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High Road to Tibet
14 days, Kathmandu to Kathmandu
Itinerary
Day 1Kathmandu
Arrive at any time.
There are no planned activities for today except for a welcome meeting in the early evening, followed by an optional dinner.
Your Welcome Moment: Welcome Moment - Meet Your CEO and Group
Your opportunity to meet your CEO and fellow travellers, and learn more about your tour. Opt to join the group for a local meal afterwards. Don't forget to see the notice in the lobby (or ask reception) for the official time and place to meet up with the group.
At this meeting, complete formalities for our Tibet entry permit.
Day 2Kathmandu
Take an orientation walk in Durbar Square before a cooking demonstration where the group will learn how to make Nepalese momos (dumplings). Afterwards, taste the delicious dishes made during an authentic local lunch. In the evening, enjoy free time to explore the fascinating city.
Free Time
Take the evening to explore the city.
Durbar Square Orientation Walk
Every orientation walk will be a little different, allowing our CEOs to show off their favourite bits of the square. Learn more about Durbar Square and Kathmandu and get a good introduction to Nepal.
Your G for Good Moment: Nepalese Dumplings Cooking Demonstration
Enjoy a cooking demonstration at a local establishment and learn how to make momos (traditional dumplings). Afterwards, taste the delicious dishes made during a Nepali lunch.
Meals included:
LunchDay 3Kathmandu/Panauti
Depart for a community homestay in Panauti. Choose to disembark in Sanga and hike the remaining way to the village or continue via private vehicle. Explore the village then help cook an authentic Nepalese dinner.
Many families in Panauti Village have come together to establish a homestay program.
Depending on the location, the home offers lovely views across surrounding fields or a post from which to observe street activity. As well as getting to know a local family and exploring this lovely village, you will assist with preparing your evening meal - learning how to cook local dishes - and eat together with your host family.
Your G for Good Moment: Panauti Homestay
Set up in 2013, the Panauti Community Homestay is ran by a group of women who started the initiative as a way of challenging the lack of opportunity often faced by women in rural areas. The project allows them to raise their social status and income while also providing an opportunity to share their culture and customs with travellers. By sending our groups to a homestay, G Adventures is increasing income for the community and assisting with small business opportunities in hospitality. Although simple, rooms are clean, comfortable and typical of the households in which you are staying.
Free Time
Don't miss a moment of exploration in this village!
Private Vehicle
Settle in and scan the scenery from the convenience of a private vehicle.
Guided Hike at Panauti Community Homestay
Take in the stunning views, nature and culture on the 11 km hike to your community homestay. The Sanga to Panauti trail has only recently been developed, through villages that are new to foreign visitors. We start from Sanga, a Bhramin community where a large Shiva statue gives a sign of Blessing. Continue through the Tamang community, home to the original Horse Warriors who migrated from tibet. Hike through a few more villages into Panauti town.
Meals included:
DinnerDay 4Panauti/Lhasa
Take an afternoon flight to Lhasa. With a relaxed pace to allow for the effects of altitude, explore this fantastic city on 'the roof of the world' over three days. Don't miss one of the evening debating sessions with the monks and the opportunity to learn more about the unique culture here.
Private Vehicle
Settle in and scan the scenery from the convenience of a private vehicle.
Day 5Lhasa
Enjoy an orientation walk around Barkhor Square led by your CEO before taking a guided tour of the Jokhang Temple, the "spiritual heart" of the city where a stream of pilgrims visit daily. In the afternoon explore Sera Monastery and witness the monks debating.
Barkhor Square Orientation Walk
Explore the square with your CEO and learn more about this city.
Jokhang Temple Tour
Enjoy a tour of this beautiful temple, which has been called the spiritual heart of Tibet. Watch prostrating pilgrims circle the temple day and night, some of them traversing the extremes of the Tibetan landscape by foot to come here and celebrate their faith. Make a kora ("revolution" in Tibetan) of the Barkhor, the holiest devotional circuit, which surrounds the Jokhang and houses a market bazaar where people bargain for Buddha images, yak skulls with ruby eyes, woodcarvings, carpets, prayer wheels, and the odd goat's head.
Sera Monastery Tour
Visit the Sera Monastery and witness the monks engaged in lively debate, a philosophical practice they have held for hundreds of years.
Free Time
Spend time slowly exploring this fascinating city.
Optional Activities - Day 5 HideShow
Evening Debate Session with Monks
55CNY per personWatch the monks engage in lively debate and pray.
Day 6Lhasa
Explore the grounds of the magnificent Potala Palace. Set upon Marpo Ri (Red Hill), the impressive 17th century structure was where the Dalai Lamas would meditate and take residence during the winter months. This afternoon, visit the Dalai Lama's Summer Palace, Norbulingka. Stroll the palace grounds and depending on the time of year, enjoy the outdoor festivities held in the park.
Potala Palace Tour
Enjoy a tour of Potala Palace, a magnificent structure and true architectural wonder built in the 1600s and steeped in history. This is where the Dalai Lamas would meditate, handle affairs of state, and eventually where their burial stupas remain. Check out the golden statues, three dimensional mandalas, ancient scriptures, and the devoted pilgrims who circle the palace day and night. This is truly a remarkable place.
