Day 01 - Arrive in Kathmandu
It is a panoramic thrill flying into Kathmandu on a clear day. The views of snow-capped mountain peaks sprawling down below you are almost ecstatic, beginning a whole chain of memorable experiences that stay with you for a long, long time. A representative and driver from our office will meet you at the airport and escort you to your hotel. The representative will help you check into your designated hotel. At the hotel, you will be briefed about your daily activities.
Day 02 - Sightseeing in Kathmandu
Kathmandu is the historical and cultural heart of Nepal and has been a popular destination for tourists ever since Nepal opened its doors to visitors. The city presents a wonderful mix of Hinduism, Tibetan Buddhism and Western influence. Patan and Bhaktapur, its two major neighboring cities bear immense historical, cultural and religious significances.Today you will explore Kathmandu Durbar Square and Kumari temple. Kumari is the Living Virgin Goddess of Hindu religion. Kumari temple is situated inside the Basantapur Durbar built by King Jaya Prakash Malla near Hanuman Dhoka. Kumari is chosen from a Newari Shakya family after meeting up with all the criteria. There will be a  guided tour to the famous and biggest Hindu shrine of Pashupatinath, the largest Buddhist stupa in Nepal Boudhanath, and Swoyambhunath.

Day 03 - Sightseeing Patan& Bhaktapur - Drive to Nagarkot  
Today you will visit  Patan Durbar Square, Mahaboudha Temple, Kumbeshwor temple, Krishna Temple, Golden Temple etc. Thereafter, your next destination is Bhaktapur where you will witness unique culture and finest display of craftsmanship. Bhaktapur is the only place in Nepal which has remained untouched by western culture. Lion Gate, Golden Gate, Art Gallery, Statue of King Bhupatindra, Nyatapola Temple and fifty-five windowed Malla palace are the living prides of Bhaktapur and you will tour around all these places. In the evening, you will head towards Nagarkot. On your way to Nagarkot breathtaking panoramic Himalayan views of Mt. Everest, Manaslu and Gauri Shankar will have completely smitten. Nagarkot accommodates finest of resorts, hotels, restaurants and cafes. You will spend your night at one of the best resort or hotel in Nagarkot.
Day 04 - Drive Kathmandu- Nyalam (3780 m)
We leave Kathmandu early in the morning to cover the123km to reach the Nepal-Tibet Border. After completing the immigration formalities at the border, we drive towards Nyalam. Moving up a series of incredibly steep switchbacks, which passes through a mossy gully with cascading waterfalls, we reach Nyalam.

Day 05 - In Nyalam (3780 m)
It would be wise to spend a day resting and acclimatizing in Nyalam before heading up higher. A short way out of town there is a small temple, Nyalam Pelgye Ling, which is associated with the eleventh and twelfth century poet-lama Milarepa.

Day 06 - Drive to Tingri
Today's drive to Tingri takes around five to six hours, crossing two spectacular passes along the way; Nyalam pass (3800m) and Lalung La pass (5082m). Today there are some spectacular views of the Himalayas to be had, including Jugal Himal, Mt. Makalu (8464m) and, of course, the mighty Everest (8848m).

Day 07 – Drive Tingri (4390m) to Rongbuk (5100m) – 105 Kms.
After breakfast it's just a short, easy drive to Rongbuk - the home of the highest monastery in Tibet – leaving plenty of time to explore this historic treasure. Once again, there are some stunning views to be had of the Himalayas.

Day 08 - Explore Everest base camp(5100m) & drive to Shegar
A two hour trek from Rongbuk will take you to the base of the highest peak on earth; the north face of Mount Everest (8848m). Explore the Base Camp where countless expeditions have set off and see the Rongphu glacier. The base camp itself is dry and barren, but the views of Everest more than compensate for this; having the highest mountain in the world towering over you is an experience you'll never forget. No tour vehicles, apart from expeditions and trekking team, are allowed beyond Rongbuk so you need to walk or take a horse cart

Day 09 - Drive Rongbuk to Shigatse (3900m) - 304 Kms.
Today your Land Cruisers will cover some rocky terrain, covering the eight to ten hour drive to the city of Shigatse. Shigatse is the home of the famous Tashilunpo Monastery; the historical seat of the Panchen Lama lineage and well known for its huge Thangka wall.

Day 10 - Drive Shigatse to Gyantse (3950m)-90kms.
In the morning we'll visit the Tashilunpo Monastery and the free bazaar of Shigatse. After lunch it's just a pleasant two hours drive to Gyantse, which has the Khumbum Stupa and the Phalkot Monastery.

