Email: info@createhimalaya.com
Our staff will greet you at Lhasa Airport/Railway to transfer you to the hotel. From Lhasa Airport to downtown Lhasa, usually, it takes about one hour. It’s about 20 minutes driving from Lhasa Railway Station to your hotel. In order to adapt to the high altitude in Tibet, you'd better have a rest and don’t do strenuous exercise. If you feel good, you can visit the Potala Palace Square, far view the Yaowang Mountain and take a panoramic view of the Potala Palace. Remember to drink lots of water, eat light and high carbohydrate foods help you adapt the high altitude better.
Stay overnight in Lhasa,
Other services: Free Lhasa Railway Station transfer at all time on first & last day, Free Lhasa Airport transfer on first & last day at times.
After breakfast in the hotel, tour guide and driver will meet you in the lobby of the hotel and pick you up to Drepung monastery, located about 45km to the north of Lhasa. Drepung monastery is one of the “great three” Gelug monasteries of Tibet with Sera Monastery and Ganden Monastery.
In the afternoon, you will visit Sera Monastery, another one of the “great three” Gelug monasteries of Tibet, home to over 600 monks. The hot attraction is the Monks debate at around 3 - 5 in the afternoon from Monday to Saturday. Even if you can’t understand their debating, it’s interesting.
You will have a welcoming dinner this tonight, talk with group members from all over the world.
Stay overnight in Lhasa, Drepung Monastery was the largest monastery in Tibet, with over 10,000 monks. Now, this monastery houses about 700 monks.
Sera Monastery has a rich collection of cultural relics
Attraction: Drepung Monastery Sera Monastery
Meals: Breakfast Welcome Dinner
Today, you will visit the most famous Potala Palace according to the time of the ticket and in peak season, there is a visit time limitation. Potala Palace is the winter palace of the Dalai Lama. It has been put to use since the 7th Century by the 33rd great king of Tibet. The most valuable collections of Potala Palace are the gilded burial stupas of former Dalai Lamas and meditation Cave of the 33rd great king of Tibet.
At noon, the tour guide will bring you to a good restaurant to have lunch and have a rest. In the afternoon, you will head to Jokhang temple which was founded by the 33rd great king of Tibet in the 7th century. Inside you can see the statue of Buddha Sakyamuni at the age of twelve. Outside, you can see pilgrims making prostrating in front of Jokhang Temple. Around the temple is Barkhor Street, where you can do Kora with pilgrims and locals and explore the old market.Stay overnight in Lhasa, As the winter palace of the Dalai Lama, Potala Palace is an important religious landmark of Tibet.
Reconstructed in Yuan, Ming, and Qing dynasties for several times, Jokhang Temple has four stories and covers an area of about 25,000 square meters now.
Attraction: Potala Palace Jokhang Temple Barkhor Street
Meals: Breakfast
We will pass by Kampala pass (4794m) on the way from Lhasa to Shigatse and visit Yamdrok Lake. Covering 638Km², Yamdrok Lake is one of the three largest sacred lakes in Tibet. The lake is surrounded by many snow-capped mountains and is fed by numerous small streams.
Later we will pass and enjoy the Karola Glacier on the roadside. It is about 300m from the main highway with easy access on your way to Gyantse.
Then visit the main monastery in Gyantse - Pelkor Chode Monastery. Pelkhor Choede in Gyantse town is located about 230km to the south of Lhasa and 100kmto east of Shigatse. The monastery is a short walk from the heart of the town.
Stay overnight in Shigatse,
Sacred Lake Yamdrok glows with various colors, like turquoise, when the sun is shining
The white glacier is spectacular from the highway
Attraction: Yamdroktso Lake Karola Glacier Pelkor Chöde Monastery with Gyantse Kumbum
Meals:Breakfast.
In the morning, you will leave Shigatse to Lhatse, a small town located 150 km from Shigatse, and you may have lunch in a local restaurant. After a short rest, you will go ahead to Tingri. You will pass Tsola Pass(4600M), and Gyatsola Pass(5248M). In the late afternoon, you enter Mt. Everest National Nature Reserve. You can enjoy the panorama of Himalaya at Gawula Pass (5198m). Then we drive along the New zigzag road to Rongpuk or the Tent Camp to stay overnight. If the weather is good, you can have a clear view of the sunset of golden Everest peak.
Stay overnight in Nomad Tent, (Dorm Bed) or Rongpuk guesthouse
Rongbuk Monastery is a monastery of Nyingmapa. It is founded by Ngawang Tenzin Norbu in 1902, distinctively housing both monks and nuns.
