INTRODUCTION No land has captured man's imagination for its remoteness & almost mystical aura as TIBET, the forbidden kingdom on the roof of the world. Captivated by Tibet's mystic charm & ruggedness great explorers & adventurers of the century have ventured into this holy land rendered inaccessible by the hostile natural conditions & bandits that waylaid them across through the Himalayas. Despite untold ravages brought about during the Cultural Revolution, Tibet's past grandeur, majesty, magic & mystery still remains undiminished. One can still see today nomads herding their yaks, pilgrims worshipping at sacred shrines & the expansive, striking & enduring Himalayan topography. Tibet is truly an `adventurers' paradise'. TRANS HIMALAYAN JOURNEY 8-DAY TIBET OVERLAND TOUR A FIXED GUARANTEED TOUR DEPARTURES: EVERY SATURDAY/TUESDAY (SIT-IN-COACH BASIS) This is an adventure trip for travelers on a limited time & budget. The breathtaking trans-Himalayan flight from Kathmandu toLhasa & the overland route from Lhasa to Nepal border offers truly spectacular views of the Himalayas, high mountain passes, ancient monasteries, fortresses & a people & culture from a bygone era. The trip is scheduled fly in/drive out but is also operated drive in/fly out sometimes depending on practical necessity. This tour is offered in 3 hotel categories to choose from depending on ones interest & budget; Lhasa Hotel(formerly Holiday Inn), Kyichu Hotel or similar & budget hotel. Tibet Travels & Tours do not make any pretensions of offering very low budget tours in unmanageable big groups. Our group generally tends to be smaller & we make every effort, under the circumstances, to provide quality services at very reasonable prices. Day 1: KATHMANDU-LHASA (3650 M), 90 KMS Transfer to airport to connect SZ 408 KTM-LXA flight. Upon arrival you will be met by our Tibet representative & transfered to Hotel. Day 2: LHASA Guided sightseeing tour of Potala, the winter palace of the Dalai Lama; Drepung, the biggest monastic university of Tibet & Nechung Monastery, temple of the State oracle of Tibet. Day 3: LHASA Guided sightseeing tour of Jokhang, the central cathedral of Tibet, Barkhor, the bustling Lhasa market encircling the Jokhang Temple, Tibetan Medical Center & Norbulinka Palace. Day 4: LHASA-GYANGTSE (3990 M), 350 KMS Drive via Yamdrok, the Turquoise Lake to Gyangtse across Kampa la pass 5050 m & Karo la (5045 m)passes. Visit Kubum stupa & Pelkor Chode Monastery. Day 5: GYANGTSE-SHALU-SHIGATSE (3860 M), 90 KMS Drive to Shigatse. En route visit Shalu Monastery. Visit Tashilhunpo Monastery, the seat of Panchen Lama who is the 2nd in the Buddhist religious hierachy & Shigatse Market. Day 6: SHIGATSE-SAKYA-SHEGAR/DINGRI(4350 M) Drive to Shegar across Tsoula pass (4500 M) & Gyatso la pass (5220 M). En route visit Sakya Monastery. Day 7: SHEGAR-ZHANGMU(2300 M) Drive to Zhangmu. En route visit Milarepa Cave. Day 8: KATHMANDU Walk across Friendship Bridge & transfer to Kathmandu. COST IN USD PER PERSON (a) Lhasa Hotel - USD 975, Single supplement - USD 250 (b) Kyichu Hotel - USD 900, Single supplement - USD 200 (c) Budget Hotel - USD 675, Single supplement - USD 75 Cost Includes: · Tibet permit, entrance fees · Twin sharing accommodation as per choice of package · Daily breakfast · Airfare KTM-LXA(OW) · All guided tours & transfers as per given itinerary Cost Excludes: · Airport