Day 11 - Drive Gyantse to Lhasa (3650m)-259kms.
The drive to the final enticing destination of Lhasa takes eight hours, crossing two passes - The Karo La pass (5010m) and Kamba La pass (4794m) – as well as the dazzling lake Yamdrok Tso (Turquoise Lake). We'll also cross the wide Yarlung Tsangpo river and catch our first views of the legendary Potala Palace.
Day 12 -Sightseeing in Lhasa
After breakfast, you will be briefed on the day's program. An experienced guide will take you on a tour to Sera Monastery, Norbulingka and the Barkhor Square. At the famous Sera Monastery, you will get an insight into the important aspects of Tibetan Buddhism.  You pay a visit to Norbulingka, the summer retreat of the Dalai Lama. Completed in1956, the handsome building is ornately decorated with Tibetan carvings and paintings.  Jokhang temple provides yet another glimpse of the rich Tibetan cultural heritage. You will also get the chance to stroll around the busy Barkhor Square, the nerve centre of Lhasa. After the day's tour, you will be escorted back to your hotel.
Day 13-: Sightseeing in Lhasa
After an early breakfast, you will be escorted by your guide to the majestic Potala Palace. The imposing structure of the palace dominates the landscape of Lhasa. As you are guided through the ancient chambers of the palace, you get to see Tibetan art at its best. The Potala Palace has a vast array of intricate Tibetan murals and beautiful statues. You will also get to view the tombs of the eight Dalai Lamas. Later in the day you will visit the beautifully landscaped Drepung Monastery where you can observe nuns and monks chanting and performing religious discourses. After the day's tour is over, you are escorted back to your hotel for a well-earned rest. Note: Since only a limited number of visitors are allowed to visit the Potala Palace every day, the order of sightseeing places will be decided upon by your guide.
Day 14 - Transfer to Xian by train
Transfer to train station for a memorable world’s highest train journey to Xian. The train is newly built state of art technology with pressurized cabins. We will enjoy the train ride passing through villages and scenic spots.
Day 15 - Arrive in Xian
We continue our journey via Xining, Lanzhou and finally arrive at Xian. Upon arrival, meet & transfer to Hotel. NB: the schedule of trains will be known only a couple of weeks before the departure date.
Day 16/17 - Xian sightseeing
 Xian is the largest city in the Shaanxi Province with a history that goes back more than 3000 years. Xi’an served as the capital for twelve dynasties. When the Silk Route was popular among traders, Xian was the cultural centre. Xian is also the site of excavation of the vast army of terracotta warriors and horses from the tomb of China’s First Emperor, Qin Shihuang, from whom the country derives its name.  The highlights of Xian includes:
- The Terra-cotta Warriors and Horses:This incredible 2000 year-old army of life-sized warriors, each one unique, is part of the underground tomb of the Emperor Qin. Well over 7000 figures were drawn up in full battle array in several large pits. Many of the figures, including soldiers, archers, horses and chariots, have been restored, and the repairs and excavations continue at the site where you can see both repaired and broken warriors in a truly impressive display. There is also an excellent museum, including bronze chariots unearthed nearby, and a film about the history and discovery of the tomb. It is about 35 km from Xian.
- The Wild Goose Pagoda:The pagoda where widely renowned Master Xuanzang (Monk Tripitaka) stored his classics brought from India.

Day 18 - Transfer to Beijing by train (1200km)
 On board the train.
Day 19 - Sightseeing in Beijing
Arrive Beijing. Check in to Hotel. Beijing, China’s capital and a well known tourist city of the world, offers sights found nowhere else on the earth. One can see the interwoven sights of its history and the drastic change of the current times. In the afternoon we will be visiting the famous Tian’anmen Square. It’s located in the center of the city proper with an area of some 400,000 square meters. It’s the largest square in the world today. In the center is the Column Monument to the People’s Heroes. We will also visit the Ming Tomb, located in the northern suburbs of Beijing, it consists of thirteen tombs of the emperors of the Ming Dynasty (1,368 – 1,644) after the capital was moved from Nanjing to Beijing.
Day 20- Sightseeing in Beijing
Today you will visit the majestic Great Wall (Badaling section) and the Chang Tomb of Ming Tombs. You will be taken on a tour to the Great Wall, the most famous symbol of China and one of the world’s most remarkable architectural wonders. It was built over 2,000 years ago and stretches a long distance for about 6,700km.You will visit the Great wall at Badaling, the most outstanding representation of China’s Great Wall, located 70km north-west of Beijing, at an elevation of 1000m. This section was first built during the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644 AD). It stands at a strategic highest point from north-west of Beijing and gives access to every direction. Badaling section is composed of Guan City, with city platforms, wall platforms and watch towers along the Wall. The surrounding scenery is magnificent and impressive. You will be taken on a visit to the Ming Tomb the burial site of the emperor Wanli, the 13th emperor of the Ming Dynasty who ruled for 48 years until his death in 1620.
Afternoon free for shopping and other independent activities.
Day 21 -Depart of Beijing - End of tour
We will have morning free before going to airport for the flight back home after completing a memorable journey.

