Tibet: Journey from Lhasa to Everest

Tibet: Journey from Lhasa to Everest Itinerary:

• Day 1

  Your trip begins today in Kathmandu, Nepal. After clearing immigration and customs, you are met by our Sherpa staff and transferred to the hotel. The afternoon is left open to rest and explore. Perhaps, take a walking tour with your guide and explore the streets of bustling Kathmandu. There will be an evening orientation with the group to review your trip's itinerary. Meals on your own.

• Day 2

  Today we'll spend a bit of time ensuring that all needed travel endorsements for Tibet are secured, as well as needed equipment and supplies. Then, enjoy a half-day guided tour of the ancient cities of Kathmandu and Patan. Nepal is a country rich in religious diversity. Today we visit various Buddhist and Hindu shrines and temples: Swayambunath, the Monkey Temple, Buddhanath Stupa and Jawalakel, a Tibetan refugee carpet center. The rest of the day is our own to explore and to prepare for our flight to Lhasa tomorrow. Breakfast included.

• Day 3

  Early this morning we transfer to the airport for our flight to Lhasa, Tibet. This is a spectacular flight, just east of five of the world's highest peaks - Mt. Everest, Lhotse, Nuptse, Cho Oyo and Makalu. To the southeast is the broad massif of Kangchenjunga, the 3rd highest peak in the world. Gongkar Airport Tibet is set amidst wind-swept, 1,000-foot high sand dunes along the Yarlung Tsampo river. We're met by our Tibetan staff and transferred by mini-bus to our hotel in Tsethang - in the cradle of Tibetan civilization. Tsethang is 170 km southeast of Lhasa along the banks of the Yarlung Tsangpo river (Brahamputra) and hosts important historical monuments like Samye, Yumbulhakhang, Mindroling and Chonggye. In Tsethang, we enjoy our first Tibetan dinner and a briefing by our guide on the coming week's events. There will be time to address any special requests or needs tonight before we set out across Tibet. It is important to begin drinking lots of water tonight if you've not already done so. All meals included from lunch on Day 3 through lunch on Day 13.

• Days 4

  Today, we visit the famous Yambulakhang Palace. Located 12 km south of Tsethang, Yanbulakhang was reconstructed in 1982 after much of the original palace was destroyed in the Cultural Revolution. It was the first palace built during the reign of the first of King of Tibet, Nyatri Tsenpo. It is a five-story fortress built on a hill that affords a panoramic view of the entire valley below. Today we will also be visiting ornate Tendruk Monastery in Tsethang.

• Day 5

  Today we drive to Lhasa for approximately 2 hours. En route, we visit the Samye Monastery the oldest monastery in Tibet, constructed in the 8th century AD. Continuing on our way, we plan to arrive in Lhasa around late afternoon. We'll then check into our hotel. Look forward to relaxing or exploring Lhasa on your own a bit for the remainder of the day.

• Days 6-7

  For the next two days, we'll be visiting some of Lhasa's most significant points of interest. The Potala Palace, former residence of His Holiness the Dalai Lama, is superbly impressive and remains Tibet's most iconic cultural landmark (no photography is allowed inside). We'll also visit to the Golden Jokhang Temple, the most revered religious structure for Tibetans. The sacred significance is clearly evidenced by the reverence of the pilgrims we encounter. Around the Jokhang, walking in a clockwise manner, we wander the Bakkor, Lhasa's ancient trading market bazaar. We'll also look forward to visiting the Sera Monastery, the second largest in Tibet, and the Drepung Monastery, the largest in Tibet and renowned for having housed over 7,000 monks at a time. At the time of its construction in the 15th century AD, impressive Drepung was the largest monastery on Earth. We spend both nights at our Lhasa hotel.

• Day 8

  Today we pack up the Land Cruiser and depart for Gyangtse (13,200'). A full day's ride, our destination requires driving across high, 17,000 foot passes including Khambala Pass, Karo La and Simi La. En route we pass scattered Tibetan villages where the landscape, seemingly harsh yet quite beautiful, creates an awe-inspiring impression of life on the Tibetan plateau. The monastery's guardian Dzong, or Tibetan fort, is both massive and one of the few still remaining in Tibet. On reaching Gyangtse, we'll check in to our hotel and rest for the night.

• Day 9

  Gyangtse may appear as a kind of "wild-west town", due to the ratio of horses to cars and the frontier feeling in the atmosphere. We visit the mystical Kumbum Chode monastery, filled with exquisite Tibetan sculpture and paintings. Then it's onto the 14th century Gyangtse Fortress Dzong. This massive structure is imposing and one of the few dzongs still remaining in Tibet. We'll explore the dzong before returning to our hotel for lunch. After lunch we leave Gyangtse and drive about 3.5 hours to Shigatse (12,990'). We hope today to visit Shigatse's Tashi Lhunpo Monastery, the seat of Panchen Lama, the second highest ranking Lama in the Tibetan Buddhism. Much of the monastery survived the Cultural Revolution of the 1960's and it remains a stunning living example of Tibetan Buddhism. If the day's pace does not allow for this, we will look forward to visiting Tashi Lhunpo early tomorrow.

