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Itinerary |
Mount
Kailash
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Group
Departures 2009 May 05 - May 23 July 07 - July 25 August 18 - September 05 September 01 - September 19 September 22 - October 10 |
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Tour
Costs FLIGHT
COST PRIVATE
DEPARTURES |
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Physical
Grading Moderate-Challenging Culture Shock Grading Moderate-Challenging For more information request dossier TMK |
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Included
in the Tour Cost:
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Days
1-2: Chengdu, the bustling capital of Sichuan Province
is home to some of the best (and spiciest!) food in the world. It
is also a city of temples, gardens and teahouses. An early morning
visit to the Panda Breeding and Research Center allows you to see
the magnificent Giant Pandas and Red Pandas at their most active;
on the way back you can be dropped at the Wenshu Temple with its
excellent vegetarian restaurant and extensive tea-houses filled
with people chatting and playing cards and Mah-Jong - a taste of
old China. In the evening there is the option to discover a little
of Sichuan’s rich cultural heritage at a tea-house performance
of opera, acrobatics, puppetry and ‘eating fire and changing
faces’.
Days
3-6: Colorful and historic, the holy city of Lhasa
lies in a small valley 3700 meters above sea level. Lhasa rose to
importance over 1300 years ago as attempts were made to unify Tibet.
At this time the grand temples of Ramoche and Jokhang were built
to house the Buddha images and religious artifacts brought to Tibet
as dowries from China and Nepal. Although little of 7th century
Lhasa remains intact, the 1600s saw a second stage of renovation
and development, which included construction of the Potala Palace.
Perched on a hilltop overlooking the town, this massive structure
dominates the landscape with grace and dignity, confirming the suggestion
that this palace is a true wonder of the architectural world. During
your time in the heart of Tibet, you visit the Potala Palace, the
Jokhang, the huge university monasteries of Drepung and Sera and
the Barkhor pilgrim circuit. There is free time to explore other
sights. The Jokhang Temple is the spiritual heart of Tibet and also
the most active. Prostrating pilgrims circle the temple endlessly
day and night; some traversing the extremes of the country by foot
to celebrate their beliefs. The Barkhor, the holiest devotional
circuit, circumnavigates the Jokhang and houses a market bazaar.
Here, Buddha images, yak skulls with ruby eyes, woodcarvings, carpets
and prayer wheels are bargained for. Nearby are the Drepung and
Sera monasteries, once home to over 15,000 monks. Afternoon debating
sessions with the monks are a must-see experience. 
Days
7-8: Leaving Lhasa, it is a long, yet spectacular
drive to Gyantse. From the top of the Kamba Pass (4794m) the views
of the turquoise lake, Yamdrok-Tso are unforgettable. Descending
we travel along its shores, before climbing again to the Karo La
(5054) and the glaciers of Mt Nojin Kangtsang, reaching Gyantse
in the late afternoon. Once of major importance as a trading center
on the routes between India, Sikkim, Bhutan, Tibet and China, its
imposing fort, Gyantse Dzong, dominates views of the town. It is
also the site of Pelkor Choede and the fascinating Gyantse Kumbum.
Days 18-19: From Kodari, the Nepalese side of the border,
the road continues its winding descent, hopefully unhindered by
landslides, towards Kathmandu. Rich in cultural and artistic heritage
blending the traditional and the modern, Kathmandu is a vibrant,
chaotic, colorful city - one not to be missed. The markets, bazaars
and narrow streets are home to holy men, sacred cows, bicycles,
street Sellers… you name it, it is here.
