Last updated: 2012-04-25

Day by Day

Day 1-2

Gathering at the hotel in Beijing. One day in the Chinese capital. Beijing offers a lot to see, you might visit the Chinese Wall, The Forbidden City och The Summer Palace. Evening markets, the variety of restaurants and cafés with outdoor seating and evening entertainments show how Beijing has changed during the past years. The 47 hour train ride to Lhasa begins in the evening.

Day 3-4

The journey takes you through a varied landscape. Starting with fertile agricultural regions, followed by steppe and desert, snow coated mountains, lakes, isolated villages and scattered nomad camps, wandering goats and yaks can be seen in the distance. The climb starts at Golmud. The rails in Tibet are mainly at 4000 m height. You pass Tanggula Mountain Pass, the highest situated train station in the world at 5068 m. Arrival in Lhasa is in the evening on the second night.

Day 5-8

In Lhasa old Tibetan monasteries and modern Chinese architecture create an obvious culture clash. The Potala Palace, previously the Tibetan Government, is a strong stiletto over the town. Thousands of Tibetans gather each morning to circle the Jokhang monastery clockwise, Tibet's holiest monastery. Visit Norbulingka, The Dalai Lamas previous summer residency surrounded by several parks and palaces. Rent a bicycle and make your way to the Sera and Drepung Monasteries. Lhasa is situated on at 3700 m height, be prepared to feel the affect of the altitude during the first days.

Day 9

Bus to Tsedang. Visit the market and the royal graves in Chongve outside the town.

Day 10

Car to Wöka, the Chölung Gompa monastery.

Day 11-15

Hike towards Lake Lhamo Latso, the oracle lake, where several Dalai Lamas have come to obtain clues about his own and Tibet's future. During four days you hike along river valleys and to regions that rarely see foreign visitors You sleep in tents and are accompanied by a team, consisting of a chef and horsemen. It is a tough hike and the highest point you pass is at 5200 m height. After four days you come to the monastery ruins of Chökorgye Gompa, from where you continue by horse and by foot up on a mountain crest from where you look over Lake Lhamo Latso.

Day 16

By Jeep to Tsedang. You spend the night at a hotel, which you will appreciate after the trek.

Day 17

By Jeep to the Samye monastery where you'll spend the night in a Guest house.

Day 18-19

Back to Lhasa.

Day 20-21

To Gyantse along the turquoise lake Yamdrok Tso. Visit the gigantic Kumbum and Pelkor Chöde Monastery.

Day 22

To Shigatse, Tibet's second largest town, the Tashilun Monastery, where 4700 monks once lived.

Day 23

To Shegar, close by you will find hot springs where you can have a bath.

Day 24-25

After a long journey to Rongbuk Gompa, the highest monastery in the world at 4980 meters, nearby the Mount Everest base camp. You get a day with a view towards the world's highest mountain.

Day 26

To Nyallam. The road runs over mountain passes at 5200 meters.

Day 27

The road continues through a deep gorge in Himalaya to Zhangmo at 2100 meters by the boarder to Nepal. You go through several climate zones in only a few hours, towards the Kathmandu Valley.

Day 28-29

You live in the old town Bhaktapur outside Kathmandu. Take a stroll though temples and pagodas.

Day 30

The journey ends.