• Duration8 Days / 7 Nights
  • Price from$1699 / person
  • Difficulty LevelModerate
  • Max Altitude4300 Meter

This 7-night 8-day exotic Katmandu to Lhasa driving tour offers superb views of the Himalayan peak and also the picturesque Tibetan landscape and scenery. The visit to the old cities such as Lhasa – the capital city of Tibet, Gyantse, and Shigatse, will give you a complete insight into Tibet's religious, and cultural treasures, and dreamlike landscape. The most highlighted point of this Kathmandu to Lhasa Tour by Road is the scenic drive and visiting monasteries, and Yamdrok Lake en route and visit to historical Lhasa city will be the best holiday to experience and go higher to the roof of the world. Kathmandu to Lhasa distance is 700 miles drive by bus or 4WD drive.

The China-Nepal friendship highway, which runs from Kathmandu to Lhasa via the Zhangmu – Kodari border has remained closed due to the Nepal earthquake in April 2015 and now opened from June 2019 is only yet for goods transportation. Now we follow the newly opened Pasang Lhamu highway from Kathmandu to the Rasuwa Gadhi border for the Lhasa road trip from Kathmandu. The total length of the road drive is going to be 1125km. Monsoon rain may affect the roads in the Nepal section if one is driving during the rainy season. If you have viewed the scenery of the Himalayas in Nepal, the Everest Base Camp in Tibet can be ignored from the tour itinerary. It takes 3 nights 4 days to get to Lhasa then stay in Lhasa for 2-3 days to visit Lhasa’s cultural heritage highlights. It is said that the Kathmandu to Lhasa distance via Kerung is to be shorter. Now tourists can enter Tibet by land driving from Kathmandu to the Rasuwa Border (Kerung).

The land drive-in tour had been closed since the 2015 earthquakes however it's the border reopened between Nepal and China (between Rasuwa and Kerung conjointly spelled Gyirung by the Chinese) and travel agencies operate Lhasa tour by road drive from Katmandu. It might be ideal for journey lovers and keen-budget travelers. After visiting Tibet, one can return to Kathmandu by flight or take the new Qinghai-Tibet train to Xi'an, Beijing, and Shanghai to reach China Mainland. Visa and Permits: from Katmandu to Tibet, you must first obtain a Tibet Entry Permit and visa invitation letter from the Tibet Tourism Bureau, then hand in the documents to the Chinese Embassy in Katmandu for a cluster traveler visa, the tourist visa is valid for up to 30 days.

IMPORTANT NOTICE TO PROCEDURE TIBET GROUP VISA !!!

As per the new rules and regulations from the Chinese embassy in Nepal, to obtain a Tibet group visa, it is required that there must be a minimum of 05 people in the group. Additionally, the visa application process in Kathmandu requires the submission of the original passport and may take 04-05 official working days to complete.
Furthermore, clients who wish to obtain a Tibet group visa will need to visit the China visa application center in person to provide biometric information.  Please; it is also important to note that Tibet visa requirements and regulations can be changed frequently without any prior notice, we suggest you make sure to contact the Chinese Embassy/Wilderness Excursion or local travel company before you book the Tibet tour.

Required Document:

To facilitate the processing of your Tibet Visa, kindly ensure you have the following documents ready:

  • Passport Copy: Please submit a clear copy of your passport at least 25 days in advance to initiate the Tibet Travel Permit processing.
  • Original Passport: Ensure you have your original passport with you when your group arrives in Kathmandu. At least 4 official working days
  • Passport Size Photo: Provide a passport-size photo with a white background, front face, without eyeglasses, and no smiling expression.
  • Visa Application Form: Complete the visa application form before your arrival.

Highlights

  • Accommodation 3 Star Hotel where available, 
  • Pick up from hotel and drive, Potala Palace, Jokhang Temple, Bahkor street,
  • View of Mt. Shisha Pangma, Mt. Lhotse, Mt. Everest, Mt. Qowowuyag and Mt. Makalu, Tashilumpo Monastery
  • Manak Dam Lake, Korola Glacier, Yamdrok Lake, Drepung Monastery, Sera Monastery

Itinerary

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This is our standard itinerary. It can be customized or slightly changed if required considering your pace and trekking habit that cause to change of day to day plan

We drive to Gyirung, also known and spelled as Kerung by Nepalese. We drive through Pasang Lhamu high way road from Kathmandu passing by Syabrubesi - the starting point of famous Langtang Valley Trek. We still continue to Rasuwagadhi Nepal - China boarder, after customs formalities, we will be picked by our Tibet travel agency representative and take to Gyirung and transfer to Guest House. It will be 240km long day drive.

