Arrive Beijing in the morning. Stay at the Kapok hotel for the night. Day is at leisure to rest after your long flight.
Fly to Lhasa (3,600 metres) today and transfer to the Doodgu Hotel for four nights.
Visit Potala Palace and Jokhang Temple.
Visit Norbulinka Palace and Barkhor Market.
Visit Nechung and Drepung monasteries.
Drive via the sacred fresh-water Yamdrok Tso (the Turquoise Lake) and the Karo La (5,045 metres) to Gyantse (3,950 metres). Stay at the Gyantse Hotel for one night. Enjoy this small agricultural town famous for its woollen carpets. The 14th century Gyantse Dzong overlooks the town and the surrounding Nyang Chu Valley.
In the morning visit Khumbum, with its large gold-domed stupa, and Shalu Monastery. Then proceed on a short drive to Shigatse (3,900 metres) and stay at the Shigatse Hotel for one night. Shigatse is famous for the Tashilhunpo Monastery, the seat of the Panchen Lama.
Drive west to Sakya (4,000 metres) TO visit the Sakya Monastery, with its Mongolian-style outer walls and murals by painters from Tibet, China, Nepal and India. A picturesque drive past Lhatse and Gyatso La brings you to Shegar (4,350 metres) where you stay at the Qomolangma Resort for one night. A small monastery and the remains of the Shining Crystal Dzong are on the mountain top.
In the morning drive to Everest Base Camp (5,150 metres) and after a short stop continue to Rongbuk which, at 5,500 metres, has the highest monastery in the world. Move on to the Everest Base Camp where you stay for the night. Views from the camp are stupendous on a clear day, and feature a huge sweep of the Himalaya range including peaks over 8000m.
Enjoy an awe-inspiring view of Everest in the morning, before driving back to Shegar. After lunch, drive to Lhaste. Stay in a Shanghai hotel for the night.
Drive back to Lhasa today. Stay at the Doodgu hotel for the night. Remainder of the day is at leisure.
Fly to Beijing for a night at the Kapok Hotel.
Transfer to the airport for your return flight to the UK, arriving the same evening.
