| Amdo & Forbidden Lhasa - 15 days |
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Amdo is home to the 14th Dalai Lama & is also the birth place of Tsongkhapa, the founder of the Gelukpa School of Tibetan Buddhism.
Traversing the expansive grasslands of Amdo, we visit the famous Labrang & Kubum monasteries, one of the most important Gelukpa monasteries in the Tibetan world. |
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Day 1: Lanzhou
Arrive Lanzhou, 1520 m the capital city of Gansu province & an important trading post on the ancient Silk Road . Visit the Gansu Provincial Museum .
Day 2: Xiahe
With an elevation of 2900 m above sea level, Xiahe is located at the edge of northeast Qinghai-Tibet plateau. Most of the residents are Tibetan. You’ll visit the most significant Lamaist monastery in the northeast of Tibetan civilization - Labrang monastery. The monastery is one of the 6 leading Gelukpa monasteries in the Tibetan world.
Day 3: Xunhua – Xining , 3000 m, 140 + 110 kms
Drive to Xining . En route visit Xunhua, birthplace of 10th Panchen Lama. Xining is the provincial capital of Qinghai , a city with the majority of the inhabitants Tibetans.
Day 4: Kokonor Lake , 200 km
On the way to Kokonor Lake you’ll stop to visit Kubum monastery. The monastery is one of the six leading Gelukpa monasteries in the Tibetan world. It is also the birthplace of Tsongkhapa, the founder of Gelukpa School . You’ll reach Kokonor Lake after pass over the Riyue mountain (sun & moon mountain). We will also visit the Bird Island on the western side of the Lake Kokonor .
Day 5: Xining , 190 Km
We have a short trek along the lake in the morning. The lake is the largest inland salt water lake in China and covers an area of 4500 sq. kilometers, and 3193 m above sea level. Then drive back to Xining in the afternoon.
Day 6: Lhasa , 3650 m, 90 kms
Transfer to airport to catch your flight to Lhasa . Upon arrival you will be met by our Tibet representative & transfer to Hotel.
Day 7 & 8: Lhasa
We will have two full days in Lhasa to make excursions to the following places:
The Jokhang
The Jokhang is the principal and holiest Buddhist temple in Lhasa , as well as all of Tibet . It is the focus of devotion of hundreds of Tibetans from near and far who circle it to gain spiritual merit. The Jokhang was first constructed in the 7th century and has a large gold image of Sakyamuni Buddha.
Sera and Drepung
Sera monastery, founded in 1419, is a monastery of the Gelugpa order. Its many white buildings sit at the base of a rocky hill. Gilded, bell-shaped gyamtschens grace the roofs of many of the larger buildings.
Drepung used to have 8,000 monks who were taught in the traditions of Vajrayana, Mahayana, and Sutrayana, the three vehicles of Tibetan Buddhism.
Potala Palace
The 13-story Potala Palace is reputed to contain 1,000 rooms and hundreds upon hundreds of brilliant thangkas, frescoes, and images built in an era when religious art was created anonymously as a means of gaining merit for future lives. It's one of the world's most extraordinary buildings and completely covers the mountain it stands upon.
Day 9: Depart Lhasa
Early morning breakfast at hotel & transfer to Gongar Airport to connect flight to KATHMANDU / CHENGDU / BEIJING.
(Those going via overland to Nepal border will continue with the trip as follows)
Day 9: Lhasa – Gyantse, 3990 m, 350 kms
Drive via Yamdrok, the Turquoise Lake to Gyantse across Kampa La pass, 5050 m & Karo La, 5045 m passes. Visit Kubum stupa & Pelkor Chode monastery.
Day 10: Gyantse – Shalu – Shigatse, 3860 m, 90 kms
Drive to Shigatse. En route visit Shalu monastery. Visit Tashilunpo monastery, the seat of
Panchen Lama who is the 2nd in the Buddhist religious hierarchy & Shigatse market.
Day 11: Shigatse – Sakya – Tingri, 4350 m
Drive to Tingri across Tsou La pass, 4500 m & Gyatso La pass, 5220 m. En route visit
Sakya monastery.
Day 12: Shegar – Rongbuk, 5050 m
Drive via Pang La pass, 5200 m to Rongbuk monastery, world’s highest monastery situated at 5200 m.
Day 13: Everest Base Camp
We have the option to hike or drive to Everest Base Camp.
Day 14: Nyalam
After, watching sunrise over Everest, we drive on to Nyalam.
Day 15: Nyalam – Zhangmu - Kathmandu
Drive to Zhangmu & on to Kathmandu . En route visit Milarepa cave. We descend from the high arid Tibetan plateau into the lush greenery of Nepal. |
| Tour code / Name |
Tour cost |
Amdo & Forbidden Lhasa
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US$ per person |
| Single room supplement |
US$ per person |
| Extension cost |
US$ per person |
| Single room supplement |
US$ per person |
| Note: All tour costs based on 2 pax on twin share basis. Individual (single) travel is also possible. Please contact us for details and costs. |
| Departures: private tour |
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Cost Includes |
- Tibet visa authorization
- Tibet permits
- Monument entrance fees as per itinerary
- Twin share accommodation
- Daily breakfasts
- Guided tours and transfers as per given itinerary
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Cost Excludes: |
- Tibet Visa fee
- Tibet airfares
- Airport taxes
- Insurance & emergency rescue charges
- All lunch & dinners
- Airfares
- Any other services not specified in the above costs includes list
- Rates are subject to change without prior notice
- Also during the monsoon season the Arniko Highway linking Nepal-Tibet border is often disrupted by landslides. In such an eventuality any additional porter or transport charges incurred as such, will be borne by clients’ themselves.
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| Our Hotels |
- In Lhasa using the Lhasa Hotel or similar
- In Tsedang using the Tsedang Hotel or similar
- In Shigatse using the Shigatse Hotel or similar
- In Gyantses using the Gyantse Hotel or similar
- Best available hotels in other areas enroute
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| ± Standard hotel and budget hotels packages are also available. Please email us at info@abcsikkim.com |
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