Itinerary:
Day 01
Kathmandu (1,300 m) – Zhangmu (2,500 m)
123 Km– Nyalam (3900m).
(Sat) Early morning 4 ½ hours scenic drive to Kodari (Nepal/Tibet
Border) through the beautiful Nepalese countryside. Upon arrival complete
Nepali Immigration and start a short walk across the friendship bridge.
Meet the waiting vehicle and drive 8 kilometers to Zhangmu.
Zhangmu: Known to Nepali as Khasa, hangs on a cliff face, its boomtown
architecture having a temporary look: even the monastery roofs are sheathed
in corrugated iron sheets. Complete Chinese Immigration and then drive
90 kilometers (2 hours) to Nyalam situated at an altitude of 3900 m.
Overnight at the Hotel.
Day 02
Acclimatization day in Nyalam.
Overnight at the Hotel.
Day 03
Nyalam to Xegar (4,350m): 244 Km.
Drive to the highest plateau of the world with typical view of the Tibetan
landscape offering sheer feeling of standing on the roof of the world
crossing over Nyalam Pass (3,800m) and Lalung La (5,050m), weather permitting
breathtaking panorama of beautiful Himalayan ranges including Mt. Everest
(8,848m) but dwarfed by the vastness of the Tibetan plateau.
Xegar: Also called New Tingri, surrounded by Mountains, is another
town that lies in the shadow of a great fortress. Even in ruins it is
majestic. Seeming to grow out of the craggy brown rock, its sinuous
wall bristles with watchtowers like stegosaurus spines. Isolated in
1855 by marauding Nepalese in search of booty, the Gurkhas cut off the
dzong’s water supply and settled in for a long siege. Shegar proper
has little to recommend it except the highest post office in China.
We continue past the settlement and head off for another 20 minutes
to arrive at the banks of the river for overnight camp.
Overnight at the Campsite.
Day 04
Xegar-Xigatse (3,900m) – Nya Village: 214
Km.
Continue scenic drive crossing over Gyatchu La (5,220m), the highest
pass en-route to Lhasa from where a road to Mt. Kailash bifurcates to
the west towards Lhatse. Xigatse: is the second largest town in Tibet
and the capital of Tsang, lying 354km west of Lhasa at an altitude of
3810 m.
Because Xigatse is densely populated, there are no good camping sites
within the city area. Therefore, we camp at Nyavillage about 30 kilomenets
before Xigatse.
Overnight at the Campsite at Nya Village.
Day 05
Nya-Gyantse (3,950m) 120 Km./ Yamdrok Lake(210
Kms)
After breakfast, continue on the main highway and later bifurcate to
Gyantse, a pastoral town between Lhasa and Xigatse about 120 kilometers
from Nya Village. It is 264 km Southwest of Lhasa (8 hours drive). It
still retains the charm of a traditional Tibetan town untouched by modern
expansion. It made world headlines in 1904 when Colonel Young husband,
who led British Expedition to Tibet, defeated the Tibetan army there.
As a crossroad on the principle trade route to India, it used to be
renowned for the excellence of its carpets.
The compound, encircled by an impressive wall, once contained 19 monasteries,
presided over by the still intact fortress perched atop a nearby mountain.
Here one visits the Kumbum Stupa and Pelkhor Chode Monastery.
Upon arrival, proceed for the sightseeing tour of Gyantse Kumbum,
one of the most unique and magnificent buildings in Tibet consisting
of 6 storeys complete with a Buddhists Hall and a prayer hall. It has
112 chapels and its walls are adorned with religious paintings. Built
in the 15th century, it has withstood all battles and revolutions since.
We also visit the Pelkhor Chode Monastery located near the Khumbum,
it was founded in the 15th century. It has been remarkably well preserved
and many of the statues and paintings inside it date back to the time
of its founding.
After the sightseeing tour and a quick stop for lunch, we set out
for Lake Yamdrok passing the Simi La (4200 m) and driving on a trail
with fantastic views of the turquoise blue waters of the man made lake
caused by the dam. Later we also cross the karo La (5010 m)
Overnight at the Hotel.
Day 06
Gyantse-Lhasa (3,650m): 161 Km.
The mornings drive along the picturesque trail of the colourful Lake
Yamdrok, the Tibetan lifeline river Brahma Putra (Yarlung Tsangpo).
Yamdrok Tso or Turquoise Lake: A lake of a glaring blue that radiates
a near mystical charm. It is about 240 kms in circumference and is more
like an Island sea. There are Yak herders around and the lakeitself
supports a population of scale less fish in its non-saline waters. It
is about 124 kms. from Lhasa.
