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On this short trip to Tibet, you will visit Tibet’s capital, Lhasa, and the bustling Tsedang. The trip begins in Tsedang which is considered the cradle of Tibetan civilization. The first king of Tibet who is said to have descended from heaven ruled over Tibet from the Yambu Lakhang monastery. From Tsedang, you will drive to Samye the site of the Samye monastery, the oldest monastery in Tibet.
You will continue to Lhasa, the forbidden city, and the site of the Potala Palace the ancient palace of the Dalai Lamas. In and surrounding Lhasa are many other important monasteries such as the Sera Monastery, the Jokhang temple and the Drepung Monastery. You will visit all these monasteries and the Ganden monastery complex which is located about 32 miles from Lhasa. The drive to Ganden monastery will give you an excellent oppurtunity to experience the barren Tibetan plateau which would otherwise only be possible by trekking.
Highlights
| Day | Description | Overnight | Altitude |
|---|---|---|---|
| Day 1 | Arrival in Kathmandu or Beijing | Kathmandu/Beijing | 1,340m/4,300ft |
| Day 2 | Explore Kathmandu/Beijing | Kathmandu/Beijing | 1,340m/4,300ft |
| Day 3 | Fly to Gonggar. Drive to Tsedang. | Tsedang | 3,100m/10,200ft |
| Day 4 | Explore Tsedang. Visit Samye. | Samye | 3,100m/10,200ft |
| Day 5 | Drive to Lhasa. | Lhasa | 3,656m/11,975ft |
| Day 6 | Explore Lhasa. | Lhasa | 3,656m/11,975ft |
| Day 7 | Ganden Monastery excursion. | Lhasa | 3,656m/11,975ft |
| Day 8 | Fly to Kathmandu or Beijing. | Kathmandu/Beijing | 1,340m/4,300ft |
| Day 9 | Final departure |
Arrive Kathmandu or Beijing. Transfer to Hotel. Overnight Hotel. (No meals)
Optional sightseeing of Pashupatinath and Bodhnath in Kathmandu or The Temple of Heaven and Tiananmen Square in Beijing. Your Tibet permit will be obtained today. (Breakfast)
Visit Potala Palace, the official residence of the Dalai Lama until he fled to India after the Chinese invasion. The palace has over a 1,000 rooms, 10,000 shrines and 200,000 statues. Continue to Sera Monastery, one of the three major Gelukpa temples along with Drepung monastery and Ganden monastery. A highlight is watching the monks practicing their debating skills in the monastery courtyard. Overnight Hotel. (Breakfast)
Drive to Ganden Monastery 29 miles outside of Lhasa city. The drive gives you a good opportunity to experience the Tibetan country-side. After visiting the main chapel, you have the option to circumambulate the entire complex. Overnight Hotel. (Breakfast)
Transfer to the airport for flight to Kathmandu or Beijing. (Breakfast)
Transfer for final departure. (B)
Per person price valid till Dec 31, 2020
5 or more participants: $1,800 USD per person
Single Supplement: $500 USD
Extra: Lhasa airfare
Contact us for prices for smaller group size
Yes, it is possible to customize this trip. You could include tours to Shigatse, Gyantse and Nam Tsho lakes. Please contact us for more information.
Activity: Trekking
Destination: Everest
Country: Nepal
Before Sir Edmund Hillary helped build the airport at Lukla in 1964, all Everest expeditions began at Jiri. And this was until where the Swiss had built a road. From Jiri it took seven days to reach Lukla. Now, most Everest trekkers fly directly to Lukla and fewer than a thousand trekkers begin their trek in Jiri. Thus, most travelers miss out on the rich Sherpa culture and stunning landscape of the lower Everest region which, on the Pikey Peak trek, you will get to experience first-hand.
