Lhasa to Beijing

Visit Rongphu Monastery, the highest temple in the world and the Everest Base Camp. The views from there are utterly spectacular. A relatively modern monastery by Tibetan standards, Rongphu was built in the early 1900s and originally housed more than 500 monks. Today around 50 monks and nuns remain. Unusually, they share the same prayer hall although they have separate residences. We are received very warmly by the monks and nuns here and its often possible to join them for their evening prayers.

Stretch our legs and our lungs on the gentle two hour return hike up to Everest Base Camp. Follow the prayer flags up the slope, hope for a clear sunny sky for amazing photos and even text a friend back home when you reach the camp at 5200 m. Yes, theres mobile reception even here!

Continuing our journey along the Friendship Highway, drive to the small town of Sakya, which is situated at about 4300 m (approx 4 hrs).

Sakyas monastery and town buildings are quite unique. The monastery is built in medieval Mongolian style and rather than whitewashed, the secular buildings are painted in red and while stripes. With its high imposing walls, the monastery is sometimes nicknamed the "Great Wall of Tibet".

Transfer to Tibets second-largest city, Shigatse, visit the Tashilhunpo Monastery, one of the few monasteries in Tibet to have come out virtually unscathed by the Cultural Revolution. With its expansive territory inside thick stone walls its almost like a town in itself.

Visit the Samye Monastery and unforgettable views of the turquoise coloured Yamdrok Tso Lake. Samye sits at over 3600 m and is home to the oldest and one of the most enchanting monasteries in Tibet. This is where Buddhism was established and the monastery has withstood centuries of invasion and other threats to remain standing, imposing and immense beside the river.

Explore the magical structures that make up the Samye Monastery with our local guide giving some explanations about the complicated religious symbolism and rituals. Go through the assembly hall with its statues and the Jowo Khang inner chapel. Some of the murals here are amazingly vivid and detailed, although youll need to purchase a permit to take photos. The entire Samye complex is huge so well have some time to explore here on our own or you can continue to walk with our guide.

Transfer to Lhasa.
Colourful and historic, the holy city of Lhasa is situated in a small valley 3,650 m above sea level. For many years it was a mysterious place, virtually unknown to the outside world with even the most adventurous and hardy of explorers rarely reaching the city without being turned away, either by the treacherous terrain or the fierce warrior monks that protected Tibetan territory from intruders. While now welcoming tourists and much modernized, Lhasa remains an intriguing city with deeply fascinating culture, sights and stories.

Head out of Lhasa for a day trip to one of the most stunning natural sights in Tibet - Nam Tso Lake.

Depart Lhasa by comfortable sleeper train to Beijing. The train departing Lhasa is truly one of Chinas great engineering feats in recent years. It is the highest railway in the world, travelling some incredibly mountains and remote terrain.

Train travel in China/Tibet may not be entirely luxurious but its certainly one of the best ways to come face to face with the country and its people as its a major form of transport for locals. The Lhasa - Beijing train is one of the newest and best in China. The compartments are open-plan, clean. Sheets, pillows and a blanket are provided. We recommend bringing your own sleeping sheet as the quality/cleanliness of sheets may not be what you are used to. Safe hot drinking water is always available for making coffee, tea or instant meals. We recommend bringing a mug, spoon, knife and fork if you will be preparing your own hot drinks or food on the train (as these are not provided in cabins) The train has a dining car and you may wish to purchase extra snacks of your choice before the journey to supplement food available on the train.

Basic bathroom facilities are situated at the end of each carriage with toilets and washbasins. As toilet paper isnt always available its advised to carry some of your own, keep in mind general train cleanliness may not be to the same standards you are accustomed to. While we always try to have our groups staying together, there may be times where due to ticket availability the group will be staying in different compartments and carriages, and possibly sharing with passengers who are not part of the group.

Informal Chinese language lesson and Mutianyu Great Wall day trip.