Overview: Join us for this in-depth exploration of Tibet. We'll meet in Kathmandu, fly to Lhasa and continue on to Shigatse and Gyantse, with sacred Mt. Kailas as our goal. In addition to the kora (pilgrimage) around Mt. Kailas, the trip includes a visit to the ancient kingdom of Guge and time to sightsee in Kathmandu.
The trekking is short (four days of hiking) but on rugged trails at high elevation (15,000 to 18,000 feet).
This trip is appropriate for experienced hikers who have been to altitude before and are prepared to "rough it." Conditions in Tibet are variable. Travel in Tibet is an adventure; its long isolation and the fact that tourism is relatively new make for exciting travel. With flexibility and an open mind, you will enjoy the challenge. The pilgrimage to Kailas is the experience of a lifetime!
Leadership: Our group leader is Effie Fletcher, the founder and director of Himalayan High Treks. For many years Effie led backpacking trips for the Sierra Club including excursions to Hawaii and the Grand Canyon and is a graduate of the National Outdoor Leadership School’s course for Outdoor Educators. She maintains her certification as a Wilderness First Responder. During the last two decades, she’s led over 40 overseas treks to Nepal, India, Pakistan, Bhutan and Tibet. A practicing Buddhist, Effie is the coordinator of the Chasing Buddha Pilgrimage, and is a graduate of Goddard College in Vermont.
Tour Itinerary
Pre Trip Days: In transit from your home (Americans lose one day crossing the international date line). Fly to Kathmandu, changing planes in Bangkok or Singapore. HHT staff will meet your flight at the Tribhuvan airport in Kathmandu (elevation 4,428 feet).
They must wait for you outside the customs hall, so we meet after you get your visa, collect your luggage and pass through Nepal customs on your own. Transfer to a delightful hotel in the Thamel neighborhood of Kathmandu.
Day 1: Please note that you must arrive in Kathmandu by Sunday, September 7, 2007. If you arrive early, it is possible to stay at our hotel for a discounted price. See the Travel Details section at the end of this document for more information. Our guests enjoy the hotel's good food, friendly staff and tranquil, retreat-like quality.
After a busy day of sightseeing near the hotel, you can always find a place to relax; either in the hotel garden, with its greenery, on your own private balcony or on the roof with views of the spectacular mountains and city skyline all around.
After taking time to settle in, we'll enjoy the late afternoon light at the Buddhist stupa of Swayambhunath (a stupa is a large dome and pyramid-like structure containing religious relics). Swayambhunath is also known as the Monkey Temple because of the large band of monkeys that make it their home.
At one time the Kathmandu Valley was a huge lake. Legend has it that the hill on which the Monkey Temple stands was an island. There is evidence that the great Buddhist Emperor Ashoka visited the site 2,000 years ago. Enjoy an introductory dinner with the group. (Dinner - Day 1)
Day 2: We embark on a guided sightseeing tour of the Kathmandu Valley. Places of interest include the Hindu temples and the burning ghats of Pashupatinath on the holy Bagmati river and the nearby Buddhist stupa at Bodhnath. (Ghats are steps leading up from a river. There are, for example, bathing ghats, where people wash themselves and their clothes. Burning ghats are where Hindus cremate dead bodies in readiness for disposal in the river.)
This will be a good introduction to the Buddhist and Hindu religions. There is also an important Shiva temple at Pashupatinath. Shiva is the great destroyer and creator god of the Hindu religion. Free time in the afternoon, then off to dinner at an Indian or Nepali restaurant and an optional evening walk. (Breakfast, Dinner)
Day 3: Fly from Kathmandu to Lhasa (11,830 feet). Spectacular views to the heights of Everest and the whole Himalayan chain appear as we fly to the Gongkar Airport in the Yarlung Tsangpo Valley. Later, the 56 mile drive into Lhasa takes about two hours and is very scenic. We're in store for an easy afternoon of relaxation and acclimatization at our hotel, conveniently located near the Jokang temple and the Barkor market.
It is very important that this afternoon be spent resting. It will also aid acclimatization if you drink lots of water. Never drink water from the tap or shower. Only drink bottled, boiled or treated water. Typically you do not feel the effects of altitude right away. A short easy walk before dinner is beneficial. (Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner)
Days 4-5: Two full days of sightseeing in and around Lhasa. Highlights include the Jokang temple and the majestic 13-story, 1,000-room Potala Palace. To start we'll go a few miles north, just outside the city, to see Sera Monastery. Sera Monastery, along with Drepung and Ganden, was one of Lhasa's three great Gelug (important sect of Tibetan Buddhism) monasteries. (Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner)
Day 6: Drive 215 miles to Shigatse (12,800 feet). We begin our travels by Land Rover across the vast Tibetan Plateau. On the way, we will visit Gyantse (13,500 feet), where the Tibetans tried to stop the 1904 invasion of British soldiers led by Sir Francis Younghusband. Kumbum is an incredible stupa, here at the Phalkor monastery. We continue 60 more miles to Shigatse and spend the night at our hotel, situated along a tree-lined avenue. (Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner)
Day 7: Shigatse is the second largest city in Tibet and the capital of the traditional Tibetan province of Tsang. We'll visit the Tashilungpo Monastery, which was founded by the first Dalai Lama, containing an 85 foot bronze statue of the future Buddha.
