7 Days Nepal & Tibet 06 Nights/ 07 Days
A journey shaped by the landscapes, people and experiences of Nepal.
Offered by Journey DMC
NEPAL · TRAVEL EXPERIENCES
Discover the journey
Nepal boasts eight of the world's tallest mountains and the world's oldest Hindu and Buddhist sites. While Kathmandu Valley is made of three ancient cities filled with enchanting medieval palaces, pagodas, temples, statues and stupas, the rest of the kingdom offers unparalleled adventure options with abundance in flora and fauna. As for its people - From the Tharus that share their land with the splendid Asian tuskers in the plains to the brave Yak herders of Dolpo, they are as amazing as the land itself. Here in its tropical jungles the Royal Bengal Tiger prowls, higher up the legend of the Yeti lives on. Although modernization has set in, the quintessence of ancient Nepal remains amongst its people. Tibet Call it “The Roof of the World”, “The Forbidden City” or the “Third Pole”- so magnetic is its fame that a mere mention conjures up images of grandeur and spirituality amidst a wild and uncompromising landscape. It has the earth's highest ecosystem and is one of its last remaining wildernesses with its lush forests supporting abundant wildlife. Its many mountains feed some of Asia's most revered rivers and Mt. Kailash is the most sacred mountain in the world. Its people are some of the most resilient in the world. Through their richness and deep religious convictions, were built many fascinating monuments - Dalai Lama's summer and winter retreats, the Potala Palace and Norbulingkha are most prominent. It is one of the most fascinating places to visit in Asia.
The memorable moments
Day Date Program Accommodation 1 21-Mar-15 Arrive Kathmandu Hyatt Regency or Hotel Everest 2 22-Mar-15 In Kathmandu Hyatt Regency or Hotel Everest 3 23-Mar-15 In Kathmandu Hyatt Regency or Hotel Everest 4 24-Mar-15 Fly to Lhasa Shangri-la or Four Points by Sheraton 5 25-Mar-15 In Lhasa Shangri-la or Four Points by Sheraton 6 26-Mar-15 In Lhasa Shangri-la or Four Points by Sheraton 7 27-Mar-15 Departure
Journey at a glance
Day Day 01, March 21: Arrive in Kathmandu — Upon arrival meet & be assisted by our airport representative and transfer to the hotel as booked. Overnight at Hyatt Regency or Hotel Everest [-/-/-] Day Day 02, March 22:: In Kathmandu — Full day sightseeing tour of Kathmandu durbar square, Swoyambhunath Stupa and Patan durbar square Kathmandu, the largest city of Nepal, is the political as well as the cultural capital of the country. Like any big city, Kathmandu has seen rapid expansion in the last decade, but despite the hustle and bustle so typical of metropolitan cities, its people remain as refreshingly friendly as ever. Retaining its ancient traditions, Kathmandu is blessed by a Living Goddess and is enriched by endless ceremonial processions and events that take to the streets every now and then with throngs of devotees seeking blessings. These religious festivals are steeped in legend and are quite a spectacle with chariot processions and masked dancers often possessed by the spirits of deities. The Temple of the Living Goddess: The Kumari Devi is the most important of several living goddesses in Nepal. She is seen on the temple’s balcony regularly. Durbar Square: ‘Durbar’ means ‘palace’, and takes its name from the old Royal Palace. This is the centre of the old city, and there are a number of interesting temples including Kasthamandap, the House of Wood, which gives the city its name. Kathmandu Valley comprises the three ancient cities of Kathmandu, Patan and Bhaktapur, which were once independent states ruled by the Malla kings from the 12th to the 18th centuries. The three cities house seven UNESCO World Heritage shrines that are together listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site (Culture). The valley is also home to hundreds of other exquisite monuments, sculptures, artistic temples and magnificent art – reminders of the golden era in Nepal’s architecture. Swayambhunath Stupa also known as the Monkey Temple is a UNESCO WORLD Heritage Site. It rests on a hillock 3 km towards the western edge of Kathmandu and is one of the most important and the most sacred Buddhist shrines of Nepal. Legend has it that when Kathmandu Valley was a lake 2000 years ago, a single lotus flower grew at the center of the lake. When Saint Manjushree, the Bodhisatva drained the lake with a single slash of his sword, the lotus settled on top of a hill and magically turned into a stupa. Thus Swayambhunath is also known as a Self-Created stupa. This stupa is the most ancient and the perhaps the most enigmatic of all holy