Contact us at
office@explore-himalaya.com
for more information about this tour.

ACTIVITY
The highlight of this tour is the visit to three ancient capitals:Kathmandu, Lhasa & Beijing. From Kathmandu to Lhasa, you take an adventurous overland drive on a sturdy, comfortable and spacious 4WD land cruiser. Another highlight is the train trip from Lhasa to Beijing ,via Xian. You will explore the major tourist attractions in Beijing, Lhasa and Kathmandu. Another highlight is the trip to the Everest Base Camp from where you get to view the world's highest peak Everest. 

Visa & Entry procedure
TO ENTER NEPAL:
All visitors except the Indian nationals must hold passport and valid visa. Visa can be obtained at the Nepalese diplomatic missions and consulates abroad. Visa is also issued at the entry points. Don't forget to bring 2 ID pictures and USD30 for a 2 months tourist visa.
For Tibet, we organize a group visa, and in order to do this we will need a copy of your passport at least 30 days prior to the commencement of your trip. Tourism regulations in Tibet are subject to change without prior notice. As per current regulation Chinese Embassy, in Kathmandu, issues visa on Monday, Wed and Fri (9am – 11am). Hence, we will need your original passport 1 day before the visa processing day. 
We will arrange your Chinese visa for you.

Transportation
For the overland journey from Kathmandu to Lhasa ,we use the best 4WD Land cruisers. These vehicles are extremely sturdy, spacious and reliable and they make the journey as comfortable as possible.
From Lhasa to Beijing (with a stopover at Xian), you will be traveling in a train. We try to reserve you "Soft sleeper" class. Usually we can but if we can only get hard sleeper, we refund the difference in price. In such a scenario you may have to make do with a hard sleeper berth.  There is no big difference between hard and soft sleeper cabins. Our research staff traveled on both soft and hard sleeper cabins on this train, a few differences we found were... there are 6 beds in hard sleeper and 4 in soft sleeper cabin, soft sleeper has a door and hard sleeper is without, there is LCD television on soft sleeper that plays only Chinese movie (mostly military & martial art movies); the hard sleeper compartment is a little far from dining car. Cushion used in soft sleeper is softer than the "hard" sleeper but the "hard" is comfortable enough for a good sleep.
Sometimes during peak season it gets difficult even to get a train ticket. In such cases we arrange a flight ticket for you, from Beijing to Lhasa. There may be a difference in the price of train and flight tickets. If it costs more, you may have to pay extra.

GROUP SIZE
We bring together a small group of like minded people. During the trip, not only do they gain a memorable and insightful travel experience but also get an invaluable opportunity to interact with each other. On our fixed scheduled departures, group comprises of maximum12 & minimum 2 persons. You are likely to join a group from different countries. Average age ranges from early 20s to mid 50s.For private trips, no minimum and maximum apply.
If you would like to travel independently or with your friends, families and colleagues you are invited to choose any of the trips at your convenient time frame for any number of people (min 1 max 100 at a time).

ACCOMMODATION
In Kathmandu, Lhasa, Xian and Beijing accommodation will be at 3 star hotel. Elsewhere along the route, accommodation will be at the available hotels. If you would like to book a single room, please do inform us. A supplement charge will incur in that case.
In interior Tibet rooms cannot be booked in advance. Your guide books them on arrival. If rooms are not available at the specified guest house, he will book a room at another similar category guest house. No private rooms are available at Rongbuk guesthouses. Only dormitory style of accommodation is available with 6 to 7 beds in a big hall.

We shall try our best to provide the best accommodation available but please do keep in mind that you are taking an adventure tour, and sometimes the arrangement may be basic. This tour will leave you a fantastic experience but sometimes you have to put up with a bit of discomfort. To enjoy this trip you need to have an adventurous spirit and the ability to adapt to minor discomforts.

GUIDE
Throughout your time in Kathamndu, Lhasa, Xian and Beijing you will be accompanied by our professionally trained and experienced local guide who will not only act as an interpreter but will also provide valuable insights into the Nepali, Tibetan and Chinese way of life.

