Tibet Explore

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Trip Overview of Tibet Explore

Tibet- Shangri-La, the land of snows, the roof of the World. Tibet is a land of ancient Buddhist culture having awesome landscapes, artistic monasteries and century’s old caravan trails. Tibet which is an autonomous region of China, lies on a plateau at an average elevation of 4,000 m. It is bounded the Kunlun mountains to the north and the Himalayan to the south. Tibet covers an area of 1.2 million sq. km, and has a population of 2.3 million. Tibet is a sacred land of myths and mysteries inhabited by the ever smiling people has not only exerted magnetic spell upon travelers for centuries but also spies, missionaries, scholars, geographers, mystics, soldiers and cranks etc, yet, few intrepid serious and determined have been able to make it.

Tibet being extremely remote and isolated by the most formidable Himalayan ranges, a fascinating world of timeless splendor, unique tradition and breathtaking scenery awaits all travelers to the roof of the world. A fully supported expedition in Tibet and Nepal, riding from the ancient capital of Lhasa across Tibet via base of the Mount Everest Base Camp and then on into the Nepal and the Kathmandu valley on the second-longest downhill (two and a half days) in the world. This trip, with accommodations in local teahouses and camp, offers those bikers with an adventurous spirit to live up close with the mysterious nomadic people of Tibet and experience this vast and unique landscape on a more personal level.

This expedition allows time for exploring many of Tibet’s most fascinating cities and monasteries and gives the rider the opportunity to ride the best and most scenic portions of the friendship highway that links these two ancient Himalayan Kingdoms. Support vehicles carry all equipment (and riders who may need a rest on the climbs!) giving us the freedom to accommodate participants of many different levels of riding skills.

Detail itinerary of Tibet Explore

  • DAY 01

    ARRIVAL TSETANG

    Today you will take flight by yourselves to the Tibet Autonomous Region (TAR). Your guide will meet you at Gongga airport and accompany you to check in the best hotel in Tsetang. O/N in Tsetang.

  • DAY 02

    TSETANG

    In the morning, you will be accompanied to visit the first Palace in Tibet history, Yumbu Lakang, and the Holy Land of Buddhists in Tibet, the Trandruk Monastery. You will take the ferryboat across the highest river of the world, the Yarlong Tsangpo River to visit the Samye Monastery, which is the first formal monastery that established triratna, referring to the Buddha, the Dharma and the Sangha, or Buddhist priesthood. O/N in Tsetang.

  • DAY 03

    TSETANG LHASA

    This morning drive to Lhasa. En route visit Mindroling Monastery. O/N in Lhasa

  • DAY 04

    LHASA

    You will have a full day tour in Lhasa. The highlight today is the Magnificent Potala, the winter palace of the Dalai Lama; the place where the former great Dalai Lama's stupas are being kept; once the seat of the Tibetan government. With a history of over 1,300 years, the Potala Palace is the treasure of Tibetan religion and culture, storing plenty of figures of the Buddha, murals, sutras etc. After visiting Potala Palace, you will visit one of the three largest monasteries of Gelugpa, the Sera Monastery, and Dalai Lama's summer palace of, the treasure Park of Tibet, the Norbulingka. After the day's sightseeing, you will be offered an insight into the daily life of the Tibetan people, you may also be served tea in their home. O/N in Lhasa

  • DAY 05

    LHASA - GANDEN MONASTERY - LHASA

    Drive to visit the earliest built Monastery of Gelugpa, Ganden Monastery. The monastery has extremely delicate and fine murals and sculptures and its thangkas are special and similar with embroidery of south China. The most important and valuable arts left are the paintings of Buddha and Jataka stories drawn by the First Panchen Lama. After visiting to the Monastery, your guide will transfer you back to Lhasa to visit the Tibet Museum, which is the first museum in Tibet with modern functions, where you will have a glimpse of the combination of the traditional Tibetan architectural style and the modern style. The museum stores abundant rare items, from the prehistorically cultural relics, all kinds of Buddha and Bodhisattva figures, hand-written cultural books of past times, to various thangkas, musical and religious instruments, Tibetan handcrafts, etc. Here you will find a wonderful Tibet in one museum. O/N in Lhasa

  • DAY 06

    LHASA

    In the morning, you will visit the No. 1 Monastery of Gelugpa, Drepung Monastery, which is the richest monastery ever in Tibet, and is still active today. Then you will be guided to visit the spiritual center of Tibet, the Jokhang Temple, where you might meet many pilgrims, who even prostrate by full length to the threshold of the temple. You will visit the sacred pilgrim path, the oldest street in Lhasa, the Barkhor Street, which is the place where Tibetan culture, economy, religion and arts assemble. In the afternoon, you can pay a visit to the Tibetan Traditional Hospital, where you will see how the Tibetan doctors treat patients in their traditional ways, and in its library, you will find massive medical sutras and medical thangkas. The Lhasa Carpet Factory is also a place you should not miss. The carpets there are all hand-made on old-styled vertical looms in traditional processes. O/N in Lhasa

  • DAY 07

    LHASA - GYANGTSE

    In the morning, your guide and driver will accompany you to Gyangtse, a town lying to the south of Lhasa city. On the way there, you will visit one of the holiest lakes in Tibet, a pilgrimage site, the Yamdrok Yumtso Lake, which is compared as 'the fairyland in heaven' by Tibetans. Upon arrival in Gyantse, check in to hotel and rest. O/N in Gyantse.

