13 Days Tibet Nepal Bhutan Group Tour - Himalayan Exploration from $2253

Tashi Delek! Welcome to the holy land Tibet. Uppon arriving at Lhasa train station/airport, you will be picked up by your local tour guide and escorted to your pre-booked hotel in Lhasa. The rest of the day is free for you to explore the local area and acclimate yourself to the high altitude and weather of Lhasa. A welcoming dinner will be held to welcome all the members in group tour in the evening of today or tomorrow.

Tips for high altitude acclimatization: 1. Go for some walking to acclimate the high altitude but avoid strenuous activities; 2. You’d better not have bath; 3. Drink more water.

Today is your second day in Lhasa. You will visit two important Tibetan monasteries in the suburb of Lhasa, which is also helpful to acclimatize yourself to Lhasa’s high altitudes and prepare for tomorrow’s Potala Palace visit.

Your tour guide will pick you up in your hotel, then drive about 30 minutes to visit the Drepung Monastery first. Known as the “mother school ” of Dalai Lamas, this Gelug monastery has a history of more than 500 years. It used to be the largest monastery in the world with totally 10,000 monks there. Many precious stupas, sculptures, paintings, Thangka...are displayed in the hundreds of chapels. And the annual Shoton Festival is organized here. In the afternoon, you will visit another famous Gelug monastery around Lhasa city - Sera Monastery, which is famous for its “Buddhism Scriptures Debating”. Unlike common debates you’ve seen, the Buddhism Debating in Sera Monastery is a wonderful experience that it's really an eye-opener. The monks gather in a courtyard, and debate on the Buddhist doctrines with supplemented gestures like dancing. In Tibetan Buddhism, the tradition of Buddhism debating is believed to be helpful to facilitate better comprehension of the Buddhist philosophy and attain higher levels of study.

After enjoying the "Buddhism Debating", you will be transferred back to the city. The rest time is your own free time to relax.

Buddhist temple visiting manners:

1) You are not allowed to take photos inside the chapels of the monasteries, but photography of the architecture is allowed; 2) You should take off your hat and sunglasses to show respect when you entering a monastery. Wearing shorts and exposing shoulders are disrespectful; 3) Try to walk and talk quietly to not disturb the living and study of the monks in the monasteries.

After two day's acclimatization, you should be ready physical to defeat the uprising steps to reach the top of the Potala Palace. You will be picked up by your tour guide at your hotel, then go to explore Potala Palace, the symbol of Tibet, in the less-crowded morning. According to the Guinness Book of World Records, Potala Palace is the highest (in altitude: 3,700 m) palace in the world. Because of its spectacular architecture style and magnificent Tibetan cultural value, it is lised in UNESCO World Heritage Sites List, and honored as one of the most beautiful architectural buildings in the world. Originally built in the 7th century, Potala Palace is divided into two main parts: the White Palace and the Red Palace. After entering the gate, you will take about 30 mins to walk up along the stone steps to reach the White Palace, which is challenging for most of the tourists as the increasing of altitudes. You are advised to ascend slowly and make some stops to take rest and take photos of the grandiose architecture and panoramic scence of Lhasa city. The White Palace was the living quarters of the Dalai Lama and the office to deal with political and Buddhist affairs. Visit from the White Palace to the Red Palace where many historical relics and important stupas are housed, then exit Potala Palace from its back side.

After lunch, you'll visit the Jokhang Temple, the spiritual center of Tibet. Every day, pilgrims from every corner of Tibet trek here from long distances to worship the Jowo Rinpoche (or Jowo Shayamuni), a life-sized (5 foot/1.5m) statue of the Shakyamuni of age 12 which is one of the most important treasure of entire Buddhist world. Lastly, walk the special circular pilgrimage route as local followers always do at Barkhor Street. You will have chance to get close to appreciate how the artists draw Thangkas at the Thakangka workroom at Barkhor Street.

Tips of today: 1. Wear hat and sun glasses to prevent ultraviolet radiation, but remember to take off when visiting in Potala Palace. 2. Remember to bring your passport which is needed to showcase when check in Potala Palace.

After breakfast, leave Lhasa city, and drive along the Ngachu Valley and cross the Kamba La Pass(altitude: 5,030m), you will get to the famous holy lake Yamdrok (altitude: 4,400m). It is one of the clearest lakes without any pollution in Tibet. The water is as clean as crystal, and the glimmering water will shock you in sunshine. Far in the distance you’ll spot the towering massif Mt. Nojin Kangtsang (altitude: 7,191m). After the sightseeing, keep driving to Gyantse. On route, you will pass by the imposing Karo-la Glacier (altitude: 5,045m) along the highway. After arrival at Gyantse, go to visit the elegant Palcho Monastery (altitude: 4,040m). The highlight is the Kubum Stupa has a 35m-high chorten with its white layers trimmed with decorative stripes and its crown-like golden dome.

