Days	Trip Outline	Activity	Accommodation
Day 1	Arrival in Kyirong or Girong (2400m)	Pick up and transfer to hotel, rest at hotel.	Phuntsok Rabsel hotel
Day 2	Kyirong – Old Tingri – Shegar (4200m)	Lagen pass (5273m)	Roof of the world hotel
Day 3	Shegar – Lhatse – Shigatse (3900m)	Tso la pass (4500m)	Gesar hotel
Day 4	Shigatse – Lhasa (3600m)	Yarlung Tsangpo river	Norta hotel
Day 5	Lhasa sightseeing	Potala palace	Norta hotel
Day 6	Lhasa – Gyangtse – Shigatse (3900m)	Yamdrok Lake, Karola Glacier, Kumbum Stupa	Gesar hotel
Day 7	Shigatse – Shegar – EBC (5050m)	Everest Base Camp, Rongbuk monastery	EBC guesthouse
Day 8	EBC - Old Tingri - Gyirong/Kyirong (3680m), 350km, approx 6hrs	Mt. Shishapama, Peikutso lake, Kyirong Valley	Phuntsok Rabsel hotel
Day 9	Depart from Tibet Border Gyirong Port	send off to the Gyirong Border and leave to KTM

 

B=Breakfast.

Day 1. ARRIVAL TO KYIRONG BORDER (2300m)- NEW TINGRI-FROM KATHMANDU, 380km.

Attractions; Sino-Nepal Friendship Bridge, Typical Nepalese Villages and newly opened border for foreigners.

We will arrive in Kyirong (Tibetan border) in the morning and our Tibetan guides will meet your group at the China Custom and do all the formalities for bikes/clients. Once we finished that we need to prepare long drive for New Tingri or Shegar which is almost 380km away from the China Custom. We will stop at local hotel in Tingri, further acclimatization in Tingri local hotel.  

Day 2. OLD TINGRI (4300m)- LHATSE – SHIGATSE (3900m),330km,6hrs. (B)

Attractions: Beautiful Sceneries of Himalayan ranges and short view of Mt.Everest from Kori village. We will drive from Old Tingri to Shigatse through the Gyatso la pass (5200m) we will see the Himalayan ranges and also the snowcapped mountains in distance. After making stop over on the pass we will enjoy the slope highway to Shigatse and overnight in a Gesar hotel in Shigatse.  

Day 3. SHIGATSE (3900m)- GYANGTSE (3900m) - LHASA, 360km, 8-9hrs. (B)

Attractions: Tashi Lhunpo Monastery, Kumbum stupa, Yamdrok lake,

This day will enjoy the landscapes and typical Tibetan villages from Shigatse city which is the second largest city in Tibet and once we arrive there, we will visit Tashi Lhunpo monastery. It one of the largest functioning monasteries in Western Tibet.  It was built in 1447 and holds the remains of the Panchen Lamas. It is a magical experience to wander the halls of this forgotten jewel, taking in the sounds of monks chanting and smelling the incense burning in a ceremonial fashion. Once we have our lunch in the city, we will continue our drive to Gyangtse which is only 90km. On the way we will see the famous agricultural lands of Tibet. Arrival to Gyangtse we will check in hotel either in Yeti or Gyangtse hotel basis on parking area for bikes. If we have enough time then we will visit Kumbum monastery, it is a magnificent structure with many rooms and is the largest stupa in Tibet. It is not only well known for its architecture but also for its old sculptures and paintings hidden inside. After that we will continue our drive through Kampa la Pass (4700m) and will see Yamdrok Lake.  This lake is very holy and shines with a transcendent, turquoise color. Mt.Nyenchen Khangsar, with its snowcapped peaks, glistens in the morning light.  We then continue to drive along the lake for a few kilometers until we get to a lunch spot near Nagartse. Before we get to Nagartse town we will explore the many lush valleys and beautiful Tibetan villages we pass through. On our way from Gyantse, we will stop at Karo la (5150m) to see the sparkling Nyenchen Kangsar Glacier. By late afternoon, we will arrive Lhasa quite late after lines of attractions on the way and overnight in Tashi Norta or similar hotel in Lhasa.  

