Port, you can find our Tibetan guide and car waiting for you. Traversing along the well-paved asphalt road, you can appreciate the lush green Gyirong Valley and take a glimpse of the stunning Himalaya Mountain Range when crossing Tongla Pass (5100m). Finally, you will arrive at Old Tingri (4300m).

Stay overnight in Tingri.

Today, you will visit the famous Sakya Monastery and appreciate the magnificent murals and biggest library of Buddhist scriptures in Tibet. Along the way, you can enjoy the epic vista of Mt. Everest and the vast plain of Shigatse.

Stay overnight in Shigatse.

In the morning, you will visit Tashilunpo Monastery, the seat of the Panchen Lama, the second highest spiritual leader in Tibetan Buddhism. Then, you can explore the traditional Barley Mill and view the landscape of Barley Field in summer. When arriving in Gyantse, you can enjoy the stunning vista of Gyangtse Fortress, tour Gyantse old street, visit Perklor Monastery and the Nepali-style Kumbum Stupa.

When arriving at Manak Dam Lake, you can hang prayer flags at Simila Mountain Pass. After that, you can appreciate Karola Glacier on the roadside and the panoramic view of the turquoise Yamdrok Lake and snow-capped Mt. Naiqinkangsang at Gangbala Pass.

Stay overnight in Lhasa.

Today, you’ll pay a visit to the famous Potala Palace, the world culture heritage. You can explore its audience halls, the jeweled and golden burial chortens (stupa tombs) of past Dalai Lamas, and tremendous number of Buddhist frescoes, thangkas, combinations of mandala, etc.

Then tourists will head to the holiest temple in Tibet, the Jokhang Temple, built during Songtsen Ganpo's reign by Princess Wencheng of Tang dynasty, 647 A.D. Here you can observe sincere pilgrims making prostration in front of Jokhang Temple. While entering inside the temple, you can see the holiest statue of Buddha. Around the monastery is the famous Barkhor Street, where you can do the kora with pilgrims and locals. And then we’ll go to explore the old market and you may have chance to see the traditional jewelry trading between people from different part of Tibet.

Stay overnight in Lhasa.

Today, you will visit two important monasteries in Lhasa, the Drepung and the Sera. Drepung Monastery, the largest monastery in Tibet, was founded by Jamyang Choeje in 1416. Situated at the foot of Gebeiwoze Mountain, it was once home to more than 10000 monks. Here you can see the biggest monastery kitchen inside and then pay a visit to the Buddhist Sculpture Carving Workshop near Drepung.

After having lunch, you’ll continue to visit the Sera Monastery, which was founded in 1419 by Tsongkapa's disciple Jamchen Choeje. The most interesting thing is to see monks debating in the courtyard at around 3-5 in the afternoon. Besides, you can also see the colorful Rock Painting of Buddha and the three sand Mandalas and then visit the Tibetan religious text printing house.

Optional:
After finishing the sightseeing, if time allows, you may go with tour guide to visit Tibetan Handicraft Art Center or Tibetan Traditional Medicine Center. Besides, you can also choose to upgrade your tour to enjoy Tibetan Culture Show in the evening (fr. 60USD).

Stay overnight in Lhasa.

The driver will pick you up from your hotel, and drop you off at Lhasa Gonggar Airport or Lhasa Railway Station, and assist you to get on board.