Monastery of Tibet, Shangrila Tour

The flight into the Himalayas reveals breathtaking views of the great peaks of Mt. Dorje Lakpa (6,966 m), Mt. Ganesh Himal (7,422 m), Mt. Langtang (7,227 m), etc., (weather permitting) taking you right into the Himalayan capitals at Kathmandu. After immigration formality at the airport, you will be greeted and welcomed by a Sampurna Adventure personnel & transferred to your hotel, Spend the rest of the day at leisure for personal activities, explore around the city center or take a rest following your program briefing, overnight at the hotel.

(Optional: Early morning an optional Mount Everest flight tour – The Highest Mountain on Earth).

Visit Kathmandu Durbar square (a UNESCO World Heritage site), the most important monuments of the Nepalese capital in the open-air museum filled with the temples, courtyards and palace of the Malla Kings, who ruled over the city. Other impressive sights include a giant statue of Kal Bhairab, the God of Destruction, stunning Shiva-Parvati temples, Taleju, and the Kumari Palace, where the Kumari acknowledges their greetings from her window.

Swoyambhunath Stupa, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, it is probably the most sacred ancient Buddhist pilgrimage site soaring above the city on a lofty hilltop, the fascinating, chaotic jumble of Buddhist and Hindu iconography, ancient carvings, the smell of incense and butter lamps, the mystical atmosphere is heightened by devotees who make a ritual circumambulation of the stupa, spinning the prayer wheels set into its base. This famous stupa is surrounded by typical houses of priests, Chaityas and monasteries. 

Later visit Patan Durbar Square (World Heritage Site), the city of fine arts & crafts in metal, stone, and terracotta, it is famous for its rich cultural heritage, where you will see its ancient palace with golden gate and window, temples of Krishna, Shiva, Golden temple (Hiranya Barna Mahabihar) as well as monasteries & beautiful courtyard.

Bhaktapur, a UNESCO World Heritage site & the medieval capital city, visit Bhaktapur Durbar Square, surrounded by spectacular architecture and vividly showcases the skills of the Newari artists and craftsmen over several centuries, an example of exquisite woodworks in the Palace of 55 windows with its golden gate, the beautiful Dattatreya, Nyatapola with Bhairab Temple and ceramics Square, 

Pashupatinath, a "UNESCO World Heritage site", the sacred Hindu Shiva temple, serves as the seat of the national deity, this "extensive Hindu temple ground" offers an "extensive collection of temples, ashrams, sculptures” etc. for centuries along the banks of the sacred river Bagamati, considered Varanasi for Hindus, where we could witness their final rituals of cremation.

Boudhanath, "a UNESCO World Heritage site", it’s a massive mandala that makes it one of the largest spherical Stupas in the world, where many Tibetan refugees residing since 1960, in its premises have built more than 50 Buddhist monasteries. The Stupa is said to have buried the remains of Kassapa Buddha.

In the morning at the scheduled time transfer to the airport to catch a flight to Lhasa, this hour-enchanting flight over the Himalayas provides us with a spectacularly breathtaking view of the highest peaks on the earth, (Weather permitting) we could see Mt. Everest (8,848 m), Nuptse (7,861 m), Lhotse (8,516 m), Ama Dablam (6,812 m), etc. After immigration formality at the airport, we will be greeted with Khata (Scarf) and welcomed by your local Tibetan guide of Sampurna Adventure, then driven 104 kilometers from the airport to our hotel in Tsetang. Tsetang is located in Shannan Prefecture, the area is regarded as the cradle of Tibetan civilization and is filled with important historical landmarks.

After checking in at the hotel, we spend the remainder of the day relaxing and allowing our bodies to acclimate or light walk around the hotel area.

Visit The Yumbulakhang Palace 12 kilometers (7 miles) south of Tsetang, built by King Nyatri Tsedpo, it is an amazing sight built on top of a hill with views of the entire region is and thought to be the first building in Tibet.

The palace for the 1st King Niechi in the Yarlung River Valley in the southeast of Naidong County.  

The palace is divided into front and back parts, the front part is a three-story building, while the back part is a castle-like tall building. Enshrined the statues of Thiesung Sangjie Buddha King Niechi, King Songtsen Gampo, and the Tobu Kings. The fortress-like dwelling is built on the spur of a bill that commands an impressive view of the entire fertile valley. It was destroyed during the Cultural Revolution and the present structure is an exact replica of the original rebuilt in 1982.

