Tibet: Beijing to Kathmandu Overland

Huanying! Welcome to China. Touch down in China’s capital, Beijing, ready for a high-altitude adventure! Your trip begins with a welcome meeting at 6 pm, where you’ll meet your trip leader and travel companions. After this important meeting, why not get together with your group for an optional dinner, perhaps finding one of the best Beijing duck restaurants in the city. Your group leader will definitely know of some wonderful places where you can eat this delicious speciality.

Today, you’ll take an early morning drive to visit one of the most well-preserved areas of the Great Wall – the Mutianyu section. An incredible piece of engineering, the wall stretches 6000 km westwards from the mountain ridges north of Beijing. It's a 30-minute climb up some steep steps to reach it, but you’ll be rewarded with an incredible view of the Great Wall winding along the mountains. Travel back to the city and in the late afternoon, transfer to Beijing West Railway Station – one of the biggest and busiest in the world – to start your mighty train journey to Lhasa (approximately 45 hours). Be aware that, on the odd occasion, there may be interruptions to this schedule – see the ‘Special Information’ section of your first day in Beijing for more details.

Today, all you can do is sit back, relax and take in the mountainous ridges and remote terrain along the highest railway in the world. The journey takes you through the major cities of Xi'an, Lanzhou and Xining, and across the wide open highlands of Qinghai-Tibet Plateau, with a speckling of grazing yaks and sheep, plus a glistening lake. On this second night, you’ll climb in altitude and your breath will likely be taken away by the changing landscapes outside the windows – snow-dusted black cliffs and mountain peaks illuminated by moonlight.

Say goodbye to your local train pals and your home for the last two nights after lunch time, and be greeted by Lhasa's crisp mountain air. The colourful and historic holy city of Lhasa is situated in a small valley, and for hundreds of years it was a mysterious place, virtually unknown to the outside world. Lhasa remains an intriguing city with deeply fascinating cultures, sights and stories. Check in to your hotel later this afternoon and begin to get acclimatised with both the city and the altitude.

Start your first full day in Lhasa with a walking tour of the old town. Walk among pilgrims on Barkhor Street, otherwise known as Holy Road. Encircling the sacred Jokhang Temple, this incense-scented street is where Tibetan Buddhists perform meditative koras, following the loop in a clockwise direction. Around noon, visit a local cooking school to learn how tsampa (ground barley, a Tibetan staple), yak butter tea and momos (moreish Tibetan dumplings) are made. After lunch, visit Sera Monastery and witness the resident monks taking part in heated debates in the courtyards – you probably won’t understand a thing that they are debating, but their exaggerated gestures and the passions they display make this one of the most exciting people watching spots in Lhasa. (L)

This morning, visit Potala Palace, the incredible former home of the Dalai Lama that’s perched 130 m above the city. The palace is divided into two parts: the White Palace (secular and used as offices) and the Red Palace (home to chapels, shrines, and tombs of Dalai Lamas). Your guide will give you the inside scoop on what is truly a wonder of the architectural world. After, visit Jokhang Temple – considered the spiritual heart and most sacred temple of Tibet. It always attracts steady waves of pilgrims. Explore this large world heritage-listed site and learn a thing or two about its history. According to legend, the temple was built atop a lake after many failed attempts to build monasteries nearby. Then, enjoy some free time and maybe find a Tibetan tea house, try some sweet Tibetan milk tea or savory yuk butter tea and mingle with the hospitable locals.

Traverse a scenic section of the Tibetan Plateau on a long drive, heading towards Gyantse, crossing over stunning mountain passes as you twist through dramatic valleys and peaks. Go by the shimmering Yamdrok Lake, climb the Khama La Pass, spot sheep herder villages scattered along the banks, and marvel at the soaring Noijin Kangsang – the peak of the Lhagoi Kangri Mountain Range. You’ll stop by the roadside town of Nangartse for lunch, before driving the Karo La pass, then descending to your destination for tonight, Gyantse. This small rural town is perfect to just wander around and watch contemporary Tibetan life play out in front of you – where pilgrims mix with pop music, cows stroll past cowboys on motorbikes and monks go about their daily business.

