Overview

Kathmandu Lhasa Tour takes you to Lhasa, the Forbidden City, which has beauties that are beyond the words and offers you a spectacular view of mountains, such as Xixapangma, Makalu, Cho-Oyu, Everest, Lhotse, Langtang, and so on. This tour also acquaints you with the designs, arts, paintings, and interiors of palaces, monasteries, and temples, and each of these tells you when it was established.
All these monuments also make Lhasa a religious place; some of these include Potala palace, Jokhang temple, Norbulingka palace, Sera monastery, and Drepung monastery. The meaning of Lhasa is “Home to gods.” Potala Palace that you visit is located on the Red Hill and has been divided into two parts, such as red palace and white palace. White Palace has quarters of Dalai Lama, as well as many chapels.

When it comes to the history of temple, Jokhang temple is the oldest temple of Lhasa. It is also the most sacred one. Circling this temple, people worship its gods. Apart from the temple and palaces, you also visit Sera monastery and Drepung monastery, the two major attractions of Lhasa. Like palaces, they also have architectures that are excellent, and their other attractive features are white color wall, golden roof, and religious paintings.

Next, amidst fir and rhododendron forest, we drive up through a winding road to Nyalam 3790m.  After Nyalam we drive for 8 hr and over the  5050m high  Lalung la pass to arrive at  Shegar 4350m – where our documents are checked. Great views of Himalayan peaks including is Mt. Everest can be viewed throughout the drive.

On ward Shegar, we drive for 8 hr  and cross two high passes Lhakpa la 5200m and Tsuo la 4500m to arrive at Shigatse 3900m. Shigatse is the second largest city in Tibet. The main attraction here is the Tashilhumpo monastery, the traditional seat of the Panchen Lamas. Regarded and revered as one of the great centers of Tibetan Buddhism Shigatse has rich farming areas as the mighty Tsangpo river flows through here.   The Tashilhumpo monastery founded in 1447 by the first Dalai Lama houses a 27 meter (86 ft.) tall gold plated bronze image of the future Buddha Maitreya on a lotus pedestal. Next, we drive to Gyantse 3800m which regarded as the third important town in Tibet. Also famous as Tibet wool trade center, here we visit the Phalkor monastery, Kumbun stupa and the local market. Gyantse is just a 3 hr. drive from Xigatse.

On the day 5th, we are well acclimatized and some what experienced enough to arrive at the fabled city of Tibet’s  capital – Lhasa, The Abode of Gods. Lhasa is about 8 hr. drive from Gynatse going over two high passes of Karo la ( 5010m) and Kamba la ( 4794m). The Gyantse – Lhasa road also passes thorough the turquoise watered Yamdrok Tso known among the most beautiful of lakes in whole Tibet.

In Lhasa, we will have two days to visit the great Potala palace, Norbulinkha Palace, the Sera Monastery, Drepung Monastery, Jokhang Temple and the Barkhor market.  On day 8, we take a short ride to Gongar airport and fly over Mt. Everest and other great Himalayas to wrap up this great trip.