    Today after breakfast, you will be transferred to Old Tingri (4300m) from Kerung. En route, you will enjoy the stunning view of Mount Everest (considering the growing high altitude from 2700m to 5200 of the EBC, we arrange the Everest view on the way and the sightseeing stand near Old Tingri instead of Mt. Everest base camp) spend overnight in Tingri. Today, we drive 300km.

      Today you will travel from Tingri to Shigatse. After we arrive in Shigatse, we will visit Tashilumpo monastery. It is the seat of Panchen Lama, the Tibet’s second highest Buddha incarnation. There we can also see the largest statue of the future Buddha in the world, it is called Jampa Buddha and Maitreya Buddha in sanskrit. Stay overnight in Shigatse

        After Breakfast Morning Sightseeing to the Panchen Lama’s Tashilhumpu Monastery. Drive to Gyantse and visit Kumbum Stupa and Phalkhor Monastery.Palcho Gompa (sometimes called also Pelkhor Chode) surrounded by high walls, in the middle of which is situated Kumbum - the largest chorten throughout Tibet. Stay Overnight at Hotel.

          After Breakfast full day picturesque drive crossing over Karola (5,010m), Kambala (4,749m),Colorful Yamdrok Tso (Yamdrok Lake). Yamdrok Lake is a freshwater lake in Tibet, it is one of the three largest sacred lakes in Tibet. It is over 72 km long. The lake is surrounded by many snow-capped mountains and is fed by numerous small streams. And we observe the Tibetan lifeline river Brahma Putra (Yarlung Tsangpo). Stay Overnight at Hotel.

            Today's tour will first bring you to the Potala Palace which is the winter palace of the Dalai lama. It was put to use since the 7th Century by the 33rd great king of Tibet. The most valuable collections of Potala Palace are the gilded burial stupas of former Dalai Lamas and meditation Cave of the 33rd great king of Tibet. Then after lunch, tourists head to Jokhang temple which was founded by the 33rd great king of Tibet in the 7th century. Inside you can see the statue of Buddha Sakyamuni at the age of twelve. Outside, you can see pilgrims making prostrating in front of Jokhang Temple. Around the temple is Barkhor street, where you can do kora (a religious circle of a building or mountain) with pilgrims and locals, and explore the old market. Stay overnight in Lhasa. 

              In the morning ,you are going to visit Drepung monastery which is one of the “great three” Gelug monasteries of Tibet, founded in 1416 by Jamyang choge, one of the Tsongkhapa’s main disciples. You can visit biggest monastery kitchen inside the monastery and enjoy Buddhist Sculpture Carving workshop near Drepung. In the Afternoon, Tourists will visit Sera Monastery which is another one of the “great three” Gelug monasteries of Tibet. The hot attraction is the Monks debate at around 3 - 5 in the afternoon. In addition, you can tour the Tibetan religious scripture printing house; inside the monastery, you can see three sand Mandalas and colorful Rock Painting of Buddha. Stay overnight in Lhasa

                Your Tibet tour comes to end now, our guide and driver will drop you off at airport in Lhasa. Welcome to Tibet next time. Departure from Lhasa or next destination.

                  Customized Trip

                  What's Included

                  Accommodation

                  • 7 Nights, twin room in the 3-star hotel or guesthouse as per package price.

                  Transportation

                  • Airport transfer on the last day.
                  • Travel vehicles according to group size, fuel, and parking fee.

                  Staffs

                  • Experienced local English-speaking Tibetan tour guide.
                  • Driver during the tour.

                  Fees and taxes

                  • All attraction entrance fees are mentioned in the itinerary.
                  • Travel Agency Liability insurance.
                  • All government taxes

                  VISA & Permits

                  • Tibet Tourism Bureau Permit (TTB); Alien's Travel Permit (PSB);

                  Meals

                  • All breakfast during the tour as per itinerary.
                  • Two bottles of mineral water per person per day
                  • All meals for your guide and driver.

                  What's Excluded

                  • Accommodation and meals in Kathmandu.
                  • Lunches and Dinners during the tour.
                  • Tips to driver and tour guide.
                  • Air or train/jeep tickets from Lhasa to further destinations.
                  • Single room supplement fee if ever.
                  • Bank service fee when you deposit us.
                  • Chinese visa fee: USD 125.00: For Asians and Europeans, and USD215.00 for Canadians, and Americans.
                  • Flight fare if any to Kathmandu from Lhasa is USD 600 per person (subject to change)

                  Availabilities

                  Wilderness Excursion (P) Ltd is a local tour operator so we guaranty small private groups departures any dates that suits your date and time.