An incredible adventure from the spiritual heart of Tibet through some of the harshest and most dramatic landscapes the world has to offer. Isolated valleys, tribal villages and remote monasteries - an unforgettable and unique glimpse of a rapidly changing world.
Historic and fascinating, the great temples, monasteries, forts and palaces of Lhasa, Gyantse and Shigatse are powerful testaments to a long and volatile history and to the spiritual and artistic traditions of Tibetan Buddhism. On the banks of the Brahmaputra Tibet's first monastery, Samye is laid out in the form of a mandala, beautiful Lamaling is one of the 12 temples commissioned in the 7th century to pin down the ogress who is the Tibetan landscape.
Travel eastwards into Kham, one of the most isolated and least visited areas on Earth. This is a stunning journey of breathtaking beauty: snow capped mountains, deep, forested valleys, crystal-clear lakes and rivers and vast barren plateaus.
Here the great rivers – Brahmaputra, Salween, Mekong, Yangzi, Irrawaddy - descend from the Tibetan Plateau, carving deep gorges through the mountains. The roads are rough and winding and the vista around every corner will make you gasp anew.
Itinerary
Day 1: Arrive in Chengdu, capital of Sichuan Province and home to some of the best, and spiciest, food in China or Kathmandu
Days 2-5: Colorful and historic, the holy city of Lhasa lies in a small valley 3700 meters above sea level. Visit the Potala Palace, the Jokhang, the huge university monasteries of Drepung and Sera and join pilgrims shopping and making a holy circumambulation of the Barkhor.
Day 6: Cross the Yarlung Tsangpo (later the Brahmaputra) to Tibet's first monastery - Samye. Built in 775 in the form of a mandala depicting Buddhist cosmology with the main temple, Samye Utse, representing Mount Meru and the other buildings forming the four continents and eight satellite islands.
Days 7-8: Continuing east the sandy banks of the Yarlung Tsangpo are interspersed with the orchards of walnut and apricot for which the region is famous. The Nyang-chu forms a wide estuary as it joins the Yarlung Tsangpo and we pause by its banks to visit the golden roofed temple of Buchu and nearby Lamaling. Buchu Sergyi Lhakhang dates back to the 7th century, the oldest shrine in the region and one of the 'border taming' temples ordered built by Songtsen Gampo to pin down the right elbow of the ogress who represents the Tibetan landscape.
Days 9-10: Nyangtri lies at the foot of Bonri, a mountain sacred to the Bonpo and a popular pilgrimage site. The tumulus of Tibet's first mortal king is also believed to be in the area. Crossing the Serkhyim Pass (4515m) we enter the region of eastern Tibet known as Kham. From here there are fantastic views of Mt Namchak Barwa (7756m) and Mt Gyala Peri (7150m). The valleys of subtropical virgin forest are unique on the Tibetan Plateau with trails leading south into the sacred 'hidden land' of Pemako and the virtually inaccessible gorges where the Yarlung Tsangpo plunges towards India and becomes known as the Brahmaputra. The rulers of Kham claimed descent from the younger son of Tibet's first mortal king and the region maintained its independence from Lhasa until 1928.
Days 11-13: Enter forested alpine landscapes around Rawok, which lies on the northern shore of the stunningly beautiful glacial lake dramatically girded by snow peaks. Crossing the watershed between the Brahmaputra and Salween river systems the forests recede and we follow the much more barren Ling Chu Valley to its confluence with the Salween at Po before climbing through incredible switchbacks to the Gama La (4618). Descending through the rolling grasslands of Pomda and the Yu Chu Valley, turn south to Dzogang - located on a spur overlooking the valley. There are spectacular views of Mt Dongri Karpo from the 5000m Dungda Pass before plunging down to cross the Mekong. Climbing again emerge onto the alpine meadows of Markham, a prosperous area occupying the high ground between the Mekong and the Yangzi, straddling the trade routes between Lhasa, Kunming and Chengdu.
Days 14-15: Litang. A town of many monasteries set amid vast grasslands - one of the highest towns in eastern Tibet and home to both the 7th and 10th Dalai Lamas.
Days 16-17: Kanding, once capital of Chakla, one of the 5 independent kingdoms of Kham - Kanding has long been an inportant trading center, particularly for tea and herbal medicines.
Day 18: Mugecuo Lake - An area of high altitude lakes and hot springs - said to be home to the Mugu (Tibetan cousin of the Yeti).
Day 19: Chengdu and depart (accommodation included tonight).
What is Included
• Accommodation - Twin share: 09 nights / Twin or multishare: 10 nights
• Hotel to airport transfer, Chengdu
• Airport to Hotel transfer, Lhasa
• Land transport Lhasa-Chengdu (4WD landcruiser)
• Sightseeing & entry fees - Potala Palace, Jokhang Temple, Sera, Drepung, Samye, Lamaling, Buchu Gompa, Litang Gompa, Dorje Drak, Mugecuo Lake.
• Full times services of tour leader and/or guide in Tibet.
What is not Included
– Personal expenses such as drinks, postage, laundry.
– Meals
– International flights and departure taxes
– Visa and passport fees
– Travel insurance
– Emergency evacuation
– Tips and gratuities
– Costs arising from unforeseen events outside the control of Royal Mountain Travel (eg. Landslides)
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