14 Nights 15 Days Nepal & Tibet program

01 / THE EXPERIENCE

Discover the journey

Overview Ideal for travellers looking for tours & treks. Confirm trip pace, inclusions and seasonal suitability with the provider.

02 / WHY GO

The memorable moments

DAY PROGRAM ACCOMODATION Meal 1 Arrive in Kathmandu Hotel Malla [B/-/-] 2 In Kathmandu Hotel Malla [B/-/-] 3 In Kathmandu Hotel Malla [B/-/-] 4 Fly to Pokhara Water front Resort [B/-/-] 5 In Pokhara Water front Resort [B/-/-] 6 Fly back to Kathmandu and free Hotel Malla [B/-/-] 7 Fly to Lhasa Hotel Kyichu [B/-/-] 8 In Lhasa Hotel Kyichu [B/-/-] 9 In Lhasa Hotel Kyichu [B/-/-] 10 Drive to Shigatse Hotel Mansarovar [B/L/D] 11 Drive to Shegar Hotel Shanghai Chomulangma [B/L/D] 12 Drvie to Rongbuk, Visit EBC and back to Rongbuk Hotel Rongbuk [B/L/D] 13 Drive to Kodari The Last Resort [B/L/D] 14 Drive to Kathmandu Hotel Malla [B/-/-] 15 Final Departure

