Click here to reserve your spot with a $250 deposit.

Cultural Tour of Lhasa & the Surrounding Monasteries

Nepal/Tibet FAQs

Known to outsiders as "the forbidden city," Lhasa has been the focus of myths and legends for centuries. This sightseeing excursion of Nepal and Tibet gives travelers of all ages an opportunity to experience the religion, culture and landscape of each country.

Your adventure will start in Kathmandu, Nepal's capital city. The Kathmandu Valley is a colorful mixture of old and new, businessmen with cell phones in silk suits, barefoot women leading home goats and children in school uniforms are all part of the fabric of this city, along with the Hindu and Buddhist faiths. The external stimulation is immense upon arrival and will continue so throughout your time in this mysterious city.

Upon arrival you will be met by our friendly staff and escorted to one of the many wonderful hotels located in the Thamel district of Kathmandu. After check-in a welcome dinner is planned to get everyone acquainted and to go over the trip's details before the real adventure begins. Early the next morning, we will board a bus for an all day tour, visiting some of the area's World Heritage Sites (including Swayambhu Stupa, Bouddhanath Stupa, Pashupatinath Temple and the walled city of Bhaktapur).

After two nights in Kathmandu, the group will depart by plane over the Himalayan peaks for the 8-day tour of Tibet. No matter what you've read or heard, Tibet will exceed your expectations. Everywhere you travel in Tibet today, Tibetans can be seen praying, making pilgrimages to the many holy sites, or using yaks to carry goods to market, much the same as they did hundreds of years ago. Lhasa is the center of government in this region, and the Chinese have a large presence here. But, sitting among all this newly introduced Chinese influence is the Potala, ancestral home to the Dalai Lama and a monastery of immense stature. The Potala has been repaired and preserved, and great care has been taken to preserve the many artifacts that have been housed here for centuries. Most of the monasteries have been painstakingly rebuilt, but you'll see others in disrepair left to the hand of time, witness to a culture nearly wiped out in our lifetime.

Our group will be met at the Gonggar Airport in Tibet, a scenic three-hour drive from Lhasa and the start of our journey. We will spend the first couple of days exploring Lhasa with visits to the Potala Place, Jokhang Temple, Drepung and Sera Monastery, along with Bharkor Market. You will also have some free time to explore the city on your own. On day three of our Tibetan tour, we will leave Lhasa and take to the cities of Tsedang, Gyantse and Shigatse, while enjoying the landscape that gave Tibet the title of "Roof of the World."

Once finished with your visit to Tibet, we'll board the plane for the short flight back to Kathmandu, where you will have the rest of the afternoon to shop or relax. This will be your last day in Kathmandu and you'll be free to do, as you'd like. A group farewell dinner is planned for this evening.

The next morning after breakfast, everyone should be ready to depart for the airport for his or her flight home. Our staff will escort everyone to the airport with departure instructions.

4 Nights in Kathmandu

13 Days in Tibet

(Fly to Tibet / fly back to Nepal)

(Total: 12 days)

USA-to-USA: 15 days

Arrival/Departure City: Tribhuvan Airport, Kathmandu, Nepal

Cost to be determined -- please call
Single Supplement: $385 USD

Best time: May - October Difficulty: Easy/Moderate

Dates 2008

• June 15 – 26
• July 13 - 24
• August 3 – 14

Click here to reserve your spot with a $250 deposit.

GROUP SIZE: 4 – 16 members

Can be done as a customized or private trip, additional cost may apply.

STYLE OF TRIP: Sightseeing with hotels (Meals in Tibet included)

WHAT’S INCLUDED:

• Airport transfers in Nepal and Tibet
• B/B accommodations in Kathmandu (4 nights, double)
• Guided sightseeing tour in Kathmandu
• All transportation during trip to Tibet
• Fully experienced english speaking guide
• Basic lodging while in Tibet (double)
• Sightseeing in Tibet per itinerary, w/entrance fees
• Full board in Tibet
• Group medical kit
• Chinese visa & Tibet permit
• Flight from Nepal / Lhasa / Nepal
• Group water purifier for Tibet

WHAT ISN’T INCLUDED:

• Nepalese multi entry visa $80, can be purchase upon arrival
• Airport departure tax (Rs1100 = $16)
• Lunch & dinner in Kathmandu ($15 per day)
• Lhasa airport tax (90Yuan)
• Soft drinks, snacks, alcoholic beverages
• Any items of a personal nature, laundry, phone calls, e-mail, etc.
• Evacuation, travel or medical insurance
• Tipping of native staff ($75 pp, depends on group size)

DIFFICULTY:
MODERATE/STRENUOUS - CAMPING

Rated as STRENUOUS because of the altitude. You should not join this trip if you have a pass history of altitude related problems. Most travel is by bus or 4x4 vehicle. Lodging will be the best available in each city. This is a great trip for anyone in good health & fitness and enjoys learning about different cultures.

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For more information, or to book your very own Eastern Mountain Sports adventure, call our travel guru Becky Harrison at
888-755-8735
or e-mail us at becky@emstrek.com.

Call 888-755-8735 / Contact Us