Kathmandu to Lhasa holiday

country:	Nepal, Tibet
departures:	This trip can be tailormade between May to October. We also run group departures - please contact us for details
price:	From £610 (11 days) excluding flights
vouchers:	Gift vouchers can be used with this holiday

Tibet holidays

Nepal holidays

the amazing things you'll be doing

Tibet is a Land of Gods – in the mountains, lakes, trees and stones. To share this land with them, offerings are made of food, drinks, juniper incense…and prayers.

Tibet is more vast, exotic, and inspiring than anyone yet to visit can imagine. It contains the world's highest lakes and greatest river systems, tallest ice mountains and spectacular hot springs, forested valleys and even volcanoes.

Much of the flora and fauna are unique on earth. And the light! The luminosity of a pollution-free landscape as close to the stars as people can comfortably live... has to be seen.

The fantasies that Tibet has inspired are not fictitious; they are real. It remains the jewel in the lotus, a distant horizon, a lost world, Shangri-la, the realm of fascination and wonder rightly called the Hidden Kingdom in the heart of south central Asia.

In Landcruisers, you will traverse through one of the worlds oldest trade routes, between Tibet and Nepal, going across several high passes including the 5220m Cho-La. The landscape is surreal as much as it is stunning and the exposure to Tibetan Buddhism unparallel. You will not easily forget this trip.

Special features (in order of experience as you travel)

View of Mt. Everest from the Tibet side
Tibet’s largest monastery – Tashihunpo at Sigatse
Khumbum monastery at Giantse
Tibets largest lake – Yamdrok Tso
Most sacred spot on Tibet – Jokhang at Lhasa
Potala Palace and the Sera monastery where monks debate philosophy

Options to the Tibet part of this trip includes a 10 days Road to Lhasa including Everest Base camp, a four or five days fly in fly out option out of Kathmandu, and the same trip in reverse.

day-by-day itinerary

Day 1:	Kathmandu:Arrival at Kathmandu Airport and transfer to hotel. Briefing session.
Day 2:	Heritage sightseeing:After breakfast, heritage sightseeing of Kathmandu valley.
Day 3:	Kathmandu - Nyalam (3750m) - 156 kms:Early morning we drive to the Tibet border, 127 kms from Kathmandu. After custom formalities, drive to Zhangmu to the immigration post. Continue driving to Nyalam. Altitude sickness symptoms could start from here. Overnight at Nyalam.
Day 4:	Nyalam - Lhatse (4350m) - 244 kms:After breakfast, start our uphill drive to cross two high passes of Nyalam (3800m) and Lalung La (5050m). We get about 45 minutes of great Mt. Everest views before reaching Lhatse. Overnight in Lhatse.
Day 5:	Lhatse - Shigatse (3900m) - 248 kms:After about 6 hours drive, we reach Shigatse. We reach there early afternoon which gives us the time to explore the city. Overnight at Shigatse.
Day 6:	Shigatse - Gyantse (3900m) - 90 kms:In the morning, visits to Tashilunpo monastery and the free market. After, drive to Gyantse to visit the Phalkor and Khumbum stupa. Overnight at Gyantse.
Day 7:	Gyantse - Lhasa (3650m) - 259 kms:This is one of the most picturesque days on the trip as we drive through the banks of the Yamdrok Tso, the largest lake in Tibet, to reach Lhasa. Overnight at Lhasa.
Day 8-9:	Tours in Lhasa:These two days, we will spend visiting the different tourist attractions of Lhasa and some surrounding monasteries.
Day 10:	Return to Kathmandu:Transfer to airport for return flight to Kathmandu. Rest of day free for leisure or shopping.
Day 11:	Home:Tranfer to airport for onward journey

travelling with a local operator

This holiday is operated by a company based in the holiday destination and they will be able to provide expert local knowledge. They will be able to tailor make your holiday to suit your requirements not only concerning the dates of travel but also typically the standard of accommodation, and thus price. It is rare for local operators to be able to help with the booking of your flights.

how this holiday makes a difference

We are a Nepali company and travel through this company makes a direct impact in the economy of Nepal. We also try to maximise its contribution to the local economy by hiring local guides and porters for these trips and staying in smaller lodges to spread the income.

The company does not vertically integrate and sub-contracts all support activities like transportation, lodging etc. so that the money gets spread in the economy. It conserves on paper minimising paperwork in the office and by giving out electronic brochures. When required, brochures are printed on both sides of the paper and are in a folder format so that only relevant inserts need be given.

We also have in place a development support system whereby 10% of its profits go to charities like the Joy Foundation Nepal who conduct free cataract eye camps in rural areas of Nepal and Antardristi Nepal, which is developing a fund to start a incest and rape care centre for minors. 10% of the company's profits also goes directly into employee benefits.

In the field, guides, porters and clients are all oriented in responsible travel. A zero litter policy is in place so that it minimises wastage in the region. We also only take out very small groups with a maximum of twelve participants per group. All trips also focus on culture.

Tourism can be good and bad for destinations & local people.

We carefully screen every holiday against our criteria for responsible travel.

'Look behind the brochure' to find how each holiday makes a difference (see left).

We don't claim to be perfect - there is no global accreditation - but we've led the way since 2001 and screened 1000's of holidays.

We invite every traveller to write a review about their experiences and responsible tourism.

This valuable feedback is sent to the people who run the holidays. We keep a very close eye on it and take off holidays that don't live up to our standards.