Lhasa - Nepal - North India Buddhist Pilgrimage Tour - 16 Days

Trip Overview

Tibet • Nepal • North India
A Journey Through Himalayan Culture, Spirituality & Heritage

The 16-day Tibet, Nepal and India Buddhist Pilgrimage Tour runs from Lhasa to Delhi and follows the story of Buddhism to the places where the Buddha was born, taught and found enlightenment. In Lhasa, you visit the Potala Palace, Jokhang Temple, Drepung Monastery, and Sera Monastery and learn about Tibetan Buddhism. In Nepal, you see Swayambhunath, Pashupatinath, and Boudhanath in Kathmandu, then enjoy the calm of Phewa Lake and the World Peace Pagoda in Pokhara.

The journey then follows the Buddha's life across Nepal and India. You visit Lumbini, the birthplace of the Buddha, then travel into India to see the Ganges at Varanasi, Sarnath where the Buddha gave his first sermon, and the Mahabodhi Temple in Bodhgaya where he reached enlightenment. The trip ends with a half day of sightseeing in Delhi. This trip is perfect for Buddhist pilgrims, culture lovers and history lovers who want to see the main Buddhist sites in one journey, with comfortable hotels, private transport and an easy sightseeing pace instead of trekking.

Trip Detail

Itinerary Overview

You arrive in Lhasa and rest on the first day to adjust to the altitude. Over the next two days you visit Potala Palace, Jokhang Temple, Barkhor Square, Drepung Monastery and Sera Monastery. On Day 4 you fly to Kathmandu and spend a day at Swayambhunath, Pashupatinath and Boudhanath. On Day 6 you fly to Pokhara for lake views and sightseeing. On Day 8 you fly to Bhairahawa and transfer to Lumbini for two days of pilgrimage. On Day 10 you drive across the border to Varanasi, visit the ghats and Sarnath, then drive to Bodhgaya for the Mahabodhi Temple. On Day 14 you fly from Gaya to Delhi, enjoy a half day of sightseeing and depart on Day 16.

• Day 1: Arrive in Lhasa at 3,650 m and rest for acclimatization

• Day 2: Lhasa sightseeing with Potala Palace, Jokhang Temple and Barkhor Square

• Day 3: Lhasa sightseeing with Drepung Monastery and Sera Monastery

• Day 4: Fly from Lhasa to Kathmandu

• Day 5: Kathmandu Valley sightseeing with visits to Swayambhunath, Pashupatinath, and Boudhanath

• Day 6: Fly from Kathmandu to Pokhara

• Day 7: Pokhara Sightseeing with a visit to World Peace Pagoda, International Mountain Museum, Devi's Fall, and Gupteshwor Mahadev Cave

• Day 8: Fly from Pokhara to Bhairahawa, transfer to Lumbini, visit Maya Devi Temple

• Day 9: Full day in Lumbini, Ashokan Pillar, and monastic zone

• Day 10: Drive from Lumbini to Varanasi, Ganga Aarti if time permits

• Day 11: Varanasi and Sarnath sightseeing

• Day 12: Drive from Varanasi to Bodhgaya, visit Mahabodhi Temple

• Day 13: Full day in Bodhgaya Buddhist sightseeing

• Day 14: Fly from Gaya to Delhi, rest of the day at leisure

• Day 15: Delhi half day sightseeing

• Day 16: Transfer to Indira Gandhi International Airport for departure

Why You Will Love This Trip

• Tibet, Nepal and India in One Buddhist Journey: In 16 days, you follow the story of Buddhism from the high plateau of Tibet to the places where the Buddha was born, taught and found enlightenment. You start with Tibetan Buddhism in Lhasa, see Buddhist and Hindu traditions in Kathmandu and Pokhara, and then visit Lumbini, Sarnath and Bodhgaya. Each stop adds a new chapter to the same story, and the route is planned in a clear order from Day 1 to Day 16.

• Potala Palace in Lhasa: The Potala Palace is the symbol of Tibet and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It stands on Marpo Ri, the Red Hill, above Lhasa, and was the winter residence of the Dalai Lamas. You visit the White Palace, where the Dalai Lamas lived and worked, and the Red Palace, which holds chapels and the golden tombs of past Dalai Lamas. Entrance fees are included, and your guide manages the timed entry.

• Jokhang Temple and Barkhor Street: Jokhang Temple is the most sacred Buddhist temple in Tibet and holds the Jowo Shakyamuni statue of the Buddha. Outside, pilgrims bow to the ground and walk clockwise around Barkhor Street, spinning prayer wheels. The street is full of small shops that sell prayer flags, incense, and Tibetan jewelry, so it is a good place to see daily Tibetan life.

