TTC-T-02: From Lhasa to Katmandu with visit to Everest Base Camp

Highlights:

• --The traditional Chinese teahouse
• --Nie Tang Buddha
• --Potala Palace
• --Jokhang temple
• --Barkhor Bazar.
• --Sera monastery
• --Drepung monastery
• --Nechung monastery
• --Tashilhunpo Monastery
• --Sakya monastery
• --Rongphuk monastery
• --Evest Base Camp

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Detail program:

Day1: Arrive in Chengdu
After arrival in Chengdu airport, pickup and transfer to your hotel, assist to check in. Relax in the rest hours of this day by having one visit to the traditional Chinese teahouse at People's park.

Altitude: Chengdu: 500m

Day2: Chengdu to Lhasa.
Fly to Lhasa, the guide will meet you at the airport, and transfer you to Lhasa city with about 1h30 driving (100 km). On the way, we'll visit to Nie Tang Buddha, a Buddha image engraved in the mountain face. Afternoon an easy walking visit to Luophuk lingkar - the summer palace of Dalai Lama.

Altitude: Lhasa: 3650m

Day3: Lhasa
We visit Potala Palace, Jokhang temple and Barkhor Bazar.
Potala, the winter palace of the Dalai Lama. Stunningly dominating the skyline of Lhassa atop the crest of Marpo Ri hill, the seventh-century Potala is considered Lhasa's most holy destination for a pilgrimage. Winding up the hill, a stone path leads to the 14-story, 1000-room. Each day, thousands of pilgrims give the prayer wheels lining the path a clockwise spin as they make their way up to the entrance.
The Jokhang Monastery is the home of the statutes of the revered Buddha, Shakyamuni. While all Buddhist statutes are magnificently robed in colorful brocade adorned with pearls, turquoise, coral, and silver, solid gold bowls of holy water rest before Shakyamuni as well as offerings of yuen (money) and khatas (scarves) left by pilgrims.

Altitude: Lhasa: 3650m

Day4: Lhasa
Visit Sera, Drepung, Nechung monasteries.
Sera, one of the three largest monasteries of Gelugpa, sits at the foot of Hill Tatipu. It is as prestigious as Drepung and Ganden, which had a longer history. Sera in Tibetan means Wild Rose Garden since opulent wild rose woods once grew around it.
Drepung monastery. Drepung once housed 10,000 monks, If we're lucky, we'll quietly ease into a dark columned hall to see and hear the lilting, booming chanting of the sutras, or perhaps sit under a willow tree and watch as the monks engage in theatrical debate.
Nechung Monastery the seat of Nechung, Tibet's State Oracle. Major decisions of the state are made in consultation with the Nechung Oracle.

Altitude: Lhasa: 3650m

Day5: Lhasa to Shigartse then to Sakya
Drive to Shigatse, where to visit Tashilhunpo Monastery, which is the seat of Panchen Lama - the second highest-ranking religious leader of the Buddhist religious order. Then proceed to Sakya, visit to Sakya monastery of Sakya pa that is one of the 5 great sects of Tibetan religion.

Driving hours & distance: 390km on paved road, about 7 - 8 hours
Altitude: Shigartse: 3900m, Sakya: 4300m

Day6: Sakya to Tingri
We will take one route, which used to be the trekking route few years ago to reach the old Tingri from east of EBC, if weather would be good, the Everest peak can be seen from the jeepable road.

Driving hours & distance: 390km on paved road, about 7 - 8 hours
Altitude: Tingri: 4900m

Day7: Tingri to EBC
We drive via Pangla pass (5200 m), where to appreciate the panorama view of Mt. Everest, Mt. Choyo, descending from this pass to the valley where heading south to Rongbuk Monastery, the world's highest monastery situated at 5050 m. This partially reconstructed Tibetan Buddhist monastery of Rongbuk, was once the largest monastic centre in the region. Rongbuk is the power place through which all seeking the highest peak via the North Face must pass. It is the sacred threshold to Mount Everest, with the most dramatic views in the world. At Rongbuk, there is a beautiful, large, round chorten, a reliquary with religious significance embedded in its terraced structure and crown of emblems of the sun and moon, symbolizing the light of Buddha's teaching. The chorten dramatically marks this last human dwelling place before one heads up the valley to Base Camp.

Driving hours & distance: 100km on dirt road, about 5 - 6 hours
Altitude: Rongbuk Monastery: 5050m

Day8: EBC return to Zhangmu
Drive on the road came through the last day, return to Tingri, where visually, at a distance of over 80 km, Everest mountain is not impressive. It looks like just one more snow-captured peak among many of others snow mountains. Neighbouring Lhotse stands at 8501 m, Makalu at 8463 m, Cho Oyu at 8153 m. continually heading south to Nyalam, a small town close to Zhangmu, where we had the border check first, then descending about 30km to Zhangmu, which is located in the misty Zhangmu valley.

Driving hours & distance: 340km on dirt road, about 8 - 9 hours
Altitude: Zhangmu: 2000m

Day9: Zhangmu to Katmandu
After having check at the custom, drive about 10km to the friendship bridge, where our Tibetan staff will sya off with you, and our Nepalese coordinator will come to pick you up, alongside the whitewater Sun Kosi River which winds through villages set among beautiful, rugged, green hills for 120 km from Nepal & Tibetan border at Kodari to Katmandu. Nepal time is about 2 hours behind China time, when arrive in Katmandu, we will assist to check in, service ends.

Driving hours & distance: 190km on paved & dirt road, about 6 - 7 hours
Altitude: Katmandu: 1200m