Western China Tours & Trips

I did this tour because my spouse could not cope with high altitude and the need to walk up hundreds of steps up for the religious and historical buildings. Fortunately, or unfortunately, some of the other participants pulled out of the Nepal leg, so effectively I had a private tour of Nepal. The hotel was an older traditional hotel. The rooms are spacious but some of the bathroom fittings were showing their age. The breakfast buffet is a nice spread of bothe western, Indian and Nepali dishes. The Kathmandu city tour was ok. Due to my not being Hindu, I was not allowed to see one of the very old temples, Pashupathinath but I saw 2 Buddhist temples, the large Boudhanath stupa and the hilltop Swayambhunath stupas. We also saw “Kumari” a young girl with important religious connotations for Hindus, at least Nepali Hindus. Many of the buildings in Durbar Square, damaged in an earthquake some years ago, have been repaired, some still not. Many of these wooden buildings are hundreds of years old. There is also a small museum of the Nepali royal family in Durbar square. There are also numerous small and large Hindu temples, statues and other similar religious sites in “old” Kathmandu. I also went on the cable car to Chandagiri Hills for panoramic views of Kathmandu valley. I then went to Pokhara by road and I would not recommend travelling to Pokhara by road. It is a very slow and long ride on terrible roads. Although there are a few nice views from the bus, they do not stop at these places for photographs. Pokhara is a nice little city, surviving almost exclusively on tourism. Because of overcast skies, I chose not to go to see the sunrise on the first day but did a few other things. There is a nice lake with a temple but as Pokhara weather is quite fickle, I chose not to go boating on it. There is an ancient cave with apparently a naturally formed Shiva Lingam. It is therefore an important pilgrimage site for Hindus from Nepal and India as well as for tourists. It is crowded, slippery and very dangerous because there is a lot of water there from a waterfall and a river. Interesting site but quite challenging as there are many slippery stone steps. There are 2 other religious sites but these are relatively new and more for tourism than for pilgrimage. Both of them are up on the hills and quite a bit of walking is required. There is a relatively new giant Shiva statue on top of a hill and another hill has a relatively new Buddhist stupa. I then flew back to Kathmandu rather than travelling by bus, it is a long ride. Next day I met up with a group of people mostly from Europe, on our trip to Tibet. We were squished together in a minibus for many hours on dreadful roads in Nepal until about half way through we were split into two 4 wheel drive cars which made it a lot more comfortable. Getting through Chinese immigration in Tibet is very time consuming and your luggage as well as phones are checked quite thoroughly. We were warned about certain things we were not supposed to say, do or discuss in Tibet. The roads on the Tibetan side are much better and we had a more comfortable tourist van. We had fantastic views of the terrain ranging from majestic mountains, valleys and even deserts. There are many police checks on the Tibetan side of the border. We stayed 2 nights in small Tibetan cities and then had a fantastic view of Mount Everest , walking to Mt Everest Base Camp at 5200 metres. It was a sight to behold. We continued to Lhasa and had great views of Potala Palace during the day and at night. Climbing Potala palace is a bit of a challenge but there thousands of people doing it and the place is crowded at least during the day. We also visited other Buddhist monasteries and temples in Lhasa, very ancient and very sacred to Buddhists. After spending 2 very full days in Lhasa, we headed back to Kathmandu by road. All in all a very interesting, informative and successful trip both scenically, culturally and spiritually. Will remember for a long time.

This tour was well organized from start to finish and exceeded my expectations. The itinerary was thoughtfully planned, allowing enough time to enjoy each destination without feeling rushed. Our guide was knowledgeable, friendly, and always willing to help, making the experience both enjoyable and informative. I would definitely recommend this tour to anyone looking for a memorable and hassle-free adventure.

Our 8-day Lhasa tour from Kathmandu was an unforgettable journey filled with breathtaking landscapes, rich Tibetan culture, and seamless organization. From the moment we left Kathmandu, everything was well-planned and efficiently arranged, making this trip stress-free and truly enjoyable. The scenic drive from Nepal to Tibet via Kerung was a unique experience, offering stunning views of the Himalayas, high mountain passes, and traditional Tibetan villages. The highlight of the journey was definitely Lhasa, where we explored the Potala Palace, Jokhang Temple, and Barkhor Street, immersing ourselves in the deep spiritual essence of Tibet. The monastic debates at Sera Monastery and the grandeur of Drepung Monastery gave us a fascinating glimpse into the daily lives of Tibetan monks. One of the most memorable moments was the visit to Yamdrok Lake, a turquoise gem surrounded by snow-capped peaks. The changing landscapes of Tibet, from dry highlands to lush valleys, were simply breathtaking. The Chinese visa policy is a bit complicated. As U.S. passport holders, our group of five needed a visa, but the four travelers from Germany and Spain didn’t require one, which left us quite confused about the regulations. However, Peregrine Treks efficiently arranged a group visa for us, making the process completely hassle-free. The guides were knowledgeable, friendly, and professional, ensuring we understood the history, culture, and spiritual significance of every site we visited. The altitude adjustment was well-paced, with enough time to acclimate, making the experience smooth and enjoyable. Overall, this tour was exceptionally well-organized, offering a perfect balance of adventure, cultural exploration, and natural beauty. I highly recommend this Lhasa tour from Kathmandu to anyone looking for an authentic and immersive Tibetan experience!