Day 4. LHASA ESCORTED TOUR. (B) 

Attractions; Jokhang temple and bustling Bakhor Street and Potala palace.

Today is your first day on the high plateau and some of you may have little head ach which is very common for travelers by the high altitude, so drinking enough water and mild activity on the first few days is recommendable. In the morning our guide will meet you at the hotel and take an easy visit to Jokhang Temple in the center of the Old Lhasa city. Jokhang temple is one of the most scared temples in all over Tibet and it is always bustling with earnest local pilgrims since from early days. After that you have time to walk around the Bakhor street which is the one of the most devotional circuit as well as crowded central market of Lhasa, during the old days it is the most famous local market but now it is changed to tourist gift shopping center. The amazing day will be ended with a visit to the famous Potala Palace, the cardinal landmark of Tibet and the masterpiece of Tibetan architecture, it was first built by 33rd King Songtsen Gangpo in 7thcentury and later in 17th century rebuilt by 5th Dalai Lama, since then it was home to the Dalai Lama and his government. Walking though the long steps are quite challenging but it is worthwhile to leave your footsteps in the spiritual palace of God of compassion, which listed in the world heritage in 1994. Continues acclimatize and alleviate jet lag rest of the day. Overnight in Tashi Norta or similar hotel in Lhasa.  

Day 5. LHASA (3600m) – SHIGATSE (3900m), 280Km, 7hrs. (B)

Attractions: Yarlung Tsangpo river. Overnight in hotel.

Today we drive to Shigatse on Friendship Highway and by late afternoon, we will arrive in the town of Shigatse where we will stay overnight in Gesar hotel.  

Day 6. SHIGATSE (3900m) – NEW TINGRI/SHEGAR (4400m), 240km, 7hrs. (B)

Attractions; Rongbuk monastery and Mt. Everest base camp.

Today we will drive straight to Shegar by crossing several passes along the way, you will have the first views of mighty Himalayans from the pass of Gyatso la(5400m) after Lhatse and distant view of Mt. Everest from its viewing point soon after climb down Gyatso la, shortly after the pass we will arrive to Shegar which is the nearest town to EBC. Overnight at Roof of the world/Snow leopard hotel. Note: before leaving Shigatse, your guide needs some time to obtain the ATP from the local PSB, ATP is also known as Alien’s Travel Permit and it is a permit that should be issued for the border check at Shegar

Day 7. SHEGAR – EBC (5200M), 110KM, 6HRS. (B). 

Attractions: Mt.Everest, Rongbuk monastery.

Today after breakfast we will drive to border check point at Shegar, turn off the Friendship Highway and drive toward south in the valley, cross over the Gawu la pass[5250m] through zigzags road, from the pass you will amaze the spectacular Himalayan Ranges and its mighty peaks beyond 8000m, Mt.Makalu(8463m), Mt.Lotse(8516m), Mt.Everest(8844m), Mt.Cho Oyu(8201m) and Mt.Shishapama(8020m) from Left to right, climbing down through numbers of switchback bends lead to the dry valley of Tashi Zom and then finally the day’s destination - Everest Base Camp located in the Rongbuk valley. Rongbuk is the highest monastery in the world and it consist both monks and nuns. Afternoon you have an option to do a short trekking from the tent guesthouses community to E.B.C, it will take you about 2 hours or more per your physical condition (6Km). Or you can take the dedicated minibus instead. We suggest you bring your own sleeping bags for the night if available as the local tent guesthouses reuse the blankets for several weeks due to their poor facility. Overnight in local tent/Rongbuk monastery guesthouse.  

