TIBET OVERLAND TOUR

ITINERARY - TIBET OVERLAND TOUR

Day 1: Arrive Kathmandu and transfer to Hotel. 

Day 2: Full day guided sightseeing inside Kathmandu to the major sites:-

Swayambhunath: One of world’s most glorious, ancient, enigmatic and the holiest of Buddhist Chaityas and dates back more than 2000 years. Situated on a hillock Swayambhunath, literally “the Self-Created or Existent”, is a mosaic of small stupas and pagoda temple contributed by and time by the succession of kings and noblemen. The main structure of is made of a solid hemisphere of brick and clay supporting a lofty conical spire capped by pinnacle of copper gilt. Painted on the four sides on the base of the spire are the “All Seeing Eyes” of Lord Buddha.  The main features of Swayambhunath in brief are “The Five Buddhas.”

Bouddhanth: This colossal and ancient Stupa, one of Nepal’s most unique monument and said to be the world biggest, attracts Nepalese pilgrimage of Tibetan stock from as far as Dolpo and Mugu as well as Tibet, Ladhak in India and Bhutan. Baudhanath Stupa with all seeing eyes of primordial Adi Buddha on all the four sides of the stupa is said to hold the remains of Kasyapa - the Buddha of the previous time.The Stupa 100 meters in diameter,  built on an octagonal base inset with prayer wheels by the Lichchivi King Mana Deva in the fifth century rises to 36 meters above the base including the spire, “all seeing eyes” and the pinnacle represent the stages of enlightenment, symbol of royalty, compassion, knowing and nirvana. There are many myths about the origins of the stupa.

Guheshwari: The short drive from Bouddha will take you this place said that when Sati, the consort of Siva, immolated herself due to her father’s insult, Siva stricken with grief, wandered the skies with her corpse as pieces of her body fell to earth thus creating 51 sacred sites. Her private parts fell here thus the name “Guheshwari”.

Pashupatinath: Just a small walk takes you the temple of lord Siva-Pasupatinath with two tiered golden roof and silver doors is famous for its superb Newari architecture situated near the banks of sacred Bagmati River. Entrance to the temple precinct is permitted to the “Hindus Only”, however visitors can clearly see the temple from the eastern bank of the Bagmati River. Pashupati, literally, “Lord of the Animals” is the patron deity of Nepal and believed to have been unearthed by an obscure herdsman while one of his cattle was showering the earth with milk. Across the sacred river, above the array of decorated monuments is the “Slasmantak or Mrigasthali Ban (forest)” where legends have it that Lord Siva dwelled in a form of an antelope to evade the hordes of demigod

Tibet Part
Day 3: Fly to Lhasa and get transferred to Tsetang.

A China Southwest Airline flight which departs Kathmandu in the mid - morning will wing you over the Himalayas in what must be one of the most spectacular flights to Gongar airport, 90km from Lhasa. You will be met here by your guide and then proceed to Tsetang where you will have rooms reserved for you at the Tsetang Hotel. Rest of the day will be at leisure.

Day 4: Tsedang Sightseeing.

Your, encounter with Tibet will begin with a visit to the palace of Yambulakhang which was built by the first Tibetan king Nyatri Tsenpo in the second century BC. Local folklore has it that the king was descended from heaven. Later, we will visit the Tradruk Temple.

Day 5: Drive to Gyantse

Today, we will begin our overland journey across the Tibetan plains to Gyangtse via Yamdrok , or "Turquoise Lake". Overnight at Gyangtse Hotel

Day 6: Drive to Shigatse

We then continue on to Shigatse, a short drive of only 90kms, arriving in time for lunch. Shigatse is the second largest city in Tibet and after exploring the local market we will make a detailed visit to the Tashilhunpo Monastery. This monastery is one of the largest functioning monasteries in Tibet and there is much to explore within its high surrounding walls.

Day 7: Sightseing and return to Lhasa

After breakfast, you will visit Tashilunpo monastery. This is the official seat of the Panchen Lama, second in importance to only the Dalai Lama. The monastery itself was built in1447 by Gendun Drup and once housed upward of 3400 monks. Of particular interest in the monastery is the nine-foot statue of Maitreya, the Buddha of the Future. In the afternoon you will drive back to Lhasa.

Day 8: Sightseeing in Lhasa.

After breakfast, you will visit the Potala Palace. The palace of the Dalai Lama a treasure of Tibetan culture was, till 1965, the seat of both religion and politics in Tibet and quite possibly, the singularly most important building in all Tibet. It was built in the seventh century by Tsongtsen Gampo as a fort and later renovated by the fifth Dalai Lama in the seventeenth century to its present specifications. Your next stop will be Norbulingkha, the winter palace of the Dalai Lama, which was built, in the eighteenth century.
 

Day 9: Sightseeing in Lhasa

Today you will visit the Drepung monastery. This is the largest monastery in the world and once housed 10,000 monks and nuns. It was built in 1419 and the second, third and fourth Dalai Lamas lived and were entombed here. Your next stop will be the Jokhang Temple. This is the holiest shrine in Tibet and houses a golden statue of the Buddha, which was brought to Tibet by the Chinese princess "Wen Chen". You then stop off at Barkhor Bazaar outside the Jokhang monastery. This is a bustling flea market and is, generally, the place to buy souvenirs.

Day 10: Transfer to the airport for your flight back to Kathmandu, Remainder of the day at leisure

Day 11: Depart Kathmandu

End of services

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