Leave Gyantse, and drive about 2 hours to Shigatse City (altitude: 3,800m), the second largest city in Tibet.

Tips of today: 1. Wear warm clothes to prevent from cold and wild; 2. Get your passport prepared for application of Allien's Travel Permit when arrival at Shigatse.

After breakfast, set out to chase the dream journey to the peak of the world - Mount Everest. Departing from Shigatse city, via Lhatse, you will witness spectacular high plateau views that you can never see in other places - super blue sky, float light clouds, stretching snow mountains, endless grasslands... The most highlighting moment is when you get to Gawula Pass (5,250m) where you get off the car to marvel at the spectacular scenery of five glorious peaks over 8,000 meters, Mt. Makalu (8,463m), Mt. Lotse (8,516m), Mt Everest (8,844m), Mt. Cho Oyu (8,201m) and Mt. Shishapama (8,020m) dominating on Himalaya Ranges from left to right. Keep driving about 2 hours from Gawula, you will reach Mount Everest Scenic Area Parking Lot where you will shift on to an eco-bus to visit Rongbuk Monastery (altitude: 5,100m), the highest monastery in the world as well as the best photography location to take photos of the intoxicating view of Mt. Everest.

Accommodation: if you visit Mount Everest during off season (November to April), you will accommodate at Rongbuk Guest House near the Rongbuk Monastery; if you visit Mount Everest during the peak season (May to October), you will accommodate at the Tibetan Tents Camp which is only run between May and October by local Tibetans. It is near Rongbuk Monastery as well.

Tips of today: 1) currently Rongbuk Monastery is the closest place on Mount Everest tourists can reach. The Everest Base Camp and its tablet marker have been moved to Rongbuk Monastery area; 2) the accommodation at both places is very simple and basic, only dorm beds with communal squat toilets are available. Duvets, heated blankets and hot water will be provided, and you are suggested to bring your own sleeping bag and toilet paper. There is no running water, sinks or showers. The dining room just offer basic breakfast and dinner without menu. 3) Remember to dress warmly all the time and avoid strenuous activity to prevent from high altitude sickness.

Wake up early to enjoy the marvelous sunrise on the highest peak of the world. You will see the top part of Mount Everest is covered by snow and ice all the year round. When the sun shines on the mountain, the peak is like a giant golden pyramid. More often, the thick freely moves clouds and fogs, seems as if a flag with the mast of the peak was swinging, will shroud the peak. This peculiar phenomenon of Mt. Everest is known as “Flag Cloud”. An additional wonder generated here are the bright glaciers, where ices are formed into various shapes like bridges, pagodas and others.

Till now your Mount Everest adventure is about to end. The rest of today is to drive to Gyirong Town. The views along the road are stupendous. In clear days, you can see the clear face of Shishapangma Peak and enjoy the beautiful view of Pekutso Lake.

Tips of today: 1. To protect the environment of Mount Everest, currently Everest Base Camp is not open for tourists. Travelers can also enjoy the beautiful Everest landscape at Rongbuk Monastery and Tibetan Tent Camp; 2. The sunrise usually starts around 6:30 am to 7am on Mount Everest; 3. Keep warm all the time.

After breakfast, drive 25km (about 40 minutes) from your hotel to Gyirong Port where you will walk across the custom to Nepal territory. Your local tour guide from Nepal will meet you on the Nepal side and transfer to Kathmandu. Though the distance is only about 160km, it takes more than 6 hours to drive to Kathmandu from Gyirong Port because the road is narrow and bumpy.

Today’s activities start with a wonderful stroll around the grand Kathmandu Durbar Square, which is the social, religious and urban focal point of the city. With the complex made between the 12th and 18th centuries by the ancient Malla Kings of Nepal, it provides many interesting things to see, like Taleju Temple, Kal Bhairab (God of Destruction), Nautalle Durbar, Coronation Nasal Chowk, the Gaddi Baithak, the statue of King Pratap Malla, the Big Bell, Big Drum and the Jagnnath Temple etc. Then you will visit the Kathmandu’s most ancient and enigmatic holy shrine - Swayambhunath, also known as “Monkey Temple”. It lies 2km west of Kathmandu City. On the clear days, you are able to see a line of Himalayan Ranges. From its hilltop setting, you can get a fine view over Kathmandu of and the valley.

