Roof of the World Expedition
This tour is specially designed for those who want to travel to Tibet from Nepal. It starts from the capital city of Nepal - Kathmandu, then goes northeastward to Lhasa. Highlights come along the way from beginning to the end. You will firstly go to have an exciting adventure on Mount Everest which is not very far away from Nepal side. Then you will travel to the Golden Triangle Destinations in Tibet - Shigatse, Gyantse and Lhasa.
Traveling from Nepal to Tibet, you don't have to apply for a Chinese Tourist Visa ahead. A Group Visa, which can be obtained in the Chinese Embassy in Kathmandu, is required. Tibet Discovery will apply for it for you.
1. This price is based on a group of 2 adult travelers who will take our private tour and share one standard rooms in regular local 4-star hotel in lower seasons.
2. This price is subject to change according to your traveling season, group size, hotel class, change of activities in your itinerary and possible fluctuation of currency exchange rate. If you want a lower price, you can get more people to join you, or use economy class hotels.
3. This price is only valid to March 31, 2024.
4. Reference exchange rate of USD 1= RMB 6.85. The final quotation will be adjusted according to the latest real-time exchange rate.
Today you can take a local bus or private car to Gyirong Port (altitude: 1800m) at China-Nepal border. Though the distance is only about 160km, it takes more than 6 hours to drive to Gyirong Port from Kathmandu because the road is narrow and bumpy.
After arriving at Gyirong Port, you will check through the custom, and be picked up by our Tibetan tour guide at Tibet side, then drive about 25km to Gyirong Town (altitude: 2600m) for accommodation.
Tip of today: Make sure your Group Visa and Tibet Travel Permit are issued before departing to Tibet.
After breakfast, you will have a long driving to Mount Everest (about 360 km). Though being a long driving of about 8 hours, but the views along the road are stupendous. In clear days, you can see the clear face of Mt. Shishapangma and enjoy the beautiful view of Pekutso Lake. When you finally get to Rongbuk Monastery, and get the first sight of the mighty Everest, you will immerse in a solemn ethereal mood and find all the efforts you have made along the long way are not in vain. Located about 5100 meters above the sea level, Rongbuk Monastery is the highest monastery in the world. It is the best location to take some great photos of the front face of Mount Everest. The rest of today is free for you to visit the Rongbuk Monastery and explore the nearby Everest Base Camp. Take photos with the Everest altitude marker and EBC marker to commemorate your wonderful adventure tour.
Accommodation: if you visit Mount Everest during the 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 in a local Tibetan tent at Everest Base Camp near Rongbuk Monastery which is only run between May and October by local Tibetans. Please note that 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 offers basic breakfast and dinner without menu. Remember to dress warmly all the time.
Tips of today: 1) the altitudes rise from 2,600 meters to 5,100 meters during the driving from Gyirong Town to Rongbuk Monastery. Please prepare well to avoid high altitude sickness. Not to take any strenuous activity which may cause high altitude sickness easily; 2) bring a warm coat for low temperatures on Mount Everest.
Wake up early to enjoy the marvelous sunrise on the highest peak of the world from Rongbuk Monastery. The top part of the Mount Everest is always covered with snow all the year round, and when the sun shines on the mountain, the peak is like a giant white pyramid, which is one of the most famous sceneries of Mount Everest. In bright days, you can also see a wisp of cloud hanging above the top of Mount Everest. It flies eastward in the fast western wind just like a flapping flag. This unique phenomenon is the spectacular Cloud Flag. The cloud will change from surging waves into a thin cooking smoke or from galloping steeds into the mysterious veil of a goddess.
Till now your Mount Everest adventure is about to end. The rest of today is to drive back to Shigatse City. Make a stop at Gawula Pass (5,250) where you’ll feast your eyes on the fantastic view of Himalaya range including several famous peaks over 8,000 meters, including Mt. Makalu (8,463m), Mt. Lotse (8,516m), Mt Everest (8,844m), Mt. Cho Oyu (8,201m) and Mt. Shishapama (8,020m). You will get to Shigatse in the afternoon, then take a visit to the official seat of Panchen Lama - Tashilhunpo Monastery which is also the largest and most influential Gelug Monastery in Shigatse prefecture. Here you will see a giant statue of Future Buddha, the largest one of its kind on earth (26.2 meters high and 11.5 meters wide), decorated with precious pearls, turquoises, corals and ambers.
Accommodate in Shigatse City.
Tips of today: 1) the sunrise usually starts around 6:30 am to 7am on Mount Everest; 2) breakfast is not included.