03 / YOUR ROUTE

Journey at a glance

Day Day 1:: Arrive in Kathmandu — Meet and assisted by our airport representative and transfer to Hotel. Overnight at Hotel Malla Day Day 2:: In Kathmandu — Visit Kathmandu city, Swyambhunath stupa, and Patan durbar square. Kathmandu City Known as Kantipur, is the capital of the Kingdom of Nepal. Here you will visit the temple of the Living Goddess, who acknowledges the greetings of the devotees from the balcony of her temple residence. Kasthamandap – the source of the name Kathmandu and supposed to be made from the timber of a single tree and Durbar Square with its array of temples overlooked by the Hanuman Dhoka Palace, the ancient place of the Nepalese Royalty. Swayambhunath Located approximately 4 km/2.5 miles, the Buddhist stupa is said to be 2000 years old, The stupa which forms the main structure is composed of a solid hemisphere of brick and earth supporting a lofty conical spire capped by a pinnacle of copper gilt. Painted on the four-sided base of the spire are the all-seeing eyes of Lord Buddha. This hill is a mosaic of small Chaityas and Pagodas temples. Patan: 5 km / 3 miles away from Kathmandu city. Patan also known as Lalitpur, is the city of fine arts, enclosed within 4 stupas said to be built in the 3rd century AD, by Emperor Ashoka. You will see the Durbar Square, the Patan Durbar which houses a bronze collection, the Krishna Temple built by King Siddhi Narsingh Malla, Hiranya Varna Mahavihar, and Mahaboudha Temple. A trip to The Tibetan Refugee Camp and the Handicraft Centre will also be done while visiting Patan, where you will witness the hand-weaving of Tibetan carpets and the molding of metal statues. Overnight at Hotel Malla Day Day 3:: In Kathmandu — Visit Pashupatinath Temple, Boudhanath Stupa, and Bhaktapur durbar square Pashupatinath Situated 5 Kilometers east of Kathmandu city, Pashupatinath temple is one of the holiest Hindu temples dedicated to Lord Shiva. Situated amidst a lush green natural setting on the bank of the sacred Baghmati River, the temple built in pagoda style has a gilded roof and richly carved silver doors. Visitors will be permitted to view the temple from the east bank of Rivers Baghmati, entrance to the temple being strictly forbidden to all non-Hindus. Pashupatinath is the center of the annual pilgrimage on the day of Shivaratri which falls in February / March. Behind the temples are the cremation grounds. Boudhanath stupa, eight kilometers east of Kathmandu City is one of the biggest in the world of its kind. It stands with four pairs of eyes in the four cardinal directions keeping watch for righteous behavior and human prosperity. This Buddhist stupa was built by King Man Dev at the advice of Goddess Mani Jogini. It is built on an octagonal base inset with prayer wheels. The shrine is ringed by houses of Lamas or Buddhist priests. Bhaktapur: - is the third major city in the Kathmandu Valley, and we will visit its Durbar Square, which, although larger than Kathmandu’s has fewer temples due to an earthquake in 1934. We also visit the Nyatapola Temple, which is at 98ff. height is not only the highest temple in the valley but also one of the best examples of traditional Nepali architecture. A major German-funded project brought pavements and sewers, but Bhaktapur is still the most distinctly medieval of the three cities. The main occupations are weaving, pottery, and fanning, and the houses are traditionally of brick with intricate wood carving for decoration. We will spend some exploring this well-preserved medieval city on foot and drive to Changu Narayan Temple. This is the oldest Hindu temple in Nepal Overnight at Hotel Malla Day Day 4:: Fly to Pokhara — Today you will be transferred to the airport for your onward flight to Pokhara which takes approximately 30 Minutes. Visit Peace Pagoda and Boat ride in the evening. Pokhara has mesmerized visitors from all over the world with the rare combinations of snow-clad peaks and snow-fed lakes and rivers. It is the starting point for many of Nepal’s most popular trekking and rafting destinations. The serenity of the Phewa Lake accompanied by the grandeur of Machhapuchhre creates an ambiance of peace and magic. Pokhara is home to dense forests, gushing rivers, lucid lakes, and the world-famous view of the Himalayas. World Peace Pagoda, a massive Buddhist stupa is situated on the top of a hill on the southern shore of Phewa Lake. Besides being an impressive sight in itself, the shrine is a great vantage point that offers spectacular views of the Annapurna range, Phewa Lake, and Pokhara City. Evening: Enjoy a boat ride on Phewa Lake. Phewa Lake: Sightseeing of Phewa Lake (one-hour boat ride). The lake near the city is Phewa Lake with an island temple dedicated to Goddess Barahi in the middle its serene water reflects the Annapurna range and a nicely preserved forest on the adjoining southern slope, this legendary second largest lake of Nepal remains a major source of attraction for the visiting tourists. Overnight at Waterfront Resort Day Day 5:: In Pokhara — Visit Sarangkot in the morning then sightseeing at International Mountain Museum, Tibetan Refugee Camp, Davi’s Fall, and Bindebasini Temple. Sarangkot: Sarangkot is a very famous hill station for sunrise and sunset view. We get to see the best view of the Annapurna Himalaya from Sarangkot and it is almost a religious experience. From here, you can see a panoramic sweep of Himalayan peaks, from Dhaulagiri (8167m) in the west to the perfect pyramid of Machhapuchhare (6997m) and the rounded peak of Annapurna II (7937m) in the east. At dawn and dusk, the sun picks out the peaks in brilliant colors. International Mountain Museum situated in Pokhara was opened on February 5, 2004. The Museum is spread over a total floor area of 4,242 sq meters on 12.5 acres of land. The museum contains three main exhibition halls - the Hall of Great Himalayas, the Hall of Fame, and the Hall of World Mountains. It also contains