Day 01: Arrival & hotel transfer.
Upon your arrival at Tribhuvan International Airport in Kathmandu, you will be warmly greeted by a staff / representative from Ang Rita Trek & Expedition as you come out at the airport after the immigration formalities. You will be transferred to a hotel. We will collect your passports to apply for Chinese visa and a briefing of the tour program will be arranged at a convenient time.
Day 02: Visit Swayambhunath - the Buddhist stupa believed to be 2500 years old towering on the top of a hill commanding sweeping view of Kathmandu valley, Kathmandu Durbar Square ( old royal palace ) - boasts for distinctive pagoda roofed temples, stone sculpture and old monuments, a living goddess - Kumari.
Day 03: Visit Bhaktapur Palace Square ( old royal palace )- Golden Gate, the Palace of 55 Windows, Nyatapole Temple - one of the tallest pagoda temples in Nepal with its massive structure and subtle workmanship. Visit Patan Durbar Square- Buddhist monuments and Hindu temples, Hiranyavarna Mahabihar, Mahabouddha.
Day 04: Transfer to Tribhuwan International Airport for the flight to Lhasa. Fly over panoramic Himalayan ranges from Kathmandu to the holy city of Lhasa. The flight takes about 55 minutes to reach the Gonggar Airport. Upon arrival at Gonggar Airport, transfer 100 km. to the city. Check in the hotel and a complete rest for acclimatization.
Day 05: Visit Potala Palace (Winter Palace of the Dalai Lama, now more a museum than a palace), Drepung Monastery (The largest monastery in Tibet as well as in the world, once harbored 10000 monks though as a rule it was to house 7700 monks) & Bhakhor Market (The ancient and largest bazar in Tibet).
Day 06: Visit Sera Monastery (The second biggest monastery in Tibet, famous for its horse-necked Hayagriva), Jokhang Temple (The most sacred and oldest temple in Tibet, built particularly for the enshrinement of the Sakyamuni image) & Norbulingkha Palace (Summer Palace of the Dalai Lama )
Day 07: Drive to Gyangtse, 3950 m. a pastoral town between Lhasa and Shigatse. Drive 261km (Appx. 8 hrs) to Gyangtse, crossing over Karola Pass (5010m), Khambala Pass (4794m), colourful Yamdrok Lake and the Tibetan lifeline river Yarlung Tsangpo (Brahmaputra).
Day 08: Visit Palkhur Choide Monastery (The only one which contains different Tibetan Buddhism sects in Tibet). Drive to Shigatse, 3900m. , the second largest town in Tibet and the seat of power of Panchen Lama. Visit Tashilhunpo Monastery (Founded by the First Dalai Lama and the former residense of Panchen Lama, famous for its giant statue of Buddha Maitreya which is 26m tall) & the Local Market (A small but fascinating market located at the foot of the old Shigatse Fortress).
Day 09: Drive to Xegar, 4350m. ( 245 km. ) crossing over Gyatsola Pass (5220m) with spectacular view of Mt. Everest (8848m).
Day 10: Drive 257km (Appx. 8 hrs) to Zhangmu ( 2500m) with typical view of Tibetan landscape offering sheer feeling of standing on the roof of the world crossing over Lalungla Pass (5050m) from where we can view breathtaking panorama of beautiful himalayan ranges including Mt. Cho Oyu (8201m) and Mt. Shishapangma (8012m),
Day 11: Early morning drive 122km (Appx. 4 hrs) from Zhangmu (2500m), border town of Tibet to Kathmandu.
Day 12: Airport transfer for international departure.
