To the Roof of the World

A Photo Cultural Journey from
Lhasa to Kathmandu.

On the Roof of the World, locked away for centuries, Tibet has always held a unique place in the human imagination, conjuring an unearthly realm beyond our reach. Our award winning tour ("Trip of a Lifetime," National Geographic Traveler, 2010) is designed to touch the deep spiritual, natural, and cultural beauty and history of this region.

We begin our photography journey with four days exploring Lhasa, the magical capital of Tibet.  Here, we visit the majestic Potala Palace, Jokhang Temple, secluded monasteries, and other fascinating sites.  Leaving Lhasa, we photograph the turquoise waters of Yamdruk Lake on our way to Gyantse to explore the Kumbum chörten.  Continuing via Shigatse and the monastery at Tashilhunpo, home of the Panchen Lamas, we reach the North Face of Everest.  Our trip is timed to arrive at Everest on May 29, the day Sir Edmund Hillary and Tenzing Norgay first reached the summit in 1953.  After spending a night near Everest base camp in a small lodge, visiting the local temple and photographing Everest, we drive down a dramatic gorge to Zhangmu. From here, we travel to the colorful city of Kathmandu, Nepal, where we end our tour.

For some people, travel and photography are inseparable.  Whether you are an amateur or a professional photographer, our Photo Cultural Tours are designed to accommodate the needs of those who delight in documenting travel with photographic imagery.  The sites we visit, the timing for our travel, the flexibility of our program, the size of our small travel groups, and the activities we include in our program are all intended to create unique and memorable moments for you and your camera.

Outline Itinerary – 2014

Day 1: DEPART USA

Day 2: ARRIVE CHENGDU
You will be met on arrival and transferred to our hotel.

Day 3: TO LHASA
In the morning, our group will take the sunrise flight from Chengdu to Gongkkar, home to Tibet’s international airport. If the weather is clear, this sunrise flight from Chengdu to Tibet will offer magical panoramic mountain views, including the 24,783’ Minya Konka and the mighty Namche Barwa, 25, 439’. Upon arrival at Gongkkar, we will be met and transferred to our hotel in Lhasa.

Day 4: EXPLORING LHASA
The goal of many intrepid travelers and explorers, the “forbidden city” of Lhasa will reveal its unique character and many mysteries as we visit many of its most significant historical and cultural sites. Today’s itinerary includes visits to two of the area’s most important Tibetan Buddhist monasteries, Drepung and Nechung.

Days 5 & 6: EXPLORING LHASA
We have two additional days to explore and photograph in and around Lhasa. Looming over Lhasa and the Kyi-chu Valley is the monumental Potala Palace, former home of the Dalai Lamas. A visit to this amazing historical site is certainly a highlight of any trip to Tibet, and today we will explore the many chapels, halls and tombs of the Red Palace. In addition to the Potala, we will also visit Sera Monastery, located to the north of Lhasa, which is perhaps most famous for the renowned and always lively sessions which take place in the Debating Courtyard. We will make a pilgrimage to the Jokhang, Tibet’s most sacred religious temple. The roof of the Jokhang, with its wonderful golden gables and carvings, offers a magnificent view of the Potala. The Barkhor, the maze-like warren of shops and stalls that surrounds the Jokhang, will beckon us to join the Tibetans who travel here to pay homage to the Jokhang as they circumambulate the sacred shrine.

Day 7: TO GYANTSE
After an unforgettable four days in Lhasa, we set out towards Gyantse.  A landscape photography day, our first stop will be to photograph the turquoise waters of Yamdrok-tso, one of Tibet’s four great sacred lakes. Continue driving to the 16,000ft Karo la pass, where (weather permitting) we photograph the Karo Glacier in the late afternoon light, before reaching Gyantse.

May 25, Day 8: TO SHIGATSE
This morning we photograph the beautiful Kumbum stupa (the Temple of the Hundred Thousand Buddhas), one of the greatest buildings in the Tibetan Buddhist world, renowned both for its religious significance and dramatic architectural splendor. Driving to Shigatse through farming communities we have the opportunity of visiting and photographing villages and villagers en route.

Day 9: IN SHIGATSE
We have the day in Shigatse as we explore the "Tibetan Bazaar" and of course the striking, walled fortress-like Tashilhunpo monastery. This has been an important religious institution since the 13th Century, and is the home of the Panchen Lamas.

Day 10: TO SHEGAR
This is a travel day, as we leave the hustle and bustle of Shigatse and head out across the starkly beautiful Tibetan Plateau towards our destination, the town of Shegar.

Day 11: TO RONGBUK & EVEREST
A pre-dawn departure brings us to Pang La, a 17,000 ft high pass offering a panoramic view of the Himalaya, in time for sunrise photography. Descending down from the pass we reach the one-of-a-kind destination: base camp at the north face of the mighty Everest, at 29,017’ the world’s tallest mountain peak. As we adjust to the elevation of base camp (16,700’), we will have the opportunity to explore the photogenic Rongbuk Monastery and catch the last rays of the setting sun on Everest.

Day 12: TO ZHANGMU
It was on this day 60 years ago that Ed Hilary & Tenzing Nrgay stood on its summit. After a leasurily morning watching the sunrise on Everest, we leave the majestic north face of behind as we head to Nepal. We begin the precipitous drop in elevation, 9,000’ in total, as we reach the frontier town of Zhangmu, elevation 7,500’.

Day 13: TO KATHMANDU
We rise in the morning, with porters and baggage in tow, as we clear customs and cross the Friendship Bridge into Nepal. We then drive to legendary Kathmandu, Nepal’s capital city, where we will visit Durbar Square and Hanuman Dhoka. Tonight we will enjoy a splendid Farewell Dinner.

Day 14: DEPART KATHMANDU
We will be transferred to Kathmandu’s airport for flights to our respective Asian transit cities for connecting return flights to the USA.

Day 15: RETURN TO USA
You depart your Asian transit city, arriving in the USA the same day.

Call us toll free at 1-800 MY INDIA (1-800-694-6342) or email us to request a detailed day-to-day itinerary.

"Tsering is simply one of the best guides I've had on any trip and gave one a true feeling of not only the Tibetan land but the feelings of its people too."
- Patrick V, PA

Potala Palace

Visitor from Kham at the Jokhang

Yamdruk Lake

Shepard's at Karo La

Photo: Jeff Davis

prayer objects
Photo: Jeff Davis

North face of Everest
Photo: Lewis Kemper