Program
2
09 Nights / 10
Days
Day 01: Kathmandu-Lhasa (Gongor Airport) – Tsedang
(3400m/11150ft)
Following breakfast we transfer to the airport for our
Kathmandu-Lhasa flight by Air China (1 hr/15 min). Upon
arrival we will be met, assisted and transferred to Tsedang
(2hr) where we will check into the Hotel Tsedang. The
rest of the day will be free as we will all be feeling
the effects of the altitude. This will give us the chance
to recover at our own pace.
Overnight Hotel
Day 02: Tsedang
Today we explore the Yarlung Tsangpo Valley, the cradle
of Tibetan civilization. This was the base of the Tibetan
Buddhist Empire for the Yarlung Kings. On the banks of
the Yarlung Tsangpo (Tibetan name for the Brahmaputra
River) southwest of Lhasa is Samye, one of the most important
monasteries of Tibet. Samye was Tibet’s first monastery
and has a history spanning 1200 years. Located in the
middle of the sandy Samye Valley and approached via a
beautiful river crossing, (by ferry) Samye is built in
the shape of a huge mandala, designed to represent the
Buddhist universe. The different buildings are arranged
according to complex symbolism around the Utse (central
hall) housing the hall of prayers.
Overnight Hotel
Day 03: Tsedang-Lhasa (3650m/11975ft) 90 km.
Drive to Lhasa. On the way we stop to visit the famous
Mindroling Monastery, center of learning for the Nyingmapa
School of Tibetan Buddhism and also for the aristocrats
of Lhasa. Mindroling was founded at the end of the 10th
century and was rebuilt in 1676 by Terdak Lingpa. It
lies east of the Dranang River in Dranang County. Surrounded
by mountains, the monastery is situated in a beautifully
scenic location. Mindroling has a great reputation in
research of astronomy, astrology, medicine and calligraphy.
Most high lamas teaching in the seminary at Potala were
Mindroling lamas. In the past, the Tibetan calendar was
compiled at Mindroling. Marriage is allowed in Mindroling
and the throne of the abbot is passed on from father
to son or son-in-law. The murals painted on the walls
of Mindroling are very special. Most figures look ferocious,
savage and ugly. These rough and exaggerated murals show
the typical Tantric arts. A new white Chorten has recently
been built with Taiwanese funds just outside the monastery
to replace an original 13-storey Chorten destroyed in
the Cultural Revolution.
Overnight Hotel.
Day 04: Lhasa
Guided sightseeing tour of Potala, the winter palace
of the Dalai Lama. Stunningly dominating the skyline
of Lhasa atop the crest of Marpo Ri Hill, the 7th century
Potala is considered Lhasa’s most holy destination
for a pilgrimage. Winding up the hill, a stone path leads
to the 14th storey, 100 room, and 23,000 square foot
palace. Each day thousands of pilgrims give the prayer
wheels lining the path a clockwise spin as they make
their way up to the entrance. After a guided tour of
the Potala Palace, we go to see the Nechung Monastery,
the seat of Nechung, Tibet’s State Oracle. Major
decisions of the state are made in consultation with
the Nechung Oracle. Next we visit the Drepung Monastery.
Drepung once housed 10,000 monks. If we’re lucky
we will quietly ease into a dark columned hall to see
and hear the lilting, booming and chanting of the sutras
or perhaps sit under a willow tree and watch as the monks
engage in theatrical debate.
Overnight Hotel.
Day 05: Lhasa
We start off with a walking tour of Jokhang Monastery
and the bustling Bircher Market. The Jokhang, also known
in Tibetan as the Tsuglhakhang is the most revered religious
structure in Tibet and is the home of the statues of
the revered Buddha, Shakyamuni. While all Buddhist statues
are magnificently robed in colourful brocade adorned
with pearls, turquoise, coral and silver, solid gold
bowls of holy water rest before Shakyamuni as well as
offerings of Yuen (money) and Khata (scarves) left by
pilgrims. We then have a guided tour of the Norbulinka,
the summer palace of the Dalai Lama. In 1959 the 14th
Dalai Lama made his escape from the Norbulinka disguised
as a Tibetan soldier. At the time the compound was surrounded
by 30,000 Tibetans determined to defend the life of their
spiritual leader. We end the day with a tour of the Tibetan
Medical Center.
