Nepal to Tibet Overland Trip with the Everest

Upon your arrival at the airport, our guide is waiting for you at the airport exit. On the way to the hotel, our guide will give you a brief introduction about your 16 days Nepal to Tibet tour and will also offer you some useful information about Kathmandu city. The distance from the airport to hotel is about 7 kilometers and will take about 15 minutes.

Accommodation: Hotel Himalaya (4 stars)

Your first day in Katmandu will start with Patan Durbar Square to explore the famous temples there like Golden Temple, Krishna Temple, Kumbeshwor Temple, etc. Next, you will come to the Kathmandu Durbar Square, with more than 50 ancient buildings built in the 16th - 19th centuries surrounded, including royal palaces and temples of diverse religions. Finally, you will visit the symbol of Kathmandu, Swayambhunath. This evening, we will offer you the Nepalese Dinner with the culture dance show.

Meals: Breakfast, Dinner

Accommodation: Hotel Himalaya (4 stars)

In the morning, take a 30-minute flight from Kathmandu to Pokhara. Upon arrival, a private drive will take you to the hotel. After a short rest, we will take you to the Fewa Lake, where you will enjoy a boat ride to the Barahi temple on the island of the lake. Lunch is arranged at a nice lakeside restaurant. Then we will take you to visit the Buddhist monasteries and the Hindu temples. Dinner is arranged at the hotel.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Accommodation: Swiss International Hotel Sarowar (4 stars)

Today, you will get up early to enjoy the spectacular view of the sunrise at Sarangkot. We will then take a brief visit to one of the oldest temples in Pokhara, also known as Bindabasini. After that, we will transfer you back to the hotel for breakfast. Later, we continue to visit the World Peace Pagoda, the Devi's fall and the Pokhara Mountain Museum. Around noon, you will have lunch at a notable restaurant in Pokhara. In the afternoon, you will visit the lake Beganas, the second largest lake in Pokhara. At the end, visit the Tibetan Refuge Camp if time permits. Dinner is arranged at the hotel, followed by a brilliant cultural show.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Accommodation: Swiss International Hotel Sarowar (4 stars)

Before flying back to Kathmandu, you will take a half day trip to the MahendraGufa (cave), the first big cave found near Pokhara and the ChameroGufa (cave). Then, explore the temples and monasteries nearby. Enjoy your lunch at a nice restaurant. In the afternoon, we will transfer you to the Airport where you will take a flight back to Kathmandu. Check into the hotel upon arrival.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

Accommodation: Hotel Himalaya (4 stars)

This morning, our guide will take you to visit the Bouddhanath Stupa first, which is one of the important sites for pilgrims in Kathmandu and Tibet in China. Then continue to visit another holiest shrine named Pashupatinath Temple for worshipping the Lord Shiva. After visiting these two sites, we will drive for about one hour to Nagarkot to enjoy the breathtaking sun-set view over the snow Mountains in the late afternoon. We will arrange you to stay overnight at the hotel in Nagarkot.

Meals: Breakfast, Dinner

Accommodation: Country Villa Nagarkot or similar

Nagarkot was once the retreat of Nepal's rulers, but became a popular sunrise and sunset spot from 1970s. It is facing more than 20 Himalayan mountains of more than 6000 meters, including mount Everest, Mount Gangdisi and other world famous snow peaks, the mountain scenery is very spectacular. The sunrise is also one of the most marvelous natural views in Nagarkot. This morning, you can get up early to witness the marvelous sunrise views over the Himalayas. After breakfast at the hotel, the guide will accompany you to take car for about 30 minutes to explore Bhaktapur. It is the third largest valley in Kathmandu, and is also the origin of Nepal art and architecture. Although experiencing the earthquake and some other deadly damages, lots of exquisite carvings and temples are still well preserved here. This is also the reason that the Bhaktapur is flattered as the Live Site, and it deserves it. After visiting, drive you back to Kathmandu.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

Accommodation: Hotel Himalaya (4 stars)

Your trip in Nepal will come to the end today. From your hotel, the guide and driver will transfer you for a long journey to the border - Rasuwagadhi. It is only 160 kilometers (99 miles), but it can normally take around 6 to 8 hours due to the poor road conditions. However, the amazing landscape of the mountains and valleys, the forests and rivers will ease your fatigue a bit. After going through the immigration, you will come to the Tibet side, where the local guide and driver will welcome you and transfer you to Gyirong.

The remainder of the day is free for you to get relaxed from the long-time drive. You can have a good rest at the hostel, or you may take a leisurely walk along the nearby street as well to explore the local life in Gyirong if you are still energetic.

► Friendly Tips:
 For clients who enter Tibet from Kathmandu, we wish to draw your attention on how to apply for your China Visa and Tibet Travel Permit. You may refer to the following for details.

Firstly, we need the copy of your valid passport to apply for your Tibet Travel Permit as well as China Visa Invitation Letter from the Tibet Tourist Administration beforehand. Secondly, after we get the documents mentioned above, we will deliver the Invitation Letter and the copy of Tibet Travel Permit to our partner agency in Kathmandu. The original Tibet Travel Permit will be kept by your guide in Tibet. Thirdly, once you arrive in Kathmandu, our partner agency there will assist you in applying for your China Visa at the local Chinese Embassy. Please be aware that the Visa Section at Chinese Embassy in Kathmandu opens only 3 days a week - Monday, Wednesday & Friday from 09:00 AM to 12:00 AM. Therefore, it is advisable to arrive at Kathmandu at least two days earlier or stay longer in order to have enough time for the application. Lastly, please take your passport, visa and the copy of your Travel Permit with you when arriving at the border Kodari. Your local guide in Tibet will forward your original Tibet Permit to the immigration control, and it will then be handed to you after your passport, visa and copy of Travel Permit are verified by the customs. Please remember to take the original Permit with you during your whole stay in Tibet.