models of famous peaks, mannequins of famous mountaineers, the culture, and lifestyle of mountain people, flora, and fauna including geology. The museum has been built with the theme of man, mountains, and mountaineering. The museum also has model Nepali houses constructed on its premises. Tibetan Refugee Camp: Tashi Palkhiel Tibetan Refugee Camp was established in 1962 in cooperation with the Swiss Development Corporation and the government of Nepal. The camp in Pokhara looks like a small Tibet. The Tibetan people living here keep themselves busy by producing and trading woolen carpets and other handicraft items. They also run souvenir shops around the lakeside. Some of them work like hawkers selling souvenirs at bargaining prices. Davis Fall: It is the most famous waterfall in Pokhara, which comes to its gushing best just before disappearing underground. The water flowing in this fall comes from Phewa Lake and the fall is worth visiting during the rainy seasons as it possesses its maximum velocity. Bindebashini Temple: This is one of the oldest temples in Pokhara. Legend says that when Pokhara was a part of the Kaski Kingdom, the main deity of the temple, Goddess Durga, was brought from India. Apart from the peace and tranquility that can be felt in this region, the premises of the temple offers a good view of the Himalayas on a clear day. The temple is in the area of the Bazaar; hence, a journey of the old bazaar can be combined with a visit to the temple. Overnight at Waterfront Resort Day Day 6:: Fly back to Kathmandu and free — Today you will be transferred to the airport for your flight to Kathmandu which is approximately 30 minutes flight. Overnight at Hotel Malla Day Day 7:: Fly to Lhasa (Approx. 1-hour flight) — Meet and assist us at the airport by our representative. Transfer to the hotel. Free day for independent activities. Lhasa: Lhasa, the heart and soul of Tibet, is a city of wonders. Centuries-long abode of the Dalai Lamas an object of devout pilgrimage is still a city of wonders. Despite the large-scale encroachments of Chinese influence. The chief goal of travelers to Tibet is of Lhasa must rank as one of the most enigmatic cities in the world and it is the focal point and spiritual heart of the nation. The visits to Potala Palace, Norbulingka, Sera Monastery, Drepung Monastery, Jokhang Temple, and Barkhor Market would be an awesome experience. Overnight at Hotel Kyichu Day Day 8:: In Lhasa — Visit Potala Palace, Norbulinka, Jokhang, and Barkhor market Potala: Palace has been the focus of travelers for centuries. It is the cardinal landmark and a structure of massive proportion. This symbol of Tibet, an architectural Gem built in the colossal monastic style of Central Tibet by Gyelwa Ngapa the fifth Dalai Lama, in the 17th century, stands 300m above the valley atop the hill called Marpo Ri. These thousand rooms in Potala date from 1645 when the fifth Dalai Lama began erecting a palace that would serve as a sacred and administrative center. It served many succeeding Dalai Lamas and as one of Tibet’s most impressive and enduring monuments, the Chinese Army of Red Guards protected it during the Cultural Revolution. As a result, many of its chapels and treasures are intact, virtually unchanged since the 17th century. Norbulingka: Norbulinka is the summer palace of His Holiness Dalai Lama. The 8th Dalai Lama designated it as a summer retreat but the majority of the buildings were not erected until the reigns of 13th and 14th Dalai Lamas. Every year as the chill air warmed, the Dalai Lama would leave Potala in a grand procession for six months of residence in the Norbulingkha. It is worth a visit and the park is a great place to be at festival times and public Holidays. During the seventh Lunar month of every year, the Norbulingkha is crowded with picnickers for the Shotgun Festival. Jokhang Temple: The oldest and the most revered religious structure in Tibet, it dates back to 639 to 647, construction was initiated by King Songsten Gampo to house a Buddha image Akshobhya brought to Tibet by his Nepalese wife. But now, the main statue in this temple is of the Sakyamuni, which was a gift from his Chinese wife Won Cheng in 641 A.D to King Songsten Gampo. The statue of Akshobhya has been switched to Romoche. Pilgrims from all over Tibet come to worship here and prostrate themselves at full length in front of the main doors of the temple. It is truly a moving and unrivaled experience to witness such a sight and more so to join them in their pilgrimage around the temple. Barkhor Market: The word Barkhor refers to the middle of the three concentric holy circuits around the Jokhang. The Barkhor Circuit runs through the heart of the old city where life has changed little down the centuries and it gives you a curious sensation of having slipped through time into a medieval carnival. It is an area unrivaled in Tibet for its fascinating combination of deep religiosity and pushes – and – shoves market economics. This is both the spiritual heart of the holy city and the main commercial district being the center of the Tibetan capital's trade for centuries. Overnight at Hotel Kyichu Day Day 9:: In Lhasa — Visit Drepung Monastery and Sera Monastery Drepung Monastery: About 8km to the west of central Lhasa, Drepung, one of the world’s largest monasteries was built in 1416 by Jamyang Choje a pupil of Tshong Khapa, the founder of the Gelugpa Sect. Drepung means “heaps of rice” and the fertility of its fields supported a monastic community that before 1959, ranked as Tibet’s largest monastery with 7,770 monks. For over 500 years Drepung served as the major pillar of the theocratic state, serving as the main political headquarters for the Gelugpa sect of Tibetan Buddhism. It also served as the residence of the Dalai Lamas until the Potala Palace was constructed in 1645. Suffering only minor damage during the Cultural Revolution Drepung has plenty of historical relics, Buddhist scriptures, and arts. Sera