Trip code | |
Package name | NEPAL AND TIBET CULTURAL TOUR |
Duration | 8 Days |
Max. elevation | 3, 656M/ 11, 990Feet m |
Level | MODERATE |
Transportation | Private vehicle | International Flight |
Accomodation | 3*** Category Hotel |
Starts at | Kathmandu |
Ends at | Tibet |
Trip route | |
Cost | USD 0 per person |
Mode of Tour | Hotel in Kathmandu and Lhasa / Tibet. |
Tour Grade | Leisure to Moderate short walks. |
Tour Region | Kathmandu, Patan / Lalitpur and Bhaktapur. At Lhasa / Tibet best place of great interest |
Highest Spot | In Lhasa at 3, 656 m / 11, 990 feet |
Mode of transport | Comfortable coach, in Nepal and Tibet as per the size of the group, with scenic hour flight to Lhasa and back to Kathmandu. |
Local Culture | In Nepal mixed culture and custom of both Hindu and Buddhism religions, in Lhasa / Tibet 90 % Buddhism religion with an interesting age-old cultural heritage. |
Tour in Kathmandu | 02 Nights and 03 Days |
Tour in Lhasa | 03 Nights and 04 Days at places of great interest |
Total Trip | 07 Nights and 08 Days (From arrival to final departure) |
Best Season | From Mid-Spring March to May and early autumn/fall September to November |
Nepal and Tibet Cultural Tour offers exciting week-long holidays in the Himalayas capital cities of both countries of Nepal and Tibet. Our marvelous programs take you to great interesting places, steeped with World Heritage sites.
Tour takes you in the close harmony of local immense culture of age-old traditions, tour begins from Kathmandu. On the second day of your arrival in Nepal capital and main hub Kathmandu a semi-modern city, blessed with ancient glorious of religious Hindu temples and Buddhist monasteries. Probably the only country in the world where Hindu and Buddhism melts in perfect synchronization.
Kathmandu valley with three main cities, Kathmandu-Patan / Lalitpur and Bhaktapur, our tour takes you around these wonderful cities. Tour of old Palace and royal courtyards, famous landmark of Nepal the Swayambhunath Stupa with more than 2,500 years of history. Visit of Hindu holy temples of Pashupatinath and large stupa of Bouddhanath with all-seeing eyes of Lord Buddha.
The next day's exciting tour takes you to the adjoining cities of Patan or Lalitpur means a city of arts and crafts. Tour of medvial Bhaktapur city steeped with ancient holy sites and old palaces, after enjoying impressive places. Our next journey on the other side of the massive Himalayas range for a tour of Tibet in Lhasa.
From Kathmandu international airport, a sweeping scenic flight takes you beyond the Himalayan high mountain range to land in Tibet, facing the breathtaking panorama of Mt. Everest and other world's highest peaks.
On landing at Gongar, Tibet international airport, a short interesting drive to reach in the heart of lovely Lhasa city. Where most nice Tibetan traditional hotels and restaurants are located around the East side of Lhasa near colorful Barkhor square.
Lhasa, although a modern city with great networks of wide nice roads with tall buildings, but still retains its age-old glory. As it was some centuries back when Buddhism was introduced in Tibet by the great king Songtsen Gampo.
Tour with our native Tibetan guide takes you around the most interesting sites around Lhasa visiting the old monastery. As well the first university of Buddhism learning at Drepung, with old Sera monastery including the highlight and landmark of Tibet, the majestic and magnificent Potala Palace.
Enjoying a marvelous tour of Tibet in Lhasa, with a glimpse of impressive Tibetan culture, our Tibetan journey completes after a great time in one of the world's highest city. From Lhasa, an exciting scenic flight brings you back to Kathmandu, after a wonderful experience on Nepal and Tibet Cultural Tour, presented by Open Trail Treks.
Day 01 | Arrival in Kathmandu and transfer to your hotel. |
Day 02 | Full day tour of Kathmandu around world heritage sites. |
Day 03 | Full day tour of Patan / Lalitpur and Bhaktapur cities. |
Day 04 | Fly to Gongar Tibet international airport and drive to Lhasa. |
Day 05 | Full-day tour of Lhasa, Drepung, and Shera Monasteries with the visit to Jhorkang Temple and Norbulingka summer palace. |
Day 06 | Tour of Potala Palace with afternoon free to explore around. |
Day 07 | Fly to Kathmandu and transfer to hotel. |
Day 08 | International departure for homeward or to respective countries. |
On arrival at Kathmandu and Nepal International airport, after immigration formalities, and collecting your baggage head for exit where our staff and guide receives you, with a warm welcome and then transfer to your hotel. A short drive into the heart of Kathmandu city, around Thamel the most interesting place for all travelers.
At the hotel check into your rooms, after a short rest from the jet-lag then meet your guide, and other fellow members of the tour for Nepal and Tibet, for briefing regarding your stay in Nepal with full information of the tour of Kathmandu and Lhasa, with do’s and don’ts.
Evening group welcome dinner in a nice authentic Nepalese restaurant with a folk cultural program to entertain with your dinner.
At Kathmandu, a free and leisure day with a sightseeing tour at places of great historical and cultural interest. Most of the ancient sites are listed in UNESCO World Heritage Sites. A short drive and few minutes walks to Old Durbar Square, witness old palace of Malla and Shah Regime, with ancient temples and resident of Kumari which represents as a Living virgin Goddess, of young tender age.
Tour of Kasthamandap, a temple built with the wood of single tree where name Kathmandu derived from.
