Tibet Cultural Tour

Drive in and fly out tour through a circular route from Kathmandu to Lhasa in the heart of Tibet, offers you some of the most amazing landscapes on Earth creating a real Adventure trip for travellers on a limit of time and money.

The Friendship Highway is an important artery of commerce as it’s also Tibet’s most popular tourist route. Enjoy fabulous mountain scenery, visit mystical Buddhist Monasteries of Tashilungpo at Shigatse, the Kumbum Stupa at Gyantse.

Drive past the beautiful Turquoise Lake. This path gives you a glimpse of both the Tibetan and Nepali culture. We'll pass small Tibetan settlements, nomadic herdsmen wandering across the wide arid plains and awe-inspiring mountain peaks. Equally as fascinating is the wealth of cultural interest we will have plenty of opportunity to explore this side of Tibet, both in Lhasa and the other towns we pass through on our journey.

Itinerary Overview

  • Day  01 - Arrival at the Tribuwan International Airport in Kathmandu (1,345m). Overnight at a hotel.
  • Day  02 - Pre-trip meeting and sightseeing around the Kathmandu valley. Overnight at a hotel.
  • Day 03 - Drive from Kathmandu to Zhangmu and onto Nyalam (3,750m)- 147 km/6 hrs. Overnight at a hotel.
  • Day 04 - Drive from Nylam to Lhatse (4,350m)- 210 km/5 hrs. Overnight at a hotel.
  • Day 05 - Drive to Xigatse (3,900m) via sakya monastery, 205 km/4 hrs. Overnight at a hotel.
  • Day 06 - Drive to Gyantse (3,900m)- 95 km/2 hrs. Overnight at a hotel.
  • Day 07 - Drive to Lhasa (3,650m) via the yamdrok Tso- 305 km/6 hrs. Overnight at a hotel.
  • Day 08 - Guided Tour in Lhasa. Overnight at a hotel.
  • Day 09 - Guided Tour in Lhasa. Overnight at a hotel.
  • Day 10 - Flight from Lhasa to Kathmandu. Overnight at a hotel.
  • Day 11 - Leisure day in Kathmandu. Overnight at a hotel.
  • Day 12 - Transfer to the airport for your final flight departure

Trip Detail at-a-Glance

Trip Code: ATH325
Best Season: March to November
Country Visited: Tibet
Trip Start: Kathmandu
Trip Ends: Kathmandu
Destination: Lhatse, Gyantse and Lhasa
Trip Route: Kathmandu-Nyalam-Lhatse- Gyantse-Lhasa-Kathmandu
Trip Style: Guided Tour
Activity: Sightseeing and Cultural Tour, Overland Tour
Max. Altitude:
5,050 m /16564 ft
Group Size: Min. 1 pax pax
Activity Per Day: Approximately 4 to 6 hrs of guided tour per day
Trip Category: Tibet Tour
Trip Highlight
  • Kathmandu City tour
  • Scenic drives Kathmandu - Nepal/China Friendship Bridge – Nyalam
  • Scenic drive crossing over Gyatchu-la pass at 5,220m
  • Step inside and experience life as the “mountain people” live, in the roof of the world
  • Sightseeing tour in Lhasa
  • Scenic flight from Lhasa to Kathmandu

Day 01- Arrival in Kathmandu airport (1345meters).
Our airport representative will be receiving you at Tribhuvan International airport, Kathmandu, displaying your name on Team On's  BIG BOARD. You will be then transffered to your hotel in our vehicle. Overnight at Hotel.
 

Day 02- Pre-trip Meeting and Sightseeing around Kathmandu valley.
In the morning, after breakfast, At around 8am, we host a pre-trip meeting at your hotel in Kathmandu and introduce your trek leader/guide. Please seek this opportunity to ask questions about your trek. We will also supply you with our trek Duffel Bag, T-shirt and a Cap. For the meeting, please make sure you bring passport, three copies of passport-size photos, and a readable copy of your travel insurance policy. During this meeting, please clear the due balance, if any, and sign the legally binding trip form as well as the non-liability disclaimer. Please inform us in advance if you will be arriving late and therefore are unable to attend the pre-trip meeting.

After the Pre-Trip meeting and breakfast, your sightseeing trip will start at 9.45 AM in the morning. We provide a private vehicle and professional tour guide. We visit Boudhnath Stupa, one of the biggest Buddhist shrines in the world, where we observe Buddhist monks in prayer in the monasteries surrounding the stupa. After Boudhnath Stupa we visit Pashupatinath, the most famous Hindu temple in the country, located on the banks of the holy Bagmati River. Here we see Hindu holy men (sadhus) meditating, pilgrims bathing and occasionally funeral pyres burning on the ghats. We also visit Bhaktapur Durbar Square, which is a collection of pagoda and shikhara – style temples grouped around a fifty-five-window palace of brick and wood. The attraction of the Bhaktapur Durbar Square are the the Lion gate, the Golden gate, the Palace of fifty five windows, art galleries, the Statue of King Bhupatindra Malla.

