Tibet Tour Fly In and Drive Out – 8 Days

Fly drive-out Tibet Tour for 8 days is ideally convenient for those wishing to see the primary tourist spots of Tibet and Lhasa. In Tibet, we fly or drive across the Himalayas to Lhasa, where we have ample time to visit the main sights in and around the town including the Potala Palace, the Norbulingka (the Dalai Lama’s summer palace), and the Jorkhang Temple which contains Jowo Shakyamuni, the holiest statue to all Tibetan Buddhists. We also visit the major monasteries in the Lhasa Valley including Samye, Drepung, and Sera. We then drive along the Friendship Highway to Nepal, one of the most spectacular road journeys in the world. We visit the towns and monasteries in both Gyantse and Shigatse and then cruise with a spectacular drive across the Tibetan Plateau with great views of Everest from the north side and Shishapangma, the only 8,000m mountain situated totally in Tibet. Finally, we drive through the Himalayas and down into a spectacular gorge back to Nepal via the Nepalese border in Tatopani where our tour culminates in Kathmandu. We also have the option of flying back from Lhasa to Kathmandu.

Outline Itinerary

Day 1: Kathmandu (1300m) - Lhasa (3650m) 

Day 2-3: In Lhasa (3650m)                                                            

Day 4: Lhasa (3650m) - Gyantse (3950m)                                                              

Day 5: Gyantse (3950m) - Shigatse at 3900m, 98Km, approx 2 hours drive

Day 6: Shigatse - Shegar (4350m) 204 Km, approx 6 -7 hours drive

Day 7: Shegar - Kerung(145 Km) 265 Km, Approx drive 6-7 hours                                                          

Day 8: Kerung - Kathmandu

 

COST INCLUDES:                                                                                                              

  • Land transportation by van or bus.
  • Accommodation on hotel/guest house with twin sharing room on BB basis.
  • Sightseeing by an experienced English-speaking Tibetan guide.
  • Monastery entrance fee as per itinerary.
  • Tibet Travel Permit (TTP)
  • All airport transfer

COST EXCLUDES:                                                             

  • Lunch and dinner
  • Nepal and China Visa Fee
  • Airfare Lhasa-Kathmandu or vv / train ticket to onward destination after the tour is over in Lhasa
  • Insurance of any kind
  • Expenses of any personal nature

* This tour can be fully customized as per your requirement.

Day 1: Kathmandu (1300m) – Lhasa (3650m)

You will be received at Gonggar Airport by your Tibetan guide. After immigration formalities, you will be driven to Lhasa (3650 meters). It takes around 45 minutes to reach the old city. After checking in at your hotel, you are advised to have some rest and take it easy. Drink plenty of fluids and let your body get used to Lhasa’s high altitude. Overnight at your hotel in the capital city of mystical Tibet
Note: There is no program arranged for today. Later in the evening you can go for a stroll down the streets of Lhasa & look around.

Day 2-3: In Lhasa

We enjoy a full two days sightseeing tour of Lhasa including JOKHANG TEMPLE, BARKHOR BAZAAR, POTALA PALACE, DREYPUNG, AND SERA MONASTERIES. On these days you will visit Potala Palace, Norbulingka Palace, Jorkhang, & the surrounding areas of Barkhor Street, Drepung, and Sera Monasteries. You stay overnight at a hotel in Lhasa. One of the highlights is a visit to the symbol of Tibet, which is the Potala Palace set high on a Red Hill, the winter home of the Dalai Lama until 1959. The most sacred temple in Lhasa is the Jokhang. Another great treasure is the Norbulingka – the old summer palace of the Dalai Lama.

Next, you visit Jorkhang temple, the center of Tibetan Buddhism and the sacred land of Buddhist followers where innumerable pilgrims come for worship every day. The temple, built in 647, is the earliest wood-and-masonry structure still existing in Tibet. Surrounding the Jorkhang Temple is the bustling Barkhor Street which is the religious and social focus of Lhasa. Around the Barkhor, there are numerous stalls selling all sorts of handicrafts: brightly colored boots and fur-lined hats, silver and turquoise jewelry, rosaries, prayer flags, and charms, as well as beautiful Tibetan carpets and all manners of ordinary household ware.