• Drepung and Sera Monasteries: Drepung Monastery, founded in 1416, was once one of the largest and most important monasteries in Tibet, and its white buildings are stacked up a hillside on the western edge of Lhasa. Sera Monastery, founded in 1419, is famous for its debates, where monks argue Buddhist philosophy in pairs in the courtyard. The afternoon of Day 3 is free, so you can return to Barkhor Street at your own pace.

• Scenic Himalayan Flights: Enjoy four flights during the tour: Lhasa to Kathmandu, Kathmandu to Pokhara, Pokhara to Bhairahawa, and Gaya to Delhi. On a clear day, the flight from Lhasa to Kathmandu crosses the Himalayas and gives views of snow peaks. The short flight to Pokhara also gives mountain views, and the flights save you many hours of road travel.

• Kathmandu Valley World Heritage Sites: In one day, you visit Swayambhunath Stupa on its hilltop, Pashupatinath Temple on the Bagmati River and Boudhanath Stupa, one of the largest Buddhist stupas in the world. Swayambhunath gives wide views over the valley, and Boudhanath is the centre of Tibetan Buddhism in Nepal. All three are UNESCO World Heritage Sites, and the entrance fees are included.

• Pokhara and Phewa Lake: Pokhara is a relaxed lakeside city with a very different feeling from Kathmandu. You take a boat ride on Phewa Lake to Tal Barahi Temple, which stands on an island in the lake. On clear days, you see the Annapurna range and Machhapuchhre, also called Fishtail Mountain. The next day, you visit the World Peace Pagoda on Anadu Hill, the International Mountain Museum, Devi's Fall and Gupteshwor Mahadev Cave.

• Lumbini, Birthplace of the Buddha: Lumbini is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of the most important pilgrimage places in the Buddhist world. You spend two nights here and visit the Maya Devi Temple, the Sacred Garden with the Puskarini pond, and the Ashokan Pillar set up by Emperor Ashoka. In the international monastic zone, you see monasteries built by different Buddhist countries, such as the Myanmar Golden Temple, the Royal Thai Monastery, and the Great Drigung Kagyud Lotus Stupa.

• Varanasi Ganges Boat Ride and Ganga Aarti: Varanasi is one of the oldest living cities in India. You take an included sunrise boat ride on the Ganges and watch people bathe, pray, and make offerings at Dashashwamedh Ghat and Assi Ghat. If time permits on Day 10, you can also see the evening Ganga Aarti at Dashashwamedh Ghat, with fire lamps, bells, and chanting.

• Sarnath and Dhamek Stupa: Sarnath is about 10 km from Varanasi and is where the Buddha is traditionally believed to have given his first sermon. You visit Dhamek Stupa, the Deer Park area, and the ruins of old monasteries and stupas in the archaeological area. Together with Lumbini and Bodhgaya, it completes the main Buddhist places of the Buddha's life.

• Bodhgaya and the Mahabodhi Temple: The Mahabodhi Temple Complex is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and stands beside the sacred Bodhi Tree, which is traditionally linked to the Buddha's enlightenment. You also see Vajrasana, the stone seat where the Buddha is believed to have meditated, and the monasteries of different countries, including the Indosan Nippon Japanese Temple, the Thai Temple, and the Bhutanese Monastery. With a full day here, you have time for quiet reflection or evening prayers with pilgrims.

• Delhi to Finish the Journey: You end the trip with a half day in Delhi. Visit India Gate, Humayun's Tomb and the outside of the Parliament House on Raisina Hill, or choose Old Delhi with Jama Masjid and the lanes of Chandni Chowk. You stay in a 5 star hotel, so the last two nights are comfortable before your flight home.

• Comfortable and Well Planned Trip: You stay in 3 star hotels in Lhasa, Varanasi, and Bodhgaya, 4 star hotels in Kathmandu, Pokhara and Lumbini, and a 5 star hotel in Delhi. Breakfast is included every day. Thamel Travels and Tours arranges your Tibet Travel Permit, all private transfers and drives, four flights, a licensed guide, and all entrance fees. Lunch and dinner are not included, so you can choose local restaurants and try the food of each place.

Altitude and Activities

The tour starts in Lhasa at about 3,650 m, the highest point of the trip. You stay here for Days 1 to 3, and the Potala Palace is slightly higher at about 3,700 m. On Day 4 you fly to Kathmandu at about 1,400 m, then to Pokhara at about 820 m on Day 6. From Day 8 the trip stays on low ground: Lumbini at about 150 m, Varanasi at about 80 m, Bodhgaya at about 110 m, and Delhi at about 220 m. Altitude is only a concern in Lhasa.

Accommodation and Meals

You stay in 3 star hotels in Lhasa, Varanasi and Bodhgaya, 4 star hotels in Kathmandu, Pokhara and Lumbini, and a 5 star hotel in Delhi. Breakfast is included every day. Lunch and dinner are not included, allowing you to choose restaurants and local food according to your preference.