Kathmandu<- ->Xi'an

Visiting: China, Nepal

Kathmandu<- ->Xi'an

This is a journey across the ‘Roof of the World’, where you’ll cross high mountain passes – up to 5000m, the highest plateau in the world, encounter an area infused with Tibetan culture before ending in China ‘proper’, with the Terracotta Warriors of Xi’an. Starting in Kathmandu en route for Tibet, you’ll thread your way through the Himalayas. Truly, is there any better scenery on earth, we wonder? You’ll see prayer flags snapping in the wind, visit monasteries with burgundy robed monks and witness a way of life unchanged for centuries. After arriving in Lhasa, the capital of Tibet, you’ll see the Potala Palace and have plenty of free time to explore this magical city before heading out on a superb overland route, across the almost lunar landscape of the Tibetan Plateau and arriving in Golmud. The journey continues on to Qinghai Lake and the giant Buddha at Bingling Si before ending this rigorous and challenging trip with a luxurious hotel in Xi’an. Definitely a trip for landscape and culture lovers!

Please note that our trips between Xi'an and Kathmandu travel through extreme environments and these itineraries WILL NOT NECESSARILY RUN AS PUBLISHED. We will adjust trip itineraries depending on weather, altitude effects, group make up and road conditions. This day by day itinerary is provided as a rough guide only.

Today we will have a group meeting at 10.00 hrs in our hotel in Xi'an. In the afternoon there will be a guided visit to see the infamous Terracotta Warriors. Staying overnight in Xi'an in a comfortable hotel with good facilities.

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Free day in Xi'an for you to explore the city and the surrounding area. Second night in comfortable hotel with good facilities.

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Today we drive from Xi'an to Pingliang. Time allowing, we will be able to visit Mt Kongtong which is close to Pingliang. We will either wildcamp or stay in a local guesthouse overnight.

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Drive from Pingliang to Lanzhou, the capital of Gansu province. Staying overnight in a comfortable local hotel.

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This morning we have a short drive from Lanzhou to Liujiaxia. In the afternoon we will visit the Bingling Si caves, a set of Buddhist grottoes are carved into the cliff of a 60 metre high gorge. Staying overnight near Bingling Si in a friendly local guesthouse.

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Most of today will be spent travelling, as we make the spectacular journey from Liujiaxia to the enchanting Tibetan town of Xiahe. We will be staying here from 2 to 3 nights, staying in rustic, dormitory style accommodation in a local guesthouse.

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Time to explore the monasteries and soak up the atmosphere in the Tibetan town of Xiahe. Simple dormitory accommodation in a rustic guesthouse.

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Time to explore the monasteries and soak up the atmosphere in the Tibetan town of Xiahe. Simple dormitory accommodation in a rustic guesthouse.

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Leaving Xiahe, we will spend the next couple of days overlanding through Qinghai, climbing high up on to the Tibetan Plateau as we drive. Here we are travelling through an area that is actually a giant basin surrounded by high mountains and en route we will pass the vast and starkly beautiful Qinghai Hu Lake. This lake occupies an area of over 4,500 square kilometres and the water is saline, teeming with fish. Yak graze the grasses and the icy blue waters stretch as far as the eye can see. The population of this part of the Tibetan Plateau is thinly spread and mainly comprises of Kazaks, Moguls and Hui. We will be stopping off and wildcamping along the way. 

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Leaving Xiahe, we will spend the next couple of days overlanding through Qinghai, climbing high up on to the Tibetan Plateau as we drive. Here we are travelling through an area that is actually a giant basin surrounded by high mountains and en route we will pass the vast and starkly beautiful Qinghai Hu Lake. This lake occupies an area of over 4,500 square kilometres and the water is saline, teeming with fish. Yak graze the grasses and the icy blue waters stretch as far as the eye can see. The population of this part of the Tibetan Plateau is thinly spread and mainly comprises of Kazaks, Moguls and Hui. We will be stopping off and wildcamping along the way. 

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Continuing with our overland journey across the high plateau, we will arrive in the small town of Golmud, where we will stay overnight in small local hotel. 

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Leaving Golmud we head out across the plateau once again. We will spend the next couple of days overlanding, crossing the famous Tanggula Pass (5220m) as we enter Tibet and wildcamping along the way.

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Leaving Golmud we head out across the plateau once again. We will spend the next couple of days overlanding, crossing the famous Tanggula Pass (5220m) as we enter Tibet and wildcamping along the way.

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Continuing our overland journey across the Tibetan plateau, we will be driving towards Lhasa. If time allows we will make a side trip to Namtso Lake. Spare days have been included in the itinerary as contingency due to poor roads and extreme conditions - they will be used as required. We will be wildcamping along the way.

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Continuing our overland journey across the Tibetan plateau, we will be driving towards Lhasa. If time allows we will make a side trip to Namtso Lake. Spare days have been included in the itinerary as contingency due to poor roads and extreme conditions - they will be used as required. We will be wildcamping along the way.

