Tibet Revealed

Tibet Revealed 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

  Enjoy a half-day guided tour of the ancient cities of Kathmandu and Patan.  Nepal is a country rich in religious diversity. Today you 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 re-pack your bags for tomorrow’s trek departure. Breakfast included.

• Day 3

  There is an early morning transfer to the airport for the 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 Lhasa. The drive to Lhasa takes 1.5 hours, and is both beautiful and culturally interesting. In Lhasa we enjoy our first Tibetan dinner and a briefing by our interpreter/guide on the coming week's events. Special requests or needs can be addressed at this time. Lhasa’s elevation is 11,700'. This is a good time to begin drinking lots of water if you haven’t already done so. All meals included from lunch on Day 3 through lunch on Day 14.

• Days 4-5

  After breakfast, we board our comfortable 4x4 and set out to visit some of Lhasa major points of interest. The Potala Palace, former residence of His Holiness the Dalai Lama, is massively impressive and still remains Tibet’s iconic landmark (no photography allowed inside). In addition, we visit the Sera Monastery, the second largest in Tibet, and the Drapung Monastery, famous for its large kitchen that once catered to as many as 7000 monks at a time! Next, it’s a visit to the Golden Jokhang Temple. This is the most revered religious structure for Tibetans - it is their "Sistine Chapel". The sacred significance can be seen in 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. Overnight in Lhasa hotel.

• Day 6

  Pack up the 4x4 and depart for Gyangtse. 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, although the landscape is harshly beautiful, scratching out a life here leaves much to the imagination. The monastery’s guardian Dzong, or Tibetan fort, is both massive and one of the few still remaining in Tibet. On reaching Gyangtse, check in to our hotel, time to visit local Tibetan carpet makers and relax for the night. The elevation is 13,200'.

• Day 7

  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 full of 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 to Shigatse (3.5 hours drive), where we’ll check into our hotel and rest. The elevation is 12,990’.

• Day 8

  In the morning we’ll visit the walled-town of the 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 has much to offer as a living example of Tibetan Buddhism.  It’s honeycombed with rooms, court yards and temples and twisting, cobblestones lanes. The afternoon is free to rest or sample the local markets. We suggest visiting the Tibetan carpet makers of Shigatse.

• Day 9

  Bright and crisp morning air greets us as we load up the 4x4 and depart for Xegar; a full day's drive through beautiful valleys, white walled villages, braided rivers. As we cross high mountain passes, we have our first clear views of the Mt. Everest Himalaya. Road conditions today can be good or challenging. Depending on the day’s drive time, we might visit the Xegar Choede Monastery, a medieval fortress monastery that is referred to as the “Crystal Cathedral”. Originally, a crystal stupa was the primary sacred feature of the monastery. Perched on a high cliff, this remarkable structure, though in ruins, is still a great wonder to look at and explore.  Near Xegar we stay at a local hotel. The elevation is now over 14,700’. 

• Day 10

  Conditions allowing, we put the cruiser in four-wheel drive and head toward Mt. Everest base camp (16,400’) and Rongbuk Monastery. This is a rough road and a 4 - 5 hour drive that will passing through remote villages and past fascinating geologic formations. We explore the small monastery and photograph one of the great natural wonders of the world, the 12,000-foot vertical north face of Mt. Everest. The trip now becomes participatory, and we all pitch in to help make camp at Rongbuk Monastery.

• Day 11

  Hiking today is probably moderate by anyone’s standards but short distances become remarkably challenging at this altitude. Water helps – drink lots! Choose to walk the 2 mile wind blown trail to Mt. Everest Base Camp (4+ hours of walking) or hang back at the monastery and soak up the view. A retreat above the monastery provides different views of the mountains as well as the occasional wild Blue Bharal sheep. Be sure to catch the sunset from one of the promontories above the camp – its one of the once-in-a-lifetime sunsets (weather permitting, of course). We camp again at Rongbuk Monastery.

• Day 12

  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 guest house similar to the one in Gyangtse, though more rustic.

• Day 13

  A full day on a bumpy road returns us to the “breathable” air of 7,000’. We slowly ascend to wonderful views as we approach a 20,000’ wall of Himalayan peaks. A few hours driving drops us rapidly through a narrow gorge, from a high pass of 17,100’ and onto the village of Zhangmu. The road next offers a stunning 10,000’ descent to the Nepalese border. Assuming we do not encounter rockslides, landslides, or broken-down trucks (all of which are possible in the desolate location) this is our last night in Tibet. We have a party to say good-bye and toast our impressive Tibetan guides and drivers.

• Day 14

  The road from Zhangmu, Tibet to Kodari, Nepal is 3 miles long and usually in poor condition. Occasionally, due to landslides 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 there can be landslides if there have been heavy monsoon rains recently. If the road is blocked we may have to walk sections. Lunch today will be in a restaurant en route; we arrive into Kathmandu and our hotel in the late afternoon.  Congratulations, you’ve made the trip of a lifetime! Breakfast and lunch included. 

• Day 15

  This day is set aside for any delays in Tibet. When we are in Kathmandu, the time is your own for exploring or sightseeing. Breakfast included.

• Days 16

  Transfer to the airport to fly to Bangkok, then home. Breakfast included on Day 16.

Although we do our best to adhere to the schedule listed above, this itinerary is subject to change for numerous reasons beyond our control.

Airport transfers; hotels in Kathmandu and Tibet; Tibet transit / visa fee; entry fees and taxes while in Tibet, ground transportation from the Tibetan border to Kathmandu; meals as noted in the daily itinerary; leadership, Tibetan interpreters and guides; 4x4 vehicles; tents and camp equipment.

Air transportation from the U.S. to Lhasa; airport taxes; lunches and dinners in Kathmandu; Nepalese visa costs; 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 on most departures.

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 55-70º F, 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 within 21 days of your initial trip deposit, 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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