Tibet Overland Tour, Lhasa, Mount Kailash & Manasarovar Trekking - FLy On/Fly Out

The flight into the Himalayas reveals breathtaking views of the great peaks of Mt. Dorje Lakpa (6,966 m), Mt. Ganesh Himal (7,422 m), Mt. Langtang (7,227 m), etc., (weather permitting) taking you right into the Himalayan capitals at Kathmandu. After immigration formality at the airport, you will be greeted and welcomed by a Sampurna Adventure personnel & transferred to your hotel, Spend the rest of the day at leisure for personal activities, explore around the city center or take a rest following your program briefing, overnight at the hotel.

(Optional: Early morning an optional Mount Everest flight tour – The Highest Mountain on Earth).

Visit Kathmandu Durbar square (a UNESCO World Heritage site), the most important monuments of the Nepalese capital in the open-air museum filled with the temples, courtyards and palace of the Malla Kings, who ruled over the city. Other impressive sights include a giant statue of Kal Bhairab, the God of Destruction, stunning Shiva-Parvati temples, Taleju, and the Kumari Palace, where the Kumari acknowledges their greetings from her window.

Swoyambhunath Stupa, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, it is probably the most sacred ancient Buddhist pilgrimage site soaring above the city on a lofty hilltop, the fascinating, chaotic jumble of Buddhist and Hindu iconography, ancient carvings, the smell of incense and butter lamps, the mystical atmosphere is heightened by devotees who make a ritual circumambulation of the stupa, spinning the prayer wheels set into its base. This famous stupa is surrounded by typical houses of priests, Chaityas and monasteries. 

Later visit Patan Durbar Square (World Heritage Site), the city of fine arts & crafts in metal, stone, and terracotta, it is famous for its rich cultural heritage, where you will see its ancient palace with golden gate and window, temples of Krishna, Shiva, Golden temple (Hiranya Barna Mahabihar) as well as monasteries & beautiful courtyard.

Bhaktapur, a UNESCO World Heritage site & the medieval capital city, visit Bhaktapur Durbar Square, surrounded by spectacular architecture and vividly showcases the skills of the Newari artists and craftsmen over several centuries, an example of exquisite woodworks in the Palace of 55 windows with its golden gate, the beautiful Dattatreya, Nyatapola with Bhairab Temple and ceramics Square, 

Pashupatinath, a "UNESCO World Heritage site", the sacred Hindu Shiva temple, serves as the seat of the national deity, this "extensive Hindu temple ground" offers an "extensive collection of temples, ashrams, sculptures” etc. for centuries along the banks of the sacred river Bagamati, considered Varanasi for Hindus, where we could witness their final rituals of cremation.

Boudhanath, "a UNESCO World Heritage site", it’s a massive mandala that makes it one of the largest spherical Stupas in the world, where many Tibetan refugees residing since 1960, in its premises have built more than 50 Buddhist monasteries. The Stupa is said to have buried the remains of Kassapa Buddha.

In the morning at the scheduled time transfer to the airport to catch a flight to Lhasa, this hour-enchanting flight over the Himalayas provides us with a spectacularly breathtaking view of the highest peaks on the earth, (Weather permitting) we could see including Mt. Everest (8,848 m), Nuptse (7,861 m), Lhotse (8,516 m), Ama Dablam (6,812 m), etc. After immigration formality at the airport, we will be greeted with Khata (Scarf) and welcomed by your local Tibetan guide of Sampurna Adventure, then transferred to our hotel taking us along the banks of the Kyichhu River through the western city of Gonggar, we will have first sight of the Potala Palace from afar. 

After checking in at the hotel, we spend the remainder of the day relaxing and allowing our bodies to acclimate or light walk around the hotel area.

In the morning visit the Potala Palace, the winter palace of His Holiness the Dalai Lama. It is a 13th-storied complex monument rising to a height above 117m which houses 10,000 shrines and over 200,000 images and about 1000 rooms. In the afternoon visit the 7th century Jokhang Temple, at the heart of Lhasa is the most sacred temple of all Tibet and a Power Place in all of Tibet. Queen Bhrikuti a Nepalese princess married to King Songtsen Gampo founded Jokhang Temple in recognition of Queen Bhrikuti, of the temple's main gate 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 Barkhor Square (Bazaar) where all kinds of Tibetan handicrafts, Buddhist artifacts, carpets, paintings, etc. are all on sale for your delight.

This morning, 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. MT complex has survived unscathed even during the Cultural Revolution. In the afternoon visit Sera Monastery founded in 1419, 5km away from Lhasa. 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 about 6,000 monks resided. The most intriguing feature here is the nine-meter gilded image; here one can also witness the practicing debate among the monks, who pitch their knowledge against each other.

After breakfast Drive to the historic town of Gyantse via the holy Yamdrok Lake, it lies to the south of Yarlung Tsangpo River in the Shannan Prefecture of Tibet. Around 90 kilometers to the west of the lake lies the Tibetan town of Gyantse and Lhasa is a hundred kilometers to the northeast. Yamdrok Lake meaning dark blue lake looks like jasper, according to local mythology, Yamdrok Lake is the transformation of a goddess, on the Gambala Pass, you will have a clear picture of this Tibetan holy lake in turquoise, in distance you can also see the snowcapped Summit of Ninjingkangsang. In Gyantse, you will find the largest stupa in Tibet-Khumbun Stupa (Ten-thousand stupa), just next to the Stupa is the Pelkhor Monastery. Another important site in Gyantse is Dzong Castle which once was a battle field where Tibetan fought against British invasion. 