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Today we will arrive in Lhasa, the religious, cultural and economic centre of Tibet. We will be staying Lhasa for 2 or 3 days, allowing plenty of time for you to relax and explore. Whilst here we stay in a comfortable hotel.

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2 or 3 full days to explore the Tibetan city of Lhasa. There will be organised visits to Potala Palace and Jokhang Temple, with the option to also visit the Drepung and Sera Monasteries and the Summer Palace. Staying in a comfortable hotel.

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2 or 3 full days to explore the Tibetan city of Lhasa. There will be organised visits to Potala Palace and Jokhang Temple, with the option to also visit the Drepung and Sera Monasteries and the Summer Palace. Staying in a comfortable hotel.

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2 or 3 full days to explore the Tibetan city of Lhasa. There will be organised visits to Potala Palace and Jokhang Temple, with the option to also visit the Drepung and Sera Monasteries and the Summer Palace. Staying in a comfortable hotel.

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From Lhasa we drive towards Gyantse. Today we will probably just drive for a few hours, maybe stopping at Yamdrok Tso Lake around lunchtime, giving us time in the afternoon to explore the area and enjoy the amazing scenery, wildcamping here overnight. This is another stunning area of Tibet, with turquoise waters, picturesque islands and small villages - a wide plain surrounded by mountains.

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Leaving our wildcamp we continue our drive to Gyantse, stopping at Baiju Temple en route and crossing the Karo La Pass. Arriving in the small rural town of Gyantse in the afternoon, we will stay overnight in a local guesthouse.

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Depending on what time we arrived in Gyantse yesterday, we may decide to have some more time here this morning, before driving on to Shigatse, Tibet's second biggest city. It is only a short drive and there will be time in the afternoon to visit the Tashilhunpo Monastery. Overnight in a friendly local hotel.

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Most of today will be spent travelling as we drive over high mountain passes towards Baipa (also known as New Tingri). We may have to ford a number of small rivers and the road is rough, but the stunning views and scenery make this one of the world's most visually fantastic journeys. Overnight in a friendly local guesthouse.

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From Baipa we make the journey to the Rongbuk Monastery & Everest Base Camp. The drive is not an easy one, passing over another 5200 m pass, but the views are sensational and weather permitting, we should have excellent views of Mt. Everest. Once we have reached the Monastery it is about a two hour walk or donkey and cart ride further to Base Camp.  We will usually camp here in Tibetan tents with pot-bellied stoves which take six to eight people. Hopefully when you open up in the morning, there will be a view of Mt. Everest. From base camp the view of the north face of the highest mountain on earth is something you will never forget.

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This morning we will have time at Base Camp, before we re-trace our steps back to Baipa. Tonight we will stay in the same local guesthouse before continuing on with our journey tomorrow.

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We will spend the next 2 to 3 days climbing high into the mountains over the Lalungla Pass (5050m) up into the Himalaya. This is part of the famous "Friendship Highway", cutting through gorges, across plateaus and over high passes. On all the passes that we cross you will see the ever present pilgrim prayer flags, cairns and scattered "wind horse" papers. We will be wildcamping along the way.

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We will spend the next 2 to 3 days climbing high into the mountains over the Lalungla Pass (5050m) up into the Himalaya. This is part of the famous "Friendship Highway", cutting through gorges, across plateaus and over high passes. On all the passes that we cross you will see the ever present pilgrim prayer flags, cairns and scattered "wind horse" papers. We will be wildcamping along the way.

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Border information: Exit China at Zhangmu, Enter Nepal at Kodari.

Crossing the border from the Tibetan Autonomous Region into Nepal, we will travel along the Arniko Highway, zigzagging on poor roads past steep gorges towards Kodari. We will be staying here for 2 nights at the Last Resort tented camp, allowing plenty of time for you to relax and take in the breathtaking views, as well as getting involved in some of the optional adventure activities that are on offer. Staying in tented camp accommodation.

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Border information: Exit China at Zhangmu, Enter Nepal at Kodari.

Crossing the border from the Tibetan Autonomous Region into Nepal, we will travel along the Arniko Highway, zigzagging on poor roads past steep gorges towards Kodari. We will be staying here for 2 nights at the Last Resort tented camp, allowing plenty of time for you to relax and take in the breathtaking views, as well as getting involved in some of the optional adventure activities that are on offer. Staying in tented camp accommodation.

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From Kodari it is not much further on to Nepal's capital, Kathmandu, however the traffic congestion in and around the city is notoriously bad, so we may not arrive until the afternoon. Whilst in Kathmandu we stay in a comfortable hotel in Thamel.

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Free time in Kathmandu.

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Key: (B) = Breakfast, (L) = Lunch, (D) = Dinner