At the site of Rongbuk Monastery, you can view the highest mountain of the world brightly shining and clearly sparkling. The snowy peak seems happy to touch the blue sky.
Attraction: Rongbuk Monastery
Meals: Breakfast
You can get up early and enjoy the sunrise of Everest Peak at lodging area if the weather is good. And then, we can drive you to the Everest Base Camp. After that, drive to the saga, on the way, you can view of the worlds’14th highest peak Mt.Shishapangma (8012m). Later, you will reach Lake Peiku tso(4590m) and have a rest there. Then continue to Saga, If you are lucky enough, you are very likely to see wild animals like the wild donkey, wild antelope, etc.
Stay overnight in Saga, Guesthouse
The best time to travel to Mt. Everest would be May, June, Sep and early Oct. EBC is relatively less windy and clear. Beautiful Peikutso lake
Attraction: Everest Base Camp Peikutso Lake
Today, you will spend a lot of time on the way, but it’s worthy to see the landscape along the way. You’ll have stunning views of the great Himalayans to the south and Trans-Himalayan to the north as we drive across the vast plains. This region is home to nomads, you’ll see the beautiful grassland and local's villages. As we cross the Mayomla Pass (5112M), you can enjoy the spectacular vista of Mt. Naimonanyi(7694M).
During this thrilling journey, you’ll pass by sand dunes, mountains, and sandstone valleys before we reach the Darchen, a small nomadic village and important launch point for pilgrimages around Mt. Kailash. Upon your arrival, you can explore the Darchen town on your own. If you need porters and yaks, your tour guide will arrange it for you this afternoon.
Stay overnight in Guesthouse
In the morning, you will take an eco-bus (included in the cost) to Sarshung valley and start the trekking from there. If you have hired porters and yaks in the last day, you’ll meet them there. (The cost of hiring yaks, horses, and porters are not included in the package). You’ll trek about 13 km from Sarshung valley to Drirapuk Monastery, where you will stay overnight there in a guesthouse.
Stay overnight in Guesthouse, Dorm Bed
It is said that one kora around Mt Kailash can wipe away sins of this lifetime; 108 koras can help people break the cycle of rebirth and assure one of nirvana at death. With an altitude of 6656m, Mt. Kailash is not the highest mountain in the world. But it is mysterious that it is never to be conquered.
Attraction: Mt. Kailash
Meals:Breakfast
Today is the most challenging day of the trekking, you’ll climb over the highest pass of the Kora, the Dromala pass(5630m). After a short rest at the top, we will climb down into the long valley and stop for lunch at the Shabjay Dakpo nomadic tent. On the way, you can have a rest in a teahouse. Then you will continue to the Zultulpuk , built by two important religious figures, Milarepa and Naro Bonchung. At last, you will visit Zutulpuk Monastery. You will find the footprint and handprint of Milarepa inside the cave.
Stay overnight in Guesthouse, Dorm Bed
It is said that one kora around Mt Kailash can wipe away sins of this lifetime; 108 koras can help people break the cycle of rebirth and assure one of nirvana at death.
Attraction: There are many legends about Mt. Kailash. One love story tells that Mt. Kailash was a handsome man who married Mt. Naimona'nyi and later met his Valentine—Lake Manasarovar.
Attraction: Mt. Kailash
It's an easy day of the trek. You'll trek 7 km to complete the Kora. In the afternoon, the car will pick you up in Darchen and drive you to the holy lake Manasarovar, which is just 40 km in the southwest of Darchen. If the weather is good, you can see the splendid sunset of the lake Manasarovar. If you feel good, you can do a trek along the shore of the lake.
Stay overnight in Guesthouse, Dorm Bed
With an altitude of 6656m, Mt. Kailash is not the highest mountain in the world. But it is mysterious that it is never to be conquered.
Travelers back from Manasarovar could never forget the beauty of the lake. In the sunshine, the lake water is crystal clean and glimmering blue.
Attraction: Mt. Kailash Lake Manasarovar
You can get up early to go for a stroll along the shore of the Lake Manasarovar. And then you’ll go back to Saga.
Stay Overnight in Saga, Guesthouse
On the way back to Lhatse, you’ll see beautiful grassland and local's villages.
Stay Overnight in Lhatse Guesthouse
In the morning, we will drive along the main road to Sakya to visit ancient Sakya town and explore the twisting alleys with the pilgrims. You can also tour Sakya monastery for the amzing murals and a huge collection of scriptures and statues. In the afternoon, we will drive back to Shigatse and visit Tashilunpo Monastery the home of Panchen Lama, which was founded by the 1st Dalai Lama in 1447. It is a historic and culturally important monastery in Shigatse and also the second-largest city in Tibet. It's located on a hill in the center of the city, the full name in Tibetan of the monastery means "all fortune and happiness gathered here" or "heap of glory".
