Our journey to Lhasa begins with a flight from Kathmandu to Gonggar Airport. The flight provides breathtaking views as you fly over the Himalayan range and is considered one of the most scenic air routes. Upon reaching Gonggar, you will receive a warm welcome and be transferred on a two-hour drive to the heart of Lhasa. Once you arrive, you can settle into your comfortable hotel for the night, where you can relax and prepare for the days of exploration ahead.

On the second day in Lhasa, we will spend time visiting several historic ancient monasteries and palaces. First, visit the Potala Palace, an important Tibetan building listed as a UNESCO World Heritage site. It has never suffered any damage to date. You will also visit the most sacred place in the palace, the Phakpa Lhakhang Chapel, dating back to the 7th century, which houses the statue of Avalokitesvara.

Next, we’ll explore the Dalai Lama’s summer retreat, Norbulingka, before heading to the Barkhor district. You can join the dozens of pilgrims in their colorful attire, prostrating themselves in front of Jokhang Temple, Tibet’s most sacred site. Songtsen Gampo built the temple in the 7th century, and Jokhang houses the revered Jowo Sakyamuni statue. Experience the spiritual energy as you join the line of devotees waiting to touch the sacred representation with their foreheads. Stay overnight in a Lodge.

We will continue our exploration with visits to two of Tibet’s most significant monasteries. We’ll start at Drepung Monastery on a hillside 8 km west of Lhasa. The monastery was established in 1416 by Jamyang Chöje, the principal disciple of Tsongkhapa. Drepung Monastery served as the center of political power in Tibet during the 16th century and managed to preserve a large number of its artworks during the Cultural Revolution.

After a lunch break, we will drive to Sera Monastery, located 5 km from Lhasa. Sera Monastery is one of the six great Gelugpa monasteries founded in 1419. It is designed as a monastic city, comprising the Great Assembly Hall, three ratings (colleges of specialized studies), and thirty changesets (residences for monks from different regions).

Today, we will drive to Namtso Lake, formed by Himalayan tectonic plate movements during the Paleogene age. From the lake, you can enjoy breathtaking views of Mount Nyenchen Tanglha. Around the lake, locals offer horse riding and yak riding. Take pictures with yaks in the lake, then return to Lhasa and stay overnight in a guest house. The round trip will take approximately 7 hours.

After breakfast in the early morning, we will drive to Ganden Monastery at 4500m. The monastery was founded by Tsongkhapa in 1409 and was the first monastery of the Gelugpa sect. The monastery has a long history. It suffered the most during the Cultural Revolution due to its political influence. Following our visit to the Ganden monastery, we start our trek to the Hebu valley. Our 5th day includes a short trek into the beautiful Tibetan topography before going to camp.

We will resume our trek from Hebu to Nyeko, crossing the Shug-la Pass at an altitude of 5250m. The journey takes us through yak pastures, offering glimpses of traditional Tibetan life. You must set up camp in the tranquil surroundings of Nyeko, where the peaceful ambiance provides a perfect backdrop for rest and reflection. Stay overnight in a camp.

Today’s trek takes us from Nyeko to the Chitu-la Pass, which is situated at an elevation of 5100m. The trail descends to a lake, where you’ll set up camp for the night.

We begin our day by trekking from Chitu to Yemalung. Take the time to visit the Yemalung hermitage, where there are several temples scattered on the mountain slope and people can stay for meditation. This trek is known for its historical beauty in Tibet. We will set up camp and stay overnight.

Today, we will be heading to Samye Valley to visit the Samye Monastery, which is the first Buddhist monastery in Tibet. The central temple of this monastery represents Mount Meru, the center of the Universe, with surrounding temples symbolizing the four continents. Additionally, there are two extra temples representing the sun and the moon. We will be spending the night in a hotel in Samye.

Leaving Samye, today we travel to reach Mindrolling. We make a stop at Mindrolling Monastery before reaching Gyantse. After exploring the monastery, we continue our drive to Gyantse, passing by the magnificent Yamdrok Lake. Upon reaching Gyantse, we will stay overnight in a hotel.

Today, we spent our day exploring Gyantse. In the 1950s, Gyantse was a key stop on the caravan route between Lhasa and Sikkim and it still retains much of its historical allure. The old Tibetan quarter beneath the fort has preserved all its charm, while Chinese constructions are located along the Friendship Highway. We explore the Kumbum complex and visit Palkhor Chode Monastery, which is a collection of monastic colleges dating back to 1418. Its chapels contain many treasures.

After that, head towards the Kumbum, a massive chorten established in 1427, which houses 72 chapels. It is the town’s main attraction. You can see each chapel in the monastery decorated with wall paintings; some have various statues of Buddhas, Bodhisattvas, and deities. We then drive to Shigatse, where we visit Tashilhunpo, one of the six great centers of the Gelugpa sect and the seat of the Panchen Lama. Our accommodation will be at the hotel.

Today, we begin our day with a drive to Everest Base Camp. Along the way, we stop to visit Sakya Monastery. This monastery was founded by a member of the Kon family in 1073. The monastery’s splendid roofs offer views of the valley and a glimpse of its fascinating interior.

After visiting Sakya Monastery, we continue our journey to reach Rongbuk. Once we arrive in Rongbuk, we visit the Rongbuk Monastery, which was established in 1902 by a Nyingmapa lama. This monastery serves as the Buddhist center of the valley and holds the title of being the highest monastery in the world at 4980m. While five hundred monks and nuns once resided here, now only about twenty remain. The view of Everest from this location is outstanding. We spend the night in a guest house.

After breakfast in the morning, we go on an excursion to Everest Base Camp. You will be able to enjoy the beautiful view of the Mount Everest range. After taking in the breathtaking scenery and capturing some memorable photos, we start a long and scenic drive towards the Nepalese border at Kerung. We will spend the night at the hotel. The drive took approximately 6 hours, covering a distance of 370 km.

Finally, our 14-day tour comes to an end. We cross the border checkpoint and switch vehicles for the journey back to Kathmandu. The road winds through scenic, terraced hills, offering panoramic views of Nepalese landscapes. Upon arrival in Kathmandu, your adventure concludes. Please note that accommodation for the night is not included.