Kathmandu Gyirong Lhasa Overland Group Tour
- Duration:
- 8 Days
- Price:
- From USD1370
- Route:
- Kathmandu - Gyirong - Tingri - Shigatse - Lhasa
- Season:
-
- Spring
- Summer
- Autumn
- Winter
- Tour Type:
- Group Tour
- Group Size:
- Max 12
Overview
The great Himalayas have created "two worlds" with different landscapes and climates on both sides, but have not hindered cultural and economic exchanges. Today, we no longer have to endure the hardships and obstacles that travelers have experienced in the very past, but we can still enjoy the beautiful scenery along the way and feel the difference and connection between Nepal and Tibet. On the overland trip from Kathmandu to Lhasa, you will start from ancient and mysterious Kathmandu, pass through the forest-covered Himalayan Pass, stop at Everest Base Camp, and appreciate pristine alpine Yamdroktso lake, Karola Glacier, Buddhist sites, etc., finally get to the holy city of Lhasa. By joining our overland group tour, you don't have to worry about transportation from Kathmandu to Gyirong.
| Day | Route | Attractions & Activities | Accommodation | Meals |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Kathmandu - Syabrubesi, 137km, Approx. 7hrs | Syabrubesi Village | Syabrubesi, Guesthouse | |
| 2 | Syabrubesi - Gyirong, 40km, Approx. 4hrs | Gyirong Port, Paba Temple | Gyirong Town, Guesthouse | B |
| 3 | Gyirong - EBC - Tingri, 480km, Approx. 11hrs | Everest Base Camp, Rongbuk Monastery | Tingri, Guesthouse / 3★ | B |
| 4 | Tingri - Shigatse, 240km, Approx. 4.5hrs | Tashilhunpo Monastery | Shigatse, 3★ / 4★ | B |
| 5 | Shigatse - Gyantse - Lhasa, 400km, Approx. 8.5hrs | Pelkor Chode Monastery, Karola Glacier, Yamdroktso Lake | Lhasa, 3★ / 4★ | B |
| 6 | Lhasa Sightseeing | Potala Palace, Jokhang Temple, Barkhor Street | Lhasa, 3★/4★ | B |
| 7 | Lhasa Sightseeing | Drepung Monastery, Tibet Museum, Norbulingka | Lhasa, 3★/4★ | B |
| 8 | Lhasa Departure | Send off to the airport/train station | B |
Daily Itinerary
CollapseOur local operator will pick you up from your hotel in Kathmandu and get together around 9:00-9:30 am, and then we will drive from Kathmandu to Syabrubesi, which is a beautiful resident village inside the Langtang National Park (a famous trekking region in Nepal). En-route, you’ll enjoy the beautiful scenery along the way such as green hills, deep valleys and Trisuli River.
Stay overnight in Syabrubesi village
After breakfast, we will drive to the border to enter Tibet. After immigration formalities at Gyirong Port, you will meet our Tibetan tour guide and driver. Then continue driving to Gyirong Town (2,800m). Gyirong has conserved many famous temples, such as the Nepali-style Paba Temple. It was built by Songtsan Gambo when he married the Nepalese Princess Bhrikuti. In the afternoon, you can rest in the hotel or take a short walk to visit the temple.
Stay overnight in Gyirong
- Meals:
- Breakfast
Drive along the Highway to Tingri, then drive forward to Everest Base Camp and visit the highest Monastery in the world - Rongbuk Monastery. On the way, you can get a wonderful view of Peikutso Lake and the Himalayan Mountain Ranges, especially Mt.Shisha Pangma (8,012m), Mt.Lhotse (8,516m), Mt.Everest (8,848m), Mt.Qowowuyag (8,201m), and Mt.Makalu (8,463m). After visiting Everest Base Camp, we will drive back to Tingri.
Stay overnight in Tingri, Guesthouse
- Meals:
- Breakfast
Drive from Tingri to Shigatse today. Please feel free to ask your driver to stop at any time if you want to take a photo of the fantastic view along the way.
