Itinerary
Days
1-3 Beijing Day 4 Xi'an Days
5-8 Lhasa Day 9 Gyantse Days
10-11 Shigatse Day 12 Sakya Day
13 Rombuk Day 14 Everest Base Camp &
Lao Tingri Days 15-16 Last Resort Day
17 Bhaktapur & Kathmandu Day 18 Kathmandu
Day 19 Depart
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China,
Tibet & Nepal: Beijing to Kathmandu
19 Days
 Days
1-3: Tiananmen Square, the elaborate grandeur of
the Forbidden City and 2000 year old Great Wall are just a few of
the attractions that Beijing has to offer. On Day 2 you will take
a trip to the Great Wall at Mutianyu with time in the afternoon
to visit one of Beijing’s great clothing or souvenir markets.
In the evening venture into the hutongs for a succulent Beijing
Duck dinner. This courtyard restaurant is one of Beijing’s
most traditional, the family has been preparing Beijing Kaoya for
generations.
Tiananmen, the Gate of Heavenly Peace, shields the Forbidden City
from the vase expanse of the Square. Its lavish palaces and ornate
courtyards telling their own story of China’s rich history.
On the evening of Day 3 board an overnight train for the journey
to Xi’an. Sleeper trains in China are open plan, but clean,
comfortable and air-conditioned with sheet, pillow and blanket provided.
Day 4: Capital of
Chinese empires for more than 2000 years, Xi’an is a city
of ancient treasures - the most magnificent and famous of which
is the Terra cotta Army of Qin Shi Huang Di. The thousands of soldiers,
crafted in intricate detail, stand in battle formation to guard
the mausoleum of the emperor who ordered their creation.
In the evening sample another of Xi’an’s famous specialties
- a dumpling banquet.
Days
5-8: Colorful and historic, the holy city of Lhasa
lies in a small valley 3700 meters above sea level. Lhasa rose to
importance over 1300 years ago as attempts were made to unify Tibet.
At this time the grand temples of Ramoche and Jokhang were built
to house the Buddha images and religious artifacts brought to Tibet
as dowries from China and Nepal. Although little of 7th century
Lhasa remains intact, the 1600s saw a second stage of renovation
and development, which included construction of the Potala Palace.
Perched on a hilltop overlooking the town, this massive structure
dominates the landscape with grace and dignity, confirming the suggestion
that this palace is a true wonder of the architectural world.
During your time in the heart of Tibet, you will visit the Potala
Palace, the Jokhang, the huge university monasteries of Drepung
and Sera and the Barkhor pilgrim circuit. There is free time to
explore other sights.
The Jokhang Temple is the spiritual heart of Tibet and also the
most active. Prostrating pilgrims circle the temple endlessly day
and night; some traversing the extremes of the country by foot to
celebrate their beliefs. The Barkhor, the holiest devotional circuit,
circumnavigates the Jokhang and houses a market bazaar. Here, Buddha
images, yak skulls with ruby eyes, woodcarvings, carpets and prayer
wheels are bargained for.
Nearby are the Drepung and Sera monasteries, once home to over 15,000
monks. Afternoon debating sessions by the monks of the school of
philosophy are a must-see experience.
Top it off with a Tibetan Buffet dinner including Chang (Tibetan
Barley Beer), Yak Butter Tea, Yak Meat, Yak cheese, momos and a
variety of vegetable and other dishes. This is followed by a performance
of Tibetan music and dance.
Day 9: It is a long,
yet spectacular drive to Gyantse. From the top of the Kamba Pass
(4794m) the views of the turquoise lake, Yamdrok-Tso are unforgettable.
The road winds down and along its shores via the small town of Nangartse
before climbing again to the Karo La (5054) and the glaciers of
Mt Nojin Kangtsang. Gyantse was once of major importance as a trading
center on the routes between India, Sikkim, Bhutan, Tibet and China,
its imposing fort, Gyantse Dzong, dominates views of the town.
 Day
10: Gyantse is also the site of the great 15th century
monastic complex - Pelkor Choede which includes the fascinating
Gyantse Kumbum. From Gyantse the Nyang-chu valley leads towards
Tibet’s second largest town, Shigatse.
Day 11: Shigatse is
site of Tashilhumpo Monastery, seat of the Panchen Lama and one
of the most important monasteries of the Gelukpa order. The enormous,
elaborate reliquary chorten are an incredible sight. Here there
is also the option to visit the local carpet factory where hand
woven carpets are produced using traditional designs.
Day 12: Sakya was
once the political heart of Tibet - its imposing fortified monastery
reveals a not always peaceful history - the riches within, testament
to past glory. North Sakya was almost completely destroyed during
the Cultural Revolution, but is in the process of being restored.
Days 13-14: Continuing
west, venture into Qomolangma National Park. Some of the most stunning
views of the mountain are from the tiny Rombuk monastery (5000m)
seven kilometers below Everest Base Camp.
Day 15: Another high
pass gives a last, spectacular view of the Himalaya before Nyalam.
This is the edge of the Tibetan Plateau and the road descends sharply
towards the Nepal border, some 30kms and 2000 meters below. Moisture
returns to the air, the colors change, trees appear, lush green
vegetation and the Bhote Kosi river thunders below as you complete
Chinese immigration formalities at Zhangmu. From Kodari, the Nepalese
side of the border, the road continues its winding descent, hopefully
unhindered by landslides to the Last Resort.
Day 16: Last Resort
is a luxury tented camp set in beautiful gardens above the Bhote
Khose River, close to the Nepal-China border. A day to relax in
the gardens, herbal steam room and plunge pool or to test your rafting
or kayaking skills, take a short hike through nearby villages or,
for the more daring, a 160m bungy jump.
 Day
17: Bhaktapur, founded in 889, was once capital
of the whole Kathmandu Valley. As well as an impressive Durbar Square
and numerous temples, Bhaktapur is famous for its pottery –
whole streets are filled with pieces of all shapes and sizes set
in the sun to dry. After exploring the town continue to Kathmandu.
Day 18: Rich in cultural
and artistic heritage blending the traditional and the modern, Kathmandu
is a vibrant, chaotic, colorful city - one not to be missed. The
markets, bazaars and narrow streets are home to holy men, sacred
cows, bicycles, street sellers… you name it, it is here. Your
tour includes a half-day sightseeing tour of Kathmandu Durbar Square
(home to the Kumari, living goddess) and the magnificent Swayambunath
temple.
A traditional Newari dinner complimented by local music and dance
makes a fitting finale to your tour.
Day 19: Depart.
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Great
Wall of China
Whilst not the only man made object visible from
space, the Wall is an impressive sigh,t stretching thousands
of kilometers from the sea to the Gobi desert. |
Tiananmen
& Forbidden City
Behind the Gate of Heavenly Peace lies the vast
Imperial City, home to the Emperors of China and forbidden to
commoners. |
Terra
cotta Warriors
An army of over 7,000 life size warriors guard
the tomb and afterlife of the 3rd Century emperor Qin Shi Huang
Di. |
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 Choede monastery. |
Rombuk&
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. Tashilhumpo 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.
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Sakya
Once the political center of Tibet, the walls
of Sakya's great fortified monastery are painted the dark gray
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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