10 Days Shanghai Lhasa Kathmandu Tour

Welcome to Shanghai, the megacity and financial hub of China!

As you arrive in Shanghai, our local guide will be expecting you at the airport and escort you to your hotel.

After you check in, the rest of the day is free for you to have a good rest or explore the surroundings yourself.

Stay overnight in Shanghai.

Today, you’ll visit some of the highlights of highlights of Shanghai tour. Starting with the fascinating Shanghai Museum, the magnificent 4-story building houses an incredible collection of bronzes, sculptures, ceramics, coins, paintings, calligraphy, costumes, and other exhibits from different dynasties. It’s the perfect place for fans of Chinese history and art.

Next, you’ll visit the Yu Garden. Built in the 16th century during the Ming Dynasty, the Yu Garden used to be the private residence of a senior Government administrator in the Ming Dynasty. For a passionate photographer, never miss the chance to photograph the Old Street of Yu Garden.

In the evening, you’ll visit the most iconic buildings of Shanghai, such as the Oriental Pearl TV Tower. You can enjoy the amazing panorama of the skyline of Shanghai at night. And as you stroll along the Bund, you will be amazed at the spectacular Huangpu River and dazzling light from the buildings of Pudong.

Stay overnight in Shanghai.

• Enchanting ancient Yu Garden offers a respite from bustling metropolis.
• Oriental Pearl TV Tower is the most iconic architecture of Shanghai.

In the morning, you are expected to visit picturesque Zhujiajiao Ancient Town, also known as the "Venice of China". It’s about a 1-hour drive from downtown Shanghai. The ancient town dates back to the Ming Dynasty. It’s highly recommended to enjoy the boat ride from one end of the waterway to the other. Ke Zhi Garden and multiple shops and bridges, and street vendors selling handicrafts and goldfish, and turtles provide a respite from the boisterous metropolitan city.

Then, you'll get back to Shanghai, and the rest of the day is for free exploration. You may do some shopping around and have a good rest.

Stay overnight in Shanghai.

• Typical rowing boat travelling in Zhujiajiao Ancient Town, pretty similar to Gondola in Venice
• Peaceful Ke Zhi Garden is free from hustle and bustle, with exquisite ancient Chinese garden design.

Today is free for you until your flight from Shanghai to Lhasa.

Upon your arrival in Lhasa, our Tibetan guide will welcome you at the airport with a traditional white Hada.

You'll then be escorted to your hotel in Lhasa. Our guide will give you a brief overview of the itinerary and provide helpful tips for adjusting to the altitude.

Once you've checked in, take some time to rest and allow your body to acclimate to the high altitude.

Stay overnight in Lhasa.

• Tibetan tour guide greets you at Lhasa Airport.
• Lhasa River

In the morning, you’ll explore the largest monastery in Tibet - Drepung Monastery, which was once the home to over 10,000 monks. As you walk through Coqen Hall, your guide will provide detailed explanations of the worldview of Tibetan Buddhism and introduce notable figures in Tibetan Buddhist history.

Next, you’ll visit the renowned Loseling College (or an equivalent), offering a glimpse into the study and life of Tibetan monks. Explore their dormitories to gain insights into the Tibetan monks' daily routines and living conditions.

In the afternoon, you’ll head to Sera Monastery, another of the ‘great three’ Gelug monasteries of Tibet, to witness the famous Tibetan Monks Debate (15:00 - 17:00, from Monday to Saturday). Your guide will intricately explain how Tibetan monks engage in these debates to acquire knowledge and advance in their academic degrees.

Stay overnight in Lhasa.

• Drepung Monastery was one of the “three greet” Gelug monasteries of Tibet.
• Sera Monastery was one of the “three great” Gelug monasteries of Tibet.

After breakfast, your first stop is the Potala Palace, where you can enjoy a panoramic view of the Lhasa Old Town. Discover the lives and stories of the Dalai Lamas through history within the palace, and the extraordinary treasures it holds. The most valuable collections of Potala Palace are the gilded burial stupas of former Dalai Lamas and the meditation cave of the 33rd great king of Tibet.

After touring the Potala Palace, you will visit Longwangtan Park at the foot of the Potala Palace. Here, you can appreciate the majestic Potala Palace from a different perspective and engage in local Tibetan folk activities.

In the afternoon, you will head to the heart of Tibetan religion - the Jokhang Temple. Inside, you can see the statue of Buddha Sakyamuni at the age of twelve. Outside, you can see pilgrims prostrating in front of Jokhang Temple. Around the temple is Barkhor Street, where you can do kora (a religious circle of a building or mountain) with pilgrims and locals, and explore the old market.

Next, follow your guide to one of the liveliest indoor Tibetan tea houses in Lhasa. Sip traditional Tibetan sweet tea alongside local Tibetans as your guide shares insights into Tibetan social dynamics and daily life.

Stay overnight in Lhasa.

• Potala Palace, the landmark of Tibet
• Barkhor Street

Today, you will take the flight from Lhasa to Kathmandu.

When you arrive at Kathmandu, your Nepali guide will greet you at the airport and take you to your hotel.

Stay overnight in Kathmandu.

Nepal Visa Application Tips:
You can apply for a visa-on-arrival at Kathmandu International Airport. Please note the visa fee is not included in the package and must be paid by you.

In the morning, you’ll the Kathmandu’s Durbar Square, which is one of the three durbar (royal palace) squares in the Kathmandu Valley. It is the site of the Hanuman Dhoka Palace Complex, which was the royal Nepalese residence until the 19th century, and where important ceremonies, such as the coronation of the Nepalese monarch, still take place today.

Then, you’ll tour Swayambhunath. It is one of the most recognizable symbols in Nepal, and the painted eyes of Buddha watch all who ascend the worn stone steps. It is a World Heritage Site and one of the holiest Buddhist sites in Nepal, and is at the source of the Valley’s mythical beginning.

In the afternoon, you’ll head to Patan City, which is 15 minutes driving from Kathmandu. Patan's central Durbar Square is absolutely packed with temples: It’s an architectural center point with a far greater concentration of temples per sq. meter than in Kathamandu or Bhaktapur. You may shop around, and finally, you will head back to Kathmandu.

Stay overnight in Kathmandu.

• Swayambhunath stupa in Nepal
• Durbar Square in Nepal

In the morning, you are about to tour Pashupatinath, the most important Hindu temple in Nepal. The old buildings on the site were destroyed by Muslim invaders in the 14th century. Its stone linga smashed to dust, but it rose again behind their retreating backs. Succeeding monarchs reinstated the temple and the images.

Then, you’ll explore the Bouddhanath, which is one of the largest stupas in South Asia, the focal point of Tibetan Buddhism in Nepal. The white mound looms thirty-six meters overhead. The stupa is located on the ancient trade route to Tibet, and Tibetan merchants rested and offered prayers here for many centuries.

Later, you’ll cover Bhaktapur Durbar Square. It is a conglomeration of pagoda and shikhara style temples grouped around a fifty-five window palace of brick and wood. The square is one of the most charming architectural showpieces of the Valley, as it highlights the ancient arts of Nepal.

Stay overnight in Kathmandu.

• Pashupatinath is the most important Hindu temple in Nepal
• Bouddhanath

Today marks the end of your journey.

Please make sure to verify your departure flight details with your guide in advance. Your guide will then take you to Kathmandu Tribhuvan International Airport for your onward flight.

Thank you for choosing Tibet Vista. We warmly welcome you to travel with us again in the future.