In the afternoon, we will visit Tashilhunpo Monastery - the home of Panchen Lama. It was founded by the 1st Dalai Lama in 1447 and is a historic and culturally important monastery in Shigatse.
Stay overnight in Shigatse
- Meals:
- Breakfast
Drive Shigatse to Lhasa via Gyantse by Southern Friendship Highway. You will pass by the fertile Nyangchu Valley, a wide agricultural plain where colorfully decorated yaks and horses are used by Tibetan farmers to till the land. Arriving at Gyantse, you will visit Pelkor Chode Monastery. This magnificent multi-door structure is not only the largest stupa in Tibet but also has old sculptures and paintings all around its inner walls. En route, you will see Karola Glacier, which looks spectacular from the highway, as well as holy Yamdrok Lakewith its turquoise color and snowcapped Mt.Nyenchen Khangsar in the distance.
Stay overnight in Lhasa
- Meals:
- Breakfast
Today, you will visit the most famous Potala Palace, which is the cardinal landmark of Tibet and the masterpiece of Tibetan architecture. Potala Palace was the winter palace of successive Dalai lamas. It was built by the 33rd great king of Tibet - Songtsen Gangpo in the 7th Century. The most valuable collections of Potala Palace are the gilded burial stupas of former Dalai Lamas and the meditation Cave of the 33rd great king of Tibet.
At noon, the tour guide will bring you to a good restaurant to have lunch and have a rest. In the afternoon, we will go to visit Jokhang Temple in the center of the Lhasa old town. Jokhang Temple is the most sacred temple in Tibet and it is always bustling with earnest local pilgrims since the early days. After that, you will take a walk around the Barkhor Street - one of the most devotional circuits as well as a crowded central market of Lhasa. Barkhor Street is a very ancient round street surrounding the Jokhang Temple and the locals are always proud of it. As a symbol of Lhasa, it‘s also a must-see place for visitors.
Stay overnight in Lhasa
- Meals:
- Breakfast
After breakfast in the hotel, the tour guide will take you to Drepung Monastery, the biggest Tibetan monastery that housed more than 10,000 monks in the past. Drepung means Rice Heap in the Tibetan language. The entire monastery is large in scale and the white buildings cluster and cover the hillsides. It's the highest-ranking monastery in the Gelug Sect.
In the afternoon you will first visit the Tibet Museum. Here you can see life scenes, exquisite clothing, house architecture, and festival customs, etc. to explore the special and mysterious Tibetan customs. Then you will visit Norbulingka, which is a typical Tibetan-style royal garden, the summer resort of the Dalai Lama.
Stay overnight in Lhasa
- Meals:
- Breakfast
- Meals:
- Breakfast
Our Service
INCLUSIONS
* Transfer from Kathmandu to Gyirong border(you don't have to wait for the bus for hours on Gyirong border!);
* Lodgings: 4 Nights, a twin room in 3★/4★; 3 Night, a twin room in Guesthouse;
* Breakfasts provided by hotels;
* Travel-licensed vehicle according to group size & season as itinerary needed including gas and parking fees;
* Drop-off from your hotel to Lhasa Gonggar Airport at 8:30 am, 12:30 pm and 2:30 pm on the last day;
* Guide: experienced local English-speaking tour guide;
* Attractions: all entrance fees mentioned in the itinerary;
* Permit: Tibet Tourism Bureau Permit; Alien's Travel Permit;
* Travel Agency Liability insurance;
* Government Tax;
* Food & lodgings for guide & driver;
* Oxygen tank for emergency use;
* Two bottles of mineral water per person per day;
EXCLUSIONS
* China Group Visa;
* International or domestic flight out of Tibet; (We can book the domestic flight/train ticket at the BEST price. Please contact us for details.);
* If you miss the free transfer schedule due to flight delay or cancelation, then you are required to pay a private transfer from USD 80/vehicle/time;
* Lunch & Dinner are not included but we will recommend some good ones for you according to your requirements. Usually, it takes 5-15 USD per person for each meal;
* While the gratuity for guide and driver is NOT mandatory, it is expected. Based on their service, you can tip them on the last day of the tour. Each of you is suggested to tip them 8-15 USD/day in total;
