This tour of the Tibet Autonomous Region includes visits to some of the most important highlights on this unique high altitude plateau. We begin by driving from Kathmandu to the Tibetan border crossing the famed Gyanchula pass at 5,200 meters (17,060 feet), higher than many airplanes flying above other parts of the world! Then on to Shigatse and the Tashilunpo monastery, home to the Panchen Lamas of Tibet. It’s a short drive to Gyantse where we visit Tibet’s largest chörten, or stupa, the Kumbum, founded 15th cent., replete with “10,000” murals. This structure is very large and has wonderful galleries to explore all the fabulous artwork.

Central Lhasa contains the Potala Palace, once home to Tibet’s Dalai Lamas, the Norbulinka Palace, the summer palace of same and the Jokhang temple, Tibet’s most sacred pilgrimage spot. Around the Jokhang is the Barkhor, a circumambulatory market and traditional bazaar with everything from carpets, antiques and religious paraphernalia on sale. Both Sera Monastery and Drepung Monastery, nearby Lhasa, once housed 10,000 monks each. From Lhasa we strike out to Drak Yerpa, a striking valley surrounded by rocky cliffs containing numerous caves once used as retreats for meditators. Some of these sites date to the 7th cent. And the temples, shrines and other edifices are connected with virtually all of the most important figures in Tibetan history, including Guru Rinpoche, Atisa, Songtsen Gampo, Ling Gesar, etc.

We travel south towards the Nepalese border to the town of Tingri, so named because the Buddha is said to have thrown a stone from India that landed here making the sound “ting”! Tingri is the gateway to Mount Everest from the Tibet side and we drive to the Everest Base Camp which is near the Dza Rongbuk Monastery, Tibet’s highest. After taking in the extraordinary view of Mount Everest, it’s back to Kathmandu by automobile, itself an incredible trip.