We next visit Sera monastery, which was created in 1419, and has always been an important Buddhist seminary. As roses are planted everywhere in the monastery, it is also called “the Court of wild roses”. Today, some 200 Lamas live in this monastery. On the other hand, the Drepung monastery is the world’s largest monastery with about 10,000 residing monks. Overnight in a hotel

Day 4: Lhasa -Gyantse

Full-day picturesque drive along the turquoise lake of Yamdrok, crossing over Kampala Pass (4794M) and the Brahmaputra River (Yarlung Tsangpo).
Today is a full day of a picturesque drive crossing over the colorful Yamdrok Lake and Kambala Pass at 4,794m and Karola Pass at 5,010m. In Gyantse, you spend time visiting the Pelke Chode Monastery and the 35m high famous Khumbum Stupa in Gyantse packed with exquisite Tibetan sculpture and paintings, a stunning architectural wonder in Tibet. Overnight in a hotel

Day 5: Gyantse (3950m) – Shigatse at 3900m, 98Km, approx 2 hours drive

We drive from Gyantse to Shigatse (3,900m.). You stay overnight at a hotel in Shigatse. When Gyantse just fades away from your sight, Shigatse becomes clearer because it’s just about 02 hours of driving (98 kilometers).
Shigatse is situated near the junction of the Ngang and Yarlung Tsangpo (Brahmaputra) rivers, with many traditional low-ceiling, flat-roofed, mud brick Tibetan houses, but quite a lot of ugly modern Chinese buildings as well. It is home to the Tashilunpo Monastery, the traditional seat of the Panchen Lama, and one of the great centers of Tibetan Buddhism. Shigatse has an interesting bazaar, where various traditional items can often be found at more or less reasonable prices. Shigatse has always been an important trade and administration center and also has political and religious significance, once being the seat of the Panchen Lama. The town is essentially divided into two parts: the old Tibetan-style area in the city and the concrete, the modern Chinese part of the town. The older streets and alleys here are very pleasant to wander around and there are a few sights of interest to guarantee a stay of a day or two.

Hereabouts, you go to Tashilunpo Monastery and stroll around the Tibetan market. Tashilunpo (Heap of Glory) Monastery is the seat of the Panchen Lamas. Built in 1447, it is the head monastery of the Yellow Hat sect (Gelukgompa). It is today one of Tibet’s most active monasteries. Overnight in Hotel Shigatse.

Day 6: Shigatse - Shegar (4350m) 204 Km, approx 6 -7 hours drive

Our scenic drive through the highest point of Gyatchu La pass at (5,220m) brings us en route to Lhasa via Shegar. Overnight at hotel with twin sharing rooms on BB basis.

Day 7: Shegar - Kerung(145 Km) 265 Km, Approx drive 6-7 hours     

This is a day drive to the highest plateau in the world with typical rural landscapes offering the utter feeling of being on the roof of the world as we cross over the 5,050 meters LALUNGA pass, from where you can view the breathtaking mountain range of Mt. Cho Oyu at (8,201m) Mt. Shishapangma (8,012m) dwarfed by the vastness of the Tibetan plateau (these views are only possible if weather permits). One can also get a magnificent view of Mt. Everest at (8,848m) from Shegar. Overnight in Guest houses.                                      

Day 8: Kerung - Kathmandu

Drive downhill to the Nepal-Tibet border that’s Khasa & Tatopani and after completing our immigration formalities; we drive 04/05 hours through beautiful Nepali countryside on the Arniko highway, making our way to Kathmandu. And this is where our Tibet holidays formally conclude. Overnight in Kathmandu, the Valley of the gods

Michael Arscott

18 July, 2017

Would recommend them

My first interaction with them was through email. I found their offered price more suitable for the budget I was planning for the trip. After I booked my tour with them , all the paper work were done by them easily all I had to do is send some of the information and it was ready. I really liked how easy all the process was. And when I finally arrived in Nepal I visited their office and they were really welcoming. They gave me briefing about my tour and was the flight scheduled was for very next day. After I landed in Tibet my guide was waiting for me in the airport and did all the paper work. And the trip went very smooth for me I really enjoyed the time there and while driving out I had few problems as it was almost 6 hours drive to the boarder. I was really exhausted and if you are not a long drive of a person like me I will recommend to fly back as they also provide you that option. For me I didn't wanted to go off my budget so I choose to drive back rather then fly.