Meals: Breakfast

Accommodation: Gyirong Hotel

After breakfast, let's take a 10 hours' long drive to Dingri. On arriving, you will be escorted to check in Everest Hotel, and then you can have a rest for the remainder of the day.

Meals: Buffet breakfast, Lunch

Accommodation: Everest Hotel

Everest Base Camp, about 20km (about 12.4 miles) away from Mt. Qomolangma, is a camp for passionate mountaineers to rest and refresh. Various tents are scattered around and there are also some basic facilities here for travelers. We will start early in the morning and drive to the Camp in around 4 hours.

The whole journey would be rather tiring because of the gravel road, but you can definitely be obsessed by the awesome Mt. Qomolangma at such a close distance. You will also visit the Rongbuk Monastery before we have another 4 hours' driving back to the Everest Hotel.

Meals: Buffet breakfast, Lunch

Accommodation: Everest Hotel

Today we'll continue our trip to Shigatse, about 250km (155 miles) away. En route you will visit Lhatse County and the Sakya Monastery - one of the important Tibetan Buddhism monasteries founded in 1073 by Kon Konchok Gyelpo. It is the main Sakyapas temple, containing up to 150 branch monasteries in Qinghai, Gansu, Yunnan, Nepal and Bhutan etc. In the temple, you can see the good collection of scriptures, the rare treasure palm leaf manuscript and also various kinds of porcelain wares. Upon arrival, you will be escorted to check into the hotel and have a rest.

Meals: Buffet breakfast, Lunch

Accommodation: Gasar Hotel - VIP Building (4 stars)

Shigatse is the second biggest city in Tibet. In the morning, we will visit the Tashilhunpo Monastery and the New Palace of Panchen. Tashilhunpo Monastery is the residence of Panchen Lama where the highlights here are the stupas of the 10th Panchen and the gigantic copper - Maitreya Buddha. To the south of it is the New Palace of Panchen which was the Summer Palace of the 10th Panchen built in 1954. After lunch, we will take a 3 hours' drive to reach Gyangtse and check into the hotel.

Meals: Western buffet breakfast, Lunch

Accommodation: Gyangtse Hotel (3 stars)

After breakfast, we will visit the Palkhor Monastery - the only one monastery which integrates the three Tibetan Buddhism sects including Kagyu, Sakya and Gelug together. Another feature of the temple that may draw your attention is the Bodhi Pagoda in which hundreds of Buddhist rooms were built overlapped successively, tower within tower in Nepal style, which is very special. Later, you can take a walk through old streets in Gyangtse.

Then we will get to Lhasa by a comfortable vehicle for about 6 hours. On the way, you can stop and visit the Yamdrok Yumtso Lake - one of the four sacred lakes in Tibet which is an important destination for pilgrimage. Besides, wou will pass by the Karola Glacier. Upon arrival, you can check into the hotel with your guide's help.

Meals: Western buffet breakfast, Lunch

Accommodation: Tashipozhang Hotel (4 stars)

Lhasa, the holy land of Tibetan Buddhism, attracts people from all over the world for its plateau scenery, profound history and religious culture.Today we start with a visit to the Tibet Museum, from which you may get an overall understanding of Tibetan culture. In the afternoon, you will be accompanied to visit the Sera Monastery and the Norbulingka Park. If you are lucky enough, you can meet the monks debating Buddhist scriptures at courtyard, which is an instructive and interesting activity.

Meals: Western buffet breakfast, Lunch

Accommodation: Tashipozhang Hotel (4 stars)

Your first stop today is the Potala Palace, the most magnificent architectural complex, which contains palaces, castles and temples integrated into one building. To protect this world cultural heritage, the number of the visitors and their visiting time has been strictly controlled. Our guide will give you the explanation of the site before you enter and visit it.

After lunch, we will go ahead to visit the Jokhang Temple, and then spend your time at the thriving bazaar of the Barkhor Street where various small crafts and souvenirs are on sale. At last, you will pay a short visit to a Nunnery before returning to the hotel.

Meals: Western buffet breakfast, Lunch

Accommodation: Tashipozhang Hotel (4 stars)

Today is your last day in Lhasa, you will be escorted to the airport according to your homeward flight schedule and our guide will see you off at the airport.

In addition, since there is only few international flights from Lhasa to abroad, most visitors tend to depart from some popular cities in China, such as Beijing, Xian, Chengdu and Shanghai etc. So for your onward journey, we suggest you extend your trip to these cities. In Beijing, the grand Great Wall and Forbidden City are must-see sites, and the Terracotta Army in Xian also deserves a visit. And also you may want to get close to giant pandas in Chengdu or enjoy the perfect blend of modern and traditional cultures in Shanghai. Please feel free to contact your travel consultant if interested, and we will be pleased to arrange it for you. Safe Journey!

► Friendly Tips:
The sequence of this itinerary can be reversed if you want to travel from Lhasa to Kathmandu. You can either take the overland trip or take the direct flight from Lhasa to Kathmandu. The flight is around 1.5 hours and the schedules are 3U8719 1110/1030 or CA407 1150/1110 (there is time difference).

Meals: Western buffet breakfast