Day 01:
Depart Australia
Day 02: Arrive in Beijing, transfer
to hotel.
Day 03: Sightseeing in Beijing.
Possibilities include the Forbidden City, and Tiananmen Square. B
Day 04: More sightseeing during the
day, a visit to the Great Wall to have a wander up a few steps! In the evening,
after an early dinner, time to board the train to Lhasa, which departs at
around 8pm. Night on the train. B
Day 05: Continue your journey
across China on the train.
Day 06: Arrive in Lhasa
late this evening, around 6pm. Transfer to hotel. D
Day 07: Sightseeing in
Lhasa – Sera Monastery, Jokhang Temple and Summer palace (Norbulinka) of Dalai
Lama. B L D
Day 08: Lhasa Sightseeing Tour,
including visits to the Potala Palace and Drepung Monastery. The 17th century
Potala Palace offers an awesome view of the entire city and also has what were
the private quarters of the Dalai Lama, numerous grand staterooms and chapels.
Ancient history has it that Drepung Monastery which was built in the 14th
century was used to shelter around 10,000 monks although these days there only
a few hundred. B L D
Day 09: After breakfast, drive to
Tsedang from Lhasa - (220km, approx. 3 hours drive). Visit Yumbu La Khang, the
oldest and first palace built by first king Nyatri-Tsenpo. Overnight at hotel
in Tsedang. B L D
Day 10: After breakfast, drive to
Gyantse from Tsedang (3950m) - (316km – approx. 7 hrs drive). There are three
passes Kambala (4794m), Karola (5010M), Simila (4334m). Visit the Yamdruk
tso-lake and Nagin Khangsa mountain range, which you can see, on the way to
Gyantse. Overnight at hotel in Gyantse. B L D
Day 11: After breakfast drive to
Shigatse (3900m) - (90km – approx. 2 hrs drive). Visit Tashi Lungpa Monastery
this evening, which belongs to Penchen Lama. Overnight at hotel in Shigatse. B L
D
Day 12: After breakfast, drive to
Xegar (4500m)- (235km - 8 hrs drive). Today is the longest driving day, and
there are two passes; Tso-La (4050m) and Gya-tso-La (5220m). Overnight at hotel
in Xegar. B L D
Day 13: After breakfast, drive to
Rongbuk (4980m) - (134km – approx. 5 hrs drive). There is one pass the Pang-La
(5120m). From here can have a fantastic view to several Himalayan giants,
including Everest, Makalu, Gyachung Khang, and Cho-Oyu. Overnight at Chessell
Adventures’ Everest base camp. B L D
Day 14: Stay at Everest base camp.
A day of rest from the bikes, which can be spent exploring around Rongbuk
Glacier, Guru Rinpoche’s cave and Rongbuk Monastery. B L D
Day 15: After breakfast, drive to
Old Tingri (4400m) - (100km – approx. 4 hrs drive). Stop for lunch here, then
drive to Naylam 3700m. Today there are two high passes; Lalung-La 5050 and
Tong-La 5124m. From the top of Tong-La you can enjoy panoramic views of the
mountains including Shisa pangma, which is the only 8000m+ peak completely in
Tibet. There is approximately 3 hours more to drive after lunch. Stay at hotel
in Tingri. B L D
Day 16: After breakfast, drive to
Zangmu (2300m) - and down to the Friendship Bridge to clear the immigration
formalities in the Chinese side. Once we cross the bridge, it is then necessary
to clear the Nepalese Immigration. Once formalities are complete we continue
our drive towards Kathmandu. Today we stay at Dhulikhel 1400m, which is famous
for the view of the sunrise. B L D
Day 17: After breakfast, drive to
Kathmandu (1350m) - 40km – approx. 2hours drive. On the way we visit the
ancient old city of Bhaktapur, which was famous for its art and architecture
during the medieval age. Then drive to hotel for a free afternoon. B
Day 18: Kathmandu sightseeing, such
as Boudhanath, Soyambhunath, and Pashupatinath. Dinner celebration. Overnight
at Kathmandu. B
Day 19: Departure. B
Day 20: Arrive home.