西寧至拉薩及珠峰大本營10日西藏尼泊爾之旅，經吉隆口岸陸路跨境

今天，您的當地導遊將在飯店接您，並送您前往西寧火車站，搭乘青藏鐵路列車前往西藏拉薩。（注意：請務必攜帶您的西藏入藏函，登車時將會進行檢查。）

火車旅程提供青藏高原的壯麗景色。坐在窗邊欣賞喜馬拉雅山脈、波光粼粼的湖泊、點綴著犛牛與牧民帳篷的平原，以及荒涼的沙漠，隨著列車緩緩駛向高海拔高原。旅途中請隨時留意羚羊、狐狸、野驢以及偶爾出現的遊牧民。

青藏鐵路實用小貼士：
1.臥鋪：火車有四種臥鋪，包括軟臥、硬臥、軟座和硬座。
2.餐車：火車餐車提供多種中式和藏式菜餚。如果不習慣中式口味，建議自備一些速食食品。
3.洗手間：每節軟臥車廂均配有西式和蹲式廁所。但乘客應準備好毛巾、衛生紙和洗手液。
4.供氧設備：火車配備供氧設備，幫助乘客適應青藏高原的高海拔環境。

歡迎來到西藏自治區首府——拉薩！當您抵達拉薩火車站時，導遊和司機將在出口處迎接您，並護送您前往拉薩市中心的飯店（車程約100公里，約1.5小時）。您可以在飯店好好休息，適應海拔（3,650公尺），為第二天與導遊一起探索拉薩做好準備。

溫馨提醒：
1.為了預防高山症，建議放慢節奏、注意保暖、多喝水、前一兩天避免洗澡、保持輕鬆並充足睡眠。
2.請務必遵循醫生關於根據您的健康狀況適應海拔的建議。
3.若感到不適或需要協助，請務必告知導遊或飯店工作人員。當地人非常樂於助人，且在處理高山症方面經驗豐富。

今天，你和你的團隊將透過參觀大昭寺來探索拉薩，這是一座以其輝煌的建築、文化、藝術和歷史而聞名的世界文化遺產。之後，你將透過觀看色拉寺的僧侶辯經來體驗藏傳佛教。最後，你可以在著名的八廓街與當地人一起漫步，進一步了解藏人的日常轉經生活。

大昭寺位於拉薩市中心，已有1300多年的歷史，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：中國文成公主和尼泊爾尺尊公主所建。「大昭」意為「佛的房子」，裡面供奉著一尊12歲釋迦牟尼等身像，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。大昭寺也以其美麗的建築而聞名。你可以欣賞複雜的雕刻、色彩鮮豔的壁畫、華麗的裝飾以及建築的細節，這是藏式建築的傑作。當你白天和晚上看著人們在寺廟前祈禱時，時間彷彿靜止了。（請注意，參觀順序可能會根據你的大昭寺門票預約情況進行調整。）

下午，開車約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。它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，時間大約在15:00-17:00（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手和跺腳，每個動作都有特殊的含義，例如啟發智慧，並非為了挑釁。你還將有機會參加祈禱儀式、參觀禪修大廳，並了解寺院的生活方式。這是深入了解藏傳佛教信仰和習俗的必遊之地。

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

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 (270km) 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.

You will get an early start with a visit to Tashilhunpo Monastery. After that, drive to Rongpuk Monastery (5,100m) and Mount Everest Base Camp (5,200m) which is 340km (8h) from Shigatse via a photo stop at Gyawu La Pass (5,200m).

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.
3.If you're interested in trekking to EBC from Old Tingri, you can spend 4 days trekking along the relatively open, flat, and safe route. The trek is suitable for almost all people, including underage children, without severe altitude sickness. Taking four days to cover 70km at an average pace of 18km per day is a lifetime experience to walk on the world's highest trekking trail and realize the dream of standing close-up to the towering Mount Everest. EBC is about 20km from Mount Everest’s summit as the crow flies. From EBC, travelers can view the summit of Mount Everest in fine weather.