Day 8. RONGBUK (5000m) - OLD TINGRI (4390m) – KYIRONG KUO(1800m). 

Attractions: Beautiful scenery over the Thongla Pass, impressive view of Mt. Shishapama, Peikutso lake.

As we awake the next morning, a striking view of luminous peaks is highlighted by the sun and it is bittersweet to say goodbye to this landscape that we have gotten to know so well. Next, we will drive south to Nepal and traverse the Thongla pass. Then drive along the Peikutso lake with a great view of the Mt Shishapama, gradually descend into Kyirong valley with a series of switchback bends, the dry climate changes into a warm, moist environment and it is clear that we are drawing into the Indian subcontinent. Our destination is Tibet border town Kyirong which is just opened border for travelers, because the previously Zhangmu border was closed after the deadly Nepal earthquake in April 2015. Overnight in a local hotel in Kyirong.

Day 9. KYIRONG KUO (1800m) - SABRUBESI.  95km.

Today our staff will help our group to cross the border. We drive down to the friendship bridge and our guide will help you to clear the China Customs, from there our Tibetan staffs are not allow stepping further and time to say your farewells. Before your departure, we will appreciate if you can spend a short time to evaluate our services either by filling the feedback form or simply send us an email. When you crossed the bridge, you will get into Nepal and Nepal visa can be obtained at the arrival by paying USD25 for 15 days tourist visa. Then you can easily find jeeps and buses from the Nepalese border town to Kathmandu city, it is 130km from the border to Kathmandu city and you will be passing through the Langtang national park.