The rest of our time in Kathmandu is free for further exploration and some last-minute shopping in Thamel area near by your hotel. Later we will collect Tibet Visa and Travelling permit. Overnight at Hotel. 
 

Day 03 - Drive from Kathmandu to Zhangmu and onto Nyalam (3,750m)- 147 km/6 hrs.
Today, we wake up little early morning and take pack breakfast from hotel then prepare to move border. We begin our jeep ride towards Kodari border today covering distance about 115 km. The undulating drive from Kathmandu to border is splendid due to wonderful views of Himalayan ranges from Dhulikhel, driving through different local villages, picturesque views of greenery hilly region and extreme flow of white water in Bhotekoshi river. We will make tea break in zero kilo small town (40 km) and drive further straight to Kodari. Reach border and go through immigration formalities in Nepal side, walk through the friendship bridge for Chinese Immigration & take further one & half hours switch-back drive uphill to Nyalam (3750 m.). Overnight at a guesthouse.
 

Day 04 - Drive from Nylam to Lhatse (4,350m)- 210 km/5 hrs.
Morning: after breakfast we will start easy ride up, there is the main checkpost to enter further up at Nyalam. We will be visiting Milarepa's cave enroute lies at 10 km drive from Nyalam, that is belongs to the famous Tibetan saint Milareppa, who was known as a famous Tibetan tantric and poet too. Further continuing a couple of hours drive will take us to Lablung-La (5100 m) from where you can see the magnificent view of the Himalayan range including Mt. Shisapangma, the highest mountain in Tibet.

We treat this trip as a pleasant journey passing through Tingri offering the great views of the Himalayas in the South including Mt. Everest & Choyu on clear weather days. Similarly, you will be crossing a 5220 meters high pass called "Gyatso La" today via passing through new town – New Tingri (Xegar) and continuing riding down to the fertile valley of Lhatze for overnight stay. Overnight at a hotel.
 

Day 05 - Drive to Xigatse (3,900m) via sakya monastery, 205 km/4 hrs.
A typical day riding between the villages to Shigatse, the second largest city of Tibet. The ride today is across Yulung La (4950 meters). On the way, we will also visit Sakya Monastery which is one of the largest Monastery in Tibet for Sakya sect of Buddhism, where you can see the largest book in the world in the great library which is written entirely in gold. Sakya situated 21 km off the friendship highway. Also we visit to Natang Monastery after getting close to Shigatse town (12 km ahead).

After reaching Shigatse, we will transfer you in a better hotel and relax. If interested, you can visit the "Tashilunpo Monastery", the residence or official throne of Pancen Lama built in 1447. This is a vast monastery with its own streets, housing sectors, plazas, back alleys and complex of temples and halls. Overnight at a hotel.
 

Day 06 - Drive to Gyantse (3,900m)- 95 km/2 hrs.
After visiting Tashilunpo, your drive on to Gyantse takes us through intensely agricultural, cultivated areas. Much of the gravel road is lined with poplar trees, which are a distinctly Tibetan feature. The drive on this day is just 95 km with enroute visiting Shalu Monastery. Gyantse is a stunning example of a traditional Tibetan village filled with beautiful stone farmhouses. Gyantse consist its amazing sites - Khumbum, Palkor Chode Monastery and Gyantse Dzong. Gyantse Dzong and the Khumbum are the jewels of Gyantse. Gyantse Dzong is a historical fort built in the 14th century, and overlooks Gyantse and the surrounding Nyang Chu Valley. The Kumbum rises 35km above the town, and is crowned by a golden dome. This excursion will also take you to an old castle, Kumbum and Palkhor Chode monastery. The hotel in Gyantse has good facilities, like the one in Shigatse. Overnight at a hotel.
 

Day 07 - Drive to Lhasa (3,650m) via the yamdrok Tso- 305 km/6 hrs.
Enhance your journey with much interesting towards the turquoise Lake "Yamdruk Tso". You will be crossing the high pass of "Karo La" at 5050m & the Kamba- La (4794 m) and the Yarlung River (Brahmaputra), the journey ends in Lhasa. There will be the opportunity to appreciate majestic views of Yamdrok?Tso Lake, a deep blue body of water renowned for its unique beauty. The group will also see Nazin Kang Sang glacier standing proud at 7252m. On arriving in Lhasa you may feel as though we have left Tibet and entered China, for the Chinese influence - signs, people on the street, development - is ever more pervasive. And upon reaching Lhasa itself, you will see the picture of old Tibet by the new layers of Chinese infrastructure. Lhasa is a sprawling, modern Chinese city but we will stay there for two full days to acclimatize and take in the awe-inspiring Potala and other parts of this World heritage site Elevation - 3650 metres. Overnight at a hotel.
 

