TIBET

A HIDDEN PLATEAU

Tibet one of those extraordinary destination where indeed adventure lurks around every corner! Adventure on the road is  never short on the beautiful Transhimalayan drive, through mountain, passes, promising a panorama of a cultural and scenic diversity unsurpassable anywhere. It culminates on an arid plateau - a varitable treasure trove of architectural masterpieces -the Buddhist monasteries of Drepung, once the largest in the country The Jhokhang - a spiritual center, and the awesome palaces of the Dalai Lama - Norbulinga ( the summer palace ) and the Potala
( the traditional seat ). Ancient Barkhor Bazaar still barters the bric -- a -- brac, in a region that’s not so much a little strange as utterly surreal.

Pilgrimage to Mansarovar and the Holy Mt. Kailash US$ 2200 Mt.Kailash claimed to be the apex of the Hindu religious axis is also one of the highest mountain in Tibet at 22,022 feet,and Lake Mansarovar at 14,950 feet is said to be the highest fresh water lake in the world. Certainly a difficult region to reach due to the variable and extreme weather conditions. The distance from Lhasa for example is approximately 2000 km. 

Only during the last few years have lots of ordinary and not so ordinary travellers, been able to experience this region. Road conditions are difficult much of the time and we have to make many preparations to ensure that we have a reasonable chance  of reaching Kailash. We need to bring our own food and camping equipment. Basic lodges and tea-houses can be found but the plateau is so remote that it is possible to travel for several days without finding food available.

To travel for days on this remote plateau with the chance encounters of nomads herding their sheep or yaks is to be transformed into another way of life, to see and become part of such a devout pilgrimage as shown by pilgrims around Mt.Kailash and Lake Mansarovar is to put some aspects of our western way of life into proper perspective.

We begin the tour by traveling to Kathmandu and departing by road to the Nepal/Tibet border town of Zhangmu where we collect our Transport. We travel by the SOUTHERN route and after our pilgrimage (religious or secular) we return by the same route. The day to day program is outlined as follows: 

Day 1 Drive from Kathmandu (1303m.) to Kodari. Trek 8 km to Zhangmu (2220). If tine available we will drive to              Nyalam  for acclimatization.
Day 2 Acclimatization at Nyalam. (3550m)
Day 3 Drive from Nyalam to Mala (4000m) via Menhating and Tongla Pass (4990m). Overnight (O/N) in Camps.
Day 4 Drive from Mala to Saga (4840m) crossing the river  "Yarling Tsangpo” by ferry. From Saga drive to              Tsongpa (4500m) and break camp in between Paryang(4540m) and O/N in Camps.
Day 5 Drive on further towards Mayumla (4900m) and stay  overnight near the river banks
Day 6 Cross the Mayumla pass and drive to Lake Mansarovar (4520m). Over night in camps.
Day 7 Day free for rest. Purification bath in the holy lake etc. O/N in camp.
Day 8 Drive to Darchen ( 4,700m). O/N at Hotel in Darchen or in tents. Though short drive to Dharchen, we will              have enough time to organize the Yaks.
Day 9 Start trek around Mt. Kailash (5656m). O/N in tents.
Day 10 Trek and cross the Dormala pass ( 5600m).O/N in tent.
Day 11 Trek and return to Darchen. O/N in tent.
Day 12 Start return journey by driving up to Samsang. O/N in tents.
Day 13 Drive from Samsang to Tsongpa. O/N in tents.
Day 14 Drive from Tsongpa to Saga or Mala. O/N in tents.
Day 15 Drive from Saga or Mala to Zhangmu. O/N at Zhangmu Hotel.
Day 16 Trek 8km to Kodari and drive to Kathmandu.

Note: If you are interested to end your Kailash tour to Lhasa, The route will be as following: US$ 2500

Day 14 Tsongpa. Overnight in Camps.
Day 15 Drive from Sigar to Sigatse. O/N at Hotel.
Day 16 Drive from Sigatse to Gyantse. O/N at Hotel.
Day 17 Drive from Gyantse to Lhasa. O/N at Hotel.
Day 18 Lhasa Sightseeing. O/N at Hotel.
Day 19 Lhasa Sightseeing. O/N at Hotel.
Day 20 Drive to airport to fly to Kathmandu.