On the Pikey Peak trek, you have the opportunity to experience daily life in the villages of Yolung and Bamthi. Both are predominantly Sherpa villages which are also the birthplace of our guides Pema Sherpa and Kandu Sherpa respectively. Here you will be a guest at their homes and you will join in their daily chores – helping out in the corn/millet/barley fields, collecting wood and grass for the cattle, making butter (and butter tea), picking tea leaves, making flour from the grains, and more. Pema worked as a cook on Everest expeditions until 2015 when an accident on the mountain severely restricted his ability to venture to high altitudes. Kandu is one of the very few female trekking guides in Nepal.
The trip begins with a bus ride to Jiri from where you will hike a short distance into Yolung (Pema’s village). Yolung lies in a beautiful valley with around 200 houses. Most of the houses are near the village center where there is a large school and a monastery. You will be living in a home on the outskirts of the village a little away from the hustle and bustle of the village.
You will then continue into Bamthi (Kandu’s village). From Bamthi you begin the journey to Pikey Peak, first descending to the river and then ascending to a small pass, through thick jungles of birch and rhododendrons, along fields of wheat, barley and millet, and through numerous villages, crisscrossing the jeep track until reaching Nagur Monastery. The trail is dotted with ancient chortens and small monasteries and offers views of the Rolwaling range. Pikey Peak is a great viewpoint offering a panoramic view of mountains from Kanchenjunga in the east to the Rolwaling range in the west (with Everest and Makalu in the middle).
You’ll then make a steep descent to Junbesi, one of the most beautiful Sherpa villages and the gateway to the Thuktencholing Monastery. This is one of the most important monasteries of the Sherpa people which was established by the Thulsik Rimpoche who escaped Tibet with his followers. Around 700 monks and nuns live at this monastery.
The journey ends at Phaplu from where you fly back to Kathmandu. The trip also includes time to enjoy the sites in and around Kathmandu, including Bodhanath and Pashupatinath.
If you wish to do a shorter trek, check out our Pikey Peak (fast-paced) Trek.
All our Pikey Peak Cultural treks are private treks for a minimum of two participants. We do NOT nickel-and-dime on services – all inclusions and exclusions are clearly listed in cost details. Some companies will advertise trips for very low prices but they have a lot of exclusions that is usually not clear. Do read this article “Is Crystal Mountain Treks expensive?” to learn more about this. We urge you to compare apples to apples. Most of our trekkers are either repeat clients or referrals. We have been in business for over 30 years and we employ only the most professional and friendly staff. We are also proud to give back to our community through our giving arm – 3 Summits For Nepal – managed by Crystal Mountain Treks staff.
Do contact us (info@crystalmountaintreks.com) if you have more questions. We are happy to help!
If you are dreaming of experiencing Bhutan’s unique culture as an insider, then our Bhutan Backroads and Homestay is the trip for you. Enjoy the unique opportunity to live with a local farm family for a few days. All the while helping them with farming duties and the tasks of daily life. Perhaps you’ll help milk the yaks, make cheese, or tend the garden. Explore the neighborhood, take a short hike, perhaps visit a school. Get to know the children, and practice English with them. You will all be forever touched by this deeply personal experience.
After this experience you will travel deeper into Bhutan, to learn about the arts, crafts, nature and culture. In Thimphu, witness the next generation of Buddhist artisans being trained in the traditional arts, and the beautiful textile traditions first hand as they are being created. Moving deeper into the central valley and further off the main road, observe the revered Black-necked cranes’ nesting grounds (October – January only). Visit historic dzongs (forts) and get a true sense of this very special kingdom.
Bhutan Backroads and Homestay highlights:
All our Bhutan Backroads and Homestay programs are private trips for a minimum of two participants for a date of your choosing. We do NOT nickel-and-dime on services – all inclusions and exclusions are clearly listed in cost details. Some companies will advertise trips for very low prices but they have a lot of exclusions that is usually not clear. Most of our trekkers are either repeat clients or referrals. We have been in business for over 30 years and we employ only the most professional and friendly staff.
We are also proud to give back to our community through 3 Summits For Nepal managed by Crystal Mountain Treks staff. Contact us to learn more…
