Magical Tibet
An Epic Journey to the Roof of the World
Trip Details at-a-Glance
| Cost From: | $5095 see pricing |
|---|---|
| Length: | 16 days |
| Arrive: | Lhasa, Tibet |
| Depart: | Kathmandu, Nepal |
| Lodging: | 15 nights comfortable hotels and basic lodges describe |
| Meals: | All meals included except 1 lunch and 1 dinner |
| Activity: | Hiking / Trekking, Cultural Adventures |
| Trip Level: |
Rugged road travel with light walking, altitudes between 11,800-16,700 feet
|
Highlights
- Explore Tibet’s most sacred monasteries and cultural sites
- View the icy ramparts of the stupendous North Face of Everest
- Encounter Tibetan Buddhist pilgrims and nomads with their families
- Discover Kathmandu’s bustling bazaars
- Traditional Buddhist festivals—Saga Dawa or Shoton—on each departure
This was truly the experience of a lifetime—a great trip in an exotic and magical place.Carl T.—Annapolis, MD
Choosing the Right Trip
We work hard to help you choose the right trip for you, paying attention to your individual interests, abilities, and needs. If you have questions about the level of comfort or any of the activities described in this itinerary, please contact us.
Email Area Manager
References
We are proud to have an exceptionally high rate of repeat travelers. For more information, we would be happy to put you in touch with a client who has traveled with us.
Email Area ManagerDeparture Notes
Once you have signed up on the trip, we send a complete packing list, relevant health information, and required travel documents.
Resources
On this journey to one of the world’s most fabled destinations, we explore the heart of Tibet’s mystical and spiritual culture. We discover its magic in such places as the renowned monastery of Samye and Lhasa’s lively Barkhor Bazaar, where we mingle with pilgrims and swashbuckling Khampa traders. Crossing the soaring Tibetan Plateau, we visit striking fortress-monasteries where flickering yak-butter lamps illuminate ancient Buddhist frescoes, then reach the foot of Everest, where the dazzling glaciers of the world’s highest peak seem almost within arm’s reach. At journey’s end, we cross the spine of the Himalaya for a spectacular 10,000-foot descent into the lush greenery of Nepal and the temples and shrines of Kathmandu, its exotic capital city. Each departure features a special festival in Lhasa: the Saga Dawa or Shoton.
Itinerary at a Glance
For a more complete description, Download Full Trip Brochure
Days 1-4
Lhasa, Tibet
In Lhasa (11,830'), we join the pilgrims who gather at the candle-lit altars of the Jokhang, Tibet’s most sacred temple, and walk in the Barkhor, a pilgrimage circuit surrounding the Jokhang. We also explore the majestic Potala Palace and journey to sprawling Ganden Monastery (13,700'), where we have a chance to walk the pilgrim kora (sacred circuit).
Days 5-10
Yarlung Valley / Samye / Gyantse / Shigatse / Shegar
In the remote Yarlung Valley, cradle of Tibetan civilization, we explore 8th century Samye, Tibet′s first Buddhist monastery, with its vibrant, well-preserved murals. We head further to the historic outpost of Gyantse, crossing two high passes and visiting holy Yamdrok Tsho (“Jade Lake”), a pilgrimage site. We continue to Shigatse, where magnificent, gold-topped Tashilumpho, one of Tibet′s most breathtaking monasteries, sprawls across the foot of a mountain, and on to Shegar, where views of Everest and Cho Oyu rise over the sweeping Tibetan landscape from its hilltop fortress.
Days 11-12
Rongphu / Everest Base Camp
After visiting the spectacularly situated Dza Rongphu Monastery (16,500'), we head to Everest Base Camp for stunning views of the sheer North Face of the world′s highest peak. The Rongbuk Glacier is an impressive frozen river of ice, and panoramas of the glacier with Everest as a backdrop are some of the most dramatic in all the Himalaya.
Days 13-16
Lalung La / Zhangmu, Tibet / Kathmandu, Nepal
We head up and over the Lalung La (16,600'), where Himalayan peaks pierce the sky in every direction. We then descend from the roof of the world into the subtropical realm of Nepal and lively Kathmandu, where the ancient past lingers in a maze of narrow streets crowded with small golden temples, artisan workshops, and wandering cows. Depart on Day 16.
