 The first days in the Himalayan kingdom of Nepal will leave you with a lot of impressions:
Magnificent royal palaces, Hindu temples, shrines adorned with rich wood carvings, Buddhist stupas with their white cupolas and the all-seeing eyes of Buddha as well as colorful markets and busy bazaars. After this cultural potpourri, you will fly to Tibet. The first days of sightseeing will acquaint you with the people and their culture and allow time for your acclimatization. Near Tsetang (3400m) you will visit a castle from the first kings of Tibet and have a good view across the fertile Yarlung valley. On the way to Lhasa we will visit the oldest monastery of Tibet, Samye.
We have two days sightseeing in Lhasa (3600m), the spiritual and secular center of Tibet. You will see the Potala palace, perched high above the city, the holiest temple Tibet's, the Jokhang, and the Gelugpa monastery of Drepung. Across the vast Tibetan plateau we drive back to Nepal and get a good glimpse of the Himalayas and the Trans Himalaya. The drive leads across passes of more than 5000m with dazzling views of the snow-covered peaks and fluttering prayer flags, we pass the turquoise-colored Lake Yamdrok and Tibetan houses with their flat roofs. In Shigatse and Gyantse e visit such important monasteries as Tashilunpo and the Kumbum, rich in sculptures and murals. The last leg of the trip along the Arniko Highway brings us to Dhulikhel, known for it good views on the central Himalayas. A hike in its vicinity concludes our mountain adventure. With lots of impressions gathered on this relatively short trip (Nepal and Tibet in just 18 days!) we fly home.
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