This morning, check out the unique Gyantse Kumbum – an impressive layered stupa on the grounds of the Pelkor Monastery. Each floor of this six-level structure can be visited, and as you wind up the floors past several tiny chapels, the air fills more and more with incense and the passageways get narrower on each step towards enlightenment. Later today, there’s a chance to experience a simple lunch at a family’s home, which is a great opportunity to listen to some personal stories of living in Tibet, all the while enjoying warm hospitality. After lunch, head towards Tibet’s second-largest city, Shigatse. Translating to ‘all fortune and happiness gathered here’, Shigatse is a busy, mountain-clasped city that’s rapidly modernising. With some free time this afternoon, maybe head to the local bazaar and check out the local wares that this town has to offer. (L)

This morning, take a visit to the Tashilhunpo Monastery. Your group leader will take you on a tour through parts of the monastery – each building has its own intricate decorations, legends and religious imagery. Be sure to ask for directions to the tranquil Chapel of Jampa and meditate on the world's largest gilded statue. The courtyard outside of the Kelsang Chapel is one of the best places to observe the pilgrims and monks prepare for ceremonies. In the evening, perhaps join the pilgrims on their kora (prayer circuit), spinning prayer wheels on a 1-hour walk around the perimeter of the monastery while taking in its splendid, atmospheric views.

Continue your journey west to the town of Sakya. This region is known for its grey (kya) earth (sa), and so, provides the town’s name! Its monastery was built in 1073, and was originally in two sections, one on either side of the Zhongqu River, until the Northern structure was destroyed during the Cultural Revolution. The Southern Monastery is built in a medieval 'Mongolian' style, and rather than being whitewashed, the secular buildings are painted red, white and grey in honour of the three Buddhist Tulkas (notable lamas). You’ll have time to explore inside its high walls and admire some of its many shrines, temples and monastic residences. Afterwards, your leader will take you to meet new friends at the local nunnery. You’ll be introduced to shy but friendly resident nuns, sit down and enjoy some laughter together, and just for a second, forget that you don’t speak each other’s language at all.

An exhilarating drive brings you to Everest National Park. When you arrive, leave your main luggage in the vehicle and take an overnight bag on the park shuttle to Rongbuk Monastery – the world's highest monastery. On a clear day you might spot Everest (Qomolangma in Tibetan) behind its stupa. Share tea with a resident monk and learn what life is like here, before taking part in a short meditation – where better to find stillness than this lofty centre of spirituality, surrounded by timeless mountains? Tonight you’ll camp in yak hair tents. Relax at the site or take a walk to Everest Base Camp Monument Stone. This is the closest you can get to Base Camp on the Chinese/Tibetan side. Witnessing Everest renders many speechless – your leader will explain why it's such so sacred for Tibetans. After, opt to hike to the upper monastery, visiting caves where monks meditated centuries ago.

Take one last look at Everest close up before the long drive ahead. You’ll travel to the Tibet–Nepal border today, stopping at the closest town of Kyirong. The effort will be worth it with the changing scenery around you – from the barren highlands of Tibet to the deep Alpine Valley. Put your feet up tonight and enjoy a dinner with your Tibetan leader who will say goodbye to you tomorrow.

This morning, cross the border from Tibet into Nepal. Keep in mind today that your Tibetan group leader and driver will bid you farewell at the border, and you’ll need to pass through immigration and customs unaccompanied. Once you’ve crossed the border, your Nepal group leader will be waiting on the other side! The border crossing can be long and dull depending on the queues and volume of people, so it is best to be patient. After the formalities are all over, head onto Kathmandu, the final destination of your trip. Upon arrival in the late afternoon, why not follow your Nepal leader on an orientation walk and get to know this bustling capital.

This morning, venture out with your leader and explore the old town of Kathmandu. Experience the hustle and bustle of the ancient streets of the Kathmandu valley and the Asan Tole and Indrda Chowk Bazaar, centrally located in the old Kathmandu. Full of vibrant colors and noises, surrounded by temples, stupas and market stalls, this is the hub of the daily Kathmandu life. It also a unique ‘Pote’ bazaar. Pote are beads worn by married Hindu women and made by Muslims. And not too far is Machindra bahal temple, worshipped by Hindus and Buddhists. Learn how the locals weave their beliefs into their daily life and gain confidence in navigating the zigzaging lanes in the old city. Enjoy some free time afterwards. You may want to explore Dubar Square, or head to Swayambhunath and explore. Maybe get together your group in the evening again and celebrate this epic trip with some delicious local cuisine.

With no activities planned for today, you are free to leave the accommodation at any time. That doesn’t mean your adventure has to come to an end! If you'd like to spend more time in Kathmandu, just speak to your booking agent.