For a more complete description, Download Full Trip Brochure
Optional Extensions
If you would like to continue your adventure, we offer the following extensions:
- Tiger Tops: Royal Chitwan National Park Extension (3 days)
- Scenic Everest Flight (1 days)
- Tiger Mountain Pokhara Lodge Extension (3 days)
- Temples of Angkor Extension (4 days)
- Laos: Luang Prabang Extension (3 days)
- Burma Extension (8 days)
- Bangkok Extension (3 days)
- Phuket Extension (4 days)
- Chiang Mai Extension (3 days)
What the Trip is Like
The trip is Level 3, Moderate. It is an adventurous overland and cultural journey. While not a hiking trip, there are some optional hikes, including the walk circling the pilgrim kora at Ganden Monastery and an optional hike from Rongphu to Everest Base Camp. For your own enjoyment, we recommend you make a special effort to be in good physical condition.
We will be at altitudes of at least 12,800 feet during the entire trip until we descend into Nepal. The highest altitude we reach is about 17,000 feet, by vehicle. Individuals vary widely in their physical response to high altitude. It is not uncommon to experience mild headaches or sleeplessness for a day or two when you first arrive at high altitude. Most people gradually adjust within a few days, and our three-day stay in Lhasa at the start of the trip will aid us in acclimatization.
Departures & Leaders
Jun 2-17, 2012 Saga Dawa Festival
Tour Costs
Prices are for 2012
$5095 (10-15 members)
$5595 (6-9 members)
Single supplement: $470
Forced single supplement: $235
Internal airfare: $305 (subject to change)
more on pricing
Extension Costs
Tiger Tops: Royal Chitwan National Park Extension
from: $805
Scenic Everest Flight
from: $215
Tiger Mountain Pokhara Lodge Extension
from: $615
Temples of Angkor Extension
from: $795
Laos: Luang Prabang Extension
from: $675
Burma Extension
from: $3050
Bangkok Extension
from: $575
Phuket Extension
from: $695
Chiang Mai Extension
from: $445
Tour Cost Includes:
- Expert leadership of a Wilderness Travel Trip Leader and local guides
- Accommodations
- All meals included except 1 lunch and 1 dinner
- Sightseeing as noted in the Full Trip Brochure
- Land transportation, airport transfers for passengers as noted in the Full Trip Brochure, and baggage handling
Tour Cost Does Not Include:
International airfare, internal flights, hotel nights en route to and from Lhasa or Kathmandu, transfers for independent arrival or departure, any meals not specified after each itinerary day in the Full Trip Brochure, airport departure taxes, optional tipping or gratuities to leaders or staff, additional hotel nights that may be necessary due to airline schedule changes or other factors; pre-trip expenses of medical immunizations (if any), travel insurance, or passports and visas; and other expenses of a personal nature (alcoholic beverages, laundry, etc.).Kyichu Hotel
Days 1 to 4 (4 nights), Lhasa, Tibet
Conveniently located just a few minutes walk from the Jokhang Temple, Barkhor, and Potala Palace, the Kyichu, run by a Tibetan family, is ideally ...
Click here for full description and more photos
Tse Dang Hotel
Days 5 to 6 (2 nights), Tsetang, Tibet
In the heart of Tsetang and close to the historical sites, this large, modern, four-story hotel is an ideal base for exploring Tibet’s third largest city. Guest rooms with attached bath feature telephone, cable TV, and air-conditioning. Several restaurants are on the premises, and there is a tranquil garden where we can relax after a day of exploring.
Gyantse Hotel
Day 7 (1 night), Gyantse, Tibet
The Gyantse Hotel, featuring 120 spacious guest rooms with private bathrooms, has a central location in the town of Gyantse, within walking distance of the main monastery and stupa.
Shigatse Hotel
Day 8 (1 night), Shigatse, Tibet
In Shigatse, we stay at the Shigatse Hotel, with its clean, comfortable guest rooms and spacious lobby with traditional, elaborately painted Tibetan decor.