Today, you will leave Shigatse and drive about 8 hours to Lhasa (altitude: 3,650 m), the capital city of Tibet. It may be a long journey, but there are many things to do along the road. After two hours' driving, you will get to the historical city of Gyantse, then go to visit the mysterious Palcho Monastery (altitude: 4,040 m). The monks and tradition of three important sects of Tibetan Buddhism - Sakyapa, Zhalupa and Gelukpa, peacefully coexist in this monastery. Its Kumbum, which is 35 meters high and has 76 small chapels with hundreds images of Kriyatantras, is believed to be the largest such structure in Tibet.
Keeping driving about 2 hours from Gyantse, you will stop along the road and see the imposing Karola Glacier (altitude: 5,045 m) towering aloft on the left side of the road. Moving on not very far from Karola Glacier, you will reach the holy Yamdrok Lake (altitude: 4,400 m). As the largest fresh lake in the northern of the Himalaya Mountains, it spreads about 675 square meters from south to north, like an eardrop lying in the arms of snow-capped giant mountains. Viewing from a distance, you can see fertile pastures full of yaks and sheep, and some small Tibetan villages along the lakeshore.
Continuing your trip, you will arrive at Lhasa in the afternoon. Have a good rest!
Tips of today: 1) wear warm clothes to prevent from cold and wild; 2) pack some food and drinks with you because you will spend much time on the road.
Start today's Lhasa exploration with an exciting visit to the landmark - Potala Palace which is the home to the successive Dalai Lama as well as a great masterpiece of Tibetan architecture. The whole palace is divided into the White Palace - living quarters and office to deal with political and Buddhist affairs for Dalai Lamas, and the Red Palace where houses several stupas of previous Dalai Lamas, many historical relics and precious arts. After entering the gate of Potala Palace, you need to walk up about 30 minutes along the zigzag stone paths with white-and-red walls to the White Palace. Remember to ascend the steps slowly and take some stops for sightseeing and rest which will be helpful to reduce high altitude sickness. Then explore the palace in an orderly way from the White Palace to the Red Palace, and exit from the back side. After Potala Palace visit, go to enjoy a leisure stroll in Zongjiao Lukang Park, a lovely park with pleasant scenery built around the lake behind Potala Palace. It is a great place to experience local Tibetans' living styles as you can see local people gathering and chatting, taking exercise, walking the kora, feeding wild birds and ducks, etc. If your day is clear, you can take some great photos of the reflection of Potala Palace on the lake in the park.
Continuing your exploration, you will then get to Jokhang Temple which is considered as the spiritual center of Lhasa and the most revered religious structure of Tibet. In front of Jokhang Temple, you can see crowds of pilgrims polishing the flagstones with their prostration, which is truly a heart-touching scene you will ever see. This temple is also known as the "house of Buddha" because it keeps the precious Jowo Rinpoche, the life-sized (5 foot/1.5m) image of the Shakyamuni at the age of 12. Rise to the top floor of this temple, you can see savor the beautiful golden roof and the view of Potala Palace afar. The last site for today’s exploration is the famous Barkhor Street. It is a circular and wide street encircling the Jokhang Temple. The local people like to walk on the street for several circles usually in the late afternoon as a daily tradition of pilgrimage. The street also has many shops selling a wide variety of traditional Tibetan goods, religious items and handcrafts.
Optional Activity: If your physical strength permits, take a short climb to the viewing-deck of Chakpori Hill to take a panoramic photo of Potala Palace after your Potala Palace visit.
Tips of today: 1) taking photos is not allowed inside the palace; 2) today you will be mainly outside, please bring some water, a hat, sun cream, and sun glasses with you.
Today you will visit popular attractions in Lhasa city and suburb to explore Tibetan culture. You will firstly go to visit the beautiful Norbulingka which used to be the former summer palace of Dalai Lamas in the ancient time, and now is a public park. Dotted with various kinds of precious flowers and plants, it is the genuine "Plateau Oxygen Bar". In addition to its magnificent buildings and colorful flowers, Norbulingka also features some big Tibet event activities during big festivals, like Tibetan shows in annual Shoton Festival. Next, drive several kilometers to the western outskirts of Lhasa to visit Drepung Monastery. Drepung, in Tibetan, means "prosperity". Since its establishment, Drepung Monastery has always been one of the most important Buddhist monasteries in Tibet. In its heyday, there were more than 10,000 monks lived and studied in the monastery. Throughout its history, many important and famous Tibetan leaders used to study here, especially the Dalai Lamas. So Drepung Monastery is also respectfully known as the "Mother School of Dalai Lamas". You can also enjoy a panoramic view of Lhasa from Drepung Monastery.
