Tibet with Everest Base Camp Trekking (15 Days)

For many centuries Tibet remained for westerners a mysterious and forbidden land cut off from the rest of the world by the mighty Himalayas in the south and the Kunlun Mountains to the north. Only a handful of brave and resourceful travellers ever managed to breach the country’s snowy mountain fastness and reach its fabled capital Lhasa. Those that did returned with stories of an exotic and intriguing land of monastic cities and mountain passes, where nomads grazed huge herds of yaks, hermit monks spent years in meditation and pilgrims prostrated themselves over vast distances to achieve their religious goals. In recent years there have been many changes to the Tibetan world but its staggeringly rich, and easily misunderstood, culture remains resilient and continues to fire the imagination of the Western mind. Moreover Tibet is no longer the inaccessible land that it once was, and although by no means always comfortable, travel to the Roof of the World, with all its rewards, is well within the grasp of today’s adventurous traveler.

The Himalayan Caravan begins its journey by exploring Nepal’s bustling capital, Kathmandu. From here one of the most beautiful mountain flights in the world takes us past Everest, across the width of the Himalayas and into Tibet. We spend our first night at a relatively low altitude in Tsetang, one of Tibet’s former capitals and visit the Tolkienesque temple of Yumbu Lhakhang. For much of the way following the mighty Yarlung Tsangpo River we carry on to Lhasa and at one point cross the river to visit Samye Monastery, considered in the Tibetan world to be the centre of the universe. The holy city of Lhasa is Tibet’s intriguing, historic capital and we have three full days in which to explore all the city’s major sights including the Potala Palace, Drepung and Sera Monasteries and also the Jokhang Temple, Vatican of Tibetan Buddhism.

Using high quality Landcruisers, capable of dealing with the rugged terrain ahead, we travel south via the Khamba La pass, with its stunning views of Scorpion Lake, to Gyangtse. Here, in this largely unspoilt Tibetan town, we visit the medieval Pelkhor Chode Temple complex with its huge Kumbum stupa, and also see Gyangtse fort, scene of an assault by the British Younghusband expedition in 1904. We carry on via Shalu to Tibet’s second city, Shigatse and visit Tashilhunpo Monastery, formerly home of the Panchen Lama. As we continue to Everest Base Camp we will, depending on road conditions, visit the important and unusual monastery at Sakya, before crossing over the Pang La pass to spend a spartan night at Rongbuk Monastery. Here in the footsteps of Mallory and Irving (and Tintin!) we are likely to be rewarded with unforgettable views of Everest’s northern face. Carrying on over highland passes and through some of the most stunning mountain vistas in the world we eventually cross the Himalayas and begin our descent down through cultivated foothills and back to the Kathmandu valley.

Itinerary In Details

Day 01: Fly Kathmandu-Lhasa over night at Hotel Sunlight or similar.
Day 02: Visit Potala Palace, PM: Jokhang Temple & Barkhor Bazaar and over night at Hotel Sunlight
Day 03: Drepung monasteries, PM: Sera Monasteries and over night at Hotel Sunlight.
Day 04: Drive to Tsedang with Samye Monastery and over night at Hotel Tsedang.
Day 05: Yumbulakhang, Tombs of Kings and Tarduk Monastery and over night at Hotel Tsedang.
Day 06: Drive to Gyantse crossing over Kamba La and Karo La via Yamadrok Lake (Torqise Lake) and over night at Hotel Gyantse.
Day 07: Visit Kumbum 7 Phakor Monastery with Gyantse Castel. PM: Drive to Xigatse (2hrs) and over night at Hotel Khunzoling.
Day 08: Panchen Lama’s Tashilhumpu Monastery and Xegar and over night at Hotel Everest.
Day 09: Drive to Rombuk Monastery and over night at camp.
Day 10: Trek to Everest B.C. (5200m) and over night at camp.
Day 11: Explore Rombuk Monastery, Mt. Everest, Mt. Lhotse & Mt. Makalu and over night at camp.
Day 12: Trek back to Rombuk and over night at camp.
Day 13: Drive to Gutso and over night at camp.
Day 14: Drive Gutso-Zhangmu and over night at Hotel Zhangmu or Gang Gyen.
Day 15: Morning scenic drive Zhangmu-Kathmandu.

Cost Includes:
National Park entry permit, Trekking permit, Land transportation to and fro, Accommodation in lodges during the trek, Food: three meals a day, A guide & required number of porter(s), Essential equipment.

Cost Excludes:
Personal expenses, Insurance, Tips, Emergency evacuation by Helicopter, Alternative transportation in case of heavy rain, landslide, strike, road blockade etc.