Explore Lhasa, trek to Namtso
Lake, & overland journey to Nepal border
- 15 Days.
Departure : Kathmandu/Chengdu/Beijing
Best Season : April - October
Namtso, or the heavenly lake lies 190 km north-west
of Lhasa at an elevation of 4718 m and is the
second largest salt-water lake in Tibet. Surrounded
by spectacular snow-covered mountains, it is
a place of desolate beauty and the site of a
holy hermitage that draws pilgrims from all
over Tibet.
Our trek passes through glaciated
valleys and mountains of the Nyenchen Thanglha
range to the pebbled shores of the lake. During
the summer months the wide open spaces are filled
with nomad herders and their herds of yaks and
tents - an intoxicating sight. We shall also
visit sacred spots, holy shrines, and the bird
sanctuary.
The other highlight of this trip
is visit to Rongbuk Monastery and the Everest
Base Camp.
Day 1: LHASA
Transfer to the airport and fly to the Gongkar
airport. Upon arrival you will be met by our
Tibet representative and transferred to hotel.
DAYS 2-3: Lhasa
We will have two full days in Lhasa to make
excursions to the following places:
The Jokhang-The Jokhang is the
principal and holiest Buddhist temple in Lhasa,
as well as all of Tibet. It is the focus of
devotion of hundreds of Tibetans from near and
far who circle it to gain spiritual merit. The
Jokhang was first constructed in the 7th century
and has a large gold image of Sakyamuni Buddha.
Sera and Drepung-Sera,
founded in 1419, is a monastery of the Gelugpa
order. Its many white buildings sit at the base
of a rocky hill. Gilded, bell-shaped gyamtschens
grace the roofs of many of the larger buildings.
Drepung used to have 8,000 monks who were taught
in the traditions of Vajrayana, Mahayana, and
Sutrayana, the three vehicles of Tibetan Buddhism.
Potala Palace
- The 13-story Potala Palace is reputed to contain
1,000 rooms and hundreds upon hundreds of brilliant
thangkas, frescoes, and images built in an era
when religious art was created anonymously as
a means of gaining merit for future lives. It's
one of the world's most extraordinary buildings
and completely covers the mountain it stands
upon.
DAY 4: Begin trek
We drive along the Tibet-Qinghai highway to
Yangpachen (4324 m) and further on to Damshung,(4130
m) a windblown roadside town. Our trek begins
from here. Today we will only have a short trek
and goes up through a beautiful meadow. We will
also visit a monastery en route. Camp.
DAY 5: Trek (7-8 hrs)
Today we pass through glaciated valley and reach
a herder's camp where we camp for the night.
DAY 6: (6-7 hrs)
We cross Kong La from where you have spectacular
views of Namtso Lake and the Nyenchen Thangla
ranges. Descend to a broad basin and hike along
green meadows.
DAY 7: To Tashi Do and
Namtso Lake (7-8 Hrs)
We hike along green meadows and pass through
several nomad camps and their herds of animals.
We have lunch by the lake. We then follow the
jeep trail all the way to Tashi Do hermitage.
Camp.
DAY 8: Rest and exploration
day at Tashi Do
Rest day for self exploration of Tashi Do hermitage
and the Lake.
DAY 9: Namtso - Lhasa
We drive back to Lhasa via Yangbachen. O/N Hotel.
DAY 10: Lhasa-Gyangtse
(3990 m), 350 kms
Drive via Yamdrok, the Turquoise Lake to Gyangtse
across Kampa la pass 5050 m and Karo la (5045
m)passes. Visit Kubum stupa and Pelkor Chode
Monastery.
DAY 11: Gyangtse-Shalu-Shigatse
(3860 m), 90 kms
Drive to Shigatse. En route visit Shalu Monastery.Visit
Tashilhunpo Monastery, the seat of Panchen Lama
who is the second in the Buddhist religious
hierachy and Shigatse Market.
DAY 12: Shigatse-Sakya-Shegar/Dingri(4350
m)
Drive to Shegar across Tsoula pass (4500 M)
and Gyatso la pass (5220 M). En route visit
Sakya Monastery.
DAY 13: Shegar-Rongbuk(5050
m)
Drive via Pangla pass (5200 M) to Rongbuk Monastery,
world's highest monastery situated at 5200 M.
O/N Rongbuk Guest House.
DAY 14: Rongbuk-Nylam
After watching sunrise over Everest, we drive
on to Nylam. Nylam Guest House.
DAY 15: Nylam-Zhangmu-Kathmandu
Drive to Zhangmu & on to Kathmandu. En route
visit Milarepa Cave. We descend from the high
arid Tibetan plateau into the lush greenery
of Nepal.
Trek Includes
