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 including 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 transferred to our hotel taking us along the banks of the Kyichhu River through the western city of Gonggar, we will have first sight of the Potala Palace from afar.
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.
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. In the afternoon 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, of the temple's main gate 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.
This morning, we will drive 8km northwest of Lhasa to visit Drepung Monastery. It was the residence of the Third, Fourth and the Fifth Dalai Lamas. This winter Palace was the resident 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. In the afternoon visit Sera Monastery founded in 1419, 5km away from Lhasa, it sits in the prettiest and most 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.
We will drive over two spectacular high passes – the Khamba La 4,794 m and Karo La 5,050 m which offer views of the beautiful deep blue green Lake called Yamdrok Lake or Turquoise Lake. The Tibetan Plateau offers unusual and spectacular landscape. Arrival in Gyantse, offer an old Tibetan Town with magnificent 14th-15th century fortresses and temples. Afternoon visit Pelkhor 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. After lunch 2 hours, 60km straight drive to Shigatse, the second largest town in Tibet. It is the capital of Tsang Province is 395km west of Lhasa.
Excursion to Everest base camp (EBC 5,200 m) and back to Shegar Everest hotel (4, 050 m)
From Shigatse drive continue drive towards Shegar, you will cross the highest pass of the tour “Gyatso La Pass” (5,220 m) that rises steeply up the foothills of the Himalayas to arrive at Rongbuk Monastery. In route you will cross Pang la pass 5,000 m. Today you will see beautiful snow clapped Mt. Everest 8,448 m and some of the outstanding view of Mt. Shishapangama 8,013Mt, Mt. Makalu 8,464 m, Mt. Lhotse 8,516 m and Mt. Cho-Oyu 8,201 m. weather permitting, After Lunch drive to Everest base camp (4 Km) to explore EBC, 5,150 m. The base camp itself is dry and barren, but the views of Everest more than compensate for this. It is a truly awe-inspiring place with the sheer north face of the highest mountain in the world towering above you. Later return to the Friendship Highway towards Shegar to take rest and overnight.
Today we will retrace the same Nepal – Tibet friendship highway towards Shigatse, after lunch we will visit Tashilhunpo Palace of Panchen Lama (great scholar) the second highest spiritual figure in Tibet after Dalai Lama. Built by 5th Dalai Lama, which offer 39 amazing chapels inside the Palace including the huge Maitreya Chapel coated with gold and Tushita Chapel containing one thousand small statues of Tsongkhappa founder of 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.
After breakfast, continue drives to Lhasa, On the way, you will see the picturesque Yamdrok Lake & Brahma Putra (Yarlung Tsangpo) snaking down the plateaus and pastures, arrival at Lhasa, rest of the day at leisure for relax,
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.
Leisurely breakfast, In the morning free for personal activities, later at the arranged time transfer to the airport for final departure to connect onward flight. We wish you a safe flight and hope to serve you back in near future.
End of Service.