shrines in Kathmandu. The area surrounding the stupa is filled with smaller chaityas, temples, painted images of deities and numerous other religious objects. There are many small shrines with statues of Tantric and shamanistic deities, prayer wheels for the Tibetan Buddhists, Shiva lingams and a popular Hindu temple dedicated to Harati, the Goddess of smallpox and other epidemics. Later transfer to artistic city of Patan. Patan also known as Lalitpur, the city of artisans is a paradise of fine arts and one of the three cities in the Kathmandu Valley. Located 5 miles southeast from the Kathmandu City, Patan is best known for its rich cultural heritage. It is home to the valley’s finest craftsmen who have preserved such ancient techniques as the repoussé and lost wax process used to produce exquisite sculptures. The city retains much of its old charm with its narrow streets, brick houses and multitude of well-preserved Hindu temples, Buddhist monasteries (vihars) and monuments. The predominant sound in Patan is that of the tinkering of craftsmen bent over the statuettes they are shaping. As in Kathmandu, Hinduism and Buddhism have co-existed here for ages, influencing each other, and the religious harmony is exemplary. The city of Patan offers visitors the chance to see an abundance of exquisite works of religious art and architecture. Patan is enclosed within four stupas, built in the 3rd century AD by Emperor Ashoka. Each stupa is symbolic of the Buddhist Wheel of Righteousness (‘Dharma Chakra’). In the heart of Patan, amidst the Patan marketplace lays the Patan Durbar Square, an area filled with ancient palaces, pagoda temples, stone baths, Hindu and Buddhist statues, engravings and bronze cravings. The Palace of the Malla Kings is one of the highlights of Patan. The palace complex lays the stone temple of Lord Krishna, which was built in the 16th century A.D. The Royal Bath (known as 'Tushahity') is another showpiece of fine stone and bronze carving in the palace complex. Overnight at Hyatt Regency or Hotel Everest [B/-/-] Day Day 03, March 23:: In Kathmandu — Full day sightseeing tour of Bhaktapur durbar square, Pashupatinath Temple and Boudhanath Stupa with our guide. Bhaktapur: Perched on a hill at an altitude of 1,401 m, Bhaktapur or Bhadgaon, literally the ‘City of Devotees’ is a major tourist destination that takes visitors back in time. Bhaktapur lies 12 km east of the Kathmandu city on the Arniko Highway that leads to the Chinese border. Bhaktapur is still untouched by rapid urbanization and has managed to retain its brick paved roads, charming red brick houses and a way of life that goes back to medieval times. This ancient city is also famous for pottery and woodcarving amply displayed on the squares and windows respectively. The extraordinary Bhaktapur Durbar Square is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and its monuments reflect the glory days of the Malla Dynasty. Among the three durbar squares, the Bhaktapur Durbar Square, a UNESCO World Heritage Site is by far the most elegant with its large open space facing south. The extraordinary Durbar Square with its extraordinary monuments reflects the glory days of the Malla dynasty when art and architecture thrived in the three cities of the valley. The magnificent temple of Pashupatinath with its astonishing architectural beauty is situated amidst a lush green natural setting on the bank of the sacred Bagmati River. The temple built in pagoda style has gilded roof and richly carved silver doors. The temple stands as a symbol of faith, region, culture and tradition. Dedicated to the Hindu God of Destruction, Lord Shiva, this temple is regarded as the most sacred temple of all Lord Shiva temples. The richly ornamented pagoda houses the sacred linga or phallic symbol of Lord Shiva. It is listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Every year thousands of pilgrims from all over the world come to pay homage to this temple. Non-Hindu visitors are strictly prohibited to enter the temple however; they are permitted to view the temple from the east banks of the River Bagmati. Pashupatinath is also Nepal's most renowned Hindu cremation site. In the Hindu Culture, after a person is dead, his/her body is wrapped in cloth, placed on bamboo litters and brought to the cremation site where the eldest son in the family burns the body. The ashes from the dead body are collected and swept into the River Bagmati that eventually joins the Holy Ganges. Arya Ghat, is of special importance because it is here the members of the royal family were cremated. The main cremation site is Bhasmeshvar Ghat, which is the most-used cremation