Day 08 - Guided Tour in Lhasa
The journey begins with a visit to Potala palace – a UNESCO World Heritage celebrated for its priceless treasury of Buddhist artifacts and bejeweled tombs of past Dalai Lamas. Equally breathtaking are the gardens and sacred spaces of the Norbulingka, the Dalai Lama’s summer residence. We will also visit the Jokhang Temple followed by Barkhor Markets – a bustling road lined with vendors where you can sample the smells and sounds of Tibet, or browse through the Thankas, masks, prayer beads and countless other treasures inherent to Tibetan custom and tradition. Overnight at a hotel.
 

Day 09 - Guided Tour in Lhasa
We continue our city tour with Sera Monastery, accompanied with our experienced tour guide. Sera is an exceptional space; its white-washed walls and golden roofs speak of Tibetan Buddhism’s ancient wisdom and tranquility. The group will then move to Drepung Monastery, which was built in 14th century and was home to over 10,000 monks. Drepung was also the educational center for the lineage of Dalai Lamas, and is famed for attracting tens of thousands of pilgrims for its Thanka festival. Drepung has a poignant presence in the spiritual life of Tibetans, and is the most cherished of all Tibet’s monasteries. Overnight in Lhasa. Overnight at a hotel.
 

Day 10 - Flight from Lhasa to Kathmandu
Early morning drive to Gongar airport for departure flight to Kathmandu. Overnight at hotel.

Day 11 - Leisure day in Kathmandu
You have the option to extend your trip to continue onto Chitwan jungle safari, rafting adventure, Kathmandu valley shopping tour, scenic Everest flight, mountain biking and other activities. In the evening we will have a farewell dinner in a traditional Nepalese restaurant with cultural performances. (Your guide(s) and an office staff will accompany you). Overnight at a hotel in Kathmandu.
 

(Breakfast and Farewell Dinner Included)

Day 12 - Transfer to the airport for your final flight departure
The trip concludes – our airport representative will drop you to Kathmandu’s Tribhuwan International Airport for your flight departure from Nepal.
 

Cost Includes

  • Pick up from and drop off at the hotel and the airport on a private tourist vehicle.
  • Twin sharing accommodation in a threestar hotel in Kathmandu; Breakfast included (4 nights).
  • Tibetan-standard two-star hotel accommodation (mostly twin-sharing room) in Lhasa, Gyantse, Shigatse with basic guesthouse accommodation for rest of the town in Tibet.
  • Lhasa to Kathmandu airfare and airport departure tax.
  • Surface transportation to and from Kathmandu on private tourist vehicle.
  • Guided city tour in Kathmandu on a private vehicle.
  • Sightseeing/monument entrance fees in Kathmandu (on Day 02).
  • Government-licensed English-speaking Tibetan tour guide.
  • Tourist Van or Land cruisers (4WD, 4500 model) during the tour in Tibet
  • The required number of ground staff for the tour like helpers and drivers.
  • Food, accommodation, salary, insurance, equipment and medicine for our ground staff.
  • A down jacket and a sleeping bag provided by us (which needs to be returned after trip completion).
  • Farewell dinner in typical Nepali Restaurant with cultural dance show on second last day .
  • Tibet entry permission, Chinese visa and monastery entry fees.
  • All government taxes, vat and Tourist service charges
  • All official expenses.

Please Note

  • USD 460 per person, if you want to upgrade to five star hotel accommodation in Kathmandu and best possible accommodation in Tibet.

Cost Does not Include

  • International airfare and airport departure tax.
  • Travel insurance which covers emergency Rescue and Evacuation. (See the travel insurance page)
  • Nepal entry visa –  you can obtain a visa easily upon your arrival at the Tribhuwan International Airport in Kathmandu. (Tourist Visa with Multiple Entries for 15 days can be obtained by paying US $ 25 or equivalent foreign currency. Similarly, Tourist Visa with Multiple Entries for 30 days and 90 days can be obtained by paying US $40 and $ 100 respectively. Please bring 2 copies of passport size photos).
  • Internet and telephone calls.
  • Lunch and dinner for the entire trip – about USD 15 to 20 per person per day.
  • Item of Personal nature like alcohol, cold drinks and laundry.
  • Personal clothing and equipment.
  • Tips for Guide, Porter and Driver. (Tipping is expected)
  • Others expenses not mentioned in the Price Includes section.

We are affiliated with

P.O. Box No.:20422
Street Adress
Kupondole,Lalitpur. Nepal
Ph: +977 01 5555442
Fax:+977 01 5528420
Email: info@onhimalayas.com