Tibet Overland and Everest Base Camp Trek

What is the trip about

• Trip Standard: In Hotels, Guest House and Lodge
• Tour Grade: Moderate with High altitude.
• Maximum altitude: 5,220 meters at Gyatso-la pass.
• In Tibet: 09 Nights & 10 Days
• Total Trip: 13 Nights & 14 Days.
• Season: April to November

Day 01: Arrive in Kathmandu received by Team Himalaya staff.
On arrival meet our TH staff for courtesy transfer to respective hotels in the heart of Kathmandu at Thamel area, an interesting place for shopping and having meals in one of the many world class restaurants, pubs and bakery.
Our guide will inform on details regarding trip to Tibet Overland & Everest Base Camp.

Day 02: In Kathmandu with sightseeing tour at places of interest.
Morning after breakfast at given time our city and cultural guide will guide you in and around Kathmandu at places of interest and importance, as Kathmandu Valley is full of World Heritage Sites the holy Pashupatinath temple, Bouddhanath (Little Tibet), Swayambhunath (Monkey Temple) & monasteries, ancient Kings Palaces and courtyard in Kathmandu; after an interesting sightseeing back to the hotel, preparation for the trip to Tibet Overland & Everest Base Camp.

Day 03: Fly to Lhasa 3,650 m and transfer to hotel.
Morning an hour scenic flight over the high Himalayan range with views of Mt. Everest and Mt. Makalu, on arrival at Gongor airport near Lhasa our Tibetan guide will receive then transfer to Lhasa with another hour of good drive, recently the road has been improved with tunnels to shorten the distance to Lhasa, on reaching in Lhasa transfer into best available hotels in old section of Lhasa where the traditions and culture still exists as it was for centuries back, afternoon visit the Barkhor Market near the Jorkhang Temple premises the centre of Lhasa.

Day 04-05: In Lhasa with sightseeing at places of interest.
Lhasa is at 3,600m/12,000ft and provides an ideal acclimation for the first few days, tour starts from morning till late afternoon with lunch break near or around the hotel premises, the guided tour with our expert Tibetan in Lhasa here you will be engrossed for two days with sightseeing and excursions of the Potala Palace, Norbulingkha Summer Palace, Sera and Drepung Monastery. Tour the fabled City of Lhasa.

A completely forbidden city until present times, Lhasa was a holy grail for many central Asian explorers in the past centuries, the Lhasa city has been changed and altered by the Chinese occupation and in the impact of foreign visitors, however much of the original character remains and whilst jostling through the Potala with crowds of ethnic Tibetans, it is hard not to be captivated by this magnificent culture, religion and traditions.

Visit of the great monasteries of Sera and Drepung, both of which were extensively destroyed in the Cultural Revolution but are now being rebuilt,
visit the Jokhang and the Potala Palace.

Day 06: Drive to Gyantse 3,950 m – 05 hrs.
Starting early this morning for the beautiful scenic drive to Gyantse town, the drive leads near Gongar airport, just after the bridge over the Yarlung Tsangpa River (Bhramaputra River) our route leads south east branching off from Gongar. Then the drive slowly climbs to Khamba-la at 4,800 meters with awesome views of surrounding landscapes and of the snow capped peaks and with beautiful emerald Yamdrok Tsho the Turquoise Lake, after a nice break, drive continues by the Yamdrok Tsho and through Ngartse town and then to Karo-la at 5,050 meter pass.

These area being situated in a narrow mountain gorge with amazing views of ice falls and glacier of Mt. Nzongkhangsa at 7,206 meters, after an awesome moment here drive continues for another three hours to Gyantse for the overnight stop. Gyantse town, almost a city which was until recently the third largest settlement in Tibet, in Gyantse visit Kumbum stupa built in the early 15th century and contains thousands of frescoes.
In Gyantse after Kumbum monastery visit the market as time permits in this high altitude.

Day 07: Drive to Shigatse 3,900m – 03 hrs
Morning drive continues towards Shigatse the second largest city in Tibet after Lhasa, the drive covers for about 95 k. m. The road has recently been improved from the bumpy and rutted portion. On leaving Gyantse journey begins on long straight road, with no hills to climb.

The road follows the Nyang Chu River passing through many scattered farm villages and fields and finally approaching towards Shigatse.

In Shigatse visit the very large complex of Tashilumpo monastery.
This is the traditional residence of the Panchen Lama and contains a 27m high gold plated Buddha known as Matria (the future Buddha), afternoon visit the local interesting market.