• Day 10

  In the early morning, we begin with a visit to the walled-town of the Tashi Lhunpo Monastery if the previous day's pace did not allow for this. Then we load our jeeps and head for Xegar, a full day's drive through beautiful valleys, white walled villages and along braided rivers. As we cross high mountain passes, we have our first clear views of the Mt. Everest Himalaya. Road conditions today may be good or may be challenging as these roads are quite exposed to the elements and are difficult to maintain. If we're traveling smoothly, we expect to have time today to visit the Xegar Choede Monastery, a medieval fortress monastery. Referred to as the Crystal Cathedral, a crystal stupa was the primary sacred feature of this monastery. Perched on a high cliff, this remarkable structure, though in ruins, is still a great wonder to both witness and explore. If our travel is slow today, we will visit Xegar Choede Monastery tomorrow morning. Near Xegar we stay at a local hotel, where we'll sleep at over 14,700' in elevation.

• Day 11

  Conditions allowing, we put the cruiser in four-wheel drive today and head for North Mt. Everest base camp at 16,400'. On this 4 - 5 hour drive we pass through remote villages and fascinating geologic formations. We explore small Rongbuk Monastery and photograph one of the great natural wonders of the world, the 12,000' vertical north face of Mt. Everest. The trip now becomes participatory, and we all pitch in to help establish a camp for the night at Rongbuk Monastery.

• Day 12

  Hiking today is moderate by anyone's standards, as even short distances are remarkably challenging at this high altitude. Water helps, so drink up if you choose to walk the 3-mile wind blown trail to Mt. Everest Base Camp (4+ hours of walking). Those not choosing to hike can relax at the monastery and soak in the spectacular view. A retreat above the monastery provides different views of the mountains as well as the occasional wild Blue Bharal sheep.  Later, we return to the main road and the small town of Tingri is reached in a few hours. At the end of the day, we enjoy the sunset as the geologic rock formations and colors in the earth can be dramatic. With clear weather, three of the world's highest mountains are easily seen from Tingri. Tonight's hotel is a simple and rustic guest house.

• Day 13

  A full day's drive on a bumpy road returns us to the "breathable" air at 7,000'. We slowly ascend to wonderful views as we approach a 20,000' wall of Himalayan peaks. A few hours of driving leads through a narrow gorge, from a high pass of 17,100' and on to the village of Zhangmu. The journey then brings a stunning 10,000' descent to the Nepalese border. Assuming we do not encounter any significant blocks in the road (which is possible in this remote location) this will be our last night in Tibet, so we'll toast to good health at a farewell party for our wonderful Tibetan guides and drivers tonight.

• Day 14

  The road from Zhangmu, Tibet to Kodari, Nepal is 3 miles long and not always in great condition (landslides are not uncommon). Occasionally we have to walk part of the distance to the Friendship Bridge. Our Sherpa from Kathmandu meets us at the bridge to assist with customs and immigration formalities. After clearing customs, our Nepalese vehicles take us into the warm and moisture-rich air of Nepal. On the Nepal side of the border we may also expect landslides if there have been heavy monsoon rains recently. If the road is blocked we may have to walk sections here as well. Lunch today will be in a restaurant en route and we expect to arrive into Kathmandu in the late afternoon to check into our hotel. Tonight, we can truly celebrate having completed the trip of a lifetime! Dinner tonight is on your own.

• Day 15

  This day is set aside as a reserve day in the event that we've experienced any significant delays in Tibet. In the event that we've already arrived in Kathmandu, the time here is your own for exploring or sightseeing. Breakfast included.

• Days 16

  Transfer to the airport for flights to Bangkok, which will connect to flights home. Breakfast included.

Although we do our very best to adhere to the schedule lined out previously, this itinerary is subject to change for numerous reasons beyond our control. Our itinerary includes one reserve day in the event that we are significantly delayed while traveling through remote sections of Tibet and Nepal. This itinerary requires flexibility and a spirit of adventure.

Airport transfers; hotels in Kathmandu and Tibet; entry fees and taxes while in Tibet, ground transportation from the Tibetan border to Kathmandu; meals as stated in the itinerary; leadership, Tibetan interpreters and guides; Land Cruisers; tents and camp equipment.

Air transportation from the U.S. to Kathmandu; airport taxes; lunches and dinners in Kathmandu; Nepalese and Chinese visas; tips to staff; cost of obtaining a passport; insurance; medical immunizations or items of a personal nature like liquor or laundry fees.

If you are traveling alone and specifically request single accommodations, you will be asked to pay the full single supplement noted on the trip itinerary. If you wish to share accommodations, we will assign you a roommate if one is available. If a roommate cannot be found, you will be asked to pay a reduced single fee which is half of the full single supplement. Please be advised that there are a limited number of single rooms available.

This trip is rated Easy Active [2] for the amount of walking / hiking required, however consider that much of the trip is spent at high altitudes. Except for the high altitude (12,000 and 17,000 feet) and the remote location, this is not a particularly strenuous trip nor is it a trekking itinerary. However, Tibet is for active people in good health who are strong walkers and/or hikers.

Nepal and Tibet each have vastly different weather. July through September, Nepal is warm and wet with periodic heavy rain and temperatures in the 80s. Tibet will be moderate or cool with some cold temperatures. Daytime temperatures range between 55-70ºF, with nights in the 40s. Tibet is a desert, yet rain is possible during the trip and may turn the landscape green. At Mt. Everest Base Camp, temperatures in the mid-thirties are possible. Snow is not likely, but windy passes at over 17,000' will often expose you to 30°F temperatures.

This trip is subject to the booking information set forth in the current REI Adventures Reservation Information. Please read this information carefully and call us if you have any questions. A full gear list and pre-departure information is sent upon sign-up. We highly recommend the purchase of travel insurance through REI Adventures. If coverage is purchased at the time of your initial reservation, the 'Pre-existing Conditions Exclusion' is waived (certain exclusions apply).

We look forward to having you join us for the trip of a lifetime! Why wait? Space is limited, reserve your adventure today.

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