TIBET OVERLAND TOUR - 8 Days (TIB-LXA-8)
Tibet is a most unusual and beautiful place. The majority of it's land rests above 4000 meters (13,000 feet) and is surrounded by mountain ranges on three sides. The awe-inspiring Himalayas are the highest in the world, as is the never ending Tibetan plateau. It is a place for the rugged adventurer as well as the spiritual wanderer.
Tibet is a land held back in time, housing many secrets. Nomads remain much the same as they did one hundred years ago. Roaming the plateau from winter and summer camps the nomads still mainly subsist from their yak herds. Then, there are the monasteries which are striving to find a place in a country that's suddenly facing the 21 st century.
The Tibetan people and their religion have been inseparable. Even in their earliest myths one finds references to Tibetan religious beliefs. Originally, the Bon religion dominated Tibet . After the introduction of Buddhist statues and later, sanskrit documents from India , Buddhism crept increasingly into Tibetan culture. Tibetan Buddhism is the culmination of some early Bon beliefs, Indian buddhist texts and several great lamas. Buddhism and politics had been interwoven since King Songsten Gampo married a Chinese and a Nepali princess, who were both intergral in the emergence of Buddhism. It was the Fifth Dalai Lama who actually built the Potala Palace as the government seat and religious center. A theocracy had prevailed until 1951.
After centuries of virtual isolation Tibet is cautiously opening up to the western world. Officially, China has only opened the doors for travelers these past few years. A visit to Tibet is an incredible experience, although it is not for the faint-hearted. The traveling is difficult and unpredictable. The infrastructure is poor to non-existent, therefore turning a regular tour into a complete adventure. Traveling in Tibet is not your average trip but an experience of a lifetime, which we invite you to take with us.
TIBET OVERLAND TOUR 7 nights/8 days Day 01 KATHMANDU - NYALAM, we start our tour with an early morning drive to Kodari, the Nepali border post. Weather permitting there will be fine views of Langtang, Gauri Shanker, Melungtse and Khumbu Himal ranges. Depending on the road situation we walk or drive up to Zhang Mu where we clear Chinese immigration. After the formalities we continue our journey through a beautiful gorge to Nyalam crossing the Himalayan range. Altitude 3800 m., hotel *
Day 02 NYALAM - LHATSE, our first stop on the Tibetan plateau will be on the 5200 m. high Lalung la pass from where we have a breathtaking view of the Himalayan range and Shisabangma, the highest peak in Tibet . While having lunch in Lao Tingri, the peaks of Mt. Everest (Qomolongma in Tibetan) and Cho Oyu can be seen. This day our journey is long but the spectacular Tibetan plateau will make you forget time. Altitude 4000 m., hotel *
Day 03 LHATSE - SHIGATSE, a four hour drive brings us to Tibet 's second largest city, Shigatse. Here we visit Tashilumpo monastery, the seat of the Panchen Lama, hence one of the most important monasteries in Tibet. Altitude 3800 m.
Day 04 SHIGATSE - GYANTSE, after a stroll through the old city we depart for the two and a half hour drive to Gyantse. While approaching the small farming town we can clearly see the old fort that was captured by Younghusband during his 1904 raid into Tibet . Here the main attraction is the Kumbum monastery with it's extraordinary architecture. Altitude 3900 m.
Day 05 GYANTSE - LHASA, this will be a long drive but on the way we cross the Karo la with the beautiful glacier, we see Yamdrok tso which is named the Turquoise lake and cross the Kamba la from where we descend to the main road which brings us all the way to Lhasa. Altitude 3650 m.
Day 06/07 SIGHTSEEING, during these two days in Lhasa we visit the Potala palace, Drepung and Sera monasteries and of course the famous Jokhang temple including the surrounding Barkhor.
Day 08 FLIGHT LHASA - KATHMANDU, we have to get up very early for our transfer to Gonggar airport to catch the flight back to Kathmandu. This flight is one of the most spectacular in the world with aerial views of the Himalayan range including Mt. Everest .
Cost of the tour: US $ 395 per person
Cost of the flight: US $ 284 per person
Cost of the visa US$ 43
Tours include:
land transportation by land-Cruiser
twin sharing accommodation with attached bathroom
places marked with a * have common bathroom
sightseeing with local English speaking guide
entrance fee's, Breakfast
transfers to and from airport
all necessary permits
flight ticket
China visa fee and visa urgent fee
Tours exclude:
Lhasa airport RMB 90
personal expenses / insurance
Nepal re-entry visa
lunch and dinner
Note:
- Above - mentioned Tibet tour could be made departure every Tuestday and Saturday from begnning of April to end of October.
- 7 nights/8 days Tibet overland tour could be organized either drive in fly out or fly in drive out
For detail information and reservation: TIB-LXA-8 |