* All the commission and tax charged by PayPal, Bank, and government when making payment. (e.g. PayPal --- 4.4%. Wire transfer --- 2%);
* Personal expenses;
* Anything not mentioned in the Inclusions;
Note
* Considering the increasing high altitude from 1370m of Kathmandu to 5200m of the EBC, to avoid the high altitude sickness, we will arrange the sightseeing of Mt. Everest on the way from Gyirong to Tingri, instead of staying overnight at Everest Base Camp;
* Tibet Tourism Bureau Permit (TTB) usually takes about 12-working-day to apply. If you couldn't provide the required docs & info on time, an extra handling fee will be charged. Please consult your travel consultant for details;
* We reserve the right to change the itinerary order and attractions in Lhasa;
* If you prefer to book your own hotels over those included in our group tour, please meet the rest of the group at their daily hotel on time. We don't include the transfers to your own hotels;
* We need to drop off all members of the group on the last day at Lhasa Airport/Railway Station,please book the flight or train as per your travel advisor's suggestion;
* Due to the special nature of Tibet travel, any unforeseeable and unavoidable objective circumstances, including but not limited to natural disasters, war, terrorism, riot, civil commotion, strikes, public health emergencies, government action, major traffic jams, delay or cancellation of flight/train, attractions temporarily closed. etc., resulting in a change of itinerary, the increased cost will be paid by travelers; if any attraction visits have to be canceled due to the same reasons above, GTT won't be held responsible for a refund except for certain attraction entrance fees which will be solely decided by GTT;
* Single Supplement: our quote is based on twin rooms. For single travelers, a single supplement is required at the time of booking. If later we manage to match you with another traveler to share the twin rooms, the single supplement will be refunded;
* From Nepal to Tibet, you must apply for China Group Visa at the China embassy in Nepal with our assistance even if you already have a China Visa. After you book your Tibet tour with us, we will send an official invitation letter for you to our partner in Kathmandu. After your arrival in Kathmandu, our Nepali partner will meet you for your original passport. With an invitation letter, your original passport and one photo(passport photo size with white background), our Nepali partner could help you get your China Group Visa there in 3 working days;
Typically Asked Questions from Our Clients
Asked by Maxi***
Hello there!
I am planning to come to Tibet via Kathmandu overland with my wife, my brother and his partner (4 people). We have a few questions:
1) Do you propose private tours? If so, how much would it be for 4 ppl?
2) Are the itineraries flexible? We are more interested in nature and would love some recommendations to replace maybe some of the monasteries in the set itinerary.
4) Is it possible for us to take the train onwards to continue visiting China from Lhasa?
5) What do you need for the visa/permits?
Dear Maxi***,
We can arrange a private Kathmandu Gyirong Lhasa Overland tour departing on 27 Nov. for you.
We can adjust the itinerary according to your preference. After the tour, we can help you book the train ticket to leave Lhasa to continue visiting China. Or you can book the train ticket via booking.com or trip.com.
For this overland tour from Kathmandu, you need a China Group visa instead of a normal China visa. We'll provide supporting docs for you to apply for a China Group visa in Kathmandu if you book the tour with us. Usually, it takes 3 working days to obtain a visa. The application time is from 9:00 am-11:00 am on working days.
Travelers on the same Group Visa should exit China at the pre-arranged city together. Otherwise, one can't get through customs when exiting China, even if she/he takes a copy of the group visa.
Asked by Ms K***
I am a solo traveler hoping to join a group tour from Kathmandu to Lhasa. Can you please advise: can I join an existing group tour?
Dear Ms Kimb****,
Frankly speaking, it's not easy to recruit other tourists to join. Tourists going to Tibet from Kathmandu overland need a China Group visa which requires at least 4 applicants to present together for an interview and have their fingerprints collected.