site in the Kathmandu Valley. Boudhanath Stupa is one of the most imposing landmarks of Kathmandu and is a center of Tibetan Buddhism. The stupa is built on a massive three level mandala style platform and is 36 meters (118 feet) in height. The base of the stupa is adorned with 108 small images of the Dhyani Amitabha Buddha and inset with prayer wheels. Thousands of pilgrims circle the stupa in a clockwise direction each day spinning the prayer wheels. It is said that each spin of a prayer wheel is the equivalent of reciting the mantra. The stupa’s massive mandala makes it one of the largest spherical stupas in Nepal. The ancient stupa is one of the largest in the world. It is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The Stupa is on the ancient trade route from Tibet that enters the Kathmandu Valley by the village of Sankhu in the northeast corner. Tibetan merchants have rested and offered prayers here for many centuries. When refugees entered Nepal from Tibet in the 1950s, many decided to live around Boudhanath. The Stupa is said to entomb the remains of a Buddhist sage, perhaps parts of the Buddha’s body (bones, teeth), or sacred texts and other ceremonial objects. Overnight at Hyatt Regency or Hotel Everest [B/-/-] Day Day 04, March 24:: Fly to Lhasa — Fly to Lhasa. Meet and assist at the airport by our representative. Check in to the hotel and rest for most of day. Lhasa, which means ‘the land of the gods’ is the heart and soul of Tibet. It is a city of wonders, the capital of the Tibet autonomous region of China. The city contains many culturally significant Tibetan Buddhist religious sites and lies in a valley next to the Lhasa River. For centuries this holy city has attracted travelers from all over the world, drawn by beautiful scenery, cultural heritage and its mysticism leaves the travelers captivated. Overnight at Hotel Shangri-la or Four Points by Sheraton [B/-/-] Day Day 05, March 25:: In Lhasa — Visit Drepung Monastery and Sera Monastery Drepung Monastery: About 8km to the west of central Lhasa, Drepung is one of the "great three" Gelukpa university monasteries of Tibet. The other two are Ganden and Sera. Seen from afar, Drepung’s grand, white construction gives the monastery the appearance of a heap of rice hence; Drepung literally means ‘heaps of rice’. The fertility of its fields supported a monastic community that before 1959, ranked as Tibet’s largest monastery with 7,770 monks. Since the 1950s, Drepung Monastery, along with its peers Ganden and Sera have lost much of their independence and spiritual credibility in the eyes of Tibetans since they operate under the close watch of the Chinese security services. 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. The Drepung Monastery houses many cultural relics, making it more beautiful and giving it more historical significance. Statues of famous celebrities in Buddhism are found on the first story of the Coqen Hall, rare sutras on the second story, and a famous conch shell on the third one. All of these add to the mystique of the monastery. Sera Monastery: 5km North of Lhasa, the Sera Monastery’s setting is one of the prettiest in Lhasa, hugging the ridge that forms the Northern wall of the Kyi Chu Valley. Founded in 1419, Sera Monastery is one of the "great three" Gelukpa university monasteries in Tibet. The other two are Ganden Monastery and Drepung Monastery. The origin of the name 'Sera' is not certain, but it may have come from the wild roses (se ra in Tibetan) surrounding the original site. In its heyday, Sera hosted a huge monastic population and five colleges. Like Drepung, the colleges in Sera specialised in: Sera Me in fundamental precepts of Buddhism, Sera Je in instruction of itinerant monks and Sera Ngagpa in Tantric studies. The monastery is magnificent, featuring a unique style quite different from other famous monasteries in Lhasa and covering an area of 114,946 square meters (28 acres). Its main buildings are the Coqen Hall, Zhacang (college) and Kamcun (dormitory). Buddhist Scriptures written in gold powder, fine statues, scent cloths and unparalleled murals can be found in these halls. The monastery is a Buddhist think-tank and lively debates on Buddhist doctrines are held here. Overnight at Hotel Shangri-la or Four Points by Sheraton [B/-/-] Day Day 06, March 26:: In Lhasa — Visit Potala palace, Norbulinka, Jokhang and Barkhor Market Potala Palace, the chief residence of the Dalai Lama since the 7th century has been the focus of the travelers for centuries. It is the cardinal landmark and a structure of massive proportion. It symbolizes Tibetan Buddhism and its role in the traditional administration