7 Days Lhasa and Kathmandu, a Tale of Two Cities Tour

Highlights:
• Receive the auspicious White Hada and Tibet Travel guide from our Tibetan guide;
• Enjoy the welcome ceremony at the airport or railway station;
• Get a glimpse of Potala Palace and holy Lhasa city;

Meals: Not Included.

Accommodation:
Hotel in Lhasa.

Upon your arrival in Lhasa, our Tibetan guide will be greeting you at the airport or train station with auspicious white Hada. Then you will be transferred to hotels in Lhasa. The guide will briefly introduce the itineraries and remind you about other dos and dont's for newcomers. To quickly get acclimatized to Tibetan plateau, it’s better to have a good rest in the hotel.

Insider Tips:
For the new-comers to Tibet, never rush to visit attractions downtown as your body needs time to get acclimatized to the high altitude on Tibetan Plateau. Slight headache, dizziness, and rapid pulse are pretty common. They will disappear in a couple of days. Or you may use the oxygen bar in your hotel to ease any discomfort due to altitude ascent. Feel anything you need, please feel free to reach your Tibetan guide.

Highlights:
• Explore the White House and Red House in Potala Palace;
• Enjoy the bird’s eye view of Lhasa city from Potala;
• Visit the sandalwood statue of Sakyamuni in Potala; the life-size statue of Sakyamuni in Jokhang;
• Experience the famous Barkhor Kora;
• Taste Tibetan sweet tea and other local food;

Our first stop is to visit the Potala Palace, the UNESCO world heritage site and the winter palace of the Dalai Lama. Walking slowly along the long stone steps to the White and Red Palaces, you can explore the former residence of Dalai Lama and his meeting room and religious chamber. You can see the gilded burial stupas of past Dalai Lamas and the meditation cave of the 33rd great king of Tibet. A bird's-eye view of Lhasa city and Lhasa valley from the top of Potala Palace will take your breath away.

After we have lunch and then we will head to holy Jokhang Temple.It's the most sacred Buddhist site in Tibet. Outside the temple, you will witness pious Tibetan pilgrims, young and old, prostrating themselves in front of Jokhang and long lines of Tibetans following the Barkhor circuit. Inside, traveling in dim butter light, you can see the statue of Buddha Sakyamuni at the age of twelve,perhaps the single most venerated object in Tibet Buddhism.You may reach the top of Jokhang Temple to enjoy the panorama of old Lhasa city and great vista of Potala Palace.

Then we may do the kora by circling the Barkhor Street with pilgrims and locals and buy some souvenirs. Never miss the chance to enjoy the tasty sweet tea in local tea house and visit Tromzikhang, the famous farm produce market.

Meal: Breakfast.

Accommodation:
Hotel in Lhasa.

Insider Tips:
As each traveler only has one hour for visiting Potala Palace, do closely follow our guide’s guidance; walk slowly and take a rest if needed when you hike the Potala Palace;

Dress properly when visiting the Buddhist site and no photo is allowed inside the Buddhist hall.

Highlights:
• Enjoy the hike and panorama of Lhasa Valley and witness huge monk kitchen and Thangka display platform in Drepung Monastery;
• Experience the lively monk debate and colorful sand mandala in Sera Monastery;

In the morning, you are going to visit Drepung Monastery which was one of the “Great Three” Gelug Monasteries of Tibet and was founded in 1416 by Jamyang Choge, one of the Tsongkhapa’s main disciples. Ganden palace is used as Dalai Lama’s palace in the Drepung before moving to the Potala Palace.

In the afternoon, you will visit Sera Monastery which is another one of the “Great Three” Gelug Monasteries of Tibet and founded in 1419 by Jamchen Chojey, one of the Tsongkhapa’s main disciples. The highlight is the monks’ debate at around 3 - 5 in the afternoon.

Meal: Breakfast.

Accommodation:
Hotel in Lhasa.

Insider Tips:
The grand Shoton Festival (Aug 8, 2021 or July 1st on Tibetan calendar); the steps are steep for the hike in Drepung. Walk slowly to prevent acute mountain sickness;

The Monk Debate in Sera Monastery (3-5p.m, Mon to Fri); only the cell phone camera is allowed to take photos in debate courtyard.

Highlight:
• Enjoy the bird’s eye view of the mighty Himalayas in the plane;

In the morning/afternoon, our Tibetan guide and the driver will pick you up for the flight to Kathmandu. Flying over the incredible Himalayan range is sure to be one of your most memorable experiences to be remembered in your life.

After you land at Tribhuvan International Airport, you may apply for the tourist visa on arrival. Our Nepali Guide and driver will patiently wait for you and later give you a ride to your hotel in Kathmandu. The rest of the day is for free exploration.

Meal: Breakfast.

Accommodation:
Hotel in Kathmandu.

Insider Tips:
To enjoy the bird’s eye view of Mt.Everest from the plane, do book the window seat on the right side of the plane.

Highlight:
• Explore the medieval temples and palaces of Kathmandu Durbar Square;
• Tour the towering Swayambhunath Stupa, ruled by monkeys;

After breakfast, full day valley sightseeing with Kathmandu Durbar Square, the place of the Malla and then the Shah Kings of Nepal, visiting Kumari Temple, house of the virgin goddess, visiting Swayambhunath Stupa (Monkey Temple), a stupa on the top of hill - from here you can overlook the scenery of Kathmandu, Visiting Patan Durbar Square, the second largest town in the valley, Krishna Mandir, Golden Temple etc.

Meal: Breakfast.

Accommodation:
Hotel in Kathmandu.

Highlight:
• Visit the famous Hindu temple Pashupatinath;
• Trace the connection between Nepali and Tibetan culture at Boudhanath stupa;
• Visit the Bhaktapur's Dubar Square filled with drying pot and local artisans;

After breakfast, we will take you a glimpse of half day sightseeing tour in Kathmandu Valley; Pashupatinath Temple, one of the most important Hindu temple in Nepal. We keep going for walk to see the huge stupa of Buddha, also known as Boudhanath, the largest stupa in Nepal. Afterward taking a ride to Bhaktapur, a fascinating town, visit Bhaktapur's Dubar Square featuring the Victorian illustrations style with temples and temples complex.

Meal: Breakfast.

Accommodation:
Hotel in Kathmandu.

A few hours before your flight out of Nepal, our staff will pick you up from your hotel and take you to the Tribhuvan Airport for the onward flight.