CHENGDU/LHASA/EBC/MT. KAILASH /KYIRUNG/KATHMANDU
DAY TO DAY ITINERARY:
Day 1: Chengdu Arrival
Once you arrive at Chengdu International Airport, we will pick from the Airport and transfer to hotel.
Evening is free on your own.
Overnight at hotel in Chengdu.
Meal: No Meal
Day 2: Chengdu Sightseeing
After breakfast in the morning, we will drive about half an hour to Chengdu Panda Breeding and Research Center, where you will catch pandas’ feeding time; they are at their most active, both Adults and Babies. There’s a wealth of information and a panda museum in this 230-hectare park 10 km (6 miles) north of Chengdu. It takes about 2.5 hours to visit this site.
In the afternoon, we will move back to downtown Chengdu to visit Jin Li Street, a vivid replica of the old commercial street of Qin, Han, and Three Kingdom dynasties. You can take a leisurely stroll along the street and buy some souvenirs. After that, we will go to Renmin Park, which is a beautiful city park often filled with locals, and you can enjoy a cup of tea to experience the slow life of Chengdu there.
Overnight at hotel in Chengdu.
Meal: Breakfast
Day 03: Visit Dujiangyan Scenic Area Chengdu to Lhasa by Train- Train Journey
After breakfast, our guide will take us to visit the famous Dujiangyan Scenic Area. It is an UNESCO World Heritage Site, and also a must-see attraction in Sichuan. Here, you are able to see the Dujiangyan Irrigation System, which was built in 256 BC. You will see how it is still working to irrigate Chengdu plain and be amazed by the wisdom of ancient human.
In the evening, you will be transferred to Chengdu Train Station for the overnight train to Lhasa. The train departs from Chengdu North Railway Station. It takes about 1 hour to check in as the train takes about 1000 passengers. Please be sure to arrive at the train station for 1 hour or a half before the train departure. Train Z322 from Chengdu to Lhasa departs at 21:37, and your Tibet Permit will need to be checked when you check in.
Overnight on Train.
Meal: You can buy meals in Train.
Day 04: Second Day of Train Journey
Can Spend the whole day on the train to Lhasa. It is quite a long journey of taking a train from Chengdu to Lhasa. It will take 35/36 Hours. On the first day you will pass through two important provincial capital cities in northwest China, Lanzhou and Xining. Xining is known as the beginning of Qinghai-Tibet Railway. Travelling along the rail line, you could see the scenery of countryside and cities in northwest China. During the train ride, we will bass major two passes, Crossing Golmud Pass and Nyanqing Tangla Pass.
Overnight on Train.
Meal: You can buy meals in Train.
Day 05: Arrive Lhasa (3,650M)
In the late morning, we will arrive in Lhasa, the exciting capital of Tibet. You will be met at the train station by your local Tibetan guide and transferred to the hotel. Afternoon is at leisure for acclimatization & rest or just takes a leisurely walk around the Barkhor Bazar.
In the evening, we will organize local Tibetan Welcome Dinner.
Overnight at hotel in Lhasa.
Meal: Welcome Dinner
Day 06: Full Day Lhasa Tour- Potala Palace, Jokhang Temple, Barkhor Street & Norbulinka Palace
After breakfast, we visit Potala Palace, the winter palace of the Dalai Lama. It has been used since the 7th Century by the 33rd great King of Tibet. The most valuable collections are the Gilded Burial Stupas of past Dalai Lamas and meditation Cave of the 33rd Great King of Tibet. Then we visit Jokhang Temple which was founded by the 33rd Great King of Tibet in the 7th century to promote the Buddhist Religion in Tibet. Inside the Temple, we see the statue of Buddha Shakyamuni at the age of twelve, perhaps the single most venerated object in Tibet Buddhism. We do Kora around the Temple to the Barkhor Street with the local pilgrims and at the same time, you can enjoy shopping at local street shops. Then we will visit Norbulinka Palace, the winter palace of the Dalai Lama which was built in the eighteenth century and is the biggest man made garden.
Overnight at hotel in Lhasa.
Meal: Breakfast
Day 07: Full Day Lhasa Tour- Drepung Monastery and Sera Monastery
After breakfast, we visit Drepung Monastery which was one of the ‘Three Great’ Gelug Monasteries of Tibet and was founded in 1416 by Jamyang Choge, one of the Tsongkhapa’s main disciples. Garden palace is used as Dalai Lama’s palace in the Drepung before moving to the Potala Palace. Afternoon, we visit to Sera Monastery,is one of the ‘Three Great’ Gelug Monasteries of Tibet and was founded in 1419 by Jamchen Chojey, one of the Tsongkhapa’s main disciples. The major highlight is Monks debate around 3 – 5 in the late afternoon.
Overnight at hotel in Lhasa.
Meal: Breakfast
Day 08: Drive to Shigatse (3,800 m/ 12,467 ft) via Gyantse (4,000 m / 13,123 ft) – 260 km/6 Hours
An early morning after breakfast, we will start our journey to Gyantse via Yamdrok Tso or the “Turquoise Lake”. We will stop by the lake and walk around Lake and Karola Glacier.
In Gyantse, we will visit Kumbum Pagoda and Palcho Monastery.
After sightseeing in Gyantse, we will continue our journey to Shigatse. It is the second largest city in Tibet and the capital of the province of Tsang. The rulers of this province had dominion over all of Tibet prior to 1,642 AD. If time permits, we will visit Tashilunpo Monastery which is the seat of the Panchen Lama who is second in spiritual importance only to the Dalai Lama. The monastery was built in 1,447 AD by Gendun Drup and once housed upward of 3,400 monks. Of particular interest at Tashilunpo is a nine story Gilded Statue of Maitreya- the “Future Buddha”.