Later we drive 60km straight to Shigatse, the second largest town in Tibet. It is the capital of Tsang Province is 395km west of Lhasa. 

Breakfast, drive towards Rongbuk through Friendship Highway, we will cross the Gyatso La pass (5220 Mt). During this journey we may find many nomads along with the yaks and sheep. This route offers beautiful views of the mountain, the lake and the small Tibetan villages, we may have good sight of majestic Mount Everest and other peaks Shisha Pangma, Cho Oyu of the 8000m. 

Rongbuk Monastery lies near the base of the north side of Mount Everest at 5,009 m (16,434 ft) above sea level, at the end of the Dzakar Chu valley. Rongbuk is claimed to be the highest-elevation monastery in the world. However, the true highest monastery in the world is Dhirapuk Monastery in Ngari Prefecture, at an altitude of 5,072 meters (16,640 ft). Rongbuk Monastery was an important pilgrimage site, accessed in a few days' travel across the Himalaya through the Nangpa La. Most of the past and current expeditions attempting to summit Mount Everest from the north, Tibetan side establish their Base Camp near the Rongbuk Glacier about 8 km (5 mi) south of the Monastery.

Later we will visit Rongbuk monastery and Everest base camp, itself is dry and barren but the views of Everest more than compensate for this. It is a truly awe-inspiring place with the sheer north face of the highest mountain in the world towering above us.

After early breakfast, explore EBC, 5,150 m. The base camp itself is dry and barren, but the views of Everest more than compensate for this. It is a truly awe-inspiring place with the sheer north face of the highest mountain in the world towering above us. 

Later from Rongbuk we will retrace the same Nepal – Tibet friendship highway towards Saga is scenic, en-route we cross valleys with different landforms and vegetation on both sides of the road, we could view of snowcapped mountains; magnificent view of Mt. Gaurishanker, Shisha Pangma, and Langtang and we pass by the beautiful Namring Tso Lake, nomads chasing thousands of yaks and sheep keep us busy. By the late afternoon will cross Brahmaputra River way to typical Chinese and Tibetan town, 

After breakfast, drive from Saga to Paryang, around 3 hours driving about 250 Km. The beauty of nature will pursue you continuously, wild lives and farm animals keep you busy during the driving period. 

Later we proceed from Paryang to Manasarovar around 4 hours’ drive, crossing about 210 Km. 

After Breakfast we will drive up to Tarboche, then we start trek today for 5-6 hrs, Yak will carry our all-essential equipment. Our first day of the Kailash circumambulation (Kora).

On the way we have the north face of Kailash reward us with the most breathtaking vistas, sandwiched between the two "disciple-mountains," Chana Dorje and Chenrezig. A straightforward trail ascends to the north face. As we climb, at times steeply up the valley that eventually leads to the little glacier that descends from Kailash, today we surely feel the altitude.

The trek from the east bank eventually meets the kora route after a challenging ascent into a moraine. At Shiva-tsal, 5,331 m (17,490 ft), we will come across heaps of cloths left by pilgrims as we continue to ascend. As part of leaving their previous lives behind, Tibetans sometimes leave a piece of clothing or a drop of blood here. 

The day is very sensitive and we have to pass Dolma-La (5,670 m) above sea level. The weather is unpredictable in Dolma-La, any time can change and start to snow storm. So, we have to start our journey as earlier as possible. In route, we can view of beautiful Gaurikunda Lake. But it is very difficult to go and touch. 

Overnight stay at Guest house.

After Breakfast, one can enjoy the morning time in exploring the caves, visiting the temples and shrine built around. Here you will see a married old couple supervising the temple. The temple is a residence for over half a dozen Tibetan devotees, helpers or relatives who keep them busy with the maintenance of the buildings. The cave also contains meditation platforms. Climbing up to these caves before ending the final trek of the holy Kailash Manasarovar is worth. After the Parikrama or Kora around Mount Kailash over the 5630-meter Drolma La (pass), clockwise for Buddhists and Hindus, anti-clockwise for followers of the ancient Bon religion, which is said to erase the sins of a lifetime, later drive towards Saga, 

After lunch, we retrace same route towards Lhasa, during our journey we will cross many high pass and rivers as well as green pastures and nomadic herdsmen with their horses and flocks of sheep grazing in the shadow of the Himalaya, this area is regarded as having some of the most breathtaking scenery on the entire trek. 

On the road to Saga, we'll continue driving through the expansive Thang Kiang Naga, also known as the "plain of wild donkeys and grassland" before arriving in Saga, pass through a number of tiny villages, including Zhongba and a few smaller passes cross the Torkyo La at 16,010 feet (4,880 meters), It is worth visiting but it was badly damaged during Cultural Revolution.

We retrace back same road to Shigatse Tibetan town,

After breakfast, continue drives to Lhasa, On the way, you will see the picturesque Yamdrok Lake & Brahma Putra (Yarlung Tsangpo) snaking down the plateaus and pastures, arrival at Lhasa, rest of the day at leisure for relax, 

At the scheduled time, transfer to the airport to catch a flight to Kathmandu, after immigration formality on arrival you will be greeted and welcomed by Sampurna Adventure personnel & transferred to your hotel, rest of the day is free for personal activities, we can explore the narrow lively and endless streets of Thamel town where we will find all kinds of good restaurants, typical Nepali handicraft, fine jewelry, clothing, and trekking gear store, etc.

Leisurely breakfast, in the morning free for personal activities, later at the arranged time transfer to the airport for final departure to connect onward flight. We wish you a safe flight and hope to serve you back in near future. 

End of Service.