Sakya Monastery
Standing on the entrance of Tashilhunpo, visitors can see the grand buildings with golden roofs and white walls.
Attraction: Sakya Monastery Tashilhunpo Monastery
In the morning, drive back to Lhasa from Shigatse along the friendship way, the northern way to Lhasa. On the way, you’ll see the Yarlung Tsangpo valley. In Nyemo, you’ll have a chance to visit the Tibetan Incense Workshop. Nyemo County has a history of more than 1,000 years. Except for sacrificial ceremonies, this fragrant incense also can be used to prevent infectious diseases like flu and influenza, for its ingredients contain herbal medicines such as saffron, Sandalwood, Chinese Usnea, and borneol.
Stay overnight in Lhasa,
Tibetan Engraving
Tibetan Incense Workshop in Nyemo.
Attraction: Tibetan Incense Workshop in Nyemo
Meals: Breakfast
Tour ends today. Tour guide and driver will drop you to the Lhasa airport or railway station for your next stop.
Meals: Breakfast
Other service: Free Lhasa Airport transfer on first & last day at times, Free Lhasa Railway Station transfer at all time on first & last day
you can share your experience, which may help for other travellers.
By the law of the People’s Republic of China, in addition to China visa, foreigners also need Tibet Travel Permit (TTB) to be able to board a train or plane to Lhasa. For this, you need to pre-arrange an itinerary through a legal travel agency in Lhasa before arriving in Tibet.
You need travel permits to travel outside Lhasa Prefecture, eg. Alien's Travel Permit & Military Permit, and you can currently only get these by hiring transportation and a guide as part of your itinerary.
If you plan to enter Tibet from Nepal, besides all the Tibet Permits, you will have to travel on China Group Visa which can only be obtained through the joined effect of travel agencies in Lhasa & Kathmandu.
Here at Great Tibet Tour, a Lhasa-based local travel agency, with all the advantage of a local company, we provide you with a worry-free Tibet travel experience by taking care of all these permits applications.
What We Need to Apply TTB
We need the following documents & info from each and every traveler to obtain Tibet Travel Permit (TTB). The time needed to apply for it changes irregularly. But we usually need at least 16 days prior to file the application with these documents &. info. Tibet Tourism Bureau will issue TTB permit about 7 days or so prior tour starting date.
*Colour-scan/photo of valid passport photo page
*Colour-scan/photo of valid China visa page
(except L Visa, tourist visa, any other types of China Visa need additional stamped paper in Mandarin from your school/company in China, in which your name, passport No., position, company add should be stated.)
*From which city of China you plan to enter Tibet;
Of which city of China you plan to depart to after your Tibet tour
(please be aware, entering/departing city will be print on your permit, once issued it would be the only city you be able to enter/depart. takes extra time & fee if later you want to change it)
* Job occupation. If currently unemployed or retired, pls let us know your former job.
(journalists, government officers, and professional film/photography team, etc. won't be able to travel Tibet through travel agency)
Tibet Travel Permit (TTB)
Tibet Tourism Bureau PermitA TTB permit is currently required to get into Tibet. Without one, you will not be able to board a flight or train to Tibet and will not be able to secure the other permits you need to continue traveling throughout Tibet.
Nowadays you can only get a TTB permit through a tour agency in Tibet (agencies outside Tibet can arrange trips, but ultimately they subcontract to travel agencies in Lhasa, such as Great Tibet Tour). You can no longer travel to Lhasa, meet up with some travelers and organize a tour there. Everything must now be arranged beforehand, including any trekking itinerary you have planned.
To get a permit you need to:
*Work out an itinerary detailing exactly where you want to go in Tibet
*Agree with a price and send a deposit
*Send us documents & info we needed to apply for TTB permit
*Arrange an address in your entering city before Tibet (eg. hotel), to receive your posted TTB permit, if flying to Lhasa
You can book your own train or air ticket to Lhasa or have Great Tibet Tour arrange this for you.
You need to have the original TTB permit in your hands in order to board a flight to Lhasa. Mostly we arrange TTB permit to post to your hotel of your entry city in China by S.F Express, usually, takes abt 2~3 days.
A photocopy or scan of an original TTB permit is currently all that is required to board a train to Tibet.
Notes:
*Chinese resident of Hong Kong & Macau does not require a TTB permit to enter Tibet.
