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On Top of the World
Tibet is the land of the Dalai Lama. He now lives in exile in India, but is still worshipped and followed by the Tibetans, even though brandishing his photograph is illegal. Although Tibet is rapidly becoming more and more 'Chinese', you'll still find Tibetan monks all over the country. During this 4-day Tibet trek, you'll learn all about the various 'sects'. You'll visit the Tibet's oldest monastery, which can only be reached by water, another near a countryside village and a monastery with the largest gilt Buddha statue. |
| Duration |
4 days/ 3 nights Departs daily May - October |
Accommodation |
3 nights in basic double occupancy room with shower/ toilet. Comfort level 2/3 (see accommodation). |
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Price |
£608 per person - based on 2 people sharing |
Includes |
Accommodation, transport, driver, english-speaking guide, permits |
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Transport |
Land Cruiser or minibus, ferry and truck to Samye |
Excludes |
Meals and entrance fees |
Day 1: Lhasa - SamyeTravel time: 5 hours - 225kmOn the first day of your Tibet trek, you'll go on a trip through one of the most beautiful areas in the world. You'll leave Lhasa early in the morning and your driver will take you and your guide to Samye. The road runs east along the Yarlong Tsangpo River, also known as the holy Bhramaputra. This river becomes broader and broader and later becomes the mighty Ganges River in India. During the this part of your Tibet trek, you'll see Tibetans sailing the river in boats made of yak skins. |
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The monasteries in Samye, Tsedang and in nearby areas Yarlong and Chonggye (Qonggyai) have now been opened to tourists. Samye was the first monastery in Tibet where Tibetans could learn to become monks. The sounds of monks praying and the scents of burning yak butter candles make the atmosphere quite special. |
Day 2: Samye - GyantseTravel time: 7 to 8 hours - 430kmOn day two of your Tibet trek you'll travel to Gyantse. The paved road ahead of you will soon make way for a gravel road and as you travel along you'll see several interesting Buddhist monasteries, villages and residential camps built on glowing hillsides while nomads roam with their herds of yak. After a while you'll start to see the first mountain pass, the Kamba-La at 4700m. On the mountain pass, 82km from Lhasa, you'll have a spectacular view of the deep-azure blue Yamdrok-Tso (Tso means lake).This incredibly high altitude, scorpion-shaped lake, (4488m) is one of Tibet's four holy lakes. You'll see thousands of prayer flags on this mountain pass and you can even hang a few of your own! |
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You'll have lunch in one of the villages along the way and then you'll continue on to the next mountain pass on your Tibet trek, the Kora-La at an altitude of 5045m. You'll see your first truly sky-high mountain tops and glaciers here reaching to an altitude of approximately 7000m. At the end of the afternoon you'll reach Gyantse (elevation 3950m). You'll have your own room with private shower/ toilet. If you feel up to it, you can go for a walk through town and have a look at the monastery and the outside of the fort or possibly start a game of snooker with some locals! You'll probably feel the 250m altitude difference from Lhasa. Gyantse was once an important trading post on the route between India, Sikkim, Bhutan, Tibet and China. In the morning you'll visit the Pelkor Choede monastery and the Kunbum Stupa. The Kunbum Stupa, home to 100,000 Buddha statues, is not only considered a spectacular museum, but is one of the most spectacular architectural monuments in Tibet. Take your time during your stay here on your Tibet trek to explore all of the hidden rooms and levels within the stupa. |
Day 3: Gyantse - ShigatseTravel time: 1.5 hour - 100kmThis morning you'll have a bit more time to explore Gyantse, as it is a relatively short drive to Shigatse. At one time the English, lead by the feared Younghusband, kept hundreds of Tibetans captive in Fort Gyantse Dzong. The climb is steep, but once you reach the top you'll have a magnificent view of the village below- this is sure to be a real highlight of your Tibet trek. The descent is quick and easy. After lunch you'll have time to pack your bags before heading on through the Nyangchu Valley to Tibet’s second largest city, Shigatse. |
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Day 4: Shigatse - LhasaTravel time: 6 hours - 280kmShigatse lies at an altitude of 3900m and has approximately 40,000 inhabitants. It's the home of the Tashilhunpo Monastery, where a large golden stupa marks the 4th Panchen Lama's grave. This is a holy area and the monastery is the most important monastery in the Gelukpa sect. Approximately 600 Tibetan monks live at Tashilhunpo and you'll visit this place with a guide during your Tibet trek. If you feel like getting some exercise afterwards, you can climb the mountain that the monastery is built up against. At the top of the mountain you'll see prayer flags left behind by those who have reached the top. Along the way you'll pass the Kora, the pilgrim's path lined with prayer mills where pilgrims pray their mantra while keeping the mills moving. |
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Finally this afternoon you'll travel across the Friendship Highway back to Lhasa. This Tibet trek ends on your arrival here. Keep in mind that you may need to book an additional night in a hotel in Lhasa before travelling any further since most flights leave Lhasa in the morning. After your Tibet trek, you could also choose to continue travelling straight from Shigatse on another trip in Tibet to see Tibet's most stunning lake Namtso- this way you wouldn't have to return to Lhasa quite yet. Please note: Keep in mind that your driver will probably drive much differently than you would, pass by cars where you wouldn't and will probably honk his horn at every opportunity. This is what all the drivers do, and this is the best way to drive in Tibet. Luckily most of the Friendship Highway is paved, but flat tires and other car trouble occasionally occur. If it does happen during your Tibet trek, please remember that this is all just part of the adventure, and that you're on the roof of the world! |
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