Overnight at Hotel in Shigatse.
Meal: Breakfast
Day 09: Drive to Chuzong & to Rongbuk Monastery (5,009 m/16,434 ft) -335 km/6 Hours
From Shigatse, we will drive to Xegar via Sakya Monastery. Sakya Monastery is 143 km south of Shigatse and was built in the thirteenth century by Konchok Gyalpo and houses some 30,000 volumes of ancient Buddhist Scriptures or Sutras. Then we continue to Chunzong village where we have to change to ECO bus to Rongbuk Monastery which is just below the spectacular North Face of Everest.
Overnight at Rongbuk Tent Guest house.
Meal: Breakfast
Day 10: Visit Everest Base Camp (5,150 m /16,896 ft) & Drive to Saga (4,640 m/15,223 ft)-460 km/8 Hours
In the morning, we visit Everest Base Camp though core area is not allowed to visit to protect the environment and drive to Saga. During the drive, we see Mt. Everest, Mt. Cho Oyu and Shisapangma. We pass Ngamring Lake, many beautiful Tibetan villages and see grassland with big Yak and Sheep grazing pasture.
Overnight at Hotel in Saga.
Meal: Breakfast
Day 11: Drive to Mansarobar Lake (4,590 m/15,059 ft) and to Darchen (4,575 m/15,010 ft)-450 km/9 Hours
Today we drive to Darchen, starting point of our Mt. Kailash Kora. During our drive, we pass high passes, Nomads camps, herds of Kyangs (Wild Donkeys), Gazelles and Antelopes. From the view point at Chaktsalkang, we see the Lake Mansarobar and Mt. Kailash for the first time. Once we reach Mansarobar Lake, we walk around the lake. Then we continue to Darchen. Darchen is a small town at the foothill of Mt. Kailash. We prepare here for the Kailash Kora.
Overnight at Hotel in Darchen.
Meal: Breakfast
Day 12: First Day of Kora, Darchen to Dirapuk(5,210 m/17,093 ft)-11 km/6.5 Hours
We drive to Sersung for around 25 minutes in Eco Bus. Once we start our Kora and after a while, we reach at Darpoche where we see huge prayer flag pole which is annually replaced on Saga Dawa Festival which falls on 15th of fourth Lunar month. We see many pilgrims doing prostrating along the path and piles of Mani Stones. Dhirapuk Monastery was destroyed during the Cultural Revolution and now left with only Ruins. You may consider visiting Dirapuk Monastery. From the guesthouse, we see North face of Mt. Kailash.
Overnight at Guest House in Derapuk. (Shared Room between 6-8 people)
Meal: Breakfast
Day 13: Second Day of Kora, Dirapuk to Zutulpuk (4,810 m/15,780 ft)-18 km/9 Hours
Today is the tough and longest day of our Kora. We start early in the morning and climb to the Drolma La Pass at 5,630 m. After spending few minutes at the top, we descend down to Lhachu Valley passing by small Khando Tso. You may consider visiting Zutulpuk Monastery and cave of Milerapa where Milerap and Nagro Bonchung debated on religion sects.
Overnight at Guest House in Zuktrulphuk. (Shared Room between 6-8 people)
Meal: Breakfast
Day 14: Third Day of Kora, Zutulpuk to Darchen (11 km/4 Hours) & drive to Saga- 8 Hours
This day we will end our Kora- 4 Hours and take Eco Bus to Darchen-5 Km. From Darchen, we will drive to Saga.
Overnight at hotel in Saga.
Meal: Breakfast
Day 15: Drive from Saga to Kyirung Town- 6 Hours
After breakfast, we will drive to Kyirung Town. In Kyirung, we will visit Pakba Temple.
Overnight at hotel in Kyirung Town.
Meal: Breakfast
Day 16: Cross Kyirung Border and drive to Kathmandu- 7 Hours
After breakfast, we will drive to Kyirung Border (Nepal Tibet. Border)- 1 Hour. After the immigration formalities, we will drive to Kathmandu.
Meal: Breakfast
Day 17: Extend Nepal Tour
After breakfast, you can extend Nepal tour.
Meal: Breakfast
END OF THE ARRANGEMENTS!!!
WEATHER & TEMPERATURE (TIBET – AVERAGE)
- May: 5-18 0 C (Day) / -1-10 O CC (Night)
- June: 8-220 C (Day) / 1-11 O C (Night)
- July: 10-220 C (Day) / 2-12 O C (Night)
- August: 8-220 C (Day) / 0-11 OC (Night)
- September: 7-19 0 C (Day) / 0-10 OC (Night)
CURRENCY INFORMATION (Subject to fluctuation)
- 1 USD = 6.8 CNY
- 1 AUD = 4.87 CNY
- I CNY – 14.5 INR
- I CNY = NPR 21.6
Credit & debit cards accepted in Tibet. Carry sufficient cash for remote areas
RECOMMENDED MEDICATION
- Diamox (10 tablets compulsory) – we will help you to get it)
- Panadol / Painkillers
- Cold – flu tablets
- Capron
- Balm (your preference)
- Antibiotic
- Antihistamines (anti allergies)
- Personal prescribed medicines
COMMUNICATION
- Mobile network available in most areas. Chinese SIM cards can be purchased in Tibet
WHAT TO CARRY Clothing:
- Down jacket, warm pullover
- Windproof / rain jacket
- Thermal wear (upper & lower)
- Trekking shoes & light footwear
- Woolen socks, gloves, cap & scarf
- Trekking stick
ACCESSORIES:
- Personal first-aid kit
- Torch with extra batteries
- Sunglass & sun hat
- Water bottle (2L)
- Sunscreen (SPF 40+), lip balm, moisturizer
