12 Days Tibet to Nepal Tour with Lukla to Namche Bazaar Trekking

Upon your arrival in Lhasa, your tour guide will hold a board with your name on it at the exit and greet you with auspicious white Khata/Hada. A private car will take you to the reserved hotel, and the guide will give a brief introduction of the itinerary as well as dos and don'ts in Tibet. Then, you can take a good rest at hotel to acclimatize to Tibetan plateau environment.

Stay overnight in Lhasa.

Today, you’ll pay a visit to the famous Potala Palace, the world culture heritage and the winter palace of Dalai Lama. You can explore its audience halls, the jeweled and golden burial chortens (stupa tombs) of past Dalai Lamas, meditation cave of the 33rd Great King of Tibet, and tremendous number of Buddhist frescoes, thangkas, combinations of mandala, etc.

Then you 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 statue of Buddha Sakyamuni at the age of twelve. On the top of Jokhang Temple, you can enjoy the panorama of old Lhasa City and great vista of Potala Palace.

Then you can do the kora with pilgrims and locals by circling the Barkhor Street around the temple, buy some souvenirs, and taste sweet tea and local snacks in local tea house. Later, you can take your family to explore farm products like yak butter in Tromzikhang, the famous farm produce market.

Stay overnight in Lhasa.

Tips: Please follow your guide’s guidance when visiting Potala Palace especially during peak season, and dress properly when visiting the Buddhist site. Please kindly note that taking photo is not allowed inside the Buddhist hall.

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 and used to be home to more than 10,000 monks. Hiking along the mountain steps, you can see Buddhist painting on the rock face. During Shoton Festival, locals and pilgrims swarm to Drepung Monastery to celebrate the gigantic Thangka Buddha unveiling ceremony on the Gambo Utse Mountain. Then you will stop by the nearby carpet factory to appreciate the Tibetan artisans make traditional carpets with great skills.

After having lunch, you will visit 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. By yelling at each other, slapping hands and rolling mala, two monks make a pair to debate on philosophical issues. You can also appreciate the delicately-made Mandala, sanding paintings, and massive Buddhist scriptures inside Sera Monastery.

Stay overnight in Lhasa.

In the morning, you will visit Ganden Monastery about 60 kilometers northeast of Lhasa. Ganden Monastery (3800m) is situated on the Wangpori Mountain and is one of the “Great Three” Gelugpa monasteries founded by the Great Tsongkhapa in 1409. You can go for Lingkor (circuit) around the monastery, visit the Great Tsongkapa’s meditation cave, and appreciate the beautiful view of Lhasa Valley.

Then head for Trubshi Village (3400m) where you can experience the Tibetan countryside life. You will be invited to have dinner with local Tibetans and spend a night there.

Stay overnight in Trubshi Village.

You can do some trekking in Trubshi Village in the morning. Trubshi Village is known as one of the most beautiful Tibetan villages for trekking and the famous Ganden - Samye Monastery trekking route starts from here. You may ride a horse or yak (Our guide will help you check the riding fee with local people) if you like.

After having lunch with Tibetan family in Trubshi, you will return back to Lhasa and arrive in Lhasa around 3:00pm. Afterwards, you can do some shopping by yourself or just have a rest at hotel.

Stay overnight in Lhasa.

Our Tibetan guide will pick you up at your hotel and drop you off at Lhasa Gonggar Airport for your flight to Kathmandu. Upon your arrival at Tribhuvan International Airport, you may apply for the tourist visa on arrival. Our Nepali Guide will wait for you and transfer you to your hotel in Kathmandu.

Stay overnight in Kathmandu.

The day starts with a tour of Kathmandu City, and takes in the famous Kathmandu Durbar Square. The most famous square in the city, the Durbar Square is the Royal Palace square in the city, and is surrounded by ancient buildings from the early 16th century. The magnificent architecture, exquisite decorations, and the intensity of historical items gives a great insight into Nepali culture.

You then continue the tour with a visit to the Swayambhunath Pagoda, which is one of the oldest Buddhist sites in Nepal. Swayambhunath is a huge golden stupa festooned with prayer flags that flutter in the breeze, on a hill that overlooks the entire city. Then it is on to Patan City, the second largest city in the Kathmandu Valley area. Patan City has one of the oldest Buddhist temples in Nepal that dates back to the 12th century, and is a great place to explore the Buddhist culture of Nepal.

Stay overnight in Kathmandu.

Take the flight from Kathmandu to Lukla (2850m) in the morning. It takes about 40 minutes to arrive at Lukla and you can appreciate the awe-inspiring Himalayan Range along the way. Upon arrival in Lukla, you will be greeted by the local guides and porters. Then you can explore the village whilst the Sherpa crew sort and load equipment.

From Lukla you will descend on a wide trail northwest to Cheplung Village in the Dudh Kosi Valley and enjoy the view of sacred Mount Khumbila. You will keep descending and finally reach Phakding (2640m) .

Stay overnight in Phakding.

Passing through a pine forest, continue your walk on the trail that goes north up the Benkar Valley. After crossing Dudh Koshi River and passing Chumoa and Monjo Village, you will reach the entrance of the Everest National Park/Sagamartha National Park. Then after crossing a large suspension bridge, you will pass Jorsale Village and walk alongside of the Dudh Koshi and Bhote Koshi River. It is from here you ascend on a steep trail and reach Namche Bazaar (3440m) which is probably the biggest town in the Everest region. Along the way, you can see the peaks of Everest (8848m), Lhotse (8511m), Nuptse (7879m), Arna Dablam (6856m) and Taweche (6542m) for the first time.

Stay overnight in Namche Bazaar.

You will visit the Sherpa Museum in Namche Bazaar to learn history of Sherpas and their contribution to EBC climbing. Then, take a leisurely trek to Everest View Hotel to appreciate the views of Everest ranges including Mt. Everest, Nuptse, Lhotse, Ama Dablam, Thamserku, and Kusum Kangaru. The trek takes about 2 hours and you will have a tea break for an hour to appreciate the panoramic view of Everest ranges at Everest View Hotel.

Stay overnight in Namche Bazaar.

Leave Namche at 10 am and descend to Lukla.

Stay overnight in Lukla.

Your guide will pick you up from your hotel in a private car, take you to Tribhuvan Airport, and help you with your luggage and checking in for your flight from Nepal.