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 Nam Tso is situated 190 km north of the
Lhasa, it is one of the most famous lakes
in Tibet as well as being a very important
pilgrimage site. In the Tibetan language“Nam” means
Sky and “Tso” means Lake. The
lake is the sanctuary to many species of
migrating birds and other local birds. This
is second largest saltwater lake in China,
it is approximately 70km long and 30km wide.
The Lake is easily accessible from Lhasa.
While driving to Nam Tso from Lhasa,we cross
over the high pass of Yangpachen ( 5630 m.).It
takes at least 21 days to circle the shores
of the entire lake.
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| Day
1 |
Fly
from Kathmandu to Lhasa (3650m.) and drive
to Tsedang. Early morning you are transferred
to the airport to board the plane for the
flight over the Himalaya to Lhasa. If the
weather is clear there is a wonderful view
of Everest, Nuptse, Lhotse, Makalu, Kanchenjunga
and other peaks en route. On arrival at
Gonggar airport (which is 90 km. from Lhasa),
you meet your vehicle and drive east along
the broad Yarlung Tsangpo valley to Tsedang
(3400m.). After checking in to your hotel,
you drive south to see the oldest building
in Tibet, the Yumbu Lakhang, a beautiful
castle-like dwelling and monastery, dramatically
perched on a spur looking out over the
fertile valley below. If time permits you
may be able to visit a small monastery
close to Tsedang or an interesting carpet
factory where you can see the whole process
of carpet making. Stay overnight at hotel. |
| Day
2 |
Sightseeing
in Lhasa. This day you visit Potala Palace,
Sera Monastery and Norbulingkha Palace.
One of the highlights is the visit to the
symbol of Tibet; the Potala Palace set
high on Red Hill, the winter home of the
Dalai Lama until 1959. The most sacred
temple in Lhasa is the Lokhang, where people
come from all over Tibet to visit and pray
in this spiritual heart of the country.
Next you visit Sera monastery, which was created in 1419, has always
been an important Buddhist seminary. As rose are planted everywhere in
the monastery, it is also called “the court of wild rose”.
Today still 200 lamas live in there. Another great treasure is the Norbulingka – the
old summer palace of the Dalai Lama. Stay overnight at hotel. |
| Day
3 |
Sightseeing
in Lhasa. This day you visit Jokhang Temple,
Drepung Monastery and Barkhor Market. This
day you are programmed to visit Drepung
monastery, one of the great monasteries
of the Gelukpa (yellow hat) sect, just
outside Lhasa. There is time to explore
Lhasa on your own, perhaps visiting the
Tibetan Medical College or the Ramoche
temple (one of the oldest religious buildings
in Tibet). In the evening you visit Jorkhang
temple, the center of the Tibetan Buddhism
and the sacred land of Buddhist followers
where innumerable pilgrims come for worship
every day. The temple, built in 647, is
the earliest wood-and-masonry structure
still existing in Tibet. Surrounding the
Jorkhang Temple is the bustling Barkhor
Market place which is the religious and
social focus of Lhasa. Around the Barkhor
there are numerous stalls selling all sorts
of handicrafts: brightly colored boots
and fur-lined hats, silver and turquoise
jewellery, rosaries, prayer flags and charms,
as well as beautiful Tibetan carpets and
all manner of ordinary household ware.
Stay overnight at hotel. |
| Day
4 |
Rest
day. Stay overnight at hotel. |
| Day
5 |
Morning
drive to Damxung and start trekking. You
camp overnight. |
| Day
6 |
Trekking
around Namtso Lake. You camp overnight. |
| Day
7 |
Trek
around Nam Tso Lake. You camp overnight. |
| Day
08: |
Trek
back to Nagenla Pass and drive to Lhasa.
You stay overnight at hotel in Lhasa. |
| Day
09: |
Drive
from Lhasa to Gyantse. Following Friendship
Highway, you drive past Khamba La at 4794
meter with a brief halt to savor majestic
views of Yamdrok-tso Lake and Nazin Kang
Sa standing proud at 7252m. On turning
westwards, you come across another Karo
La pass at 5045m. If you glance at the
road, you can see huge glaciers tumbling
down into the road. After hours of driving
for 261 km, beautifully landscaped Tibetan
villages become visible as you enter the
town of Gyantse. You stay overnight in
hotel at Gyantse. |
Day
10: |
Drive
from Gyantse to Shigatse. Gyantse prides
on GYANTSE DZONG and KUMBUM. Gyantse Dzong
is a historical fort built in the 14th
century and overlooks a mesmerizing view
of entire Gyantse and surrounding Nyang
Chu Valley. Kumbum has large gold-domed
stupa and houses several chapels and Tibetan
Buddhist murals. After you enjoy exploring
Gyantse, you will take a 90 km drive to
Shigatse. Having driven to an altitude
of 3900 meter, you find yourself at Shigatse,
second largest city of Tibet. You stay
overnight in hotel at Shigatse. |
| Day
11 |
Drive
from Shigatse to Lhatse. Leaving Shigatse
you climb steadily to the top of a 4050m
pass, and then follow valleys containing
a few small villages before climbing to
the Tsuo La (4500m.). From here the road
drops steeply down towards Lhatse where
the main road from western Tibet comes
in. You stay overnight in hotel at Lhatse. |
| Day
12: |
Drive from Lhatse to Tingri. Another
climb through virtually unpopulated high
altitude moorland brings you to the summit
of the Gyatso La (5220m.), the watershed
between Tibet and the Indian sub-continent.
After a long descent you arrive at Shegar
or New Tingi. Scenically this is one
of the most spectacular days of the trip.
You stay overnight in hotel at Tingri.
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Day
13: |
Drive
from Tingri to Nyalam. Amidst the stunning
views of Everest, Cho Oyu and other mountain
peaks, you accelerate past Lalung La pass
at 5124m and Shung La pass at 5200m. The
trail further commands far-reaching views
of enchanting Shishapangma, Menlungtse and
Gauri Shankar enchant as you leave behind
arid Tibetan Plateau. The route then progresses
towards pristine and fortified town of Nyalam.
You stay in hotel at Nyalam. |
| Day
14: |
Drive
from Nyalam to Kathmandu. Heading away from
Nyalam, drive for one hour to the lush and
verdant vegetation of Zhangmu at 2300 meter.
Few kilometers drive follows Friendship Bridge
along Bhote Koshi River to Immigration Control
in Kodari where you bade goodbye to your
Tibetan guide and handle re-entry formalities
to return to Kathmandu. After 5 hours of
driving for 123 km, you finally arrive in
Kathmandu. You stay overnight in hotel at
Kathmandu. |
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