Itinerary in Detail
Day 01 :
Fly from Kathmandu to the Gonggar airport of Lhasa (90 kilometers from the main city). This afternoon remains free for acclimatization.
Early morning you are transferred to the airport to board the plane for the flight over the Himalaya to Lhasa. If the weather is clear there are wonderful views of Everest, Nuptse, Lhotse, Makalu, Kanchenjunga and other peaks en route. On arrival at Gonggar airport (which is 90 kilometers from Lhasa), you meet your vehicle and drive east along the broad Yarlung Tsangpo valley to Tsedang (3400m.). After checking in to your hotel, you drive south to see the reputed oldest building in Tibet, the Yumbu Lakhang, a beautiful castle-like dwelling and monastery, dramatically perched on a spur looking out over the fertile valley below. If time permits you may be able to visit a small monastery close to Tsedang, or an interesting carpet factory where you can see the whole process of carpet making.
Day 02-03 :
On these days you will visit Potala Palace, Norbulinka Palace, Jorkhang, surrounding of Barkhor Street, Drepung and Sera Monasteries.
One of the highlights is the visit to the symbol of Tibet: The Potala Palace. Set high on Red Hill, it was the winter home of the Dalai Lama until 1959. The most sacred temple in Lhasa is the Lokhang, where people come from all over Tibet to visit and pray in this spiritual heart of the country. It was used as a military kitchen during the Cultural Revolution but has now been beautifully restored, with many priceless thankas and statues adorning the chapels, and magnificent gilded roofs.
Another great treasure is the Norbulingka – the old summer palace of the Dalai Lama.
Now you visit Jorkhang temple, the center of the Tibetan Buddhism, and the sacred land of Buddhist followers where innumerable pilgrims come for worship everyday. The temple, built in 647, is the earliest wood-and-masonry structure still existing in Tibet. Surrounding the Jorkhang Temple is the bustling Barkhor Street which is the religious and social focus of Lhasa. Around the Barkhor there are numerous stalls selling all sorts of handicrafts: Brightly colored boots, fur-lined hats, silver and turquoise jewelry, rosaries, prayer flags, charms, as well as beautiful Tibetan carpets and all manners of ordinary household ware.
Next you visit Sera monastery, which was created in 1419, has always been an important Buddhist seminary. As roses are planted everywhere in the monastery, it is also called “the court of wild roses.” Today still, 200 lamas live there. In contrast, Drepung Monastery is the world’s largest monastery with about 10,000 monks.
You stay overnight at hotel in Lhasa.
Day 04 :
Full day excursion to Namtso Lake, so called the “Sky Lake”, same day drive back to Lhasa and visit Yangpacheng Hot Spring en route. Stay overnight in Lhasa.
Day 05 :
Drive from Lhasa to Gyantse (3,950 m) via Yamdrok Lake. You stay overnight at hotel in Gyantse. Today is a full day picturesque drive crossing over a colorful Yamdrok Lake and Kambala Pass at 4,794 m and Karola Pass at 5,010 m.
Day 06 :
In Gyantse you spend time visiting the Pelke Chode Monastery and the 35 m high famous Kumbum Stupa in Gyantse, packed with exquisite Tibetan sculpture and paintings. It is truely a stunning architectural wonder in Tibet. After lunch you drive to Shigatse. Stay overnight in Shigatse.
Day 07 :
In morning, you visit Tashilunbo Monastery whereas in the evening you drive to Xegar and visit Sakya Monastery en route.
Shigatse is situated near the junction of the Ngang and Yarlung Tsangpo (Brahmaputra) rivers, with many traditional low-ceiling, flat-roofed, mud brick Tibetan houses, but quite a lot of modern Chinese buildings as well. It is home of the Tashilunpo Monastery, traditional seat of the Panchen Lama, and one of the great centers of Tibetan Buddhism. Built in 1447, it is the head monastery of Yellow Hat sect (Gelukgonpa). It is today one of Tibet's most active monasteries.
Shigatse also has an interesting bazaar, where various traditional items can often be found at more or less reasonable prices. Shigatse has always been an important trade and administration center and also has political and religious significance, once being the seat of the Panchen Lama. The town is essentially divided into two parts: The old Tibetan style area in the city, and the concrete, modern Chinese part of the town. The older streets and alleys here are very pleasant to wander and there are a few sights of interest to warrant a stay of a day or two.
In evening you drive to Xegar and visit Sakya Monastery en route. Sakya Monastery is the oldest and most important Bon Po Monastery.
Stay overnight in Xegar.
Day 08 :
Drive from Xegar to Dza Rongbuk Monastery, excursion from Rongbuk to Everest Base Camp I by local carriage, and return. Stay overnight in Rongbuk.
Day 09 :
Excursion around Rongbuk and Everest region, same day drive directly to Nyalam. Stay overnight in Nyalam.
Day 10 :
Drive from Zhangmu to Kathmandu. Drive downhill to Friendship Bridge where transportation awaits for your journey to Kathmandu. Tour ends upon arrival to Kathmandu.
Mailing Address:
First Environmental Trekking (P.) Ltd.
Thamel, Kathmandu, Nepal
P.O.Box : 8056
Tel : + 977-1-4417343
+ 977-1- 4424346
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E-mail : firstentrek@wlink.com.np
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