7天經典西藏尼泊爾陸路之旅：從拉薩經珠峰大本營至吉隆

今天，您與團隊將透過參觀大昭寺來探索拉薩，這是一座以其輝煌建築、文化、藝術與歷史而聞名的世界文化遺產。隨後，您將透過觀看色拉寺的僧侶辯經，體驗藏傳佛教。最後，您可以與當地人一同漫步在著名的八廓街，深入了解藏人的日常生活與轉經文化。

大昭寺位於拉薩市中心，已有超過1300年歷史，是世界各地佛教徒的重要朝聖地。作為西藏的精神中心，據說大昭寺是為松贊干布國王的兩位新娘：中國文成公主與尼泊爾尺尊公主所建。「大昭」意為「佛的居所」，寺內供奉著一尊12歲等身釋迦牟尼佛像，被視為佛教界的瑰寶。這就是為什麼佛教朝聖者將其視為最神聖的目的地。大昭寺也以其精美的建築聞名。您可以欣賞建築中複雜的雕刻、色彩鮮豔的壁畫、華麗的裝飾與細節，這些都是藏式建築的傑作。當您看著人們在寺廟前日夜祈禱時，時間彷彿靜止了。（請注意，參觀順序可能會根據您的大昭寺門票預約情況進行調整。）

下午，驅車約30公里（50分鐘）前往參觀色拉寺，這是西藏三大格魯派寺院之一。這裡提供了近距離體驗藏傳佛教的機會。色拉寺的亮點是觀看僧侶辯經，時間通常在15:00-17:00之間（週日除外）。辯經是一種有趣的交流形式，一名僧侶作為提問者站立，而回答者或回答者群體則坐著。站立的僧侶提出問題並拍擊手掌與跺腳，每個動作都有特殊含義，例如啟發智慧，並非具有攻擊性。您也有機會參加祈禱儀式、參觀禪修大廳並了解僧侶的生活方式。這是深入了解藏傳佛教信仰與修行不可錯過的景點。

隨後，返回拉薩市區，在靠近大昭寺繁忙的八廓街散步，這裡在古代是佛教徒進行轉經（朝聖環線）的地方。如今，它已成為一個繁榮的當地市場，您可以在這裡喝一壺酥油茶、穿上藏裝拍照，並挑選一些當地的西藏、尼泊爾與印度手工藝品及紀念品。

Today you will explore the world’s highest palace for its brilliant architectures, culture, and history, then visits to one of the "great three" Gelug university monasteries in Tibet - the Drepung Monastery.

In the morning, you can walk into Potala Palace (World Heritage), the traditional residence and winter palace of the Dalai Lama (1649-1959). It takes 365 steps from potala gate to reach the Red Palace which is the highest palace in the world at an altitude of 3,700m. Through the principal halls, chapels, and shrines of past Dalai Lamas in the Red Palace, you will be astonished and touched by its remarkable paintings, gorgeous jeweled works, skilled carving, colorful ornamentation, and the mystery stories behind the treasures. Inside the Potala Palace you will meet lots of Tibetan pilgrims who come all the way from afar to this sacred site to pray as their life time destination. You can also ask your guide to share more information about Songtsen Gampo, the 33rd king of Tibet, who first build the Potala Palace in the 7th century for his marriage to Princess Wencheng of the Tang Dynasty. (Note: We may adjust the visit order due to the visiting time of your Potala Palace Ticket. All visitors must visit the Potala Palace with a tour group while staying inside for an hour. No photo inside.)

Then, drive about 35 minutes (12km) to visit the Drepung Monastery, which was the largest Tibetan monastery (of the Gelug Sect) in Lhasa. It used to be the palace of the Dalai Lama before he moved to the Potala Palace in the 17th century. Today, it is famous for the Drepung Shoton Festival held each August, where people come to offer yogurt to the monks who have finished their 100 days of meditation. You can also witness the grandest Buddha/Thangka Unfolding Ceremony. Besides the unique architecture and amazing buildings, you can watch monks debating in Tibetan Buddhism, which is vibrant and active with expansive gestures, clapping, and stamping. After visiting the Drepung Temple, you will have about a 2-hour Tibetan culture tour, which includes an introduction, Tibetan incense making, and block printing.

Today, drive about 7.5 hours (400km) from Lhasa to Shigatse (3,850m) via Gyantse (3,950m). You will visit two amazing natural landscapes - Yamdrok Lake and Karola Glacier on the way, then after a visit of Pelkor Monastery in Gyantse, you will reach Shigates for overnight.

In the morning, you will head to the Kampala Pass (4,797 meters) and have a breathtaking view of Yamdrok Lake (a freshwater lake) down below as well as spectacular views of the holy Mt. Nyenchen Khangsar (7,206m) in the distance. It is one of the four largest sacred lakes in Tibet along with Lake Lhamo Latso, Lake Manasarovar, and Lake Namtso. And Lake Yamdrok is said to be able to help Tibetans find the reincarnated soul of the Dalai Lama. You will be happy to see dressed-up Tibetan mastiffs/dogs, goats, and yaks there. It is optional for you to pay 5-10 yuan to pose with and take photos of them, for local Tibetans, it’s a subsidy income for their family.

Then, drive to visit one of the most beautiful Glaciers in Tibet - Karola Glacier, the location of the film Red Valley (Hong He Gu). As one of Tibet's three major continental glaciers, backed by the southern slope of Naiqin Kangsang Peak (7,191 meters), one of the four highest peaks in Tibet, this white glacier is also the source of the eastern part of the Nianchu River. The Karola Glacier (5,012m) is only 300 meters away from the highway connecting Lhasa to Gyantse town. You can view it right off the highway from your car. Sure you can easily walk to the foot of the charming glacier which shape is like a frozen waterfall right above the road and you. Besides the fantastic hike to the Karola Glacier, on the opposite side of the road, you can appreciate the beautiful snow-capped mountain of Mt Kalurong.

