Highlights of Tibet and Nepal

Arrive in Chengdu on your own. After completing immigration and custom formalities, meet the shuttle van driver in the curbside at the arrival gate and transfer to the hotel.

(Alt 3595m/11,792 ft.)

After breakfast, take the hotel shuttle van to the airport for flight to Lhasa. Have your passport and Tibet entry permit handy to check in the flight.  

Upon arrival at the Gonggar Airport of Lhasa, you are greeted by your Tibetan guide and get transferred by van to the hotel in the city (1-hour). Today, you need to take complete rest to acclimate. The symptoms of altitude sickness include but not limited to, light-headedness, disorientation, headache, nausea, etc. Do not panic; drink plenty of water, and take rest. No sightseeing is scheduled today so that you can make enough rest and get adequately acclimated to the conditions. The effects of altitude should go away within a day or two. If the symptoms persist or get worse, you need to see a doctor. 

For information on Altitude related sickness, prevention, and remedies, please visit the website for the Nepal International Clinic. (http://www.nepalinternationalclinic.com/altitudesickness.html)

Following breakfast, refreshed, we set out to explore the wonders of the holy city of Lhasa. We begin from Drepung Monastery, five miles west of central Lhasa. Once the world's largest Monastery, it is home to around 7,000 monks. The monastery was the power center of Tibet and home to the Dalai Lamas until the 5th Dalai Lama built the Potala Palace. We visit the Ganden Palace, the main assembly hall, chapels and colleges in the monastery complex and also enjoy the panoramic views of the valley from the monastery.

Ten minutes downhill, we find the Nechung Monastery, which served as the State Oracle until 1959. No Dalai would take any important decision without consulting the Nechung Oracle.

Next, the old town of Barkhor and the Jorkhang Temple, built in the 7th century, and now the most revered of all the religious shrines in Tibet. Thick with the smell of butter lamps, burning incense, the murmur of sacred Tibetan mantras, prostrating Tibetan devotees, visiting the Jorkhang is an unrivaled Tibetan experience. We’ll make time for a walking tour of the old town, unaffected by the Chinese influence, and full of craft workshops and back-street chapels and on the pilgrimage path with the Tibetan devotees spinning prayer wheels or counting beads with the utterance of sacred mantras. The complete circuit can take up to 3 hours, but you may cut it short and return to Barkhor Square from anywhere if you choose.

An optional Tibetan opera and folk dance show are available tonight. The play with dinner costs about US$ 15.

We’ll start early today to make the most of our time. First, by car to Dickey Lam (Deji Zhonglu in Chinese) to join the hundreds of Tibetan pilgrims heading to the Potala Palace. The trail takes us through the rock carvings and a chorten built entirely of the carved mani stones. At the intersection of Beijing Road and Dickey Lam, we might see devout Tibetans rubbing their backs, shoulders, and hips against a series of holy rocks! We walk past to the Golden Yak statue, and, if time permits, we can climb scenic viewpoints on the way to Potala Palace, Lhasa's cardinal landmark.

Potala Palace, situated atop a 130-meter hill, is among the most exceptional architectures of the world. It was the power center of Tibet until the Dalai Lama's departure to India in 1959. The complex has two palaces – white and red. The White Palace contains the throne rooms of the 13th and 14th Dalai Lamas, a reception hall, meditation room, and the bedrooms used by Dalai Lamas. The Red Palace houses various chapels and the tombs of several Dalai Lamas. A visit to Lhasa is incomplete without visiting Potala Palace.

The other great Gelugpa monastery of Lhasa is the Sera Monastery, our next stop. Three miles north of central Lhasa, Sakya Yeshe, the disciple of Tsongkhapa, founded it. In its heyday, the monastery was home to 5,000 monks; now only 500 live there. The monastery has not lost its charm. An essential part of the Sera Monastery visit is the Monks’ debating ceremony each afternoon. Beforehand, we might want to visit the various chapels of the monastery. Enthusiastic hikers can also hike on the monastery’s pilgrimage path.