Tibet is a country, which is totally different from any other places around the world, just because of its political sensitivity, rich culture diversity and peculiar geographical formation. Although this means it is not the easiest place to travel, which is also what makes it so special. In order to make your trip worry free and indisputable, here we have carefully collected all the essential information that will give you a clear image of the trip as well as logistics during your stay in Tibet, this also will be helpful for your trip preparation before you leave, so please go through it and make sure you are well prepare for the trip, if you have any questions, please feel free to contact our tour consultant or write us on sales@exploretibet.com Legitimate Claim; As we mentioned above, Tibet is politically very sensitive and any political activities are restrictedly prohibited, so we always advising our clients to keep away from any political conversations or activities that bound against the policy of People’s republic of China. Your involvement in such activities would influence the whole group as well as future of all your guides, driver and the company. If any one does, then we have the full right to cancel the trip and we are not responsible for so caused hassle and costs. Emergency contacts: Being a responsible company, we are always available for 24 hours a day, in case if you need any emergency help. It is best to first call your designated travel coordinator or sales person (whose contact numbers are will be listed on your tour agreement), for any reason if you are not able to reach to him/her then please ring us on the below numbers; Lhasa Head Office: (0891)-6329441 (the area code 0891 is not necessary if you are calling from Lhasa) Chengdu Office: (028)-86262365 Note: office working time is 9am – 7pm from Monday to Friday. Sonam Jamphel (Sales Manager) 0158890904080 or 013398000993 (Available for 24 hours a day) Chinese Visa Every one should have the valid passport (with minimum 6 months validity) and Chinese visa to travel into China and the Chinese visa is also valid in Tibet, generally the Chinese visa is can be applied either by your self or use a visa service agency in your home country, but the visa application and requirements are little vary in different countries, so please check with your regional Chinese Embassy or consulate for the most up-to-date visa requirements. NOTE; It is your responsibility to obtain the Chinese visa, so just for your information it is better not to list Tibet as your travel destination on your visa application form, just list Chengdu or Beijing, whichever your in-bound city is as your travel destination. If you enter Tibet from Nepal then you don’t need the Chinese individual visa and please check the next line for what you need. If You Enter Tibet From Nepal If you enter Tibet from Nepal, then the permit and Chinese visa formalities are slightly different, to enter from Nepal, you don't need the Chinese individual visa and instead you should obtain the Tibet group visa from Chinese Embassy in Nepal, you can’t apply it directly and you should have a local Nepalese agency to apply for it, so our Nepalese partner agency will assist you for that application, normally the application takes 2 to 5 working days for different cost and it only can be applied when you arrive in Nepal, because your original passport is needed along the application. More about the Tibet Group Visa and cost please check here Tibet Travel Permit and Its Process Tibet travel permit is compulsory for all the travelers to visit Tibet and it can be obtained within 15 days prior to the trip starting dates, once you have booked the tour with us, we will obtain it for you which is included in the tour package. We need clear scan copies of your Chinese visa and passports to apply for the permit. For more detail and latest permit updates, please check here Etiquettes and Taboos: Cultural Considerations: Be aware that your cultural values may differ from those of locals. These may include different concepts of time, personal space, communication, etc., which are not wrong or inferior, just different. Making the extra effort to respect local customs and cultural differences will enhance your interactions with locals during your time in Tibet and contribute to building mutual respect between locals and tourists. Appropriate attire: Most Tibetans are pretty conservative from our western perspective so it is always polite to wear long pants at all times (guys and girls). If you wear shorts in rural villages or in the Bakhor district in Lhasa you will definitely get stranger looks than normal! Women should wear long pants or skirts. Shirts should not be revealing and bras should be worn. Unfortunately, many tourists ignore these cultural norms and can be seen in towns and villages wearing shorts and revealing summer attire; while it may be comfortable, it is not appropriate, especially when visiting monasteries. Don’t be shy to inform other tourists of the proper dress for monasteries; perhaps they are not aware of the cultural considerations and etiquette. Itinerary Disclaimer Generally we adhere to the original itinerary that we described but sometimes little alterations can be born due to the situations that are beyond our control. On the other hand, in order to make our trip for your personal experiences and flexible, we allowed our clients to make minor changes by discussing with us (office staff) and guide (field staff). The trip detail itinerary is a general guide to the tour and region, and any mention of specific destination or activities is by no means of guarantee that they will be encountered or carried due to the local circumstances and climate. Keeping in touch with folks at home If your family members or colleagues or friends want to connect with you during the tour, then you can either provide your guide mobile number to reach you during the trip or if you don’t know your guide number at the time, please don’t feel hesitate to provide our company contact numbers listed in the Emergency Contact section and we can find a way to reach you through guide mobile. Meals In order to provide you the maximum flexibility of what, where and when to eat, we generally doesn’t include meals in the tour cost except breakfast included at the hotels, but our local guide will suggest you good local restaurant per your requirements. In the cities like Lhasa, Tsedang, Gyantse, Shigatse and Zhangmu you can find good restaurants serve wide range of Tibetan food, continental food, Nepalese food, Indian food and Chinese cuisine, but in Tingri, EBC and in remote places, there is a limited choice for noodles and pan cakes. Approximate cost of a meal in Tibet is USD3 – USD10 per person/meal depending on your individual requirement. Destination Guide & Recommended Reading List: Tibet is a unique travel destination with some special considerations. It is highly recommended that you undertake some background reading before travel to Tibet. The more you learn about your destination, the more rewarding your travel experience will be. While we include a recommended reading list, which you can refer to for in-depth information, the following is a recommended reading list that might be helpful for you. | Tibetan History | Tibetan Culture & Arts | Tibetan Religion | Lhasa and the TAR:

• Tibet: The Lonely Planet Country Guide
• Trekking in Tibet: A Traveler's Guide by Gary McCue
• Tibet Handbook: Moon Travel Guide
• Fodor's Nepal, Tibet, and Bhutan: Expert Advice and Smart Choices: Where to Stay, Eat, and 
Explore On and Off the Beaten Path
• To a Mountain in Tibet by Colin Thubron
• The Mount Kailash Trek by Constance Roos/Sian Pritchard-Jones
• Trekking Tibet by Gary McCue/George Schaller
• The Heart of the World, A Journey to the Tibet's Lost Paradise by Ian Baker
• My Journey to Lhasa by Alexandra David-Neel 

