FORBIDDEN LHASA & NAMTSO TREK ITINERARY

Day 1: LHASA
Transfer to the airport and fly to the Gongkar airport. Upon arrival you will be met by our Tibet representative and transferred to hotel.

DAYS 2-3: Lhasa
We will have two full days in Lhasa to make excursions to the following places:

The Jokhang-The Jokhang is the principal and holiest Buddhist temple in Lhasa, as well as all of Tibet. It is the focus of devotion of hundreds of Tibetans from near and far who circle it to gain spiritual merit. The Jokhang was first constructed in the 7th century and has a large gold image of Sakyamuni Buddha.

Sera and Drepung-Sera, founded in 1419, is a monastery of the Gelugpa order. Its many white buildings sit at the base of a rocky hill. Gilded, bell-shaped gyamtschens grace the roofs of many of the larger buildings. Drepung used to have 8,000 monks who were taught in the traditions of Vajrayana, Mahayana, and Sutrayana, the three vehicles of Tibetan Buddhism.

Potala Palace-The 13-story Potala Palace is reputed to contain 1,000 rooms and hundreds upon hundreds of brilliant thangkas, frescoes, and images built in an era when religious art was created anonymously as a means of gaining merit for future lives. It's one of the world's most extraordinary buildings and completely covers the mountain it stands upon.

DAY 4: Begin trek
We drive along the Tibet-Qinghai highway to Yangpachen (4324 m) and further on to Damshung,(4130 m) a windblown roadside town. Our trek begins from here. Today we will only have a short trek and goes up through a beautiful meadow. We will also visit a monastery en route. Camp.

DAY 5: Trek (7-8 hrs)
Today we pass through glaciated valley and reach a herder's camp where we camp for the night.

DAY 6: (6-7 hrs)
We cross Kong La from where you have spectacular views of Namtso Lake and the Nyenchen Thangla ranges. Descend to a broad basin and hike along green meadows.

DAY 7: To Tashi Do and Namtso Lake (7-8 Hrs)
We hike along green meadows and pass through several nomad camps and their herds of animals. We have lunch by the lake. We then follow the jeep trail all the way to Tashi Do hermitage. Camp.

DAY 8: Rest and exploration day at Tashi Do
Rest day for self exploration of Tashi Do hermitage and the Lake.

DAY 9: Namtso - Lhasa
We drive back to Lhasa via Yangbachen. O/N Hotel.

DAY 10: Lhasa-Gyangtse (3990 m), 350 kms
Drive via Yamdrok, the Turquoise Lake to Gyangtse across Kampa la pass 5050 m and Karo la (5045 m)passes. Visit Kubum stupa and Pelkor Chode Monastery.

DAY 11: Gyangtse-Shalu-Shigatse (3860 m), 90 kms
Drive to Shigatse. En route visit Shalu Monastery.Visit Tashilhunpo Monastery, the seat of Panchen Lama who is the second in the Buddhist religious hierachy and Shigatse Market.

DAY 12: Shigatse-Sakya-Shegar/Dingri(4350 m)
Drive to Shegar across Tsoula pass (4500 M) and Gyatso la pass (5220 M). En route visit Sakya Monastery.

DAY 13: Shegar-Rongbuk(5050 m)
Drive via Pangla pass (5200 M) to Rongbuk Monastery, world's highest monastery situated at 5200 M. O/N Rongbuk Guest House.

DAY 14: Rongbuk-Nylam
After watching sunrise over Everest, we drive on to Nylam. Nylam Guest House.

DAY 15: Nylam-Zhangmu-Kathmandu
Drive to Zhangmu & on to Kathmandu. En route visit Milarepa Cave. We descend from the high arid Tibetan plateau into the lush greenery of Nepal.


Cost in USD per person:

COST:
2 PAX: USD 2500 per person
3 ~ 4 PAX: USD 2200 per person
5 ~ 9 PAX: USD 2000 per person
10+ PAX: USD 1850 per person
Single supplement - USD 350
Airfare KTM-LXA - USD 273+83 (USD 356)