(13,467 ft., 176 miles, 6 hrs.)

Today, we travel to Gyantse town, which still maintains traditional Tibetan characters while other Tibetan towns are rapidly changing to modern Chinese cities. The road trip involves the crossing of two high passes the Kamba La (15,700 ft.) and the Karo La (16,500 ft.) and follows the banks of the Yamdrok Tso Lake for more than 40 miles. The Yamdrok Tso Lake is one of the four holiest lakes of Tibet and has beautiful turquoise green water. On the way, we will take side excursion of Samding Monastery and Ralung Monastery, which are less frequented by the visitors (subject to permission by local authorities).

Arrive in Gyantse late afternoon. After settling into your accommodations, your guide will take you to stroll in the town.

(Altitude 12,785 ft. distance 57miles, 2 ½ hrs.)

After breakfast, we will visit the Pelkor Chode and Kumbum Monastery- the two main highlights of Gyantse. The Kumbum Stupa is a landmark of Gyantse, and you can spot from far away. Time permitting, we may also take a short hike to the historical fortress of Gyantse.

Late morning, we leave for Shigatse-the the second largest city of Tibet. About 13 miles (20 km) before Shigatse, we will take a 2.5-mile side trip of Shalu Monastery. It was the first of the major monasteries to be built by noble families of the Tsang Dynasty during Tibet's great revival of Buddhism and was an essential center of the Sakya tradition.

Upon arrival in Shigatse, check into the hotel and later take a relaxing walk through Shigatse's Flea market, which is an excellent bargain place for Tibetan souvenir.

(186 miles, 6 hrs.)

After breakfast, check out of the hotel. First, we visit the famous Tashilunbo Monastery-the principal seat of Panchen Lama, who is the second most revered religious leader of Tibet after Dalai Lama. The monastery is one of the six major Gelugpa Monasteries of Tibet.

For the return journey, we will take the southern friendship highway that runs along the Yarlung Tsambo River. Upon arrival, check into your accommodations, and the balance of the day is at leisure.

After breakfast, get transferred to the airport in time for the flight to Kathmandu, Nepal. It's one hour and 30 minutes long spectacular flight across the Himalaya! Enjoy the breathtaking views of snow-capped mountains, including Mount Everest.

You can obtain a Nepal visa upon arrival at Kathmandu airport. The visa fee costs US$ 25 (good for 15 days) and one picture. Complete the immigration and custom formalities and meet Far & High representative at the arrival gate. Following introductions, get transferred to the hotel in the city.

After refreshment, and time permitting, you can visit the Kathmandu Durbar Square with the former Royal Palace complex. It used to have an array of ancient and medieval Hindu Temples with rich wood carving and stone sculptures. But several of them were either collapsed or damaged during the earthquake of April 2015. The temples and palaces are under renovation and reconstruction.

We will visit the temple of Living Goddess Kumari. Sometimes, she grants a glimpse to the visitors from the balcony. We will take a stroll through the streets of Indrawchowk and Assan-the traditional business hub of Kathmandu and end up in touristy Thamel.

We end up the day in a typical Nepali restaurant where you will enjoy Nepali welcome dinner amidst folklore dancing.

After breakfast, your guide and driver will take you for sightseeing. We first visit Boudhanath Stupa that claims to be the largest Buddhist monument in Asia. The area is predominantly Tibetan and reminds of Barkhor Square of Lhasa. Around the central stupa are several Buddhist monasteries associated with different schools of Buddhism. 

Next, visit the Pashupatinath temple-the most revered Hindu temple of Nepal. The temple is on the bank of the sacred Bagmati River, which is one of the principal tributaries of the holy Ganges. Admission to the central temple courtyard is reserved for the Hindus only, but you may still view the temple from another side of the river.