Try your luck at witnessing the breathtaking sunrise of Mount Everest in the early morning (Note: The sunrise usually starts around 6:30 am to 7:00 am). After breakfast, hike around Rongbuk Monastery and Everest Base Camp (5,200m), which is the closest place for ordinary tourists to view the world’s summit. Take your time at Everest Base Camp to enjoy the amazing view of the peak of Mount Everest (8,848m), the highest peak in the world.

After that, drive to Old Tingri (Gangga Town, 145km, 3.5h) on well paved road via Gyawu La Pass (5,200m). Gangga Town is located 71 kilometers away from Tingri County (New Tingri; Shegar; Xiegel) at an altitude of 4340 meters. It is situated 74 kilometers away from the Mount Everest Base Camp. The G318 National Highway runs through the whole town and is the only way to Zhangmu Port and Gyirong Port (China-Nepal Borders).

There is a unique Guandi Temple in Gangga Town that you should not miss. It is an excellent spot to watch sunset of Mount Cho Oyu Peak (8201m), the sixth highest peak in the world. From there, you can not only view Mount Everest (8488m), but also Nepal, India, and Bhutan. It is known as the "One Temple Look at the Four Kingdoms" International Golden Palace by locals.

The Gangga Guandi Temple, also known as Qomolangma Guandi Temple, is located on Gangga Mountain (4390m) which is the highest Guandi Temple in the world. Normaly, Guandi Temple a temple where Guan Yu is worshiped. Guan Yu was a famous general during the Three Kingdoms Period (1800 years ago) and is considered the god of war by the Han people. His status was almost equal to that of Confucius. The Qomolangma Guandi Temple was built in 1794, more than 200 years ago. After the Qing Dynasty army and Tibetan soldiers fought back against Gurkha (Nepal), who invaded Tibet from 1788 to 1792, all the soldiers believed that the victory of this battle was the blessing of Guan Yu. Therefore, the Guandi Temple was built here with the features of both Han and Tibetan architectural styles. Its main hall is dedicated to Guan Yu and King Gesar, a well-known hero among Tibetans. This is a testimony to the cultural exchange and integration of the Han and Tibetan nationalities, and a historical witness to the Chinese nation's united will to defend against invasion. Additionally, the Guandi Temple was restored in 2018 and is now a high-value copper building with carved beams and painted buildings in the main hall.

If you are interested and have time, you can also the cemetery of the Qing army, the forts and watchtowers that fought against the Gurkhas, and the stone tablet of "Qomolangma Nature Reserve" inscribed by President Jiang Zemin.

Today, you will head to Gyirong Town (280km,6h) via Gyirong County (4,200m), where the Gyirong Port is located, via a part of the Friendship Highway, also known as the China-Nepal Highway. On the way, you will get good chance to see the majestic and awe-inspiring Mount Shishapangma, about 120km from Mount Everest and located in the Himalayas near the Nepal-Tibet border. At an elevation of 8,027 meters, Mount Shishapangma is the 14th highest mountain in the world and the only 8,000-meter peak that lies entirely within Tibet. The mountain is known for its striking appearance, with its towering peaks and massive glaciers.

Gyirong Town is located on the border between China and Nepal, and serves as an important entry and exit point for travelers between the two countries. You can pay a visit to Paba Monastery which was built around 637 AD. When the Nepalese Princess Bhrikuti, who married Songtsen Gampo, entered Tibet, she brought three statues of Shakyamuni Buddha with her, one of which was the statue of Wadisambhava. It was placed in Gyirong Town, and Paba Monastery was built for it. Visit around Gyirong and get ready for the border exit next day.

Travel Notes:
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. (Note: Currently, the Zhangmu Port is primarily used for freight, while Gyirong Port is used for tourism.)

今天，你將穿越吉隆口岸，經由山路前往加德滿都（1,400m）。雖然從熱索瓦格里到加德滿都僅有150km，但由於路況不佳，可能需要超過6小時的車程。

抵達加德滿都時，這趟10天西寧出發的西藏尼泊爾喜馬拉雅陸路之旅也將畫下句點。你的導遊將與你道別，隨後你將繼續前往你在尼泊爾的下一個目的地。

旅途平安！