Best of Tibet Cultural Scenic Tour

Best of Tibet Cultural Scenic Tour On arrival at Kathmandu and Nepal International Airport, after immigration formalities and collecting your baggage, head for the exit, where our staff and guide receive you, with a warm welcome and then transfer you to your hotel. A short drive into the heart of Kathmandu city, around Thamel, the most interesting place for all travelers.

At the hotel, check into your rooms, after a short rest from the jet lag, then meet your guide, and other fellow members for a briefing regarding the Best of Tibet Cultural Scenic Tour, with full information on the tour of Kathmandu and Tibet, with do’s and don’ts. The evening group welcomes dinner in a nice authentic Nepalese restaurant with a folk cultural program to entertain with your dinner.

At Kathmandu, a free and leisurely day with a sightseeing tour at places of great historical and cultural interest. Most of the ancient sites are listed as UNESCO World Heritage Sites. A short drive and a few minutes walk to Old Durbar Square, witness the old palace of Malla and Shah Regime, with ancient temples and residence of Kumari, which represents a Living virgin Goddess of young tender age.

Tour of Kasthamandap, a temple built with the wood of a single tree where the name Kathmandu derived from. From here, a short drive west of the city to old Swayambhunath Stupa, perched on a hillock, where one catches a view of Kathmandu city and the valley, with snow peaks on a clear fine day. The Buddhist Stupa dates back 2,500 years with the all-seeing eyes of Lord Buddha in four cardinal directions. A pride and landmark of the country listed in the world heritage site.

After an interesting morning tour, it continues heading east of the city at the holy temple of Pashupatinath, a golden three-tier rood pagoda. Non-Hindus are not allowed at the main entrance, where the guide takes you to the other side of the Bagmati River to observe the temple premises with devotees and pilgrims on religious activity.

From here, a short distance walk or a drive to the great Bouddhanath Stupa, and the area is also called ‘Little Tibet’, as you can witness most Buddhist pilgrims and locals of Tibetan origin with a similar culture. The day completes with a drive back to your hotel after a marvelous day around Kathmandu, visiting places of great interest.

Morning as per flight time for Lhasa flight transfer to Kathmandu airport for a scenic flight of an hour or more to land at Gongor in Tibet international airport, which is the starting point for Best of Tibet Cultural Scenic Tour, during air views of the world’s highest mountains with Mt. Everest.

As the plane lands at Gongor Airport, going through security and immigration formalities, then walk outside the air terminal received by our Tibetan guide and driver for a short drive to the eastern side of Lhasa city. A lovely interesting area populated mostly by local Tibetans, afternoon relax and take a short walk around the Barkhor market square where most of the hotels are located.

Best of Tibet Cultural Scenic Tour Morning our Tibetan guide will meet you at the hotel lobby, after your pleasant first overnight in Lhasa, a short drive takes you to the west side of the city with an uphill drive to Drepung Monastery, the largest and important monastery in Tibet, built as a university for Tibetan Buddhism scholar in earlier days, which was also a resident of many high priests to 5th Dalai Lama, till Potala Palace construction was completed.

An interesting tour of the Drepung Monastery interior and around religious and prayer rooms, from here tour of Jokhang Temple, located in the heart of Lhasa around the busy Barkhor market. Visit the monastery as well first Buddhist temple of historic importance and tales of ancient times. The tour takes you inside the temple and on the scenic terraces, for beautiful photographs of the colorful busy Barkhor Market and its surroundings with views of Potala Palace nearby.

On the last day of the Best of Tibet Cultural Scenic Tour, an exciting morning tour of the magnificent Potala Palace was built in early 640 AD. Started by Songsten Gampo, from his private meditation cave, during the time of the 5th Dalai Lama, this majestic Potala Palace was constructed.

This beautiful palace represents a landmark of Tibet that dominates the whole of Lhasa and Kyuchi valley. The afternoon tour continues with a short drive to Norbulingka, a summer palace of semi-modern with a lovely large garden of tall trees, our guide takes you around the summer palace’s important sites and then ends the day with free leisure time.