of Tibet. It is an architectural gem that was built in the colossal monastic style of Central Tibet in the 7th century but rebuilt in the mid 17th century. The Tibetans themselves rarely speak of the sacred place as the "Potala", but rather as "Peak Potala" (Tse Potala), or usually as "The Peak." It stands 300m above the valley floor, atop the hill called Marpo Ri, the ‘Red Hill’. The Potala Palace is an immense structure with an interior space of about 130,000 square meters, it has thirteen stories of buildings containing 1000 rooms, 1000 shrines and about 200,000 statues that date from 1645 when the fifth Dalai Lama began erecting a palace that would serve as a sacred and administrative center. It served all the succeeding Dalai Lamas until the 14th Dalai Lama who fled to Dharamshala, India during the 1959 Tibetan Uprising. Today, the Potala Palace has been converted into a museum by the Chinese authorities. The Potala palace is one of Tibet’s most impressive and enduring monuments that was protected by the Chinese Army of Red Guards during the Cultural Revolution. As a result many of its chapels and treasures are intact, virtually unchanged since the 17th century. It was listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1994. Norbulingka: Built 100 years after the Potala palace, Norbulingka means ‘Treasure Park’ in Tibetan and is situated in the western suburb of Lhasa City, on the bank of the Kyichu River, about one kilometer southwest of the Potala Palace. It is the biggest man-made garden in Tibet. The park was built by the Seventh Dalai Lama in 1755, and became the summer residence of the Eighth Dalai Lama. The garden contains an abundance of chapels, gardens, fountains, and pools as well as a variety of beautiful flowers and trees. Norbulingka reflects both the ethnic and religious traits of the Tibetan people and embodies the architecture style of inland China. It is of great cultural value and was listed by UNESCO as a World Cultural Heritage Site in 2001 as an extension of Potala Palace. During the Cultural Revolution, the Norbulingka complex suffered extensive damage. However, in 2001, the Central Committee of the Chinese Government in its 4th Tibet Session resolved to restore the complex to its original glory. The garden is a favorite picnic spot and provides a beautiful venue for theatre, dancing and festivals, particularly the Sho Dun or 'Yoghurt Festival', at the beginning of August, with families camping in the grounds for days surrounded by colorful makeshift windbreaks of rugs and scarves and enjoying the height of summer weather. There is also a zoo at Norbulingka, originally to keep the animals that were given to the Dalai Lama. Heinrich Harrer helped the 14th Dalai Lama build a small movie theatre there in the 1950s. Jokhang meaning ‘House of the Lord’ in Tibetan is located at the center of the old Lhasa and is the oldest and the most revered religious structure in Tibet. Built in 647 by Songtsen Gampo, it has a history of more than 1,300 years. It was built by craftsmen from Tibet, China and Nepal and thus features an intriguing mix of architectural styles. Jokhang Temple also houses many invaluable cultural relics. Every year, the Great Prayer Festival is held here. The rites of Dalai Lamas and Panchen Lamas' initiation into lamahood are also held in the monastery. Princess Wencheng made use of Chinese astrology to decide that the temple should be built over the pool where the temple is now located. She believed that the pool was a witch's heart and that building the temple over it would purify the area of evil. This pool still exists under the temple. Outside the temple an old and withered willow tree has survived centuries and is said to be planted by Princess Wencheng herself. Barkhor Market: Barkhor Street is the oldest street in Lhasa and runs through the center of the old city. It is a circular street where Tibetan culture, economy, religion and arts assemble. 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. Tibetans walk clockwise around the Jokhang Temple to pay their respects to Sakyamuni, establishing Barkhor Street as Tibet's "Sacred Way". Each day hundreds of Buddhist pilgrims flow in from every corner of Tibet and across China to make the trek through Barkhor Street. Some merely walk, but some progress by body-lengths along the street clockwise every day into deep night to worship Sakyamuni. Barkhor will allow you to experience firsthand the religious fervor of Tibet. Overnight at Hotel Shangri-la or Four Points by Sheraton [B/-/-] Day Day 07, March 27:: Final departure — Today you will be transferred to the airport for your onward journey.
