Sunday 13^th July – Xi’an, China – Lhasa

Morning

• Group meets at Xi’an Airport by the check-in counter for our Lhasa bound flight with China Eastern Airlines – time will be confirmed closer to tour departure date. Possible to arrange train trip into Lhasa, please contact us for further details.
• For those coming from our Bangladesh, Bhutan & Nepal tour international flight connections are available – ask us for advice.

Afternoon

• Arrive into Lhasa – the largest city of the region and receive a traditional Nada welcoming ceremony from our local Tibetan guide.
• Drive and check-in to Tashikatge Hotel located in the heart of old town of Lhasa city.
• Enjoy a leisurely afternoon to acclimatize to Lhasa’s stunning altitude of 3,800 meters. Explore the enchanting old town on foot, where ancient streets are lined with vibrant markets and rich cultural heritage. This free time invites you to immerse yourself in the unique charm and beauty of Lhasa.
• Group regathers for our first feast in Lhasa and get your first taste of Tibetan Yak, the most common meat in these parts.
• Overnight in Lhasa at Tashikatge Hotel.

Monday 14^th July – Lhasa

Morning

• Discover Drepung Monastery, the largest in Tibet, established in 1416 and home to up to 10,000 monks. Nestled at the base of a mountain, this stunning monastery offers breath-taking views of West Lhasa, creating a serene backdrop for your exploration.
• Explore Norbulingka also known as the Summer Palace of Lhasa – serving as a traditional summer residence of the former Dalai Lamas from the 1780s and onwards.

Afternoon

• Lunch at a local restaurant and a chance to try Tsampa, the Tibetan staple dish made roasted barley.
• Visit Sera Monastery – here we’ll watch student monks partake in public debates within the courtyard of the monastery where one monk stands making clapping actions asking questions and the other sits and answers.
• Dinner at local restaurant.
• Overnight in Lhasa at Tashikatge Hotel.

Tuesday 15^th July – Lhasa

Morning

• Discover the iconic Potala Palace, once home to the 14th Dalai Lama and the seat of Tibetan governance for centuries. As you climb to the top, explore sacred prayer rooms and the grand golden tombs of previous Dalai Lamas. The breath-taking panoramic views from the summit will leave you in awe, making this a must-see landmark rich in history and spirituality.
• We’ll make our way all the way down joining the pilgrims on the Pilgrim Path to the viewing platform of the Potala Palace from the famous view that’s also seen on the Chinese 50RMB note.

Afternoon

• Walk to Monument to the Peaceful Liberation of Tibet and explore Liberation Square located in front of the palace. The square is a popular gathering place, often hosting cultural events and celebrations.
• Local lunch of Chebureki – a deep-fried turnover with a filling of ground or minced meat and onions.
• Visit Jokhang Temple – this temple is actually considered the most important of Lhasa’s temples by Tibetans and was built for the Nepalese Princess of the Tibetan King.
• Spend the afternoon exploring Barkor Street Market, a vibrant hub in the old town and a significant pilgrimage site. Witness the devotion of locals as they prostrate themselves while circling the streets, adding to the rich tapestry of cultural and spiritual life in this enchanting area.
• Group regathers for joint dinner – Meat dishes are likely to be yak, goat, or mutton, often dried, or cooked into a spicy stew with potatoes.
• Overnight in Lhasa at Tashikatge Hotel.

Wednesday 16^th July – Lhasa – Namtso Lake – Lhasa

Morning

• Wake up early and begin our four-hour drive to Namtso Lake – the highest and largest lake in Tibet at 4718m. We’ll drive by stunning plateau scenery and pass a peak that tops 5190m, incredible for photo opportunities.
• Once arriving at Natmso Lake we can make our way down to the water for reflective views and have a further understanding why this lake is known as ‘Heavenly Lake’ to the locals.

Afternoon

• Head back to Lhasa stopping in a small local village for lunch.
• Arrive back in Lhasa for dinner – look out for Cheser mog, which is rice with melted yak butter, brown sugar, raisins and salt.
• Overnight in hotel at Tashikatge Hotel.

Thursday 17^th July – Lhasa – Namba Tibetan Village – Lhasa

Morning

• We’ll head an hour out of Lhasa to explore Namba, a rural Tibetan village where Nomads base themselves during summer. Explore a barley mill, see how the locals live, and we’ll try our luck to be invited into a home to try some local barley snacks and Tibetan butter tea.
• We can take this opportunity to hike higher into the mountains and keep a look out for possible Nomad tents and their livestock. During our gentle hike we can take in the fresh air, blue sky and stunning scenery.

Afternoon

• Head back to Lhasa and visit the Tibetan Museum with exhibitions on Tibetan culture and history and a section on British imperialism in the area before 1949, a good chance to learn the Chinese interpretation of Tibetan history.
• Group gathers for local dinner and hit the Tibetan bar street scene.
• Overnight in Lhasa at Tashikatge Hotel.

Friday 18^th July – Lhasa – Shigatse

Morning

• Group A members: depart Lhasa by overnight train back to Xi’an, Xining, Lanzhou or a two-night journey to Beijing West Railway Station arriving at 8:30am on Sunday 20th July. We can arrange your flight out please contact us to confirm additional costs.
• Experience the exciting but tranquil journey aboard the Tibetan Railway, the highest in the world. As you travel, you will cross the majestic Tangula Shanmai, traverse the vast expanse of Hoh Xil, and conquer the towering Kunlun Mountains, passing through the stunning 5,231-meter Tangula Pass. Your adventure will lead you to Qinghai Lake, where the endless landscape unfolds before you, dotted with yaks grazing peacefully. This unique train ride offers one of the few experiences in the world that includes a separate oxygen compartment in your cabin, ensuring your comfort as you navigate the high altitudes and stunning views.
• Group B members: continue to Mt. Everest Base Camp.
• Early wake up and check out of hotel. The majority of today will be spent on the road as we make our way to Shitgatse city located halfway between Lhasa and Mt. Everest Base Camp.  During our drive we’ll pass along the Yarlung Tsangpo – the longest river in Tibet stretching over 2800km long.
• Continue making our way up to the top of a snow-capped mountain 5000m high with an unrealistic view of Yamdrok Lake from below – one of three sacred lakes in Tibet. Locals have their Tibetan Mastiffs on display for photos, the world’s most formidable dogs on display at the peak.

