Tibet Tour

Arrive at Kathmandu (Nepal) Transfer to hotel. Afternoon orientation tour of Kathmandu's Durbar (Royal) Square, a Unesco World Heritage site.

Wonderful unrushed tours of the Pashupatinath, Swayambhunath, and Bodhnath Temple complexes....all unique and different from one another. Also a day tour of the nearby royal towns of Patan and Bhaktapur, both of which were individual kingdoms of yesteryear. All of these sites on both days are under Unesco World Heritage protection.

Free time to wander Kathmandu's unique old town, filled with colorful bustling markets, unique mini shrines and temples, fascinating shops, and narrow lanes with fascinating local Nepalis. Days 1-4 are spent overnight in Kathmandu.

Beautiful drive through the Nepal countryside to the Tibet border. Your Nepali guide will transfer you to your Tibetan guide. Check in to your hotel on the Tibetan side of the border in Zhangmu. Afternoon free time in Zhangmu. Overnight in Zhangmu.

Drive from Zhangmu to Shegar (New Tingri). You'll drive the "Friendship Highway" through picturesque villages and classic scenery where you'll catch your 1st views of the mighty Himalayas and Mount Everest. After an overnight in Shegar, an early rise will take you over the "Pang-La" pass where perhaps the world's greatest view awaits you. The entire Eastern Himalayan range with 4 of the world's top 10 peaks will be in full view. Mount Everest (Chomolangma in Tibetan) of course will stand out in all its glory.

After driving through magnificent Himalayan scenery and Tibetan villages frozen in time from centuries past, you'll arrive at the Everest Base Camp for "up close and personal" views of Everest and its North Face.....a view you will never forget. After the better part of the day Everest ogling, you'll return to Shegar for the night. For the more hearty souls you may choose to overnight at the Everest hotel near the basecamp Days 6-7 are spent overnight Shegar

After a visit to Shegar's old town you'll drive to Xigatse, Tibet's 2nd largest town. Here you'll wander Xigatse's old marketplace set in the old town beneath the beautiful Dzong (fortress) which was home to the Panchan Lamas. Of course you'll tour the magnificent Tashilhunpo Monastery complex, also the final resting place of the Panchan Lamas. The Panchan Lama was the 2nd in importance to the Dalai Lama. Free time to wander or visit the Tibetan carpet factory to see the interesting stages of carpet making. Days 8-9 are spent overnight in Xigatse.

A short drive takes us to Gyantse, where your tour will include Tibet's most unusual architectural achievement, the Kumbum Stupa...with its adjoining monastery. Gyantse with its old town and markets has retained its unique authenticity. All this is overlooked by Gyantse's fortress which overlooks all Gyantse and the beautiful surrounding countryside. Overnight in Gyantse.

Today you'll drive from Gyantse to Lhasa, and today will afford you with perhaps the most varied and beautiful scenery of the tour. You'll drive over several high passes past a beautiful mountain reservoir, an immense roadside glacier, and alongside the beautiful Yamdrok Tso (Turquoise or Scorpion Lake). You'll also pass through mountain villages and visit a Tibetan mountain school.

The Best for Last.....Tours in Lhasa will include the Magnificent Potala Palace, the Political and Residential home of the Dalai Lamas, the Norbulingka Palace, the ancient Jokhang Temple (Tibet's holiest shrine), and Tibet's 2 largest monasteries complexes, the Drepung and Sera, both of which are gorgeous villages in themselves. You'll also have free time to wander Lhasa's old town for shopping in the fascinating bazaars or just to soak up Lhasa's unique atmosphere. Days 11-14 are spent overnight in Lhasa.

Flight to Beijing (or Shanghai). (Optional tours there-please inquire) Arrive in evening and overnight.

Onward flight home/elsewhere or optional tour.

Today we take the deluxe Hi-Speed train to Samarkand. (UNESCO World Heritage) After our hotel check-in and lunch we'll tour Registan Square, Uzbekistan's most famous site. The square was the center and marketplace of ancient Samarkand and meant "place of sand". The Madrassahs of Ulug Bek (1420), Tillya-Kori (1660), and Shir Dor (1636) surround the Square and make it Central Asia's most noble, beautiful and breathtaking square.

We continue our tour today of Samarkand's other great sites. The Bibi Khanum Mosque (built by Tamerlane in dedication to his favorite wife) which was at the time the world's largest and grandest mosque and the Shah-I-Zinda Neocroplis, with its many magnificently blue tiled mausoleums of Uzbekistan's "who's who" of centuries past. We'll also stop at the Observatory of Ulugbek (Tamerlane's Grandson) who was a more famous astronomer than that of a ruler. This evening we have dinner at the famous Karimbeck restaurant while being entertained by their folklore dancing show.