For tourists on the same Group Visa, they should exit China at the pre-arranged city together, as the exiting city listed on the group visa should be exactly as same as their export city.
As a solo traveler, I suggest you consider a tour departing from Lhasa.
Asked by Ms G***
My partner and I would like to book the 8 day Kathmandu Gyirong Lhasa Overland Group Tour this October 2024. My first concern is the 3 day working day requirement to get a China group tour visa. Does that mean that if we arrive in Kathmandu on a Thursday, we apply for the visa on Friday, we can take the tour starting on Monday? Or does it mean that we could not take the tour until after Tuesday? If the answer is after Tuesday, then my next question is do we have to stay in Nepal for those three working days, or could travel to Bhutan during that time and return in time to take the tour on the following Monday?
My second concern is flying back from Lhasa to Kathmandu. Is it true that the only airline that flies direct is Himalaya Airlines? And do they only have flights on Monday, Wednesday and Fridays? And is this the flight you could help us arrange at a better cost?
Thank you so much,
Dear Ms Gwen****,
Applying for a China Group Visa requires 4 people to present at the Chinese Embassy in Kathmandu to collect fingerprints together. You need to find another 2 people to apply for it together. If we find another 2 Nepali for you, you need to pay their China group visa fees, service fees and your China group visa fees together. Not a good deal.
If you apply for a China Group visa on Friday, you can't obtain the visa next Monday as it usually takes 3 working days. You'll hand in your passport for visa application, so you can't go anywhere else but stay in Nepal.
You're correct. The direct flight between Kathmandu and Lhasa departs every Monday, Wednesday and Friday, which is operated by Himalaya Airlines only. We can help you book the flight ticket but no price advantage.
I suggest you consider a tour starting from Lhasa instead of Kathmandu.
Asked by silv***
Hello,
We would like to know about dates, prices, conditions and differences between the two tours you offer 8-day overland from Kathmandu to Lhasa. Our plan is to start 03 or 04 November from Kathmandu. Thank you for your attention.
Dear Silv***,
8 days Kathmandu Gyirong Lhasa Overland group tour and 8 days Kathmandu to Lhasa Overland tour are similar with almost the same route and attractions. The first tour is a group tour based from 5 pax to 12 pax. The second tour is a private tour based on 5 pax.
Tourists from Kathmandu to Lhasa overland need a China Group China which requires 5 applicants to present together for an interview and have their fingerprints collected. For tourists on the same Group Visa, they should exit China at the pre-arranged city together, as the exiting city listed on the group visa should be exactly as same as their export city. It's not easy to apply for a China Group visa.
We can open 8 days Kathmandu Gyirong Lhasa Overland group tour on 4 November for you, but it needs further confirmation. Or will you consider a group tour starting from Lhasa and ending in Kathmandu?
Asked by Ange***
Hello! My tentative plan is to be in Paro on Friday November 22,2024 and fly to Kathmandu in early morning. Question - 1. Would it be possible to pick me up from Kathmandu Airport, so I can join the group (Kathmandu Gyirong Lhasa Overland Group Tour) on 11/22/2024? 2. Since I am only one person, in case I am the only person in the tour, would you operate the tour with just one person? 3. Do you sell airline ticket from Paro, Bhutan to Kathmandu?
Dear Angela****,
Currently it's not applicable for solo travelers going the route of Kathmandu to Lhasa overland tour as it requires a China Group Visa. The authority asks for 4 participants together to issue one group visa. In addition, the 4 people should exit China together at the same port. Unless there are 4 people coming together, it's difficult to coordinate all group members to leave China at the same place and time.
I will answer your questions one by one.
1. We can pick you up but currently we can't arrange the group unless the authority looses the policy.
2. Our group tour will depart based on 3.
3. Yes, we can help you book a flight from Paro to Kathmandu if you book with us.
4. The feasible plan is to fly from Kathmandu to Chengdu then to Lhasa. You can join our 8D Lhasa to Everest Base Camp Tour.
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