Upon your arrival in Tribhuvan International Airport, you will be welcomed by our representative and drive to the Hotel. A small briefing of the program is presented. Rest of the time is free. Overnight in Kathmandu.

After breakfast drive to Swoyambhu, more than 1600 years old stupa situated on the top of the hill named Samhengu in the west of Kathmandu city. The stupa is the most venerated Buddhist site by city people. We do our prayer and offering to the Buddhist idol. Then continue the drive to Pharping, a holy place for followers of Tibetan Buddhism where Guru Rinpoche (Padmasambhava) achieved Mahamudra Vajradhara (alike Nirvana) in the cave. Then visit Dakshinkali temple, a sacred site for Hindu people equally for Buddhists of Kathmandu valley. Many devotees come here to offer a sacrifice of goat, cock and duck to goddess Kali. At last, we visit Kirtipur, a city of glory, who defeated Gorkha for three times in the war of 18th century. The city is constructed over a hill with plenty of Hindu and Buddhist shrines and idols. Overnight in Kathmandu.

After breakfast, we visit Pashupatinath. The temple is venerated for the protection of cattle, which is dedicated to god Shiva. Pashu means animals, Pati denotes “master” and Nath signifies “protector” is god who protects all cattle. The temple is one of the most important pilgrimage sites among all Hindu of the world. The temple premise is also known for its Ghats (open crematorium on the bank of the river) where people terminate their life. After visit of this site we continue to Bauddha. This is the biggest stupa of Nepal. It is also called Khasti Chaitya that signifies mist water which according to the legend, was used to construct this stupa. This was a nearest village from the city of Katmandu on the way to Lhasa. So, a lot of people from Tibet during the period of Chinese annexation of Tibet, settled around the stupa and constructed a number of Buddhist monasteries with their own architecture. Thus, we can see the Himalayan or Tibetan influence in the sector. Overnight in Bauddha.

During one hour flight from Kathmandu to Lhasa, we can admire a breathtaking view of Himalaya and panoramic trans Himalayan desertic view. Before the plane crosses the Himalaya between Makalu (8,481m) and Kanchunjunga (8586m), the view of the tallest peak of the world Mt Qomolangmo (Mt.Everest) rejoices the flight. Just after crossing the Himalaya, blue turquoise lakes appear dispersedly. Once arrive in Gangkor Airport, we drive to Lhasa city and check in at the Hotel. Rest of the time is free for acclimatization. Overnight in Lhasa.

After breakfast, we go to visit Sera monastery that was built in 1419 CE by Sakya Yeshe, a disciple of Tsongkhapa. Once the monastery housed 5000 monks made the second big Gelugpa monastery after Drepung in Lhasa. Then visit Ramoche temple founded in 7th century by King Songtsen Gampo to his Chinese wife Wencheng to install the statue of Jowo Sakyamuni that she had brought from China. But after sometime in 8th century the statue was changed with Jowo Mikyöba brought by Songtsen Gampo’s Nepalese wife Bhrikuti. Then we visit Jokhang temple constructed by Nepalese artisans and architects of Kathmandu valley under the patronage of King Songtsen Gampo in 7th century for a statue of Jowo Mikyöba brought by his Nepalese wife Bhrikuti as a dowry. Thought it was renovated several times we can see few interior carved pillars and entrance arches from the original date. Overnight in Lhasa.

Today we visit the grandeur of Lhasa, the Potala Palace that was the house of Dalai Lama. After finishing the white part of the Palace in 1649 AD, the 5th Dalai Lama Lobsang Gyatso settled down here from Drepung. The palace is also house of mausoleum of several Dalai Lamas. The palace is constructed on the Morpori (Red hill) that dominated the whole city where once initially Palace of Songtsen Gampo was installed. Some scholars believe that Potala signifies Pure land of Chenresig and Songsten Gampo and Dalai Lama are considered Chenresig. Thus, their abode is called Potala. After we visit Norbulinka, the Dalai Lama’s summer place. Nowadays it serves as a museum with objects used by the 14th Dalai Lama. Then we visit Drepung, the biggest Gelugpa monastery in Lhasa dated back to 1416AD founded by one of the disciples of Tsongkhapa, Jamyang Chöje. Once it housed 10,000 monks. Drepung signifies ‘rice heap’, the translated name of Dhanyakataka in South India where it is believed that Budhha preached about Vajrayana 16 years after his enlightenment. Overnight in Lhasa.

After breakfast we go to visit Chakpori, literally Iron Mountain. It is the less visited site by tourists but interesting and situated in the south of the Potala. It is one of the four holiest mountains of Central Tibet. Initially, it was abode of institute of Tibetan medicine founded by Sangye Gyatso in 1696 CE. The holy site also contains carving statues of different deities on the rock and some of them are dated back to the 7th century. Then we drive to Ganden, the head quarter and the first monastery of Gyalukpa. The monastery was founded in an altitude of 4300m up to the Kyichu valley by Tsongkhapa in 1409 CE. The monastery housed the mausoleum of Tsongkhapa. The followers who come here also attain the kora of all complex of monastery. Local people also come to perform funeral ceremony in the mountain where the monastery is constructed. After visiting the site we return back to Lhasa and stroll in the old part of this town. Overnight in Lhasa.

Once we arrive in Kathmandu airport, visit Patan, the city of fine art. The city was the center for Buddhist study in the mediaeval period where more than 350 Buddhist monasteries were located. Most of them are still in function culturally. The city has good relations with Tibet in terms of cultural, religion and trade. Many Tibetans came to Patan for different purposes that still exist. Quadrangle palace with pagoda and shikhar style temples and Buddhist monasteries are the main attraction of the mediaeval part of the city. A majority of indigenous people of this city are Buddhist. The city is also known for metal carving. Thus, in most of the alley we can see the workshop of metal casting and carving. Overnight in Patan.

We start our day by visiting a small city Thimi. This is a small town of pottery. Most of the people from this city practice agriculture and pottery. Hence a large number of productions of pottery of this town are sold all over Nepal. This city lies in the center of three big cities of the Kathmandu valley that’s why we call Madhyapur (center city) in Sanskrit. After visiting this city, we go to Bhaktapur. The native name of this town is Khwopa, the name derives from Khopingra, once it was a village in the beginning of our era. In the beginning of the medieval period it developed into city and in the 13th century it became a capital of Nepal until the division of the Kingdom. The city has preserved its own architecture of medieval period. Almost all the roads of this town were paved in bricks but today replaced it by stone. The city is well known for the wood carving where ancient palace, doors and windows of each houses are well carved. Overnight in Patan.