This trip is recommended for those who have a bit experience of previous trekking in high altitude. The main attractions of this tour are Lhasa, Ronbuk and Kathmandu. Your trip begins by a direct flight from Kathmandu to Lhasa, the capital of Tibet. Your Lhasa city tour will begin with visiting Potala palace of the Dalai Lama, the Jhokhang, Sera and Drepung monasteries. Soon after you will drive to another important city like Shigatse and Gyantse town of Tibet thus it has a great opportunity to know true Tibet with this adventure. After arrival in Ronbuk we began trekking of eight days up to the Everest high base camp and later continue drive back to Kathmandu via Zhangmu, the Nepal Tibet boarder. Above the ice-clad realm of Camp III on the North Face of Everest unfolds one of world’s most spectacular mountain panoramas: the huge rock palisades of Everest’s Northeast Ridge, the wind-blown snows of the North Col, and most compelling of all, the instantly recognizable rock summit of Everest, or Chomolungma in the Tibetan language. The top of the world appears very close from here—and it is, only a little more than 8,000 feet above the high point of our trek. The surreal world of Camp III at 21,100 feet is the destination of The World’s Highest Trek—the closest that non-climbers can get to the roof of the world.
Pick up from Gonggar airport, after finished immigration formalities it takes about 1 hour 30 minutes drive along 93 km road leading to Lhasa. It is advisable to rest in Hotel.
Tour starts from the religious Potala Palace built in the 7th century by the famous Tibetan king-Songtzen Gampo. The present one was built by the 5th Dalai Lama in the 17th century. It became known as the "Winter Palace" by the 1750, when the 7th Dalai Lama built the Norbulingka Park as his summer residence. fter that, you will visit Norbulingka Park. In 1752, the 7th Dalai Lama built the first palace in this summer palace for successive Dalai Lamas to carry out their political and religious activities during the summer season. Today Norbulingka has become a public park for picnicking, relaxing and entertainment. Later, visit Sera Monastery which is dedicated to the Gelugpa or Yellow Hat Sect, a branch of Tibetan Buddhism, founded by Tsong Khapa. Jamchen Chojey, one of Tsong Khapa's disciples built the monastery in 1419 during the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644). The monastery was named Sera which mean wild rose in the Tibetan language, because the hill behind it was covered with wild roses in bloom when the monastery was built.
In the morning, your guide and driver will accompany you to Gyantse (250 km, 5 hours approx.), a town lying to the south of Lhasa City. On the way there, you will visit one of the holiest lakes in Tibet, a pilgrimage site, The Yamdrok Yumtso Lake, which is compared as “the fairyland in heaven” by Tibetans. You will also have view of the Karola Snow Mountain. Before check in to the hotel, you will visit a special monastery, The Phalkor Monastery, the only monastery that houses monks from different rders (Gelupa, Sakyapa and Kahdampa) in harmony. Phalkor also features its Bodhi Stupa or Kumbum Stupa, which consists of hundreds of chapels in layers, housing about a hundred thousand images of Buddha, so it is called Myriad Buddha’s Stupa as well. Then, we check in to the hotel.
The Gyantse Town is located 100km southeast of Shigatse. It takes about 2 hours to drive from Gyantse to Shigatse. Before checking in to the hotel, visit Tashilunpo Monastery. It is the seat of Panchen Lama. Each year, there is a display of a gigantic thangkas of Buddha will on its Thangka Wall. Beside the trove of thangkas, its murals and other religious and artistic treasures certainly will impose an indelible impression upon visitors. You will also pay a visit to the New Palace of Panchen.
After breakfast, drive to New Tingri (4100 m). The distance between Shigatse and New Tingri is 270 km and it takes 6 hours approx. by land. On reaching, check in to the hotel.
Drive to Rongbuk Monastery. The monastery of Rongbuk(4920m) which lies just 8 km North of the Rongbuk glacier was once the great center of learning for the Buddhist scholars of this area. The monastery, which is regarded to be highest monastery in the world was destroyed to the ground during the period of China's Cultural Revolution, has been renovated and serviced by resident Buddhist nuns.
After breakfast, trek to Everest Base Camp. It takes 2 hours to reach Base Camp.
In order to have safe trip, another day must be spent for properly acclimatizing in Rongbuk. You can rest during the day and explore the area even further if you want.
The first adventurous trek will be made to Base Camp one. Along the way you can glance at the Rongbuk Glacier and surrounding areas which are not less charming areas than any other wonders of the world. You will take a trail that rises to the east side of this ice cap and heads toward the peak of Mt. Everest. Although the hike is fairly short, due to the high altitude, you may still feel hard during trip. So, you may relax today and enjoy exploring this amazing area.
Today your trekking trip will lead you over gravel hills to the west of the glacier. Another scenic day awaits you as you spend the night at the interim camp. Frozen environment that surround you in all directions will surely grant you the amazing experience.
Today is also the day to rest and properly acclimatize as you are now at extremely high altitudes, and must take all necessary safety precautions to avoid hard moments. However, small excursions and wonderful picture capturing can be enjoyed today.
Today you will ascend up towards the Changste glacier encountering the intricate maze of frozen ice. It is certainly an incredible experience to be hiking on the world's highest mountain! Today your camp is even more wonderful and charming than past sites. You are surrounded on all sides by varying glaciers and hanging ice.
Today you can decide whether to stay night at Base camp 3 or simply descend during day and return to Base Camp 2. The walk will be much more enjoyable tomorrow if you stay at the second base camp. However, if you wish you can spend the night at an even higher altitude and impressive location. Camp 3 which lies in the center of flattened gravel mounds next to the glacier only 2400 meters from the top. Today you can observe many of the challenging pinnacles, ridges, and even the rock summit of Everest from the site which is very near from the highest point in the world.
Today you descend down back towards the first base camp capturing the wonderful sights as you leave this amazing peak
Today is your second to last day and you will retrace back the Friendship Highway and experience another memorable drive through high plateau. Once again you will cross two high passes with magnificent Himalayan view. Towards evening, you will descend from the Tibetan plateau and reach Nyalam. Further, it would be the huge relief if one arrives back in this lush town with showers and beds.
Today is the end of your trip. As the day breaks, you we will cross the Friendship Bridge and return Nepal. You will express your fond farewell and thanksgiving to your Tibetan crew and go through all the necessary border paperwork. Then you will meet our Nepalese guide on the other side and by nearly five hours scenic drive you can reach Kathmandu.