View the impressive temples that still remain at this large Gelugpa Monastery. It was rescued from destruction during the cultural revolution by the tenth Panchen Lama's intervention. Now only the old walls remind us of how much larger this complex once was.
We continue driving on the Tibetan Plateau, approximately 120 miles, to Lhatse and stop on the shores of the Tsang Po River. This same river becomes the Bramaputra when it enters India. Today we will meet our camping staff, who will have driven up from Nepal with the supply truck. Together we cross the river and drive west to camp at Ngamring. (Camping, Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner)
Day 8: We drive along the shores of the Tsong Po River to Saga. The fords of this river can be as much as 200 feet wide and 2-3 feet deep. In addition, there are many long deep muddy stretches and frequent washouts.
There are frequent viewing of nomadic Drokpa camps surrounded by yaks, countless sheep and goats being milked, sheared and otherwise cared for. Camp near the point where the road splits into "the northern" and "the southern" routes. (Camping, Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner)
Day 9: Continue touring past the interesting village of Zongba and Paryang. (Camping, Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner)
Day 10: Drive to the Mayum La Pass at 16,900 feet. Spectacular first views of Mt. Kailas. (Camping, Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner)
Day 11: Continue to Darchen (15,150 feet). (Camping, Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner)
Day 12: Our 4 day, 32 mile Kora of Mt. Kailas (22,028 feet) begins. Mt. Kailas is known to Tibetans as "Khang Rimpoche" (precious jewel of snow). Tibetan Buddhists, like the Hindus, recognize it as an earthly Mt. Meru (the spiritual center of the universe). Four major rivers originate near here: the Indus, the Yarlung Tsangpo, the Karnali and the Sutlej. The mountain is associated Milarepa, a the poet who spent several years meditating in a cave near here.
Walking west along a wide trail, we will be joined by pilgrims of the Hindu, Buddhist and Bon Po religions. Lined with rocks and small cairns, the kora leads us first west, then north. Camp is at a large meadow at 15,500 feet with wonderful views of the west face of Mt. Kailas. (Camping, Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner)
Day 13: Day 15: Start the day with the wonderful sight of Choku Gompa, which clings to the side of an immense cliff face. After a series of stream crossings along the Lha Chu (river), the north face of Mt. Kailas comes spectacularly into view. We climb a moraine to camp in a meadow at 17,100 feet. (Camping, Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner)
Day 14: Climb past remnants ceremoniously left by Tibetans at the Shiwachal cemetery (17,482 feet). They shed clothing here as a personal symbol of leaving their past life behind. Along the way we pass the reddened footprint of Milarepa embedded in a rock. We continue up to the Drolma La Pass (18,200 feet), the spiritual (and physical) 'high point' of our trek.
There, a big prayer-flag-covered boulder crowns the pass. Continuing east, we spy Gaurikund (the lake of the compassionate Bodhisattva). We follow steep switchbacks down to a lush green valley. Here the atmosphere is festive and Tibetans are picnicking along the way. Our camp is in the Lham Chhu Khyr valley at about 15,750 feet. (Camping, Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner)
Day 15: We continue along the river valley until we reach the sight of the "miraculous cave" where Milarepa meditated. We'll stop briefly to see his hand and finger prints on the ceiling of the cave shrine. Our trailhead remains about two hours away.
We'll celebrate the end of our trek, rejoin our drivers and travel to Tirthapuri, another interesting pilgrimage site. It has hot springs and a nice place to camp. (Camping, Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner)
Days 16-17: We drive on to the guest house at Toling, our base to explore the monasteries of Tholing and Tsaparang, twin capitals of the medieval kingdoms of Guge. Located within a large canyon, this area contrasts dramatically with the rest of Tibet. Although now in ruins, these towns were the focal point of Tibetan Buddhism for seven centuries (945 to 1625 AD). We will have ample time to closely examine the many splendid murals to be found here. (Camping, Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner)
Days 18-19: Drive to Lake Manasarovar (14,790 feet) and camp. Hindus believe Lake Manasarovar was formed in the mind of God, and that bathing in the lake will wash away all the sins of 100 lifetimes. In Tibetan it is "Mapham Ytsho," which means the "unconquerable lake." Manasarovar is sandwiched between two high snow ranges.