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Note : The given cost are per person and exclude international flights. Given below are the departure dates available for online booking. If the given date is not favorable then please contact us and we will happily customize your trip on dates more appropriate for you.

Visa Information

Flying out to Tibet requires a Chinese visa and a Tibet Travel Permit which can both be acquired in Kathmandu with the help of a travel company (Tibet via Nepal). A valid visa for China isn't the same as a Tibet Travel Permit. Those with a Chinese traveler visa will at present need to apply for a Tibet travel permit. The permit is still required for remote foreign travelers traveling to Tibet from the territory of China. To obtain the permit you have to book a guide for your whole trip and pre-organize private transport for trips outside Lhasa. The trip outside Lhasa likewise requires extra permits which are arranged by the travel agent you are going with.

 Passport

All who intend to enter Tibet must hold at least 6 months' valid passport.

Passport - valid for 6 months

Chinese Visa — you can apply for one from a Chinese Embassy or through China Highlights (who entry from China)

Group Visa — entry from Nepal to Tibet after the Tibet tour traveler can visit China mainland with a valid group visa.

Individual Visa will be canceled when we apply for group visa (if a visa is in the passport)

Tibet Entry Permit — it is issued by the Tibet Tourism Bureau and is an absolute necessity for outsiders entering Tibet.

A few people who wish to travel to specific areas in Tibet must also obtain:

Travel Permit — it is required when you are planning to move to closed areas in Tibet. These are issued after you land in Tibet.

Military Permit — it is acquired to travel to some militarily sensitive regions.

Weather Information

The weather in Tibet is similar to that of Mainland China, though with lower temperatures due to higher altitudes. Summers have warm days with strong sunshine and cool nights, but summer days can even be chilly at higher elevations. Winters are cold but there isn't all that much snow. Lhasa enjoys a lot of sunshine even in winter. Most Tibet experiences frost at least 6 months of the year. Some high lakes are frozen from October to March. The weather varies a lot from region to region. Lhasa is an ideal destination because it is in a valley area of lower elevation.

Safety Guidelines

We recommend you go through our following safety guidelines and stay tuned with the latest happening.

  • Have at least 2 copies of the Tibet Permit.
  • Keep your belongings properly.
  • When you feel uncomfortable due to altitude change or have any troubles, report to your guide promptly.
  • Never rush to visit attractions shortly after you arrive in Lhasa.
  • Shop around but avoid undue bargaining with street vendors and never buy wildlife and unknown Tibetan herbal medicine and fake products.
  • Take your money and important belongings with you all the time.
  • Spend a few days in Lhasa for acclimation and always follow a gradual ascent when traveling to higher places to avoid altitude sickness.
  • Refrain from heavy drinking and smoking.
  • Respect the religion, and customs and avoid taboos in Tibet.
  • Pay special attention to the unique alpine climate (such as sunburn, dramatic temperature change, etc.)
  • Keep necessary medicines at the consult of your doctor.
  • Never travel alone at night or venture into unknown places without informing your guide.
  • In most places, cash is only accepted. Do prepare enough and small changes.
  • If an emergency arises, report it to your guide promptly.
  • Don’t carry any documents or papers related to Dalai Lama or free Tibet.
  • We also recommend not carrying any guidebook to Tibet.

1. Where is Tibet?

Tibet is situated toward the southwest of China, likewise bordering India, Nepal, Burma, and Bhutan. Tibet's three original provinces are U-Tsang, Kham, and Amdo. The general population in these locales all thinks about themselves as Tibetan, although everyone has a solid identity and diverse tongues of Tibetan is used.

