Overview Embark on an awe-inspiring 7 Days Lhasa to Kathmandu Small Group Tour, immersing yourself in the breathtaking beauty and rich cultural heritage of the Himalayan region. This unforgettable journey also offers a perfect blend of natural wonders, ancient monasteries, and charming local experiences. Starting in Lhasa, the capital city of Tibet, you will get captivate by its stunning landscapes and the spiritual aura that permeates the air. Explore the iconic Potala Palace, a magnificent architectural marvel that also stands as a testament to Tibetan Buddhism's grandeur. Wander through the bustling Barkhor Street, a vibrant marketplace where pilgrims and locals…
Embark on an awe-inspiring 7 Days Lhasa to Kathmandu Small Group Tour, immersing yourself in the breathtaking beauty and rich cultural heritage of the Himalayan region. This unforgettable journey also offers a perfect blend of natural wonders, ancient monasteries, and charming local experiences.
Starting in Lhasa, the capital city of Tibet, you will get captivate by its stunning landscapes and the spiritual aura that permeates the air. Explore the iconic Potala Palace, a magnificent architectural marvel that also stands as a testament to Tibetan Buddhism’s grandeur. Wander through the bustling Barkhor Street, a vibrant marketplace where pilgrims and locals also come together, offering a glimpse into their daily lives.
Continuing your adventure, you’ll venture into the scenic countryside, traversing high mountain passes and witnessing breathtaking vistas of snow-capped peaks, deep valleys, and turquoise lakes. Visit ancient monasteries such as the tranquil Sera Monastery, where you can witness the captivating debates among Buddhist monks, and the enchanting Drepung Monastery, once the largest monastery in the world.
As you journey closer to the Nepal border, you’ll get enchanting picture of landscapes of the Tibetan plateau. Explore the medieval town of Gyantse, home to the iconic Pelkor Chode Monastery and the stunning Kumbum Stupa. Discover the historic city of Shigatse, where the grand Tashilhunpo Monastery, seat of the Panchen Lama, awaits your exploration.
Crossing the border into Nepal, you’ll also get greetings by the majestic Himalayas and the warm hospitality of the Nepalese people. The road to Kathmandu winds through lush valleys, terraced fields, and charming rural villages, offering an authentic glimpse into the local way of life. In Kathmandu, immerse yourself in the city’s rich cultural tapestry, exploring ancient temples, bustling bazaars, and sacred UNESCO World Heritage sites, such as the iconic Boudhanath Stupa and the revered Pashupatinath Temple.
Throughout this 7-day journey, you’ll also be accompanied by experienced guides who will share their wealth of knowledge about the region’s history, spirituality, and traditions. Traveling in a small group allows for a more intimate and personalized experience, fostering meaningful connections with fellow travelers and creating memories that will last a lifetime.
Embark on this extraordinary 7 Days Lhasa to Kathmandu Small Group Tour and be enchanted by the majestic Himalayas, ancient monasteries, and the vibrant cultures that dot this mesmerizing region.
Welcome to Tibet! Upon arrival, be greeted by our local guide at airport or train station and be presented with traditional Tibetan White Scarf to wish you good luck!
After group photo at airport, you will board on the coach and transfer to your hotel. You will enjoy the spectacular scenery and the typical Tibetan villages on the way.
Stay at the hotel after arrival for adapting to the high attitude. It is helpful to take things easy for the first few days, and try to drink some water just and now.
Stay overnight in Lhasa.
After breakfast, we go to the Potala Palace, a golden feather upon the roof of the world, which Tibetans proudly claim to be the prime miracle since the creation of this world. It is visible from any distance, with the golden roof shinning in the sun, spend one hour wondering around the inside of this magnificent building exploring the rooms previously used by the Dalai Lama and the many Buddhist icons within.
In the afternoon we go inside of the Jokhang Temple. The Jokhang, like most of the larger temple structures have numerous individual temples within it dedicated to specific enlightened beings, protectors, high lamas, or saints. Images, both sculpted and painted, are everywhere. Every inch of wall and ceiling is brightly painted with images of clouds, beings, mandalas, or decorative patterns. Colorful silk banners, three stories high, hang in various places. Color, pattern, and images crowd in around you. The central image inside the building is a 30-foot high gilded image of Maitreya Buddha.
Then stroll around the back alleys of the Barkhor area of Old Lhasa. The streets smelled of yak butter and incense while hordes of pilgrims shuffled along the main Kora (circumambulations) around Jokhang Temple. If someone just walked at a normal pace, one kora would take about 15-20 minutes. Stay overnight in Lhasa.