*Taiwanese need to consult us case-by-case since the rules change often
*Foreigners visitor on business/study/resident visa in China need additional docs to apply for TTB permit
*Journalists and embassy staff won't be able to get a TTB permit as a tourist
What TTB Looks Like
TTB Permit usually combined with two pages.
On Page 01, it states your tour details, such as your travel agency’s name, your tour number, when you first arrive in Tibet, when you depart, entry & departing city, etc. but above all, check the Permit No. on the upper right corner which is printed in red by Tibet Tourism Bureau.
On Page 02, you will see your name(printed in Chinese way,family name + given name)/ nationality/ gender / passport No. / profession / date of birth.
Other Permits: Alien's Travel Permit & Military Permit
With TTB permit you will be able to enter Tibet and travel Lhasa and around. but if you were to go further to the regional capital, eg. Mt Everest, etc., you will have to budget an hour or so in Shigatse for your guide to process the Alien Travel Permit, which is issued by the Public Security Bureau ?PSB). Usually, you can apply for it once you arrive at Lhasa.
Sensitive border areas – such as Mt Kailash, the road to Kashgar and the Nyingtri region of eastern Tibet – also require a Military Permit.
You should give your agency 20-day or so to arrange all you permits, 30-day if Military Permit. the authorities generally won't issue permits more than 15-day in advance and certain areas can close without warning, so you’ll need a certain flexibility if headed off the beaten track.
Alien's Travel Permit
alien's travel permitIn addition to TTB permit, if you were to visit certain areas, Alien's Travel Permit will be required. Unlike TTB permit which will be applied in advance without your original passport, Alien's Travel Permit will be applied after your arrival in Tibet with your original passport.
Areas require Alien's Travel Permit:
Tsetang: all the places you will visit such as Samye, Yumbulhagang, Trundruk etc.
Shigates: Sakya, Mt. Everest, Rongbuk Monastery
Gyantse: Pelkhor Chode Monastery, Kubum Stupa
Ngari: all the places you will visit such as Mt. Kailash, Lake Manasorovar etc.
Nyingtri: all the places you will visit such as Draksumtso, Pomi etc.
Chamdo: all the places you will visit such as Chamdo, Riwoche etc.
Military Permit
Military PermissionMilitary Permission is required if you want to visit the border areas such as Mt Kailash, eastern Tibet, or overland tour to Tibet from Sichuan, Yunnan, Xinjiang and Qinghai.
Areas require Military Permit:
Ngari: all the places you will visit such as Mt. Kailash, Lake Manasorovar etc.
Nyingtri: all the places you will visit such as Pomi etc.
Chamdo: all the places you will visit such as Chamdo, Riwoche etc.
Overland from/to Sichuan, Yunnan, Xinjiang or Qinghai
The high mountains, valleys, and plains of Tibet offer fetched opportunities for trekking. Find the detailed Tibet Trekking Kora tours here at Great Tibet Tour. The remote assent of Tibet combined with climatic extremes poses special challenges for adventurous hikers – and unique rewards. In the higher reaches of Tibet plateau snow storms and blistering heat are both possible on a single day. The amazing part of Tibet tour is it’s natural environment is enhanced by the native people met along the trekking trail, heirs to an ancient and amazing way of life. Blessedly, it is still possible to trek for days in Tibet without encountering modern civilization.
This is a trip to take you from Lhasa to the west of Tibet, Nagri and then return to Lhasa. 2-day Lhasa sightseeing lets you have a general understanding of the history of Tibet, the humanities and the lives of the local people. And then traveler will head to the world's highest peak, the Mount Everest via Gyangze, Shigatse, and Tingri. And then, the next point is Mt.Kailash. Kailash in Tibetan means the treasure of the snow-capped mountain. Hinduism, Tibetan Buddhism, Bon - native religion in Tibet and Jainism recognize it as the center of the world. Indians also think that this is the center of the world. They think Shiva lives here, who has the strongest man and the highest position. At the same time, the upper reaches of the Indus and the Ganges originates from here. So, around the Mt.Kailash, there is a large number of Indian pilgrims. Mt.Kailash is not the highest mountain in the area, but only the peak of its year-round snow can shine with a strange light in the sun shining, eye-catching eyes. Some of the mountain shapes is very different from the surrounding mountains, which are amazing. For centuries, the Mt.Kailash has been a fascinating place in the minds of pilgrims and explorers, but no one has ever been able to board the mountain, or no one has ever dared to break the center of the world.
Create Himalaya Adventure organize the private customized Tibet tours which are ideal for families, small groups and individual travelers who desire a more thorough and intimate introduction to Tibet as Price varies with size, season, hotel rate. etc.
