Kathmandu to Lhasa Overland Tour

Arrival day. You must arrive on a Monday, Wednesday or Friday morning, before 9:30 am. We meet you at the airport and transfer you to your hotel. The rest of the day is free, followed by a briefing on the programme.

A full day of sightseeing in the Kathmandu Valley, including the Hindu temple complex at Pashupatinath (a UNESCO World Heritage Site) and Boudhanath, the largest Buddhist stupa. You also visit Swayambhunath, the Monkey Temple (about 2,000 years old), and the city of Patan. Later, drive to Nagarkot (7,200 ft), a hill station with fine views of the Himalaya on a clear day.

After watching the sunrise and mountain views from Nagarkot, hike down to Banepa (about 4 hours) and drive back to Kathmandu via the historic town of Bhaktapur. Overnight in Kathmandu, with breakfast.

Early in the morning, drive to the border at Kerung and complete immigration and customs formalities on both the Nepal and Tibet sides. This is a group tour, with at least 7 people on each departure. Please note that guest houses in Tibet are quite simple, especially as far as Xegar.

Sights along the way include the ruins of old dzongs (fortresses) and views of the mountains, including Mount Everest. The route crosses a high pass of about 5,200 m (Nayalu La). Please drink at least 3 litres of water each day while you are in Tibet. The road is rough in places, but the views are very good. Overnight in Xegar or Lhatse.

Drive to Shigatse, home of the Tashi Lhunpo Monastery with its golden roof, the seat of the Panchen Lama until his death in 1989. Overnight in Shigatse.

In the morning, visit the Tashi Lhunpo Monastery, the seat of the Panchen Lama. It has three large temples with golden pagoda roofs, one of which holds a statue of the Future Buddha, 13 ft wide and 26 ft high. The monastery is a fine example of Tibetan architectural and cultural heritage, with hundreds of monks walking around and chanting Om Mani Padme Hum for world peace. Drive to Gyantse and visit the Kumbum Stupa, a temple built in three architectural styles (Nepali, Chinese and Tibetan), with 108 rooms holding statues of 108 different deities. The Gyantse Dzong houses a British war museum with many old weapons and statues, each with its own history.

A scenic drive over the Karo La and Kamba La passes, with good views of Yamdrok Tso Lake. You then cross the Brahmaputra River and arrive in Lhasa.

In Lhasa, the capital of Tibet, there is ample time to explore the Potala Palace, the former home of the Dalai Lama and Tibet's best-known landmark, with over 1,000 rooms, 10,000 shrines and a golden roof containing over 3,500 kg of gold. You also visit the Jokhang, Tibet's holiest temple, with its priceless statues and frescoes, and the Norbulingka, or Summer Palace, from which the present Dalai Lama fled in 1959. The Jokhang is the oldest temple in Lhasa and holds a statue of the Buddha at 11 years of age, given to Songtsen Gampo in the 7th century by the family of his Chinese queen. We also take you to the Sera and Drepung monasteries around Lhasa. If you wish to shop, visit the Barkhor, the busy bazaar of old Lhasa, which lies on the pilgrims' circumambulation route around the Jokhang and is a good place for souvenirs of Tibet.

Fly back to Kathmandu. The rest of the day is free, or you can take optional sightseeing. In the evening, you can join a Nepali cultural show and dinner.

Transfer to the airport for your flight home.