Later we ascend on a dirt track to Kamba La (4,794m), and have an
opportunity to meet the Yak Herders. From here we descend to the main
road head but have enough time to spend a leisurly hour for lunch before
embarking on the grand finale entrance to the Lhasa City.
Lhasa, the capital of Tibet at an altitude of 3650 m, is situated
on the north bank of the Kyichu River in the province of U (central
Tibet). Two high craggy hills stand up in isolation from the valley
floor. One, Red Hill, is topped by the Potala Palace and the other,
Chockpori or Iron Hill, is crowned by a tall antenna.
Lhasa in Tibetan means "Place of the Gods" and Potala Palace
" the residence of the Dalai Lama (the god king), is the earthly
representation of the celestial Palace of Avaloketswora, the Buddha
of infinite compassion whose incarnation in the human form is believed
to be the Dalai Lama. As Tibet’s political, religious and cultural
centre it is a city truly blessed by the gods, where life is unhurried,
is people jovial and yet remaining staunchly independent.
Lhasa consists of two district parts consisting of different architecture,
population and lifestyle. Old Lhasa, the Tibetan section, centres around
the Jokhang Temple. Its streets are narrow, between white washed stone
houses whose walls slope inward as they rise. Windows are framed in
black trapezoids, with protruding fan shaped eaves above. Many houses
have brightly painted woodwork.
The Chinese section, was built in the last 30 years around the base
of the Potala. It is characterized by straight, broad streets and utilitarian
buildings that houses Chinese style department stores and all kinds
of government houses. A Revolutionary Museum below the Potala displays
the evidence of Chinese wrought economic and social change during the
past 30 years.
In spite of it’s forced pace of modernization, Lhasa has not
lost it’s soul. It is a friendly city where a Tibetan will always
return a smile.
Overnight in Lhasa.
Day 07
In Lhasa: Sightseeing tour of Potala Palace:
This legendary palace built atop a single hill is synonymous with Tibet.
First foremost king, Songtsen Gompo, it was expanded to its present
structure during the 17th century by the 5th Dalai Lama. This 13 storey,
1000 room citadel served as the headquarters of the former "church-state"
of Tibet and was home to successive Dalai Lama who, from the latter
half of the 18th century, used it as their Winter Palace.
Also visit the Jokhang Temple: Situated in the heart of old Lhasa,
it houses Tibet’s most precious religious relic, a golden Shankyamuni
Buddha which was brought as a gift by the Chinese Princess Wen Cheng
on the occasion of her wedding to the Tibetan King, Songtsen Gompo.
Surrounding the Jokhang Temple is the bustling Barkhor market place,
which is the religious and social focus of Lhasa. This, the spiritual
centre of Tibet, is also the heart of Lhasa.
Overnight in Lhasa.
Day 08
Full day sightseeing tour of Lhasa
including the Drepung Monastery:
Drive 8 kms west of Lhasa to Drepung Monastery. Said to be the
largest monastery in the world housing over 10,000 monks, it was founded
in 1416 by the disciple of Te Tsonkhapa, founder of the Yellow Hat Gelukpa
sect of Tibetan Buddhism. The second, third and the fourth Dalai Lamas
lived and were entombed here. Drepung in Tibetan means ‘Richmound’.
Sera Monastery: 5 kms (3 miles) north of Lhasa. Sera setting is one
of Lhasa’s prettiest. Once a community of more than 5,000 monks,
it was a virtually extinguished by the Chinese. The restored monastery
sits below the brow of hill on which Tsongkhapa built a hermitage and
spent several years meditating. One of the monks’ disciples began
building Sera in 1419, completing it a few years later.
Overnight at the Hotel.
Day 09
DRIVE FROM LHASA / DUCK FARM BEFORE XIGATSE
After the grueling drive over the pass to get to Lhasa, the trail today
on tarred road is a pleasant and enjoyable one. The drive takes about
6 – 7 hours as we follow the Yarlung Tsangpo river and scenery
of irrigation fields, yak hair skin boats, a typical scene of Tibet.
Because of the unavailability of Camping spots around Xigatse we
stop about an hour before arriving Xigatse in a beautiful location to
camp beside a small lake and a duck farm.
O/N Camping.
Day 10
DUCK FARM / XIGATSE / HOT SPRINGS (3,900m): 190
Km.