  • DAY 08

    GYANTSE - SHIGATSE

    Today, you will visit a special Monastery, the Palkhor Monastery, the only monastery that houses monks from different orders (Gelugpa, Sakyapa and Kahdampa) in harmony. Palkhor also features its Bodhi stupa, or Kumbum, which consists of hundreds of chapels in layers, housing about a hundred thousand images of Buddha, so it is called Myriad Buddha's Stupa as well. After that visiting, you will take a stroll through Gyangtse Old Street. After lunch, you will take jeep today to the second largest city of Tibet, Shigatse. En route visit Shalmu Monastery. O/N in Shigatse.

  • DAY 09

    SHIGATSE:

    You will visit the seat of Panchen Lama, the Tashilunpo Monastery. Each year, there is a display of a gigantic thangkas of Buddha will on its Thangka Wall. Beside the trove of thangkas, its murals and other religious and artistic treasures certainly will impose an indelible impression upon visitors. You will also pay a visit to the New Palace of Panchen. Stay overnight in the best hotel there. O/N in Shigatse.

  • DAY 10

    SHIGATSE - TINGRI

    In Shigatse, you will visit the seat of Panchen Lama, the Tashilunpo Monastery. Each year, there is a display of a gigantic thangkas of Buddha will on its Thangka Wall. Beside the trove of thangkas, its murals and other religious and artistic treasures certainly will impose an indelible impression upon visitors. You will also pay a visit to the New Palace of Panchen. Continue to drive to the south. On the way, visit 'Second Dunhuang', the Sakya Monastery, which holds plenty of murals and statues of Yuan Dynasty and has the largest collection of Buddhist sutras in China. Arrive in Dingri and stay in the best hotel. O/N in Tingri.

  • DAY 11

    TINGRI - RONGBUCK-4980m (BREAKFAST)

    From Tingri, The Everest access road turns off the Friendship Highway around five km west of Shegar check point shortly after km market 494, from which point it winds and climbs its way 63 km to Rongbuk Monastery and on to base camp. Although there were probably monastic settlements in the area for several hundred years, Rongbuk Monastery is fairly recent. It was established in 1902 by a Nyingmapa Lama. Perhaps not of great antiquity, it can at least lay claim to being the highest monastery in Tibet and thus the world, at 4980 meters. There were once 500 monks and nums living here but local reports that the number is now only 16. Accommodation and very basic food are available at the monastery. The rooms are comfortable, heated with stoves. O/N in Rongbuk.

  • DAY 12

    RONGBUCK EBC SHEGAR-4200m (BREAKFAST)

    Drive to Everest Base Camp from Rongbuck Monastery. The base camp is a dry, barren place, but the views of Everest more than make up for this. Have a photo taken a the base camp marker which disappointingly does not even mention the world Everest. It reads Mt Qomolangma Base Camp and the Chinese below in indicates 5200 metres above the sea level. On a small hill to the left of the base camp marker are a couple of prayer poles. Clamber up for great views of the world's highest peak. After visit to Everest Base Camp drive to Shegar. O/N in Shegar.

  • DAY 13

    SHEGAR - ZHANGMU

    Return to Xegar and from here, itss about 8 hours drive today and probably the most spectacular day. From the barren rugged landscape of Tibet, we cross the mighty Himalayas and scenery changes to rich forests, typical of the Nepalese foothills. On a clear day, you may catch a glimpse of Everest the world's highest peak! Zhangmu is at 2500. O/N in Zhangmu.

  • DAY 14

    LEAVE ZHANGMU

    Cross the Friendship Bridge and you are back in Nepal. Another 6 hours drive brings you back to Kathmandu.

Cost includes and excludes

Check the cost inclusion and exclucion of Tibet Explore

Service Includes
  • Twin sharing different standard accommodation as per different category package with breakfast.
  • All necessary transportation by 4 WD Toyota Landcruiser.
  • Sightseeing tour as per the Program, an English speaking Guide and monastery entrance fees.
  • China/ Tibet visa fees, Tibet permit and necessary domestic and international flight as per itinerary.
Service Excludes
  • All expenses of personal Nature.
  • Nepal re-entry visa fee and airport Departure Tax
  • Charge for photography, air ticket reconfirmation fee and Insurance etc.