Mountain Roads - Urumqi to Kathmandu

Itinerary

Day 1 Arrive Urumqi

Arrive in Urumqi at any time.

Day 2 Turpan

Visit museums, mummies, and the atmospheric ruins of Turpan. Spend an afternoon in the Grape Valley sampling the local raisins and wine.

Day 3-4 Xining

Sitting on the edge of the Tibetan plateau, Xining has been a military garrison and trading centre since the 16th century.

Day 5-8 Lhasa

Explore the Jokhang, Barkhor, Ptala, the Sera Monastary and other important Tibetan Buddhist sites in this historic city situated at over 3700m above sea level.

Day 9 Gyantse

Built at the centre of the trade routes of Nepal, Sikkim and Bhutan, Gyantse is overlooked by an impressive fort. Its monastery is one of the finest in central Tibet.

Day 10 Shigatse

Shigatse is the seat of the Panchen Lama, one of the most richly spectacular and extensive monastic complexes in Tibet. At the centre of town, the local bazaar buzzes with life.

Day 11 Sakya

Once the political centre of Tibet, the walls of Sakya's great fortified monastery are painted a dark grey, typical for buildings in the area.

Day 12 Rombuk and Everest Base Camp

The view of Qomolangma from the world's highest monastery is incredible and from Everest Base Camp at 5200m, even more stunning.

Day 13 Zhangmu

Leave the Tibetan Plateau behind and plunge straight into a lush green world as we descend almost 2000 meters to the border town of Zhangmu.

Day 14 Kathmandu

The historic cities of the Kathmandu valley reveal a vibrant world of colour and life. The markets, bazaars, and narrow streets are home to holy men, sacred cows, bicycles, and street sellers.