Rates are available on request depending on the number of participants and duration of tour:

LHASA ADVENTURES

Day 01 Saturday Fly by China airlines to Lhasa. Transfer to Hotel.
Day 02 Sunday Sightseeing tours to Sera Monastery, Jokhang Temple and Barkhor Bazaar. O/N at Hotel
Day 03 Monday Sightseeing tours to Potala Palace and Drepung Monastery. O/N at Hotel.
Day 04 Tuesday Transfer to Gonggar airport to fly to Kathmandu.
             Hotel Holiday Inn US$ 949 Single supplement 145  Budget Hotel US$ 719 Single supplement 100

DISCOVER LHASA

Day 01 Tuesday Fly to Lhasa and transfer to Hotel.
Day 02 Wednesday Sightseeing tours to Sera Monastery, Jokhang Temple and Barkhor Bazaar. O/N at Hotel.
Day 03 Thursday Sightseeing tours to Potala Palace, Derpung Monastery. O/N at Hotel.
Day 04 Friday Sightseeing tour to Norbulingka Palace. Afternoon leisure. O/N Hotel.
Day 05 Saturday Transfer to Gonggar airport to fly to Kathmandu. Hotel Holiday Inn US$ 1069 Single supplement                190 Budget Hotel US$ 739 Single supplement 100

TIBET PARADISE

Day 01 Saturday Fly to Lhasa. Transfer to Hotel. Tue O/N at Hotel.
Day 02 Sunday Sightseeing tours to Sera Monastery, Wed Jokhang Temple and Barkhor Bazaar. O/N at Hotel.
Day 03 Monday Sightseeing tours to Potala Palace, Thu Drepung Monastery. O/N at Hotel.
Day 04 Tuesday Drive to Gyantse. O/N at Gyantse Fri Hotel.
Day 05 Wednesday Sightseeing at Gyantse. Drive to Sat Sigatse in the afternoon. O/N at hotel
Day 06 Thu/Sunday Drive to Lhasa. O/N at Hotel.
Day 07 Friday/Mon Full day at Leisure. O/N at Hotel.
Day 08 Saturday/Tue After breakfast drive to airport to fly to Kathmandu. Hotel Holiday Inn US$ 1429 Single                supplement   320 Budget Hotel US$ 1059 Single supplement 220

TIBETAN FANTASY Fixed Departures:

Sat          Drive Kathmandu - Zhamnmu Cost per person in US$
Sun         Zhangmu - Xegar ( Segar )
Mon       Xegar - Xigatse ( Sigatse ) Holiday Inn 950
Tue        Xigatse - Gyantse Single Supplement 320
Wed      Gyantse - Lhasa. Holiday Inn.
Thu/Fri   Lhasa. Holiday Inn. Sightseeing. Budget hotel 653
Sat         Lhasa - Kathmandu by air. Single Supplement 195


Explore to Everst Base Camp

Day 1           Fly to Lhasa and transfer to hotel.
Day 2/3        Sightseeing tour of Lhasa
Day 4/5        Tsedang
Day 6           Gyantse
Day 7           Sigatse
Day 8           Sigatse. Free day
Day 9           Shakya/Lhatse
Day 10         Rombuk
Day 11         Explore around the everest base Camp
Day 12         Lao Tingri
Day 13         Zhangmu
Day 14         Friendship bridge and handover to Langtang

Hotel Holiday Inn US$ 1920 Single supplement 400 / Budget Hotel US$ 1450 Single supplement 290

EXPLORE TIBET

Day 01       Sat/Tue/ Fly to Lhasa and Transfer to Tsedang. O/N at  Tsedang Hotel.
Day 02       Visit Samye and Yumbulkhang Monastery.
Day 03       Visit Chonggya, Toms of early kings.
Day 04       Drive to Lhasa. En route visit Mindro ling Monastery. O/N at Hotel.
Day 05-08  Lhasa Sightseeing. O/N at Hotel.
Day 09       Drive to Gyantse. Gyantse Hotel.
Day 10       Drive to Sigatse. En route visit Shalmu Monastery. O/N at Hotel.
Day 11       Explore Sigatse.
Day 12       Drive to Sigar from Sigatse.
Day 13       Drive to Zhangmu from Sigar.
Day 14       Drive 8 km to Friendship bridge (subject to road condition) and meet with Guide to drive to Kathmandu.