After the Swayambhunath visit, you will head to next destination - Patan, once a glorious independent kingdom, but now almost a suburb of Kathmandu city. It is known for the crowding Patan Durbar Square which is honored as the finest collection of temples and palaces with exquisite carvings in the whole of Nepal. It also attracts tourists with the treasures and souvenirs in the various shops around the square. The square consists of three main chowks, or courtyards - the central Mul Chowk, Sundari Chowk and Main Keshab Narayan Chowk.

After breakfast, you will pay a visit to Pashupatinath which is one of the world most sacred places of worship for the Hindus delicated to lord Shiva. This temple has a reputation of “the Temple of Living Beings”. Every day you will find hordes of people from all over Nepal and India pilgrimaging to the Pashupatinath Temple in order to give worship to Pashupati. They start off this process early in the morning where they are blessed by Lord Shiva. Each year there is a formal celebration called Shivaratri, which means “night of Lord Shiva”, that is attended by thousands of people.

After that, move to see the giant Bouddhist stupa - Bodhanath, the largest stupa in Kathmandu Valley at about 131ft (40km) high and one of the largest and most important Buddhist stupas in the world. The all-seeing red, white and blue eyes of Buddha are painted on all four sides of the stupa, similar to Swayambhunath, and surrounded by hundreds of fluttering prayer flags, prayer wheels and small images of Buddha.

Early this morning, your driver will meet you at your hotel and then take you to the airport to catch your international flight to Paro Airport, the sole international airport in Bhutan. If you sit near the left window of your plane, and fly in a clear day, you will be very lucky to enjoy a spectacular view of the Himalaya peaks, including the world’s highest mountain - Mount Everest (Alt: 29,029ft) and its neighbors - Mt. Lhotse (the world’s fourth highest mountain, Alt: 27,940ft), Mt. Makalu (the world’s fifth highest mountain, Alt: 27,838ft) and Mt. Nuptse (Alt: 25,791ft) as you approach Paro (Alt: 7,364ft).The captain’s broadcast introduction and the magazines on the plane will help you recognize these peaks.

Upon arrival, you will be escorted to you hotel in Paro and the rest of today is for you to stroll around the town.

After breakfast, you will start the day by driving to Punakha through a forest of pine and hemlock, up to cross cover the Dochu La Pass (Alt: 10142ft/ 3,050 m). From the place, you can enjoy the panoramic views of the majestic Himalaya Mountains. Keep driving along the winding road to the fertile valley of Punakha (Alt: 4430ft/ 1,350 meters). In Punakha, you’ll visit Punakha Dzong, situated between Pho Chhu and Mo Chhu (male and female rivers) and featuring in three docheys (one more than other dzongs). It is praised by many people as the most beautiful one in Bhutan’s 21 dzongs, especially in spring when the lilac jacaranda trees in blossom.

After sightseeing driving back to Paro. In Paro, you won't miss Bhutan National Museum where you are going to learn a crash course in Bhutanese rich culture and history. There are many impressive collections displayed in its five galleries, including traditional thangkas, festival masks, religious statues, interesting carvings, etc.

Start the day with short drive to Paro’s upper valley. If the day is clear, you’ll have an unforgettable view of the “Goddess” – Mt.Chomolhari (23,640 feet).

Afterward, it’s a short drive to Taktsang trail ahead. Take a challenging but necessary 2~3 hours’ trek to Taktsang Monastery, the most famous monastery in Bhutan, also known as “Tiger Nest Monastery”, because Guru Rinpoche reportedly flew to the site on the back of a flying tiger late in the 7th century. Between blue pines and a blue sky, the monastery perches miraculously on a cliff nearly 2,700 feet above Paro’s valley floor. Break along the way for tea and snacks in small tea house, and the view of both Taktsang Monastery and Paro Valley is magnificent. Hike down the mountain, then drive back to Paro for accommodation.

Tips: 1) it takes about 2 ~ 3 hours to trek from the parking lot to Taktsang Monastery, and you could ride a horse for the first hour; 2) photography is strictly forbidden in the monastery, but you can take a nice shot on your road to Taktsang Monastery; 3) travelers have to deposit all belongings (cameras, phones or other electronic equipment and bags) at the entrance.

Your journey in Bhutan comes to an end today! Today is free until your guide pick you up from the hotel to the airport for the flight to your next destination. Before that, you can take a rest at the hotel or go for a walk nearby.

Tips: Please pack your luggage carefully, especially for small things like camera charge, power adaptor, mobile phone, phone charger, wallet and towel. If your flight is arranged in the afternoon, please make sure you check out the hotel before 12pm.