Best of Tibet
11 Nights / 12 Days

Kathmandu - Lhasa - Gyantse - Shigatse - Tsedang

Day 1 :  ARRIVE KATHMANDU
Arrive Kathmandu – meet & transfer to hotel.
Afternoon free at leisure.
Overnight : Hotel in Kathmandu

Day 2 : KATHMANDU
After breakfast half day sightseeing of Kathmandu City visiting Hanuman Dhoka (It is the historic seat of Royalty). The Durbar Square with its old temples & Palaces epitomizes the religious & cultural life of the people. It is here that kings of Nepal are crowned & there coronations solemnized. Interesting things to see here are Taleju Temple built by King Mahendra Malla in 1549 AD, Kal Bhairav,), Temple of living Goddess (The temple residence of living goddess, Kumari, is situated in vicinity of Hanuman Dhoka Palace. The building has been profusely carved with wooden balconies & window screens. The Kumari- The Living Goddess, acknowledges the greetings from her Balcony window) and Swayambunath (This is one of the world's most glorious Buddhist Chaityas. It is said to be 2000 Yrs. old. Painted on the four sides of the spire bases are the all seeing eyes of lord Buddha.).
In the afternoon visit Bhaktapur City (Situated at an altitude of 1,401 mtrs. Bhaktapur covers an area of 4 Sq. Miles. Shaped like a conch- shell ), Boudhnath Stupa ( This Stupa lies Eight Kms. East of Kathmandu. This colossal and ancient Stupa is one of the biggest in the world ) and Pashupatinath Temple (Situated Five Kms. East of Kathmandu, the temple of lord Shiva- Pashupatinath with two tiered golden roof and silver doors is famous for its superb architecture. Visitors can clearly see the temple and the activities performed in the temple premises from Eastern Bank of the Bagmati River).
Overnight : Hotel in Kathmandu

Day 3 : KATHMANDU
After breakfast visit Patan 5 km away from Kathmandu city.  
Patan also known as Lalitpur, is the city of fine arts, enclosed within 4 stupas said to be built in 3rd century AD, by Emperor Ashoka. You will see the Durbar Square, the Patan Durbar which houses a bronze collection, the Krishna Temple built by King Siddhi Narsingh Malla, Hiranya Varna Mahavihar and Mahaboudha Temple. 
A trip to The Tibetan Refugee Camp and the Handicraft Centre will also be done while visiting Patan, where you will witness the hand weaving of Tibetan carpets and moulding of metal statues.
Afternoon free for Independent activities.
Overnight : Hotel in Kathmandu

Day 4 : KATHMANDU - LHASA
After breakfast transfer to airport for Trans Himalayan flight to Lhasa (3650m.), the capital city of Tibet.
Arrive Lhasa - met by our Tibetan representative and transferred to hotel.
Spend the afternoon acclimatising.
Overnight : Hotel in Lhasa

Day 5 : LHASA
After breakfast visit the sites of Lhasa including the Potala Palace - that dominates the city. Built originally in 640 AD, it was destroyed in 9th Century and rebuild by the 5th Dalai Lama in 17th Century.
 and visit Barkhor Square - a maze of cobbled streets, in the heart of Lhasa circling the Jokhang Temple.
Overnight : Hotel in Lhasa

Day 6 : LHASA
After breakfast visit the Sera and Drepung Monastery and Norbulinka.
Overnight :  Hotel in Lhasa

Day 7 : LHASA - GYANTSE
Morning leave for Gyantse, crossing the Kamba La (4794m) and Karo La (5010m) pass via the Lake Yamdrok-Tso. Gyantse, now a third largest city of Tibet, was a scene of a battlefield in 1904, when British invaded Tibet.
Overnight : Hotel in Gyantse

Day 8 : GYANTSE - SHIGATSE
After breakfast visit the Khumbum Stupa with several chapels full of frescos and Phalkor Monastery designed in the shape of a three-dimensional mandala, representing a microcosmic model of the Buddhist universe.
Later a pleasant two hour (90km) drive to Shigatse (3900m), once the capital city of Tibet.
In the afternoon visit the Tashilunpo Monastery, built by 1st Dalai Lama in 1447, and the free market.
Overnight : Hotel in Shigatse

Day 9 : SHIGATSE - TSEDANG
After breakfast drive to Tsedang via the Samya Monastery - the first Monastery in Tibet.
Arrive & check in at hotel.
Overnight : Hotel in Tsedang

Day 10 : TSEDANG
After breakfast sightseeing tour - includes visit to the Yumbulakang Fort, the oldest building in the region built in 2 BC, overlooking the fertile Yarlung valley, birthplace of the Tibetan civilization. The valley is dotted with temples, monasteries, castles and sacred peaks.
Overnight : Hotel in Tsedang

Day 11 : TSEDANG - KATHMANDU
After breakfast drive back to Kathmandu
Arrive & check in hotel
Overnight : Hotel in Kathmandu

Day 12 : DEPARTURE KATHMANDU
After breakfast drive to Tribhuvan International airport for flight back home.