GENERAL INFORMATION

TRAVEL IDEAS

Lhasa City Stay, 4 days
Tibet in Depth, 7 days
China To Tibet To Nepal, 16 days
China & Pandas with Tibet Train, 13 days

HOLIDAY OF A LIFETIME

Splendours of China and Tibet, 18 days

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Mt Everest At Night

Mt Everest From the Tibet Side

China to Tibet to Nepal

16 days Overland by Train and 4WD

On this epic journey you arrive at the world's largest airport, visit the world's largest wall and largest public square. You will then travel on the world's highest railway to the Rooftop of the World. After visiting the Potala Palace, one of the world's architectural wonders, as well as other amazing sites, you will travel on the Sino-Nepal Friendship Highway, one of the world's highest roadways.

Another highlight is a side-trip to the world's highest monastery at Everest Base Camp (on the Tibet side) where you can view the world's highest mountain. This is also a journey of discovery where you will see the future as well as the past.

It is possible to start this journey in Chengdu, Shanghai, Guangzhou, Chongqing or Xining. Please apply for details.

Potala Palace From Roof
of Drepung Monastery

Day 1. Arrive in Beijing.
Welcome to China (and the world's largest airport). You will be met by Goway's representative and transferred to your hotel. Remainder of day at leisure.

New Otani Changfugong Hotel (3 nights)

Day 2. Touring Beijing.
Visit Tian An Men Square, the largest public plaza in the world and the Forbidden City whose acres of splendid 15th Century halls and pavilions graced with imperial treasures now comprise the Palace Museum. You will also visit the beautiful Summer Palace, a complex of pavilions, temples and galleries situated on an immense man-made lake. (BL)

Day 3. The Great Wall.
A day you won't forget! Your full day tour includes The Great Wall of China, one of the world's architectural marvels. Also visit the Ming Tombs, a total of 13 Imperial tombs from the Ming Dynasty. Stop for a photo at the Olympic Site. (BL)

Day 4. Depart Beijing.
Free morning for shopping, followed by an afternoon tour to the Temple of Heaven before boarding the Train to Lhasa (soft sleeper) which departs Beijing at 21:30. On board Train (2 nights) (B)L

Day 5. Onboard train to Lhasa.
Travel through Xian, Lanzhou and Xining. You are travelling on the highest rail line in the world which exceeds 13,000 feet (4000m) above sea level for more than 80 percent of the route and tops at a height of 16,640 feet (5120m). The trip takes around 48 hours and covers a distance of approximately 4,065 km.

The power for the train is provided by three 3,800 horse power diesel locomotives. Amazingly, it climbs from Golmund City at 9,000 ft (2770m) to Tanggula Pass at 16,640 feet (4000m) in a mere 6-1/2 hours. You journey through picturesque scenery, showcasing a vista of green foothills, mountainous landscape and snow-clad mountains, combined with the fascination of Tibetan life in the villages and farms you pass along the way. When you reach Golmund, the change in scenery is quite striking. The landscape becomes very barren with a lunar look to it, as the train starts on a steep climb to Lhasa. This is the stretch where oxygen is released into the cabins. And, if you still feel dizziness, you can request a personal oxygen canister.

Day 6. Arrive in Lhasa.
You will arrive in Lhasa at 18:04 and be met by your local Tibetan guide who will transfer you to your hotel.

Tips to acclimatize to high altitude (3650m) for the first two days in Tibet. You may feel a bit tired and uncomfortable when arriving in Lhasa due to lack of oxygen. You could take oxygen in the hotel, at a clinic or hospital if you really need it. However, please try to avoid it and get adapted to the high altitude by yourself if you don't feel too bad. Remember there is still a long way to go, if you rely on oxygen from the beginning, it will be more difficult for you to adapt to higher altitude at Shigatse, and Everest Base which is 5300m.. You should restrict or eliminate alcohol in the first two days when you are in Tibet as it can trigger high altitude sickness. Lhasa Hotel (3 nights) D

Day 7. Sightseeing in Lhasa.
First, visit the amazing Potala Palace built in the 17th century and the former home to the Dalai Lamas. It is now a museum 13 stories high and consisting of 1,000 rooms. Then visit Drepung Monastery, an active lamasery and Norbulinka Park which was the summer residence of the Dalai Lamas. In the evening, enjoy dinner and a Tibet Cultural Show. (BLD)

Day 8. More Lhasa.
This morning visit the Jokhang Temple, one of Tibet's holiest temples. In the afternoon, visit the Sera Monastery built in 1419 and a training centre for Buddhist monks. There will be time to go shopping on Barkhor Street. (BLD)

Yamdrok Tso Lake, Tibet

Day 9. Lhasa to Shigatse
(500km, 6 hours driving, asphalt road in good condition, Shigatse situated at elevation of 3900m.) This morning you will depart at 8:00 am by 4 wheel drive landcruiser from Lhasa , with the first pass at 5000m. being Gangbala Mt. , then to Yamdrok lake, one of the three holy lakes in Tibet where you will enjoy a picnic lunch. Continue to Gyangtse and visit the Kumbum monastery, with the Zongshan ruins in the distance, before arriving in Shigatse.

