We have an start this early this morning to the Panda Breeding Centre because they are most active early, feeding and playing. You will then continue to Chengdu airport for the flight to Lhasa which is approx. 2 hours.

Your driver will have your TTB permit and flight details and drop you at the departure hall. You will need to check-in and pass security together as your permit will be checked. Don’t lose it!

The lure of Lhasa cannot be under-estimated.

Tibet is described as the roof of the world and its capital, Lhasa is the soul of this fascinating place. Lhasa still remains the city of wonders, with Potala Palace, which dominates the skyline, and the bustle of the local markets.

You’ll no doubt be feeling the jump in altitude in Lhasa, it’s very normal. We advise that you rest and take it easy for the remainder of the day.

We’ll all meet up again for a welcome dinner in one of Lhasa’s great restaurants.

Accommodation: Kyichu or Tashi Choeta
Meals included: Breakfast, Dinner

Manjushri painting © Mads Mathiasen

We head out on a full day of sightseeing, starting with a visit to the huge university monastery of Drepung, founded in 1416 and once home to more than 6000 monks. Close by is the temple of the Nechung Oracle, advisor to the Dalai Lamas.

Depending how everyone is feeling there is the option to stop at the Summer Palace, the Norbulingka (entry is CNY60 per person), with its vast gardens.

In the afternoon the monks at Lhasa’s other great university monastery, Sera, practice traditional debating which is great to watch and photograph.

Remember to climb steps slowly and drink lots of water – the sun is intense and dehydration exacerbates altitude symptoms, even in cold temperatures.

Accommodation: Kyichu or Tashi Choeta
Meals included: Breakfast

Monks at the Drepung Monastery

Today is a walking tour so don your comfortable shoes and pack your water bottle!

The Potala Palace towers over Lhasa and is an enduring landmark of Tibet. The 1300-year-old Jokhang Temple is the most sacred and active Tibetan temples, and is the principal geomantic power place in Tibet.

Surrounding the Jokhang is a complex maze of alleys, markets, temples, homes, shops, galleries, prayer wheels and restaurants. It is both a sacred pilgrim circuit and a lively, active market.

Potala tickets are pre-booked and visit time assigned by the ticket office, so today’s exact schedule will depend on this timing.

Accommodation: Kyichu or Tashi Choeta
Meals included: Breakfast

Potala Palace © Mads Mathiasen

After joining monks for the morning prayers, we then say goodbye to Lhasa and set out on an incredibly scenic drive, crossing high passes and skirting the stunning, turquoise Yamdrok Tso lake.

Gyantse (3950m) was a once important trading town between Sikkim, Bhutan and Tibet and still retains the charm of old Tibet.

Walking around in its backstreets you will soon feel teleported into medieval times. We climb up to the impressive hilltop fortress (dzong) where, in 1904, locals held out against the vastly superior forces of the invading British army for almost six months.

Driving distance: 270km
Driving time: approx 5-6 hours (with lots of stops for photos)

Accommodation: Yuthuo Hotel
Meals included: Breakfast

Layers of stone walls and buildings, atop a huge spur of rock make up the Gyantse Dzong © Mads Mathiasen

This morning we visit Pelkhor Choede. It as commissioned by the prince of Gyantse and constructed 1418-25. It is unique in comprising colleges from all Tibetan Buddhist traditions rather than adhering to just one. Within the complex is also the Gyantse kumbum, a mandala-shaped structure with more than 1000 altars and rooms.

Leaving Gyantse, drive through small farming villages to Shigatse, Tibet’s second largest city – also the site of Tashilumpo, home to the Panchen Lamas which we’ll visit tomorrow.

Driving distance: 90km
Driving time: 1.5 hours

Accommodation: Shiga Yangcha or Gesar Hotel
Meals included: Breakfast

Pelkor Chode Monastery in Gyantse, Tibet. The central Kumbum Stupa contains 108 chapels © Mads Mathiasen

This morning we’re off to Tashilumpo, one of the largest functioning monasteries in Tibet and there is much to explore within.

A high wall surrounds the red and gold buildings, which make up the Tashi Lhunpo Monastery, and around this wall there is an important circumambulation route, which includes small shrines, significant rock inscriptions and many prayer wheels. The circuit takes less than an hour, but much longer if you stop regularly to watch the going on of the Tibetan pilgrims.

After visiting the vast Tashilumpo complex we start west along the Friendship highway. We’ll be sure to stop for photos atop the Yulong la (pass) before turning off to Sakya. Here both town and the monastery structures are distinctive in their deep grey colour with maroon highlights.

Then, it’s back in the car and onto Shegar.

Shigatse to Sakya Driving distance: 150km
Driving time: 3 hours

Sakya – Shegar Driving distance: 130km
Driving time: 2.5-3 hours

Accommodation: Hotel Chomolangma
Meals included: Breakfast

Tashi Lumpho Monastery sits above Shigatse, Tibet's second-largest city © Mads Mathiasen

Returning to the highway we cross the Langpa Pass (5267m), adorned with prayer flags before again turning south, into Qomolangma (Everest) National Park.

It is 60kms to Tashidzom where you change to the eco-bus to Rombuk. This tiny gompa (monastery), home to just a handful of nuns is the highest in the world at 5000m and offers a perfect view up the valley to Everest.

The area is actually quite dry and barren, but the views of Mt Everest more than compensate for this. It is a truly awe-inspiring place with the sheer north face of the highest mountain in the world towering above us.

Nowhere is the view of Mt Everest as spectacular as it is from right here!

Driving distance: 100km
Driving time: 1 hour to Tashidzom then 40 mins (ecobus) to Rombuk

Accommodation: Tent Guest House or Rombuk Hotel (see info for details)
Meals included: Breakfast

North face of Mt Everest © Mads Mathiasen

Descending from Rombuk you’ll re-join your driver & vehicle before continuing down, back to the highway at Lao Tingri and a last view of the mountain.

We then drive via Paiku Tso lake before descending into the greener, lower altitudes at Kyirong, just before the Nepal border. There are a couple of afternoon hike options depending on arrival time and group interest.

Note – with weather changing there may be times when traffic is re-routed via the ZhangMu-Kodari border. In this case your
last night will be in Nyalam rather than Kyirong.

Driving distance: 390 km
Driving time: 40mins to Tashidzom and approx. 5 hours to Kyirong

Accommodation: Mustang Hotel or Kyirong Port
Meals included: Breakfast

Tibetan Buddhist Rombuk Monastery with Mount Everest towering over it in the background © Mads Mathiasen

Start early down to the border at Kyirong-Rasuwa. Complete Chinese immigration – cross the bridge and enter Nepal.

Your Nepali driver will be waiting and guide you through arrival procedures. It is then a long, bumpy ride to Kathmandu.
Your hotel tonight is at Boudha – about 3 minutes walk from the stupa which is regarded as the embodiment of the enlightened
mind of all the Buddhas. Always bustling with life – there are numerous restaurants, cafes, shops, etc in this area as well as a constant steam of pilgrims circling the stupa, which is also a centre of the Tibetan population in Kathmandu.

Accommodation: Hotel Butsugen
Meals included: Breakfast

Boudhanath Stupa © Carsten Heinze

Today is the official last day of your Lhasa to Kathmandu trip, but your exploring doesn’t stop here.

Let us know what you’d like to plan in Nepal, whether you’re up for something active (hiking or trekking), would like a change of scenery and are interested in spotting some animals in the southern jungly Terai region or would just like to get to know more about wider Nepal.

Locals taking a rest for a chat at Boudhanath Stupa © Per Daugaard Christensen