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Breathe in Tibet: the Itinerary

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Breathe in Tibet: The Itinerary 09 July 2015 – Day 01 Arrive Kathmandu Transfer to hotel Yak n Yeti on BB plan – Pri –briefing about the trip. Welcome dinner 10 July 2015 – Day 02 Kathmandu Tibet travel permit- visa process in Chinese embassy at Kathmandu. The group can explore around city tour such as Bouddhanath Stupa/Pashupatinath/ Kathmandu Durbar Square. We can also visit the Dakshinkali and Kirtipur Temples. 11 July 2015 - Day 03 Kathmandu-Lhasa: 3490m Transfer to Airport. An hour flight to Lhasa will enchant you with the spectacular, breathtaking view of the Himalayan Ranges. You will see most of the highest mountains on earth including Mt. Everest. Arrive in Gonggar airport and take a 1.5 hour drive to Lhasa along the banks of the river Kyi-chu that flows through to Lhasa. The drive will take you to the west of the city at Dongkar, and just west of Dongkar the Potala Palace will be visible from afar. At 3600m, it is advisable to take the rest of the day in leisure in order to acclimatize. You can go around the hotel area for light walk and sightseeing. O/N Hotel (BB) 12 July 2015 - Day 04 Lhasa – Visit Potala Palace, Jokhang Temple and Barkhor Market: 3490m This morning we visit the Potala Palace, winter palace of His Holiness the Dalai Lama, It is a 13th storied complex monument rising to a height of above 117m which houses 10,000 shrines and over 200,000 images and about 1000 rooms. In the afternoon we will take a tour of Jokhang Temple. Jokhang a seventh-century geomantic temple at the heart of Lhasa is the most sacred temple of all Tibet. It is considered to be a Power Place in all Tibet. Queen Bhrikuti a Nepalese princess married to King Songtsen Gampo founded Jokhang Temple and in recognition of Queen Bhrikuti the main gate of the temple faces west towards Nepal. The most impressive structure of the Jokhang Temple is the many chapels surrounding the temple. Later you can walk and shop in the popular Bakhor Square (Bazaar) where Tibetan handicraft items, Buddhist artifacts, carpets, paintings etc. are all in sale for your delight. O/N Hotel (BB) 13 July 2015 - Day 05 Lhasa – Visit Norbulingka Palace, Drepung Monastery & Sera Monastery: 3490m This morning we will visit to Norbulingka Palace which is also called the “Jewel Park”, is a large open area about four kilometers to the west of Lhasa, and referred to as the summer palace of the Dalai Lama. Since the time of the Eight Dalai Lama, the park has been used as a summer palace, retreat and recreation area for the successive Dalai Lamas. Later we will drive 8km northwest of Lhasa to visit Drepung Monastery. It was the residence of the Third, Fourth and the Fifth Dalai Lamas. This winter Palace was the resident of hundreds of monks from all the major Geluk monasteries for staffing individual Chapels. The 20,000 sq m complex has survived unscathed even during the Cultural Revolution. In the afternoon drive 5km away from Lhasa to Sera Monastery founded in 1419. It sits in the prettiest and most charming atmosphere at the base of Mount Purbuchok. Sera Monastery used to be an important center for learning where 5,000 to 6,000 monks resided. The most intriguing feature here is the nine-meter image of the Monastery; here one can also witness the practicing debate among the monks, who pitch their knowledge against each other. O/N Hotel (BB) 14 July 2015 - Day 06 Lhasa – Gyantse (3950m) – Shigatse (3900m) 360km 8-9hrs Leaving Lhasa and a long drive of 265 km, taking about 5/6 hours including break for lunch at one of the villages’ en-route. We will drive over two spectacular high passes – the Kampa La at 4750m and Karo La at 5050m, over, and along the beautiful deep blue green Lake called Yamdrok Lake or Turquoise Lake. The landscape of the Tibetan Plateau is truly unusual and spectacular. We will arrive in Gyantse an old Tibetan Town against a backdrop of magnificent 14th-15th century fortresses and temples. Here we will visit Pelkhor Chode Temple, which served the Gelug Sakya and Buluk orders. Here the Kumbum Stupa is an architectural masterpiece built in the style of 108-sided Mandela. It is the most revered stupa in Tibet and houses 112 chapels of which only 23 are open to the public. After sightseeing and lunch drive 2 hours, 90km straight drive to Shigatse the second largest town in Tibet. Shigatse was one of the first towns to be visited by westerners due to close distance with the Indian border. O/N Hotel (BB) 15 July 2015 - Day 07 Visit Tashilimphu Monastery then drive to Rongbuk: (4980m) 300km 7–8hrs Morning visit Tashilimphu Monastery. His Holiness the Panchen Lama (great scholar), the second highest spiritual figure in Tibet after His Holiness The Dalai Lama. The Fifth Dalai Lama built this artistic Palace. There are about 39 amazing chapels inside the Palace including the huge Maitreya Chapel coated with gold, its workmanship certainly impresses everyone, Tushita Chapel containing one thousand small statues of Tsongkhapa founder of Geluk order. In the afternoon, we will visit the local markets for shopping and local sightseeing. After sightseeing we drive to Lhatse 150 km, where we will take lunch break. After lunch we continue driving in the friendship highway up to shegar (New Tingri). From Shegar we head off the main overland route (3 hours) that rises steeply up the foothills of the Himalayas to arrive at Rongbuk Monastery. This monastery is considered to be the highest monastery in the world; you will be crossing over Pang la pass approx. 5000m. Today you will be able to marvel at the beautiful snow clapped Mt. Everest 8448m and some of the outstanding view of Mountain. O/N Guest House (BB) 16 July 2015 - Day 08 Excursion to EBC (5200m) then Drive to Shigatse: (4300m) 300km 7-8hrs Early morning excursion of Everest base camp then back to Rongbuk. Visit Rongbuk Monastery then drive back all the way to Shigaste following same route. O/N Hotel (BB) 17 July 2015 - Day 09 Shigaste – Lhasa via Northern Route: (3490m) 270km 5–6hrs This is the shortest road between Lhasa and Shigatse. The highway offers a spectacular view of the Tibetan Plateau and drive along the famous river “Yurlung Tsangpo”. O/N Hotel (BB) 18 July 2015 - Day 10 Transfer to Gonggar Airport, fly to onward destination or KTM You will be driven to the airport in time to catch your flight to onward destinations. We arrive in Kathmandu at 10:30am so it would be possible to take a late flight home on that day. 19 July 2015 – Day 11 Final departure to home .
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