In our this Kathmandu Everest Lhasa overland tour : Amazing views of the Himalaya and the Tibetan landscape greet you on the overland drive from Kathmandu to Lhasa (The most beautiful picturesque highway in the world to drive). En route, visit Everest base camp - Rongbuk monastry, Shigatse, the second largest city in Tibet, site of the Tashihunpo monastery. The seat of the Panchen Lamas, Tashihunpo is a vast complex with a golden rooftops and impressive chapels. Although having suffered the ravages of man and time, Gyantse, our next stop, with it's unique Palkor Chode temple and Kumbum Chorten, offers a glimpse of an irretrievably lost era in some of the most extraordinary works of art found in all Tibet. The above picture is Everest - Base camp Rongphuk Tibet - view of our Kathmandu to Lhasa overland tour via Everest base camp Tibet!
Take an exhilarating drive to Rombuk - 5000 mtr and a mere 7km below Everest Base Camp. The view from here is utterly spectacular! Rombuk ( Rongbuk) is certainly the highest monastery in the world and its guesthouse offers very basic accommodation, but the views that surround us more than compensate - lie in bed and watch the moonlight illuminate the mountain. The monastery here was first built in 1902 by the Nyingma Lama and originally housed more than 500 monks. Today, only about 50 monks and nuns remain, sharing the same prayer hall but with separate residences. The nuns here are great fun and will be delighted to have you join their evening prayers. The energetic can make the 7km hike to Base Camp for a closer view of this magnificent mountain, for the rest – pony carts are the go.

In the mystical capital of Lhasa, there is ample time to explore the former home of the Dalai Lama, Potala Palace, Tibet's world famous resplendent landmark with over 1,000 rooms and 10,000 shrines. There is also Jokhang, Tibet's holiest temple with its priceless statues and frescoes, and the Norbulinka, or Summer Place, from which the present Dalai Lama fled in 1959. Shoppers mustnt miss the Barkhor, the bustling bazaar of old Lhasa which is right on the pilgrim's circumambulating route around Jokhang. Laden with souvenirs and memories of Tibet, you fly back to Kathmandu from Lhasa in a mountain flight that treats you to close-up views of the mighty Himalayas. This adventure begins and ends with two days in Kathmandu, with plenty of time for discovering the city's many attractions.

Options
4 - 5 star hotels available in the cities, extra nights can be added at any point en route. Trips available combine with holy Mt. Kailash Mansaovar, Ganden or Samye trek and tour, Namtso Lake. Tailor made itinerary available, ask for full range of options, have option to take train to Beijing or Xi'an or flight to Chengdu, the highest train ride in the world.
We also have tour of Everest advance base camp, 3 base camp tour in Tibet, Lakpa Ri expeditions in Tibet.
We have Everest base camp trek of 18 days in Nepal, please click here if you are interested.

Some information about Tibet Lhasa's most important sites : Our Kathmandu to Lhasa overland tour via Everest base camp covers this all.

The Potala Palace Tibet:
It is located north of the middle section of Beijing Road. Actually Lhasa is not a big city. It is sandwiched by two mountains from north side and south side. The Lhasa river rides over the city. So most part of the city is located on the flat land between the mountains. The Potala Palace is built on the high land uplifting of the flat land. The palace climbing was a tough job! The palace is 115.703 meters high. People have to walked step by step to the top. The Potala Palace was built at the time of Songtsan Ganmpo in the 7th century. In the 17th century the 5th Dalai Lama extended the palace to its present size. At this time, it became Dalai Lama's living and working place. He first combined the Religion and the politics, unifying the Tibet to its greatest extent. The main construction is divided into two parts: red and white palaces. It include living quarters, temples, funerals supas and monk dormotories. The countless cultural relics in the palace are of priceless value.

The Jokhang Temple:
To people's surprise, there are always a great number of local Tibetan people around it there. They either pray with hands and knees touching the ground or walking around the Jokhang Temple. Walking around the Jokhang Temple is said that it can bring prosperity and peace to one's whole life. Most of them come from the remote villages or mountainous areas. They come here once a year.

The Jokhang Temple
was first built by King Songtsem Gampo (617 – 650). He was the 33rd king of Tibet. He was the leader of the Tubo (or Tibetan) Kingdom. He actively promoted Buddhism in Tibet. During his reign, Tibet achieved great progress in social innovation and realized the integration of Tibet for the first time. Before he built the Jokhang Temple, he had built the Little Jokhang Temple for one of his two wives -- Princess Wen Cheng who came from the Tang Dynasty. His another wife was Princess Bhrikuti of Nepal. Jealous of her, Princess Burikuti asked Gampo to construct a Jokhang for her as well. Therefore, in 647 the big temple was built. Later it was repaired and expanded many times in Ming ande Qing dynasties. After visiting the Jokhang Temple, people usually also walk around the temple along the famous Barkgor Street.

Barkhor Street:
The Barkhor is the oldest street in Lhasa as well as the center of old Lhasa and remains very traditional. It is a place where Tibetan culture, economy, religion and arts are assembled. Walking around the Jokhang Temple is said that it can bring prosperity and peace to one's whole life. The street is lined with huge numbers of shops selling various kinds of tourist stuff with Tibetan style - skybeads and much more.

Sera Monastery:
It is built on the slope of the Tatipu Mountain. It was named "Sera" due to the fact that lot of roses were once found on the mountains. "Sera" in Tibetan Language means"rose". It has an assembley hall. three collegea. Sera is most famous for lamas debating activity each afternoon from 3:000pm. The Sera Monastery is dedicated to the Gelugpa or Yellow Hat Sect, a branch of Tibetan Buddhism, founded by Tsong Khapa. Jamchen Chojey, one of Tsong Khapa's disciples built the monastery in 1419 during the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644). The Gelugpa or Yellow Hat Sect of Tibetan Buddhism studies Buddhist doctrines by using a slow but systemic process. As a part of their study, lamas must take part in debates to further their learning and get to more advanced levels of study. The debating traditions in the Sera Monastery are unique among the three famous monasteries in Lhasa. Debates are practised by the lamas in the monastery every day from 3.a.m. In a battle of words, they further their efforts by using a variety of gestures including clapping their hands, pushing their partners for an answer and more gestures.