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Day 01 ARRIVE KATHMANDU.
Transfer to Hotel.
Day 02 EXPLORE KATHMANDU VALLEY
Day 03 KATHMANDU [1400M] - LHASA [3660M]
Morning transfer to the airport for the hour-long flight to
Tibet. This spectacular flight, on a China Southwest
Airlines Boeing 757, 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 Landcruiser
jeep to Lhasa where we will check in to the Hotel Dhood Gu
or Dhood Gu. It's advisable to rest and take it easy for the
remainder of the day due to Lhasa's altitude.
Day 04 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 its whitewashed 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 that is the central market of Lhasa.
Day 05 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 staterooms 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 06 Free day in Lhasa Hotel at Dhood Gu
Day 07 DRIVE LHASA - GYANTSE [3950M] 261 KM
Today we start our overland journey towards Kathmandu.
Travelling by jeep along the Friendship Highway we cross the
Khamba La [4794m] from which there is 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. Our overnight accommodation is at
the Gyantse Hotel.
Day 08 DRIVE GYANTSE [3950M] - SHIGATSE [3900M] 90KM
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. Overnight at either Shigatse Hotel or
Woutse Hotel.
Day 09 SHIGATSE [3900M] - SHEGAR/NEW TINGRI [4050M] 244KM
Today we continue along the Friendship Highway, marvelling
once more at the barren yet spectacular landscape of Tibet.
Beyond the small town of Lhatse we cross the highest pass on
our journey, the Gyamtso La [5220m]. From here we descend to
the plains, passing lonely monasteries and the camps of
nomadic herders, en route to Shegar and our overnight
accommodation at Hotel Quomolongma.
Day 10 DRIVE SHEGAR [4050M] - RONGBUK [5000M] 68KM
Shortly after leaving Shegar, we turn off the Friendship
Highway and head south over the Pang La [5150m] towards the
main Himalayan range. The view from the top is incredible
with uninterrupted views stretching from Makalu to
Shishapangma. Below the pass, Everest initially is hidden
from view, but as we turn the corner into the Rongbuk Valley
it reappears, more impressive than ever. We stay overnight
at the Gompa Guest House.
Day 11 RONGBUK EVEREST BC
We spend a night here in Base camp to acclimatise, this is a
good place to read a book: just how often do you get a
chance to sit and read at 5000m and with the stunning view
of Everest's north face.
Day 12 RONGBUK EVEREST BC
We spend another in Base camp to acclimatise, it is very
important that we take our time and gets very well
acclimatised before we go to the ABC. Towe will explore the
surroundings of the Rongbuk Everest base camp, just to get
started working a little.
Day 13 TREK FROM EVEREST BASE CAMP TO CAMP 1
[5460M]Advance Everest Base Camp -Tibet
The Rongbuk Glacier is an impressive frozen ocean of ice
waves; the views of the glacier and the Himalayan peaks are
some of the most dramatic in Tibet.
Along the east side of the gslacier is the trail that
expeditions use to begin their climbs of Everest and this is
the trail we are taking. Camp 1 [5460m] is set in a barren
world of moraine hills under beautifully sculpted
yellow-orange granite cliffs. The next camp is too far to
reach in a single day, so to help us acclimatise we spend
the remainder of the afternoon exploring the gravely snout
of the east Rongbuk Glacier.
Day 14 TREK TO INTERMEDIATE CAMP [5760M]
The trail to the Interim Camp climbs and descents over the
gravel hills, always staying above the west edge of the ice.
Intermediate camp [5760m] is a good place to spend a night
acclimatizing before advancing to Camp 2. Nearby, the first
ice seracs [ice pinnacles] rise like white sails from the
dark debris-laden surface of the glacier we will go and take
a good look at these.
Day 15 REST IN INTERMEDIATE CAMP
We spend a day here for further acclimatisation. We will of
course explore the surroundings on small excursions
Day 16 TREK TO CAMP 2 [5970M]
About two hours above the Interim camp the central ridgeline
leads in to a confusion of ice at the confluence with the
Changtse glacier. Camp 2 [5970m] is only ten minutes from
here, it is set in a beautiful location; glaciers large and
small spill into the valley from every direction and the
appropriately named Sera Highway continues to extend its
unusual gravel arm trough the centre of the of the ice
formations.
Day 17 TREK TO ABC [6340M] AND RETURN TO CAMP 2
Depending on how the group feels, a decision must be made
between moving tents up to camp 3 or visiting it as a hike
and spending a second night at camp 2. Unless the group is
particular interested in sleeping in Camp 3, we return to
camp 2 today, this gives us a better chance to enjoy the
walk back to base camp tomorrow.
Camp 3, the advanced base camp for the North Col route up
Mount Everest, is situated within a group of flattened
gravel mounds beside the glacier. The pinnacles, the
frightening group of rock palisades that kept the Northeast
Ridge unclimbed for so long, are just another 11/2 km.
Further up from camp 3. Most amazing of all is the ridge
extending above the Pinnacles to the southwest: the striated
rock summit of Everest. The top of this mountain appears
phenomenally close; it is little more than 2400 meter higher
than camp 3. This is the closest non-climbers can get the
top of Everest. With a pair of binoculars, you are almost
there…
Day 18 RETURN TO BASE CAMP
The return to Base Camp is a long down hill journey, but we
complete it in one day, if we start out from Camp 2 it is
much more enjoyable than from camp 3, we will have a chance
to get our eyes off the end of our boots.
Day 19 DRIVE RONGBUK [5000M] - NYALAM 215KM
Today we rejoin the Friendship Highway and drive to Tingri.
Upon leaving Tingri, we cross another two high passes, the
Lalung La [5124m] and the Shung La [5200m]. Once more we are
rewarded with magnificent views of the surrounding peaks of
Shishapangma, Cho Oyu, Menlungtse and Gauri Shankar. Now we
begin our descent from the Tibetan Plateau to Nyalam just 30
km before the Nepalese border. With dramatic suddenness,
everything appears incredibly lush and green.
Day 20 DRIVE NYALAM - KATHMANDU [1400M] 153KM
From Nyalam we drive the last 30 kilometres to the
Friendship Bridge, which spans the Bhote Koshi 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 our Nepalese staff will meet us.
After completing the re-entry formalities we continue the
drive to Kathmandu, which, depending on road and weather
conditions, should take about 5 hours.
Day 21 KATHMANDU - At leisure.
Day 22 Departure to onward destination. |
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TOUR COST EXCLUDES:
Excess baggage charge if any
Travel insurance / Rescue Flight
Chinese visa fee (US$ 58 Per Person for all nationalities
(For USA, US$ 142 Per Person)
Nepal re-entry visa fee
Expenses of private nature such as Laundry, Telephone calls,
Beverages, Tips, etc.
Any loss arising due to unforeseen circumstances such as
ACCIDENTS, ROAD BLOCKAGE due to landslides, FLIGHT DELAYS OR
CANCELLATIONS due to weather or technical problems, etc.
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