Tibetan Plateau Hotels
Days 9 to 13 (5 nights), Tibetan Plateau, Tibet
On our overland journey across the Tibetan Plateau, we stay in a variety of basic hotels and rustic lodges that range from larger government-built hotels to simple, comfortable accommodations with characteristic Tibetan hospitality. As we travel outside Shigatse to the more remote reaches of the plateau, hotels become more basic and we provide bed sheets, pillow covers, and towels to make our stay more comfortable. The hotel food out on the Tibetan Plateau, while plentiful, is also simple, a blend of Chinese and Tibetan cuisine featuring noodles, rice, and soups.
Hotel Shangri-La
Days 14 to 15 (2 nights), Kathmandu, Nepal
Set within a beautiful garden, this well-regarded hotel is renowned for its friendly staff and for having two of the better restaurants in town. ...
Click here for full description and more photos
Extension Accommodations
If you would like to view the accommodations offered with our extensions options:
- Tiger Tops: Royal Chitwan National Park Extension (3 days)
- Scenic Everest Flight (1 days)
- Tiger Mountain Pokhara Lodge Extension (3 days)
- Temples of Angkor Extension (4 days)
- Laos: Luang Prabang Extension (3 days)
- Burma Extension (8 days)
- Bangkok Extension (3 days)
- Phuket Extension (4 days)
- Chiang Mai Extension (3 days)
Note: Listed above are our signature accommodations for this trip. Although it is highly unlikely, we may make substitutions when necessary.
Our Trip Leaders
Here are the Trip Leaders scheduled for this journey (please note that leader assignments are subject to change).
Devendra Basnet was born in the foothills of the Himalayas in Darjeeling, India, and makes his home in Kathmandu, Nepal. He studied Zoology in college in India and began his guiding career as a naturalist guide in Nepal’s wildlife-rich Royal Chitwan National Park. His zoology background has ...
Click here for a full bio and list of all upcoming trips
Steve Webster was born in the Jersey Channel Islands of the United Kingdom and traveled to Nepal in the early 1980s to work with the famous Tiger Tops Jungle Lodge. He spent five years in the jungles of Nepal, managing several lodges and camps and studying wildlife, and he trekked extensively in ...
Click here for a full bio and list of all upcoming trips
Optional Extensions
If you would like to continue your adventure, we offer the following extensions:
Burma
Cambodia
Temples of Angkor Extension
Exploring the Glories of a Bygone Khmer Civilization
Cultural Adventures
4 days
-
Level 2
Laos
Laos: Luang Prabang Extension
Gilded Temples and Traditional Buddhist Culture of Laos
Cultural Adventures
3 days
-
Level 2
Myanmar
Nepal
Tiger Mountain Pokhara Lodge Extension
Spectacular Scenery and Enchanting Villages of the Annapurna Foothills
Hiking / Trekking, Walking, Cultural Adventures
3 days
-
Level 3
Tiger Tops: Royal Chitwan National Park Extension
Explore a Magnificent Wildlife Sanctuary
Wildlife & Natural History
3 days
-
Level 2
Thailand
Bangkok Extension
Discover the Beautiful Cultural Monuments of Bangkok
Cultural Adventures
3 days
-
Level 1
Chiang Mai Extension
Explore the Wonders of Northern Thailand
Wildlife & Natural History, Walking, Cultural Adventures
3 days
-
Level 2
Phuket Extension
Explore a Jewel Set in the Andaman Sea
Cultural Adventures, Sea Kayaking
4 days
-
Level 2
Client Comments
This was truly the experience of a lifetime—a great trip in an exotic and magical place.Carl T., Annapolis, MD
I have traveled with many other companies and this trip tops everything so far.Lilly P., McLean, VA
This was one of the most memorable trips we have ever taken. The guides were fabulous and, all in all, Tibet touched our souls deeply on so many levels.Jane R., Davis, CA
I so enjoyed the beauty and enchantment of Tibet and Nepal!Stinceon D., Greenwich, CT