Norbulingka Tour
Visit the Dalai Lama's Summer Palace, Norbulingka. Be sure to check out the beautiful flowers in the botanical garden.
Optional Activities - Day 6 HideShow
Evening Debate Session with Monks
55CNY per personWatch the monks engage in lively debate and pray.
Day 7Lhasa
Enjoy a free day in Lhasa. Opt to visit the local markets or find a teahouse to spend a few hours relaxing with a warm cup of chai.
Free Time
Spend your final day in Lhasa browsing the market stalls or trying the local delicacies.
Day 8Lhasa/Gyantse
Set off early this morning for Gyantse, enjoying a visit to the ancient Buddhist site of Gyantse Kumbum on arrival. The drive to Gyantse is a spectacular one, crossing three passes over 5,000m (16,404 ft) and skirting the shores of the beautiful turquoise lake, Yamdrok Tso.
Private Vehicle
Settle in and scan the scenery from the convenience of a private vehicle.
Gyantse Kumbum Visit
Visit this significant site in Tibetan Buddhism. Gyantse Kumbum (meaning 100,000 images) is an 8 story structure containing a seemingly endless series of tiny chapels full of Buddhist images – Buddhas, demons, protectors, and saints.
Day 9Gyantse/Xigazê
Today provides another opportunity to visit a sacred Tibetan Buddhist site in Gyantse. Visit Pelkor Chode Monastery this morning to admire the many sculptures and paintings lining the walls. Later, travel to Shigatse and enjoy some free time to get acquainted with the city.
Pelkor Chode Monastery
Visit this important Tibetan Buddhist site. Pelkor Chode Monastery was founded in 1418 and is regarded as the centre of Gyantse. The main temple has three floors, housing murals and images dating back to the 15th century five chapels on the upper floor.
Private Vehicle
Settle in and scan the scenery from the convenience of a private vehicle.
Free Time
This afternoon is free to spend as you choose. Opt to roam the stalls of the Shigatse Bazaar or perhaps join the pilgrims at Tashilumpo Kora.
Optional Activities - Day 9 HideShow
Tashilumpo Kora
Join the pilgrims for their sunset kora ("revolution" in Tibetan) around the perimeter of the monastery.
Shigatse Bazaar Visit
Visit the Shigatse Bazaar and walk down streets lined with stalls selling everything from slabs of yak butter to yak wool, prayer wheels, and rosaries. Watch as Tibetans vie with each other to win a sale.
Day 10Xigazê/Tingri
Travel from Shigatse to Tingri and visit the Sakya Monastery. The monastery is one of the oldest in Tibet and home to thousands of ancient Buddhist scriptures and many paintings. Gain a fascinating insight into Tibetan history and enjoy the views from this hillside structure.
Private Vehicle
Settle in and scan the scenery from the convenience of a private vehicle.
Sakya Monastery Visit
Take in the stunning views of one of Tibet's oldest monasteries and surrounding landscape.
Day 11Tingri/Rongpu Si
Take an exhilarating drive to reach Rongbuk – 5000m (16404ft) and a mere 7km (4.4mi) below Everest Base Camp. The view from here is utterly spectacular.
Rongbuk is the highest monastery in the world and its guesthouse offers very basic accommodation, but the views that surround it more than compensate. Lie in bed and watch the moonlight illuminate the mountain.
Private Vehicle
Sit back and relax. Enjoy the scenery outside your window along the ride.
Your Local Living Moment: Rongbuk Monastery Guesthouse
Rongbuk is the highest monastery in the world and its guesthouse offers very basic accommodation, but the views that surround it more than compensate. Lie in bed and watch the moonlight illuminate the mountain.
Day 12Rongpu Si/Kyirong
Travel to Kyirong. This border town is known for it's warmer climate and green landscape. Soak in the views on the long but incredibly scenic drive from Rongbuk.
On today's drive, ride alongside Paiko Tso Lake and marvel at its turquoise colour. Reach Kunda La Pass at 5236m, which offers breathtaking views of the Himalayas. Start the descent through winding roads into Kyirong and feel the change in altitude. See the change in scenery from snowy mountain peaks, to more greenery and blue skies.
Private Vehicle
Settle in and scan the scenery from the convenience of a private vehicle.
Day 13Kyirong/Kathmandu
Today, cross the border back into Nepal. The overland journey from Tibet to Nepal is considered one of the most stunning drives in Asia. Once across the border, travel to Kathmandu to enjoy a final evening in the city.
Prepare for another beautiful driving day on your way to Nepal. Cross high mountain passes amongst fluttering prayer flags, enjoy jaw dropping views of the Himalayan range, stunning lakes and forest, then begin to descend in altitude towards lush, green Nepal. After immigration, cross the bridge joining Tibet and Nepal by foot. Jump in the vehicle and make the winding, bumpy, yet extremely scenic drive to Kathmandu.
Kyirong is the main customs border crossing between Tibet and Nepal, for tourists and for commercial purpose. As such, it can be quite busy and there can be long wait times.
Private Vehicle
Take a private vehicle to the Kyirong (also known as Gyirong) border crossing.
Border Crossing (Kyirong to Rasuwa)
Prepare to cross the border into Rasuwa before making your way back to Kathmandu.
Private Vehicle
Settle in and scan the scenery from the convenience of a private vehicle.
Day 14Kathmandu
Depart any time.