Later we drive Northeast of Tsetang about 40 km through sand dunes to Samye monastery. The road crosses the mighty Brahmaputra River en route to the remarkable Samye Monastery, Samye is the 1st ever built monastery in Tibet in the 8th Century by Tibetan king Trisong Detsen with the help of Padmasambhava. Under the protective gaze of the spectacular Utse building, countless stupas and temples still attract many Buddhists devout.

We will drive over two spectacular high passes – the Khamba La 4,794 m & Kharo La 5050Mt which offer views of the beautiful deep-blue green Lake called Yamdrok Lake or Turquoise Lake. The Tibetan Plateau offers an unusual and spectacular landscape. Arrival in Gyantse offers an old Tibetan Town with magnificent 14th-15th century fortresses and temples. Afternoon visit Pelkor Chode Temple, which served the Gelug Sakya and Buluk orders, and Khumbun Stupa, an architectural masterpiece built in the style of 108-sided Mandala, the most revered Stupa in Tibet and houses 112 chapels of which only 23 are open to the public. 

We drive 2 hours, 95 km straight to Shigatse, the second largest town in Tibet. It is the capital of Tsang Province and is 395km west of Lhasa. Visit the Tashilhunpo Palace of Panchen Lama (great scholar) the second highest spiritual figure in Tibet after Dalai Lama. Built by the 5th Dalai Lama, which offers 39 amazing chapels inside the Palace including the huge Maitreya Chapel coated with gold and the Tushita Chapel containing one thousand small statues of Tsongkhappa founder the f Geluk order. Victory Chapel, which is converted into a school for study, inside the chapel there is a huge gold image of Tsongkhappa and his two disciples and also the Tomb of the 10th Panchen Lama just to name a few. In the afternoon, walk around local markets 

Today we will retrace the Nepal – Tibet friendship northern highway towards Lhasa, on the way, we have picturesque views of Yamdrok Lake & Brahma Putra (Yarlung Tsangpo) (the longest and largest river in Tibet) snaking down the plateaus and pastures, arrival at Lhasa, rest of the day at leisure for relaxing, 

In the morning visit the 7th century Jokhang Temple, at the heart of Lhasa is the most sacred temple of all Tibet and a Power Place in all of Tibet. Queen Bhrikuti a Nepalese princess married to King Songtsen Gampo founded Jokhang Temple in recognition of Queen Bhrikuti, the main gate of the temple faces west towards Nepal. The most impressive structure of the Jokhang Temple is the many chapels surrounding the temple. Later you can walk and shop in the popular Barkhor Square (Bazaar) where all kinds of Tibetan handicrafts, Buddhist artifacts, carpets, paintings, etc. are all on sale for your delight. 

In the afternoon visit, Sera Monastery founded in 1419, 5km away from Lhasa, it sits in the prettiest charming atmosphere at the base of Mount Purbuchok. Sera Monastery used to be an important center for learning where about 6,000 monks resided. The most intriguing feature here is the nine-meter gilded image; here one can also witness the practicing debate among the monks, who pitch their knowledge against each other.

In the morning visit the Potala Palace, the winter palace of His Holiness the Dalai Lama. It is a 13th-storied complex monument rising to a height above 117m which houses 10,000 shrines and over 200,000 images and about 1000 rooms. This afternoon drive 8km northwest of Lhasa to visit Drepung Monastery. It was the residence of the Third, Fourth, and Fifth Dalai Lamas. This winter Palace was the residence of hundreds of monks from all the major Geluk monasteries for staffing individual Chapels. The 20,000 sq. MT complex has survived unscathed even during the Cultural Revolution. 

At the scheduled time, transfer to the airport to catch a flight to Kathmandu, after immigration formality on arrival you will be greeted and welcomed by Sampurna Adventure personnel & transferred to your hotel, rest of the day is free for personal activities, we can explore the narrow lively and endless streets of Thamel town where we will find all kinds of good restaurants, typical Nepali handicraft, fine jewelry, clothing, and trekking gear store, etc.

In the morning free for independent activities, such as shopping, photography or take rest.  

Later at the arranged time, transfer to the airport for final departure. End of our service.