Tibet & Everest 30 August 15 September 2008 Tour Overview This exclusive 17-day tour combines stunning travel to Nepal and Tibet. We begin in the beautiful mountain Kingdom of Nepal, with time to enjoy the sights and sounds of Kathmandu. We then take a spectacular flight to Lhasa, crossing the Himalaya with superb views of Everest. We visit the Potala Palace and Jokhang Temple as well as some less visited sights, including the Tibetan Kings Tombs, and enjoy the spectacle of debating monks at Sera Monastery. We journey across the Tibetan plateau to Rongbuk and stand in awe of the mighty north face of Everest, from base camp. This is a beautifully fashioned tour that gives you an excellent experience and insight into Tibetan culture in spectacular scenery.. Registered in England No. 5776931. Registered Office: Far Peak, Northleach, GL54 3JL Chairman George Band MA FRGS, Managing Director Christopher Short FRGS
Page 2 of 5 Our Itinerary Day 1 - Depart from London Fly from London Heathrow to Kathmandu, arriving the following day. IN FLIGHT Day 2 Kathmandu, Nepal On arrival, we are met and transferred to our stunning colonial-style hotel, and formerly a Rana Palace. There will be time to relax by the pool and enjoy the gardens, or visit some of the many beautiful sites of Kathmandu. SHANKER HOTEL Day 3 Kathmandu, Nepal We start the day with a guided sightseeing tour of the City including Swayambhunath (the Monkey temple), a visit to the Living Goddess, and Pashupahnath (the Burning Ghats). The afternoon is then free for you to relax, or explore further the narrow winding streets and brush up your bartering skills with a little shopping! SHANKER HOTEL Day 4 Fly to Lhasa This morning we take the breathtaking flight from Kathmandu to Lhasa, with unrivalled views of Everest as we pass over the snow-capped Himalaya, and may even sight Kangchenjunga to the east. On arrival at Gongkar airport we are met and transferred to our hotel in Lhasa. We will need to take it easy today to help us adjust to the altitude. DHOOD GU HOTEL Day 5 Potala Palace & Drepung Monastery We begin with a visit to the Potala Palace, the former seat of the Dalai Lamas, a red palace capped with gold roofs, uplifted high in the blue sky, on a shining pedestal of dazzling white buildings, before driving out of Lhasa to visit the important Drepung Monastery. Here the state oracle was once housed. In its heyday 10,000 monks lived here - now there are around 400. DHOOD GU HOTEL Day 6 Jokhang, Barkhor and Sera Monastery The Jokhang is the principal and holiest Buddha temple in Lhasa, and probably in Tibet. It is the focus of devotion of hundreds of Tibetans from near and far, who circle it to gain spiritual merit. There is an opportunity to stretch your legs and walk amongst the pilgrims, monks and traders in the streets of the Barkhor, before heading to the Sera monastery to see debating monks. We then drive to Tsedang in the Yarlung Valley, encircled by rugged mountains.