Day 08: Drive to Shegar or New Tingri 4, 350m – 05 hrs.
After a wonderful time at Shigtse, today’s drive on the highest point of this adventure over Gyatso-la pass at 5,220 meters, the drive leads on the main Kathmandu / Lhasa Friendship highway, at first the drive leads to two high passes, one at 4,500 m and 5,220 m. Driving through the town of Larze where the road to Mt.Kailash joins, after Larze the drive climbs to the highest pass at Gyatso – la. From here on downhill slope reaching at Shegar or with a new name New Tingri, Actually the main old Shegar town is further south from the main friendship highway, but most of the hotels and inns are located on the main highway. This place is also the gateway to Everest Base Camp and to Kharte (Makalu region).

Day 09: Drive to Rongbuk Monastery & Everest Base Camp.
From Shegar our route leads off from the main Nepal / China Friendship highway, on leaving Shegar driving through farm lands, villages and small town after few hours of good drive coming to a junction that leads towards Rongbuk Monastery and Kharte from here another two hours of drive brings at Rongbuk Monastery for the overnight stop, with fabulous North Face views of Mt. Everest which is really stunning from this spot.

Depending upon the time, one can reach Everest Base Camp on a horse cart within half an hour, as the motor car is not allowed within this limit, except for elderly people and kids.

Day 10: Visit Rongbuk Monastery & Everest Base Camp 5,200m.
Here at Rongbuk Gompa many hermitage retreats were introduced to the world in the 1920’s through the account of the 1st British expedition’s teams of George and Irving Mallaory and from the well-known novel Lost Horizon by James Hilton. At present most of the retreat cells are abandoned and only few small monasteries scattered at this end of the valley is in function. According to the Rimpoche of this area, the monastery was first established as a religious site around 250 to 350 years ago.

Morning options for short walk of less than 2 hours or one can take a horse cart ride or motorbike as taxis, from here through number of isolated and ruin monuments, then descending to the main road after 30 minutes walks to a fresh running stream(the local pilgrims considers as a holy water), after being on the main track the road continues on this easy wide trail coming to the ruins of Sherab Chholing, above the road from the Stupa with piles of prayers stones, with time for a visit in this old hermitage caves on route to Everest Base Camp. From continue for another hour on the gravel, rocky trail towards Everest Base Camp, at Base Camp with majestic views of North Face of Everest with Rongbuk glacier. After a great time here return back to Rongbuk for overnight stop.

Day 11: Drive to Zhangmu 2,30 m – 06 hrs.
After a memorable and with wonderful time here at Rongbuk monastery our drive continues back to join the main highway at Old Tingri, on this windswept landscapes, morning drive to Old Tingri the old trekking route to Everest Base Camp and Cho – Oyu area. After the town of Old Tingri drive reaches to the last high pass at Laylung-la 5,050 meters offering fascinating scenery of high mountains of Mt. Shsipangma, Guarishankar, Dorji Lakpa and series of other peaks that border with Nepal, from here on getting low altitude reaching at Nylam town, after a brief stop here, brings you back to the tree lines and lush vegetation, on leaving the high Tibetan plateau behind at Nylam. The raod follows the Bhote Kosi for a while through the beautiful forest of rhododendron and pines trees, the road winds down to reach at Zhangmu also know by Nepali name Khasa, the Tibetan calls Dramu, a mixture of people from Chinese, Tibetans and Nepali with full of shops and stores and restaurants, here check into best available hotels.

Day 12: Drive back to Kathmandu -05 hrs.
Morning at 9 a.m. as Beijing Standard Time which is 2 hrs 15 minutes ahead than Nepali Standard Time, morning through immigration and custom formalities at Zhangmu border post, then continue with a short drive to the Friendship Bridge.

From here a few minutes’ walk reaches to Nepal Border at Kodari the frontier post, at Kodari with immigration formalities then a nice pleasant drive brings you back to Kathmandu after almost five hours of scenic drive.

Day 13: In Kathmandu with sightseeing tour at places of interest.
We have reserved this day to relax and enjoy your last day in Kathmandu with another sightseeing tour in and around Kathmandu at places of interest and importance, as Kathmandu Valley is full of World Heritage Sites the holy Pashupatinath temple, Bouddhanath (Little Tibet), Swayambhunath (Monkey Temple) & monasteries, ancient Kings Palaces and courtyard in Kathmandu; after an interesting sightseeing back to hotel.

Day 14: International departure homeward bound.
Last day in Nepal with wonderful memorable time in Nepal and Tibet with a trip to Tibet Overland & Everest Base Camp with Team Himalaya and transfer to airport for the flight back home or to respective destination.