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Lhasa - Everest Base Camp |
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Country:
Tibet |
| Description |
| This
trip
combines
the
8-day
Overland
trip
with
a
visit
of
the
Everest
Base
Camp,
the
place
where
Everest's
climbing
history
all
started.
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| Itinerary |
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Day
1:
Fly to Lhasa and upon arrival you will be transferred
to your Hotel.
Day
2:
TSEDANG
-
We
start
early
to
explore
Yarlung
Tsangpo
Valley,
the
cradle
of
Tibetan
civilization.
This
was
the
base
of
the
Tibetan
Buddhist
empire
of
the
Yarlung
Kings.
On
the
banks
of
Yarlung
Tsangpo,
the
tibetan
name
for
Brahmaputra
river,
south-west
of
Lhassa,
is
one
of
the
important
monasteries
of
Tibet
:
Samye.
The
monastery
is
built
with
the
shape
of
a
huge
mandala.
Surrounded
by
a
circular
wall,
it
is
a
representation
of
cosmos.
The
different
buildings
are
arranged
according
to
a
complex
symbolism,
around
the
Utse,
the
central
hall,
housing
the
hall
of
prayers.
Day
3:
TSEDANG-LHASA
(3650
M),
90
KMS
-
Drive
to
Lhasa.
On
the
way
we
stop
to
visit
the
famous
Mindroling
Monastery,
center
of
learning
for
Nyingmapa
school
of
Tibetan
Buddhism
and
also
for
the
aristocrats
of
Lhasa.
Mindroling
was
founded
at
the
end
of
10th
century
and
rebuilt
in
1676
by
Terdak
Lingpa.
It
lies
east
of
Dranang
River
in
Dranang
county.
Surrounded
in
mountains,
the
monastery
has
very
beautiful
scenery.
Mindroling
has
a
high
reputation
in
research
of
astronomy
and
astrology,
medicine
and
calligraphy.
Usually
most
high
lamas
teaching
in
the
seminary
at
Potala
were
Mindroling
lamas.
In
the
past,
the
Tibetan
calendar
was
compiled
at
Mindroling.
Those
won
it
a
title
of
First
Lama
Institution
in
Tibet.
Marriage
is
allowed
in
Mindroling
and
the
throne
of
its
abbot
is
passed
on
from
father
to
son
or
son-in-law.
The
murals
painted
on
the
walls
of
Mindroling
are
very
special.
Most
Buddhist
figures
look
ferocious,
savage
and
ugly.
These
rough
and
exaggerated
numina
show
the
typical
trantric
arts.
Day
4:
Guided
sightseeing
tour
of
Potala,
the
winter
palace
of
the
Dalai
Lama.
Stunningly
dominating
the
skyline
of
Lhasa
atop
the
crest
of
Marpo
Ri
hill,
the
seventh-century
Potala
is
considered
Lhasa’s
most
holy
destination
for
a
pilgrimage.
Winding
up
the
hill,
a
stone
path
leads
to
the
14-story,
1000-room,
23,000
square-foot
palace.
Each
day,
thousands
of
pilgrims
give
the
prayer
wheels
lining
the
path
a
clockwise
spin
as
they
make
their
way
up
to
the
entrance.
After
a
guided
tour
of
the
Potala
Palace,
we
take
you
to
see
the
Nechung
Monastery
the
seat
of
Nechung,
Tibet's
State
Oracle.
Major
decisions
of
the
state
are
made
in
consultation
with
the
Nechung
Oracle.
Next
we
visit
the
Drepung
monastery.
Drepung
once
housed
10,000
monks,
If
we're
lucky,
we'll
quietly
ease
into
a
dark
columned
hall
to
see
and
hear
the
lilting,
booming
chanting
of
the
sutras,
or
perhaps
sit
under
a
willow
tree
and
watch
as
the
monks
engage
in
theatrical
debate.
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| Included |
|
Twin
sharing
accommodation
with
breakfast
in
hotels
as
per
itinerary.
Flight
KTM-LHA.
Airport
transfers
in
Kathmandu.
Sightseeing
as
mentioned
in
the
itinerary
with
local
English
speaking
guide.
Entrance
fees.
All
transfers.
Tibet
permit.
|
| Departure
Dates |
|
May - Oct.
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Day
5:
We
start
off
with
a
walking
tour
of
Jokhang
Monastery
and
the
bustling
Barkhor
market.
The
Jokhang
Monastery
is
the
home
of
the
statutes
of
the
revered
Buddha,
Shakyamuni.
While
all
Buddhist
statutes
are
magnificently
robed
in
colorful
brocade
adorned
with
pearls,
turquoise,
coral,
and
silver,
solid
gold
bowls
of
holy
water
rest
before
Shakyamuni
as
well
as
offerings
of
yuen
(money)
and
khatas
(scarves)
left
by
pilgrims.
Guided
tour
of
the
Norbulinka,
the
summer
palace
of
the
Dalai
Lama
and
a
tour
of
the
Tibetan
Medical
Center.
Day
6:
On
the
sixth
day
we
head
for
Gyantse.
