Itinerary

Day 1: Depart Beijing
Today you’ll board the highest railway in the world for your exciting overland journey from the bustling modern capital of Beijing to the ancient religious city of Lhasa and across the spine of the incredible Himalaya to Kathmandu. The Qinghai-Tibet Railway is the highest in the world, climbing from 2,829m above sea level to 3,641m at Lhasa and its highest point is the Tanggula Pass at 16,640 feet (just over 5,000 meters) above sea level. All passenger coaches have extra oxygen pumped into them due to the incredibly high elevation and oxygen is available to passengers through tubes if they have problems. You’ll be assisted with the boarding formalities in Beijing on the evening of your departure and will spend the next two days on the train in a Soft Sleeper compartment.

Day 2: Beijing - Lhasa Train
You’ll spend the day onboard the train and marveling at the view as you make your way through China passing through the cities of Xi’ian, Shanghai and Chengdu among others. Overnight on the train in a soft sleeper compartment.

Day 3: Lhasa
This afternoon you’ll be met at the train station by your driver and guide and transferred to a small local hotel near the historical center of the city. The rest of the afternoon and evening are free to relax or explore on your own.

Day 4: Lhasa
This morning after breakfast you’ll begin a full day tour of the city’s cultural and religious attractions including the Sera Monastery, Jokhang temple and Barkhor Street.

Day 5: Lhasa
Today’s excursion will explore some of surrounding areas including a visit to Potala Palace, Drepung Monastery and Norbulinkha. Lhasa's cardinal landmark - Potala Palace - is a structure of massive portions towering over the city. Built to symbolize the love of an early king and his new bride, your first sight of the Potala will be an awe-inspiring moment and an excellent introduction to Tibetan culture. Drepung Monastery, the largest and richest monastery in Tibet, was founded in 1416 by a disciple of Tsong Khapa under the patronage of a noble family and later enlarged by the Fifth Dalai Lama. Drepung, which means rice heap in Tibetan, lies 8 kilometers west of Mt. Gambo Utse and covers a floor space of more than 200 thousand square meters. At its peak, it had a registration of more than 10,000 monks. In the late afternoon you’ll return to your hotel for the evening.

Day 6: Lhasa - Shigatse
This morning you’ll be met at the hotel to begin your overland adventure to Kathmandu. Today’s first destination is the city of Gyantse, a town notable for its magnificent tiered Kumbum (literally, '100,000 images') of the Palcho Monastery, the largest chörten in Tibet. The Kumbum was commissioned by a Gyantse prince in 1427 and was an important center of the Sakya school of Tibetan Buddhism. This religious structure contains 77 chapels on six floors and is illustrated with over 10,000 murals, many showing a strong Nepali influence. After lunch you’ll head to Shigatse, the home of Tashilhunpo Monastery, founded in 1447 by Gendun Drup, the First Dalai Lama. It is the traditional seat of the Panchen Lamas. In the evening you’ll be transferred to a small charming hotel in Shigatse for the evening.

Day 7: Shigatse - Shegar
Today you’ll head onto the Friendship Highway that connects Tibet with Nepal in the direction of Shegar. The views as you drive through Tsou-la pass & Gyatso-la pass are among the most spectacular in the world and the day is spent experiencing firsthand the landscape that inspired Tibetan Buddhism. In the evening you’ll check into a comfortable local guesthouse with spacious courtyards.

Day 8: Shegar - Rongbuk
Shortly after leaving Shegar, you’ll turn off the Friendship Highway and head south over the Pang La towards the main Himalayan range. The view from the top is incredible with uninterrupted views stretching from Makalu to Shishapangma. Below the pass, Everest initially is hidden from view, but as you turn the corner into the Rongbuk Valley it reappears, more impressive than ever. Tonight you’ll spend the night at a local guesthouse.

Day 9: Rongbuk - Everest Base Camp - New Tingri
This morning you’ll have the opportunity to see Everest Base Camp at 5150 meters. The base camp itself is dry and barren, but the views of Everest more than compensate for this. It is a truly awe-inspiring place with the sheer north face of the highest mountain in the world towering above you. No vehicles except for Everest expeditions are allowed beyond Rongbuk so you can choose either to walk the 8 kilometers or take a horse-drawn cart to the Base Camp. After lunch you’ll continue to New Tingri for the evening.

Day 10: New Tingri - Zhangmu
Leaving New Tingri, you’ll cross another two high passes, the Lalung La and the Shung La. Once more you’re rewarded with magnificent views of the surrounding peaks of Shishapangma, Cho Oyu, Menlungtse and Gauri Shankar. In the late afternoon you reach Zhangmu, a customs town and port of entry located in Nyalam County on the Nepal - Tibet border, just uphill and across the Bhote Kosi River from the Nepalese town of Kodari. At "merely" 2300 meters elevation above sea level, Zhangmu has a mild and humid subtropical climate, a rarity for Tibet.

Day 11: Zhangmu - Kathmandu
From Zhangmu you’ll drive a few kilometers to the Friendship Bridge spanning the Bhote Kosi River and markings the Chinese - Nepalese border. After a short walk to Nepalese Immigration Control in Kodari and completing the -entry formalities you’ll continue the drive to Kathmandu, arriving in the early afternoon. Upon reaching Kathmandu you’ll be transferred to your guesthouse.

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