Shigatse Hotel (BLD)

Day 10. Shigatse to Tingri.
(320km, 6 hours driving, asphalt road in good condition,, Tingri situated at elevation of 4050m.) Morning visit to Tashilumpo Monastery which was built in 1447, spectacular tombs of Panchen Lamas.

After lunch drive along Tibet-Nepal Friendship Highway passing Lhatse to Tingri. On the way visit Sagya Monastery which is a chief temple of the Sagya school of Lamaism, different to the other temples seen so far as they are all yellow hat sect temples. Arrive Tingri (named Shegar in Tibetan).

Zhufeng Hotel (2 nights) (BLD)

Day 11. Mt. Everest Base Camp – Round Trip.
(480km, 8 total hours driving, unpaved road, Everest Base elevation 5300m) A very early departure, past the checkpoint where you will need to show your travel permit and passport. The road from Tingri to Mt. Everest Base Camp is very rough but with a marvelous view as you pass grassland, rapid rivers and high mountain ranges. You could have a glimpse of four mountains: Mt. Lhotse(8516m), Mt. Everest(8848m), Mt. Qowowuyag (8201m) and Mt Mayalu (8463m). You will have time at Everest Base camp for photographs and lunch, and a visit to Rongphu Monastery, the world's highest monastery. In the mid afternoon, return over the same road to our hotel in Tingri, arriving in time for dinner. (BLD)

Day 12. Tingri to Zhangmu.
(250km, with some very rough road around mountains, 4070m-2300m). As we continue along the Friendship Highway via Old Tingri, we get one last look at Mt. Everest in the distance, and the altitude starts to decrease from now onwards. After lunch in Nyalam, the landscape becomes greener and greener, and you can see water falling from high cliffs into the deep valley down below. Arrive in Zhangmu, a cute border town at 2400m elevation.

Zhangmu Hotel. (BLD)

Day 13. China-Nepal border to Dhulikhel.
This morning, your Tibetan Guide will take you to the border where you then cross the Friendship Bridge and go through the formalities.

Tips for China-Nepal border crossing: your guide will first accompany you to the China Exit Border Office in Zhangmu to register and stamp for departure. Then an 8 km drive towards the Friendship Bridge. Your vehicle will stop 50m away from the border bridge where the China side border check office is located and you are then required to walk through on your own across the bridge which is 50 meters long. When you get to the Nepal side, you meet your Nepalese guide and driver, and check through immigration there. You can get the Nepal visa upon arrival with 30USD cash.

You are then driven to Dhulikhel, a little town exuding great charm in bare-brick houses, carved wooden windows, sloping tile-roofs, pagoda-temples and sacred statues everywhere. Lots of temples dot the town and the skyline. Many vantage points offer a panorama of the Himalayan Mountains. Bird watching, hiking and mountain biking are some of the activities that can be undertaken here. Dhulikhel Mountain Lodge B

Day 14. Drive to Kathmandu via Bhaktapur.
Following breakfast there is a 40 min drive to Bhaktapur, ancient city of temples and handicrafts. After a city tour of Bhaktapur, drive to Kathmandu and check into your hotel. After lunch there will be a tour of Kathmandu Durbar Square where you will visit different types of temples. Check into hotel. Soaltee

Crown Plaza (2 nights) (B)

Day 15. Kathmandu and Patan Sightseeing.
Morning city tour includes Swayambhunath (the Monkey Temple) and the Museum. In the afternoon, visit Patan City and the Tibetan handicraft center. (B)

Day 16. Depart Kathmandu.
At leisure until you are transferred to the airport for your onward flight. (B)

DEPARTURES

Join any day between April and October. Please note it is difficult to get Beijing-Lhasa train tickets in July, August and National Holiday season October 1-7 when literally millions of Chinese tour their own country.

13-day travellers join day 3 and depart day 15.

PRICES

Please request the price for the dates you wish to travel.

PRICE INCLUDES

All travel by train (soft class berth) and 4-WD landcruiser, accommodation in main cities in deluxe or first class hotels (otherwise moderate), meals as shown by BLD, sightseeing as outlined with local English-speaking local guides, and transfers as shown.

SPECIAL NOTE: Please note there is no shower on the train. While there is a dining car with a limited menu, we recommend you take snacks. Your train ticket may not be confirmed until two weeks before train departure. Many suggest you take altitude sickness tablets, subject to approval from your physician.