Itinerary
Days
1-2 Kathmandu or Chengdu Days 3-6 Lhasa
Day 7 Gyantse Day 8 Shigatse
Day 9 Sakya Day 10 Rombuk Day
11 Everest Base Camp & Lao Tingri Day 12
Dhulikhel Day 13 Kathmandu Day 14
Depart
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Tibet
Overland with Everest Base Camp
14 Days
 Days
1-2: Flying into Kathmandu is an unforgettable experience
with the Himalaya spread out before you. You will be met at the
airport on arrival and transferred to your hotel. On day 2 a full
day tour introduces to some of the wonders of Kathmandu.
OR
Days 1-2: Chengdu,
the bustling capital of Sichuan Province is home to some of the
best (and spiciest!) food in the world. It is also a city of temples,
gardens and teahouses. An early morning visit to the Breeding and
Research Center sees the magnificent Giant Pandas and Red Pandas
at their most active. In the evening discover a little of Sichuan’s
rich cultural heritage at a tea-house performance of opera, acrobatics,
puppetry and ‘changing faces’.
Day 3: The flight
to Lhasa is spectacular. From Gongkar airport it is about 1 hours’
drive to Lhasa, first along the Yarlung Tsangpo then into the Kyi
Chu Valley.
Days 4-6: With a relaxed
pace to allow for the effects of altitude, explore this fantastic
city on the roof of the world. The spiritual heart of Tibet is the
Jokhang Temple and every morning is full of life as pilgrims bring
offerings of butter and barley flour. The Potala Palace rises above
the city and, more than any other sight, symbolizes the history
and culture of Tibet. Nearby are the huge monastic universities
of Drepung and Sera – still active institutions.
Day
7: A long, yet scenic day’s drive across the
Khamba La and Kora La (passes), along the shores of Lake Yamdrok
Tso to Gyantse. Once an important trading town, Gyantse retains
a feel of ‘old’ Tibet.
 Day
8: In the morning visit Gyantse’s monastery
– Pelkor Choede – and the justifiably famous Kumbum,
within the same complex. There may also be time to visit the dzong
(fort) that towers above the town. In the afternoon we make the
short (2-3 hour) drive along the valley to Shigatse.
Day 9: Tashilhunpo
is the seat of the Panchen Lama, second only in importance to the
Dalai Lama. Its numerous halls contain a 21.6-meter wooden statue
of Maitreya, the future Buddha and elaborate, jewel encrusted reliquary
chorten. After lunch drive via Sakya to Xegar. Sakya was the seat
of political power in central Tibet from the 10th to mid 14th century.
The fortified monastery is still head of one of the most important
schools of Tibetan Buddhism.
Day 10: Turn off the
Friendship Highway for a stunning drive through Qomolangma National
Park to reach the tiny Rhongphu Gompa at 5000m. The view from here
is utterly spectacular!
Day 11: Trek or drive
the 7kms to Everest Base Camp (5200m) before heading to Lao Tingri
via a rough, yet scenic track crossing small rivers and passes.
Day 12: Another high
pass gives a last, spectacular view of the Himalaya before we leave
the Tibetan Plateau, descending to
Zhangmu – on the  China-Nepal
border. Completing border formalities the drive continues down the
Bote Khosi valley. Spend a night at Dhulikhel on the Kathmandu Valley
rim looking back toward the Himalaya.
Day 13: Back in Kathmandu
you have time to continue sightseeing or shop for marvelous souvenirs
– jewelry, carpets, clothing…
Day 14: Depart
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Potala
Palace
The symbol of Tibet, this awesome palace containing
over 1000 rooms and 200,000 images dominates the city. The original
7th century building was replaced by the current 130,000square
meter structure in the 17th century. |
| Jokhang
Temple
This 1300-year-old, golden-roofed building at the center of
the Barkhor is the spiritual heart of both the city and of
the Tibetan world. The most sacred and active of Tibetan temples,
it is the principal geomantic power-place in Tibet. The courtyard
in front of the entrance is almost constantly filled with
prostrating pilgrims – inside the labyrinth of shrines,
halls and galleries are dimly lit by butter lamps and filled
with pilgrims and incense and house some of the finest treasures
of Tibetan art including a pure gold statue of Sakyamuni.
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Gyantse
‘The Royal Summit’ is named after a crag rising
suddenly from the plane, which has been fortified since early
antiquity – the fort (dzong) which crowns the crag dates
from the C14th. Gyantse quickly emerged as center of a fiefdom
with powerful connections to the Sakyapa order and dominated
the wool and timber trade routes from Nepal, Sikkim and Bhutan
for centuries. By 1440 Gyantse’s most impressive architectural
achievements had been completed – the Kumbum, the dzong
and Pelkor Chode monastery. |
Rongbuk
& Everest Base Camp
The view from the world's highest monastery is
incredible, and from EBC at 5200m, even more stunning. |
Tashilumpo
Founded
in 1447 by a nephew and disciple of Tsongkhapa who was retroactively
named the first Dalai Lama. The original building was built
above a sacred sky-burial site, the stone slab of which can
still be seen on the floor. Tashilhunpo is one of the four great
Geluk monasteries in Tibet and at its peak housed 4700 monks
and is still the largest functioning monastic community in Tibet.
The most amazing image is the 26m Maitreya, erected in its own
Lhakhang by the 9th Panchen Lama in 1914 and covered with 279
kg of gold. |
Sakya
Once the political center of Tibet, the walls
of Sakya's great fortified monastery are painted the dark grey
typical to buildings in the area. |
Kathmandu
Busy streets, temples and shrines, historic sights,
restaurants galore and shopping to keep you busy for days.
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Group
Departures 2008
April 01, April 22,
May 06, May 20
June 10, June 24
July 08, July 29
August 12, August 26
September 9, September 23
October 7
Group
Departures 2009
April 02, April 23,
May 07, May 21,
June 11, June 25,
July 09, July 23
August 13, August 27
September 10, September 24
October 8
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Included
in the Tour Cost:
• Land transport as per itinerary. Private vehicle for airport
transfers, Lhasa sightseeing and in Nepal. Private 4WD landcruiser
for Tibet tour.
• Accommodation as mentioned
• English speaking Tibetan guide
• sightseeing as indicated including entry fees
• Entry & travel permits for Tibet
Not included in the Tour Cost:
• Flight Chengdu-Lhasa or Kathmandu-Lhasa
• International flights & taxes
• Drinks
• Meals other than specified
• Visa & passport fees
• Airport taxes
• Personal expenses such as laundry, souvenirs etc.
• Tips & gratuities
• Personal travel insurance
•
Costs arising from events outside the control of Asian Footsteps
or its agents - including the delay or extension of a trip due to
weather, equipment failure, illness, or other causes beyond our
control. No refunds can be made for any unused services or accommodation
on the trip.
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