tax · Insurance & emergency rescue charges · Tibet visa fee · Additional transportation & porter charges in the event of landslides · Others not specified in the above cost inclusions list (Rates subject to change without prior notice) NOTE: If the road condition inside Tibet is bad & jeeps must be provided then there is a jeep supplementary charge of USD 50 per person. Also during the monsoon season the Arniko Highway linking Nepal-Tibet border is often disrupted by landslides. Additional porter or transport charges incurred due to such road disruptions will have to be borne by the clients' themselves. A GLIMPSE OF CELESTIAL LHASA 4-Day Lhasa Tour (A fixed guaranteed tour every Saturday/Tuesday) Day 1: KATHMANDU-LHASA (3650 M), 90 KMS Transfer to airport to connect SZ 408 KTM-LXA flight. Upon arrival you will be met by our Tibet representative & transfered to Hotel. Walking tour of Jokhang & the bustling Barkhor market. Day 2: LHASA Guided sightseeing tour of Potala, the winter palace of the Dalai Lama; Drepung, the biggest monastic university of Tibet & Nechung Monastery, temple of the State oracle of Tibet. Day 3: LHASA Guided sightseeing tour of Norbulinka, the summer palace of the Dalai Lama & Sera Monastery. Day 4: LHASA-KATHMANDU Early morning breakfast at hotel & transfer to Gongar Airport to connect flight to Kathmandu or Chengdu. COST IN USD PER PERSON (a) Lhasa Hotel - USD 500 per person, Single supplement - USD 150 (b) Kyichu Hotel - USD 400 per person, Single supplement - USD 90 (c) Budget Hotel - USD 300 per person, Single supplement - USD 40 Airfare KTM-LXA-KTM - USD 526(extra) Tour extension cost: Lhasa Hotel - USD 75 per person/per day, Single supplement - USD 50 Kyichu Hotel-USD 50 per person/per day, Single supplement - USD 25 Budget Hotel- USD 30 per person/per day, Single supplement - USD 10 Cost Includes: · Tibet permit, entrance fees · Twin sharing accommodation · Daily breakfast · All guided tours & transfers Cost Excludes: · Airfare & airport tax · Insurance & emergency rescue charges · Tibet visa fee + rush fee, if applicable MYSTICAL TIBET 8 days tour of Central Tibet Departures: Every Saturday/Tuesday This fly in/fly out tour of Central Tibet follows a circular route from Tsedang to Lhasa, exploring the Yarlung Tsangpo Valley, the cradle of civilization, and then proceeding on the southern route past Yamdrok Tso, the Turquoise Lake, to the historical towns of Gyangtse & Shigatse. From Shigatse we take the Northern route through the scenic, rugged countryside of the nomads, culminating our tour in Lhasa, the forbidden city. Day 1: Arrive Gongar Airport. Transfer to Tsedang in Yarlung Valley. Check in to Tsedang Hotel. Day 2: Guided tour of Samye, the oldest Monastery belonging to the Red Hat School & Yumbulakhang, the first castle built for a Tibetan king. Day 3: Drive via Yamdrok Lake to Gyangtse. Gyangtse Hotel. Visit Gyangtse Kubum stupa & Pelkor Chode Monastery. Day 4: Drive via Shalu Monastery to Shigatse. Shigatse Hotel. Visit Tashilhunpo Monastery & Shigatse Market. Day 5: Drive Shigatse to Lhasa. Check into Hotel. Day 6: Guided tour of Jokhang Temple, Barkhor & Tibetan Medical Centre. Day 7: Guided tour of Potala Palace & Drepung Monastery. Day 8: After breakfast transfer to airport to connect flight to KTM/Chengdu. COST IN USD PER PERSON (MIN 4 PAX) Deluxe Hotel: USD 775, single supplement - USD 250 