Best of Tibet Cultural Scenic Tour From Lhasa, an interesting morning drive takes you of the valley, an interesting and scenic short journey past rural farm villages and towns. As drive heads winding uphill, with short-stop around the lovely village to observe local traditions. After a brief refreshing break then on the steep climb to Ganden Monastery, a beautiful huge monastery complex, within an amphitheater shape.

Enjoy the tour of the monastery and its pleasant surroundings. The history of Ganden Monastery or Ganden Namgyeling or Monastery of Ghalden, one of the “great three” Gelugpa monasteries as a university of Tibet. Located east in Dagzê farm County outskirts of Lhasa. Ganden Monastery was founded in 1409 by Je Tsongkhapa Lozang-dragpa, founder of the Gelugpa order.

The name Ganden means “joyful” and is the Tibetan name for Tuṣita, the heaven where the bodhisattva Maitreya is said to reside. After a wonderful morning tour of Ganden and an interesting scenic drive, head back for the last overnight in Lhasa.

Start early morning having breakfast, depart from the hotel for a long scenic drive beyond Lhasa city reaching around rural farm areas with nice villages. As ride leads on winding uphill to Khamba-La pass at 4,800 m high. The top offers a breathtaking panorama of Tibetan plateau beautiful landscapes with distant snow peaks, and Yamdrok Tsho the turquoise holy lake.

After a wonderful moment with dramatic views, a downhill drive close to Yamdrok Tsho Lake to reach Nagarktse town for a warm lunch in nice Tibetan restaurants. The journey continues crossing another pass of Karo-La at 5,050 m high facing incredible views of Nzongkhangsa peak with massive ice-fall and glaciers close to the road.

Drive then heads to the flat country with nomads’ camps and yak grazing on a vast field of meadows to reach Gyantse town. Tour of famous Gyantse Dzong (fort), Pelkor Chode Monastery, and Kumbum Stupa, and then a short hour drive takes you to the second-largest city of Tibet in Shigatse for overnight stops.

After a nice breakfast, a short drive to reach the famous Tashilumpo monastery complex with a shining golden roof. A guide takes you in to visit an important chamber and into a large prayer room. The monastery is the seat of his holiness Panchen Lama, the second head of state after Dalai Lama.

An interesting visit includes a tall bronze statue of Maitreya, the future Buddha, which stands at 21 meters. After a lovely tour having lunch in a local Tibetan restaurant of tourists, standard meals include all types of cuisine, from continental to typical Tibetan food items.

Afternoon visits Shigatse market, a lively place with many shops and vendors for all Tibetans to trade and barter, an exciting spot to observe Tibetan traditional customs and ways of daily life. After a great day, we went back to the hotel, with time to relax and for a short stroll around the streets of Shigatse city.

Best of Tibet Cultural Scenic Tour Morning is an interesting drive taking a short and alternative route to reach Lhasa for the last overnight in Tibet; the drive follows along Brahmaputra River / Yarlung Tsangpo flows from the glaciers of holy Mt. Kailash, located in southwest Tibet. After a scenic journey of four hours, it reaches Lhasa, with time for individual activities and shopping for Tibetan souvenirs.

Morning, after breakfast, and as per flight time for Kathmandu, depart from the hotel for a short, less than two-hour drive. At the Gondor airport bid farewell to the Best of Tibet Cultural Scenic Tour, and driver and then check-in, then board the big airplane, Boeing Air China Airlines, for the scenic flight back to Kathmandu after a memorable experience in Lhasa / Tibet and transfer to your respective hotel. Afternoon free for individual activities and shopping for Nepalese souvenirs.

Last day in Nepal after the Best of Tibet Cultural Scenic Tour, as per your international flight time, either morning, afternoon, or evening. Vertex Holiday guide and staff transfer you to the airport for a homeward journey or to the next port of call after a memorable experience on the Best of Tibet Cultural and Scenic Tour.