Exploring Tibet Departing Kathmandu every Saturday, March – October. (Minimum 2 persons)
A ten day exploration of Tibet including sightseeing in Lhasa (Drepung, Sera, Potala Palace, Barkhor and Jokhang) and visits to Xegar, Xigatse, Sayka monastery and Gyantse. Depending on the time of the year we fly into Lhasa and drive out across the Tibetan plateau to the Friendship Bridge on the border with Nepal, and on to Kathmandu, or the other way round. Deeply religious, Tibetans are an open, spontaneous people, good humoured and quick to joke. Visitors to Tibet invariably marvel at the non-stop smiles. Travel in Tibet is not always easy, but it rewards with glimpses of a land and life unlike any other.
Day 1 Fri.	Depart Hong Kong TG603 0800 Arrive Bangkok 0940 Depart Bangkok TG319 1030 Arrive Kathmandu 1235 Met on arrival and transfer to hotel. Hotel:
Day 2 Sat.	Kathmandu – Zhangmu (2300m) A six –hour drive delivers us to the Friendship Bridge. From here there is a stiff walk (or bus if we are lucky) to Zhangmu (porters will carry your equipment). We stay in the famous Zhamgmu Hotel.
Day 3 Sun.	Zhangmu – Xegar (4350m) From Zhangmu the road follows the beautiful. deep valley of the Bhote Khosi. The Nielamu Pass provides views of the Jugal Himal. After passing through Nielamu we cross our first 500m pass, the Lalung Leh; from here it is usually possible to see Everest, Cho Oyu, Makalu, Lhotse and Sishapangma – five of the world’s highest mountains. All of their summits reach for more than 8000 metres into the sky.  The road then descends for several hours to Xegar (Shegar). We will all feel the effects of high altitude this evening.
Day 4 Mon.	Xegar – Xigatse (3900m) This morning we drive over our second 5000m pass to reach Lhatze. Road conditions then usually allow us to detour to one of Tibet’s oldest and most important Bon Po monasteries at Sakyo. Xigatse (Shigatse) is reached in the afternoon. The nearby Tashi Lumpo Monastery was the seat of the Panchen Lama until his death in 1989.
Day 5 Tue.	Xigatse – Gyantse (3950m) We have time this morning to visit the Tashi Lumpu Monastery and its attendant 26 m short drive to Gyantse, a small bustling town steeped in history. In the 15th Century it served as a capital of high temple of the future Buddha. We then visit the market and old town and after lunch settle back for the a small kingdom, and was the focal point for Younghusband’s British Expedition to Tibet in 1904 when his soldiers defeated 5000 Tibetans. The fort was destroyed by cannon fire. It can be very rewarding to have a look around this typical Tibetan town.
Day 6 Wed.	Gyantse  - Lhasa (3650m) A long drive across two more high passes is necessary before we catch our first sight of Lhasa in the afternoon. We stay at the Holiday Inn Hotel.
Day 7 Thu.	Exploring Lhasa Arranged sightseeing over these two days include visits to the Potala Palace (the Dalai Lama’s winter residence), the Jokhang and surrounding Barkhor market, Drepung
Day 8 Fri.	Monastery and perhaps Sera Monastery or Norbulinka, the Dalai Lama’s summer palace.
Day 9 Sat.	Lhasa – Kathmandu The seventy minute flight crosses the Himalayas between Kanschenjunga and Makalu, the world’s third and fifth highest mountains respectively. Everest and other Himalayan Giants can be seen during the flight – take a window seat if you can! Met on arrival and transfer to the hotel. Hotel:
Day 10 Sun.	Transfer to the airport Depart Kathmandu TG320 1300 Arrive Bangkok 1810 Depart Bangkok TG602 1900 Arrive Hong Kong 2245
This is a suggest itinerary which can be varied to suit individual requirements.