From here a short drive west of the city to old Swayambhunath Stupa, perched on a hillock, where one catch view of Kathmandu city and the valley, with snow peaks on a clear fine day. The Buddhist Stupa dates back to 2,500 years with the all-seeing eyes of Lord Buddha in four cardinal directions. A pride and landmark of the country listed in the world heritage site.
After an interesting morning tour continues heading east of the city at the holy temple of Pashupatinath, a golden three-tier rood pagoda. Non-Hindu’s are not allowed at the main entrance, where the guide takes you on the other side of Bagmati River to observe the temple premises, with devotees and pilgrims on religious activity. From here a short distance walk or a drive to great Bouddhanath Stupa, and the area is also called ‘Little Tibet’, as you can witness most Buddhist pilgrims and locals of Tibetan origin with a similar culture.
The day completes with a drive back to your hotel after a marvelous day around Kathmandu visiting places of great interest.
Morning after hearty breakfast, ready for another exciting day tour of adjoining cities of Patan, (also known as Lalitpur) and Bhaktapur. Short drive south of Kathmandu city, where the bridge above Bagmati River separates the districts of Lalitpur and Kathmandu. At Patan, or Lalitpur which city of fine arts and crafts which you can observe on old houses, and temples of masterpiece design on wood and metals.
Tour of Patan around old Durbar Square of Malla Kingdom era, with Krishna Temple, a fine stone-work of the temple, visit the Patan palace museum and the courtyard and observe the busy market place next to palace premises.
Next tour on the outskirt of Patan and Kathmandu city, of less than an hour drive to Bhaktapur city, of medvial period a living museum.
Bhaktapur most interesting sites:
The Durbar Square
Bhaktapur old Durbar Square, hoses many ancient monuments within the palace courtyard. Most of the ancient buildings and monuments, listed in UNESCO World Heritage Sites, reflecting the city's unique culture, arts including architectural wonders, truly a living museum.
Tour of golden gate regarded as the world's most magnificent and richly carved of unique design and work of artistic skill, enjoy views of the palace with 55 windows.
Nytapola Temple
One of the main highlights of Bhaktapur is a pagoda roof Nytapola Temple, which means a five-storied temple at the height of 30 meters, the tallest temple of Kathmandu, and the landmark of Bhaktapur city. Built by King Bhupindra Malla in 1708 AD.
On each step of the temple entrance stands a pair of figures, from the bottom with a statue of wrestlers, elephant, lion, griffins, and goddesses.
Dattatreya Temple
A little further another nice temple, built-in 1427 AD, which was built from the wood of a single tree, visit and witness exquisitely carved peacock windows located near the temple area.
Pottery square and market
Bhaktapur, also famous for pottery with two main areas, the first pottery square is called Suryamadhi east of Dattareya temple square, the oldest pottery square.
The other pottery is located south and close to Nytapola square at Talako Pottery Square, where you can take a stroll along busy market streets to reach the pottery site. Watch the craftsman on wheels shaping the clay in a fine shape old traditions handed from ancient times to these days.
Lunch break in a nice restaurant at Bhaktapur Durbar Square before or after the tour on completing the day with Patan and Bhaktapur drive back to Kathmandu.
Morning as per flight time for Lhasa flight transfer to Kathmandu airport for scenic flight of an hour or more to land at Gongar in Tibet international airport, which is close to Lhasa, during air views of world’s highest mountains with
Mt. Everest.
As plane lands at Gongar Airport, after going through security and immigration then received by our Tibetan guide and driver for a short drive towards the eastern side of Lhasa city within great areas populated mostly by Tibetans.
Afternoon relax and take a short walk around the Barkhor market square where most of the hotels are located.
Morning our Tibetan guide meets you at the hotel lobby, after your pleasant first overnight in Lhasa, a short drive takes you on the west side of the city with an uphill drive to Drepung Monastery, the largest and important monastery in Tibet, built as a university for Tibetan Buddhism scholar in earlier days, which was also a resident of many high priest to 5th Dalai Lama, till Potala Palace construction was completed.
An interesting tour of Drepung Monastery interior and around religious and prayer rooms, from here tour of Jokhang Temple, located in the heart of Lhasa around busy Barkhor market. Visit the monastery as well first Buddhist temple of historic importance and tales of ancient times. The tour takes you inside the temple and on the scenic terraces, for beautiful photographs of colorful busy Barkhor Market and its surrounding with views of Potala Palace nearby.
Our last day in Lhasa, with an exciting morning tour of magnificent Potala Palace, built in early 640 AD. Started by Songsten Gampo, from his private meditation cave, during the time of the 5th Dalai Lama, this majestic citadel Potala Palace was constructed. This beautiful palace represents a landmark of Tibet that dominates the whole of Lhasa and Kyuchi valley.
Afternoon tour of another interesting and important Shera monastery and watch young monks in debates one of the high light of the visit. Rest of the day free for individual activities and shopping souvenirs.
Morning, after breakfast, and as per flight time for Kathmandu depart from the hotel for a short less than a two-hour drive. At the Gongar airport bidding farewell to Tibetans, guide and driver and then check-in, then board in big airplane Boeing Air China Airlines, for the scenic flight back to Kathmandu after a memorable experience in Lhasa / Tibet and transfer to your respective hotel. Afternoon free for individual activities and shopping souvenirs in Kathmandu.
Last day in Nepal in the country of Himalayan wonders, as per your international flight time either morning, afternoon, or evening. Open Trail Trek guide and staff transfer you to the airport for the homeward journey or to the next port of call.