Fixed Departures
2008

Detail Itinerery

Day 1: Fly Kathmandu to Lhasa [3650m]
Morning transfer to the airport for the hour long flight to Tibet. This spectacular flight, on Air China , takes us right across the main Himalayan range and provides us with magnificent mountain views. After landing at Gonggar Airport and meeting our Tibetan guide, it is a further 2 hour drive by Land cruiser jeep to Lhasa where we will check in to the Hotel Dhood Gu. It's advisable to rest and take it easy for the remainder of the day due to Lhasa's altitude.

Day 2: Sightseeing in Lhasa
Today will be spent visiting several of Lhasa's many monasteries in the company of a guide and interpreter. One of these is the Sera Monastery, one of the best preserved monasteries in Tibet. Within it's white-washed walls and golden roofs, several hundred monks live and study.

After lunch we'll visit the Norbulingka, the summer palace of the Dalai Lama, as well as the Jokhang Temple. This temple is possibly the most sacred shrine in Tibet and there is always a procession of devout Tibetans through the complex. Surrounding the Jokhang is the Barkor - a maze of narrow cobbled streets which is the central market of Lhasa.

Day 3: Sightseeing in Lhasa
This morning we will visit the Potala Palace which dominates the city of Lhasa. A spectacular building, it contains the private quarters of the Dalai Lama as well as numerous grand state rooms and many important chapels. There has been a palace on this site since the 5th or 6th century, but the present palace was constructed in the 17th century.

A visit to the Drepung Monastery this afternoon will complete a truly awe- inspiring day. Founded in the 14th century, this monastery was once the largest in the world. with a population of around 10,000 monks. These days that figure is down to several hundred, but there is still much here of interest as it was left relatively unscathed during the Cultural Revolution.

Day 4: Free day in Lhasa
Our final day in Lhasa is a day at leisure in which we are free to explore further, revisit a favourite monastery or simply sit in a café overlooking the Barkor and watch the pilgrims as they circumambulate the Jokhang, stopping regularly to peruse the merchandise at the stalls lining the route.

There is also the option of an additional tour to places such as the Tibetan Medical Centre, Ganden Monastery and Tsurphu Monastery, but this will incur extra costs.

Day 5: Drive to Gyantse [3950m]
Today we start our overland journey with a 261 km drive to Gyantse. Travelling by jeep along the Friendship Highway, we cross the Khamba La [4794m] from which there are stunning views across the waters of Yamdrok-tso Lake to the snowy summit of Nazin Kang Sa [7252m]. We continue westwards over another high pass the Karo La [5045m] where we are treated to the spectacular sight of a huge glacier tumbling down to within a few hundred metres of the road. After passing through beautiful valleys and colourful Tibetan villages we arrive in the town of Gyantse.

Day 6: Sightseeing & drive to Shigatse [3900m]
Before leaving Gyantse we have time this morning to visit the Gyantse Dzong and Gyantse Kumbum. The Dzong is a fort dating from the 14th century from which there are amazing views of both Gyantse itself and the surrounding Nyang Chu Valley. The Kumbum is a large gold-domed stupa and its many small chapels house an impressive array of Tibetan Buddhist murals.

We then continue on to Shigatse, a short drive of only 90kms, arriving in time for lunch. Shigatse is the second largest city in Tibet and after exploring the local market we will make a detailed visit to the Tashilhunpo Monastery. This monastery is one of the largest functioning monasteries in Tibet and there is much to explore within its high surrounding walls.

Day 7: Sightseeing & drive to Lhatse [4050m]
It's only 157km from Shigatse to the small, dusty town of Lhatse, but en route we will make a side trip to the monastic town of Sakya. The main attractions here, apart from its red and white striped buildings, are its monasteries. The main southern monastery with its immense thick walls and watchtowers was established in 1268 and contains several interesting chapels. Very little remains of the northern monastery, but it is said to be even older than the southern monastery. From Sakya, we continue on to Lhatse.

Day 8: Drive to Saga [4600m]
A few kilometres beyond Lhatse, we cross the Brahmaputra River and after the crossing, the road enters a river valley with scattered villages. This is a beautiful area for photographs. We continue on, past the turn-off for the northern route, and arrive at Saga, having covered 295km during the day.

Day 9: Drive to Paryang [4750m]
From Saga, we drive another 255km through the amazing Tibetan landscape, passing through the small town of Zhongba, before arriving at Paryang. The scenery along this section is some of the most panoramic of our journey.

Day 10: Drive to Manasarovar [4560m]
It's 270km from Paryang to Lake Manasarovar, and along the way we must make several river crossings. Eventually we arrive on the shores of the serene and beautiful lake, surely one of the most stunning places on earth.

Day 11: At Manasarovar
Today will be spent at Manasarovar, exploring this fascinating place. We will visit the picturesque Chiu Monastery on the north west shore of the lake with the imposing sight of Mt Kailash in the background.

Day 12: Drive to Tarboche [4750m]
Leaving the lake, we drive for about 35 km towards Mt Kailash and Tarboche which is marked by a tall pole adorned with prayer flags. This is the starting point for our kora, the 53km trek around the mountain.

Day 13: Trek to Dira-puk
From Tarboche, we walk up the Lha Chu Valley through beautiful green meadows and streams with Mt Kailash towering above us. We follow the river which enters a narrow canyon with high, steep cliffs and spectacular waterfalls. Continuing up the valley, the north face of Kailash comes into view before we reach the 13th century monastery at Dira-puk.

Day 14: Trek to Zutul-puk [4790m]
We now leave the Lha Chu Valley and enter the Drolma Chu Valley, heading up towards a high pass, the Drolma La [5630m]. It's a tough climb to the summit which is festooned with prayer flags but from there it is all downhill or flat to Zutul-puk, with views of one of the highest lakes in the world, Thukpe Dzingbu Lake, known as the Lake of Compassion. As well as the monastery at Zutul-puk, there are several meditation caves and another cave containing an image of Milarepa.

Day 15: Trek to Darchen [4560m]
On the final day of the kora we cross several streams, and follow an impressive gorge. Along the way we are once again treated to magnificent views of Kailash. We then enter the Bharka plain and it's about an hour's walk through this desert-like landscape to Darchen.

Day 16: Drive to Paryang [4750m]
Today is a long drive, about 300km, to Paryang. Along the way, we cross the Mayun-la and make several river crossings. The scenery along this section is some of the most panoramic of the entire journey.

Day 17: Drive to Saga [4600m]
We continue driving today along a 255km stretch of road to Saga, passing through the small, dusty town of Zhongba en route.

Day 18: Drive to Peiko-Tso
Leaving Saga, we cross the Yarlung Tsangpo [Brahmaputra River] by ferry and continue our journey for 110km across the vast open plains. Stunning Himalayan views, particularly of Shishapangma, accompany us as we head towards a huge lake, the Peiku-tso.

Day 19: Drive to Zhangmu [2300m]
Today we drive 180km south towards the Nepalese border, joining the Friendship Highway. We cross two high passes and come to the small town of Nyalam. From here, the road drops into a mossy gorge with cascading waterfalls before reaching the border town of Zhangmu.

Day 20: Drive to Kathmandu [1400m]
From Zhangmu, it's a short drive to the Friendship Bridge which spans the Bhote Kosi River and marks the Chinese - Nepalese border. We say goodbye to our Tibetan guide and driver and walk to Nepalese Immigration Control in Kodari where we will be met by our Nepalese staff. After completing the re-entry formalities we continue the 123km drive to Kathmandu which, depending on road and weather conditions, should take about 5 hours.

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