Overnight Hotel.
Day 06: Lhasa/Gyantse (3950m/12959ft)
Our route follows the Kyi Chu to the Tsangpo, the highest
river in the world. We cross the Tsangpo and begin a
hairpin ascent to the Khampa La (“La” means
pass in Tibetan) then a thousand feet down to Yamdrok
Lake. We drive via Yamdrok, the Turquoise Lake to Gyantse
across Khampa La at 5050 m and Karo La. At Gyantse we
visit the Kumbum Stupa, a magnificent tired Stupa (Chorten)
that is the largest in the world. We also visit the Pelkor
Chode Monastery. This monastery was founded in 1418 and
was once a complex of 15 monasteries. It also houses
the Gyantse Kumbum.
Overnight Hotel.
Day 07: Gyantse-Shalu-Shigatse (3860m/12660ft) 90 km.
Drive to Shigatse and en route visit the Shalu Monastery
and the Tashilhunpo Monastery which is the seat of the
Panchen Lama – the second highest ranking religious
leader of the Buddhist religious order. Tashilhunpo is
one of the few monasteries in Tibet to weather the Cultural
Revolution relatively unscathed. Shalu is divided into
a Tibetan style monastery founded in the 10th century
and the Chinese-influenced inner Serkhang, founded in
the 15th century. A visit to the famous Shigatse Market
is recommended. For those of you who spent a night recently
in Thimpu, Bhutan and remember the famous barking dogs
we had been warned about; the reputation of Shigatse’s
dogs sound worse so think about buying first class earplugs
for that night.
Overnight Hotel.
Day 08: Shigatse-Sakya-Shegar-Rongbuk (4980m/16340ft)
Drive via Pangla Pass (5200M) to Rongbuk (also known
as Rongphu) Monastery, the world’s highest monastery
situated at 4980 meters. The partially reconstructed
Tibetan Buddhist Monastery of Rongbuk was once the largest
monastic center in the region. Rongbuk is the power place
through which all seeking the highest peak via the North
Face must pass. It is the sacred threshold to Mount Everest
with the most dramatic views in the world. At Rongbuk,
there is a beautiful, large round Chorten; a reliquary
with a religious significance embedded in its terraced
structure and crown of the emblems of the sun and moon,
symbolizing the lights of Buddha’s teaching. The
Chorten dramatically marks the last human dwelling place
before once heads up to Base Camp.
On arrival at Rongbuk Monastery we go to Everest Base
Camp. Everest is known in Tibetan as Chomolungma, (also
spelled as Qomolangma) “Mother Goddess of the Snows.” Apparently
this Tibetan approach provides far better views than
those on the Nepali side. 27,000 sq. km. have been designated
as the Chomolungma nature Preserve. Starting at Rongbuk
Monastery, we will hike about 3 hours, climbing only
about 220m over 8 km. We will spend about an hour at
Base Camp then walk back, taking about 2 hours.
Overnight guest house/tented camp
Day 09: Rongbuk - Zhangmu (2300m/7545ft)
After watching sunrise over Everest, we drive to Zhangmu
where we spend the night. Enroute we stop to visit Milarepa’s
Cave and Nylam Pelgye Ling, the small temple built over
it. Milarepa was a famous Buddhist mystic and composer
of songs who lived in the late 11th and early 12th centuries.
Known as ‘Khasa” to Nepalese traders and
Dram to Tibetans, Zhangmu is tucked into a fertile valley
and used to be an important trade center. The population
is a mix of Han, Tibetan and Nepali. Nowadays barrack
style Chinese communes surround the typical old flat
roofed mud-brick houses.
Overnight Hotel.
Day 10: Zhangmu-Kathmandu
After breakfast we drive down to Friendship Bridge across
the Bhote Koshi River. After immigration/customs clearance
in Tibet and Nepal our waiting vehicle will drive us
to Kathmandu. The drive through the beautiful Nepalese
countryside is sometimes on a level trail, making some
ups and downs through the rice fields, crossing the small
settlements en route and finally climbing until we reach
the outskirts of the Kathmandu Valley. From there it
is a 30 minute drive through the bustling areas of the
Valley until we reach our hotel.
Overnight Hotel. |