Kham and Amdo regions:

• Footprints Tibet Handbook by Gyurme Dorje
• Lonely Planet China (See Yunnan, Sichuan, Qinghai and Gansu Provinces)
• Bradt Guide Tibet by Michael Buckley

Domestic Flights and Trains to Tibet There is only one international flight to Tibet, which is from Kathmandu (Nepal), and then there are lots of flights from different cities in Mainland China like Chengdu, Beijing, Shanghai and so on. Please Check Flight Schedule and Cost Here There is no international train to Tibet and all the trains are from Mainland China like Chengdu, Beijing, Shanghai, Xining and so on. Please Check Train Schedule and Cost Here Responsible Tourism Initiative:  Tourism has the potential to have positive and negative effects on the local environment and peoples. Making a conscious decision about how you travel can make a difference. Whether you are traveling to the Amazon rainforest or to Mt. Everest Base Camp, taking the initiative to reduce negative impacts and help sustain local communities is the responsible thing to do. Read more how we practice Responsible Travel How & What To Pack It is important to pack light and effectively, specially when you travelling to a new place, you need to know some necessary items should be carry with, depending on the length of your trip and where you go, you can get away with a minimal amount of clothing. One medium-large backpack or rolling duffle and a day pack should be just right for a 2-4 week trip. We suggest you to check our packing guideline here Complaint & Feedback We are always trying to provide the best service that can achieve a memorable Tibet tour for you, but sometimes you might be dissatisfied with some arrangement as different people has various aspirations and requirement, so please let us know instantly and we will try to solve everything right away to avoid repeating mistakes unknowingly. As we are looking for every single opportunity to improve our services, so your valuable suggestions and constructive complaints are very much appreciated.

" Visiting Tibet was a dream come true for us, and particularly for Colin, who has wanted to visit the Potala Palace since he was a child. We've been to other Buddhist countries and regions -- Sikkim, Nepal, and all over Southeast Asia -- but Tibet seems particularly remote and starkly beautiful. We don't know anyone else who has been to Tibet."

-- from James & Colin (USA). Travelled in Oct 2012. 

“Tashi Delek Sonam!

We had a wonderful time traveling in Tibet and I thank you for making our trip so fabulous

You are an amazing and special man Sonam.

I thought you might like some copies of the photos I took when we went out with you.

Your mother is a beautiful person.

Thank you again”

“We had a wonderful time traveling in Tibet and i thank you for making our trip so fabulous. You are an amazing and special man Sonam Jamphel.”

 ----From Amon Clerc  (Australia), traveled in April, 2012.

 

“We love both our guide Namgyal and drive Choephel very much, they are great people and it was really nice to travel with them”

“wir lieben beide unser Führer Namgyal und fahren Choephel sehr viel, sie sind tolle Leute und es war wirklich schön, mit ihnen zu reisen “

----From A group of German Family, traveled on 31^st March, 2012.

“Our guide is knowledgeable and good commend of English, extremely helpful and attentive to our needs. a superb guide.”

--From Christopher Douglas Lewington and Anne Marie Fereday (British), traveled in August, 2011.

 

“We had a wonderful time, Dolma was an excellent guide & very helpful. We especially enjoyed our time in the more rural areas of Tibet!” ----From Qiao Li & Imogen(Austrilia), traveled in August, 2011.

  “Lovely people. Good knowledge. Excellent having a female guide, very happy with Tenzin & her support. vehicle excellent & driver very happy & good”.

----From Charnley Lisa Marie (Australia), traveled on 22^nd May, 2012.

“Great responses from Sonam Jamphel during organizing and planning of the tour. Kelsang was very helpful and obviously has great knowledge of many areas of Tibet and its history. The driver was always happy everywhere we went. The whole was package also really good value. Thanks!”