Day 01: Arrival in Lhasa (3680m)
Day 02-03: Lhasa
Day 04: Lhasa- Gyantse(4040m)- Shigatse(3840m), 360km, approx 6hrs
Day 05: Shigatse -Tingri -Rongpuk –EBC(5200m), 350km, approx 7hrs
Day 06: EBC-Saga (4600m), 450km, approx 9hrs
Day 07: Saga – Darchen (4560m), 490km, approx 9hrs
Day 08: Darchen - Dirakpuk (4700m), (driving 7km, Trek 13km)
Day 09: Trek from Dirakpuk - Zuktulpuk (4790m), 18km, approx 6hrs
Day 10: Trek from Zuktulpuk - Darchen, 7km, approx 2hrs, Drive (4560m), 40km, approx 1hr from Darchen - Manasarovar
Day 11: Manasarovar – Payang-Saga, 490km, approx 9hrs
Day 12: Saga-Lhatse (4000m),312 km, approx 7hrs
Day 13: Lhatse - Sakya-Shigatse,200 km, approx 4hrs
Day 14: Shigatse – Lhasa, 280km, approx 5hrs
Day 15: Lhasa departure
Your safety is of paramount concern while traveling with Create Himalaya Adventure. Please note that your leader has the authority to amend or cancel any part of the itinerary if it is deemed necessary due to safety concerns. Every effort will be made to keep to the above itinerary. However, this adventure entails traveling in remote mountainous regions, we cannot guarantee that we will not deviate from it. Weather, the health condition of a group member, unexpected natural disasters, etc., can all contribute to changes in the itinerary. The leader will try to ensure that the trip runs according to plan, but please be prepared to be flexible if required.
Your safety is of paramount concern while traveling with Create Himalaya Adventure. Please note that your leader has the authority to amend or cancel any part of the itinerary if it is deemed necessary due to safety concerns. Every effort will be made to keep to the above itinerary; however, since this adventure entails travelling in remote mountainous regions, we cannot guarantee that we will not deviate from it. Weather conditions, health condition of a group member, unexpected natural disasters, etc., can all contribute to changes in the itinerary. The leader will try to ensure that the trip runs according to plan, but please be prepared to be flexible if required.
China Group Visa ≠ China Visa
The Chinese embassy in Kathmandu doesn’t issue visas to individual travelers, only to those booked on a tour and then only group visas. If you turn up with a Chinese visa in your passport, it will be canceled.
A group visa is a separate sheet of paper with all the names and passport numbers of the group members. It’s important to get your own individual ‘group’ visa (a ‘group’ can be as small as one person), as otherwise, come the end of your tour in Lhasa, you will either have to exit China with your fellow group members or split from this group visa at considerable cost and hassle. Splitting from a group visa can only be done by local Lhasa travel agency that arranged your travel into Tibet. It is a real pain to be avoided at all costs.
After you book your Tibet tour with a local Lhasa travel agency, we will prepare an official Invitation Letter to give to our partner in Kathmandu. After your arrival in Kathmandu, our Nepali partner will meet you for your ORIGINAL PASSPORT + 1 HEADSHOTS. With Invitation Letter & your passport, we can obtain your China Group Visa.
Meanwhile, we will apply for all necessary Tibet permits in Lhasa. Whether you fly to Lhasa or overland to Gyirong port, besides your China Group Visa, your Tibetan guide shall have to wait for your there with Tibet Tourism Bureau Permit (TTB).
Since 05 Jun 2017, officially, Chinese Embassy in Kathmandu requires China Group Visa application to be submitted 3-working-day in advance with your original passport. And if you have no sightseeing plan in Nepal, this would be rather annoying.
Our Nepali partner charges service fee as below, of which you need to pay in CASH in Kathmandu aside from your tour balance.
Note: in the case of rising on the fee by the local authority, the additional increased portion shall be added on top of the suggested visa cost.
NORMAL (3-working-day Service): passport remains with the embassy for 3 days, returns it with China Group Visa on the 4th day.
USD/PERSON Times of Entry 3-working-day Service
US Citizen
Single
$175 + Service $20
Canadian Citizen
Single
$155 + Service $20
Romanian Citizen
Single
$115 + Service $20
Montenegro Citizen
Single
$95 + Service $20
Serbian Citizen
Single
$52 + Service $20
Albania Citizen
Single
$55 + Service $20
Maldives Citizen
Single
$55 + Service $20
Bosnia Citizen
Single
$55 + Service $20
Herzegovina Citizen
Single
$55 + Service $20
Other Citizen
Single
$85 + Service $20
Tour Grade
moderate
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