Stay overnight in Lhasa.
Today, we firstly go to Dadong Village, which is known as the most beautiful village in Lhasa. It is only around 25 kilometers away from Lhasa city center. Here we will first visit the Nyimatang Monastery. Then go for a leisure trek to visit the local Tibetan family. You can experience the country life of local Tibetans, and enjoy authentic Tibetan food here at lunch.
In the afternoon, you are going to visit Sera Monastery, have a little hike for the beautiful valley scenery nearby and picnic there. Sera monastery was created in 1419 and has always been an important Buddhist seminary. As rose are planted everywhere in the monastery, it is also called “the court of wild rose”. Today still 200 lamas live in there. You may have the chance to watch the famous Monks Debate (usually from 15:00 to 17:00) before returning back to Lhasa.
Stay overnight in Lhasa.
After fully explore Lhasa, you’ll have a chance to get lost in the endless Tibetan landscape while you take a short hike along the turquoise waters of Lake Yamdrok, one of the three holy lakes in Tibet and the largest habitat of waterfowls in south Tibet.
Afterwards pass by the 5,010 m high Karo La and the Simi La forward to Gyantse (approx. 3.950 m). Visit Pelkor Monastery and Kumbum Stupa (100-Thousand-Buddha Pagoda) nearby, which were both built in the15th century and situated in the northwestern edge of Gyantse.
In the afternoon drive about 90 kilometers to Shigatse (3880m), the second largest city with 40,000 inhabitants in Tibet and the traditional capital of the Tsang. In Shigatse, we’ll visit Tashilunpo Monastery, the seat of Tibet’s second highest incarnation, the Panchen Lama.
Stay overnight in Shigatse.
We’ll leave Shigatse after getting your Alien’s travel permit, and then drive to Lhatse, it is a small town where you can have lunch.
Then continue to drive westwards the Friendship way to Rongbuk. On the road the drive is full of magnificent scenery and cross some extremely high passes including Gyatsola (5248m). The road to Everest diverts off the newly paved Friendship highway near the town of Shegar and turns into bumpy gravel trail, which is still 90km to get to Rongpuk.
If it is in clear whether, you can have a glimpse of 4 mountains which is 8000m high or more, such as: Mt. Lhotse(8516m),Mt. Everest(8848m), Mt. Qowowuyag(8201m),Mt Mayalu(8463m).
Stay overnight at tent or Rongbuk monastery guest house.
Get up early for sunrise. You could take the local bus to arrive at Everest Base Camp for half an hour, or you also can have a hike to Base Camp around 1.5-2 hours one way. It’s interesting and much warmer, but hard to breath. The morning is frigid and as the wind howl your fingers must be frozen trying to take pictures of the iconic mountain but it is worth the pain to view such an amazing site.
After base camp, you can visit Rongphu Monastery which is the highest monastery in the world (5000m) and then drive to Old Tingri where you can enjoy the beauty of whole Himalaya range.
Stay overnight in Tingri.
Our Guide will drop you off in the morning at the border bridge, You are kindly required to hike on your own to cross the border bridge which is 50m long, then check in Nepal side, you can get the Nepal visa upon arrival with US$ 30, please prepare one photo at passport size to get Nepal Visa.
You need to find a car or bus towards Kathmandu, 50m ahead from border bridge, dozens of car or bus are parking here to pick up travelers.
Tour ends at the border in Tibet side.
Optional Service: Our company provide private transfer service from Nepal border to Kathmandu , if you need, please ask it from your travel advisor.
1. Tibet Travel Permit
Tibet Travel Permit is a must for Tibet tour. Its cost is included in the tour quotation. Send your passport and China visa copies to us 20 days in advance, and we will apply for the permit after you book a Tibetan tour with us. Shortly after we get your permit from Tibet Tourism Bureau, we will inform you and mail it to your hotel in China via express.
In some extreme cases, our staff will hand it over to you at the airport or railway station. In our experience, we can virtually guarantee to get your permit during times when Tibet is open to foreign travelers.
2. Accommodation
Tibet is never known for its 5-star luxury resorts, though you can find some like Intercontinental Lhasa Paradise, St.Regis Lhasa Resort, Sheraton hotel, etc in Lhasa. Overall, the accommodation facilities and services are not as good as those in coastal and central parts of China. However, from cheap and clean youth hotel, to distinct Tibetan style 3-star and international 5-star luxury hotel, you will find one that suits your interest and pocket in Lhasa.