FOOD
All breakfasts are included in our package, except during the train journey, where you may have to pay on your own. Your guide will help you find good restaurants with reasonable price. Expect to spend around 15-20 US$ per day for meals.

Best Time to take this trip
Autumn (August, Sept, & Oct), spring (March & April) & summer (May, June & July) are the best seasons for attempting this wonderful trans-Himalayan journey. Winter (Nov, Dec, Jan & Feb) is colder, obviously, but also possible.
Clothing & accessories
During the day a light shirt or jumper and lightweight pants will be suitable, but a warm fleece or down jacket is recommended for the evenings. Keep a scarf handy as some of the roads can be dusty. While visiting sites and exploring during the day, keep yourself covered from the UV rays with a sun hat or cap and sunscreen lotion or cream.
A comprehensive list will be provided once you book your tour.
Personal Expenses
Besides Chinese Yuan, only US dollars can be accepted in Tibet and Beijing. Also shops that accept American currency are very limited and you might not be able to get a good deal for an exchange rate. Credit cards can only be used at some hotels. The Bank of China and Nepal also accepts credit cards. ATM facilities are available in Beijing and Kathmandu. But in Tibet it's not widely available. Exchanging your money to Chinese currency and Nepali currency will be the best option for you, which can be done at the Bank of China and Bank of Nepal. While changing money at the local money exchange centers, please make sure that you are accompanied by your guide and do consult him as you may easily be duped with counterfeit notes.
Tips are appreciated by your support team, after completion of the trip. The amount you give depends on your budget and appreciation of their work. For this you can allocate around 5% of your total tour cost.

Health
Vaccination requirements change frequently, so we suggest you consult your doctor at least 2 months prior to your trip. The main health consideration in high altitude Tibet is Acute Mountain Sickness (AMS). You may experience some mild symptoms initially, such as headache, lethargy, nausea and difficulty sleeping, but these should lessen within a few days. To avoid Acute Mountain Sickness (AMS), people take pills called ‘Diamox’. You can also use these pills after consulting with your doctor. Our itinerary will allow your body to acclimatize properly and to handle the low oxygen rate.

Rescue and Evacuation
In case of a serious sickness or a casualty, which we hope will not happen, you shall be transferred to the nearest hospital. Since you are entirely liable for all the expenses incurred in evacuation please make sure that it is covered by your insurance before assigning for it or be prepared to pay on your own.

Insurance
Before joining a tour, we recommend you to take a travel insurance which should cover cancellation, medical expenses and emergency repatriation.

Itinerary Changes
One should keep in mind that this is an adventure trip that takes you into one of the remotest corner of the Tibetan plateau, where many unforeseen events may contribute to the need for a change in the itinerary. Depending on the prevailing situation, the itinerary can be modified to some extent after consulting with your guide. However, the date of tour completion should always coincide with the original itinerary.

TRIP EXTENSIONS
In addition to this tour, we can organize trip extensions in China [Chengdu (Panda Farm and Teshan Buddha Statue), Nepal and other neighboring countries. In Nepal you may want to try white water rafting or go on a jungle safari in the deep jungles of Chitwan or take a cultural tour. You may as well take a trip to India or Bhutan, whichever appeals more to you. Please contact us for details or check our website www.explore-himalaya.com.

BOOKING CONDITIONS
1) It is fundamental you acknowledge that this is an adventure tour. This requires some flexibility. The day to day itinerary can be taken only as a guideline. We cannot take the responsibility for any delays caused by international or domestic flights, strikes, Government regulations, weather or natural calamities etc. In such cases, Explore Himalaya shall provide suitable alternatives which could be decided upon mutual agreement. If an agreement cannot be made, Explore Himalaya shall only be responsible for refunds after deducting the expenses already incurred.
2) Your booking will be confirmed by email once we receive your deposit of US$300 and the signed copy of booking form and contract.
The balance is due no later than two months prior to departure. If you book a tour less than 2 months prior to departure, you must send the full payment within 7 days of confirmation to us.
Those joining the tour in Kathmandu can pay the balance on arrival.
3) If you cancel, the following scale of charges will apply:
DATE OF CANCELLATION (Charge incurred)
> 2 months before departure - loss of deposit (US$ 300)
> 29 days to 2 months before departure - 30% of total trip cost
> 10 to 28 days before departure - 60% of total trip cost
> Less than 10 days before departure - 100% of total trip cost

BOOKING PROCEDURE
If you still have any questions regarding this trip, please feel free to contact us. We answer all enquiries within 24 hours (Sunday to Friday). If you want to book a trip, you can e-mail us at office@explore-himalaya.com or contact us directly by phone: 977-1-4418-100 or skype explore.himalaya.