Tibet - Beyond the Forbidden City

Itinerary

Day 1 – Kathmandu
Arrive in Kathmandu and transfer to the hotel. Depending on your time of arrival, you may have time to explore the city. Overnight Shanker Hotel or similar.

Day 2 – Kathmandu
A day to explore Kathmandu. We visit the three cities of Kathmandu, Patan and Bhaktapur, with their exquisite temples and well preserved Durbar Squares, packed full of fascinating architecture and providing a very tangible link with Nepal’s past. Overnight Shanker Hotel or similar. (B)

Day 3 – Zhangmu
We leave Nepal behind and start our journey into Tibet, crossing the border to the frontier town of Zhangmu, a surprisingly lush and green town set amidst beautiful scenery of that marks our first introduction to the region we will spend the next few week discovering. Overnight Caiyuan Hotel or similar. (BLD)

Days 4-5 – Western Tibet Exploration
We head west across rough roads and through isolated settlements on our journey to Lake Manasarovar. These are long days in the vehicle but the breathtaking scenery, the opportunity to meet local people along the way, and the feeling that you are entering a region that few travellers ever visit, makes it all the more worthwhile. We spend one night near the lake of Paiko Tso, and then pass through Zhongba and Nyogze, camping or staying local guesthouses. (BLD)

Day 6 – Lake Manasarovar
We drive to Lake Manasarovar, one of the highest freshwater lakes in the world and an important place for Hindu, Buddhist, Jain and Bon pilgrims. We should be able to see many pilgrims who have come to bathe and perform religious ceremonies. We camp tonight near the shores of the lake. (BLD)

Day 7 – Lake Manasarovar – Mt Kailash
We spend today exploring the lake and it surroundings, including Chiu monastery, situated on a hill with stunning views of the lake itself. We then head to the small village of Darchen, the starting point for our trek around Mt Kailash. (BLD)

Days 8-10 – Mt Kailash Trek
A circuit, or kora, of Mt Kailash is the holiest of all Tibet’s pilgrimages. We spend three days walking around this sacred mountain, stopping at places of religious significance en route and crossing the 5630m Drolma La pass en route. Our journey is made all the more exciting by the fact that we will be accompanied by numerous pilgrims, some of whom will make many circuits of the mountain in a bid to attain nirvana. Overnight camping or local guesthouse. (BLD)

Days 11-13 – Drive to Shigatse
We spend our days driving east, surrounded by magnificent peaks, hauntingly beautiful landscapes and with the opportunities to meet local nomads and pilgrims en route. Our goal is the town of Shigatse, steeped in history and the traditional seat of the Panchen Lama. Typically we drive between five and eight hours each day, camping overnight and allowing time to explore the surrounding area. On Day 19 we reach Shigatse, and can reflect on our incredible journey through Tibet’s ‘wild west’. Two nights camping, overnight in Shigatse at Manasarovar Hotel or similar. (BLD)

Day 14 – Shigatse - Gyantse
We visit Tashilhunpo Monastery, very well preserved and one of the few in Tibet that was not significantly damaged during the Cultural Revolution. Afterwards we leave Shigatse and drive to Gyantse, a small agricultural town where we visit the Kumbum stupa and the Phalkor Monastery, with its 100,000 image pagoda. Overnight Gyantse Hotel or similar. (BLD)

Day 15 - Lhasa
Drive east to the capital Lhasa, crossing the Karo La pass at 5010m and passing the lake of Yamdrok Tso. Our arrival in Lhasa comes as quite a shock after our time spent in the remote western region, but this is the cultural and spiritual heart of Tibet and home to some of its greatest treasures. It is impossible to understand Tibet without visiting Lhasa, and the city is one of the most intriguing in all of Asia, once a forbidden city which few foreign travellers had ever seen. Overnight Thangka Hotel or similar. (BLD)

Days 16-17 - Lhasa
We spend two days exploring this remarkable city, visiting its key sites such as the Jokhang Temple, the Potala Palace and the important monasteries of Sera and Drepung. We also visit the Barkhor, an area of streets surrounding the Jokhang Temple and an important pilgrimage circuit for Tibetans. Overnight Thangka Hotel or similar. (BLD)

Day 18 – Kathmandu
Fly back to Kathmandu where the tour ends on arrival. (B)