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12 Days the Ultimate Cross-Border Drive: From Nepal to Vietnam through Tibet's Wild Heart

Starting from 

$3150/

per person
  • 12 Days / 11 Night
  • Max People : 24 pax
  • Kathmandu-Hekou Port

🌍Three-Country Cross-Border Self-Drive: Immerse in South Asian Flair (Nepal), Tibetan & Yunnan Landscapes (China), and French Colonial Relics (Vietnam)

Experience a once-in-a-lifetime journey across three nations: wander Nepal’s vibrant markets, traverse Tibet’s spiritual plateaus and Yunnan’s lush valleys, and discover Vietnam’s historic colonial sites—all in one epic route.

🌍Professional Self-Drive Support: Leading Vehicle with Satellite Communication, High-Altitude First-Aid Kits, and Seasoned Guides

🚘Safety First: A dedicated lead vehicle equipped with satellite phones ensures connectivity in remote areas.
🚘Expert Leadership: Drivers with 20+ years of Tibetan driving experience navigate challenging routes, with daily driving limited to 8 hours for safety.
🚘Emergency Preparedness: Onboard high-altitude first-aid kits and oxygen supplies provide peace of mind across varying altitudes.

Itineraries

  • Distance: 230 km
  • Travel Duration: 8
  • Accomodation: Gyirong
  • Meal: None

After assembling in Kathmandu’s Thamel district, embark on a scenic drive to the China-Nepal Gyirong Port (1,800m). Complete border formalities and traverse the lush Gyirong Valley, arriving at Gyirong Town (2,800m), dubbed "Tibet’s Little Jiangnan."

  • Distance: 284km
  • Travel Duration: 8
  • Accomodation: Everest Base Camp
  • Meal: Breakfast

Morning: Enter Everest National Nature Reserve. En route via Latse, stop at Gyawu La Pass(5,200m), where—on clear days—you’ll witness five 8,000m+ peaks: Makalu, Lhotse, Everest, Cho Oyu, and Shishapangma, their icy summits piercing the heavens.

Afternoon:head to the long-awaited Everest Base Camp. En route, stop at Gyawu La Pass, where, if lucky, you can see five snow-capped peaks over 8,000m from left to right: Makalu, Lhotse, Mount Everest, Cho Oyu, and Shishapangma. Here, the snow-clad mountain range stretches before you, offering a stark confrontation with the grandeur of the universe. After alighting, take photos with the 8,848.86m Mount Everest monument, then freely visit the Rongbuk Monastery, the world’s highest-altitude temple. Many mountaineering experts consider Rongbuk Monastery the best vantage point to view Mount Everest. Visit the world’s highest-altitude themed post office beside the monastery, where you can drop postcards into the mailbox. After the visit, proceed to the hotel/guesthouse at the appropriate time.

  • Distance: 360km
  • Travel Duration: 8
  • Accomodation: Shigatse
  • Meal: Breakfast

Morning: Capture the golden sunrise over Everest from Base Camp.

Afternoon:Drive to Shigatse (3,836m), Tibet’s "Granary of Tsang," with a photo stop at Gangga Town’s Everest Viewpoint.

  • Distance: 361km
  • Travel Duration: 8
  • Accomodation: Lhasa
  • Meal: Breakfast

Morning: Explore Tashilhunpo Monastery, seat of the Panchen Lama, housing the world’s largest seated Maitreya Buddha statue (26m tall).

Afternoon:Ride to Gyantse for Pelkor Monastery, famed for its 100,000-Buddha stupa blending Tibetan, Han, and Nepali architecture.

Arrive at Yamdrok Lake (4,441m) at sunset, its waters deepening into sapphire solitude.

Evening: Reach Lhasa.

  • Distance: 10 km
  • Travel Duration: 8
  • Accomodation: Lhasa Hotel
  • Meal: Breakfast

Morning:

Potala Palace: Ascend the 13-story fortress-palace, a UNESCO gem where Dalai Lamas ruled.Chakpori Thousand Buddha Cliff: Marvel at 7th-century rock-carved Buddhas expanded over centuries.

Afternoon:

Jokhang Temple: Witness pilgrims prostrating before the 12-year-old Sakyamuni Buddha statuebrought by Princess Wencheng.

Barkhor Street Kora: Walk the ancient pilgrim circuit, tracing devotees’ footsteps past prayer wheels and teahouses.

  • Distance: 490km
  • Travel Duration: 8
  • Accomodation: Nyingchi
  • Meal: Breakfast

MorningJourney along the Lhasa-Nyingchi Expressway (China’s most scenic high-altitude highway) to Basum Tso, a sacred lake of the Nyingma school, recognized by the UNWTO.

AfternoonPanoramic views from Dache La Viewpoint.Visit Tsodzong Gompa Monastery (1,000+ years old) – spin prayer wheels to the rhythm of ancient mantras.

