Tibet Treks

Mandala

Tibet Treks

Mandala

Trans-Himalaya | Everest Base Camp | Ganden/Samye
Namtso Lake | Mount Kailash

Our Tibet agency uses Toyota Landcruiser 4WD vehicles for all our transport, and our Tibetan guides all speak good English. Accommodation in Lhasa is very limited, to the extent that the Chinese authorities have put a limit of three days on visitors’ stays so that the hotels can cope. We usually stay at the Snowland Hotel near the Barkhor market and Jokhang monastery, but this cannot always be guaranteed, especially for anyone making a last-minute booking. This hotel is very comfortable with twin-bedded rooms with their own facilities. There are several good restaurants offering a variety of cuisines, and some very cheap, basic ones!

The airport for Lhasa is situated at Gonggar, about 90 km from the city. The road follows the River Yarlung Tsangpo for some of the way. This large river flows from Mount Kailash 1000 km east through Tibet, turns south into India where it becomes the Brahmaputra.

Trans-Himalaya Trek (8 days)

Day 1 Fly to Lhasa (3800m). Met by Tibetan guides and taken to hotel in Old Lhasa.

Day 2 - 3 Sightseeing in Lhasa. We visit the Potala Palace, Norbu Lingka summer palace, Barkhor market and the Jokhang, Drepung and Sera monasteries.

Day 4 Drive to Gyantse (3950m). On the way we cross the Kamba La pass (4794m), the Karo La (5010m) and visit the beautiful Yamdrok Lake. (259 km)

Day 5 Drive to Shigatse (3900m). We visit Tashilunpo monastery, home of the Panchen Lama. (90 km)

Day 6 Drive to Xegar (4350m). On the way we visit Ghantse Dzong fort and Sakya monastery, one of Tsang region’s most important historical sites. (280 km)

Day 7 Drive to Zhangmu (2300m), the last village before the Nepal border. We cross the Lalung La (5050m) and are able to see magnificent panoramas to the south. Everest, Cho Oyu and Shishapangma are all visible from this part of the route.

Day 8 Drive back to Kathmandu.

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Everest Base Camp Adventure Drive/Trek (16 days)

Day 1 Drive from Kathmandu to the border and cross over to Zhangmu (2300m). (120 km)

Day 2 Drive to Tinggri (4350m). See Day 7 above for reverse description. Camp.

Day 3 Drive to roadhead at Gyabula, trek to camp.

Day 4 Trek to Cho Oyu Base Camp.

Day 5/8 Trek to Rongbuk Camp (5000m).

Day 9 Explore Everest Base Camp (5200m). Visit Dza Rongbuk monastery, the highest in the world at 4980m and Sherap Choling monastery.

Day 10/12 Trek to East Rongbuk glacier, an impressive ocean of ice not to be missed after the effort of reaching the base camp. The views of the glacier and the Himalayan peaks are some of the most dramatic in the world

Group at Everest Base Camp, Tibet

Group at Everest Base Camp

Day 13 Return to Everest Base Camp.

Day 14 Drive to Shegar.

Dqy 15 Drive to Zhangmu.

Day 16 Drive back to Kathmandu.

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Ganden/Samye Trek (8 days)

Day 1 Fly to Lhasa (3800m). Met by Tibetan guides and taken to hotel in Old Lhasa.

Day 2 Sightseeing in Lhasa. Visit Potala Palace, Jokhang monastery, Norbu Lingka winter palace and Barkhor market.

Day 3 Drive short distance to Ganden (4500m), visit monastery and start trek. Camp.

Day 4/6 Trek to Samye, crossing two 5000m passes. Camp each night. The nomadic people inhabiting this area live in yak wool tents and are very hospitable.

Day 7 Visit Samye monastery which is an unusual mandala shape and is being restored. Trek to ferry over River Yarlung Tsangpo, cross the river (1 - 1.5 hours) then drive to Tsedang. Camp.

Day 8 Drive to Gonggar airport and fly back to Kathmandu.

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Namtso Lake Trek (8 days)

Day 1 Fly to Lhasa (3800m). Met by Tibetan guides and taken to hotel in Old Lhasa.

Day 2 Sightseeing in Lhasa. Visit Potala Palace, Jokhang monastery, Norbu Lingka winter palace and Barkhor market.

Day 3 Drive to Damzung/Nagen La pass, start trek to Nam Tso. Camp.

Day 4/6 Nam Tso lake trekking. The lake is the site of a bird sanctuary and there is a large variety of birdlife present, especially during migration seasons. The local resients are yak herders.

Day 7 Trek to Nagen La pass and drive back to Lhasa.

Day 8 Fly back to Kathmandu.

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Mount Kailash Trek (15 days)

Day 1 Drive from Kathmandu to the border and cross over to Zhangmu (2300m). (120 km) Views of Langtang, Gauri Shankar, Menlungtse and Khumbu Himal are obtained on the drive.

Day 2 Drive to Peigu Lake via the Lalung pass (5050m) and camp at the foot of Shishapangma, an 8012m peak. The lake is well-known for its birdlife. (120 km)

Day 3 Drive to Chompa (4100m), crossing the River Yarlung Tsangpo by ferry and camp at Gyagya. (260 km)

Day 4 Drive to Majom pass and camp at Saga through magnificent Tibetan landscape with views of the Himalayas to the south. (230 km)

Day 5 Drive to Darchen (4560m), base camp of Mount Kailash. (210 km) Trek to Chomi monastery campsite.

Day 6/8 Circumambulation (Kora or Parikrama) of Mount Kailash via the high pass of Droma La (5428m). (55 km)

Day 9 After lunch drive from Mount Kailash to campsite at Lake Manasarovar (4510m). (60 km)

Day 10/11 Explore Lake Manasarovar.

Day 12 Drive to Chompa via Majom pass (4700m) and Souge pass (4750m) to camp by the river. (260 km)

Day 13 Drive to Peigu Lake. (265 km)

Day 14 Drive back to Zhangmu. (190 km)

Day 15 Drive back to Kathmandu.

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