| Day |
Route |
Duration |
Highest Point/m |
Grade |
|
1 |
NOTE: This tour can be run in reverse
and sightseeing itineraries are flexible.
Arrival Kathmandu transfer to Hotel |
All day |
1300 |
Easy |
| |
Meet with our representative at the
airport. Drive to hotel. |
| 2 |
Kathmandu - Lhasa |
All day |
3612 |
Easy |
| |
Fly to Lhasa on China Southwest and transfer to
hotel. |
| 3 |
Lhasa |
All day |
3612 |
Easy |
| |
Sightseeing of Lhasa as time permits:
Sera Monastery - established in 1419 Sera Monastery is not
only famous for it's remarkable relics but also the monks'
debating practice which is open to tourists. However, please
make sure you are not watching the enforced Comprehensive
Propaganda Education which is designed to enhance 'patriotic
education' - check with your operator for details.
Jokhang Temple and Barkhor Bazaar - The Jokhang Temple Monastery
is an exceptional Buddhist religious complex, founded in the
7th century, it is the spiritual centre of Tibet. Although
its buildings and decoration reflect the high quality of Tibetan
art in the 7th century and again in the 15th-16th centuries
it is the absolute devotion of the pilgrims in and around
the temple that capture your attention. Around the Jokhang
is the Barkhor market which is full of Tibetans from every
corner of the country as well as an amazing assortment of
goods from false teeth, to scriptures, to works of art and
day-to-day merchandise.
Norbulingka - built in the 1740's during the reign of the
7th Dalai Lama it was later renovated and enlarged and became
the Dalai Lama's summer palace. Essentially a park with a
number of palaces it is an ideal place to see Tibetan folk
singing and see where Heinrich Harrer lived.
|
| 4 |
Lhasa |
All day |
3612 |
Easy |
| |
Sightseeing of Lhasa, as time permits:
Potala Palace - the first structure on Marpo Ri hill was
built in 637 by Emperor Songtsen Gampo, although the current
building started to take shape in 1645 with successive
Dalai Lamas adding sections, until now at 13 stories high
it dominates the landscape. Not only the former winter
residence of the Dalai Lama it was also the seat of government
of Tibet with over 1,000 rooms and a monastic centre of
learning. The oldest section is within the White Palace
where there are two small chapels, the Phakpa |
 |
Lhakhang and the Chogyal
Drubphuk dating from the seventh century. There are
also many other shrine rooms and the mortal remains
of 13 previous Dalai Lamas, along with countless thankas,
frescos, and works of art.
Drepung Monastery - once the largest
and richest monastery in Tibet it was founded in 1416
by a disciple of Tsong Khapa and later enlarged by the
Fifth Dalai Lama. At its peak it had a registration
of more than 10,000 thousand monks many of whom could
get into the main prayer hall! |
|
| 5 |
Lhasa |
All day |
3612 |
Easy |
| |
Sightseeing of Lhasa, as time permits:
Norbulingka - built in the 1740's during the reign of the
7th Dalai Lama it was later renovated and enlarged and became
the Dalai Lama's summer palace. Essentially a park with a
number of palaces it is an ideal place to see Tibetan folk
singing and see where Heinrich Harrer lived.
Chakpori (Iron Hill) - once the site of the Tibetan Medicine
College it was bombed during the Chinese occupation of Tibet.
Now only a few rebuilt stupas remain. It is a poignant reminder
of the past.
The Tibet Museum - houses many of the artefacts 'liberated'
by the Chinese during their invasion of Tibet. Despite the
appalling assertions it has some excellent pieces which one
day might make it back to where they belong.
|
| 6 |
Lhasa- Ganden |
All day |
4180 |
Easy |
| |
The trail snakes up through a deep
gorge, one side the massive Manaslu range, the other the Lamjung
Himal (a sub-range of the Annapurna). Passing waterfalls and
temperate rainforest we camp or lodge at Bagarchhap. |
| 7 |
Ganden - Herder's Camp |
7 hours |
4470 |
Moderate |
| |
We set off early today following the
trail that climbs the ridge behind Ganden. We cross this and
descend into the Hebu valley along a well worn trail. We then
begin to slowly ascend the valley which is well cultivated for
Tibet, and continue to a traditional harders camp where we camp
for the night. |
| 8 |
Herder's Camp - Zukar La - Tshodu Valley |
8 hours |
5200 |
Hard |
| |
The trail continues up past the herder's
camp past rhododendron which are beautiful during the summer
months to the Zukar La (pass). This is a long slow ascent and
it is with relief that the prayer flags on the pass summit come
into view. We are now in a small valley which is a hub for the
surrounding U region, and although no-one lives here it is common
to see yaks up here. Our camp is on the valley floor on a comfy
meadow! |
| 9 |
Tshodu Valley - Chetur La - Herder's Camp |
7 hours |
5090 |
Moderate |
| |
The Tshodu Valley can be
a beautiful, colourful place in the summer months. The meadows
become alive with wildflowers and birds dash about feeding
on the occasional insect. The trail continues to follow the
valley south towards the Chetur La which we cross and then
begin our descent. We may have to get our feet wet if there
has been recent rain to cross the valley to our camp site. |
| 10 |
Herder's Camp - Yama
|
6 hours |
3960 |
Moderate |
| |
The peace and serenity of
trekking seems more profound in Tibet than anywhere else and
today's easy walk down towards Samye is a perfect example.
Open meadows, copses of willow, birds busily nest building
and plenty of wildflowers form an idyllic landscape against
which you can contemplate the fate of Buddhism in Tibet. We
camp near to the trail to a small cave retreat which if you
feel energetic can be visited in the afternoon. |
| 11 |
Yama - Samye - Tsethang |
7 hours |
3510 |
Easy |
| |
The final section of trail
is dusty and hot and we leave camp early to avoid over heating.
Samye is the next stop about 4 hours away where we can visit
Tibet's first great monastery built in 775 A.D. We then cross
the Tsangpo river and drive to Tsethang. |
| 12 |
Tsethang (Samye) |
all day |
3510 |
Easy |
| |
Tsethang is Tibet's third
largest city and legend has it that the nearby Yarlung Valley
is the cradle of the Tibetan civilisation. According to tradition,
the first king descended from heaven and lived in the Yumbu
Lagang, an eerie mediaeval castle reputed to be the oldest
building in Tibet. The surrounding fertile valley is a beautiful
back-drop to this fascinating region and if we have time we
will try to get to Samye, Tibet's first monastery across the
river. |
| 13 |
Tsethang - Kathmandu |
all day |
1300 |
Easy |
| |
Tsethang is only 60km from the airport from where
we fly back to Kathmandu. |
| 14 |
Kathmandu valley |
|
|
|
| |
Sightseeing, Boddhanath, Soyambunath and Pashupatinath |
| 15 |
Final departure from Hotel |
|
|
|
| |
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