This tour which begins with a breath-taking flight from Kathmandu to Lhasa (3550m) over the eastern Himalaya is same as the Kathmandu to Lhasa Overland tour but with the itinerary inversed. This tour is ideal for family and travelers with less high altitude experience as it allows trip participants to acclimatized for the onward journey in a place with good hotels, hospital and quick flight out of the county. On the flight, we have a bird's view of world highest peak Mt. Everest (8848m.), Kangchenjunga (8586m), Lhotse (8516m), Makalu (8463m.), Cho-Oyu (8201m) , the vast plateau of Central Tibet and numerous lakes.
Arriving in Lhasa, on the first day, we rest at the hotel in order to get to well acclimatized. On the following days, Next day , we visit the Potala - the traditional seat of (then) Tibetan government and winter residence of the Dalai Lama, the Norbulinkha - the summer palace of Dalai Lama and the Jokhang Temple Jokhang Temple which is Tibet's most sacred shrine, the focal point of pilgrims from the entire Tibetan Plateau. Located in the outskirts of Lhasa city, we also visit the Sera and Drepung monasteries, once the two most important of the six great Gelugpa religious centre in Tibet.
After visiting some of Tibet most important cultural, religious sites in Lhasa, we drive 259km to Gyantse (3900m) via the Yamdrok lake. Gynatse is 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 Shigatse. A short drive from Gyantse, just 90 km is Xigatse / Shigatse (3900m)- second largest 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.
After Shigatse, we drive 244km over Lhakpa-la (5200m ) and Tsuo-la (4500m) and arrive in Xegar / Shegar ( 4350m) from we have the first view the Tibet's side of Mt. Everest. Onward Shegar, |
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