Under China's occupation, Tibet has been partitioned up, renamed, and joined into Chinese territories, with little reference to the original borders between Tibet's areas. At the point when China refers to Tibet, it implies the Tibet Autonomous Region or TAR, which incorporates just U-Tsang and part of Kham. The rest of Kham was isolated amongst Sichuan and Yunnan Chinese areas. Amdo was partitioned between Gansu, Sichuan, and Qinghai territories. The region covers a region of around 1.22 million km2, which represents 12.8% of the aggregate of China. The pristine snow-capped view and inescapable Tibetan Buddhism environment and simple access to its neighboring nation Nepal make Tibet rank high on the movement travel bucket list. Its unmistakable geography and land area enable it to share the world's most amazing mountaineering and trekking asset with its neighbor nation Nepal.

2. What is the time difference in Tibet?

Tibet  Standard Time ( IST ) is 0800 hours (6 hours) ahead of Greenwich Mean Time (GMT+8).

3. How can I obtain a Visa?

Flying out to Tibet requires a Chinese visa and a Tibet Travel Permit which can both be acquired in Kathmandu with the help of a travel company (Tibet via Nepal). A valid visa for China isn't the same as a Tibet Travel Permit. Those with a Chinese traveler visa will at present need to apply for a Tibet travel permit. The permit is still required for remote foreign travelers traveling to Tibet from the territory of China. To obtain the permit you have to book a guide for your whole trip and pre-organize private transport for trips outside Lhasa. The trip outside Lhasa likewise requires extra permits which are arranged by the travel agent you are going with.

 Passport

All who intend to enter Tibet must hold at least 6 months' valid passport.

China Visa or Tibet Group Visa

To enter Tibet using Mainland China, right off the bat, you have to apply China visa for entry to China. Tibet is a part of China, under the Chinese Central Government's Sovereignty. Therefore to travel from China to Tibet, you need to acquire a China Visa at the first stage before all are followed up. Visas for individual travel in China are very easy to get from most Chinese embassies. Most Chinese embassies and consulates will issue a standard 30-day, single-passage visitor visa in three to five working days (an 'L' Visa means to travel). If you are lucky, some embassies abroad may give you 60 or even 90 days. However, in Hong Kong it is very easy to get a 90-day visa; most agencies can organize it in one day. If you need greater adaptability to enter and leave China a few times, most Chinese embassies will issue a double-entry visa. Indeed, for individuals who are to work, study or live temporarily in China, you may require other related China Visa, for example, an "F" Visa, "X" Visa, or "Z" Visa, and so on. All these sorts of visa holders can go to Tibet with Tibet entry permits and other travel permits which can be obtained by a neighborhood travel agency in Tibet with strict and serious procedures.

4. How to enter Tibet?

By Road: There are five main highways in Tibet, to be specific:

Sichuan-Tibet Highway – it runs between Chengdu, the capital city of Sichuan Province, and Lhasa.

Qinghai-Tibet Highway – it runs between Xining, the capital city of Qinghai, to Lhasa.

Yunnan-Tibet Highway – it runs between Yunnan territory and Tibet.

Xinjiang-Tibet Highway – it runs crosswise over boundless deserts and lofty and steep peaks.

The China-Nepal Highway – it is the main international highway in Tibet

By Air: Flying to Lhasa dependably requires a stopover in either China or Nepal. Lhasa Gonggar Airport is situated around 98 kilometers (around 61 miles) toward the south of Lhasa City. The main international trip to and from Tibet is between Lhasa and Kathmandu, the capital of Nepal.

By Rail: The Gormo to Lhasa railway extends for 1,142 kilometers (710 miles) and serves as a connection between the territory of China and Tibet.

5. How is the weather in Tibet?

Since the country expands at high elevations, usually difficult to predict the climate. It is cold for the most part. Lhasa and around it is a cool, bright day during the day time however evening, night, and morning will be cold. Need to bring sufficiently warm clothes.