Standard Hotel: USD 675, single supplement - USD 200 Budget Hotel: USD 525, single supplement - USD 75 Airfare KTM-LXA-KTM - USD 526(extra) Supplement charge: 2 Pax - USD 250 3 Pax - USD 150 FORBIDDEN LHASA & EVEREST Departure dates 2003: April 8, May 13, June 10, July 8, Aug 5, Sept 9, Oct 7. Definitely, one of the best & the most popular of our Tibet tours, the trip includes visits to all the important places of interest in central & south Tibet including the Yarlung Tsangpo Valley, the cradle of Tibetan civilization. And the highlight of the trip is a visit to Rongbuk Monastery & the Everest Base Camp from where the view of Everest is the most spectacular of all. Day 1: KATHMNANDU-LHASA-TSEDANG Transfer to airport to connect SZ 408 KTM-LXA flight. Upon arrival you will be met & transferred to Tsedang. Tsedang Hotel. Day 2: TSEDANG Explore Yarlung Tsangpo Valley, the cradle of Tibetan civilization. Visit Samye Monastery, the first monastery built in Tibet by king Trisong Detsen under the guidance of Padmasambhava & Yumbulakhang, the first castle built for a Tibetan king. Day 3: TSEDANG-LHASA (3650 M), 90 KMS Drive to Lhasa. En route visit Mindroling Monastery, center of learning for Nyingmapa school of Tibetan Buddhism & also for Lhasa aristocrats. Check into Hotel. Day 4: LHASA Guided sightseeing tour of Potala, the winter palace of the Dalai Lama; Drepung, the biggest monastic university of Tibet & Nechung Monastery, temple of the State oracle of Tibet. Day 5: LHASA Guided sightseeing tour of Jokhang, the central cathedral of Tibet, Barkhor, the bustling Lhasa market encircling the Jokhang Temple, Tibetan Medical Center & Norbulinka Palace. Day 6: LHASA-GYANGTSE (3990 M), 350 KMS Drive via Yamdrok, the Turquoise Lake to Gyangtse across Kampa la pass 5050 m & Karo la (5045 m)passes. Visit Kubum stupa & Pelkor Chode Monastery. Day 7: GYANGTSE-SHALU-SHIGATSE (3860 M), 90 KMS Drive to Shigatse. En route visit Shalu Monastery. Visit Tashilhunpo Monastery, the seat of Panchen Lama who is the 2nd in the Buddhist religious hierachy & Shigatse Market. Day 8: SHIGATSE-SAKYA-SHEGAR/DINGRI(4350 M) Drive to Shegar across Tsoula pass (4500 M) & Gyatso la pass (5220 M). En route visit Sakya Monastery. Day 9: SHEGAR-RONGBUK(5050 M) Drive via Pangla pass (5200 M) to Rongbuk Monastery, world's highest monastery situated at 5200 M. O/N Rongbuk Guest House. Day 10: EVEREST BASE CAMP We have the option to hike or drive to Everest Base Camp. Rongbuk Guest House. Day 11: NYLAM After watching sunrise over Everest, we drive on to Nylam. Nylam Guest House. Day 12: NYLAM-ZHANGMU-KATHMANDU Drive to Zhangmu & on to Kathmandu. En route visit Milarepa Cave. We descend from the high arid Tibetan plateau into the lush greenery of Nepal. COST IN USD PER PERSON MIN 4 PAX (a) Lhasa Hotel - USD 1100, Single supplement - USD 295 (b) Kyichu Hotel-USD 1000, Single supplement - USD 250 (c) Budget Hotel- USD 825, Single supplement - USD 125 Airfare KTM-LXA - USD 276(extra) SUPPLEMENT CHARGE: 2 Pax - USD 375 per person 3 Pax - USD 175 per person Cost Includes: · Tibet permit, entrance fees · Twin sharing accommodation · Daily breakfast · Private landcruiser transport · All guided tours & transfers Cost Excludes: · Airfare & airport tax · Insurance & emergency rescue charges · Tibet visa fee + rush fees, if applicable · Extra porter & transport charges in the event of landslides