Monastery: 5km North of Lhasa, its setting is one of the prettiest in Lhasa, hugging the ridge that forms the Northern wall of the Kyi Chu Valley. Founded in 1419 by Sakya Yeshe, a disciple of Tsongkhapa, belonging to the Gelugpa sect, and is one of the three great monasteries of Tibet, the other two being Drepung & Ganden. In its heyday, Sera hosted a huge monastic population and five colleges. Like Drepung, the colleges in Sera specialized in: Sera Me in fundamental precepts of Buddhism, Sera Je in the instruction of itinerant monks, and Sera Ngagpa in Tantric studies Overnight at Hotel Kyichu Day Day 10: : Drive to Shigatse en route Gyantse (Approx. a 6-7 hours drive) — Visit Pelkhor Chode Monastery and Kumbum stupa in Gyantse Drive to Gyantse (254 km southwest of Lhasa) via Turquoise Lake. Drive through the Kamba La pass with a good view of the lake. Gyantse is the third most important city and is the least Chinese-influenced town in Tibet. The main site in Gyantse is the Kumbum and the Pelkor Chode monastery. Pelkor Chode Monastery The monastery was founded in 1418. The monastery compound in the far north of the town of Gyantse, 30 km southwest of Shigatse, which houses both Pelkor Chode Monastery and the Kumbum Stupa, once contained 15 Monasteries. Little remains of them today. They were a particularly interesting collection, however, in that they brought together three different orders of Tibetan Buddhism in one compound. It was once a multidenominational complex of monasteries. Today much of the sprawling courtyard, enclosed by walls that cling to the hills backing onto the monastery, is bare and the remaining structures are attended by Geluga monks. The Kumbum Stupa: It is one of the most revered and unusual architectural masterpieces. It was built in 1440 and is in the shape of a 108-sided mandala. Kumbum means 10,000 images. The Stupa raises over four symmetrical floors and is surmounted by a gold dome. The dome rises like a crown over four sets of eyes that gazes serenely out in the cardinal directions of the compass. It opens 8 doors, which are decorated with relief sculptures of lively flying dragons, running lions, and walking elephants. It is a masterpiece of the joint efforts of the Nepalese, Tibetan, and Chinese. Later, drive to Shigatse: It is the second largest city in Tibet and the capital of the traditional Tibetan province of Tsang. Overnight at Hotel Mansarovar Day Day 11:: Drive to Shegar (Approx. 6 hours drive) — After breakfast, visit Tashilunpo monastery and drive to Shegar. On the way visit Sakya Monastery. Tashilunpo Monastery: It was founded in 1447 by the first Dalai Lama. This monastery is one of the few monasteries in Tibet that weathered the stormy seas of the Cultural Revolution. This monastery houses the Maitreya Buddha statue weighing 275 Kg made of gold and 26 meters in height. Sakya Monastery: It was built in 1073 by Khon Khonchog Gyalpo. It is located in the city of Sakya, in the Tibetan region of Tsang, about one hundred miles north of the border between Tibet and Nepal. The region is unique for its gray (kya) earth (sa), hence the name Sakya. From 1073 until 1959, this monastery served as the seat of the Sakya Order and of the Sakya Trizins who are the spiritual leaders of the order. It was built at an auspicious location prophesied by the great Indian master Atisha, who foresaw that emanation of Mahakala, Manjushri, Vajrapani, and Avalokiteshvara would take birth at this place and perform great activities for the benefit of the Dharma and all beings. Shegar [New Tingri]: It’s a good place to spend the night before heading off to Everest Base Camp (whose access road is only 12km further on). Shegar is also a possible last stop before the Nepal border, though most travelers spend the night at Tingri, which provides views of Everest. Overnight at Hotel Shanghai Chomulangma Day Day 12:: Drive to Rongbuk, Excursion to EBC, and back to Rongbuk — Rongbuk to Everest Base Camp: It is just over a two hr (8km) each-way walk from Rongbuk Monastery to the Base Camp. Vehicles do the trip in around 10 to 15 minutes. Above Rongbuk, the valley expands into a large glacial outwash plain. There is a shortcut from behind the big Chorten at the Monastery which cuts through a meadow and then past a superbly photogenic complex of ruins called Rong Chung. Until the Communist takeover, this was a thriving meditation retreat. The road climbs up through a jumble of boulders and glacial debris favoring the left side of the valley. Passing the recently rebuilt Sherab Choling Hermitage (signposted as the Guru Rinpoche Monastery) the road runs into the terminal moraine of the Rongbuk Glacier, mounds of stone and silt barricading the valley. You may see herds of deer and yak on the hillsides. It is still 30 Min from here to Base Camp. The road snakes through the moraine to reach a sandy plain. Overnight at Hotel Rongbuk Day Day 13: : Drive to Kodari — Kodari: This is the border point between Nepal and the Tibetan Region of the Peopl’e Republic of China. It is a beautiful drive through the countryside. On this road, one can see beautiful mountains, snow-fed rivers, natural hot springs, village life, etc. Overnight at ‘The Last Resort Day Day 14: : Drive to Kathmandu (Approx. a 5-6 hours drive) — Drive From Zhangmu, it’s a short drive to the Friendship Bridge which spans the Bhote Kosi River and marks the Chinese - Nepalese border where you part with your Tibetan guide and driver and walk to Nepalese Immigration Control in Kodari where you will be met by your Nepalese staff. After completing the re-entry formalities you continue the drive to Kathmandu which, depending on road and weather conditions, should take about 5-6 hours. Overnight at Hotel Malla Day Day 15: : Final Departure — Transfer you to the airport for your onward journey.

YOUR DAY-BY-DAY ROUTE

Day-by-day itinerary

Day 1: Arrive in Kathmandu — Meet and assisted by our airport representative and transfer to Hotel.+