After an early breakfast set out for Xigatse and proceed for the sightseeing
toou of the Panchen Lama’s Tashilhunpo Monastery. Founded in 1447
by Gendun Drup, the first Dalai Lama. It is the seat of the Panchen
Lama who is second to the Dalai Lama in Tibetan Buddhist Hierarchy.
The 5th Dalai Lama in declared that his teacher, then the Abbot of Tashilhunpo,
who a manifestation of the Buddha Amitabha and the Pancen Rinpochhe.
Tashilhunpo has one of the world’s largest status - a 9 storeyed
gilded bronze statue of Maitriya, the future Buddha.
After the sightseeing tour, we set out of Xigatse and stop for lunch
at a convenient place.
Later, continue the scenic drive as we cross over Gyatchu La (5,220m),
the highest pass en-route to Lhasa and arrive at Lhatse, from where
a road to Mt. Kailash bifurcates to the west. We continue further and
camp beside a natural hot spring.
Overnight at Camp.
Day 11
HOT SPRINGS / XEGAR / EVEREST BASE CAMP (140 KMS)
From the Hot Springs we drive to Xegar. Xegar, also called New Tingri,
surrounded by Mountains, is another town that lies in the shadow of
a great fortress. Even in ruins, it is majestic. Seeming to grow out
of the craggy brown rock, it’s sinuous wall bristles with watchtowers
like stegosaurus spines. Isolated in 1855 by marauding Nepalese in search
of booty, the Gurkhas cut off the dzong’s water supply and settled
in for a long siege. Xegar proper has little to recommend, except the
highest post office in China.
We purchase our entry tickets for the clients, staff as well as the
vehicles for the entry in Mt. Everest Region and head off to the Check
point. While everyone congregates, we stop at the restaurant for a quick
lunch.
After lunch, we set out for the 4 hour drive to the Rongbuk Monastery
in the Everest Base Camparea and camp near Rumjong/Ronbuk monastery.
Overnight at Camp.
Day 12
EXCURSION AROUND MT. EVEREST BASE CAMP
(Wed) Follow the dirt road south; the Dzakar Chu, now much reduced in
volume, is on your right. Soon the valley broadens and the road leaves
the river to continue its ascent on the other side, swerving to avoid
a rockslide. At the base of the slide is chorten; at its top are the
ruins of the Samdrupo Nunnery (a small chapel has been rebuilt). The
Everest Base Camp is just beyond some moraine hills. The rest of the
afternoon is free to explore this area and is possible to take a couple
of short excursions beyond the Base Camp.
One is to climb the moraines of the Central Rongbuk Glacier, immediately
south of the camp, to some small glacier pools. The other is to trek
to the Qianjing glacier. Head up a small canyon east of the Base Camp
to a rough track that crosses a vast lateral moraine 200 m above camp.
Follow this south on a relatively level platform high above the Central
Rongphuk Glacier. At the end of the moraine is the Qianjing Glacier;
about 4 hours walk from the Base Camp. To the south are the fine views
of the Everest North Face.
Later return to Camp.
Dinner and Overnight at camp.
Day 13
EVEREST BASE CAMP /XEGAR
Drive from Everest base Camp to Xegar following the same winding route
to return. (Note : in case of good road conditions, one can retrace
to New Tingri via another route which totally bypases Tingri).
Overnight at Camp.
Day 14
XEGAR (4,350m)/ NYALAM: 200 Km.
Full day drive mostly downhill from the highest plateau of the world
with typical view of the Tibetan landscape offering sheer feeling of
standing on the roof of the world crossing over Nyalam Pass (3,800m)
and Lalung La (5,050m), weather permitting breathtaking panorama of
beautiful Himalayan ranges including Mt. Everest (8,848m) but dwarfed
by the vastness of the Tibetan plateau. We arrive at a familiar setting,
the booming town of Nyalam.
Dinner and Overnight at Camp.
Day 15
Drive to Zhangmu (40 kilometers) / Kathmandu (128
Kms)
Zhangmu (2,500 m): Known to Nepali as Khasa, hangs on a cliff
face, its boomtown architecture having a temporary look: even the monastery
roofs are sheathed in corrugated iron sheets.
Complete Chinese Immigration and border formalities. The permits
and Motorcycles are checked once again and then we drive down to Kodari
and the Nepal Tibet Friendship Bridge. Here the porters will transfer
the lkuggage to the Nepal side and we bid farewell to our Guide and
drivers from Tibet.
Cross the friendship bridge, complete Nepal Customs and Immigration
and drive 128 Kms (4 hours) to Kathmandu.
End of Arrangements |
