Tibetan Railway Adventure

Day 1-2: Beijing

Today is an arrival day and no activities are planned, so you may arrive at any time. In the evening you meet your tour guide and the other group members for a pre-tour briefing. This is generally followed by an optional group dinner at a local restaurant - Peking Duck is often a popular choice. We have a full day to explore the exciting Chinese capital, before departing on the Trans-Tibetan Railway on the evening of Day 2. Please note that the train section of the tour is not escorted. Your leader in Beijing will transfer you to the train station, and you will be met by your Tibet leader on arrival in Lhasa.

Day 3-4: Trans Tibetan Railway

We spend the next two nights and two full days onboard the Trans Tibetan -Railway, arriving into Lhasa on the evening of Day 4. The train to Tibet is a new and exciting adventure for Chinese travellers also, so you’re sure to have plenty of interesting company to wile away the hours when the view doesn’t hold your attention.

Day 5-6: Lhasa

On Days 5 and 6 we explore this once isolated city which is now a mixture of old and new. We visit the fabled Potala Palace, with optional sightseeing (entrances paid locally) to Jokhang Temple plus Sera and Drepung Monasteries. There is free time to wander around and explore this fascinating city on our own. You can wander around the markets around the Barkhor or arrange a taxi to go out to the Norbulingka (Summer Palace) or the interesting Tibet Museum.

Day 7: Gyantse

We follow the Friendship Highway - a spectacular road which traverses high mountain passes and crosses wide plateaus, connecting Lhasa with Kathmandu. Please note that the road conditions are very poor in many places in Tibet, so we should be prepared for bumpy and sometimes slow journeys. We first travel through Tibet’s richest farming areas, before crossing the Brahmaputra River as it winds its way down towards the Bay of Bengal many hundreds of kilometres away. In Tibet it flows at an altitude of 3939 metres above sea level, making it is the highest major river in the world. We cross the river on a solid suspension bridge and wind our way to Kamba La, where we enjoy a view over the huge Yamdrok Tso (Scorpion Lake). After the lake we climb again, this time to the Karo La (5010 metres) before descending to the historic town of Gyantse, which served as the capital of a small kingdom in the 15th century. The beautiful Kumbum Chorten, built around 1400, and the huge ruined fort bear witness to the powers that once ruled here. It later became the main centre for trade with British India and was the focal point for Younghusband’s British Expedition to Tibet in 1904, when his soldiers defeated some 5000 Tibetans and destroyed the fort by cannon fire. Gyantse is a great place to try the local specialty of 'momo', which are small meat dumplings.

Day 8-9: Shigatse

In the morning we explore Gyantse before taking a three-hour drive across the Tibetan Plateau in the afternoon. Our destination is Shigatse(3900m), the second largest city in Tibet with a population of some 40,000 people. Tashilhunpo Monastery is the traditional seat of the Panchen Lama, the most important incarnation for Tibetan Buddhists after the Dalai Lama. This impressive religious centre contains a giant statue of Buddha in the Temple of Maitreya as well as an ornate tomb, which is the final resting-place of the fourth Panchen Lama. Its huge size ensures it is almost a town in itself. One of Tibet's most active monasteries, it is currently being restored to its former beauty. We have a free time in Shigatse on Day 9, when we can just wander by ourselves through the old town or visit the market place and try one of the many unusual delicacies on offer.

Day 10: Shegar

Our adventure continues with a drive over rough, dusty roads to Shegar. In the morning we cross Jai Tsuo Pass with stunning views of the Himalayan peaks to the south. Although the scenery is desolate, the country is dotted with busy villages and ruined monasteries. Amongst these villages is the major town of Lhaze which makes for a convenient halfway point to stop; here we have the opportunity to try a local-style lunch. Our night stop, Shegar, is a small village of 1500 inhabitants with an interesting fort.

Day 11: Dhulikhel

We pass through the Shegar checkpoint and then cross the Tingri Plains before ascending to Lalung Leh (5050m). At this pass we have spectacular views to the east (weather permitting) of Everest (8850m), Lhotse (8516m), Makalu (8463m), Cho Oyu (8201m) and Gauri Shanker (7146m). To the west it may be possible to see Xixapangma (8013m), Langtang (7245m) and Dorje Lakpa (6980m). That’s five peaks, each over 8000 metres in height - a truly spectacular sight. From the pass, we descend steeply over 3000 metres to the small town of Nyalam. As you near the border, the road is cut into the cliffs high above the valley floor. If you don’t like heights, you should sit on the left-hand side of the vehicle! We cross the border and enter Nepal, following the Bhote Kosi river to the pretty hill resort of Dhulikhel.

Day 12: Kathmandu

After breakfast, we travel through populated areas, with lush terraced hillsides rising steeply from the valley. After a few hours of travelling we arrive back at our hotel in Kathmandu, where we spend our final night.

Day 13: Kathmandu

Our journey comes to an end this morning. You can extend your stay in Kathmandu or why not join another Gecko’s trip from Kathmandu to India?

Tour Grade: Culture

Whether you’re taking in man’s greatest works at places like Petra or Angkor Wat, experiencing grand set-pieces like the Trans-Mongolian Railway or trying your hand at regional specialities like tango in Buenos Aires, getting to grips with local cultures is what travel’s all about. A few tips from a guide and a sense of adventure are pretty much all you need. So what are you waiting for? It’s time to get the lowdown on high Tibet among Lhasa’s magisterial temples; follow up Delhi’s eye-popping bustle with a fix of its fiery food; and mix manic markets and Incan masterpieces in Peru.