Karola Glacier Visiting Notes:
1. The altitude at the glacier scenic spot is about 5,012m, be sure to slow down to avoid altitude sickness.
2. The public toilet at the glacier is very basic.
3. Local people would ask you to take photos with them for a fee. Be sure to ask before taking photos to avoid potential little troubles.

After that, drive on the Friendship Highway( between Tibet and Nepal) to Gyantse, the third largest city of Tibet after Lhasa and Shigates, and visit Pelkor Monastery.

Pelkor Monastery (Palcho Monastery) is an important site for Tibetan Buddhism, as it houses different sects including the Gelug, Sakyapa, and Kadampa. Pelkor Monastery, with a history over 600 years, is also renowned for its impressive architecture, which blends Tibetan, Nepalese, and Han Chinese styles. One of the main attractions of Pelkor Monastery is the Kumbum Stupa (Gyangtse Kumpum), which is a nine-story tower adorned with thousands of images of Buddhas and Bodhisattvas. It is said to be the largest such structure in Tibet. Visitors can enjoy their time by witnessing the daily rituals and prayers of the monks, and have a panoramic view of the surrounding landscape from the top of the Kumbum Stupa (100-Thousand-Buddha Pagoda). You can also catch the far view of Gyangtse Fortress (Gyantse Dzong).After that, drive about 90km to reach Shigates for overnight.

This morning, drive to Rongpuk Monastery (5,100m) which is 340km (8h) from Shigatse via a visit of Tashilhunpo Monastery.

Tashilunpo Monastery is founded by His Holiness the 1st Dalai Lama, Gyalwa Gedun Drup in 1447. In Tashi Lunpo Monastery, you can unveil the traditional seat of successive Panchen Lamas, Tibet's second-highest incarnation. Pay a visit to the ancient tombs of the fourth and tenth Panchen Lama and the chortens, which hold the bones and remains of the sacred Tibetan lamas. Learn more from your guide about Panchen Lamas and Dalai Lamas while appreciating the brilliant religious painting on Tibetan architecture, listening to the Tibetan Buddhism chanting by local monks, and even participating in the kora like locals. Don’t forget to hike up to the top of the monastery and have a stunning bird view of the monastery itself and Shigatse City.

Departing from Shigatse, after about 4.5 hours of driving (240km), you would get your first glimpse of Mt. Everest from the Gyawu La Pass (5,200m), between Lhatse and Shelkar. Apart from Mt. Everest, you will be marveled at the zigzag road that looks winding to the end of the world. On the road, you may see local people biking or hiking all the way to Everest Base Camp, for them reaching the base of the world's highest mountain is a must do goal or holy belief that is worth the effort.

After enjoying the beautiful and unique scenery on the pass with incredibly snow-capped mountain ranges, blue skies, floating high clouds, and endless grasslands, it is time to head to Rongbuk Monastery (about 3.5 hours,122km) which is the highest monastery in the world and the best site to view the north side of Mt. Qomolangma (Mt. Everest), also known as the Third Pole on Earth. With both monks and nuns in residence, Rongbuk Monastery is a must-visit for spiritual travelers, and you will find it to be a photo-worthy destination. It used to be an area of meditation huts, and you can find hermitage meditation caves with a history of over 400 years, dotting the cliff walls all around the monastery and the valley. You can admire the magnificent sunset on Qomolangma's steep north side in good weather. The humble stupa at the monastery is the same one that can be seen on most postcards and posters of Mt. Everest.

Overnight in a tent guesthouse at Rongbuk Monastery or EBC. If you venture out at night, you will be rewarded with a heavenly starry night.

Notes:
1. Travelers can only go as far as the Rongbuk Temple area rather than a few kilometers farther as before. But it’s no big difference in terms of viewing Mt. Everest.
2. Today’s food and lodging is very basic. Due to the high altitude, it is possible that you may have some symptoms of altitude sickness. We recommend that you stay well hydrated, relax and enjoy the beautiful scenery to minimize your symptoms.

觀賞珠穆朗瑪峰日出是一項熱門活動，您可以選擇清晨早起，徒步前往附近的觀景點，見證這令人屏息且難忘的景象。珠穆朗瑪峰的日出不僅是美麗的自然現象，更是人類成就與毅力的象徵。

行程結束後，您與團隊將離開珠峰大本營，經由友誼公路（又稱中尼公路）的一部分前往吉隆鎮，吉隆口岸即位於該處。沿途您將有絕佳機會欣賞雄偉壯麗的希夏邦馬峰，它距離珠穆朗瑪峰約120公里，坐落在尼泊爾與西藏邊境附近的喜馬拉雅山脈中。希夏邦馬峰海拔8,027公尺，是世界第14高峰，也是唯一完全位於西藏境內的8,000公尺級山峰。這座山以其引人注目的外觀而聞名，擁有高聳的山峰與巨大的冰川。

夜宿吉隆鎮。

Today, you and your group will be smoothly transferred from Gyirong Town to Gyirong Border, and your guide will assist you cross the border to exit China.

Travel Note：
Currently, the Zhangmu Port is primarily used for freight, while Gyirong Port is used for tourism. The Friendship Highway is an 800-kilometre scenic route that connects Lhasa, the capital of Tibet, to the Chinese/Nepalese border at the Sino-Nepal Friendship Bridge between Zhangmu and Kodari.

It is time to end your 7-day Lhasa Shigatse EBC Kathmandu Overland tour. Safe journey!