Now, we head to Bhaktapur-the smallest of the three medieval principalities of Kathmandu valley-but the best-preserved one. We visit the Durbar Square of Bhaktapur that constitutes the former palace and an array of temples with intricate wood carvings, metal works, and stone sculptures. We take a stroll on the cobbled streets with shops, art workshops lined up on either side. We visit the Duttratraya Temple, Puajarimath Complex, and also the potter's square. We will take a chance to see the traditional Thangka painters, woodcarvers, and potters at work.

Late afternoon, you are dropped off at your hotel for your time.

After a leisurely morning breakfast, transfer to the airport for flight to Bharatpur airport (Less than an hour drive from both Sauraha and Kasara area of Chitwan National Park). It's a short (20 minutes) flight, but due to weather, you can expect delayed schedules.

Upon arrival, you are met by your resort representative and transferred to the resort. After lunch, you will have some time to rest, and then your local guide will take you for a visit to a Tharu Village. Tharus are the aboriginal inhabitants of Chitwan who still live with their centuries-old lifestyle and traditions.

In the evening, enjoy the Tharu cultural show or slide show presentation on Chitwan's flora and fauna.

Note: Your resort provides lunch at Chitwan. Due to travel delays or other reasons, if you do not arrive in the resort in time for lunch, you may request a lunch box on the last day at Chitwan.

Today, with the local nature guide, you will embark on various jungle safari excursions such as elephant safari, canoeing, bird watching, nature walk, etc. During the dry season (Nov-May), jeep safaris may be available as an option to an elephant safari. Chitwan National Park is one of the most famous game parks in Asia and home to the royal Bengal tiger, leopard, sloth bear, one-horned rhinoceros, sambar, spotted deer, wild boards, gharials, marsh mugger crocodiles, and more than 600 different species of resident and migratory birds. The most commonly spotted animals are one-horned Asian rhinoceros, deer, monkeys, and wild boars.

If you have an interest in birds, you will have the opportunity to take an hour-long birding trip in the morning before breakfast.

After breakfast, transfer to Bharatpur airport for flight to Pokhara. A 20-minutes brief flight, and you will arrive in beautiful Pokhara valley nestled in the lap of Annapurna Himalaya. Pokhara is often referred to as the capital of nature! On a clear weather day, you will enjoy splendid views of the Himalayan mountains.

Upon arrival in Pokhara, check into your accommodations. After wash up and change, your guide will take you to stroll in the lakeside.

Early morning, we will drive to Sarangkot (1,592m/5,222 ft.) for sunrise view and Himalayan Panorama. On a clear weather day, Sarangkot offers spectacular views of the western range of the Himalaya and the valleys. On the way back, we stop at Bindhebasini Temple-the most revered of the Hindu Temples in Pokhara.

We return to the hotel for breakfast, and then we go for sightseeing. First, we visit Bindhebasini Temple- the most revered Hindu temple in Pokhara, where we can experience the Hindu rites and rituals. Next, we visit the vibrant Old Bazaar.

If you are keen on hiking, there are several hiking options. One of them is Peace Stupa hiking. The Peace Stupa lies at the ridge towering over the Fewa Lake. Take a boat across the lake and begin your hike that takes about 2-hours and you can arrange to meet your transport at the stupa and drive back to the hotel.

Other attractions of Pokhara include a deep gorge of Seti River, Davis Fall created by gushing waters of Fewa Lake and nearby Tibetan Village. Pokhara also has some fascinating museums such as mountaineering and Gurkha museums if you are interested. You may or may not visit all the attractions, depending on available time and interests.

After breakfast, we will take a boating trip on Lake Fewa and visit the Island Temple of Barahi.

We will take an early afternoon flight back to Kathmandu. On a clear weather day, the flight offers spectacular views of the Himalayan mountains on your left side!

Upon arrival at the Kathmandu airport, you are met and transferred to the international terminal for flight to your next destination.