Our
route
follows
the
Kyi
Chu
to
the
Tsangpo,
the
highest
river
in
the
world.
We
cross
the
Tsangpo
and
begin
a
hairpin
ascent
to
the
15,700
foot
Khampa
La
("la"
means
pass
in
Tibetan).
Then
a
thousand
feet
down
to
Yamdrok
Lake.
We
drive
via
Yamdrok,
the
Turquoise
Lake
to
Gyangtse
across
Kampa
la
pass
at
5050
m
and
Karo
la
pass.
At
Gyangtse
we
visit
the
Kubum
stupa
and
the
Pelkor
Chode
Monastery.
Gyantse
was
historically
Tibet's
third
largest
city
(after
Lhasa
and
Shigatse).
Day
7:
GYANGTSE-SHALU-SHIGATSE
(3860
M),
90
KMS
Drive
to
Shigatse
and
en
route
visit
the
Shalu
Monastery
and
the
Tashilhunpo
Monastery,
which
is
the
seat
of
Panchen
Lama
-
the
second
highest-ranking
religious
leader
of
the
Buddhist
religious
order.
We
also
recommend
a
visit
the
famous
Shigatse
Market.
Day
8:
SHIGATSE-SAKYA-SHEGAR/DINGRI(4350
M)
Drive
to
Shegar
across
Tsoula
and
Gyatso
la
pass
(5220
M).
On
the
way,
we
stop
for
a
tour
of
the
Sakya
Monastery.
Day
9:
SHEGAR-RONGBUK(5050
M)
-
Drive
via
Pangla
pass
(5200
M)
to
Rongbuk
Monastery,
world's
highest
monastery
situated
at
5200M.
This
partially
reconstructed
Tibetan
Buddhist
monastery
of
Rongbuk,
was
once
the
largest
monastic
center
in
the
region.
Rongbuk
is
the
power
place
through
which
all
seeking
the
highest
peak
via
the
North
Face
must
pass.
It
is
the
sacred
threshold
to
Mount
Everest,
with
the
most
dramatic
views
in
the
world.
At
Rongbuk,
there
is
a
beautiful,
large,
round
chorten,
a
reliquary
with
religious
significance
embedded
in
its
terraced
structure
and
crown
of
emblems
of
the
sun
and
moon,
symbolizing
the
light
of
Buddha's
teaching.
The
chorten
dramatically
marks
this
last
human
dwelling
place
before
one
heads
up
the
valley
to
Base
Camp.
Day
10:
EVEREST
BASE
CAMP
-
You
have
the
option
to
hike
or
drive
to
Everest
Base
Camp.
Known
in
Tibetan
as
Chomolungma
-
"Mother
Goddess
of
the
Snows"
-
Everest
is
a
mountain
of
superlatives
and
an
irresistible
lure
to
adventurers
the
world
over.
Day
11:
NYLAM
-
After
watching
sunrise
over
Everest,
we
drive
on
to
Nylam
where
we
spend
the
night.
Known
as
'Kuti'
to
Nepalese
traders,
Nylam
is
tucked
into
a
fertile
valley
and
used
to
be
an
important
trade
centre.
Nowadays,
barrack
style
Chinese
communes
surround
the
typical
old
flat
roofed,
mud-brick
houses.
Although
vegetation
is
sparse,
one
can
see
an
abundance
of
alpine
fauna
of
the
hillside
during
the
summer
months.
Day
12:
SHEGAR-ZHANGMU-KHATMANDU(2300
M)
-
As
we
drive
to
Zhangmu,
we
stop
to
visit
Milarepa
Cave.
After
renouncing
black
magic
and
the
life
of
a
magician,
Milarepa
spent
years
in
deep
meditation
in
a
cave,
where
he
finally
became
enlightened.
Certain
supernatural
feats
are
said
to
have
accompanied
his
enlightenment.
Better
known
by
it's
Tibetan
name
Khasa,
Zhangmu
is
a
small
settlement
clinging
to
a
hillside
10
Kilometers
from
the
Friendship
Bridge
across
the
Bhotekoshi
river.
Since
the
closure
of
the
China/India
border
from
Gangtok,
Zhangmu
has
become
the
major
trading
point
between
Tibet
and
Nepal.
The
climate
is
quite
different
from
the
hinterland.
The
hills
around
Zhangmu
are
heavily
wooded
with
many
waterfalls
in
summer
and
impressive
ice
formations
in
winter.
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| Departure |
| Lhasa,
Tibet
|
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Price: $1515 (Budget Hotels)
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$1690 (Standard Hotels)
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|
 Book
your Flight to Lhasa
|
|
Beijing
- Lhasa OW |
Beijing
- Lhasa RT |
Lhasa
- Beijing OW |
|
$340 |
$655 |
$340 |
|
|
Kunming
- Lhasa OW |
Kunming
- Lhasa RT |
Chengdu
- Lhasa OW |
Chengdu
- Lhasa RT |
$310 |
$610 |
$220 |
$415 |
|
KTM
- Lhasa OW |
KTM
- Lhasa RT |
|
|
$273 + 43 |
$525 + 96 |
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