Page 3 of 5 Day 7 Yak skin boat trip and Samye Monastery Tsedang is known as the cradle of Tibetan civilisation because it contains Gonpo Ri, one of the four sacred mountains of Tibet. It has a monastery built in 1351 and a nunnery, Sang Ngag Zinche, which stands at the foot of Gonpo Ri. We enjoy a short ride in a yak skin boat on the river before visiting Samye Monastery. This was the first monastery to be built in Tibet (A.D.775). It was founded as a school to train monks during the reign of King Trisong Detsen. We will tour the extensive buildings, and then return to Tsedang for the evening. Day 8 Chongye Valley & Yumbulagang Monastery We make an excursion to the Chongye Valley, site of the burial ground of the Tibetan Kings of the Yarlung dynasty from the 7 th to 8 th century. At this time Tibet was a powerful expanding empire, which threatened its neighbours. Today Tibetans practice sky burial to dispose of the dead, a method where the body is dismembered on a hilltop and fed to vultures. (People have not been buried in the ground since the Yarlung period.) There are 10 12 mounds here; the largest, oldest and most prominent belongs to Songtsen Gampo, the most famous King in the Yarlung dynasty. We will then visit Yumbulagang, perched dramatically above the Yarlung Valley. It is reputed to be the oldest dwelling in Tibet and has been completely rebuilt after being reduced to rubble in the 1960s. Originally a fortress, it is now inhabited by a few monks. Day 9 Kamba La Pass, Turquoise Lake and Gyantse We take a long and spectacular drive across the Tibetan plains to Gyantse, crossing the Kamba La Pass and skirting the beautiful Lake Yambruk en route. Gyantse is a small agricultural town famous for its wool carpets and the temple of Palkhor Chode. GYANTSE HOTEL Day 10 Gyantse Kumbum and Fort In the morning we will visit the octagonal Kumbum chorten, a unique structure built in 1414 and consisting of five stories representing the five steps to enlightenment topped by thirteen rings that symbolise the stages of advancement. There are 108 halls, each with Buddha shrines and frescoes showing strong Indian influence. Gyantse is also the site of a fort from which the Tibetan people attempted to stop the British Army troops led by Sir Francis Younghusband in 1904. GYANTSE HOTEL
Page 4 of 5 Day 11 Shigatse and Tashilunpo Monastery Today we drive to Shigatse, Tibet s second largest city. Shigtase is most famous for its Tashilunpo Monastery, founded by the first Dalai Lama and situated at the base of a hill on the edge of town. Tashilunpo is the seat of the Panchen Lama, who is regarded as the reincarnation of the Buddha of endless enlightment, and dates back to the 15 th century. We may be summoned into the prayer hall by a blast from a conch shell, and see hundreds of monks chanting to the haunting music of drums and three-foot long trumpets. MANSAROVAR HOTEL Day 12 Tingri Leaving Shigatse we now head out across the Tibetan plateau crossing two high passes with spectacular views. From Tingri we will finally get our first sightings of the mighty Mt Everest. We should also be able to see Cho Oyu on the horizon. We stay in a simple guesthouse for the night. SNOW LEOPARD GUEST HOUSE Day 13 Rongbuk and Everest Base Camp Today we will enjoy some real expedition driving! We will set off in land cruisers up the dusty and rugged tracks, past farmers tilling the land and tiny village settlements. The landscape is vast and stunning! We ford a small river before climbing over the grassy slopes of the Lamna La, and finally reach Rongbuk. At this point we leave our vehicles, and after visiting the monastery, take the local pony and traps to Base Camp. The views of the great North Face of Everest are awe-inspiring. We spend as much time here as possible, absorbing the history and atmosphere before returning to our simple guesthouse at Rongbuk. RONGBUK GUEST HOUSE Day 14 Drive to Zhangmu If the skies are clear we should watch the sun rise over Everest! We will then take breakfast before boarding our vehicles and setting off for the Nepalese border. We find our hotel just inside Nepal suspended in isolation on a high cliff gorge above the Bhote Kosi River! The Last Resort offers an opportunity to relax amongst the sprawling terraced gardens or to watch or even join! the bungy jumpers at the nearby bridge. THE LAST RESORT HOTEL Day 15 Dhulikhel, Bhaktapur and Kathmandu We drive to Dhulikhel for lunch where we will see again the most amazing panoramic views of the Himalayan Range. Before returning to Kathmandu, we will stop at Bhaktapur, the third city of Nepal, to admire the famous Durbar Square and the Palace of Fifity-Five Windows. HOTEL SHANKER Day 16 Kathmandu and Patan Museum This morning we visit the Patan Museum to view the sacred art of Nepal in an illustrious architectural setting. The afternoon is then free for any last minute sightseeing or shopping. HOTEL SHANKER
Page 5 of 5 Day 17 Fly back to UK We transfer to the airport for our flight back to London, arriving later the same day. The Itinerary Although every effort will be made to ensure that the itinerary is completed according to the above schedule, the remote nature of the country means that circumstances such as adverse weather or other conditions may make it necessary to alter the programme at short notice. While Far Frontiers Expeditions will make every effort to provide the itinerary as presented, this is sometimes not possible and your patience and understanding are requested if the itinerary should change.