6. When is the best time to visit Tibet?

The Tibetan atmosphere isn't as harsh as we imagine it to be. Tibet's climate is ideal to travel from April to the start of November, and most perfect in August and September. In any case, Lhasa's climate is more clement than the rest of Tibet and is suitable to travel year-round. The sun radiation in Tibet is extremely strong. It's not for nothing that Lhasa is known as the Sunlight City. The months of May, June, and September are the primary tourist season in eastern Tibet.

7. What are the documents necessary for visiting Tibet?

Passport - valid for 6 months

Chinese Visa — you can apply for one from a Chinese Embassy or through China Highlights (who entry from China)

Group Visa —entry from Nepal to Tibet after the Tibet tour traveler can visit China mainland with a valid group visa.

Individual Visa will be canceled when we apply for group visa (if a visa is in the passport)

Tibet Entry Permit — it is issued by the Tibet Tourism Bureau and is an absolute necessity for outsiders entering Tibet.

A few people who wish to travel to specific areas in Tibet must also obtain:

Travel Permit — it is required when you are planning to move to closed areas in Tibet. These are issued after you land in Tibet.

Military Permit — it is acquired to travel to some militarily sensitive regions.

8. Can I organize a Tibet visa myself? Can I travel alone in Tibet?

Sadly, because of China's extremely strict tourism policy for Tibet, you can't get a visa independent from anyone else and it isn't conceivable to not possible to travel Tibet on your own. As an authorized travel company we can organize everything; visa, allow to permit, and all other paperwork.

9. Is altitude sickness a problem?

As Tibet is known as the Roof of the World it is one of the highest places on the earth. Due to this many visitors from lower altitude areas may suffer from altitude sickness. Most people endure minor effects of altitude sickness only including loss of appetite, headache, and a propensity to have no vitality until the point when their bodies conform to the high landscape. This adjustment can take place for a few hours and in rare cases for a few days. If visitors do some simple preparations before going to Tibet, most of the symptoms of altitude sickness can be avoided. We recommend you talk to your local physician about AMS pills to help combat altitude sickness. Your guide will be there to assist you and help you throughout the trip.

10. Are there ATM counters in Tibet?

There are ATM facilities easily available in Lhasa and Shigatse; however, it might be difficult to find one in other small towns.

11. What currency do I have to use in Tibet?

The unit of currency is the Chinese Yuan. The Bank of China can exchange all foreign currencies. The bank in Tibet /China is closed on Saturday and Sunday. Traveler’s cheques and credit cards are very difficult to be cashed outside the banks, especially outside Lhasa.

12. Is politics a problem? 

Most tourists, who stay with their tour and avoid getting engaged in the politics of the country, will not encounter issues.

13. What vaccination is recommended for Tibet travelers?

The suggested vaccination you should consider for this trip includes the following:

  • Chickenpox (Varicella)
  • Diphtheria & Tetanus Vaccinations
  • Hepatitis A The vaccine for Hepatitis A (eg Avaxim, Havrix 1440, or VAQTA)
  • Hepatitis B
  • Influenza The flu vaccine
  • Measles-mumps-rubella (MMR)
  • Pneumonia A vaccine
  • Polio
  • Rabies
  • Tuberculosis
  • Typhoid
  • Yellow Fever

14.  Will the language barrier be there are problem?

Visitors to Tibet don't have to worry about the language barrier at all. Every visitor will have an English-talking visit guide, and most of the front work area staff in the big hotels can communicate in English. The main languages used in a part of Tibet are Chinese, Tibetan, English, and Nepali.

15. Is there internet access in Tibet for foreign travelers?

Certainly, there is web access for foreign travelers in Tibet yet just in limited areas like Lhasa, Shigatse, Gyantse, and Tsedang where some bistro gives web offices. Moreover, hotels in some cities like Lhasa and Shigatse also provide internet facilities to their customers.

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Trip Details
Price : USD Contact Us
Country : Tibet
Trip Start From : Kathmandu
Trip End In : Kathmandu
Max. Altitude : 3950 m
Group Size : + 2
Best Seasons : Spring (April and May), Summer (June, July and August) and Autumn (September, October and November)
Transportation : Flight/Private Van or Tourist Bus
Accomodation : Budget Hotels
Meals : Only Breakfast
Duration : 8 Days
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