BEST OF NEPAL AND TIBET

LHASA TO GANDEN MONASTERY TOUR

Duration: 8 Days, 7 Nights

Day 1: Arrive Kathmandu. You will be met at the Airport and then transferred to your hotel Coach. If time permits, we may start the sightseeing same day, otherwise the program below will be for next day.

 Around 1900 hrs evening the same day, we will meet you and continue to a nearby peaceful restaurant to enjoy the Welcome Dinner with Live Nepalese Cultural Program. Back to Hotel around 2210hrs.

Day 2 : Sightseeing

After breakfast at Hotel, we will start the full day sightseeing (0900hrs)

Kathmandu Durbar Square. Durbar square classic tour takes you to the famous places that have housed kings of different dynasties and temple-scapes representing finest specimens of Hindu and Buddhist architectures. 

Swayambhunath: One of world’s most glorious, ancient, enigmatic and the holiest of Buddhist Chaityas and dates back more than 2000 years. Situated on a hillock Swayambhunath, literally “the Self-Created or Existent”, is a mosaic of small stupas and pagoda temple contributed to over time by a succession of kings and noblemen. The main structure is made of a solid hemisphere of brick and clay supporting a lofty conical spire capped by a pinnacle of copper gilt. Painted on the four sides on the base of the spire are the “All Seeing Eyes” of Lord Buddha. 

Boudhanath : This colossal and ancient Stupa, one of Nepal’s most unique monuments and said to be the world biggest, attracts Nepalese pilgrims of Tibetan stock from as far as Dolpo and Mugu as well as Tibet, Ladhak in India and Bhutan. Boudhanath Stupa with all seeing eyes of primordial Adi Buddha on all the four sides of the stupa is said to hold the remains of Kasyapa - the Buddha of the previous time.The Stupa, 100 meters in diameter,  built on an octagonal base inset with prayer wheels by the Lichchivi King Mana Deva in the fifth century rises to 36 meters above the base including the spire, “all seeing eyes” and the pinnacle represent the stages of enlightenment, symbol of royalty, compassion, knowing and nirvana. There are many myths about the origins of the stupa.

Guheshwari: The short drive from Bouddha will take you to this place where it is said that the consort of Siva, immolated herself due to her father’s insult, Siva stricken with grief, wandered the skies with her corpse as pieces of her body fell to earth thus creating 51 sacred sites. Her private parts fell here thus the name “Guheshwari”.

Pashupatinath: Just a small walk takes you to the temple of Lord Siva-Pasupatinath. With its two tiered golden roof and silver doors it is famous for its superb Newari architecture situated near the banks of sacred Bagmati River. Entrance to the temple precinct is permitted to the “Hindus Only”, however visitors can clearly see the temple from the eastern bank of the Bagmati River. Pashupati, literally, “Lord of the Animals” is the patron deity of Nepal and believed to have been unearthed by an obscure herdsman while one of his cattle was showering the earth with milk. Across the sacred river, above the array of decorated monuments is the “Slasmantak or Mrigasthali Ban (forest)” where legends have it that Lord Siva dwelled in a form of an antelope to evade the hordes of demigod

Day 3. Kathmandu (1400m) to Lhasa (3660m) 

Morning transfer to the airport for the hour-long flight to Tibet. This spectacular flight, on a China Southwest Airlines Boeing 757, takes us right across the main Himalayan range and provides us with magnificent mountain views. After landing at Gonggar Airport and meeting our Tibetan guide, it is a further 2-hour drive by Landcruiser jeep to Lhasa where we will check into the Hotel. It's advisable to rest and take it easy for the remainder of the day due to Lhasa's altitude.

Day 4:  Lhasa Sightseeing

Today will be spent visiting several of Lhasa's many monasteries in the company of a guide and interpreter. One of these is the Sera Monastery, one of the best-preserved monasteries in Tibet. Within its whitewashed walls and golden roofs, several hundred monks live and study. After lunch we'll visit the Norbulingka, the summer palace of the Dalai Lama.

Day 5:  Lhasa Sightseeing

This morning we will visit the Potala Palace, which dominates the city of Lhasa. This spectacular building contains the private quarters of the Dalai Lama as well as numerous grand state rooms and many important chapels. There has been a palace on this site since the 5th or 6th century, but the present palace was constructed in the 17th century. A visit to the Drepung Monastery this afternoon will complete a truly awe-inspiring day. Founded in the 14th century, this monastery was once the largest in the world, with a population of around 10,000monks. These days that figure is down to several hundred, but there is still much here of interest as it was left relatively unscathed during the Cultural Revolution.

The remainder is a leisure day in which we are free to explore further, revisit a favourite monastery or simply sit in a café overlooking the Barkor and watch the pilgrims as they walk around the Jokhang, stopping regularly to peruse the merchandise at the stalls lining the route.

Day 6: Ganden Monastery and  back to Lhasa

Today you will take a day trip to Ganden monastery located on Wangbur Mountain, on the southern bank of Lhasa River. Ganden Monastery is one of the earliest and largest Buddhist monasteries in Tibet, and stands atop one of  the six famous temples of Gelugpa - a branch of Tibetan Buddhism. This compact monastery was once gutted by fire but the restoration is now complete. Drive back to Lhasa in the afternoon.

Day 7: Transfer to airport and fly back to Kathmandu, Free day in Kathmandu. Overnight Hotel.

Day 8: Final Departure from Kathmandu

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Cost: Prices are quoted in USD per person sharing and are subject to change until paid in full

Per person for 4 - 5 people : $1 411.00

Single supplement: $270.00

Note: US Nationals are required to pay an additional $60 for an increased Tibet visa fee

Services Included:

01. All ground transfers by private vehicle.

02. Five star Hotel De L' Annapurna in Kathmandu (including breakfast).

03. Guided sightseeing in Kathmandu (including all entrance fees).

04. Tibet Travel Permit and Tibet visa fee

05. Airfare: Kathmandu – Lhasa – Kathmandu.

06. Tibet Tour arrangement.

07. Transportation in Tibet private land cruiser

08. Hotel in Tibet (including breakfast).

09. Guide and staff as necessary for the tour.

Services Excluded:

01. International airfares and airport Taxes.

02. Re-entry Visa Fee to Nepal.

03. Meals (Lunch & Dinner) while staying in Hotel (only Breakfast is included).

04. Expenses of personal nature such as Bar Bill, Laundry, Telephone, and etc.

05. Personal Medical & Travel Insurance.

* Price is valid for tours taken between between 1 August and 31 October 2008

* Tour must be booked and paid for in full when booking.

* Price only applies for a minimum of two people per person sharing.

* Price subject to availability and subject to change until paid in full

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