59India, Sri Lanka & the Himalayas - Nepal, TibetThe journey fromLhasa to Kathmandutraverses the Himalayasand truly takes you tothe roof of the worldwith high passes andimmense views. Tibet ishome to a strong andunique culture and youwill be mesmerised bythe colourfulmonasteries redolentwith the smell ofburning yak butter andpopulated by friendlymonks in maroonrobes. You also get totry momos, Tibet'sdelicious answer todumplings. Yum!Liddy says...''''For trip notes, availability and more, enter the trip code at imaginative-traveller.comITINERARY... Days 1-2 KathmanduArrive in Nepal's colourfulcapital, where the constant stream of traffic includes monks, goatsand sacred cows. Explore brightly painted temples and chaoticmarkets or sit back and drink chai at a rooftop restaurant.Days 3-7 LhasaBoard a flight to Lhasa and visit the awe-inspiringPotala Palace. Join Tibetan pilgrims as they prostrate themselvesalong the holy Barkhor Circuit, and shop for prayer wheels andcarpets at a market outside the Jokhang Temple. Day 8 GyantseDescend into the green farmlands of the Nyang-chu Valley andadmire the imposing Dzong Fortress. Perhaps stop by the amazingKumbum Chorten - a Buddhist stupa covered with thousands ofcolourful murals. Day 9 ShigatseHead to Shigatse, home of thePanchen Lama who is ranked second to the Dalai Lama. Check outthe town's well-preserved monastery and explore ancient bazaarsthat are buzzing with local life. Day 10 SakyaAdmire the highwalls and Mongolian architecture of Sakya's famous monastery - awonderful place for local interaction. Perhaps take a walk aroundthis quaint city and spot local monks performing their daily rituals.Day 11 Everest National ParkTravel to Rongphu - one of theworld's highest monasteries - on an exhilarating drive through theHimalayas. For the energetic, there is an optional two-hour trek upto Everest Base Camp. Day 12 TingriGet a feel for Tibetan life inthe tiny settlement of Tingri. Look behind the colourful prayer flagsto see a towering Mt Everest. Day 13 ZhangmuBid farewell to theTibetan plateau and head for the cliff-hugging town of Zhangmu.Travel across the border into Nepal and follow the Arniko Highwayas it snakes its way above the raging Sun Kosi River.Days 14-15 KathmanduReturn to Kathmandu, the perfect placeto chill out in a café and reminisce about this amazing adventureacross the high peaks of Tibet.ACCOMMODATIONGuesthouse (14 nts) MEALSNo mealsTRANSPORTPlane, busGROUPSIZEMaximum 14NOTE Maximum altitude is 5,000m. Take the phenomenal flight over the Himalayas from Nepal to Tibet. Visit the famous sites of Lhasa including the Potala Palace . Monastery-hop across the vast Tibetan plateau. Visit one of the world'shighest monasteries, Rongphu . Optional trek to Everest Base CampTour highlightsStartFinish201201 Apr-15 Apr15 Apr-29 Apr29 Apr-13 May13 May-27 May03 Jun-17 Jun17 Jun-01 Jul24 Jun-08 Jul08 Jul-22 Jul22 Jul-05 Aug05 Aug-19 Aug19 Aug-02 Sep02 Sep-16 Sep16 Sep-30 Sep30 Sep-14 Oct07 Oct-21 Oct14 Oct-28 Oct28-Oct-11 Nov11 Nov-25 Nov201307 Apr-21 Apr21 Apr-05 May05 May-19 May19 May-02 Jun02 Jun-16 Jun16 Jun-30 Jun30 Jun-14 JulBasicTraveller£565ppFlight ex London fromTour price from£1,385ppSee website for detailsTibetUnplugged15 days, ex KathmanduNEWCode ICFRE

60China & Central Asia - IntroductionBook now at imaginative-traveller.com or call 01728 885561china ¢ral asia