Tibet Fly In Drive Out

Arrival in Gonggar airport of Lhasa, you will be met and greeted by our representative and drive to Lhasa City (70kms, about 1 hr). Check in hotel and take rest for the acclimatization.

Sightseeing of Potala Palace, Jokhang Temple, Barkhor Bazaar, Drepung monastery, Sera monastery, Norbulingkha

Drive from Lhasa to Tsurphu Monastery, takes about 2 hours, and the altitude will up to 4480m.

Today you will be spent acclimatizing further and visiting this Tsurphu Monastery. Stay overnight in camp.

A spectacular first day of trekking up a green valley criss-crossed with mountain streams. Be on the lookout for various species of mountain goats. Several small nomadic communities camp here for the summer herding months, and you may have a stop into a yak-hair tent for a cup of salt butter tea or some fresh yak milk! Crest the ridge top four hours later, emerging onto a high plateau with a scattering of rock-enclosed huts, and look for a flat area for camping. From day one, the scenery is breathtaking, classic Tibetan beauty.

Have your first small pass, the Damchen Nyingtri, bear to the left at the cairns at the crest, and descend into a magical valley of lichen-coated boulders, meandering streams and expansive, powder-blue sky. Three hours later, you will cross the Lasar La and descend into the Yangpachen valley, with its wide open plateaus, spiky grass hummocks and tundra-like parched, cracked patches of earth, and head towards Bartso. The views of Brize (translated as female yak herder) and Tarze (horse keeper) are superb, and you will feel safe in the care of the local mountain god, Nyenchen Tanglha. Camp near Bartso, a drokpa (nomad) village of five or six houses, surrounded by the juniper used for incense all over the Tibetan world.

Leaving the village of Bartso behind, head towards a wide trail leading across the valley and over another ridge, from where you will be rewarded with views of Nyenchen Tanghlha (7111 m), the holiest mountain in central Tibet . Emerge at Tajung village, and then climb gently up rolling hills where young nomadic boys and girls picnic on the plateaus as they watch their yaks and sheep graze. The vistas are, again, just amazing! Mid-day, you should reach the small Djore Ling Ani Gompa (nunnery), near which you will set up camp. It’s possible that these nuns, some of the friendliest in Tibet, will drag you into the gompas tea-house and pass around a heaping plate of yak meat (use the bowie knife provided to hack a piece off) before getting into the requisite photo session.

Our vehicle will pick up from Yangbachen, then drive to Namtso lake, excursion around lake and back to Lhasa (Namtso lake is a must seeing scenic spots once you are already in Yangpajin, it is 160km from Yangpajin, so I suggest to back to Lhasa instead of Gyantse or Shigatse)

Drive to Gyantse and Shigatse. Driving over two high passes, Kamba La (15,700 ft) and Karo La (16,500ft) to Gyantse, enroute visit to Yamdrok Tso Lake.

Afternoon visit the highlights of Gyantse such as Pelkor Chode Monastery and Kumbum Stupa and then drive to Shigatse-the second largest city of Tibet after Lhasa . After refreshment, visit Tashilunbo Monastery -the principal seat of Panchen Lama.

Xigatse – Xegar (4050m/13500ft, 182km/121miles, 5 hrs). Breakfast only.

Drive to Shegar, also known as New Tingri. The journey involves crossing of two high passes Tropu La (16,236 ft) and Gyatso La (17,122 ft). Check in hotel and take rest for a while. Later visit the ruins of historic Shegar Dzong, once the capital of Tingri region. If time permits, visit Shegar Chode Monastery, which is a small Gelugpa institution.

Breakfast only and drive from Xegar to Dza Rongbuk Monastery in the morning. The journey involves driving over Pang La (5120m/16,794 ft) that rewards you with the views of several 8 thousanders like Makalu, Lhotse, Cho Oyu and Mount Everest. The journey mostly goes through dirt road, passing through several picturesque villages. Upon arrival, take an hour walk trek to the Everest Base Camp (5200m/17,333ft). The driver will pick you up at Rongbuk temple and retrace drive to the Friendship Highway and drive to Tingri, a small Tibetan town. Check in guesthouse and take chance for Tingri Dzong Hike or visit the hot springs