Hotel Holiday Inn US$ 1920 Single supplement 400 / Budget Hotel US$ 1450 Single supplement 290

SIMIKOT - KAILASH - SIMIKOT Cost Per person in US$ 3000.00

Day 01 Fly to Nepalgunj. Overnight (O/N) at Nepalgunj.
Day 02 Nepalgunj - Simikot. O/N at Simikot.
Day 03 Simikot - Tuling
Day 04 Tuling - Kermi
Day 05 Kermi - Yangar
Day 06 Yangar - Torea
Day 07 Torea - Sipsip
Day 08 Sipsip - Taklakot
Day 09 Taklakot (Purang) - Darchen
Day 10-12 Trek Around Mt. Kailash
Day 13 Drive to Mansorovar Lake
Day 14 Explore around Mansorovar Lake
Day 15 Mansorovar Lake - arrive Taklakot
Day 16-19 Arrive Simikot
Day 20 Day rest at Simikot. The day can be used in case of  delay in trekking.
Day 21 Fly to Kathmandu via Nepalgunj.

LHASA - KAILASH - SIMIKOT Cost Per person in US$ 3200.00

Day 01         Fly to Lhasa. Drive to Holiday Inn. O/N.
Day 02/03   Sightseeing in Lhasa
Day 04        Drive to Gyantse. O/N at Gyantse Hotel.
Day 05        Drive to Sigatse. Visit Tashilhunpo Monastry. O/N at Sigatse Hotel.
Day 06        Sigatse - kaika. O/N camping.
Day 07/08   Kaika - Tsochen. O/N Camping
Day 09       Gertse. O/N camping.
Day 10       Xungba
Day 11       Seng - ge - Khabab. O/N at hotel.
Day 12       Tsada. O/N camping.
Day 13 /14 Darchen. O/n at local lodge.
Day 15-17 Trek Around Mt. Kailash and arrive Darchen
Day 18       Drive to Mansorovar Lake. O/N camping at Mansoraver.
Day 16       Explore around Mansorovar Lake and rest day.
Day 17       Mansorovar Lake - arrive Taklakot
Day 18-22  Arrive Simikot
Day 23       Day rest at Simikot.
Day 24       Fly to Kathmandu via Nepalgunj.


IMPORTANT PRE DEPARTURE INFORMATION

Included in the Land cost:
Transport by motorcoach coach/landrover/automobile as required, and accommodation with daily breakfast using Holiday Inn/Yak while at Lhasa. Tibet for the rest of we use the best available hotels and guest houses, but these offer more basic accommodation and fewer amenities. Sightseeing Tours, Services of English speaking Local Tibetan /Chinese Guides, entrance fees to monasteries and other points of interest, Tibet permits, Kathmandu-Lhasa airfare as per itinerary and visa charges are also included.

Not included in the land cost:
Insurance, airport departure taxes, Nepalese Visa, Passport fees, immunizations, hard and soft drinks, Photographic charges in various monasteries, gratuities and items of any personal nature that have not been specifically included above.

Surcharge:
A surcharge of US$ 50.00 on Tibet visas is applicable for British, Canadian, Belgian, Cameroon, Brazilian, Irish, and French nationals. US$ 30 will be charged for urgent visa, can be obtained on Mon, Wed & Friday.

Visas and documentation:
You must be in possession of a valid passport. We obtain your visa for Tibet, and will require the following information when making your reservation: full name, date of expiry, place of issue, nationality, date of birth, sex and occupation. Two passport size photographs are also required. Additionally you must allow three full working days in Kathmandu for the visa to be fiscally stamped in your passport. A 30 day's visa for Nepal can be obtained from all Nepalese Embassies abroad or upon your arrival in Kathmandu airport in U$ 25.00.

Accessories:
We recommend you to bring the following items to make your journey more comfortable : Personal first aid kid, water purification tablets, toilet kit with toilet paper, flashlight with extra batteries, sunglasses, waterbottle, note book, pens, pencils, camera and film and extra batteries for electronic Cameras, binoculars, Duffel bag, rain gear, strong footwear, pocket knife, sewing kits, compass, altimeter, drinking cup, towel, plastic bags, dust mask, strong suncream, chapstic, and money belt.

Insurance:
We recommend you to insure yourself against sickness, emergency rescue, accident, Hospitalization, cancellation etc., as we accept no responsibility or expenses which may arise from mishaps to persons or their belongings during these tours.

Altitude Sickness:
The Tibetan Plateau lies over 12000 feet, most people will experience some of the minor symptoms and discomfort of altitude sickness, until their body adjust to the elevation. This can take from a few hours to couple of days, depending on the individual.

Note: We will be happy to provide package programs including Nepal with any of these Tibet packages on request.