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Day 01 Lhasa to Bagsum
–Tso O/N Hotel (3540 m).
This beautiful alpine lake, also known as Bagsum-tso and
Basong –tso, is a long day’s drive from Lhasa and a worthly
41km detour off the Sichuan-Tibet Hwy. Apart from the sheer
beauty of the lake and its surrounding 6000m – plus peaks,
the site has strong xonnections ot Gesar of Ling, the
semimythical ruler of eastern Tibet, and Guru Rinpoche, the
Indian sage, both of whom are said to have resided at the
lake. Many pilgrimage sites are connected to the two.
Day 02 Bagsum – Tso to Bayi O/N Hotel (2990 m)
Bayi is a large Han Chinese military town of minor interest,
except perhaps as a base from which to visit the surrounding
sights or restock your supplies. ‘Bayi’ in Chinese means ‘1
August’, the founding date of the PLA. It is 125 km from
Bagsum-Tso.
Day 03 Bayi to Pomi O/N GH (3000 m)
Formerly known as Tramo, this small country capital has
well-stocked shops and several hotels and restaurants,
making it a logical place to spend the night. In clear
weather the surrounding scenery is strpendous.
Day 04 Pomi to Pasho O/N
Pasho (Chinese: Bashe), fromerly known as pema (Baima), is a
pleasant town that makes for a good overnight stop. Explore
around Pasho visit Neru Monastery & Dola Monastery.
Day 05 Pesho to Chamdo (3600m)
Chamdo (literally ‘river confluence’; Chinese: Changdu),
located at the strategic river junction of the Aza-chu and
the Ngon-chu, is a surprisingly pleasant town. It is
dominated by the hilltop Jampaling Monastery, below which
huddle the Tibetan old town and the Chinese new town. Over
1000km from Lhasa and 1250km from Chengdu, the town is the
major transport, administrative and trade centre of the Kham
region. Chamdo has had a troubled relationship with nearby
China. The Chinese warlord Ahao Erfeng captured Chamdo in
1909 and ruled the region until the Tibetans recaptured in
1917. Chamdo fell to Communist troops in 1905.
Day 06: Chamdo to Tengchen (4200m)
Tengchen (Chinese: Dingqing) is an unremarkable but
reasonably pleasant two-street town. It’s possible to make
calls at the town’s telecom office. BothTengchen and the
surrounding rigion of Khyungpo are strong centres of the Bon
religion. The main reason to stop here is to visit Tengchen
Monastery, on a hillside 4km west of town. This interesting
Bon monastery is actually made up of two separate
institutions.
Day 07: Tingchen to Sok DZONG
Sok’s claim to fame is the impressive sok Tsaden Monastery,
set on an outcrop in the northwestern suburbs. The
monastery, founded by the Mongol leader Gushri Khan, brings
to mind a miniature potala. The road from Tingdhen swings
north and starts to climb up to the stunning shel-la
(4830m), the highest and most dramatic pass along the
northern route. The road continues past the village of
Gubengda, Gyaruptang and Wengdaka and then climbs yet again
to the 4500m Chak-la, where turn a corner for a dramatic
view of one of the Salween’s many tributaries.
Day 08 Sok Dzong to Nagchu (4500m)
Nagchu (Chinese: Naqu) is one of the highest, coldest and
most windswept towns in Tibet. Perched on the edge of the
Changtang (northern plateau), it is a dismal town of mud and
concrete, but is still an important pit stop on the road
between Qinghai and Tibet. It’s a literally breathtaking
place: Oxygen levels here are only 60% of those at sea
level, so be prepared for headaches and watch for the
symptoms of altitude sickness. Bring extra clothes, even in
summer. Nagchu has a horseracing festival from 10 to 16
August, when the town swells with up to 10,000 nomads and
their tents from all over the Changtang. Accommodation can
be very tight at this time.
Day 09: Nagchu to Namtso Lake (4718m)
The road south of Nagchu is the Qinghai Tibet HWY, the
busiest and most strategic highway in Tibet.The road cross
the Goluk Bridge, 109km from Nagchu, and climbs to the
Chokse-la, where Tibetans throw into the air the paper
prayers they bought at Nagchu bus station. 128 km from
Nagchu and 40 km from Damxung is the Chorten Rango, a line
of eight chortens that commemorate the eight main events in
the life of Sakyamuni (Sakya Thukpa). Damxung is the
turn-off Nam-tso. Approximately 190km northwest of Lhasa is
the second largest saltwater lake in China, the first being
Koko Nor (Qinghai Lake) in Qinghai province. It is over 70km
long and reaches a width of 30km.The Nyenchen Tanglha (Tangula)
range, with peaks of more than 7000m, twoers over the lake
to the south. Nam-tso is a tidal lake and t he ring marks of
earlier lake levels are clearly visible by the shoreline.
Day 10: Namtso Lake to Phondo and Via Reting Monastery
(4100m)
The monastery dates back to 1056. It was initially
associated with Atisha (Jowe-je) but in its later years had
an important connection with the Gelugpa order and the Dalai
Lamas. Two regents – the de facto rulers of Tibet for the
interregnum between the death of a Dalai Lama and the
majority of his next reincarnation – where chose from Reting
abbots. The fifth Reting Ringoche was regent from 1933 to
1947. He played a key role in the search for the current
Dalai Lama and served as his senior toutor. He was later
accused of collusion with the Chinese and died in a Tibetan
prison. It was devastated by Red Guards and its present
remains hammer home the tragic waste caused by the
ideological zeal of the Cultural Revolution. Still, the site
is one of the most beautiful in the region. The Dalai Lama
has stated that should he ever return to Tibet it is at
Reting, not Lhasa, that he wold like to reside. Reting is 28
km from Phongdo village, which has a ruined dzong.
Day 11: Reting Monastery to Lhasa
Day 12: Rest Day at Lhasa for your own leisure.
Day 13/14: Sightseeing around Lhasa
These days you will be engrossed with sightseeing and
excursion of the Potala Palace (A great museum with its
proportions and priceless treasures) Jokhang Temple (the
holiest of Tibetan shrines, houses two images of the Buddha
brought as dowry by Songtsen Gampo's Nepali and Chinese
queens) along the bustling street of Barkhor Market. In
Lhasa you will also visit Norbu Lingka (the summer palace of
the Dalai Lamas), Drepung and Sera Monasteries. Overnight at
Lhasa.
Day 15: Leave Lhasa
Departures to Airport for your onward Destination either
Nepal or China. Service End |
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TOUR COST EXCLUDES:
Airfare (Applicable) / Airport departure taxes / Excess
baggage charge if any/Travel insurance / Chinese visa fee
(Normal Visa Cost: US$ 58 Per Person for all nationalities
(For USA, US$ 142 Per Person) / Lunch & Dinner / 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. |