We’ve handpicked cozy and safe hotels in the central area of Lhasa, where you will find Jokhang Temple and Barkhor Street are just steps away from you. You can easily experience more of the local life and culture. Normally, as you travel to remote areas in some parts of Shigatse like Tingri, or EBC, Ngari, Nagqu, etc. the accommodation would be much poorer. Some may have air-conditioning in the hotel;others may only have electric blanket in the guesthouses. And the food is also very basic.
3.Guiding and Tipping
Our English-speaking guides are natives of Tibet with good knowledge of Tibetan culture, history, and Buddhism. Most are trained to offer Western-standard service. Throughout your stay in Tibet, we will minor your health and provide prompt help to you. If you run into any trouble, please do not hesitate to reach them or our customer service manager.
Travelers’s tipping to Tibetan guide and driver is taken as an extra gratitude to their good service, just like what you do in the west. Normally, a tipping of 7 USD/day is acceptable. The basic rule is good service for good pay.
4.Shuttle Bus Service between Your Hotel and Airport/Train Station
The distance between Lhasa Gonggar airport and downtown Lhasa is 70km.
We can only offer free shuttle service to pick up/drop off tourists between hotels and Gongga airport twice a day at a designated time.
Some of the tourists may have to wait for others for a longtime beyond our designated time, and we advise our clients could book the flights to match our shuttle service time.
The free airport pick-up time is as follows on the day the itinerary begins (From airport to hotel, Fixed departure):
Pick up tourists at 09:30 am; 13:30 pm; 16:30 pm
The free airport drop time is as follows on the day the itinerary closes (From hotel to airport, Fixed departure):
Pick up tourists at 06:30 am; 08:30 am; 12:30 pm
All the shuttle service from/to the train station on the date of tourists’ arrival and departure would be free.
Exception:
If tourists’ picking-up/dropping-off time is beyond our fixed schedule, they are required to pay private transfer from 60USD/car.
If passengers are less than 3 per transfer, we may use publish transportation like public airport bus or Taxi instead of using our shuttle service.
5. Toilet
Admittedly, to many western tourists, using toilets in Tibet is the most dreadful experience. So, please down play your expectation. If you take Tibet train to Lhasa, both western toilet and squat toilet are available in the train. If you stay in hotel above 3-star hotels in Lhasa, Shigatse, etc. you will have no complaining using standard western flash toilet.
However, if you visit some of the attractions like Yamdrok or Namtso, EBC outdoor, mostly you will see the smelly and filthy pit toilet.It’s better to carry enough toilet paper.
6. Tibet Weather
One of the biggest features of weather on Qinghai-Tibet Plateau is the dramatic temperature change between day and night. The annual temperature in Lhasa is -2℃– 12℃(spring), 9℃– 22℃(summer), 7℃– 19℃(fall), -7℃– 9℃(winter). Do wear clothes properly such as thermal tops, fleece jacket, breathable underwear, down jacket, jeans, beanie, etc.
Of course, sun screen, lip balm, sun glasses are essential to shield you from powerful blinding sunlight on the plateau. Do drink more water and eat more vegetable as you travel in Tibet. It can prevent you from dehydration.
7. Acclimatization to the High Altitude
For the first timer to Tibet, either by flight or train, a good rest is a must for quick acclimation to the high altitude in Lhasa. Never rush to tour the street or attractions on your own. Walk slower and do not exert yourself like running or jumping. Spending at least two days in Lhasa is a good way to get acclimatized before heading to Shigatse or Namtso. If you have any discomfort, do tell it to your guide,and he will help you out.
8. Other Dos and Don’ts
Normally, taking photos is forbidden in the monastery. If you want to take photos of Tibetan pilgrims, a gentle ask of permission would be appreciated or you can do it from a long distance. Swimming and fishing are not allowed in holy lakes in Tibet; Do not talk about sensitive topics like politics; International tourists are not allowed to travel alone in Tibet according to the policy; Walk clockwise around Barkhor Street; Never venture into the unknown trails; do as much as you can to protect the fragile eco-system in Tibet, etc.
As Tibetan Buddhism is deeply-rooted in every facet of Tibetans’ life, always follow and respect the unique customs in Tibet. If you are uncertain about something, it’s advisable to ask your guide before you do it at will.