Afternoon

• Make our way down the pass towards the lake and enter a small town for local lunch.
• Ascend to the vantage point for stunning views of the Karola Glacier, perched at an impressive 5,560 meters. This extraordinary location offers a unique photography opportunity, capturing the glacier’s mesmerizing beauty and the surrounding alpine landscape. Prepare to be awed by nature’s grandeur!
• Head through Nyangchu Valley and briefly stop at Gyantse city – the third largest city in Tibet that holds Gyantse Dzong Fortress that comfortable sits overlooking the city. The fortress went through a few rough patches after being invaded by both the British and Chinese during the Cultural Revolution.
• Explore Palcho Monastery – most famous for having a tower several floors high with 108 different chapels located inside
• Arrive in Shigatse – the second largest city in Tibet with population of over 80,000 in the city directly and 700,000 in total in the countries surrounding it.
• Check-in to Sakya Hotel.
• Dinner at local restaurant.
• Overnight in Shigatse at Sakya Hotel.

Saturday 19^th July – Shigatse – Mt. Everest Base Camp

Morning

• Wake up early and check out – we can leave larger luggage behind at the Sakya hotel to make our trek to Mt. Everest Base Camp a lot easier.
• Embark on an exhilarating drive to Mt. Everest Base Camp along Highway 318, renowned as China’s longest highway. Pause for an iconic photo at the 5,000 km marker, celebrating your journey that stretches all the way from the bustling Shanghai People’s Square. This scenic route promises stunning vistas and a sense of adventure as you approach the majestic heights of Everest!
• We’ll pass over another peak this time going as high as 5248m.

Afternoon

• As we’re about to enter Mt. Everest Nature Reserve or Qomolongma as it is known to the locals as we’ll have lunch before swapping to an EV to take us 20km to Mt. Everest Base Camp.
• Arrive at Mt. Everest Base Camp, where the all-overshadowing peak of Everest, towering at 8,848 meters, awaits you—weather permitting. Feel the thrill as you stand in the shadow of the highest mountain in the world, a truly unforgettable experience!
• Check into our guest house at Rongphu Monastery.
• Have the afternoon free to walk around the base camp for photos of this mighty mountain.
• Dinner at Rongphu Monastery Guest House, we will warm ourselves up and brace for what is a fairly cold night at this altitude as we sleep 4900m.
• Overnight in Rongphu Monastery Guest House.

Sunday 20^th July – Mt. Everest Base Camp – Shigatse

Morning

• Before we head out back to Shigatse we’ll explore Rongpuk Monastery, the highest temple in the world near the base of the north side of Mount Everest at 5,009 metres (16,434 ft) above sea level.
• On our way back we’ll stop for lunch and anywhere we see fit for a perfect photo opportunity of Mt Everest in the foreground and to stretch our legs.

Afternoon

• Arrive into Shigatse in the afternoon to catch our breathe and to explore more of Shigatse. Stroll through the bustling streets lined with vendors selling traditional Tibetan snacks like dried yak meat and butter tea.
• Dinner and evening nightlife in Shigatse.
• Overnight in Sakya Hotel.

Monday 21^st July – Shigatse – Lhasa

Morning

• Begin the morning by exploring the largest monastery in western Tibet, the Tashilunpo Monastery. It is an extremely important site for Tibetan Buddhism as the temple is the seat of the Panchen Lama where previous Panchen Lama’s are also entombed. The monastery houses a giant statue of the Maitreya Buddha – the biggest gilded statue of Maitreya (Buddha of the future) in the world.

Afternoon

• Return to Lhasa with lunch on the way.
• Arrival in Lhasa – here we’ll use this time to catch up on anything last minute that needs seeing or buying in the city.
• Farewell dinner of something typical like Gyathuk – noodles, much like those of the Han variety, made with eggs, flour and bone soup. A few drinks will round off the trip.
• Overnight back in our friendly Tashikatge Hotel.

Tuesday 22^nd July – Lhasa – Overnight on sleeper train

• Group B members depart Lhasa by boarding the train to Xi’an, Xining, Lanzhou or a two-night journey to Beijing.
• Experience the exciting but tranquil journey aboard the Tibetan Railway, the highest in the world. As you travel, you will cross the majestic Tangula Shanmai, traverse the vast expanse of Hoh Xil, and conquer the towering Kunlun Mountains, passing through the stunning 5,231-meter Tangula Pass.
• Your adventure will lead you to Qinghai Lake, where the endless landscape unfolds before you, dotted with yaks grazing peacefully. This unique train ride offers one of the few experiences in the world that includes a separate oxygen compartment in your cabin, ensuring your comfort as you navigate the high altitudes and stunning views.

Wednesday 23^rd July – Overnight on sleeper train

• Afternoon arrival into Xining, Lanzhou or Xi’an.

Thursday 24^th July – Beijing

• Arrive into Beijing West Railway Station at 8:30am.
• Extend your adventure in northeast of Asia and continue with YPT to North Korea on our Victory Day & Mt Paektu Tour.

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