To the north is Kang Tise, the crescent-shaped mountain range that sweeps from West to Central Tibet. To the south is the Gurla Mandhata Range and Memo Nani (25,236 feet), the third highest mountain in Tibet. Here we will enjoy a chance to relax and bathe in the sacred waters. (Camping, Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner)
Days 20-22: Drive to Nyalam (12,400 feet). Today we begin driving along the Tsong Po river to Zhong Ba, a small village with a partially destroyed Gompa. We continue driving with a sensational view of the snow-capped peaks of the Himalayan range. These mountains are rarely seen from the north side.
Frequent sighting of animals such as wild asses, marmot, pica and spectacular birds including eagles keeps the driving interesting. Stop at Milarapa's cave (the actual place where he meditated) located near a picturesque village. Continue to Nyalam (12,400 feet) and to our camp. (Camping, Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner)
Day 23: Drive 23 miles to Khasa and continue to Kathmandu. Khasa (also called Zhangmu) at 7,500 feet is a rapidly expanding border town in the forested, rain soaked Bhote Kosi Valley. Friendly Nepalis are in the streets. Walk across the Friendship Bridge and then continue by vehicle. We follow the Sun Kosi river 75 miles on the Arniko Highway to our hotel in Kathmandu. (Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner)
Day 24: Free time in Kathmandu. Time to relax! Take a long hot shower, relax and put your laundry in at the front desk of the hotel. (Breakfast)
Day 25: We have an early Breakfast and transfer to the airport for our departure.
Post Trip: Same day return date for Americans crossing the international date line — to arrive home about midday. A dreamy day filled with wonderful memories — vignettes of new faces, places and friends you'll never forget!
Important Note: This itinerary is only meant as a guide to the plan of our trek. Changes can occur as we go and are based on local conditions, acclimatization, health and fitness levels, etc. Times and elevations noted here are all rounded off. Be aware that conditions in Tibet are very rugged. Roads are unpaved and vehicle maintenance can be required at any time.
This is a strenuous trek with environmental exposure on trails and bridge crossings. Landslides may cause detours. This will be an amazing experience if you enjoy nature and prepare for physical activity and the outdoors. There can be abrupt weather changes, rustic toilet facilities and exposure to the elements.
Tibet tourism is controlled by the Chinese government and is completely subject to the authority of local tourism authorities. Changes in their regulations, may cause cancellations or rerouting. We will pass through Kathmandu, Nepal and the main road between the Tibet border and Kathmandu. With a positive and flexible attitude, you will enjoy the challenge of this trip creating many fond memories and great pictures. It's the experience of a lifetime!
Travel Details: We will automatically send you an air itinerary after we receive your application form and passport photo copy. Inexpensive and reliable service to Nepal is available on Thai Airlines and other carriers. If you are making your own arrangements, note that you must arrive in Kathmandu no later than September 7 and that you should not depart earlier than October 1,2008.
Ask our ticketing agent to book a room should you have an overnight stopover. You are welcome to travel early or stay for extra days at the end. We can arrange additional nights at any of our hotels or guest houses for you.
The cost is approximately $35 per night (single) or $25 per night (sharing a double room) with comfortable deluxe rooms with attached bathrooms, telephones, room service, laundry service, a free safety deposit box and ample luggage storage. There are convenient, inexpensive internet cafes within a leisurely two minute walk from our hotel.
Airport pickup for early arrivals is $12 per person. For late departures you can take a cab to the airport or have us arrange an airport transfer for $10 one way ($24 for round trip).
Expenses: There will be a small group surcharge of $400-600 per person if less than six people book on this tour. Other additional travel-related expenses include: your flight to the trip starting point of Kathmandu, Visas ($60 for Nepal, $130 for Tibet) plus $340 for your in-trip flights from Kathmandu to Lhasa.
This internal flight will be booked separately through our agents in Nepal. We also recommend that you purchase travel insurance (at an approximate cost of $340) which includes coverage for trip cancelation and emergency evacuation. We offer many other levels of trip insurance starting at $50.
Notes:
Airfare is not included in the tour price.
Trip Deposit: $250USD
Trip Price (Land Cost As Described): $3950USD
In-Trip (Round-Trip) Airfare Estimate: $340USD
Trip Difficulty Rating: Strenuous
Maximum Group Size: 8
Also see tour packages in:
Asia
Tibet
Nepal
Hiking & Trekking
Pilgrimage/Spirituality
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