  • Distance: 351km
  • Travel Duration: 8
  • Accomodation: Ranwu Lakeside
  • Meal: Breakfast, Stone-Pot Chicken Lunch

Morning: Photograph barley fields and traditional houses in Rulung Tashi Gang, a postcard-perfect Tibetan village.

Lunch: Savor stone-pot chicken stew (free-range Tibetan chicken + Himalayan medicinal herbs).

Afternoon: Navigate the former "Tongmai Death Road," now tamed, to reach Ranwu Lake(3,850m). Capture Mirror Lake’s reflections of Annapurna Glacier at dusk.

  • Distance: 418km
  • Travel Duration: 8
  • Accomodation: Markam
  • Meal: Breakfast

Cross Dongda Mountain Pass (5,130m) – Tibet’s highest motorable pass.Conquer the 72 Bends of Nujiang River, a serpentine marvel with 1,200m elevation drop.Capture vehicles zigzagging through the "Z-shaped" bends from the viewpoint.

  • Distance: 208km
  • Travel Duration: 8
  • Accomodation: Feilai Temple
  • Meal: Breakfast, Yanjing Jiajia Noodles

Morning:

Yanjing Salt Terraces: Explore 1,300-year-old wooden salt pans along the Mekong River (Naxi ethnic craft).

Jiajia Noodles: Eat until you drop – stack pebbles to count your bowls!

Afternoon: 

Arrive at Feilai Temple, the ultimate viewpoint for Meili Snow Mountain’s sunset glo

  • Distance: 299km
  • Travel Duration: 8
  • Accomodation: Dali
  • Meal: Breakfast

Morningembark on a self-drive to capture the "Golden Sunlight on Meili Snow Mountain," then traverse the grasslands of Shangri-La to explore the "Moonlight City" Dukezong Ancient Town (home to the world’s largest prayer wheel). 

AfternoonSpend the night in Dali Ancient Town.

  • Distance: 357km
  • Travel Duration: 8
  • Accomodation: Kunming
  • Meal: Breakfast

Morning: Pedal along Erhai Lake’s west shore (Longkan Wharf → Panxi Village’s "S-Bend").

Cultural Touch: DIY Bai tie-dye at a workshop using indigo and ancient patterns.

Afternoon: Drive to Kunming (1,890m), Yunnan’s "Spring City."

  • Distance: 392km
  • Travel Duration: 8
  • Accomodation: None
  • Meal: Breakfast

Finale: Follow the historic Kunming-Hekou Railway to Hekou Port (76.4m).

Cross-Border Option: Extend your adventure to Vietnam’s Lao Cai – just steps away.

Tour Cost

Hotel Type / Travel Time May-01 - May-31 Jun-01 - Jun-30 Jul-01 - Aug-20 Aug-01 - Oct-14
Economic Class (3-StarHotels) 3150 3160 3370 3200

Included and Excluded

  • Tibet travel permit and all other necessary permits to Tibet, and facilitate the application process for Chinese visas for tourists.
  • All entrance ticket fees for all tourist sites listed in the itinerary, as well as tickets for sightseeing vehicles within the scenic areas.
  • Knowledgeable English-speaking Tibetan local tour guide shared in your group (For prices of tour guides in other languages, please inquire);
  • All meals listed in the above itinerary;
  • Comfortable tourist vehicle according to the group size;
  • Comfortable Hotel Accommodations at 3-star standard. Upgrades are available for an additional fee. (Single room supplement required when not sharing the room);
  • Service Charge & Government Taxes;
  • Tourist accident/casualty insurance;
  • The additional services include portable oxygen, on-board medical oxygen, bottled mineral water, etc.

  • China Visa (If you need visa assistance services, feel free to contact us for more details.);
  • International flight to and out of China;
  • Domestic flight to Nyingchi and flight/train out of Lhasa (If you need us to book the domestic flight/train tickets, please contact us for the details.);
  • The ticket fees for tourist attractions not included in the itinerary;
  • Single Room Supplement: Hotels default to double occupancy with twin-bedded rooms. If you prefer a single room or room sharing isn't possible, a single room supplement is necessary. Please consult the travel consultant for specific pricing details
  • Meals not specified in the itinerary; usually it costs about USD3-15 per person for one meal in TAR (Tibet Autonomous Region).
  • Tips for the guide and driver. If you are satisfied with their service, it is suggested to tip $7 (50 RMB) per day per person to be shared between the driver and the guide;
  • Other expenses caused by force majeure events (such as natural disasters, traffic control, loss of valuables, visa delays, flight delays or cancellations, etc.);
  • Personal expenses, like laundry, phone calls, snacks, soft drinks (please do your best to avoid alcoholic beverages during your Tibet trip), optional tour activities, etc.

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