**Please note:  There may be some restrictions on foreigners travelling to the Tibet Autonomous Region (TAR) until late March or early April 2012**

Day 1: Arrival Lhasa

Hotel: Tibet Villa ***

• Train to the holy city of Lhasa (capital of the mystical Buddhist Kingdom of Tibet)

• Meet with our guide at the train station

• Witness a Hada ceremony with traditional Tibetans

• Souvenir picture

• Transfer to the hotel to rest and acclimate yourself
  

Note: It is very important for our respected tourists to become acclimated to the high altitude. You will be suggested to drink plenty of water and eat some fruit--this will help you to adapt to the high altitude.  A lot of exercise or activities is not recommended as well as alcohol or cigarettes.

Day 2: Lhasa (B)

Hotel: Tibet Villa ***

• Breakfast in the hotel

  Visit of the famous Potala Palace, well known as the "Winter Palace"

• Lunch in a local restaurant

• Visit Jokhand Temple, the most sacred place of Tibet

• Visit of the traditional Tibet Medical Factory

• Dinner in a local restaurant

• Possibility to explore Barkhore Street, the local handmade crafts market

Note: As you may know, to protect the Potala Palace, there is a restriction of 2000 tourists everyday and only one hour of sightseeing for each tourist. Because of this restriction, few changes can occur in the tour.

Day 3: Lhasa (B)

Hotel: Tibet Villa ***

• Visit the largest monastery in Tibet, the Drepung Monastery

• Visit the Sera Monastery

• After lunch, hear debates about the Buddhism scriptures from the Sera Monastery

• Visit the Tibetan Museum, the exhibition center of Tibetan handicrafts

Day 4: Lhasa / Shigatse (B)

Hotel: Taixing Hotel *** or Yangtse Hotel ***

• Transfer by car to Gyantse

• Stop at the summit of the Kamba-la Pass (4794m) to have a view of the Holy Lake of Yamdrok-tso

• Arriving at Gyantse and visit of the Pelkor Chode Monastery

• Arriving at Shigatse later in the afternoon for rest

• Overnight in Shighatse
  

Day 5: Shigatse / Rongbuk monastery (B)

Hotel: Taixing Hotel *** or Yangtse Hotel ***

• Transfer by car to Rongphu via Lhatse and Shegar

• Cross over Gyatsola & Pangla Paa: view of the Himalaya mountain chain

• Arriving at the Rongbuk Monastery, which at 5100m above sea level is the highest monastery in Tibet. 
  

• Enjoy a splendid view of the world famous Mt Everest.

• Trekking from Rongbuk to Everest Base Camp (2 hours)
  (Possibility to take a local bus at your own expense)

Day 6: Rongbuk monastery / Mt. Everest /Shigatse (B)

Hotel: Taixing Hotel *** or Yangtse Hotel ***

• Early wake up for a Mt. Everest sunrise and Shigatse
• Transfer back to Shigatse in the late morning

Day 7: Shigatse / Lhasa (B)

Hotel: Taixing Hotel *** or Yangtse Hotel ***

• Visit of the Bachem Lama Set, also known as the Tashilunpo Monastery

• Driving to Lhasa along Yarlong Tsangpo River by the Nepal friendship road

• Visit a local Tibetan family and a Tibetan carpet-weaving workshop

Day 8: Lhasa (B)

Hotel: Taixing Hotel *** or Yangtse Hotel ***

• Breakfast in the hotel

• Departure from Lhasa

• Transfer with our guide to the airport