In the afternoon, you will be taken to another famous monastery in Lhasa - Sera Monastery. It is famous for the spectacular "Buddhism Debating". As a daily routine, the monks gather in a courtyard, and debate on the Buddhist doctrines with supplemented gestures, which is thought to be helpful to facilitates better comprehension of the Buddhist philosophy to 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 rest.
The Etiquette of Visiting Monastery: 1) you shouldn't wear short and uncover shoulders; 2) taking off your sunglasses and hat before entering the chapels; 3) taking photos is usually not allowed inside the chapels.
Today is free for you until your tour guide transfer you to the airport in time for your flight or drop you off at Lhasa train station.
Tips of today: 1) please pack your luggage carefully, especially for small things like camera charger, power adaptor, mobile phone, phone charger, wallet and towel; 2) if your flight is arranged in the afternoon, please make sure you check out the hotel before 12pm.
1. This price is based on a group of 2 adult travelers who will take our private tour and share one standard rooms in regular local 4-star hotel in lower seasons.
2. This price is subject to change according to your traveling season, group size, hotel class, change of activities in your itinerary and possible fluctuation of currency exchange rate. If you want a lower price, you can get more people to join you, or use economy class hotels.
3. This price is only valid to March 31, 2024.
4. Reference exchange rate of USD 1= RMB 6.85. The final quotation will be adjusted according to the latest real-time exchange rate.
While the trip of a lifetime is priceless, we know value is a vital aspect for those deciding which tour to choose.
When comparing tour prices, be sure to compare like to like. Our tours are designed to ensure that our customers experience all the culture, history, and beauty that Tibet has to offer, and at a reasonable price.
A great way to enjoy the lowest possible price is to invite more people to join your trip to share the travel experience as well as the tour expense. The more people in a group, the lower the price per person. (We recommend you join our group tour if you are traveling alone. Please contact our travel consultant for more information)
Booking early is also an easy way to ensure the best rate! We highly recommend you contact us at least 1 month before your planned departure date.
our Tibet trip was very good. Thank you.
Gerry
It was incredible! Thanks for another amazing trip! I loved the driver I was so impressed with his skills and kindness. Driving on those mountain roads is not easy. Pur bu the guide was such a great guide. He was so knowledgeable, and I learned so much from him. His knowledge of Tibetan culture and history was amazing. I loved all the activities and things I got to see. Tibet is such a unique and incredible place I felt so lucky and blessed to be there and to have those two help me guide through it. I have no complaints and leave very happy and blessed to have had this experience. I still think about northern xinjiang and I have some friends who might come to China from America so I’ll keep in touch and let you know. I always try to share your contact with others too. You have been such a great help to me and thanks for everything.
Megan
Megan's great time in Potala Palce, Namtso Lake, Mount Everest, etc. in July 2023, tour tailormade by Leo
我们在拉萨都有一些头疼头晕等高反症状,还好不算太严重。谢谢关心。整体体验挺好的,谢谢您的安排.
王
Namtso Lake, one of the five most beautiful lakes in China, should not be missed by any traveler who visits Tibet.
Namtso is the best place to explore the nature of Tibet. With the snowy mountains in the background, the crystal-clear dazzling blue water, Namtso is stretching to the horizon. In clear days, the lake looks like a beautiful turquoise surrounded by magnificent snow-capped Tanggula Mountains, and the lake shore is green, wide and open, dotted with tents, yaks and sheep of local nomads. For travelers, Namtso is the ideal place for photography, while for Tibetans, it is a sacred and magical lake for pilgrimage.
Tibet has too much to offer and our aim is to bring you the best experience in Tibet. Following are some other recommended Tibet tour packages that you may be interested in. All of our Tibet tour packages are customizable to meet your personal requirements. You can also contact us to customize a trip if you want.
Lhasa / Gyantse / Shigatse / Mount Everest / Gyirong
Potala Palace, Yamdrok Lake, Palcho Monastery, Mount Everest
$1,058 / DetailsKathmandu - Gyirong - Lhatse - Shigatse - Gyantse - Lhasa
Sakya Monastery,Palcho Monastery, Yamdrok Lake, Jokhang Temple
/ DetailsLhasa / Gyantse / Shigatse / Gyirong / Kathmandu
Potala Palace, Yamdrok Lake, Palcho Monastery
/ DetailsPlease tell us more about your travel plans within just a few simple steps. We'll get back to you with a quotation in 0.5~23.5hrs.