What's included in your experience
Included
- Nepal Portion:
- Necessary arrival/ departure transfers with private transfers and representative.
- 03 Nights hotel accommodation at either Hyatt Regency [Hyatt Guest Room] or Hotel Everest [Deluxe Room] – Kathmandu on twin sharing basis on bed and breakfast plan.
- All sightseeing as indicated in the program with private vehicle and escorted by English speaking local guide.
- All monument entrance fees.
- Tibet Portion:
- All necessary arrival/departure transfers.
- Meet assistance at the airport.
- 03 Nights hotel accommodation at either Shangri-la Hotel [Deluxe Room] or Four Points by Sheraton [Comfort Room] – Lhasa in twin sharing room on bed and breakfast plan as per the above program.
- Sightseeing tour and all surface transfers in Tibet will be provided as per the itinerary with English speaking Tibetan guide by private vehicle.
- Tibet Travel Permit.
- All entrance and monuments fees as indicated in the program.
Not included
- Nepal entry visa fee
- Chinese Visa Fee –As quoted separately
- International airfare and taxes [Quoted separately and is subject to change if revised].
- Meals which are not mentioned in the above program
- Refreshments, bottled drinks.
- Tipping.
- Insurance and rescue of any form.
- Cost arising out of flight cancellation/road blockades/landslides/riots and events beyond our control.
- Expenses of personal nature and any other expenses not mentioned in the above cost.
- Photography charges in the monasteries and monuments.
- Any items, services and meals which are not included in the above cost inclusion or mentioned in the above itinerary
Essential trip information
Before you go
Note: All information in this itinerary is accurate to the best of our knowledge but please note that changes to our trips can and do occur. This may be due to our effort to improve our program or logistical reasons such as changes in flight schedules, traffic conditions, weather conditions, or government policies. Journey DMC will make every effort to keep you informed of any changes but cannot be held liable for any alterations made to the published itinerary. B-Breakfast, L-Lunch, D- Dinner The Nett land cost in US$ per person on twin sharing basis: Using Hyatt Regency in Kathmandu and Shangri-la Hotel in Lhasa (5 Star) 02 Pax: US$ 1785.00 per person Using Hotel Everest in Kathmandu and Four Points by Sheraton in Lhasa (4 Star) 02 Pax: US$ 1190.00 per person Airfare extra [Subject to change if revised] Kathmandu- Lhasa Economy class: USD 440.00 to USD 630.00 per person Lhasa- Paris Economy class: USD 1015.00 per person Flight details CA 4402 Lhasa – Chengdu 1045 1240 EY811 Chengdu- Abudhabi 2015 0055 EY 31 Abu Dhabi- Paris 0235 0710 Extra Cost [Subject to change, if revised]: Tibet Visa Fees: -US$ 200.00 per person for US Nationals -US$ 115.00 per person for other Nationals Please note this is a proposal only and is subject to availability at the time of confirmation – we are not holding any spaces for this itinerary at this time.
Fitness & eligibility
1
Meeting point
Kathmandu
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